Cyber Security Operation Centers ( Soc ) - 838 Words

Security Operation Centers (SOC) are established in order to defend and protect their constituents from illusive and perilous threats. Cyber Security Operation Centers (CSOC) have a more difficult role to play with their adversaries cloaking themselves with online aliases and high anonymity proxies. With technology racing at a lightning speed, CSOCs have no time to waste reaching their Full Operational Capability, bringing them to be completely capable detecting, analyzing and mitigating crises that their promised constituents face. Cyber Security Operation Centers play a much larger role than simply incident response; depending on what CSOCs define their mission to be, CSOCs can be created to handle and cyber security related task. This breadth makes what they define as Full Operational Capability (FOC) as broad as their networks reach. Reaching Full Operational Capability is not a simple task, and many SOCs fail to reach FOC, much less in their designed time period. Initial Operati onal Capability is the minimum point where a SOC can start caring out the mission to the bare minimum, but this is not sufficient for the SOC nor is it the end goal. CSOCs were not made to stay at their minimum capabilities, but the road to Full Operational Capability is paved with challenges and unplanned potholes on the way to their correct destination. In order to help CSOCs and SOCs alike to reach their Full Operational Capability, eliminating the challenges and potholes must be held to theShow MoreRelatedCyber Security Essay1344 Words   |  6 Pagesmy preferred field of interest is cyber security. Because of this, throughout the past couple months, I have been researching thoroughly in hopes to find any recent developments in the field. Through my research, one of the most intriguing advancements in the field of cyber security that I found was cognitive security. Cognitive security combines two cutting edge technologies as of today: artificial intelligence and cloud computing . Simply put, cognitive security utilizes artificial intelligenceRead MoreCase Study Questions On Management Information Systems1409 Words   |  6 Pages BA60275H217- Management Information Systems Case Study - 1 CU ID: 547100 Prof : Jimmie Flores 1) Was cyber security a priority at Target? Explain. It is not that much of priority at Target. The people of Target understood it after the Point of Sale (POS) attack is a big issue at target which has to be organized immediately and making the condition protected. Around 6 pm in the evening, the target condition is in safe and secure and it is terminated the malware atRead MoreSecurity And Controls Director At A Publicly Traded Hospital System880 Words   |  4 PagesIT Leaders have numerous concurrent activities and fluctuating priorities Suzanna is the Security and Controls Director at a publicly traded hospital system. As is typical for an IT leader with this type of role, she’s juggling numerous concurrent information security and compliance objectives. †¢ Next quarter the annual SOX audit begins, although remediation of findings from the prior year’s internal audit report is still in progress. †¢ Results of this quarter’s external network vulnerabilityRead MoreInformation Security And Controls Director At A Publicly Traded Hospital System896 Words   |  4 PagesNumerous concurrent activities and fluctuating priorities Suzanna is the Security and Controls Director at a publicly traded hospital system. As is typical for someone in this type of role, she’s juggling numerous concurrent information security and compliance objectives. †¢ Next quarter the annual SOX audit begins, although remediation of findings from the prior year’s internal audit report is still in progress. †¢ Results from this quarter’s external network vulnerability scans are in her in-box;Read MoreCreating A Small Business Computer And Data Security2484 Words   |  10 Pageson the importance and sustainability of protecting their networks and data against cyber-attacks. Figure 1: Map Display of international cyber-attacks. â€Æ' Introduction In recent years, Cybercrime has increased radically and it is becoming more vital for people to grant protection on their computers and data just as they do with anything else they deem needs to be secured. The improved rate for the need of security also applies to conceptual institutes of small businesses. Small businesses keep recordRead MoreThe Dummies Guide For A Small Business2645 Words   |  11 Pageson the importance and sustainability of protecting their networks and data against cyber-attacks. Figure 1: Map Display of international cyber-attacks. â€Æ' Introduction In recent years, Cybercrime has increased radically and it is becoming more vital for people to grant protection on their computers and data just as they do with anything else they deem needs to be secured. The improved rate for the need of security also applies to conceptual institutes of small businesses. Small businesses keep recordRead MoreCorporate Website On The Cloud Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pageswe discussed in our steering committee last week, you raised two concerns – security and data confidentiality – about hosting our corporate’s website outside our datacenter – in particular, on the cloud. I’m writing to you to convince you that hosting the corporate’s website on the cloud is the best option for the following reasons: it reduces operating cost, frees our staff to do other tasks, and provides better security. This report gives an overview of the current status of our website, exploresRead MoreCyber Defence And Information Assur ance2647 Words   |  11 Pages PGCert Cyber Defence and Information Assurance Reflective Portfolio Module 01 : Governance and Management Kinshuk De â€Æ' Introduction This portfolio is a reflective account of what I have learnt during the Governance and Management module and reflect on the three tasks posed, based on the case study of a system D.I.A.M.O.N.D (Driver Identification After Motoring Offence using Numerous Databases). We worked in groups and deliberated (Deliberations, 9 March 2015) what the D.I.A.M.ORead MoreA Report On The Target Data Breach Essay1850 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: The Target data breach remains one of the most notable breaches in history, it was the first time a CEO of a major corporation was fired due to a security event. The breach received an enormous amount of attention, it caused corporations and individuals to change the way they think about information security and data protection. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2013 hackers gained access to 40 million customer credit cards and personal data of 70 million Target customers. TheRead MoreApplication Layer Dos / Ddos Attacks On E Commerce Sites5277 Words   |  22 Pagesfocus of the research community from traditional network-based denial of service. Denial of Service (DoS) and the associated Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) are simply an attempt by cyber-attackers to exhaust the resources available to a network, application or service so that genuine users cannot gain access. Cyber-attackers find application-layer most vulnerable and are able to device more creative methods of attack, are able to recruit other zombie systems referred to as botnets to amplify their

Live Life On Purpose Free Essays

My purpose in life is to be successful in what I want to be become and just life general. Life can be tough at times, but when have my family there to soups art and help push me through those times it will become easier. That is why I drew my fame ill on my surfboard. We will write a custom essay sample on Live Life On Purpose or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just the help and support from my family won’t make me successful LU. I am the one who needs to make me successful. In the future, I want to become a photographer/film editor. In order for me to pursue what I want to become I have to finish and pass high school and get AC accepted into the college/ university I would like to attend. The Academy of Art University is where would like to major in photography and Fine Arts. Need to make sure get g DOD grades throughout high school. Yet, for me to pass high school with Ass and B’ s I need work my hardest and study hard. This is why I chose a picture of a camera, dry ewe a book and wrote down â€Å"Academy of Art University’ on my surfboard. â€Å"layoff have faith anything is possible. † this is said by Betray Hamilton in the movie Soul Surfer. Strongly agree with Betray. I believe that if I don’t have f that in myself won’t become what I want to be and be successful in it. I need to have e faith and confidence in myself for me to pass and graduate high school, get accepted in to the Academy of Art University, and graduate college in what I want to major in. The at is why I quoted Betray on my surfboard. Also, another challenge for me to become successful and live my purpose of lie fee is money. College is a lot of money to enroll, books, classes, supplies etc. I can’ t just rely on my parents and family to pay all of it. I’m going to have to pay for most enrollment, gas, a place to live, groceries and everything else in order to live. How to cite Live Life On Purpose, Essays

Reflection on Decision-Making Style

Question: Discuss about the Essay on Reflection on Decision-Making Style? Answer: From the self-assessment, I learned about the decision making style. The results of decision making style includes the allowance of independent actions in a job, the practical results in job, creative approaches when I face with solving a problem, the preference of using many options during usage of information, the solving of difficult problem and many others. I am not surprised at the results. I enjoy that type of jobs that will allow independent actions that is, I can perform actions according to my opinions. In my job, practical results are very important, so I go for it. When some problem arises and I had to solve it, I search for creative ways to solve. Creative solutions results a good outcome and problem is solved very easily. During the use of information, I always prefer broad coverage of various options. I am good at solving complicated problems. Deciding and acting quickly is very vital when time is important and therefore I prefer to go for it. Open-minded people are fav ourite to me and I like to work with them. I fall under the consideration of aggressiveness by the others. The decisions that I make are direct and realistic. I do not like to follow rules. I am not surprised at the result and I agree with them. Everybody needs to make decision in many situations. Sometimes we make fast decisions and most of the time they are correct. But sometimes, we need time to think before making any decision. For example, when I face to solve a problem, I tend to look for creative approaches. The thinking of creative approach needs some time. Based on the result of the self-assessment, I dont think that changes are required because all the decisions are correct and it carries reality. The style of my self-assessment is very applicable in real life as it covers all the real facts that are needed very critically when someone is making decisions regarding searching of a job. Others might produce different results. Suppose someone prefers accurate and complete data during the use of information but the outcome can be unstable and unpredictable. But the most important decisions that need to be taken during finding a job are practical results, creative approaches, solving difficult problems and act quickly when deadline is near. Others might think about working well with those who are self confident. Sometimes the self-confidence may not work effectively, as he/she requires the help of others under difficult circumstances. Simply, I need to manage my strategies with others. He/she also need to understand and share my strategies for the development of the firm. I worked at an IT firm. At first, I followed plans and priorities when deadline of my project was near but time fell short. As a result, the quality of my project was destroyed due to haste in work. So I choose to follow proper decision and act quickly. After that I finished my project before two days of deadline. It helped me a lot.

Investigation enzyme activity Essay Example

Investigation: enzyme activity Paper To investigate how the concentration of hydrogen peroxide effects the rate of reaction of an enzyme (catalase) Variables: These factors could effect the rate of reaction on an enzyme:   pH   Concentration   Temperature   Surface Area pH Enzymes function at different pH values. In neutral conditions the amount of oxygen gas given of in an enzyme-catalysed reaction will increase. An enzyme is affected by how much acid or alkali is present. Many enzymes work best in neutral conditions but some prefer acids and some prefer alkalis. This graph shows that the enzyme activity reacts best at pH7 (neutral). Concentration In concentrated solution there are more collisions between each particle, so the reaction occurs more quickly. This graph shows that increasing the concentration increases the enzyme activity. Temperature Reactions go faster as temperature rises. The rate of reaction also increases as the temperature rises, but with enzyme-catalysed reactions the reaction rate starts to decrease when the temperature is above 40 C. This is because enzymes are proteins and their structures start to damage above 40 C. This graph shows that the enzyme activity reacts best at 40? C as the enzyme starts to denature above 40? C Surface Area Reactions can react faster when solids are cut into smaller pieces. This is because there is more surface area which is exposed. The more surface area there is, the more collisions that take place between particles so the reaction rate is much quicker. This graph shows that small pieces react better than bigger pieces. Brief Outline I will test the effects of changing the level of concentration. For this variable I will use three different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide with catalase (enzyme). We will write a custom essay sample on Investigation: enzyme activity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Investigation: enzyme activity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Investigation: enzyme activity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I will change the concentration whilst keeping the time, concentration of catalase and the volume of hydrogen peroxide constant. I will begin all my tests at a constant temperature (room temperature) and I will repeat each test three times so I can obtain an average result. Background Knowledge: Lock and Key Model A catalyst is a substance which alters the rate of reaction without being used up. Enzymes are the catalysts in biological processes. They are large proteins that speed up chemical reactions. The enzyme forms the active site from small numbers of amino acids. The active site is the location on the enzyme where the substrate collides and the reaction takes place. If the shape of and the substrate do not match exactly then they do not bind. This makes sure that the enzyme does not work with the wrong reaction. Enzymes are not affected by the reaction, so when the products have been released, the enzyme is ready to bind with a new substrate. In my experiment the substrate was the hydrogen peroxide, the enzyme that we used was hydrogen peroxide and the product that was formed was oxygen and water. This can be explained by an equation: Enzyme + Substrate == Product In my experiment this is shown as: Catalase + H202 == H202 + 02 This equation explains how the catalase in our experiment binded with the H202 to break it down and form oxygen. Induced Fit Theory The induced fit theory states that the binding of a substrate to an enzyme causes a change in the shape of the enzyme. The enzyme and the substrate act on each other to affect the making of the active site to the usual complex between the enzyme and its substrate. As a result, this means the enzyme to catalyze a reaction has changed. This shows that enzymes are specific for specific substrates. I can tell that the catalase in my experiment is a suitable enzyme to break down the H202 as it will form oxygen as a product which is unharmful Denaturing Denaturing is the damage to the protein structure of an enzyme. Most enzymes react faster as the temperature increases. Enzymes also react at low temperatures, but when the temperature rises above 40 C their reaction rate start to decrease. This is because enzymes are proteins and their structures get damaged when the temperature rises above 40 C. When the protein is denatured it becomes less effective as a catalyst and soon the enzyme reaction gets slower and then finally it stops. This is why enzymes in washing powders which clean by breaking down grease and other stains, cannot be used with hot water above 40 C Activation Energy In order for a reaction too occur activation energy must be supplied. The activation energy is the energy required to start a chemical reaction. Some elements and compounds react together to bring themselves into contact. For others it is necessary to supply energy in order to start the reaction. This energy is the activation energy. Enzymes such as catalyst work by lowering the activation energy. The Kinetic Theory of Matter Everything is made of moving particles. The main points of the kinetic theory are: All matter is made up of small particles called molecules   The molecules are always vibrating   The higher the temperature, the faster the molecules are moving As the temperatures rises the particles get hotter. They have more energy and move around faster. Solid Liquid Gas Solid In a solid the particles are very close together and have very strong forces between them. Solid particles can only vibrate, this is why they cannot flow. Solids have a fixed shape and a fixed volume Liquid In a liquid the particles are a little further apart. The forces are not very strong. Liquids can flow and change shape but they always have a fixed volume. Gas In a gas the particles are further apart. There are no forces to hold all the particles together. Thy move about very quickly in the space they find. Gases can flow easily and change their shape and their volume depending on the container. Collision Theory The collision theory explains chemical reactions and the way in which the rate of reaction alters when the conditions alter. For a reaction to occur the reactant particles must collide. Only a fraction of the total collisions cause a chemical change. These are called fruitful collisions. The fruitful collisions have sufficient energy (activation energy) to break the existing bonds and to form new bonds, which then form the products of the reaction. Increasing the concentration of the reactants and raising the temperature make more collisions and therefore more fruitful collisions which increases the rate of reaction. All reactions involve two reactants which need collisions between them for particles to proceed. But not all collisions taking place between particles end up with a reaction. This is because in the middle of a reaction, there is a shape of the particle which is difficult to complete. This is called the transition state. The total kinetic energy of reactant molecules must be at least as high as the activation energy to be able to achieve the transition state, so the reaction can proceed. For a reaction to occur there must be successful collisions in which: 1) Particles must collide 2) Particles must have enough energy for the reaction to take place (activation energy). Which means the reaction must be successful If a collision between particles can produce sufficient energy and the particles collide fast enough in the right direction a reaction will take place. But not all collisions result in a reaction. A reaction is speeded up if the number of successful collisions are increased. The particles in a If the collision has If the collision does not liquid move around enough energy a have enough energy no continually reaction takes place reaction occurs The rate of reaction depends on how many successful collisions there are in a given unit of time. Surface area By breaking solids into smaller pieces the surface area is increased, which gives a greater area for collisions to take place. This causes an increase in the rate of reaction. Temperature.

Free Essays on Juveniles In Adult Prisons

The United States Bureau of Prisons handles two hundred and thirty-nine juveniles and their average age is seventeen. Execution of juveniles, The United States is one of only six countries to execute juveniles. There are sixty-eight juveniles sitting on death row for crimes committed as juveniles. Forty-three of those inmates are minorities. People, who are too young to vote, drink alcohol, or drive are held to the same standard of responsibility as adults. In prisons, they argue that the juveniles become targets of older, more hardened criminals. Brian Stevenson, Director of the Alabama Capital Resource Center said, â€Å"We have totally given up in the idea of reform of rehabilitation for the very young. We are basically saying we will throw those kids away. Leading To Prison Juvenile Justice Bulletin Report shows that two-thirds of juveniles apprehended for violent offenses were released or put on probation. Only slightly more than one-third of youths charged with homicide was tr ansferred to adult criminal court. Little more than one out of every one hundred New York youths arrested for muggings, beatings, rape and murder ended up in a correctional institution. Another report showed a delinquent boy has to be arrested on average thirteen times before the court will act more restrictive than probation. Laws began changing as early as 1978 in New York to try juveniles over 12 who commit violent crimes as adults did. However, even since the laws changed only twenty percent of serious offenders served any time. The decision of whether to waive a juvenile to the adult or criminal court is made in a transfer hearing. The two major criteria for waiver are the age of the child and type of offense alleged in the petition. Some jurisdictions require the child to be over a certain age and charged with a felony, while others permit waiver if the child is over a certain age regardless of offense. Still yet, others have no conditions. Juveniles can b... Free Essays on Juveniles In Adult Prisons Free Essays on Juveniles In Adult Prisons The United States Bureau of Prisons handles two hundred and thirty-nine juveniles and their average age is seventeen. Execution of juveniles, The United States is one of only six countries to execute juveniles. There are sixty-eight juveniles sitting on death row for crimes committed as juveniles. Forty-three of those inmates are minorities. People, who are too young to vote, drink alcohol, or drive are held to the same standard of responsibility as adults. In prisons, they argue that the juveniles become targets of older, more hardened criminals. Brian Stevenson, Director of the Alabama Capital Resource Center said, â€Å"We have totally given up in the idea of reform of rehabilitation for the very young. We are basically saying we will throw those kids away. Leading To Prison Juvenile Justice Bulletin Report shows that two-thirds of juveniles apprehended for violent offenses were released or put on probation. Only slightly more than one-third of youths charged with homicide was tr ansferred to adult criminal court. Little more than one out of every one hundred New York youths arrested for muggings, beatings, rape and murder ended up in a correctional institution. Another report showed a delinquent boy has to be arrested on average thirteen times before the court will act more restrictive than probation. Laws began changing as early as 1978 in New York to try juveniles over 12 who commit violent crimes as adults did. However, even since the laws changed only twenty percent of serious offenders served any time. The decision of whether to waive a juvenile to the adult or criminal court is made in a transfer hearing. The two major criteria for waiver are the age of the child and type of offense alleged in the petition. Some jurisdictions require the child to be over a certain age and charged with a felony, while others permit waiver if the child is over a certain age regardless of offense. Still yet, others have no conditions. Juveniles can b...

Report writing for consultants - Emphasis

Report writing for consultants Report writing for consultants The last few weeks have been a punishing combination of late-night problem solving and early-morning meetings. Finally, the consultation period is over and the moment of truth has arrived: the time has come to write your final report. You have probably spent a lot of time with your client and may have built up a strong relationship – but this does not change the fact that leaving the right impression will depend ultimately on the quality of your report. So, whatever you do, don’t leave the report until the very last minute, without time for enough preparation and planning to do it real justice. But before we look at some guidelines on how to produce a document that will be a glowing testament to your firm’s experience and expertise, it is worth pausing for a minute to put your report in context. Our research has shown that mountains of paperwork stifle most companies: the average manager claims to receive eight reports or other long documents each day. This roughly equates to being asked to wade through War and Peace five times a year – a sobering thought. To put it plainly, your report is going to have to be pretty good to compete with all the other documents that will be vying for your client’s attention. Yes, your client may have made a substantial investment in employing your services, which might push your report further up the queue, but then, of course, the flip side of this will be that their expectations will be so much higher. Your firm might be expert in its area but this expertise will be lost if you fail to communicate it effectively. And you will simply become one of the many thousands of people who regularly spend hours struggling to write a turgid business document that nobody will read. So what can you do to make sure that your report goes to the top of the pile, makes a lasting impression and demonstrates your firm’s proficiency and understanding? What the client wants First things first. Your report should be client-centred, rather than consultant-centred. The chances are that no sooner do you realise that the report deadline is looming, then you immediately fall into the ‘getting it done’ trap. Your focus now is on yourself and ‘getting it done’ rather than on the client and their needs. At this point, it is worth taking a couple of deep breaths and spending a few minutes thinking about what your client actually wants. This may sound obvious. Indeed it should be – and yet so often reports tend to follow a standard template structure that poorly reflects an individual client’s brief. Why not ask the client exactly what they want to see in the report and even how long they would like the report to be? Alternatively, ask yourself a few simple but telling questions. What information does the client expect? With what level of detail? How much knowledge do they already have? What will they use the report for? Who will read it? And it goes without saying that the old copy and paste technique needs to be handled with extreme care. It is all too easy to forget to change the company name or to leave out a vital piece of client-specific information. Key messages And what about the key messages and recommendations that you want to get across? How can you make sure that these really stand out and are not lost among volumes of periphery detail and background? Many consultants use a basic structure in which they start with their findings, then outline their conclusions, and then give their main message – their recommendations – at the end. The effect on the client is to keep them guessing or arguing with every point and perhaps ending with a conclusion that differs from your own. A far more effective structure is to start with your main message and then provide the information that supports it. Avoid jargon and ‘businessese’ Then comes the next common trap: falling into jargon or business speak, or using unnecessarily flowery language. This, many people believe, demonstrates knowledge, intellect and know-how, or even superior industry expertise. But does it really? The truth is that your client has no interest whatsoever in the sophistication of your use of vocabulary. What’s more, the public and private sectors are becoming increasingly cynical about consultants, believing that they produce overlong, overwritten reports on purpose to justify their ‘exorbitant fees’. Whatever you do, avoid providing any additional ammunition to that particular argument. The bottom line is that clients will not appreciate long words, complicated language, management speak and ‘businessese’ jargon, nor will they want to plough through lots of acronyms and abbreviations. They will find them irritating, confusing and time consuming. Take the time to find a more effective way of writing whatever it is you want to say. If using complex technical terms is absolutely unavoidable, make sure you provide a glossary in the appendix. Humans or robots? On the subject of language, remember that when companies and organisations appoint consultants, they hire people, not robots. Language like ‘It is recommended’, ‘It is estimated†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, or ‘It has been proven†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ does not sound more professional; it simply depersonalises your report and makes it less accessible. Your client wants to know that their consultants are real human beings, so be bold and put people at the heart of your writing: ‘We recommend†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, ‘We estimate or ‘We have proven†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. It is far more interesting and meaningful to read about organisations and individuals taking actions than to read about all sorts of actions and events mysteriously occurring. Think ‘Tarvex’s customers are crying out for the new product range’ rather than ‘The new product range has experienced considerable demand’. Or ‘The CEO has transformed the company’s performance in the exports market’ instead of ‘The company’s performance in the exports market has been transformed’. Make your language as lively as you can. If you are trying to ‘sell’ a particular recommendation, paint a vivid picture of the excellent results it will bring; or of the horrendous pitfalls that will befall your poor client as a result of not implementing it. And it goes without saying that you also need to examine all the pros and cons, including the cost implications, of following – or not following – your recommendations. Count your words Generalisations or exaggerations are another characteristic of poor writing to be wary of. Take ‘record levels of profit’, for example. Are they truly record levels – ie. the highest ever – or do you really mean the highest in recent years? And what about ‘a large percentage’? (Is this 51 per cent or 99 per cent? There’s quite a big difference, after all.) Beware of words and expressions such as ‘record’, ‘significant’, ‘considerable’and ‘wide section of the community’ unless you can actually quantify them. Painful punctuation It has been very difficult to escape the recent newspaper headlines about the woeful state of young people’s literacy. School and university leavers are, we are told, virtually incapable of writing a properly constructed sentence or presenting a coherent and logical argument, never mind using the correct punctuation, grammar and spelling. A university degree, it seems, no longer guarantees the kind of literacy that blue chip employers expect. Despite, or perhaps because of, this sorry state of affairs, we are a nation of language aficionados. Countdown attracts millions of viewers every day; we are obsessed with crosswords and wordplay; Eats Shoots and Leaves, a book about punctuation for goodness sake, dominated the bestseller list for months. My point here is this. We notice words and language and how people use them; pulling up people for poor punctuation, dodgy spelling or dubious grammar is almost a national pastime. And the likelihood is that your client will have a similar awareness of language – and irritation with its misuse. So never delude yourself that it is only what you say that counts and not whether you know how to punctuate correctly. It is amazing the bad feeling and ill will that a misplaced comma or a misjudged apostrophe can cause. Navigation tactics Another common error is to try to plan and structure the report simultaneously. It is, in fact, much easier to do these two things separately. Start by ‘brainstorming’ all the information that needs to go into the report. When you are sure you have covered everything, it is time to tackle the issue of what goes where and in what format. The structuring process requires an element of bloody-mindedness. Only information that is essential to your client should go in the main body of the text; any information that is ‘important’ or ‘of interest’ should be relegated to appendices, footnotes or a separate chapter. Additional detail, figures, references or diagrams are all examples of ‘important’ information. Put yourself in your client’s shoes. How would you react to a report if you felt your valuable time was being wasted on nonessential detail? Remember that while your client may be interested in the background to the project and in how you carried out the research and the consultation process, they are actually paying you to identify the cause or causes of a problem or challenge and to tell them how to solve it. If you make them wait until the end of the report to tell them your recommendations, the chances are that their patience will be wearing very thin indeed. This brings us to another tip on helping your client to navigate your report. As you start to structure your report, plan how best to divide it into logical sections and give some thought to your subheadings. Subheadings should be clear and meaningful, rather than generic, so that they act as signposts, guiding your client through the report and showing them where to find specific topics. Executive summary Pay particular attention to your executive summary. As we all know, this may be the only part the real decision-makers read, so make sure it can stand alone and that it contains real information, including hard facts and figures. If your report includes recommendations, the executive summary should make it clear what these are and include their implications, values and costs. What about length? As a general rule, it is advisable to stick to a maximum of two pages, using headings and bullets (but not too many), and perhaps a carefully selected graph or pie chart, to get your main message across. A final word If your report is well-written, it will influence your client’s thinking and decisions and galvanise them into action. It will also act as a first-rate marketing tool for your firm. But if your report is poorly written, it will exasperate your client and jeopardise your reputation and the chances of your recommendations being implemented. It might even lose you the business. The value of a well-written consultant’s report is perhaps best summed up by the MD of one of the UK’s leading radio stations when asked recently about his own personal experience of consultants: ‘One particular US consultant charged a fortune for producing a series of badly presented and poorly written reports critiquing the station and, frankly, stating the obvious,’ he said. ‘But then I hired McKinsey who worked with me to formulate our 10-year strategy and I learned a lot from them, including how to present an argument and rationale on paper, which is key if you want to be successful in influencing people’s thinking.’ Robert Ashton is Chief Executive of Emphasis. Want to improve your teams report writing? See our report-writing course for companies and our business-writing courses for individuals. You can also call us on +44 (0)1273 732  888  for a no-obligation chat with one of our friendly advisors. To learn more about making  report writing a much easier and less painful task, check out our free webinar  recording How to turn your expert analysis into exceptional reports.  Its ideal if you have to write reports to colleagues and clients as part of your day-to-day job – whether thats as a traditional written report or as a slide deck.

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced Essay

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced with the introduction of new technology - Essay Example If according to the analysis the expected revenue is more than the technology’s cost then only the company should plan to take the decision of installing the machine. There are several benefits of implementing technology; some of them are discussed as follows: Technology helps reduce cost One of the most renowned company, Procter & Gamble makes use of latest technology to reduce its inventory cost. This company makes efficient use of computer technology to keep track of the amount of products or items that its retailers currently hold in stock so that it can immediately get restocked when required. Makes Distribution Easier Right coordination between distribution channels is not very easy but with the introduction of new technologies, this task has been made easier for the organizations. Just-in-time system helps in better planning of item delivery and can reduce cost of storage. Thus, implementing technology in the distribution process and doing extensive research and intelle ctual planning can help improve delivery time and give organization an opportunity of further growing their business worldwide. Increased Revenue As mentioned earlier, implementation of technology also results in increased revenue. Lets take an example of a very popular automobile company â€Å"Ford†. Ford today is considered to be a technology driven brand. According to the vice president of Ford, Derrick Kuzak, every product sold has added to increased revenue. He further stated that average revenue per vehicle has increased up to fourteen percent from the year 2008 to the year 2009. This increase was due to the implementation of latest technology, â€Å"Sync in-car communication system† in the vehicle. This system provides car drivers a hands free facility to control their cell phones and media systems. Derrick Kuzak stated â€Å"Technology has contributed majorly in enhancing our brand and further expanding our business† Makes Communication Easier Advancemen t in technology also makes communication easier and faster. Through the introduction of new cell phones like blackberry, easy communication between employees through email and blackberry messenger has been made possible. Blackberry service notifies the employees about any new email that comes in their inbox and allows easy exchange or transfer of files and images, providing them with an opportunity, to perform their job sitting home. Various Technologies presently being used in Organizations Majority organizations implement Transaction Processing Systems. This system helps produce data, based on daily operations happening in the company. It produces data regarding inflow and outflow of materials, sales, credit and deposits etc. In simple words, this system provides an answer to all the queries that operational managers might have on daily basis. Another most useful system that is being used world-wide is the Management Information System (MIS). This is a technology that is useful fo r producing reports containing information useful for middle level managers to do short - term assessments. There are several other useful technologies or systems that help companies gain competitive

Career Exploration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Career Exploration - Essay Example Changes are inevitable. Nevertheless, a career change requires a thorough and critical thinking. This paper explores the necessary credential in the success of my chosen career plan. Also, it tackles the steps in achieving my goal relative to time. Further, this paper discusses the pay ranges, career change, and support system characterized in the three positions that I have personally chosen. Credential Perhaps a Master’s Degree is essential as a strong credential prior to entering the work force in the realm of education. In the success of my career plan, an MA degree might be helpful. According to Kaplan (2008), there are over a million of people in the United States who annually enroll in the graduate programs (p. 3). One of the reasons why people take up an MA/PhD degree is because it provides them the greater advantage over others in the competitive job market. What Kaplan (2008) calls â€Å"career advancement,† persons who have a Master’s Degree possess th e advantage of gaining career position and/or promotion against those people â€Å"with only a bachelor’s degree† (p. 4). The drawback, however, is that a Master’s degree is far from the assurance that one can land a good job or be promoted to a much higher position. Plus, pursuing a graduate program is a difficult and tremendous task. In fact, Peters (1997) compares the students in the graduate school as adults who are â€Å"judged by the standards of the adult world† (p. 6). To my mind, the notion of the â€Å"adult world† as understood by Peters is far from the ideal, child-like, or Utopia-like realm. From here, I seem to perceive it as something monstrous and hideous. In time and with perseverance, nevertheless, I might be able to cope up the challenges salient in the graduate program. And I might land a good job of my liking. Pay ranges The three positions, which I have chosen as my alternative careers in the field of education, have different pay ranges. In the primary education, on the one hand, a teacher receives an annual salary ranging from $30,719 to $54,000 (Bernstein, 2003, p. 466). Meaning to say, a teacher who is teaching in the primary school, particularly in the public school, receives from the minimum monthly pay of roughly $3,000 to the maximum monthly salary of approximately $4,500. In special education, on the other hand, a teacher gets a yearly salary ranging from $33,770 to $ 78,980 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005, p. 297). Finally, a guidance counselor in the field of education receives an annual pay from $25,200 to $71,900 (Bernstein, 2003, p. 394). As a whole, the teacher’s pay greatly varies on his or her academic background (e.g., with an MA degree) and years of teaching. In spite of their differences in pay range, all these positions in the realm of education widely receive similar benefit plans such as paid vacation and sick leave (Eberts & McGowan, 2000, p. 41) Steps to follow In ord er for me to be more fruitful in my career goals, I will take several rational steps. By and large, these practical steps will be either short-term or long-term. In the short-term goal, specifically in one-year plan, I will study and learn the fundamentals associated to my chosen career path. Example of which is the appropriate method in the practice of teaching. In the special education, in particular, teaching methodology is obviously distinct to, say, 5th-grade education. In the long-term goal, specif

Emotional, Moral and Physical Changes Essay Example for Free

Emotional, Moral and Physical Changes Essay Adolescence is the name given to the period in the life of human beings between the ages of twelve and eighteen years. It is during the period of adolescence that a human being matures from a child to an adult, usually in both the physical as well as psychological sense of the word. That being said, it follows that this is the time in one’s life when one goes through the most numerous and major changes in terms of cognitive, social, physical, emotional and moral development (Turning Points). This article deals with explaining these changes along with relevant examples as well as enumerating options as to and what might be done within an out-of-school care program to accommodate those changes. Adolescence plays a major role in shaping the future of individuals as the decisions and choices that they make while steering through this phase in life are critical in shaping the people that they become in the future (Turning Points). This leads to the conclusion that this developmental stage is the most critical to the development of the individual going through it as well as the larger society that he or she is a part of. Subsequently, growing adolescents have unique learning needs as each person is different and unique from the other, not only in terms of physical appearance such as their face or body but also in terms of their psychological personality. Each person has different strengths, weaknesses, abilities, disabilities, talents and learning potential which needs due attention, especially during this growing stage. The academic years of adolescence are centered on middle school and thus middle schools should ideally be required to provide a secure and compassionate environment so as to develop the talents and strengths of, teach optimal usage of weaknesses and value each individual adolescent that they work for. In the following paragraphs, we will proceed to analyze the changes that adolescents go through. It is critical to note that all adolescents do not grow or learn at the same rate, neither physically nor psychologically. Due to irregular hormonal, body and mental growth, they become â€Å"vulnerable and self-conscious, and often experience unpredictable mood swings† (Turning Points). These changes also affect the way they perceive their surroundings, making them sensitive to and conscious of the implications of their actions to the world at large. Cognitive changes occur at varying rates among adolescents and they usually begin to develop the ability of carrying out abstract thought processes as opposed to only concrete ones as is the usual case n the pre-adolescence years. More important to realize is the fact that this cognitive progression is neither predictable nor dominated by any sense of orderliness. The social aspect of development during adolescence is generally headed by the premise that individuals seek social acceptance from their peers, who assume the role of strong influencers during the years of adolescence. This, combined with the fact that young adolescents become increasingly aware of their bodies and physical appearance make it even more difficult for them to face the changes within themselves and those that they perceive in the world around them. Emotionally, the young adolescent is challenged by the changes he or she is going through making the simplest of daily life occurrences the most challenging of circumstances. On top of this, adolescents become susceptible to taking bold initiatives on grounds of morality as they begin to feel a heightened sense of compassion and concern for the their surrounding environments. The following table present examples of changes in each of the areas outlined above pre-pubescent and pubescent adolescents along with out-of-school steps that could be taken to care for their developmental needs. Problems of Pre-Pubescent Adolescent Learners Area of Change Example Out-of-School Care Cognitive Change A Caucasian pre-pubescent girl begins to question her acquaintances’ prejudice against African Americans Encouraging cross racial relationships and respecting diversity through mentors. Social Change A boy is mentally disturbed about being shorter in height then his class mates. Parents are encouraged to have discussions with the boy about his concern and teach him to look beyond physical appearances, both in himself and in others around him. Emotional Change An adolescent has lately taken to slamming doors after arguments with his parents which have become a usual occurrence at home. Workshops are arranged for parents to handle the emotional changes in their child, where parents share and learn from each others’ experiences. Moral Change A Christian girl is contemplating running away from home in protest against her parents’ prejudice against her Muslim best friend. A mentor is assigned to each adolescent who acts as confidante , predicts the coming problem and deals with the mater accordingly Physical Change A girl becomes aware of her changing body and starts avoiding going out. Mentors and parents are encouraged to take their charges out, have open discussions and take them shopping for their changing needs. Problems of Pubescent Adolescent Learners Area of Change Example Out-of-School Care Cognitive Change As opposed to her parents’ objections, a pubescent girl feels that there is nothing wrong with having affectionate feelings for a boy. Mentors explain to young girls that parents are only human and bound to be unreasonable and that they should consider that teenage crushes are not true love. Social Change A girl starts making friends with teenagers much older then her, whose habits include drug and alcohol abuse. Workshops are arranged for parents to handle the emotional changes in their child, where parents share and learn from each others’ experiences. Parents would then realize that the girl feels misunderstood and is trying to fit in and become acceptable to her peers. Emotional Change A boy starts feeling that he is not wanted by anyone and starts avoiding company. Parents are encouraged to have discussions with the boy about his concern and teach him to look beyond physical appearances, both in himself and in others around him. Moral Change A girl takes up smoking under the premise of that she be allowed to make and learn from her own mistakes. Mentors help in making the girl realize that there are more effective ways to channelize the strength of her morals and discuss relevant examples. Physical Change A girl is aware that she needs certain garments but is too embarrassed to purchase them on her own. Mentors and parents are encouraged to take their charges out, have open discussions, take them shopping for their changing needs and volunteer to shop for things they are uncomfortable to buy themselves until they learn that they have nothing to be ashamed of. Bibliography Turning Points, Transforming Middle Schools: At the Turning Point, the Young Adolescent Learner. Retrieved January 16, 2007, from http://www. turningpts. org/pdf/YALGuide2. pdf

My College Plans :: essays research papers

My College Plans   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At first I never had wanted to go to college because I didn't like school, but now as I get older I realize that I will need a college education to make it in life. So when the question came up what college would I like to go to? I knew right away that I wanted to go to the University of Kentucky. It is the only college that I would ever considering going to, I love this college with a deep passion. They have my favorite basketball team and the also represent Kentucky (The state in which I was born.).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From its modest beginnings in 1865, when it was known as a State College, the University of Kentucky has grown into one of the nation's most outstanding institutions of higher learning. As a comprehensive land-grant university, UK offers an educational experience that cannot be matched anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Lexington campus consist of 764 acres and 24,200 students. It also employs 1,796 full-time faculty members. UK ranks among the top 100 research institutions in the nation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I was asked the question what I wanted to be when I grow up I really didn't know, until my Sophomore year of high school. It wasn't till then when I decided that I wanted to be a journalist. I guess I just hadn't had my call until then. This was the year that probably changed my whole life. It was the year that I took my first year of newspaper class. I really chose the class not knowing what I was about to encounter. But, after I got to know everyone and how the class worked I knew that I found my calling. I really enjoyed the class that year because I really liked the teacher and the student editor. They made learning how the newspaper class worked and how to work together as a team fun. I am now in my second year of the Pacer Post and looking forward to another year ahead of me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hopefully when I graduate I will have 3 years of high school newspaper class plus, I would like to have some on the job training. I already have a lot of experience with all kinds of computer programs such as: Microsoft Works, Microsoft Word, Adobe Pagemaker 6.0, Corel 6.0, Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Windows 95. I think that the combination of all these things plus a college degree will make for a good career in journalism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I attend the University of Kentucky I will not have to work through

Competition for Tripadvisor

Competitor Analysis Know Your Options: TripAdvisor TripAdvisor is one of the largest travel sites with more than 40 million travelers reading and writing reviews each month. If you own or manage a hotel/accommodation, vacation rental, restaurant or attraction, you should claim or create a listing on TripAdvisor. Creating your business account will enable you to update your business details, showcase photos, promote specials and respond to guest reviews.TripAdvisor also offers a wide range of marketing opportunities and content solutions you may want to explore. Competitor analysis and identification: 1. Who is our  competition? Home Away inc,- founded in February 2005 Over the years, HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples and his family rented a variety of ski and beach homes, enjoying the space, availability of a kitchen and flexibility to invite others on vacation. However, he found that finding and booking a property online in the highly-fragmented vacation rental industry was not as easy as reserving a hotel.It was out of this frustration, that he realized the opportunity to transform the vacation rental industry and build the world's leading marketplace for online vacation rentals. HomeAway, Inc. was founded by Sharples and Carl Shepherd in February 2005. Orbitz Worldwide Inc,-Founded in 2001 Orbitz Worldwide enables travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products, facilitating 1. 5 million flight searches and one million hotel searches every day. 4]  Orbitz Worldwide is a publicly traded company listed on the  New York Stock Exchange  following its initial public offering (IPO) in July 2007. Orbitz Worldwide’s largest investor is  Travelport, one of the world’s largest networks of travel brands, content and service offerings. Priceline. com Inc- Founded in 1997 Priceline. com is an Internet-based transactional service that offers products in two categories: a travel service that offers leisure airline tickets,  hotel r ooms, rental cars, packaged vacations and cruises; and a personal  finance service  that markets  home mortgages,  refinancing  and home quity loans through an independent licensee. 2. What is the profile of our  competitors? Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. operates as an online travel company that enables leisure and business travelers to research, plan, and book a range of travel products. It provides a set of travel products, including air, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, travel insurance, and destination services, such as ground transportation, event tickets, and tours worldwide.The company owns and operates a portfolio of consumer brands, including Orbitz, CheapTickets, ebookers, HotelClub, RatesToGo, and the Away Network, as well as corporate travel brands, such as Orbitz for Business and Travelport for Business. HomeAway, Inc. operates as an online marketplace for the vacation rental industry. It offers an extensive selection of vacation homes, privately o wned residential properties, including homes, condominiums, villas and cabins, which can be rented on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis.Priceline. com Incorporated has pioneered a unique e-commerce pricing system known as a `demand collection system` that enables consumers to use the Internet to save money on a wide range of products and services while enabling sellers to generate incremental revenue. Using a simple and compelling consumer proposition – Name Your Own Price – priceline. com collects consumer demand, in the form of individual customer offers guaranteed by a credit card, for a particular product or service at a price set by the customer. . What are the business goals of our  competitors? -Orbits goal is to transform the way the world looks at travel -Home Away plans   to be part of a coalition being formed with a goal of standardizing rules governing the vacation rental market -Priceline’s   goal is to lead the industry as a world-class cust omer-centric company, with an infrastructure that delivers the best, personalized customer service experience is absolutely fundamental to our company's long-term success on the Internet. 4. What market strategies are being followed by the  competition  and what is the success rate? Marketing strategy for Price line is Introduction which is the one place where you can satisfy your every need (almost every need) at your price? Be it airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, mortgages, new automobiles, or even long distance calling time. 5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of our  competitors? Presented in SWOT Analysis) 6. What threats / opportunities do they pose? (Presented in SWOT Analysis) References: http://finance. yahoo. com/q/co? s=TRIP+Competitors http://www. bizjournals. com/austin/news/2013/02/25/homeaway-part-of-national-coalition. html http://essaymania. com/14492/marketing-strategy-for-priceline-com http://www. homeaway. com/info/about-us/company-info/corpor ate-faqs/why-founded

Win Snort

Installation of WinSnort Contents Introduction I have been tasked with evaluating the latest WinIDS AIO pack from Winsnort. com to determine whether it would be suitable as the intrusion Detection System (IDS) on the company network. Within this report i will include the details of the trial deployment, give a recommendation and then evaluate the product. What is an IDS? Intrusion in this case is where someone or something as it may be has entered a computer on a network without invitation in attempt to compromise it. Without any systems in place it can be too late before you notice an intruder. his is where an intrusion detection system comes into play. In snort 2. 0 an IDS is described as a high tech burglar alarm. An IDS is configured to monitor access points, hostile activities and known intruders. An IDS can work similarly to an anti-virus where it stores signatures of previous or known intruders, the more secure IDS's have huge databases of these signatures and can detect patte rns activity, traffic, or behaviour it sees in the logs it is monitoring against those signatures to recognize when a close match between a signature and current or recent behaviour occurs. When an IDS detects an intruder or potential risk it can issue an alarm or alert and/or automatically take action. Deployment As said in the introduction there was a certain IDS that we had to deploy and find out certain information about it, for example; ease of installation, administration, usability, effectiveness as an IDS and also if there were additional features available. Usually Snort is installed on a Linux operating system but in this case we are going to install it using a windows operating system. Due to it being installed on windows server 2003 it made the difficulty of installation a lot higher as there is not as much documentation on it. There are a number of steps involved when trying to install Snort. Unlike many systems this IDS has to be installed in separate parts. The main parts include: Installing WinPcap Installing and Configuring Snort Installing Apache Web Server Installing and configuring PHP Configuring WinIDS to run as service Installing and configuring MySQL Installing ADODB Installing and configuring the WinIDS Security Console Creating the WinIDS Security Console Database Tables Configuring the Graphing for the WinIDS Console Securing the WinIDS Security Console Within these parts there is a lot of editing of files through use of opening the main configuration files in WordPad and adapting to our installation. Documentation Recommendation â€Å"Snort is, by far, the gold standard among open source NIDS systems, with over 100,000 users and 3 million downloads to date. Snort signatures are kept up-to-date by its dedicated users and the Snort website has ample documentation including tutorials. It is not, however, easy to use and requires an experienced security IT professional to configure it properly. The fact that it's free makes it the darling of small and medium-sized businesses that cannot afford the fancy GUIs and wizards of commercial network security products. † http://www. enterprisenetworkingplanet. com/netos/article. php/10951_3684306_1 Evaluation References

Comparing Two Film Trailers Essays

Comparing Two Film Trailers Essays Comparing Two Film Trailers Essay Comparing Two Film Trailers Essay Harry Potter and the philosophers stone and Spenserian 2 Film trailers are a synopsis of an up and coming movie, they represent and highlight key parts of a film to grasp the audiences attention and entice them into viewing the movie. They are commonly seen on television during adverts and at any cinema. In order to analyses a film trailer successfully you have to focus on elements such as dramatic effects, suitability, target audience, music and lighting etc I have selected Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone (American version) and Spenserian 2. Both films are very different and both have various differences and similarities in attracting and grasping the attention of their target audiences. The two trailers are films adapted from previous childrens books. Spenserian 2 is an action packed movie which Is a sequel to Spenserian. A young man called Peter Parker continues to struggle handling his heroic powers/Dulles and maintain a life of normality. Harry Potter is the first in a series of films based on a young boy who begins his journey as a wizard at Hogwashs School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His Journey soon starts to enfold the challenging issues he is forced to deal with. Both films are different genres and therefore will have different target audiences, after all mystic and magic doesnt mix well with heroic action thriller does it? Text, color, camera, lighting and sound are five main categories I will use to analyses my comparisons. Camera angles work as a central Ingredient to any film; their effects supply the audience with a sense of adventure and emotion. The camera is forever working as a pair of eyes, they guide you on where to look and focus throughout the film. Harry Potters trailer began with a long shot of mystical castle hat the story is based around. As the camera zooms over certain scenes it creates the Illusion of flying, low and subjective shots are also used to put you in the characters position. For example when the cat In Harry Potter turns Into Professor Monoclonal, this transformation takes place through the cats eyes. The pace and tempo in this trailer is very relaxed and has a continuous rhythm which allows the audience to relate with the mystical characteristics In the film. Alternatively Spenserian gs trailer displays different effect through camera angles. The camera whizzes around New York City and in and out scenes from the movie. The pace is quick and sharp to create an Intense and exciting effect on the audience. The camera angles expose the right amount of graphics used In the action scenes to keep the viewers wanting more. The trailer uses a wide variety of shots from indirect to high angle; however the actual trailer opens with a medium shot to show a conversation between two characters. The use of color in both trailers is bold and very much reflective of what each film symbolisms e. G. Magic. In Spenserian 2 there are two main colors, blue and red. These colors are famously associated with Spenserian and are the colors of his super Nero costume. Area Ana Dull are very strong, peep Ana striking colors, teeny grasp the audiences eye. Lighting throughout Spenserian 2 contrasts to match his contrasting lifestyle. When he is Peter it is reasonably light, but when he is Spenserian it is much darker. This reflects the fact his identity is a secret to the rest of the world. On the other hand Harry Potters trailer has very bright colors such as greens and blues to symbolism and create this magical world.

In and On with Time Expressions

In and On with Time Expressions â€Å"In† and â€Å"On† with Time Expressions â€Å"In† and â€Å"On† with Time Expressions By Maeve Maddox Prepositional idioms are tricky in any language. Here are some tips for using in and on with expressions of time. For months, years and long periods like centuries, use in. For days and dates, use on. For precise times use at. Meet me at 8 p.m. The children played at recess. Some common expressions vary the pattern: in the morning, but on Monday morning in the mornings, but on Wednesday mornings in the afternoon but on Sunday afternoon NOTE: Although we say in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, we say at night. Ex. Milk is delivered in the morning. The stars come out at night. BUT We heard a noise in the night. Some time expressions do not require a preposition: I went to Sicily last May. He’s giving a speech next Friday. My children visit every Thanksgiving. What are you doing this afternoon? Talking about the weekend admits of variation: Do you work weekends? Do you work on the weekend? (American usage) Do you work at the weekend? (British usage) BBC Learning English on, in and at with time expressions. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Using "a" and "an" Before WordsUse a Dash for Number Ranges50 Plain-Language Substitutions for Wordy Phrases

Respite Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Respite Services - Essay Example The Canadian occupational performance Measure is one respite programme that has been developed to help care givers in sustaining and enhancing their occupation. This program is abbreviated as COPM and it was developed in Canada in 1991 for the purpose of care givers. The COPM was specifically made for therapists. It measures a person's outcome in terms of perception of his/her work over a period of time. In doing this sit can detect any changes in the care givers perception of his/her occupation with the main objective of improving it. The methodological approach of this respite service instrument involves the administration of a semi-structured interview which is accompanied by a structure scoring method. In its ability to enhance performance, continuous tests are done and the scores recorded. In a series of assessments, a trend is developed that can be use to evaluate the performance of the client. The COPM instrument was used on about 170 children in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Recruitment of these children took place in between 2002 and 2003. Occupational output, quality of life and expenses were determined at baseline level and at the study completion. Perception of care was quantified at the end of the investigation. The COPM assessed the client's thought of performance in daily routines. (Kiresuk, Smith, Cardillo, 1994) Scores derived from the COPM inclined by an average of 2... Occupational performance outcomes Scores derived from the COPM inclined by an average of 2.6 over the span of the research. Satisfaction scores on the COPM increased by 2.4. These outcomes were both statistically significant (p

Leadership is About You Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership is About You - Article Example This research will begin with the statement that in â€Å"Leadership is About You,† Haycock described leadership theories, competencies, behaviors, and characteristics in the context of school library management. He defined leadership as a process of social influence that aims to achieve common goals. The author has rightly presented that Haycock argued that successful school librarians lead from the middle through collaborating with others in attaining shared vision and goals and exhibiting particular leadership competencies, functions, behaviors, and traits. According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that Haycock stressed that contingency, path-goal, situational, attribution, performance-maintenance, transactional, and transformational leadership theories are applicable to school librarians because they emphasize collaboration and inquiry-based approaches to leadership. It is evident from the study that he also explained four leadership competencies that manage attention, meaning, trust, and oneself. Furthermore, he highlighted that leadership involves functions of image management, a relationship develops, and resource utilization. The present research has identified that Haycock added that successful leaders have consideration for other stakeholders, demonstrate strong initiatives, know group facilitation, show confidence in guiding and motivating others, and are skilled in persuasion and negotiation.

Why do Brand Extension Strategies Fail Literature review

Why do Brand Extension Strategies Fail - Literature review Example The strategy of brand extension is being used by the organisations in order to cope up with different challenging situations and overcome the competitive pressure in the industry. According to the Han (1998), the brand extension of strategy have been beneficial for the companies in the process of reaping additional benefits from the already established brand. The main reason or rationale behind the introduction of new product under the name of well known and established brand is to make sure that the customers and market is familiar with the brand and the new product category can capture market on the basis of the positive and main characteristics of the parent brand (Buil, Chernatony, and Hem, 2009). Different options available to the brand managers in the process of brand extension are: 1. Horizontal Extension: the horizontal extension is further divided into line extension and category extension. In the line extension a whole new product, within the same category as that of the pa rent brand, is introduced in order to target and capture a new and different segment of the market. On the other hand, in the category extension the same brand is extended into a whole new product category. ... IMPACT OF BRAND EXTENSION STRATEGY ON THE BRAND IMAGE AND BUSINESS: In order to make sure that the brand extension strategy proves to be beneficial and helpful for the organisation and increase the competitiveness of the organisation it is important to identify and understand the implications of the brand extension strategy on the brand image and overall business of the organisation (Serrao and Botelho, 2008). There are several factors which directly influence the impact of the brand extensions on the brand image. According to the research study of Martinez and Chernatony (2004), the perceived brand quality by the consumers and the attitudes and behaviours of the consumers towards the overall extension strategy have positive impact on the general brand image and product brand image. The research study also concluded that the fact that consumers are familiar and aware of the brand only have impact on the general brand image and have no impact on the product brand image. On the other h and the consumers’ perceived degree of fit between the parent brand and new brand only influence the product brand image. The research study of Martinez and Chernatony (2004), have created a difference between the general brand image and the product brand image. They have correctly identified the impact of the consumers attitudes on the general brand image and product brand image. However, their stance about the impact of familiarity and awareness on the GBI and PBI is somewhat shaky. If the customers are aware and familiar with the brand it will definitely affect the PBI also, because the customers will relate the product with the overall brand image and will associate same image with it. The research study by Park, McCarthy, and Milberg (1993), concluded that the

Impact of Aphasia on Health and Well-being

Impact of Aphasia on Health and Well-being Abstract This discussion paper considers the impact of aphasia on health and well-being, and following an in-depth exploration of relevant literature, provides suggestions for appropriate nursing interventions in respect of this relatively common condition following stroke. The introduction states that effective communication is essential to holistic care and positive outcomes for individuals affected by aphasia. However, when verbal communication is absent, nurses fail to adequately utilise alternative strategies so that the standard of nurse/patient communication is frequently poor. The discussion introduces the Theory of Human Scale Development. This theory emphasises that quality of life depends as much upon self-actualisation and relation-building as on physical health. The theory is used as a framework within the discussion in order to highlight the significance of communication to quality of life, and how its loss has profound psychological and social consequences. By utilising the theory, the discussion demonstrates that nursing care delivery must address loss of self-actualisation and relationship-building abilities, as well as physiological communication skills. The discussion reflects upon how aphasia results in loss of self, and how the situation is exacerbated by inadequate healthcare communication strategies such as nurse-controlled conversation, talking-over, and elderspeak. Suggestions are offered regarding more appropriate strategies. Efficacy of family input is considered; nursing competence regarding language practice therapies is discussed, and the quest approach is explored. Next, the discussion reflects upon the impact of aphasia on relationships. Aphasia denies access to support networks and results in isolation, stress, and loneliness. The individuals predicament is worsened by negative nursing responses such as communication filtering and avoidance tactics. The discussion reflects upon positive nursing strategies, which alleviate effects of aphasia on individuals social health. Concept analysis and self-awareness exercises as methods of enhancing compassion skills are explored. The social model of disability is discussed in order to highlight the benefits to individuals of environmental adaptations. Also, the social benefits of aphasia-group affiliation are discussed. The discussion concludes by emphasising that fundamental human needs involve social and psychological as well as physical aspects. Nursing interventions must therefore address all needs in order to provide holistic care in its fullest sense. Key Words Aphasia: nursing: relationships: self: Theory of Human Scale Development Summary Statements What is already known about this topic Good communication between nurses and patients is essential to the provision of quality healthcare that protects patients rights, autonomy and choice. Aphasia compromises nurse/patient communication leading to discrimination in health services, suboptimal care, poor long-term outcomes, and restricted rights. Communication difficulties faced by individuals with aphasia risks loss of self, and diminishes the beneficial impact of social integration on health. What this paper adds The multifarious impact of aphasia on the lives of individuals with the condition must be recognised and acknowledged by nurses. During their day-to-day nursing activities, nurses can facilitate the immediate communication needs of individuals with aphasia. Nurses can initiate aphasic individuals abilities to function independently and autonomously in the wider world via supporting the maintenance of personal identity and social integration. Introduction It has long been acknowledged and purported that good communication is essential to the provision of quality healthcare as it is integral to effective clinical assessment, health promotion, and patient choice and autonomy. Models of communication and research studies (Peplau, 1952; Fosbinder, 1994; Charlton et al, 2008) suggest that care delivery and health outcomes are improved when nurses use communication as a reciprocal interaction to express concern and commitment, and in return invite trust and human connection. These texts demonstrate that proficient interpersonal skills transform patients from objective clinical tasks to individuals meriting empathic, holistic care. However, because most communication strategies depend upon speech, the expediency of interpersonal relationships becomes severely compromised for individuals who experience aphasia as a consequence of stroke. Indeed, although the World Health Organisations (2001) definition of communication impairment encompasses verbal, non-verbal and graphic abilities, Finke et als (2008) systematic review finds that nurses continue to focus on stroke patients inadequate ability to verbally meet communication needs. Non-verbal messages are assigned a secondary, supporting role, and are therefore not adequately exploited as legitimate alternative strategies. The subsequent poor standard of professional/patient communication, described as appalling in the United Kingdoms National Sentinel Stroke Audit (Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party, 2009, p.12) has serious ramifications. O Halloran et als (2008) literature review suggests that health professionals inability or unwillingness to effectively enga ge with individuals affected by aphasia leads to discrimination in stroke services, suboptimal care, poor long-term outcomes, and restricted rights. Theory of Human Scale Development To avoid the suboptimal care of patients with aphasia, nurses must realise the necessity of effective communication to health and well-being. If nurses are to be motivated to explore, improve and exploit communication strategies as therapeutic tools, they must, in the first instance, understand the devastating impact of aphasia on quality of life. An analysis of aphasia in relation to the Theory of Human-Scale Development (Max-Neef et al, 1991) helps to illustrate its effect on the individual. According to the Theory of Human-Scale Development, quality of life depends upon the satisfaction of nine classes of interrelated ontological fundamental human needs (figure 1). Of these, only subsistence relates to physical health, the others being concerned with psychological and social issues associated with the sense of self and relationships. Because quality of life correlates with the number of satisfied needs, if a synergic satisfier (one satisfier that satisfies multiple needs) such as the ability to fluently verbally communicate, is removed, the impact on life quality is devastating (figure 2). Charmaz (1983; 1995; 1999) symbolic interactionist perspective reaches similar conclusions. These grounded theory studies of chronic illness demonstrate that the self is developed and maintained via self-actualisation and social relationships. Where illness reduces individuals participation in society, and prompts negative reactions from others, feelings of discreditation and loneline ss follow. Individuals beliefs that they are encumbrances on society rather than valuable contributors, lead to suffering and the loss of self. It is essential, therefore, that rehabilitative therapies should result in a synergic effect so that self, relationships, and thus quality of life are improved and maintained to the highest possible level (figure 2). However, many individuals with aphasia bemoan the fact that health professionals consistently focus on physical, biomedical definitions which view the condition as synonymous with physiological stroke events, rather than separate aphasia disability experiences (Liechty and Heinzekehr, 2007; Shadden et al, 2008; Wertheimer, 2008). This leads to the dismissal of psychological and social aspects of communication impairment and a thwarting of attempts to address them. Thus, the biomedical perspective, which defines aphasia as an inability to use or comprehend language as a consequence of injury to the cerebral cortex, results in the comment, I have aphasia, generating the response, You mean you had a stroke (Liechty and Heinzekehr, 2007, p.316). But, as Liechtys autobiographical account illustrates, aphasia is not an objective condition but a subjective reality, and focusing on the physiological brain damage both de-emphasises the pain that aphasia causes and denies the continual struggl es faced (p.316). Liechtys experience suggests that a psychosocial definition is more appropriate to describe the full extent of the consequences of aphasia to the individual. Sundin et als (2000) wider definition describes the condition as a defect in the use of language which causes extensive damage to psychological and social well-being resulting in isolation and depression. This study suggests that understanding the meaning of the illness for the individual rather than concentrating on the underlying physical causes, is the true initiator of holistic healing. O Halloran et al (2008) agree. This systematic review proposes that a biomedical perspective impoverishes care delivery because attributing communication breakdown to the disease process reduces nurses responsibility and motivation to develop ongoing communication strategies. The review suggests that a psychosocial perspective where nurses view communication impairment as an illness experience as well as a medical phenomenon, promotes the ide a that difficulties result from impaired interaction between nurse and patient. This increases nurses feelings of responsibility to overcome communication barriers and seek out the individual behind the disease. It is apparent, then, that reference to the Theory of Human-Scale Development helps to illustrate how a professional attitude which attempts to satisfy all fundamental human needs, not just the physical need of subsistence, subsequently leads to richer, more meaningful outcomes. Although fundamental human needs are to an extent, interrelated (figure 1), they are broadly split into three categories. The discussion paper will explore the impact of aphasia by focusing on self-actualisation and relationship needs. Self-Actualisation Needs Impact of Aphasia on the Self Rogers (1967) personality theory states that self-concept and self-perception are fundamental components of personal identity. He proposes that because life-meaning and behaviour are essentially purposeful, individuals require freedom to make choices, and create and develop their own personalities, in order to construct a valid presence in the world. Of course, language is the core of this process of self-construction. Without language, the ability to narrate lived experiences is lost. The individual cannot inform the world who and what he/she is, or understand who and what others are, hence is unable to find an appropriate place in the scheme of things. Shaddens (2005) literature review describes this predicament as identity theft, a state of affairs in which individuals with aphasia are ignored and invisible. However, Kagans (1995) masking of competence model refutes this, proposing that the individual is transformed rather than rendered invisible by aphasia. The model states that because communication impairment makes it difficult to perceive the individuals functional mind, it becomes difficult to envisage capacity. With capacity hidden, the individual is transformed from a person to a mere physical presence and is often viewed as a burden with little social value. According to Charmaz (1983), witnessing ones former self-image crumbling away is itself a fundamental form of suffering (p.168). Time and again, autobiographical narratives refer to the pain experienced when the self is reduced by an assumption that language loss is synonymous with the loss of intellectual and cognitive abilities (Neal, 1988; Bauby, 2008; Liechty and H einzekehr, 2007). Bauby (2008) summarises the feeling thus, [They] left no doubt that henceforth I belonged on a vegetable stall and not to the human race (p.90). Buber (1958) refers to this objectivising of people as an I-It relationship (as oppose to an I-Thou relationship defined by its reciprocal and mutually respectful nature). Aphasia renders the establishment of a nurse/patient I-Thou therapeutic relationship particularly challenging, because sharing and understanding become difficult to achieve. Unfortunately, this often results in I-It communication within the healthcare arena, which in nursing, is intrinsic to detached task-orientated care. According to Gordon et al (2008), this denies individuals with aphasia the freedom to control and direct their own lives. Gordon et als (2008) observational study concludes that staff control conversations and focus dialogue on their own nursing-task goals. The studys use of conversation analysis demonstrates that patients rarely initiate conversations and therefore have little influence over topics. In addition, due to heavy reliance on the sequential context of dialogue in order to maximise unde rstanding, individuals with aphasia find it difficult to alter the course of conversation to suit their requirements. Such asymmetrical, task-orientated communication is neither therapeutic or responsive to holistic needs. This results in a reduction of the self and a denial of individuals rights to participate in their own care or in the creation of their own future. According to Wertheimer (2008), curbing the freedom to express the self commonly leads to feelings of entrapment. Wertheimers (2008) detailed analysis of post-subarachnoid haemorrhage experiences suggests that language difficulties and loss of control during hospitalisation contribute to depression, and dreams and hallucinations, which frequently involve images of imprisonment and dictatorial authoritarianism. The negative impact of nurse-controlled conversation is exacerbated further by persistent occurrences of talking over patients. Flegels (2008) short article acts as a reminder that talking over is unethical because it contradicts health professionals codes of conduct that stipulate patient autonomy is paramount during care delivery. Quoting Kants (1785) argument that autonomy depends upon the hypothesis that all individuals have unconditional worth, Flegel (2008) believes that talking over signifies to patients that their presence is of no consequence and therefore they are not autonomous. Elderspeak also diminishes autonomy. This speech style is generally used as a means to communicate with elderly patients, but research confirms that it is commonly used by nurses when encountering individuals with physical, cognitive and communication disabilities (Kemper et al, 1998; Williams et al 2004; Melton and Shadden, 2005). Williams et al (2004) describe elderspeak as a demeaning mode of communication similar to baby talk that features exaggerated, simplified, repetitive language. Because elderspeak stereotypes elderly and disabled patients as incompetent and incapable, individual potential and progress may be ignored, thus reducing control and the sense of self even further. Reactions to Loss of Self Unsurprisingly, individuals with aphasia struggle to instigate the fight to rescue the self, and often surrender to discreditation. Charmaz (1983) explanation that self-concept depends upon reflected images of the self by others is confirmed by Simmons-Mackie and Damico (2008). This study of communication therapy sessions suggests that external negative responses to individuals with aphasia leads to internal negative perceptions of the self and a silencing of the voice. Poor nurse communication techniques based on task-orientated conversation, elderspeak and talking over compound this internalisation process. According to Ryan et als (1986) seminal literature review and subsequent theory of dependency over-accommodation, implications of incompetence and diminished capacity which arise from such condescending speech styles lower individuals confidence and self-esteem. This increases dependency and passive acceptance of care, and consequently promotes feelings of worthlessness and powe rlessness. Parr et al (2003) agree. This literature review reports that individuals faced with inadequate communication attempts of service providers, feel so diminished that they often apologise for their own existence. By reflecting on the impact of aphasia on self-actualisation needs, it seems that the nursing role in care delivery should involve supporting the individual to both recover the pre-aphasic self and connect this self to the new disabled identity. In order to achieve this, the nurse must firstly get to know the patient as a person, then secondly, empower that person to regain the creativity, confidence and freedom required to control his/her own life. Nursing Implications Use of Family Liaschenko and Fisher (1999) identify person knowledge as integral to the establishment of effective therapeutic communication and holistic care. The acquisition of this knowledge involves knowing the patients private biography with a view to revealing the unique individual. Where aphasia inhibits direct verbal interaction between nurse and patient, family and friends can relay information and re-construct much history, therefore contributing to the satisfaction of a range of fundamental human needs. According to Williams and Davis (2004), this indirect narrative is invaluable as it allows the nurse to participate in individualised communication when speaking directly to the patient. This deters any tendency for task-focused interaction or elderspeak, which in turn, reinforces the individuals sense of self. There are barriers to implementing such interaction however. Paradoxically, despite, for example, British Government calls for improved professional/patient/carer communication (Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party, 2009), some studies report that nurses efforts to personalise care by informal chat with patients and families are thwarted by sociopolitical systems that prioritise task completion over person knowledge. (McCabe, 2004; Speed and Luker, 2004). Also, Fairburns (1994) study of attitudes to visiting hours reports that nurses often feel patients and relatives resent staff presence as an intrusion upon their private time together. Perhaps the use of patient diaries can help overcome these barriers. Combes (2005) introduction of diaries in the intensive care setting demonstrates that by encouraging families to produce ongoing written narratives, which are left at the patients bedside, readily accessible relevant information concerning what is significant and individual to the patient is made available. This data can be utilised and built upon in later nurse/patient interactions. Research into the use of diaries in aphasia care should therefore be undertaken. Families are also useful when nurses are trying to ascertain the individual with aphasias immediate concerns and opinions. Goodwins (1995) well-cited case study illustrates that needs are more easily interpreted when relatives, familiar with the individuals gestures, facial expressions and idiosyncrasies, and who share common social contexts with him/her, are on hand to translate. Indeed, Finke et als (2008) systematic review finds that, where nurses are prepared to ask families for suggestions, or written directives, regarding the meanings of the individuals non-verbal strategies, communication is much more efficacious. In terms of advocacy, Hedberg et als (2008) study of multi-disciplinary care-planning meetings demonstrates that an in-depth knowledge of the individual with aphasias life and views, equips family members to act as advocates in the negotiation of care needs and future plans. The research therefore concludes that nurses require training in how best to involve relatives in the decision-making process in order to ensure individual needs remain salient. While the recommendation to involve families in the communication process is essentially sound, much of the proposing nursing literature quoted above nevertheless fails to fully explore the potential risks to patient autonomy of relying heavily on alliances with relatives. Translation literature (Englund-Dimitrova, 1997; Bradby, 2001; Leininger and McFarland, 2002) confirms that any form of interpretation via a third person amplifies the chances of misinterpretation. However, the risk is further heightened by relatives conscious or subconscious propensity to distort, omit or add to the patients messages and opinions in order to address their own concerns. Shadden et als (2008) review of autobiographical narratives reports that, while the well-being of patients is the central concern of most families, disability caused by stroke has a significant negative impact on the lives of all close family members. This may result in the interpretation of aphasic communication being influenced by the intermediarys own slanted perspectives. Thus, relatives feelings of guilt, fear, stress, and fatigue may filter out some of the true messages that the individual with aphasia is trying to express. Ryan et al (1986) offers a more cynical consequence to family advocacy by suggesting that it may undermine the individuals power to control situations, and can even disguise the sense of self by recreating and redefining elements of the individuals history, personality and wishes during the advocacy process. Hence, although it is helpful to use family knowledge to obtain patient information, nurses must recognise that individuals needs may not be adequately supplied by biased intermediaries. Nurses must therefore be able to use their own disinterested objective strategies to reach an understanding of the individual with aphasias meaning. Nursing Implications Competence Theory and research which explores the meaning of caring (Halldorsdottir and Hamrin, 1997; Brilowski and Wendler, 2005; Chang et al, 2005) states that a fundamental strategy when nursing any illness is the alleviation of the patients fear that nothing can be done to treat the condition. This literature reveals that while patients appreciate expressive caring behaviours, competence when performing instrumental therapies, is considered imperative to a secure caring base. As Halldorsdottir and Hamrin (1997) assert, caring without competence is meaningless (p.123). It is apparent that in aphasia, where preservation of the self is at stake, the nurse needs to convey competence and confidence in attitude and execution of language practice therapies, so that the individual with aphasia feels secure in the knowledge that recovery of identity is possible and in hand. Nystroms (2009) phenomenological study of interviews and biographies finds that such provision of security via nursing competence encourages patient hope, motivation, and fighting spirit (p.2509). Finke et al (2008) believes that nursing competence in language practice therapy requires training in basic speech therapy, familiarity with augmentative and alternative communication, and regular consultations with speech and language therapists. However, currently, none of these schemes are widely implemented. Hemsley et al (2001) suggests this is due to individual and organisational attitude barriers, which view specialised communication techniques as both too time-consuming and beyond the remit of nurses. Finke et al (2008), proposes that time and resources spent on enhancing nurses communication competence may prove more efficient than relying on minimal task-orientated interactions. This is because ineffective interactions are at high risk of misinterpretation, ineffective at meeting individual needs, result in frustration, fear and despondency, and may contribute to depression. Also, Nystrom (2009) finds that extended time periods required for personal care support, provide ideal opportunities for skilled practitioners to simultaneously offer language practice (thus reducing rehabilitation time and resources), while allaying patient fears. A participant in the research is quoted thus, One nurse talked to me while helping me to eat and get dressed†¦that made me feel calm and secure (pp.2507-8). Nursing Implications Quest Approach Aphasia traps individuals in the present. Struggling to express details of past achievements, individuals situations are worsened by an inability to shape the future. In effect, individuals have lost both identity, and the freedom and creativity to restore it. They have lost their place in the world. Nystrom (2009) believes that the optimal method of regaining place is to defer to individuals pre-stroke identities. An awareness of individuals previous competencies, allows the nurse to personalise language practice, communication strategies and conversation by basing subject matters on familiar contexts of family, work, interests, and achievements. This enables individuals with aphasia to grasp meanings more easily, but it also helps to maintain a sense of the old valued, accomplished self, thus providing a structure on which to base rehabilitation goals. This method, defined by Moss et al (2004) as a restitution approach, is fundamentally flawed because it overlooks the fact that for many individuals, aphasia remains a permanent disability. Preoccupation with the old self could therefore lead to a painful mourning for what is lost. It could even exacerbate feelings of worthlessness by highlighting comparisons between past abilities and present inabilities. Moss et als (2004) exploration of online illness narratives purports that a quest approach is more psychologically healthy. Here, individuals are encouraged to accept their changed circumstances, and envisage and create a different future. For the nurse, this involves using the individuals history, not as a source of goals, but a source of interests on which new modified goals can be built. This requires strong multi-disciplinary co-ordination skills to bring patient, nurse, speech therapist and occupational therapist together in order to fully explore interests, resources, potential and progress. Furthermore, according to Vickery et als (2009) quantitative analysis of self-esteem scales, the nurse must kindly but firmly guide individuals to a realisation of their limitations so that the risk of disappointment is reduced. However, simultaneously, the nurse should demonstrate motivating and commendatory attitudes that elicit a sense of pride from individuals in their gains and success es, which ultimately increases confidence, self-worth and a sense of freedom. Relationship Needs Impact of Aphasia on Relationships Berkman et als (2000) review of social integration theory demonstrates that relationships and affiliations are formidable influences on physical and psychological health. The study explains that relationships provide informational, instrumental (practical), appraisal (decision-making) and emotional support, as well as opportunities for social engagement. All these aspects are essential to the endorsement of meaningful roles, the reinforcement of participation and belonging, and the promotion of affection and pleasure. Charmaz (1983; 1999) reiterates that these factors add to the sense of self as a valuable entity. Any process or condition which leads to alienation, separation or disconnectedness from society, adversely impacts on mental well-being and mortality (figure 2). Generative studies by Durkheim (1952) and Bowlby (1991) suggest that relationships serve to buffer detrimental influences of stressful events. These texts illustrate that when consistent, reliable relationships are absent or damaged, psychological stability is weakened and the risk of depression increases. Berkmans (1988) hypothesis takes this concept further by suggesting that social isolation is itself a chronic stressor resulting in persistent heightened hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses which consequently accelerate physiologic aging and functional decline. Because conversation is pivotal to interaction and relationship building, aphasia inhibits individuals from exploiting the health benefits of social integration. Pound et al (2006) believe that conversation is primarily transactional, enabling individuals to participate within a supportive society consisting of mutually supportive relationships. Aphasia therefore, results in an inability to access support strategies resulting in isolation and stress. For example, appraisal support is compromised because individuals with aphasia are unable to talk problems over with friends. Likewise, informational and instrumental support may be inaccessible if individuals cannot express their opinions and needs, nor comprehend disseminated messages. While Laver (1975) acknowledges the transactional element of conversation, he also emphasises its interactional nature, which allows the development of social connections. He explains that it is a bonding ritual, which explores and categorises social position, conveys intimacy, conspiracy, affection and belonging, and as such, its loss can lead to a devastating sense of loneliness. For individuals with aphasia, whose health is already severely impaired by stroke, it is imperative that nurses are able to support the relationship-building process, and hence, diminish risks of further health problems associated with social isolation. Ramos (1992) research concludes that this is best achieved by establishing reciprocal or connected nurse-patient relationships which involve the development of emotional and cognitive bonds that persuade the individual to feel the nurse is taking on part of the burden (p.503). Reciprocation also encourages nurses to perceive coping with illness as a shared responsibility. Pound et al (2006) agree, stating that if professionals acknowledge patients are not solo performers, but part of a company of players (p.18), then this idea of joint responsibility is accentuated. However, poor therapeutic relationship development in aphasia remains a common problem. Perhaps this can be explained by Hindles (2003) suggestion that any phenomenon, which undermines nurses competence as communicators, leads to the implementation of communication filter barriers, such as rationalisation and projection. Sundin et al (2000) believe aphasia is a relationship leveller because both nurse and individual with aphasia have difficulty being understood by, and understanding, each other. This situation is uncomfortable for nurses working in a healthcare social construction that is founded upon competency achievement and proficient practice. Balandin et als research (2007) validates this idea. This small qualitative study finds that the undermining of competence and power results in rationalisation and projection in the form of defensive attitudes such as its not my job or the patient doesnt need to communicate (p.58). These avoidance tactics have been so widespread that Stock well (1972) included individuals with aphasia in her list of unpopular patients. Reactions to Diminished Relationships Charmaz (1983) research, confirmed by Davidson et als (2008) case study, reveals how unwillingness or inability of family, friends and professionals to establish effective relationships with individuals affected by aphasia leads to feelings of rejection. This in turn erodes patients perseverance to pursue support and comfort, often resulting in retreat and the seeking of solitude. Lyon (1998) refers to this behaviour as constructive because it provides a protective cocoon (p.12) in which individuals can rest and quietly contemplate their situation. Likewise, Shadden et al (2008) believe solitude-seeking is beneficial as it allows individuals to recapture the self which appears to bolster self-esteem. The authors quote from a patient interv