Practices and Beliefs Related to Health in a Selected Religion

Question
Based on the religion you selected in Module 1, and the articles you selected in Module 2, write a 3-4 page paper about the practices and beliefs of of that religion that are related to health. 
Provide examples of differences in verbal and nonverbal communication methods within this religion. Explain some beginning and end-of-life decisions related to this worldview and culture.
Provide examples of how religion shapes health behaviors and the rationale behind them.
Explain issues that health care professionals should take into consideration related to beginning and end-of-life transitions.

Answer
Practices and Beliefs Related to Health in a Selected Religion
1. Introduction
It has been said that health is wealth. And indeed, the belief that health is the most important aspect of life is a common one. Thus, it is not surprising to find that religion, which is an all-encompassing way of life, has much to say about the subject. In fact, to various religious groups, health is the most important thing to ask from God; it is health of body and mind that is viewed as the precondition to performing good deeds and meriting entry into paradise. For some, to have to ask for anything in the way of physical or mental well-being is a reflection of a lack of faith; God, who is the ultimate purveyor of healing, can heal all ills without exception. Therefore, the group which has to ask is in some way failing to fulfill the requirements set by God. But God is viewed as merciful, and it is written that if man shows thankfulness for what he has, he will be given more. And so it is that with prayer and dedication to religious duties, many believers strive to attain good health as a sign of God’s favor.
1.1. Background of the Selected Religion
Hinduism is the third largest world religion with about 900 million Hindus worldwide. In 1999, there were about 1 million Hindus living in the U.S. and they are concentrated mainly in two states, New York and New Jersey. Hinduism is not a religion of the book, and has no common scripture, Church, or doctrine. The term “Hinduism” is an exonym, and while it is a convenient label for the complex of traditions and peoples it describes, it also implies a measure of homogeneity that does not exist. During the ancient times of invasions and other historical events the Indian religion started evolving and taking shape. That is why the religion is so diverse and has different ways of practice and belief. A Hindu seeking spiritual knowledge can choose from yoga, jnana, bhakti, karma, and other paths, and can study anything from astrology to the holy scriptures. The main texts that provide the basis for Hinduism are the Vedas; this comes from the word “vid” meaning to be knowledgeable. During the invasions of the Muslim, the Muslims could not pronounce the word so said “Hindu”. This was given to the people who lived in this land. This was actually a geographical term and did not refer to the religion or the people living there. This went on to become the world’s third largest religion. Due to the many diverse ways of life, there are four castes in Hinduism based on occupation: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (farmers and merchants), and lastly Sudras (servants). In around 1000 B.C., the caste system was beginning to take shape with the addition of a group called the untouchables. The beliefs of the Hindu religion began to take shape with the incorporation of two great epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and the Bhagavad Gita (which is contained in part of the Mahabharata). These writings were an attempt to captivate the people so that they may learn from them and understand the true meanings of life in many different forms. This is why there were numerous stories and characters involved. The Gita is a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna and aspires to reveal the duties of human beings and the unity between the universal and the personal. It makes this apparent through the paths of knowledge, devotion, and action which were explained earlier.
1.2. Importance of Health in the Selected Religion
In India, sages did a lot of research on medicine, which shifted attention from salvation to prevention of disease. This is evident in the philosophies found in the Atharva Veda, one of the four holy texts of the Hindu religion. Chapter 30, verses 25-35 of the Atharva Veda, contains the following dialogue, which illustrates the importance of health and the prevention of disease in the Hindu religion: “What has hurt you? In a state of disease, I ask, do you verily say that you are in health? How can one that is not afflicted with a malady, one that is afflicted and one that has rid himself of it be alike? O physician, thus should you ask the sick man and discern it all, if you are to recognize the nature of his malady. Any gentle remedy that harms not, does not affect or malady, is not a remedy at all.” This shows the importance of health and well-being, in that not having an affliction is comparative to the need of no remedy. This philosophy of preventing an illness so that there is no need for a remedy is deeply rooted and is still a common aim of physicians today. In this way, health is perceived as being extremely important, as it is seen as the maintenance of a diseaseless state and prevention of mental, physical, and spiritual agony.
2. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Methods
2.1. Differences in Verbal Communication
2.1.1. Use of Sacred Texts and Prayers
2.1.2. Ritualistic Chants and Incantations
2.2. Differences in Nonverbal Communication
2.2.1. Symbolic Gestures and Body Movements
2.2.2. Ritualistic Clothing and Adornments
3. Beginning and End-of-Life Decisions
3.1. Views on Birth and Pregnancy
3.1.1. Rituals and Practices during Pregnancy
3.1.2. Naming Ceremonies and Blessings
3.2. Views on Death and Dying
3.2.1. Funeral and Burial Practices
3.2.2. Mourning and Grieving Rituals
4. Religion’s Influence on Health Behaviors
4.1. Dietary Practices and Restrictions
4.1.1. Fasting and Ritualistic Diets
4.1.2. Prohibited Foods and Beverages
4.2. Rituals and Practices for Physical Well-being
4.2.1. Meditation and Mindfulness Techniques
4.2.2. Sacred Baths and Cleansing Rituals
5. Considerations for Health Care Professionals
5.1. Cultural Sensitivity and Respect
5.1.1. Understanding Religious Beliefs and Practices
5.1.2. Avoiding Cultural Assumptions and Biases
5.2. Ethical Dilemmas in Beginning and End-of-Life Care
5.2.1. Balancing Religious Beliefs and Medical Interventions
5.2.2. Supporting Patients’ Spiritual and Emotional Needs

Project Management for Digital Marketing Software

question 
A project manager is assigned to lead a digital marketing software project. Some stakeholders don’t support the project, and others want the entire project to be planned out before it starts. The sponsor, on the other hand, is looking for a quick win to get the support of the majority of stakeholders and ensure the project’s continuation. 
Answer
1. Introduction
Digital marketing becomes the most effective way of promoting and selling a product or service. In today’s competitive, technology-driven market, it provides an efficient way to reach customers compared to conventional marketing strategies, which are more time and cost-consuming. It is an aggregate process of digital marketing utilization using the internet, mobile, and other digital media. The client is in the process of promoting an MLM product using various methods of marketing to sell the product. He needs an application that can assist in managing those methods and accumulating all the data on the promotions and the product sales. Then, monitoring and comparing that data to give an evaluation on which method is the most effective to improve product sales and to assist decision making on future marketing strategies. From here, the idea of developing an application to manage that data came into reality, to build a system providing automation-based method data entry and can generate a sales report for his evaluation.
This project management plan is based upon the project of developing a mobile phone application for a client, which is a digital marketing software. It is being developed as the final project for the subject FIT5147 Software Engineering: Analysis and Design at Monash University Malaysia. The project aims to apply project management knowledge that has been learned throughout the semester into a real scenario and real application. The main objective is to produce an efficient application that can satisfy the client’s requirements and can be used as a tool to manage his business. The background and reasons for making this application will be discussed in the next section, followed by the purposes of this project, then the scope of the whole project.
1.1. Background of the Project
At this time, the company has no direct means of engaging potential customers of its existing product in a sales process. Most of the retailers using the software are unaware of upcoming new features and how to best use the tools available in their current products. While no firm numbers exist, the client estimates that increased tool awareness and usage could garner more than $100,000 in increased monthly revenue. With the release of specific web tools or a SaaS version of the software, the revenue potential from a successfully marketed product is well into the millions annually. Any success in web-deployed products will be a jump from bread-and-butter retail software to something entirely new. To best understand the successes and pitfalls of web-deployed software and the online marketing activity to support it, marketing the project to represent that of a small web-based software start-up is the most cost-effective means of driving change in the company’s marketing ideology.
The project has been commissioned by a developer of digital marketing software for small and medium-sized businesses. The company was founded in 1987 and began developing retail point-of-sale software, which has remained its primary product, selling over 30,000 copies. Its suite of products is installed in over 100,000 retail locations worldwide. The company has been slow to take its products to the web and has no experience with online marketing. Although web-based software will be an eventual evolution of the company’s product offering, the primary income driver now and in the future is likely to be providing robust tools to a broad community of small-to-medium-sized retailers.
1.2. Purpose of the Project
The main reason that leads to undertake this project is the general lack of an Integrated Project Management (IPM) system in Digital Marketing Software that can be used by project managers, team members, and directors at different levels for managing, executing, and monitoring multiple marketing projects. People involved in the marketing profession are becoming much aware of project management strategies. Day by day, they are adopting and implementing various project management methodologies and tools to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of working. Marketing projects vary from simple to complex. Sometimes, it involves managing the mix of traditional and online marketing with tight budget and deadlines. To manage such type of marketing projects, disparate project managers usually end up in a mess and believe that the successful completion of that project was a matter of luck! IPM Systems can provide such project managers a better platform and methodology to manage their marketing projects. This project is focusing on providing a solution for project managers and software teams to effectively develop and manage an IPM system for Digital Marketing Software. This project will also serve as a learning experience for students, providing them with the opportunity to utilize and build upon the knowledge they have obtained in the field of software engineering and project management. This project intends to be a complete life cycle from the initiation phase to the closure phase according to PMI methodology. This project will be done within a virtual team and with stakeholders’ consultation.
1.3. Scope of the Project
At the end of the project, you will have a way to implement the solution. A project plan for software implementation is also a plus but is beyond the scope of this project.
Success Criteria: The success of this project can be measured by the recommendation made for marketing project management software at Intuit. This should identify a clear solution to the problem and address how to better manage marketing projects and coordinate the various activities and priorities amongst Intuit’s marketing teams.
Duration: 12 weeks – Dec 2009 to March 2010. Note that the week of Dec 21 is a company-wide shut-down and the week of Jan 4 will not be included as the Project Manager will not be available.
The scope of this project is to identify the challenges involved in the manual management of marketing projects at Intuit. Based on the challenges identified, evaluate potential marketing project management software solutions that would enhance project management and delivery within Intuit’s marketing department. The evaluation criteria should include ways in which the software would facilitate management and coordination of complex cross-functional projects that involve web and interactive, email, events, and campaign management. Make a recommendation on a software solution (or combination of solutions) that would effectively address the needs of Intuit’s marketing department.
2. Stakeholder Analysis
2.1. Identification of Stakeholders
2.2. Assessment of Stakeholder Support
2.3. Strategies for Engaging Stakeholders
3. Project Planning
3.1. Importance of Project Planning
3.2. Defining Project Objectives
3.3. Developing a Project Schedule
3.4. Allocating Project Resources
4. Managing Stakeholder Expectations
4.1. Communicating Project Goals and Benefits
4.2. Addressing Stakeholder Concerns
4.3. Negotiating with Stakeholders
5. Sponsorship and Support
5.1. Role of the Project Sponsor
5.2. Gaining Support from Stakeholders
5.3. Strategies for Quick Wins
6. Project Execution
6.1. Implementing the Digital Marketing Software
6.2. Monitoring Project Progress
6.3. Managing Risks and Issues
7. Project Evaluation
7.1. Assessing Project Success Criteria
7.2. Gathering Feedback from Stakeholders
7.3. Identifying Lessons Learned
8. Project Continuation
8.1. Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability
8.2. Securing Ongoing Support
8.3. Planning for Future Enhancements

Psychological Principles: Understanding Human Behavior

Questions
 Psychological principles are theories and beliefs about major areas of our lives, like cognitions, intelligence, social groups, habit,  
Answer
1. Introduction
Psychological principles are the basis of understanding human emotions, relationships, and motivation. They are building blocks to comprehend the complexities of human behavior. Psychological principles are a set of factors that help the psychologist explain the varieties of psychological behavior from the elements of those principles. Now let’s discuss the definition of psychological principles by differentiating both terms. Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of the organism and the behavior to be understood must be observable and recordable. Therefore, psychology is the science which is more interested in the overt behavior rather than personality, where personality is the general pattern of the behavior and behavior changes between one situation to another and another person to another person. There must be some set of factors which will help us predict and control the behavior. Those factors are called psychological principles (Brewer and Treyens, 1981). According to different scholars, there are multiple definitions of principles but all revolve around the meaning that a principle is a set of interrelated variables which can predict behavior. So psychological principles are the guidelines for understanding behavior. These are comprised of higher-level abstractions to understand complex behavior (Eckensberger and Zimba, 1985). These are universal and cognitive concepts by which causal relations and predictions about behavior occurring in an organism can be identified (Craig, 1996). These principles involve constant relations between a situation, the behavior under that situation, and the consequences of that behavior. To understand these principles, psychologists have formulated different theories. So the one definition that sums up all the explanations on psychological principles is given by Charles E. Osgood: “Psychological principles are hypotheses that specify relations between two or more variables in the form of if…then.”
1.1. Definition of Psychological Principles
Psychological principles are statements explaining the behavior of people and the influence of behavior on the environment. These principles are built on scientific method, which is another way of saying the strength of the explanation and predictions of behavior. If the predictions are accurate ones, the probability of the acceptance of the explanation is high. If not, the opposite is true. The explanations of behavior that are to become principles are first tested through research, usually of an empirical nature. If the results provide evidence supportive of the explanation, the persuasion of other scientists will eventually test the similar explanation in their own setting. If each of these attempts to confirm the original explanation is successful, the explanation can be said to be a principle on the basis that it has strong predictability and has withstood a variety of conditions and circumstances. It is this high level of predictability and testing that distinguishes psychological principles from common sense or lay opinion about behavior. Common sense knowledge is usually vague, general, and not invalidatable. For example, it is often said that a lazy person will find the easiest way of doing something. This is not always the case; there are times, because of the individual’s intentions or the complexity of the task, that the easiest way just cannot be found. An example of an idea that is generally acceptable as true without significant evidence is that the reason people get aggressive after drinking alcohol is because it’s the alcohol “bringing out the badness inside”. This belief has been the justification for many unproductive treatments of aggression, while there is in fact little evidence to support it. In both cases, the lay opinion statement does not satisfy the strict criteria of a psychological principle.
1.2. Importance of Understanding Human Behavior
In the study of psychology, understanding why people behave the way they do is an area of great interest. It is important to have knowledge of human behavior because it is so vital to many aspects of our lives such as health. There have been so many advances in the field of health from past research in which the main focus was how to change unhealthy behaviors. In order to change a behavior one must first understand why a person is behaving in such a way. This is giving rise to a new field known as health psychology. Professionals in this field are trying to understand the various behaviors that are detrimental to one’s health such as drug use, overeating and unsafe sexual activity. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the most common types of unhealthy behaviors that contribute to the leading cause of illness and death and by doing so have estimated that these deaths are preventable. This is just one example of how understanding human behavior is a crucial element to many important issues one might come across.
2. Cognitions
2.1. Cognitive Processes and Mental Functions
2.2. Memory and Learning
2.3. Problem Solving and Decision Making
3. Intelligence
3.1. Theories of Intelligence
3.2. Measuring Intelligence
3.3. Emotional Intelligence
4. Social Groups
4.1. Group Dynamics and Behavior
4.2. Social Influence and Conformity
4.3. Stereotypes and Prejudice
5. Habit
5.1. Formation and Maintenance of Habits
5.2. Breaking Bad Habits
5.3. Habit Loop and Behavior Change
6. Emotions
6.1. Theories of Emotion
6.2. Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Regulation
6.3. Emotional Development across the Lifespan
7. Motivation
7.1. Theories of Motivation
7.2. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
7.3. Goal Setting and Achievement
8. Personality
8.1. Theories of Personality
8.2. Trait Theories
8.3. Personality Assessment
9. Perception
9.1. Sensation and Perception
9.2. Perceptual Illusions
9.3. Influences on Perception
10. Attitudes and Attitude Change
10.1. Formation and Structure of Attitudes
10.2. Attitude Change Techniques
10.3. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
11. Social Cognition
11.1. Social Thinking and Attribution
11.2. Stereotyping and Prejudice
11.3. Impression Formation and Impression Management
12. Interpersonal Relationships
12.1. Types of Relationships
12.2. Communication and Conflict Resolution
12.3. Attachment Theory
13. Developmental Psychology
13.1. Stages of Development
13.2. Nature vs. Nurture Debate
13.3. Parenting Styles and Child Development
14. Abnormal Psychology
14.1. Mental Disorders and Diagnosis
14.2. Causes and Treatment of Psychological Disorders
14.3. Stigma and Mental Health
15. Applied Psychology
15.1. Industrial and Organizational Psychology
15.2. Health Psychology
15.3. Educational Psychology

Human Augmentation and the Blurring Lines: The Ethical Development and Use of Human Augmentation Technologies

QUESTION
Human Augmentation and the Blurring Lines: Technological advancements like brain-computer interfaces and wearable exoskeletons are pushing the boundaries of human capabilities. How can human informatics guide the ethical development and use of human augmentation technologies, ensuring they enhance rather than redefine what it means to be human?

ANSWER
1. Introduction
First, while only a few of these technologies are in use or close to implementation today, the timescale between development and implementation may not be adequate for thorough examination of ethical issues before it is too late to affect how the technology will be used. Policy regarding the use of enhancement technologies has tended to lag behind scientific and technological progress, enforcing a reactive rather than proactive approach to ethical evaluation. Second, ethical debate and policy regarding human enhancement technologies has been quite fragmented and not born much fruit in terms of policy and guidelines for scientists and developers of these technologies. This form of corporate social responsibility is crucial for maintaining a proactive approach to ethical evaluation. Allhoff has proposed that the best means to address issues in the long term is to shape the nature and direction of technological change, steering it towards more desirable ends, and enhancing oversight, and looking to its social implications from the outset (Allhoff 2010). Thus it is necessary to examine the ethical issues surrounding human augmentation technologies in a broad and inclusive manner and make it a priority to integrate policy and guidelines for scientists into the fabric of these technologies’ development.
Human augmentation technologies, which have the potential to bring about radical improvements to the human condition, are increasingly evoking public and academic debate. Labeled as the most important social and ethical issue of the twenty-first century (Allhoff et al. 2009), the development and use of human enhancement technologies has spurred a plethora of argument from ethicists, scientists, policymakers, and the general public. People are concerned about how it will affect what it means to be human, the distribution of the technology, and the potential for new forms of unequal social pressure to enhance. Others are hopeful about the possibility of new treatments for currently incurable diseases and conditions, as well as providing a means to improve the intellectual, physical, and psychological capacity of humans. The rapid development of these technologies presents two main challenges for the gradual process of ethical evaluation and policy development.
1.1. Background of Human Augmentation Technologies
The goal of human augmentation, to use medical technology in order to improve physical performance or even overcome disabilities, has existed for thousands of years. The development of new medical techniques and the convergence of these techniques with computer technology, new materials sciences and nanotechnology, will have far-reaching effects on the lives of every human being, as well as on the global ecosystem. To discuss the future of human augmentation, it is important to understand the historical precedents. The past three decades have seen incredible advances in medical technology. Joint replacements, dental reconstruction, organ transplants, cosmetic surgery, and the alleviation of mental illnesses through drug therapy are now commonplace in the developed world. These developments have been driven by a number of factors, including the desire of individuals to lead more fulfilling lives, an aging global population, and the economic and social benefits that improved health provides. The development of human augmentation technologies has been largely driven by the needs and capabilities of the medical industry. It is, however, the commercial potential of such technologies, particularly in an age of growing economic inequality and a global ‘knowledge economy’, that is likely to be the ultimate driving force behind the future development and convergence of these technologies. The medical industry has traditionally been conservative and slow to implement radical new procedures. Often new technologies were tested and perfected on relatively small and specific patient groups. As these technologies became more refined and costs were reduced, wider ranges of patients were treated. Many possibly beneficial medical technologies have had limited success as they were superseded by new technologies or were not seen as economically viable by the industry. This has resulted in an increasing proportion of the world’s population being left behind by the rapid pace of change in the medical industry.
1.2. Importance of Ethical Considerations
There are ethical issues associated with the development and offering of human augmentation technologies. The implications of the effectiveness and pervasiveness of those technologies will have wide-ranging effects on society. In the short term, human enhancement technologies might exacerbate social inequalities and create a two-tier society, further the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Because many enhancement technologies will initially be costly, they may be deployed first and most aggressively by those who can afford them, thus widening the gap and ultimately solidifying the advantages that already accrue to the more affluent members of society. This might, in turn, lead the wealthy to distance themselves from the less fortunate, leading to an erosion of empathy and the virtual marginalization of the unenhanced. This potential future is dystopic, and the transparency and openness to scrutiny of the later on possible more drastic changes to our species, whether by genetic enhancement or cybernetic technologies, would reduce the possibility that we could slide into such a state unwittingly. If a given alteration to humanity is deemed so undesirable that it should be prevented at all costs, knowing what constitutes that kind of alteration and having an open forum to decide its nature and the steps to prevent it is critical. Human augmentation technologies pose subtle changes to human nature, and it is important that we make decisions about these technologies intentionally, rather than let them determine the future of humanity by happenstance.
2. Human Informatics: Guiding the Ethical Development
2.1. Definition and Scope of Human Informatics
2.2. Role of Human Informatics in Technology Development
2.3. Ethical Principles in Human Informatics
3. Human Augmentation Technologies: Enhancing Human Capabilities
3.1. Brain-Computer Interfaces: Expanding Cognitive Abilities
3.2. Wearable Exoskeletons: Enhancing Physical Performance
3.3. Prosthetic Limbs: Restoring Functionality
4. Ethical Considerations in Human Augmentation
4.1. Autonomy and Informed Consent
4.2. Privacy and Data Security
4.3. Equality and Accessibility
5. Ensuring Ethical Use of Human Augmentation Technologies
5.1. Regulatory Frameworks and Policies
5.2. Ethical Design and Development Guidelines
5.3. Education and Awareness
6. Implications of Human Augmentation on Society
6.1. Impact on Employment and Workforce
6.2. Social and Cultural Norms
6.3. Psychological and Emotional Effects
7. Future Perspectives and Challenges
7.1. Emerging Technologies in Human Augmentation
7.2. Balancing Innovation and Ethical Considerations
7.3. Addressing Potential Risks and Unintended Consequences
8. Conclusion

Cultural Diversity and its Impact on Attitudes

Question
 What is your definition of culture and why? Explain how experience shapes one’s attitude toward cultural diversity. Give examples. 

2.  
How can marketing principles be applied to the creation of a compelling resume and cover letter? Discuss the key elements that make these job application tools stand out to potential employers and provide examples of how you would market your skills and experiences effectively?

Answer
1. Definition of Culture
In trying to understand another culture, that is, learning its language, its folklore, and its institutions, we are to understand its people. If we truly want to understand ourselves, our own culture, and the culture of people who are different from us, we must make the effort to step out of our comfort zone and venture to the places and situations where we are exposed to something new. Only then will we break the barriers that are set amongst people of different cultural groups. Only then will we understand the feeling of alienation that a person of a different culture in our own society feels. Only then is it possible to understand the vast differences of cultural groups and the impact they have on our society.
A formal definition of culture is the sum total of the learned behavior of a group of people that is generally considered to be the tradition of that people and is transmitted from generation to generation. Culture is a total way of life and thinking patterns that are passed down from generation to generation. It also includes the beliefs, values, behavior, and material objects that constitute a people’s way of life. The importance of culture lies in its close association with the ways and living of a people. Culture is, in fact, a product of living experience and stands deeply rooted in man’s learned behavior.
1.1. Importance of Culture in Society
Culture provides the key to understanding who we are and why we behave as we do. Most human behavior is learned. Cultures differ greatly in the extent to which they rely on the collective learning process and in the domains in which the learning is most cumulative. Because culture is so ingrained in our behavior, culture is important in the understanding of consumer behavior, and it is important that business models adapt to consumer behaviors. Business models cannot change a culture but must adapt to the already existing culture of the consumer in mind. A true understanding of culture enables business to be culturally relative, adapting the product or service to the cultural expectations of the consumer. This is a great tool in making consumers feel comfortable and at ease with the product and, in turn, making the product a part of the person’s learned culture. This is the point where a product or brand can become so closely identified with a cultural way of life that it becomes part of a consumer’s routine and self-concept. This is the ideal state for a product as the marketing and product development costs are relatively low and the profit high.
It is well known that culture is a way of behaving that has been passed down from one generation to another. It is the shared patterns of behavior and interactions, cognitive constructs, and understanding that are learned by socialization. It can also be understood as information that has been stored in long-term memory. Culture is primarily learned from the family and is a macro influencer in an individual’s life. This can be seen when a person from one particular culture is greatly different from the social standards of another culture. This is usually due to the difference in socialization in the culture. This is important for marketing and market research as it is behavior and therefore can be altered. Understanding consumer culture is fundamental in the study of consumer behavior. It is pertinent that consumer research attempts to understand a consumer’s symbol system or the socially constructed associations between consumer products and lifestyle.
Culture is the way of life for an entire society. It includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior, and systems of belief. Cultures have a deep impact on consumer behavior and play a key role in the marketing strategy of a business. The concept of culture is particularly important when attempting to understand buying habits and behavior in different consumers. Culture can be divided into subcultures such as nationality, religion, racial groups, and geographic regions.
1.2. Characteristics of Culture
Edward B. Tylor – an English anthropologist was the first to coin the term culture in the 19th century. He defined culture “as all complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” According to this definition, anything learned or shared can be a part of culture. This includes behavior which, while being acquired, is transmitted as well. Culture is shared: it is not something which an individual alone can possess. For example, the customs, traditions, beliefs, ideas, values, morals, etc. are not unique to one individual but are common to the group or society to which he belongs. These are the result of the interaction with others. But these customs and values keep on changing with time. This shows that culture is not rigid and can change to adapt to external or internal influences. A culture is a set of standards used to evaluate other cultures. This is known as ethnocentrism, i.e. the tendency to use one’s own culture as a yardstick against which to measure other cultures. A culture is a subsystem in the larger society and also a culture may have its own subcultures, e.g. there are various cultures which make up India or Pakistan.
Culture is a broad term which has been described by various anthropologists in diverse ways. It consists of customs, traditions, habits, values, beliefs, and the like which are acquired by individuals and help them to live a better life. Culture has been called “the way of life for an entire society.” As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior, and systems of belief. It was a simple definition of culture some years ago. But today, culture is an umbrella which includes all the above-mentioned parameters.
1.3. Components of Culture
Music will be understood by everyone, but only further interested by several people. The United States of America is a home to various music, starting from native tribal music to modern music. Just like language, music is also a symbol. Learning from different genres of music is a sign of acceptance from a culture. This can happen because the rate of music understanding is quite high. It is usually much easier to understand music than learning a language. A high level understanding of music can also push someone to learn the culture behind the music. Music can be an environmental advantage for people migrating to another culture.
Symbols have an impact, apart from just being the pretty things seen from anywhere. They can be used for suggestions, message sending, and be the sign that an act has been done. Cultural diversity is possible because people can understand the message and the meaning of a symbol, then receive it in the same way as the sender. The United States of America, as we all know, does not have an official language. The government, communities, and schools are free to use other languages for people interested in using them. People are also free to choose which language they want their children to learn at school. This statement of freedom shows that the idea is to make a better understanding for everyone about the information that is delivered through some kind of suggestions, messages, or signs without reducing the quality of it.
2. Experience and Attitude Formation
2.1. Influence of Experience on Attitudes
2.2. Role of Exposure in Shaping Attitudes
2.3. Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
3. Cultural Diversity and Attitude Formation
3.1. Understanding Cultural Diversity
3.2. Impact of Cultural Diversity on Attitudes
3.3. Benefits of Embracing Cultural Diversity
4. Examples of Experience Shaping Attitudes
4.1. Traveling and Exposure to Different Cultures
4.2. Interacting with People from Diverse Backgrounds
4.3. Education and Cultural Awareness Programs
5. Marketing Principles in Resume and Cover Letter
5.1. Applying Marketing Strategies to Job Applications
5.2. Highlighting Unique Selling Points
5.3. Crafting a Compelling Personal Brand
6. Key Elements of an Effective Resume
6.1. Clear and Concise Presentation
6.2. Relevant Skills and Experiences
6.3. Quantifiable Achievements
7. Key Elements of an Effective Cover Letter
7.1. Personalized Introduction and Salutation
7.2. Showcasing Fit with Company Culture
7.3. Expressing Enthusiasm and Motivation
8. Examples of Effective Job Application Marketing
8.1. Showcasing Transferable Skills
8.2. Demonstrating Results and Impact
8.3. Tailoring Application to Specific Job Requirements

Developing a Supervision Plan for Productive and Positive Mentorship

Question
Develop a supervision plan to guide productive and positive mentorship with your supervisor during supervision meetings.
Explain how supervision adds to your professional growth and development.
Explain how you used this week’s readings and resources to inform your plan.
Include at least three (3) specific items in your plan
Engaging in group therapy for social skill, coping skills, behavioral different diagnoses. long term clients in this program. 

Answer
1. Introduction
I will meet with my mentor group weekly to ensure that everyone is on the same page and to reflect on anything that has happened from the week before. These meetings will take place during a time when we can have a reasonable amount of quiet and privacy. During this discussion, we will reflect on the assistantship positions, their weekly interactions with the student body, formal/informal learning experiences, and anything that may be troubling them. At the end of each meeting, I will have each mentee set a goal for what they hope to accomplish before our next meeting. This can be an ongoing goal or something they hope to do in a short amount of time. We will always start with the previous week’s goals to ensure that they were accomplished and why/why not. And if it is a suitable time, we will do some sort of team-building activity.
A major component of this plan is the manner in which I create a sense of community and establish a caring yet challenging relationship with my mentees. This is the foundation from which everything else is built upon. So, my first goal is to become very knowledgeable about the individuals I will be supervising. This includes researching their assistantship positions and, in the case of first-year graduate students, what their assistantship positions will entail. I also hope to uncover what their career goals are so that I can better assist in their growth and development. Finally, I want to know what their strengths are and what they hope to get out of this mentoring experience. This may take place in the form of a mentee self-assessment. With an understanding of who my mentees are as individuals, I can better personalize their development. For example, if a mentee has a programming position and hopes to become a Director of Housing, their developmental needs and goals will be much different than someone with an assistantship in academic advising who aspires to become a Dean of Students. By understanding who my mentees are, I can better assist them in reaching their goals. This may involve a mix of mentoring from myself and referring them to a more suitable mentor.
In order to bring about this level of growth and development, it is essential that I have a clear plan for how to supervise my mentees. This paper will take you through the different steps and basic principles I will use to carry out this supervisory plan so that it leads to a highly developmental experience for both me and my mentees.
This paper outlines the plan I have for supervising a group of students in a productive and positive way. It is my goal to create an environment in which my mentees are able to uncover and build upon their strengths and passions in the field of student affairs. Within this supportive community, they will be challenged to grow and develop professional competencies that will make them more effective practitioners. Finally, I hope that through this experience, they are able to develop a professional identity in the field of student affairs as a result of integrating in and out of class experiences.
1.1 Purpose of the Supervision Plan
The overall purpose of this supervision plan is to support and develop the supervisee’s skills in promoting a positive and productive mentoring relationship. Together, the supervisor and supervisee will work towards developing the necessary skills to create a positive mentoring environment and deal with the challenges and opportunities that arise. By continually assessing the effectiveness of their mentoring relationship, it is anticipated that the supervisee will also develop skills to be self-reflective and to take a proactive stance in his ongoing mentoring relationship. In turn, it is expected that the skills and strategies the supervisee learns will be shared with his mentee, thus indirectly impacting the mentoring experience of the mentees in the Faculty of Education. This objective is based on the belief that learning to mentor occurs through a process of self-discovery, trial and error, gaining feedback and applying new learning. The supervisor and supervisee will engage in regular discussions surrounding the projects and outcome measures for the supervisee’s mentoring relationship. This will allow the supervisee to share his learning and experiences and allow the supervisor to provide guidance and feedback. By documenting this process through the supervision plan, it is expected that the discussions will be rich and lead to the development of further questions, ideas and learning. The documentation will also serve as a useful tool for the supervisee to recall his learning and to assess his progress at various stages throughout his mentoring relationship.
1.2 Importance of Productive and Positive Mentorship
I. Introduction II. Purpose of the Supervision Plan III. Importance of Productive and Positive Mentorship A. Define the concept of supervision B. Discuss supervision in the context of both informal and formal helping relationships C. Discuss the importance of supervision for the development of the professional identity of the counselor. D. Discuss the levels of tasks within the supervision process. E. Discuss the specific requirements of supervision for the mental health counselor working with individuals, families, and/or groups. IV. Incorporating Readings and Resources The previous section discussed the relevance of supervision as a whole to all counselors. In this section, the focus is on specific requirements and techniques for clinical mental health counselors or those individuals who find themselves in dual roles where clinical supervision is needed. This includes individuals who are practicing counseling techniques in schools, universities, and/or various agencies. It is clear that professional identity for mental health counselors is linked to clinical supervision. This can be seen from the recent inclusion of standards for supervisors and for the supervision process by the American Psychological Association, and the additional fact that in the United States, for mental health services to the Medicare eligible population, psychiatry is the only clinical mental health profession that still offers any form of medical care. This means that the vast number of mental health clients are receiving counseling from individuals with Master’s level training or other mental health professionals. With the field narrowing and with psychiatry moving more toward medication management, there is an increasing number of individuals with Master’s degree or other mental health professionals who are receiving or seeking supervision so that they can continue to offer services in the form of counseling.
1.3 Incorporating Readings and Resources
To guide a productive and positive mentorship that is consistent with the statement and goals of the program, mentors may wish to incorporate articles, guides, and textbook material on the subject. Topics might include developmental theories of college students, racial identity development, sexual orientation, leadership identity, and social change. Resources could also explore the varying needs of students of different identities as they progress through higher education. Dr. Janet Helms offers a compendium of resources on the subject of racial identity that could aid a mentor in working with a student from a similar background. Because material is likely to be both practical and theoretical, mentors may choose to engage in discussions based on readings during group supervision meetings. When possible, mentors should seek out literature specific to the population with which they will be working. This might include material on identity development for women, international students, students with disabilities, etc. By encouraging critical thinking on the subject, mentors will be more prepared to think on their feet when working with students in 1-1 and group settings.
2. Establishing Goals and Objectives
2.1 Identifying Professional Growth Areas
2.2 Defining Developmental Objectives
2.3 Aligning Goals with Supervision Meetings
3. Creating a Structured Meeting Agenda
3.1 Setting Clear Meeting Objectives
3.2 Allocating Time for Discussion Topics
3.3 Incorporating Feedback and Reflection
3.4 Documenting Action Steps and Follow-ups
4. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration
4.1 Active Listening and Open Dialogue
4.2 Building Trust and Rapport
4.3 Addressing Challenges and Concerns
5. Utilizing Resources and Support
5.1 Leveraging Readings and Research
5.2 Seeking Guidance from Colleagues
5.3 Accessing Professional Development Opportunities
6. Evaluating Progress and Performance
6.1 Assessing Professional Growth Milestones
6.2 Monitoring Developmental Objectives
6.3 Identifying Areas for Improvement
7. Conclusion
7.1 Recap of the Supervision Plan
7.2 Emphasizing the Benefits of Mentorship
7.3 Encouraging Ongoing Learning and Development

Discharge Resources for Chronic Cardiorespiratory Issues

Question
Discharge Resources for Chronic Cardiorespiratory Issues

Answer
1. Introduction
Perhaps the most compelling reason why patients with chronic medical conditions are frequently readmitted to the hospital is the lack of professional care available to them once they are discharged.
One study found that there was a mismatch between what patients and physicians said about what level of functionality the patient should be at before discharge. Phase I of the study showed that the physician thought 63% of patients could be independent in taking care of their illness, while only 37% of the patients said they could. This disparity in perception of the patient’s ability to take care of his/her illness mostly results in premature discharge of the patient.
One reason for readmission is that chronic medical illnesses are often not resolved at hospital discharge. This is evident because one-third of patients have a recurrence of the same illness within 2 weeks of hospital discharge. The reasons for patients leaving the hospital before their illness is adequately resolved are manifold. Usually, the patient and the doctor feel that they can take care of the remaining illness at home.
Chronic medical illnesses account for a greater percentage of patient conditions and diseases that contribute to hospital readmission. Although the acute treatment received by the patient in the hospital is often excellent, chronic medical conditions are often not resolved and the patients are frequently left without proper care. They often must fend for themselves in managing their chronic medical conditions, and their illnesses often become exacerbated, leading to a resumption of acute treatment.
1.1. Definition of chronic cardiorespiratory issues
According to the Respiratory Resource Centre in Ottawa, chronic illness is defined as the presence of an illness that is prolonged, does not often resolve, and is rarely cured completely. Cardio-respiratory diseases are chronic illnesses and are considered to be the leading health problem in Canada. They affect the heart and lungs and can greatly impact the patient’s quality of life. Some examples of cardio-respiratory diseases are hypertension, heart disease, stroke, asthma, and diabetes. The management of these diseases is vital to the patient’s overall health and well-being. Although chronic cardio-respiratory diseases are often managed in the community setting, there are also a significant number of patients who require care in the acute care setting. The burden of health care utilization in Canada continues to grow, as there are increasing numbers of patients being admitted to the hospital with acute exacerbations of their chronic diseases. This is particularly true for respiratory diseases. With the burden of health care utilization comes an increasing demand for efficient resource utilization as well as an increased focus on health system outcomes. The fluctuating nature of chronic diseases means that coping with these illnesses can be difficult for patients. A common problem for patients dealing with an exacerbation of their cardio-respiratory disease is the inability to return to their baseline level of function. This is often due to muscle deconditioning and/or a decrease in dyspnea tolerance. These patients often require additional support and resources to help them regain their independence and previous level of functioning. Failure to do so can greatly impact a patient’s quality of life. With an aging population and an increasing emphasis on keeping patients out of hospitals, it is important to help patients learn self-management skills and be as independent as possible. The ultimate goal is to prevent further exacerbations of their diseases and to help them maintain their highest level of function.
1.2. Importance of discharge resources for patient independence
Success in reducing acute healthcare usage occurs when the patient is able to comfortably and confidently manage their health condition using the recommended treatment and symptom management techniques, without the need for unscheduled visits to a healthcare facility. This is commonly referred to as self-management. High-quality self-management has positive outcomes for the patient and reduces cost to the healthcare system. In order for self-management to occur, a patient must understand their condition and the actions which must be taken to manage it, the patient must have confidence in their ability to take these actions, and the patient must have the necessary resources to carry the actions out.
The importance of discharge resources for patient independence cannot be underestimated. In the context of chronic cardiorespiratory issues, it has been shown that far more attention needs to be focused on the patient’s discharge planning in an effort to impede the reoccurrence of symptoms and decrease the likelihood of hospital readmission. A strong, consistent factor in the literature is the profound effect that the implementation of effective discharge planning can have on the patient’s quality of life without increasing the economic burden on the already strained healthcare system. The goal of discharge planning is to reduce the time the patient spends being acutely ill (that is, time spent in hospital or with a doctor visit) and to help the patient manage his or her own health effectively. The means in which this is achieved is varied but the implications of its success are profound and far-reaching.
1.3. Impact of readmission on reimbursement and hospitals
An important factor that drives the push for quality improvement is the Medicare perspective payment system, where hospitals that treat a higher proportion of low-income patients with multiple chronic conditions will be expected to lose a significant amount of their Medicare payment. It is estimated that payment reductions can be up to 3% of the reimbursement value in 2015 and 2017 (Haveman, 2013). This can create financial strain on already resource-poor safety-net hospitals. Readmission can result in financial penalization of the hospital. In 2012, 2,200 hospitals received penalties ranging from 1% to discharge 1.5 billion in total (Martin & Lassman, 2013), and in 2013, this increased to 2,600 hospitals (Health policy, 2013). This extra money can be crucial for a hospital already struggling with poor reimbursement to put into patient services, and in the current day and age, in a very money-driven healthcare environment, financial penalties due to increased readmission rates may act as an incentive for hospitals to improve the care they provide to reduce readmission rates. On the contrary to reduced reimbursement, for a patient who is readmitted, Medicare will pay for readmission services with an additional DRG payment for the readmission if it takes place within the same DRG window. This may sound like a benefit for the hospital; however, any additional payment will not offset the amount that was lost due to the initial admission.
1.4. Implications of readmission on patients
Soon after discharge from a hospital, the average chronically ill patient has a 20% chance of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days and a 57% chance within 1 year. These rates have changed little in the past 30 years and readmission remains a common and expensive occurrence. Factors associated with readmission to the hospital include those related to the nature of the illness, the quality of patient care, characteristics of the patient, and the structure of the health care system. Although many readmissions are for medical issues similar to the previous admission, some patients are readmitted for conditions that are complications of medical treatments and some are readmitted for unrelated new medical issues. Given the nature of chronic illnesses and the link between patient functional status and hospital readmission, it is important to consider the effect of readmission on patients’ ability to live in the community and gain independence. High rates of hospital readmission can prevent a patient from leaving the cycle of frequent hospitalization and institutionalization, leading to worsening functional status and increased morbidity. Although this phenomenon has been recognized anecdotally, it is difficult to measure the impact of hospital readmission on patient independence and the ability to live in the community. Improved understanding of the factors that lead to hospital readmission, changes in the care of patients at risk of readmission, and development of interventions to prevent readmission are essential steps to reducing the high rates of hospital readmission and improving the health of chronically ill patients.
2. Discharge Resources for Patient Independence
2.1. Home healthcare services
2.2. Medical equipment and supplies
2.3. Rehabilitation and therapy programs
2.4. Education and self-management resources
3. Preventing Readmission
3.1. Care coordination and transitional care programs
3.2. Medication management and adherence support
3.3. Telehealth and remote monitoring solutions
3.4. Follow-up appointments and outpatient services
4. Impact of Readmission on Reimbursement
4.1. Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
4.2. Financial penalties for excessive readmissions
4.3. Importance of quality improvement initiatives
4.4. Strategies for reducing readmission rates
5. Implications of Readmission on Hospitals
5.1. Increased healthcare costs
5.2. Overburdened healthcare resources
5.3. Negative impact on hospital reputation
5.4. Importance of patient satisfaction and outcomes
6. Implications of Readmission on Patients
6.1. Physical and emotional toll on patients
6.2. Financial burden of additional healthcare expenses
6.3. Disruption of daily life and routines
6.4. Importance of patient education and empowerment
7. Conclusion
7.1. Recap of discharge resources and their impact
7.2. Importance of preventing readmission for patient well-being and healthcare system sustainability

Effective Time Management and Career Planning in the Context of Organizational Goals

question
1. The chapter on time management describes priority setting as a critical step in good time management.  Give an example where you personally or have seen a leader fall into one of the time wasters described in the chapter-why did this behavior create time waste?  What are some strategies you have developed to minimize wasted time and analyze how might you apply these?
2. The text states that fiscal planning should reflect the organizations philosophy, goals and objectives.  What evidence of this have you discovered in your employment?
3. Briefly describe your experience or exposure to health care finances.  Evaluate how this has this helped you in being more conscious of balancing cost and quality?
4. Develop a career map for your 5, 10 and 20 year career goals. See learning exercise in Chapter 11 for more details.  You may wish to “Google”  Career Map for some ideas. (application)
5. Analyze the benefits of creating a resume. (analysis).   Appraise steps (if any) you have made towards building your resume such as what can/should be included (evaluation)

Answer
1. Time Management and Priority Setting
It is also possible to distinguish between a time waster and a time spender. Measures of time and how it is spent often reveal a common pattern in research. People who are disorganized and lack time management often feel that they need more time to get work done and often say “I haven’t got enough time.” The truth is, they have enough time for what they want to do. They often have a high amount of wasted time or what we refer to as “lost time.” This is time that they cannot account for with specific results utilizing the time. High amounts of lost time correlate with lower efficiency in work. A time spender is different; they enjoy their free time and generally feel that they are well organized.
In the Ford example, he did not realize his phone call was pre-empting an agenda item, he lacked verbal skills, and he did not take any follow-up action. This is the behavior of someone who is not skilled in time management. Wasted time can be classified into two different types: internal and external time. The behavior demonstrated in the phone call has caused Dart to experience external time, which is a gap in results. Ford’s lack of verbal skills and failure to take action has caused him to lose time that could have been spent on the agenda item. This has caused internal time, which is time spent doing something different from what was intended. The simplest way to identify wasted time is to compare actual results to desired results in work, home, or study loads. Time is wasted if there is no match in results.
Effective time management is a person who is skillful, organized, and experienced in their work and other daily activities. “Time management” is the process of exercising conscious control over how much time to spend on specific activities. People who don’t know the importance of time always let time control them. In fact, they will lose one thing that they’ll never get again in the rest of their life: time. But for people who understand the importance of time, they are able to do all of their wants and even more. They can also find free time to rest their body and mind. The purpose is that they can find happiness in what they achieve because they can utilize their time effectively. Usually, everyone wants to achieve the best result in the work they do. But sometimes, and often, something can disrupt their work, making the time they spend useless. Wasted time is the gap between expected and actual results in work.
1.1. Example of a Leader Falling into a Time Waster
In the following section, we have an example of a leader who fell into a time waster which Snow has described to be one of the time wasters, comfort. At her previous place of employment, the company developed a system and tool to effectively track and manage employees’ goals and the contribution of each employee towards those goals. The leaders at each level had a set of goals and it was required that they spend at least 5-10% of their time performing activities that directly contributed to those goals. The Vice President level leaders and above were to be assessed yearly based on their efforts towards those goals. Snow’s role was to support company-wide development and in very large part through developing front line employees to be able to take on more responsibilities and excel into higher level positions. He had a great deal of autonomy as to how he would do this and his ultimate goal was to create a larger development organization and then fill it with more developed internal candidates. At the time, there was a very good chance that the system and tools used to track leadership’s goals would be utilized by development which is what led Snow to want to figure out how to get development ‘ready’ for going through the leadership track. He decided that if he were to look at the potential leaders in the development organization as the future leaders he was developing now, he could angle some developmental work with them in a way that would directly benefit leadership in addition to benefiting the individuals. This had occurred to him in late 2006 and the turning point which led to his time wasting happened at a later date. In describing this example we will first show how the behavior was normal and this is key to identifying time wasting behaviors. We will do this by comparing the old behavior to the new time wasting behavior, followed by a then and now comparison. The old and new needs to be chronologically accurate and the then and now should be a side by side comparison of how things were done before compared to now.
1.2. Analysis of Time Waste Caused by the Behavior
The leader spends a significant amount of time responding to emails in an attempt to keep his inbox in single figures. While it is important for a leader to be responsive, it is not necessary to respond to every email as soon as it hits the inbox. The majority of emails can be directed to the trash or a subfolder, the sender can be advised to take alternative action or it may not require a response at all. By cleaning his inbox, the leader is placing a high priority on a task that can easily be delegated to others. This behavior has the potential to impact the efficiency of subordinates who may be awaiting replies or further instructions on the task. In this instance, the leader had wasted his own time and that of his subordinates with little benefit to the achievement of organizational goals.
This section provides a description of how leaders waste time and the impact their time wasting behavior has on subordinates and organizational goals. It is intended to be used as an educational tool to help leaders identify time wasting behavior in themselves and others and understand the repercussions of that behavior. A case can then be made as to why certain time management and priority setting strategies would be beneficial.
1.3. Strategies to Minimize Wasted Time
The more you can increase your awareness of how you are using your time, the easier it will be to identify where and how your time is wasted. Keep a detailed daily diary of how you are using your time. This can be quite tedious and take some effort, as it’s best to write down what you are doing as you are doing it. After a few days to a week, review your diary and identify your time-wasting activities. Determine what the causes or triggers are for those activities, as well as the associated thoughts and emotions. The more you can increase your awareness of the thoughts and emotions that lead to time-wasting activities, the better chance you have of preventing them. With that knowledge, identify alternative activities that are more constructive and better serve your goals. Now schedule the alternative activities, taking into consideration when and where is the best time to do them. This is known as a situational self-management plan, and it is a very effective way to change behavior.
Each of the strategies suggested takes a proactive approach to minimize potential time wasted. Set clear goals and prioritize tasks. If unsure as to what tasks to prioritize, then apply a SMART criteria to determine what are the best courses of action to take. When you set specific goals with measurable outcomes, it is easier to prioritize the tasks at hand. An example of a specific goal is to increase the efficiency of a specific task so that it will take less time. Then you would measure the time the task takes periodically after implementing changes to determine whether the intended outcome had been met. A specific goal that has a measurable outcome provides a strong sense of accomplishment and will help you prioritize tasks.
1.4. Application of Strategies in Personal Context
Frequently, I believe that the quickest way to do an activity is to do it myself. In the short term, that is frequently true. On the other hand, the time I spend teaching the other person to take on the task in my place will frequently save time in the long term and can also lead to a higher quality outcome. I am prepared to admit that I often take the easy option of doing it myself as I frequently convince myself that I can complete the task quicker than explaining what needs to be done to someone else. If I can change this behavior and actually judge whether the task is worth doing myself or delegating it to someone else, I can use my saved time on more strategic tasks. This will involve some assessment of the task in terms of priority and also the other person’s skill/knowledge level. This is something that I will have to develop with practice, trial and error.
Personal strategies for minimising wasted time in my job…
2. Fiscal Planning Aligned with Organizational Philosophy, Goals, and Objectives
2.1. Evidence of Alignment in Employment
3. Experience and Exposure to Healthcare Finances
3.1. Brief Description of Experience
3.2. Evaluation of Increased Consciousness in Balancing Cost and Quality
4. Career Mapping for 5, 10, and 20 Year Goals
4.1. Development of Career Map
4.2. Utilizing Learning Exercise in Chapter 11
4.3. Exploration of Career Map Examples
5. Benefits of Creating a Resume
5.1. Analysis of Resume Benefits

Effects of Aviation Security Regulations on the Industry

Question
Security Screening/TSALinks to an external site.
This link provides an overview of TSA airport security screening.
Aviation Security Manual (Doc 8973 – Restricted)/ICAO Links to an external site.
The ICAO Aviation Security requirements are the basis for international aviation security for all countries that signed the agreement, including the United States. Examine the security requirements for foreign carriers flying to U.S. airports.
Global Aviation Security Plan: Doc 10118 (PDF)/ICAOLinks to an external site.
This document addresses the need to guide all aviation security enhancement efforts through a set of 
internationally agreed priority actions.
Choose one of the regulations and discuss its effects on the aviation industry’s security. Also, compare or contrast one of these other regulations to the one you chose.

answer
1. Introduction
The quest for maximized security has seen the implementation of various security regulations and their subsequent up/downgrading as security intelligence changes. The events of September 11th, 2001, led to the implementation of stricter security regulations in the USA and internationally. The events of September 11th are notable for an extreme exogenous shock in security intelligence on an airline terrorist threat. This provides an excellent opportunity to apply economic analysis on the effects of an aviation security regulation with a variable level of security protection. An integral part of this study was the decision to choose a specific regulation because the aviation industry is extremely broad and the effects of security regulations can be quite specific to a certain part of the industry. Therefore, it is possible that different security regulations will have differing effects on different airline services. This concept is explored in more detail in sections to. The regulation that has been chosen is the Aviation Security Service Charge (ASSC). This regulation has a very broad effect on the industry but it particularly affects airlines and air passengers. Therefore, discussion on the effects of this regulation can be applied to various different airline services. A brief overview of the broad effects of this regulation will be provided in the next section.
Aviation and the aviation security regulations have been the subject of considerable controversy and debate. The industry has been compelled to install various security measures and mechanisms to protect the nations travelling on air transportation. The interests of aviation security and the economic health of the industry have to be addressed in the decision-making process on how new regulations are to be implemented. This paper will examine the effects of aviation security regulations on the aviation industry. The importance of aviation security regulations as an extraordinary government intervention on the industry is that its effects are seen throughout all the different parts of the industry. Security regulations can be considered as an additional input to the production of air travel, something which is added with the expectation that it will produce a certain level of quality or safety in the service. An analysis of regulations on the aviation industry provides a good opportunity to explore the economic effects of public policies on a specific industry. Aviation security regulations provide an interesting case for applying regulatory economics. It is one of the few instances in which the prime focus of cost-benefit analysis has been shifted from economic efficiency towards the maximization of security measures at any cost.
1.1 Importance of Aviation Security Regulations
The Air Transport Association (2007) underscores the importance of civil aviation to the economic health of the global economy, comprising nearly $370 billion US in direct economic impact and generating, in total, $1.2 trillion of economic activity. It sustains more than 33 million jobs. In light of this significance, the industry is a prime target for disruption, which may come in many forms, from civil unrest to acts of terrorism. The events of September 11, 2001, served as a rude awakening to the industry, bringing about a realization that the global aviation system was vulnerable to a small band of zealots armed with nothing more than a few box cutters. The ensuing changes to the US aviation security regulations were both swift and far-reaching when the Congress enacted the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) (Transportation Security Administration, 2008), resulting in the greatest change to the governance of aviation security since its inception. ATSA was the first attempt to implement a fully integrated system of security with the intention to federalize airport security, and it marked a significant move away from a reactive, “firefighting” approach to security. Prior to this, security in the US was the responsibility of the individual airlines, but the events of 9/11 served as proof that this was ineffective and did little more than pose a minor deterrent to anyone attempting to breach security. ATSA allocated funds to the tune of $4.8 billion to be spent on security measures, a number dwarfed by the $65 billion estimate of economic impact 9/11 had on the aviation industry. The regulation created a comprehensive system of civil aviation security, providing both the requirements and the means. These new regulations were expected to have both positive and negative effects on the industry and its various sectors.
1.2 Overview of the Chosen Regulation
The current and ongoing regulation that is being investigated is the Secure Flight programme that was put forward by the Transportation Security Administration. The programme is an initiative that was decided upon after the events of 9/11 and the commission report which raised concerns about the security of the flying public. The programme was decided upon after TSA was forced to endure a variety of tasking security issues; the program itself is a performance-based programme aimed at increasing the overall security effectiveness for the entire US aviation system. This includes a consolidation of the various watch lists that are now being used for passenger identification and putting it into a thorough and comprehensive system that allows a discrepancy-free identification of passengers that require additional screening and those that are a legitimate threat. This system will be done by comparing passenger information against government lists of suspected terrorists. This is seen as a crucial step for following the events of 9/11 where the commission found that the use of aliases by terrorists was a primary method of eluding detection by watchlist systems to gain access to an aircraft. This requirement is directly related to the ICAO recommendation that requires member states to provide a means to match passenger information with names listed on criminal watch lists.
There are two key pieces of regulation which have a massive influence over the aviation industry and are aimed solely at improving the safety and security of the aviation industry both in the United States and globally. The two Title 49 of Code of Federal Regulations, which is a regulation that controls domestic aviation in the United States and the Chicago convention, which is an agreement that the United States and 185 other nations have signed which aims to achieve the highest common standards in security and safety in aviation through regulations that are uniform in their form and application.
2. Impact on Security Measures
2.1 Strengthening Passenger Screening Procedures
2.2 Enhancing Baggage Security Checks
2.3 Implementing Advanced Technology for Threat Detection
3. Influence on Airport Operations
3.1 Increased Security Personnel and Training Requirements
3.2 Enhanced Access Control Systems
3.3 Heightened Surveillance and Monitoring
4. Effects on Airlines and Carriers
4.1 Compliance with Security Regulations
4.2 Financial Implications of Security Upgrades
4.3 Collaboration with International Partners
5. Comparison with Other Security Regulations
5.1 Similarities between Chosen Regulation and TSA Screening
5.2 Contrasting Approaches to Security Measures
5.3 Shared Objectives and Cooperation among Regulators
6. Conclusion
6.1 Overall Impact on Aviation Industry Security
6.2 Continuous Adaptation to Evolving Threats

Emergency Management Plan: Financial Management

question
 In this discussion, explain and describe the Emergency Management Plan: Financial Management. How does financial management play a significant role in planning for tactical and operational endeavors? 
Answer
1. Introduction
Financial management is one of the key elements of every management plan. It provides the systematic approach in which the organization could allocate the financial resources to operational and capital requirements. This is defined by Pride et al. (2006), in which financial management is the operational activity whereby the funds of an organization are allocated and controlled to attain the organizational objectives. The principal objective of financial management in emergency management planning is to provide the most effective and efficient approach in which the organization could utilize the financial resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from any potential emergencies or disasters. This also includes disaster risk reduction activities in which the organization could minimize the probability of a disaster occurring.
As this research paper is a management plan on financial management, the definition of an “Emergency Management Plan” stated by the Emergency Management Australia (2004) is “a plan that identifies measures which can be taken to eliminate hazards, reduce risk, and prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster.”
The research-based emergency management essay should be a tutorial and a management tool in which the emergency management plan would be developed effectively and efficiently. For emergency management plans to be effectively developed for the city or the municipality, the emergency management needs to understand what an emergency management plan is and its importance.
1.1. Definition of Emergency Management Plan
The emergency management planning process should take an “all hazards” approach given that the impacts of many hazards can be mitigated in similar ways and that it is hard to predict the type of disaster that will befall a particular place or community. An all hazards approach ensures that the strategy is relevant and useful to a broad range of scenarios. The emergency management plan will then identify and prioritize the most significant risks to be addressed. Note that in the context of a household emergency management plan, a “risk” may be any unplanned event that has the potential to disrupt the normal routine of the household.
An emergency management plan is simply the application of managerial process to the creation of a strategy that will allow the best chance of preserving the safety of a defined group at a point in time in the future.
An emergency management plan serves as a “road map” of sorts for how to keep your family safe and respond in an emergency. An emergency management plan is a dynamic guide for changing circumstances to minimize damage and ensure the safety and security of you and your family. This plan should be assembled by the head of the household and disseminated to each family member. It should identify the specific roles and responsibilities of family members in the context of the risk scenarios identified and the preparation and response strategies that will follow.
1.2. Importance of Financial Management in Emergency Management Planning
Effective financial management is an integral part of the overall emergency management plan. In every stage of emergency management, it is crucial to mobilize resources and spend funds wisely. Recurring natural disasters in various countries have encouraged emergency management authorities to consider providing funding for recovery and preparedness activities, in addition to response efforts. But despite the consensus that sound financial management is essential in emergency management, there has been little empirical research on the topic, and there is no clear understanding of what comprises good financial management in the emergency management context. This paper, based on a recently completed Ph.D. thesis, begins by defining financial management in the context of emergency management and establishing the significance of the topic. The subsequent section discusses various types of resources that are available to finance emergency management activities, and identifies the trends and imbalances regarding the allocation of resources between mitigation and preparedness activities, and response and recovery activities. The paper then presents a delineation of the key components of emergency management finance, and explains how accounting and accountability fit into the wider financial management framework.
2. Fund Allocation
2.1. Determining Financial Needs
2.2. Budgeting for Emergency Response Efforts
2.3. Allocating Funds to Different Operational Areas
3. Resource Acquisition
3.1. Identifying Funding Sources
3.2. Applying for Grants and Financial Assistance
3.3. Establishing Partnerships with Organizations for Financial Support
4. Financial Risk Assessment
4.1. Evaluating Potential Financial Risks
4.2. Developing Contingency Plans for Financial Emergencies
4.3. Mitigating Financial Risks through Insurance and Contracts
5. Financial Reporting
5.1. Establishing Financial Reporting Mechanisms
5.2. Monitoring and Tracking Financial Expenditures
5.3. Generating Financial Reports for Transparency and Accountability
6. Financial Auditing
6.1. Conducting Regular Financial Audits
6.2. Ensuring Compliance with Financial Regulations and Policies
6.3. Identifying Areas for Improvement in Financial Management
7. Cost-Benefit Analysis
7.1. Assessing the Cost Effectiveness of Emergency Management Strategies
7.2. Analyzing the Benefits and Returns on Financial Investments
8. Financial Training and Education
8.1. Providing Financial Management Training for Emergency Management Personnel
8.2. Enhancing Financial Literacy within the Emergency Management Team
8.3. Promoting Financial Awareness among Stakeholders
9. Financial Planning for Recovery
9.1. Developing Financial Strategies for Post-Emergency Recovery
9.2. Allocating Funds for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Efforts
9.3. Implementing Long-Term Financial Plans for Sustainable Recovery
10. Conclusion