Wednesday, November 27, 2019

4 Ways to Increase your Hireability as a Medical Coder and Biller

4 Ways to Increase your Hireability as a Medical Coder and Biller In order to remain marketable as a medical coder and biller, you must keep your skills sharp and your head in the game. Here are 5 steps that will keep your resume at the top of any hiring pile: 1. Stay on top of industry newsDo your best to be an informed professional. Read everything you can get your hands on about industry trends and changes, subscribe to any available newsletters, and attend local gatherings of peers.  Doing so will lead you to the next tip:2. Network–and not just onlineWhile you should definitely play an an active role on online industry boards and keep in touch via social media, there’s no substitute for face-to-face meetings. The more people who know and respect your skills, the higher the chances someone will remember your face and name and recommend you when there’s a position up for grabs.3. Increase your earning potentialThe more experience you have, the more industry credentials you’re able to earn (such as RHIT, HRHIA, and C PC-P). Adding certifications to your resume means you’re more attractive to potential hiring managers and are available to take on higher ranking positions.4. Prioritize ICD-10Don’t get left behind come this October, when the U.S. transitions to the ICD-10 coding system. If you haven’t started learning the new system’s coding and billing, start now.Treat maintenance of your coding and billing skills and industry contacts as a major part of your job to leave no doubt in employers’ minds that you’ll be a dedicated and knowledgeable hire.5 Ways to Keep Your Medical Billing and Coding Career CurrentRead More at www.careerstep.com

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Tegan Hrad Write Up Essay Example

Tegan Hrad Write Up Essay Example Tegan Hrad Write Up Essay Tegan Hrad Write Up Essay Was outsourcing the A/P project the right move for Tegan given the other possible alternatives? Outsourcing has seemed to acquire a rise in popularity and usage in our modern times. Outsourcing involves entering into a contract in which an in-house company process, or processes, is ultimately handed over and dealt with from a third party’s perspective. I would have to say that there are three primary, helpful factors to outsourcing, especially when it comes to the world of business. To start off, the cost of operations can be trimmed down through outsourcing. This, in turn, would assist a corporation or business in accumulating more lucrativeness. Secondly, every organization out there has the intention of delivering top-of-the-line services and goods. Outsourcing can contribute to more efficient deliveries. Specifically concerning information technology or something that would be considered to be a bit more technical, outsourcing can bolster efficiency within that particular field of a technical nature. Thus, productivity would be improved through outsourcing. Thirdly and lastly, within a set interval of time, an establishment has the ability through outsourcing to complete projects promptly. This is due to the fact that while a third party is handling a certain progression of a certain company, that individual company can now use its human capital and employees – that may originally were going to have to deal with a peculiar development stage of a certain project which has now been outsourced – in other, more beneficial ways. More labor can be put into other areas. Yet, when concerning one’s self or a company’s self with such an area as information technology, outsourcing must be looked at with meticulous contemplation in order to guarantee the best possible outcome. Experts, on both sides of the aisle, the customer / purchaser and the outsourced business, must exhibit exemplary communication between the two of them. Both sides need to be participating constantly and engaged. Items will need to be analyzed on a constant basis. Participation and engagement will be critical again. With all of this in mind, I would have to say that the A/P project being outsourced, on the part of Tegan, was not a good move. They might have thought it was a good move, but it turned out not to be because the project bombed, especially in terms of the time interval in which it was supposed to be completed. Obviously, there were failures in regards to communication. Additionally, I think Tegan did not make available various pieces of crucial material that could have helped Hrad. Maybe if Hrad had possessed more intricate information or more information at a faster rate of speed, they could have optimized various systems and system functions by the intended due date. SECTION 2: What are the tradeoffs involved in having the requirements analysis for a project performed by one of the firms that would ultimately bid on the project? The main focus, concerning the requirements analysis for a project, is to figure out how a system specifically runs and how all the intricacies within that system work together. In the course of any requirements analysis process, tradeoffs must be pondered. Additionally, when an organization ultimately decides to pick that other outfit to perform whatever assignments need to be done, a thorough thought process will have to go in to that as well. A variety of tradeoffs happen based on many motives. Allow me to expand a bit. Leading off, I have to begin with cost. Cost is an essential, necessary component to undertake requirements analysis. Practically every business out there is attempting to lower costs when taking on any pursuit while simultaneously trying to extract returns at an utmost level. Therefore, if the requirements analysis method is too pricey to do it in-house, the more fitting and suitable approach would be for that business to outsource to another agency the particular tasks and jobs it wants done. I think ideally a firm or business group of sorts would love to use their own employees to complete tasks that the company needs to be fulfilled. Unfortunately, employees can be limited in their knowledge bases. Internally speaking, it may not be able to be done and then upper management may have to hire new people or possibly more people based on the size of the project or project duties. This ramification may not have been in the minds of senior management. Basically, can senior management hire specialized laborers or can they scoot on by without them? Cost definitely plays a role right here. What will be economical for the company? How long can companies consistently pay for specialized labor to work within their internal structures? What outsourcing options does a company have? Subsequently, constrictions and limitations regarding information technology are an integral part of the requirements analysis process. As a firm or company is mulling over the idea of outsourcing, the individual company needs to understand how technologically advanced the other agency is. What are the boundaries and controls of that other agency? Do they actually have a proficient team of technological professionals that will be able to deliver what they promise or will they get stuck on something somewhere in the middle of the project? That would not be good. Whenever a company out there, no matter how big or small it is, indicates to go with an outsourcing partnership, it always helps to uncover and verify the technical aptness of the agency that will be providing the commissioned package of goods and services. Thirdly, time is critical. The deliberation of time intervals and what needs to be finished within a certain time is vital when dealing with a requirements analysis. This is yet another tradeoff. Can we as a company, with everything that is already on our plate, complete projects x, y, and z on our own or do we need assistance getting such projects done in a more timely fashion? To top off this section, if time is the key element that will make or break a project or series of activities, the companies that are researching outsourcing firms and will eventually pick one needs to find one that is efficient in accomplishing the sought after goal of time management. It is always nice for a business to have a positive rapport with an outsourcing firm. It might loosen up any stresses and that outsourcing firm may win the bid. Yet, how friendly is too friendly? Maybe a friendship could be cause for a lax / careless atmosphere. SECTION 3: Given our journeys through the world of system development methods, discuss the choice of development methodology employed by Hrad Technika. I know in class thus far and in this current case (in certain spots), I learned about some different types of development methodology. From what I gathered, I believe the range of methodologies crosses the spectrum from agile methods and waterfall-type routines over to engineering, iterative, and joint access / design. One can even notice that within the Tegan C. C. C. document, the waterfall model is mentioned in the middle of page four. Furthermore, within the Hrad Technika document, on its page four, it used such keywords as iteratively on the top of that page and then jointly and joint meeting in the middle of that page. I found it fascinating to go back through my notes and sort of match up some of these buzz words in the context of these two cases as I read through them. I got to see some of these methodologies referenced, shining a bit more light upon them. Concerning Hrad Technika and what they employed, I would have to say the methodology that was exhibited was one of Joint Access and Joint Design. Moreover, I would say the waterfall methodology popped up too. Within the first kind of methodology (joint methodology), the creators (the outsourced firm, Hrad) remain in contact with the customer (Tegan) concerning choices about what characteristics need to be assimilated into the layout of the current system in place. It is also helpful if the customer (Tegan) has some know-how in regards to all the various pieces and cogs that should be built in and encompassed within the system. What the new system is going to be should be a clear picture within the customer’s mind. That notion will aid and benefit the minds and thinking processes of the designers, also known as the outsourced firm. The outsourced organization would then develop, foster, and nurture such demanded aspects and components into the system. Anything and everything that would be integrated or expanded upon into the system should adhere to strict compliance. The outsourced company cannot put something into the system that is not agreed upon or simply will not fit into the system. In continuation, once the system has been finalized, the client gets to test it. Hopefully the client does test it and does not just start running with it immediately. The customer company needs to make sure they are getting the correct requirements they negotiated. Most likely testing will occur, and this is where both parties can record any inconsistencies and inefficiencies. If rectifications need to be made or functionality needs to be improved, this is where it happens. When jointly designing usages and purposes, both sides need to cooperate. It is only through this cooperation that a successful end result can be achieved. Tegan and Hrad need to be on the same page. After reading both cases, it was quite obvious that there were some alignment problems. Furthermore, within this joint methodology, it is obligatory that both sides have the same real time, working awareness and information for what the anticipated system is supposed to become (this also appeared to be problematic). There cannot be delays or miscues sending and receiving data and material. If there is a break down in any of the topics previously discussed, it will cause a failure within the development of the proposed, newer and better system. I do believe with the joint designing, both companies put forth what they considered to be an adequate amount of effort but through their supposed efforts, they jointly took a nose dive together. I truly believe each side wanted to help the other side, but they never accurately matched up with each other. It wasn’t meant to be. In addition to the joint access method, I also saw elements of the waterfall method illustrated by Hrad. However, with the project climate constantly changing, the waterfall method may not have been the best choice by Hrad. Probably a better choice by Hrad would have been something along the lines of an iterative method. The waterfall method can be quite linear and rigid. It does not allow for flexibility and scope adjustments. I think the term scope creep ended up hitting Hrad pretty hard there towards the end of both cases. With the waterfall method, it seemed to me like Hrad could not really go back to a previous phase. It seems like the waterfall method displayed by Hrad caused the project to overrun not only in regards to time but with cost too. SECTION 4: Why did Hrad Technika, the firm that performed the requirements analysis, have scope and requirements problems once the project commenced? Hrad Technika decided to implement a methodology that involved sharing. The sharing was intended to be mutual and on a consistent basis. Regrettably, barriers that revolved around steady interaction and dependable exchanges of information hindered a good amount of project requirements. Even though Hrad Technika performed the requirements analysis, many of the goals and ideas that were slotted to take place did not meet the standards that needed to be in place. Problems had arisen. First off, the analysis stage was not a success. Hrad had enormously depended upon their former understanding of the system. This understanding and knowledge had come about when they had actually contrived the requirement document. Through this, I can infer that most likely during the quality analysis phase, the project did not excel and outshine, as it was meant. It probably did not show promise and turned out to be a flop. Once again, over-confidence in relation to the system and supposed familiarity with the system contributed to the failings and deficiencies of the planning and devising committees of Hrad. As an end product of all of this, there ended up being a wide-ranging shortage of awareness. The customer (Tegan) and the outsourced firm (Hrad) were not on the same page at all when it came down to the requests and wishes for what wanted to be done with the A / P System. Secondly, the Low Level Design Documents come to mind. There seemed to be time lost or time not properly used concerning the LLDs. I do not think the company of Tegan embraced a correct development methodology. Moreover, I do not believe Tegan had enough adequate resources or enough expert-type employees. There are two great quotes on page three and then page four in the Hrad Technika case that back up the previous sentence. The first one was: â€Å"While at the initial meeting, there had been many people close to the A / P project, it unfolded that it was only the most vocal person at the meeting who understood the system: Julia Jones. † The second was: â€Å"As a short cut, Hrad decided that it would be impossible for Julia Jones (the expert) to review every [single] document, so they distilled what they knew onto a set of PowerPoint slides which they presented to Jones for her reaction. Additionally, the interruption of said time was intrinsic regarding the end date for the project. As a consequence of all these time issues, the managing team obviously wanted to take precautions and preventative measures to try to condense the time of culmination for the project. However, in a way, this over eagerness to remedy time management difficulties headed towards some other errors t hat inadvertently held up the typical and customary functioning of the system. Overall, another methodology should have been used. I think the system failure was due to the methodology that got picked. There should have been another course of action where Tegan did not have such a principal role. If that had been the case, maybe Hrad could have improved the performance of the system. SECTION 5: The Case Writers state: Sadly, Smith knew that â€Å"Leadership† and â€Å"Commitment†, the paucity of which was blamed for untold IT failures were not the problems here. Critique- do you agree? What do  you  see as the most important IT management failures here? It is quite evident that there was a deficiency in the commitment and leadership categories from both sides, Tegan and Hrad. This paucity, as it is called, caused several complications throughout the execution of the A / P project. Thus, I do not agree with the quotation above. I think leadership and commitment were some of the major problems and contributed greatly to the unsuccessful nature of the project. I mean, Tegan did not exactly express an overwhelming dedication to the project due to the fact that it never truly released a sufficient amount of knowledgeable staff to help accelerate the LLD reviews. In response to all of this, Hrad was pretty accommodating and compliant to the seemingly inflexible ways of Tegan. The mannerisms of Tegan displayed an attitude as if they did not care if the project was a success or not. Furthermore, Tegan was adamant about having a fixed-price contract. This was all regardless of over-flowing costs and even the enthusiasm and cooperation of Hrad to pay for some of the additional costs. This right here is sort of exemplifying in a way that Tegan really did not want to go the distance with this project. I feel as if Tegan just wanted to pay someone swiftly and have the outsourced company get it done swiftly too. Moreover, another conceivable drawback that could have endangered and threatened the project was employing the exact same company that also performed the requirements analysis. Concerning one final thought and going back real quick to the fixed-price contract, the usage of this kind of contract forced a sizeable test upon Hrad in tackling the new transformations of the execution of the project. The system had some very complex pieces to it that were not initially recognized. SECTION 6: Which of the options for moving forward that Tegan identified would you recommend? I would have to state that the project at hand was an immediate failure. Many conditions and obligations were not met. It is also obvious that more time and more money will be necessary to guarantee that at some point the project will be officially completed. Two primary reasons for the shortcomings of this project, yet again, included the sluggish rotational speed in regards to the LLDs and how fast they could send them back and forth to one another accompanied with appropriate feedback and secondly, the consciousness that suddenly came about in regards to the fact that other and new elements needed to be incorporated into the system of which had not been delineated within the requirements analysis. Out of the four possible choices on page five of the Tegan document, I would go with a mix of one and three. Tegan should â€Å"stick with Hrad†, and they should also continue to â€Å"devote resources to ideally fix, or at least patch the existing system. † The fundamental recommendation, as I see it, would be to expand the timeline rather than to considerably shrink the project’s functionality. I think Hrad is starting to see the complexities, they just need more time. An entirely new outsourced firm, I think, would be bad. A new firm might not even see what Hrad is recognizing right now for an even longer period of time, which could possibly produce what would seem like an eternal drag of resources and money. I think this recommendation would be the best. I think it would be advantageous to Tegan and Hrad logically speaking because eventually the deliverables would be met, they would specifically be met by Hrad, and maybe some sort of relationship restoration could be had.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Econometrics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Econometrics - Essay Example Moreover, private sector workers under unions, earn 1.8599 dollars more, due to their access collective bargaining power. In a nutshell, a unionized private worker will earn 2.2951 dollars higher than workers in other sectors. The model estimated above was less fit as the included variables explained only 2.96%, (and 2.55% when adjusted for degrees of freedom), of all changes occurring to earnings(R-squared = 0.0296). To improve the fitness, the interaction of union with gender (female) was included in the model The extended model shows that, in general female workers earn 5.6292 dollars less than their male counterparts. However, female workers with collective bargaining power (joined unions), earn 1.5519 more. In a nutshell it can be concluded that a female worker in the private sector and having access to collective bargaining power will earn 1.0179 (0.6547*1- 0.6195*1 -0.5692*1 +1.5519*1) more than their male counterparts in other

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Tsunami Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tsunami Analysis - Essay Example The process of research is the backbone to the preparation of any piece of academic writing. Research involves the processes of acknowledging sources, avoiding plagiarism, in-text referencing and preparation of references. According to an article from the University of Canberra, many students write their academic papers based on the ideas of other writers or authors. As a result, it is proper for these students to acknowledge sources since it gives credibility to the source or piece of writing being prepared. The acknowledgement of sources helps in supporting research conducted by the student or researcher. The article further clarifies that acknowledgement of sources gives authority to a piece of writing while at the same time it helps in avoiding plagiarism. Plagiarism is a crime that many students usually commit knowingly and unknowingly which can be avoided by properly acknowledging sources (Harbord, 2007). Finally the article gives examples of pieces of writing that could be con sidered as academic. Academic writing assignments include dissertations, literature reviews and annotated bibliographies which are commonly written by students. Dissertations can be short or long pieces of writing while literature reviews is a piece of writing that gives an overview of a research question or issue. Annotated bibliographies are also used in summarizing sources listed in the reference list and they are effective is shading light into the general idea expressed by the writer (Harbord, 2007). Different academic writing styles make use of citation styles such as APA, MLA and Harvard in acknowledging the sources from different authors. Generally, the article was important in giving... The paper tells that Asian Tsunami of the year 2004 did not spear the environment since several coastlands where the coastlines were redrawn leading to change in coastlines. For instance, the Andaman and Nicobar islands were severely destroyed by the Asian tsunami. Sea creatures were not speared in the aftermath of the tsunami as many sea animals were killed especially around the epicentre of the undersea earthquake. Once the ocean moved a lot of damage and catastrophe were noticed within a short period of time. The devastation led was noticed by the International community and many countries came along to the aid of the affected countries and people. Australia was one of the countries that came to the aid of the affected regions and people in the Asian region. Several Australian tourists who were holidaying in the region were evacuated with the help of the Australian governments. The tsunami was massive and it reached the coast of Australia but it did not cause a lot of damage. Aust ralia, the United States of America and several European countries mopped up funds and personnel aid to the Asian countries hit by the tsunami. Many people were displaced by the tsunami and they were in dire need of help thus help was extended to them. Most of these internally displaced people (IDP’s) lacked food, shelter, water and health services hence international community in conjunction with aid agencies such as the Red Cross and Medicine San Frontiers.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Ethical Philosophies of Machiavelli and Subramanian Essay Example for Free

Ethical Philosophies of Machiavelli and Subramanian Essay One of the greatest comparisons of all time is to contrast Niccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† with V. K. Subramanian’s â€Å"The Chanakya: Kautilya. † Critically, a look can be taken into several different elements of each author’s work to best compare and contrast them. To that end, a look will be taken at the political, social, and ethical philosophies of Machiavelli and Subramanian to determine how they differ and in which ways the philosophies are similar. Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince† in the early 1500’s as a way of adding his insight from what he had seen of politics and hereditary principality—even though â€Å"it was plagiarized during Machiavelli’s lifetime†¦[and] was never published by him†¦[making] the text [itself as] still disputable† (Machiavelli 11). While current versions of â€Å"The Prince† are attributed to him, this fact of plagiarism and publishing fraud make the work even more intriguing, given the subject matter itself. Of the work itself, Machiavelli said that â€Å"I pour myself out as fully as I can in meditation on the subject, discussing what a principality is, what kinds there are, how they can be acquired, how they can be kept, why they are lost; and if any of the fancies ever pleased you, this ought not to displease you; and to a prince, especially to a new one, it should be welcome† (Machiavelli 11). Machiavelli dedicated the work itself to Lorenzo de’ Medici, even after he was put to torture by the family for treachery. Machiavelli’s methods are one of unique significance as he is writing, having been there, in the thick of things. Essentially, â€Å"The Prince† is meant as a guidebook on how to rule in all princely matters for Lorenzo de’ Medici. Machiavelli wrote about how hereditary principalities worked, how to keep that inheritance, and even how a prince could gain a new principality, and how a prince should rule his people and act, as a prince, and politically. While Machiavelli essentially confined his writings to obtaining fortune, keeping and obtaining power, and virtue as a leader, a look can be taken into his writings to discover the philosophies beneath his ideas. In comparison, V. K. Subramanian’s â€Å"The Chanakya: Kautilya† was published in 1980 about and are translated from are translated from three works known as the â€Å"Chankyasutras,† the â€Å"Chankyanitidarpan† and the â€Å"Arthshastra† and are based upon the time in history around 300 BC. The intro of Subramanian’s work notes that â€Å"Chanakya, also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta was the famous Indian Machiavelli who was responsible for the overthrow of the last ruler of the Nada Dynasty and the enthronement of Chandragupta Maurya†¦there is an interesting story about Chanakya’s first encounter with Chandragupta, which ultimately ended in their collaboration and capture of power† (Subramanian 1). Subramanian’s work, then, is a direct reflection of Machiavelli’s own. What makes them similar, however, despite the men within the tales, is the philosophies shared between the two. Machiavelli’s political philosophy is perhaps the easiest to pinpoint as the very purpose of his work revolved around the necessity of a prince to reign successfully. Machiavelli, actually, mainly focused on the political aspects of maintaining and gaining principalities. He notes that â€Å"let any one now consider with what little difficulty the king could have maintained his position in Italy had he observed the rules above laid down, and kept all his friends secure and protected; for although they were numerous they were both weak and timid, some afraid of the Church†¦and thus they would always have been forced to stand in with him, and by their means he could easily have made himself secure against those who remained powerful† (30). Machiavelli is urging his prince to take note of the past and understand that had the king protected his weaker neighbors, he would have not only gained them as allies—but also could have gained them as part of his reign. And, at all costs, he should protect his allies as he would protect his own lands. Politically, being a stronger power, he would have been made into the â€Å"leader,† who they would be indebted to and would follow with more loyalty than any money could purchase. And, to Machiavelli, the art of gaining allies and principalities, even de facto ones, was the art to be achieved. Even more so, Subramanian’s fourth maxim entitled â€Å"Advisors, Aides, Counselors, Ministers,† notes that â€Å"after equipping oneself fully, one should seek an ally (aide), one without an advisor has no certainty of counsel, one wheel does not move (the vehicle), the true aide serves alike in prosperity and adversity, a self respecting ruler should appoint as counselor, one who is inferior to him, and respects him†¦deflection to the enemy takes place due to negligence† (22-25). In this, Subramanian agrees wholeheartedly with Machiavelli’s statements. To be a successful ruler, allies must be taken and protected, first and foremost, before true rule can begin. The reason being, that with allies, a force become much stronger, incrementally, with each ally added. Furthermore, each ally must be protected and cared for to ensure their cooperation—but with that cooperation comes an extended kingdom. Indeed, Machiavelli’s social philosophy can be found within his writings on obtaining fortune. Machiavelli writes that â€Å"principalities are either hereditary, in which the family has been long established; or they are new†¦. such dominions thus acquired are either accustomed to live under a prince, or to live in freedom; and are acquired either by the arms of the prince himself, or of others, or else by fortune or by ability† (21). Machiavelli is commenting, simply, that the way in which a prince gains land is two-fold: either he inherits it or he fights for it. The manner in which the prince gains and obtains his land, however, is what makes the prince either beloved by his people or hated. For Machiavelli, gaining the most principalities possible by virtuous means was the ideal result. And, as he instructed his prince, it was best to be good, socially, if any hopes of maintaining that principality are held. In fact, Machiavelli comments that, for example, â€Å"Louis the Twelfth, King of France, quickly occupied Milan, and as quickly lost it; and to turn him out the first time it only needed Lodovico’s own forces; because those who had opened the gates to him, finding themselves deceived in their hopes of future benefit, would not endure the ill-treatment of the new prince† (23). Moreover, â€Å"it is very true that, after acquiring rebellious provinces a second time, they are not so lightly lost afterwards, because the prince, with little reluctance, takes the opportunity of the rebellion to punish the delinquents, to clear out the suspects, and to strengthen himself in the weakest places† (24). Thus, not only is it important for a prince to be clear in his occupation in a land, to become most beloved, he must first get rid of the troublemakers—thus leaving the peaceable, and willing to be occupied. If a prince does not take this step, he is left in hostile territory with people willing to stage an overthrow. On contrast, Subramanian writes out a few of the maxims of Chanakya, citing that â€Å"economic prosperity creates prosperity for the people, if the people are prosperous, even a leaderless state can be governed, people’s fury is the greatest of furies†¦[and] to be without a master is better than having an arrogant master† (22). In this, the two authors cannot be more different from the other. Machiavelli believes that the first step of any prince should be to take a firm grasp upon his principalities, to conquer new ones, and to rout the dissenters by force before they can rally for an overthrow. Machiavelli believes that by getting rid of the rebellious people before they can act, a leader can sustain and mark his position within his land, taking charge before the people even really know that it has happened. Then, once all the rebellion has been stamped out, a leader can begin to make his land prosperous. However, Subramanian cites a very different kind of social philosophy, making note that a leader might as well not exist if he intends to be a tyrant to the people, that a people have more respect for a man intent on prosperity, first, and rebellion last. Because, in an attempt to rout the dissenters, a leader would make a dent on the value the people hold for him—and thus their fury would remain. To really be a true leader and be beloved by his land, a leader must intend on affluence and prosperity as his bottom line. Finally, Machiavelli’s ethical and moral philosophy requires the most interpretation to highlight significantly. As Machiavelli writes about virtue in a leader, instructing a prince on how to act and behave, an ethical philosophy is formed. On contrast, Subramanian’s ethical philosophy stems from his ethical roots maxim that states â€Å"righteousness is the root of happiness, wealth is the root of righteousness, the state of the root is wealth, victory over senses is the root of the state, humility is the root of sense control, worship of elders is the root of humility, wisdom results from the worship of elders, with wisdom one can prosper, the prosperous one becomes the victorious one†¦[and] the victorious one obtains all the riches† (21-22). Despite it’s cryptic fortune-cookie nature, Subramanian’s writings do indeed have a fine message on ethical philosophy, here. In explicating the words, Subramanian is saying that to be a good leader, on must first be righteous, but to be righteous, one must first have wealth, to have wealth, one must first have victory, to have victory, one must first have humility, to have humility, one must listen to their elders to obtain wisdom, and with that wisdom a leader can prosper and be victorious in all they seek to achieve. The value here, is that Subramanian notes the significance of wisdom in all things. Without wisdom and following and heeding the elders who have come before, a leader stands no chance of being successful. Morally, a leader is obligated to his people to be triumphant so that the land can prosper, but without wisdom, a leader is nothing to his people but a tyrant. Subramanian says what Machiavelli does not. To Machiavelli, leading a people, by first disposing of the bad ones, is the best way for a prince to prosper in his lands. While he encourages his prince to be sound and wise, he first sends out the encouragement that the prince must always guard his assets, for fear of being overthrown or taken down by a greater force. To Machiavelli, obtaining land and prospering was, essentially, about war. To win that war, a prince had to be wise, and indeed, listen to his elders as well, but not in the ethical sense. Machiavelli meant for the prince to watch out for himself, first and foremost, and then, once the land became prosperous, Machiavelli encouraged the prince to be good to his people so that they would love him and understand that they were prosperous because of him. To Machiavelli, the ethical philosophy came last, after conquering and protecting one’s principalities. Overall, one of the greatest comparisons of all time is to contrast Niccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† with V. K. Subramanian’s â€Å"The Chanakya: Kautilya. † Taking a look at several different elements of each author’s work critically revealed a great level of significance as to their philosophies on politics, socially, and even ethically. Politically, Machiavelli and Subramanian follow the same philosophy, which intends a leader to find and protect allies first and foremost. As to social philosophy, however, the two authors cannot be more different. Machiavelli intends his prince to take charge and stamp out rebellion, while Subramanian cites that prosperity and kindness should be shown towards the new land. And finally, ethically, the two authors also differ. Machiavelli is intent on a prince who focuses on war and conquering new lands, and in this way a leader can gain wisdom and insight—however, to Subramanian, wisdom only comes by following one’s elders. Morally, a leader is obligated to his people to be triumphant so that the land can prosper, but without wisdom, a leader is nothing to his people but a tyrant. Works Cited. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trns. W. K. Marriott. New York: Plain Label Books, 1910. Subramanian, V. K. Maxims of Chanakya: Kautilya. India: Abhinav Publications, 1980.

Friday, November 15, 2019

What Keeps Me From Writing Essay examples -- miscellaneous

What Keeps Me From Writing When I was a child I liked to write letters to my friends. I had a lot of pen-pals. Also, I had no problems with essays during my grade school years. I did not need much time to create an essay, or a journal, or something else for my writing class. The older I become, the more difficult it gets for me to write. Perhaps, I have more problems, needs, or other various things in my life that keep me from being able to focus on writing. Therefore, when I read â€Å"The Watcher at the Gates† by Gail Godwin, I saw myself there. In this essay, Godwin illustrates examples of many things that may be obstacles to some people to start writing. Also, she suggests several ways that may help people to overcome such a problem. Although I have different kind of excuses to not start writing, they all have the same meaning, purpose, and consequences as in Godwin’s essay: take me away from writing. There are some of my favorite excuses such as having no ideas to write about, other important things to do, and enough time before the deadline, that give me no good chance to begin writing. Still, I know that I must turn in my assignments on time, and this helps me to put aside these excuses. The first reason why I don’t sit down and write is that I don’t know what to write about. I just have nothing in my head to write about the particular topic. Often, I begin with a couple of sentences and stop because I don’t have good thoughts to continue. In these cases, begin to ...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

History of education Essay

Tamil Nadu is regarded to be one of India’s star performers in the sector of elementary education. The results of the 2001 Census show that Tamil Nadu has attained third position behind Kerala and Maharashtra both in terms of overall and female literacy. It recorded close to 100 per cent gross enrolment ratio (GER) at primary and upper primary levels based on 2007 estimates. A major legislative effort for the universalisation of education in line with the constitutional mandate has been the introduction of the Tamil Nadu Compulsory Education Act, 1994. Under this Act it is the duty of the government to provide the necessary infrastructure (schools and teachers) for ensuring universalisation of elementary education. Parents are also liable to be fined if they do not send their wards to school, though this rule is not very strictly enforced as most of the children not going to school come from poor backgrounds. Tamil Nadu’s high enrolment statistics are also the result of the number of welfare schemes that the State government has introduced in the elementary education sector. The large number of missionary and private schools are also playing a role in the spread of education. The government provides textbooks, uniforms and noon meals to the pupils making it a State where the per child spending is much higher than in educationally backward States such as Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and others and is higher than the all-India average. The State is making an endeavor to provide primary schools within a one km radius of human habitations with a population of 300 and above to increase their accessibility. It is also a State that has actually spent most of the funds allocated to it by the Centre under the SSA scheme, in contrast to States like UP, Bihar and Assam that have huge unspent amounts. Tamil Nadu students stood first in the country in mathematics, language and reading comprehension skills according to the national mid-term achievement survey of Class III children commissioned by the NCERT in collaboration with the MHRD and the SCERT and SSA wings of the States recently. But it has come to light that local bodies like corporations and municipalities are not fully utilizing money collected as education tax as a percentage of property tax under the Tamil Nadu Elementary Education Act and this is affecting the quality and quantity of formal education provision at the grassroots level. While the general literacy rate in Tamil Nadu as per 2001 data is 73. 5%, wide disparities exist across districts, gender, and area of residence as well as social grouping. The literacy rate of the SC and ST populations are consistently lower in all the districts. The retention rate within and after the primary school level is also not very impressive and there is a high percentage of repeaters. This is particularly so in the case of the STs and SCs. It is to overcome this discrepancy between education offered in different kinds of schools, between rural and urban schools and to overcome other numerous ills that have crept into the education system—such as arbitrary collection of fees, induction of daily waged, inadequately qualified para teachers, rote learning, examination stress, problems related to the medium of instruction and so on—that the State government constituted the Muthukumaran Committee, which submitted its report in 2007. This committee had the mandate to work out a framework of a uniform pattern of education in Tamil Nadu and to make recommendations for improving its quality. The report of the Committee recommends only one autonomous board, The Tamil Nadu State Secondary School Education Board, instead of the existing four State level boards—Matriculation, Anglo-Indian, Oriental and State Board. Schools coming under this integrated Board would follow a common syllabus ensuring an equitable school education in the State not conferring any undue advantages with regard to admission into higher educational institutions for students completing their school education from one particular Board. Equitable standard education is to be provided by a Common School or Neighbourhood School system, which with uniform syllabi would help to ‘decommercialise’ educational institutions and put an end to many a private management that does not feel sufficiently accountable to society in this crucial sector. The spiraling cost of education starting at the nursery level is cementing caste-class and rural-urban divisions. A common school system using the mother tongue as a medium of instruction would make equal education accessible to all without discrimination. A common school system also means a common examination pattern. The report of the Committee advocates a reasonable teacher-student ratio of not more than 1:30 and doing away with faulty textbooks and a system of rote learning. It emphasizes the promotion of analytical and rational skills that would equip the students to learn by themselves; a testing and evaluation pattern that involves the application of concepts learnt rather than mere reproduction of facts. The school syllabus should not overload students with information but instead kindle their interest in the subject and teach them how to search for more information and conceptualize it. Traditional knowledge should be incorporated and made part of school education. Evaluation should be comprehensive and not just of academic achievements, and that too only marks based. Evaluation should include an assessment of student abilities and performance in academics, the arts, sports and games, values, reading habits, character, conduct and other extra-curricular activities. Schools should not only lay emphasis on academic subjects but also on moral education. Here the Committee suggests that it may be better to have a progress book with entries made from time to time and also periodically sent to the parents so that they may be made aware of their child’s progress. Regular consultation with parents about their wards’ progress and achievements and educational goals is a must. A sheet of paper containing marks obtained in public exams is not enough to understand a student’s development and potential. If the marks obtained in only one exam are going to decide the person’s admission into an institute of higher learning then all stress is on preparing for this exam neglecting other exams and activities. The chance or temptation to indulge in malpractices is also high. Marks obtained in a one-time exam also are no accurate reflection of the student’s actual knowledge and achievement level and potential. Treating exams and marks as more important than life itself has meant the death of many a student. Finally, children belonging to linguistic minorities should be allowed to gain instruction in their respective mother tongue, while all students in standards 5 or 8 ought to have a specific level of knowledge in Tamil and English so that these languages can be used for communication. No student should be dropped and he/she should be allowed to grow in the chosen field of interest and in accordance with their individual capability. A simple pass or fail should certainly not be a deciding factor in a person’s life. While the government has accepted the notion of one board for school education other major recommendations of the Muthukumaran Committee on education reforms are being sidelined by the State government. In fact, some government run schools are changing the medium of instruction to English and not all schools teach Tamil, though this is compulsory as per current State education law. Moreover, schools with an eye on the results in board exams and aiming at future lucrative career possibilities for their students are introducing modern European languages like French (German is waiting to be introduced on a larger scale on the school level) that are supposedly high scoring subjects in comparison to Tamil, which is seen to be difficult even by those whose mother tongue it is. There is almost everywhere an exodus from government run schools to aided or private schools because of the perceived better quality and the lure of an English medium education, which is regarded by parents to be necessary in today’s world. It is to remain viable and not lose out in this competition for students that government run schools are increasingly offering English medium instruction also, although the English medium sections are permitted only on a self-financing basis. The non-acceptance of important recommendations by the Muthukumaran committee is thus in line with the general pro-globalisation trend in the Tamil Nadu economy as a whole. Current education system Why is India still a developing country and what is stopping it from being a developed country? India’s education system as a stumbling block towards its objectives of achieving inclusive growth. India is going to experience a paradox of nearly 90 million people joining the workforce but most of them will lack requiste skills and the mindset for productiveemployment according to a report in DNA. India has about 550 million people under the age of 25 years out of which only 11% are enrolled in tertiary institutions compared to the world average of 23%. . I will be focussing on how the education system’s failure is leading to another social issue of income inequality and hence, suggest certain policies to improve India’s education system and reduce inequality. Problems and drawbacks The really critical aspect of Indian public education system is its low quality. The actual quantity of schooling that children experience and the quality of teaching they receive are extremely insufficient ingovernment schools. A common feature in all government schools is the poor quality of education, with weak infrastructure and inadequate pedagogic attention. What the government is not realising right now is that education which is a source of human capital can create wide income inequalities. It will be surprising to see how income inequalities are created within the same group of educated peopleSo if the government does not improve education system particularly in rural areas the rich will become richer and the poor will get poorer. Hence, it is imperative for the government to correct the blemishes in India’s education system which will also be a step towards reducing income inequality. Another reason for poor quality of education is the poor quality of teachers in government schools . Government schools are unable to attract good quality teachers due to inadequate teaching facilities and low salaries. The government currently spends only 3% of its GDP on education which is inadequate and insufficient. To improve the quality of education , the government needs to spend more money from its coffers on education. Most economists feel that the only panacea to the ills of the public schooling system is the voucher scheme. Under the voucher system, parents are allowed to choose a school for their children and they get full or partial reimbursement for the expenses from the government. But however, the voucher system will further aggravate the problem of poor quality of education in government schools. Such a system will shift resources from government schools to private schools. This will worsen the situation of government schools which are already under-funded. Moreover, if the same amount given as vouchers can be used to build infrastructure in schools then the government can realize economies of scale. For example- The centre for civil society is providing vouchers worth Rs 4000 per annum to 308 girls. This means that the total amount of money given as vouchers is Rs 1232000. If the same amount can be used to construct a school and employ high quality teachers who are paid well then a larger section of the society will enjoy the benefit of education. A school can definitely accommodate a minimum of 1000 students. I hope government takes certain appropriate policy measures to improve the education system otherwise inequalities are going to be widespread and India’s basic capabilities will remain stunted. Let us strengthen the case for a stronger education system. Conclusion Certain policy measures need to be taken by the government. The basic thrust of government education spending today must surely be to ensure that all children have access to government schools and to raise the quality of education in those schools. One of the ways in which the problem of poor quality of education can be tackled is through common schooling. This essentially means sharing of resources between private and public schools. Shift system is one of the ways through which common schooling can be achieved. The private school can use the resources during the first half of the day and the government school can use it during the second half. It is important to remember that the quality of education is directly linked to the resources available and it is important for the government to improve resource allocation to bring about qualitative changes in the field of education. Common schooling is one of the ways in which government can use limited resources in an efficient way and thus improve resource allocation.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Quality management focuses attention on continuous improvement Essay

Th e work of W. Edwards Deming is a cornerstone of the quality movement in management. 27 His story began in 1951, when he was invited to Japan to explain quality control techniques that had been developed in the United States. â€Å"When Deming spoke,† we might say, â€Å"the Japanese listened. † Th e principles he taught the Japanese were straightforward, and they worked: Tally defects, analyze and trace them to the source, make corrections, and keep a record of what happens afterward. Deming’s approach to quality emphasizes constant innovation, use of statistical methods, and commitment to training in the fundamentals of quality assurance. One outgrowth of Deming’s work was the emergence of total quality management, or TQM. Th is process makes quality principles part of the organization’s strategic objectives, applying them to all aspects of operations and striving to meet customers’ needs by doing things right the fi rst time. Most TQM approaches begin with an insistence that the total quality commitment applies to everyone in an organization, from resource acquisition and supply chain management, through production and into the distribution of fi nished goods and services, and ultimately to customer relationship management. The search for and commitment to quality is now tied to the emphasis modern management gives to the notion of continuous improvement—always looking for new ways to improve on current performance. 29 Th e goal is that one can never be satisfi ed; something always can and should be improved upon. Evidence-based management seeks hard facts about what really works. Looking back on the historical foundations of management, one thing that stands out is criticism by today’s scholars of the scientifi c rigor of some historical cornerstones, among them Taylor’s scientifi c management approach and the Hawthorne studies. The worry is that we may be too quick in accepting as factual the results of studies that are based on weak or even shoddy empirical evidence. And if the studies are fl awed, perhaps more care needs to be exercised when trying to apply their insights to improve management practices. Th is problem isn’t limited to the distant past. 30 A book by Jim Collins, Good to Great, achieved great acclaim and best-seller status for its depiction of highly successful organizations. But Collins’s methods and fi ndings have since been criticized by researchers. 32 And after problems appeared at many fi rms previously considered by him to be â€Å"great,† he wrote a follow-up book called How the Mighty Fall. 33 Th e point here is not to discredit what keen observers of management practice like Collins and others report. But it is meant to make you cautious and a bit skeptical when it comes to separating fads from facts and conjecture from informed insight. Today’s management scholars are trying to move beyond generalized impressions of excellence to understand more empirically the characteristics of high-performance organizations—ones that consistently achieve highperformance results while also creating high quality-of-work-life environments for their employees. Following this line of thinking, Jeff rey Pfeff er and Robert Sutton make the case for evidence-based management, or EBM. Th is is the process of making management decisions on â€Å"hard facts†Ã¢â‚¬â€that is, about what really works—rather than on â€Å"dangerous half-truths†Ã¢â‚¬â€things that sound good but lack empirical substantiation. Using data from a sample of some 1,000 fi rms, for example, Pfeff er and a colleague found that fi rms using a mix of well selected human resource management practices had more sales and higher profi ts per employee than those that didn’t. 35 Th ose practices included employment security, selective hiring, self-managed teams, high wages based on performance merit, training and skill development, minimal status diff erences, and shared information. Examples of other EBM fi ndings include challenging goals accepted by an employee are likely to result in high performance, and that unstructured employment interviews are unlikely to result in the best person being hired to fi ll a vacant position. 36 Scholars pursue a variety of solid empirical studies using proven scientifi c methods in many areas of management research. Some carve out new and innovative territories, while others build upon and extend knowledge that has come down through the history of management thought. By staying abreast of such

Friday, November 8, 2019

Differences Between Mass, Spree and Serial Killers

Differences Between Mass, Spree and Serial Killers Multiple murderers are people who have killed more than one victim. Based on the patterns of their murders, multiple killers are classified into three basic categories- mass murderers, spree killers, and serial killers.  Rampage killers is a relatively new name given to both mass murderers and spree killers. Mass Murderers   A mass murderer kills four or more people at one location during one continuous period of time, whether it is done within a few minutes or over a period of days. Mass murderers usually commit murder at one location. Mass murders can be committed by a single individual or a group of people. Killers who murder several members of their family also fall into the mass murderer category. An example of a mass murderer would be Richard Speck. On  July 14, 1966, Speck systematically tortured, raped and killed eight student nurses from South Chicago Community Hospital. All of the murders were committed in a single night in the nurses south Chicago townhouse, which had been converted to a student dormitory. Terry Lynn Nichols is a mass murderer convicted of conspiring with Timothy McVeigh to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building  in Oklahoma City on  April 19, 1995. The bombing resulted in the deaths of 168 people, including children. Nichols was given a life sentence after the jury deadlocked on the death penalty. He then received 162 consecutive life terms on federal charges of murder. McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001, after being found guilty of detonating a bomb hidden in a truck parked in front of the building. Spree Killers Spree killers (sometimes referred to as rampage killers) murder two or more victims, but at more than one location. Although their murders occur in separate locations, their spree is considered a single event because there is no cooling-off period between the murders. Differentiating  between mass murderers, spree  killers, and serial killers is the source for ongoing debates among  criminologists. While many experts agree with the general description of a spree killer, the term is often dropped and mass or serial murder is used in its place. Robert Polin is an example of a spree killer. In October 1975 he killed one student and wounded five others at an Ottawa high school after earlier raping and stabbing a 17-year-old friend to death. Charles Starkweather  was a spree killer. Between December 1957 and January 1958, Starkweather, with his 14-year-old girlfriend by his side, killed 11 people in Nebraska and Wyoming. Starkweather was executed by  electrocution  17 months after his conviction. Serial Killers Serial killers murder three or more victims, but each victim is killed on separate occasions. Unlike mass murderers and spree killers, serial killers usually select their victims, have cooling-off periods between murders, and plan their crimes carefully. Some serial killers travel widely to find their victims, such as Ted Bundy, but others remain in the same general geographic area. Serial killers often demonstrate specific patterns that can be easily identified by police investigators. What motivates serial killers  remains a mystery; however, their behavior often fits into specific sub-types. In 1988, Ronald Holmes, a criminologist at the University of Louisville who specializes in the study of serial killers, identified four subtypes of serial killers. The Visionary - Usually psychotic, the visionary is compelled to murder because they hear voices or sees visions ordering them to kill certain kinds of people.Mission-Oriented - Targets a specific group of people who they believe are unworthy to live and without whom the world would be a better place.Hedonistic Killer - Kills for the thrill of it because they enjoy the act of killing and sometimes becomes sexually aroused during the act of murder.Power-Oriented - Kills to exert ultimate control over their victims. These murderers are not psychotic, but they are obsessed with capturing and controlling their victims and forcing them to obey their every command. According to a report issued by the F.B.I., there is no single identifiable cause or factor that leads to the development of a serial killer. Rather, there is a multitude of factors that contribute to their development. The most significant factor is the serial killer’s personal decision in choosing to pursue their crimes.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

5 Reasons You Just Had a Really Bad Interview

5 Reasons You Just Had a Really Bad Interview So you went in to interview for your dream job, and you didn’t get it. You probably had a bad interview. No big deal! Here are 5 things you might have done wrong, and how you can fix that next time around. 1. You Dressed for FailureIf you didn’t dress for success, you stacked the deck against yourself before you even started. Appearances do matter, particularly for job interviews and first impressions in general. Was your clothing loose, wrinkled, inappropriate, too casual, dirty, or stained? Next time consult a trusted friend, relative, or colleague to help you pick out an outfit that will help present you in a better light.2. Your Body Language is LackingIt’s possible you came across as nervous or standoffish or untrustworthy, just by biting your nails or looking in weird directions or crossing your arms. Next time, have that same trusted advisor talk you through a mock interview and take note of any suspect body language you might not know you’re using. Then fix it before the real deal.3. Your Tone is OffThe tone of what you say is almost as important as saying the right things. Were you too quiet? Too talkative? Too confident? Not confident enough? To make sure your delivery is as good as your material, mock interview with this in mind as well. And practice until you nail it.4. Your Pitch is  LackingDon’t ever forget that an interview is an opportunity to sell yourself. Don’t just show up and answer questions; come armed with every thing you can. A professional portfolio, a list of your accomplishments or awards†¦ or send a digital version before you even walk through the door. Remember, you’re the product. Make sure you make them see how much they want you.5. You Didn’t Do Your HomeworkThe research you do before an interview is crucial. If you didn’t figure out everything you possibly could about the company, the position, your interviewer- even the CEO- before you came in to interview, then you set yourself up for failure. Don’t let that happen next time!Remember: practice makes perfect. Drill yourself until you’re sure you’re not making any of these mistakes.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Theme and Narrative Elements in the Short Story Essay - 6

Theme and Narrative Elements in the Short Story - Essay Example of Phoenix illustrated her determination to attain her goals of medicine and paper windmill, which symbolized the frailty of the white mans gift of freedom. The plot and setting of A Worn Path depict the arduous journey of black slaves toward redemption from slavery. The exposition focuses on the character of Phoenix Jackson, who represents black slaves. The complication of the plot is the struggle of Phoenix against herself and her environment. First, she is already old, even too old for her journey, which she admits: â€Å"I the oldest people I ever know† (Welty, 1941, par. 25). She cannot even properly see where she is heading, yet she relies on her poor eyesight and memory to arrive at her destination. Her age stands for the length of time of the slaves struggle for freedom; she can no longer tell how long anymore. Her physical degradation, furthermore, represents the physical consequences of slavery. Second, Phoenix also struggles with her surroundings or society. The setting presents diverse obstacles to freedom. The â€Å"foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals† in her way represent all the kinds of people, whites and blacks alike, who oppose the slaves pursuit of freedom. The thorny bush is also an example of what the black race needed to endure in their â€Å"endless struggle† (Sykes, 1998, p.151). The climax occurs when it seems that Phoenix has forgotten her journeys purpose. This â€Å"forgetting† is a form of situational irony, where it would have been a great waste of time and effort, if Phoenix could not achieve her mission. This â€Å"forgetting† can also be paralleled to the passivity in the blacks â€Å"waiting† for their freedom. In a way, waiting patiently for their freedom also evokes a lackadaisical response from the whites. Situational irony takes place once more; the more patient the blacks were, the more the whites exploited them. The resolution of the plot takes place when Phoenix remembers her gift to her grandson, the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Moral Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Moral Philosophy - Essay Example Brock sees no difference between theses two, and I would say I have to agree. Does it really matter who is doing the killing if in fact there is killing taking place Either way the outcome is the same, I don't think it really matters who is holding the needle or who is administering the dosage. There is plenty of relevance in this debate as well to the other debate over the distinction between killing and letting die. Is there really a difference between killing somebody or simply standing by and watching or letting them die I like to think it depend on the scenario, for if you try to help them out then you are really not letting them die so to speak. But people will often try to use their belief that there is a distinction between them to try to work against the legislation of these types of programs. People will use the argument that there is a huge difference between them and that killing somebody is ethically wrong compared to letting their natural time come and letting them die. They will try to use this to block any measures to give people the choice of these types of death methods, and there may be some merit in their ideas. On t