Human Resources Questions Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resources Questions - Coursework Example These barriers often prevented the access of women or needful people in the rightful-places such as in educational institutions or for employment. Affirmative action was the result of the slavery and the injustice done by the white race towards the Anglo-Americans. The citizens of America got opportunities of employment and education on the basis of their color code. The term affirmative action comes from the age old concept of equity or justice. The discrimination done between the black and the white and injustice of the ruling class of America in the twentieth century was the cause for affirmative order. After Barrack Obama became the president of America, it was felt that the affirmative action was no longer required. This is because it became clear from the fact that the citizens, the country and its governing body has understood the importance of providing equal opportunity to people round the world in their country for employment and for getting into educational institutions or other rightful places. This is the actual meaning of globalization (Rubio, 2001, p. 1-2). Generally it is seen that that the performance appraisal depends on the feedback of the employees or the superiors of the company, but the advent of teamwork, training and development of the employees and customer services have shifted the focus of collecting feedback just from employees and superiors to the customers, peer groups and even subordinates as shown in figure 1. This is also called multiple feedback approach for conducting performance appraisal and it is also called 360 degree evaluation. Several past research have shown that 360 degree method of evaluation is accurate, reliable and authentic source of information. In this method the supervisors, subordinates, peers, customers are included to assess the performance of an employee. Considering the organizational culture and the mission of the company,

An analysis of Vitamins a short story by Raymond Carver Essay

An analysis of Vitamins a short story by Raymond Carver - Essay Example Patti attests to it herself on claiming that in early years of her youth, it is something she would not figure herself doing or one that occurs to be a last resort. While it generally sounds to be freaking a hell out of the female characters in Patti, Sheila, and Donna, the storyteller being the only guy among them exhibits the opposite or passive role in relation to the three. His function appears to serve a neutralizing effect in the middle where similarities reflect across the intertwined lives of the three women who have spanned control of themselves beyond his weak influence at providing comfort. As an irony in the theme, the vitamins sold by Patti, Sheila, Donna, and the hospital where he works are altogether symbolic of a prevention or cure to sickness however, as these characters remain attached to their conventional situation, the routine with vitamins and hospital augments the conflict and no resolution is found in the absence of external intervention or consideration of po ssible alternatives that would shift the level of personal undertaking for each. (2) Do the main characters' personalities, behavior and goals change during the story? If so, how? Significant change is not evident in the outlook and the way by which the narrator manages getting confronted by the challenges set by Patti. He briefly states in the beginning that Patti was first unemployed and by deciding to reverse this fate and give herself respect on working to sell vitamins makes positive hint or direction at progress from the initial condition as Patti even reaches the point of having people put under her supervision. This status, nevertheless, becomes unfulfilled since the state of economy and consumerism turns out not in favor of supplement acquisition, implying that in reality there exists a number of concerns far more worthy of savings and investment than vitamins are. In the manner R. Carver channels the thoughts and observations of the narrating main character, a reader can f eel a degree of needing to promote an element of transformation in his life as well as how this might impact that of Patti’s. As the story proceeds to gather the cast in a Christmas party to somewhat alleviate and enliven the dull, sickening mood with the bad economic trend of vitamin business, Sheila triggers rivalry with the male narrator yet escapes to make way for Donna in weaving new circumstances for Patti’s lover. A sense of seduction through Donna’s character takes the storyteller to an attempt at infidelity, leaving his fed-up partner to yield to a momentary space and grasp beyond the world with Patti in a newer dimension at Off-Broadway with Donna. Somehow, he develops another perspective in an appreciation of Khaki who seems to love his work as a bouncer, as opposed to Patti. Clearly, this event suggests that he is up for a change or for something to challenge his way out of the lifeless endeavor and depressed mode of living. At the instant Nelson com es over with Benny to lure Donna with money and gradually snatch here away from him, he allows a couple of moments to pass as if no real peril lurks. Here,

Information Systems Security Survey Essay Example for Free

Information Systems Security Survey Essay The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is an institution that was built back in the 19th century. UNMC’s mission is to improve the health of Nebraska through premier educational programs, innovative research, the highest quality patient care, and outreach to underserved populations (UNMC, 2004). As an institution with key interest to privacy of its students, staff and subordinate staff, UNMC has adopted various policy guidelines to ensure information security system. The Information Security Management Plan (ISMP) describes its safeguards to protect confidential information. These safeguards are meant among another reason to: Ensure the confidentiality of data Ensure the integrity of data Ensure the availability of data Protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of the information UNMC has adopted information security industry best practices to implement its information security system (UNMC, 2014). They have become so effective that during 2011, a Hitrust Gap assessment was performed, and no significant gaps were found within its security program. The worksheet below outlines how these programs have been rolled out by different offices in the university. Worksheet: Information Security Program Survey Security Area Responsible Party / Office of Primary Responsibility Known Vulnerabilities / Risks Countermeasures / Risk Mitigation Strategy Acquisition (systems/services) Information Security Office Breach of the confidentiality clause All service providers must undergo an evaluation process to verify they are qualified. Contracts have a confidentiality clause whose breach terminates the contract. Asset management System Administrator Poor asset management Proper policies and procedure in place  to ensure effective asset management. Evaluation to ascertain the qualifications of asset managers. Audit and accountability Information Security Office Dishonest employees disclosing confidential information to third parties Every application contains a log that must be maintained to meet regulatory requirement. There is Information security Incident Response plan to handle any notable strange events. Authentication and authorization System Administrator Covered data may be transferred to third parties without authorization Employees are provided with user name and password to access the data. Employees are trained on developing a secure password. There are control policies in place governing access to this information. Business continuity Information Security Office Non-coordination and miscommunication between employees All employees are supposed to keep contact information of co-workers and supervisors to seek for help in case of any emergency. Compliance management Compliance Officer the Information Security Officer Employees failure to comply with the set guidelines, policies and procedure There is a compliance form that is filled before a major project is undertaken by the enterprise. The form is to ensure that no new risk is introduced to the enterprise. Configuration control System Administrator Compromised system security Every configuration must have a password. Each password must have at least ten characters. The password must be encrypted at all times. Data System Administrator Data may be intercepted during transmission Database with security keys is available to authorized employees only. Access to classified data is allowed to limited employees. Information security plan ensures security of covered data. Hardware System Administrator Destruction of hardware in disaster Only employees with technical know-how of operating hardware are allowed to use them. The hardware are encrypted for security purposes. Hardware backup system. Identity management Information Security Office Unauthorized covered data and information transfer through third parties Identity Management Program (IDM) outlines procedure for issuing credentials based on the NIST guidance. Checks are done on employees prior to their employment. Incident management Command Centre Incident Response Team Physical loss of data in a disaster An Incident Reporting and Response Plan is in place to report and respond to any  identified risk. Availability of a well-trained incident response team. Command Centre is established to manage emergency. Maintenance procedures Change Advisory Board (CAB) Existing patches within the security system A release process is in place to ensure that the changes do not affect non-primary system. Patching policies for workstations to ensure security. Media protection and destruction Information Security Office Unauthorized access covered data as well as information Data storage policies define how data stored in the media is to be protected. Data is only stored in a secured data centre or encrypted medium. Network System Administrator Unauthorized access to the network Network traffic is controlled by Cisco enterprise-class firewall where inbound connects are only allowed to DMZ. Internal trusted network is provided via an encrypted VPN tunnel. Technical perimeter is established to bar direct access from the internet to the Internal Trusted Area. Planning Information Security Office Poor planning that compromise management of the security system Contingency plan is in place to handle any eventuality. Employees are encouraged to store data on network file servers for backup. All backups are surely stored and marked for easy identification during emergencies. Personnel System Administrator Loss of data integrity Employees are only employed after exhibiting minimum security requirement. Information Security Addendum are to be signed for confidentiality purposes. An insider who ensures that all legal requirements are followed before access is granted must accompany outsiders accessing information. Physical environment System Administrator Physical safety of the environment may be compromised through attacks and burglary No unauthorized personal is allowed within the data centre premises. The data centers are controlled by keycard access. Policy Information Security Plan Coordinator Policies may be misinterpreted by the employee The University’s security policy is enshrined in the Privacy, Confidentiality and Security of Patient Proprietary Information Policy and the Computer Use and Electronic Information Security Policy. The two policies require that authorized people can only access this information. The policies are reviewed every two years to make them in tandem with the prevailing circumstances. Operations The Information Security Officer and the Infrastructure Team  Failure for operations to comply with the system security policy An operation must fill a compliance Checklist or a Security Risk Assessment form for review to verify that no new risk is introduced to the enterprise. Outsourcing System Administrator Unauthorized disclosure of security information by third parties Outsourced vendors must comply with UNMC Policy No. 8009, Contract Policy. Vendors accessing classified student information must sign the GLB Act contract addendum. Risk assessments Information Custodian Poor method of risk assessment that may downplay the actual impact of a risk Security assessment I conducted annually. All applications must meet the organizations security policies and procedure. Software System Administrator Software may be infected with a virus Software should not be installed unless the user trusts it. Vendor update and patches must be installed unless directed otherwise. Software license must be retained to get technical assistance. Training System Administrators and Information Custodians Misuse of security system Loss of data integrity Employees are trained on information security system before they are employed. System administrators and information custodians are annually trained on Specific Information Security Policy and Procedure. References UNMC. (March 2014) Strategic Plan 2010-2013. Retrieved from http://www.unmc.edu/wwwdocs/strategic-plan_06-10_v3-brochure1.pdf United States Government Accountability Office. (February 2010). ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE: Health Care Entities Reported Disclosure Practices and Effects on Quality of Care. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10361.pdf UNMC. (February 9, 2004). Information Security Plan. Retrieved from http://www.unmc.edu/its/docs/UNMCInformationSecurityPlan-Sept2010.pdf

Application of Systems Theory in Social Work

Application of Systems Theory in Social Work Systems in Practice Introduction The United Kingdom Children Act 1989 (HMSO, 1989) sets forth all childcare law as such relates to children that are being accommodated by a Local Authority. At the core of the Children Act are the beliefs that children are served best when they are in their own homes (Devon County Council, 2007a). Additionally, the core beliefs of the Act are that the child’s welfare is of the utmost importance, that the child’s parents should stay involved in any and all legal proceedings concerning them, and that such a course of action be avoided if possible (Devon County Council, 2007a). It, the Act, also holds that child welfare is to be promoted, and that children should stay within their families unless unavoidable (Devon County Council, 2007a). Lastly the needs of the child taking into account factors such as race, religion, culture as well as language represent critical facets. In those instances when a child comes under the care of a local authority, it is the responsibility o f the local authority to see to the needs of children in these instances (Devon County Council, 2007b). The foregoing represents important background considerations with regard to the foster care, and the principles underlying such. These basics represent the foundations of any fostering care, placement, and related applications. This examination shall review a case study on social work placement to delve into the manner in which the application of theory, and ideas as they relate to group work on social work practice. Hammond (2003, p. xi) indicates that the â€Å"concept of systems is a theoretical framework in the physical sciences, the life sciences, and the social sciences†. The systems theory is generally acknowledged to have begun with four people, â€Å"Bertalanffy, Boulding, Gerard, and Rapoport, who met in 1954 at the Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences† (Hammond, 2003, p. xiii). They founded the Society for General Systems Research, which has since become the International Society for the Systems Sciences (International Society for the Systems Sciences , 2007). The systems theory is â€Å" the transdisciplinary study of the abstract organization of phenomena†, in a context that is â€Å"independent of their substance, type, or spatial or temporal scale of existence† (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007). The systems theory â€Å"investigates both the principles common to all complex entities† as well as â€Å"models which can be u sed to describe them† (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007). In the context of social work, the systems theory, in its broadest sense, represents the interdisciplinary study concerning human life, along with social organization as represented by systems (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007). The complexity, yet simiplicity of what the systems theory is, is represented by the following explanantion by Hammond (2003. p. 32) â€Å"Although developments in engineering and management fields are highlighted in the technocratic approach to systems, the emergence of organismic conceptions in biology, psychology, and sociology during the early twentieth century was more important for the evolution of general systems thought†. She continues â€Å" Of course, biological concepts were interpreted in varying ways within different currents of systems thought, and were often appropriated to reinforce and legitimize managerial applications of systems concepts† (Hammond, 2003, p. 32). Ludwig von Beralanffy (1968, p. xxiii), provides his description of systems theory as â€Å"The humanistic concern of general system theory as I understand it makes a difference to mechanistically oriented system theorists speaking solely in terms of mathematics, feedback and technology, and so giving rise to the fear that system theory is indeed the ultimate step towards mechanization and devaluation of man and towards technocratic society†. The concept, while rather complex, does have a sense of simpliticity in that systems theory â€Å"really refers to â€Å"a way of thinking about† or â€Å"an approach to studying† complex systems† (Hammond, 2003. p. 104). Harris (2002, p. 2) advises that von Beralanffy’s approach was â€Å"a more organismic approach to the study of complex systems, objecting to the narrow reductionism of classical science†. The systems theory, in terms of humans and the social sciences, as expressed by Harris (2002, p. 10) has â€Å"something to offer in the articulation and implementation of a more sustaining and sustainable vision of humanitys future.† In terms of social work, Harris (2002, p. 4) states, â€Å"Within this framework, the welfare state has provided the primary vehicle for the mediation of social work†. Harris (2002, p. 4) continues, â€Å"The institutional and organisational processes of the welfare state have been the source of social work’s legal and moral authority and have constituted the material conditions for its practice.† Pinderhughes (1997, p. 20) tells us that â€Å"Training practitioners for competence with diverse populations is high on the list of corrective initiatives to address †¦ inadequacies† in social work practice†. Harris (2002, p. 4) indicates that social policy is influenced by social workers who â€Å"implement legislation on behalf of the state†, thus exercising considerable influence in their roles as professionals. Importantly, Harris (2002, p. 4) points out â€Å"The law sets out the rights, duties and responsibilities of social workers, on t he one hand, and of service users, on the other, in those socially problematic areas which have been accorded official recognition. The law not only defines the ends of social work, but constitutes the source of social workers’ authority for the means by which they intervene in service users’ lives in the pursuit of statutory duties†. Johnson (1972, p. 77) interprets the preceding by stating that social work is not mediated by its context, rather, it is a mediated professions whereby the state decides the clientele as well as what should be provided on their behalf. Harris (1999, pp. 915-937) tells us that social work represents the â€Å"operational embodiment of the welfare state’s intervention in individual citizens’ lives†. In understanding the context of social work in the United Kingdom, Briggs (1961, p. 228) defines the welfare state a â€Å"state in which organised power is deliberately used†¦to modify the play of market forces†¦first, by guaranteeing individuals and families a minimum income irrespective of the market value of their work or their property; second, by narrowing the extent of insecurity by enabling individuals and families to meet certain ‘ social contingencies’, for example, sickness, old age and unemployment which lead otherwise to individual and family crises; and third, by ensuring that all citizens without distinction of status or class are offered the best standard available in relation to a certain agreed range of social services†. The preceding is important in und erstanding the forces behind social work and how such impacts upon its application, usage and context on lives, as well as the conscious and unconscious view that the public has. In helping to shape this picture further, Marshall’s (1963, p. 74) helps to color the palette further in explaining that the social element means â€Å"the whole range from the right to a modicum of economic welfare and security to the right to share to the full in the social heritage and to live the life of a civilised being according to the standards prevailing in the society† He continues that â€Å"The institutions most closely connected with it are the educational system and the social services† (Marshall, 1963, p. 74) In fact, social work plays an important part in linking the state to its populace as it represents the physical human link between government and what it does for the people that can be seen, felt and touched. Or in other words, used! State functions such as roads, infrastructure, sustainable communities, parks, airports, laws, police, and all of the others services that the state provides are there in a physical sense, such as roads, etc, or there for instances of danger, such as the police and armed forces. Social work is a helping, touchy arm of the state that reaches us in the same manner as health services. Wootton (1959, p. 298-299) offers a description in stating that â€Å"The social worker who does for the run of ordinary people what confidential secretaries and assistants do for the favoured few is putting a genuine professional skill at the disposal of those who may properly be called her clients and she is as essential to the functioning of a welfare state as is lubrication to the running of an engine. Without her the machinery would seize up†. Marshall (1975, p. 205) illustrates the preceding by referring to social workers as the mechanics that apply â€Å"their expertise to the lubrication of the welfare state engine were professionals using their expertise in the delivery of social services†. The government, along with social work identify the segment of the population that requires assistance and thus through budgeting and policy, allocates the resources to meet those needs (Alaszewski and Manthorpe, 1990, p. 237). Interestingly, as the areas of accepted social work practice have come to be seen as the norm, and injustice was made less tolerable, historically, new services were thus clamoured for to feel other needs thus explaining the growing nature of the state and social care (Harris, 2002, p. 13) Gertrude Wilson is generally acknowledged as being a key individual in the development of group work (Smith, 2004). Her first book â€Å"Case Work and Group Work† put forth the integrated approach to social work practice which is based in the theory that personal problems stem from both internal and external sources, and thus must be investigated and examined in tandem (Smith, 2004). Her definition of group work states that 1) it is developmental, in that it provides â€Å"for normal social growth, 2) is â€Å"protective or corrective, representing that it can â€Å"be offered to people without groups†, 3) and that it is â€Å"instrumental† in terms of â€Å"achieving socially desirable ends† (Smith, 2004). The last facet entails the understanding of each member’s personalities, the influence of the social worker in terms of their interaction on the group, and the process of participation (Smith, 2004). A key facet of this process represents the c apability to â€Å"assist participants in dealing with conflict and in accepting ‘outsiders’† (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). She points to the preceding as essential in making the group work relationship become reciprocal (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). It is reciprocity that represents a key element in the process as it sets the foundation for give and take as well as fosters trust, cohesion within the group and this can thus be transferred to the outside world (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). Trecker (1948, p. 7) advises, â€Å"social group work represents â€Å"one method on the profession of social work†. He indicates that â€Å"social case work and community organization work† represent the other methods†. Trecker (1948, p. 7) believes that a definition of social group work is easier to describe than define. He sees it as a method that is comprised of â€Å"an orderly, systematic, planned way of working with people in groups† (Trecker, 1948 pp. 7-8). Trecker goes on to add that the â€Å"method is a conscious procedure, a designed means of achieving a goal† (1948, pp. 8). Additionally, he adds that it is â€Å"a method is a way of doing something, but underneath the doing we always discover an integrated arrangement of knowledge, understanding and principles.† (Trecker, 1948 pp. 8). Important to the understanding of group work in the context of social work placement is the family. Hartman and Laird (1983, p. 4) help to provide perspective in stating, â€Å"Human beings can be understood and helped only in the context of the intimate and powerful human systems of which they are a part, of which the family is one of the most important†. Smith (1995, p. 7) elaborates in stating, â€Å"there is no single, correct definition of family†¦. Rather, there are multiple definitions derived from particular theoretical perspectives.† She adds, â€Å"No one theory could satisfactorily represent the truth, but the many ways we look at families can help us to better understand them† (Smith, 1995, p. 7). Lastly, we shall take a look at Hartman and Laird (1983, p. 30), who tell us: â€Å"A family becomes a family when two or more individuals have decided they are a family, that in the intimate, here-and-now environment in which they gather, there is a sharing of emotional needs for closeness, of living space which is deemed â€Å"home,† and of those roles and tasks necessary for meeting the biological, social and psychological requirements of the individuals involved.† The preceding has been included to aid in rounding out the important external as well as internal elements that are factors in a case study concerning social work placement. A Study One of the most important, delicate, and critical functions carried on by social work is the placement of children in foster homes. As can be imagined, it represents an important as well as confidential process for the child as well as the placement team engaged in the process. Owing to that confidentiality, direct case files are not available, only synopsis of placement studies entailing the methodologies employed. Placement stories entail descriptions of external variables as indicated by basic placement overviews, but not the substance. The Bracknell Forest Borough Council (2005) provided an equitable resource in that it provides an outline of the procedures, and practice guidelines concerning foster placement arrangements made under private fostering regulations. Under the new regulations governing the placement of children, local authorities must be satisfied concerning the suitable nature of any proposed arrangement (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). If the foregoing is not the case, then said local authority must exercise its powers ether prohibit and or impose requirements prior to the child being fostered, along with any and all needed safeguards. In understanding the nuances of social work placement, certain descriptions and definitions of a few terms will aid in the understanding of the process. A privately fostered child represents any child under the age of 16 years of age, 18 if disabled, that is â€Å"cared for and accommodated for 28 consecutive days† or longer by someone other that the child’s parent, relative or someone provided with parental responsibility as provided by the parent for said instance (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). The carers responsibility entails an individual â€Å"who does not have parental responsibility for a particular child†, however does have care of the child (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). The definition indicates that the carer â€Å"may do what is reasonable† in terms of any, and all circumstances to safeguard, and or promote the welfare of that child (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). In terms of the duties of the local authority, wh ich represents an extremely important facet in the placement of a child, said local authority has a number of important duties to fulfill. These entail factors such as 1) publise advise and information, 2) ensure compliance with regulations, 3) carry out proper checks and visits, 4) ensure children under care is safeguarded in accordance to regulations, 5) ensure timely officer visits, 6) ensure visited children are seen alone and interviewed, 7) investigate al complaints, 8) inform parents or other authorized individuals of the child’s welfare, 9) ensure authority satisfaction with foster placement, 10) monitor compliance, 11) take appropriate action(s), 12) annual evaluations sent to Director of Children’s Services on placements and outcomes (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). The family placement social worker has the following responsibilities. First, they conduct the initial suitability evaluation of the proposed foster carers as well as all other household members (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). Next, the social work conducts an evaluation of the accommodations, and neighbourhood environment, and forms a close liaison with the social worker of the child concerning placement suitability and the potential of the placement in meeting the needs of the child as well as the likelihood of furthering the child’s welfare (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). With the preceding handled, the social worker then makes recommendations concerning the suitability of a meeting with all parties (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). If the foregoing steps have all concluded positively, the social worker’s ongoing responsibilities thus entail providing support, as well as assistance to the carer and others as appropriate and or necessary (B racknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). The preceding board steps represent the outline of the procedures in child placement. In a actual case, the steps as well as details are more defined. In an actual placement, the fieldwork staff conducts contacts with the parent, if such is the case, and the proposed foster carers (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). After all the relevant steps under the preceding have been seen to, the assessment is forwarded to the placement social worker, provided the foregoing has met requirements, and the placement process begins. The summary placement outline above brought into the equation the concept of social work from its broader perspective as brought forth by Harris (2002, p. 4) where he indicates that social policy is influenced by social workers who â€Å"implement legislation on behalf of the state†, thus exercising considerable influence in their roles as professionals†. The statement continues with â€Å"The law sets out the rights, duties and responsibilities of social workers, on the one hand, and of service users, on the other, in those socially problematic areas which have been accorded official recognition† (Harris, 2002, p.4). The preceding refers to the rules, procedures and requirements that must be adhered to by the placement agency, social workers and all other involved in the process. The aspect of group work is evident throughout the entire process, even before it begins. The local authority, placement agency, field workers, placement social worker, and child social worker all are engaged under the same regulated procedural network, even if no cases, and or placements are being handled. The regulations call for consistent, and constant monitoring of outstanding placement, thus requiring and causing the varied teams, and individuals to maintain contact. That ongoing working relationship represents the group work theory in practice and application. Trecker (1948, p. 7) described group work as â€Å"an orderly, systematic, planned way of working with people in groups†. To the preceding Trecker (1948, p. 8) added the â€Å"method is a conscious procedure, a designed means of achieving a goal†. McDermoot (2002, p. 3) adds to the foregoing in stating â€Å"Social workers, psychologists, community workers, youth workers and other service providers in the human services field spend much of their time working with groups—as staff members, as colleagues—using groups as intervention strategies†. The initial contact stage starts this collative group work process in the placement environment. The family placement social worker meets with the field social worker and discusses the proposed placement, obtaining a copy of the reports (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). The trust and competence issues are strong in that each step in the process relies heavily on the steps that preceded it. As a result, the systems theory represents the underpinning that binds the entire process. It also represents the underlying framework that constitutes how the rules, regulations and processes were devised and set up, as well as their ongoing modification as information, expertise and experience warrants. To review, the systems theory â€Å"investigates both the principles common to all complex entities† as well as â€Å" models which can be used to describe them† (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007). Ludwig von Beralanffy explains that an important element of the systems theory â€Å"really refers to â€Å"a way of thinking about† (Hammond, 2003. p. 104). The systems theory’s interdisciplinary study concerning human life, along with social organization as represented by systems (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007) represents the underpinning via which the described rules, procedures, regulations, follow up, monitoring, interview, research, and evaluation processes take place. The intial contacts as well as checks conducted by the placement social worker include interdepartmental checks on the proposed carer as well as information gleaned in the initial and follow up meetings and interviews (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2005). All of these steps as well as the ones that follow are elements of the systems theory, foundations of social work and group theory. If one steps back from the process and reviews the overall steps again, the relevance of the systems theory begins to take shape. It, the systems theory is â€Å" the transdisciplinary study of the abstract organization of phenomena†, in a context that is â€Å"independent of their substance, type, or spatial or temporal scale of existence† (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2007). The steps in the active procedure do take place in a temporal time frame. However, the functioning of the system of rules, regulations and procedures is always active, functioning and waiting to be utilized whether there is something engaging it or not. In this context, the foregoing precepts underpinning the systems theory gains clarity. McDermott (2002, p. 14) aids in bringing the group work concept into the preceding placement situation in her discussion of reciprocity. She states that it is reciprocity that represents a key element in the process as it sets the foundation for give and take as well as fosters trust, and cohesion within the group and this can thus be transferred to the outside world (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). The foregoing aptly describes the internal working mechanism of the group which at the investigation stage centers upon the placement social worker, and later pulls in the child’s social worker to complete the process. This continues with the evaluation of suitability concerning the carers as well as other family and household members. Through the utilization of the systems theory, all contingencies are evaluated and considered as a part of the whole, and extended whole. In reviewing the process in terms of the lessons learned, and potential for different application(s) in the future, is a prospect of evolution. Regardless of how correctly the system seems from the review of the procedural steps, there is always room for improvement as a result of the human factor, group work, systems theory and social work contexts. The potential for human error looms as the biggest failing point in that the entire procedural methodology is based, dependent and reliant upon human input, decisions, evaluation and observations. The central component in the process the placement social worker who makes the final determination based upon the salient inputs from all other quarters. And while it is true that the field work social worker as well as the child social worker could potential taint the input and results, it is the placement social worker that sorts and arrives at the determination. Thus, as the potential weak segment within the process, a phased step review whe reby a second placement social worker, or supervisor briefed at every turn, periodically steps in at any stage in the live process and makes observations, suggestions, and or calls for additional information to shore up the potential for error, and or critical factors needing closer attention, and or review. In addition, computer modeling of the effectiveness of the group members as an evaluation projection, would serve to alert the supervisory personnel to the potential for weak points in one of the tam member profile as a signal for either an additional check, and or review. Conclusion The seemingly distant facets of systems theory, group work, and social work as a cohesive aspect of placement requires the long view in order to see the fit of these elements up close. At the heart of these theoretical and practical applications is a child, which is and remains the focus of these aspects. Thus, with the well being and welfare of a vulnerable human being at stake, the processes, systems, regulations, rules and procedures can never be too precise, careful or correct, as the cost of error is incalculable. McDermott (2002, p. 1) says, â€Å"You have to have done a bit (of group work) yourself to understand the process.† In terms of the context of this examination, McDermoot (2002, p. 3) advises that â€Å"Social workers, psychologists, community workers, youth workers and other service providers in the human services field spend much of their time working with groups—as staff members, as colleagues—using groups as intervention strategies†. She adds, â€Å"group work is about building bonds between people which depend on the establishment of trusting relationships† (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). She further elaborates, â€Å"It is also about helping to forge connections between people who may be different or unlike one another. This latter activity—finding common ground across differences—is the more difficult, and it is here that group workers and participants require knowledge and skills† (McDermott, 2002, p. 14). The foregoing summarizes the interlinked aspects of the process that call for increased cohesion as well as improvement through modification, interpersonal relationships and skills, as well as understanding that the potential for error always exists, and can hide itself anywhere in the process. With that consideration uppermost in the minds of the participants, the occurrence is less likely to happen. Bibliography Alaszewski, A. and Manthorpe, J. (1990) Literature review: the New Right and the professions. Vol. 20. British Journal of Social Work Bracknell Forest Borough Council (2005) Private Fostering: Policy, Procedures Practice Guidance. Retrieved on 13 May 2007 from http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ Briggs, A. (1961) The welfare state in historical perspective. Vol. 2. No. 2. European Journal of Sociology Devon County Council (2007a) The Children Act 1989. Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/cyps/fostering/foster_carer-2/foster-care-handbook/fos-law-relat-to-child/fos-law-relat-to-child2.htm Devon County Council (2007b) The Local Authority Fostering Service. Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/cyps/fostering/foster_carer-2/foster-care-handbook/fostering-service.htm Hammond, D. (2003) The Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General Systems Theory. University Press of Colorado, Boulder, Co., United States Harris, J. (1999) State social work and social citizenship. Vol. 5. British Journal of Social Work, Harris, J. (2002) The Social Work Business. Routledge, Boulder, Co., United States Hartman, A., Laird, J. (1983) Family-Centered Social Work Practice. Free Press, New York, United States HMSO (1989) Children Act 1989. Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/Ukpga_19890041_en_1.htm International Society for the Systems Sciences (2007) Home Page. Retrieved on 13 May 2007 from http://www.isss.org/ Johnson, T.J. (1972) Professions and Power. London: Macmillan. Ludwig von Bertalanffy, (1952) General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications. George Braziller, New York, United States Marshall, T.H. (1963) Citizenship and social class. Heinemann, London, United Kingdom Marshall, T.H. (1975) Social Policy in the Twentieth Century. Hutchinson, London, United Kingdom McDermott, F. (2002) Inside Group Work: A Guide to Reflective Practice. Allen Unwin, Crows Nest, New South Wales Principia Cybernetica Web (2007) What is Systems Theory? Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html Pinderhughes, E. (1997) Developing diversity competence in child welfare and permanency planning. In G. R. Anderson, A. S. Ryan, and B. R. Leashore. The Challenge of Permanency Planning in a Multicultural Society. Haworth, New York, United States Smith, S. (1995) Family theory and multicultural family studies. In Goldsby, B., Smith, S. Families in Multicultural Perspective. Guilford Press, New York, United States Smith, M. (2004) Gertrude Wilson and social group work. Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/wilson.htm Trecker, H. (1948) Social Group Work: Principles and Practices. Woman’s Press, New York, United States Wootton, B. (1959) Social Science and Social Pathology. Allen Unwin, London, United Kingdom

The Rules Of Life: Epictetus View Essay -- essays research papers

The Rules of Life: Epictetus’ View   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As rational beings, we can become conscious of the law that guides all things. Virtue consists in conscious agreement with the inevitable order of things. According to Epictetus’ The Enchiridion, one acts with the virtues of Stoicism: human imperfection, prudence, temperance, and courage. We can relate what Epictetus is saying to our own lives. It appears that some comfort comes in knowing that one has no control over the predetermined.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Epictetus represents a myriad of concepts. One concept of which being that one should live with the awareness of human imperfection and finitude. He expresses the sentiment that one is able to relinquish the feelings of disrespect and desire by allowing all that is ill-fated to appear before one’s eyes each day. Epictetus states, â€Å"Let death and exile and everything that is terrible appear before your eyes every day, especially death; and you will never have anything contemptible in your thoughts or crave anything excessively† (XXI). It is important that we are attentive to the fact that there is much unhappiness and despair in this world. If we do not expose ourselves to such matters, these things will consume us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Epictetus also conveys that prudence is key. It is important to look at all the things that surround one’s dealings. If these things are not rendered, the outcome will cause one to disgracefully discontinue that which he is doing. One must recognize what it is that he is getting into before actually partaking in it. Epictetus states it clearly: For each action, consider what leads up to it and what follows it, and approach it in the light of that. Otherwise you will come to it enthusiastically at first, since you have not borne in mind any of what will happen next, but later when difficulties turn up you will give it up disgracefully†¦You must either work on your ruling principle, or work on externals, practice the art either of what is inside or of what is outside, that is, play the role either of a philosopher or of a non-philosopher. (XXIX) The example of an athlete is adapted to clarify this belief. If one wants to be a star athlete, then it is important for one to train properly and work hard before the event. Supposing that one does not prepare for the event, then the expectation sh... ...meone else nor himself† (V). This is, perhaps, one of Epictetus’ most influential ideas. As this is clearly something that those in today’s society can relate and utilize from day to day. Epictetus shows us many instrumental concepts in The Enchiridion. He believes that there is a law that guides all things and that virtue consists in the imminent order of things. Human imperfection and the idea of limit is a realization that many have yet to come to. In addition, caution is valuable when setting out to achieve a goal. It is important to look at all factors before jumping into something that could end up causing one pain and frustration in the end. One must convey a sense of self-control at all times. Epictetus gives us insight on how to live a frugal life. Finally, men are disturbed not by occurrences, but by the views which they take of these happenings. The man of great intelligence accuses neither himself nor another when something goes poorly in his life. As we have seen, it is easy for one to relate Epictetus’ beliefs to his own life in today’s society. It is an amazing feat for Epictetus to have written The Enchiridion so long ago, and for it to a pply to our current world.

Critique of The Darling Essay -- essays research papers

For centuries, women have turned and have entrusted in men for advice to fulfill their lives with romance. Some women, even though they had difficulty establishing a satisfactory bond with their spouse, still had a tendency to have a dependency on the male spouse for identity. For a woman to become a "wife" was a defining role in women's lives back then, especially within the eastern European cultures. Sadly, marriage is not always shown to be flowery and romantic as expected. Although Anton Chekov portrays his protagonist character Olga as kind hearted and attractive and favored, she often longs for â€Å"love† from the male gender, and serves as the embodiment of female disempowerment. From Olga’s perspective as the story is told, â€Å"she cannot exist without being love† (Literature and its Writers, 109) and her life only takes on a meaning through a relationship to the men she attaches herself to. In this story â€Å"The Darling,† Olga explores and molds herself into many personalities and interests of the men in her life. For instance, After her father’s death, Olga is left with only material wealth, and again there is an absence of â€Å"love,† that Olga wants. So, Olga first marries a theater owner-Kukin. When married to him, she thinks and speaks only of the theater and â€Å"repeating Kukin’s words to the actors and theater† (Literature and its Writers, 110) also saying â€Å"theater is the most important thing in life.† Her parroting of her husband’s wo...

Natural Law jurisprudence automatically lends

Natural law has become quite diverse foci for theories concerning human conduct, not only placing diverse requirements on the theorist, but requirements which appear to be at cross purposes. Natural law can be kept for an important, but narrow problem: the enunciation of some basic human goods or needs that any system of positive law should respect, promote, or in any case protect (William Blackstone, 1979). Theorizing concerning natural law and virtue, therefore, can be sharply famed for reasons. On the whole, for the reason of the demise of the older teleological view of nature that allowed theorists like Aquinas to correlate the analogous meanings of law and nature around the matter of natural inclinations. These inclinations, on Aquinas' view, are the soil for both virtues and the first principle of the natural law. The reason of law as well as the nurturing of the habits takes their bearing from a pre-given teleological order. Aquinas comes as near as he ever comes to a description of law in the claim that ‘Law is nothing else than an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has the care of the community, and promulgated' (Thomas Aquinas, 1988). This general definition is followed by a peculiarity between the three kinds of law–eternal, natural, and human. Now, it might seem that on its own Aquinas's categorization as applied to the specific case of human law would produce an essentially positivistic view of human law. We can obviously understand God as having care of the ideal community, and as propagating ordinances of reason for the common good of that community. We can make sense of the thought (even if we reject it) that ‘Nature' likewise works for the ‘common good' of only ‘natural' things, a standard teleological theory of biology might assert something like that. But, it can be said, the obvious way to understand the description in the case of human law is in terms of a ruler, or whoever is designated as lawmaker by the rule of respect, promulgating laws in terms of the lawmaker's discernment of the good of the community. As Aquinas said, â€Å"Human laws should be proportionate to the common good† (Thomas Aquinas, 1988, Q. 96 A. 1). ‘Nature' designates not simply the quiddities of things, the formal cause that which makes a thing what it is but more significantly the finality governing completions. Right reason, on the conventional teleological view of natural law, cannot mean simply judgment agreed with natural values, but judgment in accord with what completes these values. As the older teleological theories allowed natural law analysis to play both roles–to expound the goods embedded in human actions as well as their completions-the modern denunciation of teleological thinking guarantees that a natural law principle of recta ratio should restrict itself to discourse concerning natural goods or values (Joel Feinberg, 1986). Natural law theory in its traditional form was entwined with the realist metaphysics of customary natural philosophy. It sought to give a kind of correspondence to the real that would explicate what makes moral sentences true. The idea seemed reasonable so long as natural philosophy conceived of the universe in a moralized, teleological fashion. But while the teleological cosmos gave way to the distant and infinite universe of modern science, scientific and ethical realism leaned to break apart, and ethical theorists disposed toward realism had to work hard at finding something properly real and natural for moral sentences to correspond to. In this context, scientific realists frequently looked upon their ethical counterparts with distrust, and diverse forms of anti-realism were anticipated for ethics. The new plausibility of anti-realism in ethical theory resultant from the sense that the world, as presently understood, was capable to do something for scientific sentences that it was incapable to do for moral sentences that is, make them true. Several theorists decided that something less cosmological, something having to do with human nature or realistic reason or collective inter subjectivity, would have to be substituted for the customary correspondence relation if the idea of moral truth was to be retained. Some of the resultant programmes, called themselves natural law theories, but they were hardly of the traditional kind. Ethical anti-realists including both scientific realists and empiricists–began arguing with one another over whether the idea of moral truth must be redefined or dropped altogether. There arose new forms of ethical pragmatism (such as intuitionism, utilitarianism, and value theory) to start the third side of the triangular debate. Meanwhile, traditional natural law theory became ever more nostalgic in tone and idealistic in performance. It was treated more and more frivolously by the anti-realist opposition as an exemplification of some moderately obvious fallacy and by its realist successors as an appealing relic from a pre-scientific age. It is high time for moral philosophy to reorganize its relation to the philosophy of science. If Fine (an imminent philosopher)and others like him have appropriately diagnosed the debates over fact endemic to the latter, and the recognizable philosophical pictures of science deserve rejection, then those pictures can no longer give out as fixed points of assessment and contrast for the analysis of moral discourse. Doubts of the form, ‘But what could there be for moral sentences to correspond to?' and ‘What would it be to examine that murder is wrong?' lose an implication they once had. If philosophers of science follow Fine's advice and stop asking the issue of what sort of relation to a special something makes a set sentence true, the old reasons for wondering what on earth (or in heaven) could make a moral sentence true will disintegrate. And in their absence, the normal language user's disposition to say ‘It's true that murder is wrong' will seem entirely in order–which is to say, neither metaphysically tainted by philosophical pragmatism nor in require of being taken at something other than face value. The natural ontological attitude is to take science and its feature uses of ‘true' at face value, without the overlie of philosophical interpretation provided by something grander than evocative anthropology. This attitude promises to fall apart the triangular debate in which natural law theory participates and to reinstate moral discourse to respectability. The threat of adverse contrasts with science disappears–and together with it the rationale for viewing natural law theory as a courtly knight defending the honor of morality against its profligate modern detractors. Indeed, the line of demarcation between science and ethics begins to disappear. Thus the natural ontological attitude is fundamentally at odds with the temperament that looks for explicit boundaries demarcating science from pseudoscience, or that is liable to award the title â€Å"scientific† like a blue ribbon on a prize goat' (Arthur Fine, 1986). While Fine's attitude is applied to ethics, it leans not only to restore one's confidence in moral truth but also to recuperate the thought that moral and scientific truth are inseparably entwined. Not as the teleological cosmos has been reconstituted. One reason is that when we try to abstain from big pictures and instead try to make sense of science in the grained way, it will become not viable to avoid evaluating the human purposes, virtues, communities, and social consequences that form in the stories of scientific endeavors. Another reason is that it once all over again becomes natural to divulge that moral truths depend (though not in the systemic and deductive way natural lawyers have at times claimed) on what the world and human beings are indeed like. If it were not true, for example, that members of our species have a inclination to bleed and experience pain when cut, definite acts that is cruel and ferocious would not be. If firing nuclear missiles caused no more damage than a large grenade, numerous sentences belonging to the ethics of war would change truth values. Counterfactuals like these conserve what is worth saving from the natural law principle of the ordo quem ratio non-facit (Russell Hittinger, 1889). Thus, we can say that natural law jurisprudence routinely lends itself to the teleological approach as it relies considerably on institutional moral reasoning. Moral reasoning is concerning the evaluation and development of existing institutions requires that we recognize the goals the institutions are to serve. Institutions are human creations that must to serve human purposes, and they can be made more effectual in serving those purposes by changes that human beings can make (Martin Dixon & Robert McCorquodale, 1986). Though institutions usually are not formed deliberately, once we assume to evaluate them morally we come to consider them as if they were relics designed to achieve certain goals. To the degree that moral reasoning concerning institutions is guided by the goals the institutions in question are to provide, institutional reasoning may be called teleological. For instance, we appraise institutions of criminal justice in part by seeing how well they attain the goal of deterrence. But to say that a goal of the criminal justice system is anticipation is hardly informative unless we know what kind of behavior we are trying to deter. At least for generally liberal theories, the goal of protecting individual rights plays a main role in determining what kind of behavior to try to deter. So underlining that institutional reasoning should be teleological in the sense of being concerned with goals is not contrary with taking rights seriously. Natural law takes rights fatally is therefore teleological in the sense that it regards the protection of rights as placing restrictions on efforts to exploit the achievement of even the most commendable goals (Martin Dixon , 1993). The natural law of an existing or proposed institution needs evaluating the rules that partly comprise the institution (DJ Harris, 1991). These rules set patterns of behavior to be followed by many individuals as they interrelate over time. To find out whether the institution is in fact supporting the achievement of its goals, it is therefore essential to consider both the collective effects of large numbers of people acting on a particular rule and the interactions of the cumulative effects of conformity with the other rules the institution includes. For this reason natural law needs attention to incentives. Certain combination of rules, each of which can seem appropriate when measured in isolation, may create incentives that prevent institutional goals. At a minimum, rules must not be self-defeating in this way. Rules that give incentives that are not only consistent with, but actually promote, behavior that puts in to the attainment of institutional goals are preferable to those that do not, other things being one and the same. References:Arthur Fine, The Shaky Game: Einstein, Realism and the Quantum Theory ( Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986)DJ Harris, Cases and Materials on International Law Fourth Edition, (London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1991).Joel Feinberg, Harm to Self (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986), pp. 87–94Martin Dixon & Robert McCorquodale, Cases and Materials on International Law (4th ed., Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press/Blackstone Press, 2003).Martin Dixon, Textbook on International Law, 2nd ed. (London: Blackstone Press, 1993).Russell Hittinger, â€Å"‘Varieties of Minimalist Natural Law'†, American Journal of Jurisprudence, 34 (1989).Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1979).Thomas Aquinas, On Law, Morality and Politics (Indianapolis, 1988), Q. 90 A. 4.