Cognitive Biases and Strategic Decision Processes Assignment

Cognitive Biases and Strategic Decision Processes - Assignment Example The actions did or applied to this mode require the compression of larger problems into smaller ones that can be managed easily. For example, A Bata Shoe sales manager will solve the problem of reduced sales by first vetting the branch supervisors and thereby motivating the salesmen etc. which are easier tasks to accomplish but will affect the end result. The avoidance mode, on the other hand, entails the outlining of the strategic decision-making process with the aim of impressing authority. The main aim is to maintain the status quo and avoid change. Basically, the avoidance mode applies the use of elaborate recognition of new problems that would render any new changes unnecessary. It is the finding of the problem that kills the change necessitating problem. For example, instead of a Walmart manager hiring more sales assistants, he will look at the existing staff and identify employees who are under-tasked so as to prevent the decision of hiring new workers. When the manager is solely focused on maintaining the status quo, they are more likely to be exposed to limited alternatives.  

Internet Sharing of Files, and HIPAA Regulations Research Paper

Internet Sharing of Files, and HIPAA Regulations - Research Paper Example Physicians  have a legal obligation to keep patient information, such as data contained in PACS confidential (Cao, Huang & Zhou, 2003). Legal issues and resolutions surrounding internet sharing of files, HIPAA, and PACS revolve around safeguarding data Privacy and Security. Healthcare institutions bear an obligation of taking appropriate measures to guarantee that patient information is availed to persons who have a professional need. Some of the issues essential to adhering to HIPAA requirements include restricting access, tracking access, protecting data security, confidentiality, and integrity and sustaining data chain-of-control (Lyer, Levin & Shea, 2006). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) standards for privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information avail a comprehensive federal protection for the confidentiality of health information. The Privacy Rule  pursues strong privacy protections that do not interfere with patient’s access to heal thcare. The Act gives patients more control over their health information, outlines boundaries on the application and release of healthcare records, and avails appropriate safeguards that health care providers must attain so as to safeguard the privacy of health information (McWay, 2010). The bedrock of HIPAA Privacy Rule is the protection, use, and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI). Under HIPAA, patients have an enhanced awareness of their health information privacy rights. The Security Rule outlines means of protecting patient information  on computer networks, over the internet, disks and other storage media, and extranets. The safeguards pursue protection against dangers for breaches of confidentiality. The Security Rule mandates medical facilities to implement audit controls, so as to record and vet staff  accessing information systems containing PHI (Lyer, Levin & Shea, 2006).

Student Success Essay Example for Free

Student Success Essay Student Success: Motivating School Students through Personal Development A very good morning, to everyone who are present here. Im Kanishka, I’m here by to present a topic about Student Success: Motivating School Students through Personal Development. First of all, I would like to summaries the essential topics which I’m going to share with you related my today’s lecture. Synopsis:- 1. How do I motivate my class mate students to learn? 2. What is personal development? 3. Self-Awareness 4. Self-Concept 5. Self-Discipline 6. Personal development: Implications for teachers 7. Conclusion 1. â€Å"How do I motivate my class mate students to learn? It is the question mostly asked by everyone in the school level. The diversity of our student population in today’s schools makes motivating students more challenging than ever. Students come to school from cultural differences, cast differences, differing belief systems, and complex issues like poverty, substance abuse, and dysfunctional families. What is motivation? Motivation is what compels us to act. It is the energy that provides fuel for action. Motivation can be either 1. Extrinsic or 2. Intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation relies on effective incentives and providing direction or structure for achievement. Motivation comes from an expected external reward for a desired action or behavior. Intrinsic motivation occurs when students generate the motivation from within, discovering the satisfaction of achievement and taking joy in doing something for the sake of doing it. - Intrinsic motivation is a natural outcome of students actively working on their personal growth and development. Personal growth and development requires students to become self-aware through self-reflection. Students learn the skills associated with personal growth and development in the context of learning subject matter, making the subject matter more interesting. For example, our teacher’s might ask students to identify characteristics. So they share with the realistic hero or the heroine in the story. Every learning opportunity will becomes as an opportunity for their personal growth. 2. What is personal development? Personal development is the process of becoming who we aspire to be in our life. In the process of personal development, we learn the 1. skills, 2. knowledge, 3. Aptitudes necessary to live a fulfilling, 4. Satisfying, and happy life. Focusing on personal development is a focus on student success. Schools are traditionally focusing on personal development only. 3. Self-Awareness Personal growth and development requires students to become self-aware. It is a critical dimension of self-regulation and the ability of students to relate to others Through self-awareness, students discover and appreciate their strengths and uniqueness. They learn what is important to them and what they value most. They identify their beliefs and how those beliefs help or hinder their personal growth and success. They become aware of the authentic self and learn to harness the power of the mind. School students are fully aware of their differences. They mature at different rates both physically and intellectually with dramatic variations. This is the ideal age for students to begin to explore and appreciate how they think, feel, And act in a variety of situations. Researcher Mr. Reeve Stark told that, - â€Å"Learning and development progress optimally when there is an active participation from the student to take personal responsibility for his or her own learning and developing† 4. Self-Concept There is a direct tie to how students think, feel, and believe about themselves and motivation. It is the belief of the learner and his/her self-image (do I possess the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to learn?) that provide the degree of motivation to learn. Students self-evaluate and judge themselves, forming outcome expectancies of success or failure. If the evaluation is positive, the learner is motivated, viewing the task as a challenge and persevering in the face of adversity. If the evaluation is negative, the student becomes anxious and tends to avoid the task. â€Å"Internal perceptions, interpretations, and expectancies will primarily determine the motivation and performance in everyone’s life† A student’s self-concept plays a major role in the kind of help he seeks when faced with challenging work. Students with lower levels of self-esteem, in an effort to protect themselves from failure, chose less effective help strategies. - Students’ self-concept or self-worth is directly related to what they believe about themselves and the self-talk they employ. Through self-awareness students can identify their patterns of self-talk and change them to be more affirming. Positive self-talk fosters autonomy and self-responsibility while enhancing a student’s self-confidence and self-esteem. 5. Self-Discipline Self-discipline refers to self-regulation; the ability of students to set goals, delay gratification to attain a long-term goal, and develop coping skills to overcome setbacks. Research indicates that students connecting to possibilities – a positive vision for their future and their aspirations – is one of the greatest indicators of a student’s success in school. Researcher Mr. Reeve Stark told that, â€Å"It is the possible self idea that provides the plans and strategies for their future – that will put them in an action.† Helping students connect to a vision of their future provides them with the motivation to set and achieve goals. In the process of personal development, 1. students not only set external goals (I want to be a doctor and earn a large income), 2. They also set personal goals (I want to be compassionate and a good listener). 6. Personal development: Implication for teachers Modeling is one of the most effective methods of teaching. Teachers who openly share areas of their personal growth and development convey the importance they place upon it. Teachers who practice what they lecture validate that the practice is of value and useful for students. In contrast, when a teacher does not model the behavior she is trying to convey, students wonder why and are less motivated to participate or listening in class what the teacher is taught. 7. Conclusion Learning through the lens of personal development provides strong intrinsic motivation; the two are inextricably linked. Teachers need to make plain the objectives of personal development and pursue it directly with students to attach intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation becomes a natural outgrowth in the pursuit of personal growth and development. Adolescence is an ideal time to assist students in their struggle to find their identity. Through self-awareness students learn the techniques of self-appraisal and self-acceptance. They build their self-concept by identifying and minimizing disempowering beliefs and self-talk, affirming their unique qualities, and building upon their strengths. They connect to a positive vision of their future, gaining the self-discipline to pursue and attain their goals. Teachers and students are both learners in the process. With a focus on success, personal growth and development is enjoyable and satisfying, giving credence to education’s goal of developing life-long learners. To encourage intrinsic motivation (Self Developement), teachers can do the following: 1. Help students find meaning or real time examples what the topic or the lessons what they already taught to the students. 2. Design an open and positive environment. Focus is on growth and success, never on lack, weakness, or failure. 3. Ensure students are valued members of a learning community – everyone is valued for their own uniqueness. - I would heartily thankful to everyone who has spent their valuable time with me during my small lecture. - Thanks once again.

Is The Military Draft Ethical Politics Essay

Is The Military Draft Ethical Politics Essay For years, nations around the world have chosen to turn to drafting citizens for the military against their will in order to have an adequate number of soldiers for wars occurring at the time. We must question, Is this ethical? In this paper I will examine various sources and ethical theories from throughout history to decide whether or not the drafting of citizens to join the military is in fact ethical. I believe that, while exploring these sources, we will find that, from an ethical standpoint, military drafting is not a morally correct option. Examining the ethical standpoint of military drafting is quite important to our nation because, at the moment, there is debate going on about whether or not women should be drafted as well as men. This brings up an entirely new option to drafting. Throughout history, it has been the men who have gone off to fight while the women have stayed home to take care of things. Nowadays, women make up a large division of the military, which means that there is a greater number soldiers; thus eliminating much of the need to draft new soldiers. Without such a great need for soldiers, the people of the United States would not be forced to engage in practices or be part of a cause in which they dont believe. The consideration of the drafting of women has particular importance to me, because, as a woman, even though I love and value my country, I have no desire to join the armed forces. It is against everything for which I stand and in which I believe to kill another human being. Ethical egoism is the idea that if a person is not always being 100% selfish and looking out for his or her own personal benefit and gains, he or she should be. This idea suggests that we humans should not do anything that doesnt make us happy, give us pleasure or benefit us in the long run; if each of us is always looking out for our own benefit, then the world will be a better place because everyone will have that driving factor to make their goals happen and thus, everyone will work harder. All we truly have is ourselves, so if we give up what we want or need for the good of another, we are giving up on the one person who matters to us and we are losing ourselves in the process. The theory of Ethical Egoism would say that, if joining the military is something that will benefit you over the long run and which you genuinely love, then it can be a wise decision. The armed forces generally pay quite well and have good benefits, such as free tuition for school and career placement. These perks can be a blessing in many peoples lives, so, if you are one who thinks it would be a good use of your time and energy, then by all means, join the military and serve your country. However, if joining the military is not something that you would love to do, or if it is something which contradicts your moral beliefs, then it would not be a wise decision in the long run and you should not be forced into serving. Many people who have been drafted have suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the horror which they had to endure and for which they were not mentally or emotionally prepared. The theory of Utilitarianism states that an action is right or wrong in proportion to its ability to promote or destroy the overall happiness of everyone affected; thus it is morally correct to take action for the greater good, not simply for personal gain or the pleasures of one individual. There is also Non-hedonistic Utilitarianism which defines actions taken to be right or wrong in proportion to the amount of good which they promote in the world. This theory takes happiness and pleasure out of the equation and simply looks at what it will contribute to the world. Both of these theories look at the common interest and decide which actions to take based on the benefit of the body as a whole. According to Utilitarianistic ideals, if the drafting of civilians for the military will promote the common good, it is the right thing to do. This may mean that in time of war, if there is a need for more soldiers, drafting may be the key to keeping our nation safe from invaders or protecting soldiers in lands we are at odds with, thus being for the common good. However, it may not be for the greater happiness in the equation. Many Americans are at odds with the war which is happening now and would do anything to stop it. Do we include their happiness in the picture? What about the happiness of those whose country we have invaded? It is difficult to know whos happiness and well-being should be taken into account. In my opinion, military drafting is morally wrong. No one should be forced to join a service in which they are asked to perform act of violence against others. I know that, with the beliefs I hold about life and violence, if I were drafted, I would kill myself before I could force myself kill another human being. I love and value my country, but whether the person I was asked to kill was good or bad, I would not be able to go through with it. Studies have shown that, in past wars, even those men who were not drafted but had birth dates that made them eligible for the draft had a higher mortality rate than the group with birth dates that exempted them: Suicide was increased by 13%, death from motor-vehicle accidents by 8%, and total mortality by 4%. I believe that this clearly proves that those who do not enter the service voluntarily are not mentally or emotionally prepared enough to handle what occurs on the battlefield, therefore, having them there puts them and their comrades at g reater risk. Draftees also do not make as much money as enlistees. Though both are putting their life at risk for the same cause, one is scrutinized against while the other is rewarded and praised. This segregation no doubt is demoralizing to the draftees because they feel as if they are under-valued compared to the other soldiers, this creates resentment and misunderstanding in a field where they need to remain united as a body. I believe that George Washington would disagree with me on this topic. He felt that every man should fight for the freedom of our country and that if they were to enjoy the privileges that others were willing to fight for, they should step up and fight for freedom. He believed in honor and putting the greater good ahead of ones own comforts. His troops lived in the cold for months with no decent food, clothes, or housing and yet they stuck to the mission until the end no matter the consequences. In conclusion, I believe that there is great honor in fighting for a common goal and working to protect the safety and happiness of all, but that in order to truly give your best and keep the safety of those around you, you must be committed to what you are doing and have a personal drive. Sense of personal duty is such a big part of what keeps the men and women in our military level-headed, safe, and determined. If one is forced to join, he or she may not have this drive and can endanger those around them, which is why, after careful research and consideration, I feel that having a military draft is morally wrong.

Americas Involvement in the Vietnam War Essay -- Vietnam War American

America's Involvement in the Vietnam War Vietnam is a time in American history that most of us would like to forget, but really, we must learn from it. Vietnam is a time where we didn't look at the whole picture, it was 'perceived through the lens of Cold War politics.' (MP:420) With the new ?domino theory,? Americans feared for their safety and the safety of the 'free world.' If they didn't step in, they would inevitably lose the world to communism. Many Americans believed our involvement in Vietnam began around 1965?the beginning of combat with American boys. In reality, engagement began much earlier, around 1945. The US supported France and rejected to recognize the Vietnamese nationalists as an actually body. The leader of the Vietnamese nationalists was Ho Chi Mihn and he was known as a communist. Our reasons for supporting France, more or less, reflected our foreign policy: containment. Post-WWII, our main focus was to contain Communism, as seen through the Truman. Doctrine. ?Truman and his advisors, who saw Communism as a monolithic force, assumed wrongly that Ho took orders from Moscow.? (AP:897) Because they believed that Ho had a connection with Communist Russia, the US wanted to support the more democratic side. American showed its support in aiding over 3/4 of the cost of France?s war. In 1954, France?s fortress at Dien Bien Phu finally fell to Ho?s forces and France asked America to step in. An international conference in ...

Thomas Bateman: A Derbyshire Antiquary :: Medieval Archaeology Essays

Thomas Bateman: A Derbyshire Antiquary Thomas Bateman was born in 1821 at Rowsley, in the Derbyshire Peak District. His archaeological career, though relatively brief, is noteworthy both for its abundance, and the fact that his barrow-openings in Derbyshire and Staffordshire provide virtually the only evidence for the early Medieval archaeology of the Peak District and the elusive Peak Dwellers. Thomas's father, William Bateman, was an amateur antiquarian and pursued his pastime in accomplishing the excavation of a number of barrows on the family estate at Middleton. When William Bateman died in 1835 aged only 38, Thomas's upbringing and education were taken in hand by his grandfather. Thomas was educated at the non-conformist academy at Bootle, and from 1837 assisted in running the family estate, while in his spare time exploring the peakland, hunting, shooting, collecting flints and examining the many local ancient monuments. Bateman became a keen student of archaeology and read and was greatly influenced by Sir Richard Colt Hoare's seminal work Ancient Wiltshire. In 1841, Thomas reached his majority and set up his own house in Bakewell. He pursued an illicit affair with Mary Ann Mason, the wife of a boatman on the Cromford Canal, and for a some years they lived together as husband and wife, though they never married. Bateman's archaeological career began by observing the demolition of Bakewell's Medieval church. In 1843, he joined the newly formed British Archaeological Association, set up as a reaction to the influence of the Society of Antiquaries. Bateman attended the Canterbury Archaeological Congress of 1844 with Mary Mason, passing her off as his wife. At about this time, Bateman built his own country house, Lomberdale, at Middleton, where he continued to live with Mary Mason. The house incorporated many of the architectural fragments rescued from Bakewell Church and Bateman set up a museum there to hold his growing archaeological and ethnographic collection. Barrow Digging 1845-1861 Bateman's career as a barrow digger began in the 1840's. While at the 1844 Canterbury Congress he, along with other delegates, excavated a number of barrows in the countryside around Canterbury. In 1845, Bateman excavated 38 barrows in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and was dubbed the Barrow Knight in a poem by fellow antiquarian Stephen Isaacson. In 1845 and 1846 Bateman toured the north of England with Mary Mason, and carried out excavations in York, where construction of the new railway was levelling a part of the city walls.

Case Study About Procter and Gamble Company Essay

Procter and Gamble Company Case Analysis This case study analysis focused on Procter and Gamble Company’s marketing plans and strategic options on its light-duty liquid brands (LDL). Procter & Gamble is the world’s largest producer of household and hygiene products. By 1981 P&G operated in 26 countries and sales totaled $11.4 billion with 90 consumer and industrial products manufactured in the United States. The case study provided some very detailed data analysis and reports in terms of the company history and background, organizational structure, key factors to its success in the marketplace, the relationship among advertising, sales, product development (PDD), manufacturing, and finance departments, and its light-duty liquid brands (LDL). Highlight of Company History, Organization, and Key Success Factors * In 1890, Procter & Gamble Company was incorporated with a capital stock value of $4,500,000. The capital allowed the company to build plans, buy new equipment, and develop new products. * Sales volume do ubles every 10 years. * Success factors are 1) dedicated and talented human resources, 2) a reputation for honesty and trust, 3) prudent and conservative management philosophy, 4) innovation in superior quality of products at competitive prices, and 5) substantial marketing expertise. * The company organized its products in terms of 8 categories: 1) package soap and detergent, 2) bar soup and household cleaning, 3) toilet goods, 4) paper products, 5) food products, 6) coffee, 7) Food Service and lodging products, and 8) special products. * Brand group planned, developed, and directed the total marketing effort for its brand through development of the annual marketing plan. * Brand group worked closely with other four lines. Sales department provided important perspective on consumer and trade promotion acceptance, stock requirement to support competitive pricing. * Product development department ensured continued improvement on brand’s quality through extensive consumer and laboratory tests. * Brand group worked with manufacturing department on detailed brand volume estimates. Their interaction was crucial to new product development process. * Based on the volume and marketing expenditure forecasts provided by the brand groups, financial/cost analyst developed and fed back brand profit and pricing analyses as well as profit and rate of return forecasts on new products and  promotion. Using the information, Mr. Chris Wright, associate advertising manager of the Packaged Soap and Detergent Division (PS&D) of the Procter & Gamble Co., was trying to determine how the division could increase volume of its light-duty liquid detergents (LDLs), capture more shares from the market, and increase long-term or short-term profit. The three options that Wright considered are new brand introduction, product improvement on an existing brand, and an increase in marketing expenditures on existing brands. Each option is analyzed as follows: New Brand Introduction: Pros: * P&G’s current LDL played a leading role in the market place. The success of its Dawn brand clearly indicated a likelihood of another new brand with a distinctive benefit could increase further P&G’s LDL Volume. * Wright saw new product potential in all three market segments (performance, mildness, and price brands) * For performance brand, market research indicated that 80% of U.S. households scour and scrub their dishes at least once a week. H-80 invented by new technology as a high-performance product which can fulfill a clear consumer need based on research. The 4-week blind in house use test of H-80 and established competitive LDL, was a strong indicator of its potential success. * For mildness segment, a new brand which differentiates its mildness benefit can help the declining segment recapture the consumers. * Although P&G’s’s price segment had been in decline, it was expected to stabilize at its current share level due to the increasing consumer sensitivity to price resulting from the depressed state of economy. * Wright considered the potential of producing a brand with parity performance benefits to existing price brand competition at a cost that allowed PS&D to maintain a good profit. Cons: * The new brand would require $20 million in capital investment to cover additional production capacity and bottle molds. * The new LDL brand also needs at least $60 million for first-year introductory marketing expenditures. * The introduction of new product would take about two years plus one year if test market was needed. So three years indicated that the profit return would be a long-term investment. Product Improvement on an  Existing Brand: Pros: * Unlike new opportunity, product improvement such as introduction of H-80 formula to one of the current LDL brands would require less investment. It would cost $20 million for the improvement and $10 million as incremental marking expenditures, which was $50 million less than a new brand. * On top of it, Joy brand could cut its cost of goods by $3 million per year if this new formula was introduced. The brand relaunch would cost $10 million in marketing expense with no capital investment. Cons: * Although there is a data supporting how H-80 formula would capture the market, there was lack of data of the introduction of H-80 formula to the existing current LDL brands. * If consumers have already established a certain image of Joy brand group, can the change of formula attract new consumers and retain the existing consumers? * The introduction of new product would take about one year plus two year if test market was needed. So three years indicated that the profit return would be a long-term investment. Increase Marketing Expenditures on Existing Brands Pros: * Since the market has been static with the LDL category, Wright might avoid increasing the capital investment and reduce investment risk. * Wright could expand the overall profits by capturing larger market shares using extra advertising and promotion techniques. Cons: * There was lack of data supporting the increase in marketing expenditures on existing brands could produce the desired market share increase. * For some segments such as price brands, increasing advertising and promotion would not increase sales and market share if the price didn’t decrement accordingly. This was especially true in the depressed state of economy. Recommendations: The recommendation was to go with the combined feature of having both long-term and short-term investment. Introduction of a new product such as  H-80 appeared to be a too costly investment. In such a depressed state of economy, it was not a smart decision to invest $80 million for the new product. Out of $80 million, $60 million was only used to cover the cost of the first year, not to mention incremental cost for the next few years. The product would require 3 years in order to be introduced to the market. Using the cost/benefit analysis, I think the first option of new brand introduction was too risky. We could combine option 2 (product improvement) as a long-term investment with the option 3 (increase marketing expenditure on existing brands) as the short-term investment. Combining these two options could increase the sales volume with very minimum capital investment. In return, it meant less risk for Procter & Gamble. The timeframe with one long-term investment and one short-t erm investment allowed Procter & Gamble the time, resources, and capital to focus on two endeavors strategizing more efficient plans to tackle the charging and competitive market. Especially the case also indicated that increased marketing expenditures could be approved almost immediately if the plan was financially attractive.