Euthanasia: Argumentative essay Essay

The issue I am discussing today is euthanasia. Euthanasia is a practice of terminating a life of a person in a painless or minimally painful way, usually by lethal injection. In some countries it is criminalised, but I believe that euthanasia should be legal, and a basic human right. Euthanasia is a controversial issue because of conflicting moral feelings between different cultures. People say that dying by euthanasia is to die with dignity, instead of living an artificial life on respirators and other life support machines. If a person is terminally ill, and there is nothing anyone can do for them, why should they have to suffer?The text I am focussing on is a very famous book called of mice and men. This book is about a time in the great depression where two friends are struggling to find jobs. The character Lennie, who has a learning disability, is always getting into trouble for things that he doesnt realise are wrong. When Lennie crosses the line and accidentally kills a girl, George realises that if Lennie is caught, he will either be sent to a mental hospital or he will be tortured. Knowing what is truly best for Lennie, George shoots him. The author John Steinbeck is able to effectivly convince the reader to accept his opinion by writing the book about a real life euthanasia situation rather than just sayingeuthanasia isnt murder. When the victim is seriously ill or a threat to the society they shall be put to sleep without breaking the law. It is better to end one life then let it suffer. It is wrong for one to suffer without intentionally doing something wrong. These are some of the arguments that John Steinbeck is getting across in his book. It is hard to know if a life is worth living and when it isnt, but can a pain and suffering so incomprehensible ever be worth living for? A child who has severe disabilities or an elderly person with a painful disease would not get any enjoyment out of their life. Should society really force them to endure such a hardship?Some people may argue that every one should have the right to live, but they often dont know of the pain that these people go through. Sometimes the quality of life is so bad that people have the right to be put to rest if they choose. For example, a once strong, healthy, happy person is just lying in a bed unable to move. Another issue in euthanasia is having to make a choice. Many people believe that voluntary euthanasia is a form of suicide, but the definition of suicide is a person who takes their life due to depression. For depression, people can get help. But for people with painful disabilities it is beyond their control. Some may argue that voluntary euthanasia is too bigger choice for someone to make, but shouldnt people have the option to be put to rest with dignity by means of an injection rather than forms of suicide?For those that have more severe handicaps, sometimes they are incapable of understanding the situation, which makes it more difficult. Some consider involuntary euthanasia a type of murder, but murder is a crime committed against someone. If a person is severally in pain and unable to consent, then would the action of death be against the person, or would it be for the best?There is also a terrible pressure from society. All the arguments against voluntary euthanasia can be used by society to form a terrible psychological pressure on people to continue living for years against their better judgement. One example of this pressure is the risky and painful methods that those who genuinely wish to die would otherwise need to use, such as hanging. There are other factors people often forget about euthanasia such as economic costs. There is a limit on human resources in the world, in some countries there is a serious shortage of hospital space. The energy of doctors should be put on peoples lives that can be saved instead of a continued life of somebody who wants to die. This would increase the general quality of care, and would shorten waiting lists. It is also very hard on families do deal with not having the option of euthanasia. Instead of a memory of the person being happy and strong, they have a memory of the person lying there helpless, not able to feed themselves, get out of bed, or remember who they are. You might say that you should not try and play god by taking someones life away, but then why would god want to inflict so much pain on its creations? i believe that knowone should have to live with a pain that is worse than death. Bibliography Steinbeck, J. 1937, Of mice and Men, Covici, Friede, Inc. Wikipedia ®, Euthanasia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuthanasiaSydney Morning Herald, Euthanasia debatehttp://www.smh.com.au/specials/euthanasia/ATHEIST FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA INC, Voluntary Euthanasiahttp://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/ve.htm

Managing Change in Organisations

Master of Business Administration Assignment Programme Title: University of Wales MBA (Project Management) Student Full Name: Raji Shakirudeen Damilare Student STU number: STU32417 Student Email Address: [email  protected] com Module Name: Managing Change in Organisations Word Count: 4273 words Submission Deadline: 16 July, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERPAGE CHAPTERS CHAPTER 1 – TASK 1 3 – 5 * Introduction3 * Nature and Scope of Change3 * Major Drivers of Change4 CHAPTER 2 – TASK 26 – 10 * Key Issues and Challenges6 * Action plan 9 CHAPTER 3 – TASK 311 – 14 * Change implementation 11CHAPTER 4 – Task 415 – 16 * Change success 15 * Conclusion 16 REFERENCES 17 CHAPTER 1 TASK 1 1. 00INTRODUCTION Background: Operational wastes come with a lot of cost and it is generated in many forms within an operational system. The intention of any profit making organisation is to maximize customer’s values and yet minimize the waste. Aim and Structure: The assignment will identify areas that will be compelled by the Total performance management TPM as an improvement to the existing system. It will analyse the key contents and benefits of TPM implementation.It does also seek to outline the scope of the change, dealing with key issues and providing actions plans using relevant models. The assignment will evaluate the change models application during the implementation phase, measure in milestones the change success and provide adequate feedback on success recorded. 1. 10NATURE AND SCOPE OF CHANGE Meeting production targets will not be enough anymore to judge production performance if records of customer complaints, rework or defects, overproduction, over processing, delayed inventory, human and equipment breakdowns, administrative delays caused by the bureaucratic setup and low team spirit.Total performance management TPM is an effective performance pillar with nine key components that is designed to completely re-eng ineer the system, integrate functions and take functional expertise into the value creation process. In particular, it is focused on supporting frontline personnel and frontline leaders to eliminate operational waste that will guarantee the optimization of all manufacturing and production processes. The TPM pillar descriptors to be used are: 1. Autonomous Maintenance: This pillar aims to improve equipment reliability through equipment care. . Planned Maintenance: This is a step by step process for improving facility maintenance. 3. Education and Training: This pillar enhances focused knowledge and capability building. 4. Focused Improvement: This pillar provides a structured method to identify and prevent problems. 5. Early Management: This pillar is directed towards the development, design and implementation of new technology and strategy that will cope with the future. 6. Quality Maintenance: This pillar aims to create a system incapable of producing quality defects. . Office: Thi s pillar focuses on ensuring LEAN and error free business processes. 8. Safety Health Environment: This pillar aims to ensure elimination of unsafe behaviours and conditions. 9. LEAN Factory: This pillar focuses on LEAN Thinking specifically applied to logistics management. NCE Introduction (2009, pg 8) 1. 20MAJOR DRIVERS OF CHANGE Key drivers of change are listed and described as follows: Improved Production performance: Production performance is greatly affected by incessant machine and human breakdown.It will be necessary to implement a comprehensive shift management programme and strategic maintenance management system to improve the system. Re-engineered Inventory management: Factory inventory tracking system has been poorly managed, thereby impacting on consumables and spare parts management. Maintenance management system is undermined or sometimes ignored as a result of poor inventory control. Inventory management needs to be re-structured to speed up the existing system proc esses, by providing an effective system application tracking software that will eliminate the threat of delay and low productivity.Optimizing logistical management: Raw materials stock management continues to be affected by late deliveries and poor stock management system. Production plans are disrupted, production volumes are not met and consumers are faced with products scarcity. Early management is required and implementation of a comprehensive system application tracking software that will re-structure the logistical management system to cope with increasing activities. Minimised operational cost: Defected products are separated during production and routine quality checks.Products are also return from markets for quality reasons, thereby resulting to rework and reprocessing which will increase the operational cost of producing a product more than ones. Total quality management strategy will be required at the shop floor. Customer delight: Series of customer complaints have been recorded on products defect, short counting, late delivery and products scarcity. Scarcity provides the advantage to competitors to fill the vacuum created by our ineffectiveness and poor operational management. Market growth:Market projection have shown a steady 10 % annually increase, which means that the total business will be tripled in the next 10 years (MBS, 2009). This forecast has proven to be realistic and achievable from the growth trend recorded in the past ten years. NCE document (2009) Total performance management system will enhance manufacturing and production performance, positioning us for the future opportunity. Excel in compliance: Factory’s existing quality, safety and environment system standards and guidelines are currently managed independently.As these systems are interrelated, they will be integrated into a single management system. This will allow a simplified process for compliance, auditing and improved focus on the specific compliance aspects. Go vernment policies must be fully adhered to enjoy an enabling environment and imbibe best practices within the organisation. Creating Competitive advantage: Part of the main drivers of change is the presence of a strong competitor that is working hard to take over the market. In the modern world of advanced technology, trade secrets cannot be the only advantage that must be possessed.All competitive gaps that are created must be closed by ensuring availability of quality products to the market, delighting consumers at affordable price. Improved marketing strategy will be appropriate. CHAPTER 2 TASK 2 2. 00KEY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES This chapter is expected to identify and define major issues and challenges that have resulted to the generation of operational waste. The cause and effect analysis (Fishbone diagram) will be adopted to define the major problems, brainstorming will be achieved applying the affinity chart that will help categorise related issues and identify the major causes of the problem through Pareto.Problem Definition: Operational wastes have been recorded in so many forms across all major departments. Waste is not anymore limited to tangible and physical objects, but has spread deeply into key aspects of daily operations. Failure to meet production target is a major waste, which can result to increasing production cost, products scarcity and quality issues hereby posing a huge risk to the system. Brainstorming What are the major causes of Operational waste that have been identified in the system?Collective ideas are highly needed at this stage of problem solving, where key players with common objective brainstorm and come up with pool of ideas or suggestion that could lead to the actual cause of operational waste. After a long brainstorming session and thorough investigation, the change management team have come up with list of possible causes of operational waste generated from log sheets across the departments. The group contains different memb er from different school of thought, which have resulted to the initial generation of a large list of possible causes of the challenge.The list was streamlined at random and major possible causes where picked and listed in the table below; System Failure| Lack of operational knowledge| Increased production cost| Customer compliant| Rework / Defects| Production targets failure| Weak quality management system| Lack LEAN mindset| Poor logistics management| Poor inventory management| Ageing equipments| Low production output & performance| Raw material variation| Finished product late delivery| Poor production output| Manual operations| Poor maintenance management system| Less commitment & Engagement| Defected products| Equipment Breakdowns| Safety issues| Poor communication| Poor mindset / Behaviour| Network disruption & Failure| Figure 2. 0. 01 Random selection of major problems The Affinity diagram will help regroup and sort listed problems into related categories in the 6Ms format as illustrated below; People Machinery Ageing Equipment Low production output Poor operational knowledge Less commitment Low production performance Safety issues Poor production output Poor communication Poor mindset / Behaviour Manual operation Equipment breakdown Material Raw material variation Rework / Defect SystemPoor logistics management Production target failure Late delivery of finished products Checks / Control Poor maintenance management Network disruption Weak quality management Increased production cost Process System failure Lack of LEAN mindset Defected / Rejected products Customer complaint Poor inventory management Figure 2. 0. 02 Affinity chart for Operational waste Identify major causes: The problems illustrated in the affinity chart in figure 2. 1. 01, shows a list of possible causes of the problem, categorising them into key six major categories that could be the summary of the possible causes of the problem.The cause and effect diagram will provide a clearer pictu re and additional insight to further link the possible problems from respective sources showing the potential primary and secondary source of the problem, based on the findings of the change team. The major problems have been clearly identified and linked into various sources in a cause and effect diagram as shown in figure 2. 1. 02 below, it is imperative to analyse further the frequency of occurrence of these problems using Pareto. The referring log sheet shows the rate of recurrence of some problems more than the other and clearly defines the effect on daily operations. Figure 2. 0. 03 Cause and Effect diagram for operational waste Figure 2. 0. 4 Pareto chart for operational waste Referring to the Pareto chart above in figure 2. 1. 03, it shows clearly that â€Å"low production output† and â€Å"production target failure† have occurred more frequently than â€Å"low production performance† and others with same frequency of occurrence. The occurrence of most o f the listed problems seem on the high side and needed to be treated as such, having recorded low incidence on problems like â€Å"manual operation†, â€Å"raw material variation† and â€Å"network disruption† which should not be underrated, has it is assumed that most of the major problems recorded could have triggered them as remnants.This invariably indicates that when the bigger problems are completely resolved, it takes care of the ones with low occurrence. The machinery category is the highest contributor of the operational waste, ranging from the machine condition to operations, but seconded by the people category that have in actual sense contributed the largest share of the problems that have made the system unhealthy. Checks, system and process category have their own share in terms of occurrence recorded, this makes it difficult to ignore any of the listed problems no matter how little, because it could develop to a complex and epidemic challenge that will take longer time to solve.Operational waste action plan Prepared by: Change management team. Summary: Operational waste has been generated across the 6 categories of challenges recorded in the organisation, translating clearly the areas that require swift response to change and improvement. The problem solving techniques adopted have identified the root cause of the operational waste and the major area that requires concentration. It is imperative to prepare an action plan to tackle the listed challenges. Solution: The main goal is to implement Total performance management TPM into all functions as the solution to operational waste. 2. 10ACTION PLAN Goals| Measures| Responsible| Target Date|To provide a unique maintenance strategy (Autonomous and planned maintenance). | Perform daily operational review at the shop floor, weekly operational review at the management level to track improvement and report achievements. Report weekly maintenance plan and execution. Measure line per formance and efficiency against set target. | OperationsOperationsManagement| January, 2013January, 2013January, 2013| To lay more emphasis on personnel training and development. | Get training feedback from trainees. Subject trainees to knowledge checks and exercises. Track personnel improvement against line performance. Use performance evaluation to appraise personnel. | HR| January, 2013| To improve in quality management system. Provide in-line quality checks system. Record defects and investigate the root cause. Embark on monthly market visit. Record batch sampling quality. Communicate quality status monthly. | Quality assurance| January, 2013| To be safety conscious at all time| Commence SHE observation and report area weekly safety status. Perform random safety checks. Carryout monthly safety drill to check and re-communicate awareness. | Operation / Management| January, 2013| To introduce early management approach. | Provide detailed template on early management programming. Provide feedback from early management plan and communicate the achievement on implementation. Management| April, 2013| To implement LEAN thinking, system and mindset. | Outline system layout in LEAN concept and map out areas according to compliance. Track awareness level in all staff. Check LEAN mindset reflection in reporting and follow-up. Report cost saving from LEAN implementation. | Operation / Management. | July, 2013| To focus more on continuous improvement. | List areas of continuous improvement, outline changes and business advantage. Compare changes â€Å" before and after†Track improvement progress against global objectives. | Operation / Management. | November, 2013| Fig 2. 1. 01 Action plan for the implementation of TPM CHAPTER 3 TASK 3 3. 0 CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION Change implementation requires strategic and logical approach which can only be analysed using basic change management models that clearly describes the steps to effective implementation of change. The change implementation will be evaluated in more than one change management model to better outline the model that will be more effective to this particular change implementation. Kurt Lewin and John Kotter models of change management will be critically evaluated as the options for the implementation of TPM. The models will be compared to properly decide on the best option the managers can adopt during implementation.Kurt Lewin Model: Lewin (1951) Model gives simpler overview of change implementation, although it is assumed that conditions exist because of competing forces that are in equilibrium. To effect any change, the force must be adjusted. Cited by F. Ashton Blog (2010) Change or Transitional Refreeze Unfreeze Lewin model comes in 3 stages namely; unfreeze, change or transition and refreeze. The idea is focussed at the implementation of change in an organisation that is already accustomed to a particular mindset and ideology. Existing mindset, ideology, system, attitude and pe rformance TPM fully integrated as a guide to excellent performance. Implementation of Total performance management Fig 3. 0. 1 Lewin Change model Kotter Model: Kotter’s (1996) 8 steps model of change is a top down approach that provides a wider range for change implementation. This change model is linear and it predicts the change processes in steps that identify core areas that should never be neglected if a change where to be effective. Fig 3. 0. 02 Kotter Change model Source: The Change Management Blog (2009) Model Comparison At the first stage of Lewin’s model of change, leadership comes up with the unfreeze strategy that will alter or disengage the existing system practices.It targets the root cause of the problem, by providing the best assumption using the force field analysis to factor out the pros and cons before considering implementation. Unfreezing is carried out at the leadership level, based on assumptions from the analysis. Unlike the first stage in Kot ter’s model that clearly emphasise on the need to first establish a sense of urgency from top-down, by carrying along all members of staff from the inception of the change implementation, sharing with them the reason change is necessary at the time and also help to identify the protagonist and antagonist to the change. Although the force field analysis applied in unfreezing stage also consider the driving and refraining force for the change, but it is clearly based on assumptions.The Kotter’s model starts change communication from the first step of implementation, where preliminary information have been provided for all to brainstorm about, not streamlining it only to the leadership. The second step is aimed at constituting a powerful coalition that will form the formidable, experienced and result focussed change management team. Rather, in Lewin’s model change management team are selected are at earlier stage based on management’s decision. Creating a vi sion for change is the third step in Kotter’s model, where all the ideas, thoughts and brainstorming that have been collected by the change management team are streamlined and integrated into company’s objectives and vision. Perhaps no idea is foolish and the collective enquiry to solve major issues gives employee the sense of ownership and esponsibility towards achieving the collective goal. Lewin’s model distorts an existing system with the intention of introducing or improving a system. This idea and vision comes from the management, who have practically analysed the major problems based on their experiences and knowledge of the company’s objectives. The transition stage, which is Lewin’s second stage for change modelling provides the actual implementation of change. This stage is the roll out phase of change to all employees â€Å"official launching†. This stage seems to be the hardest as the existing ideology, mindset and processes are unfrozen either to extinguish or modify to a new system.The fear of the unknown and resistance may be recorded. That is why Kotter and Lewin emphasise more on communication at this stage. Communication becomes the tools for change campaign. At this stage continuous training and coaching is very key to acceptability and embrace. Kotter identifies communication as a day to day affair and ensuring that antagonist are converted and the supporters are maintained and developed to live the change. Lewin’s transition stage encompasses communication in all forms. Perhaps might take more time than anticipated to achieve the level of acceptance needed, it requires consistent coaching and training to get the buy-in of all employees.Kotter insist that after communication have been initiated, though it is a continuous process but will definitely meet some deadlocks, ranging from the unacceptability, fear of the unknown, structures that do not support the change and the vision. The fifth st age identifies the major deadlocks and provides the right approach to solving them. Lewin’s transitional stage give a lot of room for neglect of some major deadlock identification, hereby living some elements like virus behind, that could develop to catastrophe in the future or even hinder this change process. Lewin’s last stage is the refreezing stage, stability establishment is the main objective once the change has been effected and accepted as part and parcel of the system. The intention is to strengthen and reinforce the change implementation, allowing for full integration by all functions.The new change is freeze and continues to monitor progress of implementation, bearing in mind that change will be continuous and can never be permanent. Theoretically, Lewin target the adjustment of the force field to adequately buy-in employees to acceptance and embrace of the change. The change is integrated into the company’s structure and system and refreezes as the n ew outlook of the organisation. Part of the reason the Lewin’s model could take more time to be fully integrated is the lack of comprehensive practical application that influence acceptance. It is important to target a feedback mechanism that will encourage a swift change embrace.Kotter’s sixth step encourages the need to create a short-term wins that will motivate employees further. Employees deserve first hand information on the benefits recorded so far to elevate their confidence and also management to gain more support from all. The best way is to set milestones where employee’s achievements can be celebrated and recognised. Kotter believes in continuous improvement, that is his main model in the seventh step. Change cannot be cast on stone that will not require further improvement; it requires building upon to achieve maximum effectiveness. The short-term win has various advantages, part of it is the opportunity to see other areas that need improvements and explore other options to achieving set objectives.Lewin’s refreeze does not show the required detail to record areas of further improvement, because the mindset of the employee already fixed on the refreeze syndrome. Managers should consider the Kotter’s model as it also adopts the concept of refreezing, but in a different manner. He believes that when change is stick completely into the system, it should become parts and parcel of the organisation, like a revised constitution that have been adopted, but requires further improvements. It re-emphasises the need to continuously maintain the support of the management and all employees to avoid falling back to the initial problem. TASK 4 CHAPTER 4 4. 00 CHANGE SUCCESSTo assess change management effectiveness, leadership needs to focus on measuring the progress of the change implemented to ensure they are moving on the right direction. To achieve this effective implementation, milestones and measure are required to effecti vely measure the progress and performance of the change. The performance measures are categorised in 7 stages namely: 1. Internal Performance Assessment. When change is assumed to be completely implemented, the organisation needs to be certain of these assumptions. The reason they involve an independent internal audit team to track change implementation progress, using the qualitative and quantitative monitoring approach in determining the level of compliance.Employee change appraisal survey is forwarded to all functions to get the right feedbacks. Individual functions will be audited and informed of areas that still require more attention, compliance and improvements. At this stage, the organisation is certain of the level of compliance and areas that requires more concentration before the pre-assessment and full assessment that will be carried out by external auditors. This usually takes about 3 months before pre-assessment. 2. Performance Assessment. It is important that a pre-as sessment is done after the first nine month of change implementation to effectively measure the level of compliance and adherence to the new change.The outcome of each pre-assessment must define the status of the change as to â€Å"what the goals are â€Å", â€Å"where we are now† and â€Å"where we are going†. The pre-assessment must also measure individual progress using a five-level commitment scale to monitor the commitment level of employees during implementation and then choose specific strategies to help individuals progress through the five levels. Level 1: Awareness: Measure the level of awareness in all functions. Level 2: Acceptance: Measure level of acceptance. Level 3: Application: Measure skill level of employees. Level 4: Adoption: Measure level of adoption and reflection in employee’s daily activity. Level 5: Advocacy: Share and accept feedback amongst employees.The full assessment (gate opening) will be done six month after pre-assessment cer tification and correction of other identified areas of improvement and a yearly post-assessment will also be carried out. 3. Perform Customer Satisfaction Survey This is the next step of assessment performance provide a gauging mechanism to monitor customer satisfaction as a tool to benchmark with acclaimed internal operational success. Feedback is vital from the customers and are closely monitored, recorded and acted upon immediately. This is a continuous exercise. 4. Measure the Volume of Defects We cannot hide from the fact that perfection is nearly impossible, but we must put measures in place to track and check level of amount of rework or defected recorded compare difference with the previous system.System must be in place to ensure that defects are be recorded as they occur and subjected to root cause analysis to check if we still maintain residual problems and follow is the rectification. Key performance indicator KPI is to see reducing trend in the volume of defects generat ed over a period of time, showing the percentage of improvement. 5. Measure the Volume of Failed Changes When measuring success rate of changes being implemented, we must be able to define â€Å"what is† and â€Å"what is not† a successful change, and the criteria being used for each definition. SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely) criteria must be in place where changes are reviewed for success.The KPI is to see the level of compliance increasing, showing the percentage of improvement. 6. Measure the Services Performance Service performance is wide to measure in one piece, so functions shall have a different KPI to measure their performances which is then cascaded to the organisation. Internal and external auditors perform assessment exercise to check impact on indicators, compliance and adherence to the operational documents. 7. Calculate the Return on Investment The main purpose for the implementation of Total performance management is to de light our customers, create competitive advantage and enhance operational performance. The change implementation comes with cost and it must also beget remarkable financial benefits.We must measure and record the saving generated across all functions. Source: Mark, S (2008, pp 2-8) 4. 01 CONCLUSION To reduce operational waste to an acceptable state, the introduction of Total performance management is the solution. We have defined the major causes and the possible solution to be implemented. Solution comes with measures and deadlines, if achieved will provide the positive benefit that is targeted. The benefits from change implementation are targeted to continuously meet company’s objectives in delighting customer’s satisfaction, creating competitive advantage and compliance. The objective is to maximise profit at the best minimum cost.Measure, milestone and deadlines are in place, which are guided by the application of renowned change management models to ensure the rig ht approach to introducing a new change conforms to the company’s culture and objectives. Effective application of the control and monitoring mechanism to track effective transition as illustrated in change measures have enabled the changes to be effective. We have tracked and recorded minor deficiencies which are a result at the acceptance stage of TPM have since been resolved. Positive feedbacks received from customers and remarkable records of decreased customer complaints, because of the new quality management check in-house that has guided quality production output. REFERENCES Woolnough, M. , 2009. Glossary for Nestle continuous excellence NCE document, Nigeria Pg 2 – 3 Ashton, F. , 2010. Lewin Model (K. Lewin, 1951).Available from: http://www. ashtonfourie. com Blog (Accessed 6 July 2012) Kotter, J. , 1996. Leading Change. Available from: http://www. mindtools. com (Accessed 6 July 2012) Mark, S. , 2008. Measuring success- Ideas on how to show that real benefits are being delivered, Fox IT, Pg 2 – 8 Holger, N. , 2009. Change Model 3: John Kotter's 8 Steps of Leading Change. Available from: http://www. change-management-blog. com (Accessed 13 July 2012) Lewin Model. Available from: http://www. change-management-coach. com. (Accessed 6 July 2012) Nestle continuous excellence NCE Introduction VI. 6. Available from: http://www. intranet. nestle. com/NCE (Accessed 6 July 2012)

Choosing one perspective, either interpretivist or positivist, explain Essay

Choosing one perspective, either interpretivist or positivist, explain and critically evaluate the impact of adopting this pe - Essay Example Methodology refers to the specific methods that can be used to understand the world. Both epistemology and methodology are closely related, the former refers to the philosophy of how we come to know the world and the latter involves the practice (Trochim). Positivism assumes an objective world hence it often searches for facts conceived in terms of specified correlations and associations among variables (Gephart). Positivism is a position that holds that the goal of knowledge is simply to describe the phenomena that we experience (Trochim). The purpose of science according to positivists is to observe and measure. According to positivists, science is the method to get truth, to understand the world, to predict and control the world. The universe is deterministic and they are governed by the rules of cause and effect. This could be understood by using the scientific method. In positivism, deductive method is used for postulating theories. Based on the results, theory is revised to bet ter predict reality (Trochim). The positivists emphasised on empiricism -- the idea that observation and measurement was the core of the scientific endeavour (Trochim). They believed that natural laws could be discerned through direct manipulation and observation. The positivists believe that a phenomenon could be observed and described without interfering with it. They also believe that the observations are repeatable. This is possible by manipulation of reality with variations in only a single independent variable so as to identify regularities in, and to form relationships between, some of the constituent elements of the social world (Chapter Three: Research Methodology). Predictions can also be made on the basis of previous observations and interrelationships between variables. The six tenets of positivism are the following (Positivism) Tenet Meaning Naturalism The principles of the natural sciences should be used for social science. Phenomenalism Only observable phenomena provi de valid information. Nominalism Words of scientific value have fixed and single meanings. The existence of a word does not imply the existence of what it describes. Atomism Things can be studied by reducing them to their smallest parts (and the whole is the sum of the parts). Scientific laws The goal of science is to create generalised laws (which are useful for such as prediction). Facts and values Facts are to sought. Values have no meaning for science. Â  Positivism has a long historical tradition. Often, knowledge not based on positivist thought is not accepted as correct. Most of the empirical studies are based on positivist approach. Positivism was a great success in physical and natural sciences. Positivist tradition can be traced to ancient Greek thinkers Plato and Aristotle. After dark periods in European history, the renaissance came in sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Well known positivists were Bacon, Descartes, Mill, Durkheim, Russell and Popper. Positivism gives emphasis on experiments. Experiments help the researcher to identify the relationship between variables. By using quantitative analytical techniques, generalisations can also be made that reflect real life situation. Surveys help researcher to collect data at one point of time. Information about various practices or views can be collected through questionnaires and interviews. To draw inferences

Unit II non specific topic (Intercultural Management) Essay

Unit II non specific topic (Intercultural Management) - Essay Example In most cases, the parent company owns majority of stocks in the subsidiary companies (Deresky, 2011). Consequently, the host countries have minimal control over the MNC. Moreover, the host countries have minimal benefits from the corporation’s income. The MNC also reserve key managerial and technical positions to expatriate from their countries. Thus, the MNC are accused of failing to contribute to the development of human recourses in the host countries. In addition, MNCs do not contribute to the development of technologies and production capacity of the host country. The MNCs are mostly concerned with profits and in so doing they neglect their development obligations. MNCs also dominate the manufacturing industry thereby giving unnecessary competition to the local companies. In most case, the companies take advantage of corruption and mismanagements in the host countries to establish their interests. Thus, failure to meet corporate social responsibilities is the main source of complaints against the MNC. Question 2: What processes do MNCs need to establish in order to reduce prosecution risk? Many MNCs have decided to confront concerns about ethical behavior by developing worldwide practices that represent the companys policy. What are four policies used to address this issue? How would you implement these four policies in your business strategy? Multinational companies are faced with prosecution risks arising mismanagement and poor international relations. In order to reduce prosecution risks, MNCs needs to establish various processes. Firstly, MNCs need to ensure high level of integrity and accountability (Thomas, 2008). This will enable the corporations to avoid being drawn into unnecessary corruptions and scandals. However, some prosecutions are driven by business interests and, therefore the MNCs have minimal control over such occurrences. International business ethics are business

Corporate Compliance to Risk Management Research Paper

Corporate Compliance to Risk Management - Research Paper Example The framework proposed by COSO helps companies to develop a successful and effective plan which meets the requirements and risk areas stipulated by COSO. The bigger the risk is, the greater is the prospect for gain-and for loss. Risk management plays an important role for a Pre-Paid Phone Cards company allowing management to predict and foresee possible dangers and solutions. Strategic objectives of the risk management plan are to cover all areas of Pre-Paid Phone Cards service and reduce risk situations and their negative impact on the company. Operations objective is to recognize that when a task is being done for the first time, the risk of not achieving budget, schedule, or specification targets is substantial. Also, the nature of new technology is that its development faces more than the usual levels of uncertainty. Reporting objective is to meet the established procedure and report all risk satiations. Compliance objective is to respond effectively to rules and regulations, financial reposting and corporate laws (Broder, 1999). Identify risk. Financial department will routinely scan the organization's internal and external environment to surface risk events that might affect its operations and well-being. Through this process, they develop a good sense of the bad things they might encounter in projects and operations. Examine risk impacts, both qualitative and quantitative. After financial officers develop a sense of the risk events they might encounter in Step 2, systematically determine the consequences associated with their occurrence. Think through hard-to-measure consequences by means of qualitative analysis. Develop risk-handling strategies: Now that financial officers know what risk events they might encounter (Step 2) and the consequences associated with them (Step 3), develop strategies to deal with them. Monitor and control risks. As projects and operations are underway, financial officers need to monitor the organization's disk space to see if untoward events have arisen that need to be handled. If the monitoring effort identifies problems in the process, then steps should be taken to control them.  

Global Economic Business a Substitute for Warfare Dissertation

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Measuring The Heat of Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide Lab Report

Measuring The Heat of Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide - Lab Report Example The objectives are threefold: to measure the temperature change of a HÂ ­2O2 solution as it decomposes, to measure the amount of heat absorbed by the calorimeter and finally to calculate the calorimeter constant and then use it to determine the enthalpy of decomposition. The Lab Quest unit was turned on and the temperature probe plugged in. A 150-mL beaker was wrapped in towel paper and then placed inside a 250-mL beaker. A piece of aluminium foil big enough to cover the top of the two beakers was cut. 25 mL of cold water was measured using a graduated cylinder and poured onto the 150-mL beaker.. 25 mL of hot water was measured into the graduated cylinder and the temperature measured. The temperature probe was placed into the cold water solution in the 150-mL beaker. The Lab Quest unit was then set up to begin recording the temperature by pressing the green button. 25 mL of the hot water was poured into the 150-mL beaker containing the cold water. The cup was then quickly covered with the aluminium foil. The cups were periodically swirled to ensure the contents mixed. Temperature recording was stopped once the temperature began to decline for several minutes. The used water was then poured into the sink. The recorded temperature and time data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet. The steps above were repeated twice and the average value calculated. 250 mL of HÂ ­2O2 was obtained. The temperature of the HÂ ­2O2 Â ­was measured and recorded as the initial temperature of the solution and calorimeter. The concentration of the HÂ ­2O2 was also recorded. 60 mL of 0.5M KI solution was obtained. 40 mL of the HÂ ­2O2 solution was measured into a graduated cylinder and the temperature probe plugged in. 10 mL of KI was measured into another graduated cylinder and then poured into the calorimeter and then quickly covered with an aluminium foil lid. The temperature probe was immediately inserted into the probe through a hole in the foil lid. The temperature recording

Strategic Management 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Management 2 - Essay Example In this regard, effective strategic leadership has become an extremely important factor for companies for attaining competitive advantage (Pettigrew, 2012). A lot of factors can initiate the process of internationalisation of firms during the period of globalisation. These factors can either be traditional factors that include objectives like, resource and market seeking or emerging objectives like, attaining economies of scale and competitive positioning (Sminia and De Rond, 2012). This essay discusses the case of British Petroleum, a London-based oil and natural gas company and evaluates various aspects of strategic management of the company so as to identify the competitive advantage and elaborate on leadership of the company. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the organisation’s current competitive advantages based on resource and capabilities view and dynamic possibilities. The international expansion of the company and its strategies in doing so has also been described. Leadership issues of the organisation during the period of international expansion have also been discussed in the final section. British Petroleum is one of the largest oil and natural gas companies of the world. The company has its headquarters in London and was incorporated on 1909. The BP group of companies works under BP Plc. The basic business model of British Petroleum comprises two main parts (BP plc, 2011). The first part is exploring and locating the natural gas and oils; and the second part is extraction of hydrocarbons making them commercially available. The company has a wide business model, which encompasses extraction, production and retail services of petrochemical products around the world. The petrochemical products produced by the company are used in production of a wide range of products, which are used in everyday life (BP plc, 2013). The exploration and production departments

John Foulcher for the Fire Q&a Essay Example for Free

John Foulcher for the Fire Qa Essay For the fire QA The first lines in the poem introduce us to the sounds in the bush. what are these sounds and whom does he think is making the noise? Why is his mistake understandable? What effect is achieved through these sound images? * The opening starts with the word â€Å"Outside† presenting the natural world that appears on the surface to be so beautiful and gentle. â€Å"a chopping sound† disrupts the natural image, â€Å"its singular human thud† represents a human is harming the environment. The effect is that humans are damaging the environment and its not uncommon (the author is not surprised† Explain the effect of the simile â€Å"like clockwork† what effect is created by the repetition of the‘t’ and‘d’ sounds in the sound drops/chipped from a tall dead tree? * It reminds us that this is a place controlled by nature. It is repetitive and continuous the image of the kookaburra and the lizard is vivid. Comment on lines 6-10 discussing the images created, choice of words and what they may suggest, the expressive verbs and the overall meaning of these lines. * The authors powerful language and imagery that we witness the savagery and brutality and feel sympathetic. what does the word oblivious tell us about the birds behaviour? * The bird doesn’t have sympathy for the lizard because it is a part of natures cycle and it was uninvietable. The birds behaviour is instinctive and even though it may seem brutal and savage to us, it is acting only out of instinct and survival. How does the poet indicate his acceptance of the birds apparent brutality. * The poet doesn’t help the lizard, instead he accepts natures cycle and picks up his kindling and leaves. What interpretation can you suggest to explain the meaning of the cold air congealing behind me * Visual image of the air is like a door closing on a world where the poet was an intruder.

Ikea Swot Analysis Essay Example for Free

Ikea Swot Analysis Essay Strengths: * IKEA offers a unique value proposition to its customers. It offers a wide range of well designed, functional products at low prices. The design begins with low costs from the outset, striking an ideal balance between function, quality, design, and price. * IKEA introduced the flat package which can be assembled by customers * IKEA has maintained long-term relationships with its suppliers, ensuring the company has access to high-quality materials at reasonable prices. Because of this, IKEA has some of the largest margins in the industry. * IKEA’s vision is to create a better everyday life for many people, putting the concerns for the environment and people at the heart of the business. Weaknesses: * The need for low cost products could lead to a possible compromise between quality and price. * IKEA is a global company, so product standards may be difficult to maintain. * Furniture needs assembly and not everyone has the tools, knowledge or strength to put the furniture together. The instructions for furniture assembly are just pictures. There are no words to accompany the instructions. Opportunities: * IKEA can further capitalize on the â€Å"green† movement and IKEA’s customer’s desires to have less of an impact on the environment. * IKEA is already reducing their carbon footprint by packing in less material. Threats: * Competition for IKEA comes from traditional furniture stores as well as stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, and other similar stores that also sell household products and small furniture. * Some stores have already mirrored the flat package, low cost packed furniture model. * Slow down in first time home buyers, which is a core market segment for IKEA, as well as the recession will limit the amount of customers that walk into an IKEA store. Questions: 1.) IKEA is already opening stores in many locations all across the globe. IKEA offers low-cost products, mostly furniture that is packaged in low, flat boxes, which the purchaser would take with them to assemble at home. IKEA will also deliver their products and the package design saves on shipping charges as well as shelf space at the store. Customers enjoy the experience of shopping at IKEA. The restaurant allows IKEA customers to make a day of the shopping trip. The average customer drives 50 miles round trip to IKEA. The furniture comes in low, flat packaging that is relatively easy to take with you. When it comes to assembly however, the instruction usually only have pictures. This saves the company money, since IKEA is global and would need to print instructions in multiple languages. 2.) IKEA has a one-way design to it store. Customers walk through the different displays and can experience the entire store. At the end of the trip is the warehouse, which has the furniture packaged in the low, flat boxes. Customers can grab a cart and choose the items that they need or liked as they walked through the store. The displays are set up so you can see how the matching furniture looks together. You can sit in the chairs, open and close the drawers, and test out the furniture before you buy. IKEA does offer delivery for a low fee. The salesperson told me that I would have to buy one of everything in the store before the shipping price would increase; I believe the shipping price was $60 for everything in my order. One can also purchase the service of having someone come to your home to put the furniture together. However, customers looking to go in and grab something quickly will find the design and layout of the store cumbersome. Customers may also see something on display that they really enjoy, however, when they get to the warehouse, they might find the shelf empty. IKEA is able to find the sold out items at other locations, however customers need to travel to the other store to make the purchase (at least this was my experience). When the sold out item is not available, the customer might want to go back to the display and find a different set of match-able items, making the shopping experience even longer and more cumbersome.

What are the Most Prevalent Dangers of Smoking and Drinking?

What are the Most Prevalent Dangers of Smoking and Drinking? A report based on open data provided by the UK Government in data.gov.uk Prepared by Tsvetelina Terezova Supervised by Dan Heron This work presents a research of the question What are the most prevalent dangers of smoking and drinking? In order to be understood and given an answer to this question, the report is based on open data, related to the topic and provided by the UK Government in data.gov.uk. All data in this web site are non-personal and in a format that allows it to be reused. The selected datasets here are explored, analysed and calculated by the use of R statistical software tool whereas Tableau data visualization software tool, is used for presenting the data in a pictorial format. The structure of the research is covering the following data visualisation life cycle, presented in figure 1 below. Figure 1. Data Visualisation Life Cycle Alcohol and cigarettes seriously threaten the health and are among the top causes of death. Among all risk factors for heart disease, people have the greatest control over those related to the use or abuse of alcohol and cigarettes. Multiple studies demonstrate that people who use or abuse with these substances have a significant increase in risk of developing heart disease. The answer of this research question presents a range of information on drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes which data is drawn together from different sources. The objective of the report is to present a wide picture of the health problems and dangers relating to the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes in England. The purpose of the data analysis and visualisation is to: Get closer to the data of alcohol and cigarettes consumption; Be understood the influence of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol; Enable decisions as it is much easier to be understood the potential risks of smoking and drinking by visualising the data; Discover patterns to be shown how both Alcohol and Smoking hide almost one and the same dangers; Inspire action the aim of this work is to visually demonstrate the dangers of smoking and drinking and can influence governments to improve the health care. This research report contains data graphics analysed from different datasets published online at data.gov.uk, by the UK Government. These data graphics are analysed in R software tool and visualised by the use of Tableau software tool. The goal is to be demonstrated how the dangers and abuse of tobacco and alcohol are approximately one and the same. The collected information is from a variety of data sources and the intent is to be presented in a better and amicable format. Also, the report includes some analysis performed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre and some National Statistic publications. [1] Selected Datasets: Statistics on Alcohol, England This statistical record operates as a benchmark for the health issues relating to the alcohol use. The provided information is collected from different sources and is presented in a convenient format. It includes cases such as drinking habits and manner among adults (16 years old and over) and children (11 to 15 years old); ill health and death related to drinking; accessibility of alcohol; hospital admissions related to alcohol consumption. The record consists of previously published data and also comprises further new analysis. The recent analysis are primarily received from the Health and Social Care Information Centres (HSCIC) Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) system, and prescribing data. The statistics also comprises new records on the current government policies and aspirations related to the alcohol use. It also includes links to additional sources of valuable information. [6] Statistics on Smoking, England This statistical record represents an assortment of information on smoking which is collected from different sources. The aim of this record is to present an extensive picture of the health problems related to smoking in England and includes themes such as smoking predominance, addictions, behaviours and style among adults and children, expenses, ill health and death related to smoking. This statistics incorporates data from a variety of sources representing it in a convenient format. It incorporates information and data formerly published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), Department of Health, the Office for National Statistics and Her Majestys Revenue and Customs. The record also comprises new analyses performed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. [2] Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England This dataset is announced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Smoking, Drinking and Drugs use among Young People in England is an annual research executed in participating schools in England for providing information on scholars smoking, drinking and drug consumption behaviours. The study concentrates on different manners in different years, alternating between drinking and smoking one year, to drug consumption the next year. [3] Alcohol-related recorded crimes, violent crimes and sexual crimes, England The three datasets [7], [8] and [9] contain a percentage respectively of the all recorded crimes, of the violent crimes and the sexual crimes per year, persons, all ages, per 1,000 population. The data are provided by the City of York Council and authorized by the Open Government Licence. Statistics on Womens Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: England This record represents the last outcomes and trends from the womens smoking status at time of delivery (SATOD) data compilation in England. The outcomes provide a measurement of the predominance of smoking among pregnant women at Commissioning Region, Area Team and Clinical Commissioning Group level. This supplement the public data existing from the Infant Feeding Survey (IFS). The smoking in pregnancy can bring to significant pregnancy-related health issues such as complications during childbirth, greater risk of abortion, premature birth, low birth-weight and sudden unexpected death in early childhood. [4] Alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom The data here is presented by the National Statistics Office and authorized by the Open Government Licence. This report provides the most recent data for alcohol-related deaths in the UK, its four composite countries and districts of England. Comparisons are made between 2012, and earlier provided information from 1991 onwards. [10] Deaths from smoking This dataset is provided by the Department of Health and authorized by the Open Government Licence. The information for deaths due to smoking per 100,000 is provided by the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) Geographies: Local Authority District (LAD), County/Unitary Authority, Government Office Region (GOR), National Geographic coverage: England. [5] The analysis implications are related to preparing the selected data, perception of the intended data characteristics, selecting a proper tool and technique, correctly using the tool, accurately presenting the data and making the right clarifications. In order to be explored and appropriately visualized the answer of the research question are used the following steps: Analysing the entire open data, statistics and reports published in data.gov.uk; Selecting the appropriate datasets related to the research question; Downloading the selected datasets as an Excel files; Cleaning Data and preparing the excel files for analysis. 4.1 Normalization of the data formatting as raw data; 4.2 Removing the introductory text and additional information from the files; 4.3 Clearing the data files from blank spaces and unnecessary written sentences irrelevantwith the data analysis. 4.4 Replacing the contained symbol for missing data (-) with the value 0 in the data fields; 4.5 The following three small datasets: Alcohol-related recorded crimes, Alcohol-related violent crimes and Alcohol-related sexual crimes, are gathered in one excel file with the aim to be analysed and visualised together; Converting all the excel files in .csv format; Exploratory data analysis in R Exploratory data analysis is detective work (it) can never be the whole story but nothing else can serve as the foundation stone. John Tukey Exploratory Data Analysis (1977) [21] The exploratory data analysis (EDA) is very important part in the data visualisation process as it detect mistakes, check assumptions, suggest possible statistical models and determine relationships between variables. Exploratory framework pertains to the following process sequence: Data > Analysis > Model > Conclusion In this work the EDA is achieved with the help of R statistical software tool, widely used and broad range of analysis capabilities. The main types of EDA are Univariate and Multivariate approaches and both can be non-graphical and graphical. Here the Multivariate analysis will be included only in the visualization part. Univariate Approach Alcohol related deaths Filtering the year in dataset Alcohol related deaths only for 2012 with the aim to be compared the data for Smoking related deaths. The STR function is used to display the inner structure of the data and diagnostics Str(Alc_deat), shows the internal structure of the dataset The head(Alc_deat) function is used to look at top few lines of the dataset (to see the data structure) The tail(Alc_deat) function is used to look at bottom few lines of the dataset (to see the data structure) Smoking related deaths Data set structure seems to be fine except value as this should be an integer and not a factor, therefore the value is changed to integer The function Smk_dea$Value = as.integer(Smk_deat$Value) is used forchanging the value to integer The function Summary(Smk_dea$ Metric_seconday) is used for summarising the most common causes of death related to smoking. The function sum(Smk_deat$Value) is used for calculating the amount of deaths caused by smoking ABOVE ALL ELSE SHOW THE DATA EDWARD TUFTE According to Jacques Bertin the visualization is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the artificial memory that best supports our natural means of perception. [22] And according to Cleveland and McGill, it is also à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦categorical and quantitative information encoded, chiefly through position, shape, size, symbol and colour. [21] Data visualization is above all understanding relations and ratios between numbers. The data visualization is not about understanding particular numbers, but about understanding models, patterns, and relationships that exist in groups of numbers, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the use of abstract, non-representational pictures to show numbers, Edward Tufte. [22] To meet and understand images is one of the common instincts of the human. From a well-drafted image, one is simpler to see the relationships and trends. As the visual production of the data takes advantage of the huge, and often underutilized, range of the human eye to get information from pictures and figures. The data visualization changes the load from digital analysing to visual analysing. Receiving information from visualizations is much more timesaving instead of analysing documents and sums therefore many decision makers would prefer to get the data in graphical form instead of textual or written form. In order to be explored and appropriately visualized the answer of the question What are the most preventable dangers of smoking and drinking? are used the following steps: Making a visual exploration of the data using Tableau Software, as follows: Connecting the excel data files; Creating Views and Analysis for each one of the files as separate worksheets and name appropriately every sheet; Representing the data in more effective way, applying filters, creating sets and groups, generating trend lines, using different visualization methods, such as: Bars, Lines, Plot, Pie, Stacked bars, etc. for better understanding; Using appropriate colours for good visualisation; Adding title and description (caption) to the graphics for better accepting; Gathering the worksheets and creating dashboards and/or data story. In the visualization process are also taken of importance the following Tuftes design principles: the data to be shown above all else, the data-ink ratio to be maximized, the non-data-ink to be erased, the redundant data-ink to be erased and finally the visualization to be revised and edited. [22] The point of this report is to give a resolution of the question What are the most prevalent dangers of smoking and drinking? and to strengthen the answer with real data and facts. R has been used to analyse the data and its results helped to achieve the objective of the research and then Tableau was used to visualise the finding and complete the research question. Well-structured stories expand the influence, make the data more rational and benefit the message retention. Thinking hard about the viewers the structure of the story follows inductive horizontal logic with similar grouped ideas: Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol What are the most prevalent dangers of smoking and drinking? Smoking among adults causes numerous health diseases leading to preventable death; Drinking alcohol among adults is a danger because also causes numerous health diseases leading to preventable death; Cigarette consumption among children is a danger because leads to addiction and damaging the development of childs body; Alcohol among children leads to poisoning and damaging the development of childs body; Alcohol related crimes are danger because lead to Robberies, Sexual attacks, Intimate partner violence, Murders; Smoking in pregnancy affects the life of the mother and her unborn baby; Smoking related deaths are danger because cause lung cancer; Alcohol related deaths are danger because cause alcoholic liver disease; After the made analysis of the data related to alcohol and cigarettes consumption, it can be summarized that the steps in the horizontal logic (shown above) formalized similar grouped ideas which are de facto the key points (dangers), answering the question. After associating several feedbacks, the result was suggesting the visualizations had unnecessary use of data ink, some of the graphics were with too bright colours and the audience had difficulties to get a clear picture of the figures, which are shown in the appendix. The redesign of the graphics included medium data ink, change of the colours from light to colour blind pallet for colour blind people and easier understanding of the images. Also, some of the bar charts were ordered by height as thus were represented the Gestalt features to allow the viewer to see the shapes without spending time to process the image. In order to be answered the research question What are the most prevalent dangers of smoking and drinking? numerous statistical reports and datasets were explored. According to most of the sources, here are visually explained the top dangers of smoking and drinking. Danger 1: Cigarette smoking among adults Smoking damages the blood circulation and the heart. Also, increases the risk of: stroke, heart attack, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease (damaged arteries that deliver blood to the brain). It can limit the blood supply to the penis and can cause impotence in men. It can also decrease the productivity of both men and women. [11] Key findings for cigarette smoking among adults, registered in UK. Figure 1 demonstrates that people aged 20 to 24 and 25 to 34 reported the highest dominance of cigarette smoking (respectively 29% and 27%), while those aged 60 and over reported the lowest dominance, 13 percent. The data shown in figure 1.1 are an instance how the men are more likely to smoke than the women, 22% of the men report smoking versus 19% of the women. Danger 2: Drinking alcohol among adults Alcohol is ethanol which anaesthetizes the brain as a potent drug. In the bark area of the brain, it works as a relaxant and perverts the control, memory, learning ability, decisions and conduct. There is no doubt that long term use or abuse of alcohol causes inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver and also enhances the risk of kidney disease. [12] Key findings for drinking alcohol among adults, registered in UK. The results of the data here resemble those described above for smoking among adults, namely: people aged 16 to 24 and 25 to 44 have the highest frequency of alcohol consumption, while those who are 65 years old and over have the lowest. (Figure 2) The data has changed and decreased in the years and in 2013 is recorded lower alcohol consumption from young adults aged 16 to 24 and 25 to 44 years old. Danger 3: Cigarette smoking among children The young people and teens are quite vulnerable to the deadly effects caused from the consumption of cigarettes because their body is still growing. Most of the people begin to try cigarettes before finishing their high school. So if the people stay smoke-free in school, they will likely never start smoking. [16] Key findings for smoking among children, registered in UK.From this data set, kids were asked whether they think it is OK to try cigarettes to see what it is like or it is OK to smoke cigarettes once a week. The acceptability of smoking increases with the age. For instance, 6% of 11 years old think that it is OK to try smoking to see what it is like in comparison with 57% (avg.) of 15 years old. The interesting finding here is that girls are more likely to try smoking cigarettes to see what its like than boys are. (Fig. 3) Danger 4: Drinking alcohol among children Alcohol can harm the development of young peoples body because it is still growing. This makes youths especially vulnerable to the long-time harm caused by the alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol in youth can harm the brain development. Most of the teens think that is not worth to worry about because the health risks caused by drinking are far in the future. Nevertheless, there is an acute rise in the amount of people in their twenties dying from liver disease as a score of alcohol abuse in their teens. The young people consuming alcohol are more likely to be involved in accidents and end in hospital because of alcohol poisoning. [15] Key findings for drinking among children, registered in UK.The summary of the dataset here shows that more prone to alcohol consumption are 15 years old children with the highest record of 25% (Figure 4). The data analysis on Figure 4.1 shows that boys and girls were equally likely to have drunk alcohol in 2014 (8%) which record was dramatically decreased since 2010 when the percentage was 13%. Danger 5: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy Smoking during pregnancy can put the health of the mother and her unborn baby at risk. The cigarette consumption can enhance the danger of: low birth weight; miscarriage; complications of pregnancy; premature birth; congenital defects in the baby (cleft palate); poorer growth, development and health of the child stillbirth or death within the first week of life. [20] Key findings for smoking during pregnancy, registered in UK. The dataset for Womens Smoking Status at Time of Delivery (SATOD) gives information on the frequency of smoking among pregnant women in UK. The results here show that the lowest percentage, 12% of mothers recorded as smokers at the time of delivery (TOD), is registered in 2013/2014 which continues to decrease steadily from 15% in 2006-07 (Figure 5). Regardless of the fact that the percentage of women who are smoking in pregnancy is measured less than those who do not smoke in pregnancy, the smoking at TOD definitely will stay a prevalent danger because it hides many health risks. Danger 6: Alcohol related crimes The alcohol consumption is a very common factor related to most of the cases with criminal records. Many people find themselves involved in crimes after an intense drinking of large amount of alcohol intake because the ethanol has the aptitude to reduce the ability of making decisions, decrease the inhibitions and encourage aggressive inclinations. The most general alcohol-related crimes are cases of drinking and driving. However, there are many other significant violations that result from the abuse of alcohol. The most common alcohol-related crimes are: robberies, sexual attacks, intimate partner violence and murders. [13] Key finding for alcohol-related crimes, registered in UK. According to the Alcohol-related crimes dataset, in 2013 are recorded: 4.85% of alcohol-related recorded crimes; 0.13%   of alcohol-related sexual crimes; 3.63% of alcohol-related violent crimes. Danger 7: Smoking-related deaths Smoking is one of the biggest causes of diseases and deaths in the UK. Annually, around 100,000 people in the UK die from smoking, and many others are living with exhausting smoking-related diseases. Smokers under the age of 40 have a 5 times higher risk of a heart attack than non-smokers. The cigarette consumption is a major reason of around 80% of deaths from lung cancer, around 80% of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema, and about 14% of deaths from heart disease. Almost all cancer deaths can be referred to smoking. For instance, cancer of the lung, throat, bladder, mouth, lip, pancreas, kidney, stomach, liver and cervix. Approximately half of all smokers will die earlier. Generally, the smokers die ten years younger than the people who do not smoke. [11] Key findings for smoking-related deaths, registered in UK. Figure 7 shows that the most prevalent deaths are from cancers (3, 392, 696) followed by all diseases of the digestive system (2,761, 928), all circulatory diseases (2,059, 112) and all respiratory diseases (1,224,208). Figure 7.1 shows that the larger proportion of deaths are among men. Danger 8: Alcohol-related deaths After smoking, the abuse of alcohol is the second most frequent reason of avertible death. The list below counts the causes of death which are related to alcohol consumption: [17] Key findings for alcohol-related deaths by gender, registered in UK. Figure 8 summarises that 6,490 alcohol-related deaths were registered in UK for 2012, an age consistent rate per 100,000 population. For both genders, males and females, it can be summarised that the most common cause of death from alcohol was the alcoholic liver disease with 4,075 registered deaths. 4,230 of alcohol-related deaths were among males compared with females which were 2,260 (Figure 8.1). DATASETS: UK government open data. Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/ Health and Social Care Information Centre. Dataset of Statistics on Smoking, England. Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/statistics_on_smoking_england Health and Social Care Information Centre. Dataset of Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England. Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/smoking_drinking_and_drug_use_among_young_people_in_england Health and Social Care Information Centre. Dataset of Statistics on Womens Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: England, Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/statistics-on-womens-smoking-status-at-time-of-delivery-england Department of Health. Dataset of Deaths from smoking.Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/deaths_from_smoking Health and Social Care Information Centre. Dataset of Statistics on Alcohol, England. Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/statistics_on_alcohol_england City of York Council. Dataset of Alcohol-related recorded crimes: Persons, all ages (per 1,000 population). Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/kpi-lape18 City of York Council. Dataset of Alcohol-related violent crimes: Persons, all ages (per 1,000 population). Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/kpi-lape19 City of York Council. Dataset of Alcohol-related sexual crimes: Persons, all ages (per 1,000 population). Available online on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/kpi-lape20 Office for National Statistics. Dataset of Alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom Available on: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/alcohol-related_deaths_in_the_united_kingdom REPORTS BOOKS : Health and Social Care Information Centre. Report, Statistics on Smoking, UK (2014) Health and Social Care Information Centre. Report, Statistics on Alcohol, UK (2015) Office for National Statistics. Report of Violent Crime and Sexual Offences Alcohol-Related Violence, 2015 Office for National Statistics. Smoking and drinking among adults, 2009 Raphael Zahler, Caroline Piselli. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs, Chapter 6 Public Health Research Consortium. Report of A Review of Young People and Smoking in England, 2009 Office for National Statistics. Alcohol Related Deaths in United Kingdom, 2013 Health and Social Care Information Centre. Report of Smoking, drinking and dru

The Reign Of Terror Essay -- History Historical Terror Essays

The Reign of Terror   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  History is said to be written by the winners, but is it possible to rewrite history? In a way, the French, like many who have preceded them, and many who will proceed them have done the impossible, rewriting history. From trivial folklore, such as George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, to the incredibly wrong, the African slave trade; people's views of history can be shaped and molded. The French have done a superb job of instilling all of us with the concept that their Revolution was a fight for liberty, justice and the good of all Frenchmen everywhere. Their glorification of the Bastille with it's depictions in painting and sculpture and how the Revolution was the beginning of a new age pales to some of the events during this period. In fact, the storming of the Bastille was merely a hole in the dike, and more would follow. The National Guard, the Paris Commune, the September Massacre, are all words that the French would prefer us not to hear. These events were a subtle dà ©nouementto an climax that was filled with both blood and pain. The Reign of Terror, or the Great Terror, was a massive culmination to the horror of the French Revolution, the gutters flowing with blood as the people of Paris watched with an entertained eye. No matter what the French may claim, if one chooses to open his eyes and read about this tragedy, they are most certainly welcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The revolution begins quietly in the fiscal crisis of Louis XVI's reign. The government was running deeply into bankruptcy, and at the urging of his financial advisors, he called the Estates General. The governing body had not been called for almost two centuries, and now it's workings seemed outdated. A small number of people said that the Third Estate, that which was drawn from the towns, should have power to equal the other Estates. Clubs of the bourgeoisie, the middle class, were formed, proclaiming, "Salus populi lex est." It was a simple cry meaning "the welfare of the people is law." To these people, the Estates General was like a pair of shoes that no longer fit. Reformed seemed iminent, the phrase, "The Third Estate is not an order, it is the nation itself" began to circulate.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With much fanfare and circumstance, the three estates were called together. However, on trying to meet, the Third Estate found the doors to t... ...al depiction of man at his worst. The sad truth is that events of this nature have occurred with amazing regularity. Perhaps if the Reign of Terror was just one appalling moment of human cruelty, the world would be a different place. With such things as the Gulag, the Holocaust, the African Slave Trade, and even returning back to ancient times of the Assyrians and the Crusades, man has been known to slaughter his brethren wholesale. We are a race, bred with violence coursing through our veins, and we can do little about it. Perhaps my speculations are wrong, but if such tragedies have occurred over and over, can we truly ever change. The Reign of Terror is just the culmination to the bloodiness and the atrocities of the French Revolution. It is quite ironic that a Revolution based on the ideals of Reason and the fight for the people, would kill over thirty thousand of their countrymen. In conclusion, the Reign of Terror was the climax of this terrible Revolution. The violence and paranoia of the sans culottes, the lust for political power in the convention, and the petty differences of one person to another finally reached a head, exploding into a mass execution.

A Separate Peace: Finny - How Things Change Essay example -- essays re

A Separate Peace: Finny - How Things Change In the novel "A Separate Peace," by John Knowles, a boy named Gene visits his high school 15 years after graduating in order to find an inner peace. While attending the private boys school during the second World War, Gene's best friend Phineas died and Gene knows he was partially responsible. Phineas, or Finny as he was sometimes called, was the most popular boy in school. He was a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. Gene, on the other hand, was a lonely, self-sufficient intellectual. Somehow the two became good friends, or so Finny thought. Gene, unfortunately, was bitten by the green-eyed monster of jealousy. Gene just couldn't come to grips with the idea that a person of Finny's stature would want to be his friend. Gene's envy grew to a point where he was willing to severely injure Finny for being too perfect. Unfortunately for Finny, Gene succeeded. Finny's seeming perfection, his strong beliefs, and his ability to forgive trace his development throughout the novel. Finny's seeming perfection was the basis for Gene's resentment towards him. Gene thought that everything Finny did was perfect, which just upset Gene all the more. Finny was so perfect that he didn't care what others thought, like when Finny wore a pink shirt as an emblem after the bombing of central Europe. " '...Pink! It makes you look like a fairy!' 'Does it?' He used this preoccupied tone when he was thinking of something more interesting than what you had said." One time Finny and Gene were at the swimming pool when Finny noticed that a boy named A. Hopkins Parker had the record for the 100 yards free style. When Finny realized that A. Hopkins Parker had graduated before they came, he remarked, "I have a feeling I can swim faster than A. Hopkins Parker." He was right. Gene was ecstatic that Finny could do such a thing without any training or anything. All Gene could say was, "You're too good to be true." In certain ways he was. Throughout the book Gene knows that Finny has some strong beliefs. The first three he noticed were: "Never say you are five feet nine when you are really five feet eight and a half"; "Always say some prayers at night because it might turn out that there is a god"; an... ...y?" "I believe you. It's okay because I understand and I believe you. You've already shown me and I believe you." Finny forgave Gene and all was well, at least for a little while. Finny's development can be seen throughout the novel by tracing his seeming perfection, his strong beliefs, and his ability to forgive. Finny changed from being the best athlete in the school to being the only one who couldn't go to the war. Finny was a very good person. Finny was a very firm believer in what he thought was right. Finny was a very forgiving person, believing in the forgiveness of friends. Unfortunately, Finny died due to the negligence of the school doctor. When Finny's leg was being set some bone marrow escaped into his blood stream stopping his heart. When Gene heard this news he didn't cry. Gene felt that, along with Phineas, he himself had died, and you don't cry at your own funeral. Gene went back to his school to come to grips with the fact that he was partially responsible for Finny's death. Finny was not perfect; D's on his tests and bad grades show that. But to Gene, Finny was perfect and always would be.

Relationships Between Parents and Children in Poetry Essay

Many poets use poetry to express their feelings on their relationships with their parents or children. ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ by Alice Walker is about a girl who has grown into an adult and is thinking back to when she was younger. In the poem she talks about how much she misses her father because he has passed away. ‘Piano’ by D.H. Lawrence is about a man that is reminded of his mother who always played the piano for him because of a woman that he hears singing. ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ by Chinua Achebe is about a woman that is in a refugee camp with her young child who is so sick that he is sure to die soon. ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ presents childhood as a lonely, emotional experience. The woman in this poem has many fond memories of her father but she also has a lot of regret. She misses him very much and she is sad because she wishes she could have spent more time with him when she was a young girl. In the poem she says, â€Å"How I miss my father. I wish he had not been so tired when I was born.† She wishes that her father wasn’t too exhausted to spend time with her when she was a young girl. The reader probably feels sorry for the little girl and some people may feel like they can relate to the girl when it comes to spending time with parents. This also relates to ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ because the man in this poem also misses his father except he isn’t dead yet. He doesn’t want him to die. ‘Piano’ presents childhood as safe, secure and serene. As like in ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ the man has fo nd memories of time spent with his mother who he misses so much that it brings him to tears to think back to his childhood. The poem says, â€Å"Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past†. As he remembers his childhood, he begins to cry because he misses the times with his mother. It is unusual for a man to cry and he was embarrassed because men did not cry in the early 1900’s. This makes the reader think back to childhood memories that they miss and they can relate to the poem just like readers can relate to ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ because they both stress realistic topics that apply to many people. ‘Half Past Two’ is also similar to ‘Piano’ because it talks about missing childhood and it presents childhood as a carefree time. ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ presents childhood as a time of pain and suffering. The boy in this poem does not have fond memories of childhood because of his difficult lifestyle and he is  very ill. The poem says, â€Å"Now she did it like putting flowers on a tiny grave†. The boy’s mother is being delicate and combing her son’s hair as if she was putting flowers on a tiny grave because he is dying. This makes the reader very sympathetic towards the mother because she loves her son with all her heart but yet she has to watch him die which is very hard for her. ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ can relate to ‘My Parents Kept me from Children who were Rough’ because the parents in these poems are trying to do the best for their son. In ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’, Alice Walker uses imagery to portray herself as a woman who has inherited qualities and characteristics that her father possessed. This is shown when she uses the simile â€Å"He cooked like a person dancing in a yoga meditation† which suggests that her father is trance-like when he cooks and this shows that although he was often very strict with her, her father had a calm, laid back side. She has grown up to be like him and she believes that her father would be proud to see the woman that she has grown up to be. The metaphor â€Å"seasoning one of my life the same way twice† shows that Alice Walker is spontaneous and her life has no routine and this may be something that she has inherited from her father. ‘Piano’ uses a nostalgic image to emphasize how much D.H. Lawrence misses his childhood. The poem refers to â€Å"old Sunday evenings at home† and â€Å"hymns in the cosy parlour†. This creates a warm, homely image leading the reader to think that the boy comes from a loving home. ‘Piano’ also uses the simile â€Å"I weep like a child for the past† to emphasize how much the poet misses his childhood. He is crying openly because he wants to be a child again. The metaphor â€Å"a flood of remembrance† describes his memories rushing back all at once and this creates an overwhelming feeling for him. When ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ says, â€Å"The air was heavy with odors of diarrhea, of unwashed children with washed-out ribs and dried up bottoms waddling in labored steps† it appeals to the sense of the reader and it gives them an unpleasant image. This gives the reader the idea that the conditions are absolutely terrible and may even make some people sick to the stomach. It gives them a picture of the poverty and illness that is presents in war torn countries around the world. In ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ I found it interesting when Alice Walker said, â€Å"He taught me how† because this is saying that her father was a role model for her and she learned a lot from him. This makes the reader think that the father set a good example for her. ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ also uses a euphemism for death when it says, â€Å"Though many truths must have grieved him before the end†. She doesn’t actually want to say that he died because it probably makes her sad. In ‘Piano’ I find it interesting when D.H. Lawrence said, â€Å"In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song†. He is trying to fight against the memory of his childhood because it makes him sad. â€Å"Insidious mastery of song† is a powerful tool which is saying that the mastery of the song that he is hearing betrays him back to his childhood. ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ makes good use of ellipsis. It says, â€Å"Her tenderness for a song she would soon have to forget†¦.† This foreshadows the child’s death. This makes the reader feel sorry for the mother and it also makes them sad. The poem also uses interesting vocabulary when it says, â€Å"Before his breakfast and school; now she did it.† The word ‘now’ stresses the mother and her son’s previous normal existence. This probably makes the reader have a lot of sympathy for the mother and feel sorry for her because she is losing her child. This also gives the reader an idea of the life that the mother provided for her son and how the war has completely changed their lives. Alice Walker writes ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ in first person. The poem is conveyed as very sad because she misses her father and the main feeling conveyed in this poem is love. The poem opens by saying, â€Å"How I miss my father†. Later in the poem she repeats the phrase â€Å"How I miss my father† to emphasize how much she misses him. At first the mood is regretful but as the poem goes on the mood changed and she thinks that her father would admire the woman she has become. D.H. Lawrence also writes ‘Piano’ in first person and also third person to reminisce and describe himself as a child listening to his mother playing piano. An example of first person in this poem is, â€Å"Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see† and an example of third person in this poem is, â€Å"A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings.† In this quote he refers to himself as â€Å"a child† because he is trying to distance himself from his childhood. This poem is conveyed  as depressing because it can cause readers to reminisce about their childhood and make them realize how much they actually miss it. The person speaking in ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ is the author, Chinua Achebe, and the poem is written in third person. An example of third person in this poem is, â€Å"She held a ghost-smile between her teeth†. Although she was not happy, she put on a fake smile. The main feelings conveyed in this poem are sadness and love. The attitude towards the mother is admiration and how she is taking care of her son is touching. ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine† does not use any rhyming. It is also a free verse poem. This compliments her nature and it allows her to use the poem as an outpouring of feelings about her father. She uses the poem to express how she feels about her father and how she wishes he was around to see how she has grown up. ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ is also a free verse poem. It does not have a rhyme scheme. It makes it seem like the mother’s life is hectic and not very organized because of how much she has to deal with everyday trying to take care of her dying son. Her life is filled with agony and suffering. However ‘Piano’ isn’t written in free verse. Each stanza has the same amount of lines and the poem uses rhyming couplets. The structure of the poem represents the security of D.H. Lawrence’s childhood and how safe he felt when he was sitting under the piano listening to his mother. In my opinion, these poems all discuss the same main topics which are love and sadness. I think that these poems will help many readers to think back to childhood memories that they are fond of and open up readers’ eyes to make them realize how much they actually miss being a child. My favorite poem is ‘A Mother in a Refugee Camp’ because I know a woman that is a close family friend who had to watch her young son slowly die from a deadly disease and that helps me to understand how hard it must have been for the mother in this poem to see her son die.

Revolutionary Antiseptic Technique

Joseph Lister's Revolutionary Antiseptic Technique Kundhavaidevi BalamuruganAH 9 Block 13-3-2018 It was October 26, 1877, in King's College and a boy had fractured his patella, also known as a kneecap. A few decades ago doctors would have deemed his case of hopeless, advising him to amputate. It was 1877 though– the height of surgical advancements!– and there was an alternative option– wiring his patella was proposed. Wiring his patella required converting a simple fracture into a compound fracture deliberately, which was often associated with infection and even death (Cartwright, 2017). The procedure itself was deemed preposterous by the public and other medical professionals, receiving harsh criticism. The boy would surely die of infection. His doctor, however, remained confident in his procedure. The doctor had invented antiseptic technique, which would prevent contamination of the surgical equipment and infection of the wound. He used carbolic acid to create antiseptic conditions to perform the surgery. The conditions made the surgery was a success! The surgeon to perform this controversial surgery was Joseph Lister, an innovative and influential surgeon. His creation of antiseptic treatment, based off of germ theory, was the most influential innovation in surgical history. It had revolutionized surgery, allowing complex surgeries to be performed, lowering mortality rates and increasing the safety of procedures.Joseph Lister, Baron Lister of Lyme Regis was born on April 5, 1827, in Upton, Essex, England. He was the son of Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabelle Harris. Both his father and his mother took an active part in his education, teaching him how to use a microscope (Mental Floss, 2017). He received formal schooling in two Quaker schools which further emphasized science and natural history. By age 16, Joseph Lister decided he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, specifically to become a surgeon. He attended the University College in London and became House Surgeon at University College Hospital in 1856, after receiving a Bachelor of Honors in Medicine in October 1852. He got his fellowship in Royal College of Surgeons and studied under James Syme, a renowned surgeon in Edinburgh. He later became Syme's son-in-law after marrying his daughter, Agnes Syme. On their honeymoon, Lister and his wife visited French and German institutes that inspired Agnes Lister to become Joseph Lister's laboratory assistant. In Lister's early years as a surgeon, he researched inflammation, which was considered a specific disease at the time. He studied the microscopic healing of wounds, specifically the â€Å"mechanism of coagulation of blood and blood vessels during the first stages of inflammation† (Cartwright, 2017). This served as a background to his work in wound dressing and his development of antiseptic treatment.He worked as a dresser for Sir Erichsen, a physician that believed that wounds become infected due to bad air. The miasma theory, which was popular at the time, claimed that concentrated bad air can infect the wound. At the time, miasma was thought to be the cause of spread of disease and infection. The origins of the miasma theory can be traced back to ancient China and Europe. Miasma is comparable to smoke, mist, or fog: air can carry miasma. Air carrying miasma was considered contaminated. The cause of miasma varied– some believed it was from moisture and heat while others thought it originated from rotting organic matter like dead insects. Early in his career, he had not believed in miasma. In dressing the wounds, Lister had realized that when wounds were cleaned, some had healed. He reasoned that if some wounds could be healed, it was highly unlikely that the â€Å"bad air† was the cause of disease and infection.Lister's first major surgery was on a woman named Julia Sullivan. Her drunk husband had stabbed her abdomen on a night out and her intestines were exposed. The injury had caused her to pass out. Joseph Lister was the only one present at the facility due to the odd hours (it was early in the morning). At this point of his career, he became house surgeon to Sir Erichsen when Lister's predecessor stepped down. He had only been in this position for a month when this incident occurred. He cleaned the wound with warm water, extended the cut on the abdomen, sutured the intestines, then sutured the abdomen with a single thread as opposed to multiple threads (Richardson ; Rhodes, 2013). This surgery was controversial at the time but it was effective. This manner of surgery is consistent throughout his career: unconventional, controversial, yet effective.He was appointed Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow at the age of 33, in August 1861. Though he was a professor, he did not attain Glasgow Royal Infirmary privileges until a year later, his request initially denied. He became in charge of the Male Accident Ward, a new surgical block at the infirmary(Pitt ; Aubin, 2012).Many patients in the Male Accident Ward suffered compound fractures, which was commonly treated with amputation. Lister observed that 45 to 50 percent of amputation patients died from sepsis between 1861 and 1865. Later he read Louis Pasteur's paper on the germ theory, a theory that stated microorganisms cause infection, as opposed to bad air as proposed by the miasma theory that was popular at the time. Lister hypothesized that the â€Å"same process that caused fermentation was also involved in wound sepsis†. He postulated that sepsis was caused by â€Å"pollen-like dust† (Cartwright, 2017) . He believed the only mode of contamination was by air. To disinfect wounds, he applied carbolic acid, which was commonly used to disinfect sewage at the time. He sprayed carbolic acid in the air, onto the equipment, and onto the wound to disinfect and prevent infection or contamination. He used this method on the patients of his ward for several years. The results of his technique was positive. Using phenol as an antiseptic reduced the mortality rate of the Male Accident Ward to 15 percent in 4 years.His practice was very different than of his peers. Others in the medical field did not wash bed linens and lab coats, using the same equipment for patients.They had believed that infection and contamination were caused by â€Å"bad air†, as the miasma theory entailed, and hence did not see the reason for sterile equipment and techniques. As a result, when he published two papers on antiseptic technique on the Lancet in March and July 1967, his colleagues criticized his methods. The source of doubt was because the microorganisms were not visible to the naked eye. If they were not visible, they did not exist. His work was misunderstood and his colleagues demanded proof of his technique being effective (Cartwright, 2017). He altered the administration of the carbolic acid, spraying it now with a machine he called a donkey engine. The donkey engine increased the efficiency of the application of carbolic acid. He increasingly used this method on surgeries and the results were positive. Patients approved of his methods. Germany, the United States, and eventually Great Britain accepted and adopted his approach to antiseptic technique. In 1871, he operated on Queen Victoria, who had a large abscess on her armpit. Lister lanced the abscess with a sharp tool, drained the pus, dressed the wound, and treated it with carbolic acid (Fulton, 2017). The Queen approved of Lister's methods involving carbolic acid. This nod of approval from the Queen of the United Kingdom encouraged his peers in the medical field to accept antiseptic technique. Though his technique was not accepted during a majority of his lifetime, antiseptic treatment revolutionized surgical procedures. Infection and contamination of the wounds were less common. Surgery was no longer dangerous, lowering mortality rates and increasing success rates. It is quite a feat to dispute a widely popular medical theory and to continue practicing though his colleagues ridiculed his technique. He was creative, too, using phenol, a carbolic acid used to disinfect sewage, to dress wounds. His work revolutionized medicine, a field that is slow to change. His work in antiseptic technique inspired the brand Listerine to name themselves after Joseph Lister. Though his techniques are no longer used, it served as the gateway to developing better antiseptic and aseptic techniques. His ideas and approach to antiseptic technique influence our culture and our behavior from our cleansing our mouths with mouthwash in the morning to disinfecting our clothing to using Bactine to disinfect cuts and minor open wounds. His ability to be nonconformist to popular belief and create antiseptic technique was the most innovative occurrence of the 20th century.10 Intriguing Facts About Joseph Lister. (2017, September  12). Retrieved March 01, 2018, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/503311/10-intriguing-facts-about-joseph-listerCartwright, F. F. (2017, November 16). Joseph Lister. Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Lister-Baron-Lister-of-Lyme-RegisFulton, A. (2017, October 13). ‘The Butchering Art': How A 19th Century Physician Made Surgery Safer. Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/13/557367840/the-butchering-art-how-a-19th-century-physician-made-surgery-saferPitt, D., ; Aubin, J. (2012, October). Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468637/Richardson, R., ; Rhodes, B. (2013, December 20). Retrieved March 1, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3826195/Science Museum. Brought to Life: Exploring the History of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2018, from http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/josephlister Revolutionary Antiseptic Technique Joseph Lister's Revolutionary Antiseptic Technique Kundhavaidevi Balamurugan AH 9 Block 13-3-2018 It was October 26, 1877 in King's College and a boy had fractured his patella, or kneecap. A few decades ago doctors would have deemed his case of hopeless, advising him to amputate. But it was 1877– the height of surgical advancements!– and there was an alternative option– wiring his patella was proposed. Wiring his patella entailed a deliberate conversion of a simple fracture into a compound fracture, which were often associated with infection and even death. The procedure itself was deemed preposterous by the public and other medical professionals, receiving harsh criticism. The boy would surely die of infection. But his doctor remained confident in his procedure. The doctor had invented antiseptic technique, which would prevent contamination of the surgical equipment and infection of the wound. He used carbolic acid to create antiseptic conditions to perform the surgery. The conditions made the surgery was a success! The surgeon to perform this controversial surgery was Joseph Lister, an innovative and influential surgeon. His creation of antiseptic treatment, based off of germ theory, was the influential innovation surgical history. It had revolutionized surgery, allowing complex surgeries to be performed, lowering mortality rates and increasing the safety of procedures. Joseph Lister, Baron Lister of Lyme Regis was born on April 5, 1827 in Upton, Essex, England. He was the son of Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabelle Harris. Both his father and his mother took an active part in his education, teaching him natural history and how to use a microscope. He received formal schooling in two Quaker schools which emphasized science and natural history. By age 16, Joseph Lister decided he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field-specifically to become a surgeon. He attended the University College in London and became House Surgeon at University College Hospital in 1856, after receiving a Bachelor of Honors with Medicine in October 1852. He got his fellowship in Royal College of Surgeons and studied under James Syme, a renowned surgeon in Edinburgh. He later becomes Syme's son-in-law after marrying his daughter, Agnes Syme.In his early years as a surgeon, he researched inflammation, which was considered a specific disease at the time. He studied the microscopic healing of wounds, specifically the mechanism of coagulation of blood and blood vessels during the first stages of inflammation. This served as a background to his work in wound dressing and his development of antiseptic treatment.He worked as a dresser for Sir Erichsen, a physician that believed that wounds become infected due to bad air. The miasma theory claimed that concentrated bad air can infect the wound. But in dressing the wounds, he had realized that when wounds were cleaned, some had healed. Early in his career he had not believed in miasma, a popular theory of the time in the medical field.He was appointed Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow at the age of 33, in August 1861. Though he was a professor, he did not attain Glasgow Royal Infirmary privileges till a year later, his request initially denied. He became in charge of the Male Accident Ward, a new surgical block.Many patients in the Male Accident Ward suffered compound fractures, which was commonly treated with amputation. Lister observed that 45 to 50 percent of amputation patients died from sepsis between 1861 and 1865. Later he read Louis Pasteur's paper on germ theory, a theory that stated microorganisms cause infection. Lister hypothesized that the same process that caused fermentation was also involved in wound sepsis. He postulated that sepsis was caused by pollen-like dust. He believed the only mode of contamination was by air. To disinfect wounds, he applied carbolic acid, which was commonly used to disinfect sewage at the time. He sprayed carbolic acid in the air, onto the equipment, and onto the wound to disinfect and prevent infection or contamination. He used this method on the the patients of his ward for several years. Using phenol as an antiseptic reduced the mortality rate of the Male Accident Ward to 15 percent in 4 years.His practice was very different than of his peers. Others in the medical field did not wash bed linens and lab coats, using the same equipment for patients.They had believed that infection and contamination was caused by â€Å"bad air, as the miasma theory entailed, and hence did not see the reason for sterile equipment and techniques. As a result when he published two papers on antiseptic technique on the Lancet in March and July 1967, his colleagues criticized his methods. The source of doubt was because the microorganisms were not visible to the naked eye, and hence did not exist. His work was misunderstood and his colleagues demanded proof. He altered the administration of the carbolic acid, spraying it now with a machine he called a donkey engine. The donkey engine increased efficiency of the application of carbolic acid. He increasingly used this method on surgeries and the results were positive. Patients approved of his methods. Germany, the United States, and eventually Great Britain accepted and adopted his approach to antiseptic technique. In 1871, he operated on Queen Victoria, who had a large abscess on her armpit. Lister lanced the abscess with a sharp tool, drained the pus, dressed the wound, and treated it with carbolic acid. The queen approved of Lister's methods involving carbolic acid. This nod of approval from the queen of the United Kingdom encouraged his peers in the medical field to accept antiseptic technique. Though his technique was not accepted during a majority of his lifetime, antiseptic treatment revolutionized surgical procedures. Infection and contamination of the wounds was less common. Surgery was no longer dangerous, lowering mortality rates and increasing success rates. It is quite a feat to dispute a widely popular medical theory and to continue practicing though his colleagues ridiculed his technique. He was creative, too, using phenol, a carbolic acid used to disinfect sewage, to dress wounds. His work revolutionized medicine, a field that is slow to change. Though his techniques are no longer used, it served as the gateway to develop better antiseptic and aseptic techniques. His ability to be nonconformist to popular belief and create antiseptic technique was the most innovative occurence of the 20th century.10 Intriguing Facts About Joseph Lister. (2017, September 12).RetrievedMarch 01, 2018, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/503311/10-intriguing-facts-about-joseph-listerScience Museum. Brought to Life: Exploring the History of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2018, from http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/josephlisterPitt, D., ; Aubin, J. (2012, October). Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468637/Cartwright, F. F. (2017, November 16). Joseph Lister.Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.britannica. com/biography/Joseph-Lister-Baron-Lister-of-Lyme-RegisFulton, A. (2017, October 13). ‘The Butchering Art': How A 19th Century Physician Made Surgery Safer. Retrieved March 01, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/13/557367840/the-butchering-art-how-a-19th-century-physician-made-surgery-safer