Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America Essay Example For Students

The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America Essay The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America. Incorporating influences such as jazz, art, literature, philosophy and religion, the beat writers created a new and prophetic vision of modern life and changed the way a generation of people sees the world. That generation is mow aging and its representative voices are becoming lost to eternity, but the message is alive and well. The Beats have forever altered the nature of American consciousness. The Beat Generation of writers offered the world a new attitude. They brought to society a consciousness of life worth living. They offered a method of escape from the stultifying, unimaginative world we live in, through the exploration of ones intellect. Beat has had many different contemporary implications in music, poetry and literature. Literature has been liberated considerably. The poetic form has been changed to inaugurate a new poetic form, an American form. We will write a custom essay on The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There was less emphasis on tradition and more emphasis on the individual talent. www.rohan.sdsu.edu One of the most important contributions to contemporary verse was to take poetry out of the classrooms and into non-academic settingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ coffee houses, jazz clubs, large public auditoriums and even athletic stadiums. Poetry is more popular and more read than anytime in history, not only spoken poetry but also sung poetry of a high order. The literature, coordinated by pop music, with a way of dressing, with a way of life, it something that has influenced the youth of the world not only in Western countries but Eastern countries as well. www.charm.net Music has been influenced greatly by Beat writing. The lyrics of many great songs have forever been changed by the writing of the Beat Generation. Bob Dylans favorite poet was Allen Ginsberg. Ginsberg became one of Dylans greatest friends. He worked on many projects with Dylan The band Rage Against the Machine has many of Ginsbergs poems and words show up in their songs. For instance the song Bulls on Parade includes Ginsberg Hadda Been Playing on the Jukebox www.charm.net Generation X writers are compared to the Beat writers. Many people say that the generation coming to age has the potential to bring a new vision to society. The Beats thumbed their noses at the corporate world just like Generation X does today. www.altx.com/io/beatgeneration.html Many writers of Generation X have been influenced by the writing like Andy Clausen, Eliot Katz, Geoffrey Manough and Ed Sanders. There are many writers that have been influenced but have not been included in the Generation X section. These writers took up the flame of the Beat flavor, keeping it strong. James Wright was one of the writers that kept the flame going. He was much admired poet of his generationwww.rohan.sdsu.edu His works have a sense of Midwestern American bleaknesswww.rohan.sdsu One of his poems goes like this My bones turn to dark emeralds Your hands turn yellow in the ruins of the sun Suddenly I realize That if I stepped out of  my body I would break Into blossom www.rohan.sdsu.edu Another such writer with Beat flavor would be Adrienne Rich. Richs work established the importance of gender in shaping a poetic consciousness and she became a mentor to thousands of women, enabling them to speak the unspeakable, to authenticate their unique experience of reality. www.rohan.sdsu.edu Beat writing has made a great impact on the writing of todays generation. It has allowed people to be more open with themselves and the people that are reading their works. It is also allowed people to be more open minded to new ideas that these works brought to the surface for everybody to see. .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .postImageUrl , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:visited , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:active { border:0!important; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:active , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Battle Of The Ants And Shooting An Elephant EssayWhere early writing was stiff, beat writing allowed for the writing to come after it to beat to a different drummer. Beat writing has expanded the world of literature, poetry and music to a higher level for people to enjoy. The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America Essay Example For Students The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America Essay The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America. Incorporating influences such as jazz, art, literature, philosophy and religion, the beat writers created a new and prophetic vision of modern life and changed the way a generation of people sees the world. That generation is mow aging and its representative voices are becoming lost to eternity, but the message is alive and well. The Beats have forever altered the nature of American consciousness. The Beat Generation of writers offered the world a new attitude. They brought to society a consciousness of life worth living. They offered a method of escape from the stultifying, unimaginative world we live in, through the exploration of ones intellect. Beat has had many different contemporary implications in music, poetry and literature. Literature has been liberated considerably. The poetic form has been changed to inaugurate a new poetic form, an American form. We will write a custom essay on The Beat Movement in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There was less emphasis on tradition and more emphasis on the individual talent. www.rohan.sdsu.edu One of the most important contributions to contemporary verse was to take poetry out of the classrooms and into non-academic settingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ coffee houses, jazz clubs, large public auditoriums and even athletic stadiums. Poetry is more popular and more read than anytime in history, not only spoken poetry but also sung poetry of a high order. The literature, coordinated by pop music, with a way of dressing, with a way of life, it something that has influenced the youth of the world not only in Western countries but Eastern countries as well. www.charm.net Music has been influenced greatly by Beat writing. The lyrics of many great songs have forever been changed by the writing of the Beat Generation. Bob Dylans favorite poet was Allen Ginsberg. Ginsberg became one of Dylans greatest friends. He worked on many projects with Dylan The band Rage Against the Machine has many of Ginsbergs poems and words show up in their songs. For instance the song Bulls on Parade includes Ginsberg Hadda Been Playing on the Jukebox www.charm.net Generation X writers are compared to the Beat writers. Many people say that the generation coming to age has the potential to bring a new vision to society. The Beats thumbed their noses at the corporate world just like Generation X does today. www.altx.com/io/beatgeneration.html Many writers of Generation X have been influenced by the writing like Andy Clausen, Eliot Katz, Geoffrey Manough and Ed Sanders. There are many writers that have been influenced but have not been included in the Generation X section. These writers took up the flame of the Beat flavor, keeping it strong. James Wright was one of the writers that kept the flame going. He was much admired poet of his generationwww.rohan.sdsu.edu His works have a sense of Midwestern American bleaknesswww.rohan.sdsu One of his poems goes like this My bones turn to dark emeralds Your hands turn yellow in the ruins of the sun Suddenly I realize That if I stepped out of  my body I would break Into blossom www.rohan.sdsu.edu Another such writer with Beat flavor would be Adrienne Rich. Richs work established the importance of gender in shaping a poetic consciousness and she became a mentor to thousands of women, enabling them to speak the unspeakable, to authenticate their unique experience of reality. www.rohan.sdsu.edu Beat writing has made a great impact on the writing of todays generation. It has allowed people to be more open with themselves and the people that are reading their works. It is also allowed people to be more open minded to new ideas that these works brought to the surface for everybody to see. .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .postImageUrl , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:visited , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:active { border:0!important; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:active , .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395 .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u38c4ac32d10ef23909e61ecc5d49c395:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Battle Of The Ants And Shooting An Elephant EssayWhere early writing was stiff, beat writing allowed for the writing to come after it to beat to a different drummer. Beat writing has expanded the world of literature, poetry and music to a higher level for people to enjoy.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Qualitative and Quantitative Studies Within Mental Health Care

Qualitative and Quantitative Studies Within Mental Health Care Free Online Research Papers This essay will look at a critical review of research of one qualitative paper and one quantitative paper (Cohen 2002) says that qualitative research study can mean the analysis of open-ended questions where respondents are asked to write on a survey. It also can refer to what is thought of as naturalistic research. Parahoo (1997) describes quantitative research as providing hard, objective facts that can be statistically analysed and interpreted. Those who support a quantitative approach point to the value of objective, systemic observations for nursing practice. The main aim of research is to help us gain knowledge in the field we study, in this case nursing. As Cormack (2000), explains that ‘it is done through a process of systemic enquiry governed by scientific principle’. A definition of research was offered by Macleod and Clark (1989) cited in Cormack (2000) as ‘an attempt to increase the sum of what is known, usually referred to as â€Å" a body of knowledge†, by the discovery of new facts or relationships through a process of systemic scientific enquiry, the research process.’ The articles will be critiqued separately, with each section of the Rees (2001) critiquing framework applied (see appendices 3). For the purpose of this essay, I will explore the related literature on schizophrenia and the associated problems involved as an aspect in mental health. There will be a written reflection on the two articles to help support findings which relate to mental health issues. The author used the Cardiff University database web site, such as the Calmative Index of Nursing and Allied Healthcare (CINAHL), British Medical Journal, and Ovid Medline in the university Library. The author was able to find two research articles relating to Schizophrenia. The first article is of Australian origin by Rene Geanellos (2005) entitled ‘Adversity as opportunity: Living with Schizophrenia and Developing a Resilient Self’. Article two is Barker and Trenchard (2005) which is a quantitative article of British origin entitled, ‘Positive Practice and Psychosis Care and the Role of the Community Mental Health Nurse’. Key words were used to help assist the author in the research process such as: psychosis schizophrenia qualitative quantitative research critiquing psychosis ARTICLE ONE QUALITATIVE CRITQUE Heading Adversity as Opportunity: Living with Schizophrenia and Developing a Resilient Self. Focus Geanellos, firstly says that living with schizophrenia develops resilience (meaning how you as a person, your personality, your character), handles the disorder and adapts this unwanted disease. Key words used are: Resilience Adaptation Adversity Schizophrenia Self It also goes on to mention words such as: Hermeneutically Wisely Mindfully Recovery Background The author states that this study sought to understand people’s intersubjective experience of living with schizophrenia using Gadamerian Hermeneutics for guidance. The author also states that schizophrenia is a costly disorder, which is personal, social and vocational. The costs result from disabling symptoms, medication side effects, inadequate treatment, factors relating to mental health clinicians/services. To rationalize the research, the author considers three points. Firstly, most research on schizophrenia is biomedical, seeking to explicate cause and effect and most treatment is pharmacological, which is seeking to remedy cause and effect. Secondly, a biomedical focus marginalizes issues like poverty, unemployment, housing and health and results in a dominant bio-medical view of schizophrenia. Thirdly, research focuses on some aspects of the disorder instead of people’s experiences of it; therefore, the authors present study contribution is an attempt to bridge this gap. It appears to this writer that the author (Geanellos) is trying to highlight that the bio medical and pharmacological model predominates with little or no psychological input. The bio-medical model stands accused of taking little or no account of a person’s strengths and resilience to overcome his or her condition. This writer can now start to understand the reasons why the author has used Gadamerian Hermeneutics, which is to try and understand, feel, and explore these individual texts, as Phillips (2002) explains that ‘Gadermeriun Hermeneutics concentrates on expanding horizons of understanding through dialogue, between people or between researcher and text, in which taken for granted assumptions are examined and opinions willingly put at risk’. A definition of hermeneutics is explained by Oxford dictionary (1988) ‘as the interpretation of scripture’. Gadermerian Hermeneutics is the brainchild of philosopher Hans- Georg Gadamer’s personal theory of interpretation. Gadamer saw the work of hermeneutics not as ‘developing a procedure of understanding, but to clarify further the conditions in which understanding itself takes place’ (Laverty 2006). The author chose Gadamerian Hermeneutics as his choice of interpreting people’s lived experience. This helps give structure to the phenomenological meaning and to help categorise these people’s meanings of words. Terms of Reference The aim of the study is to understand people’s intersubjective experience of living with schizophrenia (the phenomena). The phenomenological research method is unlike most other research methods in that it has no scientific framework. It places sole credibility on a persons own lived experience and his or her own perceptions of events, emotions, outcomes etc. The person can be the only expert on him or herself. Study Design The author uses Gadamerian Hermeneutics to guide the study and the stories were hermeneutically interpreted, seeking to understand the individual meaning (single stories) and collective meaning (all the stories). This is his representation of the phenomenon. Wilson and Hutchinson (1991) cited in (Laverty 2003) hermeneutic phenomenology as being ‘concerned with the life, world or human experience as it is lived’. This would be classed as phenomenological. This research uses the ability and willingness of people who suffer with schizophrenia to write their stories and have them published, and then reflect on the written experience. Therefore, this is the phenomenological, qualitative specific approach, Tool of Data Collection The author’s data was collected from The Schizophrenia Bulletin, between 1990 and 2003. They are published articles which consist of nineteen personal accounts, some of them were anonymous. There were also carers, family members, and health professionals published. The author’s tool of collecting data was to understand each story told and its individual meaning, and then read all the stories to give a collective meaning. There appears to be no factual evidence to suggest that these published articles are convincing enough to give any imaginable depth to the reader. The writer feels that these words could simply be from a book, which anyone could have written. This writer feels that this is a main weakness of trying to research using an intersubjective approach, as trust is paramount from the client and clinician if this particular study is going to work. Also another area to consider is that the articles are from numerous resources, which accumulates to the potential of being past through a numerous amounts of hands before they were published. It has the potential to be diluted. Even so, the beauty of this type of research is it would allow the individual researcher to investigate what ever was written resulting in an individual outcome. As Geanellos says, ‘Because of interpreter misunderstandings and the plurality of language, however, my understanding and representation of the phenomenon is one of many.’ However, Rees says that, ‘to contribute to the credibility in the data collected, areas such as the environment, the period of time and any other details that allows us to visualize the conduct of data are helpful and often necessary’ (Rees 2001).’ The author has used a bracketing type system in order to clarify his role in the process of meaning and give a constructed approach. Bracketing is a mathematical metaphor that involves putting ones attitude to the world in brackets in order to place it temporarily out of the question, which helps the reader / researcher assistants to arrive at a more adequate knowledge of reality (Spinelli 1992). The research article takes Meta themes of the client’s experiences to explore the development of resilience. For example: The faà §ade of normalcy: desperately trying to appear normal. Considerable anguish: the pain of suffering and enduring alone. The researcher has classed these under the theme one of fragmentation. This may be contrary to the correct usage of phenomenology in research, because the basis of this philosophy is about a better understanding of individual experience and not group perceptions. Although it is worth noting, that the author in describing his methodology does state his ‘representation of the phenomena’s are one of many’. In other words it’s the individual’s perceptual understanding of context. Ethical Consideration What the writer appears to have noticed is the lack of ethical consideration towards the use of people’s names and their words, with no written evidence of permission from them. It also doesn’t mention at what stage of illness or recovery they are in, as the writer feels this would alter the interpretation of people’s expression of words. Even though this study was conducted in Australia and not in the UK, the writer would assume that similar confidentiality rights would apply. Sample The researcher used nineteen people’s stories randomly from The Schizophrenia Bulletin. It is a journal, which publishes first person accounts of people’s experiences of mental illness. At first reading, the subjects appeared to have the required background, i.e. all have schizophrenia and describe their experiences and living with it. As already discussed, it is then difficult to see that the subjects aren’t biased, as the author states at the outset, it is a subjective study and that the author is interpreting their stories in script (hermeneutics). The author or the writer has no knowledge of who they are, or their characteristics. This vague information on such a diverse group, may then limit the research being utilised in practice, i.e. its fittingness to be applied elsewhere Rees (2001). However, this could be a good thing, as it helps eliminate a biased or prejudiced approach. Data Presentation The data presented were split up into eighteen sub-themes and these are categorised into four themes. Theme 1 Fragmentation Theme 2 Disintegration Table 3 Reintegration Table 4 Reconstruction The sub themes cover the interpretation of words used by the people’s letters that have been published. The researcher has then broken down the meaning of each sentence and has then categorised them into a Meta theme which incorporates all the themes and is named – Adversity as Opportunity, Living with Schizophrenia and Developing a Resilient Self. In each story told, the person is explaining what it is like to live with schizophrenia in his or her own words. The researcher has then subjectively categorised these words into what they perceive the person is saying. This reader finds the dialogue and description heavy with terminology and definitions, which lead’s the reader to look for background definition and detail of terminology. Accuracy of data presented may be flawed as it is based on a previous article and a diverse group of subjects whose stories were told subjectively. However, we don’t necessarily consider this a problem in phenomenology. One individual’s account of an event or an illness for the phenomenologist. It is not about masses of data, that’s quantitative. So what is true for qualitative research is as important as many people’s accounts need not necessarily be true for the phenomenological approach because it focuses on the individual. Main Findings The core effect of the main findings is the level of resilience, as Geanellos divides the sufferer’s resilience into high and low. Resilience as explained, (Oxford dictionary 1984) as ‘readily recovering from something like depression’. Have they got used to their difficulties and just live with them and not cope? Or have they become more resilient through developing self found skills and abilities that provide coping strategies? The Meta theme does not illustrate this. We all might have to live with a disability, but it is our own personal resilience to cope is the core fundamental issue. The Meta theme incorporates all the themes and is named – Adversity as opportunity: Living with Schizophrenia and Developing a Resilient Self. This appears to cover the entire data finding. The author uses Gadamerian Hermeneutics to interpret the main findings; the writer finds it a complex methodological way to interpret data. There appears to be no evidence of any content check by the people who wrote the stories, which decreases validity in the way this study was conducted. As Rees (2001) asks in his critiquing model, were their findings checked by the respondents (members check) or examined by other experts in the field? This writer asks experts in the field of what? Can someone be an expert in how someone else feels? There appears to be no evidence check, only the author’s interpretation. The writer feels that it is biased towards the author’s interpretation and not the participants. So, therefore its claim to be phenomenological in its approach must be treated with caution, because if the focus is the researchers and not the subjects (meaning the client’s), then it has broken a cardinal rule in phenomenology. Conclusion Sub themes are focused on these words, which are integral to the author’s research methodology, i.e. Meta themes, 19 persons with schizophrenia and their individual stories. In conclusion, this reader is unconvinced that the article clearly identifies the development of resilience to their illness simply by utilising collected patient experience and stories. Then uses Meta themes to highlight this increased ability to live with schizophrenia. This clearly does not pin point the development of resilience. There is no explanation of the achieved resilience by the author in the context of the article, i.e. the patient’s stories. Geanellos in his conclusion identifies resilience as ‘the ability to mediate adaptation, indeed this resilience is mindfulness, prudent and purposeful action built on foundations of tenacity and courage’. He further goes on to state that ‘they have the capacity to withstand the unexpected and to prosper despite adversity’. To finalise the conclusion, this different and non-scientific research methodology, uncertain evidence of developing resilience, do not ultimately illustrate that the story tellers have gained these laudable abilities and determinations that enhance their life and capacity to live with schizophrenia. Readability One is tempted to make assumptions about the readability of this article. Its fluency is affected by the complex use of terminology. However, this writer takes into account that complex terminology is unavoidable, but certain areas could be made simpler for the more common lay person, such as this writer. The reader could be distracted by continued movement between reading story excerpts and then examining research to better understand the article. Minimal background knowledge of the storytellers means we have no knowledge of their circumstances, i.e. elderly, young, acutely ill, chronically ill, religious or ethnic backgrounds; hence, there are no parameters in which to assess their stories, against the research themes and the evidence in practice. One could even query if evidence practice occurred, i.e. the stories do not indicate that there is any input from professional mental health workers (Mental Health Community Nurses) CMHN‘s, or even semi voluntary support. However, one or two stories mention relative care input. There also seems to be no time line of events. This makes it difficult, particularly to read the main findings. Do the storytellers relapse quickly? And gain resilience quickly? Or do they spend years chronically ill? As in losing years. As one subject describe as losing track of time by not gaining enough insight or resilience. This back and forth within the article occurs when describing patients stories where one moment the author describes an individuals experience or conditions and in the next sentence makes global statements on schizophrenia such as: ‘Schizophrenia alters life and self in such all encompassing and fundamental ways that it shatters preciously held understandings’ (Geanellos 2005). And yet, this writer feels Geanellos is showing that who ever reads peoples understanding in text, can take their own view on that interpretation. This writer concludes that there appears to be no right or wrong as many different views can be taken on what someone is trying to communicate. Relevance to Practice This qualitative study, with all its flaws gives this writer clearer insight. There appears to be no clear, straight forward answers to the understanding of others, as individual’s interpretation appears to not allow it. This qualitative paper could not be any further from a quantitative paper, as there are no statistical figures with clear percentages to follow. The author used a Meta theme to categorise the text, which gives some structure to the paper for the reader to follow, but no graphs or any other structured models used. Phenomenology is concerned with life world experience and not statistical figures with only logical explanations to hand. This article has tried to illuminate details in the account of others which may seem in the lives of ordinary people (Laverty 2003). However, I feel that it does humanise the experience of schizophrenia for the lay reader and helps to provide both the reader of this research and the subjects themselves with a greater understanding of this tragic condition in a way that quantitative research may not. ARTICLE TWO QUANTITATIVE CRITIQUE Heading ’Positive Practice in Psychosis Care’. Barker D. Trenchard S (2005). Focus The focus of this quantitative paper is the study of how Community Mental Health Nurse’s (CMHNs) become aware of their role within the Community Mental Health Team’s (CMHTs), and how community teams fit into mental health team care delivery. Key words of focus are: Caseload composition, Clinical interventions, Staff attitudes, Preparation and supervision. Background The author has justified his research on the introduction of the National Service Framework (NSF 2002) for Mental Health, with further backing by the (NICE guidelines 2002) explaining how these guidelines develop further by good underpinned practice guidelines (NICE 2002). Its focus is to examine their knowledge of CMHN’s within CMHT’s and see if they are capable of using old and newly developed knowledge, while changing with the times. Compared to the qualitative paper in appendix one, this paper has given clear and direct instructions to the reader in the area of research the author has taken. It is also explained in simple language that the novice can understand. Perhaps if the qualitative paper had taken a similar approach, it may have been easier to understand. Terms of Reference Two key words were used i.e., ‘explore and describe’. The purpose of this research is to explore CMHN’s knowledge of working with people who suffer with schizophrenia. To explore attitudes towards change and policy proposals. Also to describe CMHN’s clinical practice and confidences skills. The role of the community mental team members can be defined and understood within the changing needs of the service user and the resultant service provision required. Study Design The author used a quantitative study approach using a self – completion questionnaire, the author states that it ‘would allow for collection of large volumes of information in a systemic and standard way.’ The researchers also say that questionnaires promote honest answers, but this writer argues that completed questionnaires are only as honest as the person who completes it. Trust issues appear to be just as important in this quantitative paper as the qualitative paper, which prove to be a common denominator in both papers. Some of the areas covered to help establish a structured report was to describe the function of their team. To identify the personal attributes CMHN’s considered important with diagnosis of schizophrenia. In addition, the article identifies the consolidation and ongoing development of specific theme of knowledge and skill, engagement and relationship building communication skills, and attitudes of nurse’s towards approaches to specific patients with psychosis. The utilisation of current and recent evidence based intervention are highlighted to underpin these interventions. Date Collection Method Thoroughness appears in this area, as the researchers used this quantitative article as the pilot study ‘to identify any potential weaknesses that may be replicated at a later date’ (Trenchard and Barker 2005). Face value was also checked prior to distributing the questionnaires, by a small number of applicants for face and construct validity. However, the author’s have failed to explain the meaning of face and construct validity, i.e. face of what? Also the researchers don’t mention who has checked it (other nurses, the public etc) and what was the outcome from their point of view? Even though this writer feels that this paper appears to be ahead in its rigour compared to the previous qualitative paper. Yet it would appear ahead when any paper is guided with figures (quantitative method) to a paper that is dealing with single figures (qualitative method). So the question this writer asks, is it really a better paper? As numbers don’t count to the phenomenologist, it’s the personal experiences that count. Ethical Consideration The essay appears to retain objectivity towards their team and honesty towards the whole research study. Results were specific in their use, but as previously mentioned, the whole research paper does rely on the honesty of the questionnaires returned. Is this a major flaw in the whole of the paper? Apparently not, as Barker (1996) cited in (Barker and Trenchard 2005) suggest that when exploring sensitive topics, questionnaires are most appropriate, sparing embarrassment and promoting honest responses. Sample The inclusion and exclusion reflects the aim to develop a sample, which consists of 71 identified CMHN’s who work with people diagnosed with schizophrenia, with ages between 16 and 65 years. Of the 71 questionnaires distributed 48% responded, indicating this was a sufficient number of applicants to carry on with the research, but this writer feels that the percentage 48% 35 questionnaires is quite small to provide definitive results. However, the author acknowledges this is a small scale study ‘that offers a snapshot of CMHN practice’ though is supported by earlier and subsequent studies. The writer feels the validity is sufficient for this article content. So, at least, in terms of numbers it would appear that the quantitative research is more valid. However, one might be able to argue that this paper is more researchers centred. The researcher sets the questions. At least in the first paper the sufferers were writing their own accounts rather than just responding to questions by researchers and it is always possible that the questionnaire is pursuing an agenda set by the researchers, or even following an agenda that he or she may not be conscious of. Data Presentation The data presented is in basic layout using numbers and percentages in text. It clearly discusses the analysis and then uses a concise graph chart, pie chart and rating scales to clarify its findings. There is a clear explanation of the results obtained, enabling easy understanding of the paper and easy to read unlike the qualitative paper. The writer feels that if Geanellos had taken a simpler approach to writing, it may have made more sense to the reader. Main Findings The researchers main findings are that most of the CMHN’s (54.5%) have no specific training at all in the management of schizophrenia. However 45.5% are receiving additional supervision in additional skills, i.e. Psychosocial Intervention (PSI) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Family Intervention (FI) Creative Therapy (CT) One of the main findings in this research paper is that 97.1% agreed on further training, as a necessity to provide successful service. 95% preferred smaller case loads which appear to be one of the main subjects in providing a quality care to those with schizophrenia and the expectations for recovery – focused interventions. Conclusion Even though the author’s say that it is a small scale study, the findings offer a snap shot of current CMHN practice in psychosis care. The author’s mention many of the findings support earlier and subsequent studies into the dissemination of evidence based practice. They conclude that 75% felt that they could not meet all the needs of clients. Nearly all 97% agreed to further requirements to provide more effective service. They recognise recovery approaches are becoming identified but recommend that recovery is underpinned by good practice and to deter it from being the buzz word as it is not fully supported because the systems are under developed. Readability This article is straight forward to read. It has displayed its text clearly and with understandable graphs. It describes complex issues of services development, the needs of CMHN’s and services in a clear and understood format. However, it does appear to lack any sort of insight into the way the nurses themselves feel, as qualitative tries to give an understanding in trying to be that person almost, even though the method might be some what complex. Practice Implications The study offered insight into the lack of training for CMHN’s. It also goes on to report the lack of unified assessment tools used throughout this CMHT. This writer feels the article is relevant to nursing and highlights how important training and evidence based practice are. However quite a big percentage felt confident without suitable training in the field of schizophrenia. The article does not definitely state the reason why CMHN’s felt so confident without suitable training. Why CMHN,s feel so confident in their abilities despite any supporting evidence remains a mystery and the authors do not address this important issue. Perhaps a quantitative approach is not suitable to address it anyway. Quantitative research has uncovered an interesting phenomenon that could be followed through with the phenomenological approach and thus yield very valuable information which may help training practice and ultimately patients themselves. A phenomenological approach might yield important information in exploring the feelings of skilled adequacy despite there being little evidence for holding such views of competency. One could say there is room for both here. REFLECTION The qualitative article is a confusing article of mixed patients stories and unclear research findings that do not progress to a clear or even easily understood conclusion. The pre-conclusion discussion consolidates this information with its description of ‘a resilience continuum’ and the schizophrenia self. However, the quantitative paper clearly and simply sets purpose and study context. It progresses informatively, presenting results in easily understood graphs and charts, underpinning discussion topics within the article with reasonable argument and evidence based information. The author’s recommendations are realistic and reflect both the needs of the clients and the service. REFERRENCES Barker, D.Trenchard, S. (2005) Positive Practice and Psychosis care. Mental Health Nursing, l (24), 4-8. Cormack, D. (2000) The Research Process in Nursing, Black Well Science. Geanello, R. (2005) Adversity as opportunity : Living with schizophrenia and developing a resilient self. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 14, 7-15. Laverty, S. M. (2006) The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Phenomenology: A comparison of Historical and Methodological Consideration. HYPERLINK ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/2_3final/htmal/laverty.htmal ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/2_3final/htmal/laverty.htmal . 16/09/2006 LoBiondo-Wood, et al. (2002) Nursing Research Methods, Critical Appraisal and Utilization. 5th Edition. Mosby Publishing’s. Macleod Clark, J and Hockey, L. (1989) Cited in Cormack, D. (2000). The Research Process in Nursing, 4th Edition. Black Well Science. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2002) Code of Professional Conduct. 8 6.1 Parahoo, K. (1997) Nursing Research. Principles, Process and Issues. Palgrave Macmillan publishing. The National; Service Framework (DOH 1999), as cited in Article 540. Stevenson, C, Fletcher, E (2002) The Tidal Model: the questions answered. Mental Health Practice. 5, 8, 29-38 The Oxford Dictionary, (1984). Oxford University Press. Rees, C. (2001). An Introduction to Research for Midwives. Chapter 4, page 44. Spinelli, E. (1992). The Interpreted World: An Introduction to Phenomenological Psychology. London, Sage Publishing. Research Papers on Qualitative and Quantitative Studies Within Mental Health CareInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Project Managment Office SystemPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceGenetic Engineering

Friday, November 22, 2019

Business Communication Essay Example for Free (#11)

Business Communication Essay His vision to give young, fashion forward men and women a unique way to express their individuality through style resulted in millions of customers worldwide and propelled his designs to the forefront of the fashion industry. It all started in 1990, with a mere $1,100 in his bank account, Madden started crafting shoe designs from his Queens-based factory and the  Steve Madden  brand was born. With a lot of courage, years of experience in the footwear industry, and unique creative designs,  Steve Madden  formed his own successful enterprise. A year later, Madden introduced a redefined version of platform shoes, resulting in one of the most spectacular success stories in the early 1990’s. Inspired by his favorite rock and roll stars of the 1970s, the thick, chunky heel became  Steve Madden’s  signature and a phenomenon in women’s shoes. Madden’s footwear vision is continuously evolving. Steve once said, â€Å"What inspires me is what I see people wearing on the streets of the world from New York to London and beyond. I get my ideas and inspiration from pounding the pavement all over the world. Today, fashion is dictated by individual style. To me, the fashion of the future is anything that a young guy or girl feels good wearing as long as  it’s put together in the right way. † (www. stevemadden . com) Today, the  Steve Madden  brand represents a lifestyle. It is about embracing fashion while still maintaining that funky independence that first defined the brand 20 years ago. Expanding now into apparel and other accessories such as dresses, handbags, belts, sunwear, cold weather, outerwear and hosiery,  Steve Madden  is always looking toward to the future. As 2013 begins, more exciting opportunities are on the horizon including re-packaging, new store design rollout and expansion in global markets. The days when the future did not seem so bright In April 2002, Mr. Madden found that neither his investors nor federal judges take too kindly to stock manipulation and securities fraud. Steve Madden’s talents as a shoe designer helped him build a 240 million dollar empire in his own name. But by his own admission, that wasn’t enough — he was greedy for more. His greed cost him about eight million dollars and control of the very company that brought him such riches. Madden was sentenced in 2002 to 41 months in prison for his role in a stock swindle scheme coordinated by the now-closed brokerage, Stratton Oakmont. His wrongdoings include conspiring to manipulate the stock prices of more than 20 companies, including his own. And, he did it at the expense not only of the public but his own investors who lost more than 100 million. Besides paying restitution, Madden had to resign as CEO of Steve Madden Ltd and leave the board of directors. He is also barred from holding a position as officer for seven years. However, he did retain a creative position until his prison sentence began that fall and will likely fill that capacity upon release later this spring. Meanwhile, those left to keep the company going in his absence quickly started their damage control efforts. A new board of directors was quickly assembled. Among those elected were Madden’s brother and a corporate accounting guru. Once their former leader began repaying his debt to society, company heads began cleaning Steve Madden Limited’s financial house; making sure stock prices accurately reflected the health of the business. The company fully cooperated with the SEC’s investigation and hired an independent auditing company to keep watch over the process. Those days and even today, the company’s financial practices are an open and well-kept book. Anyone could get the latest financial news from the same site by loging on to for the latest shoe designs. After heading off anymore potential legal woes, management began to focus on keeping the business itself walking tall. If the company’s sales reports were any indication, not having â€Å"Steve† hasn’t really hurt Steve Madden Limited. While the founder has been in a Florida prison, the company’s management built on his vision by expanding into other areas. â€Å"Steve† by Steve Madden moved the company from the trendy 16 to 24 year old demographic into upscale footwear for a more mature crowd. The company licensed Candie’s and Unionbay footwear for men. Rather than try and replace or substitute Madden’s design eye, they took what they had and introduced it to new markets. It worked. According to company reports, nearly all of the brands have increased profit margins and inventory levels. In a press release, management expressed hope that their profits would have increased in 2005 as compared 2004 (which actually happened). 2. Corporate Communication after the Bad Publicity But prison didn’t break Steve Madden—or his company. Like so many of today’s celebrity convicts, from Martha Stewart to Paris Hilton, Madden says he emerged a changed person. He served out his sentence, doing yardwork, teaching business classes to other inmates, reading four books a week (from â€Å"The Devil Wears Prada† to David McCullough’s â€Å"Truman†) and pumping iron obsessively. I used to wear this tank top in prison,† he says. â€Å"And I’d stare at myself and flex. I never did that before. † He even got married, to a Madden employee who came for regular visits. And when he was released in April 2005, Madden says, he was â€Å"stronger physically, mentally, spiritually† than he’d ever been. After the return of Ste ve Madden from prison, he decided not to shy away from the imminent release of its namesake founder from prison. The company was promoting the return of its creative leader in a series of eye-catching posters and print advertisements, and is having some fun with it in the process. While the ads do not say where Madden has been, one suggests, in a wink-wink kind of way, that Mr. Madden has not been on a sabbatical, a secret mission or up the  Amazon  collecting snakes: â€Å"A new meaning for the word spring time. Steve returns. Spring 2005. † The company had launched a rather interesting press campaign celebrating Steve Madden’s upcoming release from prison. One features a girl wearing an ankle bracelet and another features an empty pair of shoes with the words, â€Å"There’s one pair of shoes that’s been impossible to fill. Steve returns Spring 2005. Others allude to Madden getting â€Å"sprung† in Spring 2005. Financial Dynamics, the shoe retailer’s investor relations agency, says the campaign is a positive way of dealing with the prison sentence. It makes light of the company’s troubles, sending a message that the board is over it and customers should feel the same way. It’s also a sure fire way t o get people talking about the brand. When it comes to sales, the only bad publicity is no publicity. Once upon a time, a company, particularly one that sold products to the public, would shun publicity if it possibly could when a senior executive encountered legal woes. The idea that a company – especially one like Steve Madden, which sells shoes mostly to teenage girls and women in their 20’s – would actually run ads calling attention to its leader’s prison past would have flabbergasted experts in fields like brand identity, advertising and public relations. â€Å"I love controversy; I love pushing the envelope, but when you have a younger customer you have a responsibility to take the law and authority seriously,† said James LaForce, partner at LaForce & Stevens in New York, a marketing communications agency specializing in fashion and entertainment clients. That was of course before Martha Stewart, whose public image has, by initial measures, seemingly gained in stature after her release from federal prison. A colorful paper flap decorated with a photograph of her cradling a chicken, declaring â€Å"Welcome home, Martha,† was attached to the cover of April’s Martha Stewart Living magazine, published by  Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Companies like Mr. Madden’s and Ms. Stewart’s may also be more likely to embrace their convicted executives, since those executives have plenty of influence in the boardroom. Reticence about an executive’s past also predates a world in which rappers can find the sales of their music increasing in seeming lock step with the severity of their scrapes with the law. â€Å"It’s in now to be out, out of prison, that is,† said Paul Cappelli, chief executive at the Ad Store in New York, an advertising agency that creates campaigns for brands like  JetBlue. â€Å"I could see myself suggesting something like this to a client,† Cappelli said, â€Å"that instead of ignoring the 5,000-pound elephant in the corner, you might as well bring it out into the open and make hay of it. Robert Passikoff, who has been tracking consumer response to the Martha Stewart brand as president of Brand Keys in New York, a brand and customer-loyalty consultant, said that his index of its value had recently risen. The index has climbed to 96, Mr. Passikoff said, compared with a bottom of 62 – â€Å"lower than  Enron,† he said – before she entered prison. (The peak was 122 in May 2002. ) Is the new badge of honor, I served my time? We are not sure it doesn’t ultimately hurt, even if the American public is largely forgiving when people serve their time. The campaign is trying to make him the face of the brand but who wants the face with numbers under it? † Steve Madden is different from Martha Stewart, because unlike her, he was never the brand. He was the label, so a lot of people don’t know who the guy was and didn’t know he went to jail. That has worked to Steve Madden’s advantage so far,, citing the history of the Madden brand index: It was 110 before Madden went to prison and fell only slightly, to 106. However, it is worth mentioning that consumers seem to be more forgiving about men than women. Brian Russak, a senior editor at Footwear News in New York who covers Madden, said: â€Å"It seems like an obvious play to Martha Stewart, but I have to wonder whether that resonates with Madden’s consumers. We often say here the target consumer doesn’t know there is a Steve Madden. † Trey Laird, president and executive creative director at Laird & Partners in New York, an advertising age ncy that creates campaigns for fashion and apparel brands like DKNY and Gap, also drew distinctions between Madden and Stewart. The Madden ads â€Å"are kind of cute and clever, but this is not a Martha Stewart situation, when the whole country is watching because she’s a cultural icon. † â€Å"I don’t feel most consumers know about† Steve Madden’s sentence, he added, â€Å"or if they knew, they forgot about it. † The Madden campaign can be perceived as a parody of Ms. Stewart’s story meant â€Å"to get people talking about the brand,† Laird said, particularly because â€Å"the Madden brand has never been a brand that has taken itself seriously. † For instance, a recent Madden campaign featured caricatures of its customers with comically oversized heads. A statement by Financial Dynamics read: â€Å"Steven Madden Ltd. looks forward to the much anticipated return of the unique talent and creative design expertise of Steve Madden in the spring of 2005. Further, the company believes the current advertising campaign embodies and enhances the Steve Madden brand. † If the rise in Martha Stewart stock is any indication, getting out of prison seems to be â€Å"in. † The publicity generated by Madden’s return could translate into increased exposure and, in turn, increase sales in the future. Plus, having him back at the head of the creative team will bring his company something it hasn’t had in a while†¦ his ability to give the millions of women who buy his shoes what they want. So, If there’s one thing Americans enjoy more than watching the mighty fall, it’s granting them forgiveness. â€Å"You have to go through a process. You made your mistake, you did your time,† Madden says. â€Å"You have to be a little contrite to get redemption. † To judge from the recent performance of his company, Madden’s been forgiven—at least by that segment of the population that favors shoes with animal prints, polka dots and four-inch heels. Sales were $475. 2 million in 2006, up from $375. 8 million the year he was released, while net income more than doubled to $46. 3 million. Madden is quick to admit that he’s made mistakes. But he says he wouldn’t change a thing about his life. â€Å"Everything I’ve done has gotten me to where I am today,† he says. His prison experience has clearly had an impact on his designs. The next offering from the prison groom: wedding shoes, called I Do. â€Å"It’s a huge market,† he says. â€Å"Marriage is sort of back on track. † And so is Steve Madden. . The Crisis 3. 1. Chain of events In summer 2004, Madden’s luck turned when he was indicted for stock fraud and money laundering in both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. According to the charges, Madden secretly purchased stock on behalf of the principals of two corrupt penny-stock brokerage firms — Stratton Oakmont Securities of Lake Success, Long Island, and Mon roe Parker, of Purchase, Westchester — helping them manipulate 29 initial public offerings, including that of his own company. That same day, the Securities and Exchange Commission came after him with a civil suit alleging Madden had employed â€Å"devices, schemes, and artifices to defraud. † If convicted in either of the criminal cases, Madden would face up to more than twenty years in prison and several million dollars in fines. If he were to lose the SEC case, which was put on hold until the criminal cases were completed, he could be forced to pay millions more. Even worse, he ran the risk of being barred from serving as an officer or director of any public company, including his own. On the day of his arrest, while Madden was busy pleading not guilty to all charges and pledging his East Hampton country house and the Long Island homes of two friends in order to make bail, shares of Steve Madden Limited fell almost 15 percent to $11. 85 before nasdaq halted trading. Two days later, when the stock (which trades under the ticker SHOO) reopened, it fell to $6. 88. Though the stock has traded up as high as $13. 88 due to a recent rally in the footwear sector, it has yet to regain its pre-indictment momentum. â€Å"The story’s sad. It’s a great story. It’s a real American story. My old friends took me public, they turned out to be crooks, and I’m innocent†, Madden has been quoted to say. While the indictment has severely damaged Steve Madden Limited’s standing on Wall Street – there was a consolidated class-action shareholder lawsuit pending against the company, and it has hired Bear Stearns to explore â€Å"all possible strategic options,† including an outright sale — it hasn’t tarnished Steve Madden’s reputation as a design and marketing genius. â€Å"He has some special knack at figuring out what teen girls want to wear,† says Sanford Bernstein analyst Faye Landes. According to teen-market consultant Irma Zandl, who ranks Madden with Nike and Adidas in the top five brands that girls favor, his shoes are popular because they are fabulously over-the-top. â€Å"Steve Maddens are not for the conservative girl,† she says. â€Å"If he’s going to add leopard skin, he’ll do it ten times more outrageously than anybody else. It’s for people who think less is less. † Every week following his indictment, Madden used to get more than a thousand e-mails from his customers, only a handful of which referred to his legal predicament. In fact, the company not only refused to retrench, instead it was aggressively expanding. At that year’s Grammy Awards, the company made a bid for high-profile customers by giving out fluffy leopard-print slippers to special guests. Three days later, at the Western Shoe Association show in Las Vegas, Madden introduced his newest product line at the time: Steve Madden Mens. 3. 2. The players While Madden was working his way up in the shoe industry, his best friend, Danny Porush, was stuck in a rut. After five years at Boston University, he left without getting a degree and bounced from job to job, working for, and starting up, a variety of small businesses, including an ambulance company called SureRide Ambulette. In 1988, while watching his son in the playground of his Bayside, Queens, apartment complex, he met an unlikely mentor: a dental-school dropout and former door-to-door meat and seafood salesman named Jordan Belfort. A short, brash, young Jewish guy, Belfort boasted he was making $50,000 a month selling penny stocks out of a boiler room in Great Neck. As Porush would later testify, Belfort confided the business was â€Å"half a scam,† but the chance to increase his income tenfold was a siren call Porush couldn’t resist. Two days after they met, he closed down SureRide and joined the firm. Using fanciful scripts, the brokers — Belfort’s childhood friends from Queens, Porush’s golf buddies, money-crazed kids recruited from Long Island college campuses — sold and manipulated tiny, high-risk IPOs, according to testimony, by grossly exaggerating their prospects, boasting that they had inside information, and generally saying whatever was necessary to make a sale. Their underwritings encompassed a vast array of low-rent businesses and all had the same trading pattern — the stocks would soar when they touted them but then come crashing down when the brokers unloaded their stakes. In 1992, Steve Madden made a decision that at the time seemed natural enough: He hired his best friend’s firm to be his banker. While Madden knew that the SEC had already accused Stratton of engaging in price manipulation and employing high-pressure sales tactics, he considered it a legitimate company. â€Å"They cleared through Bear Stearns,† Madden recalls, pointing out that Stratton’s link to the giant firm gave it an aura of respectability. Besides, Stratton was not only willing to raise capital for Steve Madden Limited in the private markets, it wanted to take the tiny, unproven company public. Like his friend Porush, Madden was going to enter the big leagues. On December 13, 1993, only seven months after the first (and, at that time, only) Steve Madden shoe store had opened on Broadway in SoHo, Stratton Oakmont took the company public at $4 a share. The most active stock on the nasdaq on the day of its offering, SHOO closed at $8 a share, a huge gain in the pre-Internet era. Just a few months later, it sunk to $3. With only $5. 3 million in sales, a net loss of $900,000, and a boom-bust trading history, the company simply seemed to be nother one of Stratton’s overhyped IPOs. But it wasn’t. In 1994, Madden surprised his critics. With hardly any advertising, Madden increased sales by almost 40 percent. The next year, sales tripled to $39 million, prompting Madden to hire Rhonda Brown, the former merchandise president of Macy’s East, to become his chief of operations. Soon, Madden had celebrity customers — Carmen Electra, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nev e Campbell, Alyssa Milano, Mary J. Blige. By 1997, the company was generating $59 million in total sales, operating seventeen stores, and introducing a clothing line designed for â€Å"a customer who doesn’t break the law — but does break the rules. † That spring, in a lengthy profile in  Footwear News,  Madden compared his company to â€Å"an underground rock-and-roll band that gets its first hit single. † Meanwhile, over in lake success, Porush and Belfort were struggling to stave off failure. While they were still raking in tens of millions a year from stock manipulations, regulators were working to put Stratton out of business. In March 1994, they nearly did: As part of a settlement with the SEC, Belfort was barred from the securities industry for life. But Porush managed to garner a lighter sanction, barred for just one year from supervising other brokers. In the wake of the ruling, Belfort continued to control the firm through Porush. Inevitably, though, the relationship between the partners soured. In January 1997, the company eventually filed for bankruptcy. By that time, Gregory Coleman, an agent in the FBI’s securities-fraud squad at 26 Federal Plaza, had been investigating Stratton for several years. In 1995, under instructions from federal prosecutors, Coleman sent out a flurry of subpoenas to some of Stratton’s clients, including Madden, in an effort to create a panic that would culminate in a race to the government’s door. One year later, U. S. Customs officers in Miami arrested a young French private banker who worked for Union Banquaire Privee in Switzerland. The arrest was made as part of an unrelated money-laundering sting operation, but hoping to win a lighter sentence, the banker began to talk. By sheer coincidence, he had two clients who were of particular interest to the government: Jordan Belfort and Danny Porush. On September 2, 1998, just a few minutes after pulling out of the driveway of his Old Brookville mansion to take his 5-year-old daughter to the video store, 36-year-old Jordan Ross Belfort was arrested for conspiracy to commit money laundering and securities fraud. The next day, 41-year-old Daniel Mark Porush was nabbed down in Boca Raton. Faced with maximum sentences of twenty years in prison, both men came to the same conclusion: After only a week in jail, they decided to flip. â€Å"It was like taking down the heads of a major crime family,† says former assistant U. S. ttorney Joel Cohen, the prosecutor in the indictment. â€Å"But in this case, the organized crime was the brokerage business. † Porush and Belfort secretly wore wires to record their friends and dragged down dozens in their wake: lawyers and accountants, bankers and brokers. 3. 3. Effects For the government, Steve Madden was one of the biggest catches in the dragnet. The shoe mogul had been a focus of the investigation for some time; the SEC had cited his company’s IPO as one of those that had been manipulated, and believed that Madden was routinely getting, and flipping, stock in other Stratton deals. Although some of Stratton’s IPOs had grown into profitable businesses, only Madden’s company had become a significant success. But according to Belfort, the celebrity CEO was also a â€Å"rat hole,† a place to hide stock. Porush, his P. S. 1 buddy, didn’t hesitate to give him up either. Madden, as he recently testified at the trial of Stratton’s former auditor, was â€Å"deep into the fraud with us. † According to the Madden indictments, the designer’s personal connection to Stratton began in 1991, when Madden agreed to secretly buy and sell stock in Stratton deals on Porush’s behalf with â€Å"the understanding that he would incur no risk. (Porush, as a principal of the firm, was restricted in his ability to trade stock in these companies. ) The deal was that Madden would earn a â€Å"predetermined profit on each transaction,† then kick back to Porush a significant portion of the proceeds, either in cash or by purchasin g stock from Stratton that was deliberately overpriced. Once Belfort was barred from the securities industry in 1994, Madden allegedly entered a similar agreement with him regarding the Stratton spinoff Monroe Parker. But according to the SEC, Madden wasn’t only ripping off the general investing public, he was ripping off his own shareholders as well. In early 1993, the SEC alleges, Madden agreed that the IPO of his company would â€Å"be a manipulation similar to previous Stratton IPO manipulations . . . such as Master Glazier’s Karate International. † In exchange for his agreement to â€Å"follow Porush and Belfort’s instructions,† they allegedly promised â€Å"that even if SHOO . . . went bankrupt, Madden would make money on the SHOO IPO. † In addition, as Belfort recently testified at the Stratton auditor’s trial, Belfort â€Å"had a secret deal with Steve Madden to maintain control of his company after it went public. Because Belfort and his partners had financed Steve Madden Limited’s early development, they owned a majority stake in the company before it went public. But the National Association of Securities Dealers refused to list SHOO unless Belfort — then under investigation for securities fraud — dramatically reduced his stake. As Belfort testified, he agr eed to sell his shares to a corporation controlled by Madden to placate the NASD, but it was a bogus transaction. â€Å"Under the secret deal which we had written down and legally signed,† says Belfort, he was the true owner. Belfort exerted an extraordinary influence over the company. Stratton’s auditor, who was a friend of Belfort’s, also became Madden’s auditor. In 1994, after Belfort was kicked out of the securities industry, he even joined SHOO as a consultant. In addition, according to Porush’s testimony, key Madden employees were given stock in Stratton IPOs as part of their compensation. (A Madden spokesperson denies such an arrangement existed. ) As Porush explained, â€Å"Part of the package when we recruited people for Steve Madden was . . . because you’re in with us, you’ll make money on every new issue. In 1997, the Belfort-Madden friendship ended abruptly around the time Belfort asked Madden to sell some of the SHOO stock he secretly owned. Madden refused, and the dispute quickly turned into a bitter lawsuit, during which Belfort produced the deal they had signed. Madden admitted the signature was his but insisted he had been â€Å"manipulated† and â€Å"tricked† into signing by someone he had â€Å"trusted as my friend, business associate, underwriter, and confidant. † According to Madden, the demise of the friendship actually preceded the lawsuit, â€Å"when Belfort started showing up stoned for work. â€Å"I have no intention of allowing Jordan Belfort to ruin SML’s bright future by threatening me or by tarnishing the company’s reputation,† Madden vowed at the time. Ultimately, he settled the suit for $4. 3 million in cash, an outcome that favored his adversary. In the fall of 1999, around the time the government went public with the news that Porush and Belfort had been secretly cooperating, the U. S. Attorney’s Office approached Madden’s personal attorney, Joel Winograd, to discuss its case against his client. Soon, rumors that Madden might be indicted began wending their way around Wall Street. . Assessment As many people saw it, the fact that Madden had an account at Stratton doesn’t mean he knew what Porush and Belfort were doing, let alone that he was in any way involved. Madden â€Å"was buying stock and making money, buying stock and losing money. He made more than he lost, but he didn’t know what improprieties they were involved in. † As Madden himself put it in the course of his lawsuit with Jordan Belfort: â€Å"My strengths as a businessman lie in the design and sale of women’s shoes, and I have never been comfortable with complicated or technical legal or business documents . . . I have always relied on the people around me. † When asked why Madden employed Belfort as a consultant at Steve Madden Limited in 1994, after he was barred from the securities industry, his lawyer replies, â€Å"Steve Madden is a loyal friend and a devoted human being. He didn’t turn his back on Jordan Belfort in his time of need. † And what about the $80,000 cash kickback Madden allegedly gave to a Stratton golf buddy in the locker room of the Engineers Country Club in Roslyn, Long Island? â€Å"It’s totally ridiculous,† says Winograd. â€Å"Cash? The government can explain from here to kingdom come. There is no way Steve would have had that amount of cash, and he wouldn’t have had that in a bag walking around a country club. I think these fellows have watched too many spy thrillers. â€Å"Let’s say Steve was fooled,† Mr. Madden’s lawyer summarizes. â€Å"You can be savvy in business, but you may not be savvy in love and friendship. † In any case, â€Å"Steve will overcome,† he vows. â€Å"His company will continue to have record quarters of sales and earnings, and this will have a fairy-tale ending. † Perhaps. But even if Madden was acquitted in both of his criminal trials, he still lost the civil case and, control of his company. For Steve Madden Limited, such an outcome might be manageable. â€Å"Mr. Madden is extremely talented and a tremendous business partner, and he’s wonderful,† says the company’s president, Rhonda Brown. â€Å"But we could continue to grow our business profitably . . . whether he’s on the golf course, or whatever. † For Steve Madden the man, it could be devastating. â€Å"My life,† he says, â€Å"is my company. † 5. Conclusions Throughout the paper, we have researched and debated both sides of the issue and conversely presented both approaches by those involved or ever taking interest in the matter. Some say that the fashion mogul got what he deserved, bashing him for being a fraud under a publicly endearing persona, while others, close friends and devoted customers alike, stood behind him and helped if not the man, the company itself from disaster. Should a great visionary not content himself with being the image upfront and the genius behind the empire he built and instead take charge of other key areas that make a business successful rather than trusting others, trusted friends or proven experts with managing them? That may be true and perhaps this was where Mr. Madden made the biggest mistake of all. While the case was and still is controversial, the company succeeded in overcoming the crisis and continues to be among the most profitable and booming shoe fashion business in the States. Business Communication. (2018, Oct 18).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Access to Essential Medicines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Access to Essential Medicines - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  Mexico manufactures almost all categories of the essential medicines need in the country, locally. There are a variety of essential medicines that are manufactured in Mexico, which also eventually find way to other countries such as the neighboring USA and Latin America, due to the low cost of such medicines in Mexico. The essential medicines manufactured locally include anesthetics, which represents the category of medicines that are essential for any healthcare facility, applied to suppress pain in patients, to enable the doctors perform other medical procedures such as injections.This paper outlines that  the government plays a very pivotal role in providing access to essential medicines in Mexico. The Mexican government has established a very effective patent system, which creates a very favorable environment for the pharmaceuticals to launch new medicines in the country. The policy environment for pharmaceutical industry players has als o been made effective by the government, which enables the pharmaceutical industry to import the relevant equipment, raw materials and disposables, which them makes it efficient to provide essential medicines to the public health facilities, that are supplied by the government. The suitable policy environment has made it possible for Mexico to increase its export of pharmaceutical products to the USA by a massive 78%, from 1992 to 2002.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Welfare Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Welfare Law - Essay Example In order to manage radical reform we should have the understanding of how sickness and disability might affect our ability to work. In affect, a length of time causing delays in the work cycle as a result. This pause must be considered as a delay in fulfilling work obligations, not a cessation of it. Each of us in one way or another would have benefits for sickness and disability, but we first must understand the Pension Act of 2004 to understand what benefits we have. The Pension Act of 2004 assists employers and employees in protecting members' benefits, while the Financial Assistance Scheme provides help to those who might have lost out before the Pension Protection Fund was established. The Pension Protection Fund goes hand in hand with measures in the Act that primarily help employers to provide pensions. This change would, in effect, compliment the radical tax simplification in this year's Finance Act, which from April 2006 will replace today's eight separate tax regimes with one single regime. The third key dimension of the Act would include a set of measures that will empower people to plan, work and save for their retirement. Employers have a significant role to play in the pensions partnership. This role is one of providing access, information and contributions to pensions for their employees. The workplace would be an effective environment through which people have the ability to save. Administration is more efficient and there would in fact be tax advantages for the employer and the employee. The existence of a good pension provision helps staff recruitment, retention and motivation. Another contributor to the pensions partnership is the Pensions Commission. It in effect would set up the publication of the Green Paper to monitor and independently review the private pensions and long-term savings systems. As a result of ensuing consultation, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions published 'Working and Saving for Retirement: Action on Occupational Pensions' [Cm 5835]. This publication focused increasinly on needs such as member protection which rank alongside other similarly significant themes. It presaged primary legislation across the areas consulted. Areas consulted would have included a Pension Protection Fund to compensate members of defined benefit and hybrid schemes whose employers become insolvent leaving the pensions scheme unable to meet its liabilities. The European Directive on the Activities and Supervision of Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision was adopted in September 2003 for implementation by September 2005. The Government wishes for people to make informed choices about how and when to save, and how long to work, so they receive the income they expect in retirement. The Government hopes to empower older people to improve their retirement prospects by keeping them active for longer periods of time. The current state pension age is 65. The age is set here so that no-one is forced to work beyond that unless they want too. But, by tackling age discrimination and freeing people to work part-time while drawing a pension, it hopes to make working longer more attractive. There are plans to: provide a better option for people who choose to draw their State Pension beyond their State Pension age - including a new option to take a lump sum and use it in any manner. ensure that compulsory retirement ages unlawful, unless employers can show that they are objectively justified. allow people to continue working for the same employers while drawing

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Memories of a Childhoods Slavery Day Essay Example for Free

Memories of a Childhoods Slavery Day Essay In Memories of Childhoods Slavery Days, Annie Burton was born into slavery in 1858 on a plantation outside of Clayton, Alabama and raised by her mistress after her mother ran away. She grew up during the Civil War and remembers her early days on the plantation. After being set free, Burtons mother returned for her children. Annie was hired as a nanny by Mrs. E. M. Williams, who taught her how to read and write. After her mother died, Annie took responsibility for her three younger siblings and moved to Boston in 1879. She later moved to Georgia and then Jacksonville, Florida, where she worked in a restaurant before returning to Boston. In 1888, she married, and ran a boarding house with her husband. She began taking evening classes at the Franklin Evening School, and the headmaster, Frank Guild, suggested that each of the students write their life story. It was this suggestion that gave Burton the push to write her autobiography. Burtons Memories of Childhoods Slavery Days (1909) is divided into four parts. In the first section, called Recollections of a Happy Life, Burton talks about her childhood on the plantation in Alabama and her marriage to Samuel H. Burton. In the second section, Reminiscences, Burton reflects on being set free and the way it changed her life. The third section, Vision gives a detailed account of Burtons religious change. Burton also includes an essays and poems she wrote. â€Å"The memory of my happy, care-free childhood days on the plantation, with my little white and black companions, is often with me. Neither master nor mistress nor neighbors had time to bestow a thought upon us, for the great Civil War was raging. That great event in American history was a matter wholly outside the realm of our childish interests. Of course we heard our elders discuss the various events of the great struggle, but it meant nothing to us. Burton talks about knowing that the Civil War was going on but not being old enough to know or care about it. She also calls it a â€Å"great† event in American history. Though it may not have been to white Southerners, it was day slaves were waiting for. She also states that : â€Å"There are hidden wrongs perpetrated by the whites against the negro race that will never be brought to light until the race owns and controls its own daily newspapers which alone have the power to discover and enthrone truth, thus becoming a safe guide to all honest seekers of facts respecting the race whether from a moral, educational, political or religious field. To carry out the plans suggested, whether viewed from an intellectual, industrial, commercial, or editorial standpoint, the world must acknowledge that to-day the negro race has the men and women, who are true to their race and all that stands for negro progress. †

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay --

Have you every wondered why it has become easier for citizens to own a gun. Weather its legally or illegally many people own guns. In the past days and years there have been many news reports involving guns. The amount of firearms that are available have taken a major impact on the murder rate in the United States. In many different places there have been mass killings including, court rooms, movie theaters, schools, airports, and etc. The amount killings from guns are unbearable. People today can fearful to leave their house due to guns and their experience with it. It should not be acceptable for civilians to live in fear because one person has access to a firearm. There are some people that can make the argument that having stricter gun laws wont make a difference. It has been said that guns are not what kill people, and that people kill people. In some cases this argument maybe true but I don’t believe that this argument is completely valid to the reason people die fro m guns. In this essay, I will be explaining why gun control should be stricter. I think its safe to say that America has grown to have a love for guns. In 2012 the small arms survey determined that the United States has 88.9 firearms for every on hundred people in America. That’s more Mexico, Yemen, and Pakistan combined. The U.S. has the highest gun ownership in the world. There are way to many armed civilians in this country. Anti-gun-control activists argue that if guns were banned or regulated severely only In our United States Constitution, the second amendment states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Although the second amendment is only... ...that are purchased from private sellers do not require background. Under the Gun control act of 1968, the federal law states that private sellers as anyone who sold no more than four firearms per year. But in1986, the Firearm Owners Protection Act lifted that restriction and loosely defined private sellers as people who do not rely on gun sales as the principal way of obtaining their livelihood. Toady many private sellers sell a large amount of all kinds of guns. Because these sellers claim to be hobbyist, they are exempt from the law requirements that follow as a licensed firearm retailer. Some states have taken further action to stricken the law by requiring background checks at gun shows for any type of transaction. States like Colorado And Connecticut, most recently made mandatory background checks on all gun purchases, including purchases over internet.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Social Health Care

Connecting Toward a Healthier Future Social technologies are affecting the way our world operates as they become more and more established and interconnected. Individuals are using Faceable, Twitter, Linked, and a wide variety of other forms of social media to communicate, connect, and share. The way many communicate with their family, friends, employers, and strangers has changed as social media has as well. Individuals can have closer contacts with those who live far away and stay up to date with those who they many not see everyday.As well as individuals ability to communicate more than they ever have before, the way they do things is changed due to social media and mobile technologies. More specifically, social technologies are affecting health care, connecting and collaborating to a healthier future. People worldwide are sharing information that can be accessed from any place, at any time. Not only is social media changing the nature of the way we access information, but it's a lso changing the speed of which we retrieve the information.Patients, doctors, and health care organizations can connect quicker and easier then they once could, roving important information to mass amounts of people at one time when needed, and sharing information creating a interconnected approach to health services. Individuals no longer have to wait in a doctors office for hours to find out the answer to a question they have as they can rely on social media; they can check their symptoms or type their question in on a website, such as www. WebMD. Com, and get instant answers from doctors without leaving their home.At the same time, individuals can post a question on a social media site and get answers and opinions from a large group of people including family, friends, doctors, and any one else who may stumble across the post. Social media has changed the way our world, and more specifically health care, connects to create a healthier future. Health care has gone through tremend ous amounts of changes since social media has emerged. At one time, patients were passive recipients of knowledge, relying solely on the information that one doctor has given them at any specific time.Results were not discusses and people would not go to others for advice or answers to medical questions or concerns they had. Today, however, through the use of social media, individuals are sharing more than they ever have, relying on the information from others, connecting and communicating for knowledge. After visiting a new doctor, having a procedure, or going for surgery, individuals can easily tell others about the experiences they had, sharing reviews of the doctor, and updates but posting and commenting on social media sites.Medications and treatments can also receive reviews by consumers, informing others of potential risks, benefits, and other concerns they may have. Patients can share health-related images ND videos and providers post quizzes to provide users with important information in an engaging way. PWS shares snapshots of recent activity, demonstrating how through social media users are asking questions such as, â€Å"when do you deliver your baby? – early, late, or on time? † receiving 61 likes and 766 comments (Anally, 2012. . This is a perfect example of how individuals today are using social media to get answers to the questions they have. Support groups for medical issues and health-related causes are being created, with awareness being spread through social media. As awareness is extending, so is the support received: information and input is shared and obtained through a mass number of people, called scrounging (courseware, n. D. ). When many people come together, great success is achieved.Websites such as The Foundation for Parade-Will Research is an example of a non-profit organization that has created a Faceable page made to bring individuals with Parade-Will, family members, and friends together to learn and share knowle dge (Howard, J. , Strong, T. , Johnson, S. , Viral, A, & porter, J. , 2014). This page delivers information, advice, suggestions, and arsenal stories about Parade-Will and how individuals are dealing with this medical disability. Different medications and treatment options along with the outcomes are shared, as well as school adaptations and success stories are shared among the group.The Faceable page creates awareness worldwide and receives support and pledges from many for research development. When someone joins a group where others experience similar issues a sense of community is built, sharing supporting, and helping others creating a healthier and happier population. Not only is there a Faceable page for Parade-Will, but there are also a wide variety of pages and sites through all forms of social media that offer support for those with medical exceptionalness and loved ones.There are also other ways to retrieve medical health care information through social media and mobile d evices, such as Telepathy Ontario. Telepathy is ministry of health and long-term care program, that is a free telephone service where you have access to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With mobile devices we have today, this means you can talk to a registered nurse at any time of any day, no matter where you are as Eng as you have a mobile device. The health professional will help you determine your first step in what to do when medical issues arise.After asking a series of questions, the nurse can help individuals determine whether self care is advised or if it's recommended you make a doctors appointment, visit a clinic, or go to a hospital emergency room. One will also be given numbers of community resources nearest to them, and answers to questions they may have. Telepathy is just one example Of a service provided due to the emergence of social media and mobile devices. Due to the rapid expansion of social media and mobile devices, there are many services emerg ing that connect us to create a healthier future. As application software has become very popular, so has the term â€Å"app. APS have appeared on smart phones, pods, pads, tablets, and computers. â€Å"App† was even coined the 201 0 word of the year by the American Dialect Society (Metcalf, A. 201 1). This comes no surprise as you can see the emergence of technology has even shaped the way society talks. If we look back to 1990, society begins talking about technology, with the â€Å"most likely word to succeed† being notebook PC, followed by the 1993 ‘ rod of the year† being information superhighway. The 1994 word of the year was cyber and 1 995 â€Å"word of the year,† as well as â€Å"most likely to succeed and most useful word's was World Wide Web.In 1998 the ‘rod of the yea' and â€Å"most useful word† was the prefix e- as in e-mail and e-commerce, with 1 ass's â€Å"most useful word† being dot-com. In 2002 the â€Å"most likely to succeed† word was blob and the most useful word was Google, as a verb, as it to Google someone. By 2009 the â€Å"word of the year† was tweet and 201 g's word of the year, app (Metcalf, A. 201 1). APS are available in nearly every subject, with the saying ‘there's an app to that,† applying to nearly anything today. This includes health, with a wide variety of health APS to help individuals get and stay healthy.For those with a child, loved one, or oneself who has a food allergy or restrictive diet, there are APS such as Foddering which allows them to check the ingredients and additives in each product (Hobbles, 2012). For keeping your body at a healthy weight there are a wide variety of diet APS, as well as fitness APS. Many diet APS allow you to input the food you eat and based off your body it ill tell you how much you should be having of each thing and how it is going to affect you. There are also a variety of fitness APS, with fitness plans, c alorie counters, and exercises for you to do.Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker by â€Å"My Fitness Pal† is an example of a combination of the TVÐ’Â »'0, as they affect each other. A healthy mind is also important when it comes to an individuals overall health, and for that there are APS such as Stress Check which tells you how you rate on the stress chart, and what to do to help reduce anxiety so you can have a healthier mind. Summary is an example of n app that can be used to help individuals of all ages, by letting you know when you do and do not need sun protection, such as sunscreen, hats, and light clothing, before going outside to help prevent skin cancer.To help prevent and detect another common form of cancer, birdwatchers and other similar APS have been created to help reduce the risk and provide early detection of breast cancer. This app provides a video on how to do a breast check, as well as sets up reminders in a calendar as to when to do it. For men there are similar APS for prostate exams and symptoms of when to visit the doctor. On top of all the more specific health APS, there is also an app called WebMD Mobile where individuals can check symptoms, get first-aid advice, or some medical advice all right from their phone (Hobbles, 2012).As we can see, there are APS for virtually anything, including health, that you have access to nearly every moment of everyday, creating a healthier, more connected population. On top of that, not only are all these APS helpful in keeping us healthy, but you can often find many of them (or similar APS with the same function) for free. This leaves us to see that individuals enjoy accessing information from home as well as connecting with others around the globe for answers. From here, a wide range of APS have been emerging, and continue to emerge based off the demands of society.We can see that individuals are using social media and mobile technologies to become a healthier, potentially happier populatio n, but who specifically is using these new technologies? Is it everyone, or just one group? Well, we can see that the longer technologies have been out and the more they advance, the more people are pursuing the use of them. However, the problem remains that not all of the population is. Seeing as the younger population has grown up with the advances in technology they are much more inclined to use and stay up to date with the technology we have today.As we look at the older population though, it seems as the older the individual is, the less likely they are to use technology as much as they could, however, it really depends on the lifestyle of which someone has had. An example of this is an 80 year old who has worked in a profession that relied on the advances of technology might be much more up to date and involved than a 55 year old who has never needed to use a computer or cell phone for their job, even Hough on average most 55 year olds are more engaged and aware than 80 year o lds.This poses a problem when not all parties are involved in social media when trying to communicate, as some individuals may miss out on important information and don't have the opportunity to put their input in, which becomes a large challenge when trying to follow an inclusive model. Not only are individuals using social media though; patients, doctors, hospitals, health insurance companies, drug companies, pharmacies, and work places are all using social media. We can see how this affects them by joking at PWS Global Network Chairman, Anally explains how â€Å"an insurer gained new member by hosting a contest to 5,10th-page like.The contest posted 321 likes, 5 shares, 16 comments,† and how a â€Å"pharmacy manufacturer alerted members about a product recall which resulted in 12 likes, 47 shares, 12 comments. † (2012) Everyone not on the bandwagon for social media is not the main disadvantage, however. The main problems have to do with the users who are engaged in these technologies. One problem is that not all information found on the internet, and more specifically through social media, is accurate. With everyone having the ability to post, we have a large portion of inaccurate information, that users have to watch out for.It can be nearly impossible at times to determine whether or not you are accessing information from a trustworthy source. At the same time, many post information about themselves on social media sites without realizing how dangerous it could be, and how virtually anyone can find out tremendous amount of information without ever meeting them. Once information has been put online, it no longer is your property, it becomes the social media site's property. For health care specifically, there is a struggle for patient confidentiality.Keeping confidential information private can be hard when on social media sites. At the same time, there is a struggle between relationships health care practitioners build with patients, to make patients feel more secure, but also have the confidentiality for these professionals to maintain their professionalism and not mix their work and their home life. The main problem with social media site is that individuals now share personal information with many across the world, which can make others feel purported, but it comes with risks of individuals using that personal information in dangerous ways.The emergence and growth of social technologies and mobile devices has changed health care worldwide, connecting and collaborating for a healthier future. The quality of medical care has been improved as there is more communication between patients and medical professionals, as well as communication and support between individuals. Important messages can be delivered quicker and easier than they once were, and information is much more accessible than it once was as well. There a a wide range of APS to help individuals get and stay healthy, as well as share their progress with othe rs.However, as with anything, there are disadvantages to social health care. Privacy and confidentiality is very hard to be kept when using social media, as is professionalism while still providing patients with friendly, secure relationships. Also, it can be hard to determine what information is accurate and what sources are trustworthy. Overall, social media is changing health care, creating many opportunities to build off of and engage all to create a healthier population connecting and collaborating to a healthier future.