Saturday, August 31, 2019

Content And Process Theories Of Motivation Essay

Motivation is a big influencer of productivity. Many supervisors know that what motivates employees to reach their peak performance is not easy. This is because employees respond in many ways to their jobs and their organization’s practices. Thus, a behavior that is motivated is one which is voluntarily chosen by each employee. The content approach to motivation is one that is of the assumption that individuals are motivated by the desire to fulfill inner needs. Content theories are something that is on the needs that motivate people. On the other hand, process approach to motivation is on how and why people choose particular behavior in order to meet their personal goals. Process theories are on the outside influences or behaviors that people choose to meet their needs. These external or outside influences are usually available to supervisors. An example of the content approach to motivation is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which has five level of needs. People go up these levels as their needs are answered. As the lower needs are satisfied, then the higher needs are activated. The most powerful employee need is that one which has not be yet satisfied. Abraham Maslow presented his needs theory in 1942 and then was published in 1954 in Motivation and Personality. This can be advantageous because the employees’ needs are answered as the person is satisfied. But it has its weakness too because it is rigid and does not cover the other small details that need to be taken into consideration when discussing motivations of people. Another content need is the Alderfer’s ERG which identified three categories of needs and its advantage is that there is the addition of the frustration-regression hypothesis that when people are not able to meet their higher level of needs, then, the next lower level needs come out. Meanwhile, another one of the content theory is McClelland’s Learned Needs which divides motivation into the needs for power, affiliation and achievement. This is the theory that is more on people pursuing their goals. People like to control their situations so they take risks and get feedback on their progress. This is mainly what this content theory means. There is also the motivation for power and for affiliation all under McClelland’s Learned Needs. Content needs has advantages especially if the person is motivated internally. But if he is not motivated at all, then these content theories are of not much benefit. (McClelland). Examples of the process theory Vroom’s Expectancy Model which suggests that people must choose among the alternative behaviors because they will be expecting that these behaviors will also lead to one or more desired outcomes and that the other behaviors will also bring undesirable outcomes.   Expectancy states that effort will also lead to first-order outcomes. Equity is the thinking of fairness which is involved in rewards given. Another process theory is the Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction (ARCS) Model of Motivational Design or Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivation was conceived in the early 1980s by John Keller. This was derived from his theory of motivation, performance and instructional influence developed in the late 1970s. This is a macro theory that explains a network of relationships of personal and environmental characteristics with focus on the effort, performance and consequences. This is where the idea of reinforcement comes in. It confirms or denies expectations. Several views suggest that internal motivational drives control the lives of peak performers. When one sees a change that lasts, one can be almost be certain that it took roots within the individuals it affects, at the level of their own talents and motives. (Keller). By contrast, many of the quick fixes treat motivation as if it were a fuel one injects into one’s system to make one run, and propose solutions that are external to the individual. Peak performers usually claim that external motivators produce the shortest-lived results. In effect, this theory is based upon the coordinated ideas of many researches that involve human motivation.   It will sustain learner’s motivation to learn. In short, this theory aims at identifying major categories of variables of individual behavior and of instructional design related to individual effort and performance (Wongwiwatthananukit, Supakit)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The ARCS theory integrates several motivational concepts such as the expectancy-value theory, attribution theory, self-efficacy theory, social learning theory, and environmental theories. An effective way of getting attention, the first building block of the ARCS theory is through the collaborative projects and different methods of presentation. Relevance, the next building block of Keller’s model is achieved by letting students take ownership of the learning experience, making them have more responsibility and commitment to the learning experience. By allowing them to choose a relevant task, they are able to better match their motives and values (Fernandez, Jerry). The third building block is confidence and students’ learning is enhanced because of his achievements. Confidence is ego building and can thus enhance the way they perceive and learn things. The final building block is satisfaction and learners must have the possibilities to apply new skills (Driscoll, 1993, p. 318 as qtd in Fernandez). These process theories are useful because there are many environmental factors that can influence a person in many ways since they are coming from outside the person. The only problem with this is when the person does not give attention to his external environment or when the external circumstances are not good for the individuals concerned. Indeed, motivation is why individuals behave the way they do. Two important dimensions of the â€Å"whys† of behavior are activation and direction. First, when people are motivated, they do something. Their behavior is activated or energized. Second, when people are motivated, their behavior also is directed. Motivation focuses on how adolescents direct their behavior, or put another way, the specific behaviors adolescents select in certain situations but not others. Thus, this is what defines motivation—it is why individuals behave, think, and feel the way they do, with special consideration of the activation and direction of their behavior (McClelland, David). WORKS CITED Keller’s ARC’s Model of Motivation. Retrieved May 6, 2008 at: http://www.ittheory.com/keller1.htm Fernandez, J. Attribution Theory and Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivation. Accessed Retrieved May 6, 2008 at:http://chd.gmu.edu/immersion/knowledgebase/strategies/cognitivism/keller_ARCS.htm Pitt, Douglas C. Leadership and Motivation: The Effective Application of Expectancy Theory. Journal of Managerial Issues. Retrieved May 6, 2008 at: http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development-leadership/801576-1.html Wongwiwatthananukit, Supakit, Applying the ARCS model of motivational design to pharmaceutical education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. Retrieved May 6, 2008 at: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3833/is_200007/ai_n8910222/pg_8

Friday, August 30, 2019

Machiavelli vs. Thoreau (Compare and Contrast Essay) Essay

The way one should govern and the way for one to be governed will always be an ongoing struggle. How can a government maintain order and the safety of its people yet at the same time preserve its citizens’ natural right to be free? The ideas from Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian aristocrat, who published â€Å"The Prince† in 1513 for a Medici prince as a guideline on how to rule a country, gives a conservative approach to how one should govern. Henry David Thoreau’s â€Å"Civil Disobedience† published in 1849, offers a liberal approach on how one should be governed. Machiavelli stresses the importance of maintaining order while Thoreau suggests reform. Although their views are different both men approach their positions in an aggressive manner. Machiavelli’s approach for his audience would be through fear and power while Thoreau’s approach for his audience would be through nonviolent acts, such as being a nuisance to the government. Machiavelli’s audience would be any person in a position of power, particularly that of a prince. Machiavelli uses aphorisms and historical references when introducing his argument. Not only would he present his argument but he also presents an opposing point of view and discredits it. Thoreau’s audience would be people who share his views on a less controlling and a moral government. Thoreau appeals to his audience through the use of aphorisms as well as analogies with which people would be able to identify. Machiavelli insists that a ruler must do whatever is in his power to rule his people regardless of whether his actions are moral or immoral and that â€Å"†¦it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking†¦.For one can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain, and while you work for their good they are completely yours, offering you their blood, their property, their lives, and their sons†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jacobus 44). These comments support the pessimistic views that Machiavelli has about mankind. He theorizes that man is immoral therefore justifying a ruler being immoral. He states that in return for a ruler’s protection that a man must give his life. Contrary to Machiavelli’s views on morality, Thoreaus states, â€Å"That government is best which governs not at all† (Jacobus 145) and that â€Å"It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a  corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience† (Jacobus 146). Thoreau believes that it is a man’s moral beliefs that would make a moral government. He believes that a man, if left at his own will, will do what is right and in return, if in government, will do what is right for the people. When governing a country, a ruler must have an army. In that aspect, Machiavelli states â€Å"A prince, therefore, must not have any other object nor any other thought, nor must he take anything as his profession, but war, its institutions, and it’s discipline†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jacobus 37) and that â€Å"†¦between an armed and unarmed man there is no comparison whatsoever, and it is not reasonable for an armed man to obey and unarmed man willingly, nor that an unarmed man should be safe among armed servants† (Jacobus 38). These statements suggest that a ruler must always prepare for war and military strength is more intimidating than any other type of force. In order to maintain a country, a ruler must have a strong army to defend it. Thoreau’s opinion on the military seems to differ in which he describes an army as â€Å"†¦small movable forts and magazines at the service of some unscrupulous man in power† (Jacobus 147). He clearly describes men as machines of a ruler lacking morals, rather than men protecting country. Machiavelli emphasizes a ruler maintaining order and control while Thoreau emphasizes on the citizens ruling or having an impact on their government. For example, Machiavelli’s approach on how this order can be established would be through appearance. When Machiavelli states, â€Å"And men in general judge more by their eyes than their hands; for everyone can see but few can feel. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few perceive what you are, and those few do not dare to contradict the opinion of the many who have the majesty of the state to defend them; and in the actions of all men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jacobus 47), he is stating that what a ruler does that his citizens do not know about should not affect his reputation, as most people will follow the majority if the majority believes that their ruler is just and fair. He then continues to explain how this can be accomplished. Machiavelli continues to explain how a ruler can be deceiving when need be but can also be depicted as â€Å"†¦merciful, faithful, human, forthright, religious†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Jacobus 47),  leader yet at the same time, he states, â€Å"†¦in order to maintain the state he is often obliged to act against his promise, against charity, against humanity, and against religion† (Jacobus 47). In these statements, Machiavelli is arguing that in order for a leader appear moral he is often subjected to immoral acts. Thoearu’s views seem to disagree with Machiavelli’s reasoning as Thoeau states, â€Å"A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight† (Jacobus 155). Thoreau believes in the good in men and that every man will do what is right for himself and if he believes a government to be immoral then it should be a man’s duty to rebel for what is right. Although one might be a part of the minority, an impact can still be made if the group stands together. The power struggle between government and individual freedom has been and always will be a never-ending battle. Comparing Machiavelli’s standpoint, which would be order and control, and Thoreau’s standpoint, being individual freedom, would give one an idea of this conflict. Even though both men were from different countries and lived during different times in history, their contrasting ideas still live through people in societies today and will echo into the minds of others in societies to follow.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Excretory System

Excretory system Excretion is the removal of waste products of metabolism from our body system. Contents †¢1 Excretory functions †¢2 Component organs o2. 1 Lungs o2. 2 Kidneys o2. 3 Ureter o2. 4 Urinary bladder o2. 5 Urethra o3 Urine formation4 Reasons For Excretion The excretory system removes metabolic and liquid toxic wastes as well as excess water from the organism, in the form of urine,sweat,urea or bile. This is important so as to help maintain balance within the organism and prevent damage to m the body.As your body performs the many functions that it needs in order to keep itself alive, it produces wastes. These wastes are chemicals that are toxic and that if left alone would seriously hurt or even kill you. For example, as your cells break down amino acids, they produce a dangerous toxin known as urea. The cells of your body excrete this urea into your blood Excretory organs Skin Skin is an excretory organ. The regulation of body temperature causes it to produce sw eat which contain urea surplus water, salts and other waste .Lungs One of the main functions of the lungs is to diffuse gaseous wastes, such as carbon dioxide, from the bloodstream as a normal part of respiration Kidneys The kidney's primary function is the elimination of waste from the bloodstream by production of urine. They perform several homeostatic (metabolic balance) functions such as:- 1. Maintain volume of extracellular fluid 2. Maintain ionic balance in the blood 3. Maintain pH concentration of the blood. 4. Excrete toxic metabolic by-products such as urea, ammonia, and uric acid.The way the kidneys do this is with nephrons inside the glomeruli. There are over 1 million nephrons in each kidney, these nephrons act as filters inside the kidneys. The kidneys filter needed materials and waste, the needed materials go back into the bloodstream, and unneeded materials becomes urine and is gotten rid of. In some cases, excess wastes crystallize as kidney stones. They grow and can become a painful irritant that may require surgery or ultrasound treatments. Some stones are small enough to be forced into the urethra Urine formationWithin the kidney, blood first passes through the renal artery to the capillary formations called a glomerulus and is collected in the Bowman's capsule which filters the blood from its contents—primarily food and wastes. After the filtration process, the blood then returns to collect the food nutrients it needs, while the wastes pass into the collecting duct, to the renal pelvis, and to the ureter, and are then secreted out of the body via the urinary bladder. What is a kidney stone? A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract.Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis. Having stones a t any location in the urinary tract is referred to as urolithiasis, and the term ureterolithiasis is used to refer to stones located in the ureters. The Human Skin 19. 3 Skin and Lungs as Accessory Excretory Organs In addition to the urinary system, the skin, lungs and liver of vertebrates are accessory excretory organs. 1) Skin: Human skin possesses glands for secreting two fluids on its surface, namely sweat from the sweat glands and sebum from sebaceous glands. (Fig. 19. 7). Sweat is a watery fluid containing in solution primarily contains sodium-chloride, urea,and excess water . Figure 19. 7 Vertical Section of the Skin Sebum is a wax-like secretion which helps to excrete some lipids such as waxes, sterols, other hydrocarbons and fatty acids on the skin. (B) Lungs: Lungs which are the main respiratory organs of vertebrates, help to eliminate the entire volume of carbon dioxide produced in the body, as well as some moisture, during expiration.The lungs maintain the blood-gas home ostasis through elimination of carbon dioxide. When lungs fail to eliminate enough carbon dioxide, the kidneys attempt to compensate. They change some of the carbon dioxide into sodium bicarbonate, which becomes part of the blood buffer system. SUMMARY (1) Excretion is the removal of nitrogenous waste products from the body. (2) Kidneys are the most important excretory organs of mammals. Through filtration, reabsorption and active transport, waste is remove, but kidneys conserve substances useful to the organisms. 4) In general, kidneys regulate the intake and the outflow of water and salts in the blood and help to maintain homeostasis. (5) Regulation of kidney function is achieved by certain hormones such as antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone and angiotensin. (6) Skin and lungs also act as accessory excretory organs. Nitrogenous Waste †¢The liver also works by breaking down nitrogenous waste. Your different metabolic processes in your body are important to keep you alive, but t hey also create waste in the form of nitrogen.The body must then transport the nitrogen waste out of your body. Your liver converts the nitrogenous waste into urea, which is then transported out of the body when you urinate. Bile †¢Once toxins have been converted, the liver deposits the deactivated toxins into the bile. The liver excretes bile as a digestive aid for harder to digest fats, as well as a way to transport toxins out of the body. The bile is then stored in the gallbladder till needed. Once it is needed, it moves the duodenum and helps with the digestion and excretory process.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

ETHICS AND VALUES PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ETHICS AND VALUES PAPER - Essay Example These differences can be controlled only if codes of ethics are used in the culture and structure of an organization. In US, National Association of Social Workers is considered as the primary standard of ethics by profession. This code of ethics is a set of principles, standards and core values. These things facilitate ethical decisions making. Social workers navigate in a community and they participate in interdisciplinary teams. This enables a manager to perform different set of services on the basis of different professional values; it leads to increase in ethical dilemma numbers too. Social workers have ethical responsibility towards clients, colleagues, professionals, social work professions and to the society as a whole. Social workers enhance social change and justice on behalf of clients. In this paper, concept of client is used in a broader sense, i.e. it includes individuals, families, organizations, groups and communities. They are sensitive to ethnic and cultural diversity. They enhance people capacity to identify their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities and other social institutions to individuals needs and social problems. NASW code of ethics does not specify which principle, standards or values are important in dealing with human diversity. It gives ability to use any code in order to solve a dilemma. There are differences in persons on the basis of opinions and thinking. One should be able to handle diverse working conditions. In such situation ethical decision should be made and judgment should be formed in all individuals. Social workers should also judge peers and other colleagues so that professional standards should be appli ed. NASW code of ethics is a conceptual framework for professional behavior promotion. It helps to reduce the constraints of behavior and enables individuals to work with different people in society and organizations. Social workers professional

Advantages of e-CRM systems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advantages of e-CRM systems - Coursework Example This involves first seeking the customer’s permission and providing them with an incentive, before targeting them with the organization’s given marketing message. E-CRM systems make it easy for organizations like Our Town Photography to engage in multiple relationships with multiple customers through the use of different opt-in and opt-out tools such as checking a box in an online form. E-CRM systems are essentially designed for this new form of marketing. Permission marketing ensures that the company only concentrates its marketing on customers who are interested. This leads to the second advantage of e-CRM systems: effective targeting. E-CRM systems keep records of those who have visited a web site and expressed an interest in the products or services offered by registering their name and other details. By sending marketing messages to this category of web visitors, Our Town Photography will receive higher response rates from its target customers. With the e-CRM tech nology, the company could further tailor its messages to customer micro-segments. With effective targeting, the overall cost of reaching customers also goes down. Firstly, it is cheaper to use electronic communication methods than physical ones. Secondly, with effective targeting the number of mail-outs is reduced ... These systems also support active information gathering from customers through tools such as online forums and communities, new product prototype evaluations and even customer-led innovations. List the specific data you would to store in your system Name Address Birth dates Purchase History Product or service recommendations made Gifts sent and received Anniversaries Hobbies and interests Gender Marital Status Post-sales service and/or product rating Research at least two e-CRM systems that are available and do a compare contrast between the two systems. List the advantages and disadvantages of each the system and create a side by side comparison matrix. Table 1: SugarCRM versus Microsoft Dynamics CRM Feature SugarCRM Corporate Microsoft Dynamics CRM Deployment On-premise or cloud-based On-premise and cloud-based Trial period 7 days 30 days Cost US$ 45/user/month US$ 44/user/month Databases -Client can opt to use SugarCRM datacenter or Client datacenter or third party datacenter -Off ers 30GB free -Client can use own datacenter or Microsoft Cloud datacenter -Offers 5GB free, client pays for extra storage Employee applications and channels -Unlimited customization options / based on Open Source standards -Proprietary system thus customization limited by vendor -Massive ecosystem of extensions developed by Open Source community found at SugarExchange for over 200 commercial extensions and SugarForge.org for over 800 free extensions -Seamless integration to Microsoft products -Integration with Outlook and Microsoft ERP is especially very appealing to small and medium businesses. -Full sales, marketing and support automation -Full sales, marketing and support automation -Email integration, reporting, team selling, collaboration tools, advanced security, workflow

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Week One Discussion Questions (Mgt-437) Project Management Essay

Week One Discussion Questions (Mgt-437) Project Management - Essay Example A project’s focus looks at the strategic tilt of the business as the project gives the indication whether or not the success will be achieved for the different business entities and how the same will shape up the future realms of the business in the long run. 2. What is a project life cycle? How do project life cycles differ among organizations? To what degree does the structure of the project life cycle used by the organization affect the project manager’s job? Explain your answer. A project life cycle is a series of steps that are taken in order to reach the end goal within a project itself. It is important that a project life cycle is apparently drawn in order to assist the project team members in understanding the work domains. Project life cycles differ amongst organizations because they depend upon the nature of the project work, their deadline requirements that need to be taken care of and the stakeholders who will be directly or indirectly affected by the project in essence. The project manager’s job is seriously affected by the project life cycle because it makes him wait for certain activities to end before he could align the other project deliverables. The need for understanding the time glitches and work requirements is essential for a project manager in order to deliver value. A project stakeholder is a person who is directly or indirectly affected by the project’s results. Some examples of project stakeholders include the people who have invested heavily within the project’s domains as well as those who remain within the background but are linked with the project on a very constant basis. The stakeholders of a project are also comprised of the people who will be affected by the outcome of a project in the long run. When stakeholders are not identified and addressed early on in the project, the projects get affected by such incidents in a very

Monday, August 26, 2019

Cell Phones VS Landlines; the Advantages and Disadvantages Research Paper

Cell Phones VS Landlines; the Advantages and Disadvantages - Research Paper Example nine percent of Americans use cell phones only with no landlines though most Americans combine the use of both landlines and cell phones (Westcott, p41). A cell phone is a short-range communications device that receives and broadcasts low power digital radio signals to and from cell sites which are located throughout populated areas. Older cell phones transmitted analogue signals with some transmitting both digital and analogue signals until 2008 when the support of analogue signals stopped. On the other hand, landline phones are usually linked to a main central utility via telephone lines. Local regulatory commissions normally control the pricing of landline use. Traditionally, landlines were the ones used for homes and offices but nowadays more people have switched to cell phones. This presentation seeks to examine the pros and cons of cell phones and land lines from different perspectives in terms of their use and possession and provide one with knowledge to enable him or her make an informed decision when choosing to have one or both telecommunication devices. Portability: Unlike land lines, cell phones are very portable and one can carry them along anywhere and use them anywhere where there is a service provider signal. They can be conveniently carried around and used in places where land lines are absent, for example while on the highways. Mobility: One can use cell phones while on the move and hence save a lot of time which would have been wasted by being stationary and waiting for the phone call, especially for a busy individual. Besides, one does not have to miss important calls while on the move. Emergencies: In cases of accidents, one can easily call the ambulance or police while at the scene. One can even take pictures of the accident scene if he has a phone with a camera. In cases where one may be lost, one can call for directions or if he has a GPS enabled phone, the emergency services can trace his position and come to his rescue. Versatility:

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Victim Advocacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Victim Advocacy - Essay Example Victim Advocacy involves the arguing or pleading in favour of a case. It is giving active support and promoting the victims’ interests, defend and uphold them as right or valid. Victim advocates focus on promoting victims’ rights and needs, and making sure that their opinions are considered during the drafting of policy and legislation affecting them (Ido Foundation, 2012). Being United States’ leading advocacy and resource organization for crime victims, the National Center for Victims of Crime helps many victims: understand their options and legal rights; overcome trauma caused by crime; access victim emergency and compensation assistance; device safety plans; and locate appropriate services locally (The National Centre for Victims of Crime, 2012). ‘The National Center for Victims of Crime’ advocates for the rights of victims, serves as an information source on issues of victims, and gives professional training to people who interact with the victi ms (Womens health.gov, nd). Its vision was inspired by a family tragedy: Alexander Auersperg and Ala Isham started the Center in 1985, originally as the Sunny Von Bulow National Victim Advocacy Center. They were motivated by the victimization of their mother and the traumatic experience the family endured with the justice system. ... It secures resources for crime victims by committing to the increase of crime victims’ federal funding and ensuring that state sources of funding are protected.  It has expanded and strengthened the rights of crime victims in the juvenile, criminal, administrative, and civil justice systems.  It promotes discussions about underserved and emerging crime victims’ issues. The Center values training and education as mechanisms for improving the treatment and understanding of crime victims. Programs and training activities have been developed by the center to act as a resource for professionals who represent the perspectives of the victims, develop services, foster for change, and raise awareness (The National Centre for Victims of Crime, 2012). The National Center for Victims of Crime holds topic-specific and general conferences to emphasize on the multidisciplinary idea of current research sharing practices, and the effective policies and programs which are research-in formed, evidence-based, and victim-centered. These conferences act as victim service forums for policymakers, professionals in criminal justice, researchers, and allied practitioners to build collaborations and share developments. The center also has a DNA Resource Center which acts as a source for information, technical assistance, and training about DNA use in the justice system. Its mandate is to help professionals of criminal justice and victim service to understand DNA databases, forensic DNA, and nurse examiners’ roles in helping DNA exonerations survivors. This project has a role of ensuring that allied professionals and victim service have up-to-date and accurate information in order to

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Marketing concept and marketing orientation Essay

Marketing concept and marketing orientation - Essay Example Marketing orientation centres on the target market. Marketing orientation also means organisations will most likely practice globalisation since flexibility is paramount in a more and more competitive environment. With marketing orientation, an organisation can sway customer demand by making goods and services that are appealing, affordable, and easily accessible. Essentially, marketing orientation means an organisation has to adopt the marketing concept. Marketing orientation means an organisation has competitive edge over rival firms (Almquist, 2014). Rival organisations always find it hard to emulate marketing orientation when used as an internal strong point. This is because organisations always find marketing orientation hard to maintain. Maintaining marketing orientation means an organisation will have to stop being transparent about its promotion and communication strategies. The lack of transparency creates competitive advantage for an organisation and makes marketing orientation non-transferable. Market-oriented organisations view these characteristics of marketing orientation as a resource for competitive advantage. To acquire this advantage, the organisation will also have to pour more resources into research, promotion, retailing, and sales. Target markets always follow certain trends that a market-oriented organisation has to know and abide by to gain the sector’s competitive edge. Abiding by these trends means th e organisation has to come up with commodity strategies that address customer needs and wants. The four Ps of marketing, market plans, behaviour, and research are factors an organisation can consider when seeking market orientation. A stipulated example is GrameenPhone, Bangladesh’s top telecoms firm. In 2012, GrameenPhone had a market share of 62%, which represents 8.5 million subscribers. This market share seems impressive but is

Friday, August 23, 2019

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis - Assignment Example s to be drawn in some cases where procedures are considered unethical, especially, where couples create savior siblings aimed at saving a seriously sick sibling. Even though the engineered child does not get physically harmed and does not benefit, the implication of this procedure is morally unethical. It is not fair for couples to have a second child with the sole purpose of serving as a donor while disregarding his/her right to equality. Having a donor child resembles slavery where the savior child is regarded the slave while the parents are the slave-owner. The parents own the child and use him/her as a commodity but, the child is a person who requires respect. There also has to be a limit to this because there are higher risks of long-term and psychological impact on the second child. The child’s identity is likely to be impaired because of being viewed as a tool that is solely designed to save another life. The child is also likely to lack self-respect and self-esteem as he/she is likely to get praised for being a means to achieve a particular end rather than for his/her individual value. A line should also be drawn in cases where parents abuse PGD to meet their selfish needs of creating a perfect child. Avoiding genetic disorders to protect someone’s life is one thing but, it is another to transform a person artificially (Hayes, 2008). Some parents pick traits that they find to be beneficial and get rid of those that they find imperfect, so they satisfy their goals of not having socially and financially burdensome child. The reasoning is wrong because it is a direct discrimination against disabled children. Ethically, this also violates the core value of humanity by treating a child as a means towards an inappropriate end. The child’s well-being is ignored while the parents’ economic and social ends are being pursued. Designing a child destructs their will and fails to treat them humanely (Cummings, 2009). PGD has given couples opportunities to

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Cyberspace and War Essay Example for Free

Cyberspace and War Essay Reading the highly interesting essay entitled â€Å"Navigating the Cyberspaces of Virtual War† presents to us the reasons why movies like The Terminator movie series are no longer works of fiction as written by an over active imagination. The reality is that science and computer technology have reached that point in the evolution of the systems that both the real and imagined reality of everyday lives, problems, and in this case, world wars, can now seamlessly interact and allow human beings to become active participants in the situations without really posing any physical dangers to the themselves. We have to admit that violence is an inborn characteristic of humans regardless of age, gender, and capability. But, man is afraid of the real repercussions stemming from any act of violence. Nobody in his right mind would put his own life on the line if he can find a way around it. This is the problem that presented itself to the public the day that man found a way to involve themselves in virtual war games. It is true that soldiers must be well trained and versed in handling their weapons and be so familiar with their combat zone that they can patrol the area blindfolded. For the military, the applications of virtual war is endless and a fantastic training tool that limit’s the number of casualties in the field. The problem is that the virtual war games were commercialized and sold to the public for home entertainment. The end result of the virtual gaming world was the desensitizing of mankind. Virtual Reality turned into an actual reality for some wherein nobody ever actually got hurt or died. It redefined violence for the participants and made it seem alright to blow each other up because â€Å"It’s just a game†. However, the developers of such games neglected to consider the psychological effect of the game on an ordinary person. A soldier would eventually have to deal with the reality of his virtual training and deal with actual loss of lives from both friendly and enemy fire. For the common man who merely plays the game and does not need to experience the actual loss, it instead gives him a thrill that sometimes pushes him to emulate the game in a real life setting. Early on, I mentioned that the Terminator movie series has now turned into a reality. This is a truth that can be seen because of the way cyberspace and war have turned battles into situations fought by remote control from the comfort of the soldier’s home base using highly intelligent computer systems that are capable of deciding upon what kind of weapons to use depending upon what their sensors data transmits to the onboard computer. But, what if the onboard computer develops a problem that causes the machine to turn upon its remote operators? What if Artificial Intelligence turns into Real Computer Intelligence? Are we prepared for such repercussions? Our computer developers and scientists have turned computers into almost fully independent machines that can function and decide its own actions in times of war. Good for the soldier because he won’t have to risk his life on the battlefront. Bad news for the rest of us because cyberspace is filled with computer hackers who would love to be able to gain the bragging rights to being that one person who took down a whole satellite system or took virtual / cyberspace enabled control of a real online defense system thereby gaining control of the military fighting machines for his own whims. Cyborgs are not that far off in development either. A perfect fighting machine, no feelings or logic, just a follower designed to eliminate the enemy as per preloaded mission objectives. The question is, how prepared are we to unleash such forces into reality? What safeguards are in place within cyberspace to protect us from the potential disasters cyber wars and technological advancements in cyberspace could bring upon mankind? The internet, online war gaming, television, and newspapers all present us with the realities of war while we are still far removed from the actual situation. I believe that if the world is to know any sort of peace, such virtual technologies should be limited to only military applications and not be allowed for commercial purposes. There is no need to feed the violent tendencies of man. Instead, a separate virtual reality should be developed for the common folk where we can practice solving political tensions through discussion and treaties instead. Leave the virtual fighting to those who are trained to really handle such situations. Cyberspace and war do not have to become any sort of reality for mankind simply because all it will bring about is our own self destruction in both virtual and actual reality.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Humanitarian Intervention Essay Example for Free

Humanitarian Intervention Essay The United Nations is an international organization that fights for world peace, and strives to control international law, international security, economic development, social progress, and human rights. In the United Nation’s preamble, it states the organization is â€Å"determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.† However, the U.N. can often be ineffective and it has been an ongoing debate between the world’s leaders whether or not intervention is justified when inhumane acts are committed in foreign lands. Too many human beings have been victims of violence, rape and/or other crimes on the U.N.’s watch all because the organization is not authorized to forcefully intervene in another country. The United Nations Security Council is responsible for preserving peace between nations and even within nations, and when a nation is committing atrocious acts against its citizens, the U.N. and other nations should have the right to intervene militarily to end those abuses. Just as if a teenager would take on the responsibilities of providing a home and food for themselves when they move out, a country assumes the responsibility of taking care of its citizens when it becomes independent. When a country proves to the outside world it is not capable of controlling its citizens and maintaining a peaceful nation, blue helmeted U.N. troops may invade these unstable regions. It would be inhumane for the U.N., any country, or any human to witness a population suffering and not try to interfere in some way. To look the other way would be immoral and an inhumane act of itself. When trying to obtain peace in foreign countries, peaceful negotiations are not always successful and other means are necessary. In the past, the U.N. has not been able to aid suffering populations militarily and has failed to protect the citizens from vicious crimes. In a survey taken by the U.N. in 2007, â€Å"which covered a total of 14 countries, plus the Palestinian Territories, [it] found that solid majorities in each of 12 national pools believe that the U.N. Security Council should have the right to authorize the use of military force to protect innocent people from genocide and other massive abuses, even against the will of their own government† (Lobe). Even with the support of the majority of world, the U.N. still does not have the authority to forcefully protect innocent people from cruelty. When tens of thousands of people were being killed in Darfur, and Rwanda, it was the U.N.’s responsibility to step in and save the lives of those living in a country at an unfortunate time. However, by following their rules of procedure, the U.N. troops were not allowed to use force unless fired upon. Since 2003, â€Å"tens of thousands of people have being killed and over one million people displaced† in Darfur and in 1994, Hutus killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis in Rwanda (Spectators to Genocide). â€Å"As a result of the massacre [in Rwanda], there are more than one million orphans† (Rust). But when the blue helmeted troops entered the Rwandan chaos, there was not much they could do to stop the genocides that were taking place right before their eyes. It took the United Nations three years after the United States declared the events taking place in Darfur as genocide to interfere, and even still the U.N. has done nothing beneficial to help those suffering in Darfur. Unable to seize weapons, the blue helmets stand by powerless. Had the United Nations involved itself earlier in Rwanda and Darfur and at full force, millions of people’s lives could have been saved or bettered. If the U.N. involved itself militarily, it is possible that the U.N. may have a few casualties, but the United States Army has lost a good number of soldiers over the years while fighting for causes they believe in. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made, and if a few members of the U.N. were lost in effort to protect the lives of thousands of people and potentially save a population, it would be an admirable sacrifice. It should be the world’s responsibility to defend civilians when its government is guilty of neglecting to â€Å"protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity (Reeves). Had the United Nations acted quicker when the Hutus began killing the Tutsis, and put an end to the vicious attacks that took place during those days, future genocides could have possibly been prevented. Instead, the word genocide can be heard more frequently and little is being done to stop that. Thousands of lives could have been saved or altered had the United Nations been able to step in and militarily defend the helpless populations of Rwanda and Darfur. Justification of humanitarian intervention is essential in order to protect the lives and rights of those suffering from genocide. The U.N. should want a reputation of not allowing genocides to take place, but instead the organization is being criticized for the lack of effort and aid being lent to those countries in need. Over the years, too many lives have been lost or damaged due to genocide and other inhumane acts. Humanitarian intervention needs to be allowed when a country is not protecting its citizens, in effort to save the lives of populations. The United Nations’ ineffectiveness in the past should be enough of a reason for why humanitarian intervention should be justified. It is imperative that the United Nations be entitled to militarily involve itself when innocent lives are in danger. Works Cited Charter of the United Nations: Preamble. Welcome to the United Nations: Its Your World. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. . Jim Lobe. U.N.: POLL SHOWS BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.N. ACTION AGAINST GENOCIDE. Global Information Network 6 April 2007 Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. Reeves, E. Failure to Protect: International Response to Darfur Genocide. Harvard International Review 29.4 (2008): 84-85. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. Rust, Selina. RWANDA: REMEMBERING THE UNFORGETTABLE. Global Information Network 9 April 2010 Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. Spectators to Genocide. Wall Street Journal 2 Aug. 2007, Eastern edition: National Newspaper Abstracts (3), ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Among Pregnant Females in Lahore

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Among Pregnant Females in Lahore The present study was conducted on 190 pregnant females attending Government, Lahore General Hospital and from a private setup named as Fatima Memorial Hospital coming for their antenatal checkups during first trimester. The detailed results are shown in the appendices. The summary of results is given in Tables 1- 20 and Figures 1- 6. Figure 1 shows the frequency of IgG in pregnant females. Out of 190, IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were present in 60 (31.58%) females. Figure 2 shows the frequency of IgM in pregnant females. Out of 190 pregnant females, IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were present only in 9 (4.73%) females. Table 1 shows the comparison of age, gestational age and gravida between IgG positive and negative females. The mean age of IgG positive group was 28.19 Â ± 4.70 and the mean number of gravida and gestational age of IgG positive group was 3.26 Â ± 1.84 and 9.28 Â ± 3.14 respectively. Whereas the mean age of IgG negative group was 25.92 Â ± 5.00 and the mean number of gravida and gestational age of IgG negative group was 2.63 Â ± 1.85 and 9.36 Â ± 3.20 respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in mean gestational age between IgG positive and negative groups (p-value = 0.753). The mean age of IgG positive group was statistically significant and higher as compared to IgG negative group (p-value = 0.005) similarly the mean gravida of IgG positive group was statistically significant and higher as compared to IgG negative group (p-value = 0.012). Table 2 shows the comparison of age, gestational age and gravida between IgM positive and negative groups. The mean age IgM positive group was 29.44 Â ± 5.20 and the mean number of gravida and gestational age of IgM positive group was 2.56 Â ± 1.51 and 9.33 Â ± 3.74 respectively. Whereas the mean age of IgM negative group was 26.49 Â ± 4.97 and the mean number of gravida and gestational age of IgM negative group was 2.84 Â ±1.88 and 9.33 Â ± 3.16 respectively. The mean age of IgM positive group was generally higher as compared to IgM negative group and the mean gravida of IgM positive group was generally lower as compared to IgM negative group but these differences were not statistically significant (p-value = 0.074 and p-value = 0.806 respectively). Similarly there were no statistically significant differences in mean gestational age between IgM positive and negative groups (p-value = 0.792). Table 3 shows the IgG positivity in pregnant women according to family income and there was statistically significant association between IgG antibodies and family income (p-value

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Golden Demon :: essays research papers

The Golden Demon (Response) Golden Demon (Konjiki-yasha) is the most important work of Koyo Ozaki, who was a pionner in modern Japanese literature. Since its publication in the form of a serial story in a daily newspaper, the novel has commanded high opinions, and many films and plays have been made of it. The â€Å"Golden Demon† synopsis is about a penniless drifter loses the woman he loves when her parents arrange her marriage to a rich playboy. Filled with bitterness and despair, the young man devotes his life to acquiring great wealth, which gradually turns him into a ruthless money lender. In brief, Omiya has a fiancà © whose name is Kwanichi. They love each other; however, she is loved by a capitalist, and her parents hope her to marriage Tomiyama. And Omiya also was dazzled by his wealth and married him. The story is talked Kwanichi’s grudge against her and Omiya’s regret about her marriage calmly, plus, it has been continued for six years. The poor girl, Omiya, couldn’t even die because of her regret feeling. She was still a old-fashioned girl who believed one’s fortune, and Kwanichi was simple-minded guy who become a leech because he was far beneath Mr. Tomiyama in wealth. However kwanichi was not really hero because he was deprived of his fiancà © and did not try to take her back. In Golden Demon, it lively depicts the live of people struggling and surviving powerfully despite being tossed about by the quickly changing waves of modern society. At the same time, the movie focuses on â€Å"love and money†, which we can safely say are universal themes for all human beings. The narrative is very â€Å"pre-modern† if â€Å"the modern† means the sense of self as unique, organic subjectivity. Since the narrative oscillates between that of and omniscient third person and emotional soliloquies by Kwanichi, Tomiyama, and especially Omiya, the reader can not see any trace of the boundary between the self and not-self. The narrator is, in this sense, nobody, who is floating in interstices of characters. This was not unusual at all before the modernist period, but it is interesting that object people’s voices restores the pre-modern type narrative in to the modern period. Does this mean that the social objects have no voice to be represented in modern narrative? Furthermore, in terms of its truth value in reality and self, for example, the value of realist narrative and confessional narrative, it was quite new and the first to openly mimic Zolaist naturalism.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Hydrogen Power as a Fuel Source Essay examples -- Alternative Fuel Oil

Hydrogen Power as a Fuel Source It is no secret that the Gulf war was fought for superiority of the vast oil reserves in the Arab regions. This point to the fact that the superpowers are experiencing a severe shortage of fuel for its un-satiated energy needs. While the advanced nations in the world are the biggest consumers of fuel, their fuel production capacities are very limited or almost non-existent. Scientists predict that the world's oil reserves will not last for long and we need to find out alternative forms of fuel for our ever growing fuel needs. In addition, the quantum of pollution that occurs by burning fossil fuels is an ever growing threat to the already fragile ecosystems of the world. It is in this scenario that the world has turned its attention to non-conventional fuels that are cheap, non-polluting and easily producible. While a variety of fuels have been considered as non-conventional alternate fuels, the potential of hydrogen as a fuel of the future is promising. In terms of usage, it is believed that the United States is the world's most fuel-consuming nation with consumption levels reaching twelve million barrels a day. The astounding part of this statistic is that two third of this fuel, that is eight million barrels are burned on the roads to power cars and trucks. Obviously, the United States is also the world's largest producer of Carbon dioxide that contributes most to the green house effect. The cost for importing so much oil a day is a...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Cause and Effect Essay - Christianity Causes Divorce -- Expository Cau

Cause and Effect Essay - Christianity Causes Divorce â€Å"Bible Belt Couples ‘Put Asunder’ More,† the New York Times proclaimed on May 21 of this year: â€Å"The divorce rate in many parts of the Bible Belt is roughly 50% above the national average.† So much for the notion that secularism is to blame for the decline of traditional families, among other frequently lamented social ills. Apparently, in a least a few states, the divorce rate correlates to an excess of piety, not the absence of it. What do we make of this amusing correlation? I doubt that religiosity directly causes divorce, but in some cases it may cause marriage, by condemning premarital sex and cohabitation as sinful; and marriage, of course, is the one indisputable cause of divorce. Marry in haste; divorce when you come to your senses. â€Å"I had this vision that this is just what people do; Get married, have kids and Christ comes back,† one Oklahoma divorcee told the New York Times. She remarried, but a great many Oklahomans apparently prefer living in sin. (Religion may not cause marriage after all.) According to the Times, the number of unmarried cohabitating couples in Oklahoma increased 97 percent in the past ten years. It increased 125 percent in Arkansas and 123 percent in Tennessee. The average national increase in unmarried couples for the same period was 72 percent. Statistics like these are deeply troubling to God-fearing social conservatives like Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who declared a â€Å"marital emergency† in his state; and Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, who has initiated a multimillion dollar campaign to strengthen marriage by sending publicly funded â€Å"marriage ambassadors† to talk shows and public schools and providing premarital education. ... ...tates, when the Supreme Court held that Mormons could be prosecuted for entering into polygamous marriages. Thus, Judeo-Christian notions of marriage are incorporated into law while historic Mormon beliefs about marriage are criminalized. As Utah polygamist Tom Green recently learned, laws against multiple spouses are still liable to be enforced. Green, who boasted five wives and an estimated twenty-five to thirty children, was convicted of four counts of bigamy (and one count of nonsupport). He was not a particularly sympathetic defendant: one of his wives was only fourteen when he married her, and he could not support all the children he promiscuously fathered. So, it’s probably not fair to say he was prosecuted because of his religious beliefs, but he was prosecuted in spite of them. He is not a particularly virtuous man, but he is, after all, a religious one.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Case 5 consumer trends

In today’s world of rapidly changing consumer trends, it is only wise that companies try to keep up with these changes so as to remain in business. This is largely because the consumer is becoming more concerned with the products they consume e. g. effects of high calories. The analysis of the following case study affirms this change in consumer trends. 1. Consumer trends The changing consumer tastes is one of the driving forces behind product innovation. This is epitomized by the recent consumer trends like low ‘carb’ and going ‘green’.Trends like these have forced companies to come up with products/processes that meet consumer demands. Like the dot com craze of late 1990s, the low carb and environment awareness are largely fuelled by customer awareness. These trends are usually force companies to align their products with the changing preferences. And is rightly so because companies that defy these trends may suffer drop in revenues. An example is t he American carmakers that belatedly adopted hybrid technology when their Japanese counterparts were already benefiting from the technology.Such trends lead to the market flooding with similar companies has witnessed with the dot com bubble although the low carb and environmental preservation trends may persist because of the awareness of effects of high carbohydrates and environmental pollution. Most of the internet companies collapsed (Cable World 2001). 2. Threat to entrepreneurs The entry of industry giants like Dell and Gateway companies into the computer recycling business with present problems to Stampp Corbin in the sense that he might lack used computers to resale. Legislations may also be passed that does not allow the resale and disposal of used computers.Such laws may require that computers of a certain age cannot be resold. Laws governing electronic waste from computers can substantially affect the business. The recycling of the computers by manufacturers can lead to ch eaper production of new computers such that entrepreneurs like Stampp Corbin may lack the market for the used computers. The sensitive information in the used computers may also pose a serious threat of lawsuits if it accidentally falls in the wrong hands. The software used to delete this information may not be effective in the long run with the development of new technologies that could hold data permanently.All the above factors can affect Corbin’s business severely. 3. Competitive advantage Retro Box Company is one of the pioneers of the electronic recycling business and therefore the existence in the market for a long time leads to the company developing good business relations with the suppliers and customers also thus ensuring constant supply and availability of the market. Another advantage is the ability of Retro Box to safeguard itself from lawsuits that may result from leaked information. The company has done this by developing tailor made software that can erase su ch data completely.4. Protection from changing consumer preferences and laws One of the important factors that companies can do to avoid loss of business due to changing consumer preference is through innovation and anticipating future needs of consumers. Thereby the new product development will be guided by future consumer needs and expectations (PRNewswire 2008). The company also need to be aware of the effects that their products have on the environment and hence come up with innovative ways of dealing with there effects thus avoiding the need of regulations through laws which can be costly in the long run.Conclusion It is therefore paramount that companies embrace consumer trends through anticipating their needs and thus coming up with innovative products that keep up with changing preferences. References: Cable World (2001). MSO defies dot-com trend-Against the Grain. Retrieved on 30/4/2008 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0DIZ/is_/ai_80191576 PRNewswire (2008). Foo d marketers challenged to meet consumer tastes in 2008. Retrieved on 30/4/2008 from http://www. reuters. com/article/pressRelease/idUS187846+29-Jan-2008+PRN20080129

Friday, August 16, 2019

Solution Focused Therapy

Social Work Department Faculty of Humanities University of Johannesburg Student Surname| Le Roux| Student Initials| C| Student First Name| Charlene| Student Number| 201170104| Assignment Title| Practice Model| Date of Submission| 15 March 2013| Course Title| B Social work| Lecturers Name| Prof. Adrian Van Breda| Course Code| SW2A11| Plagiarism Declaration| I, Charlene Le Roux 201170104, declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used (either from a printed source or from the internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements.I understand what plagiarism is and aware of the department’s policy in this regard. | Name| Charlene Le Roux| Signature| | Index Page 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5. 15. 25. 35. 45. 55. 65. 767. 8. | Introduction History of Solution Focused TherapyUnderlying theoryKey principlesApplication to the PCPEngagementAssessmentPlanningImplementingEvaluationTerminationFollow-up Critical reflectionConclusionReference list| Page 334-55-66-116-77-88991010-11111213| 1. Introduction I have chosen to do the Solution focused therapy practice model (Hereafter referred to as SFT).I chose this model because I was interested in finding out more about how to use one’s own resources and strengths to empower oneself. My hardest issue with counseling is learning how to teach clients how to use their own resources instead of supplying it myself and also encouraging clients to come up with their own solutions and just giving them advice and my opinion. SFT discusses the different techniques one can use to ensure they are empowering their clients and not doing everything for them. 2. History The two founding theorists for SFT are Insoo Kim Berg and Steve De Shazer.Together they adapted existing theories to mold into a theory of their own. They strongly believed that true positive change lies within the client themselves and not in the relationship between the client and worker. Berg was the cofounder of a center in Milwaukee in 1978 whose intention was to launch the mental research institute and it used Brief Family therapy. This was an organization that made no profit and was used to serve the needs of people in surrounding areas and people and families that were poor or living in poverty (O’Connell, 2005).Four years later this became the home of SFT (Lee, 2011). De Shazer later worked in the center and was thoroughly trained in brief family therapy. According to Milton Erikson, brief therapy models were hugely influenced by the strengths perspective and social constructivism. The strengths perspective is about using one’s own strengths, assets and resources to come up for solutions that are best suited for them and their problem rather than simply providing everything for one’s client.It goes with the famous saying â€Å"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime †. Berg and De Shazer developed this model by listening to and using the feedback of their clients. They created this model by observing therapy sessions to observe the techniques and skills the therapist used, by listening to the feedback of their clients about what was or was not working for them and by observing the progress of their own clients (Lee, 2011). 3. Underlying theory of practice model Social constructivism strongly influences SFT (O ‘Connell, 2005).This perspective states that human beings create their own reality through different linguistic means. In other words, we create our own realities through conversations and by our own view of the truth so therefore each person has a different meaning that has been created which in turn means that there is no ‘objective truth’ that is true in any situation. This all implies that each person’s problems are constructed by the way in which they talk. As a result of each person having their own li nguistic style, there is no fixed meaning attached to a problem or a solution.In order for a person to see their created reality from another perspective, the therapist or practitioners main goal is to change the language the client uses. Practitioners encourage clients to use solution talk as opposed to problem talk. One thing that stands out from the social constructivist perspective is that the clients perception and experiences have main priority. This theory also takes into account the context in which the client lives and emphasizes that people do not exist in social isolation but rather are products of the interactions that surround them.The relationship between the practitioner and the client is of utmost importance in this perspective because it is within this relationship that a new style of language can be created for the client to build new realities. The systems theory is another perspective that influences solution focused therapy. The systems theory expects a practiti oner to look at all the systems surrounding an individual so that the best interventions can be used. To understand the systems theory fully there are some terms that are the most important (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006).Every individual is viewed as the product of interactions between different micro systems in that individuals life and practitioners look at their clients as a person-in-environment where they are constantly interacting with the various systems around them. These systems function reciprocally and change in one system means there will be change in another. The systems approach is also dynamic. It is ever changing and evolving from one particular view to another yet maintains a relatively stable homeostasis. All systems are interrelated.The systems theory basically states that because no two client systems are alike, no two solutions will be alike either and therefore every problem needs a unique and suitable intervention (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006). Lastly, the strength s perspective has had an influence on SFT. The main view of the strengths perspective is that every individual, family or community has already got strengths, resources and assets that should be used in intervention strategies and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to uncover these different strengths.The strength perspective doesn’t see hard times such as traumatic experiences, struggles and sicknesses as demotivating experiences but rather as opportunities and challenges that can be overcome and in the end be used to the benefit of the client even if it is just a lesson that was learned. A worker should never limit their clients capacities and capabilities but rather believe in their goals and dreams and help them achieve it in any way that they can and another important aspect to remember here is that their goals and dreams can only be achieved if the client and worker work together to achieve these.One last thing that is important for people to know about the st rengths perspective is that it believes that every environment also has strengths and that the client should always look for help in their own environments rather than other environments. 4. Key principles As seen above and as previously mentioned, SFT was founded by bringing many different theories together. In this section the main principles of SFT will be discussed. First and foremost, it is set on the notion that if something is not broken there is no need to fix it (O ‘Connell, 2005).In other words, workers should not look for problems where there are none. If a situation is working for a client the worker shouldn’t try fix it even if it is different to the way the worker thinks it should be working. This is a theory that believes in the strengths of clients and the fact that people are resilient and can bounce back from traumatic experiences with the right support and resources. It draws on the importance of people to emerge as stronger people after the traumas b y relying on their own resources and coping methods that they themselves have learned (Van Breda, 2011).If the client’s way of solving a problem is working then the worker should encourage the client to do it more often and if a resolution is not working then there is no point in continuing to try it so the worker should encourage the client to stop that way and try to find another way of dealing with the problem. It should be kept as simple as possible so as not to confuse the client but rather to encourage them to find new and improved solutions to dealing with individual problems. This process of therapy should not be drawn out longer than necessary and should be to the point with as little intervention from the therapist as possible.This theory believes that one change ultimately brings about another change until all the required change has been achieved. Therefore, this theory does not seek to make big changes but rather a chain of smaller changes. Another reason why sma ller changes are encourages is because it helps the client feel less intimidated as they would feel by implementing one big change at one time. As always with positive change, a worker needs to recognize it and praise the client for the change they themselves have implemented.Since language is such an important aspect in this theory, the worker should never assume that there is only one possible solution to a problem but the worker should be open-minded and should try using many different paths to try and find a suitable solution. Since this theory focuses on solutions rather than problems, the worker should not spend time analyzing the problems but should jump into finding solutions that will work for that specific client and their circumstances (Malherbe & Greef, 2005). . Application to the PCP The planned change process is a set of stages that a social worker can follow and the stages overlap and flows into one another (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006). 5. 1Engagement â€Å"Engagement is when a social worker begins to establish communication and a relationship with other but also addressing the problem† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 34). Engagement starts from the very first interaction a worker has with a client.The main goal of engagement is to build rapport by using different skills such as acceptance and warmth. It is very important that the worker does not judge their client at any stage and shows acceptance as acceptance is a necessary tool for change. Part of engagement in SFT is for the worker to help the change process along from the very beginning. Change needs to be spoken about and visualized. In the engagement stage it is important for rules and expectations to be set and this can be done by a means of contracting.Contracting is when the client and the worker discuss the roles, norms and expectations for sessions and this is where the boundaries are set for the client-worker relationship (Kirst-Ashman & hull, 2006) Contracting also helps esta blish roles between the client and the worker which is important in the formal relationship so that boundaries can be set in place. Firstly, the worker needs to enquire about the â€Å"pre-session change†. Pre-session change is that happened in the clients life that pushed them to make the appointment in the first place.The worker can do this by asking questions like â€Å"Tell me more about why you are here today† or â€Å"What made you seek help? †. Giving compliments to the client eases their anxiety and affirms the belief that positive regard increases the chance of change for people (Rasheed, Rasheed & Marley, 2011). 5. 2 Assessment â€Å"Assessment is differential, individualized and accurate identification and evaluation of problems, people and situations and of their interrelations to serve as a sound basis for differential helping interventions† (Siporin as cited in Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 34).Assessment is usually when the worker assesses what the problems are that the client is facing but because SFT focuses on solutions the worker needs to change problem talk into solution talk and already start thinking about possible solutions to the problem. A worker using SFT needs to pay attention to detail and listen to the clients carefully during the assessment stage. Once the worker has heard the clients issues they need to respond empathically as this helps create empowerment for the client as well as lets the client know that the worker is paying attention and understanding the clients’ point of view.There are many different types of questions that should be used in the assessment stage of SFT. The miracle question is the first. The answer to this type of question is usually on the path of the fitted solution. This type of question helps the client vision their preferred future. These questions are asked to find out about the clients story, strengths and resources and their own expectations for the solution. This type of question would be something like â€Å"Imagine you were sleeping tonight and a miracle happens that solves the problem you came to speak to me about.When you wake up in the morning, what would be the change that would make you realize something must have happened to solve your problem? † a client could possibly reply with answers similar to this, â€Å"my children weren’t moody and crying, my husband and I were smiling and organized. We left on time for work and when we came home we had food on our plates and the children were playing. † Another type of question is an exception question. This type of question helps the worker to get an idea of the good times in a client’s life. It helps the client remember that there were times when they knew what to do nd how to do it in order for them to function normally. Helping a client remember times when they were managing better gives them hope that they can do it again. A worker would ask this question â €Å"can you think of a time in the past month, year or ever that you did not have this problem? What were you doing differently during those times that helped prevent the problem then? † (De Shazer as cited in Lee, 2011). Coping questions are also important questions when assessing and planning for implementation. This question is useful for clients who feel completely helpless because it can give ideas to solutions that could help serve their problems.This type of question helps the worker get to know more about the clients coping strategies. A coping question would be something along the lines of â€Å"wow, how have you managed to carry on during all of these hard times? † Lastly, scaling questions can be used. These questions can be used during the evaluation stage as well. This question helps the client track their own progress which helps them identify where they are at (Lee, 2011). This is a question that asks the clients to choose a number between 1 and 10 to de termine their progress.A worker would ask a question like â€Å"from a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, how are you feeling now compared to when we started? † (Nichols & Schwartz, 2008). 5. 3 Planning â€Å"Planning specifies what should be done† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 370. Planning in this theory goes hand in hand with assessment because in assessment the worker will not spend too much time focused on the problem but rather on already finding possible solutions. It is also important to remember that changes should be planned as small rather than one big change. 5. 4 Implementation Implementation is the actual doing of the plan. The Client and worker follow their plan to achieve their goals. Progress during implementation must be constantly monitored and assessed. Sometimes, new issues, situations and conditions require the plan to be changed† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 40). The most important aspect to the implementation is the changes need to sm all so as to not overwhelm the client with major changes. When a small change is achieved, it leaves the client feeling empowered and motivated to start change in another dimension of their lives.It gives the client courage to try for new and bigger changes (Lee, 2011). The above mentioned questions can also be asked to stimulate change (Macdonald, 2011), therefore intervention starts during the assessment stage. Intervention by the worker should be limited ensuring that the changes will be as a result of the clients new ways of doing things while at the same time making sure the client gets a sense of independence rather than relying on the worker to do all the work. 5. 5 Evaluation â€Å"Each goal is evaluated in terms of the extent to which it has been achieved.The decision must be made about whether the case must be terminated or reassessed to establish new goals† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 41). Evaluation in SFT basically combines all the above mentioned techniques. The worker uses the questions to find out how much change and progress has been made. Once the worker realizes what those changes are he or she points these out and celebrates together with the client for making these changes (Macdonald, 2011). The miracle question is used to monitor the progress and to keep the client in a positive frame of mind in order for them to continue progressing to their full potential.It is important for the worker and client to reflect to evaluate what has been improved and how. Evaluation in SFT does not necessarily only occur after implementation. The worker also evaluates the client at the beginning of every session to see what changes have been made and how the client is progressing. 5. 6 Termination â€Å"The worker/client relationship must eventually come to an end. Termination in Generalist Practice involves specific skills and techniques† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 41). Termination begins from the very beginning in order to prepare clie nts for the ending of sessions.SFT is meant to be brief and not carry on for long periods of time. The worker needs to keep reminding the client that the therapy will not be long and the client should have the goals of finding new solutions quicker than in other types of therapy. In the last session, the client is asked to describe in detail what changes they experienced so the change can be maintained and the worker should point out what worked and what did not work in the clients’ progress. One way of knowing when a client is ready for termination is by asking them a scaling question (Macdonald, 2011).This is when a client answer from a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best level of functioning. If a client’s answer is 7 or higher then the client is ready to terminate. These types of questions can be â€Å"What would you rate your level of functioning as on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the best? † or â€Å"Consider that when we started you were on a level 3 s cale of functioning, what would you rate your level as now between 1 and 10? †. It is important to remember that terminating with an open door policy is of benefit to this client.This means that even though the sessions are over, you let the client know they are always welcome back should they encounter any other problems but the worker can also encourage the client to come visit in a few months to let the worker know how everything is going. this makes the client feel important and valuable and is a positive way to terminate. 5. 7 Follow-up Although not a stage of the planned change process I do think it is important for a social worker to follow up with their clients to ensure that everything is still going alright.Following-up with a client also empowers them in a way because it makes them feel like they are still cared for and worried about and not like they were just forgotten by the social worker. Following up can be done in many different ways. A worker can request that the client comes back for one last session just to follow-up and ensure that everything is okay. It can also be done telephonically or via e-mail. If a client does not respond to the email or does not come in for the session it is the responsibility of the worker to find out what the reason is just to make sure the client is still on track. . Critical reflection There are some concerns surrounding SFT. One of the concerns is that it is so focused on solutions that it does not focus on curing the root cause of the problems. A therapist using this model could say that the deep rooted cause was in fact also just a form of the clients’ distortion of reality. This therapy also relies too much on the client. In some cases people may not understand that what they want is not what they need and clients sometimes need a counselor to give them a new view point to look at their situation from.For example a married couple may sometimes not know what it is they need and a worker can step in to give some ideas for solutions they can try instead of relying on the client to recognize what it is they really need. I would use this practice model if I could change a few things. I would focus more on the way a client is feeling about their problems because sometimes all somebody needs is someone to listen to their problems and not just think of solutions. Sometimes it is important to try and understand a client in a bit more of an informal way rather than strictly professional.It is important though to remember boundaries and that a client may never be friend with a worker as there may then be conflict of interest. Although there are holes in this model, there are also things I really like about SFT. It is good to focus on the positive things rather than continuously analyzing the negative to get to a solution. Focusing on a solution puts the client in the future and motivates them to get to that level of functioning. It is a model that can help clients succeed a lot quic ker than other models.I also like the fact that SFT has specific types of questions that are direct because other models can sometimes take a long time just to assess the problem leaving the client feeling like there has been no progress over a period of time because the worker has just been assessing. With SFT the client will start to see changes quite soon and will feel empowered just by the questions that they will be asked. 7. Conclusion I like the idea of SFT because it focuses on strengths and it has always fascinated me to know how a client can use their own strengths.After researching this practice model I understand a lot more about how I can recognize what a client’s strengths are and how they can be used for solutions. It is a therapy that is direct and results can be seen soon after the first session. This therapy promotes the empowerment of people and is easy to follow in order to empower one’s own clients. It is a widely used therapy and has a high succes s rate. I am glad I have learned about this model because I can now apply it to my practice this year.Instead of focusing on my clients weaknesses (low self-esteem) we can focus on building confidence and not on what has caused the low self-esteem. This is great because often speaking about the causes can be re-traumatizing to the client when all they want to do is more forward instead of focus on the past. 8. Reference List Kirst-Ashman, K. K. , & Hull, G. H. (2009). Understanding Generalist Practice (5thed. ). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Lee, M. Y. (2011). Solution-focused theory. In F. J. turner (Ed. ), Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (5th ed. pp. 460-476). New York: Oxford University Press. Macdonald, A. (2011). Solution focused therapy. In R. Nelson-Jones (Ed. ), Theory and practice of counselling and therapy (5th ed. , pp. 371-391). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Nichols, M. P. , & Schwartz, R. C. (2008). Family therapy: concepts and methods (8th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson. O’Connell. B. (2005). Solution focused therapy (2nd ed. ). London: Sage Publications ltd. Rasheed, J. M. , Rasheed, M. N. , & Marley, J. A. (2011). Family therapy: models and techniques. Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Solution Focused Therapy Social Work Department Faculty of Humanities University of Johannesburg Student Surname| Le Roux| Student Initials| C| Student First Name| Charlene| Student Number| 201170104| Assignment Title| Practice Model| Date of Submission| 15 March 2013| Course Title| B Social work| Lecturers Name| Prof. Adrian Van Breda| Course Code| SW2A11| Plagiarism Declaration| I, Charlene Le Roux 201170104, declare that this assignment is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used (either from a printed source or from the internet), this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements.I understand what plagiarism is and aware of the department’s policy in this regard. | Name| Charlene Le Roux| Signature| | Index Page 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5. 15. 25. 35. 45. 55. 65. 767. 8. | Introduction History of Solution Focused TherapyUnderlying theoryKey principlesApplication to the PCPEngagementAssessmentPlanningImplementingEvaluationTerminationFollow-up Critical reflectionConclusionReference list| Page 334-55-66-116-77-88991010-11111213| 1. Introduction I have chosen to do the Solution focused therapy practice model (Hereafter referred to as SFT).I chose this model because I was interested in finding out more about how to use one’s own resources and strengths to empower oneself. My hardest issue with counseling is learning how to teach clients how to use their own resources instead of supplying it myself and also encouraging clients to come up with their own solutions and just giving them advice and my opinion. SFT discusses the different techniques one can use to ensure they are empowering their clients and not doing everything for them. 2. History The two founding theorists for SFT are Insoo Kim Berg and Steve De Shazer.Together they adapted existing theories to mold into a theory of their own. They strongly believed that true positive change lies within the client themselves and not in the relationship between the client and worker. Berg was the cofounder of a center in Milwaukee in 1978 whose intention was to launch the mental research institute and it used Brief Family therapy. This was an organization that made no profit and was used to serve the needs of people in surrounding areas and people and families that were poor or living in poverty (O’Connell, 2005).Four years later this became the home of SFT (Lee, 2011). De Shazer later worked in the center and was thoroughly trained in brief family therapy. According to Milton Erikson, brief therapy models were hugely influenced by the strengths perspective and social constructivism. The strengths perspective is about using one’s own strengths, assets and resources to come up for solutions that are best suited for them and their problem rather than simply providing everything for one’s client.It goes with the famous saying â€Å"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime †. Berg and De Shazer developed this model by listening to and using the feedback of their clients. They created this model by observing therapy sessions to observe the techniques and skills the therapist used, by listening to the feedback of their clients about what was or was not working for them and by observing the progress of their own clients (Lee, 2011). 3. Underlying theory of practice model Social constructivism strongly influences SFT (O ‘Connell, 2005).This perspective states that human beings create their own reality through different linguistic means. In other words, we create our own realities through conversations and by our own view of the truth so therefore each person has a different meaning that has been created which in turn means that there is no ‘objective truth’ that is true in any situation. This all implies that each person’s problems are constructed by the way in which they talk. As a result of each person having their own li nguistic style, there is no fixed meaning attached to a problem or a solution.In order for a person to see their created reality from another perspective, the therapist or practitioners main goal is to change the language the client uses. Practitioners encourage clients to use solution talk as opposed to problem talk. One thing that stands out from the social constructivist perspective is that the clients perception and experiences have main priority. This theory also takes into account the context in which the client lives and emphasizes that people do not exist in social isolation but rather are products of the interactions that surround them.The relationship between the practitioner and the client is of utmost importance in this perspective because it is within this relationship that a new style of language can be created for the client to build new realities. The systems theory is another perspective that influences solution focused therapy. The systems theory expects a practiti oner to look at all the systems surrounding an individual so that the best interventions can be used. To understand the systems theory fully there are some terms that are the most important (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006).Every individual is viewed as the product of interactions between different micro systems in that individuals life and practitioners look at their clients as a person-in-environment where they are constantly interacting with the various systems around them. These systems function reciprocally and change in one system means there will be change in another. The systems approach is also dynamic. It is ever changing and evolving from one particular view to another yet maintains a relatively stable homeostasis. All systems are interrelated.The systems theory basically states that because no two client systems are alike, no two solutions will be alike either and therefore every problem needs a unique and suitable intervention (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006). Lastly, the strength s perspective has had an influence on SFT. The main view of the strengths perspective is that every individual, family or community has already got strengths, resources and assets that should be used in intervention strategies and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to uncover these different strengths.The strength perspective doesn’t see hard times such as traumatic experiences, struggles and sicknesses as demotivating experiences but rather as opportunities and challenges that can be overcome and in the end be used to the benefit of the client even if it is just a lesson that was learned. A worker should never limit their clients capacities and capabilities but rather believe in their goals and dreams and help them achieve it in any way that they can and another important aspect to remember here is that their goals and dreams can only be achieved if the client and worker work together to achieve these.One last thing that is important for people to know about the st rengths perspective is that it believes that every environment also has strengths and that the client should always look for help in their own environments rather than other environments. 4. Key principles As seen above and as previously mentioned, SFT was founded by bringing many different theories together. In this section the main principles of SFT will be discussed. First and foremost, it is set on the notion that if something is not broken there is no need to fix it (O ‘Connell, 2005).In other words, workers should not look for problems where there are none. If a situation is working for a client the worker shouldn’t try fix it even if it is different to the way the worker thinks it should be working. This is a theory that believes in the strengths of clients and the fact that people are resilient and can bounce back from traumatic experiences with the right support and resources. It draws on the importance of people to emerge as stronger people after the traumas b y relying on their own resources and coping methods that they themselves have learned (Van Breda, 2011).If the client’s way of solving a problem is working then the worker should encourage the client to do it more often and if a resolution is not working then there is no point in continuing to try it so the worker should encourage the client to stop that way and try to find another way of dealing with the problem. It should be kept as simple as possible so as not to confuse the client but rather to encourage them to find new and improved solutions to dealing with individual problems. This process of therapy should not be drawn out longer than necessary and should be to the point with as little intervention from the therapist as possible.This theory believes that one change ultimately brings about another change until all the required change has been achieved. Therefore, this theory does not seek to make big changes but rather a chain of smaller changes. Another reason why sma ller changes are encourages is because it helps the client feel less intimidated as they would feel by implementing one big change at one time. As always with positive change, a worker needs to recognize it and praise the client for the change they themselves have implemented.Since language is such an important aspect in this theory, the worker should never assume that there is only one possible solution to a problem but the worker should be open-minded and should try using many different paths to try and find a suitable solution. Since this theory focuses on solutions rather than problems, the worker should not spend time analyzing the problems but should jump into finding solutions that will work for that specific client and their circumstances (Malherbe & Greef, 2005). . Application to the PCP The planned change process is a set of stages that a social worker can follow and the stages overlap and flows into one another (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2006). 5. 1Engagement â€Å"Engagement is when a social worker begins to establish communication and a relationship with other but also addressing the problem† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 34). Engagement starts from the very first interaction a worker has with a client.The main goal of engagement is to build rapport by using different skills such as acceptance and warmth. It is very important that the worker does not judge their client at any stage and shows acceptance as acceptance is a necessary tool for change. Part of engagement in SFT is for the worker to help the change process along from the very beginning. Change needs to be spoken about and visualized. In the engagement stage it is important for rules and expectations to be set and this can be done by a means of contracting.Contracting is when the client and the worker discuss the roles, norms and expectations for sessions and this is where the boundaries are set for the client-worker relationship (Kirst-Ashman & hull, 2006) Contracting also helps esta blish roles between the client and the worker which is important in the formal relationship so that boundaries can be set in place. Firstly, the worker needs to enquire about the â€Å"pre-session change†. Pre-session change is that happened in the clients life that pushed them to make the appointment in the first place.The worker can do this by asking questions like â€Å"Tell me more about why you are here today† or â€Å"What made you seek help? †. Giving compliments to the client eases their anxiety and affirms the belief that positive regard increases the chance of change for people (Rasheed, Rasheed & Marley, 2011). 5. 2 Assessment â€Å"Assessment is differential, individualized and accurate identification and evaluation of problems, people and situations and of their interrelations to serve as a sound basis for differential helping interventions† (Siporin as cited in Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 34).Assessment is usually when the worker assesses what the problems are that the client is facing but because SFT focuses on solutions the worker needs to change problem talk into solution talk and already start thinking about possible solutions to the problem. A worker using SFT needs to pay attention to detail and listen to the clients carefully during the assessment stage. Once the worker has heard the clients issues they need to respond empathically as this helps create empowerment for the client as well as lets the client know that the worker is paying attention and understanding the clients’ point of view.There are many different types of questions that should be used in the assessment stage of SFT. The miracle question is the first. The answer to this type of question is usually on the path of the fitted solution. This type of question helps the client vision their preferred future. These questions are asked to find out about the clients story, strengths and resources and their own expectations for the solution. This type of question would be something like â€Å"Imagine you were sleeping tonight and a miracle happens that solves the problem you came to speak to me about.When you wake up in the morning, what would be the change that would make you realize something must have happened to solve your problem? † a client could possibly reply with answers similar to this, â€Å"my children weren’t moody and crying, my husband and I were smiling and organized. We left on time for work and when we came home we had food on our plates and the children were playing. † Another type of question is an exception question. This type of question helps the worker to get an idea of the good times in a client’s life. It helps the client remember that there were times when they knew what to do nd how to do it in order for them to function normally. Helping a client remember times when they were managing better gives them hope that they can do it again. A worker would ask this question â €Å"can you think of a time in the past month, year or ever that you did not have this problem? What were you doing differently during those times that helped prevent the problem then? † (De Shazer as cited in Lee, 2011). Coping questions are also important questions when assessing and planning for implementation. This question is useful for clients who feel completely helpless because it can give ideas to solutions that could help serve their problems.This type of question helps the worker get to know more about the clients coping strategies. A coping question would be something along the lines of â€Å"wow, how have you managed to carry on during all of these hard times? † Lastly, scaling questions can be used. These questions can be used during the evaluation stage as well. This question helps the client track their own progress which helps them identify where they are at (Lee, 2011). This is a question that asks the clients to choose a number between 1 and 10 to de termine their progress.A worker would ask a question like â€Å"from a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, how are you feeling now compared to when we started? † (Nichols & Schwartz, 2008). 5. 3 Planning â€Å"Planning specifies what should be done† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 370. Planning in this theory goes hand in hand with assessment because in assessment the worker will not spend too much time focused on the problem but rather on already finding possible solutions. It is also important to remember that changes should be planned as small rather than one big change. 5. 4 Implementation Implementation is the actual doing of the plan. The Client and worker follow their plan to achieve their goals. Progress during implementation must be constantly monitored and assessed. Sometimes, new issues, situations and conditions require the plan to be changed† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 40). The most important aspect to the implementation is the changes need to sm all so as to not overwhelm the client with major changes. When a small change is achieved, it leaves the client feeling empowered and motivated to start change in another dimension of their lives.It gives the client courage to try for new and bigger changes (Lee, 2011). The above mentioned questions can also be asked to stimulate change (Macdonald, 2011), therefore intervention starts during the assessment stage. Intervention by the worker should be limited ensuring that the changes will be as a result of the clients new ways of doing things while at the same time making sure the client gets a sense of independence rather than relying on the worker to do all the work. 5. 5 Evaluation â€Å"Each goal is evaluated in terms of the extent to which it has been achieved.The decision must be made about whether the case must be terminated or reassessed to establish new goals† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 41). Evaluation in SFT basically combines all the above mentioned techniques. The worker uses the questions to find out how much change and progress has been made. Once the worker realizes what those changes are he or she points these out and celebrates together with the client for making these changes (Macdonald, 2011). The miracle question is used to monitor the progress and to keep the client in a positive frame of mind in order for them to continue progressing to their full potential.It is important for the worker and client to reflect to evaluate what has been improved and how. Evaluation in SFT does not necessarily only occur after implementation. The worker also evaluates the client at the beginning of every session to see what changes have been made and how the client is progressing. 5. 6 Termination â€Å"The worker/client relationship must eventually come to an end. Termination in Generalist Practice involves specific skills and techniques† (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2009, p. 41). Termination begins from the very beginning in order to prepare clie nts for the ending of sessions.SFT is meant to be brief and not carry on for long periods of time. The worker needs to keep reminding the client that the therapy will not be long and the client should have the goals of finding new solutions quicker than in other types of therapy. In the last session, the client is asked to describe in detail what changes they experienced so the change can be maintained and the worker should point out what worked and what did not work in the clients’ progress. One way of knowing when a client is ready for termination is by asking them a scaling question (Macdonald, 2011).This is when a client answer from a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best level of functioning. If a client’s answer is 7 or higher then the client is ready to terminate. These types of questions can be â€Å"What would you rate your level of functioning as on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the best? † or â€Å"Consider that when we started you were on a level 3 s cale of functioning, what would you rate your level as now between 1 and 10? †. It is important to remember that terminating with an open door policy is of benefit to this client.This means that even though the sessions are over, you let the client know they are always welcome back should they encounter any other problems but the worker can also encourage the client to come visit in a few months to let the worker know how everything is going. this makes the client feel important and valuable and is a positive way to terminate. 5. 7 Follow-up Although not a stage of the planned change process I do think it is important for a social worker to follow up with their clients to ensure that everything is still going alright.Following-up with a client also empowers them in a way because it makes them feel like they are still cared for and worried about and not like they were just forgotten by the social worker. Following up can be done in many different ways. A worker can request that the client comes back for one last session just to follow-up and ensure that everything is okay. It can also be done telephonically or via e-mail. If a client does not respond to the email or does not come in for the session it is the responsibility of the worker to find out what the reason is just to make sure the client is still on track. . Critical reflection There are some concerns surrounding SFT. One of the concerns is that it is so focused on solutions that it does not focus on curing the root cause of the problems. A therapist using this model could say that the deep rooted cause was in fact also just a form of the clients’ distortion of reality. This therapy also relies too much on the client. In some cases people may not understand that what they want is not what they need and clients sometimes need a counselor to give them a new view point to look at their situation from.For example a married couple may sometimes not know what it is they need and a worker can step in to give some ideas for solutions they can try instead of relying on the client to recognize what it is they really need. I would use this practice model if I could change a few things. I would focus more on the way a client is feeling about their problems because sometimes all somebody needs is someone to listen to their problems and not just think of solutions. Sometimes it is important to try and understand a client in a bit more of an informal way rather than strictly professional.It is important though to remember boundaries and that a client may never be friend with a worker as there may then be conflict of interest. Although there are holes in this model, there are also things I really like about SFT. It is good to focus on the positive things rather than continuously analyzing the negative to get to a solution. Focusing on a solution puts the client in the future and motivates them to get to that level of functioning. It is a model that can help clients succeed a lot quic ker than other models.I also like the fact that SFT has specific types of questions that are direct because other models can sometimes take a long time just to assess the problem leaving the client feeling like there has been no progress over a period of time because the worker has just been assessing. With SFT the client will start to see changes quite soon and will feel empowered just by the questions that they will be asked. 7. Conclusion I like the idea of SFT because it focuses on strengths and it has always fascinated me to know how a client can use their own strengths.After researching this practice model I understand a lot more about how I can recognize what a client’s strengths are and how they can be used for solutions. It is a therapy that is direct and results can be seen soon after the first session. This therapy promotes the empowerment of people and is easy to follow in order to empower one’s own clients. It is a widely used therapy and has a high succes s rate. I am glad I have learned about this model because I can now apply it to my practice this year.Instead of focusing on my clients weaknesses (low self-esteem) we can focus on building confidence and not on what has caused the low self-esteem. This is great because often speaking about the causes can be re-traumatizing to the client when all they want to do is more forward instead of focus on the past. 8. Reference List Kirst-Ashman, K. K. , & Hull, G. H. (2009). Understanding Generalist Practice (5thed. ). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Lee, M. Y. (2011). Solution-focused theory. In F. J. turner (Ed. ), Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (5th ed. pp. 460-476). New York: Oxford University Press. Macdonald, A. (2011). Solution focused therapy. In R. Nelson-Jones (Ed. ), Theory and practice of counselling and therapy (5th ed. , pp. 371-391). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Nichols, M. P. , & Schwartz, R. C. (2008). Family therapy: concepts and methods (8th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson. O’Connell. B. (2005). Solution focused therapy (2nd ed. ). London: Sage Publications ltd. Rasheed, J. M. , Rasheed, M. N. , & Marley, J. A. (2011). Family therapy: models and techniques. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.