Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Overview This is a healthcare facility whose main objective is to offer health care services, carry out health related research, as well as promote biomedical education. The facility offers health care in various areas such as heart and heart surgery, endocrinology, respiratory disorders, kidney complications, as well as gynaecology among others.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a company that has several branches and a number of campuses that offer biomedical education. The headquarters of Vanderbilt University Medical Center are located in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States of America. Potential strengths and weaknesses Strengths The success of an organization is highly dependent on its strengths and opportunities available to it. Vanderbilt University Medical Cen ter has been one of the most successful companies in the industry. It has a number of strengths that have enabled it to achieve the kind of success it has today. One of the strengths that have been vital to the success of this company is the fact that it has staffs that are highly skilled and committed to the organizational duties (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). The staffs are always working to give the best services to the patients and their customers to ensure that anyone who gets the services is satisfied and will be willing to come back again. In addition to being committed to their duties, the staffs are also highly skilled. Therefore, the services they offer are top class and of high quality. It is important to note that most of the diseases that are handled in these hospitals need a high level of knowledge and skills, an attribute that the staffs already possess. The staffs are committed to ensuring the wellness of patients. As a result, patients are always willing to visit t he facility since they are assured of top quality services. One of the reasons that may have contributed to the company having highly skilled staffs is the fact that it has its own training facilities where it trains medical personnel. The research facilities available in the organization also help in boosting the knowledge and skills of the staff. It is, therefore, in order to say that the research institutions and the training institutions are also strengths to the company (Berkowitz, 2011).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other factor contributing to the company’s strength is its locations. As it has been mentioned earlier, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has several branches of hospitals that offer services to patients. The branches are located in strategic points where they can reach a large number of patients. The locations are easily accessible by road. The company is well connected within the country. It is also well equipped with technological facilities that are used in enhancing the level of services offered. Technology is a source of strength for any company that has it and utilizes it accordingly. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses that affect the business of Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the weak communication system that exists. The organization is very large, thus communication becomes quite complicated. It is not easy to communicate effectively with all the staffs. It is important to note that communication in itself is a competitive advantage for any organization. Therefore, it is likely for the organization to lose its competitive advantage to rivals if it is not able to communicate effectively with its stakeholders. There are cases such as duplication of services that result from weak communication systems at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Organizational differences One of the factors that c an facilitate the success of any organization is its differences. An organization that offers services that are differentiated is likely to gain a competitive advantage. It is imperative to note that the organizational differences distinguish the organization from its competitors. In addition, it is the differences that describe what the organization is all about, as well as its objectives and mission. According to Duncan, Ginter and Swayne (2013), organizational differences refer to the strategic resources of the organization and the measures that the organization has put in place to develop these strategies in order to differentiate it from competitors. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is different in that it has resources that are not available in many organizations in the same industry. For instance, it has training institutions where it trains its own staffs. This helps it offer quality training to its staff so that they can offer top quality services to patients, thereby m aking the organizational services differentiated. Another factor that makes the organization different is the fact that it has research facilities where its staff can carry out various researches.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research helps the organization improve on its services since it can make new discoveries and come up with new ways to deal with the various problems. In addition, research facilities and the technological equipment in those facilities are likely to support innovation, an attribute that is likely to give the organization competitive advantage to facilitate its objective of offering differentiated services (Berkowitz, 2011). ASSISTS Analysis This is an analysis that is used to determine the competitive relevance of the resources available in an organization, as well as the capabilities of the organization and its staff (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). One of the questions that have to be answered is the question of value. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has resources that have a lot of value to its customers. The resources are worth since they help the customers get the best services possible. For instance, the training facilities give the staffs knowledge and skills that help them offer quality services to the patients. The equipment is of high competence and is up to date in terms of technology. The other question relates to rareness. Not many competitor organizations have the resources that are possessed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For instance, it is not easy to find hospitals that have research centres and training facilities. Therefore, this is a point of strength to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and it gives it competitive advantage. The question of immitability should also be considered in determining the ASSIST analysis. It is impo rtant to note that most of the resources can be copied by the competitors in this industry. This is a weakness for Vanderbilt University Medical Center since its competitors are likely to copy and have means of duplicating the services and resources as long as they have enough finances. Finally, the question of sustainability should also be addressed. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has the ability to sustain its current competitive advantage for a long period. The value and the rareness can be maintained. However, the organization should take measures to improve on immitability of its resources and capabilities (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). ASSIST Analysis TableAdvertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Value Vanderbilt has high value resources e.g. training and research facilities. Has highly competent equipment and up to date technology. Rareness Competitors hardly have Vanderbilt’s resources such as training and research centres. Immitability Most of Vanderbilt’s resources can be copied by competitors. With enough finances, competitors can duplicate Vanderbilt’s services. Sustainability Vanderbilt can sustain its current competitive edge for long due to its unmatched, valuable and rare resources. Sources of competitive advantages An organization should be aware of the sources of its competitive advantage to be able to maintain them and find ways to improve on them. Competitive advantage is gained if an organization has the ability to add value to the services it offers to customers and in turn increase the level of customer satisfaction (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). There various ways through which an organization can add value to its services for customers. Among the ways through which an organization can add value include cost leadership, differentiation, as well as focus strategies. Cost leadership is where the organization has the ability to offer goods and services at a cost that is relatively lower compared to that of competitors. It is important for the organization to maintain the quality of its products, regardless of the costs involved. Therefore, the costs should be sustainable. The next method of gaining competitive advantage is through differentiation. This is the method used by Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Center offers services that are differentiated from those of its competitors. Differentiation can, therefore, be described as the source of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s competitive advantage (Schmidt, 2010). The research facilities available in the company help it develop ways of offering services that are of high quality. A research centre is a source of knowledge; therefore, employees of the company have access to knowledge that they apply in offering their services. In addition, the training offered also help in differentiating the company’s services. The health personnel are trained in a customized manner to offer special services to the organization’s patients (Berkowitz, 2011). Porter’s modified value chain for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Source: Schmidt (2010) Evaluating competitive analysis This is a stage that is very critical in determining the competitiveness of the organization since it is the stage that enables the organization in defining strategies that can improve on its current services and gain or sustain its competitiveness. A thorough analysis of the competitive advantage will help the organization improve on its marketing strategies, operations, infrastructure within the organization, as well as the technological development of the organization (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). Vanderbilt University Medic al Center is an organization that is highly competitive. It has resources that have helped it become one of the best in the USA, if not the best in the industry. Its capabilities are outstanding, thereby giving it an upper hand compared to its rivals. However, the company has some weaknesses that it should improve on in order avoid being overtaken by its rivals in terms of competition. For instance, communication is an issue that is likely to affect its operations. Despite the fact that the size of the company is an advantage, it makes it difficult for effective communication systems to be established. It is important to note that communication has the ability to improve the services offered. At the same time, communication can lead to poor services if it is not well established. Generally, Vanderbilt University Medical Center is competitive in the industry, but it should improve in communication to avoid losing its competitiveness. References Berkowitz, E. N. (2011). Essentials of health care marketing. Sudbury, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., Swayne, L. E. (2013). Strategic management of healthcare organizations (7th ed). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Schmidt, B. B. (2010). The dynamics of MA strategy: Mastering the outbound MA wave of Chinese banks. Frankfurt am Main: Lang. This assessment on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center was written and submitted by user Casey Carter to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

History of Ecuadors San Francisco De Quito

History of Ecuador's San Francisco De Quito The city of San Francisco de Quito (generally simply called Quito) is the capital of Ecuador and the second-largest city in the nation after Guayaquil. It is centrally located on a plateau high in the Andes Mountains. The city has a long and interesting history dating from pre-Colombian times to the present. Pre-Colombian Quito Quito occupies a temperate, fertile plateau high (9,300 feet/2,800 meters above sea level) in the Andes Mountains. It has a good climate and has been occupied by people for a long time. The first settlers were the Quitu people: they were eventually subjugated by the Caras culture. Sometime in the fifteenth century, the city and region were conquered by the mighty Inca Empire, based out of Cuzco to the south. Quito prospered under the Inca and soon became the second most important city in the Empire. The Inca Civil War Quito was plunged into civil war sometime around 1526. Inca ruler Huayna Capac died (possibly of smallpox) and two of his many sons, Atahualpa and Huscar, began to fight over his empire. Atahualpa had the support of Quito, whereas Huscars power base was in Cuzco. More importantly for Atahualpa, he had the support of three powerful Inca generals: Quisquis, Chalcuchima, and Rumià ±ahui. Atahualpa prevailed in 1532 after his forces routed Huscars at the gates of Cuzco. Huscar was captured and would later be executed on Atahualpas orders. The Conquest of Quito In 1532 Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro arrived and took Atahualpa captive. Atahualpa was executed in 1533, which turned as-yet unconquered Quito against the Spanish invaders, as Atahualpa was still much beloved there. Two different expeditions of conquest converged on Quito in 1534, led by Pedro de Alvarado and Sebastin de Benalczar respectively. The people of Quito were tough warriors and fought the Spanish every step of the way, most notably at the Battle of Teocajas. Benalczar arrived first only to find that Quito had been razed by general Rumià ±ahui to spite the Spanish. Benalczar was one of 204 Spaniards to formally establish Quito as a Spanish city on December 6, 1534, a date which is still celebrated in Quito. Quito During the Colonial Era Quito prospered during the colonial era. Several religious orders including the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Augustinians arrived and built elaborate churches and convents. The city became a center for Spanish colonial administration. In 1563 it became a Real Audiencia under the supervision of the Spanish Viceroy in Lima: this meant that there were judges in Quito who could rule on legal proceedings. Later, administration of Quito would pass to the Viceroyalty of New Granada in present-day Colombia. The Quito School of Art During the Colonial era, Quito became know for the high-quality religious art produced by the artists who lived there. Under the tutelage of Franciscan Jodoco Ricke, the Quitan students began producing high-quality works of art and sculpture in the 1550’s: the â€Å"Quito School of Art† would eventually acquire very specific and unique characteristics. Quito art is characterized by syncretism: that is, a mixture of Christian and native themes. Some paintings feature Christian figures in Andean scenery or following local traditions: a famous painting in Quito’s cathedral features Jesus and his disciples eating guinea pig (a traditional Andean food) at the last supper. The August 10 Movement In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain, captured the King and put his own brother on the throne. Spain was thrown into turmoil: a competing Spanish government was set up and the country was at war with itself. Upon hearing the news, a group of concerned citizens in Quito staged a rebellion on August 10, 1809: they took control of the city and informed the Spanish colonial officials that they would rule Quito independently until such a time as the King of Spain were restored. The Viceroy in Peru responded by sending an army to quash the rebellion: the August 10 conspirators were thrown in a dungeon. On August 2, 1810, the people of Quito tried to break them out: the Spanish repelled the attack and massacred the conspirators in custody. This gruesome episode would help keep Quito mostly on the sidelines of the struggle for independence in northern South America. Quito was finally liberated from the Spanish on May 24, 1822, at the Battle of Pichincha: among the heroes of the battle were Field Marshal Antonio Josà © de Sucre and local heroine Manuela Senz. The Republican Era After independence, Ecuador was at first part of the Republic of Gran Colombia: the republic fell apart in 1830 and Ecuador became an independent nation under first President Juan Josà © Flores. Quito continued to flourish, although it remained a relatively small, sleepy provincial town. The greatest conflicts of the time were between liberals and conservatives. In a nutshell, conservatives preferred a strong central government, limited voting rights (only wealthy men of European descent) and a strong connection between church and state. Liberals were just the opposite: they preferred stronger regional governments, universal (or at least expanded) suffrage and no connection whatsoever between church and state. This conflict often turned bloody: conservative president Gabriel Garcà ­a Moreno (1875) and liberal ex-president Eloy Alfaro (1912) were both assassinated in Quito. The Modern Era of Quito Quito has continued to slowly grow and has evolved from a tranquil provincial capital to a modern metropolis. It has experienced occasional unrest, such as during the turbulent presidencies of Josà © Marà ­a Velasco Ibarra (five administrations between 1934 and 1972). In recent years, the people of Quito have occasionally taken to the streets to successfully oust unpopular presidents such as Abdal Bucaram (1997) Jamil Mahuad (2000) and Là ºcio Gutià ©rrez (2005). These protests were peaceful for the most part and Quito, unlike many other Latin American cities, has not seen violent civil unrest in some time. Quito’s Historic Center Perhaps because it spent so many centuries as a quiet provincial town, Quitos old colonial center is particularly well-preserved. It was one of UNESCOS first World Heritage sites in 1978. Colonial churches stand side-by-side with elegant Republican homes on airy squares. Quito has invested a great deal recently in restoring what locals call el centro historico and the results are impressive. Elegant theatres such as the Teatro Sucre and Teatro Mà ©xico are open and show concerts, plays and even the occasional opera. A special squad of tourism police is detailed to the old town and tours of old Quito are becoming very popular. Restaurants and hotels are flourishing in the historic city center. Sources: Hemming, John. The Conquest of the Inca London: Pan Books, 2004 (original 1970). Various Authors. Historia del Ecuador. Barcelona: Lexus Editores, S.A. 2010

Wrtie an executive summary based on Why It's So Hard to be Fair for Essay

Wrtie an executive summary based on Why It's So Hard to be Fair for your supervisor who is having trouble rallying his team - Essay Example ve the underlying reasons as to why employees are being laid off or if they do, time is not taken to allow for questions or even employees’ input on the matter. Firm B employees are further advanced good layoff packages as a sign of consolation. The employees of company B later file law suits claiming unlawful layoffs while none or just a few from firm A file similar suits (122-23). Firm B fund itself using a lot of resources in the lawsuits over and above the funds and benefits granted to the laid off workers. The difference in the above outcome was solely based on the approach taken to handle the situation and this is in regards to process fairness. This entails the manager treating the employees fairly and for the employees to feel that they have been treated as so. After the layoffs it was noted that for firm A the productivity increased for those who were left while in firm B it reduced. This therefore means that the employees who were left were affected by either in a positive manner or negatively. Those of firm A increased productivity because they believed that they had a responsibility toward enhancing organisational growth and felt that if they fail to work hard everyone stands to lose in one way or the other. In firm B workers felt that the laying off process was unjust as no much explanation was give and this reduced their morale a great deal (Brockner 123). As seen above time, resources and productivity was lost simply because the manager in firm B did not take time to be courteous enough to explain the issue at hand or even listen and discuss the situation with employees. The firm also ended up losing a great deal of money in the process. Employees need to feel in such situations their views are taken into consideration as well as their plight. This calls for the management to involve employees in decision making more so in areas that will affect their wellbeing. This scenario is also true with customers who need to feel that they have been

Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Success - Essay Example Thus, if my answer is considered correct, then the definition of success would vary from person to person, depending on his or her personal goals. Most of the people in life attribute IQ to success. They believe that if a person has a high IQ score, he or she will be extremely successful in their lives. However, in my opinion, the most important ingredient to achieve a goal, in other words, the most important factor to succeed is not an IQ score; rather it is the self-control in people. As previously mentioned, people usually assume that s successful life is promised to people possessing a high IQ. In today’s world, especially in Korea, most people believe that the level of university plays an important role in an individual’s success and right of admission to these prestigious universities is limited to students with high IQ scores. However, I still doubt the fact that high IQ results in achievement of success. My point of view has also been supported by Gladwell in hi s article â€Å"The trouble with geniuses†, who indicates that it is creativity, not high IQ that is the key factor for success in life. The author further asserts that â€Å"the relationship between success and IQ works only up to a point.† (79, Gladwell). In other words, Gladwell suggests that IQ is not the most important ingredient to achieve success. ... The purpose of the class was to amplify these students’ IQ and turn them into real geniuses so that they can play an important role in the society. A number of people believed that this course would help students a become members of prestigious universities. This specific course was so popular among parents and students that a few of my friends who were known to be smart students, desired to take that course which would result in admission into a top-notch university and a bright future. However, unfortunately, a number of those students who took that course were not accepted in top colleges. Overall, most of these students attended good colleges or colleges that were not famous. On the other hand, I observed that students who were not a part of that course, as in whose IQ was not as high, got accepted in various prestigious colleges and now have successful jobs. Thus, it is clear that IQ plays an important role in the success of an individual to an extent, but not completely. As long as individuals possess a certain level of IQ, IQ itself would not have a significant influence in our lives. An article, â€Å"Don’t† written by Jonah Lehrer, also suggests that IQ is not the most important factor in a successful life. This article places emphasis on self control as an important ingredient for success by revealing test results that indicate that who controlled themselves well were more successful. In this article, Mischel argues â€Å"intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control: even the smartest kids still need to do their homework.† (4, Lehrer). Here Mischel means that even the children with extraordinarily high IQ need to put in certain amount of effort to achieve success in life. By not striving hard

The difference of being a social worker

The difference of being a social worker What is the difference between helping service users and being a professional Social Worker? Social work in UK has been a regulated profession since 2005 and the title Social worker is protected by its regulatory body (GSCC) that entitles only those professionally qualified to use this term to describe themselves. Social work professionals are held accountable to the law, their employers, service users and to the GSCC code of ethics. They are guided by principles which make up an ethical framework these can sometimes prevent a social worker to do what service users may see as helping. More than helping, social work is seen as enabling people to resolve their problems. Therefore, working with them to develop skills required to overcome the problem, rather than providing a quick fix. The skills of empowerment, advocacy and user involvement are needed in professional practice so the social worker would be able to exercise their duty in line with the professional code of practice and conduct. This would help to limit bad practices while also promoting moral and job satisfaction. Firstly, this essay will give a brief definition of what is social work; it will then go on to examine the key principles in social work practice. The role of a social worker, their responsibilities and the ethical framework will be described in some detail. It will then conclude with an examination on the significance in working in partnership. Lastly, I will look into the issues of diversity along with AOP and ADP. Finally, this essay will look on the significance of service user and carer experiences and perspectives along with a brief conclusion. Social work is defined by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) as a profession that promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work (IFSW, 2000). This definition of Social work shows that the duties of social work practitioners are linked with principles of empowerment, human right and social justice. Social works main duty is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction (IFSW, 2000). They will act as advocates on behalf of the people they serve and their duty is focused on problem solving also bringing about change. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice (IFSW, 2000). Social work is also a form of social control, this because it involves promoting and protecting the welfare of not only the individual but also the wider community this dual responsibility often causes conflicts and tensions, (Thompson, 2009, p.3). Social workers come to contact with individuals from many different backgrounds. Their aim is to help people overcome difficulties and live a successful life, while there are times where practitioners are there to support people in accepting a situation that cannot be changed (e.g. terminal illness, etc.). What differs social work from other professionals is the complexity and the variety of the roles in which they are involved. The need to involve service users wherever possible and working closely with other professionals is required by a number of legislations, this makes the practice in a way easier, as it rules out misunderstandings or the possibility of missing out on important information. Individuals and other professionals involved in the process of working in partnership have to be involved during each stage of intervention. Partnership working is seen as a highly skilled activity, it requires the ability to communicate and engage, assess and plan, to be sensitive and observant, and so on, (Thompson, 2009, p.118). Social work practitioners are expected to take regular training in order to expand their knowledge as the result of continuous developments in policies, theories etc. Social work is an evolving profession, constantly responding to new policy aspirations, expanding knowledge and rising public aspirations. (GSCC, 2008, p.10). Trevithick (2009) categirizes knowledge under three headings that overlap and are linked together: Theoretical borrowed theories, analyse theories (purpose of SW), practice theories/approaches Factual law/legislation, social policy, etc. Practice/practical/personal acquisitioned, used, created knowledge. Trevithick (2009, p.25-43). The advantage of this framework would be that it gives directions where there is a need to further expand your knowledge. Social work profession requires a breadth and in depth knowledge base, however, the knowledge base of the caring profession is not appreciated by the general public .. partly due to the assumptions about the caring professionals being common sense and requiring little or no specialist knowledge or skills, (Thompson, 2009, p.11) Social work professionals are guided by a set of values and a Code of Practice. Practice ethics are based on these values which aim to inform social workers intervention with service users. The code of practice set up by the general social care council (GSCC) offers an ethical framework to its practitioners, this aims to maintain a standard of conduct for both employers and employees. The social work code of conduct is designed to serve social workers when practicing their profession, it contains ethical principles which will underpin the approach taken in practice. The professional code of conduct serves many different functions such as; guidance, regulation, discipline, protection, information, proclamation, negotiation, (Values and ethics in practice, p.127). It is very helpful to social workers as it offers guidelines as to what is expected from them as professionals. Social workers have to be familiar with their value base and abide to them in day to day work. They have to put into practice the understanding of the values when practicing their profession. Ethical awareness is an essential part of the social work practices, a social workers ability to act ethically is vital when aiming to provide a high standard of services. The code of conduct, ideally, offers the prospect, tantalizing if theoretical, of resolving value and ethical issues in social work (Adams et al. 2009, p.37). The day to day practice and the uncertainty which social workers can sometimes face would carry ethical dilemmas which will challenge their practice, ethical dilemmas occur when the social worker has a choice between two different courses of action that can be both morally right but only one choice can be made, or when either course of action if chosen, would lead to the compromise of values or principles, (Purtilo, 1993), (Values and ethics in practice, p.117 ). Ethics and values can also intersect when values or moral principles are in conflict, which poses a challenge about what to do, then an ethical problem has occurred, (Purtilo, 1993),'(Values and ethics in practice, p.117 ). The traditional values developed by Biestek (1961), outlined the principles which formed the fundamentals of the social work practice. These principles were made up of seven points and act as an underlying framework to intervention with service users. Individualisation; Non-judgmental attitude; Acceptance; Purposeful expression of feelings; Controlled emotional involvement; User self-determination; Confidentiality. (Crawford and Walke, 2008, p.6) These principles are essential to social work practice as they comply with what social work stands for, human right and social justice. Individuality for example gives the right to the service users to be free from bias and prejudice, therefore the social worker should avoid labels and stereotyping. Non-judgmental attitude would assure the situations are examined without bias, requiring social workers to avoid personal feelings and prejudices. Acceptance implies the expression of genuine concern, acknowledging the service users point of view, mutual respect, etc. Social workers have to give the opportunity to service users to purposefully express their feelings. In this way they will feel empowered and respected. Controlled emotional involvement requires the social worker to express their feelings but however in a controlled way, they should not come across as cold or disinterested this should be guided by knowledge and purpose, at the same time avoiding to over identify with the ser vice user. Self determination is a principle that places importance in recognising the service users rights and needs to autonomy, right of decision making and the right of choice. Confidentiality is a right that service users are entitled to; this implies that consent must be taken from the service users before the information can be disclosed, unless there is a situation where other people may be at risk. In social work there is a wide variety of theories and methods that help social workers intervene, the theory or method chosen will influence the language used and will shape the relationship between the social worker and service user. Language is the wealth of communication, it can open or close doors but also it can influence actions. Language plays a big part of power relations that have to be unpacked and understood for empowerment to occur, (Dominelli, 2002) (Adams et al. 2009, p.175). Being a good communicator is essential to social work practice as communications skills are essential to building a relationship and also interviewing. Lishman (1994) identifies four types of communicating: symbolic, verbal, nonverbal and written, any type of communication is essential to all professional practices therefore social workers have to simultaneously ask good questions, listen actively, convey information, exercise scepticism and reflect on interaction, Adams et al (2009, p.176-178). Social work professionals are expected to work in partnership with people to find the solutions and achieve the outcomes they want, and to collaborate with other agencies and disciplines to ensure support is delivered in a coordinated way. (GSCC, 2008, p.6) One of the principles in building an effective relationship will be honesty (e.g. explaining the reason for intervention). Exercising mutual respect should be another fundamental principle in relationship building, keeping appointments or being on time is a very simple example but however very important. Respect should be exercised even in a case of different personal values as social workers are not there to judge but to help. Consistency is another principle that the service users appreciate, as it shows concern about their situation and understanding. Ethical behavior is essential, because as a social worker there is the duty to respect the code of conduct that social work abides to. Explaining issues that might arise during the intervention and making things clear before work is commenced can rule out later misunderstandings. All these principles will contribute to underpin the trust aspect of the relationship and make the intervention more effective. Social workers always try to involve service users as much as possible in every aspect of their intervention, however, this is not always possible. There are times where social workers are requested to reach decisions and make judgments so that they can protect vulnerable people or in order to implement control. Social workers have legal powers which they would exercise to protect vulnerable people who may be at risk, this however may sometimes conflict with what other people involved wish for. Anti-oppressive practice is a frame work that aims to incorporate the social work value base, it is a response to the continual lobbying by the oppressed individuals. Professionals providing anti-oppressive services redefine professionalism within an open power sharing framework and precise human rights-based value systems. Practicing equality involves practitioners in valuing difference in life-styles and identity instead of demanding uniformity (Adams et al. 2009, p.55). Power imbalance is an important issue that should be addressed when working in an anti-oppressive way. The power that the social worker holds can be used both ways, constructively aiming to empower the service user, but also social workers can abuse this power therefore reinforcing the power imbalance and oppression. However there is always the risk of being oppressive even though not intentionally, e.g. Through naivety or ignorance, reinforcing stereotypes, inappropriate language, using power inappropriately and by acting as an expert, Thompson (2009, p.158-159). Social workers are involved in many complex interactions, we have to recognize the potential for social work to do harm as well as good (Thompson, 2009, p.80). When looking at how inequalities and oppression manifest themselves, the PCS (Thompson, 1996) would be helpful. Service user and carer involvement and participation can be challenging and also rewarding. However it is very valuable to social work practice, service users and carers can get involved in their own package of services or in a strategic planning and service development. Users views of the quality of services and their participation in providing regular feedback on all aspects of social work are therefore an essential part of good practice,(Warren, 2009, p.15). Service users and carers perspectives on services provided, have been sought by many researches for and also evaluators. However, in the recent years there has been a distribution of power which has resulted in the participation of the service users but also giving them the power to drive the research project. In conclusion, social work is a challenging profession which continually challenges the boundaries of its practitioners, whether on a personal, cultural or professional level. Ethics, morals and values are all essential parts of the profession practice. Social workers have to practice in e reflective way, while recognizing diversities which they come across in a daily basis. A social work practice that takes no account of existing inequalities runs the risk of: failing to recognize important factors in someones live, causing tension, reinforcing the negative effects of discrimination (Thompson, 2009, p.26). Word Count: 2 217 Bibliography References Adams, R., Domilelli, L., Payne, M., (2009), Critical Practice In Social Work, 2rd edition, Palgrave Macmillan. Adams, R., Domilelli, L., Payne, M., (2009), Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates, 3rd edition, Palgrave Macmillan. BASW (1996) The Code of Ethics for Social Work, (www.basw.co.uk accessed: 09/04/2010) Crawford, K., Walke, J., (2008), Social Work with Older People, 2nd Edition, Learning Matters. Eby, M., Gallagher, A., Values and Ethics in Practice, Chapter 7, (Course material). http://www.ifsw.org/f38000138.html (accessed: 12/04/2010) Thompson, N., (2009), Understanding Social Work, 3rd Edition, Palgrave Macmillan. Trevithick, P., (2009), Social Work Skills a practice handbook, 2nd Edition, Open University Press. Warren, J., (2009), Service User and Carer Participation in Social Work, Learning Matters.

Compare the way Shakespeare presents Hamlet’s Essay

In this play, Hamlet, Shakespeare shows us the different ways that madness can be portrayed and the various ways that others surrounding the central characters can perceive it. From the beginning it is explained that Hamlet would â€Å"put an antic disposition on† and this signifies that Hamlet’s madness would just be an act, not something that is actually true. Hamlet confides in Horatio and asks him not to look knowingly if he sees Hamlet behaving oddly by saying â€Å"some doubtful phrase† that might be â€Å"ambiguous† in its meaning. This immediately reinforces the notion that Hamlet is only play acting his apparent madness and in actual fact, is sane. Shakespeare presents Hamlet’s â€Å"antic disposition† as a means for Hamlet to bide his time and figure out how to avenge his father’s murder â€Å"by a brothers hand. † Hamlet’s madness is not meant to be seen as madness by us, but as something that has a purpose i. e. it could enable Hamlet to kill Claudius and it could be perceived by others that the killing was unintentional and was because of Hamlet’s â€Å"madness†. However, in the case of Ophelia, Shakespeare presents her form of madness as something that is real and tangible. She has a reason to be mad; her father is â€Å"dead and gone. † Shakespeare enforces the idea that Ophelia really is mad by having her enter in Act 4 Scene 5 â€Å"distracted† and singing a song about the death of her father. Ophelia’s madness is supported by what the gentleman says to Gertrude at the beginning of Act 4 Scene 5 about Ophelia’s state of mind; that she â€Å"winks and nods and gestures† and that â€Å"her speech is nothing, yet the unshaped use of it doth move the hearers to collection†. Even Laertes is appalled by Ophelia’s madness and wonders â€Å"is’t possible a young maid’s wits should be as mortal as an old man’s life? † Ophelia’s actions and what she says causes those around her to doubt her sanity and believe that she really is mad. There are many words that are used by the main characters to describe Hamlet’s madness. He describes it as his â€Å"antic disposition† whereas Polonius calls it â€Å"lunacy† and Claudius calls it â€Å"distemper† and a â€Å"transformation†. Although everyone perceives Hamlet as mad, Polonius and Claudius at one point doubted that Hamlet in actual fact was indeed mad. Claudius had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spy on Hamlet, whilst when Polonius spoke to Hamlet he thought that â€Å"though this be madness, yet there is method in’t†. This shows that madness within Hamlet is not really madness at all, but is just an act; a performance on Hamlet’s part. Shakespeare adds this doubt to Hamlet’s madness whereas in Ophelia’s case there is no doubt about her state of mind to those around her. It is believed that mad people have a tendency to have suicidal feelings. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he desires that his â€Å"flesh would melt† and would have killed himself had not â€Å"his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter†. In his first soliloquy, he says â€Å"to be or not to be, that is the question†-in this line, Hamlet wonders whether or not to commit suicide. These suicidal feelings beg the question â€Å"had Hamlet actually gone mad? † I, like many others believe that Hamlet was not mad, as even though he displayed suicidal thoughts, he did not carry those thoughts out, signifying a sane state of mind. Ophelia however ended up committing suicide by drowning herself in a lake while â€Å"she chanted snatches of old lauds as one incapable of her own distress†. This seems to indicate how fragile her state of mind actually was and how she was driven to madness by her father’s death and Hamlet’s actions. The gravediggers in Act 5 Scene 1 thought that Ophelia committed suicide and â€Å"if she had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’ Christian burial† as suicide is considered as an unholy crime. Shakespeare seems to want to show us that Ophelia really was mad by having her act, speak and behave in a way that was not seen as ‘normal’ to Elizabethan society as well as society today. It also seems that Shakespeare, maybe unwittingly, shows us that women were weak-minded individuals whereas men were the stronger sex, mentally as well as physically. Even though Hamlet is knocked with strong emotional surprises, such as finding out that his stepfather killed his father, Claudius, Hamlet still remains strong in public. This is a very sharp contrast to how Ophelia behaved when she suffered acute trauma due to the sudden death of her father. Whilst Hamlet remains strong, Ophelia transcends towards madness as her fragile state of mind had shattered. Maybe, this was the way Shakespeare viewed both sexes or maybe those were the views of Elizabethan society as a whole. Shakespeare presents Hamlet’s â€Å"antic disposition† as something very different to how Ophelia’s madness is presented to us. Shakespeare presents Hamlet as a strong character who has the ability to deal with emotional trauma, whereas Ophelia was portrayed as weak and symbolised what Hamlet once remarked: â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman†. Shakespeare presents Hamlet and Ophelia in contrasting ways to show us the differences between an â€Å"antic disposition† and actual madness. By using these contrasts, Shakespeare seems to be reflecting on the attitudes and views of Elizabethan society and also seems to be offering us his definition of madness.

Treating Animals with the Same Respect as Humans

Treating animals with the same respect as humans In 2012 there were 35 000 animal cruelty cases reported in the media all over the world. What is more, there are many atrocious videos posted on the internet in which animals are being ill-treated or killed. Statistically, one fifth of all domestic animals are not well treated. These facts arouse the question: ‘Should animals be treated with the same respect as humans? ’. In spite of the fact that animals are not conscious thinking creatures, they should be treated as humans because they are biologically similar to us and they are our companions.First and foremost, animals are biologically similar to humans. Their genetic code is similar to ours because it is made of the same nucleotides that encode amino acids. DNA is the carrier of genetic information in which our behaviour, appearance and genetic predispositions are encoded. Human and animals’ structure of DNA is almost the same. The best example is the DNA of th e great apes which is in 95 percent similar to the human. Even though many people can say that animals do not feel anything, animals are able to feel pain, happiness or anger owing to the developed nervous system.The typical examples of that are a dog which howls when it feels pain and a cat which purrs when it is being stroked. Many experiments were held in which e. g. chimpanzees were learnt how to count fruits shown on the screen and with the right answer they were getting a reward, and they were able to learn it which is the clear proof that they are able to learn certain conducts in the course of time. Furthermore, many species of animals are human companions. Choicely trained dogs are used to help blind people function in the world. Jack is one of the many people who without his dog would only have to stay at home and be dependent on his family.However, it is not the life that those people want to live and dogs are the unbeatable mean of helping them in their day-to-day activi ties. Secondly, enormously keen sense of smell that sniffer dogs have is most useful in rescuing people who have been trapped under the rubble because they can smell the scent of human in the places where the sight of rescue team is limited. Cats or hamsters are bred because of the very simple reason – they are ideal for children. Most of them are tame and they like being stroked. On the other hand, opponents say that animals should not be treated as humans because they are not conscious thinking creatures.The only way of communication between them is using primitive codes, not developed language e. g. bees are dancing in order to communicate something to others or elephants are making sounds that are not audible for humans. What is more, these codes are only used by them in order to survive their assemblage. All in all, no matter what opponents may say, animals should be treated with the same respect as humans. They are biologically similar to humans at the DNA level and the y are perfect human companions used in order to help people and beguile their free time. They should not be treated as if they did not feel anything.