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Innovative teams to own the project and provision of incentives.

EMPOWERMENT

STUDENT NAME

AFFILIATION

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Innovative teams to own the project and provision of incentives.

Creating innovative teams ensures all departments are given the task of coming up with ideas. The task to come up with ideas builds up cohesive workforce. The creative team should be given to work with the idea and foster its growth. This ensures they are the sole owners of the idea and when they succeed they are a team. Motivation is important to get the work force to process ideas. Rewarding the best ideas with a prize will ensure everyone is involved (Huq, 2010). The reward can be in form of monetary value, or recognize the winner by announcing the winner to the rest. In some organizations a portrait of the winner is usually displayed and this motivates others to work harder.

Support creativity by having a positive working environment

It is important for an organization to understand that a too serious work environment is not good for the mind. Activities such as team building sessions can help employees relax and have an open mind about ideas. Activities such as this give speech to the voiceless, less confident individuals. This is done inform of brainstorming session where everybody can share ideas.

Empowerment does not happen without ownership because an employee has to prove he can do the job. Imagine an employee who does not display proper job initiative. He does not own the job and this is a sign that the management has not empowered them. Ownership cannot also happen without empowerment because releasing control of ownership ensures people feel empowered to truly work.

According to (Mimi, 2000) in business a flexible and productive work force always focuses on the success of organization. Skilled employees should constantly be trained on new skills as technology advances. Understanding technology helps in reducing labor cost thorough skilled employees. This is done by scheduling and arranging workers to best suit organization. The ability to be globally competitive organization has had skilled workers to grow and assist in innovation of the organization technology. Technology advancement means that a good worker has to have organizational skills, this enables each trainee to gain a new skill.

Reference

Huq, R. (2010). Employee Empowerment: The Rhetoric and the Reality. Triarchy Press Limited.

Mimi, M., & Murrell, K. (2000). Empowering Employees. McGraw Hill Professional.

Introduction (7)

Employee Training Plans and Identifying Future Training Needs

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Introduction

The current skill levels of existing employees are an important component in the success of any business. HR managers must also be able to identify current skill levels of existing employees as well as effectively train new employees. This data is extremely valuable in determining future training plans, budgeting and scheduling. In this article you will learn how to identify current skill levels of existing employees, a necessary first step in building your training plan. Skill levels are a classification tool that is used to indicate how well an employee is performing at their job and their level of performance. The mean is the average skill level of an employee. The standard deviation is used to quantify the spread in skill levels within an organization. In most cases the standard deviation will be larger than the mean and this fact must be taken into consideration when developing a plan for training employees (Aravindakumar, 2020). This paper will discuss this variance in skill levels, the learning theories that are applicable to the current organization scenario, the employee training design and methods and lastly, measurement of desired outcomes.

Current Skills

In order to determine current skill levels, employees need to take a test or fill out some sort of survey which allows them to self-assess their skillsets. A survey should include questions regarding work experience, skillsets, current job responsibilities and a description of performance on such duties. The only limitation on survey questions is that the survey taker should not be asked to rate their own skillsets. The purpose of this test is to get an idea of the current skill level of employees, not to give them a ranking (Dhondt et al 2019). A skilled worker will be able to manipulate the scores in order to suit their needs. It is important to keep in mind that skill levels are determined by the individual employee, not by any outside measure or criteria. It is generally concluded that skill levels can also reflect a change in job responsibilities, which would make them less useful for determining future training needs of existing employees.

However, skill level can still play a role in determining training needs for current employees. The mean skill level is the most useful number to rank current employees. This number should be the average skill level of all employees in an organization. The standard deviation should be used as a secondary metric in determining employee training plans and identifying future training needs (Dhondt et al 2019).

Learning Theories

The learning theories that are applicable to the current scenario include: an experiment-based approach “learning by doing” as opposed to “learning by hearing and/or seeing”. Problem solving through inquiry and research. Active, experiential learning involving reflection. A skill based perspective of learning vs. a content based perspective of learning. A problem-solving approach in which one starts from the situation and moves outwards to the context, considering various possible causes for the given trouble and finally deciding on a course of action to take. Strong emphasis on critical thinking and decision-making (Qi, & Chau, 2018). The skill based approach of learning – in which the learner is aware of the need to develop a varied set of skills and knowledge.

Learners are encouraged to explore ideas and concepts for themselves, and are provided with the means for exploring them. Learning strategies and techniques can be taught that allow learners to access new information through different ways of perceiving, organizing, and framing the materials. Learners are encouraged to look for insights and new understandings in their own experiences from which they can derive new understandings about what they know as well as in Socratic dialogue with different teachers on different subjects. Group work, sharing of learning experiences, and active reflection on the basis of knowledge from outside academic sources are emphasized.

In an experiment-based approach (also called experiential learning) the emphasis is placed on the acquiring of knowledge and skills via experiments (or real life experiences). The experiment-based approach to learning is a combination of observation of the natural environment, empirical investigation, and experimentation with control over variables. This approach to learning was in existence before John Dewey which supports an alternate perspective that learning can take place without teachers or schools (Qi, & Chau, 2018). It also refutes the concept that learning only takes place in schools. Dewey believed that everyday living was a part of a student’s educational experience.

This perspective is not as commonly used or accepted today due to the fact that technology has increased accessibility to such a degree that it has created information overload. However, this approach to learning is proven to be more effective for scholars and professionals. A good example of an experiment-based approach is seen in the creation of Wikipedia as opposed to a more traditional textbook based education system (Qi, & Chau, 2018).

The training design and methods

The training design and methods of instruction I would propose to implement includes the following: Implementation of an assessment center to determine current skill levels. Identify possible future skill needs based on the assessment of current skills. Conduct a training needs analysis and design an individual training plan for each employee based on their future skill needs.

Conduct one-on-one training with current employees to build the necessary skills for their new roles. This method is particularly useful for trainees who are new to the company and have not been trained in the company’s specific needs. It is important to note that this method can only be followed if all employees are willing to undergo training, a very rare situation in today’s work environment (Numonjonov, 2020).

Departmental competency model; In order to identify future skill needs based on organizational needs and responsibilities, a departmental competency model should be implemented. This model will allow managers and HR specialists to more clearly define the job of their departments and employees within the context of skills needed by the company as a whole. It is important to identify the gaps between the current skill level and the potential skill level that a department needs in order to function efficiently as a whole. After this has been done, an organizational assessment should be conducted in order to review policies, practices, procedures and any other aspect of the organization that can be improved or effected by improved training methods.

The development of an individual training plan is necessary if there is a need for increased skills amongst employees. This should be conducted after the competency model is completed and employee training needs are determined. The individual training plans will specifically outline what each employee will learn during their tenure with the company in regards to skillsets needed for their job. Finer levels of training should be conducted with employees who are more likely to be promoted or transferred into other departments. In essence, this training is a part of the employee’s preparation for their new position. This individual training approach also allows for correction and adjustment if the employee does not learn in a manner that was anticipated by senior management (Numonjonov, 2020). The implementation of a learning environment which emphasizes on group work, Socratic dialogue, experiential learning and active reflection provides an environment conducive to the development of team work skills and the ability to problem solve.

Measurement of Desired Outcomes

The desired outcome is to train the personnel within ninety days to increase company performance. The plan would be to measure the desired outcomes often and when appropriate as these can change based on many factors. A plan for measurement of outcomes should be developed with specific measurements, frequency, and time frames for each measurement. The desired outcome could also be measured by taking progress reports from all members of the management team within thirty days and then again at sixty days so that a comparison can be made in order to determine how effective the training was in achieving its goals. Calculations for any increases in performance would also be made as a way of determining the effectiveness of the training (Kooij, Kanfer, Betts, & Rudolph, 2018).

The specific training delivered to each department can be measured by conducting surveys at the end of the training conducted at each department. The results will show if any changes were made in employee morale, how future actions are being viewed, and how the employees perceive their supervisors. If a survey is conducted after 90 days of training and there is no change in these issues, then it will be simple to tell that the course selected may not have been effective in achieving its desired outcomes. If an employee is changing the way he or she will be doing things, then it is evident that the training was effective. Activities should be implemented in order to measure your desired outcome. The activities must involve all members of management or another business partner e.g., consultant, peer, or supervisor (Kooij, Kanfer, Betts, & Rudolph, 2018).

. Conducting a survey should be done in order to collect data and not as a concrete measurement of the desired outcome. In order to assess the effectiveness of the training, a qualitative and quantitative analysis should be conducted.

It is essential to define the specific measurements that need to be made throughout the training process. This will ensure that an evaluation of your program will be possible if it is not being met. The training process is a complex situation because it involves two different aspects: trainee progress and management progress. The objectives for training can change based on many factors including: employee experience, employee skills, and results from previous assessments. It is important to review your objectives constantly throughout the process in order to make sure that they are still relevant and still an effective way of achieving your desired outcomes.

Training has become a very important component of employee development as more and more companies are implementing training into their HR practices. One way to assess the effectiveness of your training program is to conduct surveys after the training is completed, ninety days later (Kooij, Kanfer, Betts, & Rudolph, 2018). If no change in any important aspects related to the desired outcomes is observed after this time, then the effectiveness of your program was substandard.

Having an effective system for measuring your desired outcome is essential when developing a training program because it will allow you to make changes if they are not effective or need to be changed. In order to measure the effectiveness of your training program and identify effective practices, one must conduct and implement activities that relate directly with your desired outcome.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the effectiveness of employee training is dependent on many factors including the design, delivery and evaluation of training. Evaluation measures should be developed within ninety days in order to establish a baseline for your training program and identify desired outcomes. These are more likely to be achieved if trainers follow a competency model, conduct an organizational assessment and develop an individual training plan for each employee (Zhou et al 2021). In order to achieve your desired outcome, it is important to measure your progress often and when appropriate as these measurements can change based on many factors. It is important that the measurements made are specific so that evaluation of your program will be possible when it is not being met.

What I have learnt

What have I learned by writing this paper is that the organizational culture of a company is greatly affected by the skills and knowledge of its employees. With this information it can be said that employees play a vital role in the success of a business. Training is an important tool within any business to effectively employ staff, increase their job satisfaction, and meet organizational objectives. To do this type of training right is an intricate process that can be completed by following three key methods; structural development, delivery, and evaluation of training.

Having reliable measurement tools to determine the effectiveness of your program will aid in achieving your desired outcome as well as future desired outcomes that you may have for your organization. In addition, an evaluation of the program is essential to the success of your training and should be conducted ninety days after implementation. By following these steps and creating an effective measurement system a company can achieve its desired outcome in a successful manner.

With this knowledge I have learned that employee training is an important process to achieve desired outcomes within your organization and should be given priority as it will greatly contribute to an organizations success. The effectiveness of the training program is measured by looking at job-related attitude, behaviors and performance. Learning can be measured when there are changes in job related attitudes, behaviors and performance.

References

Aravindakumar, A. (2020). Managing and utilizing human resources in an organization with reference to higher education. Editorial Board, 9(8).

Dhondt, S., Van der Zee, F., Preenen, P., Kraan, K., & Oeij, P. R. (2019). Dominant technology and organization: Impacts of digital technology on skills. International perspectives and research on the” future of work “, 186-205.

Kooij, D. T., Kanfer, R., Betts, M., & Rudolph, C. W. (2018). Future time perspective: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(8), 867.

Numonjonov, S. D. (2020). Innovative methods of professional training. ISJ Theoretical & Applied Science, 1(81), 747-750.

Qi, C., & Chau, P. Y. K. (2018). Will enterprise social networking systems promote knowledge management and organizational learning? An empirical study. Journal of Organizational Computing and Electronic Commerce, 28(1), 31-57.

Zhou, Y., Liu, G., Chang, X., & Wang, L. (2021). The impact of HRM digitalization on firm performance: investigating three‐way interactions. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 59(1), 20-43.

Stages of Embryonic Development

Embryonic Development

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Part 1

Stages of Embryonic Development

Embryonic development refers to the process of growth and development of embryo. On the other hand, stage of embryonic development is a phase within the period of embryonic development that is marked by distinct growth changes in the embryo. Also known embryogenesis, the process of embryonic development starts after fertilization of an ovum by a single spermatozoon. The spermatozoon produces enzymes which allow it to penetrate through a layer of follicle cells covering the ovum (corona radiata) and fuses with the egg’s plasma membrane to form a diploid, called zygote (Campbell & Reece, 2005). In human beings, the process of fertilization takes place in the ampulla of the uterine tube. There are four main stages of embryonic development: cleavage, patterning, differentiation, and growth.

The cleavage or cell division stage starts approximately 18-36 hours after fertilization. The zygote formed after fertilization divides into multiple cells through a process known as binary fission (Campbell & Reece, 2005). The resultant cells after fission carry equal number of chromosomes and genes. After the 8-cell stage, the cells bind to form a compact sphere. Further divisions within the sphere lead to the formation of a 32-cell mass known as morula. Each of the cells within the molula is known as blastomere. This is followed by a process known as cavitation in which the outer cells secret fluid containing proteins into the sphere, facilitating rapid division of the cells (Forgacs & Newman, 2005). Despite the increase in the number of cells in this phase, the volume of the zygote remains the same. The zygote lands into the uterus during the 6th or the 7th day, after which developmental changes lead to the formation of three membranes: placenta, chorion and amnion (Forgacs & Newman, 2005). Further development of the morula leads to formation of a ball containing about 2000 cells known as blastcyst. Also a fluid-filled cavity called blastocoele is also formed within the embryo. The developmental changes end with the formation of a structure known as blastula. The blastula is surrounded by a layer of single sells called trophoblast. However, it contains a thick inner layer of cells at one end of the inner cavity, from which the embryo will develop (Campbell & Reece, 2005)

Patterning or morphogenesis is the second stage in embryonic development, during which the outer membrane (zona pellucida) of the molula starts disintegrating and the zygote starts to increase in volume. Approximately eleven days after implantation of zygote on the uterus, some cells from inner mass migrate into the fluid-filled cavity (blastocoele) and organize to form masses and layers. The process of migration is called gastrulation. The space from which the cells migrate forms omniotic cavity (Campbell & Reece, 2005). Three major germ layers are also formed in the process: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. The ectoderm forms the neural tube and the epidermis. The mesoderm forms vascular elements, muscles and tissues. The endoderm develops to form lining of the gut and associated organs. This stage is also characterized by the formation of belly and back sides, right and left sides and front and the rear. By the end of the patterning stage, the genes of the embryo are fully formed and expressed (Campbell & Reece, 2005).

Differentiation is the third phase in which specialized structures that perform more functions start to form. About 21 days after the implantation of the embryo onto the uterus, the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm grow further and differentiate to form neutral tube and notocord, among other vital organs of the body. The process of formation of body organs from the germ layers is called neurulation (Campbell & Reece, 2005). Notocord develops from mesoderm and undergoes through a series of developments to form the vertebral column. However, notochord in human beings disappears before birth. The development of neural groove in this stage leads to the formation of brain, and spinal cord (Campbell & Reece, 2005). The mesoderm also undergoes through a series of developments leading to the formation of vertebrae, muscles, and connective tissues. In addition, the mesoderm grows to form gonads, adrenal glands, and kidneys. Furthermore, coelom is formed by the end of differentiation phase.

Growth is the last phase in embryo development. During this phase, the body goes through a period of growth characterized by formation of new cells, extra cellular matrix, and new organs (Campbell & Reece, 2005). The growth phase starts between the eighth and ninth months after conception and continues until birth. Foetal developments in the growth phase are described in the next section.

How an embryo transitions to foetus

In human beings, the development of foetus from conception to birth can be divided into three stages: first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. Each of the stages consists of three months. The process of transformation of embryo to foetus is a gradual process that takes place within the first trimester. Transition starts during the cleavage phase, characterized by rapid division of cells within the embryo. This is followed by the formation of germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm), chorion and amnion within three to six weeks after conception. Organogenesis follows in the next six to eight weeks (differentiation phase) characterized by the formation of vital organs such as brain and spinal cord, coelom, muscle tissues, notochord and neural tube (Ibim, 2010).

However, the transition from embryo to foetus continues after the differentiation phase. Other changes occur from the ninth week, which make the embryo to look more like a human being (Ibim, 2010). The changes include the formation of head, ears, nose, heart, hands and legs. Also, the placenta is fully formed by the end of the ninth week. By the end of the first trimester, the embryo is fully transitioned into foetus. The chorion is fully established, the embryo is in the amniotic sac and the sex of the foetus can be determined (Ibim, 2010).

The second trimester is characterized by more growth and refinement activities and less developmental activities. The placenta plays the biggest role in maintaining homeostasis through secretion of progesterone and transfer of nutrients and wastes. The foetus is approximately 6cm by the beginning of the first trimester. At 20 weeks, the foetus has grown to approximately half a kilogram. At this time, heartbeat can be heard and the legs, head, face, and hands are prominent (Ibim, 2010).

Further growth and development continues during the third trimester. A series of changes and developments take place in the circulatory and respiratory systems which facilitate air-breathing after birth. Additional changes and developments occur, which enable the foetus to maintain constant body temperature. Changes also occur such as increase in size and weight, reduction in the size of head, thickening of the muscle and hardening of bones and skin ((Ibim, 2010).

Maturation processes within developmental stages in the foetus

After birth, the foetus is required to adapt to the environmental changes by establishing and maintaining physiological homeostasis, without the assistance of the placenta. Therefore, the survival of the foetus after birth is dependent upon maturation of structures and organs that interface with the new environment. Examples of essential organs and structures are lungs, immune system, gut, liver, pancreases and kidney (Strauss & ‎Barbieri, 2013). Various studies have shown that maturation processes during foetal development are induced by glucocorticoids (Strauss & ‎Barbieri, 2013). Critical maturation processes that occur during foetal development include deposition of glycogen in the liver; activity of enzyme systems in the foetal brain, thyroid gland, pancreases, retina, and gut; and production of surfactant by foetal lungs. Maturation of the foetal lungs is particularly important since inability to breathe due pulmonary immaturity has been found to be a leading cause of mortality among preterm infants as well as neonatal morbidity (Norris & Lopez, 2010). However, the key functions of glucocorticoids in the process of maturation are not yet clear. As Norris and Lopez (2010) highlight, some studies have shown that glucocorticoids do not initiate maturation of cells; they simply accelerate the process of maturation.

Structures linking mother and foetus

The placenta is the main structure that connects the foetus to the mother. During the first four weeks of foetal development, prior to development of the placenta, the embryo relies on simple diffusion of oxygen and nutrients. Once the placenta and associated organs develop, it starts releasing hormones (progesterone, estrogen, placental lactogens, relaxin, and chorionic gonadotrophins) into the circulation system of the mother, which mobilizes nutrients and modifies maternal appetite (British Nutrition Foundation, 2013). It plays a key role in transferring nutrients (such as amino acids, glucose, lipids, minerals, water, and oxygen) from the mother to the foetus and wastes (such as uric acid, carbon dioxide and bilirubin) from the foetus to the mother. Harmful substances (such as nicotine, cocaine and alcohol) and infectious (such as cytomegalovirus and rubella) are also transferred from the mother to the foetus (British Nutrition Foundation, 2013). It also prevents the transfer of some noxious agents from maternal system to the foetus. The hormones released by the placenta also help to maintain homeostasis. The placenta maintains homeostasis through regulation of nutrients and processes within the body of the foetus, in response to changes in maternal system (British Nutrition Foundation, 2013). However, there are some challenges that are associated with process of maintaining homeostasis. For instance, higher concentration of glucose in the body of the mother is reflected by a rise in concentration of glucose in the body of the foetus. The placenta is unable to regulate the movement of glucose molecules, which may be detrimental to the foetus in cases where concentration of glucose in the body of the mother is too high or too low (Sinha, Miall & Jardine, 2012).

The placenta consists of a maternal and a foetal component. The maternal component is known as decidua and develops from a layer of endometrium. Endometrium is a layer that forms on the uterine wall after implantation. The foetal component is known as chorion and is connected to the foetus by the umbilical cord (British Nutrition Foundation, 2013). The chorion has villi which aid the process of transfer of essential nutrients between the mother and the foetus. The umbilical cord contains two arteries and one vein. The arteries transport de-oxygenated blood from the foetus to the mother while the vein carries oxygenated blood from the mother to the foetus (British Nutrition Foundation, 2013).

Part 2

Relationship between foetal development and exposure to toxins

The first three months of foetal development involve numerous changes in division of cells and development of structures and cells in the embryo. Exposure of the embryo to toxins during this period may interfere with growth and development processes and may lead to deformities, irreparable damage or miscarriage (Ibim, 2010). Examples of harmful compounds are nicotine (cigarette smoking), some recreational drugs, cocaine, heroin, mercury, lead, some pesticides, air pollutants, alcohol, high levels of radiation, and viral infection (Ibim, 2010). The compounds may not harm the mother but they may pass through the placenta and cause harm to the foetus. The compounds are most injurious during the first six to eight weeks after fertilization (a period during which organogenesis takes place).

Maternal influence on foetal development

The growth and development of the foetus depends on the conditions to which the mother is exposed to during pregnancy. As mentioned, consumption or exposure of the mother to toxic substances may cause harm to the foetus. Maternal system responds by trying to get rid of the toxic substances from the body. However, some toxic substances are quick to cause harm on the foetus before they are removed. The body of the mother may also be unable to protect the foetus where the concentration of the toxic substances is too high (DeWit & O’Neill, 2013). Severe deficiencies of nutrients such as glucose and vitamins in the maternal body system have also been shown to affect mental and physical development of the foetus (Semrud-Clikeman & Ellison, 2009). The body of the mother responds to nutrients deficiency through oxidation of fats stored in the body. In extreme cases, the little available nutrients are used in maintaining vital processes between the mother and the foetus, such as placenta development. At the same time, over-nutrition during pregnancy may be detrimental to the foetus. However, over-nutrition is usually solved through homeostasis processes in the mother’s body. Extreme maternal stress has been found to increase level of stress in foetus and to affect mental and physiological development of the foetus. Maternal corticotrophin responds by releasing hormones that help to reduce stress (DeWit & O’Neill, 2013). The health condition of the mother is also vital to the development of foetus. Chronic diseases such as diabetes and rheumatic heart disease may cause harm to the foetus. Studies have shown that the immune system of the mother may not be effective in protecting the foetus from danger caused by such diseases. It has been proposed that pregnant women diagnosed with such chronic diseases should rely on medical therapy (DeWit & O’Neill, 2013).

Examples of foetal abnormalities related to homeostatic challenges, exposure to toxins and maternal influence

Homeostatic challenges and maternal conditions leading to deficiency in nutrients may cause abnormalities such as retarded prenatal and postnatal growth, postnatal leptin surge, and hypertension. Over-nutrition may cause abnormalities such as obesity, lipid peroxidation, and postnatal hipppocampal neurogenesis (Johnson, 2003). Examples of abnormalities associated with exposure of the foetus to toxins are foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) ,and lightweight babies. FAS occurs as a result of consumption of alcohol during the critical periods of foetal development (Ibim, 2010). On the other hand, smoking of alcohol, marijuana and consumption of high concentrations of caffeine before and during pregnancy have been shown to lead to birth of lightweight babies. Homeostatic challenges and factors such as maternal under-nutrition and stress and age (below 16 and above 40 years) have also been associated with birth of lightweight infants.

References

British Nutrition Foundation (2013). Nutrition and Development: Short and Long Term

Consequences for Health. London: John Wiley & Sons

Campbell, N. A. & Reece, J. B. (2005). Biology. London: Pearson, Benjamin Cummings

DeWit, S. C. & O’Neill P. A. (2013). Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing. London:

Elsevier Health Sciences

Forgacs, G. & Newman, S. A. (2005). Biological Physics of the Developing Embryo. Cambridge

University Press,

Ibim, S. (2010). Biology: Threads of Life. New York (NY): Xlibris Corporation

Johnson, L. R. (2003). Essential Medical Physiology. New York (NY): Academic Press

Norris, D. O. & Lopez, K. H. (2010). Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates, Volume 1.

New York (NY): Academic Press

Semrud-Clikeman, M. & Ellison, A. T. (2009). Child Neuropsychology: Assessment and

Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2nd Edition. New York (NY): Springer

Sinha, S., Miall, L. & Jardine, L. (2012). Essential Neonatal Medicine. London: John Wiley &

Sons

Strauss, J. F. & ‎Barbieri, R. L. (2013). Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology: Physiology,

Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management. London: Elsevier Health Sciences

Sociological Analysis of Mental Health A proposal

Elisia Davis

SOC433 Sociology of Mental Health

July 12, 2020

Sociological Analysis of Mental Health: A proposal

The Aviator is a film that tells the story of a successful film director and aviation magnate by the name Howard Hughes. In addition to narrating his journey from the bottom up, it focuses on his struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is a condition that sees a person held in a cycle of compulsions and obsessions. Obsessions are invasive and unwanted thoughts, visions, or urges that result in severely distressing feelings. The film takes the audience through the journey of the main character as the OCD manifests and starts to limit his life and drive him to estrangement. In essence, the film is a portrayal of the man’s decade long journey battling this condition.

Unlike most conditions, OCD does not start with parenting but the way a family reacts to a child with OCD can determine whether the child’s anxiety is increased or reduces. Other factors such as traumatic brain surgeries are associated with OCD because of brain function impairment. Severe infections such as strep throat or flu trigger OCD symptoms in children who are genetically predisposed to this condition.

Functionalism is a very effective theory in explaining or enabling an understanding of OCD. Mental states can only be interpreted by what they do but not what they are made of. Compulsions and obsessions result in visible physical behavior. For instance, in The Aviator the character Howard Hughes carries around his own soap and at one point washes his hands until they bleed. Functionalism also connects OCD with its social factors since the theory considers society a structure that is responsible for taking care of the biological and social needs of an individual. The theorists of sociologists who front this idea believe that a condition such as OCD should be approached by focuses on factors outside the individual.

Introduction (11)

Effects of Uppers, Downers, and All-arounders

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Introduction

There are various names used to refer to different drugs including street names, brand names, or even generic names. The terms uppers, downers, and all-rounders are used to refer to a group of drugs widely known as depressants and stimulants. The categories comprise a wide variety of substances used for treating various conditions. Uppers and downers have different effects and can be addictive to users. This essay provides a summary of upper, downer, and all-rounder categories of drugs including examples, effects, and potential consequences they have on users. It is necessary to equip oneself with the correct information about drug substances because it helps a person make fact-based and correct decisions.

Uppers

The term uppers refer to stimulant drugs. This is a group of drugs that is used to increase energy levels and keep people alert. Once a person takes these drugs, initially they experience a feeling of stimulation but as the drug wears off, the individual goes through a phase of extreme exhaustion and depression. Users become addicted to uppers because they experience a desire of maintaining the high. Although uppers have proved helpful in boosting concentration and focus, they can cause a rise in breathing and heart rate when used in certain doses (Apostolov, 2017). The main side effects of using uppers include nausea, heart arrhythmias, and drowsiness. Examples of uppers include methamphetamine, cocaine, Adderall, Concerta, and Ritalin. Worth noting, these drugs have the power to make the user feel anxious, terrified, and paranoid. People who use uppers have the problem of lack of sleep that is why they get hooked on uppers to help them cope with the exhaustion.

Downers

Downers represent the opposite side of uppers. Downers represent a group of drugs known as depressants which have a sedative effect. Once the user, takes downers, they immediately feel relaxed and even drowsy. Examples of downers are alcohol, mandrax, Heroine, Amytal, Seconal, Numbutal, Klonopin. Xanax, Librium, and Halcyon. These drugs have proved helpful in managing conditions such as insomnia, epilepsy, and anxiety. However, when missed, they are bound to cause serious harm to users. The main effects of using depressants are slowed breathing, slow heart rate, and lack of consciousness. Excessive use of downers leads to outcomes such as overdoing and death. Downers generally give users a feeling of calmness, rejuvenation, and relaxation. Moreover, continued use of these drugs has been associated with severe lethargy which makes it hard for the user to follow his daily routine. As such it leads to reduced productivity. Downers such as alcohol and heroine are very powerful to the extent that they can cause the bodily system to shut down completely leading to death or coma.

All-Arounders

All-arounders are drugs that can have effects that are similar to those of uppers as well as downers. Cannabis and hallucinogens fall under the category of all-arounders drugs. Hallucinogens have the effect of producing hallucinations distorting reality. Hallucinogens are also referred to as psychedelic or illusionogenic. All-arounders function by dramatically affecting the emotions, perceptions, and mental processes of the users (Patterson, Brady, & Olympia, 2017). Moreover, all-arounders distort senses and cause hallucinations. Notably, hallucinogens currently have not been approved for medical usage. Examples of all-arounders drugs include cannabis, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP (angel dust), and LSD (acid, blotter). Cannabis which is commonly referred to as marijuana is extracted from the hemp plant called Cannabis Sativa. THC is the main ingredient in the plant. Cannabis is the most used illegal drug and it has depressant effects and just like stimulants, it also raises heart rates. Noteworthy, ecstasy is sometimes categorized as an all-arounder drug owing to its hallucinogenic properties.

Conclusion

The terms upper and downers are used to refer to a cluster of drugs known as stimulants and depressants respectively. All-arounders on the other hand refer to drugs that display both stimulative and depressing effects on the user. An example of all-arounders is cannabis which acts as depressants and at the same time raises heartbeat. The main effects of using depressants are slowed breathing, slow heart rate, and lack of consciousness. Downers generally give users a feeling of calmness, rejuvenation, and relaxation. The main side effects associated with using uppers include nausea, heart arrhythmias, and drowsiness.

References

Apostolov, M. (2017). FDI Uppers and Downers: A Macedonian Case Study. New Global Studies, 11(1), 29-44.

Patterson, K., Brady, J., & Olympia, R. P. (2017). School nurses on the front lines of medicine: Uppers and downers: The approach to the student with altered mental status. NASN School Nurse, 32(6), 350-355.

ook Review The Big Lie Exposing the Nazi Roots of the American Left (2)

Effects of Nursing Staff Shortages on the Health Care System

Students Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name and Code

Professors Name

Date

Nursing Staff Shortages in the Health Care System

Introduction

The shortage of nurses is a global health issue that negatively affects healthcare delivery, and the problem is expected to worsen with the increasing demand for healthcare providers caused by the aging population (Stokes & Iskander, 2021). It is approximated that by 2029, there will likely be 73% more Americans over the age of 65, which will increase the demand for healthcare practitioners to provide medical services. This paper provides a comprehensive discussion of the issue of nurse shortage in the cultural and ethical context. Two Level 1 research questions, one from the ethical perspective of inquiry and the other from a cultural perspective, have been selected to guide the paper. Also, a Level 2 research question has been formulated for each perspective of inquiry to further explore the issue of nursing shortages from the cultural and ethical context. The chosen Level 1 question from the ethical perspective of inquiry is “What laws pertain to the issue?” while the formulated level 2 question from this perspective is “What are the ethical implications of nursing staff shortages?”. On the other hand, the chosen level 1 question from the cultural perspective of inquiry is “Which cultural values influence the issue?” and the corresponding level 2 question is “How does cultural diversity affect nurse shortage?”. All these questions are addressed below.

Research Questions from the Ethical Perspective of Inquiry

The Level 1 research question from the ethical perspective of inquiry aims to uncover the laws that pertain to the issue of nurse shortages. Since different countries have different laws that pertain to this healthcare issue, the focus of this paper will be on the US laws that pertain to the issue of nursing staff shortages. One of these laws is the Nurse Reinvestment Act, P.L. 107-205. The 107th Congress passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act on July 22, 2002. Congress had been significantly engaged since the 1960s with the goal of providing the US with sufficient nurse manpower. The Act was later signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 1, 2002. The Nurse Reinvestment Act pertains to the issue of nursing staff shortages because Title I and Title II pertain to nurses’ recruitment and retention, respectively. Title 1 of the Act provides two ways of boosting nurses’ recruitment. The first initiative is the development and broadcasting of grant-based funding of local and state public service announcements to promote and advertise the nursing profession. During broadcasting, the rewards ad advantages of the nursing profession should be highlighted, and people are persuaded to enter into this profession. The second initiative entails the revision of provisions of the National Nurse Service Corps (NNSC) related to items such as scholarships, loan repayment, funding, and reporting and eligibility requirements. Boosting nurses’ recruitment helps in addressing the main health care issue selected, which is nurse shortages. Title II of the Nurse Reinvestment Act presents policies intended to improve the retention of nurses. The provisions of Title II relate to areas such as creating career ladders and retaining high-quality nurses through retention grants and nurse education, developing and funding comprehensive geriatric education, and creating and running a nurse faculty loan program to improve the number of qualified nursing faculty. Title II of the Act helps address the issue of nurse shortages by ensuring nurses do not quit their profession. Another law that pertains to the issue of nursing staff shortage in the US is the Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2007, S.2064. The 110th Congress passed this Act on September 18, 2007. This Act aims to ensure comprehensive programs are funded to facilitate a sufficient supply of nurses. Increasing the supply of nurses helps deal with the selected healthcare issue, nursing staff shortage.

Level 2 research question from the ethical inquiry perspective aims to uncover the ethical implications of nursing staff shortage. Persistent nurse shortages across the world challenge the values and beliefs of this profession and result in various ethical implications. One of these ethical implications is poor patient care. One of the ethical obligations that nurses must fulfill during their line of duty is ensuring that patients are protected from harm (Haahr et al., 2020). However, nurse shortages make it challenging for the nurses to fulfill this obligation as the hospitals assign them to cater for many patients. Since chronically ill patients require holistic care, inadequate staffing denies nurses an opportunity to provide such care to these patients, resulting in poor patient care. Another ethical implication of nursing staff shortages is nurses’ reduced job satisfaction. Usually, ethics assist nurses in making the right decisions guided by their morals. However, nurse shortages leave nurses dissatisfied with their jobs because they do not have sufficient time to communicate with their patients and provide holistic care. Moral distress is another ethical implication of nursing staff shortages. Nurses who serve in healthcare facilities with shortage of nursing staff experience moral distress since they feel that they are compromising their ethical obligation of ensuring patients are protected from harm by providing inadequate patient care (Bayat et al., 2019). Also, nurses who work in health care facilities facing the issue of nurse shortage may suffer moral distress because they feel that they would have rendered better patient care if they were not assigned many patients. Lastly, burnout is another ethical implication of nurse shortages. According to Mullen et al. (2017), increased ethical conflict at work may result in emotional stress and mental burnout.

Research Questions from the Cultural Perspective of Inquiry

Level 1 research question from the cultural perspective of inquiry aims to uncover the cultural values that influence the issue of nursing staff shortages. Cultural competence is one of the cultural values that influence the issue of nurse shortages. Cultural competence is the set of values, practices, behaviors, and attitudes within an organization system or even individuals, which allows them to work effectively across different cultures. Cultural competence influences nurse shortages because when nurses are not culturally competent, they tend to get stressed, which results in nursing burnout. Another cultural value that influences nurse shortages is cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is the existence of many cultures in the same society. Nurses must be well prepared to serve culturally diverse patients. Unless nurses are culturally competent, they cannot be in a position to provide quality care to patients. When nurses cannot provide quality care, they get stressed and end up quitting their jobs. The last cultural value that influences nurse shortage is cultural awareness. Nurses’ cultural awareness is their comprehension of differences between themselves and patients from other cultural backgrounds. Similar to cultural competence, a lack of cultural awareness may result in nurse shortages.

Level 2 research question from the cultural inquiry perspective aims to uncover how cultural diversity affects nurse shortage. Cultural diversity may both increase or minimize nurse shortages. Research reveals that nurses without a firm understanding of cultural differences may experience frustrations and stress when dealing with culturally diverse patients (Balante et al., 2021). Consequently, this may result in nurse burnout. Burnout is one of the leading causes of nurse shortages. Thus, it can be concluded that nurses’ lack of cultural competence indirectly results in nurse shortages. On the contrary, cultural competence allows nurses to provide inclusive healthcare service, improves nurses’ job satisfaction, and facilitates patient satisfaction. When nurses are satisfied with their job, they tend to retain their profession. Consequently, this minimizes nurse shortages.

Conclusion

Overall, nursing shortages are a global health issue of concern and have adverse effects on healthcare delivery. This paper comprised two four questions. The first question was a Level 1 question from the ethical perspective of inquiry and sought to uncover the laws that pertain to the issue of nurse shortages. Two laws were found, including the Nurse Reinvestment Act, P.L. 107-205, and the Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2007, S.2064. The Nurse Reinvestment Act pertains to the issue of nursing staff shortages because Title I and Title II pertain to nurses’ recruitment and retention, respectively. On the other hand, the Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2007 aims to ensure comprehensive programs are funded to facilitate a sufficient supply of nurses. Level 2 question from this perspective sought to examine the ethical implications of nurse shortages. They include the provision of poor-quality care, reduced job satisfaction, burnout, and moral distress. The Level 1 research question from the cultural perspective examined the cultural values that influence nurse shortages. The identified cultural values include cultural competence, diversity, and awareness. The Level 2 question from this perspective is how cultural diversity impacts the nurse shortage. It has been established that cultural diversity can increase or minimize nurse shortages. Questions from both perspectives provide insights on how the issue of nurse shortages can be dealt with.

References

Act, N. R. PL 107-205 (2002). Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

Balante, J., van den Broek, D., & White, K. (2021). How does culture influence work experience in a foreign country? An umbrella review of the cultural challenges faced by internationally educated nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 118, 103930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103930Bayat, M., Shahriari, M., & Keshvari, M. (2019). The relationship between moral distress in nurses and ethical climate in selected hospitals of the Iranian social security organization. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 12 (8), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.18502%2Fjmehm.v12i8.1339Haahr, A., Norlyk, A., Martinsen, B., & Dreyer, P. (2020). Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nursing ethics, 27(1), 258-272. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019832941Mullen, P. R., Morris, C., & Lord, M. (2017). The experience of ethical dilemmas, burnout, and stress among practicing counselors. Counseling and Values, 62(1), 37-56. https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12048Stokes, F., & Iskander, R. (2021). Human rights and bioethical considerations of global nurse migration. Journal of bioethical inquiry, 18(3), 429-439. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11673-021-10110-6Stokes, F., & Iskander, R. (2021). Human rights and bioethical considerations of global nurse migration. Journal of bioethical inquiry, 18(3), 429-439. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11673-021-10110-6

One can view how the society gets its information in three main ways

Effects of New Media

(Author’s name)

(Institutional Affiliation)

One can view how the society gets its information in three main ways. The first way is that individuals or the society are gullible and will almost listen to, read or watch anything. The second is that most individuals need an intermediary who is informed to show and tell them what is right, meaningful and important, the third is that individuals are smart and knowledgeable, and given the means, they understand and find out things for themselves and find their own truth version (Rayuso, 2011). This paper will mainly focus in the second way to view how people are informed, the fact that individuals need an intermediary that is informed to show and tell them what is meaningful and right. This informed intermediary in this case is the media, which holds all the information the public needs. The paper, therefore, will examine ways in which the media, playing the part of an informed intermediary, affects and influences the American culture by looking at the responsibility it has to the people and the influences it has on politics and journalism.

In the past fifty or more years the effects and influence of the media on the society have grown exceedingly chiefly with the progress in science and technology. First, there were telegraphs and then radios, magazines, newspapers, TV and currently the internet. Today’s society depends on communication and information to move towards the right direction and do everyday tasks like entertainment, work, education, health care, travelling, personal relationships and any other activity. The average American person wakes up each day and checks information and news on the TV and newspapers before going to work where he or she makes several phone calls in a day and makes contact with their family when it is possible and basically, leaves his or her life based on the information and knowledge derived from the media (Rayuso, 2011).

The mass media have essential tasks and roles in the modern society as the main communication channel. The populations depend on the media as the central source of information and the foundation on which they base their opinions and election and voting decisions. As the cultural selection theory argues, any choice of messages and information in the mass media will, therefore, have a momentous consequence on the rest of the society. There is an increasingly interesting situation in the current society: on one side, the media have significant influence on individuals and their decisions, conscience and activities, but on the other side, the media are the institution least trusted to have any social weight (Rayuso, 2011). There are several reasons as to why the condition is like this. For instance, the media are seen to have a significant influence on individuals because of its ability to influence the actions of individuals and even children. There have been several of surveys that have pointed out the paramount influence media have had on the American culture. These influences range widely and they include the influence on lifestyle, clothing, style, manner of speaking, and violence when it comes to the younger generation (Baker, 2004).

Alternatively, the media are viewed as the most untrustworthy institution because of their ability and tendency to exaggerate, violate privacy and feed the society with unsuitable and at times inappropriate information. For instance, the media are blamed and untrusted when it comes to vulgar and sexual material usually aired on the television and witnessed in movies and films. Because of these two sides or faces of the media, that are not positive, the mass media today has to assume a number of responsibilities because it is much recognized and followed by a large percentage of the population (Baker, 2004).

The mass media, for instance, has to be careful on the kind of information they avail through TV programs, movie, films and information on magazines, internet and the newspaper as it influences the society largely. It is also the responsibility of the media to feed the society with all the relevant information that they need to live their lives comfortably. Hiding significant information or releasing only a part of it is not responsible. Another responsibility the media have is to inform individuals about elections, political leaders and parties and their visions. This way, the media have a huge influence on the decisions the society has during elections. The media does this through dispensing specific information to either favor a candidate or tarnish their reputation. Either way, the media play significant roles in the American politics today (Baker, 2004).

The media do not only have impacts on politics and society alone, they also significantly affect journalism and techniques and methods informed. With the emergence of advanced technology, journalism has taken a new course that does not just require the TV, radio or newspaper to spread information. Today’s America receives information from a wide range of channels most of which are online. As it follows, journalism has had to advance its methods of communication to remain at par with the rest of the world (Rose, 2010).

The above are only a handful of instances of how the current mass media affects and influences the American culture.

References

Baker, M. (2004). The media and social responsibility. Mallenbaker.net. retrieved from http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/page.php?Story_ID=1210

Rayuso. (2011). Mass media influence on society. HubPages. Retrieved from http://rayuso.hubpages.com/hub/Mass-Media-Influence-on-Society

Rose, C. (2010). The Security Implications of Ubiquitous Social Media. EABR & ETLC Conference Proceedings. Dublin: Ireland.

Introduction (19)

Effective Treatment Interventions with Family

Student’s name

Institutional affiliation

Introduction

Family treatment interventions are vital as they have been designed to deal with specific problems affecting people’s functioning and health. It is common for families to go through rough times, significant transitions, behavioral and mental problems hence the need to employ effective treatment interventions. The type of therapy and technique used to treat families depends on the target population and the specific issue affecting the individuals. This literature review aims to analyze and interpret family-based interventions used on various individuals within the family set up when they are experiencing health difficulties. This research could not be timelier; it comes when little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of various interventions used to treat families. The following review confirms that practices including functional family therapy (FFT), goal-oriented parental interventions, family-focused alternatives ,community-based alternatives to incarceration, family interventions for schizophrenia, and the psychoses and family-based management interventions for children with obesity improve have proved effective in improving family well-being.

Community-based and family-focused alternatives to incarceration

Ryon, Early, and Kosloski evaluated community-based and institutional placements intervention programs for delinquent youths in 2017 intending to examine the impact of a family-focused approach to deal with juvenile offenders. The authors assessed Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL), a family-focused and community-based approach piloted in Florida to treat juvenile offenders with the aim of diverting youth away from residential facilities. Ryon, Early, and Kosloski discovered that the youth that had gone through the PLL program had averagely low recidivism rates. The article opined that community-based interventions attained lower rates of a felony conviction, reconviction, and subsequent placement in a justice system after one year of completing the program. The article concluded that community-based programs that incorporate both group and family-focused individuals are viable and effective alternatives to institutional placements are more restrictive for delinquent youths.

Functional Family Therapy (FFT).

Sexton (2010) found functional family therapy (FFT) to be an efficient and successful family-based treatment program in treating various problems that affect young people, including mental health problems, drug and substance abuse, conduct disorder, truancy, and other related problems. Noteworthy Sexton found that Functional Family Therapy treats families within various multicultural, multiethnic, and geographical contexts. Sexton discovered that the FFT program benefited more than 40,000 youths and families annually following its implementation in more than 300 communities across Europe and the United States over the past few decades. Moreover, Sexton noted that the program’s delivery and implementation in communities is based on five theoretical principles. He also noted that FFT employs technologies to enhance its outcomes, including the use of measurement feedback systems, a systematic measurement system, and a web-based quality improvement system. The article notes that since the FFT family-based treatment program is manual driven, these tools act as an accompaniment to the supervision and treatment manual protocol.

Parent Engagement and Family Reunification for Children in out-of-home Care

Lack of parental engagement remains the greatest challenge for family re-unitement after temporary child placement in out-of-home care services. Maltais, Cyr, Parent, and Pascuzzo (2019) conducted meta-analyses on studies for 2996 families to identify the most effective practices that can be used to promote family reunification and parental engagement. The authors examined the efficacy of goal-oriented parental engagement interventions and compared them to a group whose parents had standard services. The article revealed that parents that received goal-oriented engagement strategies were more and had higher chances of a smooth reunification with children receiving care away from home than parents that received standard services. The authors analyzed six interventions in the analyses, including training of child care staff, strategies promoting access to intervention, type of clinical modality, sources of motivation, focusing on the relationship between child care staff and parents and a number of clinical strategies. The authors came to the conclusion that results that family-focused interventions are effective in promoting parental engagement.

Family engagement for schizophrenia and the psychoses

McFarlane (2016) reviews the family interventions for Schizophrenia and Psychoses, treatment programs that came into being 40 years ago. As opposed to concentrating on the traditional goal of decreasing emotion to prevent relapse, McFarlane focuses on the social and role functioning of the family well being. The article refutes claims that family pathology leads to deterioration and relapse and affirms that family engagement in psychoeducation is an effective alternative. McFarlane noted that family engagement complements interventions provided by clinicians with specialized coping and interaction skills that counter the neurologic deficits inherent to the particular disorder. McFarlane concluded that family interventions indicate a 50-60% relapse rate reduction compared to usual treatment. He found that a combination of the prodromal psychosis alongside other evidence-based interventions is yielding promising results that include significant return to normalcy and total avoidance of psychosis altogether.

Parental Involvement in Treating Childhood Obesity

Faith-based interventions have solutions that are commonly employed when treating childhood obesity. Chai, Collins, May, Brain, See, and Burrows (2019) review the effectiveness of interventions for managing weight that are family-based in children with obesity. The article reveals that when it comes to treating childhood obesity, direct parental involvement improves the outcomes. The authors carried out systematic reviews on family-based interventions in children below 18 years, categorized their weight as obese or overweight. The article revealed that 13 in 14 of the total reviews proved successful in improving weight-related behavior in children. Chai, Collins, May, Brain, See, and Burrows concluded that family-based interventions that target parents either single-handedly or with their child have proved useful in managing child weight.

Conclusion

Practices including functional family therapy (FFT ), goal-oriented parental interventions, community-based and family-oriented alternatives to incarceration, Family interventions for schizophrenia, and psychoses and family-based weight running interventions for overweight and obesity children have proved effective in improving family well-being. There is a need to conduct further research to complement the lack of substantial evidence, particularly regarding the emerging interventions for parents in addressing obesity in children. Health practitioners must collaborate with change agents and focus on being role models for children to emulate when managing their weight. Future research should explore parent-child interventions and include a variety of populations.

References

Chai, L. K., Collins, C., May, C., Brain, K., See, D. W., & Burrows, T. (2019). Effectiveness of family-based weight management interventions for children with overweight and obesity: an umbrella review. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 17(7), 1341-1427.

Maltais, C., Cyr, C., Parent, G., & Pascuzzo, K. (2019). Identifying effective interventions for promoting parent engagement and family reunification for children in out-of-home care: A series of meta-analyses. Child abuse & neglect, 88, 362-375.

McFarlane, W. R. (2016). Family interventions for schizophrenia and the psychoses: A review. Family Process, 55(3), 460-482.

Ryon, S. B., Early, K. W., & Kosloski, A. E. (2017). Community-based and family-focused alternatives to incarceration: A quasi-experimental evaluation of interventions for delinquent youth. Journal of Criminal Justice, 51, 59-66.

Sexton, T. L. (2017). Functional family therapy. The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice, 1-7.

Organizations have been faced with the need to provide connectivity

Enterprise Networking

Student’s Name

Affiliation

Course

Date

Introduction

Organizations have been faced with the need to provide connectivity or network within the same premises or in offices that are in different geographical locations. Some have also had to set up networks to help connect the employees whose duties involve a lot of movement to the facilitate access of required data in the headquarters. This has been done by setting up Wide Area Networks and Local Area Networks in the organization. In order to fully understand how these networking systems are done, WAN and LAN technologies must be understood first since they are the two main technologies used to facilitate networking in most organizations and corporations.

Local Area Network refers to the connection or networking of several computers and devices in limited area such as a building. It involves connecting a server to the same network that connects all the users ‘computers. This provides the networked computers with a similar subnet on their IP address. It is this subnet that the user enables the users in that local area network to access the server and perform networked tasks. The server is connected to databases that store all the required files belonging to the company. The users are therefore able to access this information through the subnet availed at the user ends of the network.

Local Area Networks are normally owned, controlled and managed by a single person or organization. Ethernet and token ring are some of the widely used LAN technologies. These networks are generally secure and do not have high maintenance costs due to their locality (Hughes& Blair, 2006).

Wide Area Network

This is a collection of computers and network sources that are interlinked and connected over a wide geographical area. This may be between the headquarters of an organization and its remote officers or its clients in a different geographical location.

Operation of WAN

WAN operates in two ways. This network connection can be wired or effective. In a wired WAN connection, the company has to physically run cables between its offices in the different geographical locations to a central hub. The cables are then connected to a LAN. This kind of networking is very expensive and time consuming. The cost of buying and fixing of the cables between the different locations is very high.

The second option is the virtually operated WAN. This is an option that entails creation of a virtual private network by the company. The virtual networks are popularly known as VPNS. These VPNs give data when the user computer requests it. This is the kind of network that can be able to sever a organization with remote office located in a different locality.

The virtual Private networks use technologies such as X.25, Frame Relay, and ATM as well as for their connectivity (Hughes& Blair, 2006).

ATM technology is a connectivity strategy used in WAN that uses point to point connection and thus facilitating direct flow of data in that network. Frame Relay technology on the other hand is a protocol that is used to transfer data over fiber optic lines. Another technology used is the X.25 which is a standard suite protocol that is used for packet data switching purposes. This technology works on physical, data links and network layers that are usually ISO modeled (Hughes& Blair, 2006).

WAN connection is therefore the best way to connect the organization question to its remote offices.

Designing the WAN

In order to set up the WAN, the company will have to develop a Virtual Private Network(VPN).The VPN will have a main LAN at the organization’s headquarters and another LAN at the office in the remote location. Unlike in wired connection or in cases where WAN connection is facilitated through the use of cables, the WAN design for this organization will be run on a public network (internet).some WANS are connected by lease lines such as Integrated Digital Network or Optical Carrier-3.Even though the leased line operated WAN are reliable and secure, the cost of set up and maintenance is usually very high making the e use of the internet the better choice (Nasser.2000).

There are two types of VPNs that can be used namely Remote Access and Site to Site VPN. The Remote Aces VPN will be suitable for this organization as it will allow user to LAN connection. Remote-access VPNs will allow secure, encrypted connections between an organization`s private network and remote users aided by a third party internet service provider. The operation of this kind of VPN requires the company or organization set up a dial up network set up. The organization will provide internet dial up account to its workers both at the headquarters and at the remote offices suing an Internet Service Provider (ISP).After accessing the internet the telecommuter will the use the VPN software to access the organizations network hence connecting the two locations.

The plan for setting up the network is shown below

3973830285115HEADQUATER

00HEADQUATER

87630270510REMOTE OFFICES

00REMOTE OFFICES

.

5067935212090001600202120900040081204445000

44348404889500456565186055003657604889500

2409825220345WAN

00WAN

456565259080LAN

00LAN

4434840198120003206752514600050679353048000

1524000248285004560570-3175LAN

00LAN

44348402101850045656595885001127760149225004199255273050050679359588500

4434840100965004472940400050045656521526500411480100965003657604000500506793521526500

36576021971000506793525781000

Receiving Data

When a user in the remote officers wants to access data stored or available in the headquarters, he or she will have to make sure that the computer or device in use is connected to the LAN in the remote office. This LAN is the one that is then connected to the LAN in the headquarters. The system operates by a simple process that is referred to as client-server communication. Here the user computer or device will ask the server for information from its file and the server delivers the requested information. The request forwarded determines the data that is delivered. When the data requested is in the central drive in the headquarters, the server in the remote area uses the organization’s VPN to access the file and returns feedback through the same channel.

Receiving of Data

The servers that receive requests from the end users will process the request and deliver the right information as soon as it locates the file. When the servers on the remotes side is requested to deliver data or files in the headquarter file drive, it uses the VPN connectivity to establish communication with the server on the other end. The server on the headquarters then locates the requested file and then returns feedback containing the requested data to the remote office server. It is the remote office server that will then provide or avail that file or information to the user that had requested for it.

The servers at both end, that is the headquarter server and remote office server function as search engines. These servers access the organizations databases in their respective LANs and retrieve the request. For this particular organization with several users both at the headquarters and in the remote location, the use of multiple servers will be prudent. This will enable the users to access the information that they require with ease. In addition to that, it will make the WAN connection fast and reliable.

Conclusion

In order to fully set up a working, secure and efficient WAN for the organization; VPN will have to be set up. This will be the used to access company data both from the headquarters and the remote offices. Public network will then be used to link the remote offices to the headquarter of the organization

Reference

Nasser. (2000). Network Performance Base lining. Indianapolis.MTP

Hughes, J& Blair, W (2006) novel`s Guide to Netware 6 Networks. London: Greenwood Press.

Cahn, R. S. (1998). Wide area network design: concepts and tools for optimization. San

Francisco, Calif.: Morgan Kaufmann.

Letter of Admission

Enter Name Here

123 Sample Street

Toronto, Canada

enteremail@example.comTelephone Number

March 8, 2021.

Dr. Enter Name Here

College of _______

Enter Full University Name

Address

Subject: Request for Admission for Summer Session

Dear Dr. ___________,

I am writing to request an admission for Summer Session. Due to some unforeseen circumstances relating to the COVID-19 situation, I am missing 4 units and currently taking General Education classes to make up for these missing units. My intention is to graduate on time during the Summer First Session 2021. As a result, I further seeking any deferral opportunity available this year. I would gladly welcome the opportunity to join the classes that start in Columbia University towards accomplishing the aforementioned. I have enclosed a copy of my transcripts and a letter from the Dean regarding the missing marks.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I am available for any questions about my request and all related issue son phone or email. Looking forward to an engagement with you on this matter.

Respectfully,

Enter Name Here