Monday, September 30, 2019

The Host Chapter 31: Needed

I froze and then looked quickly over my shoulder to see if someone was behind me. â€Å"Gladys was his wife,† Jamie whispered almost silently. â€Å"She didn't escape.† â€Å"Gladys,† Walter said to me, oblivious to my reaction. â€Å"Would you believe I went and got cancer? What are the odds, eh? Never took a sick day in my life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice faded out until I couldn't hear it, but his lips continued to move. He was too weak to lift his hand; his fingers dragged themselves toward the edge of the cot, toward me. Ian nudged me forward. â€Å"What should I do?† I breathed. The sweat beading on my forehead had nothing to do with the humid heat. â€Å"†¦ grandfather lived to be a hundred and one,† Walter wheezed, audible again. â€Å"Nobody ever had cancer in my family, not even the cousins. Didn't your aunt Regan have skin cancer, though?† He looked at me trustingly, waiting for an answer. Ian poked me in the back. â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I mumbled. â€Å"Maybe that was Bill's aunt,† Walter allowed. I shot a panicked glance at Ian, who shrugged. â€Å"Help,† I mouthed at him. He motioned for me to take Walter's searching fingers. Walter's skin was chalk white and translucent. I could see the faint pulse of blood in the blue veins on the back of his hand. I lifted his hand gingerly, worried about the slender bones that Jamie had said were so brittle. It felt too light, as if it were hollow. â€Å"Ah, Gladdie, it's been hard without you. It's a nice place here; you'll like it, even when I'm gone. Plenty of people to talk to-I know how you need to have your conversation†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The volume of his voice sank until I couldn't make out the words anymore, but his lips still shaped the words he wanted to share with his wife. His mouth kept moving, even when his eyes closed and his head lolled to the side. Ian found a wet cloth and began wiping Walter's shining face. â€Å"I'm not good at†¦ at deception,† I whispered, watching Walter's mumbling lips to make sure he wasn't listening to me. â€Å"I don't want to upset him.† â€Å"You don't have to say anything,† Ian reassured me. â€Å"He's not lucid enough to care.† â€Å"Do I look like her?† â€Å"Not a bit-I've seen her picture. Stocky redhead.† â€Å"Here, let me do that.† Ian gave me the rag, and I cleaned the sweat off Walter's neck. Busy hands always made me feel more comfortable. Walter continued to mumble. I thought I heard him say, â€Å"Thanks, Gladdie, that's nice.† I didn't notice that Doc's snores had stopped. His familiar voice was suddenly there behind me, too gentle to startle. â€Å"How is he?† â€Å"Delusional,† Ian whispered. â€Å"Is that the brandy or the pain?† â€Å"More the pain, I would think. I'd trade my right arm for some morphine.† â€Å"Maybe Jared will produce another miracle,† Ian suggested. â€Å"Maybe,† Doc sighed. I wiped absently at Walter's pallid face, listening more intently now, but they didn't speak of Jared again. Not here, Melanie whispered. Looking for help for Walter, I agreed. Alone, she added. I thought about the last time I'd seen him-the kiss, the belief†¦ He probably wanted some time to himself. I hope he isn't out there convincing himself that you're a very talented actress-slash-Seeker again†¦ That's possible, of course. Melanie groaned silently. Ian and Doc murmured in quiet voices about inconsequential things, mostly Ian catching Doc up on what was going on in the caves. â€Å"What happened to Wanda's face?† Doc whispered, but I could still hear him easily. â€Å"More of the same,† Ian said in a tight voice. Doc made an unhappy noise under his breath and then clicked his tongue. Ian told him a bit about tonight's awkward class, about Geoffrey's questions. â€Å"It would have been convenient if Melanie had been possessed by a Healer,† Doc mused. I flinched, but they were behind me and probably didn't notice. â€Å"We're lucky it was Wanda,† Ian murmured in my defense. â€Å"No one else -â€Å" â€Å"I know,† Doc interrupted, good-natured as always. â€Å"I guess I should say, it's too bad Wanda didn't have more of an interest in medicine.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I murmured. I was careless to reap the benefits of perfect health without ever being curious about the cause. A hand touched my shoulder. â€Å"You have nothing to apologize for,† Ian said. Jamie was being very quiet. I looked around and saw that he was curled up on the cot where Doc had been napping. â€Å"It's late,† Doc noted. â€Å"Walter's not going anywhere tonight. You should get some sleep.† â€Å"We'll be back,† Ian promised. â€Å"Let us know what we can bring, for either of you.† I laid Walter's hand down, patting it cautiously. His eyes snapped open, focusing with more awareness than before. â€Å"Are you leaving?† he wheezed. â€Å"Do you have to go so soon?† I took his hand again quickly. â€Å"No, I don't have to leave.† He smiled and closed his eyes again. His fingers locked around mine with brittle strength. Ian sighed. â€Å"You can go,† I told him. â€Å"I don't mind. Take Jamie back to his bed.† Ian glanced around the room. â€Å"Hold on a sec,† he said, and then he grabbed the cot closest to him. It wasn't heavy-he lifted it easily and slid it into place next to Walter's. I stretched my arm to the limit, trying not to jostle Walter, so that Ian could arrange the cot under it. Then he grabbed me up just as easily and set me on the cot beside Walter. Walter's eyes never fluttered. I gasped quietly, caught off guard by the casual way Ian was able to put his hands on me-as though I were human. Ian jerked his chin toward Walter's hand clasped around mine. â€Å"Do you think you can sleep like that?† â€Å"Yes, I'm sure I can.† â€Å"Sleep well, then.† He smiled at me, then turned and lifted Jamie from the other cot. â€Å"Let's go, kid,† he muttered, carrying the boy with no more effort than if he were an infant. Ian's quiet footsteps faded into the distance until I couldn't hear them anymore. Doc yawned and went to sit behind the desk he'd constructed out of wooden crates and an aluminum door, taking the dim lamp with him. Walter's face was too dark to see, and that made me nervous. It was like he was already gone. I took comfort in his fingers, still curled stiffly around mine. Doc began to shuffle through some papers, humming almost inaudibly to himself. I drifted off to the sound of the gentle rustling. Walter recognized me in the morning. He didn't wake until Ian showed up to escort me back; the cornfield was due to be cleared of the old stalks. I promised Doc I would bring him breakfast before I got to work. The very last thing I did was to carefully loosen my numb fingers, freeing them from Walter's grasp. His eyes opened. â€Å"Wanda,† he whispered. â€Å"Walter?† I wasn't sure how long he would know me, or if he would remember last night. His hand clutched at the empty air, so I gave him my left, the one that wasn't dead. â€Å"You came to see me. That was nice. I know†¦ with the others back†¦ must be hard†¦ for you†¦ Your face†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He seemed to be having a difficult time making his lips form the words, and his eyes went in and out of focus. How like him, that his first words to me would be full of concern. â€Å"Everything's fine, Walter. How are you feeling?† â€Å"Ah -† He groaned quietly. â€Å"Not so†¦ Doc?† â€Å"Right here,† Doc murmured, close behind me. â€Å"Got any more liquor?† he gasped. â€Å"Of course.† Doc was already prepared. He held the mouth of a thick glass bottle to Walter's slack lips and carefully poured the dark brown liquid in slow drips into his mouth. Walter winced as each sip burned down his throat. Some of it trickled out the side of his mouth and onto his pillow. The smell stung my nose. â€Å"Better?† Doc asked after a long moment of slow pouring. Walter grunted. It didn't sound like assent. His eyes closed. â€Å"More?† Doc asked. Walter grimaced and then moaned. Doc cursed under his breath. â€Å"Where's Jared?† he muttered. I stiffened at the name. Melanie stirred and then drifted again. Walter's face sagged. His head rolled back on his neck. â€Å"Walter?† I whispered. â€Å"The pain's too much for him to stay conscious. Let him be,† Doc said. My throat felt swollen. â€Å"What can I do?† Doc's voice was desolate. â€Å"About as much as I can. Which is nothing. I'm useless.† â€Å"Don't be like that, Doc,† I heard Ian murmur. â€Å"This isn't your fault. The world doesn't work the way it used to. No one expects more of you.† My shoulders hunched inward. No, their world didn't work the same way anymore. A finger tapped my arm. â€Å"Let's go,† Ian whispered. I nodded and started to pull my hand free again. Walter's eyes rolled open, unseeing. â€Å"Gladdie? Are you here?† he implored. â€Å"Um†¦ I'm here,† I said uncertainly, letting his fingers lock around mine. Ian shrugged. â€Å"I'll get you both some food,† he whispered, and then he left. I waited anxiously for him to return, unnerved by Walter's misconception. Walter murmured Gladys's name over and over, but he didn't seem to need anything from me, for which I was grateful. After a while, half an hour maybe, I began listening for Ian's footsteps in the tunnel, wondering what could be taking him so long. Doc stood by his desk the whole time, staring into nothing with his shoulders slumped. It was easy to see how useless he felt. And then I did hear something, but it wasn't footsteps. â€Å"What is that?† I asked Doc in a whisper; Walter was quiet again, maybe unconscious. I didn't want to disturb him. Doc turned to look at me, cocking his head to the side at the same time to listen. The noise was a funny thrumming, a fast, soft beat. I thought I heard it get just a little louder, but then it seemed quieter again. â€Å"That's weird,† Doc said. â€Å"It almost sounds like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, his forehead furrowing in concentration as the unfamiliar sound faded. We were listening intently, so we heard the footsteps when they were still far away. They did not match the expected, even pace of Ian's return. He was running-no, sprinting. Doc reacted immediately to the sound of trouble. He jogged quickly out to meet Ian. I wished I could see what was wrong, too, but I didn't want to upset Walter by trying to free my hand again. I listened hard instead. â€Å"Brandt?† I heard Doc say in surprise. â€Å"Where is it? Where is it?† the other man demanded breathlessly. The running footsteps only paused for a second, then started up again, not quite as fast. â€Å"What are you talking about?† Doc asked, calling back this way. â€Å"The parasite!† Brandt hissed impatiently, anxiously, as he burst through the arched entry. Brandt was not a big man like Kyle or Ian; he was probably only a few inches taller than me, but he was thick and solid as a rhinoceros. His eyes swept the room; his piercing gaze focused on my face for half a second, then took in Walter's oblivious form, and then raced around the room only to end up on me again. Doc caught up with Brandt then, his long fingers gripping Brandt's shoulder just as the broader man took the first step in my direction. â€Å"What are you doing?† Doc asked, his voice the closest to a growl I'd ever heard it. Before Brandt answered, the odd sound returned, going from soft to screaming loud to soft again with a suddenness that had us all frozen. The beats thudded right on top of one another, shaking the air when they were at their loudest. â€Å"Is that-is that a helicopter?† Doc asked, whispering. â€Å"Yes,† Brandt whispered back. â€Å"It's the Seeker-the one from before, the one who was looking for it.† He jerked his chin at me. My throat was suddenly too small-the breaths moving through it were thin and shallow, not enough. I felt dizzy. No. Not now. Please. What is her problem? Mel snarled in my head. Why can't she leave us alone? We can't let her hurt them! But how do we stop her? I don't know. This is all my fault! Mine, too, Wanda. Ours. â€Å"Are you sure?† Doc asked. â€Å"Kyle got a clear view through the binoculars while it was hovering. Same one he saw before.† â€Å"Is it looking here?† Doc's voice was suddenly horrified. He half spun, eyes flashing toward the exit. â€Å"Where's Sharon?† Brandt shook his head. â€Å"It's just running sweeps. Starts at Picacho, then fans out in spokes. Doesn't look like it's focusing on anything close. Circled around a few times where we dumped the car.† â€Å"Sharon?† Doc asked again. â€Å"She's with the kids and Lucina. They're fine. The boys are getting things packed in case we have to roll tonight, but Jeb says it's not likely.† Doc exhaled, then paced over to his desk. He slouched against it, looking as if he'd just run a long race. â€Å"So it's nothing new, really,† he murmured. â€Å"Naw. Just have to lay low for a few days,† Brandt reassured him. His eyes were flickering around the room again, settling on me every other second. â€Å"Do you have any rope handy?† he asked. He pulled up the edge of the sheet on an empty cot, examining it. â€Å"Rope?† Doc echoed blankly. â€Å"For the parasite. Kyle sent me out here to secure it.† My muscles contracted involuntarily; my hand gripped Walter's fingers too tightly, and he whimpered. I tried to force it to relax while I kept my eyes on Brandt's hard face. He was waiting for Doc, expectant. â€Å"You're here to secure Wanda?† Doc said, his voice hard again. â€Å"And what makes you think that's necessary?† â€Å"Come on, Doc. Don't be stupid. You've got some big vents in here, and a lot of reflective metal.† Brandt gestured to a file cabinet against the far wall. â€Å"You let your attention wander for half a minute, and it'll be flashing signals to that Seeker.† I sucked in a shocked breath; it was loud in the still room. â€Å"See?† Brandt said. â€Å"Guessed its plan in one.† I wanted to bury myself under a boulder to hide from the bulging, relentless eyes of my Seeker, yet he imagined I wanted to guide her in. Bring her here to kill Jamie, Jared, Jeb, Ian†¦ I felt like gagging. â€Å"You can go, Brandt,† Doc said in an icy tone. â€Å"I will keep an eye on Wanda.† Brandt raised one eyebrow. â€Å"What happened to you guys? To you and Ian and Trudy and the rest? It's like you're all hypnotized. If your eyes weren't right, I'd have to wonder†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Go ahead and wonder all you want, Brandt. But get out while you're doing it.† Brandt shook his head. â€Å"I've got a job to do.† Doc walked toward Brandt, stopping when he was between Brandt and me. He folded his arms across his chest. â€Å"You're not going to touch her.† The throbbing helicopter blades sounded in the distance. We were all very still, not breathing, until they faded. Brandt shook his head when it was quiet again. He didn't speak; he just went to the desk and picked up Doc's chair. He carried it to the wall by the file cabinet, slammed it to the ground, and then sat down hard, making the metal legs squeal against the stone. He leaned forward, his hands on his knees, and stared at me. A vulture waiting for a dying hare to stop moving. Doc's jaw tightened, making a little popping noise. â€Å"Gladys,† Walter muttered, surfacing from his dazed sleep. â€Å"You're here.† Too nervous to speak with Brandt watching, I just patted his hand. His clouded eyes searched my face, seeing features that weren't there. â€Å"It hurts, Gladdie. It hurts a lot.† â€Å"I know,† I whispered. â€Å"Doc?† He was already there, the brandy in hand. â€Å"Open up, Walter.† The sound of the helicopter thumped quietly, far away but still much too close. Doc flinched, and a few drops of brandy splattered on my arm. It was a horrible day. The worst of my life on this planet, even including my first day in the caves and the last hot, dry day in the desert, hours from death. The helicopter circled and circled. Sometimes more than an hour would pass, and I would think it was finally over. Then the sound would come back, and I would see the Seeker's obstinate face in my head, her protruding eyes scouring the blank desert for some sign of humans. I tried to will her away, concentrating hard on my memories of the desert's featureless, colorless plain, as if I could somehow make sure she saw nothing else, as if I could bore her into leaving. Brandt never took his suspicious stare off of me. I could always feel it, though I rarely looked at him. It got a little better when Ian came back with both breakfast and lunch. He was all dirty from packing in case of an evacuation-whatever that meant. Did they have anywhere to go? Ian scowled so hard he looked like Kyle when Brandt explained in clipped phrases why he was there. Then Ian dragged another empty cot beside mine, so that he could sit in Brandt's line of sight and block his view. The helicopter, Brandt's distrustful watch, these were not really so bad. On an ordinary day-if there was really such a thing anymore-either one of these might have seemed agonizing. Today, they were nothing. By noon, Doc had given Walter the last of the brandy. It seemed like only minutes later that Walter was writhing, moaning, and gasping for breath. His fingers bruised and chafed mine, but if I ever pulled away, his moans turned to shrill screams. I ducked out once to use the latrine; Brandt followed me, which made Ian feel like he had to come, too. By the time we got back-after nearly running the whole way-Walter's screams no longer sounded human. Doc's face was hollow with echoed agony. Walter quieted after I spoke to him for a moment, letting him think his wife was near. It was an easy lie, a kind one. Brandt made little noises of irritation, but I knew that he was wrong to be upset. Nothing mattered beside Walter's pain. The whimpers and the writhing continued, though, and Brandt paced back and forth at the other end of the room, trying to be as far from the sound as possible. Jamie came looking for me, bringing food enough for four, when the light was growing orangey overhead. I wouldn't let him stay; I made Ian take him back to the kitchen to eat, made Ian promise to watch him all night so he wouldn't sneak back here. Walter couldn't help shrieking when his twisting moved his broken leg, and the sound of it was nearly unbearable. Jamie shouldn't have this night burned into his memory the way it would surely be burned into Doc's and mine. Perhaps Brandt's as well, though he did what he could to ignore Walter, plugging his ears and humming a dissonant tune. Doc did not try to distance himself from Walter's hideous suffering; instead, he suffered with him. Walter's cries carved deep lines in Doc's face, like claws raking his skin. It was strange to see such depths of compassion in a human, particularly Doc. I couldn't look at him the same way after watching him live Walter's pain. So great was his compassion, he seemed to bleed internally with it. As I watched, it became impossible to believe that Doc was a cruel person; the man simply could not be a torturer. I tried to remember what had been said to found my conjectures-had anyone made the accusation outright? I didn't think so. I must have jumped to false conclusions in my terror. I doubted I could ever mistrust Doc again after this nightmarish day. However, I would always find his hospital a horrible place. When the last of the daylight disappeared, so did the helicopter. We sat in the darkness, not daring to turn on even the dim blue light. It took a few hours before any of us would believe the hunt was over. Brandt was the first to accept it; he'd had enough of the hospital, too. â€Å"Makes sense for it to give up,† he muttered, edging out the exit. â€Å"Nothing to see at night. I'll just take your light with me, Doc, so that Jeb's pet parasite can't get up to anything, and be on my way.† Doc didn't respond, didn't even look at the sullen man as he left. â€Å"Make it stop, Gladdie, make it stop!† Walter begged me. I wiped the sweat from his face while he crushed my hand. Time seemed to slow down and stop; the black night felt unending. Walter's screams got more and more frequent, more and more excruciating. Melanie was far away, knowing she could do nothing useful. I would have hidden, too, if Walter hadn't needed me. I was all alone in my head-exactly what I had once wanted. It made me feel lost. Eventually, a dim gray light started to creep in through the high vents overhead. I was hovering on the edge of sleep, Walter's moans and screams keeping me from sinking under. I could hear Doc snoring behind me. I was glad that he'd been able to escape for a little while. I didn't hear Jared come in. I was mumbling weak assurances, barely coherent, trying to calm Walter. â€Å"I'm here, I'm here,† I murmured as he cried out his wife's name. â€Å"Shh, it's okay.† The words were meaningless. It was something to say, though, and it did seem that my voice calmed the worst of his cries. I don't know how long Jared watched me with Walter before I realized he was there. It must have been a while. I was sure his first reaction would be anger, but when I heard him speak, his voice was cool. â€Å"Doc,† he said, and I heard the cot behind me shake. â€Å"Doc, wake up.† I jerked my hand free, whirling, disoriented, to see the face that went with the unmistakable voice. His eyes were on me as he shook the sleeping man's shoulder. They were impossible to read in the dim light. His face had no expression at all. Melanie jolted into awareness. She pored over his features, trying to read the thoughts behind the mask. â€Å"Gladdie! Don't leave! Don't!† Walter's screech had Doc bolting upright, nearly capsizing his cot. I spun back to Walter, shoving my sore hand into his searching fingers. â€Å"Shhh, shhh! Walter, I'm here. I won't leave. I won't, I promise.† He quieted down, whimpering like a small child. I wiped the damp cloth over his forehead; his sob hitched and turned into a sigh. â€Å"What's that about?† Jared murmured behind me. â€Å"She's the best painkiller I've been able to find,† Doc said wearily. â€Å"Well, I've found you something better than a tame Seeker.† My stomach knotted, and Melanie hissed in my head. So stupidly, blindly stubborn! she growled. He wouldn't believe you if you told him the sun sets in the west. But Doc was beyond caring about the slight to me. â€Å"You found something!† â€Å"Morphine-there's not much. I would have gotten here sooner if the Seeker hadn't pinned me down out there.† Doc was instantly in action. I heard him rustling through something papery, and he crowed in delight. â€Å"Jared, you're the miracle man!† â€Å"Doc, just a sec†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Doc was at my side already, his haggard face alight with anticipation. His hands were busy with a small syringe. He stuck the tiny needle into the crease at Walter's elbow, on the arm that was attached to me. I turned my face away. It seemed so horribly invasive to stab something through his skin. I couldn't argue with the results, though. Within half a minute, Walter's entire body relaxed, melting into a pile of loose flesh against the thin mattress. His breathing went from harsh and urgent to whispery and even. His hand relaxed, freeing mine. I massaged my left hand with my right, trying to bring the blood back to my fingertips. Little prickles followed the flow of blood under my skin. â€Å"Uh, Doc, there really isn't enough for that,† Jared murmured. I looked up from Walter's face, peaceful at last. Jared had his back to me, but I could see the surprise in Doc's expression. â€Å"Enough for what? I'm not going to save this for a rainy day, Jared. I'm sure we'll wish we had it again, and too soon, but I'm not going to let Walter scream in agony while I have a way to help him!† â€Å"That's not what I meant,† Jared said. He spoke the way he did when he'd already thought about something long and hard. Slow and even, like Walter's breath. Doc frowned, confused. â€Å"There's enough to stop the pain for maybe three or four days, that's all,† Jared said. â€Å"If you give it to him in doses.† I didn't understand what Jared was saying, but Doc did. â€Å"Ah,† he sighed. He turned to look at Walter again, and I saw a rim of fresh tears start to pool above his lower lids. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I wanted to know what they were talking about, but Jared's presence made me silent, brought back the reserve I rarely felt the need for anymore. â€Å"You can't save him. You can only save him pain, Doc.† â€Å"I know,† Doc said. His voice broke, like he was holding back a sob. â€Å"You're right.† What's going on? I asked. As long as Melanie was going to be around, I might as well make use of her. They're going to kill Walter, she told me matter-of-factly. There's enough morphine to give him an overdose. My gasp sounded loud in the quiet room, but it was really just a breath. I didn't look up to see how the two healthy men would react. My own tears pooled as I leaned over Walter's pillow. No, I thought, no. Not yet. No. You'd rather he died screaming? I just†¦ I can't stand the†¦ finality. It's so absolute. I'll never see my friend again. How many of your other friends have you gone back to visit, Wanderer? I've never had friends like this before. My friends on other planets were all blurred together in my head; the souls were so similar, almost interchangeable in some ways. Walter was distinctly himself. When he was gone, there would be no one who could fill his place. I cradled Walter's head in my arms and let my tears fall onto his skin. I tried to stifle my crying, but it made its way out regardless, a keening rather than sobs. I know. Another first, Melanie whispered, and there was compassion in her tone. Compassion for me-that was a first, too. â€Å"Wanda?† Doc asked. I just shook my head, not able to answer. â€Å"I think you've been here too long,† he said. I felt his hand, light and warm, on my shoulder. â€Å"You should take a break.† I shook my head again, still keening softly. â€Å"You're worn out,† he said. â€Å"Go clean up, stretch your legs. Eat something.† I glared up at him. â€Å"Will Walter be here when I get back?† I mumbled through my tears. His eyes tightened anxiously. â€Å"Do you want that?† â€Å"I'd like a chance to say goodbye. He's my friend.† He patted my arm. â€Å"I know, Wanda, I know. Me, too. I'm in no hurry. You get some air and then come back. Walter will be sleeping for a while.† I read his worn face, and I believed the sincerity there. I nodded and carefully put Walter's head back on the pillow. Maybe if I got away from this place for a little bit, I'd find a way to handle this. I wasn't sure how-I had no experience with real goodbyes. Because I was in love with him, no matter that it was unwilling, I had to look at Jared before I left. Mel wanted this, too, but wished that she could somehow exclude me from the process. He was staring at me. I had a feeling his eyes had been on me for a long time. His face was carefully composed, but there was surprise and suspicion in there again. It made me tired. What would be the point of acting out a charade now, even if I were that talented a liar? Walter would never stand up for me again. I couldn't sucker him anymore. I met Jared's gaze for one long second, then turned to hurry down the pitch-black corridor that was brighter than his expression.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Should There Be Private Universities

rivate universities in India – why? how? Why do we need private universities? Higher education in India has largely been the preserve of the Government till recently in terms of both funding and provision of education. But for this to continue, the Government should continue to be in a position to pour in large sums of money to fund higher education. Today, the Government is unable to find the funds even to keep up its own commitment of spending 6% of GDP on education.There is also a clamour to spend more of what little funding the Government has allocated for education, on primary education than on higher education, and quite rightly so, given that many children don't even get a basic primary and secondary education today. Thus the Government spending on higher education as a percentage of overall government spending on education is only likely to decrease further in the coming years. But the demand for higher education is continuing to increase with more and more students wa nting a higher education today than ever before.How can we bridge the gap between increasing demand and decreasing government funding for higher education? The only option is to tap the private sector to participate in the funding and provision of higher education. The process of increasing private participation in higher education has already begun with a few states like Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal having passed legislation to permit the setting up of private universities in their states.Indeed the private sector has been funding higher education in India for a long time, albeit on a very limited scale. The Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani in Rajasthan, which is funded and run by the Birla Group Trust, became an officially recognised university as far back as 1964. Other institutions like the Manipal Group in Manipal in Karnataka have been running private colleges since 1953 and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education became a deemed university in 1993.Many othe r self-financing colleges were set up in the early 1990s and a few of them have now become deemed universities. Problems arising out of poor regulation of private universities After the passing of legislation in Chhattisgarh in 2002 (and subsequently in other states like Uttaranchal), to facilitate the establishment of private Universities with a view to creating supplementary resources to assist the State Government in providing quality higher education, there was a spate of private universities that were set up under the Chhattisgarh Act.The Chhattisgarh legislation was passed in a hurry without much care, leaving many loopholes in the Act, which were quickly exploited by many organisations that set up private universities, without a serious commitment to higher education. Many of the private universities set up under the Chhattisgarh Act did not have either the infrastructure, or a campus, or the funds to provide quality higher education, and functioned out of one-room tenements. The Chhattisgarh Act did not provide for proper regulation and maintenance of standards by these universities and moreover, the Chhattisgarh Government did little to ensure that the private universities did what they were expected to do according to the legislation. Students who signed up for courses offered by private universities set up under the Chhattisgarh Act were being taken for a ride by many private universities who had no capability to offer quality courses.Prof. Yashpal, former chairman of the University Grants Commission, petitioned the Supreme Court in 2004 to declare the Chhattisgarh legislation unconstitutional and the Supreme Court after due deliberation concurred and declared in February 2005 that all the private universities set up under the Chhattisgarh Act were illegal, putting the careers of all the students who enrolled in the institutions set up by the private universities in jeopardy.But to protect the interests of the students, the Supreme Court directed the Chhattisgarh Government to take appropriate steps to have such institutions affiliated to the already existing State Universities in Chhattisgarh. It is important to note that the Supreme Court did not state that all private universities are illegal – it has only stated that the manner in which the Chhattisgarh legislation allowed the setting up of private universities was illegal. The problem is not with private participation in higher education, but with the poorly drafted Chhattisgarh legislation and the lack of proper egulation. Given the Government's lack of funds for higher education and the increasing demand for higher education, we simply cannot do without private universities. We have no option but to tap private funding for higher education. The task before us now is to come up with ways and means to ensure that private universities are properly regulated, yet autonomous and independent enough to flourish, and held to high standards to provide quality higher educat ion. How can we ensure private universities are held to high standards? We can borrow the model from the corporate sector.Just as all companies are required by law to publish annual reports providing details of their assets, liabilities, profits and losses, the profiles of the board of directors and the management and various other financial information, every educational institution (whether public or private) should publish an annual report with details of the infrastructure and facilities available, profiles of the trustees and the administrators, the academic qualifications and experience of the staff, the courses offered, the number of students, the results of the examinations, the amount of funds available to the university and the sources of funding etc.In addition, every educational institution must get itself rated by an independent rating agency like CRISIL, ICRA or CARE and publicly announce its rating to prospective students to enable the students to choose the instituti on they want to enroll in. At one stroke, this will bring in transparency and ensure that every educational institution, whether public or private, is accountable not only to those students who are studying in the institution, but to prospective students and the public at large as well.Public announcements of the financial and educational records of the institutions as well as their ratings by independent rating agencies will generate healthy competition between the various private institutions and will also put pressure on the Government funded institutions to work towards all-round improvement. Such a system is already in place for maritime education in India. In 2004, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), which regulates maritime education in India, introduced a system of rating maritime training institutions in India.In 1996, maritime education was opened to private sector participation and over 130 private institutions are in operation today. To ensure that all institution s provide high quality education, the DGS has asked all maritime educational institutions to get themselves rated by one of the three reputed independent rating agencies in India – CRISIL, CARE or ICRA. The publicly announced ratings will benefit he students, in deciding which institution to enroll in, the institutes, in differentiating themselves based on their quality, the employers, in assessing the quality of students graduating from the institutes and the DGS as well, to non-intrusively regulate the maritime education sector and ensure high quality of education. Maritime education institutes, both public and private, are now getting themselves rated by independent rating agencies and the DGS lists the ratings on its web site. Introducing a similar model across all other sectors of higher education including engineering, medicine, arts, sciences etc. ill ensure that only those institutions with better facilities, staff and infrastructure and reputations will thrive. This will go a long way in ensuring the provision of quality higher education not only in the private sector, but in the public sector as well. The Centre and the States should pass legislation to make it mandatory for all higher education institutions to publish a detailed annual report of their financial and educational status and also be rated by independent rating agencies and publicly announce their ratings.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Patient satisfaction from physicians' communication Essay

Patient satisfaction from physicians' communication - Essay Example To this end they emphasis on the patient care model which places great emphasis on open enquiry, reflective listening and empathy as one of the most effective and important ways of responding to the diverse patient needs. In the HCPC Standards of Proficiency   (2013 p.8) Standard 8, ‘Be able to communicate effectively’, 8.3 states that a   physiotherapist must:   â€Å"Understand how communication skills affect assessment and engagement of service users and how the means of communication   should be modified to address and take account of factors such as age,   capacity, learning ability and physical ability.† As a result, this paper attempts to establish why effective communication between the patient and doctor is crucial by examining different case scenarios and evaluating the role communication plays, not only just in the physiotherapist context, but also in the healthcare system in general. Verbal communication between doctors and their clients is r ecognized as a core part of care and in conventional scenarios it is easy to decode and analyses, and this is because it is discrete in nature and has clear endpoints. However, for doctors to be effective at it, they must have good interpersonal skills such that they can make the patient feel at ease and encourage them to open up with alarming them, sounding rude or stereotypical.  Ã‚   In their discourse, they should ensure they show empathy and attention to the patient’s situation and be capable of managing the patient’s expectations without discouraging them (Larsen and Smith 1981).

Friday, September 27, 2019

Leaders of China in the 20th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leaders of China in the 20th Century - Essay Example This resentment yield fruits by beginning of the Boxer Rebellion in the 20th Century (Kissinger, 2011). China was modified into Republic of China when the 1911 Revolution replaced the two thousand years old imperial system in China led by Sun Yat-sen. January of 1946 marked the beginning of another struggle for power in China. It was Chiang Kai-shek who served as a military assistance to Sun Yat-sen. He was a nationalist supporter. After demise of Sun Yat-sen,, he became popular with the people and became the first ever President of China under a novel, and slacken constitution. During his regime, he was unable to come up with any resolution with the Communists regardless of his long run negotiations with them (Loh, 1971). The drawback of Chiang Kai-shek government was a failure to come in settlement with the Communists and so he was restricted only to the island of Taiwn by 1950 when the United States funds were stopped. He negotiated with the United States military forces and established limited democracy in the country which was already a failure. He began to urge Nationalist guerillas on the mainland of China but was severely bruited. The UN expelled his government in 1971 and subsequently gave rights to the Communists to hold their legitimate regime in the country (Loh, 1971).. United States intervened in Chinese cities led by KMT, while the countryside was under the control of CCP. CCP took action against the KMT in the cities as civilians began to take stand for their country. So, Mao Zedong took over China on 1st October, 1949 when Taiwan took over KMT and yet again gave birth to People’s Republic of China. When Mao Zedong took control over China, he was regarded as one of the big revolutionaries but also one of the most horrible politicians of his time (Spence, 1999). It was Mao who formed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Managing Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing Finance - Essay Example It could also be defined as a financial a and quantitative statement prepared and approved prior to a defined period of time of the policies to be pursed during those periods. Beyond Budgeting (BB) is an alternative that is more adaptive and devolved. It replaces the budgeting model with a more adaptive and devolved alternative. Criticizing budgets is not new. But to define a set of principles, that guides leaders towards a new management model, that is lean, adaptive and ethical, is (Robin Fraser, Jeremy Hope). A budget is a too static instrument and locks managers into the past - into something they thought last year that it was right. To be effective in a global economy with rapidly shifting market conditions and quick and nimble competitors, organization have to be able to adapt constantly their priorities and have to put their resources where they can create most value for customers and shareholders(Juergen H. Daum). In order to do that, they need the right concepts, management processes and tools, concepts such as the Beyond Budgeting Management Model. The introduction of new management instruments such as the Balanced Scorecard, which help to better align the entire organization with corporate strategic objectives and to focus it on the essentials, has created the right foundation. Because if corporate strategy and the objectives are clear for all people in an organization, one can principally react faster to changing market conditions. But then the fixed budget comes into their way and prevents them from really doing the right things. Though what is often missing is a more flexible operational planning and control model. The Beyond Budgeting model wants to fill exactly this gap. NEEDS FOR BEYOND BUDGETING The management system's task is to institutionalize decisions through management processes on strategy adjustments, but also on adjustments of operational enterprise activities and resource utilization plans. This should enable the enterprise to continually control and optimize its short and long-term success in a dynamically changing enterprise environment. TECHNIQUES The goal setting technique: It should be based on agreeing external benchmark based targets, not on negotiating fixed targets. This is focusing mangers on beating the competition and not on meeting the budget. If the market goes up, a manager is still challenged to do better than competitors. The motivation and rewards technique: It should be based on recognizing and rewarding team-based success. Today, no single person can act alone in achieving specific targets for an organization. To reward people individually for reaching specific targets will create tension and mistrust in the organization, which is a recipe for bad performance. The strategy and action planning technique: It should be devolved to operating mangers and made continuous. It should not be managed centrally as an annual event. Only this way a company is able to use the know how from the people at the customer front to adapt fast and constantly to changing market needs. The resource utilization technique: It should be based on local access to resources (within agreed parameters), not on the basis on allocating them through annual budgets. Only this way frontline managers are able to act fast in front of threats and to

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Issue of the Internet Freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Issue of the Internet Freedom - Essay Example One of the benefits of Internet freedom exists in different sectors of the economy especially business organizations. Throughout the years, different business organizations have been able to benefit from the use of the internet which has helped these firms grow and expand and also in a way advertise the company. This is because the internet has opened them up to a larger market whereby people around the world have access to the services offered by these organizations (Davis 54). For example, a company like eBay has made it probable for all people to trade goods, as well as exchange services through the internet saving people time and costs they would have incurred by going around the world in search of these same goods and services. Organizations have also mutually benefited from each other. For instance, companies are able to outsource the different services or commodities that they might need from the wide selection of firms and individuals that present their profiles online. This is seen clearly when companies outsource recruitment services from other companies (Davis 67). Throughout the years, internet freedom has been a resourceful and information's a valuable source for people in the education sector. Both teachers and students within various educational organizations refer to the internet when looking for information about topics they might be researching (Christine 45). The internet contains a wide range of information about different topics; moreover, there is the presentation of information provided from different people’s perspective on the various topics. This allows students, and teachers to analyze and evaluate the different perspectives provided and come up with a detailed compilation. Internet freedom has also allowed for correspondence within the field of education. Most institutions are now embracing the use of e-learning. This service eliminates the barrier of geographical distance between the student and the learning institution and e nables students to pursue and achieve the same quality of education from a specified institution without being physically present there. The main requirement tends to be a computer with an internet connection and both teachers and the student can converse and interact in the virtual classes creation. Testing and grading can also be done in the same way (Christine 98). Internet freedom has also allowed students around the world to interact and share their different ideologies on various topics whether controversial or noncontroversial. This has shown to be beneficial especially when discussing prevalent issues such as global warming, HIV/AIDS etc. This also may play a part in fostering strong relations and co-operation among diverse peoples. From all these benefits of internet freedom, there is the facilitation of knowledge expansion in and out of the education sector (Christine 55). Internet freedom has also encouraged the growth of the entertainment industry. People resort to the i nternet when in search of ways of entertaining themselves by listening to music, watching movies or interacting with other people on social networking sites. The internet provides a wide range of entertainment options to cater for diverse and unique preferences of different individuals (Adam 63). The current popular form of entertainment dominating the internet in this modern day is the use of social network websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype among others.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Criminal Technology from the Past into the Future Assignment

Criminal Technology from the Past into the Future - Assignment Example Moreover, extensive technology application has heightened as crime prevention units try to keep up with advancement in application of modern day appliances to engage in criminal activities. Past Evolution of Technology Effects on Policing Styles and Public Relations Advancement of information technology has led to IT fragmentation where criminal are utilizing technology to commit crime, which may become a problem to security. In the past, the police force applied ancient technology such as pocket book to record information and source information while the night stick was used as a weapon to maintain law and order. A more advanced weapon as at that time was the multiple shot revolvers. However, technology advanced more where criminal were identified and arrested with the aid of photographs taken, after which the telephone came in. indeed, evolution of technology in the past fifty years has developed from use of cars, two way radio communication and guns into the recent times advance t echnology such as body armor, in-car computers and video cameras. ... Among the earliest forms of technology that are still being used at the moment is the use of finger print for criminal investigations, with the application of sound waves for measuring distance between the prints with automated fingerprints identification system. For instance, application of fingerprints and photographs has helped a great deal in identifying criminals and suspects during application and use of visa. Indeed, fraud and identity theft were the most applicable areas of the technology (Siegel, 2008, p 457). Technology is mostly characterized by computers that can carry out complex calculations within a fraction of seconds and the internet for networking in the developed global village. Combination of these two technologies has enabled easy access and storage of large quantities of information with high efficiency. Impact of Information Technology on Criminal Justice Information technology has developed in a dynamic way, with its application by criminals in their activitie s becoming more rampant with time. The society was not prepared to solve criminal technology that has outpaced counteractive measures to solve these problems. Therefore, information technology development mainly in the internet and computer sector has been a great challenge in putting in place security measures to curb the emerging and advancing criminal technologies activities such as cyber crime, identity theft, unauthorized intrusion to systems and sexually related violations. Computers and internet have impacted on the society negatively rather than helping in positive development of the society. In developed countries, criminal technology was extreme due to rapid development of technology easily available for criminals and terrorists. Although security forces have

Monday, September 23, 2019

CREATE ONE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CREATE ONE - Essay Example Technology has brought everything at hand by bringing people together so that they can contact each other even if miles away in the matter of seconds. It has strengthened the world by providing a platform that is used by many to flourish in the society (Morley 2011). The introduction of smartphones and tablets has further added to the integrity of the computers. These smartphones and tablets can now be used as an alternative to computers and carry out simple tasks in a portable manner. This essay would revolve around the concept of computers and technology in the modern society along with the ethical implications that they pose globally. This history of computers can be dated back to the 20th century but the real usage of computers really began after the 1980s after innovation brought up nicer models in the market. These computers were then accessible to a greater lot of people and hence they could experience the age of information technology. It was then that the World Wide Web was introduced but it could only be used by experts in that particular field in the beginning. After 1984, Apple and IBM introduced models of computers that were easy to use and this marked the beginning of the computers in the modern society. The major contributors of the computers are said to be John Mauchly and Presper Eckert as these individuals together were able to found the giant ENIAC in the 1940s. It was after their introduction that this field of information technology could prosper in the years coming (History of Computers 2015). After the introduction of internet, the usage of computers has further evolved and nowadays it is being used as a major source of entertainment by many. Computers have helped to ease the lives of many individuals in the world today by providing a platform through which things that were earlier considered impossible can be easily done. It has made a way into the markets of commerce and has thus

Sunday, September 22, 2019

GE cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

GE cases - Essay Example Crotonville is basically a business oriented university for GE Company. It is at times referred to as the John F. Welch Leadership Development Center (Nikravan, 2011, p. 38). It has attained a wide recognition over the past years due to its commitment to excellence in management and leadership development of employees. Besides, it is also known for sharing the best leadership practices and values throughout the world. Crotonville therefore enables organizations to look positively towards the future thereby making them to gain a competitive advantage. This is attained through the exchange of knowledge with consumers, suppliers and associates. Comparatively, Crotonville has been seen to improve the present and future managers. For instance, it has introduced a cultural diversity framework hence spreading the main corporate inventiveness all over GE. This also enables the managers to interact and gain more experience. The absolute mission of Crotonville is to â€Å"invent, detect and transfer organizational knowledge† (Fulmer & Goldsmith, 2000, p.60) in order to enhance the growth and competence of GE’s employees all over the world. From this, it can be ascertained that Crotonville has multiple duties and purposes to GE. First of all, it educates the employees. This is achieved through the provision of executive development programs which focuses on leadership, management, change, stigmatization and the company’s key initiatives among other aspects. Secondly, it is a tool or channel that GE uses to communicate and strengthen its values with the general stakeholders of the company. For instance, it offers programs and sessions with key customers that enable them not only to succeed, but to improve the customer relations as well. Examples of these programs could include customer briefings, change management, adaptation, and integration. Equally important, Crotonville acts as a link to transmitting the best

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Psychology in the News Essay Example for Free

Psychology in the News Essay Adolescent has always been considered a period of experimentation and risk taking. It is a time when teenagers become extremely aware of themselves and their bodies, leading to problems with regard to body image, self-esteem and negative emotions in general. One disturbing trend in the American society is adolescent suicide. In June 2009, news item published in the San Jose Mercury news website (www. mercurynews. com) tackled the harsh reality of this grave problem surrounding the tumultuous years of the adolescent Americans. Fisher started with an account of teen suicide (Fisher 2009). After two consecutive student suicides at Gunn High School, a community forum was held to give assistance to teens bombarded with problems and in the process, avoid committing suicide (2009). During the forum held at Cubberly Community Center, the Palo Alto community tried to find the answers on how to avoid teen suicide and at the very least, find reasoning on the school’s successive suicides. Citing figures from the National Institute of Mental Health, Fisher expressed that teen suicide poses a â€Å"greater threat† to children than swine flu (Fisher 2009). She also noted the result of a one survey which estimates that 1 in 12 students had taken a shot (no pun intended) at suicide in the past year (2009). While the figures are alarming most especially to the parents, Fisher argued that no significant solutions have been placed. Community forums and counselling are the usual steps laid to alleviate this problem (2009). While there are warning signs that parents and teachers may detect, such as alcohol and drug abuse and changes in attitudes towards schools and other relationships, Fisher remarked that such signs may sometimes be hard to detect or overlooked upon, thus making it harder to prevent suicide (2009). Fisher ended by voicing out concerns over when the community would start getting serious about teen depression and suicide (2009). The news item is indeed, as the author opined, a ‘wake-up call’ on the gravity of teen depression and suicide. As a future parent, it is a cause for alarm for this author. If the current situation cannot be changed, if the number of teen depression and suicide continue to soar, it will be harder for future parents and children to get to the bottom of it. Now, the statistics are already startling, what more ten years from now? Everyone should remember that the youth is the future generation but if the future generation is constantly plagued with depression and suicide, how will they lead the nation? It is something that everyone should take seriously. The news item related to psychology on two things: first, it covers a period in the life span development of individuals, that of the adolescent. It is a time when an individual undergoes physical changes as well as personality and social development. It is a transition phase when the individual is no longer a child but not yet an adult. It covers human development, which falls under developmental psychology, the study of changes in people from birth through old age. . Second, the news item relates adolescence with a common developmental problem, which is suicide. It has been known that suicidal behavior among adolescents is linked to psychological problems such as depression, drug abuse and disruptive behavior. As such, they are directly related to the field of psychology. As aforementioned, depression is a leading cause of suicidal behavior and depression, as everyone knows, is a common mood disorder. It is important to bring to light the issue of teen depression and suicide, not only to treat it but to prevent it in the first place. As the author of the news item said, it does not take two or more suicidal incidents to take the problem seriously. Work Cited Fisher, Patty. â€Å"Teen suicide needs Attention†. San Jose Mercury News. June 2009. 3 August 2009 http://www. mercurynews. com/ci_12523782? nclick_check=1

Friday, September 20, 2019

Scope And Rationale Of Facility Management Construction Essay

Scope And Rationale Of Facility Management Construction Essay This assignment has been written to practically understand the functionality of facilities management within the context of pre-school nurseries. The role, scope and rationale of facility management in the Pre-school nurseries and benefits of outsourcing of different supporting functions in pre-school nurseries and advantages of services provided through outsource companies have also been explained through this activity. Suitable performance measures to improve the performance of facilities management services within the organization, encouraging health and safety environment and discussion of issues related to corporate social responsibility and dialogue on formulating effective facilities management strategy have also been included in this assignment. This activity has bestowed the researcher with practical understanding and knowledge of facilities management in business world. 2.1 Scope and Rationale of Facility Management in nurseries Brooks (2009) stated that Pre-School Nurseries are highly customized and valuable source of educating and training the children where not only core functions but supporting functions should also be managed appropriately. These supporting functions of any pre-nursery are managed by the facility managers. Facility management function is very important for given nurseries in the case study as core function of a nursery is to develop the skills and competencies of the children but supporting functions including pick and drop services, meal for the children, managing part time staff requirements, taking care of the internal environment of the nurseries and meeting health and safety requirements of any business. Atkin (2009) highlighted that facility Management is an interdisciplinary function of any organization as deep understanding and knowledge of core functions of any business, legal requirements for interior decoration in any business along with health and safety requirements in orde r to manage the facilities of any business are required to manage this section of the business. In case of pre-school nurseries the scope of facility Management is even more composite and complex as there need an increased understanding about the health and safety requirements inside and outside the organization as children are provided with the meal which should be hygienically approved and well standard. The condition of food when received from the suppliers should be well checked and preserved in hygienically approved place. In addition to this, school premises should be well preserved and taken care and should be decorated according to the psychological needs of the children and which is not possible without active participation and coordination of facility manager and teachers in the nurseries. In addition to this, fire exist should be effortless and simple and that is not even possible without the active participation of different departments in the nurseries. Hence range or e xtent of facility management in pre-school nurseries can cover every department in the nursery as training or teaching children is not enough but teaching children by taking care of health and safety, food hygienic issues to provide meals to the children, safe and clean pick and drop services to the children and interior decoration are the key areas of maintaining the service standards in nurseries. 2.2 Benefits of outsourcing and external provision of services Barrett (2003) stated that core or primary function of a pre-school nursery is to facilitate the learning and development of the children through stimulating and rich environment where there skills for the future are analyzed and developed. Nurseries are there to develop little scholars in the societies with the primary function of teaching and educating the children. This core function is most probably cannot be outsourced but there are still many supporting functions in the nurseries which can be outsourced and there are various benefits of outsourcing those functions. Maintaining safety for the children in the different nurseries CCTV can be fixed within and outside the nurseries on suitable positions in order to save those cameras and to have clear and complete view of the areas inside and outside the premises of the nurseries. CCTV is not a one time service as it need to be checked and sometime repaired with the passage of time and some special and technical skills and expertise are required to manage and repair such machines and a professional and authentic organization which has been licensed by the Government should be appointed for this purpose in order to have superior quality and guarantee sight of any incident and in order to have long lasting results from any CCTV machine. Moreover, pick and drop service for the children can only be managed through those service providers who have expertise in this field as taking care of the safety issues and timely reaching at different locations along with maintaining health, comfort and hygienic standards even within the coaches. A facility manager can ensure the health requirements and safety requirements through contracting with those service providers which have fixed CCTV in their coaches and can maintain the comfort standards by arranging comfortable and well designed seats inside the coaches. In addition to this, in five nurseries meal services for the children are also outsourced and being the facility m anager I would be responsible to take care of the needs of the children in order to provide them with their customized food and would also take care of the safety and hygiene standards of the suppliers along with ensuring safe and hygienically clean delivery of the food items till the premises of the nurseries where those food items would be stored according to their physical requirements. The teaching services are also some time outsourced by these five nurseries where part time teachers are gained through different agencies. Being the facility manager of these five nurseries I would consult teaching job specifications with the academic head in order to minutely understand the characteristics of relevant person for temporary hiring. I would contact with some agencies and select most appropriate which can provide us with relevant staff to fulfill our temporary gap. Being the facility manager of these five nurseries I would ensure the understanding level of the staff by arranging ini tial introductory induction plan with the academic head so that any gap in the understanding of newly hired staff can be minimized. All these outsourced services have several benefits as these are the specialized services which should be provided through specialized institutions as it becomes very difficult and sometime impossible to provide all these services on its own by the nurseries. Hence outsourcing becomes very beneficial and cost effective in order to have specialized and quality services through these external organizations. Nurseries cannot be so perfect in different supporting functions especially while dealing with children which is very much sensitive and can raise certain additional issues so contracting with external service providers is very much beneficial in many ways. 2.3 Introduction of suitable performance measures Developing the performance standards is very important to ensure safe and effective internal working of the nurseries. Booty (2009) stated that defining and grasping rules and policies is one aspect of enhancing performance of the staff but actual problems occur during implementation of those rules and polices in the organization where managing and improving performance of the employees really matters. He also added that quality in Nurseries services can be achieved through delivering motivation to the staff and employees on regular basis and acknowledging the importance and existence of the staff in delivering and maintaining the safe and healthy environment and services to the children with hazardless regularity and consistency. The hazards inside the building should be minimized by appointing staff members on those locations inside the organizational premises discouraging those behaviours which make students move towards such locations. This group of nurseries can also manage an u nannounced visit by Quality Assurer person in order to check the duties include in facility management functions in the organization. This would result in keeping a continuous check on the staff where they would take care of the health and safety and different similar issues in the nurseries. There should be points given on each visit by Quality Assurer and employees should be held accountable for decrease and increase in points based on horizontal and vertical analysis. Horizontal analysis would be based on comparing the performances of different nurseries and vertical analysis would be based on comparing performances of different visits in the same nursery at different periods of time. The staff performances should also be monitored and controlled through communicating and briefing with the staff on regular basis where any improvement in implanting and maintaining different facilities management issues should be discussed. Booty (2009) explained that designing and formulating stra tegies for facilities management needs multifunctional skills and competencies so managing performances during implementation of those policies also need well clear performance appraisal system. In addition to this its implementation also needs training and development which should also be given to improve the performances of the employees. 2.4 Issues related to corporate social responsibilities Baldry (2003) indicated that Organizational Facility Management commits to enhance the shareholders value in a socially responsible and ethical manner by taking care of the interests of stakeholders including suppliers, investors, customers, employees and local communities. Organizational Facility Manager should look for new services methods and product innovations that support the people living in it. The role of CSR (corporate social responsibilities) cannot be denied. In any business Facility managers are involved in formulation of such CSR reports as they are responsible to deliver sustainable performances throughout the year. This performance includes purchasing and waste management, staff management, health and safety management, organizational layout management and hazards management in case of nurseries business. Secondly, in case of nurseries facility managers will be involved in collecting and assembling information on organizational facilities in both social and environmen tal performance sections of corporate social responsibilities report. This report can only be successfully prepared if these organizational facilities in nurseries deliver sustainable performances and Facility managers have documented and tracked those performances so that data is readily obtainable and available. Nurseries waste management issues, quality of the suppliers and outsourcing companies, maintenance of health and safety issues along with noting different incidents and accidents in official records; all these are described and mentioned in corporate social responsibility report and facility managers are most relevant persons to manage all these functions in the organization. These issues can only be rightly tackled, supported and managed if nurseries have all these issues stored in black and white along with actions taken on different issues and remedies of those issues by the senior management. An increased level of transparency both for general readers and shareholders can only be enhanced through openness and clarity in CSR report where organizational facility manager plays a vital role in formulating that report. 2.5 Implications of health and safety legislations for Nurseries Laser (2004) stated that polices drawn by all these nurseries should be fully complied with European Community Law, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Facility manager is responsible for health and safety matters concerning the premises of the nurseries and is also responsible to provide safe environment to children at nurseries. In addition to this, entire staff should be well aware of the potential hazards in and out of the nurseries premises and should actively protect children from those hazards. The staff should be given first aid training to support this process of safety. Facility manager is also responsible to record any accident and any incident in the Accident Report Book. These accidents should be informed to the parents as early as possible. All staff should be well aware of transmission of the infection from one body to the other body. Kaiser (2006) summarized few elements to be taken care for effective management of organizational facilities with respect to health and safety requirements. A facility manger should provide healthy and safe atmosphere to the children. A facility manager should be responsible to achieve highest standards of occupational hygiene, welfare, safety and health. A facility manager is also responsible to prevent ill-health, injuries, accidents and other minor incidents by identifying and eliminating hazardous situations inside the nurseries premises. A facility manager should also motivate and involve staff in different matters regarding Health and Safety of the staff in the organization. A facility manager should also control all those situations which may prove hazardous to the health and safety in the nurseries and which result in causing damage to individuals and equipments in the organization. A facility manager should also take care of the airy environment and ventilation of the nursery premises in order to avoid any suffocation and order to ensure healthy environment. 2.6 Selection of strategy for effective facility management Huston (2009) indicated that a robust strategy for the effective and efficient management of the facilities of an organization can only be developed if it is within the context of organizational business plan and space strategy. It should involve strategic plan and objectives for managing facilities in any organization. A strategy of organization facility management should contain following aspects. Alan (2007) stated that facility management strategy of nurseries should consider the future needs of the nurseries by differentiating between core and non core business activities of the nurseries. This strategy should assist the nurseries in effectively managing its processes and functions in order to meet those needs of the nurseries. Huston (2009) elaborated that this strategy should develop appropriate, efficient and quality resources to meet different needs of nurseries and should also draw a line between using internal resources and obtaining external help to meet needs; for instance there must be coordination between different functions of the nurseries as introducing different new toys and games for the children must be consulted with facility managers to assess either internal environment and premises is suitable for these types of games to be brought in the nurseries or either some major or minor changes are required to improve the suitability of those toys and games with organization layout and space issues. Tuveson (2008) stated that this strategy should also ensure that finances gained are spent economically to earn maximum benefits for the business. In addition to this, this strategy should also establish a budget to cover the short term needs and to generate best value for long term. This strategy should confess the importance of information technology in order to effectively manage and control nurseries facilities management. The workable strategy of facilities management in the organization can be divided into three stages including top level analysis, analyzing requirements, developing and implementing solutions by putting different plans to work. Thorough understanding and review of the different nurseries would help the facility manager in assembling the most important material facts for designing effective facilities management strategy. Nurseries needs include managing healthy and safety within the premises, ensuring hygienic standards, managing appropriate teachers, managing regularity and consistency in children and staff for proper functionality of its business, encouraging safe environment by effectively handling hazardous places inside the premises, utilizing organizational space appropriately, managing layout issues and constructing such layout for games and different activities which are creative, innovative but not dangerous, managing well secured, safe, clean and timely pick and drop services and managing food quality and ensuring health and safety standards in all the possible ways. These needs should be well understood by a facility manager so that space utilization strategy, health and safety strategy and outsourcing strategy can be effectively managed. In addition to this broad picture of resources, systems and processes can be taken through effective need analysis where cost analysis would also help in formulating efficient budgets for facility manager. This stage would help in assembling information about organizational needs for facilities management which later on needs interpretation and explanation for the adoption of information. In adoption stage the clear discussion and interpretation of information would result in allowing innovative and new ideas through brain storming process. Generating different options for actually implementing that information to meet the organizational needs for facility management. Developing criteria for judging all those options which are presented by different participants. Evaluating those options on the set criteria for judging those options. Most preferred option is selected through these stages in order to select most appropriate facilities management strategy of the nurseries. One selected option is then implemented into the nurseries setup and feedback is given on the selected options where further improvement is made through gradual processing of organizational tasks and duties. 3.1 Conclusion If nurseries buildings and different other facilities are not properly and rightly managed they may start impacting on nurseries performance as facilities and building in the organizations (nurseries) have great potential and scope to increase performance when optimal use of their space is made and supportive environment for business and service is created. No universal approach can be designed to manage organizational facilities as every organization has its own specific needs even within the same industry or business sector and same goes to nursery business. The best value to the nurseries can only be provided if facility manager rightly understands those specific needs. Moreover, organizational facility management strategy should be corner stone of its accommodation strategy and should not adjunct to it. Before choosing a most relevant solution, a facility manager should consider the cost incurred in both cases while providing those facilities through outsourcing or in-house. This complete picture would assist facility manager in deciding the most appropriate solution on best value grounds. Effective facilities management strategy can only be developed through integrated and long term service provision.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Mithraism :: essays research papers fc

Mithraism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is the third day of December, only twenty-two days remain till the celebration of Mithra begins (Cunningham, 197). Myself and a few of my army comrades have big plans for this upcoming occasion, it is just a shame though that some of our fellow country men, and our own wives even, are trying to spoil our Mithristic festivities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It seems the beliefs of Mithra are becoming quite unpopular in Rome. Only a small portion of my fellow soldiers still belong to the brotherhood, and the soldiers are the only ones who follow the ways of Mithra. Most of the Roman people will not even admit of an existence of my religion, women do not like it because they are not aloud to partake in it (197). That is for their own good though, Mithraism is not meant for women or the weak, their are some things they just can not understand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  No, the people of this land do not believe in Mithraism, but they do have their own god to worship. In fact it is all my wife can speak of, this Christianity. The faith the people of Rome are demonstrating for this man Jesus and his teachings is very uncanny, and it is only hurting my creed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The nerve these Christians have, putting their most holy of days on the same day as ours (197). This must be some sort of conspiracy in trying to finish off a dying religion. If that is not enough, they even tore down my place of worship and built a church of their own in place of it (197). Now I must travel two hours by horse just to fulfill my spiritual needs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My wife, she cannot understand anything. We argue continuously over how to raise our son. Before my church was torn down there was little to fuss over, now all she does is complain. She says that it is to far of a trip for him to journey with me every week, and that he should go with her to the Christian church. She also protests that our ways are to barbaric, and he should not take part in some of its activities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She is in great dismay over what I have in store for our young lad this coming twenty-fifth. In my religion only men can join, and the men must follow certain rites of passage to be aloud to enter. One of the more important rites is the sacrifice of a bull (197). She believes that she is going to take him to her chuch in celebration of the Christian god Jesus.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

A Comparison Of Multi-valued Orientation And Two Valued Orientation :: Comparison and Contrast

A Comparison of Multi-Valued Orientation and Two Valued Orientation Multi-valued orientation and two valued orientation are two completely different thing. THey compare in only one way. This is the fact that they both have values. It could be said that a contrastment of the two would be more useful than a comparison. Two valued orientation is for extremists. Multi-valued orientation is for things to be ranged on a scale. Two values orientation is used for the "absolutes". Instead of having a scale of values, the "absolutes" are used. An example of two valued orientation is temperature. Temperature is measured in degrees. It ranges in whole numbers as well as decimals. Two valued orientation cancels out all the numbers. Instead the "absolute" cold and the "absolute" hot are used. Marxism is a classic example of two valued orientation. It stated that either you were for the communist party or you were against them. Hitler had the same idea. His views were that if you did not support him, then you should not live. So it ended up being supporting him and living or opposing him and dying. Multi-valued orientation is a scale of "in betweens". The extremes are not used. There are definate settings. Using temperature again, let multi-valued orientation show it's use. Hot and cold were used for two valued orientation. Those were the extremes. Instead of using extremes, the actual numbers are used. 74 degrees, 98.6 degrees, and -13 degrees are all examples of the multi-valued orientation. The option to not choose the extremes is open in these

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Prejudice and Racism in The Jewel in the Crown and Heart of Darkness Es

Racism in The Jewel in the Crown and Heart of Darkness      Ã‚   The effects of British colonialism are reflected in literature from both early modernism and post colonialism. Racial discrimination tainted both eras portrayed in the British morale of white supremacy over non-European counties unfolded. Heart of Darkness exemplifies early modernism in the British explorers viewed African natives of the Congo as incapable of human equality due to perceived uncivilized savagery. Personal interaction between races was little to none, as the freshly conquered Africans were still viewed as alien. Likewise, Jewel in the Crown, exemplifies of post colonialism, echoes racism from the British Rule in India. Postcolonial literature evolved from early modernism as the focus was of the interactions between the British and the people they conquered in modernism. Racism was still prevalent in post colonialism, yet the literature offers a slightly lees subhuman view of the Indians. The characters in both literary works express reactions to " learned prej udice" as white people in "control of a black man's country" (Jewel of the Crown, P.150). Furthermore, the theme common human bonds between blacks and whites develop as British characters reject racism in " the critique of the traditional values of the culture" (Modern Literature handout, P.4). Through the recognized human bond, the need to bridge the gap between black and white people develops.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The modernism theory of British " awareness of primitiveness and savagery civilization built, and therefore an interest in the non-European peoples" (), was still evident in Post colonialism literature. The British explorer of uncivilzed Africa, Marlow in Heart of Darkness, has... ...ived in early Modernism and Postcolonial Literature. The British value of learned prejudice produced a fear of dark skin, especially when curious attraction and primitive instinct felt natural to the British. However, as values are questioned, and basic human emotion is shared, human bond become blind to skin color. The theme in both literary pieces reflect Carl Jung's theory that " all humans share a common spiritual/psychic heritage, collective unconsciousness, racial memories"(English 103 handout HofDEaarly Modernism, p., 2).      Works Cited Agatucci, Cora .Conrad Study Guide Damrosch, David, et al., ed.   The Longman Anthology of British Literature: Vol. B.   Compact ed.   New York: Longman - Addison Wesley Longman, 2000. Scott, Paul.   The Jewel in the Crown.   [1966.]   Vol. 1 of the Raj Quartet.   Rpt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Health Care Conditions Essay

As we analyze the factors contributing to health care costs we must find a solution that provides high-quality care for an aging population. Improvements to modern medicine are prolonging life causing a schism between a health care system oriented towards acute care and the increasing chronic care needs of older adults. Studies do show that health care costs for older Americans account for one third of all national health care expenditures. This being said the average expenditure for health care services for adults 65 and over is nearly four times the cost of those under 65. More significant changes need to be considered given the financial crisis our health care system faces. Health care costs are not solely due to longevity; consider increased utilization, new medical technologies, general inflation, fraud, and waste and abuse. This paper will discuss one article to be used in my final presentation on health care for anaging population. Data collection procedures The study on chronic health conditions used a questionnaire presented to study participants by in-person and telephone interview using computer-assisted software. They also used the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) for age prevalence patterns and to show how chronic condition prevalence varies by age group. The use of the CCHS survey for historical data and comparisons is very appropriate for this study. The use of a questionnaire, while not ideal, is appropriate for the large number of participants. The survey sampled approximately 130,000 people aged 12 years or older. In-person interviews are the most reliable, but the downside to using telephone interviews using computer-assisted software is that participants may go through the questionnaire quickly or skip questions if they are unsure. Identity protection for research subjects Confidentiality is the protection of information that an individual has trusted you with and disclosed to you for a particular reason. Informed consent is a process in which the researcher explains to the participant what steps are taken to keep their information confidential and what would happen if there were a data breach. The participant then has the information needed to determine if this is adequate and whether or not to continue with the project. The article does not discuss the steps taken to  protect the identity of participants. There is no mention of patient record abstraction, personal information collected or informed consent. Reading the article, it is an assumption that the only information collected was the age and number and type of chronic conditions for each participant. Study reliability and validity The reliability of this study, that is, the consistency and repeatability of the measure is high. A question related to the number and type of chronic conditions experienced by each participant is reliable and is measuring one topic. The questionnaire meets face validity – it is a common-sense assessment and the question measures exactly what they want to study. Data analysis procedures To answer the research questions, the researchers used data from the CCHS survey to develop a baseline of the number of chronic conditions within certain age groups. That data was then projected for 25 years based on the target population which was derived from a model of the economic demographic system (MEDS) projection. The hypothesis, â€Å"The expectation is that, as the large baby boom cohort moves into older age categories, the overall proportion of the population with chronic conditions will increase† (Denton & Spencer, 2010), is best answered by projecting the number of people in each age group based on historical data and factoring in immigration, emigration, mortality, and fertility rates. I believe this study is quantitative. It involves randomly selected participants, uses face-to-face and phone questionnaires, the data analysis is statistical and is presented in tables and graphs, and is used to recommend a final course of action. The study design is descriptive, also called observational. Validity is important in descriptive studies; the lower the validity, the more study participants you will need. â€Å"For an accurate estimate of the relationship between variables, a descriptive study usually needs a sample of hundreds or even thousands of subjects.† (Hopkins, 2000) Conclusion In conclusion, the study shows that more than two-thirds of the population over the age of 12 has a chronic condition and 90% of them are over the age of 65. The researchers believe that as the participants move into higher  age groups the prevalence of chronic conditions will increase, which this study proves. The prevalence rate in 2005 is 68.7% and the prevalence rate in 2030 is 71.9% which is an increase of 3.2%. But how does this affect health care utilization and cost? With a modest reduction in the prevalence of chronic conditions, one-third of the projected increase in health care spending could be cut by 2030. In this study, a modest reduction is described as reducing the number of chronic conditions by one. Those with three chronic conditions would be reduced to two, two would be reduced to one, and one would be reduced to none. The strengths of this study are the high reliability and validity of the data recorded from the questionnaires. The data analysis and projections based on the target population, adjusted for emigration, immigration, mortality, and fertility was the best option for this type of study. The weaknesses of the study were the inability to abstract data on chronic conditions from the medical records of the participants, and the exclusion of participants in institutions which resulted in an under-estimation of chronic conditions in older populations. Another weakness noted by the researchers was that there was no record of the severity of the condition. This does not allow for accurate accounts of those cured of the chronic condition during the study period. References Denton, F.T., & Spencer, B.G. (2010). Chronic health conditions: Changing prevalence in an aging population and some implications for the delivery of health care services. Canadian Journal on Aging, 29(1), 11-21. Doi:http://dx/doi.org/10.1017/SO714980809990390 Hopkins, W.G. (2000). Quantitative Research Design. SportsScience, 4(1), retrieved online May 26, 2014 from http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0001/wghdesign.html

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Week Dqs

More specifically a leader can Influence employee motivation, development of employees' knowledge and skills, shared beliefs and values, organizational structure, programs, systems, and the placement and use of resources to meet objectives (Yuk, 2010). An organizations success hinders on the managers, and how they interact with the employees. If a leader/manager cannot motivate the employees to achieve the goals set out then that means that the organization as a whole is not meeting the goals. I have worked for organizations where the managers did not have the skills to lead and it showed through the stores performance.But yet when I transferred to a different store, the managers there were more focused, had wonderful leadership skills, and outstanding communication skills and the store was #1 in the district for sales, production, and overhead reduction. Not only had that but the store had the lowest turnover rate in the trig-state area. I contribute this to the management staff and their Influence over their employees. Reference: Yuk, G. A. (2010). Leadership In organizations (7th deed. ). Upper saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2. What Is a significant employee behavior Issue managers confront?According to organizational behavior theories, how should It be addressed? Organizations strive to promote positive, healthy working environment for their employees and customers. However, managers are confronted with behaviors in which this concept can be extremely challenging. Behaviors that do not follow organizational policy or norms can be Identified as deviant workplace behaviors (Robbins ; Judge. 2011 Examples of deviant workplace behaviors are such: swearing, pushing chairs, yelling, or even physical aggression. Behaviors such as this can destroy team cohesion, productivity, or financial wellbeing of an organization.According to organizational behavior theories, noxious conduct such as deviant workplace behavior must be addressed. The manager is not only responsible for confronting these behaviors but is also charged with investigating the source of the discontent (Robbins ; Judge, 2011). Managers need to be cognizant of employee stress levels, intervene appropriately, and enforce a zero-tolerance for lateral violence (Stack, 2003). Battling deviant workplace behaviors Is daring for even the best manager to tackle. However, managers will need to evaluate employee workloads and ensure duties are assigned 1 OFF managers must intervene at once.Not investigating the origin cause for the poor actions will not bring resolution that is needed. Mangers can also encourage vacations, De-stressing classes, as well as encouraging employees to seek employee assistance programs (Stack, 2003). References Robbins, S. P. , ; Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational behavior (14th deed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Stack, L. (2003, October). Employees Behaving Badly-How managers can recognize and combat employee â€Å"desk rage†. HER Magazine, 48(10), 111-116. 1 . What is the difference between managers and leaders?Is it possible to be an effective manager but not an effective leader? Provide examples. Managers want to get things done and have their subordinates perform better, compared to leaders who want to know what things mean to others, and how to get their followers to agree about what the most important things are that need to be done (Yuk,2010). I do believe that it is possible to be an effective manager while not being an effective leader. For example a person can be great at delegating what tasks need to be done, and assigning those tasks to operate efficiently.But when it comes to a manager actually having the proper communication skills necessary to be an effective leader they can be lacking. With my first management position I was more concerned about getting everything done and getting it done quick to try and impress my bosses at district that I never really took the time to get my employe es input about the tasks. I later found out that this was a big mistake, if I had taken the time and put in the extra effort to listen, and ask for their opinions I would have known that it would have been easier to do the tasks in a different order.A few of my employees had been employed at the store for almost 10 years, so they knew the shortcuts to get the store re-sets done easier and quicker. I think that to be a truly great manager you also have to be a leader. But it is possible to be an effective manager but not an effective leader, you Just won't be a great one. Reference Yuk, G. (2010). Leadership in organizations (7th deed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. 2. According to Robbins and Judge (201 1), a leader must acknowledge three primary roles as a manager.What are these management roles, and how do they affect the purpose, positions, and skills required by management? Provide an example from a current or past work experience that conveys these management rol es. Reference: Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. According to Robbins and Judge (201 1), a leader must acknowledge three primary current or past work experience that conveys these management roles. * Interpersonal roles * Informational * Decisional roles The purpose of the interpersonal role is to act as a figurehead, leader, and liaison (p. ); one that others look-up to for a sense of accomplishment or guidance as well as a networking relationship, all of which build trust. The interpersonal role will put management in the forefront of the organization and community. Skills required will include the ability to clearly communicate to others as well as effectively direct and dead subordinates. The informational role as described by Robbins & Judge (2011) carries out three objectives; to collect and distribute market information; to represent the organization.The purpose of this role is to realize customer trends and send that information back to those who can make the changes need ed to remain competitive. Again, management will need to network effectively with others to better understand changing market trends. The skills will require management to understand what tools will be needed that would deliver the best source of information. The decisional role consists of four elements; the entrepreneur role; the assistance handler; the resource locator; and the negotiator (p. 7).The entrepreneur role will allow management to use the market information that he or she has gathered to better align the organization to remain competitive. The disturbance handler puts management at the forefront of critical issues that may hinder performance. The resource locator will require management to understand what sources will be needed, including human capital, to accomplish the organization's goals. The negotiator role will require management to pull all of these resources together and to collaborate a way to be successful.

Board Members

C) The new management is becoming very aggressive with the adoption new accounting policies and financial reporting. The management is starting to take greater risk and adopt new revenue recognition policies. They believed the previous year’s policies were too conservative and inappropriate. The new management is placing higher priority on short-term performance rather than long term. The reason behind these major changes is due to the excessive pressure on management. Everyone in the management knows that they have to show an increase in the profit of the organization, or they will also lose their jobs, just like the previous management. Thus they are adopting various new accounting policies and are concentrating heavily on the short term results. This may make the company look good from the externally for a short term. However it is very likely that the numbers on the financial statement are not be accurate. The short term success of the company does not help them internally, there are many things that the new management is changing that may not be healthy for the company. The new management also indicated that the past process of determining the accounting estimates were â€Å"overly Conservative† a new method of accounting estimating is being introduced. The new method of the accounting estimates will also affect the financial statements, because it will most like overstates assets and understate the liabilities. Thus achieving the short-term goals of the management. The company’s accounting functions are decentralized, and the operating management does not sign off the reported results, they are reviewed by the CFO and CEO before being released. The needs to be changed, the reports should be signed off by the operating management because they are closer to the operations of the company. They have the knowledge and the expertise of that part of the company, the CFO and CEO are at the top they may not be able to understand what the numbers on the reports mean. The operating management can read the reports more precisely as they are the ones who are working in that particular area, it is easier for them to catch errors and frauds. The employees that prepare the statements may be overstating the numbers on the reports to show that they are achieving the required performance levels. e) The organization has great controls over the segregation of employee duties. Authority and responsibilities are assigned in a â€Å"formal, written manner†. Employees are aware of what their daily duties are and they understand their responsibilities. The company even has written job descriptions for employees and their supervisors, and these job descriptions contain specific instructions related to controls and responsibilities. The company has given significant amounts of authority to the supervisors, so they can monitor the day to day activates of the employees and make sure they are following the company policies. The organization also does a good job making sure that the supervisors do not overstep their reasonable boundaries. This is done by giving different level employees different type of authorities. Thus the organization has successfully distributed adequate amount of responsibilities to their employees and management.