Bananafish Essays - Glass Family, J. D. Salinger, Materialism

Bananafish Just why did Seymour kill himself Picture walking into a hotel room and finding a man dead on a bed. Upon closer inspection it becomes obvious that he has supposedly taken his own life with the gun that lay beside him. In talking to his wife who was asleep on the bed next to him when this incident occurred, it is learned that he just walked in the door and shot himself late the previous night. Out of the many questions that could be asked from this story, I believe that it is probably extremely important to consider why the main character, Seymour Glass, decided to commit suicide. What I believe to be the reason for Seymour's suicide has two basic components: the spiritual depravity of the world around him, and his struggle with his own spiritual shortcomings. The spiritual problem of the outside world is mostly a matter of material greed, especially in the west, and materialism. On the other hand, his own spiritual problem is more a matter of intellectual greed and true spiritualism. In addressing the suicide, the difference should be distinguished between the "See More Glass" that we see through little Sybil's eyes, and the Seymour Glass that we see through the eyes of the adult world. Even though these two characters are in theory the same man, they are slightly different in some ways. You could also say that they are the same character in different stages of development. Whatever the case may be, the "reasons" for the suicide shift slightly in emphasis as the character changes. "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" attempts to symbolize that the bananas in See More Glass's story represent all of the things which are taken in along the journey to adulthood. If pursued with too much zeal, these bananas can prevent spiritual development and lead to a greater materialistic development. See-More has realized that he cannot get rid of enough bananas to make any further spiritual progress in this life, so, rather than waste time, he commits suicide. This is slightly obvious when he is taking the elevator back up to his room on the night of the suicide. His fixation upon his feet, which do not resemble the childlike feet that he desires to have, and the woman in the elevator's scorn towards Seymour's accusing her of staring at his feet, drive him to dislike the adult world even more. He is the bananafish who cannot escape the hole and achieve the spiritualism and childlike characteristics that he so desires. In his opinion, he believes that this suicide will give him the chance that he wants and needs: to start all over again. The anti-materialism of the story must also has to be considered in talking about the suicide. Salinger, perhaps still a little reluctant in 1948 to abandon his own anti-materialism that appears to me to be an early preoccupation of his, in favor of simple materialism and anti-spiritualism, leaves much of the former scattered throughout the story. Seymour's wife, Muriel's name both looks and sounds like the word"material". This could possibly symbolize that she, like her mother, is shallow, fashion-conscious, and unwilling to learn German in order to read delicate, world-weary poets like Rilke. Destroying Seymour even more is Sybil's reference to the greedy tigers in "Little Black Sambo" and her connection to Eliot's "Wasteland". This suggests that even this youthful girl has begun to develop a problem with material fixation and spiritual neglect. These strains of anti-materialism in the story complicate the suicide because they suggest that Seymour is opting out of a world that is too materially inclined for him, instead of one in which he himself is responsible for his own unhappiness and spiritual depravity. Both sets of circumstances, Seymour's own intellectual greed along with the general material greed by which he is sure, truly contribute to his suicide. The reasons for Seymour's suicide are thus proven to be muddled in "Bananafish," with several different factors coming into play. The interpretation of Seymour obtained from the story is that he is troubled by his own spiritual shortcomings (the result of too much intellectual treasure) as much as by the shortcomings of the people and the world around him. These factors ultimately lead to his suicide.

Last Chance to Join the Freelance Writing Course

Last Chance to Join the Freelance Writing Course Last Chance to Join the Freelance Writing Course Last Chance to Join the Freelance Writing Course By Ali Hale This is your very last chance to join the freelance writing course. We’re going to be closing the doors at midnight (GMT) today, Friday 6th May. We’ve already got an amazing group of students signed up (over 200!), but there’s still room for you to join us too. Heres what one student said about it: What you supplied has far exceeded my expectations both in content and value for money. I congratulate you on a job well done. (Margaret Huggins, Australia) If you’d like to make a full-time living – or a great part-time income – from freelance writing online, then come on board. You’ll get in-depth lessons on everything you need to know, plus an exclusive forum where you can get all your questions answered. We’ve even got a 60-day money back guarantee: you can take the whole course and, if you decide it wasn’t right for you, just let us know and we’ll give you a no-hassle refund. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive lessons each week for the duration of the course – and you’ll get lifetime access to all the materials, so you can revisit them whenever you need to. Click here to read all the details and join us!. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Does [sic] Mean?40 Synonyms for â€Å"Lie†Conversational Email

Hotel Concept Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hotel Concept - Essay Example A brand represents the core of the customers awareness of the hotel, its services and products. Keller (1997) explained that the positive or negative perceptions that are created and persuade a customer to avail or not to avail services at a certain hotel stand for the brand equity. A customers excellent experience with a certain hotel brand creates a strong representation of that hotel brand, whereas an awful experience wears away that strong brand. A prospective customer does not require first-hand experience with a certain hotel brand to create an impression of that hotel brand. Brand equity makes use of the media or other marketing techniques to strengthen mass exposure of their hotel brands. This means that people are aware of which among the hotels are classified excellent and poor even if they haven’t experienced being guests in those hotels. So, a strong need for hotel management is formed into creating the best and strong brand of hotel for business longevity as well as increase in profit. Creating strong hotel brands is believed to be one of the key factors in considering the success of the business. Hotel managers therefore need to study what composes brand equity in the hotel industry and exhibit a technique for how do they effectively measure hotel brands offering a decision-making tool for them in order to take full advantage of the value of their brands. The main rationale for building brand equity as the keystone for the success of the business is that it aids counterbalance competition by distinguishing their product, permitting hotel owners of a premium charge, and promoting customer loyalty. Aaker (1991) argued that defining precisely what composes a brand, nonetheless, is not as easy a job as stating what a brand should bring about. At some point, the concept of a brand is that a brand comprises a name, a symbol, a logo, and a trademark. However, pointing out brand

Communication theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communication theory - Research Paper Example Communication Theory Application 1. Introduction: The purpose of this analytical paper is to evaluate the chosen mass communication theory i.e. Uses and gratification theory (UGT) (Zhao, 2008). In order to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the theory, collection of internet mediums of social interaction (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Social Forums) and campaigns which are aired on television, print ads and magazines have been evaluated (Baran & Davis, 2011). The chosen situation which have been underlying to the evaluation of UGT is need of a divergent medium where communication and quick. Since Internet has taken its toll in terms of frequency and reach thus, people have become more attracted towards social medium for their social interactions (Larson, 2009). 2. Understanding Uses and Gratification Theory: Unlike other theories which determine the effects of media on the society, Uses and Gratification theory (UGT) is concerned with the way people make use of the media in order to meet their desires (needs) (Salwen, 2009). The commonality among the other mass communication theories and UGT is that it is associated with the psychological context of society (Fourie, 2001). In simpler words, UGT is based on the evaluation of the needs that people fulfill through the aid of media (Asimow & Mader, 2004). Furthermore, there are a number of subsidies which are categorized in order to explain different behaviors of users. These include diversion, simulation, Self-indulgence etc. Katz’s model of user and gratification theory has enabled the magic bullet theory to extend in terms of its theoretical reasoning. It will not be incorrect to state that the UGT is basically an extension of the research immersed within the concept of magic bullet. 3. Application of Uses and Gratification Theory: A number of scholars and media investigators have made use of the UGT in order to find out the purpose of audiences and media users (Reddick, 2010). These purposes may range fr om the need of gratification to the negative use of the internet. Scholars like Ruggiero have made use of the UGT in order to find out the grasp of computer based mediums for communication (Thorson, 2007). It should also be noted that the usage of the UGT has been done in order to find out spread of all mediums. At one point, traditional mediums of communication such as print and electronic broadcast were also influenced by the UGT. Contemporarily, these traditional mediums are on their verge of reach throughout the world and their development is on its highest peak which means that the UGT application to mediums is evident. On the other hand, most of the scholars have also pointed out that the UGT approach has been successful in finding out the relation between the individuals and media. As per the evaluation of different social mediums by applying the approach of UGT, it becomes clear that these serve the purpose of diversion, simulation etc. for the audience. The fact remains tha t with the aid of internet as a medium, bloggers have now become journalists. Also, readers claim that the bloggers are able to provide an insight of any issue. It is because of this reason that the readers are more attracted towards the blogging or social media journalism. This has created a great deal of issue

Conduct a SWOT Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conduct a SWOT Analysis - Assignment Example The company has already positioned itself in the market as the best producer of personal computers. It has absolute control over the manufacturing of its products and its operating system. Apple Company is self-reliant and manages its own computer components internally. In addition, the company works under high quality standards in order to meet the demands of the customers (Barney, 1991). Together with that, it is devoted to research and development for developing new products, which makes its products more effective and practicable to use. Based on the company’s dedication to quality, most of the Apples products are simple to use, and has managed to maintain loyal customers who buy the products based on the quality and not the price. The company prides itself from the various brands in the computer business, which yields a good net income. From the financial reports, it is apparent that it leads with the highest stock price in the market. Apple Company rarely suffers from financial deficits, since most of its finances come from its equity. Most investors desire to invest in Apple Company based on its transparency, accountability and does not operate on amounts outstanding. The customer service is vast and highly esteemed by customers. It is the vision of Apple Company to maintain its status quo as long as it remains competent in the market (Barney, 1991). Emerging technology in terms of goods produced, especially, the electronic goods are a factor that challenges Apple Company since it has to ascertain that the goods and services offered are consistent with the technology. For example, Apple Company encountered many difficulties after producing the iPod. The gadget had numerous glitches and technological faults. Fortunately, Apple Company managed to deal with these faults. The organization faces stiff competition from other companies producing similar products, and

Analysis of Docker Technology

Analysis of Docker Technology What is the technology? Docker is a software containerization platform. What does it do and how does it improve upon previous technologies? Docker allows users to run multiple different software packages, including multiple instances of the same piece of software within an isolated virtual container. The behaviour and features are similar to that of running a virtualized operating system, such as allowing isolation from the host machines operating system, the ability to run multiple instances of the same software package simultaneously and the storage of applications in a format that can be transferred between physical machines. Traditional virtualization hypervisors such Hyper-V, ESXi and Xen all rely on each virtualized instance to have their own complete operating system, drivers, libraries and software packages to be installed and running. Docker moves away from this method and instead provides an abstraction layer between the host operating systems kernel and the containerization application. The containerized applications are configured to share the same operating system and libraries. This removes the overhead of running multiple instances of these items reducing system resource utilization. In addition to the performance benefits, Docker maintains the security features provided by virtualization hypervisors. Docker containers are configured to use virtualized network interfaces allowing segregation, VLAN tagging and inter-container networking amongst other features. The Docker container files are self-contained allowing them to be transferred freely between different physical hardware without the need for reconfiguration. This has also led to multiple repositories of Docker containers to be created, allowing the public to upload and share pre-configured open-source software packages. How might it transform computers and devices using it? Tell us some scenarios. By converting from using a traditional virtualized operating based configuration, end users can increase the utilization by running more software on less physical hardware. This in turn will reduce hardware, energy and other related costs and improve efficiency when deploying new software instances. Web hosting services could increase the amount of services existing hardware could provide and increase efficiency when deploying new services. For example, each WordPress installation could be configured in individual containers while accessing a shared SQL database, rather than each installation requiring a full virtualized operating system to be deployed per instance. Software developers can also take advantage of Docker to assist with their development and deployment cycles. Software can be configured and optimized on developers local machines or development servers and be easily transferred to quality assurance teams and finally to production environments. Why is it interesting and important? Docker is an important step forward from traditional virtualization technology. The software has been developed under the open-source Apache License 2.0 allowing anyone to take part in development and to also freely use and modify any components for their own project both personal and commercial providing they follow the licensing requirements in their scenario. By consolidating existing infrastructure energy emissions will be reduced, reducing the carbon footprint of users. Other consumables used in certain operations can also be reduced, such as water in server farm cooling configurations and physical space used allowing more compact configurations. Management and maintenance of software packages can also be improved. If issues are found with particular software version updates, providing the previous container is kept the singular application can be rolled back rather than the entire operating system. What is the device? Ring an IoT connected doorbell What does it do? How would you use it? Tell us some scenarios. Ring is a doorbell with an integrated camera, microphone, speaker, motion sensor and is internet connected via WiFi. By connecting the doorbell to the internet it is able to alert the user via a smartphone app when the doorbell is rung or the motion sensor is triggered. The user can then check the video feed from the door, to determine who is at the door. In response, the user can then choose to activate the speaker function to speak with the person at the door using the smart device, similar to that of a traditional intercom system. The device also saves its video recordings to a cloud service allowing the footage to be viewed anywhere using a compatible smart device. The device can be used in a number of ways. If the user is expecting a parcel and is not at the address at the time of the delivery, they will be alerted on their smart device when the doorbell is rung. Once the user is alerted via their smart device, they can then activate the video feed to confirm who is at the door and then use the speaker to advise the courier to leave the parcel in a safe location. Home security can also be improved by using the device. The video recording functionality will be triggered with any motion near the front door, even if the doorbell is not rung. This footage will then be stored off-site via a cloud storage service. In the unfortunate event of a break in, the intruder will be unable to destroy the footage, which can then be used to assist authorities in subsequent investigations. In addition, some insurance providers may offer reduced insurance premiums when such devices are installed. Briefly outline the devices interesting software/hardware/networking. In what way does computer technology transform or realise the device? Ring is provided with a mobile application that allows the doorbell to be paired with the users iOS or Android based mobile device. The doorbell has an integrated WiFi adapter which is used to connected to the users home WiFi network to provide internet access to the device. This allows the doorbell to provide notifications to the smart device application regardless of if the user is at home on the same network or are located elsewhere, provided they have access to an internet connection. The doorbells integrated motion sensor and camera add further functionality previously not possible. The camera used has been selected for its low-light performance, in combination with infra-red LEDs to provide illumination to the recorded footage without any light being visible to the human eye. This enhances its ability to be an inconspicuous security device. Recorded footage is saved off-site using a cloud storage service. This is used by the mobile application to provide the user with the ability to watch footage while away from their local network and to provide an archive solution without requiring a large amount of local storage. Why is the device an interesting or important example of embodiment? As defined by Professor Tony Hey in his book The Computing Universe: A Journey through a Revolution Butler Lampsons third age of computing is about using computers for embodiment that is, using computers to interact with people in new and intelligent ways This is shown through the Ring doorbell, in the way it allows the user to connect with the outside world in a new way. It provides the user the ability The ring doorbell provides a new way for users to connect with the outside world. It removes the need for a person to be home to accept parcels, it tracks motion which can provide the user with a greater sense of security at home all through the adoption of technology. Week 2 What are the devices? Device 1: Smartwatch Device 2: PC Characterise the computing requirements of the two devices? Device 1: CPU A smartwatch requires a CPU(Central Processing Unit) to process all machine instructions provided by applications and the operating system. Most smartwatches use an ARM architecture CPU. Bluetooth Bluetooth is a networking protocol used for the smartwatch to communicate with the host device (usually a smartphone). NFC NFC (Near Field Communication) is a networking protocol used for communicating with external devices. This is commonly used in contactless payment systems GPS GPS (Global Positioning System) is geolocation system used to provide location data to the device. This is commonly used for maps and navigation systems Battery A custom made lithium-ion battery. Used to provide power to all the components in the device. To recharge the battery either a port is provided to connect the watch to a power source or wireless charging is implemented to provide from a wireless power source Display A display is used to provide visual interface for providing information to the user. Touch interface A touch interface (Also known as a digitizer) is used to allow the user to interact with the smartwatch by touching on the display. Touch screens are commonly used due to the limited space on a smartwatch for other methods of interfacing with the device, such as buttons. RAM RAM (Random Access Memory) is required for the CPU to store data while is processing instructions. RAM is volatile memory and is not used for persistent data storage. Persistent Storage Persistent storage is required to store the operating system, applications and user data. This is commonly a form of NAND flash memory due, as it offers compact storage with no moving parts which could be damaged in a device that is moved during operation. Speaker Speakers are used to provide aural feedback to the user. Microphone A Microphone is used to receive aural data from the users, for example a phone call will require the Sensors There are numerous sensors located on a smartwatch that each monitor a different function.Most smartwatches have an Accelerometer to monitor acceleration, a Barometer to measure atmospheric pressure, a Gyroscope to measure the angle of the device, a Heart Rate monitor to measure pulse and an ambient light sensor to determine the backlight of the screen. GPU The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is used to accelerate the creation of visual elements. This is commonly integrated as part of the CPU in smartwatches due to size constraints. WiFi WiF is a networking protocol used to transmit data in a local network. This is used in a smartwatch to provide network connectivity when the host device (e.g. smartphone) is not available. Device 2: CPU A PC requires a CPU(Central Processing Unit) to process all machine instructions provided by applications and the operating system. Most PCs use an x86 architecture CPU. RAM RAM (Random Access Memory) is required for the CPU to store data while is processing instructions. RAM is volatile memory and is not used for persistent data storage. Persistent Storage Persistent storage is required to store the operating system, applications and user data. This can be a mechanical hard disk drive, utilizing magnetic platters to store data or a solid state disk which uses NAND flash memory to store data. Network Adapter A network adapter is required to connect the PC to a local network. This can be achieved through a range of interfaces including a wired ethernet connection or a wireless WiFi connection. Some systems will have both options available. GPU The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is used to accelerate the creation of visual elements. This can either be integrated into the CPU or can be provided through a discrete graphics adapter, for enhanced performance. USB Ports Power supply A power supply is required to convert mains AC power into DC power required to power the individual PC components. Some PCs (such as laptop computers) may utilize a battery to provide an additional power source Video Ports Audio Ports C. Device 1 Device 2 CPU Physically bigger, more Powerful Can run hotter, active cooling x86 based Physically smaller, slower Must run cooler, no active Cooling Arm based STORAGE Space for multiple drives Mix of mechanical and solid state drives Raid capabilities Solid state storage Physical constraints Less storage NETWORK ADAPTORS Can use wireless or wired connections Must be wireless Wifi Nfc 2. Moores Law Why might Moores Law come to an end soon? Explain based on current technologies. Moores Law was originally conceived in 1965 when Intel co-founder Gordon Moore posted an article about microprocessors. In the article Moore observed that the number of transistors in integrated circuits doubles roughly every 12 months. After 10 years once more data had become available Moore updated his theory from 12 months to 24 months. Intels latest processors are built using a 14 nanometer manufacturing process, however production of Intels next generations of processors with 10 nanometer transistors has already been pushed back by a year. Intel have stated that this was not a one-off occurrence and that they are not able to continue to keep up with the rate they used to. This shows that Moores law is now coming to an end too. One main reason that Moores law slowing down and potentially coming to an end is that its not possible to continue to keep shrinking transistors, while maintaining a functional device at the rate that is required to continue improving at the rate theorized. As MOSFET transistors follows the principles of quantum mechanics, as the transistors shrinks it makes it harder to determine if it is in the 0 or 1 state. The electrons inside the transistor can travel through devices with little resistance, therefore as the transistors get smaller, the resistance also gets lower which eventually lead to quantum mechanical phenomenon described as tunnelling rendering MOSFET based transistors non-functional. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601102/intel-puts-the-brakes-on-moores-law/ http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/the-tunneling-transistor Discuss a new or future technology which might overcome these technological limitations. Instead of trying to find ways to prevent quantum tunneling in transistors, researchers are investigating a new transistor design called TFET or Tunneling Field Effect Transistors. This style of transistor is designed to manipulate when quantum tunneling occurs in a controlled manner. This allows for transistors to be produced at an even smaller scale than MOSFETS can be without quantum tunnelling becoming a negative side-effect. Another advantage of this technology is that has the potential to be implemented in place of MOSFETs without the need for technology that implements them to be completely redesigned due to the similarities between TFET and MOSFET transistors. http://berc.berkeley.edu/tunneling-field-effect-transistors-beyond-moores-law/ https://engineering.nd.edu/news-publications/pressreleases/more-energy-efficient-transistors-through-quantum-tunneling What might be the ramifications if Moores Law comes to an end or slows down? If Moores Law comes to an end or slows down, the rate at which processor performance improves will decrease. This would reduce the rate at which new technologies are developed and would slow innovation in field relying on technology. 3. Non Von Neumann Processors Investigate a non von Neuman processor such as a graphics processor, FPGA or signal processor. How and why is it different from a general purpose CPU such as you might find a phone or PC? An FPGA or Field-programmable gate array is a type of integrated circuit that can be digitally re-programmed after it has been manufactured, unlike for example, the logic within a microcontroller which is hardwired during manufacturing. This It allows the user to program custom digital circuits using hardware description language to suit their requirements. FGPAs are sold without any pre-programmed instructions and are instead sold based on the physical features of the FGPA such as how many logic gates or how much memory it has, making it a very flexible device. As FPGAs can be reprogrammed without any need to change the physical hardware, this lends them to being used heavily in development and prototyping environments. Developers can create and update the logic throughout the development process without the need to purchase new hardware each time a change needs to be made. This is different to hardware such as a x86 CPU which cannot be reprogrammed and only supports the provided instruction sets. http://download.springer.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/static/pdf/116/bok%253A978-1-4302-6248-0.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Fbook%2F10.1007%2F978-1-4302-6248-0token2=exp=1490752308~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F116%2Fbok%25253A978-1-4302-6248-0.pdf%3ForiginUrl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Flink.springer.com%252Fbook%252F10.1007%252F978-1-4302-6248-0*~hmac=b61cb59b461de816fe408c9ab730e0d9cd6ab12d55885171f66b3c880d9aafaa 3-5 Week 3 OS 1 IBMs z/OS IBM z/OS is a operating system designed to be run solely on IBM mainframe computers. Mainframe computers are large, high-end computers designed specifically for processing large amounts of data, often used by large organizations. IBM describe the key features of the z/OS operating system as its stability, security and high availability (IBM, 2014, para. 1). OS 2 Embedded Linux Embedded Linux is a term used to cover the Linux operating system being used on embedded computer systems. These embedded systems are generally very low-end computers, designed to run a very specific and minimal set of software that are then embedded inside another product, for example they can be found in some models of washing machine to offer further functionality. Linux is described as being flexible and open (Siever et al., 2003, p.1-3) which offers developers to ability to customize it to their exact needs and requirements. Comparison and contrasting Both of these operation systems are designed to run very specific types of workloads. The z/OS mainframe operating system is designed to process and analyse large data sets to provide in-depth insight on the data (IBM, 2015). The operating system is designed to handle very high performance workloads and to run as quick and efficiently as possible. Embedded Linux operating systems are designed to run a very specific workload such a smart TVs interface with as minimal overheads as possible due to the hardware restrictions of the low-power systems that are used in most Embedded Linux implementations (Simmonds, 2015, p.1-12). Both systems are designed to run specific processes, however the z/OS operating system is designed to run processes on high-end hardware on a large scale, whereas the Embedded Linux operating system is most commonly used on low performance hardware on a small scale. Open Source Software Security/Flexibility Open source software gives users the option to modify and adapt software to their needs. As the entire source code is publicly available and the software can be adapted, used within another software package or re-released as a different product, depending on the license type the original developer released the software under (Open Source Initiative, 2016). This also provides security to users, as they can audit the code themselves for security issues and if required patch the source code directly, rather than relying on a third party to find and resolve any potential issues. Cost Licenses for closed source commercial operating systems can range from a few hundred dollars up to thousands of dollars per installation (Microsoft, 2016). This can become very expensive for businesses that rely on a large amount of physical and virtualized operating systems. Open source software has no licensing costs associated with it, which can significantly reduce licensing costs, depending on the use case. This is also applicable to embedded platforms, which are generally designed to have a low cost per unit. Open source software can remove software and operating system licensing costs, helping to maintain a low cost per unit. Operating System Arch Linux a lightweight and flexible LinuxÂÂ ® distribution (Arch Linux, 2017) How are new features developed? New features developed in two main ways. The first of which is by the individual package developers, for example new features to the Netcat package will be developed by the Netcat developer community. Arch Linux package maintainers are then responsible for packaging new releases for the Arch Linux operating system and adding them to the Arch Linux package repository. The second way features are developed are by the Arch Linux developer team (Arch Linux, 2017). The features they develop range from developing and implementing software developed specifically for the operating system, to configuration and modification of third party packages and managing what packages are included and how they are used in the base operating system installation. How do new features make their way into a release? Arch Linux doesnt follow a traditional fixed release cycle, rather it employs a rolling release model (Arch Wiki, 2017) which allows individual components to be updated as soon as they are deemed ready. Packages are updated as soon as the maintainer has deemed the package stable and ready for release, after which it is upload and added to the repository. This model aims to remove the stagnation between fixed releases and instead aims to keep all at their latest releases. References: Arch Linux. (2017). A simple, lightweight distribution. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.archlinux.org/ Arch Linux. (2017). Arch Linux Developers. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.archlinux.org/people/developers/ Arch Wiki. (2017). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Frequently_asked_questions IBM. (2014). Mainframe operating system: z/OS. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/zosbasics/com.ibm.zos.zmainframe/zconc_opsyszosintro.htm IBM. (2015). IBM z/OS Fueling the digital enterprise. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=cainfotype=ansupplier=897letternum=ENUS215-267 Microsoft. (2016). Pricing and licensing for Windows Server 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/cloud-platform/windows-server-pricing Open Source Initiative. (2016). Licenses and Standards. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://opensource.org/licenses Siever, E., Weber, A., Figgins, S. (2003). Linux in a nutshell (4th ed.) Sebastopol, CA: OReilly. Simmonds, C. (2015). Mastering embedded linux programming (1st ed.). GB: Packt Publishing. Week 4 Network 1 WiFi WiFi (also known as Wireless LAN or WLAN) is a network technology designed as a replacement to LAN cabling and is developed around the IEEE 802.11 specification. The IEEE 802.11 specification is the standard dictating the use of the 802.11 radio frequency that WiFi uses to transmit data wirelessly (Tjensvold, 2007). Within the 802.11 specification there are a range of protocols that have been developed, with the current standard being the 802.11ac revision. This specification has support for speeds over 1Gb/s, depending on the antenna configuration in use. The range of a WiFi signal is generally quite short at approximately 20-25 metres depending on obstructions. This makes it good for use in home and business environments where access points can be installed where WiFi signal is required, but makes it a poor choice for larger area networks, such as mobile phone data. WiFi power usage is split between the access point and the client receiving the data. The access point uses significa ntly more power to broadcast the signal than the client device needs to receive it (Zeng, 2014). The latency provided by modern WiFi specifications, such as the 802.11ac revision offers low latency communication between clients and access points. The exact latency the client will note, will be dependant on the band being used (either 2.4GHz or 5Ghz in the case of 802.11ac), obstructions and the amount of antenna in use on the access point. Security of WiFi networks is dependant on how they are configured. A basic home configuration using outdated security technologies such as WEP or WPA1 to authenticate users is at risk of unauthorized users gaining access to the network. WPA2 authentication offers a stronger level of security by implementing the AES-CCMP algorithm. WiFi networks can also be vulnerable to MITM (Man in the middle) attacks, where a potential attacker can attempt to spoof the WiFi network, which clients may unsuspectingly connect to which will then allow the attacker to see any traffic of the connected clients. The effectiveness of this type of attack can be counte racted by ensuring traffic is being transmitted over secure protocols such as HTTPS and SSH, which will render the intercepted data unreadable (Joshi, 2009). Network 2 Bluetooth 4 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Bluetooth 4 is a short range network technology developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Bluetooth 4 covers a range of specifications including Bluetooth low energy, Bluetooth High speed and Classic bluetooth. Bluetooth is used for short range personal area (PAN) and ad-hoc networks, primarily in portable devices such as smart phones. Bluetooth devices are classified into 3 classes, depending on the transmission power of the device and the intended usable range. Class 1 devices have 100 mW transmission power and are designed to be used at ranges of up to 100 meters, class 2 devices have 2.5 mW transmission power and are designed for use at up to 10 meters and class 3 devices have 1 mW of transmit power and are only usable at ranges of under 10 meters. Class 1 and 2 are the most commonly used types, with class 1 devices generally being used in desktops, laptops and other devices with a large battery or mains connected power supply. Class 2 devices are generally used in porta ble devices such as smart phones, IoT connected devices and wireless headsets. Class 2 still allows for a usable range while keeping power usage to a minimum (Wright, 2007). The Bluetooth specification has 4 different security modes in which devices can operate. The security mode in which the device will operate will be selected based on the Bluetooth standard in use on both devices. Bluetooth 2.1 and later devices have a mandatory requirement to use security mode 4, proving both devices support it. Service mode 4 forces encryption for all services, providing security for all communications except for service discovery (Padgette, 2012). Compare and contrast fibre optic and wireless technologies within the context of a National Broadband Network (NBN) for Australia. Fibre Optic (FTTP) The National Broadband Network (NBN) provides a range of connection types with fibre optic technology being utilised in multiple service types including fibre to the premises (FTTP), fibre to the node (FTTN) and fibre to the distribution point (FTTdp) (NBN, 2017). Fibre optic connections use a optical fibre cable that uses light to transmit data. This type of cable transmits data faster, further and with a lower latency than the traditional copper cable which transmits data by electrical impulses. As this technology relies on a physical connection to the premises it is not practical to utilize this technology for remote locations, however for areas with higher population densities supplying broadband via FTTP is more practical as the cost per premises is decreased and reduces load on wireless services. Fibre optic cable is not affected by signal degradation as significantly as copper cabling and is therefore able transmit data across long distances more effectively . As the cable transmits data by light pulses the cable is resistant to any noise and ground vibrations interrupting or degrading the signal. Fibre optic cable is also able to supply much higher bandwidth connections (Malaney, 2010), with NBN already offering 1Gbps products to service providers, although this product is not currently being on-sold to consumers due to factors including demand and pricing accordin

The Search for Large Extra Dimensions using Dijet Production from pp Collisions at 1.8 TeV :: Physics Papers

The Search for Large Extra Dimensions using Dijet Production from pp Collisions at 1.8 TeV Abstract The search for extra dimensions has been a topic of great interest and has been investigated with a variety of methods and techniques of analysis.[1,2,3,4] The existence of Large Extra Dimensions (LED) can be determined given that (at ~ Mew or greater) gravity and its mediator, the graviton (spin 2), can access these extra dimensional manifolds. Atwood has developed a model using hadron colliders and the cross-sections for a 2 T 2 hadronic dijet process.[2] We propose to use this model and to make a best fit as well as to establish bounds using Ms, the Planck energy scale for when quantum gravity causes a noticeable change from the SM, and n, the number of compacted extra dimensions. Introduction Popular string theories predict a 10 + 1 dimension space-time with the extra dimensions creating compacted manifolds. However, the size of these manifolds would be on the order of 10-35 m, and the energy needed for experimental test is significantly far out of the range of even very imaginative future colliders. The model proposed by Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali (ADD) introduces the possibility for extra dimensions (ED) to exist in order to solve the hierarchy problem of the physics at two very different energy scales. The first scale is the current experimental scale where physics is dictated by the SM (~Mew, the electro-weak scale), and the other scale is at the Planck scale (MPl).[1] In addition, ED may also help explain losses in transverse momenta and monojet events.[1,2,3,4]. The strength of gravity is about 1037 times weaker than the weak nuclear force. At some point on the energy scale, as most physics and especially Grand Unified Theories seem to indicate, all of the forces must be â€Å"unified.† This will certainly happen around the Planck energy scale (MPl  » 1017 GeV). Although the three strongest forces appear to be coming closer in relative strength with increasing energy, an extrapolation of the coupling constants for these forces using the SM will not cross at the same point.[5] However, supersymmetry and other related theories such as Technicolor, which have be cleverly devised in part to solve this (7s) problem, seem to predict that they will cross together with additional physics beyond the SM.[1,5] On the other hand, if unification is to occur, at some point gravity must make a tremendous climb in strength to be unified with the other forces.

Harvard Case : BMW of North America: Dream it. Build it. Drive it. Essay

Brief Description: Set in 2011, this case describes how BMW, the leading luxury car manufacturer in the U.S., successfully implemented a new marketing initiative based on its online video services and increased sales of customized vehicles. The case addresses the challenges of catering to the North American consumer, where most car buyers want or have become conditioned towards immediate gratification with their purchases. Main Learning Objectives: To underscore the importance of consumer behavior in strategic planning To illustrate the complexity of strategically managing the supply chain for a modern manufacturing company and the implications effects of ‘mass customization’ on supply (value) chain Preparation & Analysis For Wednesday’s class (10/9/13): 1. Go online, research and take down a few notes on a strategic marketing concept called â€Å"mass customization† for in-class discussion. The process of delivering wide-market goods and services that are modified to satisfy a specific customer need. Is a marketing and manufacturing technique that combines the flexibility and personalization of custom-made with the low unit cost associated with mass production Sometimes called made-to-order or built to order.  Enabling a customer to decide the exact specification of a product or service, and have that product or service supplied to them at a price close to that for an ordinary mass produced alternative. 2. Read the case study. 3. Review the following videos which directly pertain to the case Martha Stewart customizes a BMW X3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ddq6O_QAz0 Understanding Robots – Mass Customization http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJzzPXeDdX8 BMW X3 Ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpLutmBkyZ4 BMW X3 Build Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1gtBYNPOA Individual Assignment: After spending time researching the concept of mass customization,viewing the above videos, and reading the case answerand provide your rationale for each of the following questions in an overall1-2 page brief essay format. 1. Assuming that most modern cars share very similar characteristics, what do customers really buy – a product or an experience? In your opinion, what drives car-buying decisions?  Years after years, the customer’s perceptions towards cars has been changing. People value more on their needs these days than their wants. People started looking for products/vehicles that give more value to them; they want cars for real use not for showing off. I think customers buys products with experience from which they can get value out of it. The car buying decision is not an easy task and would drive various aspects before buying. In my opinion the most important factor is gender. In most cases gender plays a vital role in buying a car. Price can be another important factor that might drive the buying decision. Fuel efficiency, affordable, reliable, effective and efficient are various factors for car buying decisions. 2. Do you think customers really need â€Å"millions of combinations† for their car? Can they be happy with available standard options? What are the upsides and downsides of mass customization from both the consumer and manufacturer’s perspective? It depends on the customer needs that if they really need â€Å"millions of combinations† for their car or not. Most of the customers are happy with the standard options but if we dig little deeper, not all the features available  in the standard versions are important or useful for a particular customer and what they want may not be in the specific model. In my opinion, that is the main reason mass customization is being used by various car companies to carter the specific needs of their customers. Mass customization is the process of delivering products that are modified to satisfy a specific customer needs. This enables a customer to decide the exact specification of a product or services. Mass customization allowed manufacturers to customize products at lower costs, reduced overheads, and produced higher margins. For customers, they get benefited of finding exactly what they wanted without paying a premium price. The downside of mass customization from manufacturer’s perspectives are the major operational challenges faced in supply chain to manage the supply, maintain lead time and maintain various parts and products within a very little timeframe. The downside of mass customization from the customer’s perspectives is they won’t be able to compare and contrast the product with the competitors and sometime the price might be high with certain customizations. With various choices and lack of expertise some customers might chose unwanted and unnecessary par ts for the product. 3. Put yourself in Josef Weirda’s shoes. What would your decision be regarding using video streaming technology for other models such as the X5 or X1? In effect, would you apply a similar â€Å"Dream It. Build It. Drive It.† program for the launch of the X4 in 2014? What is the basis for your decision? â€Å"Dream It. Build It. Drive It.† was a success for X3 models. My decision for streaming technology for other models will be yes. This is because of the success factors the X3 models received, and almost 50% of the customers enrolled in it, accessed and shared the video. I think it is a better value for customers to see how their customized vehicle has been manufactured and be more in touch with it before it actually gets delivered. Based on the success result and the stats available from X3, I will apply a similar â€Å"Dream It. Build It. Drive It.† program for the launch of the X4 and  do aggressive marketing like it was done for X3. But will not only stick with this mass customization, I will also encourage for the standard models at the dealers. Customization can be one of the features for those customers who want to customize their cars. I think with the success of the X3, the customer will try to see some kind of similar features in the new launch and also this will give more value to the vehicle. Based on the numbers and records from the case, for now the mass customization concept should be based on US market only.

Human Resource Manual of Atlas Honda Ltd, Pakistan Essay Example

Human Resource Manual of Atlas Honda Ltd, Pakistan Essay Example Human Resource Manual of Atlas Honda Ltd, Pakistan Paper Human Resource Manual of Atlas Honda Ltd, Pakistan Paper Atlas Honda Limited Karachi Plant F-36 Estate Avenue, S. I. T. E, Karachi Tel : (021) 2575561-5 UAN: 111-111-245 Fax : (021) 2563758 Sheikhupura Plant 26-27 Km, Lahore Sheikhupura Road, Sheikhupura,Lahore Tel : (0563) 406501-5 UAN: (0563) 111-111-245 Fax : (0563) 406009 INTRODUCTION Atlas Honda Limited (AHL) is a constituent member of Atlas Group. AHL has its registered office at 1-Mcleod Road, Lahore. AHL has two plants at Karachi and Sheikhupura. AHL is engaged in manufacturing of 4 stroke Honda Motorcycles in Pakistan. Currently AHL produces Honda CD70, CD100, CG125 and CG125 Deluxe at Karachi and Sheikhupura plants. AHL has annual production capacity of 500,000/= motorcycles per annum. FUNCTIONS Engineering Projects Finance Human Resource Administration Information Technology Marketing Production Quality Assurance Research Development Supply Chain MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Saquib H. Shirazi Nurul Hoda O. Ishikawa Raffat Iqbal Suhail Ahmed M. Amir Awan Khalid Aziz M. Mushtaq Alam Sultan Ahmed Jawaid Iqbal Afghani Amir Ali Bawa T. Kitamura President/Chief Executive Vice President Vice President Technical General Manager Human Resource Administration General Manager Finance General Manager Engineering Projects General Manager Plants General Manager Information Technology General Manager Quality Assurance General Manager Marketing General Manager Commercial Planning General Manager Research Development VISION Market leader in the motorcycle industry, emerging as a globally competitive centre of production and exports. MISSION A dynamic, profitable and growth oriented company through market leadership, maximizing export and excellence in quality and service; to ensure attractive returns to equity holders; reward employees according to their ability and performance; to foster a network of researchers and engineers ensuing unique contributions to the development of the industry; customer satisfaction and protection of the environment by producing emission friendly green products and to remain a good corporate citizen fulfilling its social responsibilities in all respects. STRATEGIC GOALS Customers Our customers are the reason and the source of our business. It is our joint aim with our dealers to ensure that our customers enjoy the highest level of satisfaction from use of Honda Motorcycles. Quality To ensure that our products and services meet the set standards of excellence. Local Manufacturing To be the industry leader in indigenization of motorcycle parts. Technology To develop and maintain distinct business advantages through continuous induction of improved hard and soft technologies. Shareholders To ensure health and viability of business and thus safeguarding shareholders interest by maximizing profit. Payment of regular satisfactory dividends and adding value to the shares. Employees To enhance and continuously up-date each member’s capabilities and education and to provide an environment which encourages practical expression of the individual potential in goal directed team efforts and compensate them attractively according to their abilities and performance. Corporate Citizen To comply with all government laws and regulations, to maintain a high standard of ethics in all operations and to act as a responsible member of the community. CODE OF ETHICS Atlas Honda Limited (AHL) conducts its operations with honesty, integrity and openness, and with respect for human rights and interests of the employees. It respects the legitimate interests of all those with whom it has relationships. AHL is committed to comply with the laws and regulations of Pakistan. AHL is committed to create the working environment where there is mutual trust and respect and where everyone feels responsible for the performance and reputation of the company. AHL is equal opportunity employer which recruits, employs and promotes employees on the sole basis of the qualifications and abilities needed for the work to be performed. AHL is committed to safe and healthy working conditions for all employees. We will not use any form of forced, compulsory or child labor. AHL is committed to provide branded products and services, which consistently offer value in terms of price and quality. Products and services will be accurately and properly labeled, advertised and communicated. AHL conducts its operations in accordance with principles of good corporate governance. It provides timely, regular and reliable information of its activities, structure, financial situation and performance to all the shareholders. AHL is committed to establish mutually beneficial relations with its suppliers, customers and business partners. AHL strives to be a trusted corporate citizen and, as an integral part of society, fulfills its responsibilities to the societies and communities in which it operates. AHL is committed to make continuous improvements In the management of environmental impact. It works in partnership with others to promote environmental care, increase understanding of environmental issues and disseminate good practice. AHL make innovations to meet consumer needs. It respects the concerns of consumers and of society. It works on the basis of sound research, applying high quality standards. AHL believes in fair competition and supports development of appropriate competition laws. AHL and employees conduct their operations in accordance with the principles of fair competition and all applicable regulations. Compliance with business principles is an essential element. The Board of Directors of AHL is responsible for ensuring that these principles are communicated to, and understood and observed by, all employees. Assurance of compliance is given and monitored each year. Compliance with the Code is subject to review by the Board supported by Audit Committee of the Board. The Board of AHL expects employees to bring to their attention, or to that of senior management, any breach or suspected breach of these principles. HR PHILOSOPHY The AHL Human Resource Philosophy is based on the conviction that the well being of the company and the well being of its people are one and the same. The company is dedicated to the belief that its most valued asset is its people. Our commitment is to employ on the basis of Merit, Intellect, Integrity and Character to ensure that every employee is treated with dignity and respect and in a fair consistent and equitable manner; to create a stimulating and supportive atmosphere in which they may work; and to aid and encourage them in the realization of their full potential. We recognize that the success of this philosophy depends in the large measure on the manner in which employee’s at every level carry out their obligations to each other and to the Company. Our philosophy will not work if employees do not have a feeling of mutual confidence and loyalty, as well as respect of each other as human being. In the same context of obligations and mutual trust and confidence, all employees are expected to maintain certain standard in relation to their work, and in representing themselves as employees of AHL. Employees of AHL must be committed to the following principles: Accept total responsibility for the success of the Company’s HR philosophy, policies and programs. Have through knowledge of the Company’s HR philosophy and programs, and review them with subordinates to ensure their total understanding. Ensure consistent and fair interpretation of personnel policies. Exercise leadership by demonstrating integrity, professional knowledge, the courage of their convictions, and concern for the feeling of others. Establish a relationship with subordinates that encourage a free flow of information in both directions, permit open discussion of differing views and allow decision making at the most appropriate level. Accept and support decisions made contrary to their expressed positions. Apply the highest standards of ethics, integrity and honesty. Comply with Company policies and procedures. HR MISSION To inculcate organizational culture which supports optimum performance. Encourage the employees to analyze and evaluate his/her own performance in a realistic manner. Be friendly and supportive to the employees of the company and make them feel relaxed and in a positive frame of mind. HR OBJECTIVE To achieve the Company’s objective the HR Department of AHL will recruit, develop, utilize, evaluate, maintain and retain the right number and types of employees to provide the organization with an appropriate workforce. QUALITY POLICY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Commitment to provide high quality motorcycles and parts. Right work in first attempt and on time Maintain and continuously improve quality Training of manpower and acquisition of latest technology Safe, clean and healthy environment. Market leadership and prosperity for all QUALITY STANDARDS In Atlas Honda Limited quality has priority over production. By producing the best quality motorcycles we can attain No. 1 Customer Satisfaction, fulfilling AHL’s goals. Quality is built into our production methods and Systems and it is important that all associates understand and strictly comply with all quality regulations. In order to maintain quality, all associates should be quality conscious, therefore, every one is required to strictly following guidelines. 1. Always remove wrist watches, bracelets etc. before entering the production area. These can cause scratches. 2. Associates working in paint shop must use safety equipments. 3. Dandruff and falling hair can also cause quality defect. If you suffer from these conditions, be sure to consult with your supervisor so that these can be immediately corrected. 4. Dirt and dust are other sources of quality defects, be-sure that you are clean when you enter the production area. Check that you do not have dirt or stains on your body and that your uniform is free of stains, mud, dirt, dust, oil or grease. 5. Long fingernails may cause scratches and other defects, be sure to keep your nails short and clean. . Production workers are advised to always keep their hair short and clean. 7. Standardized safety shoes are allowed in the production area, be sure to wear appropriate shoes when working. 8. Eating and drinking material is not allowed in production area. MANAGEMENT POLICY 1. Proceed always with ambition and youthfulness. 2. Respect sound theory, develop fresh ideas and make the most effective use of time. 3. Enjoy your work and encourage open communication. 4. Strive constantly for a harmonious flow of work 5. Be ever mindful of the value of research and endeavor. GUIDING PRINCIPLES 1. Simplicity 2. Concentration 3. Speed : Grasping he essence of what we must do, a focus on critical issues. : Focus our resources and our thinking where they are most needed to reach the essential goal. : Rapid implementation SAFETY POLICY HOUSEKEEPING It is the policy of Atlas Honda Limited to provide its all associates with a safe and pleasant work environment and to maintain all equipment and machinery in proper working condition. Since safety and productivity go hand-in-hand, it is the responsibility of each associate to keep his own ork area clean and orderly at all times. By working together, we can maintain an environment that is safe and clean. If at any time an unsafe or unsanitary condition exists, bring this to the attention of your superior or the Human Resource Administration Department promptly, so that the condition can be corrected. GUIDELINES To ensure safety of all associates and to create a clean and pleasant work environment, all associates should adhere to the following basic safety and housekeeping guidelines: 1. Follow all established safety regulations. 2. All required safety outfits (i. . safety shows, earplugs, safety glasses and gloves etc) be worn at all times. Failure to do so will warrant disciplinary action. 3. Always wear uniforms during working hours and be sure to put on the required safety outfits while at work. 4. All accidents/injuries, should be reported to the immediate supervisor and HR Administration department immediately. 5. Associates should walk at all times, do not run. 6. Do not engage in any form of horseplay, practical jokes, throwing things, etc as such activities are dangerous and will not be tolerated. 7. Only authorized associates should drive the fork lifters inside the factory. 8. Do not enter processing sections or operate equipment not under your charge. Never enter restricted areas unless you have been authorized to do so. 9. Equipments, tools and spare parts are to be properly arranged, keep clean, orderly and in their proper locations. 10. Handle carefully all equipments, tools fixtures and spare parts etc. Never transfer or take them out without proper authorization from your supervisor. 11. Never operate any machine or equipment until you have been properly instructed on how to use it safely and properly. 2. Do not use any vehicle unless you have been authorized to do so. When you are authorized to drive a company vehicle, drive carefully to avoid any injury and damage to the vehicle/property. 13. Walkways have been specified to provide associates with a safe walking area. All associates and guests should use only these walkways inside the plant. 14. Use only specified entra nces, exits and passageways inside the plant. 15. All personal belongings should be stored in the assigned lockers or other designated places. Company is not liable for any loss, theft or damage o any belongings or valuables of the associates. 16. Smoking is allowed only in specified areas. Smoking in restricted areas will be subject to disciplinary action. 17. Handle all inflammable materials with care. 18. Always follow good housekeeping practices and keep all common areas (meeting rooms, locker rooms, canteen, offices, plant ground) and work areas clean and orderly at all times. 19. Put all waste and trash into the designated trash containers. Littering of any kind is strictly prohibited. 20. Floors should be clean and dry at all times. Wet floors pose a safety hazard to all of us. ASSOCIATE Anyone who has entered into an employment contract with the Atlas Honda Limited will be called â€Å"Associate†. SUPERVISOR Any person who controls the job affairs or is assigned to get a job done from his/her juniors is called â€Å"Supervisor†. EMPLOYMENT Approval of appointment Chief Executive Officer is authorized to approve an appointment on a prescribed employment requisition form. Minimum Qualification Minimum qualification for appointment in management grade will be Graduate. For nonmanagement staff minimum qualification will be Metric. Written Test Written test will be conducted for short listed candidates on the basis of computer proficiency, general knowledge and related subject for management grade 11 and below. Interview Depending upon the Grade, the pre-employment and selection, interview shall be conducted at the following levels: Grade 11 above 12 below Preliminary interview GMHR/GM MHR/Manager Final interview CEO/GDHR/GEC Member GMHR/GM/CEO Selection of candidate Group Executive Committee is authorized to select the candidate for the position of Grade 11 above. Chief Executive Officer is authorized to select the candidate for the position of Grade 12 below. Pre-Employment Medical Test Clearance of pre-employment medical test is necessary before joining of the selected candidates from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital for Sheikhupura Plant and Aga Khan Hospital for Karachi Plant. Offer Letter Offer letter will be issued to selected candidates after clearance of pre-employment medical test. Appointment Letter Appointment letter will be issued to: Management Staff signed by Non-Management Staff : : GMHR Notified Factory Manager Joining Report Joining Report will be submitted by all new employees on joining. Induction Program On joining induction program will be issued for all management staff to create understanding about interaction between the departments and improving productivity. Probationary Period Probationary period for employment will be 90 days for associates up to Supervisor level and 180 days for associates in Management Cadre. An associate who is observed to be unfit or incompetent and does not meet performance standards set by the Company shall be terminated. However if management thinks fit, probationary period may be extended. Confirmation An associate who has completed the probationary period shall be confirmed by the company on job unless otherwise notified by the management before expiry of 90 days or 180 days as the case may be. Increment Letter Increment letter will be issued to: Management Staff Grade 9 above Management Staff Grade 10 below Non-Management Staff : : : CEO GMHR Notified Factory Manager Change in Personal Information Any change in personal information like change of address, telephone number, marital status, nominee and educational qualification and training etc. should be intimated to Human Resource Department as soon as possible. Transfer Whenever the business conditions so require, an associate can be transferred any where or any place within Atlas Group Companies in Pakistan. Resignation An associate who intends to resign from the service of the company will be required to give the company one month’s notice in writing or pay one month’s salary in lieu of such notice. Likewise, if the company wants to terminate services of the associate, the company will give one month’s notice in writing or pay one month salary in lieu of such notice. Termination/Dismissal An associate may be terminated/dismissed or lay off for the following relevant reasons: 1. . 3. 4. 5. 6. Serious misconduct or gross violation of discipline. Gross and habitual neglect of duties. Fraud or willful breach of company’s trust. On commission of a criminal offence Violation of company rules. An associate suffering from any disease which is prejudicial to his health, as well as the health of others. 7. All acts/omiss ion stated as misconduct/offences in the law of the land (including labour laws) 8. The employment of an associate may also be terminated/lay off on ground which are not mentioned above. Retirement The associate shall retire at the age of 60 years. Clearance Certificate On separation an associate will submit a clearance certificate duly signed by the respective departmental managers/ Department heads before leaving the job. EMPLOYEE’S BENEFITS Car/Motorcycle Management Staff Management staff are entitled for Car and Motorcycle on company policy and Motorcycle on installment according to their grade entitlement: Grade 11 above Grade 13 12 Grade 15 14 Non-Management Staff Non-management staff are entitled for Motorcycle on installment basis. : : : Car under company’s policy scheme Motorcycle under company’s policy scheme Motorcycle under installment scheme Bonus Management Staff Bonuses are allowed to management staff as per target set in the Annual Budget of the company for the financial year. Non-Management Staff Bonuses are allowed to Non-management staff as per Management/CBA agreement. Gratuity Management Staff Gratuity equal to 15 days basic salary for each year is allowed for management staff. Employees will be eligible for membership after completion of 10 years service. Non-Management Staff Karachi Plant Gratuity equal to 10 days basic salary for each year of service after 5 years. Gratuity equal to 20 days basic salary for each year on retirement from service. Gratuity equal to 30 days gross salary for each year for Non Provident Fund Members for Non Provident Fund period. Sheikhupura Plant Gratuity equal 15 days basic salary for each year of service on completion of 10 years of service. Provident Fund On confirmation of employee 11% of basic salary is allowed as employee contribution on account of Provident Fund. Group Life Insurance Management Staff As per company policy group insurance is allowed to management staff according to their grade entitlements. Minimum Rs. 200,000 and Maximum Rs. 1,687,500/= Non-Management Staff As per law Non-management staff is entitled for group insurance of Rs. 00,000/=. Healthcare Insurance/Hospitalization Plan Management Staff As per company policy management staff is allowed hospitalization plan according to the grade entitlements on appointment. Minimum Rs. 150,000/= Maximum Rs. 500,000/= per person, per year. Medical Management Staff 12% of basic salary is allowed to management staff of Grade 11 bel ow as medical expenses reimbursement. Medical entitlement (OPD facility for self, spouse and children) with upper limit is being introduced for staff in Grades 5 to 10 which is as follows:Grade 5 ~ 8 Grade 9 ~ 10 S-1 ~ S-2 Rs. 40,000 per annum Rs. 30,000 per annum Payment on submission of actual receipts. Non-management staff Medical re-imbursement is allowed @ 10% of gross salary less special allowances to nonmanagement staff who are not covered under Sindh Employees Social Security institution. Medical re-imbursement is allowed @ 8% of gross salary less special allowances to Nonmanagement staff who are covered under Sindh Employees Social Security Institution. Personal Accident Insurance All permanent employees will be covered against accidental death and disability under the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme up to seven years basic salary (last drawn). Risk of terrorism excluded. Compensatory Leave Compensatory leave shall be allowed to management staff working on any off day/holiday. Inconvenience allowance Inconvenience allowance is allowed to management staff working on any off day/holiday as per grade entitlements: Grade 15 to 14 Grade 13 to 11 Grade 10 above Rs. 500/= Rs. 750/= Rs. 1,000/= Non-management staff working on off day/holiday are entitled for overtime as per law/company policy. Personal Loan Personal Loan facility is allowed to management staff up to 45% of Basic Salary 12 (twelve) times, recovery shall be made in 18 equal installments commencing the month after disbursement. Welfare Loan Welfare Loan is allowed to Non-management staff up to Maximum Rs. 10,000/=, recovery shall be made in 10 equal installments. Recreation/Travelling Allowance Non-management staff are entitled for Leave Fare Assistance @ Rs. 800/= per year on availing 21 days privilege leave. Best Attendance Allowance Non-management staff are entitled for best attendance award @ Rs. 5000/= on full attendance during the year. Meal Allowance Non-management staff are entitled for meal charges @ Rs. 45/= per meal where meal is not provided. Breakfast Those working in C shift are entitled for breakfast Marriage Allowance Marriage allowance will be paid to Non-management staff @ Rs. 8,000/= on his/her first marriage. Marriage Gift A gift of Rs. 2,000/= will be given to Management Staff on his/her first marriage. Uniform Washing Allowance Uniform Washing Allowance will be paid to the Sanitation Staff @ Rs. 150/= per month. Fair Price Shop Fair price shop facility is available within the factory premises to provide low price items to the associates. Ex-Gratia Grant upon Death Rs. 13,000/= shall be paid to the legal heirs/dependents of the deceased for Non-management staff to meet the funeral expenses. WORKING HOURS Regular schedule of work will be eight (8) hours per working day, from Monday to Friday and Alternate Saturday, total of not more than forty eight (48) hours per week, except where the nature of work or exigencies of the business operations require the establishment of a special working schedule. Shift Timings GENERAL SHIFT Working Hours A SHIFT Working Hours B SHIFT Working Hours C SHIFT Working Hours 11. 00 a. m. to 07. 00 a. m. 03. 00 p. m. to 11. 00 a. m. 07. 00 a. m. to 03. 00 p. m. 08:20 a. m. To 05:50 p. m. 5-S ACTIVITIES To ensure clean and pleasant work environment, all associates should ensure 5-S activities at their respective workplace as well as in the establishment. 1. SEIRI (Sort Out) : Defected wasteful parts/items should be kept separately which will lead to more space availability. Distinguishing of required parts tools so that they can be quickly traceable to reduce operation time which will lead to increase efficiency. Cleanliness of work place, machines parts will lead to smooth operations. 2. SEITON : (Put in Order) 3. SEISOU : (Cleanliness) 4. SEIKETSU : (Neat Tidy) 5. SHITSUKE (Discipline) : Keep yourself, your cloth neat and clean which will lead to improved working environment. Follow the standards and correct practices which will lead to increase in consciousness and level of controls. ATTENDACE AND PUNCTUALITY The company is relying on you for a full day’s work to help and meet required schedules. When you are late, leave work early or become absent, other workers will have to carry your workload, thus causing them under hardship. Therefore, you are expected to observe strict punctuality in attendance. If you know in advance that you are going to be late or absent from work, you should give advance notification and get approval from your immediate supervisor so that position can be filled, if necessary. Avoid frequent tardiness and absences as this can adversely affect your performance evaluation. Also, never make false statements concerning absences, tardiness, under time and overtime. Late Arrival You are considered tardy when you fail to report to work at the exact time you are scheduled to work. Late arrival at work place effects company operations, as well as the work of your fellow workers. In addition as per detailed in our code of conduct, late arrival carries the following penalties. On 4th late arrival 1 leave will be deducted. In case of no leave in balance, it will be treated as 1 day leave without pay. It will effect the appraisal of the individual. Short Leave If it should be necessary for you to leave work early for whatever reason you must first ask your immediate supervisor for approval. Leaving from your work area early without prior approval from your supervisor will be subject to disciplinary action. Short Leave, even if approved, will be subject to salary deduction. Attendance Monitoring For the purpose of attendance monitoring as well as scrutiny, all associates are required to register their working time through the use of Sweeping Time Card in Time Machine System (TMS). 1. Mark your attendance card as soon as you arrive at the office or plant. 2. At the end of the workday, log-out before leaving the office or plant. 3. If, at any time during the workday, it is necessary for you to leave the plant/office for whatever reason, then you should log your departure and arrival at the Time Machine System. 4. Associate leaving the office/plant for personal reasons shall submit short leave application duly signed by manager concerned. 5. Associate leaving the office/plant for official business shall submit short leave application at the gate while leaving the office/plant duly singed by the concerned manager. 6. Associate leaving the work place without prior authorization from respective supervisor will be considered as absent and disciplinary action will be taken. 7. Under no circumstances an associate will log-in and log-out another associate using his time card, as this will constitute falsification of official company record. Absence For absence due to illness and other unavoidable reasons, the company must be notified for approval through written application or make a telephone call as soon as possible, stating the reason for your absence and the expected number of days you will be absent or otherwise if labour laws attract, disciplinary action would be initiated. For absence due to illness for 3 days or more, the associate must submit a medical certificate from an authorized doctor. The absent associate must file a leave of absence immediately on the same day that he/she returns to work. Leave Entitlements Management staff is entitled for 26 working days privilege leave. Non-management staff is entitled for 21 days privilege leave, 10 days casual leave and 10 sick leave. During probation period the associate is not entitled for privilege leave. However, after confirmation within a calendar year of service, he/she may avail proportionate leave credits. Leave Credits The leave calendar runs from January to December of each year. Accumulation of 78 days privilege leave is allowed to management staff. Non-management staff is allowed to accumulate 90 days privilege leave. Sick leave and Casual leave are not allowed for accumulation. Leave Encashment Management staff is not allowed for leave encashment. However, non-management staff is allowed encashment of remaining balance of sick leave and casual leave at the end of the year. Maternity Leave All the married female associates are eligible for 12 weeks maternity leave with pay – six weeks pre-natal and six weeks post-natal. Such female associates must submit medical certificate, stating expected date of delivery, along with the leave application. GENERAL PLANT POLICIES Entering Leaving the Plant Associates must show their identity card to the Security Staff on duty, if required to do so, before permitted to enter. Associate should enter and leave the plant or office only through designated entrances and exits. Uniforms In order to maintain quality, ensure safety, improve work efficiency and maintain the company’s distinguished image, the company provides uniforms and safety outfits to associates. All associates are expected to wear the prescribed uniform and safety outfits, during working hours. Associates should also wear their Company ID card at all time. Do not make any alterations on the ID card and use these only for official company business. All company issued uniforms and other safety outfits remain the property of the company. Uniforms due for replacement should be surrendered to Human Resource Administration Department. Failure to wear the prescribed uniform and safety outfits shall be subject to disciplinary action, as contained in the code of conduct. Lockers Each associate is provided with a locker for his personal belongings. Keep your uniforms, and other personal belongings in your assigned locker. Whenever necessary, the company has the right to inspect the associate’s lockers. Do not keep any valuables, the company will not be responsible for any loss or damage to one’s belongings. Using the Canteen Canteen timings are strictly followed as per shop/department timings. Since the canteen is self-service, associates are expected to set the chairs and clear the tables upon leaving. Use only the designated passage ways when entering or leaving the canteen. The canteen may also be used for business discussions and other small group activities whenever necessary. Before using the canteen for this purpose, please get prior approval from Human Resource Administration Department. Personal Calls The company telephones are strictly for business use only. However, you can make a personal call only from exchange after filling â€Å"Telephone/Fax Request Slip†, duly approved by your departmental head. The expense of such calls will be charged to respective associates as per PTCL bill. ASSOCIATE’S CONDUCT Standards of conduct Associates are expected to follow proper instruction from the supervisors. All associates are strongly encouraged to make a distinction between fficial company business and personal interests. For instance company materials, equipment and tools etc, are not for personal use. As responsible members of the community, all associates are expected to comply with the laws. Never act in violation of the law. Associates are expected to manage their personal finances in a responsible manner. Excessive borrowings beyond the capacity to pay back as well as gambling are strictly prohibited. In respect for individual belief, associates should not engage themselves in political or religious activities within company premises. Whenever an associate is invited to deliver a speech, attend meeting and social gathering in relation to his official duties, he/she should first obtain prior approval from management. Leaflets and other printed material may not be distributed inside company premises without prior approval form management. Associates should also avoid actions which corrupt public morals or damage the reputation of the company. As an associate of a distinguished motorcycle manufacturing company, you are expected to comply with all traffic rules and regulations and practice safe driving habits. Always keep in mind that you are a member of the AHL family. Any action that you do reflects on all your fellow workers. Company Events From time to time, the company sponsors activities such as parties, sports, festivals and picnic etc, to promote fellowship among associates. While these events are normally not held during working hours, associates are expected to be present and participate in these events. During such company events, associates are also expected to maintain behavior standards and demonstrate proper respect for fellow workers. Conflict of Interest It is the policy of the company to prohibit associates form engaging in any activity, practice or act, which conflicts with the interest of the company and its customers. Such actions will be subject to disciplinary action. Examples of conflict of interest are: 1. Accepting outside employment or consultancy work in an organization that does business with the company or is a competitor. 2. Engaging inside business without prior approval from the company. 3. Financial interest in a firm that does business with the company. 4. Accepting gifts or favor form any person or firm doing business with the company or using your position to obtain such gifts or favors. 5. Conduct that is disloyal, disruptive, competitive or damaging to the company; 6. Engaging in motorcycle denting, painting, repairing or making other than company business at home / workshops etc. Confidential Information Associates may be entrusted with confidential information such as business plans, financial statements, model changes research and development projects or long-range production schedules. The nature of our business is highly competitive and release or leakage of this type information can be damaging to the company. As an associate, you are expected to keep such information as company records, reports, technical data and other documents strictly confidential. Violation of the confidentiality shall be subject to severe disciplinary action. SECURITY Identity Card For security purposes, all associates are issued an identification card. You should have this card in your possession at all times. Guest visiting the plant and offices should obtain a Visitor’s card form the Security staff. Inspection and Gate Pass It is security’s purpose to protect company property as well as the property and belongings of associates. In addition to routine inspections at the plant entrance. The company may also conduct other inspection activities including locker inspection to ensure the safety and security of the plant. All associates should allow themselves to be checked when entering or leaving company premises. You should also allow your belongings for inspection while entering or leaving company premises, if asked to do so. Associates are not allowed to take out documents, parcels and other property without a gate pass duly signed by the competent authority. All vehicles leaving the company premises will also be subject to inspection. Any associate who refuses to comply with the requirement will be subject to disciplinary action. Keys The company issues keys only to authorized associates. All associates should surrender a duplicate key to their locker, desk and cabinet in a sealed envelope to division head. Do not have any spare keys made other than those officially issued to you by the company. Personal Vehicles There are designated driving and parking areas for associates who come to work by car, motorcycle or bicycle. You should drive and park only in the designated areas. When paring your vehicles in the designated areas, be sure to park properly. However, the company will not be responsible for loss or damage to parked vehicles. Use of Company Vehicles Obtain prior approval before using any of the company vehicles for official business trip. Associates should not use the company vehicle for their personal use. Fire Protection / Disaster Control The company maintains continuous fire protection and inspection activities and encourages participation by all associates. There are emergency exit routes, fire exists, fire extinguishers and fire hose stations placed strategically within the plant. Associates will have the opportunity to have hand-on training on fire extinguisher and briefings on the proper use of fire fighting equipments in their areas. COMPENSATION Salary Payment Date The payment is made through bank transfers by 1st day of next month. Overtime Payment Date Overtime pay is paid to associates on 5th 20th of each month in according with the provisions of labour laws/ company rules. Holiday Pay Compensation is made to non-management staff for work rendered on regular and special holidays, as well as the associate’s designated rest days, in accordance with the provisions of the labour Laws/Company rules. Management staff is allowed to avail in lieu of for working on holiday or claim inconvenience allowance with 30 days. Action Plan, Salary Increase Promotions In July of each year, management announces to all managers its basic policies and business plans. Based on this information, each division head is expected to submit an action plan for his/her division. All associates should formulate and submit their own action plan in line with the action plan set by the seniors. Achievements of the individual action plan will be the main basis for evaluation to determine salary increase and promotions. ASSOCIATE’S INFORMATION Associate’s Record Human Resource Department maintains individual files for each associate which are kept strictly confidential. All associates should submit the following information and any change therein to Human Resource Department. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Home address Home telephone number Cell Number Contact person and telephone number in case of emergency Marital status Change in dependents Bulletin Boards Company bulletin boards – used to communicate information regarding the operations of the whole company 1. Safety control bulletin boards – are used to relay safety messages. 2. Divisions, department or section bulletin boards are used to communicate information related to the operation of each division, department or section. Emergencies In case plant operations has to be stopped due to bad weather or other calamities, the company will immediately notify all associates through the installed communication system. Whenever such communication is not available, associates should get confirmation form their respective supervisor/manager. COMMITTEES AND SELF-MANAGED ACTIVITIES Committees are organized in the company to conduct the following self-managed activities. All associates are strongly encouraged to participate in these activities. Safety Health Environment Committee With the improvement of safety and housekeeping as its main task, this committee acts independently to propose and promote activities which will ensure the safety and well being of all associates. Alamayar Circle Committee Aiming for No. 1 Customer Satisfaction, associates in the Production, Human Resource, Marketing, After Sales Service, Finance, and other departments independently form small groups which select and work on projects related to the theme. These groups compete to select the best team which may then be sent to participate in international NH Circle conventions, in accordance with the rules set by the management. Canteen Committee This committee is responsible for monitoring the canteen operations to ensure the associates get clean, hygienic, delicious and well balance food. Fire Fighting Committee The purpose of this committee is to prepare the associates, to fight against the fire if set in factory premises and meet any emergence arising out of it and ensure fire equipment availability in sound condition. Welfare Fund Committee This committee is responsible for monitoring the welfare fund related activities. NOTE This handbook is for the purpose of acquainting you with our basic policies, benefits and mutual responsibilities. It does not constitute a contract of employment in whole or in part. The company may add, change, modify or delete any of the contents of this handbook at any time. Due to changing conditions, trends or other circumstances, the company may from time to time find it necessary to terminate, modify or substitute these policies in whole or in part. We will notify you of these changes by posting them on the bulletin board or by other appropriate means.

Healthcare Law and Information Technology Essay Example

Healthcare Law and Information Technology Essay Example Healthcare Law and Information Technology Paper Healthcare Law and Information Technology Paper Tom Keefe, senior director of state government relations for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society said that legislation in Massachusetts â€Å"will have a direct effect on mandating nationwide use of EHRs healthcare today is an industry characterized by revolutionary technological advances† (Rhea, S. 2008). Technological advances have been utilized by the healthcare industry for years in one way or another. One of the most widely recognized technological advancement in healthcare is the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Simply put, HER’s are â€Å"digital versions of patients’ paper charts† (â€Å"Learn EHR Basics,† n. d. ). Some of the information that can be contained in an EHR can include a patient’s medical history (including diagnoses, any test results, and medications), information from health clinics, pharmacies, emergency facilities and laboratories. The benefits of EHRs are to â€Å"Improve quality and convenience of patient care, increase patient participation in their care, improve accuracy of diagnoses and health outcomes, improve care coordination, and increase practice efficiencies and cost savings† (â€Å"Benefits of Electronic Health Records [EHRs],† n. d. ). Healthcare professionals and hospitals who utilize EHRs, whether that is through implementation or upgrades, are eligible to receive incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (â€Å"EHR Incentives Certification,† n. d. ). This incentive is possible due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In order to be eligible for any incentives, healthcare professionals and hospitals must meet the definition of meaningful use. Meaningful use is defined as â€Å"using certified electronic health record (EHR) technology† (â€Å"EHR Incentives Certification,† n. d. ) in order to â€Å"improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities, engage patients and family, improve care coordination and population and public health, and maintain privacy and security of patient health information† (â€Å"EHR Incentives Certification,† n.  d. ). In other words, utilizing meaningful use would hopefully result in improved medical outcomes as a result of patients being more involved in their care and course of treatment and information being available to healthcare professionals where and when it is necessary. Healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations must also meet the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG). In 2003 the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) developed six NPSGs with a seventh added in 2004. NPSGs were created with the hopes of delivering safe patient care (Harris Schmitt, 2004, pp.88). The seven NPSGs are â€Å"improve the accuracy of patient identification, improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers, improve the safety of using high-alert medications, eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient, wrong-procedure surgery, improve the safety of infusion pumps, improve the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems, and reduce the risk of healthcare-acquired infections† (Harris Schmitt, 2004, pp. 89). Ultimately, the seven NPSG’s, if implemented and followed, would result in safe, consistent patient care. In order to make sure that the NPSGs are followed correctly, they should become a part of initial training upon employment in the healthcare industry. Also, there should be a refresher training each year where healthcare professionals get together and review the NPSGs as well as try to find new ways to track the data and achieve each of the goals. In order to ensure a healthcare organization is meeting the requirements of both meaningful use and NPSGs, the organization needs to collect patient data and analyze the collected data in order to break negative patterns. One process that can be utilized to collect patient data is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR). One of the biggest benefits an EMR provides to healthcare professionals is the ability to track, identify, monitor and improve a specific practice or healthcare organization (â€Å"What is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR),† n. d. ). An EMR could track patient data over time, identify when a patient needs a screening or preventative visit, monitor where patients stand in regards to vaccines, and to ultimately improve the quality of care in a given practice (â€Å"What is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR),† n.d. ). Implementing the use of EMRs into a healthcare practice would get the ball rolling where technology in the healthcare field is concerned. Starting off small is a good way to allow the healthcare professionals, as well as the patients, to form the necessary trust in further technological advancements. If an EMR is already in place in a medical practice, mobile healthcare is another process that healthcare professionals can use to collect and analyze data. Mobile healthcare is also a great tool for healthcare professionals who have a variety of patients over a large geographical area or who are always on the move between their practice and hospitals. Also known as m-health, mobile healthcare is the application of mobile information technologies in the field of healthcare (Siau Shen, 2006, pp. 90). Siau and Shen state that â€Å"mobile technologies can be applied to healthcare in various ways such as voice communication, messaging, notification, asset tracking, and remote access† (Siau Shen, 2006, pp.90). Mobile technologies can reduce administrative costs, improve the response of healthcare professionals, as well as motivate healthcare consumers to become more involved in their treatment course (Siau Shen, 2006, pp. 90). Current technologies in existence make m-health possible. Three examples of these current technologies are Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). Mobile technologies allow flexibility between healthcare providers and healthcare consumers. Patients and doctors, as well as administration professionals, benefit from mobile technologies. In the future, mobile technologies in healthcare organizations could save lives. Mobile technologies, including EMRs and EHRs, allow providers to collect patient data (including past patient history, demographic information, family history, allergies, test results, and lab results for example), track inventory, exchange data and communicate. Healthcare professionals can access a patient’s data and communicate with other healthcare organizations, pharmacies, healthcare professionals, and even the patient themselves. With the advancement of this technology, patient centered healthcare takes on a whole new meaning. The patients can have access to their files, be able to communicate with their healthcare professionals directly, and have access to online information about their diagnoses, medications, and course of treatment. As is always the case, the privacy and security of confidential information are a major concern and that concern heightens when thinking of mobile technologies. Without privacy and security, users of m-health would not be able to form the trust that is necessary when using mobile technologies. HIPPA Privacy and Security Rules â€Å"have detailed requirements regarding both privacy and security†¦the HIPPA Privacy Rules covers protected health information in any medium†¦the HIPPA Security Rules covers electronic protected health information† (â€Å"Privacy and Security,† n. d. ). Studies regarding privacy and security have been, and will continue to be, conducted. Plans regarding privacy and security have been created and implemented in order to help ensure the privacy and security of confidential information. With the topic of privacy and security met, we can now return to the National Patient Safety Goals and how they should be implemented, applied to the practice of healthcare, and tracked by healthcare professionals. National Patient Safety Goals should be utilized and met in every type of healthcare organization setting. Some examples of such a setting are hospitals, clinics, schools and universities, nursing homes, and mental health facilities. Every healthcare consumer deserves the very best care possible. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recognized that, and as mentioned earlier, created the seven National Patient Safety Goals. Take the mental health facility in the form of a group home for example. Many of the consumers’ needs are met daily by direct care professionals. There is an in-house nursing department that takes care of medical needs that arise during the course of the day. The nursing department also handles scheduling many doctors’ appointments for the consumers’, helping to ensure their health. Aforementioned, there are seven National Patient Safety Goals, however, only a few will be focused on for the sake of tracking and analyzing data in certain types of care that would benefit a consumer in a group home setting. In terms of long term care, the National Patient Safety Goals that are focused on are making sure residents are correctly identified, make sure medications are used safely, preventing infection, preventing residents from falls, and preventing bed sores (The Joint Commission Accreditation, 2013). In order to ensure that medications are safely used, a group home could put together a medical administration record (MAR) in which each resident residing in the group home would have their own sheets with each medication they take listed. On these sheets, staff is responsible for initialing each medication they provide to a resident. In order to meet state requirements, the staff also initial and sign the back of the medication sheets and at the end of each month, the MAR is sent to the nursing department to be reviewed before being returned to the group home to be filed. In addition to the MARs, another way to track when medications are not used safely is through incident reports, which are entered into a system that is run by the state. Both of these methods are great ways to make sure each resident is getting the correct medication at the right time on the right date and by the correct route. In a home care setting, the National Patient Safety Goals that are strived to be met are identifying patients correctly, safely using medicines, preventing infections, preventing falls, and identifying patient safety risks (The Joint Commission Accreditation, 2013). In order to help protect residents from falls, it is important to know each resident and what they are capable of, especially when it comes to ambulating. For example, if a resident who lives in a group home has an unsteady gait, they should be monitored when on or around stairs. They should also not be left alone for too long. Ways to track this are by creating and implementing behavior plans as well as social and environmental plans. Their behavior throughout the day should be watched and documented. Any incidents of falls or injuries should be written on an incident report and reported to the proper people/organizations, given the category of the incident. In a behavioral health care setting, the National Patient Safety Goals that are focused on are correctly identifying residents, safely using medications, preventing infection, and identifying client safety risks (The Joint Commission Accreditation, 2013). Identifying clients correctly is one of the most important and widely used National Patient Safety Goal. It is something that you see happening in every healthcare organization that directly deals with patients. Normally, healthcare providers use two different forms of information to make sure they are working with the right consumer. Some examples of ways consumers can be identified are by name, birth date, patient number, primary care doctor, etc. As a healthcare professional, it is important that they make sure they are working with the right patients, so that there are no mistakes during the course of treatment. While this is not the easiest data to analyze or track, there are a few different ways it can be done. For example, if a resident goes to see their primary care physician, their picture could be taken at the office as a way of identifying the right resident. Facilities could also create and utilize a cover sheet with all the residents pertinent information including, but not limited to, their name, address, social security number, health insurance information, emergency contact, and diagnoses. It is imperative that as much data as possible be tracked. The more data that is collected and tracked, the better the analysis will be. When working with residents in the mental health field, many families are not involved and it is the job of the direct care professionals to advocate for the health and well-being of the residents they work with. Tracking this data can be done in the forms of behavior plans, behavior logs, social and environmental plans, incident reports, family history as well as past medical history and medications, both past and current, just to name a few. In order to ensure that all data is tracked properly, it is important to have a common template that is used agency wide. This will cut down on confusion. In the future, it is my hope that group homes will incorporate some sort of technology in order to better track and analyzing data on residents. If there was a common technology used agency wide, it would cut down on how much paper is used as well as constantly repeating information on many different forms. Also, it would be a great way for anyone involved with the care of a resident to quickly have access to the information they need. If this technology was linked up with the primary care physicians that serve this population, there would not be a need to carry around big files for each resident and there would be better communication between residents, staff and physicians, which would make for a more productive and higher quality visit and course of treatment.