A New Employee Reward and Recognition Program Essay

In efforts to increase motivation, increase employee job satisfaction, increase communications, and raise the employee retention rate, a rewards and recognition program could be implemented. Being a non-profit organization with no budgetary spending allotted for a rewards and recognition program, makes this project challenging. However, the benefits appear to tremendously outweigh the burdens. Therefore, planning and developing this program will be a both challenging and beneficial. Objectives of Planned Intervention Objective one would be to increase motivation. Employees lack motivation due to not be recognized for all of the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and fortitude they have performed or given for the organization. Being motivated does not come easy for every person. It is hopeful that the implementation of an employee rewards and recognition program will provide the employees with a common goal in order to receive the recognition; thus, requiring them to be motivated to get the job done. A sizeable change in motivation is hopeful to be around 75-85%, given all employees participate. This will be observable and measurable by the amount of work accomplished as well as how much effort the employee devoted to it. Objective two would be to increase employee job satisfaction. This goal is the purpose for doing this project. Lack of recognition has caused many of the employees to develop negative behaviors and work morale. They feel unappreciated, overworked, insignificant, and ignored. It is hopeful that their feelings will change as a result of an employee rewards and recognition program being implemented. In correlation to the first objective, this objective is suspected to increase employee job satisfaction by 75-85%. Not only will the job satisfaction increase but so will work morale. With employees being happy in their place of employment, improved work morale would be promising. Objective three would be to increase communications. Communication is the key to a successful organization. At this point, there is little to none. What is there is vague and often incomprehensible. Confusion and frustration should minimize due to more systematic employee communications; this being one of the largest obstacles due to the size of the department and the distribution of our locations. Time management should improve due to the reduction of re-doing and/or elimination of the duplication of work done. The employee communication process and procedures will change in order to give a more systematical approach on communication. Objective four would be to raise the employee retention rate. Currently, it is difficult to retain substitute teachers and bus drivers more than any other employee. It is expectant that this rewards and recognition program will inspire these employees to want to stay. It is hopeful that they will be motivated in trying to obtain a permanent position due to this as well. These changes would occur in all four counties (a total of ten locations), as the employee rewards and recognition program is intended to be implemented department wide. This includes four satellite offices/classroom locations as well as six classroom only locations. Strategies to segment the program into quarters are probable. By the end of the first program quarter, a substantial change shall be noticeable. With great anticipation, by the end of the third program quarter at least half will be have made notable growth. Description of Intervention In effort to achieve the objectives stated above, a plan of action is needed. The organization currently has one recognition process which is for years of service. However, there is nothing in the policies and procedures manual outlining this process. Due to the budgetary restrictions, there will be a section added to the policies and procedures manual but rewards will be left to be determined. The new procedure will require some constant creativity and teamwork. Planning strategies to raise money will be a challenge but with some creativity and teamwork, it should be effortless. A few fundraising opportunities that can be done quarterly are as follows. A bake sale! In hopes that employees will join forces and want to initiate this change together, as it will not be handed to them, it will be asked that they donate a baked goods item to the bake sale on a given date. All proceeds will then go into a fun reserved for the employee rewards and recognition program. This could be done monthly or quarterly dependent upon how low the fund is running. A weekend community picnic! This will more than likely be done once a year, as it is a particularly large project and will expect employees to volunteer outside of work. All proceeds again going into the employee rewards and recognition program fund. Blue Jean or Casual Fridays! This would obviously be done on Fridays, every Friday if permissible. Any employee who wants to wear blue jeans or casual clothing will have to pay anywhere from one to two dollars. In correlation, a themed casual day could be implemented as well. Things such as football Friday, where the employee could wear their favorite sports jersey, or during the holidays, they could or dress say in costume on Halloween; of course for a fee.

Compare Two Deontological Theories Essay

‘Deon’ means duty in ancient Greek and a deontological theory is concerned with the morality of an act rather than its consequences (or the ‘motive/intention’ behind the act). Kant’s theory of categorical imperatives (I ought to do X rather than a hypothetical; if I want to achieve X then I should do Y) consists of three main principles. The first of these is the universal law which states that you must only act on the maxim (principle) when you can at the same time will it to become a universal law. This means that you must be content that if everybody took the same action as you chose in similar situations, it would remain a moral action. The second of his principles asks you to act in a way that treats others as an end in themselves rather than a means to an end. This relates to Jesus’ teaching to ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7:12) and says humans should not use other humans to gain something for th emselves, as we would not like to be treated in this way. The final categorical imperative is the ‘Kingdom of Morals’ which says that we should always act as though we were the legislators for the kingdom of morals – we are in charge of what is fair and just. Kant placed great faith on human beings as being able to work rationally to such a conclusion and act according to principles. This contrasts with the Natural Moral Law theory which claims that we must find the purpose God has set for us and follow this path accordingly; our own personal beliefs are irrelevant. ‘Natural Moral Law’ was coined by Thomas Aquinas (influenced by Aristotle’s idea of the ‘final cause’) and the theory states that every action must work to fulfil its purpose; every action against it is immoral. According to the theory natural law is accessible through the natural order of the world and is unchanging. It is arguable that part of the theory is teleological as it is concerned with our ‘end’ by tryin g to fulfil our ‘God-given purpose’. Both Aquinas and Kant agree that our morals are absolute, a priori truths, however Kant believes that our reason will lead us to these truths whilst Aquinas has set primary and secondary precepts which he believes humans should follow. His primary precepts are to self-preserve and preserve the innocent, reproduce, learn, order society and worship God. These are absolutist as he believes all societies should share these values. He believes that these are universal and so he is fulfilling Kant’s first imperative. However the theories, when applied work very differently. An example of this is the case of abortion, a girl that is thirteen years old gets raped and becomes pregnant; she cannot care for the child and feels like she would be wrong in keeping it. According to Kant’s theory she would not be able to abort as she could not will every woman who became pregnant to abort their child, if they did then the human race would not survive, making this a contradiction of the ‘Laws of Nature’. Kant also argued that all humans have intrinsic worth and therefore by aborting so that she has an easier life the girl is treating the foetus as a means to an end. As for natural law, abortion goes against two of Aquinas’ primary precepts, largely the precept of ‘reproduction’. But also ‘preservation of the innocent’ suggests that issues such as euthanasia and abortion would not be permitted. The only acceptance to abortion in the natural law theory would be if the mother’s womb had to be removed to save her life – consequently aborting the foetus (this is the doctrine of the double effect). Both Aquinas and Kant assume God, Kant says that we must presuppose God, immortality and freedom in order for his theory to function whilst Aquinas believes that God gave us the ability to reason to find our morals – which God set. Whilst on surface level they appear similar theories, both being absolutist and deontological, when applied to ethical decisions they usually counteract each other with the viewpoint given. Assess the strengths & weaknesses of one of these theories (9 Marks) An obvious problem for the natural moral law theory is that it provides us with legalistic morality, because it is absolutist it means that it does not accommodate for individual circumstances. An example of this is a homosexual couple. According to the theory, the purpose of all sexual acts is to reproduce; any sexual act which does not fulfil this purpose is immoral. We can see that we are biologically ‘set up’ to reproduce in this way, and so Aquinas believes that masturbation, contraception and homosexual intercourse are all immoral because they do not perform the function that they are destined for. However the fact that it is an absolutist theory also has its advantages – it is a source of clear values and moral certainty, it would be very easy to follow, without considering the complexity of circumstances or consequences. Its focus on reason and universalism also helps the simplicity of the theory and can help it to transcend over a variety of cultures and religions. The only problem with it being a religious theory rather than a secular one is that the primary precept of ‘worshipping God’ will not come naturally to those who do not believe in the Christian God, or to atheists/agnostics. The fact that Aquinas maintains that the absolute laws come from God and that we ought to obey them may lead him into the trap of the naturalistic fallacy – obeying God is a value judgement and therefore he is turning and is into an ought. However an advantage is that the theory’s emphasis on the purpose of humanity gives people a structure and meaning in their lives, it is humanistic in its assertion that we all have intrinsic worth. Overall I believe that the weaknesses outweigh the strengths of this theory – it fails in its precepts which determine how people should live – people do not all hold the same values and therefore it is presumptuous to say that our morals were given by God and we all share them. It is also interesting that Aquinas himself went against his primary precept of ‘reproduction’ by being a celibate priest.

Biography of Rihanna

She began signing when she was seven with two of her classmates but it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she met Evan Rogers and began to work with him and moved out of Barbados. A year after moving to the states she was asked to meet with Jay-z at DefJam Records where she was offered a contract in February 2005. Working with DefJam records she was able to record her first album by the end of 2005. â€Å"Music of the sun† was released and Pon De Replay became her first widely known hit making it in to the top 5 singles for that year. Just about a year later she released album number two â€Å"A Girl Like Me†. Her song S. O. S. was her first number one hit and the album was ranked in the top five albums for the year. In May 2007 she released her third album â€Å"Good Girl Gone Bad† which won her a Grammy for best rap/collaboration for her number one hit Umbrella. This album also was known for three other number one hits including Don’t Stop the Music, Take a Bow, and Disturbia. Around two years later she released her fourth album â€Å"Rated R† which was the number one album on the Billboard Hot 100 albums for the year. Three of her songs from this album made it to the top ten singles including Russian Roulette, Hard, and Rude Boy. Under a year later she released â€Å"Loud† being one of her most popular albums and being known for her three number one singles Only Girl(In the World), Samp;M, and What’s My Name?. Finally her most recent album â€Å"Talk That Talk† was released in 2012 and is currently known for the number one single We Found Love. As of now we know that she is working on her seventh album which no information has been release about. She had been on four tours around the world and has one upcoming tour Diamonds World Tour which will be her biggest, longest tour yet. Rihanna often gives credit to her idols that all influenced her in different ways. The person she says influenced her the most would be Madonna saying â€Å"I want to be the Black Madonna. † She also has said that Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Bob Marley, Marilyn Monroe, Mariah Carey and Destiny’s child were very influential on her life becoming a successful artist in today’s music industry. Rihanna has become an influential person herself, having been and idol for Justin Bieber and Rita Ora, both younger artists. She has been named one of the most influential people in the world and ranks fourth in the most powerful celebrities. She has received many awards including five American Music awards, eighteen Billboard Music awards, two BRIT awards and 5 Grammys. She has had eleven number one singles on Billboards top 100 and was named Digital Artist for the 2000’s by Billboard Music as well. She is the highest selling digital artist of all time with 47,571,000 sold singles as of early 2012. Forbes reported that she earned a little over $82 million between May 2010 and May 2012 and she continues to expand on her career. Rihanna in known for her thought provoking music videos, many of them with under-lying meanings. Much like Madonna she incorporates substance abuse, domestic violence or love triangles into her videos. She also turns obscure situations into glitz and glamorous situations. Many of her videos and outfits have caused controversy because of the explicit content. Her live shows are known for her hip shaking, sex appeal, attitude, sexy outfits and over the top performances sometimes being quite risque. She has said that â€Å"These performances are all an act, that’s not me. That’s a part I play. You know it’s like a piece of art with all these toys and textures to play with. † In her early days she was a typical teen pop star but she easily shifted her appearance dramatically and continues to change frequently. By the time she released her â€Å"Good Girl Gone Bad† album she had completely shook the teen pop star image everyone had gave her. By 2008 she was named best dressed by Peoples magazine and was on Maxims Hot 100 for five consecutive years (2007-2011). In 2009 Glamour named her Woman of the year and she ranked seventeenth out of fifty in Most Glamorous Women. She also was named sexiest women alive in 2011 by Esquire. Not only is she an extremely successful music artist, she has had her share in acting as well. In 2006 she mad a cameo appearance in the movie Bring it On: All or Nothing. In 2012 she was seen in the movie Battleship as GM2 officer Cora Raikes and had another cameo appearance in The Katy Perry Movie. In the next two years she will be seen in End of the World and Happy Smekday. The successful Barbadian superstar started out as a typical teen pop singer and has made a huge name for herself, not only singing but acting as well. Attempting to turn herself into the â€Å"Black Madonna† it seems she has met her goal although she continues to do more with her career. After seven years and six albums Rihanna has become one of the most popular music artists not only in the USA but worldwide. She is one of the most influential celebrities for upcoming music artists in the industry today.

Cancer and biopsies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cancer and biopsies - Essay Example Basically, cancer has been a major killer disease on the entire planet and therefore, it is interesting to study and provide information in this area so as to enable various individuals and professional gain. This will also assist in coming up with a collective responsibility in fighting the disease all over the world. It is therefore, necessary to provide the scientific and medical information regarding its causes, how it is spread, prevention and the future vision concerning its approach. Background information on cancer Cancer is a category of diseases that is characterized by out of growth of the body cells. In this case, cancer is classified according to the type of cell it originated from or the one that was priory affected. Cancer damages the body particularly when the damaged body cells continuously divide uncontrollably to form lumps of tissue known as tumors (Phelan, 2009). These structures grow and hinder the functioning of various body systems such as digestive, nervous, circulatory systems by releasing hormones. Cancer that affects human body is grouped into five classes that is, carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas, leukemia and adenomas. Development of cancer Mostly cancer is the ultimate result of body cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. This is different from normal cells in the body that follow an orderly path of growth, division and finally, death. The cells that emerge to cancer are those that come from a programmed cell thus when this process breaks down then it lead to cancer (Colditz and Hunter, 2000). Unlike regular cells; cancer cells do not encounter programmatic death but instead grow continuously out of control. This abnormal growth of cells results to a massive number of abnormal body cells. On the other hand, cells can undergo unusual enlargement in case there are damages or mutations caused to DNA. This can lead to the damaging of the genes involved in the cell division. The cell division process is enhanced by four key type s of gene: the ontogenesis that tells cells when to divide, the tumor suppressor genes that controls the cell when not to divide, suicide genes that manages or handles the apoptosis. Therefore, cancer results when a cell’s gene mutations hinders the cell from correcting DNA damage and unable to commit suicide (Phelan, 2009). Similarly, cancer is as a result of mutations that slow down tumor suppressor for gene function that causes the uncontrolled cell growth in the body. Cancer can also be caused by substances that contain carcinogens, carcinogens are substances that directly damage the DNA thus promoting or aiding cancer. Examples of carcinogens include: tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, and radiation such as gamma rays and x-rays, the sun and chemical compounds from the car exhaust fumes. When our bodies are exposed to these substances, free radicals are formed that obtain electrons from other molecules in the body. This free radicals damage cells and interfere with the normal f unctioning of the body cells. Consequently, genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members can also lead to cancer. There is high chance of an individual with certain natural genetic mutations or a fault on a particular gene that makes one have a high probability of developing cancer later in life (Tam, 2011). Moreover, there is an upsurge of possible mutations of the genes that causes cancer varies proportionally with age. This implies that as one grows old there are high chances that he or she can contact cancer. Conversely, several cancers have also been linked to

International financial markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International financial markets - Essay Example Meanwhile, the mispriced item will have appreciated at a rate higher than that of the portfolio. The arbitrageur could thus short sell the portfolio at the present price and use the amount obtained to purchase the mispriced item. At the end of the period, the arbitrageur will sell the mispriced item, purchase back the portfolio, and then keep the difference as his profit. In this context, the arbitrageur utilizes the interest rates difference between two countries to make risk free profit. By the use of a forward contract to eliminate the threat of exchange rates, the arbitrageur makes profit from the fact that interest rates difference does not always hold(TEALL,2013). According to economists, factors such as fluctuating frequencies of time series data and diverse aspects of assets contribute to changes in interest rates. An example of an investor exploiting such an arbitrage opportunity due to pricing forwards; The investor borrows 800,000 of currency Y @ 2% per annum. This implies that that by the end of year, he will be required to pay 816,000. Currency X offers a higher one-year interest and therefore the investor converts the 800,000 currency Y to X at a spot rate of 1.00. The investors lock in the 4% rate on the deposit of the 800,000X and concurrently enters into a forward contract which, converts the full maturity amount of the deposit,(832,000X) into currency Y at the one-year forward at a rate of Y=1.0125X. After one year, the investor settles the forward contract at the agreed rate (1.0125). The investor remains with 821,728Y and after repaying his 816,000Y loan, he remains with 5728Y as his profit. There may be various arbitrage opportunities according to the binomial pricing model. For instance, a situation where stock price is (ST )at time (T)and there are only two time periods; (T= 0 and T = 1). Starting stock

Degree Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Degree Plan - Essay Example With my current military experience, I have confidence in my ability to remain focused therefore allowing me to accomplish these two long-term goals Concentration I believe the concentration of courses that that I have selected constitute a well-focused, in-depth program that will grant me the ability to perform well in my desired career goal. I started my studies at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), and focused on criminal justice related courses such as Ethics in Criminal Justice, Juvenile Delinquency, and Introduction to Criminal Justice. These courses were introductory level components that have prepared me for more advanced courses at Empire State College. These courses increased my knowledge within the criminal justice field, and they also fit the degree program similar to MVCC. The courses that I selected at Empire State focus primarily on social science related subjects. They include a broad range of subjects within this field which will make me a well-rounded individua l. I have focused heavily on advanced-level courses not only to meet Empire State advanced standards, but to increase my knowledge extensively within the field of criminal justice. The course that I have chosen in my degree program that focuses heavily on terrorism is Terrorism and Homeland. This study will offer me the in-depth focus on terrorism by examining the roles of law enforcement in managing terrorist events. It will also familiarize me with history, politics, and policies of terrorism. Having a subject in terrorism will benefit me if I look into a Homeland Security field as a career goal. In addition, I selected a class on deviant behavior, and it will allow me to explore socially deviant behavior of adults, and youth. General Learning and General Educational Requirements In every degree program, I believe a breadth of learning is necessary in order to become a well-educated individual, instead of being narrow-minded towards education. In my criminal justice program, I fin d it to be extremely important to have the required liberal arts classes to understand the complex nature of the world around me. Throughout life an individual is met with tasks on a daily basis that require a broad-range of learning, and having a variety of liberal arts courses can provide that. For example, when I traveled to many countries and saw ancient buildings, I was unaware of the architectural features these buildings had. I took a class called Western Architecture, and it provided me with the knowledge to understand these magnificent architectural masterpieces. Without this course I would have simply looked past the design aspects. Many of the courses that I have taken, and the ones I selected to develop my degree plan provide me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills in writing, math, history, science, art, and language. During my service in the military I have gained a great deal of knowledge that correlates with some educational aspects at Empire State Coll ege. These courses include Physical Education, Military Science, Ethics, First Aid and Safety, and Principles of Leadership. All of the skills gained from these courses will enable me to become a more productive individual with my desired career choice. Not only does my military education bring breadth into

F-35 LIGHTNING II Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

F-35 LIGHTNING II - Research Paper Example This involved the use of military scientist to focus on defense strategies. The expertise was aimed at providing military capabilities of various nations involved. Moreover, as threat to international peace and stability continues to take shape, the field of military science continues to rise at the same rate. This necessitated development of fighter aircrafts meant to control and protect the airspace. This field is hoped to reach its epitome in the 21st century. This paper discusses  F-35 LIGHTNING II. F-35 LIGHTNING II is a recent generation fighter designed in United States. Several features make it outstanding among other fighter planes. These factors include adoption of recent technological advancements, and low cost. The original intention of developing F-35 was to serve all branches of the America military including air force, navy, and Marine Corps (Military Factory, 2012). Additionally it was also meant to serve the Britain military. F-35 is being developed, and has three airframes each with a particular purpose, but the three mainframes depend on one engine type. This is a recent advancement of its kind rivaling all other models. It is believed to offer a precise ground strike on its completion and entrance on market in 2016. F-35 will offer guided ammunition and bombs, high level of space command, and efficiency in elimination of any threat posed on air (Military Factory, 2012). F-35 has high capabilities of multitasking when directed to a particular target. Moreover, F-35 can be able to analyze situation in a complex battlefield and enable a pilot to have sufficient time to act. This information is also transferred to other allied forces in efficient manner. The cost of maintaining stealth is also low. F-35 is also able to encounter any threat from a very long distance such as a weapon and oncoming plane. F-35 was based on the idea of the US Joint Strike fighter program. The selection of Lockheed was based on lower financial cost that was envisage d in the long term. The lift fan of F-35 was improved significantly and this makes it more competitive than X-32. Cooling system was improved and this reduced chances of hot gases going back to the engine as it thrusts on the air. The lift fan offers enough space for fuel in both X-35A and X-35C models (Military Factory, 2012). Different groups funded the project of F-35. F-35 emanated from three models X-35A, X-35B, and X-35C (Buescher, 2001). The initial text of X-35A took place in 2000 and trials were made on Edward Air Force Base. After these trials, it was later converted into X-35B STOVL model. X-35C served to assist the two earlier models in case a problem arises (Duran, 2007). F-35A was first tested on December 15 2006 in Edward Air Force Base. First flight of X-35B took place in 2001 and hover cycle was achieved. STOVL F-35B test took place later in 2008. Additionally, F-35B achieved its initial flight in early 2009 and was able to refuel on air on August 13, 2009. X-35C we nt on air for the first time on December 16, 2000 (Buescher, 2001). Testing was done on its capability to land. It recorded improved performance in terms of low-level, low speed approaches that was the target of US navy. Testing was completed on X-35C on March 2001. The identity of F-35C was first disclosed on July 28, 2009. F-35 testing was complet

Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Homelessness - Essay Example There are a number of factors that have contributed towards homelessness in the nation. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), in this regard, identifies two dominant trends that have been responsible for the rise of homelessness: â€Å"a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty† (National Coalition for the Homeless, Why Are People Homeless?). Poverty and homelessness are interrelated as poor people very often are forced to sacrifice their desire for housing in order to meet other basic needs food, clothing and healthcare. Unemployment, unstable employment, low-wages, lack of affordable housing for the poor, excessive waiting lists for public housing, and decline in public assistance are other significant predictors for homelessness (NCH, Why Are People Homeless?). It is worthwhile to review the definition of homelessness and to identify the dominant demographic characteristics of homelessness in the nation. Homeless people are defined as â€Å"individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;† this definition takes into account people who share the housing of others; people who live in motels or camping grounds; people who are in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned children who await foster care placement; and migratory children (NCH, Who is Homeless?). Reviewing the demographic characteristics 39% of the homeless population comprised of children below the age of 18 whereas 25% of the homeless were individuals in the age category of 25 to 34 (NCH, Who is Homeless?). Similarly, males were more likely to be homeless than females. However, homeless families with children have considerably increased in the past decade. Regarding the ethnicity of homelessness, African-Americans form the majority of the homel ess population (49%) followed by Caucasian (35%), Hispanic (23%), Native American (2%), and 1% of Asians (NCH, Who is Homeless?). It has also been observed by NCH that

Developing Students Accuracy and Automation in Subtraction Math Facts Essay

Developing Students Accuracy and Automation in Subtraction Math Facts to 100 - Essay Example to get the remainder zero we have to subtract 3 repeatedly from 15 and it's subsequent remainders. The logic is plain and simple, such fundamental knowledge doesn't make the student stereotyped and he can innovate and conclude the real life problems in a better manner. The less the students minimize their dependency on calculators, the better equipped they find themselves with faster calculations. A quick way to estimate the difference between numbers is to round each number and then subtract the rounded numbers. This probably won't be the exact answer but it may be close enough for some purposes. An estimate can sometimes be improved. If the sum of 645-450 were estimated, we would round 645 to 600 and 450 to 500. The estimate would be 600-500 or 100. One number was rounded down and the other was rounded up. The number 645 was rounded down by 45 and 450 was rounded up by 50. Adding 45+50 gives 95, which rounds to 100. Therefore, a better estimate would be 200. The actual difference is 195. Moreover, the students should make it a habit to calculate their bills, subtract the discounted price and to find out the remaining balance on their own. This will sharpen their skills. Nothing can be more blissful than Self- automation. Source citatio

Online college education vs traditional Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Online college education vs traditional - Essay Example The internet revolution has also affected the educational sector. There are many sites which offer online courses especially at the college level and higher. It would be rare to find a university in the U.S. that has no internet connection and reasonable technology infrastructure. However, the use of the internet in classroom teaching is not as widespread as the use of the internet for information, entertainment, communication, and research (Scagnoli, 2005). With the internet the barriers of time and space have been ended. Online education is internet enabled technology driven education that allows you to study anytime, anywhere, as per your convenience. Online education is one of the ways of imparting effective education to the aspiring people, residing anywhere in the world. This has helped people to pursue and advance their learning process, without messing up with their professional responsibilities and duties. Online learning helps to increase the educational experiences irrespe ctive of age and geographical diversity. The World Wide Web empowers the University to deliver training and critical information to its wide spread student base no matter where and what time zone the users are in. The students just access their training materials or start studying whenever they want from home or from office. Online education gives the students the flexibility to go through the programme content at the time that is most convenient to them and thereby achieve an appropriate balance of work, family, community and educational commitments.

Guidelines for Writing the Three Major Parts of the Literature Review Essay Example for Free

Guidelines for Writing the Three Major Parts of the Literature Review Essay The introductory section should describe the topic (problem area, guiding concept, theme or research question or problem) that is being reviewed. Aim for an â€Å"eye catching opening sentence†. Sometimes this is a dramatic expression of a number to catch the reader’s attention such as the prevalence of a disease, crime rate, school drop out rate, or sales volume. Be sure the topic is focused on the literature that will be reported. Briefly define the key concepts. Introduce these immediately. The topic should be sufficiently focused to permit an in-depth, substantial investigation, relevant to an area of advanced study/global leadership that guides a range of inquiry, results in an extensive search of scholarly literature, and generation of questions for further inquiry. The purpose of a literature review is presented in the introduction. Bourner (1996) reports the following Purposes – of a literature review – (reasons for a review of the literature) before embarking on a research project. These reasons include: †¢ to identify gaps in the literature  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ to avoid reinventing the wheel (at the very least this will save time and it can stop you from making the same mistakes as others) †¢ to carry on from where others have already reached (reviewing the field allows you to build on the platform of existing knowledge and ideas) †¢ to identify other people working in the same fields (a researcher network is a valuable resource) †¢ to increase your breadth of knowledge of your subject area †¢ to identify seminal works in your area †¢ to provide the intellectual context for your own work, enabling you to position your project relative to other work †¢ to identify opposing views †¢ to put your work into perspective †¢ to demonstrate that you can access previous work in an area †¢ to identify information and ideas that may be relevant to your project †¢ to identify methods that could be relevant to your project Bourner, T. (1996). The research process: Four steps to success in T. Greenfield (Ed. ), Research methods: Guidance for postgraduates (pp. 7-11). London: Arnold. Retrieved 8-13-02 from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMIT University http://www. lib. rmit. edu. au/tutorials/literature/litrev. html As you attempt to define concepts (variables) and their relationships to other variables, if applicable, identify causal (independent) variables and effects (dependent variables). You may also identify other variables that can be contextual, intervening, or mediating (see Creswell, pp. 94-95 or other texts). After you introduce the topic area properly (instructions follow), you will develop a succinct one-sentence purpose of the review. Three examples of a concluding purpose statement in the overview are: Example 1: The purpose of this review is to critically analyze the theoretical and empirical literature on web-based instruction as an instructional method in distance education, with an emphasis on effectiveness studies that focus on instructional effectiveness, student learning outcomes, retention, student perceptions of this method of course delivery, and to identify areas of future scholarly inquiry. In this example, the causal variable (independent) is â€Å"instructional method of web-based instruction† and the effects (dependent variable) are instructional effectiveness, student learning outcomes, retention, and student perceptions. Example 2: The purpose of this critical analysis of theoretical and empirical literature is to (a) examine historical and current literature to evaluate whether gender workplace bias exists; (b) explore the impact such a bias would have on women in the workplace, specifically women moving up the corporate ladder; and, (c) identify any theoretical or empirical gaps in the literature for the purpose of suggesting future areas of scholarly inquiry. In this example, the causal variable (independent) is â€Å"gender bias against women in the workplace† and the effect (dependent variable) is mobility up the corporate ladder. Example 3 (Review carefully): The purpose of this critical analysis of theoretical and empirical literature is explore the influence of organizational leadership and other factors on organizational performance, in for-profit and not-for profit service organizations, and to identify areas of future scholarly inquiry. In this example, the causal variables (independent) are â€Å"organizational leadership† and â€Å"other factors†, contextual (intervening or mediating) variables are the type of organization (product versus service) and profit/non-profit, and the effect (dependent variable) is organizational performance. Please note in developing your purpose statement, that the purpose statement begins with The purpose of †¦. and concludes with a statement related to identifying future areas of scholarly inquiry. 9 Instructions: Writing An Overview and Purpose (Follow precisely) *Review Blackboard Forum 5. Use your information and faculty comments for strengthening, as a guide to develop your Overview and Purpose (see items #1-9 below). *Draft 1 is due Week 3. Review Forum 6. You will get a great start if you develop this well. 1. Using the template: a. Develop a preliminary title for the Review and include on the title page. The title should include the main concepts and themes (and/or key theories) for this review. Remember this is a critical analysis of the literature NOT a research study!!!! In no area of this paper, should you refer to this Review of Literature as a research study!!!!!! b. For the Introduction to the Literature, insert a brief subtitle preceding the colon for the level heading: ___: Overview and Purpose. 2. Under the Overview and Purpose, introduce the paper with an â€Å"eye catching† opening sentence for the first paragraph. 3. After the â€Å"eye catching† opening sentence, briefly – describe the topic (problem area, guiding concept, theme). Get to the point – don’t let the reader guess what the review is about a few sentences. 4. Next include brief definitions of each of the major concepts and cite references for these definitions in appropriate APA format. BE BRIEF – this is not the literature but an introduction to it! Anything you present in the introduction is developed in depth in the Review of the Literature. 5. Next, very briefly, attempt to identify how the literature explains these variables and their relationships to other variables. Include as many as possible variables because this will help in constructing a literature map. The map will show relationships between the variables as you describe here. – Begin with the following: The causal variables (independent are) †¦ The effects (dependent/outcome variables are†¦ Contextual (intervening or mediating) variables that further impact the dependent or outcome variables are †¦. 6. Discuss how the topic area was identified and your reasons (point of view) for selecting the topic area to conduct your critical analysis of the literature. Review the Guidelines: How to Start Select a Topic and Overview and Purpose, including purposes identified by Bourner (1996). Begin with the following: The topic area of ____ was selected because___. 7. Explain what you want to know about the topic. Review Hart, 1999, p. 14 (Questions the Review Can Answer). Begin with the following: Some questions to be answered through this critical analysis of the literature are:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8. Answer the following: Is the topic about the problems in a discipline or field of study, the processes in a discipline or field of study, or the practices in a discipline or field of study? Processes can refer to various epistemologic processes to develop knowledge (also See Hart, 1999, p. 14). Introduce this clearly so the reader knows what you are speaking about. Begin with the following: The problem area of †¦ is about†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9. Conclude the Overview and Purpose with a clearly formulated statement of purpose of the literature review. Use the examples in the guidelines, as a guide to develop this. Make this clear (see examples in the previous lecture note). Begin with the following and include the ending The purpose of this †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.., and to identify areas of future scholarly inquiry. Organization of the Review, Scope, and Library Research Plan Organization of the Review Lecture Collect appropriate articles, read critically, identify concepts, theories, and themes, and think about the best way to present your topic. Write these concepts, theories, and themes down (see your Blackboard forum 5 submission and instructor response. Develop a Literature Map. This is a Content Map (Concept Map or Mind Map): All students will have a literature map that will guide the organization of the review and literature search. Build (draw) a visual picture of the concepts and their relationships, which results in a literature map. These evolve from your topic, key concepts, ideas, theme, and/or purpose. Don’t introduce new information or concepts. It should first be introduced in the overview. The literature map is presented in-depth here. There are many methods to organize the review, which often change as you learn more about the topic. Concept Mapping Representing information in diagram form where key words are linked by lines. These lines are then labeled to express the relationship between the terms. The resulting map shows links between key ideas and can then be read through to clarify relationships between key terms. a. Definition and Purpose of a Literature Map. This map is a visual/graphic representation of concepts, ideas, and themes that serve to guide thinking. In this case, the purpose is to guide the search and organizational presentation of your review. This map serves to: i. Develop ideas for your review ii. Show relationships and interrelationships between the concepts, theories, and themes – and if so, what type of relationships iii. Assist in organizing old knowledge and integrating it with new knowledge iv. Guide your literature search plan/strategy v. Identify subtitles (subheadings) to organize your literature review so that you can communicate your ideas systematically. vi. A literature/content map is a creative, intuitive, and artistic endeavor to see how things fit – to generate alternatives. It is also analytical and critical, based on what you are finding in the literature. REVIEW THESE LINKS A simplified explanation of understanding of a Content map is described in the following URL – web link – http://users.edte. utwente. nl/lanzing/cm_home. htm b. Various types of Graphic or Visual Organizers (review this online. Click each box) (you need to have the syllabus downloaded and Internet connection on) |Chain of Events |Clustering |Compare/Contrast | |Continuum |Cycle |Family Tree | |Fishbone |Interaction Outline |Problem/Solution | |Spider |Storyboard |Venn Diagram | Source: http://www. sdcoe. k12. ca. us/score/actbank/sorganiz. htm Other Web sites: Graphic or Visual Organizers Graphic or Visual Organizers: A good site review this online by clicking link. http://edservices. aea7. k12. ia. us/edtech/classroom/workshops/organizers. html http://www. cast. org/ncac/index. cfm? i=3015 http://www. veale. com. au/phd/files/Lit_Map. pdf Some diagrams of content maps are depicted in the following URL web link http://trochim. human. cornell. edu/research/epp2/epp2. htm#Table1 Free Mind Mapping Software (Smart Draw) http://www. smartdraw. com/specials/mindmapping. asp? id=13054 Readings on Mapping Ideas: See Hart, 1999, pp. 142-162 Blackboard’s Assignments Toolbar: See example of literature maps in Assignments – Weeks 1-8 Literature Review (Critical Analysis) 50%. Within this folder is information on PowerPoint Presentation and Student Examples. Most of the student examples include literature maps for RES 702 (RES600) students. Organizing the review of the literature by themes, theories, or major concepts and related concepts provides a â€Å"frame for the central topic† to organize. In this case, you may proceed inductively or deductively. http://trochim. human. cornell. edu/kb/dedind. htm Exercise in Deductive/Inductive thinking: http://www2. sjsu. edu/depts/itl/graphics/induc/ind-ded. html#3b For example, a deductive approach might start with the broader view or concept(s) then move to the specific topic area. Example FOLLOWS: A literature map (Figure 1) is used to guide the library search for theoretical and empirical literature about distance learning. The map shows a deductive pattern of the major themes, using an â€Å"interaction line style† type of graphic organizer. Beginning with the broadest concept of distance education, web-based instruction interacts with student characteristics, which leads to evaluation of effectiveness of web-based instruction in distance education. . . . Other concepts and their relationships to guide the review are . . †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Other Organizational Methodologies for Reviews: While RES 702 students are asked to develop literature maps that serve to organize the review, with more scholarly experience and depending upon the topic, you could also present the Review using an â€Å"opposing view† or â€Å"methodological approach†. This is not expected now. c. The literature map generates an outline for the Review of the Literature Review â€Å"Why do an Outline, and Basic Outlining skills: http://www. und. edu/instruct/wstevens/PROPOSALCLASS/PATRAS. html http://www. mnstate. edu/wasson/ed603/ed603lesson5. htm An outline provides a blueprint, skeleton, or a roadmap for the final written review. An outline is an organizational process that is a logical description of the important components of the literature review. It provides a visual and conceptual design for writing. 1. Identify the main points in the order they should be presented. 2. Differentiate each main heading into logical subheadings. 3. Use further subdivisions if necessary. IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU INCLUDE A SECTION ON MEASUREMENT OF YOUR MAJOR VARIABLES. REPORT SOME OF THE MAJOR METHODS, TOOLS, OR INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN PRIOR STUDIES TO MEASURE THE KEY CONCEPTS IN YOUR OUTLINE. Notice in the outline that follows, a sub-level heading is measurement of leadership and organizational performance. In the Review of the Literature section, you would then describe the tools whether qualitative or quantitative, and reliability, validity (quantitative tools), and trustworthiness of qualitative tools. Run a Proquest or Google search such as: â€Å"measurement leadership†. This saves you time in the QP and literature in the †dissertation† where you need to know how your variables have been studied and measured. It is best to have MORE detail in these themes. You can always change later. Example of an Outline: (Let us say that the following concepts are present in the literature map which could be Chain of Events, Clustering, or Interaction Outline. This is an example of an outline (quite detailed). It includes the major concepts that can be used for the literature search, and the outline is placed in the 2nd part of this Review (Review of the Literature) to organize how to present the literature. Leadership Classical, Progressive, Risk Leadership Theories Traits and Characteristics of Leaders; Leadership, Power and Influence; Gender and Equity Issues in Leadership Practice Cultural Issues and Leadership Developing Teams Leading Organizational Change Organizational Leadership Development; Strategic Leadership Leadership Measurement Organizational Performance Dimensions of Organizational Performance Organizational Climate Individual Performance Team Performance Supplier/Vendor Perspectives Customer Satisfaction Financial Performance Effectiveness Indicators Performance Driven Organizations Competency Modeling Managing Performance 360 Degree Feedback Collaborative Change Organizational Performance Measurement: Output (Activities) and Outcome (Results) Measures Factors Influencing Organizational Performance Leadership and Performance of Organizations Leadership Style and Team Performance Leadership Style and Organizational Outcomes Leadership Style and Vendor/Supplier and Customer Satisfaction Transformational Leadership, Organizational Culture, and Organizational Effectiveness 7 Instructions for Writing the Organization of the Review Do not present literature that you reviewed here. Just respond to questions 1-7. 1. After you design the literature map, begin with the statement: A literature map (Figure 1) is used to guide the library search for theoretical and empirical literature in this review about ___. 1. Next, describe the specific type of organizer that you used to design your map (for example, cluster, chain of events, cycle, etc). To do this, you need to review this syllabus on line, and click the different URL links of examples of visual or graphic organizers (review preceding lecture which provides several types). 2. Identify the specific the concepts, theories, and themes that are in your literature map. 3. Next, briefly, describe the relationships between these concepts, theories and themes (such as what leads to what? Which are the causal, outcome and/or intervening variables? Are the concepts organized inductively or deductively? This all refers to the concepts, theories, and themes in your literature map. 4. Next explain that in addition to guiding the literature search, the literature map serves to identify themes, theories, and concepts that will organize the Literature Review. Present these theories, concepts, and themes in outline form, differentiating each main heading into logical subheadings. (Keep it simple). 5. Due for draft 1, go to the next major section (Review of the Literature) – insert these themes/concepts as level headings/sublevel headings in outline form. They serve to organize the Review of the Literature. Use appropriate APA (see p. 113 of APA) level headings. An example using APA level headings, is shown in the next major section of these guidelines. The concepts and themes for the example, uses the outline of themes previously discussed (leadership and organizational performance). 6. Insert the Figure 1, Literature Map at the end of this discussion of the Organization of the Review (before Scope and Context). a. Make sure that you develop your literature map in a software application that can be copied and pasted into your Microsoft word document containing your paper. b. Make sure the map is an appropriate size and fits within the required paper margins. c. The Figure and #, and Title (Literature Map) belong at the bottom, centered: Figure 1 Literature Map Your goal is to have the map well-developed in draft 1 and finalized in (draft 2). It is expected that this map will change as you â€Å"tighten† and â€Å"organize your literature review in the next section† as well as well as in your qualifying paper. Refine this part with each new draft (and particularly as your literature map evolves). Scope and Context Lecture This section lets the reader know what is and is not included in your literature review (scope). The topic is described in such a way that an appropriate context for the review of the literature is established, in a meaningful, logical way. The key terms here are included/excluded. You can restate the theories, concepts and constructs that you will include and obvious theories, concepts and constructs you won’t include (Look at your problem and topic area). Identify what might be included in the search in terms of types of organizations (public/private; for-profit, not for profit; service/product; types of businesses, types of educational institutions); populations such as young versus old; gender; cultural groups; countries; or type of occupation. The major types of scholarly literature to review are: empirical studies, review articles (critical analysis), theoretical articles/books, methodological articles, and case studies. These types of literature may be in the form of a book, hard copy journal articles, and electronic journal articles. The following are different types and forms of literature: Periodical Abstract in a primary source, Abstract in a secondary source, Periodical (hard copy), Periodical (electronic), Non-periodical (Book), Non-periodical (chapter in a book), Proceeding of meetings or symposia, Doctoral Dissertations (including abstracts), Unpublished work, Audio-Visuals, Newspaper, Government documents, and Electronic Media. 5 Instructions for Writing the Scope and Context 1. As you write this, discuss what is and is not included. Regarding the topic or problem area, discuss what is and is not included in terms of concepts/theories, applications to different populations and settings. 1. Identify the forms (not types) of publications that are included. You don’t need to name specific articles, but identify the forms of literature to be included. 2. Identify the discipline(s) you are focusing in (e. g. , education, health, business, criminal justice, accounting, sociology)? Included specialized areas within these disciplines, such as: gender theories in sociology, accounting ethics, special education for specified populations, urban violence, etc. 3. Identify the scope in terms of the years (period of time) that your literature review covers and exclusions. 5. Discuss whether you are limiting your review to U. S. literature, and/or Global literature. For global literature, identify the â€Å"countries†. If seminal books are emphasized, include the titles. Refine this part with each new draft (and particularly as your literature expands). Library Research Plan and Strategy Lecture THIS IS THE PLAN, NOT THE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE!! The review is presented in the second major section (Review of the Literature) Searching the Literature: A good review of the literature is dependent upon knowledge of the use of indexes and abstracts, the ability to conduct exhaustive bibliographic searches, and ability to organize the collected data meaningfully. Information literacy skills assist with information seeking and retrieval methods and scholarly communication. Recognize scholarly and peer reviewed journals (See Week 1 Lecture). The e-Learning tutorials about Lynn Library can assist research students with the development of literature reviews using electronic databases, abstracts, bibliographic software, Internet searching, Library catalogue searching, subject resources, off-campus searching, and research and writing skills. You need to complete the tutorials. Library Research Plan/Strategy: In reporting your library plan/strategy, identify concepts, themes (key words) or descriptors and search the relevant databases for research on your topic. Be consistent with the Literature map concepts and themes. Focus your search on primary scholarly works including: empirical, theoretical, critical/analytic, or methodological inquiry. Recognize the differences between these types of scholarly inquiry. Review dissertation abstracts. Did you do a Lynn Library catalog search on the topic (at Lynn)? Did you search selected journals? Did you limit the search to peer-review journals? Did you limit the search to certain years? If you are having difficulty in your library search, you may make an appointment with the Reference Librarian who may assist in building effective search strategies. When visiting the Library, you should come prepared with your search words. Requesting Materials: It is suggested that you read the abstracts before requesting the materials from the Librarian, because certain abstracts may provide enough information to help you make a decision on the material’s relevance. Expect that you will obtain more literature than you will need to include in your literature review. Quantity, however, is not as important as selecting appropriate literature, that is of value and relevant. While many published review articles may have more than 100 cited references, due to time constraints in the course, the expectation is a minimum of 20 â€Å"relevant†, scholarly citations in the text of your paper. Do not go overboard. Quality and relevance is what counts. Don’t use references from â€Å"consulting firms† or firms that are â€Å"promoting† their products or services. Look for scholarly publications. Types and Forms of Literature: Minimum Requirements i. The preference is that you review a variety of types and forms of literature so that you many learn to: ii. Search for and evaluate different types and forms information iii. Integrate a variety of types information in the text of your paper iv. Recognize classic (seminal) works as well as current literature Give yourself time to read the material; do not make a library request for everything at once. Readings: Search Strategy worksheet: http://library. humboldt. edu/infoservices/sstrawrksht. htm http://www. noodletools. com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine. html http://www. lynn. edu/clientuploads/Library/Graduatestudentsmanual. doc 11 Instructions for Writing the Library Research Plan and Strategy In a Review, a discussion of the plan or strategy you used to develop your literature search is presented. Don’t discuss what you â€Å"will† do, but rather â€Å"what you did†. 1. Identify the descriptors (concepts, themes, theories, phrases/key words) used to search the relevant databases for research on your topic. Include â€Å"themes† or groups of words used in the search plan. Add the terms â€Å"theory† or â€Å"research† to your themes when you are searching. You should uses many â€Å"themes† to limit the search. Example of a theme for a library search: â€Å"leadership organizational performance research†. Try to include several themes. 2. Report databases used in your library search. 3. Indicate which of the following types of primary scholarly works were reviewed: empirical, theoretical, critical/analytic, or methodological inquiry (aim to obtain all of these)? 4. Were secondary citations of references used in your paper? Explain Why? Review APA p. 247 to understand a secondary citation of a source. Remember that these need to be limited. In your dissertation, you need to mostly use primary sources of literature. Remember that if you report literature from secondary sources in your paper use (as cited in __). 5. Explain if you reviewed dissertation abstracts (yes/no). If so, on what topics, which abstracts? You should use these. 6. Explain if you did a Library catalog search on the topic (at Lynn or where? ) Yes/ or no 7. Provide the titles of the key journals reviewed. (Put these titles in Italics). 8. Indicated whether or not you limited the search to peer-reviewed journals? 9. Indicate if you limited the search to certain years? If so, which years? 10. Refer the reader to the example of a library Search Print-out that you will place in Appendix A. 11. Report any problems encountered in your library search and how these problems were managed. Refine this part with each new draft. Interest, Significance, and Rationale for the Critical Analysis Lecture In this last part of the introduction to the literature review, you explain the importance and significance of the Review that will follow. As you read more, you will find more rationale as to why this review is important. Provide a transition sentence from this Introduction to the Review of the Literature. Then end with a statement that explains how the Review will conclude in the Discussion section. Example of concluding statement: As an emerging method of instructional delivery in higher education, and one that continually evolves with the growth in technology, it is important to understand its impact on learning, retention, instruction, and students. This critical analysis of the literature concludes with a summary and interpretation of theoretical, empirical, and methodological literature, conclusions, and recommendations for future scholarly inquiry into web-based instruction in distance education. 4 Instructions for Writing the Interest, Significance, and Rationale for the Critical Analysis 1. Discuss if the topic is of limited interest, regional, national, or perhaps of global interest? Explain why? You can include personal interest based on experience and potential applications. 2. Describe why it is worth studying (or examining)? 3. Indicate that the presentation of the Review of the Literature follows 4. Develop a concluding statement (see example above, in lecture) to the effect that a synopsis and interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are presented at the end of the review in the discussion section. Refine this part with each new draft. Review of the Literature About ___ (add your topic) Lecture This is the second major part of this critical analysis. This has a long lecture. Now is the time to write â€Å"your in-depth Literature Review†. You laid the foundations for this section in the Introduction to the Review, to organize your review according to those themes. Present the theoretical literature (theories, model, constructs, concepts) about those themes, and empirical literature (studies) regarding those themes, in a proper manner. Follow the instructions (see presenting theoretical literature, and presenting empirical literature) in this Review of the Literature section. If you present the literature appropriately in this body of the review, then you will have information to present in the Discussion of the Literature. If you don’t, this Review falls apart. Only literature presented in this Review of the Literature can be analyzed in the next section, Discussion of the Literature. You will save a stitch in time, if you follow instructions and learn how to present theories, and how to present studies, including the authors stated limitations and recommendations for future inquiry, in addition to your critique of those studies. †¢ General comments: The theoretical and empirical literature is summarized, analyzed, evaluated, and synthesized in a more in-depth â€Å"coherent† manner within organized headings and sublevel headings. Specifically, information pertaining to theoretical, empirical, methodological, critical review, and case studies about the topic is reported. As reported previously, expect that you will obtain more literature than you will need to include in your literature review. Quantity, however, is not as important as selecting appropriate literature to present, that is of value and relevant. While many published Review articles may have more than 100 cited references, due to time constraints in the course, the expectation is a minimum of 20 â€Å"relevant†, scholarly citations in the text of your paper. This will increase to 50 references in the qualifying paper. It certainly isn’t unusual to have over 100 references in a dissertation. Do not go overboard. Quality and relevance is what counts. Don’t use references from â€Å"consulting firms† or firms that are â€Å"promoting† their products or services. Look for scholarly publications. As you present literature in your â€Å"word† document, it is okay to talk to yourself. Make notes in the document to your self. You can use different font colors or highlights for these messages to yourself. o Perhaps you want to leave a message to yourself to review a particular article that you didn’t yet have the chance to review, or o you want to search another theme. o Or you read an article, but didn’t have a chance yet to write about it – jot down notes o Use the word file as a tool where you keep all information in one place. You will find this technique very helpful in developing the qualifying paper, and in developing the your dissertation. The instructor does not mind (and in fact encourages you do to this, even in final copies0. Just make the messages â€Å"neat† – and not to distracting) Of utmost importance, is that you present your review appropriately. Practice doing it correctly immediately or you will be WASTING time (having to redo it later). †¢ Your review must be organized within the headings/sublevel headings. Insert the outline developed in the Introduction to the Review. Make sure that the outline is consistent with the organization of themes, concepts add theories in your literature map. †¢ It is ok if you reorganize or rename the themes, but make the changes if the Organization of the R (and literature map, in the prior section). You want the Introduction to the Review, Review of the Literature, and the Discussion section all to be â€Å"internally consistent† with one another. †¢ Instructions follow on how to present CRITICALLY present, theoretical and empirical literature. FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. Quotations and Paraphrasing and Critical Analysis †¢ This is a literature review, and not your opinion.

Globalisation and HRM

Globalisation and HRM This assignment discusses on the link between globalisation and HRM. It explains how HRM practices like recruitment and selection should be carried out in order to improve organisation performance and enhance important corporate aspects like how to dominate the global market. Human Resource Management is act of dealing with people in an organisation how to manage their behaviour and activities to increase profits. According to Decenzo and Robbins, (2004), and Bernardin, (2003), Human resources management (HRM) is the function within an organisation that focuses on recruitment of management and providing directions for the people who work in the organisation. Human resources management can also be performed by line manager and deals with issues related to people such as performance management, hiring, wellness, benefit safety, compensation, training and communication. In addition, HRM is the sense of getting things or work done through people. Its an essential part of every managers responsibilities, but many organisations find it advantageous to establish a specialist division to provide an expert service dedicated to ensuring that the human resource function is performed efficiently. Also how HRM processes should be in order to cope with global issues. The effect of globalisation on recruitment and selection is seen clearly now that organisations need to recruit people that are able to work in global situations and contribute to the global environment. According to Castells M, (2000), Globalisation is an inevitable phenomenon in human history that has been bringing the world closer through the exchange of products, information, goods, culture, services and knowledge. Over the last decades the pace of this global integration has become much faster and dramatic because of unprecedented advancements in science, communication, transport, technology and firms. So HR managers should understand how to cope with all these changes especially as many people prefer to get high quality products if they are offered from abroad. If companies understand this, they will reach organisational goals effectively. Saiyadain M (2004) According to Globalisation has contributed to various competencies which organisations have found effective to improving profit. Other positive aspects include financial organisation situations; where the developing counties have benefited from developed countries and financial organisations such as IMF (International Monetary Fund) and WTO (World Trade Organisation), where by these organisations invest money or commerce loans to the financial organisation. Also, globalisation has created thousands of jobs around the world and also has contributed to the growth of the worlds economy. In other contribution, globalisation has been effective to providing access to technological improvements and has also led to the reduction of barriers to trade. A market is what a business targets to benefit from by satisfying consumer needs. According to S. Skinner, (1998), a market is a social arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to discover information and carry out voluntary exchange of goods and services. Its one of the two key institutions that organize trade, along with the right to own property. Its importance to globalisation is to make the producer know what consumers of the market need at the moment in terms of satisfaction and organisation practices. Globalisation has made organisations to participate in local and international markets to improve quality of trade and the level of business operations. HRM needs to work on practical matters that affect their business because they need to cope with everyday changes and balance internal and external issues. There are issues over importance of communication or culture. These include issues about the rate of importance between background culture and adopted culture. However, it sometimes depends on the situation of the company. Contribution of the employee depends on the environment he or she is in. In case employing someone from a less developed country, training would be right measure for improvement. However, if he person is from a more developed region, then the HR department may want to just tech the person how to cope with the environment and the individual will be able to participate fully in everyday business. Capon C, (2004), Capon C, (2004), states that Development of global telecommunication infrastructures has led to success in establishing stable communication through service such as cell phones, internets, and satellites in the developing countries such Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. This has provided a link of third world countries to developed nations thus reducing world poverty. This point shows how important HRM is to the world, as recruiting the right person to telecommute can change the world. Globalisation has made trade liberalization; whereby every one can gain the movement to lower trade barriers and to open the world trade. It has increased the growth of goods and services, where people have got more income to improve the living standard in the society. Foreign competition is increasingly extending beyond the goods firms. Outsourcing of services in dorks, such as call centers. Its important to the business due to less cost. but is it morally acceptable by your customers. It improves cultural awareness between organisations, where it brings employees of different background of culture to work together without any conflict in the working environment. Saiyadain M (2004 Even though there are positive aspects, there are also negative issues that globalisation can cause. These include; Environmental pollution increases with globalisation as countries manufacture more products to satisfy demand. Also there is increase of carbon emissions to the atmosphere, whereby people are always traveling from one place to another, for example when and individual is assigned to work globally, he or she will have to travel by air thus contribute to air pollution. HR managers should act responsible and protect the environment. This could be done by limiting the number of trips carried out by the employees if possible, and also using transport means which are more environmental friendly. Capon C, (2004), Globalisation encourages development in already developed countries therefore leaving less developed countries to become poorer. Recruitment is the process of identifying that the organisation or company requires employing someone to the point at which application forms for the post have arrived at the company. According to Saiyadain, (2004), recruitment is the process where the organization gets people to work for them so as to be part of the organisation functions. A successful recruitment depends upon finding the right people with the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications to do the work required together with the ability to make a positive contribution to the values and aims of the company or organisation. Mendenhall M, (2007), Selection then consists of the processes involved in choosing from applicants, suitable or the right person to fill the post needed in the organisation with the right qualification. The selection process needs to be well carried out because HR managers may choose the wrong people and leave the right people. Matthewss J et al, (2004), states that, recruiting people who are wrong for the for the organisation can lead to increased labour turnover, increased costs for the organisation and lowering of morale in the existing workforce. Such workers are likely to be discontented, unlikely to give of their best and end up leaving voluntarily or involuntarily when their unsuitability becomes evident. They will not offer the flexibility and commitment that many companies seek. Managers and supervisors will have to spend extra time on further recruitment exercises, when is needed in the first place is a systematic process to assess the role to be filled and the type of skills and abilities needed to fill it. Most recruitment systems will be simple with stages that can be followed as a routine whenever there is a vacancy to be filled and which can be monitored and adapted in the light of experience. According to Dessler, (2005), The organisation should be aware that the provision of the disability discrimination Act 1995 not only makes it unlawful to discriminate against disabled individuals without justifiable reason but also require employers to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace arrangements. Brewster C et al, (2007) states that The employer has the legal responsibility to ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the groups of race, age and religion. Equality of opportunity is an integral part of the recruitment and section process, and to these end employers may offer encouragement and training to any under represented group of workers. For example to the management development of woman who are under- presented in management grades. The world in which human resource managers exist and with which they interact is continually changing, generating new issues and challenges for HR managers to consider during recruitment. There are specific qualities that managers should look at when recruiting for specific functions in the organisation. With the increase in intensified competition among organisations in aspects of performance, productivity and competent expertise, HRM managers are faced with a challenge of recruiting professional staff to have a competitive advantage in the market. According to Porter M (1998) Competitive advantage is an advantages ove competitors gained by offering cunsumers greater value, either by means of lower prices or by providing greater benefits and services that justifies higher prices Although recruitment has always held an important place within organisations the growing demand for highly skilled staff has meant that effective recruitment practices are now becoming a considerable resource of competitive advantages used to improve performance. This recruitment and selection learning module is designed to prepare individuals and trainers to introduce effective recruitment and selection systems. In addition the learning pack clearly outlines how to introduce a supporting measurement system for the recruitment process to maximize both individuals and organisations efficiency. Capon C, (2004), states that, With the increased pace in globalization, organisations are now operating under a multicultural environment. Hence organisations face a challenge of recruiting knowledgeable, talented, and skilled employees from different background as they are able to manage internationally. Multicultural environments boost business performance since there are different views from participants. Capon C, (2004), states that, Moreover, the riding wave of technological innovation forces the HRM managers to recruit staff who posses the acquired knowledge need to operate new machinery, equipment which are equipped with the new knowledge E.g. the use of email and internet as tools of information provision and communication, the use of computer databases to hold staff information and generate reports. Pareek U, (2004), states that, Furthermore, with global standardization of policies practices and HRM philosophies, the HR needs to diversify their strategies. Also organizations need to react in a way that is satisfactory to both the employees and consumers. For example, HR manager should emphasize on employing people who know proper hygiene when preparing food for the customers, in three years ago MacDonalds food chain received complaints from his customer that the food prepared was not good for the health of people, whereby their food contained a lot of fat and other unhealthy contents. Thus individuals who used to be loyal customers had a risk of becoming obese. At the same time, workers left their work due to the complaints from customers. MacDonalds therefore lost a lot of customers in a certain point as before, but after sometime, they changed the way of preparing their food and how they offer their services, then the number of customers also increased much more than the previ ous. According to Bernardin, (2003) Meeting the expectations of the law, the employer has the legal responsibility to ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, age and religion. Equality of opportunity, its an integral part of the recruitment and selection process and to this end employers may offer training and encouragement to any under represented groups. Brewster C et al, (2007) states that, Employees and their representatives will also have an interest in fair, non discriminatory recruitment and selection policies, and they should be fully consulted when new procedures are introduced or existing procedures reviewed. The sex discrimination Act 1975, the race relation Act 1976 and 2000, the employment equality regulations and the disability discrimination ACT 1995 set out the legal requirements for employers. Capon C, (2004), States that, The organisations should be aware that the provisions of the disability discrimination Act 1995 not only make it unlawful to discriminate against disabled individuals without justifiable reason but also require employers to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace or working arrangements. Detailed guidance is available in the code of practice on the elimination of discrimination in employment. Robert et al (2004), and Dessler, (2005), Some of the issues which make the link between HRM and Globalisation more intensified include the rate at which the HR manager responds to Global-economic activities. For example if there is an absolute market in a different country, the HR department is responsible for defining means of which the business will perform in order to capture the market, including recruiting the right people for the job, and training them for them to learn how to develop. Pareek U, (2004), In conclusion, responding to intensified competition is crucial for an organisation since without competition its difficult to progress and offer excellent services. As a HR manager, understanding this concept will help the manager in defining exactly what the organisation prefers in terms of who to employ, and as a result, the right people will be employed for the job thus generate profit. In addition, the profit will even be high since the global economy has offered more market share to businesses. Reference Capon C, (2004), understanding organisational context 2nd Edition, Pearson education limited England. Brewster C et al, (2007) international human resource management, 2nd chartered institute of personnel and development, London. Pareek U, (2004), designing and managing human resource systems 3rd edition, Vijay Primlani, New Delhi. Mendenhall M, (2007), international human resource management, 4th Edition, Routledge, London. Matthewss J et al, (2004), human resource development 3rd edition Kogan page, New Delhi Decenzo, D and Robbins, S (2004), Personnel/Human Resource Management, Third Edition, Prentice Hall Inc, New Delhi. S. Skinner, (1998), Marketing, Houghton Mifflin, USA Bernardin J, (2003), Human Resource Management, Third Edition, Tata McGraw- Hall, New Delhi Robert C, et al (2004), Managing Human Resource, Third Edition, Pearson Education Inc, New Delhi Dessler G, (2005),Human Resource Management, Ninth Edition, Pearson Education, New Delhi Porter, M, (1998), Competitive Strategy, Free Press, USA Saiyadain M (2004), Human Resources Management, Third Edition, Tata McGraw- Hall, New Delhi

Infectious Episode of Streptococcus Pyogenes and Treatment

Infectious Episode of Streptococcus Pyogenes and Treatment A B C D Morphology appearance on AGAR Cocci. Cocci in clusters, short chains, diplococci and single cocci. Thin swabbed orange pigment from plate. Surrounded by zones of clear beta-hemolysis. Cocci. Large round pale opaque grey colonies surrounded by zones of clear beta-hemolysis. Shiny. Bacilli. Small rod pale opaque grey colonies. Translucent. Shiny. Bacilli. Medium size colonies. Dark grey green. Gram Reaction Purple. Positive. Purple. Positive. Pink. Negative. Pink. Negative. Oxidase Negative. Positive. Catalase Negative. Positive. Coagulase Positive. Strep Grouping Latex Positive for group A. Presumptive Identification ? Streptococcus pyogenes. Staphylococcus aureus. Enterobacteria. Pseudomonas species. A = Streptococcus pyogenes. To further confirm that sample A is Streptococcus pyogenes you can undergo a PYR test. The PYR test is a rapid colorimetric method which tests for the presence of the enzyme pyrrolidonyl aminopeptidase present in the microorganism. The enzyme hydrolyses L-pyrrolidonyl-ÃŽÂ ²-naphthylamide (PYR) to ÃŽÂ ²-naphthylamide, which produces a red colour when a cinnamaldehyde reagent is added. Paper strips are used to perform the test. A positive result for this test shows the typical morphology of S. pyogenes (Ferretti et al, 2016). Streptococcus pyogenes can also be tested by bacitracin test due to their sensitivity towards it. The test is used because other streptococci is resistant to bacitracin. A bacitracin test is undergone by making a subculture of the S. pyogenes on sheep blood agar. The bacterial strain S. pyogenes being tested is streaked with individual colonies of a culture which is pure from an SBA agar plate and a disk containing 0.04 units of bacitracin is put onto the SBA plate. Incubation overnight at a temperature of 35Â °C in CO2 (5%) then occurs. A zone of inhibition surrounding the disc indicates the susceptibility of the strain (Ferretti et al, 2016). B = Staphylococcus aureus. To further confirm that sample B is Staphylococcus aureus the thermostable DNase test can be used. The thermostable DNAse test is performed using the agar diffusion method. 2ml aliquot of broth of the blood culture is boiled for a duration of 15 minutes and then allowed to cool to room temperature. Holes of six-millimetres are cut in toluidine blue DNase agar plates. 100Â µl of the boiled culture broth is placed into the well and then incubated at 37oC. Tests are read during 2 and 4 hours. The PPVs and NPVs for the culture is calculated as well as sensitivities and specificities. A result of 100% sensitivity means S. aureus is present (Lagace-Wiens et al, 2007). To distinguish whether the strain is MSSA or MRSA a cefoxitin test is carried out. Susceptibility to cefoxitin is determined by the diffusion disc method on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. A suspension of the organisms is adjusted to 0.5x MacFarland standard, diluted to 1:100 and inoculated onto the Mueller-Hinton agar by streaking the agar surface all over. 30-Â µg cefoxitin disks are applied and the plates are incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. An isolate is an MRSA strain if the cefoxitin inhibition zone diameter is less than or equal to 21 mm (Boutiba-Ben Boubaker et al, 2004). C= Enterobacteria. To further confirm what enterobacteria sample c is, further tests need to be undertaken. To see if sample c is a type of Escherichia bacteria use the lipase test. The test sees if the bacteria uses corn oil as a source of carbon and energy for growth. The result will be negative (if Escherichia) because the colour will be unchanged as no lipase is present (Vumicro.com, n.d.-b). To see if the sample is a Yersinia bacteria the lysine decarboxylase test can be used. The test sees if the bacteria can use lysine as a source of carbon and energy for growth. The result will be negative (if Yersinia) because of lack of colour change to yellow at 24 hours and back to purple at 48 hours (Vumicro.com, n.d.-c). To see if the sample is a Salmonella bacteria use the maltose test. The result will be negative (if Salmonella) due to magenta or hot pink in colour (Vumicro.com, n.d.-a). The citrate test needs to be undertaken to see if the sample is a Shigella bacteria. The test is a test used to assess the ability of the bacteria to utilize sodium citrate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. If the sample is a Shigella bacteria then the result for this test will be negative as there will be no colour change as the colour will stay deep forest green (Acharya, 2013). D = Pseudomonas species. To further confirm that sample D is Pseudomonas species a methyl red test can be used. The methyl red test is a test which detects the production of sufficient acid when glucose is fermented and the conditions are maintained such that the pH of the previous culture is kept below the value of 4.5, which is shown by the colour change of the methyl red indicator which is added when the period of incubation finishes. The result of this test for Pseudomonas species is negative because there is no change in colour when methyl red is added. The colour stays yellow (Online Microbiology Notes, 2014a). Another test that can be used is the voges-proskauer (VP) test. The test is a test used to see whether the pathogen produces acetylmethyl carbinol from glucose fermentation. If acteylmethyl carbinol is present it is converted to diacetyl in the presence of ÃŽÂ ±-naphthol, strong alkali and oxygen. Diacetyl found in the peptones in the broth is then condensed to form a pinkish red polymer. The result of this test for Pseudomonas species is negative because acetylmethyl carbinol is not present in Pseudomonas species (Online Microbiology Notes, 2014b). Infectious episode of Streptococcus pyogenes and treatment Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most important pathogens that cause skin and soft-tissue infections and is also associated with septicaemia and other severe complications (Segal et al, 2005). An example of a disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes is scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a contagious bacterial infection which affects children between 5 and 18 years old. It is spread by contact of droplets from the cough and sneezes of an infected person. Fever and sore throat is the first stage of illness. There also may be chills, vomiting and abdominal pain. The tongue is swollen and has a whitish coating. Throat and tonsils become very red and sore, and swallowing becomes incredibly painful. After one or two days of the illness, a rash appears which is red in colour. Strep bacteria of the strain produce a toxin (poison) that causes people to break out in the rash. The rash appears first on the neck, underarm, and groin, which then spreads throughout the body. The rashes are small, flat red blotches that gradually change into fine bumps and feel like sandpaper. The cheeks have a flushed appearance, but there may also be a pale area around the mouth. Around the underarm, elbow, and groin the skin creases are brighter than the rest of the rash. These rashes are termed pastias lines. Complications of kidney damage, hepatitis, vasculitis, septicaemia, congestive heart failure and death may occur (Davis, n.d.). Scarlet fever can be treated with antibiotics. A strep test is needed. The test involves swabbing the throat to confirm whether group A streptococcus is creating the illness. If it is positive, prescription of antibiotics is needed. Antibiotics allows scarlet fever patients recover sooner and protect people from catching the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Infectious episode of Staphylococcus aureus and treatment Staphylococcus aureus can cause endocarditis. Endocarditis occurs when the bacteria adheres to the cardiac valve. Bacteria can colonize the vegetation composed of fibrin and platelets (Keynan and Rubinstein, 2013). S. aureus enters the bloodstream due to healthcare procedures because of the dentogen pathway or drug use. Bacteria adhere extremely fast usually within minutes to an injured valve surface via deposition on platelet fibrin. It also adheres to inflamed valve surface. S. aureus enters via an intracellular route to the valve endothelium which contributes to inflammation and aggressive tissue destruction by the bacteria. The increase of bacteria on and in the endothelium leads to maturation of vegetation on the valve. Spreading of pathogens occurs from embolization of vegetation particles. This leads to complications such as stroke, haemorrhage, meningitis or reaction to the meningeal, brain abscess, and mycotic aneurysm (Werdan et al, 2013). There are many impacts of endocard itis which are physical and emotional. In the acute phase, unpleasant symptoms can be experienced which include high temperature, chills, loss of appetite, headache, muscle and joint pain, night sweats, shortness of breath and persistent coughs. People who suffer from endocarditis experience complications of blood supply to the brain which is affected. Worry and anxiety can occur which creates symptoms such as a racing heart, increased breathing rate, a dry mouth, sweating, tingling and feeling dizzy. Low mood and depression also occurs because of endocarditis. When patients feel unwell and are being stuck in a hospital they can become sad. Feeling of hopelessness about the future and lacking in energy and drive can also occur. Struggling to enjoy the things you used to enjoy and feeling bad about yourself or criticised by others along with not being able to sleep or eat well occurs as well (Coping after Endocarditis, n.d.). Endocarditis is treated with a course of antibiotics or su rgery (Nhs.uk, 2016). Infectious episode of Enterobacteria and treatment Enterobacteria such as E. coli can cause gastroenteritis. E. coli enters the gastrointestinal tract and attaches to the lining of the intestinal mucosa where it secretes enterotoxins. Invasion of the intestinal mucosa does not occur. Toxins produced by the bacteria affect absorptions of nutrients and causes the cells of the intestinal mucosa to secrete electrolytes and water. Evidence of this will be in the form of profuse watery diarrhoea including vomiting which starts in 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Other E. coli strains invade the cells of the mucosa and cause stress ulcers and bleeding. This creates inflammatory diarrhoea commonly associated with diarrhoea which sometimes can be bloody and there is a huge amount of abdominal pain. Toxins which E. coli produce present in foods causes secretory diarrhoea which is profuse and watery with nausea and vomiting that is very prominent. It is fast acting and symptoms may be evident in less than 12 hours after ingesting contaminated fo od. In some cases, the symptoms may be present in 1 to 6 hours. Patients with gastroenteritis have an increased risk for aortic aneurysm and ulcerative colitis (Ternhag et al, 2008). Treatments for gastroenteritis include antibiotics. Not every case of the disease needs antibiotics. Majority of cases of gastroenteritis are self-limiting and resolve in days. If the E. coli strain is associated with stool culture and persisting symptoms, then antibiotic treatment is needed. Patients which are immunocompromised also need antibiotics. Antidiarrheal agents can also be used to treat gastroenteritis. Antidiarrheal agents are used when symptoms are persisting even when antibiotics have been taken. The use of the agent is dependent on a case by case and needs to be consulted with a medical doctor before using an antidiarrheal agent. If a persistent diarrhoea is present then probiotics may also be needed (Chris, n.d.). Infectious episode of Pseudomonas species Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the type specie for Pseudomonas which can cause bronchopneumonia. It is an inflammation of the lungs characterized by foci of consolidation surrounded by normal parenchyma. Bronchopneumonia affects one or more lobes, being frequently bilateral and basal (Pathologyatlas.ro, 2014). When a person suffers from bronchopneumonia the lung parenchyma is attacked by the bacteria. An immune inflammatory response is triggered in response to this. Because of this, the alveolar sacs fill with exudate. Consolidation then occurs when the air space is replaced by the exudate (fluid). Also there are multiple areas which is isolated of consolidation, affecting various pulmonary lobes (Hellomrdoctor.com, 2016). Lobular bronchopneumonia can lead to lobar pneumonia. Exudate starts to build up in the basal lobes. The affectation from this disease is bilateral. The lesions diameter vary between 2 and 4 cm and the lesions turn yellow or grey in colour, is dry and centred on a bronc hiole. As well as this, their delimitation is not clear and the lesions become united. Suppurative exudate gathers due to inflammation in the bronchioles. As more bronchioles suffer inflammation, the congestion experienced by the patient becomes more extensive. Between the areas of consolidation, the parenchyma remains normal and aerated (Hellomrdoctor.com, 2016). The effect of bronchopneumonia includes coughing and fever which makes breathing become difficult. If it is not treated mortality can be as high as 40%. If bronchopneumonia becomes severe the outer lining of the lungs and the inner lining of the chest becomes inflamed making breathing even more painful (Quinn, n.d.). If a person has bacterial bronchopneumonia antibiotics are prescribed. Antibiotics will destroy the bacteria causing the infection. Most people feel better within one to three days after starting antibiotics. Fever reducer or cough medication for bronchopneumonia may also be prescribed. These medications can h elp relieve symptoms, but does not cure the patient (Martel, 2015). Bibliography Acharya, T. (2013). Citrate utilization test: Principle, Procedure, expected results and positive organisms microbeonline. [Online] microbeonline. Available at: http://microbeonline.com/citrate-utilization-test-principle-procedure-expected-results-and-positive-organisms/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2017]. Boutiba-Ben Boubaker, I., Ben Abbes, R., Ben Abdallah, H., Mamlouk, K., Mahjoubi, F., Kammoun, A., Hammami, A. and Ben Redjeb, S. (2004). Evaluation of a cefoxitin disk diffusion test for the routine detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 10(8), pp.762-765. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Scarlet Fever. [Online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/Features/ScarletFever/ [Accessed 12 Mar. 2017]. Chris, D. (n.d.). What is Bacterial Gastroenteritis? Pathophysiology and Treatment | Healthhype.com. [Online] Healthhype.com. Available at: http://www.healthhype.com/what-is-bacterial-gastroenteritis-pathophysiology-and-treatment.html [Accessed 13 Mar. 2017]. Coping after Endocarditis. (n.d.). 1st ed. [PDF] London: Imparts, pp.1-13. Available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/pm/research/imparts/Quick-links/Self-Help-Materials/Coping-After-Endocarditis-(long).pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2017]. Davis, C. (n.d.). Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina) Symptoms, Treatment, Causes What is the prognosis of scarlet fever? What are the long-term effects of scarlet fever? MedicineNet. [Online] MedicineNet. Available at: http://www.medicinenet.com/scarlet_fever_scarlatina/page4.htm [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. Ferretti, J., Stevens, D. and Fischetti, V. (2016). Streptococcus pyogenes : Basic Biology to Clinical Manifestations. 1st ed. [ebook] Oklahoma City: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, pp.875-891. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK343617/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2017]. Hellomrdoctor.com. (2016). Bronchopneumonia Symptoms, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment. [Online] Available at: http://hellomrdoctor.com/bronchopneumonia/ [Accessed 13 Mar. 2017]. Keynan, Y. and Rubinstein, E. (2013). Pathophysiology of Infective Endocarditis. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 15(4), pp.342-346. Lagace-Wiens, P., Alfa, M., Manickam, K. and Karlowsky, J. (2007). Thermostable DNase Is Superior to Tube Coagulase for Direct Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in Positive Blood Cultures. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 45(10), pp.3478-3479. Martel, J. (2015). Bronchopneumonia. [Online] Healthline. Available at: http://www.healthline.com/health/bronchopneumonia#Overview1 [Accessed 13 Mar. 2017]. Nhs.uk. (2016). Endocarditis Treatment NHS Choices. [Online] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Endocarditis/Pages/Treatment.aspx [Accessed 15 Mar. 2017]. Online Microbiology Notes. (2014a). Methyl Red (MR) Test- Principle, Procedure and Result Interpretation. [online] Available at: http://www.microbiologyinfo.com/methyl-red-mr-test-principle-procedure-and-result-interpretation/ [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. Online Microbiology Notes. (2014b). Voges-Proskauer (VP) Test- Principle, Reagents, Procedure and Result. [online] Available at: http://www.microbiologyinfo.com/voges-proskauer-vp-test-principle-reagents-procedure-and-result/ [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. Quinn, B. (n.d.). The effects of pneumonia. [Online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553760/The-effects-of-pneumonia.html [Accessed 22 Mar. 2017]. Segal, N., Givon-Lavi, N., Leibovitz, E., Yagupsky, P., Leiberman, A. and Dagan, R. (2005). Acute Otitis Media Caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in Children. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 41(1), pp.35-41. Tong, S., Davis, J., Eichenberger, E., Holland, T. and Fowler, V. (2015). Staphylococcus aureus Infections: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 28(3), pp.603-661. Ternhag, A., TÃ ¶rner, A., Svensson, Ã…., Ekdahl, K. and Giesecke, J. (2008). Short- and Long-term Effects of Bacterial Gastrointestinal Infections. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 14(1), pp.143-148. Vumicro.com. (n.d.-a). Maltose Fermentation Test. [Online] Available at: http://www.vumicro.com/vumie/help/VUMICRO/Maltose_Fermentation_Test.htm [Accessed 28 Mar. 2017]. Vumicro.com. (n.d.-b). Lipase (Corn Oil) Test. [Online] Available at: http://www.vumicro.com/vumie/help/VUMICRO/Lipase_Corn_Oil_Test.htm [Accessed 28 Mar. 2017]. Vumicro.com. (n.d.-c). Lysine Decarboxylase Test. [Online] Available at: http://www.vumicro.com/vumie/help/VUMICRO/Lysine_decarboxylase_Test.htm [Accessed 28 Mar. 2017]. Werdan, K., Dietz, S., LÃ ¶ffler, B., Niemann, S., Bushnaq, H., Silber, R., Peters, G. and MÃ ¼ller-Werdan, U. (2013). Mechanisms of infective endocarditis: pathogen-host interaction and risk states. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 11(1), pp.35-50.