The Basic Principles Of Microeconomics - 1007 Words

Since economics is a subject that each and every one of us is touched by and take part in, the ten principles of microeconomics can be seen all throughout our lives. Each time we decide to go to a party rather than study, arrive on time to work in fear of being reprimanded, or decide to paint your house to increase its value, you are demonstrating one or multiple of these basic principles. Principle One: The fact that every decision contains a trade-off is not only a basic economic principle, but a fact of life, true on societal level and on an individual level. By definition, if you make one choice, you lose out on the potential benefits of all the other choices you passed up on. If a country decides to put its resources into medical research, less resources will be available for welfare, defense, education etc. There is a plethora of examples I can give from my life to demonstrate this principle. The clearest to me is college. I could have invested the money I have spent on college and could have possible became rich, but realizing the chances of that are slim, chose to go to college instead. Principle Two: Principle two is very similar to the first, expect it is explicitly talking about the opportunity cost of a decision. A great example of this principle in my personal life is the gap year I took after high school. After graduating from high school I decided to repeat my senior year as an exchange student in Belgium. This was the best time of my life and one of theShow MoreRelatedLearning the Basic Principles and Concepts of Microeconomics: A Response631 Words   |  2 PagesI feel that I have learned a lot in this course, and understanding these basic principles of microeconomics has changed the way that I view everyday activities and transactions. I have a better understanding of the key concepts that go into decisions we make, whereas before I think I accepted a lot of everyday decision-making at face value. Now I understand that even if it is subconscious we are making tradeoffs in our decision making. Going into the course I could easily have repeated conceptsRead MoreLaws of Supply and Demand1244 Words   |  5 Pages Microeconomics and the Laws of Supply and DemandECO/365October 13, 2014Professor CoulibalyComedian P.J. O’Rourke said it best when he said, â€Å"microeconomics concerns things that economists are specifically wrong about, while macroeconomics concerns things economists are wrong about generally. Or to be more technical, microeconomics is about money you don’t have, and macroeconomics is about money the government is out of† (Beggs, 2014). On a serious note however, macroeconomics and microeconomicsRead MoreEconomics As An Area Of Study And Research1372 Words   |  6 Pages Economics Name Course Tutor Module Institution â€Æ' Introduction Economics as an area of study and research borrows from the social and scientific aspects of life. The interplay between the two principles helps in the formulation of ideals that influence distribution, production, and consumption. Right from the ancient times understanding and definition of the term dwelled on the issue of political economy. Nonetheless, developments by made scholars in the sector saw the formulation of newRead MoreTen Principles Of Economics And How Markets Works. Rian1593 Words   |  7 PagesTen Principles of Economics and How Markets Works Rian Kotter ECO/365 Principles of Microeconomics January 19, 2017 Michael Blakley Ten Principles of Economics and How Markets Works As a part of the firm’s marketing research committee we need to understand the fundamentals of microeconomics and the ten basic principles associated with economics and its workings. (Mankiw, 2013) As discussed in Principles of Microeconomics, the following four principles deal with understanding the decision makingRead MoreThe Demand And Supply Theory Of Microeconomics1055 Words   |  5 Pagesis central to the concerns and problems around the globe† (2003). Microeconomics covers the micro aspects viz. fundamentals, elements of demand and supply, costs, production formation, revenue, markets etc. (Samuelson and Nordhaus, 2003). With that being said, a good knowledge of these above listed aspects is necessary for management students as well as managers. Therefore, a thorough understanding of microeconomics and its principles is vital for effective decision-making. However, since the consumerRead MoreEco365 Supply and Demand Simulation Paper761 Words   |  4 Pages A microeconomic principle that stood out at the beginning of the simulation was the use of the word â€Å"monopoly†. The simulated management organization has a monopoly in the rental field within Atlantis. I considered it to be a microeconomic principle in that it was limited to a certain region. On a macroeconomic scale, it would not hold true because of the fact that there are numerous rental management organizations throughout the world. The second microeconomic principle from the simulationRead MoreThe Inexact Science of Climatology667 Words   |  3 Pages(McKibben Wilcoxen, 2002). The application of microeconomic principles can be used to address some of the fallout of the climate change caused by the greenhouse effect. In this paper we will take a look at three such measures and what their application can mean to the industry. The same way that there are various uncertain factors when accounting for climate change (clouds, ocean temperature, aerosols’ effect, etc.), there are various microeconomic principles that can be applied to help reduce emissionsRead MorePolicy Review And The Lucas Criticisms Essay919 Words   |  4 Pagestightening policies. In addition, new classical macroeconomics further argues that political measures to improve the total output and reduce unemployment have to find ways in the supply part. Therefore, policies work only when they inspire the microeconomic units to provide more products and labors (Grabel, 2000). Under this background, the Luca critique drew attention from the world. Lucas (1976) argued in his article that changes in government policies would result in the changes of parametersRead MoreMicroeconomics Versus Macroeconomics Bus6101627 Words   |  7 PagesMicroeconomics versus Macroeconomics Economics for the Global Manager BUS610-1101C-02 Abstract I want to thank everyone for joining me today to review the effects of microeconomics and macroeconomics in conjunction with the healthcare industry. We will start with a brief introduction of what we will review, and then briefly hit on the subject matter in a bit more detail. â€Å"The world’s largest and most diverse economy currently faces the most severe economic challenges in a generation orRead MoreComparative Study on Consumption Patterns of Soft Drinks and Fruit Juices846 Words   |  4 Pagestherefore become more health conscious thus leading to increase in demand of juices. Market Research is based on some underlying parameters like: †¢ Changing consumption pattern †¢ Health factor †¢ Status consciousness †¢ Varying lifestyle The basic subject matter of the research, comparative analysis of Soft Drinks and Juices is focused to study the mind/taste of different age group of people. The study starts with determining the major players in the soft drinks and the juices market, their

Consumerism and Environment - 783 Words

HOW CONSUMERISM AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT 1. Firstly, I will give an introduction about consumerism and its evolution throughout time and, to get a general picture of the subject, I will try to present different views on consumption, that is to say, advantages /disadvantages or pros and cons of consumerism 2. Afterwards, Ill focus on problems of over-consumption, concerning the environment†¦ 3. And finally, I ´ll give some ideas about what we can do (these are†¦solutions) as well as some conclusions 1. Consumerism is a phenomenon that was always immanent in the relatively developed societies, where people purchased goods and consumed resources excessive to their needs. However, there was a major change after the†¦show more content†¦Plastic bags effect our environment because when they are thrown out they can get washed into our water ways .when they reach the rivers and oceans, animals can get caught up in the plastic bag and suffocate. The buying and selling of fuels is also a major issue because the machines it goes into turns it into a poisonous gas (carbon monoxide) which is omitted into the world’s atmosphere. 3. So what is the solution? Can we do anything to change the consumerist society? Yes, we can and more than that - we have to. What the anti-consumerists propose is - to own less and to enjoy what you own more. Basically, many things we buy we dont need. As it goes in an anonymous quote â€Å"We buy things we dont need to impress people we dont know†. And therefore, thoughtful consuming will finally get us to the point of rational usage of natural resources. In order to change, we will have to get rid of a throw-away mentality. â€Å"Reduce, reuse, recycle† is a simple anti-consumerist mantra. And it does work, even if you think that you alone will hardly make any difference. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------Show MoreRelatedWho Is The Physician? An Organization For Health Care?848 Words   |  4 PagesProMedica surveyed over 24,800 respondents to discover evolution of consumer from required physician referrals to technology advancements creating health care consumerism notion. Physician’s referrals dropped in half from by 2009; which was the leading influence during this time period (Winan and Kasubski, 2011). The physician-focused strategy is method used further enhance the patient’s independence. To go into line with the patient’s independence health care providers are marketing the valueRead MoreCorporate and Collaborate Consumerism875 Words   |  4 PagesLeague? Now, who are the California state reps in the House of Representatives? Maybe if corporate or collaborative consumerism was trying to invest in the future, average citizens could answer the last important question. Instead, corporate and collaborative consumerism is the latest tool to help ruin modern society with lack of original thought, manipulation, and damaging the environment. A young women walks into Ikea as she has been saying she needs a new bed for quite some time now. She finds herselfRead MoreEssay on American Consumer Culture1031 Words   |  5 PagesInternet, or elsewhere, the culture of buying is deeply ingrained in American culture. Fueled largely by advertising and the current credit system, America’s consumer culture is depleting our planet’s finite natural resources and polluting our environment. Consumerism has instilled in Americans an artificial, ongoing, and insatiable desire for mass-produced and marketed products, and the money with which to buy them, with little regard to their actual usefulness or necessity. This constant desire to acquireRead MorePatagonias Sustainability Strategy : DonT Buy Our Products Case Study1160 Words   |  5 Pagesstatus. The case study ‘Patagonia’s Sustainability Strategy: Don’t Buy Our Products’ prepared by Zahir Dossa discusses consumerism and the way Patagonia ha s decided to challenge this phenomenon. The case study emphasizes on negative waste impacts of consumerism on the environment providing justification why people should purchase only necessary things and protect the environment. The discussion of Patagonia’s development path and chosen strategies provides a great example of a successful businessRead MoreThe Study Of Human-Environment Interactions Has Been A1384 Words   |  6 PagesThe study of human-environment interactions has been a major focus for environmental sociologists for the past 40+ years. One key line of research has been the investigation into who engages in pro-environmental behaviors, which can range from voting for political officials and pro-environmental legislation (Gruber 2003) to recycling (Bamberg et al. 2007), leaf burning (Dunlap and Van Liere 1978), and even public transportation habits (Carrus et al. 2008). This line of research has given us a clearRead MoreAnalysis Of Zygmunt Bauman s Consuming Lif e And Liquid Modernity983 Words   |  4 Pagestheories to those of the author. In consuming life, Bauman asserts that consumerism has surpassed the mundane quality of consumption. This means that human advancement has led to the quintessential disorder where consumerism coerces humans into lukewarm and superficial meeting of needs and desires, as opposed to consumption which was individualistic in nature and self-gratifying. Individuality is the opposite of consumerism. Bauman attests that desires and life of worth can be attained only fromRead MoreThe Marketing Of Green Marketing Theory Essay1660 Words   |  7 Pagesmarketing strategies resulted in over-exploitation, waste of resources and enterprises ignored environment deterioration. Under such strategies, enterprises only concern profit but ignores harms to consumers’ health and destroys the balance of environment. Because of these, the marketing theoretical circle started a serious discussion on how to balance the re lationship of business operation and environment protection. Many influential marketing theories were raised. In 1979, Henion first presentedRead MoreYouth And The Hip Hop Youth Culture1695 Words   |  7 Pagescultures are determined by ways of living and they revolve around peer groups that stress a definitive style of living as an external designation of affiliation and appearance. In this essay, I will analyse how globalisation, popular culture, and consumerism emerge as factors that influence the participation of young people in the hip-hop youth culture in Australia. I will also apply the human ecological theory in order to facilitate the understanding of factors that affect youth participation inRead MoreThe Impact Of Consumerism939 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Dictionary.com, consumerism is defined as â€Å"the concept that an ever-expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy.† Basically, this definition boils down to people getting more people to buy more products is a good thing. However, things aren’t always as they seem. In order to get peo ple to be interested in your product, there is lots of advertisement involved and this of course costs money. Unfortunately, with lots of advertisements, they may not tell the whole truthRead MoreWall-E versus Feed Essay1212 Words   |  5 Pageslines. Environment, consumerism, and the characters share similar qualities in Feed and Wall-E. In Feed, M.T. Anderson overstresses a polluted society that languishes in an â€Å"intricately rendered city† with a dying environment (Scott 1). He writes of an extreme point where the world needs air factories to live. While Violet is talking to her father she realizes, â€Å"‘the forest’s gone. Yeah. Jefferson Park? ‘Yeah. That was knocked down to make an air factory (Anderson 125). The environment in Feed

novel Rebecca Free Essays

In the novel Rebecca, du Maurier uses techniques, such as dialogue and setting description, to create suspense and tension. But in the movie, Hitchcock uses different techniques, like music and scenery, to create the right kind of suspense and tension for his audience. The plots are the same, but the techniques are not. We will write a custom essay sample on novel Rebecca or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the novel, the author uses a lot of dialogue to create the suspense needed to make the storyline interesting. For example, on page 259 in chapter 19, the narrator is speaking with Ben. â€Å"‘The fishes have eaten her up by now, haven’t they? † he said. Who? † I said. â€Å"Her,† he said, â€Å"the other one. † â€Å"Fishes don’t eat steamers, Ben. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ The narrator does not understand that Ben is speaking about Rebecca’s body in the cabin of the boat that was found. This creates suspense by the reader not knowing what’s going on or whose body was found, since Maxim has not yet told the narrator that it is Rebecca’s body in the cabin and that he killed her. Du Maurier also uses fog mixed with dialogue to create the suspense and tension that’s needed and wanted. An excellent example of this would be on page 246 in chapter 18, when Mrs. Danvers tries to coax the narrator into jumping out of the window to her death. ‘She pushed me towards the open window. I could see the terrace below me grey and indistinct in the white wall of fog. â€Å"Look down there,† she said. â€Å"It’s easy, isn’t it? Why don’t you jump? It wouldn’t hurt, not to break your neck. It’s a quick, kind way. It’s not like drowning. Why don’t you try it? Why don’t you go? ’ The fog filled the open window, damp and clammy, it stung my eyes, it clung to my nostrils. I held onto the window-sill with my hands. ’ The fog covers the ground so the narrator cannot see how far up she really is. Not to mention the reader does not know whether or not the narrator will follow through with jumping or not. She’s already at the open window, all she has to do is step out. In the movie version of the novel Rebecca, Alfred Hitchcock uses different techniques than du Maurier does. Instead of using setting description, he just uses scenery because you can actually see it. For example, he uses the setting descriptions of the narrator’s dream from the beginning of the novel to create the scenery, visuals, and the enactment of the dream in the movie. The dream in the movie sounds exactly like the dream in the novel, but you can actually see it instead of imagining it. The suspenseful part is when the house is dark and there is no sign of life. But suddenly, a light turns on. Also, he uses scenery as Manderly burns to the ground at the end of the movie. Hitchcock also uses music to create suspense and tension. As mentioned earlier, Manderly is burnt down and as Maxim figures out that it’s Manderly burning, suspenseful music plays. Earlier in the movie, the narrator tells Mrs. Danvers to remove certain things from the room. Mrs. Danvers asks her why, and the narrator replies, â€Å"Because I am Mrs. de Winter now. † As she says this, suspenseful music plays. The techniques used in the movie and in the novel are very different. The only similar technique is dialogue, and the way things are stated by the characters. They’re different because scenery is not included in a story. The author must use descriptions of the current setting so you can imagine it in your mind, since it isn’t being projected in front of your eyes like a movie. You cannot use music in a book, because you will not be able to hear it. So, film directors such as Alfred Hitchcock use certain types of music to set different moods. For example, eerie music is used to create suspense, and music with high notes is used to create a happy, light-hearted mood. This is not possible in a novel unless the author describes it to you. Finally, the movie and the novel both use certain techniques to create different amounts of suspense and tension. The types of techniques may be different, but they work. They create the mood that is necessary. IF you read the book and then watch the movie, you will notice the different styles of techniques that du Maurier and Hitchcock use. How to cite novel Rebecca, Papers

Career Goals Paper free essay sample

Understanding family behavior and the dynamics of the working relationship would be keys in this field. Also, helping the less fortunate and guiding them through tough times would make a huge impact in today’s society. Plus, making the world better for children, and making sure children are fed and educated would be wonderful. Figure 1. 1 Key factors in my scores (refer to figure 1. ) to multiple pathways of learning include the following that will prove helpful in my studies at University of Phoenix: 1. Bodily Kinesthetic: I scored a 20 on this scale. Being able to use my hands when learning will be most beneficial for me throughout my studies. For instance, writing down key terms and walking around when reading my textbook would be my ideal study situation. Moving fingers under words while reading will assist me in comprehending the material. Also, learning by doing would also be preferable in this type of intelligence. We will write a custom essay sample on Career Goals Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Applying the concepts learned to real life situations would make learning more enjoyable for me. 2. Verbal-Linguistic: Scoring a 19 on this scale references my ability to learn through communication through language (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Reading text and limiting highlighting would create an active learning environment when studying. Rewriting notes will help me remember what is being learned throughout the course. Also, being able to remember terms easily will help me gain a larger vocabulary of psychological terms. Discussing topics that interest me, such as abnormal psychology, will also play a huge part in my learning the discipline. 3. Intrapersonal: This was the highest scoring intelligence being a 21. Having a quiet place to study and think with no interruptions is a beneficial learning environment for me. This tells me that I prefer to think about issues before discussing them. Being interested in self improvement is a factor in this scale; improving me is my number one goal. 4. Interpersonal: My score for this intelligence was a 19. Knowing when enough is enough, and to step away from the situation is essential. * Attitude: Keeping a positive attitude never hurts anyone. Being confident in my ability to earn this degree will keep me on track. * Staying Motivated: Never lose sight of my main motivators. Knowing that a good career is possible after obtaining my degree keeps me focused. * Prioritizing: Never wait till the last minute to finish a project/assignment. Keeping on track with my assignments is essential for my success. Working on projects a little bit each day reduces stress. Procrastination is the enemy! Going back to school later in life is a huge challenge; however, I feel that the dividends will pay off in the long run. My ultimate goal is to be a lifelong learner. When your brain rests; it rusts. Learning does not have to stop after obtaining a degree; learning goes on throughout your entire life span. Becoming a college professor is my ultimate goal; giving back the gift of knowledge and making an influence is my dream. Actually, this paper taught me a very important lesson: You get out of education what you put into it. Never take a good education for granted and never stop learning.

Analytical Essay Measures of Diagnostic Vaginismus

Tips to Connect Your Essay ideas and Sentences

Tips to Connect Your Essay ideas and Sentences How to Connect Ideas Properly in Essay Writing? Each paper should feature a logical connection between paragraphs and sentences. This is to establish a comprehensive coherence and guide your reader from one section to another preventing from getting lost in author’s thoughts. While research papers and simple types of essay do not require such connection, it appears to be vital for such academic assignments as an argumentative essay. Follow our useful writing tips and boost your academic progress. Tips on connecting sentences The only way to establish a proper sentence connection is to use special words. They typically include: And – the word can be transformed into more complicated links like furthermore, additionally, as well as and other constructions; But – the main mission here is to provide an alternative in a logical way. You may use such transformations as although, despite, in contrast, nonetheless, etc.; So – this word, as well as its alternative forms, is to provide a result or effect. For this reason, the water starts boiling. Therefore, greenhouse effect causes air pollution; Because – the word highlights the effect or the cause. It stresses the reason. The result of 1005 degrees is boiling water. Make sure you follow necessary grammar and punctuation rules when using those words to link sentences in your paper. Tips on connecting ideas This one is probably the toughest challenge for immature and amateur writers. Using the write sentence formation is vital. At the same time, each part of the paper should have logical links to guide readers from one thought to another. Here are some useful tips not to get lost: Simplify the issue – do not be afraid to explain your thought in a simpler manner using â€Å"in other words† or other forms; Stress Similarities – compare a complicated thought with a simple analog. â€Å"In the same way as†, â€Å"equally† and other collocations would come in handy; Provide the Examples – give simpler examples to more complicated issues; Display Emphasis – use words that will stress your emphasis. They may include such collocations as â€Å"more importantly†, â€Å"indeed† and others. Tips on connecting paragraphs After we have provided a proper link to sentences and ideas, it is high time we connected our paragraphs to make the paper look complete. Signal and pointing words appear to be extremely useful for this purpose: Use Signal Words – use collocations to signalize a reader about the end of the beginning of the paragraph. â€Å"Besides†, â€Å"even though† and other signal phrases are necessary; Time Signals – they have proved to be rather effective. They include strong words and phrases like â€Å"finally†, â€Å"meanwhile† and others. Final word Writing a good paper means not just expressing your knowledge of the topic. It is also about great writing style and skills. For this reason, you need to establish strong connections between thoughts and ideas, paragraphs and sentences. Never leave your reader lost in thoughts. You should guide him or her using signal words and other phrases to spread light on your major paper.

Global Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Global Economics - Essay Example In my view, the creation of such institutions is a laudable effort and involved outstanding foresight considering the current landscape of the world economy. However, its sweeping power and influence over a country could prove disastrous in the event of miscalculation or error in analysis. In essence, the idea behind the IMF’s existence is crisis prevention rescuing nations by lending intermediation and surveillance. Policy reform is pertinent in the whole equation where the IMF is concerned and that is why its terms serves as objects of criticisms due to a popular perception of IMF’s manipulation and intrusion in a country’s sovereignty. One of the most controversial impositions of the IMF, for instance, is the austerity measure as condition to a borrowing country. â€Å"The IMF held that excessive government intervention was the fundamental cause of debt crisis. Their plan therefore involved eliminating public enterprises, sharply reducing government subsidies and deficit spending, weakening cost-of-living allowances, and decontrolling prices and exchange rates.† (Pollin, p. 146) This particular measure has been under fire because, although it achieved some success in increasing a country’s ability to service its debt, it sacrifice s the incomes of ordinary people, hence collapsing the mass purchasing power and living standards in a country. The austerity program is widely perceived as one of the failures of the IMF. For one, it has failed in achieving for Argentina some sort of stability amid its debt crisis in the late 1970s. The austerity measure caused the collapse of domestic investment as throughout the crisis years’ large numbers of capitalists spirited their money out of the country in search of safer and higher-yielding havens. (Pollin, p. 146) Not a few experts have decried that the IMF has very little incidence of success.

English Composition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

English Composition - Essay Example ding to Segell, the traditional standards of masculinity and femininity has overridden over society and therefore these standards have to be altered to think beyond it and find new concepts which retains the basic positive differences between men and women (Segell 298). Segell discussed that in the current race, the concept of masculinity and femininity is nothing more than a man who wants to find women / partner who had their sense of success dependent on their husbands. While natural aggressiveness, the want to dominate, and taking risks are other qualities of masculinity in our society. Femininity on the other hand has been defined as a very disastrous tool. They first identified and assured what men criticized in women, which is their expressiveness and empathy then by surpassing their self-confidence they got a foothold in the corporate sector (Segell 300). Psychological potency for the aspiring alpha male according to Segell is his tendency of a man who belief that their masculinity can actually help them to turn down their levels of self-absorption regarding practical problem solving. They can expand the understanding of themselves and can increase the respect for her mate / women bringing back the old traditional glory that was shared by women in husbands. In my very own opinion agreeing with the aforementioned proposal is not surprising and should be brought into consideration. Segell, Michael. "The Second Coming of the Alpha Male: A Prescription for Righteous Masculinity at the Millenium." Chaffee, John. Thinking Critically. Boston: Wadsworth/Clengage Learning, 2012.

Middle east studies global prespectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Middle east studies global prespectives - Essay Example There are numerous progressive laws that have been devised in regard to education in Lebanon but they are yet to be enforced. These laws have a potential of improving the Lebanese education system and consequently improving the life of the Lebanese (Samira, Achim & Sarhan 64). Also, it can promote respect and understanding among all political and religious groups in Lebanon. Education in Lebanon is compulsory. Compulsory education in the country was adopted as early as 1736 and influenced the adoption of the compulsory education in Ottoman Empire in 1869 (Hamdan 5). The compulsory education was abandon by the Ottoman Empire rulers but was readopted in Lebanon in 1959. In 1971, the Lebanese education system established Education Centre for research and Development (ECRD) (Hamdan 5). ECRD has a responsibility to drafting state schools’ textbooks, setting the curriculums and overseeing the Lebanese education system at large. Lebanon took part in the world conference that adopted World Declaration on Education for All which classifies education as a human right. This made Lebanese education system to set several objectives and means to achieve them. These objectives include broadening the means and scope of basic education, facilitating universal access to learning and promoting equity. ECRD also changed the curriculum to include subjects such as The atre, Arts and IT at the basic education level. The ministry of education and higher education in 2004 published national strategy for education for all. Lebanon education system consists of primary education and intermediate education, secondary education, vocational and technical education, and higher education (Samira, Achim & Sarhan 55). Primary education in Lebanon has been free since 1987. English, Arabic, and French are the instructional medium in the private schools. The duration of Lebanese primary education is 5 years (Hamdan 15). After completion of primary

The Introduction And Background Of Sime Darby Finance Essay

The Introduction And Background Of Sime Darby Finance Essay The Sime Darby in 1910 got the name from two European business partners by name; William Sime and Henry Darby. William Sime, a traveler and adventurer from Scotland, ventured to Malaysia when he was in his late 30s. Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia . Within its territory are more than 270 operating companies in 23 countries, while foreign operations in Hong Kong of which account for 25% of revenues, Singapore (14 %), and Australia (11%). The company generates 38 percent of its revenues domestically. Its broadly diversified activities include a wide range of industries, with the core businesses being plantations including oil palm and the companys original business, rubber, tire manufacturing, heavy equipment and motor vehicle distribution, property development, power generation, and engineering services. Natural rubber synthetic rubber was still being developed and had just been introduced to the country from Brazil. Sime and other entrepreneurs at the time recognized that the climate of Malaysias jungle region was similar to that of Brazils. Therefore, rubber could just as easily be grown in that country and sold not only in Malaysia but throughout Southeast Asia and the world. However, Sime Darby encountered opposition to its venture from locals, who were wary of outsiders coming in to operate a plantation in Malacca, in order to overcome this, Sime and Darby forged friendships with several members of the Chinese business community. The company expanded, becoming a manager for owners of other plantations and then moving into the trading end of the industry. Sime set up a branch office in Singapore in 1915 and shortly thereafter established a marketing office in London. Demand for rubber eventually outstripped Sime Darbys production capacity, and by the late 1920s the company found it necessary to clear more jungle. To do so, Sime Darby purchased Sarawak Trading Company in 1929. Sarawak (later renamed Tractors Malaysia) held the franchise for Caterpillar heavy earthmoving equipment. That important purchase signaled Sime Darbys expansion into the heavy equipment business, which would eventually become a major component of its expansive network. In 1936 the companys head office was relocated from Malacca to Singapore. Sime Darby made a fortune in the global rubber industry during the 1920s and 1930s. Growth in the industry began to fade, however, as natural rubber was gradually supplanted by synthetic rubber. Sales of natural rubber boomed during World War II as warring nations purchased all available supplies. The war, however, also led to significant advancements in synthetic rubber technology. A good deal of it was used to acquire other companies, thereby expanding Sime Darbys reach into several other industries. Much of Sime Darbys success during that period was attributable to its acquisition of the giant Seafield Estate in 1971 and the establishment of Consolidated Plantations Berhad that same year. Through Consolidated Plantations, which became the companys main plantation subsidiary, Sime Darby became a leading force in the regions thriving agricultural sector. In addition to growing the oil palms and cocoa, the company began processing the crops into finished products for sale throughout the world. As its sales and profits spiraled upward during the early and mid-1970s, Sime Darby became a shiny feather in Britains cap. To the surprise and chagrin of the British stockholders, however, the company was wrested from their control by the Malaysian government late in 1976. The intriguing events leading up to the takeover began in the early 1970s. During that time, Sime Darbys chief executive, Denis Pinder, began investing the companys cash in new subsidiaries throughout the world. The companys stock price soared as Sime Darbys sales spiraled upward. At the same time, some observers charged that Sime Darby was engaged in corrupt business practices (with critics coining the phrase Slime Darby). Allegations of corruption were confirmed in the eyes of some detractors when, in 1973, Darbys outside auditor was found stabbed to death in his bathtub. The Singapore police ruled the death a suicide, but Pinder still ended up in prison on misdemeanor charges. Pinders successor took up where he left off, investing in numerous ventures, most of which were located in Europe. Unfortunately, many of those investments quickly soured. Some Malaysians felt that Sime Darby was taking profits from its successful domestic operations and investing them unwisely overseas. So, in 1976 the Malaysian government trading office bought up Sime Darby shares on the London stock exchange. It effectively gained control of the company and installed a board made up mostly of Asians. Also in 1976, Asian and British board members were able to agree that Tun Tan Chen Locks son, Tun Tan Siew Sin, would be an acceptable replacement as chairman of Sime Darbys board. In 1978 Sime Darby was reincorporated in Malaysia as Sime Darby Berhad. Its headquarters was moved to Kuala Lumpur the following year. Staggering in the Early 1980s; Rebounding in the Late 1980s and Early 1990s Sime Darby jettisoned some of its poorly performing assets during the late 1970s and early 1980s under Locks leadership. But it also continued investing in new ventures. It purchased the tire-making operations of B.F. Goodrich Philippines in 1981, for example, and secured the franchise rights to sell Apple Computers in southeast Asia in 1982. The addition of B.F. Goodrich Philippines marked the companys entrance into the tire manufacturing sector; also in 1981 came the establishment of Sime Darby International Tire Company, which in 1988 was renamed Sime Darby Pilipinas, Inc. In 1984 the company purchased a large stake in a Malaysian real estate development company, United Estates Berhad, and used it to begin developing plantation lands. This company later was renamed Sime UEP Properties Berhad. In Malaysia, Sime Darby acquired the franchises for BMW, Ford, and Land Rover vehicles. By the early 1980s Sime Darbys push to diversify had given it a place in almost every industry, from agricultural and manufacturing to finance and real estate. Although it did diversify into heavy equipment, real estate, and insurance businesses, new management also plowed significant amounts of cash into the companys traditional commodity and plantation operations. Sime Darby became a favorite of investors looking for a safe bet. Indeed, the mammoth enterprise tended to minimize risks after the investment mistakes of the early 1970s and seemed content to operate as a slow-growth multinational behemoth that could withstand any market downturns. Even if something did go wrong, the company had a war chest of nearly a half billion U.S. dollars from which it could draw. Unfortunately, Sime Darbys staid strategy negatively impacted its bottom line. Sales dipped to M $2.78 billion in 1992 before plunging to M$2.17 billion in 1983. Sime Darby lumbered through the mid-1980s with annual sales of less than M$2.5 billion, and net income skidded from about M$100 million in the early 1980s to a low M$59 million in 1987. To turn things around, Sime Darbys board promoted Tunku Ahmad Yahaya to chief executive. Ahmad was a veteran of the companys executive ranks and was a favorite nephew of Malaysias first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Under Ahmads direction, the giant corporation began a slow turnaround. Significantly, Ahmad was instrumental in luring Tun Ismail to Sime Darbys board. Ismail was a highly influential central bank governor and the chairman of Sime Darbys biggest shareholder. Ismail became nonexecutive chairman of the company following the death of Tun Tan Siew Sin in 1988. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Ahmad invested much of Sime Darbys cash hoard into a bevy of new companies and ventures. Sime became a relatively big player in the global reinsurance business, for example, and tried to boost its activities related to heavy equipment and vehicle manufacturing. Most notably, Sime began pouring millions of dollars into property and tourism in key growth areas of Malaysia in an effort to get in on the development and tourism boom that began in that nation in the late 1980s. The success of that division prompted the company to invest as well in tourism overseas. Through its UEP subsidiary, for instance, Sime Darby bought a full-service resort with condominiums in Florida (Sandestin Resorts) and a hotel in Australia, among other enterprises. As the company dumped its cash into expansion and diversification, sales and profits bolted. Revenues climbed from M$2.53 billion in 1987 to M$4.98 billion in 1990 to M$6.20 billion in 1992. During the same perio d, net income soared from M$85 million to M$353 million. Sime Darby realized a stunning 65 percent average annual growth in earnings during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite its gains, though, critics charged that the company had concentrated too heavily on traditional commodity industries and had failed to move into the 1990s with the rest of Malaysia. In fact, Sime Darby continued to garner about 43 percent of its sales from commodity trading activities in 1993 and only 18 percent from manufacturing. The rest came from heavy equipment distribution, insurance, and its property/tourism holdings. Although building strength in those businesses had added to the companys sales and profits during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the strategy had caused Sime Darby to fall behind more progressive holding companies in the region that were participating in booming high-tech, gaming, brokering, and manufacturing sectors. Many company insiders believed that Sime Darby would have to eliminate its heavy reliance on commodity industries if it wante d to sustain long-term growth. The Crisis The companys stock price began to fall in 1993 and its rapid revenue and profit growth began to subside in comparison with late 1980s levels. In 1993 Ahmad stepped back from control of the company when he named Nik Mohamed Nik Yaacob to serve under him as chief executive. Among Mohameds first moves was to initiate the merger of the companys plantation assets, organized as Consolidated Plantations, and the parent company, The company also bolstered its regional insurance business in 1993 by joining forces with AXA of France for its insurance operations in Malaysia and Singapore. These efforts signaled an end to the companys historical emphasis on commodities and reflected Mohameds desires to increase activity in manufacturing, high-tech, financial services, and other fast-growth businesses and reduce Sime Darbys bureaucracy. The turn around after the crisis The company began increasing investments in businesses such as power generation, oil and gas, and heavy equipment exporting. In heavy equipment, Sime Darby bought the Australian distributor of Caterpillar equipment, Hastings Deering (Australia) Ltd., in 1993. In power generation, a key move came in 1994 when Sime Darby took a 40 percent interest in Port Dickson Power Sdn. Bhd., an independent power producer in Malaysia. That same year, the company acquired U.K.-based Lec Refrigeration plc, which was involved in the manufacturing, marketing, and servicing of refrigeration equipment and related products. At the same time, Mohamed worked to absorb the flurry of acquisitions conducted during the previous several years and streamline the company into some sort of cohesive whole. Despite restructuring activities, Sime Darby managed to boost sales to US$3.15 billion in 1994, about US$186 million of which was netted as income. In 1995 Sime Darby stepped up its acquisition drive through the purchase of a controlling 60.4 percent interest in United Malayan Banking Corporation from Datuk Keramat Holdings Berhad. The US$520 million purchase deepened the companys involvement in the countrys fast-growing financial services sector. United Malayan, which was the fourth largest bank in Malaysia in terms of assets, soon was reorganized as Sime Bank Berhad, with the companys brokerage arm becoming a subsidiary of Sime Bank under the name Sime Securities Sdn. Bhd. For the fiscal year ending in June 1997 Sime Darby posted record net income of M$835.8 million (US$322.9 million) on record revenues of M$13.24 billion (US$4.35 billion). Sime Bank and SimeSecurities played a key role in these stellar results (accounting for 30 percent of pretax earnings), but the eruption of the Asian financial crisis in July 1997 quickly proved that the acquisition of United Malayan had been ill-timed, if not also ill-advised. The severity of the crisis in Malaysia, which included a steep decline in the Malaysian stock market and a sharp depreciation of the ringgit (the nations currency), led Sime Bank to post the largest loss in Malaysian banking historyM$1.6 billion (US$431 million) for the six months to December 1997. In turn, Sime Darby posted its first loss in decades for the same six-month period, a loss of M$676.2 million ($172.7 million). With other Sime Darby units being hit hard by the crisis as well, the company posted the first full-year loss in its clo se to 90-year history in the 1998 fiscal year, a net loss of M$540.9 million (US$131 million). Subsequently ,it beat a hasty retreat from its aggressive expansion, determining that the prudent course would be a return to the companys core areas: plantations, property development, tire manufacturing, heavy equipment and motor vehicle distribution, and power generation. In June 1999 Sime Darby sold Sime Bank and its SimeSecurities subsidiary to Rashid Hussain, who merged it with RHB Bank to form the second largest commercial bank in Malaysia. During the 1999 fiscal year, the company also sold Sandestin Resorts for US$131 million. In 1999,it returned to the black with net earnings of M$821.8 million (US$216.3 million) on revenues of M$9.91 billion (US$2.61 billion). A further pull-back from the financial services sector came in March 2000 when Sime Darby sold its interest in Sime AXA, its insurance joint venture with AXA of France. Meantime, an area of growing interest was emerging at the turn of the millennium as Sime Darby increased its interest in Port Dickson Power to 60 percent, giving it majority control and turning Port Dickson into a company subsidiary. Flush with cash from the sale of its financial services units, Sime Darby appeared poised to make additional forays into the power generation sector. Given the near disaster of its aggressive moves into financial services, however, the company was likely to proceed with much caution in all of its future expansionary endeavors in a return to its traditional style of conservative management. Business activities: Plantation: Plantation is Sime Darby largest revenue generator with about 70% of the conglomerate profits come from this segment. The company operates palm oil and rubber plantations in Malaysia and Indonesian islands of Sumatera, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. With a land bank of over 633,000 hectares, including 300,000 hectares in Indonesia, it is one of the largest plantation company in the world. Property: The company is involved in the property development business in eight countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, PeopleHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_Republic_of_ChinaHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_Republic_of_Chinas Republic of China, Australia and United Kingdom. Industrial and Monitoring :The company is involved in the purchasing, leasing and selling of industrial equipment such as Caterpillar Inc. heavy duty trucks and tractors.. it has partnership with Ford, it sells Fords cars and trucks together with the Land Rover brand. It is also a major BMW dealer in Singapore, Australia and Thailand. In Southern China, the company sells BMW and Rolls-Royce. In addition, Sime Darby co-owns Inokom Corp Bhd, a joint-venture with Hyundai Motor Company which assembles and sells Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia. Energy Utilities: The company is an Oil and Gas services company which provides equipment for exploring oil and gas assets in the South East Asia region. The company is also an independent power provider in Malaysia and Thailand. The company also provides engineering services in the system integration and sales sectors, security and oil gas sectors. Healthcare: The company owns hospital named Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya Sdn. Bhd ,SDMC Formerly known as Subang Jaya Medical Centre, and college formerly known as SJMC Academy of Nursing and Health Sciences which was established in 1995 and now is known as Sime Darby Nursing and Health Sciences College. Other businesses: The company has a port utility company named Weifang Sime Darby Port Co Ltd. Other businesses that the company is involved in include healthcare, aerospace (divested from Asian Composites Manufacturing (ACM) in 2009), bedding, consumer and industrial products, logistics and packing.The company also owns the 30% of the Malaysian arm of Tesco stores. Sustainable Practices: Sime Darby plantations implemented Zero Burning Planting Techniques Techniques (ZBPT), a practical and environmentally sound technique of replanting, in 1989. The Board of director and audit committee profile: Company Profile Bhg Dato Mohd Bakke, was chosen on13th May 2010 as the new president and group chief executive (PGCE) and formerly group president/CEO of Felda Global ventures Holdings SDN Bhd, he has necessary experience in corporate restructuring exercises as well as in management expertise in the plantation. Dato Azhar Abdul Hamid, Chairman,board of Directors and Managing Director of Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd. He is head of the Sime Darby Groups Plantation and Agri-business Division Internal and External Audit Duties and comments To say that the group had processes in place its just that they had not been implemented properly certainly laughable because it is all too  familiar. If one was to seriously respond to this excuse, it would be that is why you have internal and external auditors. And when the internal auditors raised the red flag in August 2008, it was conveniently swept under the carpet! If the excuse was that, the non-executive independent directors were obliged to give the benefit of the doubt to management, the external auditors, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) certainly had no such obligation or professional reason to do so! This was their red flag to delve into the issue of cost over-runs including its recovery of such costs. This is no more an ordinary run of the mill statutory audit. PWC had been put on enquiry and were obliged to look into the concern meticulously. The question to be answered is that, what did PWC do? They signed off the accounts of Sime Darby for 2008 and 2009 with a clean audit report! Not even an emphasis of matter especially on the possible cost over-runs and its recoverability! The fact that official media had highlighted these matters, besides the media report prior to the finalization of the 2008 and 2009 accounts speak volumes about the role (or lack of it) of PWC The official media currently has been quite polite about this latest incident .yes, they have been polite relatively speaking, but if you read in between the lines, the insinuation is the total collapse in the check and balance roles of the other parties involved with Sime Darby notably the auditors and members of the Audit Committee headed by the ex-chairman of PWC. Andrew Sheng, a proponent of strong corporate governance is unfortunately embroiled in this mess as director and he cannot easily extricate himself out of this especially when he was appointed in 2007.He has to regain credibility by insisting massive and fundamental changes to the way things are done in the Malaysian corporate world in general and Sime Darby in particular. The audit committee In April 2008, for example, there were news reports that Sime Darby Engineering Sdn Bhd had incurred cost overruns of between RM120mil and RM150mil in its offshore engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning project for Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ). In February 2009, a report also alleged that there had been costs overruns in the same project, but this time, the figure mentioned was far bigger. At a media briefing on Feb 4, Zubir dismissed this: Theres no such thing as the RM800mil losses. The Minority Watchdog Group (MSWG) wrote to Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam in March 2009 on issues in the energy and utilities division. At the companys AGM last November, the MSWG also raised questions about the divisions shrinking bottom-line. Moreover, it has been reported that Sime Darbys internal auditor has come up with reports highlighting the divisions losses and that longtime independent auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) had delayed signing off Sime Engineerings 2008 accounts. Boardroom strength: The former executive director of a Big Four firm says When PwC does not sign off the accounts of a significant subsidiary of listed company and yet signs off the parent companys accounts. It is understood that the auditors could issue an unqualified audit opinion on the Sime Darby accounts despite not doing so for Sime Engineering because the issue in dispute at the Sime Engineering level was not material on a group basis. The current public discussions about accountability and the suggestions that more heads must roll at Sime Darby are making the headlines, but the core underlying issue is quite different: How could this mess have happened in spite of the conglomerates governance structure and controls? Going by the information in the annual report 2009, Sime Darbys system of checks and balances at the boardroom and top management level is sturdy and robust, befitting its status as a sprawling multinational corporation. Beside Ahmad Zubir, Sime Darby has 12 directors. Half of these are independent directors and all 12 are non-executive directors. Together, they form a team with deep and varied experience and knowledge. Among the independent board members are stalwarts such as Musa, Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Datuk Seri Panglima Andrew Sheng and Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali.You cant accuse the board of being sleepy. There are some heavyweights there, says the research head of a foreign investment house. Yet, the directors have missed the extent of Sime Darbys project woes until, reportedly, PwC went to Musa last year to express its concerns over the energy and utilities division. In the financial year 2009, there were 12 board meetings. Not many listed companies in Malaysia hold these meetings this frequently. In addition, there are seven board committees and they each meet several times a year. Above all, Sime Darby has supervisory committees that were set up to assist the board in the oversight of the respective divisions (of the company). The board has identified certain non-executive directors to sit on these committees. Definitely, this is not a case of the directors having limited exposure to the companys management and affairs. So how is it that the many warning signs had not prompted the board to initiate a probe until October last year, when it established a board work group to review the energy and utilities divisions operations? The boards defenders say the management convinced the directors that in spite of the auditors concerns and the rumors, the situation was under control. The argument here is that the board has to constantly maintain a balance between objectivity and the ability to work well with the management. In other words, in the absence of strong evidence to the contrary, the board saw no reason to doubt the information provided by the management. That is why, it took a bit of time for the Sime Darby board to get into full swing once it became clear that it must investigate the corporate governance and performance of the division. The directors have to shift from a position of trus t to skepticism to disbelief and finally, to outrage, says a corporate insider Rajawas executive chairman and senior partner for 18 years, retired from PwC in June 30, 2005. Raja Arshad was appointed to the board of the pre-merger Sime Darby on July 1, 2007 exactly two years later, thus fulfilling the criterion for boardroom independence at Sime Darby. Raja Arshad was not necessarily the best choice to head Sime Darbys audit committee, PwC insisted that his position in the audit committee does not change how the firm conducts its audit of Sime Darby. Therefore, what is PwCs part in the Sime Darby fiasco? The four key findings disclosed by Sime Darby on May 13 was that , only one decision to reverse revenue of RM200mil for the Qatar Petroleum project relates to a matter taken up in accounts already audited. The other three relate to items that have only surfaced in the current financial year. This means PwC could not have known about these figures until it begins auditing Sime Darbys 2010 accounts. Nevertheless, some in the accounting fraternity say this may be a test case for the newly constituted Audit Oversight Board.

Running The Front End :: Home Depot cashier

Running The Front End   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Day after day, I work at Home Depot. I’ve worked at Home Depot for 6 months. My position there is a cashier. A few months have gone by and all I do is show up and do my job as a cashier. The cashiers have someone who runs the front end along with every register in the store, and that person is a head ashier. After what I see the head cashiers go through, I would never want to be a head cashier for the rest of my life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After four and a half months of working, I am just getting the hang of it. Being a cashier might sound easy, but over at Home Depot, it’s not. There are so many responsibilities for a cashier to do; it is just as hard as being a bank teller. You have to be quick at looking up items, being familiar with items in the store, checking every item for the right tag, and the list goes on. The cashiers are tested weekly with a secret shopper to make sure the cashiers are on their toes. The money has to be added up at the end of the day, each slip, coin, dollar bill, check and card. If it doesn’t add up, you don’t leave until you find out where it went. The cashier draw cannot hold more then 500$ at one time. Each time you collect up to five hundred you have to send it to the book keeping. All these responsibilities add up and are overwhelming for a cashier. A head cashier is responsible for every register and transaction in that store, along with the flow of lines and customer satisfaction. It is a job I would never want.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Coming into work one day, I knew something was wrong. When I saw long lines forming down each Isle, people complaining that the wait was too long, and register lights flashing for help. There were no head cashiers available or supervisors who knew anything about the front end. At that time I was the only cashier who had been there the longest, so I was asked to try and be head cashier for the day. I did, and I knew what I was getting myself into.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was handed a set of keys and I was in charge of the entire front end. This was a job I had never done or been trained to do, It started out fine no one had any problems Three hours passed, and I ran into my first problem. Running The Front End :: Home Depot cashier Running The Front End   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Day after day, I work at Home Depot. I’ve worked at Home Depot for 6 months. My position there is a cashier. A few months have gone by and all I do is show up and do my job as a cashier. The cashiers have someone who runs the front end along with every register in the store, and that person is a head ashier. After what I see the head cashiers go through, I would never want to be a head cashier for the rest of my life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After four and a half months of working, I am just getting the hang of it. Being a cashier might sound easy, but over at Home Depot, it’s not. There are so many responsibilities for a cashier to do; it is just as hard as being a bank teller. You have to be quick at looking up items, being familiar with items in the store, checking every item for the right tag, and the list goes on. The cashiers are tested weekly with a secret shopper to make sure the cashiers are on their toes. The money has to be added up at the end of the day, each slip, coin, dollar bill, check and card. If it doesn’t add up, you don’t leave until you find out where it went. The cashier draw cannot hold more then 500$ at one time. Each time you collect up to five hundred you have to send it to the book keeping. All these responsibilities add up and are overwhelming for a cashier. A head cashier is responsible for every register and transaction in that store, along with the flow of lines and customer satisfaction. It is a job I would never want.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Coming into work one day, I knew something was wrong. When I saw long lines forming down each Isle, people complaining that the wait was too long, and register lights flashing for help. There were no head cashiers available or supervisors who knew anything about the front end. At that time I was the only cashier who had been there the longest, so I was asked to try and be head cashier for the day. I did, and I knew what I was getting myself into.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was handed a set of keys and I was in charge of the entire front end. This was a job I had never done or been trained to do, It started out fine no one had any problems Three hours passed, and I ran into my first problem.

Business Ethics at Acme Corporation Essay

Mr. Frank Garcia was a new salesman at Acme Corporation. At Acme Corporation the corporate culture was top down or hierarchal and Garcia quickly learned that because of the competitive nature of the medical supplies industry few mistakes were tolerated. One of his very first sales clients was Mr. Otis Hillman, the buyer for Thermocare, a national hospital chain. The sale was a huge success resulting in a $500,000 contract for Acme and an additional bonus of $1,000 for Mr. Garcia. Months later, Mr. Garcia called on Mr. Hillman of Thermocare to increase the existing contract by some $500,000. The deal went through and Garcia received yet another bonus and a letter of achievement from the vice president of Marketing, however the deal cost Acme Corporation a pair of season tickets to the Cubs. On another occasion, Mr. Garcia approached Thermocare for an additional contract worth $750,000, once again Garcia was successful, but this time in return for the favor Acme had to pay for a trip to Cancun Mexico for Mr. Hillman and his wife. Lastly Acme Corporation decided to host a thank you party in Las Vegas for all of their best clients. The clients were informed that, if there is anything that they needed that they should let their salesperson know. That very night Mr. Hillman from Thermocare approached, Mr. Garcia and suggested to him that he was interested in attending an â€Å"adult entertainment club†. Garcia informed his boss, Amber about his client’s request. Amber was very laid back and replied, â€Å"we will take care of it†, however Garcia was a little concerned and asked â€Å"but what will Acme say if this gets out? † to which Amber responded, â€Å"Don’t worry, it won’t. † Taking a closer look at this scenario with Thermocare, Acme Corporation is faced with a few ethical issues. Firstly, we can look at the ethical issue of bribery. It is clear to see that in order for a sale to be successful, Garcia had to bribe Mr. Hillman on each occasion. In other words, each time Garcia proposed a new deal/contract to Thermocare it resulted in a cost Acme. Another ethical issue is Acme paying for Mr. Hillman to attend an adult entertainment club, an activity that is considered to be morally unaccepted and frowned upon by society. Additionally, even though Amber, Mr. Garcia’s supervisor was made aware of these unethical situations regarding the sale contracts with Thermocare, she was so concerned about making a profit that she had no issue with complying with their demands. One may ask, if Mr. Garcia was correct in complying with the demands/wishes of Mr. Hillman. In my opinion, Mr. Garcia was only following orders from his supervisor. If there is any one to blame for the ethical misconduct it should be Amber. In each instance, Mr. Garcia referred the situation to Amber. Furthermore, as the supervisor it was Amber’s responsibility to ensure that Mr. Garcia was conducting business in an ethical manner, however in reality Amber was not doing her job. On the other hand all of the blame should not be solely placed on Amber. It is obvious that Mr. Garcia was also driven by the need for large cash bonuses, in the back of his mind, he knew what he was doing was unethical, however as long as he was getting rewarded for his sales performance, he saw no problem with meeting the demands of Mr. Hillman. He figured as long as he making money for the company, what he was doing was indeed justified. However it could be argued that, Mr. Garcia could have easily referred the matter with Thermocare to another supervisor, if he felt that the decision he made, would have negatively impacted the reputation of Acme Corporation as an ethical corporate citizen. In conclusion, we all know that in order for businesses to survive, they must earn a profit. However the life of an organization may be shortened if these profits are realized through misconduct. Additionally businesses must balance their desires for profits against the needs and desires of society, and maintaining this balance often requires comprises. In the case of Acme Corporation if they wish to achieve and maintain a standard as a reputable and ethical corporation it must discontinue its current business practices and sales techniques. Furthermore, Acme must establish an ethics program that will communicate the core values of the organization to all employees and clearly capture the rules and principles that the company defines as appropriate conduct.

An Archaeological Primer on Craft Specialization

An Archaeological Primer on Craft Specialization Craft specialization is what archaeologists call the assignment of specific tasks to specific people or subsets of people in a community. An agricultural community might have had specialists who made pots or knapped flints or tended crops or stayed in touch with the gods or conducted burial ceremonies. Craft specialization allows a community to get large projects completed-wars fought, pyramids built and yet still get the day-to-day operations of the community done as well. How Does Craft Specialization Develop? Archaeologists generally believe that hunter-gatherer societies were/are primarily egalitarian, in that most everyone did most everything. A recent study on modern hunter-gatherers suggests that even though a select portion of the community group goes out to do the hunting for the whole (i.e., what you would imagine would be hunting specialists)  when they return, they pass the knowledge ​on to the next generations, so everyone in the community understands how to hunt. Makes sense: should something happen to the hunters, unless the hunting process is understood by everyone, the community starves. In this way, knowledge is shared by everyone in the community and no one is indispensable. As a society grows in population and complexity, however, at some point certain kinds of tasks became overly time-consuming, and, theoretically anyway, someone who is particularly skilled at a task gets selected to do that task for his or her family group, clan, or community. For example, someone who is good at making spearpoints or pots is selected, in some process unknown to us, to dedicate their time to the production of these items. Why is Craft Specialization a Keystone to Complexity? Craft specialization is also part of the process that archaeologists believe may kickstart societal complexity. First, someone who spends their time making pots may not be able to spend time producing food for her family. Everybody needs pots, and at the same time the potter must eat; perhaps a system of barter becomes necessary to make it possible for the craft specialist to continue.Secondly, specialized information must be passed on in some way, and generally protected. Specialized information requires an educational process of some kind, whether the process is simple apprenticeships or more formal schools.Finally, since not everyone does exactly the same work or has the same lifeways, ranking or class systems might develop out of such a situation. Specialists may become of higher rank or lower rank to the rest of the population; specialists may even become society leaders. Identifying Craft Specialization Archaeologically Archaeologically, evidence of craft specialists is suggested by patterning: by the presence of different concentrations of certain types of artifacts in certain sections of communities. For example, in a given community, the archaeological ruins of the residence or workshop of a shell tool specialist might contain most of the broken and worked shell fragments found in the whole village. Other houses in the village might have only one or two complete shell tools. Identification of the work of craft specialists is sometimes suggested by archaeologists from a perceived similarity in a certain class of artifacts. Therefore, if ceramic vessels found in a community are pretty much the same size, with the same or similar decorations or design details, that may be evidence that they were all made by the same small number of individuals-craft specialists. Craft specialization is thus a precursor to mass production. Some Recent Examples of Craft Specialization Cathy Costins research using examinations of design elements to identify how craft specialization worked among Inka groups in 15th and 16th century AD Peru [Costin, Cathy L. and Melissa B. Hagstrum 1995 Standardization, labor investment, skill, and the organization of ceramic production in late prehispanic highland Peru. American Antiquity 60(4):619-639.]Kathy Schick and Nicholas Toth of Indiana University continue experimental replication of craft technology at the Stone Age Institute.Kazuo Aoyama discusses the Aguateca site in Guatemala, where an abrupt attack of the Classic Maya center preserved evidence of specialized bone or shell working. Sources Aoyama, Kazuo. 2000.  Ancient Maya State, Urbanism, Exchange, and Craft Specialization: Chipped Stone Evidence from the Copan Valley and the LA Entrada Region, Honduras. Siglo del Hombre Press, Mexico City.Aoyama, Kazuo.  Craft Specialization and Elite Domestic Activities: Microwear Analysis of Lithic Artifacts from Aguateca, Guatemala. Online report submitted to the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc.Arnold, Jeanne E. 1992 Complex hunter-gatherer-fishers of prehistoric California: Chiefs, specialists, and maritime adaptations of the Channel Islands.  American Antiquity  57(1):60-84.Bayman, James M. 1996 Shell ornament consumption in a classic Hohokam platform mound community center.  Journal of Field Archaeology  23(4):403-420.Becker, M. J. 1973 Archaeological evidence for occupational specialization among Classic Maya at Tikal, Guatemala.  American Antiquity  38:396-406.Brumfiel, Elizabeth M. and Timothy K. Earle (eds). 1987  Specializatio n, Exchange, and Complex Societies.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Camillo, Carlos. 1997. . L P D PressCostin, Cathy L. 1991 Craft Specialization: Issues in Defining, Documenting, and Explaining the Organization of Production. In  Archaeological Method and Theory  volume 1. Michael B. Schiffer, ed. Pp. 1-56. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.Costin, Cathy L. and Melissa B. Hagstrum 1995 Standardization, labor investment, skill, and the organization of ceramic production in late prehispanic highland Peru.  American Antiquity  60(4):619-639.Ehrenreich, Robert M. 1991 Metalworking in Iron Age Britain: Hierarchy or heterarchy?  MASCA: Metals in Society: Theory beyond analysis. 8(2), 69-80.Evans, Robert K. 1978 Early craft specialization: an example from the Balkan Chalcolithic. In Charles L. Redman and et al., eds. Pp. 113-129. New York: Academic Press.Feinman, Gary M. and Linda M. Nicholas 1995 Household craft specialization and shell ornament manufacture in Ejutla, Mexico.  Expedition  37(2):14-25.Feinman, Gary M., Linda M. Nicholas, a nd Scott L. Fedick 1991 Shell working in prehispanic Ejutla, Oaxaca (Mexico): Findings from an exploratory field season.  Mexicon13(4):69-77.   Feinman, Gary M., Linda M. Nicholas, and William D. Middleton 1993 Craft activities at the prehispanic Ejutla site, Oaxaca, Mexico.  Mexicon15(2):33-41.  Hagstrum, Melissa 2001 Household Production in Chaco Canyon Society.  American Antiquity  66(1):47-55.Harry, Karen G. 2005 Ceramic Specialization and Agricultural Marginality: Do Ethnographic Models Explain the Development of Specialized Pottery Production in the Prehistoric American Southwest?  American Antiquity  70(2):295-320.Hirth, Kenn. 2006. Obsidian Craft Production in Ancient Central Mexico: Archaeological Research at Xochicalco. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Kenoyer, J. M. 1991 The Indus Valley tradition of Pakistan and Western India.  Journal of World Prehistory  5(4):331-385.Masucci, Maria A. 1995 Marine shell bead production and the role of domestic craft activities in the conomy of the Guangala phase, southwest Ecuador.  Latin American Antiquity  6(1):70-84.Muller, Jon 1984 Mississippian s pecialization and salt.  American Antiquity  49(3):489-507. Schortman, Edward M. and Patricia A. Urban 2004 Modeling the roles of craft production in ancient political economies.  Journal of Archaeological Research  12(2):185-226Shafer, Harry J. and Thomas R. Hester. 1986 Maya stone-tool craft specialization and production at Colha, Belize: reply To Mallory.  American Antiquity  51:158-166.Spence, Michael W. 1984 Craft production and polity in early Teotihuacan. In  Trade and Exchange in Early Mesoamerica. Kenneth G. Hirth, ed. Pp. 87-110. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.Tosi, Maurizio. 1984 The notion of craft specialization and its representation in the archaeological record of early states in the Turanian Basin. In  Marxist perspectives in archaeology. Matthew Spriggs, ed. Pp. 22-52. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Vaughn, Kevin J., Christina A. Conlee, Hector Neff, and Katharina Schreiber 2006 Ceramic production in ancient Nasca: provenance analysis of pottery from the Early Nasca and Tiza cultures through IN AA.  Journal of Archaeological Science  33:681-689. Vehik, Susan C. 1990 Late Prehistoric Plains Trade and Economic Specialization.  Plains Anthropologist  35(128):125-145.Wailes, Bernard (editor). 1996. Craft Specialization and Social Evolution: In Memory of V. Gordon Childe. University Museum Symposium Series, Volume 6 University Museum Monograph - UMM 93. University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - University of Pennsylvania.Wright, Henry T. 1969. The Administration of Rural Production in an Early Mesopotamian Town. 69. Ann Arbor, Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan. Anthropological Papers.Yerkes, Richard W. 1989 Mississippian craft specialization in the American Bottom.  Southeastern Archaeology  8:93-106.Yerkes, Richard W. 1987 Prehistoric Life on the Mississippi Floodplain. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

UMASS Graduate School MBA Questionaire

UMASS Graduate School MBA Questionaire Free Online Research Papers UMASS Graduate School MBA Questionaire 1.How do you compare this MBA Graduate Program to others you have seen? I’m not very familiar with other MBA programs. However, since the MBA at UMASS is offered through an accredited college of business, I assume that the curriculum is very similar to other accredited schools. 2.What are the specific problems you see here? Many students complain that the program does not offer a bigger selection of core courses during each semester, and that courses offered in the fall are not repeated in the spring. Also, classes fill quickly and are very large due to fewer professors. 3.What are the specific strengths you see here? I feel that being an accredited school is a definite strength. I also appreciate that UMASS offers a variety of electives to supplement the MBA. This allows students to concentrate in a particular area of study. Lastly, many resources are available to students, including an extensive library network. 4.How do you feel about web-based MBA’s? I feel that having some web-based classes would be a good experience for students, however I don’t think that it should be all web-based. I feel that you can still learn more in a classroom-setting, and I, personally, wouldn’t want to be at a computer for so many hours. 5.How do you feel about satellite campus for the MBA program? I think that would be an excellent idea because many students live far away from campus. It would be very convenient for them to go to class at an alternate location, perhaps closer to home, and still receive the same quality of education. 6.How do you feel about tele-video for the MBA program? Similar to web-based classes, I feel that some tele-video would be beneficial. It is an excellent way to transmit new concepts to students. 7.How do you feel about adjunct faculty? I feel that it would definitely be helpful in managing a large student volume, especially when the school’s own faculty is going through a transition period. For instance, as in the case of UMASS Dartmouth, professors will be in short supply after a series of retirements fails to be immediately succeeded by new faculty members. In this case, adjunct faculty could be used in the interim. 8.How many faculty took early retirement? I don’t know the exact number of professors who retired, but I do know that it was enough to cause a much higher capacity utilization among the remaining professors. To make matters worse, the school has also built new dorms and experienced an influx of new students. A now crippled faculty has to stretch its limited resources over a larger student body. As a result, faculty and students suffer, alike. 9.How would you resolve the issue of large class sizes in future years? A combination of adjunct faculty and satellite campuses would help prevent large class sizes in future years. Research Papers on UMASS Graduate School MBA QuestionaireStandardized TestingPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Spring and AutumnBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeOpen Architechture a white paperCapital PunishmentIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital

The Fast Track Program of Florida Institute Essay

The Fast Track Program of Florida Institute - Essay Example The Fast Track Program of FIT gives an opportunity for undergraduate students to take graduate coursework; thus, they are able to finish a master’s degree in less time than in traditional programs (Florida Institute of Technology 1). Furthermore, the students will not have to shoulder the cost of graduate admission requirements and eliminate the anxiety of applying to a graduate program. The time commitment will also be greatly reduced. Â  Another major advantage of the FastTrack program is that most students who graduate from this program usually earn higher starting salaries. They also gain access to the latest trends in technology and are better exposed to real-world scenarios. They become exposed to industry leaders and are able to expand their professional network (Florida Institute of Technology, par.1). Students from the program acquire major-related work experience, professional skill-honing, co-op earnings and insight into one’s professional strengths (Florida Institute of Technology, par.4). Â  

Differences and connections between groupware and ordinary databases Essay

Differences and connections between groupware and ordinary databases - Essay Example The significance of Groupware technology spawned by CSWC cannot be underestimated in the modern interactive world. This technology designed to facilitate and allow for ease of work amongst members of a group is nothing but a remarkable achievement. This technology has found usage in communication, cooperation, coordination, negotiation, and even competition amongst members of a defined group. This technology relies on modern computer networks, newsgroups, chatting networks, and even videophone Mills, (2011) In a globalizing world, it is important to find a way of connecting people in diverse areas across the globe. Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) is the field of study that has made the adoption, design and usage of groupware possible. But this field is not restricted entirely to work or cooperation in any sense, but can also be used to examine other aspects of social dynamics such as competition and play Mills,(2011). This basically means that unlike ordinary databases whose purpose can only be defined and will only require software designing and engineering, groupware may require the concerted effort of social and organizational behavior experts, business people, computer scientists, communication researchers, organization psychologists, anthropologists, to name just a few specialties. Designing a Groupware involves an in-depth understanding of groups and how people behave while in a groups. This is not a requirement in the design of the Ordinary User Interface. Further, designing a workable Groupware will require a coherent understanding of networking technology and how the various aspect of this system works, whether subtle or complex. It will be ideal to understand how instances of delay in synchronizing will affect the experience of the user. But it is also important to point out that all the other basic issues of traditional user interface remains relevant because

Client Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Client Studies - Essay Example Or, it may be that sex itself, or lack of sex, is having a negative impact on ones relationships or general health. In addition, the organisation offers help with relationships where one or both partners are unhappy or are being hurt. In addition, help can be provided where a relationship has ended badly. Above all, the organisation offers help to anyone with worries about their sexuality.  Ã‚   The placement, which is situated in Wondsworth Borough in London, tends to provide services specific to the local community. The local population comprises many different ethnic groups, most notably Afro-Caribbean, Somali and Polish. Other counselling services share the Victorian terrace house, where the Albany Trust is located; this provides a dynamic and stimulating setting. The practice contains a waiting room with sitting facilities where clients wait to be met by an appointed therapist. Access to the practice is via an entry phone that is placed and accessed by the therapist in the waiting room. The consulting rooms are spacious and provide natural light, resulting in an environment that made me feel very comfortable. However, I realised that the only via starts access prevents us from seeing clients with disabilities or any other kinds of impediments. The client, Stephen, was self-referred and allocated to me after an assessment was made and a team, which included the practice manager, assessor and my supervisor, discussed my suitability for the case. Having discussed the case with my supervisor before meeting the client gave me the chance to explore my feelings and reactions towards the case. However, looking back on it now I possibly would have preferred not knowing as much about the clients case because in a way it prevented me from having a more open approach to the process with him, especially at the beginning of our therapeutic alliance. Stephen was offered open ending therapy, as he was seeking social benefits, and a low income fee of

Texas Roadhouse Wont Scrimp on Making Employees Happy Essay Example for Free

Texas Roadhouse Wont Scrimp on Making Employees Happy Essay 1. â€Å"If we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers† is a common phrase. In your experience, is it actually practiced or is it just a clichà © on the wall? Discuss the implications of your answer. â€Å"If we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers,† this quote mostly depends on the individual company and how they perceive their employees. Some companies realize that in order for them to succeed, they must invest in their employees, as employees are the key to a successful and highly profitable business. And in order for employees to remain motivated and continue to flourish, they need recognition, which is a basic human need, regardless of status or job type. Once employees have been acknowledged for their good performance, they feel more appreciated, and as a result will demonstrate greater levels of commitment and dedication. Thereby, producing top results for the company and treating its customers with royalty. During recessions some companies such as Texas Roadhouse, continue to demonstrate employee appreciation through employee gatherings, cash reward bonuses and annual company conferences, in which spouses are invited (Noe et al., 2011). Companies such as Texas Roadhouse and other companies are leaders who want to succeed in today’s competitive world, and they realize that even during hard economic times, there’s still the strong need to maintain programs which are aimed at recognizing employees for work place accomplishments. And when employees are truly happy and motivated, they will care for the customers and give their best. Even through our suffering economy, many other companies also continue to celebrate employee’s performance through various recognition programs such as, cash bonuses, flexible work hour schedules, award celebrations, gift cards, employee appreciation day, company cook-outs, discounted family membership incentives, floating days and many others. Finally, most good leaders appreciate what employees do for the company, and will try to find ways to show love and appreciation. 2. Texas Roadhouse uses money as a motivator for employees. In today’s economy, describe alternative methods that could be used to motivate their employees. Texas Roadhouse has traditionally been known for their generous cash bonuses in recognition of employee appreciation, such generosity included, cash bonuses ranging from $500.00 in fun money to $20,000 for best meat cutter (Noe et al., 2011). However, in today’s unstable economy, the smart business leader will find other ways to show love and appreciation for their employees. Texas Roadhouse managers realize that employees are its biggest contributing factor for success or failure, and will find other ways to motivate employees, even during such economic uncertainty. For many companies, non-cash recognition is still a very powerful motivator, and will still foster ways to attract and retain good employees. And even though money is always a great motivator, effective employee compensation goes beyond money, in terms of individual needs being met; such needs as psychological needs, which define human relationships and the importance of employees connecting with customers, coworkers and managers. Employees also need to feel that they are a part of a group that has achieved success (Armstrong., 2010). Texas Roadhouse could customize a flexible-hours plan that would cater to restaurant staff. And even though most employees wouldn’t necessarily have the luxury of working from home, they would still have Flexible work hours and would be given the freedom to switch time schedules with coworkers, possibly allowing them more balance between work and home-life, while demonstrating an established trust between manager and employee. With flexible work schedules, employees can leave earlier or come in later, rotate shifts, or readjust their work schedule to make it more conducive to their life-style (O’Toole et al., 2011). Another great non-cash employee incentive for Texas Roadhouse could be that of various trainings and self-developmental opportunities. Trainings are very informational and can benefit employees in many ways, as they promote excellent ways for companies to learn of their top talent, trainings will also also satisfy employees will skill deficiencies. Trainings show the employees that their employer supports career development and advancement. The various trainings will expound on existing skills by including missing tools such as, education, updated technological skills and will help promote the company’s vision for valued progress. Trainings such as employee leadership offer employees development and confidence in independent problem-solving. Texas Roadhouse could also utilize multiple customer service trainings, since they provide direct service to exterior customers. And in order for them to continue on a successful path, they must continue to find ways to teach and reteach their employees the values of world class standards and its quality to customer satisfaction. As employees are exposed to various training programs, their knowledge potential becomes greater, creating more valuable human capital to the company. 3. Discuss the possible effectiveness of each of your alternative methods. Regardless of the economy’s condition, a good leader is able to inspire and motivate its employees, as they understand that happy employees will result in the success of the business. Effective employees are a result of effective managers, and good managers reward employees for good performance through communication and various reward methods. Alternatively, non-cash rewards, such as trainings and flexible hour plans can promote happier, healthier and more motivated employees, which will lead to more productivity. A flexible hours plan can prove very effective, as this method allows employees the freedom to switch shifts, to rotate hours around the clock, or change the time of day in which the tasks will be completed. As employees are allowed this flexibility, there sense of responsibility and confidence increase, as trust and an honor system is established between the employee and the manager. Through the flexible hours plan, employees are less stressed, as they are finding more balance and time to fulfill family obligations as well, all resulting in increased employee productivity. Employee trainings may also prove to be a very effective means of motivating employees. Trainings provide many benefits, as they help to build employees skills and talents, they also can foster a greater team environment, thereby giving employees a wider range of support and comfort. Trainings and other developmental strategies can be a powerful tool, which can aid a struggling worker. Through various training sessions, employees gain problem-solving abilities, learn up-to date technology skills, and become less dependent on the manager. And finally, trainings can help manager’s spot top talent within the company. 4. Analyze how transferrable is the Texas Roadhouse way of motivating employees in other organizations. Texas Roadhouse way of motivating their employees through large cash bonuses and other annual motivational conferences are incentives, which are based on the individual managerial leadership style, and cannot be transferred to other organizations, as every leader exhibits a distinct leadership style. It is agreed that such large cash bonuses will create keen competition between employees, but each leader have their own intangibles or uniqueness, which is spelled out through their leadership strategies. And during an economic hardship, the leader may decide on future investments that would offer the employee various training sessions to build upon their existing skills and knowledge, thereby, offering the employee promotional opportunities which would increase the employees financial gain, as well as making an upgrade to the companies potential success. Leaders must also consider that different people are motivated by different things. While some employees may have financial goals, others may have professional or personal goals, and cash compensation can’t possibly fulfill all human needs. Finally, based on the needs of a company, a good leader will know what to do and how to go about planning in order to achieve a successful outcome. References Armstrong, M. (2010). Armstrong’s handbook of reward management practice. (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Kogan Page Noe, R. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Gerhart, B., Wright, P.M. (2011). Fundamentals of human resource management (4th ed.). New York, NY: MCGRAW-HILL. O’Toole, J., Lawler, E. (2007). The new American workplace. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Attitudes Towards Euthanasia | Literature Review

Attitudes Towards Euthanasia | Literature Review Introduction This literature review is based upon peoples attitudes towards Euthanasia, which comes from the Greek meaning good death and in English means the killing of one person by another to relieve the suffering of that person and Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS), which is described as; a medical professional aiding a person who is incapable of the act themselves to commit suicide, (NHS, 2010). For this literature review, a literature search was performed using the Cochrane library, Science Direct, EBSCOhost and Sage using the key words: Assisted suicide Euthanasia Opinions Attitude United Kingdom Public Right to Die Assisted Dying Most of these words (with the exception of Assisted Suicide and Assisted Dying) were used in each of the search engines individually and also used to form sentences, however, the only electronic databases that gave this search the information it required was Sage. This provided a substantial amount of journals, a lot of the others used were subscription based or a fee was required, but from the free to use information two of the most relevant to the subject I wished to perform the review on were chosen. The two papers were chosen from surveys and studies performed in the United Kingdom, because it was decided to research what the thoughts and feelings of medical professionals were in a place where this practice was presently illegal. Use in the literature search, but this was difficult to come by. The titles of the three journals are: Legalisation of Euthanasia or Physician Assisted Suicide: Survey of Doctors Attitudes, and Opinions of the Legalised of Physician Assisted Suicide. Des pite not inputting the word physician into the search engine, a lot of the searches came up with types of journals which mention this anyway. This review will critically evaluate the information in the journals and will be compared with each other, discussing the disadvantages of the surveys and the advantages. The review will also include the various research methods used in the research. The Literature Review The first paper reviewed is in English by Clive Seale, PhD, from the Centre for Health Sciences, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London and is called The legalisation of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide: Survey of Doctors Attitudes. The protocol was to determine what doctors opinions about the legalisation of medically assisted dying (which includes the terms, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS)) were and this was done in comparison with the opinions of the general public of the UK. The methodology was to send out structured questionnaires with a series of questions using qualitative methods and then analyse the results in a quantitative manner. In 2007, Binleys database (http://www.binleys.com) was used to send questionnaires to 8857 currently working medical practitioners all over the UK, this was broken down into 2829 (7%) GPs, 443 (43%) neurologists, 836 (21% of these were doctors) specialists in the care of the elderly, 462 (54% of thes e were also doctors) specialists in palliative medicine and 4287 workers in other hospital based specialities. This is quite a large sample to use and covers a wide range of specialities. It is not clear in what month in 2007 these questionnaires were sent out but follow-up letters were sent to non-respondents between November 2007 and April 2008 to enquire as to why they did not respond, in which 66 doctors in all responded with the most common reason being lack of time to complete the survey. Overall the response rate was 42.1% with specialists in palliative medicine being the most responsive with 67.3% of people returning their questionnaire, along with specialists in the care of the elderly (48.1%) neurologists (42.9%) other hospital specialties (40.1%) and GPs (39.3%). Despite the large sample of people, 42.1% of replies are quite disappointing, although it is a very emotive subject. The questions consisted of personal questions such as age, gender, grade, ethnic origin, and speciality of the respondent and, on average, the number of deaths attended. They were all asked four questions about their attitude towards euthanasia and assisted suicide, in order to obtain the questionnaire in full the author of the survey invited people to contact him. An email was sent: Appendix (a) and a reply was received the next day: Appendix (b). Previous surveys regarding this subject were performed in the Netherlands, Oregon (USA) and Belgium majority support from the medical profession has been important in passing permissive legislation in these countries. The keywords used in this study were assisted dying; euthanasia; physician-assisted suicide; right to die and terminal care. The distribution of questionnaires meant that the methodology used was right as it was discreet and reached a lot of people in a short amount of time, the only danger with this method was that the medical professionals did not have to respond which was shown in the return response of 42.1% there was no financial or other incentive as this would go against all ethical considerations. Ethical approval for this study was granted by the South East Research Ethics Committee. The results showed that those who were specialists in palliative medicine were more opposed to euthanasia or PAS being legalised than the other specialities, although this could be down to the higher response rate in this area. Those that expressed their religious beliefs were more opposed to the legalisation also. The study showed that the most widely held view was that British doctors do not s upport legalising assisted dying in either euthanasia or PAS; this differs from the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey which has tracked changes in public opinion since 1984, and is the most consistent source of data (http://www.britsocat.com). The second paper reviewed is Survey of doctors opinions of the legalisation of physician assisted suicide by William Lee, Annabel Price, Lauren Rayner and Matthew Hotopf from the Institute of Psychiatry. Kings College, London. The protocol is similar to the first paper in that they were looking at practitioners opinions on euthanasia and PAS. The article begins by saying that there is wide support among the general public for assisted dying but not so much for those who care for the dying. The methodology was to send out a postal survey of a 1000 senior consultants and medical practitioners were selected randomly from the commercially available Informa Healthcare Medical Directory (2005/2006), retired doctors were excluded from the survey. Questionnaire were sent firstly in February 2007, 12 weeks later, in May, non-respondents were contacted and then six weeks later they were telephoned, it was discovered that that some of the possible contributors had moved, died or retired. This i nformation was adjusted to take this into account. The authors completed separate univariable (a single variable) and multivariable (containing more than one variable) predicting the outcomes using polytomous methods which would allow two outcomes to be predicted together. The response rate to the survey was 50% once the exclusions were accounted for, which is higher than the first paper and still gave a lot of date to work with. Included in the survey the authors included a brief outline of the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill (2006) 32% of the doctors who responded had read some of the Bill. Gender, speciality and years in post had no effect on opposition or support for a new law. An interesting point noted is that the views of doctors who do not care for the dying tally with the general publics view, so there is some correlation there with 66% of those who never cared for the dying supporting a change in the law. The outcome of interest for the authors was to what level practitioners agreed with the statement: The law should not be changed to allow assisted suicide. A second outcome of interest was the level of agreement with the statement I would be prepared to prescribe a fatal drug to a terminally ill patient who was suffering unbearably, were that course of action to become legal. (Hotopf, et. al. 2007:3). The findings of this questionnaire can be found in Appendix (c). Both of these questions were determined using five-point Likert-type scales, used commonly in questionnaires, following this were converted into three-point scales comprising of agree, neither agree nor disagree and disagree with a change in law. The survey shows that senior doctors are split abut their views regarding a change in the law; fewer are in favour than the general public in the United Kingdom. These findings have been noted in the US, as well as Canada, Finland and the Netherlands as well as the UK. Ethical permission was gained from the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London Research Ethics Committee. Comparisons and Conclusions There are many comparisons between the two papers, for example, both sent out questionnaires to their target group, who were specialists in certain fields. However, the first paper surveyed over double the amount of people the second paper did but got less replies. Both studies were done in the same year but it is difficult to tell who started theirs first as the date for first paper is unknown other than it was performed in 2007. The second survey is far more in depth that the first one, and it suggests that qualitative research is needed to understand doctors views better whereas the first paper did not state which the preferred method was. The second paper suggests that doctors who oppose a change in the law comes from an over-optimistic credence in their ability to relieve the suffering of the dying. (Hotopf, et.al. 2007). It is possible to argue against this though and the knowledge and experience of patients who are dying influences views about PAS. Both compare the attitudes b etween the general public and the specialist doctors and note a big difference between them. On the whole both papers conducted a thorough and precise survey but there is room for further research and investigation. References Hotopf, L, Lee, W, Price, A, and Rayner, L. (2009) Survey of Doctors Opinions of the Legalisation of Physician-Assisted Suicide, Bio-Med Central, [Online], Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6939-10-2.pdf [Accessed: 22nd April 2010]. NHS (2010) Euthanasia and assisted suicide [Online], London. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Definition.aspx [Accessed 22nd April 2010]. Seale, C. (2009) Legalisation of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide: Survey of Doctors Attitudes, Palliative Medicine, [Online], Available from: http://pmj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/23/3/205 [Accessed 22nd April 2010]. Papers used in Literature Search: Hotopf, L, Lee, W, Price, A, and Rayner, L. Survey of Doctors Opinions of the Legalisation of Physician-Assisted Suicide. Seale, C Legalisation of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide: survey of doctors attitudes. Appendix (a) Original Message From: Katy Marsland (08111890) [mailto:[emailprotected]] Sent: 26 April 2010 19:25 To: [emailprotected] Subject: A Questionnaire request. Dear Sir, I am at the University of Lincoln and am doing a literature review for my degree in Health and Social care involving your survey on the Legalisation of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide: Survey of Doctors Attitudes, and was wondering if it were possible for you to forward me a copy of the questions in order to aid my review? Many thanks in advance Katy Marsland Reply: Here is the questionnaire. Clive (b) END OF LIFE DECISIONS IN MEDICAL PRACTICE: CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRY PLEASE TICK THE BOXES TO INDICATE YOUR ANSWERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ General Background Questions Your age à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ under 35 years of age à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 36 to 45 years of age à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 46 to 55 years of age à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 56 to 65 years of age à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ over 65 years of age Your gender à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ male à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ female Your medical specialty à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ General practice à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Palliative medicine à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Neurology à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Elderly Care à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Other, please specify Grading of your post à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Consultant à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Specialist registrar à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Associate specialist / staff grade à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ SHO / HO / F1 / F2 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ GP principal à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ GP registrar Please indicate the number of deaths, on average, for which you would be the treating or attendant doctor in the normal course of your duties Answer only one of (a), (b) or (c). (Please give the most accurate estimate you can) (a)_______________per week (b)_______________per month (c)_______________per year Have you been the treating or attendant doctor in the case of a death in the last 12 months? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no Please go to question 30, on page 7 SPACE FOR COMMENTS ONCE YOU HAVE FINISHED THIS QUESTIONNAIRE Once you have completed this questionnaire, you can use this space to provide any clarifications to your answers or make other points PLEASE TRY TO RECALL AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE THE MOST RECENT DEATH WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS FOR WHICH YOU WERE ACTING AS THE TREATING OR ATTENDANT DOCTOR, AND ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS 1 TO 29 FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEATH It is, of course, impossible to do justice to all the finer nuances of decisions concerning the end of life in a short questionnaire. But please indicate those answers which approach the actual circumstances of this death as closely as possible. 1 Sex of the deceased à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ male à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ female 2 Age of the deceased (please estimate if unsure) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ under 1 year à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 1-9 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 10-19 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 20-29 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 30-39 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 40-49 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 50-59 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 60-69 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 70-79 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 80-89 years à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 90 years and over 3 Place of death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ hospital à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ hospice à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ care home à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ deceaseds own home à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other (please specify) 4 Cause of death *This does not mean the mode of dying, such as heart failure, asphyxia, asthenia, etc: it means the disease, injury, or complication which caused death 1a Disease or condition directly leading to death* 1b Other disease or condition, if any, leading to 1 (a) 1c Other disease or condition, if any, leading to 1 (b) 2 Other significant conditions contributing to the death but not related to the disease or condition causing it 5 With respect to this death, when was your first contact with the patient? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ before or at the time of death: go to Question 6 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ after death: go to question 30, on page 7 6 How long had you known this patient? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ more than six months à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ one to six months à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ one to four weeks à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ between one day and one week à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ less than 24 hours Medical actions 7a 7b 7c Concerning this death, did you or a colleague: withhold a treatment* (or ensure that this was done)? withdraw a treatment* (or ensure that this was done)? use any drug to alleviate pain and/or symptoms? (please tick as many answers as apply) * IN THIS STUDY TREATMENT INCLUDES CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR), ARTIFICIAL FEEDING AND/OR HYDRATION à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes (please specify treatments withheld) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes (please specify treatments withdrawn) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, morphine or another opioid à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, benzodiazepine à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, other drug 8a 8b In withholding a treatment, did you or your colleague consider it probable or certain that this action would hasten the end of the patients life? In withdrawing a treatment, did you or your colleague consider it probable or certain that this action would hasten the end of the patients life? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no treatment withheld à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no treatment withdrawn 9a 9b Concerning the drugs used to alleviate symptoms, (Questions 7c), were these administered knowing this would probably or certainly hasten the end of life? partly intending to end life? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no drugs used to alleviate symptoms à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no drugs used to alleviate symptoms 10a 10b In withholding a treatment, did you or your colleague have the explicit intention of hastening the end of life? In withdrawing a treatment, did you or your colleague have the explicit intention of hastening the end of life? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no treatment withheld à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no treatment withdrawn 11a 11b Was death caused by the use of a drug prescribed, supplied or administered by you or a colleague with the explicit intention of hastening the end of life (or of enabling the patient to end his or her own life?) If yes, who administered this drug (i.e. introduced it into the body)? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ you or another health care colleague à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ a relative à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ someone else NOTE: IF YOU ANSWERED NO TO ALL THE QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE, GO TO QUESTION 23 Decision making NOTE: QUESTIONS 12 TO 22 REFER THE LAST-MENTIONED ACT OR OMISSION, THAT IS, THE LAST YES THAT YOU TICKED ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE (QUESTIONS 7 TO 11) 12 Which were the most important reasons for the last-mentioned act or omission? (please tick all that apply_ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had pain à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had other symptoms à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of relatives à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ expected further suffering à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no chance of improvement à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ treatment would have been futile à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ further treatment would have increased suffering à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other (please specify below) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. 13 In your estimation, how much was the patients life shortened by the last mentioned act or omission? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ more than six months à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ one to six months à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ one to four weeks à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ between one day and one week à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ less than 24 hours à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ life was probably not shortened at all 14 Did you or a colleague discuss the last-mentioned act or omission with the patient? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, at the time of performing the act/omission or shortly before: go to Question 15 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, some time beforehand: go to Question 15 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no, no discussion: go to Question 19 15 At the time of this discussion, did you consider the patient had the capacity to assess his/her situation and make a decision about it? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no 16 Did this discussion include the (probable or certain) hastening of the end of the patients life by this last-mentioned act or omission? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no 17 Was the decision concerning the last mentioned act or omission made in response to an explicit request from the patient? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, upon an oral request à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, upon a written request à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, upon both an oral and a written request à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no: go to Question 21 18 At the time of this request, did you consider the patient had the capacity to assess his/her situation and make a decision about it? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes: go to Question 21 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no: go to Question 21 ONLY ANSWER QUESTIONS 19 and 20 IF YOUR ANSWER TO QUESTION 14 WAS NO, NO DISCUSSION 19 Did you consider the patient had the capacity to assess his/her situation and make a decision about it? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no 20 Why was the last mentioned act or omission not discussed with the patient? (Please fill in as many answers as apply) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient was too young à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ the last mentioned act or omission was clearly the best one for the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ discussion would have done more harm than good à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient was unconscious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had significant cognitive impairment à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient was suffering from a psychiatric disorder à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other, please elaborate at the end of the questionnaire 21 Did you or a colleague discuss with anybody else the (possible) hastening of the end of the patients life before it was decided to take the last mentioned act or omission? (Please fill in as many answers as apply) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ with one or more medical colleagues à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ nursing staff /other caregivers à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ by partner/relatives of the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ someone else à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ nobody 22 Which were the most important reasons for the last-mentioned act or omission? (please tick all that apply) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had pain à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had other symptoms à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of relatives à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ expected further suffering à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no chance of improvement à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ further treatment would have been futile à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ further treatment would have increased suffering à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other (please specify below à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ NOTE: QUESTIONS FROM HERE ONWARDS SHOULD BE ANSWERED WHETHER OR NOT YOU ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS MENTIONED ON PAGE 3 (QUESTIONS 7 TO 11) 23 Was an explicit request to hasten the end of the patients life made by any of the following? (Please tick all that apply) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ partners/relatives of the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ nursing or other care staff à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ someone else à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no explicit request 24 As far as you know, did the patient ever express a wish for the end of his/her life to be hastened? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, clearly: go to Question 25 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, but not very clearly: go to Question 25 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no: go to Question 26 25 Did the patients wish for this outcome reduce or disappear over time? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, in response to care provided à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes, other reason 26 The treatment during the last week was mainly aimed at: à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ recovery à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ prolonging life à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ support during the dying process 27 Which caregivers were involved in the care for the patient during the last month before death (beside yourself and as far as you know)? (please tick all that apply) Of those not involved, which ones might have helped? Involved Not involved and might have helped general practitioner à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ specialist in pain relief à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ palliative care team à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ psychiatrist / psychologist à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ nursing staff à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ social care worker à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ spiritual caregiver à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ volunteer à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ family member à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ 28a 28b 28c 28d Was the patient continuously and deeply sedated or kept in a coma before death? Which medication was given for sedation? (please tick as many answers as apply) At what time before death was continuous sedation of the patient started? Which were the most important reasons for this sedation? (please tick all that apply) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no: go to Question 29a à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ midazolam à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other benzodiazepine à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ morphine or another opioid à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other type of medication à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. hours before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. days before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. weeks before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had intractable pain à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had intractable psychological distress à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ patient had other intractable symptoms à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of the patient à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ request or wish of relatives à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ other (please specify below à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 29a 29b 29c Did the patient receive morphine or another opioid during the last 24 hours before death? How much time before death was the administration of morphine or another opioid started? Which figure best illustrates the dosage of morphine or another opioid during the last 3 days before the patients death? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ yes à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ no go to Question 30 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. hours before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. days before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. weeks before death à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ No increase à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Gradual increase à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Strong increase last day Attitudes and beliefs Questions 30 and 31 are about voluntary euthanasia (that is, when someone ends the life of another person at their request), worded in the same way as those used in surveys of general public opinion. 30 30a 30b First, a person with an incurable and painful illness, from which they will die for example, someone dying of cancer. Do you think that, if they ask for it, a doctor should ever be allowed by law to end their life, or not? And do you think that, if this person asks for it, a doctor should ever be allowed by law to give them lethal medication that will allow the person to take their own life? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should not be allowed 31 31a 31b Now, how about a person with an incurable and painful illness, from which they will not die. Do you think that, if they ask for it, a doctor should ever be allowed by law to end their life, or not? And do you think that, if this person asks for it, a doctor should ever be allowed by law to give them lethal medication that will allow the person to take their own life? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Probably should not be allowed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Definitely should not be allowed 32 Religion: what is your religion? à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ None à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Christian (including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Buddhist à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Hindu à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Jewish à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Muslim à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Sikh Any other religion, please write in 33 Religion: would you describe yourself as: à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ extremely religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ very religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ somewhat religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ neither religious nor non-religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ somewhat non-religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ very non religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ extremely non religious à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ cant choose 34 What is your ethnic group? Choose ONE section from A to E, then tick the appropriate box to indicate your ethnic group A White à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ any White background B Mixed à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ White and Black Caribbean à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ White and Black African à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ White and Asian à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Any Other Mixed background, please write in C Asian or Asian British à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Indian à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Pakistani à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Bangladeshi à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Any Other Asian background, please write in D Black or Black British à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Caribbean à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ African à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Any Other Black background, please write in E Chinese or other ethnic group à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Chinese à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ Any Other, please write in To clarify any answers or to make further comments, please use the space on page 1. Thank you for your help with this important survey. Now that you have finished the questionnaire, to ensure the anonymity of your answers you will need to do two things. Place the completed questionnaire in the reply-paid envelope, seal it and post it as soon as possible Post the reply-paid response notification card with your name on it if you wish to avoid receiving follow-up reminders. These two items will be received by different people in different locations and kept separate. It will not be possible to link your questionnaire with your name. This questionnaire has been sent to a random sample of 10,000 doctors. It will not be possible for the researchers or anyone else to use your replies to discover your identity or the identity of the patient on whose care you have reported. We understand that recalling events of this nature can be a distressing experience. If you wish to talk to someone about your feelings concerning end-of-life care, the Confidential Counselling Helpline of the British Medical Association can assist you. Their number is: 0645 200 169 (c) Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in the United Kingdom A Research Proposal Part B By Katy Marsland 08111890 University of Lincoln Hand in Date: 4th May 2010 (1,352 Words) Julie Burton NUR2002M-0910 research Methods 2009/2010 Table of Contents: Page Title 26 Research Questions 27 Aims of Project 28 Initial Literature Review 29-30 Methodology 31 Ethical Considerations and Practical Constraints 32 Timetable for Dissertation Research 33-34 References 35 A Research Proposal 1. Title: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in the United Kingdom. 2. Research Questions Should Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide be made legal? What are the arguments for and against policy change in the United Kingdom? Which section of society is most supportive of a change in the law? Which section is most opposed and why? 3. Aims of Project This research aims to investigate, using secondary data, whether a change in the law is needed to clarify the position of euthanasia and assisted suicide in the United Kingdom, and whether this should be made legal just for those who are terminally ill or for