ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The company chosen for my placement operates in the travel industry. It offers a wide array of services related to travel planning and grounding. The customers are at the core of the company’s operations, and every trip is tailored to the customers’ needs and budget. My job as an operator involved planning trips, contacting customers, customizing the trip to their needs, and negotiating with service providers, such as hotels. The two theoretical concepts that were particularly relevant to my company’s strategy are leadership and competitive analysis. The present paper will review the company in relation to these concepts, explain their strategic application in the global environment, and discuss the impact on my personal and professional values and beliefs. Leadership Review My experience with leadership in the company was highly positive. From my first day of work, the manager provided me with the information and support necessary to fulfill my duties successfully. I could always contact her when I needed help or reach out to other employees for assistance. However, once I have gotten enough experience with customers and could complete tasks independently, she provided more autonomy and freedom. As a result, I was able to propose and begin a project to enhance the range of services offered by the company by adding wedding photography. Based on my observations, the leadership style used in the company is situational leadership. The theory of situational leadership describes four approaches that leaders could take depending on the circumstances, goals, and employee characteristics (Khan, Nawaz & Khan 2016). According to Thompson and Glasø (2015, p. 528), employees are classified into four categories in terms of their commitment and competence levels, and the leadership approaches suited for each type are identified. Employees with high commitment and low competence are called enthusiastic beginners, and they benefit most from a directive leadership approach (Thompson and Glasø 2016, p. 528). This is the approach that the manager used with me at the beginning since I required information and instruction to complete tasks. As I developed my skills further and spent several months in the company, my competence increased, prompting the manager to switch to the delegating approach (Thompson and Glasø 2016, p. 528). This explains why I was given sufficient freedom to work on my project and fit into the framework of situational leadership. Strategic Application Situational leadership has numerous strategic benefits in the contemporary global environment. As explained by Marques (2015, p. 1310), leaders toda
Introduction The holistic approach should be used when evaluating the family system and developing the necessary treatment strategies. It enables social workers to have a broader perspective on issues the family of a drug addict faces (Van Wormer & Davis, 2012). The relationships between Fran and D’Andre and Derrod are based on resilience and co-dependence. Main body As far as resilience is concerned, it is possible to note that the family in question can be seen as a stable but open family system. Thus, there are certain limits that cannot be violated and there are behaviors that can be tolerated. For instance, Fran wants D’Andre to study and get his education. At the same time, she does not punish him for cutting class though she makes it clear that this behavior is not acceptable. Of course, being imprisoned is also an unwanted outcome, but the boundaries of tolerable things are expanded to keep the balance in the family. As has been mentioned above, there is co-dependence in the family system in question. Fran depends on her sons who support her and give her a reason to live. She takes pride in her boys who are able to take care of themselves. At the same time, boys also depend on their mother. For instance, when D’Andre is taken to prison, he knows that his mother will come and help him. Fran does everything to help her son in that situation as well as in many other cases. It is clear that there are trust and assistance. Conclusion There are numerous external factors affecting the family. Fran is an unemployed addict and, hence, the socio-economic status of the family is quite low. They have to live in a neighborhood where a lot of criminal activity is taking place. Clearly, African American boys often have problems with the police, as there is still quite a lot of racism and discrimination. Of course, all these factors impose numerous threats to the family as such issues as lack of money and injustice can make the addict more depressed and vulnerable, which may lead to the mother’s alienation and will negatively affect relationships in the family. Reference List Van Wormer, K., & Davis, D.R. (2012). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective . Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
The article titled, “The Relationship between Patient’s Waiting Time and Office-Based Practice Satisfaction” by Camacho, Anderson, Safrit, Jones, and Hoffmann (2006) dealt with the issue of patient waiting time and its impact on patient satisfaction. The research problem identified by the authors came from the perceived correlation between patient waiting time and patient satisfaction. The authors indicated that most of the existing research dealt with waiting time in emergency rooms. For this reason, the authors sought to find out how waiting time affected patient satisfaction in primary care and specialty care facilities, in outpatient settings (Camacho, Anderson, Safrit, Jones, & Hoffmann, 2006). The setting they chose for research was the clinic network operated by the Wake Field University. The authors sought to establish the relationship between patient waiting time and patient satisfaction by developing experimental measures to compute the degree of satisfaction associated with waiting time. The hypothesis used by the authors was that waiting time in hospitals affects patient satisfaction. In fact, the authors were not seeking to prove this assertion. Rather, the authors were looking for a means of quantifying the level of dissatisfaction. In other words, the authors wanted to develop a numeric model that can predict the amount of dissatisfaction associated with patient waiting time. Research Methods The authors referred to the study as “observational and cross-sectional” (Camacho, Anderson, Safrit, Jones, & Hoffmann, 2006, p. 1). Essentially, this meant that the authors used observation as their primary data collection method. It also meant that they collected the data from a cross-section of respondents. The researchers collected data using a handheld computer. The authors do not provide an elaborate literature review for the study. However, the authors maintain constant reference to various academic sources throughout the report. This was an interesting approach to literature review because many researchers prefer to review literature within one section. The decision to spread the literature used in this project across the entire article shows that there might have been very little literature relevant to the project. The authors themselves claimed that most literature in existence dealt with the waiting time in emergency rooms, and not in outpatient facilities. It is likely that the authors felt the need to carry out a study with minimal influence from existing literature. Relevance of the Research The research was very relevant to the current healthcare climate. Healthcare providers are under increasing pressure to find better ways of offering health services that can help to increase access to healthcare. In addition, they are under pressure to bring
Currently, technology controls almost every aspect of an individual’s life. Furthermore, in terms of communication, close to 80% of the world, in any given situation, must use technology to pass information (Dehgani & Navimipour, 2019). When communicating, particularly in education, students utilize different devices to communicate with classmates and their professors. In other circumstances, when students graduate and are underemployed, they utilize technology to communicate with their colleagues or staff members. Today, there are numerous ways people use to communicate and these include emails, text messages, and video calls. To communicate with other students, especially during discussions, I will opt for video calls. As a professional, using emails when passing and receiving information from colleagues and lecturers is the most appropriate method of communication. Thus, I will continue using emails as a mode of communication when it comes to situations that require an individual to be professional. With regards to accessing, completing, and submitting assignments, there are several methods that one can use. Different learning institutions have platforms where their students can access learning materials. These platforms are usually provided through the Internet, and students can use gadgets such as computers and mobile phones to access these materials. Additionally, students can use these platforms to access assignments and submit them at the same time. Since this is a convenient way of supporting my studies, I will continue utilizing technology in this manner. Furthe
The tectonic plates can be discussed as constantly moving together, but these movements are not noticed until the edges of the plates meet each other to cause slipping on a fault. Thus, earthquakes can be defined as the results of the movements of tectonic plates about their faults slipping past each other. Furthermore, the earthquake is felt and observed as shaking processes caused by the waves of the significant energy noticed when the tectonic plates move or slip past each other influencing the intensity of the movement because of its direction. Thus, the tectonic plates are separated and boundaries are presented as faults, and earthquakes are observed on the faults because it is the place of slipping the edges of the plates. The direction of the plates’ movements and the sizes of the faults are different as well as the sizes of tectonic plates. From this point, it is necessary to compare the Haitian Earthquake (2010), the Chile Earthquake (2010), and the Illinois Earthquake (2008) in order to conclude about the causes of earthquakes and differences in effects. Thus, earthquakes are different in their intensity and associated consequences because of differences in the faulting and directions according to which the plates move in relation to each other as well as because of the sizes of the tectonic plates and the amount of energy released after the observed movement. Earthquakes are different in relation to their intensity because tectonic plates move in relation to each following three directions, and the results of these movements are various because the movement of the plates away from one another (divergent movement), towards each other (compressional movement), and slipping past each (transform boundary) other along with the size of the fault can lead to different devastating effects and losses. The Haitian Earthquake occurred in 2010, causing “316,000 people killed, 300,000 injured, 1.3 million displaced, 97,294 houses destroyed and 188,383 damaged in the Port-au-Prince area and in much of southern Haiti” (“Haitian Earthquake”). The significant damage and high losses were the results of the earthquake’s nature becaus
Introduction The question of homosexuality has produced numerous problems in the society. This is the case because the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is opposed to the ideals and norms supported by the contemporary society. Many people also believe that homosexuality is “a malpractice that threatens the institution of marriage” (Elliott, 2011, p. 41). This situation has produced a major conflict that threatens the relationship between homosexuals and heterosexuals in the society. The “dominant notion in many American communities is that women and men should marry in order to safeguard the future of the human population” (Wester, Pionke, & Vogel, 2005, p. 197). This discussion examines how the problem arising from homosexuality can be addressed using conflict theory. Social Problem: Gay and Lesbian Relationships The LGBT community “has become a critical subculture with unique values, ideologies, and social norms” (Feldblum, 2006, p. 85). The agreeable fact is that this subculture has distinguished itself from the aspects of the dominant society. More people are also claiming to belong to this subculture. As well, many individuals in the society believe that the subculture is unrealistic. This is the case because it does not follow the norms embraced by the wider community. Members of this subculture also have their unique views that differ significantly from those of the wider community. Many opponents believe that “such members promote same-sex marriages thus threatening the future of the human population” (Wester et al., 2005, p. 198). Feldblum (2006) believes that the ideologies and behaviors embraced by the LGBT community differ significantly from those promoted by the contemporary society. Many communities have also described same-sex marriage as an unacceptable taboo. Many citizens treat homosexually as something unacceptable. Different theorists have identified various reasons why same-sex marriage is unacceptable in many communities today. For example, many skeptics argue that homosexuality is something immoral. The relationship has also been “condoned by different religious faiths” (Feldblum, 2006, p. 76). The relationship also has the potential to destroy various traditions that have been practiced for centuries. For instance, the behavior has “the potential to affect human posterity” (Feldblum, 2006, p. 79). This is something true because homosexuals cannot have children. They will also be unable to become good parents. Some people have also argued that same-sex marriages can affect the developmental stages of children (Elliott, 2011). The malpractice can produce numerous consequences and eventually make it impossible for many societies to achieve their goals. The tradition of “marriage is also under threat because of homosexuality” (Feldblum, 2006, p. 76). Some experts believe that homosexuality is something closely associated with social deviance. Elliott (2011) defines “ deviance as the continued violation of various social norms” (p. 4
Professional conduct within a health care setting is grounded in values that reflect the nature and the dynamics of the relationships between a provider and a patient. Because individuals who are facing illnesses are particularly vulnerable, they depend upon professionals in a health care setting to address their needs in a professional manner (the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2012). It is important to mention that the core values of professional conduct include but are not limited to moral values like trustworthiness and integrity, profession-specific values such as confidentiality, and humanistic values such as compassion and empathy. Exhibiting professional conduct in a health care setting is important because of its alignment with such processes as decision-making, patient care, research, and public support. As for the process of decision-making, health care executives must be able to maintain ethical and professional conduct in order to serve as role models to ensure that other workers are complying with the proper standards and to create an environment in which decision-making aligns with the set standards. The standards for professional conduct promote a critical concern for patient care. Such standards are likely to enhance the quality of health care by minimizing or even eliminating mistakes made by providers who act according to standards instead of complying with a set of guidelines created by the top administrators of the health care facility. Moreover, the promotion of professional conduct within health care settings increases the support of the public for the medical profession overall. For instance, if the general public trusts the medical community to be professional and comply with ethical standards, generous donors from the community are more likely to donate to medical research that could benefit the community. Violations and boundary crossings in health care settings are issues that can significantly hinder relationships between providers and patients (Aravind, Krishnaram, & Thasneem, 2012). Among the reasons for boundary-crossing, several have been identified as the most prominent, including moral weakness, exploitative characters, and emotional vulnerability; when an individual is not completely mentally healthy, there will always be issues with his or her commitment to the ethical values of an organizational setting, as found by Aravind et al. (2012). When professional staff members of a health care setting compromise the ethical boundaries that guide relationships between workers and patients, they risk patients’ wellbeing and health, especially in cases of unethical relationships between male doctors and female patients, where traditional gender roles contribute to the issue of exploitation (Galletly, 2004). Furthermore, patients who have
In their article titled, “Calling a team a team doesn’t mean that it is: successful teamwork must be a way of life”, Jim Temme and Jeanine Katzel talk about the essentials of teamwork and factors affecting the success of any team. Four essential concepts are discussed: goals and objectives, empowerment, and trust. The Summary of Key Concepts Teamwork cannot be demanded because goals and objectives should be properly understood by every person involved in teamwork. In particular, the authors emphasize that frequent meetings are necessary to set realistic goals and discuss the objectives of the teamwork. Moreover, members of the team should have a defined purpose of being put together. Authors refer to goals as the glue that holds team members together. In other words, the team should be given specific tasks to do as a team rather than individually. The empowerment concept is also very important as being able to set goals, make decisions and solve problems is one of the vital elements of successful teambuilding. Every team has a leader but the function of the leader of the team is not to demand teamwork but rather to share the power with members of the group working together toward a common goal. Moreover, members should be willing to assume responsibility for the outcomes of their empowerment. Finally, successful teams are built on mutual trust. Temme and Katzel note that trust must be earned. For example, when team members are consistent in words said and actions made, trust is very likely to develop. There should be a commitment to each other. The same prerequisite applies to the trust-building between the leader and team members. Paraphrased Paragraph on TQM One of the key concepts discussed in the article is TQM (Total Quality Management). Temme and Katzel argue that teams should be change-oriented because organizational change is always necessary. Asking customers for feedback empowers the effective work of the whole organization. The TQM management involves the continuous improvement of goods and services to meet the needs of clients more effectively and efficiently. The definition of TQM implies constant and planned change. Moreover, it is important to keep an eye on the actions of competitors, but leaders should stay focused on the customers’ needs to be prepared to meet their needs rather than copy the actions of competitors. Examples of Direct Quotes  1. “Both the team leader and team members must risk making mistakes and even failing occasionally. Although no one should be encouraged to make mistakes, implementing creative ideas does carry the risk of failure” (Temme and Katzel, 1995, p. 112)  2. “For a teambuilding effort to work in the long run, management must be sincere in its resolve to see the teambuilding process through” (Temme and Katzel, 1995, p. 112)  3. “One common mistake of teambuilding is to asse
Introduction Blindness is both physical and emotional or even intellectual, of which a person gets afflicted with it denoting not physical blindness but failure to see clearly on situations that may cause negative results if not addressed carefully. This kind of blindness is present in both stories of Medea and Oedipus. Medea, at most associated with the witch Greek goddess Hecate, is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of the sun Helios, who fell in love with the hero of the Golden Fleece – Jason. Oedipus’ story is best known as a fulfilment of a prophecy: a banished son who soon killed his father and then marries his mother. Oedipus’s story Oedipus’s metaphorical blindness is one of the main themes concentrated in the Greek play. Oedipus at the middle of the story had the urge to free the citizens of Thebes from the threat of the Sphinx. On the latter part of his story, Oedipus would vow to do everything in his power to find the murderer of Laius, as the murder has caused the plague in Thebes. Oedipus firmly believed that, ‘The only way of deliverance from our plague is for us to find out the killers of Laius and kill and banish them.” Oedipus believes that his propensity in solving problems would eventually guide him to the truth and subsequently, down the correct path. But in fact, Oedipus is a man who studies the ground in front of him so intensely he did not bother to look up and see other details. The irony of his situation is that his insight led him to a contradictory truth. As Teresias accused, “I say, you murdered the man whose murderer you require” referring to Oedipus himself who killed Laius his father. However, Oedipus’s inability to comprehend Teresias’s riddles is a product of his hubris — pride and arrogance — which act together to figuratively blindfold hi
Introduction There is fast growth in the service industry globally. The service industry is supportive of the manufacturing industry and other industries in global economics. However, the sector is also the most competitive globally because large profits are drawn from the sector, hence attracting many investors. One of the industries in the sector is the hotel and restaurant industry. This has been the fastest growing industries in all parts of the world. As mentioned, this is also a highly competitive industry especially for incomers. The industry has well established players, for instance Mcdonalds who often give a cutting throat competition to a firm that have the ambition of becoming proficient performers in the industry. Nonetheless, there are small entrepreneurs who have managed to enter the industry. An example of such a firm is the MK Restaurant (Itthiopassagula, Pattersonb and Piyathasanana, 2009). This player has even posed to be a leading competitor to the giant players. This firm is found in Thailand. It began as a small restaurant but has managed to sprout throughout the country with over one hundred branches. One of the key success factors for MK Restaurant is marketing. This firm has heavily invested in crafting and modeling the marketing function in every operation. Successful marketing strategies have led to what the company is today. The way a firm invests in the marketing of services brings a majorly substantial difference in competition and growth (Lovelock, Patterson and Wirtz, 2011). This paper