Monday, September 30, 2019

Extemporaneous speech outline and speech with Cosplay as topic Essay

Specific Speech Purpose: To share to my audience about the cosplay scene in the Philippines and answer inquiries in their minds about cosplay. Statement: Cosplay’s popularity growth is fast and there are lot of questions in the mind of people about cosplay. It’s meaning and reason varies from person to person and there are negativities to it. Introduction Attention Step: â€Å"Cosplay. I know a lot of you have in mind, what is it with cosplay? What do people get from wearing costumes like this and cosplaying? Well, congratulations because today, I give you a mini-introduction to cosplaying which involves it’s meaning, reasons why we cosplay, and the negativities to it.† Clarification Step: â€Å"The reason I chose this topic is that if I have anything to talk about which I know so much about, it’s cosplaying. It’s something that everyone knows I do and something I’ll be confident enough to talk about. Now, if you’ll ask about the credibility of what I’m going to say, I’ve been cosplaying for 5 years and if that’s not long enough to know a lot about cosplaying, I don’t know what length will. As a proof, here’s a compilation of my past cosplays since the year 2008 up to present. But before I move on, I’d like to remind everyone that everything I’m about to say is purely based on my own opinions, observations, and perspective. â€Å" Body I. The meaning of cosplay varies from person to person. â€Å" Now, cosplay. What does it mean when you say cosplay? Well, the meaning of cosplay varies from person to person. Since the latest boom of cosplay , many people have had their own notion of what cosplay means. A. The literal meaning of cosplay is costume play. â€Å"But, its literal meaning is costume play, thus the term cosplay. It is the process of acting out your character and showing to people who it is. This maybe by posing, saying a few lines, doing a catwalk, and much more. Unfortunately, to those who are newly exposed to the hobby, they define cosplay as simply as wearing a costume and that’s it. Cosplay! What they didn’t know is that there is a term for that which cosplayers call ‘costrip’. So, there are common misconceptions about the difference between  cosplaying and costripping. In cosplay, since you act out the character, you do it in an event, competition, you join a contest, promote a booth, or program with a specific purpose. While costripping, basically from the word costume + trip but not strip, you just do it because you want to. When you go to a convention, you don’t exactly have to join these competitions, you may opt to stick outside wearing a costume til some people may just want to take a picture of you.† B. Some others perceive cosplay as â€Å"cost-play†. â€Å"Basically because it can be very costly and take up much of your money. A simple costume could range around 500php and those more intricate ones like these range around 20-30 thousand. Of course, that would include the labor and materials.† C. People may do cosplay for a cause thus the term â€Å"cause-play† â€Å"Lastly, some people thinks cosplayers cosplay for a cause thus they term it causeplay. Some events would use cosplay as their main attraction and use it to raise funds, or ask for donations for those that may need it.† II. People have various reasons why they cosplay. â€Å"Now, let’s try to answer some of those questions in mind. Why do people cosplay? What do they get from it? Well, here are the following reasons† A. It is an outlet or a channel of self expression especially for otakus to show their love for an anime, game, or whatever or whoever they are trying to portray. â€Å"First, it is an outlet or a channel of self expression especially for otakus to show their love for an anime, game, or whatever or whoever they are trying to portray. As for me, my love for anime started with the influence of my brother during our childhood which I carried on until I discovered the wonderful world of cosplay. By then, through cosplaying, I show my love for anime. B. Cosplaying gives them a sense of identity which in turn boosts up confidence and self-esteem. â€Å"Second, cosplaying gives a sense of identity. Back in high school, and until now, I’m known by my classmates and friends as the only one who cosplays in our class. Somehow it gives me the identity of â€Å"hey, she’s the cosplayer girl from this block† and it becomes a sort of label to me. And sometimes, this ‘label’ boost up my confidence and self esteem because of my uniqueness in  that way, knowing I can do stuffs people don’t normally do. C. Cosplay gives fun and excitement to people, making it become a hobby for some. â€Å"The third reason for cosplaying is that it gives fun and excitement to people, and some of them make it a hobby. Back at my first exposure to a cosplay convention, I was amazed at how the characters that I was just watching at tv, are actually in front of me in real life, I’m like â€Å"Woooaaahh cool!† and so I became interested in cosplaying. Plus, when you really like, or even love something, you really enjoy what you’re doing and you’re excited about it. D. Going to cosplay conventions or events becomes a form of relaxation and â€Å"detox† for them during their free time. â€Å"The fourth reason why some people cosplay or go to conventions is that it makes them feel relaxed, especially when they’re enjoying, and this somehow becomes their detox actvity during their free time. I mean, going out of those tiring school stuffs, or even work, because cosplay is not limited to teenagers only, and rather than staying home, they unstress themselves by going to events. E. The community serves as a way to meet new people, friends, or â€Å"that special someone†. â€Å"Fifth reason, it serves as a way to meet a lot of new people or friends, and sometimes, that special someone. This here, is loki heart, she has been cosplaying over 8 years now and she met her boyfriend through an online game and cosplay convention. Now, they’re married. Who knows? Maybe you could meet your special someone through cosplaying too. F. Some people cosplay for the prize they aim or for the benefit of it like as a source of income or for promotion, and sometimes, just forced to. â€Å"As of now, I don’t really cosplay anymore as a hobby. After several years of cosplaying, events began to seem all the same and boring to me plus I became busy at school works so I don’t really find that much time to cosplay anymore. Some people see me at conventions but that’s only because it’s my part time job wherein I promote the online game Dragon Nest through cosplaying. Having rakets like this or having your costumes rented out can be a good source of income or help for my financial needs as a student. Plus  it feels fulfilling since I don’t really ask money from my parents anymore for small expenses I can handle, in turn, I help them in that way, and also, myself.† There are many negative sides to cosplaying or its community. â€Å"But, If you think cosplaying is all fun and stuff, well you’re all wrong because there are negative sides to it too. A. A lot of people get criticized or bashed, especially when they act or look weird. â€Å"The main negativity to it is that a lot of people get criticized or bashed, especially when they act or look weird. People just always have something to say about other people. Some would criticize your costume for not being accurate, that it doesn’t fit you, laugh at you because you look stupid, or just basically because they hate you. Some would bash you because you cosplay a character you don’t know anything about. And some just, thinks you’re weird because it’s all something new or different for them. I dhad this experience once back in high school when my teacher saw me and told me in the exact manner I am going to do it now, ‘adrish, ang weird mo’, then i’m like, uuhh ok is that a compliment or not?, but thank u XD† B. Issues are everywhere, especially when you’re famous. â€Å"Next negativity is that issues are everywhere, especially when you’re famous. Here are pictures of people who have one thing in common. They’re famous, and often constantly given issues maybe because others are insecure about them or just couldn’t stand their presence.† C. Parents and some others think it’s a waste of money, time, and energy. â€Å"Third, One thing about parents, they want what’s best for their children. And that is in terms of studies or things they perceive as good. Other hobbies as costly as cosplaying would look like a waste of money and time to them, thinking that children devote their time to studies rather than these. D. There are people who will try to take advantage of you. â€Å"Lastly, there are always people who will try to take advantage of you. One thing female cosplayers would always be warned about are those pervert photographers who try to get the most out of you. If you know what I mean. Or people who would try to ask to take a pic with you, just to get the opportunity to hold you on the side, sometimes at the butt, or suddenly hug  you. Of course, you just have to be mindful and alert to these, and of course, speak out when you are being harassed.† Conclusion Summary Step: â€Å"Anyone can cosplay if they want to. You just have to put in mind the reason you are cosplaying or why you want to and stick to it. †

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Advanced Practice Nurse Essay

The Advanced Practice Nurse will play a crucial role in advancement of the healthcare system in the United States. There are several factors affecting today’s healthcare system which will influenced the future development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role. Some of the major factors include the evolving federal and states laws, rapidly growing and aging population, increasing rates of chronic diseases in children and adults, and the cost of healthcare. These challenges require increase need for well trained healthcare professionals (OJN). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that was singed into law March 23, 2010 had the greatest impact in healthcare reform in the United States since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. This legislation established emphasis on preventive services with focus on primary care, funds for community health initiatives, and improve quality of care. It also afforded health insurance to millions of Americans who are c urrently uninsured (OJN). The influx of new patients will stress an already strained healthcare system. According to the American Academy of Family physicians, by 2020, the United States will need 40 percent more primary care providers . One way to meet the increasing shortage of primary care provider is to enhance and expedite the growth of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. A government accounting office noted that Nurse Practitioner are the fastest growing group of primary care providers . (p-241-242). Nurse practitioners could fill the growing shortage of primary care more quickly than physicians. It only takes nurses 6 years of education and training while physicians may require 11-12 years.(health policy) The Advanced Practice Nurse role is also defined by the individual state’s Rules, regulations and statutes. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse practitioners in most states are still fighting their state laws which prevents them from independently practicing without a collaborative agreement with a physician. Currently only 19 states and the District of Columbia allow nurse practitioners to practice independently of a physician. (KHN) The American Nurses Association conducted a review of 19 studies in May 2010, which confirmed that care delivered by a nurse equivalent is equivalent to care provided by a physician.. In addition, the study showed that NP’s consistenly provided more patient care, follow-up, and Consultation time, b(OOO) Another factor that has impact on the future role of Advanced Practice Nurse is the increase healthcare needs of the aging population and chronic Diseases of children and adults. (Impact). More complex healthcare needs increases The cost of healthcare. The cost of U.S. healthcare is $7,538 per capita spending. This is nearly double than any other organization. (OJN) Nurse practitioner Providing care in primary care is less costly than a physician since since they tend to offer fewer to tests and expensive diagnostic procedure. According to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, at least 55 million Americans live in areas with an inadequate supply of primary care doctors. Massachusetts has the most primary care doctors per capita; Mississippi has the fewest. The nation would need more than 15,000 additional providers to meet the target ratio of one primary care practitioner for every 3,500 residents, according to HRSA, a gap that cannot be filled with physicians. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a worsening shortage ahead. In the next 10 years, as one-third of all doctors retire, there will be 90,000 fewer doctors than needed to serve the nation’s aging population. Half of the shortage will be in primary care. Nationwide, 117,000 physicians practiced family medicine in 2012, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation; 134,000 nurse practitioners practiced primary care, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Last year, only 1,916 U.S. medical school graduates, or about 12 percent of the total, went into primary care residency programs, according to the nonprofit research group National Resident Matching Program. Nursing school graduates who went into primary care totaled 11,764 in 2012, about 84 percent of all NP graduates. But will relaxing state NP licensing laws improve patient access to care? A study reported this month in the journal Health Affairs says yes. The authors found that between 1998 and 2010, as more states relaxed licensing laws, the number of patients receiving care from NPs increased by a factor of 15.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Anne Sexton’s Twisted Version of Sleeping Beauty

Anne Sexton’s Twisted Version of Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty’s Sexual Scars in Anne Sexton’s â€Å"Briar Rose† Parents often use fairytales as bedtime stories for their children. Anne Sexton takes these often light-hearted and whimsical tales and spins them into a creation of her own. According to Diana Hume George in â€Å"An Overview of Sexton’s Canon,† Sexton, â€Å"updated their contexts and language to point out their applications to and parallels with modern life, and she exposed the dark psychic core of each tale in ways that inverted or even reversed their normative meanings.† The poem â€Å"Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty),† begins with a girl in a hypnotic state, sitting on her father’s lap. The stanza is ominous and uncomfortable to read, setting the tone for the rest of the poem. In the following stanzas, the traditional fairytale plays out but as it continues, Briar Rose’s happy ending is nowhere to be seen. Sexton focuses on pivotal events in the story and twists them in a way that recreates the original fairytale and exposes its darker unde rtones that are otherwise overlooked in the original story. Sexton begins the first stanza in third person and describes a girl in a hypnotic trance in order to establish the unsettling tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker states that, â€Å"She is stuck in the time machine, / suddenly two years old sucking her thumb† (l. 7-8). The girl regresses to a younger age, making her more childlike and vulnerable. The speaker goes on to state that the girl struggles to find her mother but instead, her father is the one to hold her. Whilst on his lap, he tells her, â€Å"Come be my snooky / and I will give you a root† (l. 21-22). Snooky is slang for ones romantic partner and a root is phallic in shape. For the father to tell his daughter this immediately signals the incestual undertones that will be present later on. Over the course of the poem, Briar Rose’s life is marked by unfortunate events. The first one occurs when she is only a baby. Her father held a christening for her but he only owned twelve gold plates and therefore only invited twelve fairies. The thirteenth fairy, feeling spurned, prophesizes that â€Å"The princess shall prick herself on a spinning wheel in her fifteenth year and then fall down dead. Kaputt!† (l. 37-40). The use of a silly phrase such as â€Å"Kaputt!† contrasts greatly to the grave tone of the situation. It highlights the intended lethalness of the curse, which is otherwise glossed over in the watered-down, bedtime version of the fairytale. In response to the curse, the king becomes overbearing in his need to protect his daughter. He orders every spindle in the kingdom to be destroyed. This makes sense in regards to the prophecy but the king’s orders eventually become more extreme. The speaker states that, â€Å"He forced every male in the court / to scour his tongue with Bab-o / lest they poison the air she dwelt in† (l. 60-62) By having the men clean themselves with a modern-day product containing bleach, it is as if the king wants the men to purify themselves so that they will not corrupt his daughter. The curse said nothing of specifically men doing harm to Briar Rose though, so the king’s need to protect her becomes obsession-like. The king’s obsession over his own daughter’s purity is the beginning of the incestual undertones that subverts the original tale’s message of sefless love. Try as he might, the king’s precautions to keep Briar Rose safe from both men and the curse are thwarted, resulting in the second pivotal moment within the story. Inevitably, Briar rose pricks her finger on a spinning wheel, sending both her and the inhabitants of the kingdom into a deep slumber. The speaker describes the sleeping inhabitants in terms of modern-day parallels, such as comparing the frogs to zombies and the trees to metal. By doing so, the slumbering kingdom’s fate becomes more sinister, as if the inhabitants are petrified instead of simply sleeping. Over the years, many princes try to break the curse but they, â€Å"had not scoured their tongues / so they were held by the thorns / and thus were crucified† (l. 86-88). The princes dying show the king’s control over Briar Rose, even while she sleeps. Ultimately, they cannot rescue her because they had not scoured their tongues as the men of the court had done and thus were deemed unfit in the father’s eyes. A hundred years pass and a prince finally breaks the curse, although everything is not what it seems. In the third pivotal event, when the prince kisses Briar Rose awake, she cries, â€Å"Daddy! Daddy!† (l. 96). After being awakened after such a frightful occurrence, it would only make sense for a girl to cry out for her father, but Briar Rose was specifically awakened by a kiss. This implicates that the father has kissed Briar Rose as well, giving the reader a glimpse of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. At this point, the original fairytale ends with Briar Rose living happily ever after with her prince. In Sexton’s version of the story, Briar Rose awakening marks the beginning of her downward spiral. Although Briar Rose marries the prince, she becomes an insomniac, still haunted by the memories of her father’s sexual abuse. She becomes dependent on drugs and cannot sleep, â€Å"without the court chemist / mixing her some knock-out drops / and never in the prince’s presence† (l. 106-108). Briar Rose becomes more and more disturbed by the memories her father’s sexual abuse but refuses to let her spouse know. Briar Rose’s sexual abuse at the hands of her father results in the overall deterioration of both her mental and physical health. Briar Rose’s health steadily worsens until she descends into a state of delirium. The speaker switches from that of third person to first and says, â€Å"I must not sleep / for while asleep I’m ninety / and think I’m dying† (l. 120-122). Briar Rose goes back and forth between different points of her life, from when she was a small child at the hands of her father to when she was in the hundred-year slumber. Because of this, Briar Rose becomes even more dependent on drugs, similarly to how real-life victims of sexual abuse can fall victim to drug usage in order to cope with their past. In the following stanza, it becomes evident that the girl in the beginning of the poem is the modern-day parallel to Sexton’s recreated version of Sleeping Beauty. In the first stanza, the little girl is just â€Å"learning to talk again† (l. 10). She lost her will to talk after being sexually abused but slowly starts to come forth with what happened, just as Briar Rose begins to do. The speaker says, â€Å"I was forced backward. / I was forced forward† (l. 145-146). The movements mimic the sexual positions that her father forced her into when she was younger. Although older and now married, Briar Rose still feels like a prisoner to her father. This directly subverts the wholesome image of the king in the original tale. In Anne Sexton’s version of Sleeping Beauty’s, the king is the true villain of the story because of what he did to his daughter. By raping her as a child, he ensures a lifetime of unhappiness to follow. In the traditional fairytale, a prince eventually thwarts the thirteenth fairy’s curse and awakens the princess with true love’s kiss. It embodies a wholesome message of good conquering evil. Sexton twisted the fairytale and utilized specific themes within it – such as a father’s love – in order to give voice to victims of incest and sexual abuse. In reality, many victims do not lead a happy life because of the memories of abuse that stay with them, long after it ends. By doing the same to Briar Rose, Sexton shows that not everyone can live a happily ever after.

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Difference in Authority Status Within the Family Essay

The Difference in Authority Status Within the Family - Essay Example My grandparents, we called them â€Å"mama† and â€Å"papa† respectively. We respected them because of their wisdom and feared them because of their ages. Our own parents made sure that the value of respect for the elders, especially the heads of the family, was instilled into our minds at an early age. This meant that even if we could reason out and discuss with our parents when something was not going our way, we were not given the same liberties by our parents when our grandparents were the ones in charge of us. We had to follow their orders without question or pause. The area where we grew up was unique because we had both the comforts of the city and the quiet existence of a farm life where we lived. The town proper and the malls were easily accessible to us while the area where we lived still housed goats and cows, a backyard industry of the residents of our area. In a way, I grew up in what others might consider being strange surroundings but was perfectly normal for me. Our family lived closer to the city proper while the other members of our family lived no further than 15 minutes away from us by car ride. So we were constantly having family gatherings and the kids grew up as playmates and best friends. I guess that is what makes my family unique. Even if we have few friends outside of our family circle, we never feel like we need more because everyone in our family is a friend to one another. We stick up for each other in much the same way that our parents and grandparents do when the need arises. One of my favorite memories from my childhood was when I was little and just about to start school. There were about 3 of us who were close in age who was also about to start school and that particular summer was the season that the older cousins got to teach us about how to survive in school. Somehow, I did not feel afraid about starting school because I knew that my siblings and cousins would also be in the same school. So I did not have to f ear to be alone, friendless, or bullied. I was right. When school started, we looked like a mafia family as the older relatives made sure that the younger ones made it to school on time, got into the right classes, and had someone to hang out with during breaks. Nobody dared mess with us. Our family took up a whole table to ourselves during lunch break and we always did what our parents told us to do, avoid trouble in school by sticking together. The only time we were separated from each other was when we finally had to report to class. When school was over, we would meet up at the front gate of the school and head on a home by school bus, still all together. Those were some of the most fun times I had as a child. I enjoyed going to school because it was a way that I could always hang out with my cousins and vice versa. We lived for school days and the weekends. Our parents found this puzzling at first but then came to realize that we were truly each other's best friend so our desir e to constantly be together was understandable and encouraged. After all, our parents believed that having each other as best friends meant that we would be free from trouble anywhere we went. It was because our cousins were inseparable that it became harder and harder for us to shop for holiday gifts for one another. Somehow we already knew who got what for whom and yet we still managed to act surprised when we would open our grits on Christmas Day.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Advanced Entrepreneurship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advanced Entrepreneurship - Research Paper Example This will add value to the stakeholders. This new brand will broaden the cash flows of the company and reduce the risk of failure due to diversified income sources. The project might consume an average of 50 million dollars for it to run effectively. The full implementation could take an average of 1 year. The new product will be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound) (Taylor, 2009). The product is planned to include next generation technology that will help create a high demand for the admissions. This will help increase the quality and pricing of the classes. The company also expects support from NGOs and the government. School fees shall include operating expenses plus profit for the company. The main cash flow target will be school fees, library subscriptions and sale of projects done in the school by continuing/completing students. Most academic institutions all over the world will normally teach students the basics to the area of study and leave them to explore real life applications for themselves. This means that employers will need to hire experienced workers or first train their own through internships, internal training colleges, internal online colleges, extended probations and contracts. If Triangle solutions could train their own software developers, employers would highly appreciate the relief and demand such students. Students would also be very willing to learn from the actual developers of software. Triangle Solutions would have the opportunity of hiring the best and/or the most talented students as their staff. It would also be an opportunity for extended research and skill on software development products. The students will help the company develop its products and introduce new products. The opportunity will also help the company to increase its staff and regularly train the current staff in a cheap way. Most companies will not prefer purchasing ready-made software, but they

International Corporate Finance - Business Report Essay

International Corporate Finance - Business Report - Essay Example This is because South Africa is one of the major producers of gold in the world. The Foreign Direct Investments policies of the country and a suitable market entry mode have been suggested in order to direct KM an entry path towards South Africa. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction 5 Background 5 Mission of King Minerals Limited (KM) 6 Outline of the Study 6 Country Risk Analysis 6 Political Risk Analysis 6 Government in South Africa 8 Government Policies for Mining Industry 8 Economic or Financial Risk Analysis 9 Gold Mining Contribution to GDP 10 Gold Mining Impacts on South Africa 12 Affect of Gold Mining on the Economic Condition 12 Taxation System for Mining Industry 13 Foreign Direct Investment 14 Conclusion and Recommendations 15 References 16 Bibliography 18 Introduction Background The study aims at conducting a country risk analysis to assist the Australian Investment Bank in advising about investment opportunities in South African gold mining industry. King M inerals Limited (KM), an Australian mineral firm wanted to float an ambitious program for exploring and extracting gold in Africa, so it is important to conduct an analysis of Africa and its gold mining industry. The political, social and economic record of South Africa to a large extent is influenced by the exploration of a glittering metal called Gold. The gold mining industry played a very significant role in the economy of South Africa, with respect to its employment opportunities, exports, financial growth and a huge contribution to the revenue generated from government tax. The gold mining industry contributed about 1.4 percent to the GDP of the country in the year 2004 (Kearney, 2012). However, in 2006, the prices of gold increased as the focus was mainly on productivity and cost. The production of local gold decreased by 7.5 percent, which was about 275 tons, but in spite of this the gold industry of South Africa is in the top most producer of gold in the global market, whic h is about 11.2 percent. Gold mining sector is critical for the South African economy. In the year 2006, this sector contributed R36.7 billion to the total export of South Africa, which was about 8.4 percent, and 1.1 percent of the GDP (Chamber of Mines of South Africa. 2008). The gold industry is also linked to the other developments in the country such as the infrastructure development, formation of capital, and also urbanization. The gold industry is taxed in a much different way that the other industries of South Africa. The taxes are imposed on a formula basis, while all the other mineral industries are taxed on a flat rate in case of income tax filings. However, the tax authorities in South Africa have decided to introduce revenue system that is based on royalty for imposing tax on the gold revenue mining. This regulation has been imposed since 2009 (PWC. 2012). Mission of King Minerals Limited (KM) King Minerals Limited (KM) is committed towards creating and delivering outsta nding values to the stakeholders through the development, exploration, and mining of gold and other valuable metals. Outline of the Study The study attempts to focus on the country risk analysis of South African gold mining sector and assess the various risk factors that need to be analyzed before developing a business proposal for exploration and mining activities in South Africa for gold. The study begins with a background of the gold mining industry of South

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Compare and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Compare and contrast - Essay Example The main characters in Sweat are Delia, the protagonist, a black washerwoman who had been working on the laundry for white people; her husband, Sykes, the antagonist is an abusive husband openly and vagrantly practicing infidelity; Bertha, the other woman of Sykes who he sleeps with; and the townspeople at the village. On the other hand, in A Rose for Emily, the main characters are Emily Grierson, a round character is depicted by the town as a tradition; the rest of the characters are basically flat characters such as Tobe, Emily’s servant; the townspeople; mentions of Emily’s father (who died) and Homer Barron, the significant person in Emily’s life who supposedly dated her and then, disappeared. The main characters are similar in gender and being ‘talk of the town’ in some events in the story; but distinctly different in personality. Delia, despite her small frame and silent stance showed strength and courage in disposition when faced with an extre mely dangerous event (when confronted by the rattlesnake).

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

International Resort and Spa ManagementAnalysis of the relationship Essay

International Resort and Spa ManagementAnalysis of the relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty based on the Service-Profit Chain - Essay Example f service, including acquiring technology that enhances frontline workers, investing increasingly in people, revamping the training and recruiting practices, and performance based compensation. Such approaches enhance employee satisfaction, productivity and loyalty in line with the value of services and products delivers, thus promoting customersatisfaction and loyalty, which in turn enhances the profitability and growth of the organization. It is with no doubt that a loyal customer’s lifetime value is astronomical, particularly upon addition of referrals to the repeatpurchases and customer retention economics (Al-alak & El-refae, 2012, p. 199). The service-profit chain allows managers to focus on new investments that would allow for establishment of levels of service and satisfaction that would facilitate higher competitive impact. Various arguments have been established concerning the relationship between consumer satisfaction and consumer loyalty, with some individuals beli eving that satisfaction fosters loyalty while others refuting this idea. It is evident that a level of consumersatisfaction is highly likely to facilitate repeat purchases and recommendations among consumers, but does not guarantee such loyalty to the organization. The resort and spa industry is increasingly growing with news players being introduced each instance. As such, organizations within this industry are faced with highly competitive markets, which call for highly effective strategic approaches that would allow for attraction and retention of consumers. Managers within thisindustry are faced with contrasting takes on the kind of approaches that would facilitate such retention, with one facet of perspectives suggesting that consumer satisfaction would facilitate loyalty, while the other suggesting that consumer loyalty is not necessarily guaranteed by consumer satisfaction and thus other approaches should be employed. This paper reviews the relationship between consumer satis faction

Monday, September 23, 2019

MacDonaldisaation Thesis (Education paper) analysis of journal article Essay

MacDonaldisaation Thesis (Education paper) analysis of journal article by Dale (1994) UK EDUCATION SYSTEM KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED - Essay Example The 'Mac' chain of restaurants is famous for standardising everything related to the production or selling of their goods. Dale (1994) also argues how Ritzer has started a crusade against the 'fast-food' giant 'Mac' and how they have ensured the disintegration of the family. He quotes Ritzer in saying that the habitual use of 'McDonaldized' systems is destructive to our physical and physiological well-being as well as to the society as a whole. We have to agree to the fact that we are in a world where brand names become common names. If we were to ask what is common between 'Zipper', 'Xerox', 'Kerosene', then the answer is they are all 'Trade names' that has become common names. In the same vein, the processes adopted by 'McDonaldization' have come to stay with us as 'McDonaldization'. In fact, 'McDonaldization' is much older than we thought (see McDonaldization 2008). In fact it is much older than the principles adopted by Ray Croc, founder of McDonalds (for more information see McDonaldization 2008). If that was the case, then why talk of only 'McDonaldization' It is possible that everybody could afford a 'Big Mac', but not a Ford automobile! The logic of operating 'Mac' although looks very simple and organised and certain things have to be borne in mind. First, 'Mac' makes a limited set of dishes that are similar in taste, packaging and quality; secondly people like it and hence its popularity and finally the volume of 'Mac' food eaten by people is a very small compared to their normal food. In this age of globalisation and free trade it is inevitable that all products cannot be handmade and delivered specially. Mass production is inevitable; also because the consumption, sometimes, far exceeds the production. The only way to ensure that any product lives up to the manufactures reputation is that they are trouble free. To make it trouble free, certain manufacturing norms have to be introduced that are uniform and streamlined. The flipside to this argument is that 'Mac' generates trash because of 'McDonaldization' procuring food that has ethical issues. So it is under these 'parameters' we are forced to live and act, whe ther we like it or not. Ritzer opines that there are four reasons behind 'McDonaldization' namely efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. For details on this please refer to 'McDonaldization, (2008). Here again the flipside of the argument is that we have to take into consideration the following: 1) irrationality; 2) deskilling and 3) consumer workers (for more information see McDonaldization 2008) Dale, 'McDonaldization' and education 'Commoditization' of education is the byword in today's academic circles (Dale 1998; Daniel 2002). Dale (1998) argues about 'McDonaldization' of higher education in today's scenario. In today's education system, other than the traditional way of teaching, a lot of institutions are offering franchising options. This is akin to 'McDonaldization', but in the educational system. Daniel (2002) calls it the 'commoditization' of education. The advantages in this method are large. It brings education to all by implementing a uniform curriculum for everybody and it is gaining popularity in most of the Open Universities of the world and is also gaining acceptance in most of the developing countries. In this

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Organizational Performance Management Table Essay Example for Free

Organizational Performance Management Table Essay After you have completed your individual research on your chosen type of health care organization, collaborate with your Learning Team to complete this table. Then, refer to this table as you collaborate to write your paper. Include this table as an appendix to your paper. Fill in the necessary information in each cell, but be as succinct as possible. 1. Provide names of or links to specific organizations. Summarize key products or services provided by each type of organization and identify the primary customers they serve. Organization One Organization Two Organization Three http://www.fda.gov/ U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2. Outline the overall content of the major regulations, accreditation requirements, and other standards that affect each organization. Provide the title, section, parts, or subparts or the numbering system and so on of the specific regulations or accreditation requirements. For example: Use of electronic signatures in electronic medical records is equivalent to handwritten signatures on paper; FDA regulation; Title 21 CFR Part 11, Subpart C, Â § 11.200 Electronic Signature: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?cfrpart=11 Organization One Organization Two Organization Three Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) Because of their importance, an agency’s rulemaking plans are of great interest to a wide range to stakeholders. Therefore, the Federal Government publishes a semi-annual agenda of upcoming regulations in the Federal Register, usually in the Spring and Fall. As part of FDA’s Transparency Initiative and FDA Transparency Results Accountability Credibility Knowledge Sharing (TRACK), we are also providing periodic updates on FDA’s Unified Agenda rulemakings. On the Unified Agenda-TRACK Web page, we will maintain an updated agenda of FDA’s Unified Agenda rulemakings. 3. Highlight the effect of each organization’s regulations, accreditation requirements, and other standards on the risk- and quality-management functions and activities. Organization One Organization Two Organization Three The scope of FDA’s regulatory authority is very broad. FDAs responsibilities are closely related to those of several other government agencies. Often frustrating and confusing for consumers is determining the appropriate regulatory agency to contact. The following is a list of traditionally-recognized product categories that fall under FDA’s regulatory jurisdiction; however, this is not an exhaustive list. In general, FDA regulates: Foods, including: dietary supplements bottled water food additives infant formulas other food products (although the U.S. Department of Agriculture plays a lead role in regulating aspects of some meat, poultry, and egg products) Drugs, including: prescription drugs (both brand-name and generic) non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs Biologics, including: vaccines blood and blood products cellular and gene therapy products tissue and tissue products allergenics Medical Devices, including: simple items like tongue depressors and bedpans complex technologies such as heart pacemakers dental devices surgical implants and prosthetics Electronic Products that give off radiation, including: microwave ovens x-ray equipment laser products ultrasonic therapy equipment mercury vapor lamps sunlamps Cosmetics, including: color additives found in makeup and other personal care products skin moisturizers and cleansers nail polish and perfume Veterinary Products, including: livestock feeds pet foods veterinary drugs and devices Tobacco Products, including: cigarettes cigarette tobacco roll-your-own tobacco smokeless tobacco 4. Specify components of performance-management systems—policies and procedures, self-audits, benchmarking, complaint management, corrective or preventive action, education and training, communication, and other mechanisms—to be used by each organization. Organization One Organization Two Organization Three Risk communication staff: Our Risk Communication Staffs objective is to assess and enhance FDAs approaches to effectively communicate the risks and benefits of using FDA-regulated products. This includes providing leadership in identifying, developing, conducting and promoting cross-cutting research, promoting understandable communication, and finding ways to improve the consistency and effectiveness of our communication approaches. This program also directs the activities of FDAs Risk Communication Advisory Committee, which was established: to advise on strategies and programs to communicate the risks and benefits of FDA-regulated products so as to facilitate optimal use; to review and evaluate FDAs and others research relevant to such communication; and to facilitate interactively sharing risk and benefit information with the public to help people make informed independent judgments about use of FDA-regulated products. Our major functions include: Coordinating development of agency policies on risk communication practices. Coordinating agency strategic planning activities concerning risk communications. Coordinating agency research agenda for risk communication methods. Facilitating development and sharing of risk communication best practices and standard operating procedures. Conducting risk communications research on methodological and cross-cutting issues. Leading management and coordination of the FDA Risk Communication Advisory Committee. Staffing and co-leading FDA’s Communications Council 5. Provide links to any relevant sources that will be useful as your Learning Team completes the paper. Organization One Organization Two Organization Three Fda.gov

Friday, September 20, 2019

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 1. Introduction Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a procedure that requires developers to follow in order to be granted permission for a development and was first introduced in European Union (EU) in 1985 (Glasson, 1999). The guidelines and requirements of EIA come from a European Directive (85/33/EEC as amended by 97/11/EC). In this process, developer requires to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) where significant impacts and its effects on the environment as a result of a development are described including mitigation measures (Lee, 1995). However, there are weaknesses in EIA process. As a result of EIA weaknesses, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was introduced. SEA process was first introduced by EU Directive 2001/42/EC which environmental protection and sustainable development may be considered. It ensures that potential impact of proposed plans, policies and programmes on the environment are taking into consideration so that mitigation and communication between public and decision-makers are provided (Benson, 2003). Therefore, SEA is undertaken in the decision-making process of a development much earlier than EIA. In this section, the differences between EIA and SEA as well as the weaknesses of EIA that led the development of SEA in EU Directive in 2001 are being discussed. 2. Differences between EIA and SEA 2.1. Differences in provisions between SEA and EIA Directives Table 1: Summary of differences in action for EIA and SEA processes (Partidà ¡rio, 2000). SEA EIA Nature of action It is more strategic and contains visions and concepts in its action Actions towards the construction and operation level Assessment Involved evaluation Involved only assessment Focus More critical decision moments (decision windows) along with decision processes Only in project level Level of decision It involves policy and planning Only project level Relation to decision Facilitator Involved evaluator which often taking into consideration of administrative requirement Alternatives Broader and spatial balance of location, social and physical strategies, technologies and economics. More specific alternative in construction, operation, locations and design Scale of impacts Macroscopic involved local, regional, national and global Microscopic mainly involved local Scope of impacts Sustainability issues, economic and social issues may be more tangible than physical or ecological issues Environmental with a sustainability focus, physical or ecological issues, and also social and economic Time scale and review Long to medium term (after 5 years and then 7 years interval) Medium to short-term (after 5 years then silent continuing review). Key data sources State of the Environment Reports, Local Agenda 21, statistical data, policy and planning instruments Field work, sample analysis, statistical data Data Mainly descriptive and mixture with quantifiable More quantifiable Rigor of analysis (uncertainty) More uncertainty and less rigor Less uncertainty and more rigor Assessment benchmarks Sustainability benchmarks (criteria and objectives) Best practice and legal restrictions Public perception Vague/ distant More reactive Post-evaluation Other strategic actions and project planning Objective evidence in relation with construction and operation 2.2 Differences in procedural requirements of the EIA and SEA Directives. Table 2: Summary of the main differences between EIA and SEA Directives in procedural requirements ( Sources from : Sheate et al., 2005). STAGE SEA EIA Screening It requires consultation from the environmental authorities. Publicity: SEA does not need determination and reasons. It requires no consultation. Publicity: EIA requires determination and reasons. Environmental information/report Member States (MSs) have to ensure that sufficient quality and stronger emphasis on alternatives are provided in environmental reports (ERs). No quality control requires in EIA and only minimun information shoud be provided Consultation Involved relevant parties other than MSs such as public and autorities. Involved relevant parties other than MSs such as public and autorities and also consultation provision from Public Participation Directive. Decision-making All consultation comments and ER are to be taken into account. Consultation comments and environmental informations are included in decision-making. Info on decision More specific and detailed requirements. Information provision from Public Participation Directive are mademore specific in the requirement. Monitoring Long term monitoring required Not require monitoring 3. Weaknesses of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 3.1. Lack of consideration of cumulative impacts EIA process is often facing difficulty in addressing cumulative impacts of a development. The significant impacts of a development especially issues on biodiversity, human health and cultural heritage are no included in their assessment (McDonald Brown 1995). For example in Scotland, several developments of wind farms proposed in close proximity have led to a very complicated EIA process (Glasson, 1999). Each developer required assessing the cumulative impact of landscape and visual application with those of neighboring projects (Benson, 2003). The planning process could face a delay due to this issue. 3.2. Insufficient public participation Public involvement has shown to be insufficient in EIA process (Gailus, 1995). In a recent research suggested that this is due to the attitude of the developer that discourages the participation of public in EIA process in the European Community. Due to lack of legislation and extensive for public involvement in Europe in the early 90s to influence the decision of a development, the general public is not aware of their rights and causes them not interested in the development involvement (Caddy, 1996). 3.3. Little monitoring and auditing process Previous study has showed that monitoring and auditing issues are still weak in EIA. Follow-up process is only performed by developers in a minority of cases (Arts and Nootebloom 1999). Monitoring process enables practioners to have better understanding for future extension, design and restoration projects (Frost, 1997). However, the river restoration process in United Kingdom (UK) was hampered by lack of monitoring process in EIA. 3.4. Inadequate consideration of alternatives The compilation of alternatives appears to be very limited in EIA report (Tesli, 2002). For example in Hungary for radioactive disposal, the report did not provide in details or rather limited in reducing the impacts of the project to the human health (Benson, 2003). It is important to include various alternatives to allow solutions being taken in a development. 3.5. The poor quality of environmental impact statements and reports The reports produced in EIA are often too complex in term of length and technical which is not easily understood by the public and decision makers (Lee, 1995). It is important for ES to be simple as it has to be made available to the public. 3.6. The timing of decisions The decision-making process in EIA project enters too late where the effects of policy and planning critical decisions are not being considered (Lee, 1995). This is due to the absence of systematic impact assessment process where the outcome of it could subsequently influence the project planning and design (Harrop Nixon 1999). 4. Conclusion There were various weaknesses have been identified in EIA process. Due to these weaknesses, SEA was developed in 2001 under EU Directive to strengthen the environmental assessment process. 5. References Arts, J. and Nootebloom, S. (1999) ‘Environmental Impact Assessment Monitoring and Auditing in: Petts, J. (ed.) Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment Volume 1, Blackwell, Oxford: 229-251 Benson, J.F. (2003) ‘What is the alternative? Impact assessment tools and sustainable planning, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 21 (4): 261-266 Caddy, J. (1996). Working Group on Environmental Studies, European University Institute, Florence. [Online] http://www.iue.it/WGES/Iss16/caddy.htm [Accessed: 29/01/2010]. Frost, R. (1997) Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment in Practice. Chapter 7 EIA monitoring and audit in Weston, J (ed). Longman, Harlow. pp 141 175. Gailus, J. (1995). Regional Environmental Centre: Hungary. [Online] http://www.rec.org/REC/Bulletin/Bull52/PublPart.html [Accessed: 29/01/2010] Glasson, J. (1999) ‘The First 10 Years of the UK EIA System: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, Planning Practice and Research, 14 (3): 363-375 Glasson, J. Therivel, R. and Chadwick, A. (1999) Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Spon Press, London Harrop, O. and Nixon, A. (1999) Environmental Impact Assessment in Practice, Routledge, London Lee, N. (1995) ‘Environmental Assessment in the European Union: a tenth anniversary, Project Appraisal, 10 (2): 77-90 McDonald, G.T. and Brown, A.L. (1995) ‘Going Beyond Environmental Impact Assessment: environmental input to planning and design, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 15: 483-495 Partidà ¡rio, M.R., 2000, Elements of an SEA framework improving the added-value of SEA, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 20: 647-663. Sheate, W. Byron, H. Dagg, S. Cooper, L (2005), The Relationship between SEA and EIA Directives: Final Report to the European Commission. Imperial College London Tesli, A. (2002). The use of EIA and SEA relative to the objective of sustainable development, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR). 1. Content of an SEA report as required by EU Directive The implementation of plans and programmes (PPs) in which likely significant effects produce by the project on the environment is the key requirement in preparation of an SEA report (European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2001). Figure 1 shows the summary of the contents required by EU Directive (2001/42/EC) in producing SEA reports. Not all projects need to perform SEA process (Barth Fuder, 2002). The diagram in Figure 2 shows a set of set of criteria for application to PPs under the EU Directive (2001/42/EC). It specifies whether SEA is required or not according to the Directive. For simplicity, the developments of the PPs and reasonable alternative options of SEA are summarized in five key stages according to the government guidance in England (URL 1). 1.1. The key five stages Stage A: Context, Baseline and Scoping (SEA Directive Annex 1) Authority needs to include indicators, objectives and background information for SEA in the plan. The decisions of the scope can be decide by the authority including consultation on the statutory environmental bodies (URL 1). Stage B:Alternatives and Assessment (SEA Directive Article 5.1) Authority need to identify reasonable alternatives and assess the effects of the project on the environment. Ways of reducing, preventing and offsets the effects have to be provided as well (URL 1). Stage C: Preparing the Environmental Report Draft plan/programme which includes the information of the effects has to be presented as a key output of SEA process (URL 1). Stage D: Consultation (SEA Directive Article 6.2 and Annex 1) The draft plan and environmental report should be ready together for consultation where a statement are made from the consultation responses in order to produce an evolving plan (URL 1). Stage E: Monitoring (SEA Directive Article 10.1) The implementation of the plan where environment effects are produced needs monitoring process. It helps to provide more baseline information for future plans (URL 1). 2. Difficulties and limitations in fulfilling these requirements Table 1: Summary of the difficulties and limitations of SEA reports as required in EU Directive. Requirements issues Difficulties and limitations Availability and access to data Environmental data is often limited and not relevant because it is not collected and stored systematically. The process of data collection requires extensive resources and using these data are difficult because different departments tend to collect different set of data. The quality of good data is lacking and this issue has been reported by Member States such as Germany and Poland (European Commission, 2009). Best example of this issue is Poland. They are facing difficulties of generating and collecting data of affected area because of the implementation of a plan/programme. The current picture of the environment has to be identified especially in large areas but they indicate that it is very problematic (European Commission, 2009). Sometimes, the coverage areas of SEA are large (including few countries and produces large amount of alternatives (URL 1). This will increase the complexity of data collection and analysis (URL 1). Public Participation The availability of the data for the public is limited. In the UK, documents and information of the plan are not required to be published on their website until ER is finalized according to the draft Regulations (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). As a result, public participation is limited as not many public will travel to the plan-makers office to view the documents at a minimum time period for consultation. It is important to set up a website to facilitate the consultation process for the public to participate (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). Else, public is unaware that inspection of these documents are available to them and no feedback can be made (Kà ¸rnà ¸v Thissen, 2000). EA at higher levels of decision making As SEA involves higher levels of decision making, the implementation policy of PPs are subject to various departments decisions (Kà ¸rnà ¸v Thissen, 2000). For example, a Local Transport Plan requires policy from Regional Spatial Strategies, Aviation and Transport White Papers and Sustainable Communities Plan and Planning Policy Statements (Brown Thà ©rivel, 2000). Due to these requirements, a complex screening process has to be performed and decisions for PPS are even more very difficult in the assessment (Brown Thà ©rivel, 2000). Deciding on the level of detail of the environmental report The details of require information in SEA reports are vary due to lack of adaptation in assessment for the level of abstraction in PPs (European Commission, 2009). According to Member States (Latvia and Germany), the possible impacts of PPs are difficult to be included in SEA reports because of less information of the right scale and level required (European Commission, 2009). Therefore, important information for long term PPs is difficult as no appropriate spatial scale of information need to be included in the report (European Commission, 2009). Development of assessment methods As there are no specific guidelines, strong methodological background and lack of exchange for best practices, developing an effective assessment is very challenging (Brown Thà ©rivel, 2000). For example in Operational Programmes objectives, high level plans in a viable assessment do not necessary show the actual physical ground effects although strategic policies are implemented European Commission, 2009). Assessment of impacts Although SEA addressing the importance of cumulative impacts, there is no standard and effective assessment methodologies are being developed (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). The significant environmental impacts of PPs are difficult to assess and the identification of these aspects are limited (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). Monitoring and enforcement (Including issues of indicators) The assessment of plans is limited because there is no sustainability and environmental criteria developed in the monitoring programme (European Commission, 2009). Therefore, monitoring indicators (local agenda 21 for instance) is being used however it is difficult for monitoring process as mentioned by Member States like France. Environmental authorities have no proper enforcement tool to ensure that monitoring programme is being performed (European Commission, 2009). For example in the UK, no quality control body is being set up by the government to monitor the efficiency of monitoring process which is a limitation for SEA (Verheem, R. Tonk, J. 2000). Institutional and legal issues The supports for SEA process are still insufficient politically (European Commission, 2009). The bureaucratic prerogatives may hinder the effectiveness of SEA performance. As SEA process is relatively new, lack of human resources especially knowledgeable authorities is a major limitation for SEA (European Commission, 2009). 3. Comparison between requirement of SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and Sustainability Appraisal (SA). In the United Kingdom (UK), SA and SEA are required in planning system and law for Government Plans and Programmes (Smith Sheate 2001). For most Development Plan Documents (DPD) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD), both SA and SEA process have to be carried out and include in the Local Development Framework (LDF) in the UK (Smith Sheate 2001). SA was developed to assess the likely economic, social and environmental impacts so proposed PPs can be implemented that leads to sustainable development unlike SEA which was previously described (Lee Kirkpatrick, 2000). The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) and European Directive EC/2001/42 require both SA and SEA processes to be performed in any planning (Smith Sheate 2001). It is also requires by the Environmental Assessment Regulations for Plans and Programmes in UK (Smith Sheate 2001). In table 2, comparison of SA and SEA in terms of UK planning system for Government PPs are being summarized. Table 2: Comparison between SA and SEA requirements within the UK planning system Requirements Strategic Environmental Assessment Sustainability Appraisals Overall aims The aim of SEA is to raise the profile of environmental considerations as part of an advocative approach during decision-making process (Kà ¸rnà ¸v Thissen, 2000). In contrast to SEA, it is use as a support process in decision-making and representing an integrated approach that working towards in all aspects of sustainable development. Therefore, the interests at stake are remained neutral during this process (Minas, 2002). Focus Environmental effects (Lee Kirkpatrick, 2000) A full range of environmental, social and economic issues (Minas, 2002). Environmental/ Sustainability aspects It involves 15 components which is suggested in the 1993 guidance with additional social and economic factors to be considered in 1999 guidance (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). Aspects of biodiversity, human health, cultural factors, water, landscape, population and material assets are considered primarily (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). Report requirements There are no formal requirements for SA. In good practice guidance, identification of scoping and impacts stages is recommended (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). The 1999 guidance also recommends that planners should provide and evaluates alternatives. Environmental baseline conditions should be considered as well. It involved extensive requirements of Annex 1 which have previously discussed (Barth Fuder, 2002). Methodology According to DETR Guide, the appraisal should emphasize on strategic options, alternatives, and policy impact matrices in achieving sustainable development. Therefore, the methodological statement is very brief if compare to SEA (Minas, 2002). In contrast to SA, heavy emphasis is in place on actually baseline data which set as a benchmark to assess the alternatives performance. It is also requires authorities to consult the final environmental report from the public on the scope of the assessment (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). Timing The process is being carried out very early where every stage of the development plan process is considered as an important element (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). In contrast to SA, it is usually being carried out during the preparation of a plan before the submission to the legislative procedure (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). Involvement The appraisals are subjected to consultation with outside groups such as public consultation during the plan preparation. The appraisal usually made available on the internet where it is being carried out sporadically (Thà ©rivel, Minas, 2002). It is not required to make available on the internet. The consultation can be done during scoping stage by specified environmental authorities. Opportunity has to be given to the public to comment the draft plan (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). Documentation required No formal requirements according to the guidance A statement need to be produced by an authority to summarize all the considerations of the plan have been integrated. They need to provide a report of consultees opinion which taken during the consultation process and valid reasons on why the alternatives are being chosen (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). 4. Success of SEA report in delivering sustainable development objectives A wide range of processes has been integrated with SEA report. It has shown to be a systematic process where accountable decision making can be achieve due to the earlier evaluating process being taken with strong alternative visions (Wood Dejeddour, 1992). All these have incorporated in SEA policy, planning and program initiatives (PPPs) to ensure sustainable development with full integration of economic, social and political considerations (Partidà ¡rio Clarke, 2000). Although SEA shows to be a great tool in project level but the process of SEA is not easily accepted or consider as an effective solution due to its complexity (Thà ©rivel Partidà ¡rio, 2000). Recent research has shown that SEA produces both great opportunities as well as failures in sustainable development (Sadler, 1998). 4.1. Sustainability objectives are included in the integrated process of policy making and planning During the design stage of SEA, objectives of sustainability are being considered which provides a greater plan and policy in decision making (Thompson et al., 1995). It gradually delivers its objectives of sustainable development because the use of SEA articulates sustainability goals by enhancing the political action where substantive action can be taken (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). As the expectation of internal and external public of its delivery increasing, it offers the possibility of bringing better policy towards sustainable development into success. The transition of SEA involved two main steps: Information gathering and analysis work The core of strategic decision making Sustainable development consideration is being covered in a broader range where strategic level matters are separated from advisory conventionally-focused (Pezzoli, 1997). Sustainability criteria are used as the key bases to help in strategic decision making on the selection among best options available (Pezzoli, 1997). With these steps being taken, larger context of core policies and programmes in strategic assessment are identified in pursuing the objectives of national sustainability. Therefore, SEA report may be an important instrument in promoting sustainable development when it is fully integrated (Partidà ¡rio, 1996). 4.2. Operationalises sustainability principles In practical application, the concept of sustainability is very difficult because it faces high complexity and uncertain reality (Pezzoli, 1997). Interconnected generational boundaries and disciplinary of sustainability may further complicates the concept (Marsden, 1998). Therefore, the application of specific context of sustainability and commonly recognized principles are being clarified by SEA. SEA identified three key principle of sustainability: Integrated pursuit of ecological and socio-economic improvements Uncertainty imposes precautionary obligations Public choices involved SEA is a visible confirmation of commitment to sustainability as it offers broader exposure to notions such as natural capital and the precautionary principle (Pezzoli, 1997). Therefore, it can be translated into the language of politics of sustainability and functions as a heuristic device (Thà ©rivel et al., 1992). 4.3. Improves analysis of broad public purposes and alternatives With alternative technologies, lifestyle choices and better resources, SEA offers better possibility in achieving sustainable development because it has the capability to contemplating these factors that cannot be address at lower levels (Wood Dejeddour, 1992). Therefore, SEA report is the most effective and efficient point in finding alternatives and addressing the needs in pursuing the objectives of sustainability development (Thà ©rivel et al., 1992). 4.4. Facilitates proper attention to cumulative effects Strategic level proves to be the best way to deal with increasing number of cumulative impacts. The scope of SEA helps to identifying these impacts because of its space scales (Ortolano Shepherd, 1995; Scott, 1992). As SEA is performed in an early stage, this assessment allows assessors to provide more attention in a wider range of actions in a larger area. It allows them to provide a broader context of cumulative impacts in addressing each of the impacts (Thà ©rivel Partidà ¡rio 1996). According to Thà ©rivel Partidà ¡rio, undesirable activities as a results of a project can be removed before the project stage begins because these cumulative impacts have influence the project decision where SEA has incorporated environmental issues intrinsically during the planning stage. Earlier detection of these impacts helps to promote sustainable development. 4.5. Facilitates greater transparency and more effective public participation at the strategic level With the extensive involvement of public participation in SEA, it has improved the credibility and accountability of SEA in sustainability where they facilitating external scrutiny of decision (Wood Dejeddour, 1992). It creates increasing pressures in strategic decision making process to overcome bureaucratic fragmentation because in many jurisdictions, bureaucratic disorganisation and wastefulness in citizen has been declining. The expanding role of public provided in SEA allows an intrinsic connection between environmental sustainability and equity (George, 1999) to promote basic sustainability goals. 5. Conclusion There are many challenges ahead for SEA report. There are many difficulties in producing a good SEA report. Nevertheless, SEA report requirements did show success in achieving sustainable development goals. In order to ensure SEA report success, weaknesses and limitation needs to be considered and solution needed in order to overcome it. 6. References Barth, R. Fuder, A. (2002) Implementing Article 10 of the SEA Directive 2001/42/EC. Final Report : Freiburg, Darmstadt, Berlin. Brown, A L, and Thà ©rivel, R. (2000), â€Å"Principles to guide the development of strategic environmental assessment methodology†, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal , 18(3), September, pages 183-189. Environment Agency (2004) SEA Good Practice Guidelines www.environment-agency.gov.uk/seaguidelines. Accessed on 27/01/10. European Parliament and Council of the European Union (2001) Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment Commission of the European Communities, Brussels. www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2001/l_197/l_19720010721en00300037.pdf European Commission (2009) Study concerning the report on the application and