Self-Awareness Through Dis-Closure, Feedback and Reflection.

Throughout this assignment I shall discuss how I have developed my self-awareness through dis-closure, feedback and reflection. â€Å"Being self-aware enables us to identify our strengths and also those areas that can be developed† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p47), self-awareness is continually being developed through the reflection of our life experiences.Reflection of my life experiences has given me the opportunity to become more aware of my strengths and weaknesses through being honest and the use of disclosure firstly to myself and then to others. The Gibbs Reflective Cycle 1998 is a useful model for reflecting on a life experience to gain further self-awareness through evaluation and analysis to finally having an action plan identifying what would be done differently in the future. The more knowledge we have about ourselves, the easier it becomes to relate to others† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p47), the self-concept (Murphy 1947, Argyle 1969, Burns 1980) enables us to learn more of our self through self-image, self-esteem and the self-ideal, by reflecting on each of these three parts in regard of myself I have determined that I see myself as being confident with a high self-esteem which I find makes me a friendly and approachable person however I have also realised that I have to listen more to receive feedback. When we try to see and feel the world from another person’s perspective, we are trying to be empathic. If we are successful, we will not just be able to understand the persons thoughts but also feel something of what they feel† (G Firth, R Berry, C Irvine 2010 p148) within my past career path of working with people with learning disabilities with an inability to communicate it has enabled me to develop my empathy and consideration for others, which is not to be confused with sympathy but is more of a connection towards somebody else’s feelings.By developing my connection to other people’s feelings who are unabl e to communicate verbally it has enabled me to develop non verbal cues as described in Egan’s model 1998, such as adopting an open posture with a relaxed and unhurried appearance and the importance of eye contact, however within my new career role now working with people of which most can communicate verbally I need to stay aware that the use of non-verbal cues and the tone of the voice used is still of upmost importance. Self-disclosure, a process by which we let ourselves be known to others† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p48) the Johari window can be applied to increase self-awareness and focuses on the theory that being more self-aware is of great assistance in developing as an individual, within the framework of the Johari window the subject of self-disclosure is of great importance.The Johari window is composed of four parts, the open self, blind self, hidden self and the unknown self, through the use of disclosure, by sharing information from your hidden self to other s the open self increases in size and in return for disclosing information feedback is received from others, giving insight into your blind self therefore increasing your self-awareness. Appropriate disclosure avoids the two extremes and means that it is fitting, suitable, the right amount at the right time† (Egan 1990 p45), it is important to ensure the correct amount of disclosure is made so that the relationship is not put at risk. Through disclosing too little information it does not allow for the reduction of uncertainty and also doesn’t allow for the build up of trust in a relationship, yet on the other hand if too much is disclosed to soon it may cause a feeling of pressure to recipertate. Self-disclosure between the nurse and patient occurs as part of the developing therapeutic relationship, where both must determine jointly what, when, where and how if at all they will disclose themselves† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p 49) I have come to realise that no two relationships are the same and progress at different time scales depending on the individual and can also be determined by several variables such as age, status, gender or personality. Ultimately the use of disclosure in a therapeutic relationship is to gain trust and encourage reciprocity. Students may consciously chose to give little personal information to patients whom they perceive as ‘risky’ and likely to abuse the self-disclosure† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p55) within my current workplace it is policy not to disclose personal information to the people we provide care for which can hinder the progression of a therapeutic relationship, however as I am unable to disclose my hidden self in reflection this has made me more aware of that the use of non verbal communication and the tone of my voice towards the people I provide support for helps to build trust, although on the other hand on reflection of feedback I have received it is apparent that if I have not c ommunicated effectively due to personal issues it can affect the way others feel and reduce the trust within the relationship. â€Å"Conveniently others are constantly giving you the very feedback you need to increase self-awareness† (J A Devito 2004 p33) to receive and further develop from the feedback received we have to be active and effective listeners. Related article: Secondary Reflection ExampleListening is a skill that can be thought of as effortless and undemanding however many people fail to listen to each other actively and are often either non or partial listening, whilst doing this we may pick up on partial bits of feedback but are not receiving the entirety. On refection the skill of listening is something I need to further develop as I can often find myself not actively listening to a person I am communicating with which is hindering the development of my self-awareness. In conclusion the growth of self-awareness is continually progressing over time and is never complete â€Å"becoming self-aware is an on going process that is never complete.Therefore, self-evaluation needs to be undertaken at regular intervals† (R Ashmore & D Banks 2000 p 50), evaluation of ourselves through reflection and the feedback we receive from others is a task which should be completed frequently to enable us to recognise both our positive and negative areas and ultimately becoming more self-aware giving us the means to manage the demands of both work and personal lives. References Egan G 1990, You and Me-The skills of communicating and relating to others. Brooks/Cole, California Essential of Human Communication (Joseph A Deviot) Fifth Edition 2004 Patterns of self-disclosure among mental health nursing students, R Ashmore & D Banks 2000, Nurse education today (2001) 21,48,57 Harcourt Understanding Intensive Interaction (G Firth, R Berry, C Irvine) 2010 Jessica Kingsley

Marketing mix success of Xiaomi Essay

Background Founded in 2010 in Beijing, Xiaomi first began by launching custom Android-based firmware- MIUI. Backed by tech savvy early adopters and  enthusiast, it thrived on feedback to improve usability. A year later they entered the hardware market with their flagship phone, the Mi One which featured the top specifications at a low price. Today, Xiaomi has launched it’s 4th series of their flagship phone the Mi 4 and have expanded their product line to mid tier smart phones, smart TV, routers, set-up boxes and other accessories. In just four short years, Xiaomi has become the third largest smartphone manufacturer just behind technology giants Apple and Samsung (Appendix B). Introduction This essay will discuss the marketing mix, a combination of marketing tactics which consist of four elements known as the 4Ps- product, price, place, and promotion that is derived from the marketing strategy of the company (Kotler and Armstrong, 2012) and the efforts made to adapt each mix to reach it’s intended audience in a foreign market. Price Xiaomi aims to provide similar specifications phones to competitors but at a much lower price. Currently they offer 2 series of flagship phones, the Mi and Redmi (or Hongmi). The Mi 3 has specifications that is similar to Sony’s Xperia Z1 that is priced only at CNY 1,999 (USD$322.62) as compared to Z1 retail  price of USD$935 (Appendix C). The Redmi series, a mid tier range is priced at CNY 799, targeting the lower income in emerging markets such as China, India with plans to expand into Brazil and Mexico. As the first company with such an aggressive penetration pricing strategy, Xiaomi changed the perceived value of smart phones (Ramesh Kumar, 2007). Anticipating that consumers would be skeptical about the quality of it’s low priced Redmi series, Xiaomi chose to first launch their top tier Mi before launching Redmi in each new market so that the reduction in market price would not be too drastic and that consumers could gain confidence in the quality (Snoj, Pisnik Korda and Mumel, 2004) of it’s Redmi series. Product Unlike other phone manufacturers that make their products obsolete with product refreshes within a year, Xiaomi’s phones have a longer product life cycle of 24 months. As the product enters the maturity stage, volume sales starts declining. Yet from a technological standpoint, Moore’s law dictates that a longer product life meant that it’s cost to manufacture the same product becomes lower. This decline in volume sales profit will be counteracted by a higher profit margin achieving overall profit sustainability. Similar to Apple & Amazon, Xiaomi has developed an ecosystem of software & services such as cloud service, messaging app, theme store and app store which preloaded to it’s custom firmware. An integral part of this ecosystem is Mi Market (app store) since Android’s default app store is not accessible in China. China’s market for apps has fragmented into many app stores birthed from startups to the likes of search giant Baidu. Thanks to the popularity of Xiaomi’s phones, Mi Market is currently one of the largest app stores in China. Place To eliminate the cuts that retailers and distributors would get, Xiaomi has sold their products entirely online, on their own website. However since expanding into new markets, Xiaomi has more recently adopted a horizontal marketing system to build upon retailer’s expertise in the region. In India, Xiaomi chose a partner to sell exclusively through Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce company. Xiaomi needs to understand the local distribution methods in order to mitigate the loss of potential customers especially when they employ exclusive distribution which would impair the availability of their products (Pride and Ferrell, 2011). For instance, due to purchasing behavior, cash-on-delivery remains as one of India’s primary mode of payment. Buyers would perform an inspection of the product before payment. In short,  accounting for less than 1% of the total retail market, e-commerce is still in it’s infancy stage in India. As Xiaomi’s mobile phones shifts into the maturity or even decline stages of its product life cycle, it might want to employ selective distribution through traditional brick and mortar stores. Bilgin and Wà ¼hrer (2014) points out that products not adapting to maturity stages will find themselves soon in the decline. In order to prolong it’s product’s life, Xiaomi should change their distribution strategy. Though it may not be economically feasible to sell their phones with thinner profit margins or perhaps even selling at a loss, it should be noted that Xiaomi’s goal is to make profits through services and apps rather than purely hardware sales- similar to the relationship between printers and ink cartridges (Appendix D). Promotion Releasing fixed amount of handsets at specific times, Xiaomi primarily engages in flash sales for new products that often results in phones selling out within seconds. Xiaomi meticulously limits supply to artificially create more demand than supply- a strategy known as â€Å"hunger marketing† (Chen et al., 2014 p. 1950-1957). â€Å"Hungry† consumers through word of mouth created buzz which in due time transits into hype where consumers mimic one another in the buying craze (Mourdoukoutas and Siomkos, 2009 p. 82), further raising demand. In Xiaomi’s advertisements, it is evident that marketing messages are focused on hunger marketing. There is always emphasis on how fast their products have been sold (Appendix D) , editorial tone that communicate a sense of  urgency (Appendix E), statistics to provide an impression of popularity (Appendix F), and multiple teasers for product launch over a period of time to create hype (Appendix G). Conclusion Xiaomi’s marketing mix is a combination of both Apple’s strategy of producing high quality products and limiting supply to magnify consumer hype as well  as Amazon’s kindle strategy of making products as widely as possible and to profit primarily from its services. Though Xiaomi has seen exponential growth in retailing smart phones, it’s key focus should remain in distributing mobile applications and services while maintaining the quality of smartphones instead of diversifying into other electronics. Without the access restrictions in China, Google remains dominant for app distribution as well as its services which are preloaded to every Android phone. Xiaomi must continue to innovate and integrate it’s solutions and services even tighter to it’s own firmware to remain competitive and profitable. It needs to pry it’s customers away from the many alternatives available in the heavily saturated mobile app market perhaps through technological acquisitions or strategic partnerships. References ASSOCHAM, 2014. E-Commerce Evolution in India: Creating the bricks behind the clicks. India: PricewaterhouseCoopers. Bilgin, F. and Wà ¼hrer, G. (2014), International marketing compact, Wien: Linde Verlag GmbH. Chen, E., Huang, K. and Cheng, L. (2013), Xiaomi: China’s answer to Apple, http://asiaresearch.daiwacm.com/eg/cgi-bin/files/china_tech_food_chai n_130925.pdf, Date accessed 15/12/14. Chen, Y., Kuo, C., Jhan, Y. and Chiu, P. (2014) ‘Hunger marketing on smartphone’, Proceedings of the Management of Engineering & Technology (PICMET), 2014 Portland International Conference, Kanazawa, 27-31 July. United States: IEEE Xplore, pp. 1950-1957. Kotler, P. and Armstrong, G. (2012), Principles of marketing, Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall. Kumar, A. (2014), What India taught Xiaomi: On Flipkart, lessons and future plans, http://yourstory.com/2014/09/india-lessons-xiaomi-flipkart-future-plans -hugo-barra/, Date accessed 15/12/14. Pride, W. and Ferrell, O. (2011), Marketing express, Mason, Oh.: South-Western Cengage Learning. Ramesh Kumar, S. (2007), Marketing and branding, New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley (India). Ridge, M. (2014), e-commerce in India: not just cash on delivery to a man on a bike, http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/09/22/e-commerce-in-india-notjust-cash-on-delivery-to-a-man-on-a-bike/, Date accessed 15/12/14. Siomkos, G. (2009), The Seven Principles Of Wom And Buzz Marketing, New York: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Snoj, B., Pisnik Korda, A. and Mumel, D. (2004) ‘The relationships among perceived quality, perceived risk and perceived product value’, Jnl of Product & Brand Mgt, 13, 3 156-167. Triggs, R. (2014), Hugo Barra talks business models and Xiaomi success, http://www.androidauthority.com/xiaomi-business-model-success-5596 81/, Date accessed 13/12/14. Appendices Appendix A (Selected case article: Xiaomi Flash Sales Prove Popular in India) Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which has overtaken Apple and Samsung in China, is working its way into the Indian market using sudden online sales and high-end handsets priced at close to cost. On Tuesday alone, Xiaomi says it sold 100,000 of its 5,999 rupee ($97) Redmi 1S smartphones in 4.2 seconds. It has sold about 500,000 total handsets using similar sales since its July launch in India, it says. The Beijing-based company sells its products exclusively online through Flipkart, one of India’s largest online retailers, via flash sales at specific times. The phones are sold at close to the manufacturing cost, with Xiaomi making profit through services such as mobile applications. Xiaomi has used the sales tactic in other countries, as well. Analysts say Xiaomi is taking off in the world’s second-biggest telecommunications market because Indians see value in its low-cost products. Word of mouth has created a buzz surrounding the brand, and the  flash sales help create a scarcity of the company’s products. â€Å"The way they carried out their PR was key to the success,† says Karan Thakkar, an analyst with research firm IDC. â€Å"With the flash sales they have created a competitive spirit among the consumer.† While Xiaomi’s market share isn’t yet known, IDC says competition among companies selling low-cost smartphones is expected to increase in the coming quarters thanks to similar low-cost makers, such as Mozilla, which offers a $33 smartphone. Indeed, smartphone sales in India should double through 2018 as devices priced below $200 enter the market, IDC says. Meanwhile, rivals such as India’s Micromax remain skeptical of Xiaomi’s success. â€Å"Selling for PR is different from selling for business,† Micromax Chief Executive Vineet Taneja told media at a launch event for a new phone last month. Micromax, India’s second-biggest smartphone seller by market share after Samsung, sells about three million phones every month through its 130,000 outlets spread across the country. But that hasn’t stopped Micromax from adopting an online sales model. In September it began offering one of its devices on Snapdeal.com, a Flipkart rival. Source: Wall Street Journal http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/10/17/xiaomi-flash-sales-prove-popular-in-i ndia/ Appendix B (Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q3 2014 Preliminary Data (Units in Millions) ) Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, October 29, 2014 Appendix C (Smartphone pricing and specification comparison) Source: Companies, Daiwa Appendix D (Net revenue comparison of hardware vs supplies (Units in millions) ) Source: Hewlett-Packard Annual Report 2011 Appendix E (Typical post flash sale update to inform customers that the sale has ended) Source: Mi India Facebook page Appendix F (Announcement of flash sale) Source: Mi India Facebook page Appendix G (Post Christmas sale infographic) Source: Mi Singapore Facebook page Appendix H (Teaser for new product) Source: Mi Singapore Facebook page

Atomic Bomb vs. Invasion

On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. The unconditional surrender of Japan was announced on August 10. The atomic bomb ended the war swiftly and quickly, and resulted in no Allied casualties. Others supported Operation Downfall, an invasion of Japan. However, this may not have resulted in an unconditional surrender. U. S. President Truman was advised that 250,000 to one million U. S. soldiers could have died in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of mainland Japan. In a study done by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April 1945, the figures of 7. 45 casualties per 1,000 man-days and 1. 78 fatalities per 1,000 man-days were developed. This implied that the two planned campaigns to conquer Japan would cost 1. 6 million U. S. casualties, including 380,000 dead. On August 1, 1944, the Japanese War Ministry ordered the execution of all Allied war prisoners if an invasion of Japan happened. This means that over 100,000 allied soldiers that would have been executed. Some may argue that innocent Japanese civilians and military soldiers lost their lives to the bomb. The Japanese were dangerous and were raised to fight, starting from a young age. An Air Force Association history of the 21st century says, â€Å"Millions of women, old men, and boys and girls had been trained to resist by such means as attacking with bamboo spears and strapping explosives to their bodies and throwing themselves under advancing tanks. † The AFA noted that, â€Å"The Japanese cabinet had approved a measure extending the draft to include men from ages fifteen to sixty and women from seventeen to forty-five. As a result of the increase in draft range, 28 million more people were drafted. The result of the atomic bombs was the unconditional surrender of Japan. If an invasion took place, the surrender may not have been unconditional. According to historian Richard B. Frank, â€Å"The intercepts of Japanese Imperial Army and Navy messages disclosed without exception that Japan's armed forces were determined to fight a final Armageddon battle in the homeland agains t an Allied invasion. The Japanese called this strategy Ketsu Go. It was founded on the premise that American morale was brittle and could be shattered by heavy losses in the initial invasion. American politicians would then gladly negotiate an end to the war far more generous than unconditional surrender. † The U. S. Department of Energy's history of the Manhattan Project agrees, saying that military leaders in Japan, â€Å"†¦. also hoped that if they could hold out until the ground invasion of Japan began, they would be able to inflict so many casualties on the Allies that Japan still might win some sort of negotiated settlement. The Japanese most likely would have been able to inflict enough casualties so that they would be able to negotiate. The Japanese followed the code of bushido, which is why the resistance is so strong in the Japanese military. According to one Air Force account, â€Å"The Japanese code of bushido—†the way of the warrior†Ã¢â‚¬â€was deeply ingrained. The concept of Yamato-damashii equipped e ach soldier with a strict code: never be captured, never break down, and never surrender. Surrender was dishonorable. Each soldier was trained to fight to the death and was expected to die before suffering dishonor. Defeated Japanese leaders preferred to take their own lives in the painful samurai ritual of seppuku. Warriors who surrendered were not deemed worthy of regard or respect. † Operation Downfall would have taken more lives, compared to the atomic bombings. The atomic bomb quickly ended the war and was necessary. It eliminated the threat of the Japanese empire. It also eliminated many dangerous Japanese soldiers and civilians. President Truman made the right choice in authorizing the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Multicultural Matrix paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multicultural Matrix paper - Essay Example Due to the globalizing trend of economy in particular and of the world in general, people of different races and cultures move dramatically from one place to another in the global scale. As a consequence, a nation-state -- especially the advanced or developed countries such the North America and the Great Britain -- in the present time-period is inhabited or populated by many and various races and cultures. Perhaps this diaspora of people from different land and time, at certain rate, is a welcome to particular nation-states. It is arguable that industrialized nations widely receive the migration of people of different colors mainly because of the latter’s worth or value in the economic sense. For one, colored people are beneficial and helpful to the country’s progress and development. That is, they become part and parcel of the labor force from their host country. For a particular nation-state, people from multicultural backgrounds are greatly advantageous or â€Å"he lpful† for the reason that they are industrious and submissive. Du Bois, Yavno, and Stanford (2001) note that multicultural groups such as Mexican Americans have â€Å"histories of low-paying manual labor† (p. 78). People from different colors and cultures are more submissive to their host country to the extent that they allow themselves to be exploited.

Report on RIP CURL Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Report on RIP CURL - Assignment Example The report aims at comparing the business communication process of Billabong with Rip Curl, one of the leading organizations selling gifts items in different parts of the world. The business communication process of both organizations is on the similar line because of the impact of globalization and wide arrays of consumers across the world. Over the years, online communication has changed the communication by making it fast and affordable for the masses. It has also helped in reaching consumers of different parts of the world in an effective manner. It needs to be understood that both organizations have been operating in same economies. The Australian economy has been doing well and is considered as one of the highly sustainable economies. Australia has been considered as a hot tourist spot helping Billabong and Rip Curl to be successful in the past as well as in the present. Rip Curl can be considered as a primitive organization with strong focus on direct communication. It has a great mixture of conventional and modern approach towards communication. The information was garnered from wide arrays of sources and resources like journals, website and newspapers that confirmed the communication approach raising problems. Overall, it can be assumed that the organization can only be successful through effective business strategies embedded with an honest and transparent mode of communication. (Roger. (1997) Chap

Nietzsche Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Nietzsche - Essay Example Before interpreting the essay, one should also put it into context. This essay was written when Nietzsche himself was sick. He was a medical orderly in the Franco-Prussian War and he contracted several diseases during his duty. As his health declined, his works became more prolific, probably because he had more time to think. It is worthwhile to note that Nietzsche was the father of â€Å"nihilism†. With Germany unified at his time, it was understandable that his nation was quite optimistic about science and knowledge and their future. Nietzsche prophetically noted that the German’s fanatic optimism, nationalism and religiosity (Christianity; most were Anti-Semitic) would lead the nation to war. Nietzsche was never a believer of absolutes. He has a quote, â€Å"You have your way. I have my way. As for the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist†. On the Genealogy of Morals is an essay the traces the â€Å"origin† or â€Å"genealogy† of these morals. It is a critique of the modern people’s moral judgments and it is made up of three essays, using the genealogical method which examines the origin of some of these moral beliefs and the quality of life that the modern man leads. The Genealogy of Morals calls for suspension of certain beliefs in certain truths, and as this is a critique for morals, it calls for the reader to suspend some of the assumptions that he has pertaining to morals. For Nietzsche, some things have different meanings at different times and The Genealogy of Morals attempts to explain certain things the evolution certain things have undergone, especially morals. In a society, for instance, morals are treated as something sacred by virtue of values and religion. However, these morals are never absolute as their meanings are dynamic and may change depending on a situation. Hence, Nietzsche does not believe on reality because it may change any moment, as they are only socially constructed (and society is also

Jesus as a Figure in History Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Jesus as a Figure in History - Case Study Example These young girls start comparing themselves with the women shown on the television who are nothing but a piece of crap as they are full of make up and designer label clothes on their skinny figures. One needs to remember that many of these models shown on television and more so on the fashion channels have eating disorders and some pictures as well as images of women shown on television and in movies have been falsely created from a number of different bodies, thanks to computer graphics and software that now make it possible. The extreme images of torture, sex and liberalism shown on television project a very significant impression on the minds of the people and more so the ones who do not have related exposure to such cultural tangents. (Author Unknown, 2004) These people start taking such images and movies as a part of their lives even though such television programming is far from the truth. Thus people's behavior comes across as being directly in line with what is being shown on television and their perspectives start to alter as a result of the same. Last cause of television and movies' excessive viewing is in the form of a number of diseases and mostly related with the eyes of the people. This means that the people watching can fall prey to a number of ailments which can have negative repercussions in the long term. These maladies could result in the Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHD as well as other diseases from time to time. The lives of the people are thus affected immensely by viewing television for stretch and it is best advisable to limit viewing under such measures. Television has diversified its transmissions into different fields like information, education, entertainment, live news, documentaries, reports, sports coverage, presentations, game shows, etc. What this in essence means is that the television is a significant tool at portraying the different aspects which usually happen within a society's life time. People can easily expect television to cover each and every detail related with them and thus show them what is happening throughout the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Bibliography AUTHOR UNKNOWN. (2004). Teens who watch sex on TV are twice as likely to have sex themselves. Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics Word Count:

KFC and the global fast food industry Term Paper

KFC and the global fast food industry - Term Paper Example KFC is a leading food chain in the world. When it comes to starting a new franchise in a new market, KFC would have to evaluate and analyze number of factors in its external and internal environment. The SWOT analysis for KFC is i. Strengths International recognition Ranked highest among chicken restaurants Unique flavor and recipe ii. Weakness Declining quality due to over franchising Less focus on R&D department Lack of relationship building iii. Opportunity Demographics trends have increased the growth Increased delivery services Updating restaurant and its menu iv. Threats Rapid change in customer demands Health awareness Increased competition PORTER’S VALUE CHAIN Michael Porter has given the concept of value chain in his book â€Å"The Competitive Advantage†. According to Porter, each and every activity and operation adds value to the produced product or service. So, every operation should support each other and should work at an optimum level. Porter suggested tha t organizations have two kinds of activities, â€Å"primary activities† and â€Å"secondary activities† (Overbeck 2009, p.26.). Primary activities: Inbound logistics: Involves obtaining raw material from supplies. KFC should make it clear to its suppliers, regarding the quality and time of delivery. Operations: Raw materials are combined to make the final product. This is the stage, where KFC has to keep check on quality and ingredients. In this stage, KFC can bring changes in its formula. Outbound logistics: Manufactured product is delivered to market. In case of KFC, it will not go to retailer or wholesaler, rather will go directly to costumer. Marketing and Sales: Marketing should be done in accordance to the needs of the end users. KFC should open its franchise in places where there is more demand, like near residential areas or in parks. Services: The services should include after sales services. KFC should provide services like feedback and royalty cards etc. to its regular users Support Activities: Procurement: The raw material acquired by KFC, should be properly accessed by KFC in order to assure best quality at best price. Technology development: The technology use can help KFC in maintaining the inventory record, sales, employee salary and attendance, and many other things. Human resource management: KFC has to recruit best available employees for its company, in order to deliver consistent quality to its consumer. Firm infrastructure: Organization structure matters a lot when it comes to adding value to the organization. KFC has to enforce and embrace a structure and culture that favors two way communications between employer and employee. b) Use Porter?s Five Forces framework to critically evaluate the opportunities and threats that faced KFC Corporation from the mid – 1990s to the year 2000. PORTER FIVE FORCE MODEL Michael Porter’s model has focused on how the corporate strategy should meet the opportunities and threats in corporation’s external environment. Porter has given 5 forces, on the basis of which a company can analyze its industry and market competition. These five forces are as follows: (Kurtz, MacKenzie&Snow, 2009) Bargaining power of suppliers: The supplies mean every kind of input that will help the organization in providing best products and services. The bargaining power of suppliers is high when suppliers are few and have a significant market share, and when cost of switching

Effective Management of Suppliers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Effective Management of Suppliers - Assignment Example The inaccuracies in bidding can be costly to the respondent or lead to losses to the tendering firm. Introduction and Articulation of the problem A tender is handled as an offer to perform some work for a certain sum of money (firm price), or a certain quantity of benefit (cost plus or cost reimbursement). The tender which is presented by the competing companies is usually based on an invoice of amounts, an invoice of estimated quantities or other requirements which allow the tenders to obtain greater degrees of accuracy or precision which is known as the statement of work. The tendering procedure is widely used in both the public and private sector for the purchase of products or services often referred to as the procurement process. Both the respondent and the tendering party need to be careful of guaranteeing the precision of the certification interchanged and claims made during the tendering and procurement procedure. Where a declaration is found to be incorrect or deceiving, a wide and common legal disclaimer as to the precision of the declaration will be inadequate to get over such a finding. The exchange of information, in the tendering procedures, especially in the viewpoint of discussing and identifying costs will be appropriate in an evaluation of the issues where a following claim of deceptive and misleading conduct occurs in regards to the original documentation of the tender. The choice in tendering demonstrates the significance of guaranteeing the precision and completeness of details included in tender records and otherwise offered during a tendering procedure as well as representations made during that procedure. The attention of this requirement has often existed for the concerned individuals planning the proposal but organisations using the process of tendering to entice providers need to also be cautious in guaranteeing the details they provide to prospective bidders at the pre-contract level and during the process of tendering is not dec eiving in any way. Accuracy in the bidding process should be upheld because the work may be overvalued leading to the party offering the work paying more for the job while they could have incurred lesser costs. The tender may also be valued at a lower price than it should leading to the firm offering the job incur losses or make insignificantly small profit. Besides pricing, there is need for accuracy when specifying the time you will take to complete the tendered job. Accurately setting a date will mean that there will be ease in meeting the specified deadline. Literature review An estimate can be precise, low or great. A precise estimate usually results in the most cost-effective project price. In cases of either an underestimation or an overestimation, it often results in higher actual expenses. According to Aibinu and Pasco (2008), causes of inaccurate estimates in the project may occur from two places: prejudice linked with the project itself and prejudice associated with the c alculation methods used and the working environment Preparing the cost estimate of the work is one of the most challenging tasks in managing a project because it has to be done before the accomplishment of the project (Oberlender 1993). Estimation of the price of establishing projects requires extensive skills and knowledge. Because of insufficient design details in the early stages of the design, it is particularly hard for quantity surveyors to arrive at an accurate price estimate. A

The relationship between Taipei National Palace Museum and Beijing Essay

The relationship between Taipei National Palace Museum and Beijing Palace Museum - Essay Example Earlier Taipei had been retained as the island’s capital by the Japanese after they acquired Taiwan. This took place after the first Sino- Japanese war in 1895. In addition, the Japanese also conducted a widespread urban planning that was perceived to be advanced. However, in 1945, following the surrender of the Japanese, the island was taken over by the republic of China. The ruling Kuomintang was forced to resettled the government of republic of China in Taiwan and they later made a declaration that its provisional capital was Taipei. All took place when the Chinese communist party took over the mainland china during the Chinese civil war (Cuno, 132). The art museum located in Taipei is known to be a national palace museum. The national museum belongs to the republic of china (Taiwan) and is perceived to be one of the largest worldwide because it consists of several permanent collections. The national palace museum is mainly a gallery and museum of art with the central colle ction being various artifacts from the ancient China. The museum should not be confused with the Beijing palace museum. The two have similarities in that they both trace their ancestry to one institution. The division occurred in 1940 when the Chinese civil war erupted. Today, Taipei national palace museum boasts to be an organization in possession of collection perceived to be truly international. The museum is in possession of leading artifacts collections worldwide derived from the ancient china. The cultural artifacts collection found in Taipei national palace museum consists of several precious pieces. The collection include different pieces of Chinese artifacts and artworks that are ancient, and covers several years in the history of china mainly from the Neolithic age up to the late Qing dynasty. Most of the objects were mainly obtained from different places including the Song, Yuan, Ming and the Qing dynasties. The museum development in Taipei is mostly associated with conte mporary china’s social changes. Puyi who was the last emperor in the Qing dynasty was sent away from the Forbidden City and it is estimated that this took place thirteen years after the republic of china had been established. The national palace museum was established from the cultural artifacts left behind in the palaces. Most articles mainly consisted of former imperial family’s valuables. They were mainly put together by the ancient emperors of china and the pieces are of high quality. Both the national palace museum best known as Taipei and the Beijing palace museum situated in the people’s republic of china inside the Forbidden City share similar original ancestry. The separation of the two was as a result of civil war in China. The Forbidden City right from the Ming dynasty up to the end of the Qing dynasty remained the imperial palace in China. It is located in the mid of Beijing in China and holds the palace museum. It has served as emperors and their ho useholds homes for several years in the past. In addition it has also served as the center for all kinds of ceremonies and politics in the government of China. Since 1925 the palace museum has remain in charge of the Forbidden City. This museum extensive collection of art consists of those from the Ming and the Qing dynasties. Some of the former collection of the museum is currently found in Taipei national palace museum. The two have several things in common including the fact that they descended from one

Your Brain on fiction and The Mighty Mathematician Youve Never Heard Essay

Your Brain on fiction and The Mighty Mathematician Youve Never Heard Of - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Annie Murphy Paul wrote the first article and it was published on 17 March 2012. It was entitled Your Brain on fiction. Despite, the evolution of digital devices, the fiction that is derived from reading novels is not completely dead. There is a group of individuals who have completely devoted themselves to the understanding of fiction through neuroscience. Annie writes that they have developed brain scans that reveal what happens in the brain when people read detailed information in the books or even articles in the newspaper, evocative character or an emotional exchange between characters in a movie or a book or even a magazine interview. Stories have affected the way people act or even the way they view certain situations in life. It was discovered that some of these stories stimulate the brain in a manner that directs the brain to do certain things in accordance to what it was stimulated to do. Researchers and scientists have always known the Brocaâ₠¬â„¢s area and Wernicke’s area as the regions of the brain responsible for interpreting motor speech and written data respectively. However, it has been noted over the past few years that other brain parts are also stimulated when one reads a book, by so doing making the experience of reading feel very real in the eyes of the reader. According to scientists, there are words such as lavender, perfume or cinnamon that may stimulate the parts of the brain responsible for smelling.... udy, a cognitive scientist Veronique Boulanger, claims that the use of sentences such as â€Å"Terry grasped the object† or â€Å"Peter kicked the ball† stimulated the motor cortex which is responsible for the coordination of the bodily movements. What’s more, the brain seems not to differentiate the experience it gets through reading and real life, this is because the same neurological regions are stimulated in each case. A University Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto stated that the reading produces stimulation of reality. These fictional stories and novels are just are essential in describing life’s social and emotional situation (Dwight 65). Most importantly, Annie wanted to bring out the idea that most of these stimulations that the brain receives have been evident by reading about them in books that have good descriptions of the movements, smells and actions of characters in the books or articles. Another article is The Mighty Math ematician You’ve Never Heard Of, which was written by Natalie Angier and published by the New York Times on March 26, 2012. This article talks about a mathematician who has been almost anonymous for over a decade for a theory that explains so many other theories in physics. Einstein also described her as the most significant and creative female of all time. She invented a theory that unites two very common theories in physics, which include the Theory of symmetry in nature and that of the Universal laws of conservation. Noethers’s theory has been classified as important as that of by Einstein (Theory of relativity). Despite the significance of her works, she has remained unknown to the people. A physicist in Drexel University has carried a research and written about her works. He did a poll that he noted many

The development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth Essay Example for Free

The development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth Essay Unnatural deeds to breed unnatural troubles. Trace the development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote his plays during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I (James IV of Scotland) who succeeded Elizabeth in 1603. He was a Scot, interested in witchcraft and supported the theatre. Macbeth was written during his reigns as king. The main topics of Macbeth are regicide and witchcraft. During the Elizabethan period, people were thought to have lived life according to a hierarchical structure. At the top was the king (who was Divinely Appointed by God) and the peasants at the bottom. During this period, people started to question the hierarchy. In Macbeth, regicide comes into the play. Regicide is when someone murders the King and breaks the order, defying God. This then led to the thought of unnatural things happening (i.e. witches). Shakespeare tries to use the play Macbeth as propaganda and to show that people should follow the rules of hierarchy. Regicide was considered the worst possible sin. James I also had an interest in witchcraft and the supernatural element in life. The theatre was a good way of entertainment for the King, and James asked Shakespeare to write the play for him. Even from the very beginning of the play, there is a sense of mystery. It is mostly created by the witches. Fair is Foul, and foul is fair, Hover through fog and filthy air. (Act1, Scene1 The witches) The first line is a contradiction and already shows the violation of natural order. When the witches speak, the lines only contain seven syllables, but all the other characters use ten syllables in a line. There is also the use of alliteration, with the constant repeating of F. Shakespeare is setting the witches character as different and spooky compared to the rest of the characters. The witches prediction of Macbeth gaining power, are correct but is seen as evil by the audience. This is because the witches dont tell Macbeth the price hed have to pay and the consequences hed have to face. Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife (Act 4 Scene1 Apparition one) For none of women born shall harm Macbeth (Act4 Scene1 Apparition Two) Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill (Act 4 Scene1 Apparition Three) These apparitions make Macbeth feel stronger and more confident because he thinks that all men must be born from a woman, and that the woods can not move. Macbeth doesnt feel threatened by Macduff either. He feels he can not be harmed by Macduff. Macduff: What need I fear of thee? (Act4 Scene1 Macbeth) Macbeth feels if Macduff becomes a concern he can just kill him. This shows how he grows in fear over Macduff as the play progresses. It is seen in Macbeth that the witches And the apparitions are worse than unnatural and are supernatural. Banquo calls the witched Instruments of the darkness (Act 1 scene 3). This basically means they are being referred to the workers of the devil. Nature also seems to get upset by the evil deeds. Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with mans act, threaten his bloody stage (Act 2 Scene4) This quote means that the actions of men are threatening natures land scape. The animals are also acting unnaturally too. Tis unnatural, even like the deeds that done. On Tuesday last, a falcon towering in her pride of place was by a mousing own hawked at, and killed Rosse: And Duncans horses a thing most strange and certain beauteaous, and swift, the minions of their race, turned wild in nature as they would make war with mankind OldMan: Tis Said, they eat each other (Act 2 Scene 4) In this quote, an old man is talking about his experiences of seeing an own eating a falcon where normally the own is the prey of the falcon and Duncans horses eating each other. In act 3 Scene 4, Macbeth sees Banquos ghost. Our graves must send those that we bury back He is scared by the ghost, no one else can see the ghost except Macbeth. Earlier on in the play, Lady Macbeth is the strongest character, while Macbeth struggles with his conscience. Later on in the play, her conscious catches up with her, she cant cope with it and goes mad. Lady Macbeth keeps referring back to washing her hands in the hope that she can wash off her conscious as easily as she washed the blood off after the Kings death. In the end it gets to her so much that she kills herself. Go, get some water, and wash this filthy witness from you hand. (Act 2 Scene 2) Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that a bit of water will wash it all away and make things beter. Out, damned spot! Out, I say! What, will these hands neer be clean? (Act 5 Scene 1) Lady Macbeth is struggling with the guilt of the murder, she is obsessed with washing her hands and trying to clean them. When Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, she calls upon the spirits and the supernatural to help her. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts (Act 1 Scene 5) Lady Macbeth wants to get rid of her femininity. Unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty She wont kill the King herself, because she believes a man should do it, which is why she wants to make the spirits make her a man so she doesnt feel guilty. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look happy and cover up the plans of there murder schemes but putting on an act. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it (Act1 Scene 5) Lady Macbeth feels the guilty, but doesnt show it, she is not afraid of the conciquesnces at this point in the play. She is cold hearted. My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a white heart (Act 1 Scene 5) Macbeth is the main character in the book. In this play, the supernatural stuff affects him the most. He sees a dagger when hes going to kill Duncan, and hes the only one that could see Banquos ghost. Is this a dagger I see before me (Act 2 Scene 1) Macbeth knows that he is seeing things that arent really there. He then goes on a says how it was pointing in the way to kill Duncan. In Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth makes a link with the witches as the first thing he says. So foul and fair a day I have not seen This echoes the first thing that the witches say and immediately suggests an evil link between the two lots of characters. At the end of Act 1 scene 7, Macbeth echoes what Lady Macbeth has said. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. This means, he doesnt show his feelings, and puts on an act, and doesnt let anybody know his plans of murdering the king. During the play, Macbeth seems to get a very guilty conscience. The first signs of this is in Act 2 Scene 2, where Macbeth says: As they had seen me with these hangmans hands. Listening their fear I could not say Amen when they did say God bless us Macbeth knows he has done something really bad, broke the rules and violated the order of God. He begins to feel guilty. Lady Macbeth manages to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan at the begeining of Act1 Scene7. Macbeth We will proceed no further in this business This shows that at the beginning of this scene he didnt want to kill the King, but by the end he slowly changes his mind. I am settled; and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat (Act 1 Scene7) Along with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth refers to washing his hands, as a way of getting rid of his guilt. Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No This hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red (Act 2 Scene 2) Macbeth is saying that no water can wash the guilt inside of him away from him. I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more returning were as tedious as go oer (Act 3 Scene 4) This quote from Macbeth is saying that he has done the murder now, and its hard to go back to the way it was before, because now he is living in constant fear and guilt. Just before Macbeth is about to get hung, he makes a speech. In this he says: Lifes but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. (Act 5 Scene 5) In this, Macbeth talks about how life is just a journey to death and how hes isolated, he believes Duncan is better off than he is. In this point in the play, he has lost the will to live, and in this quote, he is very emotionless. Macbeth realises that Banquo was right. To doubt th equivocation of a fiend, that lies like truth He doesnt trust witches like what Banquo said. The witches promised theyd take him up in life and make his life better, but instead they brought him down. Gradually, the other characters in the play, realise that Macbeth is not a true king his evil actions have betrayed him. Scotland is described as being sick under Macbeths rule. In Act 4 Scene 3, Malcom says that every day a gash is added to her wounds. Even Macbeth recognises there is something wrong with Scotland and calls it a disease. If thou couldst, doctor, cast the water of my land, find her disease, and purge it to a sound and pristine health. (Act 5 Scene 3). But, in Act 5 Scene 2, Cathness describes Malcom as the medicine that will cure Scotland. Meet we the medcine of the sickly weal, and with him pour we in our countrys purge each drop of us. In Act 5 Scene 9, Macduff turns up with Macbeths head. Malcom makes all the Thanes into Earls to reward them for helping him. Then Malcom invites everyone to him coronation, as he is soon to be the new king.

Mubai Flooding Case Study Environmental Sciences Essay

Mubai Flooding Case Study Environmental Sciences Essay The metropolis of Mumbai that include suburbs and city region of Mumbai received 39.1 inch (994mm) rainfall in single day on 26th July 2005. This is a case of natural disaster in a single metro city where in flood situation happened because of heavy on spot rain and not because of typical reasons of flood in any area due to over flooding of rivers. Justification of selection of case This case is selected because it is being a flood situation in commercial capital of India which is claimed to be progressing toward becoming city like shanghai in terms of infrastructure and facilities. The financial capital of India grown from 10 lakhs to 128 lakhs of population in a decade but the system waterways, drains, rivers have not been upgraded and updated accordingly. In Mumbai water logging is a decade old problem and we are accustomed to it. In 21st century every year on an average 5 days are lost when educational institutions and offices (Mumbai is the financial capital of India) remain shutting due to heavy rain and flooding during monsoon. The severity of 26th July2005 heavy rainfall and water logging was the situation when thousands of people died, lakhs were injured and uncountable were affected economically and physically. It raises the immediate need for action from multiple agencies. It gives chance to analyse emergency preparedness of government agencies, private bodies, NGOs and individual. To solve the problem various forums and agencies are continuously talking since 1991,but till now nothing has happened as central and state government have not allotted sufficient money to materialize the issue even after the shocking event of 26th July 2005. During water logging and flooding substantial amount of damage caused. Disrupt transportation cause hampering of economic and financial activities. This hurt industry and service sector tremendously .GDP and GNP growth of country rises to 8.5% where Mumbai growth rate falls 2.1%.Mumbai loses more than 800 crore rupees due to this problem. 3000 crore rupees treated as capital investment. Mumbai has given 80,000crore rupees as revenue to government of India in the year 2005-06 and 22,000 crore rupees earned by government of Maharashtra as duties, taxes, cess in the same year. Objectives of Case Study The collection of data related to damage to human life and assets by this flood. Systematic compilation of relevant data to come to the stage of making action plans, policies and procedures for removing water logging and flooding in Mumbai. To identify factors responsible for 26 July 2005 flood in Mumbai. Lessons we learn from this disaster and efforts we are doing to reduce such disasters in future. Developments of an efficient methodology which is economical, easy to interpret by charts and maps related to such severe situation very rapidly and start responding quickly. Review of work done so far on this issue. Area under study Areas badly affected by flood Lower parts of Southern Mumbai Sea shore areas of Western Mumbai Densely populated areas of Central parts of Mumbai Lower area of Kurla and Kalina Roads and Railways were badly affected by this flood. Responsible reasons The sewage system of Mumbai can carry only 25 millimeters of rain water per hour which was extremely inadequate when rainfall was 994 mm. The drainage system was clogged at several places. Heavy rain and High tide time was same that day due to which 103 outlet gates that connected drainages that directly open to sea get overflowed. The situation became worse because drainages were not clean and filled with garbage that blocked the outflow of rain water and it got accumulated on the roads. The severity of situation worsened because warning about heavy rainfall and high tide was not given on time on Radio and Television stations by the civic agencies. The Meteorological department was not having sophisticated weather radars which can give 3 hour prior warning. Massive encroachment on mouth of major nallas and heavy diversions and encroachment of Mithi and other rivers acted as blockage to rain water running towards river. Development by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) without proper environmental clearance increase the pressure on existing drainage system which is already poor and old fashioned Old fashioned and poor drainage system. Bandra Kurla complex which is constructed by replacing swampy areas; the Environment Ministry of the Government of India was informed about its potential disaster and appeal not to sanction it but no action has been taken on time. Destruction of mangroves ecosystem for construction and encroachment. This ecosystem exists along the Mithi River and Mahim Creek. This swampy area acts as a buffer between land and sea. Sewage and garbage dumps have also destroyed mangroves. The most acclaimed Mindspace (INORBIT MALL) in Goregaon Malad has been built by destroying a large patch of Mangrooves in Maharashtra.1 ^ http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/Flood/statusreport.pdf Recorded data from government offices Parameter Recorded loss Actual loss Human life loss 1094 2500 Spoilt Rickshaw 25000 370000 Taxis Damaged 3250 4000 BEST Buses Damaged 745 900 Trucks and tempo grounded 6900 10000 Local Trains damaged 43 52 Preparedness expectation from government Loopholes in preparedness in actual system Clean and clear drainage Household waste filled drainages join major nallas and river banks 20 Active out flow gates Only 4 working channel gates 1000 trained volunteers for quick response Appointed procedure and training is pending Result and Recommendations Strategic Planning First is the requirement of suitable methods to make decisions when criteria to choose are too many. Information Analysis System (IAS): A process that systematically access, integrate and analyze the information fragmented in various dependents and independent variables by arranging them in proper hierarchy. To present a new method of calculating risk probability of flood hazard by analyzing data gathered from census, land use mapping, geomorphic details of land cover. Using the above analyzed and integrated data in software like GIS for Hazard mapping. This flood vulnerability risk probability will give the probability of being flooded when certain level of rainfall occur as well as other decision factors of different level and sub factors are also present like high tide, distance of active water gates from sea. It will also suggest methods to nullify some decision factors or level of sub factors at appropriate time so that loss of life and assets can be reduced. To calculate flood vulnerability probability (FVP) there are set of primary data collected from topographic maps, population data of the regional divisions of Mumbai, Atlas Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO), and Statistical Offices respectively. The FVP is calculated for possible inundated areas of Mumbai. FVP is divided into five category very low, low, medium, high and very high. The categories are based on histogram distribution and the Flood Hazard Maps. Higher the FVP, higher the risk of inundation and water logging threat. The flood hazard map presents relevant and accurate analysis through GIS environment. Flood vulnerability probability (FVP) FVP= à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (Pab-RIWab) RIWabj Where, FVP = Flood vulnerability probability Pab = probability of level a of decision factor b, RIWab = relative importance weight of level a decision factor b. RIW abj = relative importance weight of sub-factor j of level a decision factor b. Level Decision factor Sub factor Overflowed nallahas Blocked nallahas Distance from connecting nallahas Low lying area Lower than average standard of low lying above sea level(ASL) Distance from sea High tide Outfalls are narrow sized Rainfall Unavailable pumping facility Flood mapping and zoning Flood hazard zoning will help in regulating flood hazard areas minimize the loss of life and assets in future. Flood management and control will help in land planning, controlling and management of water that is a scarce resource. Water needed areas of the countries will get benefitted when flood water will diverted to these areas through proper channeling. Economy of India will move to prosperity when agricultural land and densely populated areas will get sufficient water for farming and drinking Drainage modeling Population of Mumbai has risen by 60% in last 25 years. Migration to Mumbai is the main cause of increase in population. This caused pressure on existing land for housing and infrastructure and resulted in encroachment of land, Nallas, and Mithi river and other river banks and on drainage system. Drainage modeling requires: Emphasis on proper land use planning This is the best method for achieving the goal of Freeing Mumbai from Flood. It requires systematic data collection on the work done in this area and them compiling relevant data to make an action plan. After discussing plan of action with concerned authorities testing it in small area , if it work effectively then apply it in all areas of Mumbai in phases. Mumbai suffers from flood situation when there is heavy rain (or not so heavy rain) and the water does not dispose off in reasonable time. The well known reasons are increasing population, scarcity of land, use of no development zones, without increasing capacity of nallahs constructions are done there, diversion of Mithi river to make airport, disappearance of small lakes and ponds increase in slums whose waste directly goes in water ways. Flood in every monsoon season is become severe in low lying areas of Mumbai which become more dangerous in high tide situation because nallahs width in those areas in narrow and natural drainage is restricted due to new developments like in SV road and LBS marg. The present drainage system in the city consists of underground single water drainages discharging into the sea through short outfalls. The present drainage system in the suburban areas consists of creeks so rainwater runoff towards there. A system of open surface drain consists here. Massive infrastructure development along with cementing of roads and increasing their heights effects water absorbing capacity. To expedite projects that could curb flooding in Mumbai, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee increased the allocation for the Brihanmumbai storm water drain (Brimstowad) project in the current fiscal year from Rs200 crore, earmarked during the interim budget, to Rs500 crore (source DNA ). The project will help the BMC increase the water retention capacity of existing storm water drains. A fact-finding committee appointed to look into reasons for the July 26, 2005, deluge had suggested this as an immediate measure. The Manmohan Singh government, which was at the helm even then, had then agreed to completely fund the Rs1, 200-crore project. Statistics of Mumbais drainage system network: Length of nallahs and drain Type Island city Eastern suburb Western Suburb Total Major Nallah(km) Width >1.5m 9 90 101 200 Minor nallah(km) Width 21 66 42 129 Drain (km) 59 40 51 150 Road side open drain 20 669 1297 1986 Closed pipe drain 443 36 86 565 No. of water entrances 27893 609 1706 30208 System of Rainwater disposal in Mumbai Outfall Island city Eastern suburb Western suburb Total Discharge in Arabian sea 107 29 136 Mahim creek 4 8 14 26 Mahul creek 4 6 10 Thane creek 14 14 Total 186 Outfalls which are below sea level are 45, outfalls which are above sea level but below high tide level are 135 and outfalls above high tide levels are 6. Maintenance of natural drainage There are many natural drainage in Mumbai. Maintaining them is also one efficient method to reduce emergencies like 26th July 2005 flood. Tulsi lake: Its dam have 2 spillways which discharge into Dahisar river and Vihar lake. Vihar lake: Its spillways discharge into Mithi river. Powai lake: Its discharge also meets Mithi river Mahul and Vakola lake, two branches of Mithi River which were existed till 1976 in the map of Mumbai now disappeared on the cost of development. Developing a new action plan for these holding rivers by developing new drain in city and suburbs, and installing new gates and pumping stations is under progress. Management of local disposal and waste: One effective and sustainable solution is to use efficient, cost effective and automated waste collection and processing technology specifically in metro cities is using effective piping system like shown below: Figure 5.: Management of local disposal and waste CAD software gives an integrated drainage design suite that facilitates engineers with powerful but easy to use system convert digital surveyed data into a detailed digital model on ground very quickly. The model can be used to design roadmaps, their alignments and design drainage system, long-sections and cross-sections with the help of CAD software. These ground models can be used for many other applications like land fill management, mineral extraction. Modified Rational Method used for Drainage designs and Foul drainage networks and can be tested for flood conditions using a Powerful Simulation module. Typical flood prevention methods and techniques with sustainable systems such as ingress pavements, paver blocks, parkings and pedestrian walkways shall be used. Research undertaken to examine local governments capacity to manage recovery activities after Mumbai 26th July 2005 flood has shown that their overall performance in conclusion is, in-consistent and problematic(Mehta Report 2006). The reason was lack of resources and poor planning (K B Singh et al. 2007); the difficulty local officials faced was lack of proper planning between pre and post disaster period; Resource dependence on the state government; lack of adequate numbers of professionalized staff; poor leadership and bureaucratic and legal constraints; and the lack of awareness among powerful citizen and business groups that overshadow local government officials efforts. The locally based reconstruction efforts, such as aid that does not meet the needs of the victims and the possibility to delegate all responsibility on local involvement. On the basis of a study of the recovery processes after the flood of 26 July 2005 in Mumbai, public opinion clearly indicates that government j urisdictions, especially local governments, have little guidance to direct their recovery activities. Overcoming recovery implementation problems Is it possible to overcome the problem of local government capacity to manage the disaster recovery process? Researchers showed successful local recovery by communities at their own level. I studied 14 municipal Wards (Chembur, Malad, Borivali, Juhu, Goregaon,Vile Parle, Mahalaxmi, Kurla, Bandra, Kandivali, Tardeo, Sion, Matunga, Wadala) recovery processes and found that the speed and quality of recovery appeared . That was the function of three factors: (1) productive intergovernmental relationships, (2) effective competition for scarce resources, and (3) effective management of CBO decision making. Pre disaster planning was not there because nobody at authority level had imagined such terrific flood situation so post flood recovery was slow and unsatisfactory, which encouraged communities in these wards to organize processes for more timely and efficient action at their own level, clarify key recovery roles and responsibilities, identify and secure  ¬Ã‚ nancing, and avoid repeti tion of such emergencies again in future. Many plans are dif ¬Ã‚ cult to implement; they at least draw our attention to some important features of the recovery process. In particular, they highlight the importance of collective action involving multiple organizations-from both the public and private sectors-which cross governmental jurisdictions. One promising  ¬Ã‚ nding from the Emergency preparedness recovery plans comes from an assessment of the Mumbais roads, railways, drainage system, waste disposal system, municipality proactiveness in future. The citizens and local of ¬Ã‚ cials improvised a successful adaptive strategy that should implemented in the city directly for managing the recovery process. Inter and intra-community network and the local recovery process I found that the degree of integration among organizations that comprise the emergency response network prior to flood in Mumbai is a reliable predictor of readiness and response effectiveness in future. In this regard I conveyed the idea to the Disaster Research Center, the stronger and more well de ¬Ã‚ ned the inter-organizational linkages are prior to an event, the smoother subsequent rescue related activities will go. CBO preparedness is synonymous to Emergency preparedness which requires response effectiveness, and strong structural inter-organizational relations. The role of self-evident natural networks and self-organization in emergency preparedness is necessary and required very much. After 5 years Wards of Mumbai are very considerable in their capacity to respond to 26th July 2005 type emergencies. Emergency groups are now aware about recovery and redevelopment processes. This is a particularly important problem in the reconstruction and recovery phase, where competition over resources and CBO redevelopment goals often replaces the immediate post event spirit of cooperation. Conceptual model of the local recovery process The response phase of emergency management of flood like situations in Mumbai, some of the lessons learned in that context may be transferable to the recovery and reconstruction phases. A variety of studies suggesting that the capacity of citizens and organizations involved in recovery to adapt to changing conditions is higher and inter-organizational aid delivery systems are more capable of meeting the needs and capacities of disaster stricken citizens when intra-CBO and inter-governmental ties are strong. The importance of three key variables related to CBO problem-solving capacity: horizontal integration, vertical integration, and network centralization. Horizontal integration refers to relations among the individuals and organizations within a community. Thus, a CBO with a high degree of horizontal integration is characterized by a tightly knit social network with relatively equal power distributions and features frequent, sustained interactions and communications. Conversely, communities with a low degree of horizontal integration have a weakly knit social fabric. Vertical integration de-scribes a CBOs relations with extra CBO systems. A CBOs ties with larger political, social, and economic institutions may explain resource and information transfers and in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence the extent to which these institutions are dependent on their environment. Network centralization refers to the power and control structure of the network, and whether network links and activities are organized around any particular one or small group of organizations. Integration and centralization are important complementary measures. Integration is a measure of the extent to which organizations in a system are interconnected; centralization describes the extent to which horizontal and vertical cohesion is organized around particular focal points. Horizontal and Vertical Integration and the Role of Focal Organizations The potential relationships between horizontal and vertical integration and depicts four types of communities. The dominant recovery strategies that characterize each type of CBO. A type I CBO is ideally suited for an effective recovery effort. Communities of this type have well-developed ties to external resources and programs as well as viable horizontal networks that enable it to exert in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence over CBO recovery activities. Such type of communities rely on preexisting stores of social capacity and cohesion are formed in Mumbai they are showing self-organizing behavior. CBO types by degree of horizontal and vertical integration and disaster recovery strategies. Horizontal integration was high owing to the high degree of interest in and experience with political activities on the part of the citizen ship. The local government develops new partnerships and capabilities with its citizens. A cooperative association of households known as the Neighborhood Survival Network (NSN) was established to facilitate citizen self-help in future disasters. The high degree of horizontal integration played a vital role in aiding overlooked minority and low-income populations in rural mountain neighborhoods and in providing a basis for increasing vertical integration. The central Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) utilized the well-established ties developed by the NSN to assess needs and distribute assistance. Emergency experienced by the people of Mumbai that day stimulated local horizontal integration. Subsequently, local problem-solving capacity was expanded by ve rtical integration between federal relief efforts and local CBO organizations. A type II CBO is an autonomous, relatively isolated CBO with few vertical ties. These types of communities are also formed in Mumbai they have viable horizontal social networks; they suffer from a lack of knowledge about and interaction with important external resources. Communities of this type will adopt a strategy of cooperation with potential resources providers, such as the state or federal government. In type II CBO they have a highly active network of, social clubs, and CBO groups. Owing to the high degree of horizontal integration, the CBO rapidly mobilized its limited resources to set up evacuation centers, provide food and safe drinking water, and establish communication channels to disseminate recovery information. But the scale of the disaster, coupled with the inexperience of local public officials with central governmental disaster aid programs. The city received assurances from FEMA that they would be helped every step of the way. Corruption and bureaucracy is a part o ur system that had eaten up a large share of the relief package. Despite the public pleadings of civic leaders, governments aid was delayed for several weeks. Meanwhile, people discovered that the governments monies would cover only a small portion of the damages. A type III CBO is in a classic state of dependency. They also involved in number in Mumbai lacking a viable horizontal network, it is less likely to take into account local needs, concerns, or values in the recovery effort. A type III CBO does have the advantage of strong vertical ties and channels to facilitate the delivery external aid. They have disproportionate share of disaster-related resources are allocated by the central government. These types of communities will adopt a dual strategy of recovery. Because horizontal cohesion is weak, local policy makers must engage in a strategy based on the cooptation of important constituencies within the CBO. However, owing to strong vertical linkages, these communities will be able to make claims on external resources. In Mumbai such communities are politically powerful communities can bypass normal relief channels and, in effect, coerce the central government into providing massive aid. Overall horizontal integration in such communities is low. Its vertical ties, particularly with corporators and relief and emergency management agencies, are quite strong. As a consequence, these type of communities bypass many of the intergovernmental aid hurdles that other jurisdictions  ¬Ã‚ nd so difficult. Indeed, owing to corporators intervention and the high level of government interest, the aid was mobilized with speed. The main point is to ensure that large amounts of government aid poured into the city and to placate affected groups in the communities. Despite the rapid government response, weak horizontal linkages slowed reconstruction efforts as private property owners and local officials squabbled over the details of CBO recovery. A type IV type of CBO is in large number in Mumbai. They face signi ¬Ã‚ cant obstacles in undertaking successful recovery efforts because it lacks access to external resources. Even if these vertical channels are activated, the lack of intra CBO integration severely limits the ability to man-age the aid process or to in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence the direction of recovery efforts. CBO leaders in this situation will  ¬Ã‚ nd their strategic options limited to attempting to mediate con ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ict. They had a much lower capacity to cope with the demands of disaster recovery than the communities. Many nongovernmental organization operating in Mumbai after the disaster, with good administrative staff residing in the CBO. A low degree of horizontal and vertical integration was that disaster recovery initiatives were, for the most part, organized outside of the CBO, with little input from the local people. A disaster recovery board was created to oversee recovery and reconstruction. Sometimes committee suffers from internal politics and social resistance. The ability or inability of a CBO to activate horizontal and vertical networks to engage in reconstruction activities is likely related to the presence or absence of focal organizations in the CBO. The focal organizations may or may not governmental entities. Cooperative CBO groups are perfectly capable of taking on this role. The importance of centralized, coordinating mechanisms in disaster response networks are significant. The key actors at the focal points of emergency response networks tend to play a critical role in the formation and maintenance of inter organizational relationships. It is not yet known precisely what role centralized personnel play in the recovery and reconstruction processes. Conclusion: Studies of communities suffering through the aftermath of large-scale disasters consistently  ¬Ã‚ nd that local government of ¬Ã‚ cials play the critical role in shaping the path of recovery and reconstruction. Strategic choices made by local decision makers both before and after an event determine the success of both the immediate and long-term recovery processes. Communities effective as local decision makers increased and also their ability to act, reason to act, and knowledge of what to do. These  ¬Ã‚ ndings highlight the importance of training local government of ¬Ã‚ cials to cope with CBO needs in the disaster recovery phase has increased. After this flood in Mumbai CBO leaders and local government of ¬Ã‚ cials take steps before and after such event to enhance the likelihood of achieving successful recovery and reconstruction outcomes analysis. 1. Develop a recovery plan based on the strengths and weaknesses of your particular CBO. Local of ¬Ã‚ cials are proactive in areas prone to such floods and developing a disaster recovery plans that incorporate speci ¬Ã‚ c information about the strengths and weaknesses of the area. Although emergency response plans are mandated in most jurisdictions, strategic choices in the recovery phase are often made without prior planning. The recovery plan should incorporate with anticipation and re-silience . Anticipation attempts to avoid hypothesized hazards before the fact (planning); resilience is concerned with dealing with events after they have occurred (learning). The recovery plan should be both realistic and  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exible. 2. Utilize preexisting areas organizations in the recovery process whenever possible. In the recovery model, there are numerous local organizational and citizen capabilities that can be integrated into the recovery process. For instance, horizontal integration can involve organizational collaboration between CBO-based groups and local government. Furthermore, the experience documented by the limited research on disaster recovery shows that vertical integration can be more effective at meeting local needs when activities that strengthen horizontal integration before and during recovery are present. Local government need to know how to use the potentially relevant organizations and policy tools. 3. Designate a focal organization or create a recovery response team with representatives of the multiple organizations that will play a leadership role during the recovery process. It is difficult to convince local governments to place a high priority on planning for low-probability of flood. Emergent recovery networks operate more effectively if they are managed by a central actor. The focal organization or the recovery team should not attempt to control resources or centralize decision making. Rather, their role will be to facilitate information processing for the other stakeholders in the process. 4. Develop and maintain intergovernmental relationships. Successful recovery depends on the timely provision of resources from the state and cental governments. In large-scale disasters, a relatively large number of countries and cities are often competing for the aid and the attention of the same group of relief administrators. The ability to obtain the necessary resources without serious delays depends on the extent to which local of ¬Ã‚ cials understand the intergovernmental relationships in which the CBO is embedded. Nearly all emergency preparedness plans and programmes prepared by various levels of governments have preexisting relationships with state and central agencies. These relationships will be the starting point for developing intergovernmental partnerships in times of emergency. 5. Learn from other parts of country experiences. Although 26th July 2005 Mumbai flood was unique, there are lessons that can be learned by examining the successes and failures of other parts of country that have been visited by same type of emergency. Local government officials should develop relationships with their counterparts in communities that have been through disasters to share information about the recovery process. Lesson learned Unplanned urbanization should be stopped immediately especially when ecological balancing element mangroves are destructed. Improving inadequate capacity of existing drainage system by new drainage designs and ensuring there will be no possibility of drainage congestion. Traffic situation should also need modification. RTO should be

Nursing Reflective Essay Mentorship

Nursing Reflective Essay Mentorship According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2006) the term mentor is used to denote the role of a registered nurse who facilitates learning and supervises and assesses students in the practice place. They furthermore identify the eight mandatory standards that must be achieved to become a mentor, and within the assignment I shall be referring to the Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice; NMC standards for mentors, practice teachers and teachers, and identifying the standards for mentors required (SM). This assignment will first look at the personal and professional reasons why I wanted to undertake the mentorship module. It will also discuss the importance of a supportive learning environment in the workplace, and how essential it is. My role as a mentor to a nursing student will be evaluated, looking at the way in which I supported her on the ward and how I facilitated this. In conclusion, I will identify my own personal development in undertaking and completing this module. As a registered nurse on a busy Paediatric ward I always enjoy supporting student nurses whilst they are on placement with us. There is an apparent shortage of qualified mentors on the ward, and within my last personal development review with my line manager I identified a need to attain the mentorship qualification. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2004) states, that as a registered nurse, you must keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date throughout your working life. You also have a duty to facilitate nursing students and others to develop their competence. According to Hand (2006), teaching is seen as an important part of the health professionals role, and at some point in their career, members of most healthcare professions are expected to teach other staff, students, patients and relatives. Therefore, the standard of teachers and mentors available in the practice place will have a major impact on the quality of future practitioners, consequently making an improvement in patient care. Most students and many professionals note that learning acquired from placement experience is much more meaningful and relevant than that acquired in the lecture room (Quinn 2000). To ensure any learner has a positive learning experience it is essential that the learning environment is practically, professionally, and psychologically supportive to all who work and learn within it. Clarke et al. (2003) notes that current nurse education puts a high value on learning in the clinical environment and this places numerous demands on clinical areas and staff. The quality of these clinical placements has a significant influence on the learning process for nursing students. The ward on which I work aims to foster a good all-round learning experience to students on placement as we are fortunate to be a well resourced ward with many experienced staff. Although we are an extremely busy ward, students are positively received and supported well, the majority wishing to work with us once qualified. On commencement of the mentorship module it was found that there were no students or learners available to me initially so the time span for my period of mentoring for the purpose of the assignment was limited to just one month. I was however, able to identify my own clinical mentor on the ward, and after analysis of my own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) I decided on my short and long term goals and set a learning contract with my mentor in readiness for the allocation of a student. Jasper (2003) regards SWOT analysis as getting to know yourself. The understanding of our skills and abilities and the awareness of where our limits lie is seen as crucial to being able to act as a professional practitioner. I was finally allocated a first year child branch student, and was informed by the matron that this would be her first clinical placement. It was important to know where she was in her training for me to plan adequately when supporting her on the ward. A frequently used taxonomy in nurse education is the framework by Benner (2001) in which there are five levels; novice, beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. Benner (2001) suggests that nurses may be at different levels in different areas dependent on their previous experiences. It was unfortunate that I was not able to work with her on her first shift as I was finishing the nightshift as she was starting with the dayshift. I did however welcome her to the ward and orientated her to it, ensuring she knew who she would be working with on her first ever clinical shift. Davidson (2005) notes that students can be made to feel welcome by someone simply knowing their name and being expected. He also notes that a physical tour is a good start. This allows for brief introductions to other staff that the student will be working with. On this initial meeting I also gave her the wards student nurse orientation/resource pack. This provided her with basic information about the ward and the different teams and staff within it, this was to provide a good introduction into the environment that she would be learning in during her placement. Two days after she began, we had our first clinical shift together. I was pleased to hear that she had found other members of staff supportive during her first two days on the ward. Cahill (1996) acknowledges that the single most crucial factor in creating a positive learning environment is the relationship between staff and nursing students. She also notes that a common problem for students is that they are unable to work regularly with their mentor, so I took this opportunity to discuss and plan her off-duty taking into account any requests she had. Kenworthy and Nicklin (2000) remark that the more comfortable and safe a student feels within the environment, the more likely it is that effective learning will take place and the student will become motivated to learn. I was also able to discuss the learning pack which I had previously given her and she acknowledged that it appeared to be very informative. Morton-Cooper and Palmer (2000) state that although, in practice the mentor act s as a learning resource, it is necessary for the student to become self directed in the development of their learning needs. An important part of her placement was to establish a learning contract with myself as her clinical mentor. A learning contract is a document used to assist in the planning of a learning project. It is a written agreement negotiated between the learner and the mentor in which learning needs are identified (Lowry 1997). In order to do this successfully we needed to identify her learning objectives which included the learning outcomes of the modules to be assessed in practice. As this was her first attempt to set a learning contract it was important for me to support her through the process. Twentyman et al (2006) discuss assisted learning where the mentor asks the student to identify their goals and aim to secure learning opportunities that support the achievement. Jackson and Mannix (2001) note that amount of interest the nurse shows in the learning needs of the student and the key role he or she plays in their achievement are essential to the students development. During the shifts that I worked with her we discussed her required learning outcomes and during one of our formal meetings we agreed her learning contract. Within this learning contract she had identified that she needed to develop her awareness in the safe use of medical equipment used on the ward and the principles regarding using these. Quinn (2000a) remarks that it is important to have knowledge of the students programme and the required outcomes in order to ensure effective learning. After discussion with her it was decided that a teaching session surrounding the safe use of blood glucose monitoring equipment would be of benefit to her, as it was a procedure that was often required on the ward. It would cover one of her learning outcomes, and I agreed to facilitate this. Wallace (2003) notes, that it is important to reduce the possibility of exposing student or patient to any risk, until the student has acquired sufficient skill and knowledge when carrying out a practical procedure. The importance of assessment by a mentor is therefore crucial to ensure students become proficient in practical skills. The commonly held principle that accountability comes from training and education, is evident within the student nurse role. According to Pennels (1997) if accountability comes with knowledge, students are rightfully protected from full accountability until trained. Although responsible for their actions their knowledge base may be inadequate to allow accountability. Therefore, professional accountability lies with the registered nurse that a student nurse works with. It was reassuring for me that she and I had quickly developed an effective working relationship in which I had confidence in her ability to always ask if she became unsure about a situation. She appeared to fully understand her role as a student nurse as identified in the NMC guide for students of nursing and midwifery (NMC 2006a). Before embarking on any programme of teaching it is important to recognise that there are different learning theories and styles to consider. Reece and Walker (2003) state that there is a great deal written about the way people learn and numerous theories on the methods to teach effectively or guide people in learning. They discuss that the main learning theories are Behaviourism, Cognitivism and Humanism. According to the Behaviourism theory (Skinner 1974), the learning environment is fundamental to learning, and if this environment is right, learning occurs as connections are made between stimulus and response, and response and reinforcement (cited by Quinn, 2000a). The Cognitive theory (Bruner 1966) considers learning as an internal process that involves higher order mental activities such as memory, thinking, problem-solving, perception and reasoning (cited by Hand, 2006). The Humanistic learning theory (Maslow 1968) is based on the belief that humans have two basic needs, a need for growth and a need for positive regard by others. It is seen as the most holistic approach as it takes into account the drive and motivation of an individual to learn. Reece and Walker (2003) suggest that this theory also depends on the overall influence of the environment which may hinder or aid the learning process. Honey and Mumford (1992) discuss four different learning styles, and whenever possible, it is important to allow the students own style to influence your choice of teaching method. They describe learners as activists, pragmatists, theorists or reflectors. They further note that although many people were a mixture they generally had a preference for one style. To ensure her learning experience on the ward was successful it was important for me as her mentor to be aware of her preferred learning style as clinical education is an essential part of the nursing curriculum. During the shifts that I had worked with her, and with discussion it was established that she preferred a more practical experience therefore she favoured a pragmatist approach to learning. I therefore incorporated her preferred learning style into my planned teaching session. To enable an effective teaching session to take place, I as the facilitator needed to select an appropriate environment which was safe, clean, private and comfortable. It was also important that my learner, clinical mentor and myself were guaranteed time free from interruptions. The SWOT analysis that I had completed had highlighted the difficulties on the ward often found when teaching sessions were cancelled due to staff being too busy to attend. I therefore negotiated in advance protected time for all parties for this facilitation of learning and assessment. Davison (2005) notes that mentors need to plan ahead as good preparation can ease the experience for all parties. Watson (1999) also states that if teaching opportunities for students are to be meaningful and productive, planning is an important part of the mentors role. Although I felt I had established a good relationship with her since she had been working with me, it was important for me as her mentor to be aware of learne r anxiety as discussed by Price (2005). Anxiety is seen as disabling and requires mentor support if progress is to be made when learning in practice. Good communication skills are paramount when mentoring students, and diplomacy and tact must be employed when students need extra help in challenging situations. It is also worth noting that as a mentor with good communication and practical skills facilitating a well planned teaching session, I still experienced some anxiety. Price (2005) notes this often happens when your practice is being held up as exemplary and your knowledge may be tested later. On reflection I felt the teaching session achieved all the objectives set, and she was able to demonstrate this to me in both verbal feedback and the self assessment sheet provided. I also received positive verbal and written feedback from my clinical mentor. McAllister et al (1997) suggest the intention of giving positive feedback is to aid the receiver when developing their clinical and interpersonal skills. Reflective practice in nursing has been encouraged since the 1980s (Jasper 2003). Johns (1995) describes the process of reflection as a tool we use to assess, understand and learn through our lived experiences. Jasper (2003) also acknowledges that reflective practice is seen as one of the ways we can learn from our experiences, and in education for healthcare professions it is recognised as an essential tool for assisting students to make the links between theory and practice. As an effective mentor it is important for me to understand the value of supporting her in critically reflecting upon her learning experiences in order that her future learning can be enhanced, and when working with her I have actively encouraged her to do so. In conclusion, through undertaking and completing this module, I have developed an advanced knowledge and critical awareness of mentorship in health care practice. I have been encouraged to look at my own practice, ensuring that it is evidence based at all times, thus enabling me to fully support students in applying evidence base to their own practice. Research into the learning environment has clearly shown the impact that it can have on student learning and I intend to ensure that the ward resources are kept up to date for all learners. The exploration of learning theories and styles within the module has allowed me to acquire valuable understanding of the philosophies and theories surrounding learning, teaching and assessing and when planning learning experiences for students I now feel more equipped to integrate theory into practice. It is also important that once becoming a qualified mentor I attend the regular updates provided by the university, as the role of a mentor will be seen as the gate keeper to the profession. This will in turn enable me to mentor students more effectively on the ward as the importance of the mentors role in assessing practice cannot be over-emphasised.