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Negative Impacts of Social Media on People’s Lives Analysis of Social Media is Attention Alcohol by Derek Thompson

Negative Impacts of Social Media on People’s Lives: Analysis of “Social Media is Attention Alcohol” by Derek Thompson

In his article, Derek metaphorically compares social media usage to alcohol consumption. He argues that social media is a product that is beneficial but addictive and naturally unwholesome in large doses. Derek writes that although many people use social media regularly, love it and are okay with it, many abuses it, and some develop unhealthy compulsions. Additionally, he proposes that thinking of social media as alcohol can guide reform efforts towards managing its use and impacts. Social media has serious negative effects on people lives; it creates feelings of inadequacy, affects mental health, enhances bullying, creates unrealistic expectations and creates addiction.

Social media creates feelings of inadequacy about life and appearance. Social media gives people a tool to compare themselves with others and to question their self-worth. The life and photographs people view on social media make them feel insecure about what is going on in their lives and how they look. Resulting in feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction with their real personal lives. Similarly, social media provides a platform for people to show their best looks, from classic clothes to body and facial appearance. This impacts self-esteem and triggers feelings of inadequacy in people who do not feel good enough. For instance, Derek documents that Facebook and Instagram make young women, especially teen girls, feel worse about their bodies.

Secondly, social media negatively affects the mental health of its users. Social media triggers comparison in people, which is a sure path to anxiety and depression. Social media users tend to post the best parts of their lives, which most people compare to the worst in their personal lives; comparing yourself to another person creates the idea of missing out and negatively impacts self-esteem resulting in depression and anxiety. Derek documents that Instagram and Facebook users, especially teen girls, admit that what they see on these sites negatively affects their mental health. Also, those who already struggle with mental health acknowledge that Facebook and Instagram usage makes it worse. Similarly, the growing use of social media is limiting face to face interactions. Human beings need face to face interactions to be mentally healthy. Therefore, the more people use social media over face-to-face interactions, the more they risk developing mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Additionally, social media encourages bullying. Cyberbullying is a constant and ever-present threat in society. Social media platforms provide avenues for people to spread hurtful rumours, abuse or lie about others anonymously or use their real names. Most people who use social media, especially teens, experience bullying from their peers or are subjected to offensive comments. Victims of cyberbullying remains with lasting emotional scars, and some end up harming themselves physically or committing suicide.

Furthermore, social media creates unrealistic expectations, promotes self-absorption and creates confusion between reality with online. Social media platforms form unrealistic expectations of friends and life in individuals minds nurturing a severe lack of authenticity and encouraging lying. For instance, people use social media platforms to showcase exciting adventures, their love for friends and significant other and different successfully aspects of their lives. Although this can be a façade, people always use them as a yardstick to what life should be, creating unrealistic expectations in their personal lives. Similarly, social media platforms provide an avenue to make friends; most people confuse this with actual communication, in-person interactions, and socialising. Most friends on social media networks are not friends and can even be strangers. Additionally, sharing endless information about personal life and innermost thoughts on social media creates unhealthy self-absorption and can affect people’s ability to develop real-life connections.

Besides, social media creates addiction. Social media like cigarettes and alcohol can be addictive. Social media has a powerful draw that keeps people checking all the time without thinking. It is difficult for people with social media accounts to go an entire day without checking updates, commenting or posting. For instance, when individuals post a picture or update on social media platforms, they keep on motoring the likes and comments and replying. These activities can take an entire day without an individual realising. Also, it can build the need and desire to do so the following day. Derick documents that young teenagers often feel addicted to social media sites and are unable to stop themselves. He also documents his personal experience, “sometimes the content is unfavourable, and I regret how I spend my time…only to open the applications again, several minutes later (Thompson, 2021)” This shows some level of addiction.

In conclusion, although social media has beneficial qualities, its dark sides negatively impact the lives of individuals in society, especially teenagers. It affects people’s self-worth, causes cyberbullying, negatively affects people’s mental health, and wastes time due to its addictive nature. Like Derek Thompson proposes in his article “Social Media is Attention Alcohol”, social media should be subjected to guidelines like alcohol consumption to limit its impacts on individuals, especially teens.

Bibliography

Thompson, D. (2021, September 17). Social media is attention alcohol. The Atlantic. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/social-media-attention-alcohol-booze-instagram-twitter/620101/.

Cyberwarfare, which is defined by Clarke (2010) as action by a given nation-state

Author’s Name

Institutional affiliation

Introduction

Cyberwarfare, which is defined by Clarke (2010) as action by a given nation-state to maliciously penetrate another state’s computer networks for the main purpose of disrupting or causing damage is a major cause of national and global concern. This threat, which is often politically motivated, has in this year and for the very first time, been regarded to be a larger threat than terrorism or Al Qaeda by various U.S intelligence authorities (Dilanian, 2013). Computer security is indeed is an important concern for governments, businesses and individuals (OPC, 2011, p.11; Guttman & Roback, 1995). In this paper, we investigate the concept of cyberwarfare and explain why it is an area of concern for governments, businesses and individuals. Also investigated is how individuals attempt to breach computer security in this domain (methods of attack). This paper also presents the active and passive defenses that governments, businesses and individuals can use in combating cyber attack. The methods that security specialists employ in safeguarding computer systems are also explored in great detail.

The concept of cyberwarefare

The concept of cyberwarfare is basically a computer hacking activity which is politically motivated for the sake of espionage and sabotage. It is a special kind of information systems warfare which is sometimes viewed as analogues to the conventional warfare (O’Connel, 2012).As noted earlier, this threat, has in this year and for the very first time, been regarded to be a larger threat than terrorism or Al Qaeda by various U.S intelligence authorities (Dilanian, 2013).Indeed this makes cyberspace the 5th domain of military warfare (Taddeo, 2012, p.209).

So grave is the issue of cyber security that the U.S Department of Defense (DoD) has formally acknowledged it as a new domain in global warfare (Lynn, 2010).Lipman Report clearly indicated that several of United State’s key sectors of the economy as well as other nations are at great risk of cyber attacks. Cyber threats range from those targeting private to public facilities such as banking and financial sectors, transportation, education, medical, and manufacturing and government operations. In this regard, we can safely regard cyberwarfare as an event exhibiting characteristics of a conventional warfare but waged only in the cyberspace.

Methods of attack

According to Andress and Winterfield (2011), individuals and nation-states can use several methods in order to wage a cyber attack. These range from the use of malware, viruses, Distributed-denial of service (DDoS) attacks to the use of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs. Wilson (2008) categorized the methods into three distinct issues; physical damage of computers as well as communication lines, the use of electromagnetic pulse to damage computers and the use of malware to manipulate as well as sabotage computer networks.

Malware attack involves the use of malicious software to infect individual, corporate or government computers. A perfect example of a malware that has been used in the past is Stuxnet, a malware which is arguably the most sophisticated cyberweapon ever designed (Bodenheimer, 2012). This malware was developed by United States in collaboration with Israel in order to sabotage the Iranian nuclear enrichment program. Its deployment was hugely successful to its creator since it completely destroyed the computers that were being used for the enrichment operations.

Physical damage of computers as well as communication lines is another method used in waging a cyber attack. This is usually achieved through the destruction as well as sabotage of computer hardware, aerials, cables as well as satellites. The use of EMP is also effective since it completely destroys all computer and communication equipment that are transistor-based.

Manipulation of computer networks is yet another example of cyberwarfare. It involves the use of programs to interfere with the integrity, availability as well as confidentiality of the computer and communication systems. This type of attack involves the use of DDoS attacks as well as man-in-the-middle attacks.

How to combat cyberwarfare

Cyber attacks can be combated through the application of active and passive anti-cyber attack strategies. There is a need for individuals, corporations and governments to develop methods for predicting, identifying and countering cyber attacks. Currently, several entities within the United States cyber community campaigning for the adoption of an anti-cyber attack campaign that is able to strategically as well as tactically deal with the eminent cyber threats (Menn, 2012). These anti-cyber attack strategies involved the application of active and passive defensive strategies to protect computer and communication systems against cyber attacks. Anti-cyber-attack strategies are mostly associated with both active and passive cyber attack defense measures that are used in protecting computer systems while counter-cyber-attack measures are mainly pre-emptive offensive techniques that are used to analyze behaviors and signatures and then subsequently deter, prevent, pre-empt as well as neutralize all sorts of hostile acts or intrusions (Swanson,Astrich,Robinson,2012).

Individuals, corporations and governments must therefore work together with security specialists in coming up with proper anti and counter-cyber-attack measures in order to ensure that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer and communication networks are never compromised. Intrusion detection systems must be used to help in forming a strategy that is more predictive than reactive. An early warning framework such as Lockwood’s 12-step Analytical Method for Prediction (LAMP) must also be implemented (Lockwood, 1996).The use of antivirus updated software such as Kaspersky Antivirus must also be used. Firewall must also be used with suitable policies put in place.

Conclusion

Cyberwarfare is a concept that can never be avoided in our current and future societies. Individuals, corporations and governments must therefore work together with security professionals in combating all sorts of offensive cyberwarfare. Active and passive defense mechanisms must therefore be designed to be used for predicting, identifying and countering cyber attacks. Otherwise, we might just be headed for a cyber Armageddon!

References

Andres,J.,Winterfield.,S. (2011).Cyber Warfare: Techniques, Tactics and Tools for Security

Practitioners. Waltham,MA: Syngress

Bodenheimer,DZ.(2012).Cyberwarfare in the Stuxnet Age Can Cannonball Law Keep Pace

With the Digital Battlefield? The SciTech Lawyer, 8 (3) (Winter,2012).Retrieved on 17 April,2013 from HYPERLINK “http://www.crowell.com/files/2012-bodenheimer-the-scitech-lawyer.pdf” http://www.crowell.com/files/2012-bodenheimer-the-scitech-lawyer.pdf

Clarke, R,A.(2010).Cyber War.New York,NY:Harper Collins

Guttman,B., Roback,EA. (1995). An Introduction to Computer Security: The NIST Handbook.

Nist special Publication800-12. Retrieved on 17 April,2013 from HYPERLINK “http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-12/handbook.pdf” http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-12/handbook.pdf

Dilanian, K (2013)”Cyber-attacks a bigger threat than Al Qaeda, officials say”, Los Angeles

Times, March 12, 2013. Retrieved on 17 April,2013 HYPERLINK “http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/12/world/la-fg-worldwide-threats-20130313” http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/12/world/la-fg-worldwide-threats-20130313

Lynn, W.J. ,III. “Defending a New Domain: The Pentagon’s Cyberstrategy”, Foreign Affairs,

Sept/Oct. 2010, pp. 97–108

Lockwood, J. (1996). Lockwood Analytical Method for Prediction, DC: JMIC.

Menn, J. (2012, June 18). “Hacked companies fight cyber criminals.” Retrieved on 17

April,2013 from the Canada.com website: HYPERLINK “http://www.canada.com/technology/Hacked+companies+fight+cyber+criminals/” http://www.canada.com/technology/Hacked+companies+fight+cyber+criminals/

O’Connel,ME (2012).Cyber Security without Cyber War. Oxford :Oxford University Press

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (2011).

“Fundamental Privacy Rights within a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness”.Submission by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to the  Government of Canada’s Beyond the Border Working Group public consultation.

Taddeo, M (2012). “Information Warfare: a Philosophical Perspective.”Presented at the 2012

4th International Conference on Cyber Conflict. Retrieved on 17 April,2013 HYPERLINK “http://www.ccdcoe.org/publications/2012proceedings/3_5_Taddeo_AnAnalysisForAJustCyberWarfare.pdf” http://www.ccdcoe.org/publications/2012proceedings/3_5_Taddeo_AnAnalysisForAJustCyberWarfare.pdf

Wilson,C (2008). Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism:Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for

Congress.CRS Report for Congress Order Code RL32114.Updated January 28,2008. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL32114.pdf” http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL32114.pdf

Negative Leadership Behaviors

Negative Leadership Behaviors

A leader’s behavior is an authoritative demonstration of mannerisms that bear the prospects and standards of an organization and establish the organizational climate (Grojean et al., 2004).Leadership behaviors are either task or relations oriented. Task-oriented leaders gear to reaching organization goals. A leader who displays task-oriented behaviors explains staff roles and objectives, monitors individual performance and actions as well as set short-term goals (Yukl, O’Donnell)

Relations-oriented leadership behaviors dwell with developing close, trustworthy relations with staff (Holloway, 2012). A relations-oriented leader displays supportive, developmental and approval behaviors (Holloway, 2012). Behaviors that indicate a leader supports his employers are showing acceptance, being concerned and sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. A display of developmental behaviors is seen when a leader provides probable welfare to supervisors, peers, subordinates or colleagues new to an organization. Approval mannerisms are illustrated through compliments and gratitude for effective performances, achievements and imperative assistance to an organization (Holloway, 2012).When a leader fails to possess the task or relation oriented leadership, the leader is considered to have negative leadership behavior. Leaders who display negative behaviors are incompetent, inflexible, intemperate, insensitive, fraudulent, blinkered or evil (Kellerman, 2004)

EXPERIENCE

In 2009, I joined a community based organization comprising of members from my community volunteering to assist teenagers live positively. The organization was started by six couples. The purpose of the organization was to guide teenagers on life issues like employment, relationship, dressing and communal living as well as sensitize the teenagers on the challenges and risks associated with being a teenager. According to the organizations policy, membership was free and so were the services. The organization operations relied on sacrifice from parents and teenagers. On each meeting, one or maximum two of the committee parents were assigned to perform the duties to educate and train .it was mandatory that all Sunday afternoons, the committee members would confine in one of the homes and analyze the progress of the organization as well as possible improvements. With time, word spread and the organization nurtured to a point where teenagers outside our community enrolled for the project. However, this positive progress did not last long. Concerned persons commenced raising concerns on negative behaviors among the organization leaders.

First, a committee couple accused a fellow committee member of being unwilling to adjust to new ideas and developments. There were complaints that a male committee member was having a sexual relationship with girl member. One leader was accused of being offensive and harsh to the teenagers. According to the sources he was fond of humiliating teenage members and was not concerned with their welfare. He only claimed to be part of the organization because his wife dragged him into it. This same leader was accused of posing as the organization’s treasurer and used the title to charge new uniformed families for the services. When investigations were conducted, all these accusations were confirmed true. Unfortunately, it was too late for the organization to recover as it had collapsed due to bad image.

ANALYSIS

The leadership traits mentioned in the experience segment above are negative leadership traits which steered the downfall of the organization. Leaders were corrupt, intemperate, callous, corrupt, rigid and insular. Corruption is displayed where a leader lied to be the treasurer in order to extort money from the newly joining families. By posing as a treasurer, he lied. By extorting money from the unknowing families, he cheated. He was dishonest to both the family and the organization. A corrupt leader is one who cheats, lies or steals (Kellerman, 2004).This is a negative leadership trait because leaders should place public interest prior to private interests. Corruption leads to mistrust among followers.

Rigidity is displayed where some leaders declined to adapt new ideas. A rigid leader is one who is reluctant to adapt to fresh information, changing times or new notions (Kellerman, 2004).Rigidity is a negative leadership trait because it deters development yet a good leader is supposed to initiate and perpetuate development. Without development, organizations cannot grow or adapt to external factors not within their control. This way the organization will always be a victim of such factors. An organization whose growth is stagnant cannot achieve its goals.

Intemperance is displayed when a male leader had sexual relationships with a female teenager. An intemperate leader falls short of self-control (Kellerman, 2004).As a leader; one should always be an example to followers. It was bad enough for the leader to educate the disadvantage of teenage sex but still have intercourse with a teenager. Such a leader is no role model. Intemperance is a negative leadership trait as it misleads the followers who are susceptible to emulate their leader’s actions. The objectives of an organization cannot be achieved if both the leaders and followers are behaving unethically.

Callous leadership was displayed when a leader criticized the teenage group members. This was ill and insensible. It is easy to conclude from the critics words “I am here because my wife dragged me into this” that the welfare of the teenagers was not of his concern. This was an insular leader. A callous leader is unkind and uncaring (Kellerman, 2004). The leader under limelight did not care for the teenagers’. A leader who is callous displays negative leadership trait. This is so because by being insensitive and hostile leaders show no support to follower who in turn loose moral and reduce productivity. A good leader should support, appreciate and care for his follower’s welfare failure to which the followers will lose interest and trust in their leadership, collapsing an organization. This leader was also insular. An insular leader degrades the welfare of others (Kellerman, 2004). A perfect example is that of Bill Clinton ignoring the Rwanda genocide or George Bush failing to intervene when summoned to help sojourn the Liberian massacre (Kellerman, 2004).

Summarily, it is recommendable that leaders strengthen their leadership. This is possible if leaders embrace ethics. An ethical leader puts public interest before personal interest. Leaders should incorporate positive character traits in work such as courage, patience and time consciousness. In addition, should be committed to their duties and impose interest for common good. In addition, leaders should support and listen to their followers, be good role models, be honest and perform their tasks with utmost efficiency.

References

Grojean, M. W., Resick, C. J., Dickson, M. W., & Smith, D. B. (2004). Leaders, values, and organizational climate: Examining leadership strategies for establishing an organizational climate regarding ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 55(1), 223-241.

Holloway .J.B (2012) Leadership Behavior and Organizational Climate: An Empirical Study in a Non-profit organization. Retrieved November 25, 2012 from http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/elj/vol5iss1/ELJ_Vol5No1_Holloway_pp9-35.pdfKellerman, B. (2004) Bad Leadership: What It Is, How It Happens, Why It Matters Leadership for the Common Good Series. Boston: Harvard Business Press

Yukl, G., O’Donnell, M., & Taber, T. (2009). Influence of leader behaviors on the leader member exchange relationship. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 24(4), 289-299.

Cycle Menu Plan for Irish family

2379345-361950Cycle Menu Plan for _______Irish family_____________________

Cycle Menu Plan for _______Irish family_____________________

Week 1 of 2 week Cycle Menu

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Breakfast

3 ounces of Pineapples(Fresh), 1 cup of Beverages(Hot)

2 Boiled eggs with 3 ounces of Corn flakes 3 ounces of Seasonal fresh fruit

3 ounces of Fresh toast

1 cup of Milk 1glass of Grape Juice

3 ounces of Special K

3 ounces of Sliced of Bread 1 glass of Apple Juice

3 ounces of Pancakes syrup

1 cup of Milk 3 ounces of Fresh Orange wedges

1 Scrambled egg with 3 ounces of cheese

1 cup of Milk 1 glass of Orange Juice

1 cup of Milk

3 ounces of Biscuits 1 glass of Orange Juice

3 ounces of Banana Muffin

1 cup of Milk

Lunch

3 ounces of Apples, 4 ounces of roasted Turkey, 3 ounces of rice, with 1 scrambled egg 4 ounces of left over roasted Turkey and 3 ounces of sandwiched Cheese

3 ounces of Whole wheat roll 3 ounces of Spanish rice

3 ounces of Mexican cone 1 cup of Milk 4 ounces of Breaded Fish

3 ounces of Mexican Cone

1 cup of Milk 4 ounces of Baked chicken

3 ounces oof Whole wheat roll

3 ounces of Peaches 3 ounces of Baked beans

3 ounces of Tossed Salad, 1 cup of milk

3 ounces of of Peas and carrots

4 ounces of Chicken nuggets

3 ounces of Lettuce, 3 ounces of Pickle and tomato

Snack

2 ounces of Animal Crackers

4 ounces of Yoghurt 3 ounces of Blue berry Muffin

1 cup of Milk 3 ounces of Fruit cocktail

4 ounces of Yoghurt 1 glass of Orange Juice

4 ounces of Cheese crackers 3 ounces of Oatmeal meal cookie

1 cup of Milk

3 ounces of Graham Crackers

3 ounces of Banana

1 cup of milk 3 ounces of Vanilla Wafers

3 ounces of Apple sauce

1 cup of milk

Dinner

4 ounces of grilled Chicken and 2 noodles

2 ounces of Peaches

3 ounces of Conned bread 4 ounces of roasted leftover Turkey and 3 ounces of Cheese

4 ounces of left over roasted Turkey and 3 ounces of Spaghetti

3 ounces of Peaches 4 ounces of barbeque Chicken and 3 ounces of Vegetable star fry

3 ounces of Pineapple Tidbits

4 ounces of left over roasted Turkey

3 ounces of Cooked carrots

2 ounces of Oven fries 4 ounces of Barbeque Chicken

3 ounces of Mixed vegetables

3 ounces of Brown rice

4 ounces of roasted Turkey 3 ounces of Mashed potatoes

4 ounces of Broccoli

2 ounces of Green Peas

Notes On Sunday there was a party in which a whole turkey was roasted, the leftover turkey was then used for lunch on Monday The family has tried to minimize its consumption of red eat to avoid problems with their weight On Saturday dinner upon receiving visitors another turkey was roasted its left over was used for dinner on Tuesday 2903220-361950Cycle Menu Plan for __________ Irish family _____________________

Cycle Menu Plan for __________ Irish family _____________________

Week 2 of 2 Cycle Menu

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Breakfast

1 glass of Orange Juice

1 cup of Milk

2 ounces of Waffles

3 ounces of Cantaloupe cubes

2 ounces of Crispix Cereal

1 cup of Milk

3 ounces of Banana

2 ounces of Apple zings cereal

1 cup of Milk

2 Scrambled eggs

3 ounces of English muffin

2 ounces of Toast

1 cup of Milk

1 glass of Orange Juice

1 cup of Milk

2 ounces of Waffles

3 ounces of Apple sauce

1 cup of Milk

4 ounces of Banana bread 1 glass of Grape Juice

1 cup of Milk

2 ounces of Cinnamon Toast

Lunch

4 ounces of roasted Turkey and sandwiched Cheese

3 ounces of Whole wheat roll 4 ounces of left over roasted Turkey and sandwiched Cheese

3 ounces of Whole wheat roll 4 ounces of Barbeque Chicken

3 ounces of Mashed potatoes

4 ounces of Broccoli

3 ounces of Green Peas 4 ounces of Chicken nuggets

3 ounces of Lettuce, Pickle and tomato 4 ounces of left over Barbeque Chicken

2 ounces of Mixed vegetables

2 ounces of Brown rice

4 ounces of Sliced Turkey

3 ounces of Mixed vegetables

2 ounces of Mashed Potatoes 4 ounces of roasted Chicken and 3 ounces of Vegetable star fry

3 ounces of Pineapple Tidbits

Snack

1 cup of milk and 2 ounces of cheese slice and Pita bread 2 ounces of Granola bar milk 1 cup of Milk and 1 ounce of Oatmeal

cookies 3 ounces of Fresh Broccoli Florets 2 ounces of Assorted crackers and I cup of milk, 4 ounces of Cheese crackers and 1 glass of Orange Juice

I cup of milk, 3 ounces of Orange wedges and 2 ounces of Graham Crackers 1 cup of milk and 2 ounces of cheese slice and Pita bread

Dinner

4 ounces of fried fish

2 ounces of Whole wheat roll

3 ounces of Spinach salad

3 ounces of Sliced 4 ounces of fried fish

1 ounce of Pizza

1 ounce of Fruit cocktail

2 ounces of Macaroni and cheese

3 ounces of fried fish

1 ounce of Hamburger patty

2 ounces of Mixed vegetables

1 ounce Peaches 3 ounces of Salisbury steak

1 ounce of Broccoli

2 ounces of Tater tots

1 glass of Milk 4 ounces of fried fish

2 ounces of Whole wheat roll

3 ounces of Spinach salad

3 ounces of Sliced tomatoes 3 ounces of Salisbury steak

2 ounces of Baby Green lima

3 ounces of Pineapple Tidbits 4 ounces of roasted Chicken strips

2 ounces of Mashed potatoes

2 ounces of Black eye Pears

Notes The family prefers white meat to red meat because it is healthier. Since the family has issues with weight, they are allowed to take between 3-4 ounces of roasted chicken and turkey. On Sunday, Lunchtime the family roasted a whole turkey and the remainder was used as left over on Monday lunch. Milk is a rich source of proteins and the family has ensured it is in every breakfast meal. On Tuesday lunchtime the family bought a lot of Barbequed Chicken the remainder was used as left over on Thursday lunch time. The family of Mister and Miss Robert and Stephaney Williams is an Irish family that lives in Massachusetts. Mr. Robert Williams is a banker by profession and works for the America Bank as a manager in charge of logistics. Mrs. Stephanie Williams is a nurse by Profession and works at the John Hopkins hospital as a Ward Manager. The two live with their aging mother and a son and daughter aged 12 and 10 respectively. The two are in elementary school. Andrew Williamson, their son, has a knack for carbohydrates but since the entire family is ten to fifteen pounds overweight, they have tried to reduce their calorie consumption levels. On the other hand, Susan has stopped taking calories since her peers tease her for her overweight. She takes more of skimmed milk and few snacks.

The family, which lives in Massachusetts, meets every day for all their meals since the children go to the nearby elementary school while the parents work near the home. The parents have two different cars while the children are chauffeured in one car. The Irish family has a liking for Irish food but since they have lived in America for quite a long time, they have tried to blend it with the American and Mexican food types.

Massachusetts is a multicultural state and is made up of over 80% white and 75% non-Hispanic whites. The Irish in Massachusetts are part of the many immigrants who have moved into this state over the years. Owing to cultural assimilation, most of their foods complement a mix up of all the cultures in this state. While some have a liking for Spanish foods, others have a liking for Mexican dishes while others just like it American. The Williamson have been in Massachusetts for at least two decades and are familiar with most of the groceries in their neighborhood where they prefer to go for shopping. The family also loves the great outdoors and in most cases do their own cooking. Since all members of this family are overweight, all their meals are special starting with breakfast with plenty of fresh juices and fruits, Chicken and turkey that are preferred because they are white meat for lunch and supper. . Since the family has a chauffeur, they ensure that he takes packed food for the children in school every day at lunch hour.

Negotiation Case Study

Negotiation Case Study

Presented by

Institution

Organizations mostly find it difficult managing their finances especially when some employees stay dormant because their services are not required. Medical Care centers have different types of staffs who have specified duties. As a manager in one of the leading healthcare center, I wished to cut down the overhead costs while maintaining the revenue cycle. The process was critical, but I managed to resolve some of the key issues. The following is a negotiation plan and the resolving steps.

Negotiation plan

Goal statement

Every financial, year Medical Care centers find themselves looking for ways of cutting down their operating costs in order to maintain their financial friability. The current business environment is extremely demanding, and managers should ensure every activity or operation in the medical practice has a financial benefit. A manager should plan on how to achieve the best results at the lowest cost possible (CaliforniaHealthline, 2012). Medical Care physicians receive much salary, but their duties are remarkably minimal because they only attend to patients when there is an emergency. In my plan to cut down the operations cost in my Healthcare center, I decided to reduce the number of visits for the physician to once every two weeks, and later once every two months. This negotiation will analyze the process of minimizing dormant staff operations, and come up with alternatives and possible outcomes for such decisions.

Analysis of the perspectives/positions of the parties involved

The physician has a clean reputation for the healthcare, and we have a perfect professional relationship although he seems to take advantage of this by visiting the patients more often. Every visit costs money and the more he comes the higher the cost of maintaining the medical practice. When medical practices fail to reduce the cost of operations several instances occur. First, the medical practice faces a drastic fall in the wealth of stakeholders due to the high cost of paying physician unnecessary salaries. This reduces government revenues leading to more pressure on Medicare and Medicaid funding whose full recovery might take years. Second, the medical practice faces a reduction in the availability of investment and credit funds. This would lead into the healthcare receiving no credits from financial institutions (Allawi, 2009). With all this pressure as a manager, I will have to analyze the productivity of this physician and design a good visit plan saves the overall cost.

The number of visits made by the physician in the medical practice should be minimized because most patients are stable and monthly prescriptions would work perfectly for them. The reduction plan would involve a perfect strategy. Budget reduction in a medical practice requires each department to cut down its expenses to a certain amount. This only occurs through doing away with operations that seem to spend more money. The physician is an external party who only comes to visit his patients. Rescheduling his visits would save the medical practice more cash and allow more staff retention. In addition, some permanent staff members receive little pay, whereas they undertake a lot of duties. The state federal law does not allow physicians to see their patients more often because they might be interested in patients’ money and not their health (Minnesota Department of Health, 2012).

The fact that the physician was my best friend led to delays in my plans because I feared he might terminate all his visits to the healthcare center. The physician could just write prescriptions for his patients, which less costly and time saving for both patients and the medical practice. On the other hand, a proper understanding between me and the physician would make things work out smart (American HealthCare Solutions, 2012. First, the approach method I used was very poor. All other negotiations were achieved but he could not allow me to cut his visit days. The expected goals were not fully met because I never involved anyone in my decision.

Cost reduction strategies in an organization require the involvement of many parties. Availability of restructuring manager ensures the strategies are well structured, and any default is fully dealt with. Second, the managers should set cost reduction goals. Negating on the impact of reducing the visiting time should be analyzed in terms of the positive and negative outcomes of the process to the medical practice, patients, and the physician. In addition, there was lack of pre-performance objectives that could only focus on the importance of reducing the amount of time the physician spends in the healthcare to twice per month.

The possible alternative outcomes

From the above negotiation, some possible outcomes could be felt at the end. First, the physician could demand a full explanation regarding why his visits should be reduced and yet the medical practice had signed a contract with him. The following outcome carries a lot of weight because the physician could sue the medical practice for neglecting patients their rights. Second, the physician could request for a compensation for the cut days. This would cost the healthcare more revenue, since the physician would be receiving his normal salary even when the trips to the medical practice are minimized. Moreover, the organization could consider offering him permanent employment with the same salary, but more duties. The following outcome could make the medical practice lay-off some of casuals in order to cater for the new salaries induced by the physician.

The steps that led to resolution 

In resolving the following issues, a labor steps were followed.

Assessing the compatibility of the suggested plans with the Fair Labor Standard Act helps in determining the best options that a manger should take while dealing with un-employment or reduction of duties.

Using conduct of labor negotiations in collective bargaining between the physician and mangers about the contract and the reasons for such decision,

Negotiating with the physician concerning the reviewed duties and their benefits to the medical practice.

Analysis of the outcomes

According to Bossidy & Charan (2002), most managers have a hard time resolving organizational issues because they always believe they are very perfect in management. Executing some critical issues in an organization is a hard task that requires techniques and understanding of the possible outcomes of the strategy. Moreover, the vision component in an organization should focus on the future results that allow equal sharing of resources. The targets and missions derived by the management wishes to achieve assists in identifying the guiding objectives that an organization adopts in order to improve its performance (Hertz, 2006). On the other hand, medical practices sometimes consider reducing the cost through in-house operations where they make use of their staff to check the patients.

References

Allawi, S. A. (2009). Reducing Costs: Execution is Critical. Retrieved from;

www.performancelogic.com

American Healthcare Solutions. (2012). Labor Relations. Retrieved from:

http://www.americanhs.com/strategy/labor-relations.aspx

Bossidy, L. & Charan, R. (2002). Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done. Atlfeld,

Inc.a

CaliforniaHealthline. (2012). Medical practices Taking Steps To Reduce Operating Expenses.

Retrieved from:

http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2011/2/7/medical practices-taking-steps-to-reduce-operating-expenses.aspx

Cassidy, J., (1995). An evaluation of Section 232(4) of the Corporations Law and the

directors’ duty of due care, skill, and diligence. Australian Business Law Review, 23(3), pp. 184-184.

Hertz, H. (2006). Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence: Baldrige National

Quality. Business and Economics. DIANE

Minnesota Department of Health. (2012). Code of Federal Regulations Medical practice Conditions of

Participation. Retrieved from:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/profinfo/lic/cfrhosp.htm

Negotiation gone bad

Negotiation gone bad

Negotiation is a process whereby individuals discuss their conflicting interests to settle on a mutual agreement (Alavoine, Kaplanseren & Teulon, 2013). Below is an example of a negotiation gone bad.

An employee receives feedback on his performance evaluation. The performance is poor, and he feels that the assessment should be positive as he has been working hard and giving suggestions to improve the company’s performance. He goes to the employer and shouts, “Mr Riggs, Why did you do this to me? I have been working hard, and this evaluation does not consider my hard work”. As Riggs hears this, gets up and shouts back at the employee,” Who do you think you are to question my work? I make all the decisions and what I say must stand”. The conversation turned to a heated quarrel which led to the employer asking him to leave the office. According to Mr Riggs, the employee thinks that he is not performing his evaluations fairly, and it annoys him. After a week, the employee receives a job dismissal letter.

Analysis

The employee started the conversation in a poorly, by throwing allegations at his employer. He begins by shouting at Mr Riggs instead of politely asking for explanations and reasons for the poor feedback. The procedure would require a plan for a meeting to address the issue. After the meeting time is approved, the employee asks for clarification, and the employer justifies his actions through by explaining the reasons behind the negative feedback. Next, a proper bargain takes place by giving a concession and ways to solve the issue at hand. The employer explains the activities he has been doing, along with the results achieved and the impact it had on the company. On the other hand, Mr Riggs explains the factors he considered in developing the evaluation statement. With these two evaluations, they can analyze them and come up with a final analysis that is true and agreed on by both parties.

Through this process, the outcome of dismissing the employee from work could not have occurred. Instead, evidence of the factors that Riggs considered in coming up with the evaluation would be revealed. The employer would also get an explanation of why the human resource manager did not assess because Mr Riggs, the employer may usually be out of the office attending meetings hence has no adequate information on employee performance.

Reference

Alavoine, C., Kaplanseren, F., & Teulon, F. (2013). Teaching (And Learning) Negotiation: Is There Still Room For Innovation?. International Journal Of Management & Information Systems (IJMIS), 18(1), 35. doi: 10.19030/ijmis.v18i1.8337

D& G Promotional Plan

Promotional Plan for D & G

Name

Institution

Promotional plan for D & G

Dolce and Gabbana (D & G) represents authentic and eccentric luxurious products. It is a brand that signifies elegance and represents a kind of clothing that is classy based on new innovations and creativity. The brand has over the years maintained its identity based on the standards, roots, and the pillars in which the organization is based. D & G has continually evolved over the years through the use of male and female models to market and promote its brands. For example, it has used a Russian 22 year old model called Andreea Diaconu to advertise its products. According to Richard (2010), the company has realized that the use of such attractive models make the company products more attractive to the consumers. This has made the product stand out in the market and develop a very strong brand name in the market. The company has also displayed itself and come out as a brand that represents simplicity, glamour, and trend. Musicians have also played a great role in promoting the brand as witnessed by the rappers who portray a flashy lifestyle. They have helped the product develop a sense of luxury and brand power. D & G have a target customer of people between the age of 15 and 30 years who are sensitive about trends and fashion.

In order to achieve an effective promotional plan for the brand, it is important to carry out a competitor analysis that would enable the organization develop a competitive advantage and at the same time establish the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. The major competitors for D & G include Gucci, Channel, Prada, Versace, and Dior. However, D & G has out matched the competitors because of its unmatchable strong fashion contemporary and quality (Richard, 2013). It has also expanded its boutiques that target specific segments of the market across the world, thereby making it stand out above all its competitors. The other promotional plan or promotional idea is the aspect of advertising, whose main aim is to persuade customers to purchase the brand under promotion. An effective advertisement should be able to promote the product consumption as reflected in the increase in sales.

However, it is important to analyze the kind of advertisement used. This is because an advertisement that elicits negative public reaction can seriously dent the company’s public image and consequently lower its sales. D & G has not had an effective advertisement strategy since the kind of advertisement it uses is non-specific and lacks thematic balance. It also does not take into consideration the psychological requirements of particular market segments. The organization’s advertisement is also not effective in the sense that it has some form of gender sexual objectification of women. According to Blasberg (2014), a good media advertisement should be able to exhibit a content that is of thematic harmony and be able to target a particular market segment at a particular time. An advertisement that has some form of sexual objectification only portrays the organization as one that advocates for female sexual objectification, which only gives the company a negative public image. If such a thing happens to Dolce and Gabanna, it may only make its customers escape to its competitors. The other market strategy that has made Dolce and Gabanna enjoy a huge market share is its ability to develop a variety of product designs in every market segment. It has stocked product designs for children, adults, and even the middle aged.

References

Blasberg, Derek. (2014). Andreea Diaconu’s Model Behavior. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from:http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303933104579304763970245636

D’Avene, Richard. (2010). Fashion Conscious: Lessons in Commoditization from the Fashion Industry. Ivey Business Journal, Retrieved from:HYPERLINK “http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/strategy/fashion-conscious-lessons-in-commoditization-from-the-fashion-industry” l “.UuavfdKDrIU”http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/strategy/fashion-conscious-lessons-in-commoditization-from-the-fashion-industry#.UuavfdKDrIU

D’Aveni, Richard Anthony. (2013). Beating the Commodity Trap: How to Maximize Your Competitive Position and Increase Your Pricing Power, Harvard Business Press, USA

Dabase Security for 21st century business

Database Security for 21st century business

Name

Professor

Institution

Course

Date

Database Security for 21st century business

Introduction

Most companies have servers for different purposes; however, the most critical servers any company has is the database servers. Data such as client details, financials, and human capital are the data that support any business in operations. For this reason, there is an increasing concern about the general protection of databases. Any breach of security would lead to either loss of data, exposure of sensitive data, unauthorized access to sensitive information or access to classified files. As companies develop, so is the need to secure the data stored within the databases. The benefits of controlled, protected access to the classified files as well as the preservation of the general integrity, standards and consistency of these data is much more expensive (Shamimabi, & Nicholas, 2008).

The concept of database security is much more focused on the, physical security, network security, encryption and authentication. The main constructs that the concept of database security thrives on includes confidentiality or protection from informal disclosure, integrity or prevention from illegal data access, and availability of equipment for identifying and recovering errors that might cause a denial of access to information. In the process of ensuring that the data stored are secure, most companies try to restrict access using software, reduce vulnerability, eliminate interference as well as upgrade their database auditing mechanisms.

Database security problems

Physical Commuters are becoming physically accessible to unauthorized users

Personnel Organizations are becoming more involved in system administration and database security

Procedural Most organizations have same people manage various operation of the database. This exposes the organization and its data to various risks, which necessitates the need for background checks.

Technical Storage, manipulation, and transmission of the data stored in the database. This needs safeguarding by technology that can enforce particular information control policies.

Database securities current and future trends

Database has undergone a number of metamorphoses; the main metamorphosis is the security lay out. Amongst these is the activity monitoring and blocking, classification, Encryption, consolidation, and configuration. However, organization can achieve these using various software. In this light, most companies dealing within database security have tried to developed software and application, but the most effective one is the product of oracle. it has solution for activity monitoring and blocking protection of databases irrespective of the platform is important, however, it should also be cost effective. Most companies use firewalls for windows based databases forgetting the vulnerability of their databases if open source software are used to hack into these databases (Shamimabi, & Nicholas, 2008).

The activities of the database on any network need monitoring to prevent any form of unauthorized access. Oracles have achieved this by preventing SQL injection and role escalations. Any database security system must prevent these in real time. The SQL grammar technology is an effective platform for reducing millions of SQL statement to few SQL characteristics. It has a high level of accuracy, performance and flexibility (Sandhu, 2008).

The system should be able to enforce white; lists and blacklists (positive and negative security model to provide protection without costly false positives. It should be able to allow for addressing SOX, PCI, HIPAA/HITECH, any other regulatory requirement. This should be easy to achieve without necessarily changing the existing databases.

Privileged User and Multi-Factor Access Control:

The cost of protecting corporate data should not be hefty therefore; organization should seek ways of protecting their data cheaply. The most trusted is the Oracle Database Vault; oracle database vault is an effective way by which organization can address regulatory directives. Organization also needs to secure their existing application, as is a mandatory requirement by some regulation of which Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is the key. They call for separation of the duties from the any other activities related to data management with the aim of securing data and make certain that the veracity of data is managed. Organization face increased challenge of proactively safeguarding of their application data kept in their databases. In this way, organization will use data for the intended purpose and not adversely. Only Privileged database clients should only access data. This requires the need for multifactor policy within the organization that can control the level of access by use of any built in factor. This may include instance, IP address, application record, application bypasses as well as the authentification methods.

Data Classification:

Shamimabi, & Nicholas, (2005), argue that industry leading application software is important. The bottom line of any database security is to classify data effectively in order to mediate access to organization data stored within the databases irrespective of the classification. A good database security system should be seamless to meet all the level of security. Organizations specifically design these systems to meet the requirement of the multilevel security requirements. Organization need systems that can classify data to allow access based on need to know. In this way, organization can protect the privacy of their data and realize the regulatory compliances.  Label security should be integrated with identity management to enable centralized definition of the organization policy. The database systems should be able to support parent Data Encryption and offer hold up for PKI, Kerberos, and any other RADIUS-based well-built validation systems.

Sandhu, (2008), argues that database security should be cost effective and comply with various privacy and regulatory requirement such as the Sarbanes-Oxley, or the Payment Card Industry (PCI) and even the latest Data Security Standard (DSS). However, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), is a new regulatory mandate, which might require constant upgrading necessitating the need for flexibility and compatibility of systems. Customers should be able to transparently encrypt any of their application data and other sensitive columns like their credit card numbers social security and PIN numbers while in the database as well as in back up devices or even over then networks. The systems need to be cost effective.

Consolidated Auditing And Reporting:

There are many insider threats that most organizations phase. However, databases security systems need to automatically collect and consolidate the audits that the organization carries out in search of quality and total security. Organization are in need of systems that offer them secure and scalable audit warehouses that also enable simplified recording and automating the collection and final consolidation of audit data. Organization need to control database audit centrally and managed from within the database security system to reduce the cost related to IT security.

Secure Configuration Management,

According to Baker, et al, (2009), organization should be ready to increase the level of the database security and compliance with the IT control frameworks. This includes frameworks like Control Objectives for Information and related Technology: (COBIT), global directives require internal control, database security configuration management global directives. It should enhance discovery, and vulnerability scanning while ensuring compliance benchmarking, including any other functionality such as central management of database configuration. Organizations require this to detect and prevent configuration drift in the databases. Organizations should also have systems that can alert them in case of critical patches issued by various security framework developers. This, might help in invoking a patch wizard that automatically deploys patches and ensure that application databases within organizations are always updated and secure from unauthorized access (Bertino, Byun, & Kamra, 2007)..

Data Masking

There is increasing need for marking of sensitive information by replacing them realistic values. In this way, organization can use production data for the purpose of analysis, development, and even sharing with the out-sourced partners. Organization can also share these data with offshore partners as well. This might apply the use of templates readily available in libraries and the format rules. This consistently transforms data with the view of maintaining referential integrity for all application used within the organization.

Conclusion

While protecting the database from intrusion is important, it is also important to underscore the need for management restrain and controlled access. This will go a long way in ensuring that the company has the best protection from espionage, hacking, data leaks and data theft. The main database protraction platforms include oracle.

References

Baker, H., Hutton, A., Hylender, D., Novak, C., Porter, C., Sartin, B., Tippett, P., & Valentine, (2009). The 2009 data breach investigations report. Verizon Business. Retrieved January 31, 2010,

Bertino, E., Byun, J., & Kamra, A. (2007). Database security. security, privacy, and trust in modern data management (Data-centric systems and applications) (pp. 87-102).New York: Springer-Verlag.

Sandhu R., (2009). Database security concepts, approaches, and challenges: IEEE Dependable secure computing

Shamimabi P., & Nicholas R., (2008).Protocol engineering for web service conversations: journal of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Special Issue on Agent-oriented Software Development

Dam Construction Project across River Yala in Budalangi, Kenya

Dam Construction Project across River Yala in Budalangi, Kenya

Student’s Name:

Institution:

Summary

River Yala is a big river the feed the great Lake Victoria in Kenya. Budlangi is a low land area that is rich in agricultural activities. During the rainy season, the river gets flooded causing destruction to the property and displacement of people. The catastrophe causes a lot of issues to the community since every year this incidence happens. As a result people cannot get to erect any permanent structures or grow long term cash crops for their livelihood.

The proposal for construction of a dam comes as assign of relieve to the people of Budalangi. The occurrence of flooding will be eliminated completely and additionally the dam will store water that can be utilized during the drought season for irrigating farmland. Moreover, the dam can be employed as a source of electricity to the people by transforming the stored water to electricity through hydro-generation.

The aim of the project

The project aim at making Budalangi is to make people self-sustaining through avoiding of flood that cause disturbance and transform the river to be a source of livelihood by stopping flooding, harnessing water for irrigation and hydro-generation of electricity.

Justification of the Project

Budalangi is a very fertile land allowing agriculture to thrive very well. The people of Budalangi are hardworking farmers. The occurrence of flood destroys the activities of Budalangi people thus rendering them poor and hopeless irrespective of their dedication to strive for their livelihood. It is with this view that the project of dam construction along the River Yala will eradicate all the miseries of the people of Budalangi and empower them to be self-sustainable and eradicate poverty.

Community work approach or Model

There are three models that encompasses the community work; community development, social planning, and social action. In this regard, the model that is adopted is local development.

Group improvement looks to engage people and gatherings of individuals with the aptitudes they have to impact change inside of their groups. These aptitudes are regularly made through the development of vast social gatherings working for a typical motivation. Group engineers must comprehend both how to function with people and how to influence groups’ positions inside of the connection of bigger social foundations (Bailey & Chatterjee, 2015).

Strategies for work with group gatherings utilized by settlement houses and as a part of “frontier” group advancement work. A noteworthy center is on the procedure of group building. Working with an expansive, agent cross segment of the group, laborers endeavor to accomplish change goals by empowering the group to set up accord by means of the recognizable proof of regular hobbies. Administration improvement and the instruction of the members are vital components simultaneously. In this methodology extraordinary store is situated by the estimations of both interest and authority (Ziakas et al., 2015).

Group development stresses self-improvement, common bolster, the building up of neighborhood combination, the advancement of neighborhood limits for critical thinking and self-representation, and the advancement of aggregate activity to convey a group’s inclinations to the consideration of political leaders (Collaborent, 2015).

Source: (Collaborent, 2015)

At the heart of the society are the people- the community. The aspects that affect the people are the marketplace, the workplace and the environment. It this project the people and the environment get affected. It is therefore of essence that community engagement play a role in transformation of Budalangi and the River Yala to be an important natural resource to the people rather than being a problem (Collaborent, 2015)

Strategies and Activities

The working purpose(s) of a given dam manages the working arrangement and the degree to which the dam stores and discharges water on a timetable that twists normal streams. The reasons of the dam will hence additionally focus the sorts of methods that can be connected to make the operational adaptability that can empower ecological streams to be restored as a lasting operational component (Ziakas et al., 2015).

When in doubt, researching open doors for altering dam operations will oblige an intensive evaluation of not just the working decides that represent the normal operations of any particular dam, additionally the physical systems by which the advantages, i.e., water, vitality, from the dam are dispersed, the end employments of those advantages, and the socio-political and financial drivers that at last manage dam operations (Johnson et al., 2015). Case in point, re-operation of a rural water supply dam may oblige evaluation of the whole watering system framework, with an eye toward changing water use practices that are eventually bringing on the undesired adjustment of the characteristic stream administration. In cases in which hydropower operations are in charge of the stream modifications, an appraisal of the whole vitality framework that incorporates the dam alongside numerous other vitality sources may be essential. At the point when the driver is surge administration, methodologies to suit bigger controlled surge occasions in the downstream floodplain may be needed. Subsequently, our dialog of chances for restoring normal streams will concentrate on the adjustment of “frameworks” rather than just dams (Narayanan & Thiagarajan, 2015).

Changing surge administration frameworks

Surge control offices can be re-worked to allow occasional immersion of floodplains for natural and floodplain generation advantages, e.g., fisheries, touching, surge subsidence, horticulture, and timber creation, if clashes with existing downstream land uses can be enhanced. An essential re-operation objective for surge control offices comprises of making conditions under which a bigger division of surge occasions can be permitted to go through the dam into the downstream floodplain. Underneath we examine a few choices for particular reconnection of floodplain ranges for surge stockpiling purposes. By restoring floodplain stockpiling limit, offices intended to control a 20-yr surge occasion may be re-worked to just control the 50-yr and higher surge occasions (Nikolakis & Grafton, 2015). The physical structure of a dam’s outlet works and spillway can be a genuine restricting element on numerous surge control dams, especially when vital auxiliary changes to empower higher surge discharges are restrictively lavish. Numerous surge control dams incorporate both an outlet channel and a spillway. Normally, the limit of the outlet funnel is too little to pass surges of the coveted greatness, and dam chiefs may be hesitant to permit water to overtop the spillway because of auxiliary or different concerns. It makes a circumstance in which the outlet funnel can just discharge what might as well be called a high-stream beat, e.g., not exactly the two year surge, and just the most compelling substantial surges overtop the spillway, accordingly killing all little to medium-sized surges. Basic adjustment is needed in these circumstances to permit more adaptability in discharging higher-greatness occasions in controlled manner (Varady, Kleinhans & Van Ham, 2015).

In many cases, the alteration that is important to allow more regular flooding examples is to diminish the results of intermittent immersion in the downstream floodplain. On the chance that the area use limitation is unchanging, for example, the vicinity of broad human settlements, lavish structures. In different cases, the area use imperative may be agreeable to movement of low-esteem structures, regular surge easements over farmlands that develop yearly yields, or development of banks to forestall immersion of high-esteem ranges. In these circumstances, re-operation to enhance the biological usefulness of the downstream floodplain might in reality be plausible (Woodyard, Przybyla & Hallam, 2015).

In considering the social qualities connected with surge reclamation, it is vital to note that re-setting up a floodplain immersion administration can make both the floodplain and the stream more beneficial for a mixed bag of client gatherings. The resultant improvement of fish and natural life populaces can enhance sustenance accessibility, and numerous social gatherings use fiber from floodplain reeds or trees for building materials and different purposes (Emejulu, 2015). Enhanced untamed life seeing open doors can be greatly advantageous to nearby tourism economies. It can likewise advantage agribusiness on the floodplain through the customary affidavit of supplements, flushing of soil saltiness, and the energize of groundwater aquifers. Albeit a few homes may need to be moved to higher ground to make surge reclamation conceivable, this is not care for the resettlement issues connected with new dam development and store immersion, which decreases waterway and floodplain profitability. Here we highlight a few procedures that can make adaptability in surge administration frameworks (Kee, Kim & Phillips, 2015).

Surge directing and stockpiling in maintenance bowls

Floodwaters can be permitted to fill common melancholies on the floodplain amid times of high stream. Floodwater may stream onto the area amid times of high waterway streams and afterward exit through the same course as the stream stage brings down. Now and again, such impermanent flooding has been controlled through designed conduit structures incorporated with levees that permit water to move into the floodplain for a constrained period, and afterward accordingly release once more into the stream as water levels drop in the waterway channel. Another probability is that the overabundance stream will go down the waterway valley in a “detour” and re-enter the stream some separation downstream, viably expanding the surge transport limit amid times of high stream (Ali, & Chapman, 2015). This can give some level of surge reclamation advantage, while likewise giving surge stockpiling to decrease harms downstream. Conceivable included advantages incorporate transport of silt and supplements to agrarian grounds, renewal of floodplain aquifers, and revitalization of wetlands. The primary exchange off connected with this administration system is the loss of the utilization of the area amid immersion (Pastor Seller, 2015).

This strategy frequently obliges some settlement via landowners or different clients of the influenced regions, for example, through surge easements, buy of the area for parkland, or some other type of remuneration for any lost usage of the area or assets, e.g., subsistence floodplain cultivating or brushing (Baloch & Ali, 2015). Surge easements are concurrences with landowners that permit flooding of secretly held grounds for a constrained time. One exchange off connected with this methodology can be a postponement in planting harvests amid the immersion period, which may be counterbalance to some degree by the expanded dampness and fruitfulness of the dirt amid the rest of the trimming season or in ensuing years. The negative reactions of flooding can be tended to by acquiring surge easements or buying the area for nature jam or different uses that are good with periodic flooding, or arranging administration understandings or remuneration with proprietors of mutual grounds (Rusch, Frazier & Atkins, 2015).

Levee setback

Levees constructed along a stream can extremely confine or preclude a waterway from connecting with its floodplain. By moving levees further from the waterway channel, a stream can surge onto a more extensive spread of its floodplain. This gives advantages both regarding surge control and environment reclamation. The further the levees are situated back from the stream, the more prominent the increment in surge stockpiling and surge related biological system advantages. These biological system advantages can incorporate the fractional or full reclamation of fluvial geomorphic procedures (Giovannini, 2015).

Evaluation

Assessment is an efficient determination of a subject’s legitimacy, worth and importance, utilizing criteria represented by an arrangement of principles. It will be employed to help an association, program, venture or whatever other intercession or activity to evaluate any point, feasible idea/proposition, or any option, to help in choice making; or to learn the level of accomplishment or esteem concerning the point and destinations and consequences of any such activity that has been completed. The basic role of assessment, notwithstanding picking up knowledge into earlier or existing activities, is to empower reflection and help with the distinguishing proof of future change.

Budget

The estimated budget will be at a tune of $5million so that the whole project is completed and commissioned.

Potential Funding Sources

The potential funding sources will be from the government, and aids from EU funding initiatives in Africa.

Time Line

Time/Period Activity

2015-2016 Resource mobilization

2016-2017 Project Survey and initiation

2017 Full Implementation of work

2018 Completion and handing offer

Limitations and Weaknesses of the Project

Physical imperatives postured by the dam framework, particularly the outline of the outlet works, can seriously restrict the rate at which controlled water discharges from a dam can be overseen, making it troublesome or difficult to discharge water of variable sums extending from low-stream to surge stream rates.

Dregs catching in supplies generally deliver exceedingly adjusted silt transport forms downstream of the dam. This frequently brings about adjusted channel and floodplain geometry, or down-cut riverbeds, speaking to by and large a generally distinctive physical living space layout to bolster local biological communities. On the chance that some similarity of regular stream and silt transport administrations including associations between the waterway and its floodplain cannot be kept up, rebuilding must consider whether the biological system and species that can be upheld by dam re-operation legitimize social and financial expenses.

References

Ali, N., & Chapman, S. (2015). WA30 The dying well community charter and dying matters: a

united kingdom (uk) approach to public health and dying. BMJ supportive & palliative care, 5(Suppl 1), A10-A10.

Bailey, D., & Chatterjee, P. (2015). Organization Development and Community Development:

True Soulmates or Uneasy Bedfellows?. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 19(2), 3.

Baloch, G. M., & Ali, M. (2015). COMMUNITY MONITORING IN REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH PROJECTS: CASE STUDY OF A HEALTH SECTOR NGO IN PAKISTAN. VFAST Transactions on Education and Social Sciences, 7(1).

Collaborent, (2015). Corporate Social Responsibility. Retrieved from:

HYPERLINK “http://www.collaborent.co.uk/corporate-social-responsibility/” http://www.collaborent.co.uk/corporate-social-responsibility/

Emejulu, A. (2015). Community Development as Micropolitics: Comparing Theories, Policies

and Politics in America and Britain. Policy Press.

Giovannini, M. (2015). Indigenous community enterprises in Chiapas: a vehicle for buen vivir?.

Community Development Journal, 50(1), 71-87.

Johnson Jr, M. P., Keisler, J., Solak, S., Turcotte, D., Bayram, A., & Drew, R. B. (2015).

Decision Science for Housing and Community Development: Local Evidence-Based Responses to Foreclosures.

Kee, Y., Kim, Y., & Phillips, R. (2015). Learning and Community Approaches for Promoting

Well-being. Springer.

Narayanan, S., & Thiagarajan, B. (2015). A STUDY ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

TOWARDS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CSR ACTIVITIES OF MADURA FASHIONS AND LIFE STYLES. Sai Om Journal of Commerce & Management: A Peer Reviewed National Journal (Online ISSN 2347-7563), 2(1), 1-6.

Nikolakis, W., & Grafton, R. Q. (2015). Putting Indigenous water rights to work: the Sustainable

Livelihoods Framework as a lens for remote development. Community Development, 46(2), 149-163.

Pastor Seller, E. (2015). SOCIAL WORK AND LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN

THE 21ST CENTURY. ARBOR Ciencia, Pensamiento y Cultura, 191(771), 10-3989.

Rusch, D., Frazier, S. L., & Atkins, M. (2015). Building Capacity Within Community-Based

Organizations: New Directions for Mental Health Promotion for Latino Immigrant Families in Urban Poverty. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(1), 1-5.

Varady, D. P., Kleinhans, R., & Van Ham, M. (2015). Community Entrepreneurship in Deprived

Neighbourhoods: Comparing UK Community Enterprises with US Community Development Corporations.

Woodyard, C. D., Przybyla, S., & Hallam, J. S. (2015). A community health needs assessment

using principles of community-based participatory research in a Mississippi Delta community: a novel methodological approach. Community Development, 46(2), 84-99.

Ziakas, V., Costa, C. A., Moufakkir, O., & Pernecky, T. (2015). VFR event tourism and social

networks’ at-a-distance’: rural community development through reunion and celebration. Ideological, social and cultural aspects of events, 182-199.

Customer loyalty in the Hong Kong Aviation market, A case study of Cathy Pacific Airways

Customer loyalty in the Hong Kong Aviation market: A case study of Cathy Pacific Airways

Name

Institution

Course

Tutor

Date

Topic Choice Matrix

The terms or concepts to be used

In definition, customer satisfaction can be understood as an attitudinal concept which reconciles the customer expectation and actual experience. Since the customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are directly related, they can be used interchangeably. Theory or models that could be applied

The only theories that can be used to underpin this dissertation will be customer satisfaction theory. It will be used in explaining, expanding and discussing the factors affecting customer satisfaction in the Airways.

Data collection

The data collection method will be questionnaire. A questionnaire is best used in studies seeking answers for how, when, problems and to what extent. Among the information that will be collected form customers include:

Customer satisfaction and opinions

Number of times a customer has used the Airways

Is the customer willing to use the Airways in future?

Access required

After identifying the customers using Airways’ past record and guest book, 100 participants (50 fathers and 50 mothers) will be selected using stratified random sampling. Participation will be voluntary. The questionnaires will be sent prior or in advance to the selected respondents together with a return address and envelope, after contacting them and obtaining their participation in the study.

Measurements

A number of factors are likely to impact on the amount and type of collected data. Some of the factors that have been identified to cause an impact on the internal validity of a study include the following. The variety of information collected from various people and sources might contradict. For instance, in one study, the researchers found out that the management had created different environments for the customers. Another notable threat to the research validity is the method of selection that might be (though the probability cannot be determined) biased. Since participation in the study by respondents is voluntary, selection bias is likely to affect the internal validity. Instrumentation is also identified by the scholars as another factor that affects internal validity. In this threat, any change or alterations made in the measurement of variables or changes in the techniques of observation may justify changes in the measurement that is ultimately obtained. Contribution of this research

The research will be essential in determining the factors that affect customer satisfaction in various Airways. The research outcomes will be useful to all Airways and other organizations.

Introduction

There is a great paradigm shift in the contemporary business environment and this intermarried with the day-to-day economic conditions that various businesses are subjected. It becomes very essential for every business to explore the aspect of customer satisfaction thoroughly as an important aspect and process of business survival and growth. By exploring customer satisfaction, the business organizations not only gain knowledge of the customer satisfaction drivers but establish strategies to retain them and have a competing edge over the competitors in the market.

This provides the rationale upon which this dissertation examines a customer loyalty in the Hong Kong Aviation market taking a case study of Cathy Pacific Airways. The dissertation takes a multi-faceted perspective of various professional fields, deeply analyzing the concept of customer satisfaction in those fields.

2.0 Aim of the research

The main aim of the research is to examine the customer loyalty in the Hong Kong Aviation market taking a case study of Cathy Pacific Airways.

2.0.1 Objectives of the research

To examine the level of customer satisfaction in Cathy Pacific Airways. Since customer satisfaction and loyalty are directly related, the more the satisfied customers the greater the loyalty.

To determine the customer satisfaction drivers in Cathy Pacific Airways. This will help in determining the factors that contributes to customer satisfaction in the Airway.

To examine the factors affecting customer satisfaction in Cathy Pacific Airways.

To determine the percentage of repeat customers in Cathy Pacific Airways. This will help in examining the extent to which customers are satisfied with the Airway’s services.

To determine how prices in the airways affect customer retention , satisfaction and loyalty in the Airways.

3. Rationale

Knowledge of the customer satisfaction factors is a strong backbone upon which an organization can base its customer retention. This is by knowing the satisfaction drivers of the customers it has attracted. Furthermore, though there is a great significance of using customer opinions and attitudes in various fields. Not many studies have specifically focused on assessing the attitudes of customers with respect to their satisfaction with the services offered and so the importance of this research. This research in its secondary research attempts to give an assessment of the studies that have been undertaken in an attempt to investigate the relationship of the two broad dimensions of customer satisfaction and that of customer retention. These two dimensions are powerfully related when attempts are made to understand or debunk on customer satisfaction. After all, the ideological significance of endeavouring to satisfy the customer is to retain the attracted customer and attract more hence creating a pool of loyal customer in the market. The end result is strong customer base and hence formidable market dominance and so the importance of this research.

4. Theoretical framework

Customer satisfaction and retention takes a central role in present marketing theory and praxis. As such, it contains significant link between customers’ behaviours and the activities of the Airways or any company. Customer satisfaction, correspondingly, has been the object of research in more than 20,000 studies across the globe. As a result, various theories have been developed to explain this abstract construct. To date, however, consensus on that matter has not been reached.

This research examines various conceptions of the formation of customer satisfaction. For this reason, customer satisfaction paradigm is sent as the basis on which other theories are developed. Subsequently, a brief presentation and evaluation of existing methods for measuring customer satisfaction sets the focus for this research.

5.0 Literature review

The literature examines original investigations, other literature reviews, peer reviewed academic literature, research databases, reviews, journals in various academic fields and original manuscripts that relate to customer satisfaction. This is intended to bring a better understanding of the factors behind customer satisfaction in various Airways targeting Cathy Pacific Airways. One of the most recent studies, which directly involved investigation of customer satisfaction of consumer is the study carried out by SSP (2006). Since a search in the research databases produces a big number of results, the reviewed literature sources are picked on a random- sample strategy. Databases searched include the BMC research database, JAMA database among others.

In definition, customer satisfaction can be understood as an attitudinal concept which reconciles the customer expectation and actual experience (Mont & Plepys 2003). When the difference between the two aspects (for instance expectation and actual experience) is wide, then there is little satisfaction and an organization stands high chances of losing the attracted customers.

Cooper (2008) observes that because of this knowledge about customer satisfaction with the services of doctors and nurses in the field of health care services, it should therefore help in strengthening the complex intermarriage of various variables across the board with respect to satisfaction of the consumers in the healthcare industry. He further observes that consumer satisfaction will eventually lead to job satisfaction in the service providers. Put in the business setting of any other industry, what this implies is that when the customer is satisfied and the organization’s employees are made aware of the fact, they too are motivated and hence become satisfied with their job. Satisfaction of one is dependent on satisfaction of the other in one or more ways. It in part therefore stresses the significance of involving the employees in the employee satisfaction plans.

With the changing characteristics of the market platform on which business is conducted, the aspect of customer satisfaction becomes even more relevant. Online businesses that deal with clients in a virtual world would wish to know the satisfaction of their customers. This is the basis of the research article by Nusair and Kandampully (2008) which sought to establish the factors that influence customer satisfaction in online business platforms. Nusair and Kandampully (2008) conducted a survey of travel websites with respect customer satisfaction. The objective of their research study was to establish the relationship of various customer satisfaction dimensions and then attempt to investigate if the customers of the analyzed websites are actually satisfied. The researchers provide a good rationale upon which the results of their study may not attain external validity. One of the research limitation identified by the researchers and which limits external validity is that the extent to which their results could be generalized to other business websites or organizational settings is greatly impounded by the fact that they conducted the study on a sample of six travel websites. Another limitation was that the attributes of customer satisfaction could be covered only to a limited extent. This also contributes to reduced generalizability of the results.

As a component of the contemporary business model, corporations and business organizations customarily examined the consequences of changes in customer satisfaction on sales volume and customer retention (Tang & Bougoure 2007). Tang & Bougoure (2007) posit that there is an integral link connecting customer satisfaction and service quality, a link which cannot be doubted. The two researchers make an observation, which concurs with what Bates and associates (1995) had observed in their study. The two research associates observe that for a better business standing in the market and better performance, the business should aim at providing an excess of the satisfaction customers expect out of the services (Tang & Bougoure 2007). This gives an organization’s marketing department and customer service departments a fundamental challenge.

Another comprehensive research study on customer satisfaction is the research done by Conklin (2005) investigating the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty. The researcher gives a comprehensive approach with a systematic methodology, which aims at exploring the concept of customer retention with respect to various aspects of customer satisfaction like quality of services (that is, reliability of the services, responsiveness of the business to customer needs and assurance) and the marketing strategy adapted by the organization (promotional tactics and the channels used among other aspects). The setting for the study is the Bangkok Airport. The researcher used a 5- point rating questionnaire design to collect data related to the above mentioned aspects and subjected the data to statistical analysis.

On another perspective, the researcher also subjected customer satisfaction to analysis as an independent variable. Here, the dependent variable was the customer loyalty. Since the researcher also wanted to establish if there was any relationship between satisfaction of customers and their loyalty, he subjected the data collected to this analysis. The findings of the analysis pointed to a strong positive relationship between the two variables. The researcher therefore managed to derive a string of correlations leading to customer satisfaction. The implication of this study is that customer satisfaction as a fundamental aspect of business and welfare economics of consumer behaviour should be understood as a process (Mont & Plepys 2003).

Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty have a causal link, which means that utmost care must be borne in mind when attempts are made by business organizations to develop satisfaction strategies. An oversight may easily lead to the plan not working at all. Since the characteristics of the variables a long this causal link may not be similar across the industries and may also vary from business to business, every organization must examine directionality of its customer satisfaction thoroughly (SSP 2006).

Based on the literature review, a number of issues are evident. First, given that customer satisfaction is not a quantitatively measurable variable and it ideally depends on the behaviour of consumers, more investigative efforts should be put in understanding consumer behaviour of consumers in a particular industry, geographic location and across gender. However, it must be taken into account that consumer behaviour is not only a profound process in business interaction with the society but it also has many intervening variables which cannot be assumed. For instance, a business that wishes to gain customer loyalty without satisfaction is unlikely to succeed. On the same basis, an organization that wants to ensure a satisfied customer without examining the consumer behaviour of customer with respect to changes in quality of services offered and market approach strategies employed may also not be planning to succeed.

6. Methodology

Primary research design

The quantitative data collection method will be employed in this research. Questionnaires will be sent randomly to the Airways customers. A questionnaire is best used in studies seeking answers for how, when, problems and to what extent. A questionnaire is the appropriate quantitative method for the study because it supports the gathering of data on the measurable effects and it enables the researcher to collect data from 100 respondents.

The questionnaire takes approximately 40 minutes to finish. The questionnaires will be sent prior or in advance to the selected respondents together with a return address and envelope, after contacting them and obtaining their participation in the study. Duration of one week will be allowed for the questionnaire completion (Clarke, 2005).

Secondary research

The literature examines original investigations, other literature reviews, peer reviewed academic literature, research databases, reviews, journals in various academic fields and original manuscripts that relate to customer satisfaction. This is intended to bring a better understanding. One of the most recent studies, which directly involved investigation of customer satisfaction of consumer is the study carried out by SSP (2006). The qualitative data collection method will be secondary research materials. The questions focus on accounts of the level of satisfaction, social relations of customers, as well as on areas of need and recommendations in addressing these areas (Munhall, 2007).

Sampling

The participants of the study are the regular customers or other users who happened to use the Airway. The participants (to fill the questionnaires) will be selected randomly. After identifying the customers using Airways’ past record and guest book, 100 participants (50 fathers and 50 mothers) will be selected using stratified random sampling. This method of selection considers criteria in selecting the respondents. The criteria comprise the classification of the respondents and the number of respondents needed to represent each classification (Kabala, 2005). The specific respondents to fill the number required for each classification are selected randomly. Using this sampling method ensures that customers from different income classes and are represented proportionally.

Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize the responses and determine means and standard deviation. The analysis is aimed to determine the significance of measurable level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of customers (Kabala, 2005). Qualitative data will be analyzed by using thematic classification and drawing implications relative to the quantitative data and the research questions. Results will be presented in tables and graphs together with textual explanations. From the analysis, the level of customers’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction will be determined. Since customer satisfaction and loyalty are directly related, the extent of customer satisfaction will show how customers are loyal.

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