Classroom Management Considerations to Promote Inclusion Essay Example for Free

Classroom Management Considerations to Promote Inclusion Essay In order for a classroom to be truly inclusive classroom management considerations have to be addressed. Will the classroom atmosphere be conducive to learning for all students and how will the climate be modified or adapted to meet these needs? How will classroom goals and rules be established and are they visible and clearly stated in the classroom? Are academic standards clearly stated and visible in the classroom? Does the teacher effectively utilize differentiated instructional strategies for all students? Is the classroom arranged in a manner to accentuate student learning, for example: how are the desks arranged, is there a student seating plan in place, are bulletin or display boards cluttered and distracting, are there technology resources available to the students in the classroom? Are the teachers utilizing flexible co-teaching models in the classroom and is planning time scheduled to create effective lesson planning? These are questions one must ask his or herself in order to create a truly inclusive classroom. Language and discourse in the classroom also plays a role in creating an inclusive atmosphere, the relationship between the teacher and student, the student and his or her peers is part of the social climate of the classroom and must be positively modeled by the teacher. The teacher must find a way to assess and re-assess instructional strategies so that instruction is real-world based and encourages various extensive and engaging learning opportunities for the students. The teacher also has to teach and model positive coping strategies for stress and should remain non-judgmental in their classroom and behavior management approaches. The following is a short list of some modifications or adaptations that can be made in the classroom: †¢ Preferred seating †¢ Pre-printed notes for the class †¢ Visual aids such as graphic organizers like a KWL chart †¢ Choice of assignments †¢ Extended time to complete tests †¢ Fewer questions for classwork or homework †¢ Modified grading utilizing a rubric †¢ Reduce distractions †¢ Teach study skills and coping strategies †¢ Use flashcards †¢ Use of technology to facilitate instruction such as reading and math software to reinforce and teach pre-requisite skills †¢ Visual schedules †¢ Use of manipulatives †¢ Visual communication aids

Aging and Hearing Loss :: Cognitive Geriatrics Essays

Aging and Hearing Loss Hearing loss is often overlooked because our hearing is an invisible sense that is always expected to be in action. Yet, there are people everywhere that suffer from the effects of hearing loss. It is important to study and understand all aspects of the many different types and reasons for hearing loss. The loss of this particular sense can be socially debilitating. It can affect the communication skills of the person, not only in receiving information, but also in giving the correct response. This paper focuses primarily on hearing loss in the elderly. One thing that affects older individuals' communication is the difficulty they often experience when recognizing time compressed speech. Time compressed speech involves fast and unclear conversational speech. Many older listeners can detect the sound of the speech being spoken, but it is still unclear (Pichora-Fuller, 2000). In order to help with diagnosis and rehabilitation, we need to understand why speech is unclear even when it is audible. The answer to that question would also help in the development of hearing aids and other communication devices. Also, as we come to understand the reasoning behind this question and as we become more knowledgeable about what older adults can and cannot hear, we can better accommodate them in our day to day interactions. There are many approaches to the explanation of the elderly's difficulty with rapid speech. Researchers point to a decline in processing speed, a decline in processing brief acoustic cues (Gordon-Salant & Fitzgibbons, 2001), an age-related decline of temporal processing in general (Gordon-Salant & Fitzgibbons, 1999; Vaughan & Letowski, 1997), the fact that both visual and auditory perception change with age (Helfer, 1998), an interference of mechanical function of the ear, possible sensorineural hearing loss due to damage to receptors over time (Scheuerle, 2000), or a decline in the processing of sounds in midbrain (Ochert, 2000). Each one of these could be a possible explanation; however it is often a combination of several of these causing a perceptual difficulty in the individual. Helfer (1998) recognized the slowing of our temporal perceptual processes with increasing age. He suggested that this leads to auditory deformity, especially in the instance of time compressed speech. Speech comprehension requires rapid processing of stimuli that is not always completed in time-compressed speech because of the shortening of phonemes and a decrease in pauses. Helfer went a step further by taking into account that hearing is not just auditory but it is also visual, in that we use cues like looking at the person's mouth or facial expression while having a conversation.

Human Population: The Overpopulation Problem and Sustainable Solutions Essay

Human society lives in the atmosphere of numerous environmental threats. However, no dangers are as threatening to humanity as those created by humans themselves. Like global warming and the extinction of animal and plant species, overpopulation has already turned into the definitive feature of the postmodern environmental reality. Few strategies have been developed to address the overpopulation issue. The positive effects of those strategies had been but few. Today, there is an urgent need to develop a global sustainable strategy that will reduce the rates of the population growth to the extent, which will allow humans to meet their present needs without compromising the needs of the future generations. Overpopulation: A Review of the Problem A wealth of literature was written about overpopulation, its causes and consequences. Gilland (2008) defines overpopulation as â€Å"relation to a country’s ability to feed its inhabitants† (p. 122). In the global contexts, overpopulation implies that the planet no longer possesses resources necessary to satisfy even the basic human needs. More often than not, the concept of overpopulation is discussed in relation to diet and food consumption patterns. For example, Gilland (2008) provides an extensive review of what a satisfactory average diet is and what nutrition problems usually indicate the presence of the overpopulation issue. Overpopulation is often equated with conditions of living that manifest through continuous imbalance between population numbers and the carrying capacity of land; and here, food and diets are fairly regarded as the basic measures of overpopulation per unit of land (Fellmann, Getis & Getis, 2007). Overpopulation is problematic because it leads to unavailability of food resources with the caloric content needed to meet individual daily requirements for energy (Fellmann, Getis & Getis, 2007). The situation with developing countries is particularly difficult, because these countries cannot meet the growing demands of the ever increasing population. Difficulties with food production, continuous poverty, climate changes and significant crop losses add their share of complexity to the issue of overpopulation. For example, Africa’s share of crop production decreased 30% between 1960 and 1990, and further 30% decrease is predicted in the next 25 years (Fellmann, Getis & Getis, 2008). These problems will widen the population-nutrition gap and will turn overpopulation into the basic cause of famines and economic scarcity (Fellmann, Getis & Getis, 2008). Overpopulation marks the beginning of the so-called â€Å"plague cycle†, which will lead to the collapse of the food supply systems and will create environmental constraints, which technologies cannot reduce (Cassis, 2004). The growing pace of technological advancement makes the problem of overpopulation even more controversial, achievements in technology lead to the growing scarcity of natural resources, especially oil and gas. The current state of overpopulation and the continuous population growth on the planet will lead to global crash of the most important supply systems (Cassis, 2004). Urban and densely-populated territories will be among the first to perceive the adverse effects of overpopulation. Their dense population and woefully inadequate sanitation provide the ideal breeding ground for diseases new and old – diseases that will, sooner or later, be carried to all parts of the world through migration and tourism† (Cassis, 2004, p. 178). The poorest parts of the world will experience the drastic consequences of resource depletion and are likely to plunge into anarchy in their fight for survival (Kaplan, 1994). With the population of roughly 6. 8 billion today and 211,000 people ad ded every day, the earth is likely to reach the 9. 2 billion point by 2050 (Johnson, 2007). Food and health systems will hardly withstand the pressure of the ever growing population. The world’s food supply per capita increased 30% between 1960 and 2000; meanwhile, the world’s oil reserves increased only 3%, and grain production increase did not exceed 2. 1% (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 2001). Obviously, the time will come when the growing population will need to fight hard to satisfy the growing feeling of hunger. In light of these complexities, the lack of the overpopulation awareness is at least striking. Cassis (2004) is correct in that the media do little to help people better understand how overpopulation impacts the planet. Most individuals do not have any single idea about the finiteness of natural resources and do not recognize the need to preserve the environment for the future generations. However, the resource pie is far from big enough to divide it into equal pieces among everyone (Cassis, 2004). It is high time the human society reconsidered its consumption patterns and addressed the existing overpopulation concerns, before it is too late. Overpopulation: Living and Nonliving Factors and Positive and Negative Sides of the Issue Definitely, the current state of population on the planet is the result of both living and nonliving influences. The living factors of overpopulation include the growing availability of food resources (including animals), the growing resistance of the human organism to bacterial infections/ diseases, and the growing life expectancy. Among nonliving factors of overpopulation, the most important are public health improvements, the advances in human knowledge of ecology and biology, better access to nonliving resources like oil and gas, improved transportation and communication and, simultaneously, the growing social gap between different population layers. The availability of food and better human resistance to bacterial infections and diseases greatly contributed to the population growth on the planet. The past 150 years were marked with the remarkable increase in food production by farmers: between 1965 and 1985 alone, the amount of grain harvested and processed worldwide increased from 630 million tons to almost 2 billion tons (Miller, 1995). Rapid technological advancement led to the development of more sophisticated fertilizers, machinery, and new kinds of seed, which altogether sped up the expansion of agricultural production all over the world (Miller, 1995). Unfortunately, the distribution of food resources on the planet remains increasingly uneven. Meanwhile, human society continues conquering the most dangerous infections and diseases, making human organism more resistant to various kinds of living organisms. Better health is both the product of better nutrition and better medical practices. The latter are an essential nonliving component of the growing population. Really, significant improvements in medical practices and public health systems made the rapid growth of population possible and even threatening to the stability of the social order on the planet. Vaccinations, new theories of disease, better systems of food and water supply, and improved waste treatment became the basic prerequisites for the dramatic increase in human population on planet (Miller, 1995). Death rates fell sharply due to substantial progress in medical science, while birth rates, especially in the poorest areas of the planet, remained increasingly high (Miller, 1995). For many people, having more children became the symbol of healthier life (Cassis, 1994). Modern communications and the sophisticated system of transportation have created better conditions for giving birth to and bringing up children (Cassis, 1994). As a result, with time, overpopulation gradually transformed from a distant perspective into reality. Like any other issue, overpopulation has good and bad sides. Surprisingly or not, overpopulation creates a challenge the society must meet in order to survive. In this situation, people actively work to develop solutions to the most urgent food supply problems (e. . , the development of genetically modified foods). Nevertheless, negative factors of overpopulation overweigh its positive sides and include the growing scarcity of resources, environmental pollution, the failure of traditional food supply chains, and the growing population-nutrition gap. Overpopulation and the Current Sustainability Solutions The growing scarcity of food resources leads governments and social groups to propose and implement sustainable solutions t o the problem of overpopulation. Current sustainable policies cover a limited range of instruments and do not resolve the existing overpopulation controversies. In the system of overpopulation solutions, family planning and birth control occupy the central place and are based on Malthus’s theory that â€Å"all biological populations have a potential for increase that exceeds the actual rate of increase, and the resources for the support of increase are limited† (Fellman, Getis & Getis, 2007, p. 125). Indonesia was among the first to adopt a family planning program that established numerous village centers to distribute contraceptives and educate people about birth control (Pakenham, 2004). As a result, Indonesia was able to decrease its fertility rates by almost 40 percent (Pakenham, 2004). Other countries, including Thailand, Mexico, South Korea and Tunisia were able to decrease their birth rates; the dramatic decrease in birth rates ultimately led to a 33-percent increase in economic growth in East Asia (Pakenham, 2004). Chinese one-child-per-family policies received a great deal of attention (Cassis, 2004). Economies like Japan apply to complex policies of economic growth, based on the belief that economic prosperity and lower fertility rates are closely connected (Cassis, 2004). These, however, are separate attempts to resolve separate issues in separate countries. Humanity never tried to develop a complex strategy to address the most complex elements of the overpopulation problem at once.

How Mathematics Has Changed My Life - 934 Words

Maths is ubiquitous in our lives, but depending on the learning received as a child it could inspire or frighten. If a child has a negative experience in mathematics, that experience has the ability to affect his/her attitude toward mathematics as an adult. Solso (2009) explains that math has the ability to confuse, frighten, and frustrate learners of all ages; Math also has the ability to inspire, encourage and achieve. Almost all daily activities include some form of mathematical procedure, whether people are aware of it or not. Possessing a solid learning foundation for math is vital to ensure a lifelong understanding of math. This essay will discuss why it is crucial to develop in children the ability to tackle problems with initiative and confidence (Anghileri, 2006, p. 2) and why mathematics has changed from careful rehearsal of standard procedures to a focus on mathematical thinking and communication to prepare them for the world of tomorrow (Anghileri). In reality, no one can teach mathematics. Effective teachers are those who can stimulate students to learn mathematics. Educational research offers compelling evidence that students learn mathematics well only when they construct their own mathematical understanding (MSEB and National Research Council 1989, 58). The constructivist theory first began making its way into the teaching style of math in the later 20th century (although ideas of constructivism have existed prior to the 20th century - Dewey, Piaget,Show MoreRelatedReflection Paper On My Life860 Words   |  4 PagesReflections on My Life When I examine my life, I like to reflect on two facets of religion and mathematics. In the book â€Å"Hugs for Grads†, Jeff Walling advised the graduates, â€Å"The simple basics of life – love, faith, and hope – are all we really need. We can’t undo all the world’s wrongs, but we can affect the corner of the world we live in if we’ll just stick to the basics – the basics of life.† This means that religion is one of the basics of life. In addition, math is essential in everything. MathematicalRead MoreDuring my years in high school, I have had the privilege to meet incredible teachers who have all600 Words   |  3 Pages During my years in high school, I have had the privilege to meet incredible teachers who have all been mentors: however, there is one teacher that will always hold a special place in my heart. That teacher is Mrs. Peterson, and she is my mathematics teacher this year. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to become a teacher. I still want to pursue this career now, and the reason why is because of this amazing mathematics teacher. The teacher that I mentioned above is truly exceptionalRead MoreEssay on Statement of Philosophy and Goals1301 Words   |  6 Pagesday of kindergarten, watching the teacher teach us how to do basic things like counting, writing, and reading is what interested me in teaching. Throughout my elementary and secondary education I became even more interested in the teaching field. I thought that being a teacher would be the best thing in the world because a teacher has an immense amount of knowledge. Now I am in college where I am currently studying to be a secondary mathematics teacher. There are several reasons why I want toRead MoreUnderstand Current National and Organisational Frameworks for Mathematics1520 Words   |  7 PagesUnderstand current national and organisational frameworks for mathematics 1.1 Explain the aims and importance of learning provision for numeracy development. Numeracy development is important for all children as maths is an important part of everyday life. The way in which maths is taught has changed greatly over the years. When I was at school we were taught one method to reach one answer. Now, particularly in early primary phase, children are taught different methods to reach an answerRead MoreThe Impact of The Fifth Agreement: Truth, Virtual Truth and Agreement by Don Ruiz1165 Words   |  5 PagesAgreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery to me was just like reading every other book. I never thought it was going to make a huge impact in my life. It made me understood more about life and I was able to reflect my entire life to the book. One basic concept I came to understand was the real meaning of Truth and how it plays a very important role in my life. It also made me understand that there is a difference between the real truth and the virtual truth. Truth is simply the body ofRead MoreHistory of Mathematics1062 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Mathematics - the unshaken Foundation of Sciences, and the plentiful Fountain of Advantage to human affairs.† (Barrow) Mathematics plays an integral function in our daily living since its conception, and we thank the great mathematicians for this essential tool. Mathematics has been used in various professions and academic fields. Undoubtedly, there have been many men of old that have contributed to the science of mathematics, but what really captivates our interest, are the ones who were passionateRead MoreEducation Is A Basic Human Right974 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: Education is a basic human right and it has been designed to be important for our future and social status. Education in the long term has designed us and how the world is functioning today. Education is obviously a good thing, the world wouldn’t be as sophisticated and advanced without the foundation of education, but in saying that there are aspects of education that are taught that can be considered to be flawed. In our personal life we have found that English being compulsory worldwideRead MoreReal Life Uses For Improper Integrals1072 Words   |  5 Pages Mathematics Exploration HL Real life Uses for Improper Integrals: Investigating the possible physical employments for Improper Integrals Name: Brian Lin Teacher: Mr He ID: 9331 Word Count (Body): 2042 â€Æ' Table of Contents: Page Table of Contents --------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction and Rationale --------------------------------- 2 Definition of Definite Integrals and Improper IntegralsRead MoreQuestions On The Mathematics Of Math942 Words   |  4 PagesMathematics to me, is complex numbers with only one correct answer involving numbers and other unknown variables. There are formulas where you plug numbers into and solving for the x variable. I would consider myself somewhat good at math I do not always get a concept right away but I will work through the difficulty until I discover how to understand the concept at hand. I will study and persevere until the challenge at hand is resolved. Usually, I am a quick learner which allows me to understandRead MoreWhy I Became A Gang Member900 Words   |  4 PagesBefore I was a mathematics major, a tutor in college for math and physics, or even a high school graduate, I was a gang member. I belonged to a local street gang in my community since the age of fifteen. I have survived, seen, and done things that people only see in movies. I got involved with gangs at the young age of eleven. Growing up in my neighborhood I didn’t really have a choice I got raised into it, I became a product of my environment influenced by the streets. At school in the classroom

Major General Benedict Arnold in the American Revolution

Benedict Arnold V was born January 14, 1741, to successful businessman Benedict Arnold III and his wife Hannah. Raised in Norwich, CT, Arnold was one of six children though only two, he and his sister Hannah, survived to adulthood. The loss of the other children led Arnolds father to alcoholism and prevented him from teaching his son the family business. First educated at a private school in Canterbury, Arnold was able to secure an apprenticeship with his cousins who operated mercantile and apothecary businesses in New Haven. In 1755, with the French Indian War raging he attempted to enlist in the militia but was stopped by his mother. Successful two years later, his company departed to relieve Fort William Henry but returned home before seeing any fighting. With the death of his mother in 1759, Arnold increasingly had to support his family due to his fathers declining condition. Three years later, his cousins loaned him the money to open an apothecary and bookstore. A skilled merchant, Arnold was able to raise the money to buy three ships in partnership with Adam Babcock. These traded profitably until the imposition of the Sugar and Stamp Acts. Pre-American Revolution Opposed to these new royal taxes, Arnold soon joined the Sons of Liberty and effectively became a smuggler as he operated outside of the new laws. During this period he also faced financial ruin as debts began to accumulate. In 1767, Arnold married Margaret Mansfield, daughter of the sheriff of New Haven. The union would produce three sons before her death in June 1775. As tensions with London increased, Arnold increasingly became interested in military matters and was elected a captain in the Connecticut militia in March 1775. With the beginning of the American Revolution the following month, he marched north to take part in the siege of Boston. Fort Ticonderoga Arriving outside Boston, he soon offered a plan to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety for a raid on Fort Ticonderoga in northern New York. Supporting Arnolds plan, the committee issued him a commission as a colonel and dispatched him north. Reaching the vicinity of the fort, Arnold encountered other colonial forces under Colonel Ethan Allen. Though the two men initially clashed, they resolved their disagreements and captured the fort on May 10. Moving north, Arnold conducted a raid against Fort Saint-Jean on the Richelieu River. With the arrival of new troops, Arnold fought with the commander and returned south. Invasion of Canada Without a command, Arnold became one of several individuals who lobbied for an invasion of Canada. The Second Continental Congress finally authorized such an operation, but Arnold was passed over for command. Returning to the siege lines in Boston, he convinced General George Washington to send a second expedition north via the wilderness of Maines Kennebec River. Receiving permission for this scheme and a commission as a colonel in the Continental Army, he embarked in September 1775 with around 1,100 men. Short on food, hampered by poor maps, and facing degrading weather, Arnold lost over half his force en route. Reaching Quebec, he was soon joined by the other American force led by Major General Richard Montgomery. Uniting, they launched a failed attempt to capture the city on December 30/31 in which he was wounded in the leg and Montgomery killed. Though defeated at the Battle of Quebec, Arnold was promoted to brigadier general and maintained a loose siege of the city. After overseeing American forces at Montreal, Arnold commanded the retreat south in 1776 following the arrival of British reinforcements. Troubles in the Army Constructing a scratch fleet on Lake Champlain, Arnold won a critical strategic victory at Valcour Island in October which delayed the British advance against Fort Ticonderoga and the Hudson Valley until 1777. His overall performance earned Arnold friends in Congress and he developed a relationship with Washington. Conversely, during his time in the north, Arnold alienated many in the army through courts-martial and other inquiries. In the course of one of these, Colonel Moses Hazen charged him with stealing military supplies. Though the court ordered his arrest, it was blocked by Major General Horatio Gates. With the British occupation of Newport, RI, Arnold was sent to Rhode Island by Washington to organize new defenses. In February 1777, Arnold learned that he had been passed over for promotion to major general. Angered by what he perceived to be politically motivated promotions, he offered his resignation to Washington which was refused. Traveling south to Philadelphia to argue his case, he aided in fighting a British force at Ridgefield, CT. For this, he received his promotion though his seniority was not restored. Angered, he again prepared to offer his resignation but did not follow through upon hearing that Fort Ticonderoga had fallen. Racing north to Fort Edward, he joined Major General Philip Schuylers northern army. Battles of Saratoga Arriving, Schuyler soon dispatched him with 900 men to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix. This was quickly accomplished through a use of ruse and deception and he returned to find that Gates was now in command. As Major General John Burgoynes army marched south, Arnold advocated aggressive action but was blocked by the cautious Gates. Finally receiving permission to attack, Arnold won a fight at Freemans Farm on September 19. Excluded from Gates report of the battle, the two men clashed and Arnold was relieved of his command. Ignoring this fact, he raced to the fighting at Bemis Heights on October 7 and guided American troops to victory. Philadelphia In the fighting at Saratoga, Arnold was again wounded in the leg he had injured at Quebec. Refusing to allow it to be amputated, he had it crudely set leaving it two inches shorter than his other leg. In recognition of his bravery at Saratoga, Congress finally restored his command seniority. Recovering, he joined Washingtons army at Valley Forge in March 1778 to much acclaim. That June, following the British evacuation, Washington appointed Arnold to serve as military commander of Philadelphia. In this position, Arnold quickly began making questionable business deals to rebuild his shattered finances. These angered many in the city who began collecting evidence against him. In response, Arnold demanded a court-martial to clear his name. Living extravagantly, he soon began courting Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a prominent Loyalist judge, who had previously attracted the eye of Major John Andre during the British occupation. The two were married in April 1779. The Road to Betrayal Angered by a perceived lack of respect and encouraged by Peggy who retained lines of communication with the British, Arnold began reaching out to the enemy in May 1779. This offer reached Andrà © who consulted with General Sir Henry Clinton in New York. While Arnold and Clinton negotiated compensation, the American began providing a variety of intelligence. In January 1780, Arnold was largely cleared of the charges levied against him earlier, though in April a Congressional inquiry found irregularities pertaining to his finances during the Quebec campaign. Resigning his command at Philadelphia, Arnold successfully lobbied for command of West Point on the Hudson River. Working through Andrà ©, he came to an agreement in August to surrender the post to the British. Meeting on September 21, Arnold and Andrà © sealed the deal. Departing the meeting, Andrà © was captured two days later as he returned to New York City. Learning of this on September 24, Arnold was forced to flee to HMS Vulture in the Hudson River as the plot was exposed. Remaining calm, Washington investigated the scope of betrayal and offered to exchange Andrà © for Arnold. This was refused and Andrà © was hung as a spy on October 2. Later Life Receiving a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, Arnold campaigned against American forces in Virginia later that year and in 1781. In his last major action of the war, he won the Battle of Groton Heights in Connecticut in September 1781. Effectively viewed as a traitor by both sides, he did not receive another command when the war ended despite lengthy efforts. Returning to life as a merchant he lived in Britain and Canada before his death in London on June 14, 1801.

Critical Analysis Of Communication And Ethical Issues

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATION AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE SOUTHERN CROSS HEALTH SYSTEMS ! ! ! ! ! Author: Lareb. Azam. Cheema; Communication Consultant Authorised by: Southern Cross Health Systems’ Board of Directors Date completed: 25 September 2014 !1 ï ¿ ¼! TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 1. INTRODUCTION 4 2. CORPORATE IDENTITY AND CULTURE 5 2.1. CORPORATE IMAGE 5 2.2. CORPORATE CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP STYLES 5 2.3. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 6 2.3.1. BRIBES 6 2.3.2. ROKEACH’S VALUE SYSTEM 7 3. INTERNAL COMMUNICATION 8 3.1. COMMUNICATION CHANNEL 8 3.2. TEAM MANAGEMENT 8 4. CONCLUSION 9 5. RECOMMENDATIONS 9 6. REFERENCE LIST 10 !2 ï ¿ ¼EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ! This report examines ethical and communication issues present in Southern Cross Health Systems. A critical analysis shall be provided on the unethical tactics used by CEO Bob Bieber, which include the issuing of bribes to Chinese officials as well as the unethical sales strategies used to promote pharmaceutical products to medical practitioners. Other issues of concern that have been created because of Bob Bieber include the division in the company based on the creation of the Southern Cross Pharma cup which has allowed a double standard to emerge. In addition, director of diagnostics division, Jacqueline Harris, has failed to create effective teams and has also failed to be an effective leader as meetings are not scheduled regularly. Both Bob Bieber and Jacqueline Harris undermine the corporate mission which statesShow MoreRelatedSituation Analysis and Problem Statement: Global Communications1644 Words   |  7 Pageshead: SITUATION ANALYSIS AND PROBLEM STATEMENT: GLOBAL COMMUNICA TIONS Situation Analysis and Problem Statement: Global Communications University of Phoenix Situation Analysis and Problem Statement There are different ways to approach defining the problems facing an organization; the focus needs to be on defining the problem correctly. Thus far in our teachings we have examined the foundations of Problem Based Learning, the 9-Step Problem-Solving Model and Situation Analysis and Problem StatementRead MoreEssay on Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision Making1036 Words   |  5 PagesCritical thinking and ethical decision making are crucial for academic success as well as career success. Both critical thinking and ethical choices allow an appreciation of diverse points of view using analytic approaches, create a tolerance for and an appreciation of ambiguity, allow for creative problem-solving, and give the ability to integrate knowledge from diverse viewpoints into unified ideas and strategies. To better understand how critical thinking and ethics impacts our success, we mustRead MoreImproving The New Online System Essay1720 Words   |  7 Pagessystem has been inconsisten t in terms of displaying information associated to roaster shifts as a result of this numerous staff members are questioning the systems efficiency. As the internal communications officer I have the responsibility of delivering key communication to staff members and to resolve issues that’s subsist in the organisation. Therefore, based on the ongoing complaints made by staff members one would like to make a proposal in regards to understanding the new online systems competenceRead MoreEthical Behavior And Ethical Behaviour1102 Words   |  5 PagesEthical behaviour is the ability to make decisions to act in the morally acceptable manner Dalke Ankerstar, 1995, p.7). It is critical in any organization because it helps in building a good reputation that becomes a company’s selling point. A good reputation enhances mutual understanding between the company and its publics that is the stakeholders, government, employees, customers and the general public. It gains the compa ny a competitive edge in the business environment. It is an essential elementRead MoreUnderstanding the Managerial Challenges of the Orion Shield Project1095 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Understanding the Managerial Challenges of the Orion Shield Project: A Case Study Analysis There is an ancient Chinese proverb, A fish rots from the head. Nowhere is the wisdom of this phrase more evident than in the management of large projects or organizations. In the Orion Shield scenario provided, a variety of critical decisions made by a novice project manager jeopardized the success of the project and resulted in his demotion. The project consisted of producing materials to improve theRead MoreNursing: Essential Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pagespatients. A broad base of nursing knowledge including physiology, pharmacology and nursing theories is needed for effective critical thinking, clinical judgement and decision-making. Nurses develop expertise in nursing through the acquisition of nursing knowledge and clinical experience (Crisp Taylor, 2005). 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All three approaches differ greatly in their paradigms, or belief systems, on how the study of communication should be approached. Of the three approaches, the Interpretive Approach is the one that suits me the best. Why you might ask? Simply put, it just makes sense. The interpretive Approach, also referred to as the Humanistic Approach, is looking at communication through aRead MoreIdentifying The Right Candidate As The Biggest Challenge A Human Resource Professional Faces1137 Words   |  5 Pagescandidates. Resourcefulness and adeptness in how to locate and attract individuals with the best fit in an organization are challenging for a human resource professional. Employee Terminations or Layoffs. The interviewee also considered the legal issues that arise as a result of carrying out employee terminations or layoffs as a major challenge facing human resource professionals. The process is stressful as even a single misstep can expose the company to the possibility of an expensive lawsuit.Read MoreResearch Critique: Stigmatization of Persons with HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia by Abdallah Badahdah835 Words   |  3 Pagessensitive issues such as sex and HIV/AIDS. Moreover, researchers are not only confronted with the challenge of actually exploring these kinds of sensitive issues, they also needed to deal with the fact that they may not be able to reach critical groups such as women and homosexuals in a society that treats men and women differently and does not acknowledge the existence of homosexuality and homosexuals. Considering these limitations in conducting research in the MENA region, it is critical to begin

Sustainable Approach to Management

Question: You are to demonstrate your understanding and application of a sustainable approach to business management, including strategic planning, the value chain and CSR? Answer: Introduction Sustainable approach to business which is often referred to as Corporate sustainability is defined as an approach for creating a long term consumer as well as employee value through creation of green strategy which is aimed towards natural environment and considering each and every dimension related to the ways in which business operates in the social, cultural and economic environment. These strategies formulate the approach for the company to foster its longevity by way of transparency as well as proper employee development. The sustainable approaches towards business management has been termed as an evolution over the traditional phrases which describes the ethical corporate practices (Cran Field 2009). Phrases like CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is continuously been used but has been superseded by a broader term of corporate sustainability. The two important principles on which sustainable approaches for the business has been based upon are. 1. It is a critical aspect for creating a long-term shareholder value in the increasingly resource constrained global environment. 2. These factors are associated with opportunities as well as risks which are very important for companies to address in the coming times. The megatrends pertaining to sustainability is changing the way in which business is being done and it is something which is having a measurable impact over the entire business structures. The long term challenges concerning the companies is in regards with the resource scarcity, demographic shifts as well as the climatic changes which are redefining several elements. These include the expectations of citizens, public policies, regulatory frameworks and largely the environment in which the business operates. To the positive side, these challenges are creating newer opportunities and creating newer risks which needs to be addressed in order to remain competitive in the coming decades. It is believed that the companies which are quick to anticipate and hence manage the current as well as future economic, environmental, as well as social opportunities are more likely emerge winners with competitive advantage over its competitors (Leuphana 2002). Thus the quality of companys strategy and management along with its performance in dealing with opportunities as well as risks derived our of economic, environmental as well as social developments could be quantified and hence used for identifying as well as selecting the leading companies for investment purposes. Sustainability approach and strategic planning Sustainability approach to business becomes strategic when it gets integrated with the fabric of organizational planning as well as the management process. The two areas where sustainability needs to be highlighted is organizational high level strategic themes and the strategic objectives which are strategic building blocks of the strategy. The strategic theme is referred to as the pillar of strategy which directly supports the achievements of mission and vision of any organization. A good strategic theme is not only a particular objective but is a linked set of objectives which touch each areas of the management. The entire set of linked objectives tell a story of the strategy and forms the basis of communicating the entire story to everyone in a consistent manner (UNEP n.d.). Most of the organizations today have a set of common strategic themes or focus areas which comprise of: Operational Excellence Product Innovation Strategic Partnering Sustainability is also a part of the entire theme which comes with 4 perspectives towards strategic planning: 1. As a part of financial standpoint, sustainability refers to being in the business and creating a good return for the investors 2. For customers and stakeholders, sustainability refers to the goal of satisfying as well as providing value for the increasing number of safety and the sustainability conscious customers. 3. As far as the process is concerned, sustainability refers to management of materials, energy, and waste in the best eco-efficient manner possible (CEDC 2013). 4. Lastly, for organizational capacity, sustainability is referred to as creation of culture which values sustainability and is reflected over the choices employees have to make each day. The second pillar i.e. Strategic Objectives are referred to as the building blocks of strategic themes which help in making strategy actionable for the employees. These objectives are expressed in a continuous set of improvement activities which are unique to each and every perspective as well as the strategic attitudes. All the strategic objectives are linked in a collective manner for forming a strategy map which shows how the objectives work together in an integrated manner, and cause as well as effect the fashion for achieving best strategic results related to the strategic themes (NBS n.d.). Sustainability and relation to the corporate culture Creation of strong focus on sustainability with corporate culture is believed to align the employees within an organization for developing eco-efficient products. It also facilitates making more partners with regulators and reducing the life cycle impact of the operations. Further, organizations are aided to build newer information technologies which help in tracking life cycle impacts in a far more effective manner. If companies are able to produce eco-efficient products, they would be able to provide value to increase the number of green customers in their markets which eventually would lead to increase in sales. This capability of partnering would enable the organizations to communicate in a proactive manner with the regulatory community and thus allow them to be an active player instead of responding in a reactive manner to directives. It would hence reduce the risks associated with the business to a considerable level (IISD n.d.). Additionally, ecologically safe products are expected to reduce the potential product liability risk which would have a positive impact over the cost of capital for any company. Hence, a reduced life cycle would mean that there is a substantial cost savings in terms of fuel, water, electricity and the waste disposal. Therefore, when the aspect of sustainability gets integrated in the corporate culture a firm would be able to increase its revenues, reduce the risks and further reduce the costs which eventually would lead towards profitability. Moreover, a company which is more conscious and shows efforts of creating as sustainable environment is more likely to attract its employees and meet their desired expectations. It helps in reduction of employee turnover and hence the costs involved in recruitment selection and training and development for the organization. Sustainability and its contribution to value chain of an organization Value Chain Sustainability is simply defined as environmental, social as well as economic impacts which encourages good governance practices in the entire life cycle of goods and services. The primary objective of creating this approach is to protect and grow a long term environmental, social and economic value for the stakeholders who are involved to bring products as well as services in the market. Today organizations are less known to undertake sustainability measures as a cost center. MNCs across the world are more inclined to take actions for improving the social as well as environmental impacts by their value chain (Air CCSE n.d.). It is expected that immense business value could be added as well as shared by comprehensive and integrated approaches for sustainable value chain. Some of the very important reasons which is usually common across organizations are: 1. Cost efficiencies: To work with suppliers and contractors both up and downstream for improving efficiencies in resource consumption. Further it requires them to drive out process inefficiencies which are a result to cost savings and helps to improve performance of the operations of the business. 2. Opening to new markets: The result of cost efficiencies offers the opportunity for growing to both the company and its suppliers. 3. Managing Risks: With creation of a clean and green value chain, regulatory, operational and reputational risks are easier to manage. 4. Sustainable Brand Equity: Both demands as well as expectations of external stakeholders including the regulators, investors, customers as well as civil societies has increased as they are expecting a much more responsible conduct and transparency from the organizations. Any kind of questionable act from the organizations in any of their life cycles could adversely impact the growth in sales, legal tangles and primarily the image of the organization (BSR 2013). Keeping in mind the above reasons, organizations need to develop and evolve in the direction to creating a better environment, better products and services. A socially conscious organization is more prone to get attracted by customers if it shows the amount of care they have for the societies, environment and needs. Sustainable Approach to Management and Corporate Social Responsibility At most of the bigger organizations, CSR forms an integral element for their reputation and a means to show their concerns towards the societies they cater to. However, for micro and small organizations, it is emerging as a key element of success where Corporate Social Responsibility is referred to as a pillar to Corporate Sustainability. It is believed that CSR as a social strand in tri-dimensional model of Corporate Sustainability. As put forward by Ebner and Baumgartner (2006), they recommend Sustainable Development at macro level while at micro level Corporate Sustainability encompasses the economic, ecological and social pillars. As per their research, CSR was modelled as a social pillar to Corporate Sustainability. Another research by Sharma and Rudd (2003) has pointed out that academicians who are studying Corporate Sustainability usually focus on environmental issues while the ones who study CSR focus on social and ethical issues. However, their theory argues around the point that Corporate Sustainability is a broader concept and the social aspects are incorporate within it. This reflects that it encompasses CSR as the social dimension of sustainable framework (SHRM n.d.). There is a division of study which has also presented some contrary arguments which has resulted in confusion at different levels. For instance, Gallego (2006) had explained CSR to be a tool for measuring Sustainable Development with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects. He had added that Corporate Sustainability gets measured by reporting of these aspects. However, on most occasions Sustainability has been used as a synonym for other concepts like Sustainable Developments and Corporate Social Responsibility (Upenn 2011). We can consider Sustainable approach to business management as a redefined version of Corporate Sustainability. However, as discussed above, there are certain differences among the two concepts. But in present environments where the business has gone dynamic to get the competitive edge, it seems evident that sustainable approach to management needs to be integrated with Corporate Social Responsibility. We could conclude and say that although, CSR an d sustainable approach to business management have been coined based on different philosophies at the early stages, they come with their own set of common issues. Both of them cover the social, economic and the environmental divisions (Harshakumari Sarvaiya Minyu Wu 2014). Conclusion After understanding the importance of sustainable approach to business management and its links with key dimensions of the growing processes and activities within the organization it is clear that corporate sustainability would be an integral part of company policies and strategies in the coming years. The relevance is pretty similar in the environment where business are growing more global than ever before. SMEs, micro sector companies or MNCs, each of them are preparing a separate set of policies to adhere by the increasing demands of sustainable operations within the business. A key stress has been laid upon implementing such strategies which are not against the sustainability dimension. The reason for such change in planning and importance is due to the fact that global customers have become more aware and competition has increased drastically. In order to survive each and every company has to ensure that it does not do any damage to the basic elements of the society, environment and the sentiments of its customers. 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