Knowledge, Skills and Values in Social Work Assessments

Knowledge, Skills and Values in Social Work Assessments Outline the key areas of knowledge, skills and values required to carry out an effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment. Illustrate your answer from one of the following areas of professional practice: Mental Health The key areas of knowledge, skills and values which are required to carry out an effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment within the are mental heath have been set out within the various theories of social work assessment and involve engagement, effective communication skills, good inter-personal skills, non judgemental viewpoints, planning skills, confidence, experience, knowledge of the service user’s case history and an informed approach to assessment of users (Williams, (2002) 1) (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (2006) 14). This list is by no means exhaustive and it certainly is the case that there are some skills which merely require common sense and a pragmatic approach to the practice of social work assessment (Cree, V. (2003) 40) (Payne, M. and Shardlow, S. (2001) Ch. 1). From the writer’s perspective, specifically within the area of mental health, these skills arguably need to be more attuned in the social worker who wishes to carry out effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment. The social worker within the area of mental health will also require a firm knowledge base of the ways in which mental illness may manifest itself, and therefore the social worker will be able to identify the symptoms of common mental illnesses such as depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and others more readily and accurately. In this sense a combination of a good knowledge of the theory and practice of mental health social work will be essential tools for the social worker who wishes to be able to carry out effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment. An effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment in the area of mental heath is a complex process which requires an understanding of the complex socio-legal environment that the social worker often operates within (Beckett and Maynard (2005) 46). This means that the social worker will need to be familiar with the various regulatory and legal frameworks within which they must operate (Higham (2006) Ch 1) (Beckett, C. (2006) Ch. 1) (Davies, M. (2000) 1-20). The social work care ethos is also increasingly making the role of the social worker more onerous and this viewpoint is supported by the presence of more prescriptive practice guidance in the area (Beckett, C. (2006) 4) (General Social Care Council (2006) 1). The Department of Health has issued specific policy guidance in the area and in particular the policy guidance which is of relevance here is that which relates to vulnerable adults and the mentally ill. The General Social Care Council, which was set up in 2001[1], has is sued guidance and codes of conduct for social workers outlining these frameworks and the context in which they should be adhered to, and this is particularly highlighted by the General Social Care Council themselves through their website (http://www.gscc.org.uk). Other bodies such as the Social Care Institute for Excellence have conducted sociological research which has shaped these contexts and frameworks. Within the sphere of mental health care assessment, the Social Institute for Excellence has issued guidance on how the needs of mentally ill older people should be assessed and they have given the following advice about mental health care assessment: ‘Everyone has mental health needs, though only some people are diagnosed as having a mental illness†¦.older people are more likely to experience events that affect emotional well-being, such as bereavement or disability†¦.Health and social care professionals should carry out an assessment of the needs of†¦people they are working with, which means talking†¦about†¦health and any illnesses or disabilities†¦finding out†¦any problems†¦. (www.scie.org.uk)’. This above mentioned guidance has made the position of social worker more complicated. This rationale particularly applies to the area of mental health, because the skills needed to deal effectively in this area require an ability to relate to people across a whole spectrum of ages. In this sense, anti-oppressive and effective social work assessment is key. However, what are the ingredients of an effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment? Perhaps this is a question which invites an extremely broad response, which is open to subjective interpretation. Nevertheless, it is possible to argue that planning and effective assessment are two of the most important competencies when it comes to social work assessment. This is the case, perhaps primarily because the law requires the social worker to be aware of the legal duties which they owe to mentally ill and other patients (General Social Care Council (2006) 1). However, the assessment of mentally ill patients is often associated with a minefield of difficulties. One piece of legislation which is relevant in this regard is the Mental Health Act 1983 which is often instrumental to social workers in their efforts to deliver appropriate care within the area of mental health. However, this piece of legislation places legal responsibilities upon social workers as well as other social care professionals who deliver frontline services to mentally ill people. It is a controversial piece of legislation and it is also regularly invoked by professionals within the field of social care. This makes the responsibilities which are owed by social workers to their service users even more crucial, and it makes good values such as understanding, non-judgemental behaviour and views and honesty even more important within the sector of social work assessments. It is the case that many controversial issues come to light when the Mental Health Act is invoked in the interests of a mentally ill user who lacks the mental capacity to care for themselves. Firstly, there is the issue of deprivation of liberty by virtue of the Mental Health Act, and a social worker will often be asked for their opinion in the execution of the provisions of the Mental Heath Act, or they will be required to support service providers such as doctors who may not know a patient as well as the social worker does. This legislation allows for a mentally ill person to be ‘sectioned’ and brought to an institution against their will in order to receive treatment for mental health problems. In this particular regard, the principles of effective and anti-oppressive social work assessment are very important, not least because the input of social workers will often be considered key where a doctor or other senior health care professionals will be required to invoke p owers under the Mental Health legislation. A mentally ill person often may not appreciate what care is best for them, and interventions are often necessary to deliver the care that is required. However, this power of intervention can be abused, misused and conversely it may negligently not be invoked when it should have been. This is where effective communication and interpersonal skills are pivotal to the social worker who wishes to carry out an effective assessment. The powers which may be affected under the Mental Health Act require the support of two of more health care professionals, one of whom must usually be a doctor. This means that the social work must be capable of communicating their opinions on the most sensible intervention, the service user’s history and background, to the various actors who will be involved in the process whereby the need of a mentally ill person will be assessed (Scottish Executive (2006) Section 1.3) (Hill, M. (1991) Ch. I) (Philpot, T. (1998) 1-10). Communicating their opinions may n ot always be a direct process, which is why social workers are often required by law to keep adequate records and case histories of their contact with vulnerable people in their capacity as social workers, so that information can be communicated to other professional actors who need to rely upon it through record keeping. On another level and in terms of communication and interpersonal skills, the social worker must also be able to communicate with the service user themselves. This is particularly difficult for the social worker, as they will often be the first individual who will be informed that a mentally ill service user is perhaps in need of the intervention of social care providers. In this context, and from the personal point of view of the writer, planning the interaction between social worker and service user through reading the background and case history of the person involved, if this information is available will be pivotal. This process is all the more difficult as the service user may lack any communication, and or inter personal skills. Mental illness is often a very absorbing process, and the service user may also be frightened or delusional, and consequently not capable of effective or any communication. Therefore the social worker’s communication and inter personal skills are often tested immeasurably within the context of a mental health care assessment, and are crucial tools if assessment is to be carried out effectively and anti-oppressively. The interpersonal and communication skills which are needed must also be non judgemental, and this is very important if an anti oppressive assessment is to be carried out. The social worker must be prepared to distance themselves personally from the situation, and not to take any unwarranted criticism from the service user with mental health too personally. The person will inevitably feel very threatened by interventions from outside agencies and actors, and this will often lead to an angry reaction from the service user involved. It must also be remembered that communication between social worker and user may not always be through language, and therefore a calm outlook on life, as well as confidence and experience are also key factors which must be considered by the social worker who wishes to carry out appropriate assessments. These factors will often be picked up on, even sub consciously by the mentally ill service user, who may feel more threatened if they feel that the person wh o approaches them to assess their needs is not entirely confident of their own abilities. In conclusion therefore, there are many skills which are critical when the needs of a mentally ill person are to be assessed and these may often be described in terms of knowledge, skills and values. This essay has argued that out of all the competencies that a social worker must have, communication skills, interpersonal skills, record-keeping and planning are arguably the most important. Sound values and skills such as administrative and managerial skills are also pivotal, but this essay has argued that without good communication skills, in particular a social worker’s ability to carry out effective and anti-oppressive assessments will be compromised. Bibliography Books Beckett, C. and Maynard, A. (2005) Values and Ethics in Social Work. Publisher: Sage Publications. Place of Publication: UK. Beckett, C. (2006) Essential Theory for Social Work Practice. Publisher: Sage Publications. Place of Publications: UK. Cree, V. (2003) Becoming a Social Worker. Publisher: Routledge. Place of Publication: UK. Davies, M. (2000) The Blackwell Encloyopedia of Social Work. Publisher: Blackwell. Place of Publication: Oxford, UK. Higham, P. (2006) Social Work: Introducing Professional Practice. Publisher: Sage Publication. Place of Publication: London, UK. Hill, M. (1991) Social Work and the European Community: Social Policy and Practice Contexts. Publisher: Kingsley Publishers. Place of Publication: UK. Payne, M. and Shardlow, S. (2001) Social Work in the British Isles. Publisher: Kingsley Publishers. Place of Publication: UK. Philpot, T. (1998) Caring and Coping: Guide to Social Services. Publisher. Routledge. Place of Publication: UK. Articles Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (2006) Strategy for Social Work and Social Care. Publisher: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Place of Publication: UK. General Social Care Council (2006) GSCC Welcomes Healthcare Professional Regulation Reviews. Publisher: General Social Care Council. Place of Publication: UK. General Social Care Council (2006). Social Worker Cautioned Following Hearing in London. Publisher: General Social Care Council. Place of Publication: UK. Scottish Executive (2006) The Need for Social Work Intervention. Publisher: Scottish Executive. Place of Publication: UK. Williams, C. (2002) A Rationale for an Anti-Racist Entry Point to Anti-Oppressive Social Work in Mental Health Services Critical Social Work, 2002 Vol. 3, 1. Websites http://www.scie.org.uk/news/mediareleases/2006/200406.asp http://www.gscc.org.uk/Good+practice+and+conduct/ Footnotes [1] (under the Care Standards Act 2000).

A Comparison of The Handmaids Tale and Anthem :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of The Handmaid's Tale and Anthem The two novels, The Handmaid's Tale and Anthem, are both haunting, first person tales of personal hardship in a closed and controlled society. In this essay I will point out similarities and differences between the two books. There are similarities in the setting of each work, and the between the two societies in which the stories take place, as well as more important differences between the main characters. To start I would like to compare the settings of the two books. In Anthem the story takes place sometime in the future after some catastrophic event. Apparently society as we know it was destroyed and the leaders that were left decided that the problem was the individual, that all men are equal in all things and that anything that is created by one person is evil. This train of thought is carried to such and extreme that the very word "I" is removed from their vocabulary. An example of this is found when the main character, Equality-1329, re-invents the electric light. He shows his invention to the scientist and although this invention could improve the quality of life of the people it is deemed "evil" because he worked on his project alone. The society in this book is also strict and authoritarian to the point of dictating what your job will be, to whom you will have children with. In The Handmaid's Tale the story takes place sometime in the near future after some kind environmental catastrophe that makes it impossible for most women to have children. To solve this problem some radicals set off a nuclear bomb in Washington during a full session of congress and then declare marshal law. They then systematically took all rights away from women and forced the ones that could have children into camps where they would be contracted out to powerful ranking officials to have their children. These women are referred too as "handmaids." Next, I would like to discuss the main characters, in The Handmaid's Tale and in Anthem. In both books the main characters are basically nameless people, in The Handmaid's Tale we never learn the name of the main character,

Persian Empire :: essays research papers

I am here today to talk to you about the Persian Empire. One of the reasons I chose this topic is that I am Persian myself. Another reason for me choosing this topic is that there is a large Persian community in Lower Mainland. Moving along, Persian Empire was founded around 548 BC. It was the first largest empire stretching from Atlantic Ocean, Morocco, to Indus River, India. The Persian Empire is most famous for its tolerance over other religions and races and the first people to write the Charter of Human Rights. They also invented coins, roads, postal system, and many more innovations. Furthermore, one of the best innovations, the Persian Empire invented was canal building. They built canals for various reasons: to have drinkable water, to water farms, and to dispose wastes. However, their greatest innovation came around in 525 BC. Now I ask you a question, where and when the Suez Canal was constructed? The Suez Canal lies between Middle East and Egypt and it was completed in 1869. But when European engineers were in the middle of constructing the canal they found a statue with some writing on it which said, â€Å"I, Darius the Great, King of Persia, King of Kings, King of the World, commanded my men to build a canal so that the East and West can easily trade with each other.† They constructed the canal around 525 BC but years later when the Persian Empire was gone, the climate changed therefore the canal was destroyed. This will always be remembered as the greatest innovation of Persian Empire. Moreover, their postal system was also famous because a mail could be delivered from one end of empire to the other end of empire in 12 days.

The Odyssey as a Hero Journey Essays -- Odyssey Hero Heroes Essays

"All of us have similar experiences. We share in the life journey of growth, development, and transformation. We live the same storiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the trappings might be different, the twists and turns that create suspense might be different from culture to culture, the particular characters may take different forms, but underneath it all, it's the same story, drawn from the same experiences"(Linda Seger, Creating Myth, 1). All people face trials and tribulations throughout their life. Thus, what defines one from one's fellow human beings is not the trials themselves, but how one overcomes the challenges along the journey, as well as the psychological and physical lessons one learns from the actions engaged. Heroes, as depicted in literature, often face the same trials the common man must face, and learn the same lessons, but their actions, reactions, and events are magnified to mythic proportions. Thus, the common man and the mythic hero both follow what Joseph Campbell calls "The Hero's Journey," which is used as a tool to describe the framework for many of the most famous myths of all time. While the story of the Journey first manifested itself in the ancient myths and legends, it is still relevant to contemporary society, the basis for almost all of the books and plays we read. For example, J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit, an epic fantasy adventure in which Bilbo Baggins, the connection for the reader to the fantastical world the book takes place in, is called to action and set in motion on his Hero Journey by Gandalf, a wizard. Another example of a famous myth following this archetypal framework is The Odyssey. Homer's epic story, The Odyssey, of the hero Odysseus and his son Telemakhos follows closely the cycle of Joseph Campbell's Hero Journey, as summarized by Linda Seger, both as a physical and psychological undertaking. The hero journey begins with a catalyst entering the hero's life, that calls him to adventure. The hero must be summoned on his journey by some force, either external (the will of another person) or internal, (the need for self-growth). The call is followed by the hero's refusal to leave a safe place, such as his home. He must be convinced that the undertaking is worthwhile, and must then, and only then, after he has agreed to take the journey, embark on it. Odysseus' journey begins twenty years prior to... ...hysical prowess, but learns the psychological lessons of survival. Using these lessons he can climb above the rest, a more mature and capable man, able to use all of his abilities together to lift himself and those around him closer to greatness. Thus is Odysseus truly a hero, as are all those who would strive for greatness in themselves and peace and justice for their homeland and family. "The cosmogonic cycle is now to be carried forward not by the gods, who have become invisible, but by the heroes, more or less human in character, through whom the world destiny is realized. The archetypal heroes become less and less fabulous, until at last, in the final stages of the various local traditions, legend opens into the common daylight of recorded time"(Joseph Campbell). Works Cited Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 2nd ed. Princeton: Bollingen, 1968. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles; Intro. Bernard Knox. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. Seger, Linda. "Creating the Myth." Signs of Life in the U.S.A.: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. 4th ed. Ed. Sonia Maasik and Jack Solomon. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003. 316-325. The Odyssey as a Hero Journey Essays -- Odyssey Hero Heroes Essays "All of us have similar experiences. We share in the life journey of growth, development, and transformation. We live the same storiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the trappings might be different, the twists and turns that create suspense might be different from culture to culture, the particular characters may take different forms, but underneath it all, it's the same story, drawn from the same experiences"(Linda Seger, Creating Myth, 1). All people face trials and tribulations throughout their life. Thus, what defines one from one's fellow human beings is not the trials themselves, but how one overcomes the challenges along the journey, as well as the psychological and physical lessons one learns from the actions engaged. Heroes, as depicted in literature, often face the same trials the common man must face, and learn the same lessons, but their actions, reactions, and events are magnified to mythic proportions. Thus, the common man and the mythic hero both follow what Joseph Campbell calls "The Hero's Journey," which is used as a tool to describe the framework for many of the most famous myths of all time. While the story of the Journey first manifested itself in the ancient myths and legends, it is still relevant to contemporary society, the basis for almost all of the books and plays we read. For example, J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit, an epic fantasy adventure in which Bilbo Baggins, the connection for the reader to the fantastical world the book takes place in, is called to action and set in motion on his Hero Journey by Gandalf, a wizard. Another example of a famous myth following this archetypal framework is The Odyssey. Homer's epic story, The Odyssey, of the hero Odysseus and his son Telemakhos follows closely the cycle of Joseph Campbell's Hero Journey, as summarized by Linda Seger, both as a physical and psychological undertaking. The hero journey begins with a catalyst entering the hero's life, that calls him to adventure. The hero must be summoned on his journey by some force, either external (the will of another person) or internal, (the need for self-growth). The call is followed by the hero's refusal to leave a safe place, such as his home. He must be convinced that the undertaking is worthwhile, and must then, and only then, after he has agreed to take the journey, embark on it. Odysseus' journey begins twenty years prior to... ...hysical prowess, but learns the psychological lessons of survival. Using these lessons he can climb above the rest, a more mature and capable man, able to use all of his abilities together to lift himself and those around him closer to greatness. Thus is Odysseus truly a hero, as are all those who would strive for greatness in themselves and peace and justice for their homeland and family. "The cosmogonic cycle is now to be carried forward not by the gods, who have become invisible, but by the heroes, more or less human in character, through whom the world destiny is realized. The archetypal heroes become less and less fabulous, until at last, in the final stages of the various local traditions, legend opens into the common daylight of recorded time"(Joseph Campbell). Works Cited Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 2nd ed. Princeton: Bollingen, 1968. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles; Intro. Bernard Knox. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. Seger, Linda. "Creating the Myth." Signs of Life in the U.S.A.: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. 4th ed. Ed. Sonia Maasik and Jack Solomon. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003. 316-325.

The Relationship Between An Organization, Its Environment And Affiliation To Globalization In Today’s Modern Economy.

This essay is based on organisation ‘s internal and external environment in today ‘s modern economic system. It besides discusses the drivers of globalisation and effects of globalisation on organisation ‘s environment. First, it is of import to understand the definition of globalisation as there are many definitions. Second, the drivers of globalisation are discussed in this essay including the history, purpose and function of World Trade Organization. Further, the relationship between organisation ‘s internal and external environment in planetary market is analyzed. It besides highlights the alterations that organisations have to confront when traveling planetary. However, it is really ambitious as an organisation can command their internal environment but can non command the external environment. An early description of globalisation was penned by the American entrepreneur-turned-minister Charles Taze Russell who coined the term & A ; lsquo ; Corporate Giants ‘ in 1897. However, it was non until the sixtiess that the term began to be widely used by economic experts and other societal scientists. It had achieved widespread usage in the mainstream imperativeness by the ulterior half of the 1980s. Since its origin, the construct of globalisation has inspired legion viing definitions and readings. Globalization refers to the displacement towards a more incorporate and mutualist universe economic system. Globalization has several different aspects including the globalisation of markets and globalisation of merchandises ( Hill, 2004 ) .Globalization has led to progressively incorporate markets across the universe, altering the competitory environment in which houses operate. In the face of international competition in domestic and foreign markets, the least productive houses may be forced into bankruptcy while the most productive 1s will take advantage of new concern chances in foreign markets ( IMF ) . Globalization attracts increasing involvement and importance in modern-day universe personal businesss. It besides inspires passionate protagonists and critic ( BBC ) . Globalization is the procedure of increasing the connectivity and mutuality of the universe ‘s markets and concerns. This procedure has speeded up dramatically in the last two decennaries as technological progresss make it easier for people to go, pass on, and do concern internationally. In general, as economic systems become more affiliated to other economic systems, they have increased chance but besides increased competition. Therefore, as globalisation becomes a more and more common characteristic of universe economic sciences, powerful pro-globalization and anti-globalization anterooms have arisen. The pro-globalization anteroom argues that globalisation brings approximately mu ch increased chances for about everyone, and increased competition is a good thing since it makes agents of production more efficient ( investorwords, 2009 ) . The two most outstanding pro-globalization organisations are the World Trade Organization and the World Economic Forum. The World Trade Organization is a pan-governmental entity ( which presently has 144 members ) that was set up to explicate a set of regulations to regulate planetary trade and capital flows through the procedure of member consensus, and to oversee their member states to guarantee that the regulations are being followed. The World Economic Forum, a private foundation, does non hold decision-making power but enjoys a great trade of importance since it has been effectual as a powerful networking forum for many of the universe ‘s concern, authorities and not-profit leaders. The anti-globalization group argues that certain groups of people who are deprived in footings of resources are non presently capable of working within the increased competitory force per unit area that will be brought about by leting their economic systems to be more affiliated to the remainde r of the universe. Important anti-globalization organisations include environmental groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace ; international assistance organisations like Oxfam ; 3rd universe authorities organisations like the G77 ; concern organisations and trade brotherhoods whose fight is threatened by globalisation like the U.S. fabrics and European farm anteroom, every bit good as the Australian and U.S. trade brotherhood motions. There are four chief elements and drivers of globalisation: globalisation of markets, globalisation of production, engineering invention and falling of barriers to merchandise and investing which is analyzed in more depth including the function and purpose of WTO. Globalization of markets refers to the meeting of national markets into one immense planetary market place. Now selling internationally is easier due to falling barriers to cross-border trade. A company does n't hold to be the size of these transnational giants to ease and profit from the globalisation of markets. It is of import to offer a standard merchandise to the worldwide. But really important differences still exist between national markets like consumer gustatory sensations, penchants, legal ordinances, cultural systems. These differences require that marketing schemes in order to fit the conditions in a state. Globalization of production refers to the sourcing of goods and services from locations around the universe to take advantage of national differences in the cost and quality of factors of production. The thought is to vie more efficaciously offering a merchandise with good quality and low cost. For illustration, Nike is considerate one of the taking sellers of athletic places and dress on the universe. The company has some abroad mills where has achieved a ace production with low cost. Unfortunately Nike has been a mark of protest and relentless accusals that its merchandises are made in sweatshops with hapless working conditions. The company has signaled a committedness to bettering working conditions, but in malice of the fact, the onslaughts continue. Technological alterations have achieved progresss in communicating, information processing, and transit engineering, including the Internet and the World Wide Web ( World Wide Web ) . The most of import invention has been development in the microprocessors after that planetary communications have been revolutionized by developments in orbiter, optical fibre, and radio engineerings, and now the Internet and the World Wide Web. The rapid growing of the cyberspace and the associated World Wide Web is the latest look of this development. Besides, inventions have occurred in the field of the transit engineering. The development of commercial jet aircraft has reduced the clip needed to acquire from one location to another. Now New York is closer to Tokyo than of all time. Another illustration of technological alteration would be web sites such as ebay.com where any single can sell any point to anyone in the universe ; it is basically the biggest garage sale of all time. A 3rd illustration of technological alteration would be production ; in the 1900s people were doing merchandises mostly by manus. Today, machines can flog out a twelve jumpers in an hr and do them higher quality. This manner the planetary market can demand more merchandises at a higher quality. The falling of barriers to international trade enables houses to see the universe as their market. The lowering of barrier to merchandise and investings besides allows houses to establish production at the optimum location for that activity. Therefore, a house might plan a merchandise in one state, produce a constituent parts in two other states, assemble the merchandise in another state and so export the finished merchandise around the universe. The lowering of trade barriers has facilitated the globalisation of production. The grounds besides suggests that foreign direct investing is playing an increasing function in the planetary economic system. For illustration, Panama is now allowed to merchandise Pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and school supplies without enduring a duty. Besides, any other import is capable to merely a 5 % duty as opposed to the old 8 % . Decreasing and lowering of the trade and investing hurdlings internationally is one of the of import grounds of globalisation. After the constitution of the universe trade organisation in which many states participated due to the free trade understandings in the states around the universe. After the constitution of GATT ( General Agreement of Tariff and Trade ) it is the trade understanding between the states that are willing to transport the free trade around the universe. The purpose of these duties was to protect the local industries of those states. But now the bookmans of prosperity have though that the universe would be become more peaceable and good topographic point to populate in when all the states and their representatives coordinate with each other. The benefit of this is to the states who do non hold much beginning to use their resources so that they can pull the big foreign investing in their states. The WTO provides a forum for negociating understandings aimed at cut downing obstructions to international trade and guaranting a flat playing field for all, therefore lending to economic growing and development. The WTO besides provides a legal and institutional model for the execution and monitoring of these understandings, every bit good as for settling differences originating from their reading and application. The current organic structure of trade understandings consisting the WTO consists of 16 different many-sided understandings ( to which all WTO members are parties ) and two different plurilateral understandings ( to which merely some WTO members are parties ) . Over the past 60 old ages, the WTO, which was established in 1995, and its predecessor organisation the GATT have helped to make a strong and comfortable international trading system, thereby lending to unprecedented planetary economic growing. The WTO presently has 153 members, of which 117 are developing states or separate imposts districts. WTO activities are supported by a Secretariat of some 700 staff, led by the WTO Director-General. The Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and has an one-year budget of about CHF 200 million ( $ 180 million, ˆ130 million ) . The three functionary linguistic communications of the WTO are English, French and Spanish. Decisions in the WTO are by and large taken by consensus of the full rank. The highest institutional organic structure is the Ministerial Conference, which meets approximately every two old ages. A General Council conducts the organisation ‘s concern in the intervals between Ministerial Conferences. Both of these organic structures comprise all members. Specialized subordinate organic structures ( Councils, Committees, Sub-committees ) , besides consisting all members, administer and supervise the execution by members of the assorted WTO understandings.More specifically, the WTO ‘s chief activities are:negociating the decrease or riddance of obstructions to merchandise ( import duties, other barriers to merchandise ) and holding on regulations regulating the behavior of international trade ( e.g. antidumping, subsidies, merchandise criterions, etc. )administrating and supervising the application of the WTO ‘s agreed regulations for trade in goods, trade in services, and trade-related rational belongings rightsmonitoring and reexamining the trade policies of our members, every bit good as guaranting transparence of regional and bilateral trade understandingssettling differences among our members sing the reading and application of the understandingsedifice capacity of developing state authorities functionaries in international trade affairshelping the procedure of accession of some 30 states who are non yet members of the organisationcarry oning economic research and collection and circulating trade informations in support of the WTO ‘s other chief activitiesexplicating to and educating the populace about the WTO, its mission and its activities.The WTO ‘s initiation and guiding rules remain the chase of unfastened boundary lines, the warrant of most-favoured-nation rule and non-discriminatory intervention by and among members, and a committedness to transparence in the behavior of its activities. The gap of national markets to inter national trade, with justifiable exclusions or with equal flexiblenesss, will promote and lend to sustainable development, raise people ‘s public assistance, cut down poorness, and surrogate peace and stableness. At the same clip, such market gap must be accompanied by sound domestic and international policies that contribute to economic growing and development harmonizing to each member ‘s demands and aspirations. ( WTO, 2009 ) An organisation ‘s internal environment is composed of the elements within the organisation, including current employees, direction, and particularly corporate civilization, which defines employee behaviour. Besides organisation ‘s resources, its capablenesss and competences make up the internal environment of the organisation. The internal environment plays a important function in the strategic direction procedure of the organisation. ( Hill, 2004 ) Although some elements affect the organisation as a whole, others affect merely the director. A director ‘s philosophical or leading manner straight impacts employees. Traditional directors give expressed instructions to employees, while progressive directors empower employees to do many of their ain determinations. Changes in doctrine and/or leading manner are under the control of the director. To analyse the internal and external environment of an organisation SWOT analysis is carried out to place strengths, failings, chances and menaces. The Internal Analysis of strengths and weaknesses focal points on internal factors that give an organisation certain advantages and disadvantages in run intoing the demands of its mark market. Strengths refer to core competences that give the house an advantage in run intoing the demands of its mark markets. Any analysis of company strengths should be market oriented/customer focused because strengths are merely meaningful when they assist t he house in run intoing client demands. Weaknesses refer to any restrictions a company faces in developing or implementing a scheme. Failings should besides be examined from a client position because clients frequently perceive failings that a company can non see. The external environment in which an organisation operates nowadayss both menaces and chances. Growth or diminution in international trade, national protectionism and regional trading axis are some illustrations of the political and economic environment, which have considerable impact on the selling of the maritime industry. There are different ways of sorting the types of external environment that normally merely reflect the penchants of different writers, but there are some nucleus types which are ever identified. Your Kotler et Al. ( 2004 ) text provides a comprehensive categorization of the external environments, which it refers to as the macro-environment, as listed below: demographic environment, economic environment, natural environment, technological environment, political environment, cultural environment, technological environment, administrative/legal environment.Administrative/Legal EnvironmentThe administrative and legal environment in a state provides a model within which an organisation operates. In some states this environment is really restrictive and has important impact on all facets of the organisation ; in other states the administrative/legal context is more permissive. Understanding the administrative/legal environment is indispensable to finding if organisational alteration can take topographic point. The administrative context within which the organisation operates may be shaped by a alone combination of forces, including international, governmental, nongovernmental poli cy, legislative, regulative, and legal models. An organisation is affected by the policy or regulative context that gave rise to it. This includes specific Torahs and ordinances that support or inhibit the establishment ‘s development.Technology EnvironmentBoth the types and the degree of engineering in the society give penetration into understanding an establishment. Institutions covering with Western paradigms are dependent on the province of national substructure, e.g. power, H2O, conveyance ; those which concentrate on autochthonal research paradigms may hold wholly different dependences. Therefore, it is of import to understand the degree of relevant engineering in the institutional context and whether such engineering is defined by computing machine literacy or by extremely developed autochthonal methods of verbal and gestural communicating. It might besides be helpful for an appraisal to include a consideration of the procedure by which new engineering comes into usage, both to understand how hard it is to get needed research engineerings and to develop an grasp for the society ‘s willingness to encompass both new cognition and alteration.Political EnvironmentThe economic system and legal system of a state are shaped by its political system. As such, it is of import that organisations understand the nature of different political systems. Political system means system of authorities in a state. Political system can be assessed harmonizing to two related dimensions. The first the grade to which they emphasize Bolshevism as apposed to individuality. The 2nd dimension is the grade to which they are democratic or totalitarian. These dimensions are interrelated ; system that emphasize Bolshevism be given toward totalitarian, while system that place a high value on individuality tend to be democratic.Economic EnvironmentIn the economic environment, the organisational analysis should center on those facets of the economic system that straight impact the type of undertaking being considered. For illustration, rising prices, labour Torahs, and chance costs for research workers in public establishments straight impact organisational activities in different states. States with foreign currency limitations represent different environments for establishments than states without them, for such limitations have branchings for research, e.g. for equipment procurance and care.Social and Cultural EnvironmentsSocial and cultural forces at local, national, and frequently regional degrees have profound influence on the manner organisations conduct their work and on what they value in footings of results and effects. For illustration, the mores of an autochthonal civilization have a bearing on the work ethic and on the manner in which people relate to one another. Undoubtedly, the most profound cultural dimension is linguistic communication. The extent to which organisational members can take part in the discourse of the major scientific lin guistic communication will find the extent to which research attempts focus inside or lend to regional and planetary research dockets. Understanding the national/regional/local values toward larning and research provides insight into the type and nature of research that is valued. For illustration, what is the comparative precedence placed on contract research in partnership with local clients, e.g. proving merchandises and processs with autochthonal populations, as opposed to sharing information with academic equals internationally, or bring forthing biostatistician information that will determine national or regional policy. Arriving at these precedences involves culture-based determinations. Organizational architecture can be used by transnational endeavors to pull off and direct their planetary operations. To win, a house must fit its architecture to its scheme in different ways. Firms whose architecture does non suit their strategic demands will see public presentation jobs. It is besides necessary for the different constituents of architecture to be consistent with each other ( Hill, 2004 ) . Organizational architecture refers to the entirety of a house ‘s organisation, including formal organisational construction, control systems and inducements, procedures, organisational civilization, and people. An organisation should be able to analyse their internal environment including their capablenesss before they decide to travel planetary. It requires different know-how of the new geographical market and an organisation would necessitate to do necessary alterations in internal environment to come in the new geographical market successfully.hypertext transfer protocol : //www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopicwww.imf.orgwww.wto.orgwww.bbc.co.ukwww.Investorwords.com

Airline Distribution Systems in 2013 Essay

Web based commerce and internet technology have dramatically transformed the airline industry throughout the past thirteen years. The internet has enabled travelers to bypass the traditional distribution pattern of travel agencies and enabled airlines to sell more directly to passengers (European Commission, 2006). Since the mid-1990s there have been some major changes to the airline ticket distribution industry which were both a result of internet technologies (GAO, 2003). Major U. S. Airlines claimed a net operating loss of nearly $10 billion in 2002 and had paid over $7 billion to distribute tickets to consumers (GAO, 2013). These distribution expenses include booking fees to global distributions system to the amount of hundreds of millions of dollars (GAO, 2003). Airlines would receive a set booking fee each time an airline ticket was purchased through a travel agent by the global distribution system used by the travel agent (GAO, 2003). Due to most U. S. carriers being largely dependent on each of the global distribution systems for distributing tickets to different travel agent and consumers and consumers having to subscribe and pay fees to each, there are concerns that the global distributions systems may exercise market ower over them (GAO, 2013). Market power would allow global distribution systems to charge high, noncompetitive fees to airlines and in turn, these costs may be passed on to consumers (GAO, 2013). Environment Two major changes have occurred in the airline ticket distribution industry since the 1990s that have produced cost savings for some major U. S. airlines (GAO, 2013). The airlines have developed less expensive internet ticketing sites that bypass global distribution systems and their fees and encourage consumers to book directly rather than through travel agencies (GAO, 2013). Between the years 1999 and 2002 the average percentage of tickets booked on-line either from airlines or travel agencies grew from 7% to 30% (GAO, 2013). (See Appendix A). The next effort to reduce costs that airlines made was the cutting the amount of commissions they would pay to travel agencies (GAO, 2013). These attempts have still not eliminated the dependence airlines have on global distribution systems. In the report made by the U. S.  Government Accountability Office (GAO), they were unable to determine the exact relationship between global distribution system booking fees and related costs and were not able to reach any conclusions towards the potential exercise of market power by global distribution systems in the airline ticket distribution industry (GAO, 2013). Despite these reports there have still been numerous complaints from airlines that the companies who distribute airline flight and fare information are stifling competition and violating federal anti-trust laws (Koenig, 2011). Government reports help airlines because they investigate claims which are made that could possibly violate anti-trust laws and act as a middleman to solve disputes. Travelport and Sabre are two large global distribution systems which have had investigations against them (Koenig, 2011). A third company, Amadeus, is another global distribution system and the three of them make up for all of the distribution systems in the U. S. (Koenig, 2011). The justice department has clearly stepped into the mix by investigating claims of monopoly power and anti-trust. Only announcements of such investigations have taken place with no more real information being handed to the public. American and US Airways have both filed lawsuits against the global distribution giant, Sabre (Koenig, 2011). Sabre was actually created by American Airlines but later spun off as a separate company (Koenig, 2011). American also sued Travelport for using monopoly tactics and burying their flight information (Koenig, 2011). With Travelport accounting for nearly $2. billion of American’s ticket sales last year, it is hard to see where the complaint lies yet American is intent of wrongdoing and is asking for government assistance through lawsuits (Koenig, 2011). Government institutions try to protect consumers and smaller companies in tourism by imposing anti-discrimination and anti-trust regulation to ensure that real information is presented and competition levels remain satisfactory (Beatrice, Cezar, & Alexandra, 2013). Industry Airlines and independent travel agencies were amongst the first to take advantage of the marketing and sales opportunities the internet provided (Borenstein, & Rose, 2013). Airlines saw the internet as a way to bypass the traditional sales channel of travel agents in order to gain control of lower costing electronic ticketing methods (Borenstein, & Rose, 2013). The internet provided an alternative for airlines and lowered their fears of sales being blocked by ticketing agencies (Borenstein, & Rose, 2013). Domestic airlines in Mumbai, India are attempting to not follow the conventional fixed commission system (Cuckoo, 2005). The issue of commission reduction has caused a huge stand-off between travel agents and international airlines (Cuckoo, 2005). Legacy airlines let by flag carrier Air-India announced in May, 2005 that they would cut commissions from 9% to 5% (Cuckoo, 2005). British Airways joined in with this plan and other European and Southeast Asian carriers were expected to follow suit (Cuckoo, 2005). Travel agents are planning to fight the commission cuts through the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) (Cuckoo, 2005). Just as many U. S. Carriers have claimed fear of, agents in India announced a plan to boycott Air-India and to stop selling their airline tickets in the event of commissions being cut (Cuckoo, 2005). Low-cost carriers have an advantage to the internet because they can start off with new models of distribution whereas legacy carriers have been using agents for decades and it is hard for them to step out (Cuckoo, 2005). Air Decan is a low-cost airline in India that sells 35% of its tickets online and has been knowingly boycotted by agents because it offers a lower price, usually around 5% less, to consumers who book directly from them (Cuckoo, 2005). An International low-cost airline, Air-Arabia, will not pay any commissions to travel agents with its India flights (Cuckoo, 2005). Air-India’s low-cost subsidiary, Air-India Express will also have their passengers pay handling fees instead of the airlines (Cuckoo, 2005). Another Airline to consider is Frontier who makes their lowest fares available on both their own website and on the big online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Priceline and Expedia (Perkins, 2012). There is a difference however, when passengers purchase from any other site or agency other than Frontier, they only earn half of the amount of frequent flyer miles, do not get advanced seating, and will face higher fees for various changes (Perkins, 2012). Marketing Strategy and Situational Analysis Some may find it peculiar that companies are now battling other companies that they themselves created. The three major GDS systems that control most airline ticket distribution worldwide, Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport provide OTAs with fare information and transact sales (Perkins, 2012). OTAs are used by most airlines in order to sell their tickets along with their own websites. In addition to providing airfares OTAs also provide hotel accommodations, rental cars, and most other popular travel services (Perkins, 2012). Airlines now want to avoid fees which were once accumulated through the use of agents and GDSs charge them anywhere between $5 and $12 to book a flight while a transaction through their own system probably costs less than $1 (Perkins, 2012). Now that the internet source is available and extremely efficient the airlines want to gain control back of their customers in order to be able to sell them additional services (Perkins, 2012). On their own sites they could have the ability to present upgraded options such as a bundled no-fee fare packages and can provide passengers with the ability to book semi-premium economy seats (Perkins, 2012). Airlines also want to avoid the easiness of price comparisons passengers have with OTAs in order to maximize their profits once again. The problem, as stated earlier in this paper, is that GDSs account for more than half of their business and to cut them out of the transaction stream completely would be extremely difficult (Perkins, 2012). Airlines are also signed into long-term GDS contracts that require that they provide the same fares to GDS that they have available on their website (Perkins, 2012). A third problem is that large buyers and managers of business travel are extremely dependents on GDS for various reasons such as fare, price, and other information that is required to control travel costs (Perkins, 2012). Attempts to move completely from GDS systems by most airlines have been unsuccessful but many have been able to find ways to shun them. Southwest is one who has managed to have their own system entirely because if you want to fly Southwest, you have to go to Southwest (Perkins, 2012). Allegiant and Spirit also provide only limited participation with GDS (Perkins, 2012). Others get around the contractual agreement of having the same fares available by offering discount promotional codes for direct bookings (Perkins, 2012). With the advantages of control of ticket distribution for the airlines stated and the various strategies used by each airline along with their strengths discussed, let us now look at the weaknesses of these distribution systems. The main weakness is that with the amount of passengers that do use OTAs, there’s a chance they will not use airlines that are not on these sites due to their popularity. Passengers want to be able to compare prices and OTAs provide just that. Passengers may not be willing to research fares on their own and may only go to their preferred airline if OTAs aren’t available. Airlines win if they are the airline of choice but if they aren’t they could be losing potential customers. Commercial Websites This study will look at two individual airlines and their websites and discuss how successful they are. According to Google Trends, the internet is the number one source for both business and leisure travel and roughly 83% of personal travelers use it as well as 77% of business travelers (The Economist, 2009). The two airlines in this review will be United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Commercial websites need to consider what customers experience when searching for information, evaluating alternative products, and purchasing them (Peter, & Donnelly, 2013). We will be reviewing these three basic areas of which web site designers should consider for each United and Continental Airlines. With information search, there needs to be ease of navigation, fast page downloads, effective search features, and frequent product updates (Peter, & Donnelly, 2013). When evaluating alternatives, designers need to consider the ease of product comparisons, product descriptions, ease of contacting customer service representatives, and a status of the availability of items (Peter, & Donnelly, 2013). With the purchase evaluation, designers need to consider security and privacy issues, the checkout process, payment options, delivery options, and the ordering instructions (Peter, & Donnelly, 2013). United Airlines makes navigation simple by placing their flight search table right on the home page. They also include a section for members to sign in, passengers to print their boarding pass, check a flight status, and to change or view reservations right on the home page. These are some of their most used services which are placed right in plain sight on their home page making the information users are looking for easily obtainable. When searching for a flight the speed of the page downloads is quite fast especially considering that a query is being made and information has to be sorted. The results of the search used for this study came back fast and with more information than even requested. The site included many additional options to narrow the search down and was very up to date. When a search for a flight is made the results make it easy to compare similar flights available and even points to the direction of which options could/would give passengers a lower fare. The descriptions are accurate, clear, and comprehensive enough for customers to make informed decisions when choosing a flight. Customer service can easily be reached by clicking on the top right corner of the screen no matter what page of the site you are on. When a search is made unavailable flights or booked flights are not even visible making it easy for customers to view the availability of their options. When considering the purchase made on a web site, it is clear that United has all of the issues covered from security and privacy issues to ordering instructions. United airlines guides customers from the start of their home page all the way to the end purchase with ease. The steps are clear and the purchase can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Customers have various payment options such as credit card, PayPal, or buy it now as well. Southwest Airlines uses a more simplified homepage yet still has the flight search on their home screen to allow for ease of navigation. On top of providing ease of navigation they also use their home page to advertise promotions. The speed of pages downloads is quick, the returned information was effective, and the flight schedules were all up to date on Southwest’s site. They also provided multiple flights to choose from that incorporated a variety of different prices. The promotions continued through the flight selection process as well going on to add discounts if a hotel were to be booked as well. Flight comparisons and descriptions were easy to compare and were accurate, clear, and comprehensive enough to allow consumers to make informed decisions. Something I was surprised to find about the site was that the customer service phone number was not extremely easy to locate. Customers have to click through about 3 pages before a number is given and that is after they find the tiny help icon at the top of the screen. The status of availability is done the same whereas unavailable seating or options are not even displayed to customers. Southwest covers issues of security and privacy all the way to ordering instructions. Southwest Airlines guides customers from the start of their home page all the way to the end purchase with ease. The steps are clear and the purchase can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Customers have various payment options such as credit card, PayPal, or buy it now as well. Comparing the two directly, Southwest’s homepage is more simple and easier for consumers to take in whereas United has an abundant amount of options to choose from. They are both however, very effective and successful commercial websites and follow all of the guidelines mentioned above from the text with the exception of a number for customer service being more difficult to find on Southwest’s website (Peter, & Donnelly, 2013).

Freedom Writers Changing Perspective Essay

The natural and reoccurring aspect of life, change, is one that has positive outcomes and cannot be reversed. The outcome of how change affects a person can be modified due to extrinsic factors of people or place. The inevitability of change can be daunting or reassuring for a person, depending on the way it is embraced. Humans change their perceptions of the world due to what they are subject to. Ones extrinsic factors and how they see the world is constantly shaping their intrinsic factors and his manipulating the ideologies of the forever developing human mind. As individuals, people continue to grow and mature due to how they lead their life. This Change can be seen in the Richard Lagravanese’s composed Freedom Writers, The students undergo a significant change in perspective that breaks down the cultural barriers between the students and opens their minds. This is due to the supreme catalyst figures of Erin Gruwell and also Miep Gies. Place is also a key factor in the sculpting of one’s perspective and the Holocaust Museum The students venture to is a momentous place that furthers their change in perspective. In the film The Composer supports this message through various film and language techniques. The student’s Teacher Erin Gruwell was the driving force behind the student’s positive change in perspective toward life, education and their fellow peers. Her enthusiastic attitude toward her students and job give her students the best chance in life. In the first scene we see Erin at the school, she confesses to the English Coordinator she â€Å"chose Wilson because of the Integration program† and is clear on her teaching goals that â€Å"by the time you’re defending a kid in the courtroom, the battles already lost†¦ he real fighting should happen here in the classroom†. This shows her enthusiasm for teaching and the composer juxtaposes Erin with the Margret (English coordinator) as Margret is now an outdated teacher who sees the children as no more than scores on paper. Erin’s bright radiant blue and red clothes and attitude portray her mind-set and the reoccurring motif of the pearls her father bought her are also present as a close up camera angle is used to show them. Erin meets resistance from the students in room 203 during their first lesson as they show her no respect by arriving late to class and apathetic. The dialogue intensifies the idea of them being apathetic and shows they lack inner belief, â€Å"this is the dumb class† and their body language furthers this, Marcus is eating in class. The Camera angles the composer has used always shows Erin isolated from the class, signifying her lack of control. In the line Game scene, Erin Finally breaks down the barriers dividing them through the confronting questions she asks them, â€Å"Step up to the line if you have lost a friend to gang violence†. As the students realise the similarities they share they start to open up and become more understanding of each other. Erin takes them on a self funded school trip letting them know they are worth more than the give themselves credit. After this scene the students start to write positive and optimistic thoughts in their diary. One student writes in their diary â€Å"Miss G had a beautiful dinner for us†. Erin Does an implausible job at opening the students minds on education and other racial clans and providing them with their own â€Å"kicking spot† where they can escape the dramas of life and be themselves. Erin Met quite a lot of resistance from Eva, who expressed hate for Erin on multiple occasions during the film, until eventually Erin and Eva sat holding hands after Eva, showing the connection they had now established. Another life she gets back on the right track is Andres, as after he is completely isolated from all of his family, he stops attending class and reunites with drug dealing. Erin uses tough love on Andre to get his perspective back on track; she says â€Å"i know what you’re up against†. Andre sheds a single tear which represents him returning to his former functioning life. As the students have now opened up to Each other and start to build relationships between themselves, they are provided with more stimulus to change their perspective on their life, education and their viewpoint on other racial groups in the form of Miep Gies. As the students listen to her story, their attention is engulfed in her and they realise that the problems they are facing are pedestrian to that of what Miep faced. A man pointed a gun at me†¦ and put it against my head† she said. There is sad and quite non-digetic music played during her story to intensify the depression of the time. During her speech there was numerous close up camera shots of the students faces and their facial expressions as they were taking all the information in, however the camera kept showing Eva, it showed her face when Miep said â€Å"I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do† . In the next scene Eva Testified in court against â€Å"her own† Because of the influence of Miep Gies’ speech and when she saw the innocent defendants family which reminded her of what she had to face many years before. The surroundings of a person go a long way in shaping their perspective, ideas on life and opening their minds, The Holocaust museum that Erin took the students too played a huge factor in changing their perspective. They Realise that the opportunity for education they are being given is very valuable and they are not utilising the opportunity as not everyone is as lucky as them. The students are really taken back from all the pictures of the affected children. The lighting the composer has used is all dark, black in some spots to exaggerate the sorrow during the visit to the museum and the photos of the children affected by the holocaust are a contrast to this as they are bright, to bring attention to them and show their innocence. The students feel so sad at the experience because they can relate to the holocaust victims, â€Å"I’ll never forget those people† Andre states. The important and unavoidable feature of the world, change, has lasting effects on people that can be beneficial and positive. The fact that the world a person lives in can mould them into something more is a prosperous idea. Its positive outcomes arise from significant aspects of people and place. As a person, one repeatedly embraces change as they thrive off the endless possibilities of the outcome. Richard Lagravanese’s Freedom Writers is a perfect representation of this idea.