Quantitative data collection instruments and sampling methods
Quantitative data collection instruments and sampling methods
Order Instructions:
Research at least three quantitative data collection instruments and sampling methods available to researchers using the text and additional resources from the University Library.
Identify two articles in the University Library: one in which the business problem is researched using a descriptive statistical method and another using an inferential method.
Summarize each of the data collection instruments, sampling methods, and the statistical methods.
Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you compare and contrast each of the approaches:
•What are the strengths and weaknesses of each sampling approach?
•What are the specific situations in which you would choose to use each of the instruments and designs?
•What are the strengths and weaknesses of each statistical approach?
•How can they be used most effectively in a combined approach?
•Which methods are more appropriate for research in your own business of youth ministry?
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
SAMPLE ANSWER
When conducting research, it is important to determine an appropriate research sample that will bring out the desired results. For any researcher, it is important that they know the observations and cases from the findings do contribute useful information.
The simple random sample is a very basic and ideal sampling method. The method is easy to understand which makes it appropriate where not much information about population is needed. Its use eliminates subject classification errors while making it possible to analyze and interpret results with relative ease. Despite its great value, simple random sampling is bedeviled by two main issues. When analyzing a large population, the sampling error reported was higher than when using stratified sampling in addition to having has to number each population element. Simple random sampling is best suited for target populations where members have a higher degree of similarities on the important variables (Singha & Jaman, 2012).
The proportional stratified sampling approach derives its strength for its ability to use easy subgroup comparisons while capturing a more representative sample than random and systematic. In this approach, the relationship between dependent variable is considered carefully and when the incidence is high, fewer subjects will be used and the results from this approach have emerged as a good population representation without weighting.
For its much strength, the proportional stratified has major hiccups. Its requirement that each population subgroup be identified and proportion identified makes a costly and difficult model to use since the population elements must be listed. This sampling approach is has emerged as most suited for heterogeneous populations containing quite a number of different groups exhibiting high relations and interconnection to the study topic.
The Cluster sampling method has emerged as the most suited of sampling approaches to address itself to population that largely consists of units as opposed to individuals. Given its approach, it is a very cheap method has proved time and again to be very efficient when employed in large populations. Its ability to enable for individual cluster analysis is extremely helpful. Unfortunately, it has emerged to be the least accurate of the sampling methods given the high than normal challenge of trying to get objective data from a cluster.
Considering further that each population element will have to be assigned to only one cluster, this further undermines the approach. There is need to consider the uniqueness of each member of a unit, which makes the approach less effective. Despites its shortcoming, it has emerged as the best suited approach to when considering population as units as opposed to individuals.
When considering a sampling technique to apply to a particular population, the error of the sample should be at the forefront. It should be the sole aim of each approach to reduce the sampling error as much as possible within the confines of reality. It should be representative enough to cover the whole population without having a sample so big that it makes sampling uneconomical. On the overall, it remains the rule that the larger the sample, the smaller the sampling error and the better the job one can do.
When the sample has been identified, an appropriate quantitative data collection instrument must be identified for the task. From the journals analyzed, interviews and focus groups are the most used instruments.
Interviews usage is based on the assumption that the respondents’ view of the question is meaningful, affects the outcome of the research in a significant way and can be explicitly expressed. To achieve this, one chooses to either use structured – questionnaire based, or in-depth – respondents are encouraged to freely express themselves with use of open responses. Both data collection instruments are ideally suited for evaluation research. The choice of instrument to use will depend on the data the researcher is looking for.
When the information needed is precise and easily defined, then a questionnaire will be best suited – precisely worded questions are asked with specific parameters set where the responses must fit, while in-depth interviews are designed to have the respondents open up and freely give information. The latter instrument may be more time consuming but is better suited when the researcher is looking to measure opinion and would like to know the basis of the opinion.
Interviews have emerged to be the most ideal tools when issues to be addressed include questions like;
To the stakeholders and participants, what does the issue under research feel and look to them?
What do both parties know about the research issue?
For the participants and stakeholders with knowledge about the research issue, what are their views concerning the various components of the issue?
What are their expectations?
With regards to the issue under research, what features are most salient to the stakeholders and participants?
Descriptive statistical methods are designed to paint a better picture of the data where there are a lot of results. As opposed to listing results, descriptive statistical methods avoid the boredom that would by synonymous with this and offer a tool that easily simplifies large amounts of data, highlighting the key factors while presenting the information in an easily understandable manner with clear focus on the parameters under scrutiny (Grim, 2012).
This method will thus sort and group, illustrate and develop summary statistics that elucidate of the research question. When sorting and grouping data, one has a choice between using range of values or frequency. The latter is the best method when sorting huge amounts of data and is able to show in a simple way number by type present – qualitative or discrete quantitative data.
When faced with data requiring size comparison of different data during interpretation, bar charts have emerged as the most widely used of approaches – qualitative data only. For quantitative discrete data, a frequency diagram is the best suited – emphasis on discreteness will be best elucidated by the use of strips. When the data to be exhibited shows comparison between information side by side, a composite bar chart will be idea.
When in need to showing how a total amount is divided into constituent parts, then a pie-chart is best suited. A pie chart will normally require the data to be captured in percentages for better value allocation. Finally, there are instances when research is a bit complicated and requires two or move variable to be related. When seeking a link between the two is sort, a scatter diagram will best capture this results and show the relationship.
The Inferential statistical method is best when inferences are required from a large population based on a sample. Since the measure of comparison is characteristic of the population, a sample cannot accurately capture the true picture of the population. Thus the sample will have to overcome errors (Lantz, 2013). When the final analysis is made, then a qualified inference is arrived at based on a particular percentage of confidence that it is representative. In inferential analysis, one can use Bivariate – to analyze two variable, or Multivariate – to analyze more than two variables (Lantz, 2013). The choice of inferential statistic will depend on the type of variable to be analyzed – Nominal, Ordinary, Interval/Ratio.
For the business of youth ministry, it is important to use research tools that will allow for capturing of all aspects and views of the participants. The choice of tool will be especially important given the dynamics of the youth ministry. By their very nature, the youth are very vibrant and highly mobile. The choice of method will be one that can capture these two critical aspects. The use of group or in-depth discussion will capture all aspects that are important to the sample population. By allowing the youth to ventilate and speak, they get a feeling that their views are value and thus are more likely than not to be responsive and be more generous with their views.
Reference:
Grim, B. J (2012) Is Religious Freedom Good for Business. A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis, Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 25-72.
Lantz, B (2013) Equidistance of Likert-type Scales and Validation of Inferential Methods Using Experiments and Simulations, Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 16-28.
Identify two articles in the University Library: one in which the business problem is researched using a qualitative design and the other using a quantitative design.
Summarize each of the research designs.
Write a 350- to 700-word paper in which you compare and contrast the two approaches:
•What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach?
•How can they be used most effectively in a combined approach?
•Which method is more appropriate for research in your own business of youth ministry.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Understanding Business Research
Understanding business research allows the businessperson and researchers to adapt to appropriate strategies and designs. Researchers have an option to choose from various research designs but the mostly used include qualitative and quantitative research as well as mixed design. Research allows business personality to find solution to various problems that face them as they transact their business. The paper compares and contrasts qualitative and quantitative research designs based on their strengths and weaknesses. It also deliberates on their combination and provides a suggestion on the most appropriate design in conducting my business of youth ministry.
Example of an article that adopted qualitative research design is “Strategic communication and social media: An MBA course from a business communication perspective by Meredith (2012). In this qualitative article, the author found out social media is producing content that is getting used in pedagogy. The content is highly demanded by the student body, industry constituents’ as well as other discipline area. An MBA from a business perspective is also under development from social media strategy. This therefore presents a challenge of integrating various communication approaches to create social media content. On the other hand, a study, “Quantitative Research in American Economic History” by North (1963) adopted a quantitative research design. The study incorporated various studies quantitatively analyzed.
Each of this approach has advantages as well as disadvantages. Some of the advantages of qualitative research design include; it is appropriate in early stages of conducting a research especially when the researcher does not know or is not sure about what the study is not all about the study as well requires a researcher to have a strict design plan before commencing it or the area of focus. It also gives the researcher freedom allow the study unfold in more unnatural. The design further allows the researcher an opportunity to again detailed information comprehensively in written description or in visual form. The study is done in real situations hence it affects individuals, as data obtained is realistic and representation of what is going in the field. Disadvantage of this design is that it is prone to biasness as researcher may heavily be involved in the process hence subjective. Researcher may also interpret data according to the biased view leading to skeweness. It is also time consuming and takes long period.
Quantitative research design has as well a number of advantages. This design also the researcher to measure and analyze data hence ensures detailed relationships between dependent and independent variable. It is therefore more objective about findings. The design is also applicable in testing hypotheses as data is measured through statistics. Disadvantage of the design is that it fails or ignores the context of the study. Events are not studied in natural setting, it also requires large sample of population as higher population leads to accurate results.
These two designs can be used in combination as mixed design. This therefore, means that aspects of qualitative and quantitative are incorporated in the data. This makes the study findings more objective.
In my business of youth ministry, the best method is qualitative research design. This method will provide descriptive information that will enable me to understand the business situation. This design is also important because it is done in real environment hence its predictions are highly reliable
References
Meredith, M. (2012). Strategic communication and social media: An MBA course from a business communication perspective. Business Communication Quarterly, i75(1): 89-95.
North, D. (1963). Quantitative Research in American Economic History. American Economic Review, 53(1):128
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1)Armstrong’s (2003) chapters on the employment relationship and ‘psychological contract’
2)The article by Gratton (2011) on the future workplace
3)The articles by Boudreau and Ziskin (2012), Sahoo et al. (2011) and Sheehan and Sparrow (2012)
Then answer the following questions:
1)Reflect on what you have read about changes in today’s work environments and the extent to which you have observed these changes in your own experience.
2)Think of one or two organisations you can use as examples in an analysis of the changing nature of work and work environments.
3)What changes in work and work environments have you observed in your personal or professional life?
4)What evidence, if any, do you see of the changes discussed in your Learning Resources for this week?
5)What implications do these changes have for organisations and their staffs? For HR leaders in organisations?
SAMPLE ANSWER
Introduction
The changes in today’s work environment are hinged on efficiency and effectiveness of job performance and productivity. More emphasis is on quality training and production standards. Employers are demanding higher levels of productivity per employee and most organizations have gone through a lot of hard moments trying to restructure their organizations in order to capitalize on a lean and effective workforce where production and quality standards are very high (Boudreau and Ziskin, 2011).
In my work place I have to go through rigorous assessment every month to determine and optimize my performance in various competencies and production requirements. Downsizing and application of modern technology in various departments have led to massive layoffs and even the closures of full departments that are deemed to be irrelevant and non-strategic.
Apple Inc is one of the multinational corporations that decided to embrace changes in an effort to incorporate the modern working trends in its organizational procedures (Boudreau and Ziskin, 2011). Apple Inc incorporated most of its employee’s personal innovations to the workplace by allowing them to work on their personal projects for a few hours every day and also a share of profits from the sales of their innovations. It’s during this period when Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc introduced these changes that saw the organization emerge as the leading multinational company in digital technology.
The major changes I have witnessed in my workplace are the introduction of modern technology in improving efficiency and production levels. Most operations are managed by a handful of trained staff that manage and operates advance machines that have replaced hundreds of workers. The compensation rates have also gone high and other forms of incentives have also been introduced to encourage more production and efficiency. The production and efficiency expectation from the management is very high such that most employees continue working under pressure to perform and achieve the stated targets (Gratton, 2011).
According to Gratton (2011) most of the traditional ways of working from offices between 9 and 5pm, spending weekends with family members plus other benefits are quickly disappearing and new forms of working styles like online working from homes or flexible work schedules are taking precedence over the strict 9 to 5pm work schedules.
Different forms of organization structures like hierarchal organizations are also giving way to modern forms of dynamic and multilevel hero management styles that involve roundtable discussions and other effective management styles that may also involve modern technology like social networking (Boudreau and Ziskin, 2011).
Organizations have to adapt to the new changes that are sweeping across the globe and the employees also have to change with the contemporary world. The HR department has to adopt dynamic management styles like that capitalizes on modern trends of technology like cloud connectivity and the outsourcing of company operations to the most efficient and cost effective companies globally. Diversity at the workplace and employment of innovative staff are the major challenges that face the HR department (Gratton, 2011).
Finally to conclude, most organizations have to retrain their staffs on modern trends of technology and new methods of management styles. Globalization has brought its own challenges on diversity and innovations that have made the world to be closely connected and more competitive.
Reference
Boudreau, J.W. and Ziskin, I., 2011, The Future of HR and Effective Organizations, Elsevier, ScienceDirectand Organizational Dynamics, 40, 255- 266, Viewed 28 November 2014 from http://www.sciencedirect.com
Gratton, L., 2011, Workplace 2025 – What it will look like? Elsevier, ScienceDirectand Organizational Dynamics, 40, 246- 254, Viewed 6 December 2014 from http://www.sciencedirect.com
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The DEADLINE is DECEMBER 14, 2014. This is a Graduate course. Please use double-spaced format. Responses should be in APA style and must include citations and a bibliography. You are strongly advised to access a variety of information from academic journals and other scholarly works. Ensure that your answers are well-organized and that they respond to the specific question asked, display the range and depth of your learning, and demonstrate your ability to conform to the analysis, writing, and research standards of master’s level work. Both questions must be answered fully. Each question needs to be 10 pages and each question needs to have 9 references.
Question 1
You have been hired as a special consultant by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide recommendations on whether privatizing the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) will increase efficiency, cost effectiveness, and satisfaction by the public.
The following assumptions apply:
1. There will be an estimated cost savings of 15% by privatizing the TSA.
2. 25% of existing employees will lose their jobs.
3. Privatized employees will have less training and education and will be paid less.
4. Government contractors will earn a generous profit.
5. Public satisfaction and overall efficiency may decrease as a result of privatization but the majority of Congress will be favorably inclined towards the change.
6. There may be other unknown results both good and bad in terms of risks to the public, safety, and overall fiscal policy.
In making your recommendation, be sure to consider the following:
a. What organizational, financial, political, and human resource issues would you consider in making such decisions?
b. Who are the stakeholders here in the TSA and how will they be affected?
c. What are the benefits and drawbacks to privatization considering not only fiscal but other theoretical aspects?
When discussing the above be sure to discuss the decision making process, social or ethical issues affecting the public, applicable theory and trends, any diversity or ethics issues, and fiscal considerations.
Question 2
You are the superintendent of Mt. Rossmoor Community College (MRCC). Mt. Rossmoor Community College is the fifth fastest growing community college in the nation. The college’s student body has grown 24% in the past 5 years largely due to the recent housing boom. Due to budgetary cuts on the state level, state universities will increase the cost of tuition by 8% this year, on top of last year’s increase of 14%. The result is that more students will be “priced out” of the state university system. Many of these same formerly state university students will attempt to satisfy general education requirements at local community colleges, including MRCC, thereby increasing demand for courses. At the same time, however, MRCC’s budget will drop 15% this year due to the state budget crisis. As superintendent, you face some tough choices. Should the college significantly increase fees per unit, or maintain current fee levels by drawing down on its budgetary reserve, knowing that next year will not get better? Should the college increase or reduce course offerings? Should the college pursue furloughs, layoffs, or “golden handshakes?” There is even the question of offering online courses and shuttering buildings on MRCC’s main campus, so as to save on electricity and air conditioning. In a white paper, please identify the policy problem, detail the policy options, identify stakeholders, and apply your own financial knowledge to make sound and ethical decisions in the public’s interest.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Question 1
Issues to Consider in Making Decisions
Organizational Issues
The decision to privatize TSA will get it out of the screening business, and that responsibility will be devolved to the nation’s airports. The devolution will save the nation of billions of resources currently with centralized management of 53,000 screeners distributed in more than 450 in different airports throughout the nation who do not play a major role. All airports unique variations since they are designed to suit different passenger levels. Privatization will require, for example, the the need to continually adjust TSA’s workforces. Currently, TSA is very slow in implementing these changes. Most airports anchor on this reason to bargain for their return to the private screening.
The impact of unionization of TSA’s workforce achieved recently could further hinder effective management. Attempts to unionize workers in TSA were previously blocked by the Bush administration. According to Admiral James Loy, a TSA administrator, collective bargaining cannot be matched with the required level of flexibility to fight against terrorism (Edwards, 2013). However, the Obama administration has openly supported unionization, a push aimed at covering workers in TSA with collective bargaining. Following a ruling made in 2010 that TSA members be allowed to vote, an election was approved in 2011for the exclusive representation of TSA’s nonsupervisory workers. According to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, approval of this election would ensure that the organization participates in setting up the leadership that is most appropriate to work with (Workforce Management Innovations in Transportation Agencies, 2010).
The American Federation that lead Government Employees (AFGE) was allowed as the TSA’s monopoly union. In 2012, AFGE and TSA entered into a collective bargaining agreement, in 2012, covering 44,000 employees. With a collective bargaining in place, the monopoly union control over a workplace would tend to decrease efficiency at work place. It will also protect workers whose work is poor and determine to establish larger staffing levels compared to that which is required. As a result, the workers may resist any attempts to introduce laour-saving technologies. The resistance is brought as a result of creating a rule-laden workforce. For instance, TSA managers have the mandate to negotiate with representatives of the union about the reassignment of employees. This negotiation is problematic a dynamic industry such as aviation. The frequent changes in route volumes and air carrier schedules have been associated with the unstable demand for air port screeners (NETView Communications, 2014).
Financial Issues
Privatization will save much money that are unnecessarily paid in form of wages and benefits. In a study carried out to compare wages of federal employees to those of the private sector, it was found out that the federal pay system gives the average federal employee 22 percent hourly cash earnings above that is given to the average private worker. Additionally, federal employees earn about 30 to 40 percent in wages and benefits that are more in total compensation than the private-sector workers in the same category. The recommendations made by Heritage, the government, should hire more contractors, and this supports the idea of privation. The choice to use contractors would be more cost-effective as the government incurs excessive costs in outsourcing. The costs are incurred by the groundkeeper services kept in-house. The average compensation given to the federal groundskeeper employees $13,187 per year greater than the billing the contactors will be requiring from the government.
In another research carried out by POGO discovered that the government can save approximately 20 percent by outsourcing groundskeeper services. The government estimates closely matches with the difference between the two sectors. The average annual billing rates for the contractor are 1.6 times the compensation for the private sector groundskeepers. According to the research of POGO, the government pays federal employees who operate as medical record technicians 0.01 times more average annual billing rates than that of the contractor, that is $58,641 and $57,782, respectively (Chassy & Amey, 2011).Political Issues
Privatization of TSA is surrounded by multiple political issues. The individual airports do not have the permission to “fire” the screener because that is within the jurisdiction of the federal government. Although the SPP program has began making some changes on this policy, there is need for much larger reforms. The transfer of this responsibility from TSA to the airports, according to a government official, Poole, would give the airports an opportunity to establish a more effective and integrated security system that will provide better services than the traditional TSA. At the moment, the airport has already taken over the responsibility of controlling the general airport security. This form of integration would create a platform for cross-training of the staff among the security functions at airports which would, for instance, improve skills and enhance morale. Some politicians support shrinking the role of TSA in aviation security and expanding of private screening to all commercial airports to include only setting security standards, analyzing intelligence and auditing screening operations (Transportation Security Information Sharing, 2014).
Mica is one of the representatives who are pushing for the privatization of the airport screening. He believes that TSA workforce needs to be reduced to approximately 5,000 workers. Rand Paul (Senator) has proposed that TSA be fully privatized, and his proposal has been supported by Cato Institute scholar Jim Harper. The United States will not be the first country to privatize its airports since many other countries have passed policies to enable privatization of their airport screening. For instance, more than 80 percent of commercial airports in Europe use private screening companies. The countries are such as Germany, France, Spain and Britain. A big hindrance to privatization is the politicians who are opposing it for their own interests. Top managers could not stay long in the TSA since they are political appointees who easily dismiss an agency’s previous activities to introduce new ones which they can tag their names on. Middle managers are safer since they are not easily entangled with political dogfights (Denning, 2012).
Human resource Issues
According to POGO’s research on human resources management, it finding showed that the government may be paying an average annual rate of $228,488 to contractors that is more than twice the compensation of the government to the federal employees ($111,711). Also, the average annual billing rates for the contractors are 2.27 times the compensation of the private sector companies to their employees. With regards to the job classifications analyzed by POGO, the research showed that they are usually considered as “commercial” in nature. Jobs that are commercial in nature are those that are accessible in the phone book. The HR function of the federal government plays an important role outsourcing activities and functions that are important to the US security.. For example, Director of National, Intelligence has released a report indicating that the government has recently outsourced 28 percent of its current intelligence workforce. It is therefore paying contractors 1.66 times the cost of the work that can be done by the federal employees, that is an annual payment of $207,000 for a contractor employee against $125,000 for a federal employee).
Additionally, an analysis of the costs of regarding the outsourced language specialists, it was discovered that the government may be paying them an average billing rates of $211,203 per year. This payment is more than 1.9 times $110,014 per year the government compensates a federal employee. The language specialists are usually used to perform intelligence functions. Again, contractors may be billing the federal government almost 3.5 times $61,010 per year, on average, what it may be compensating the private sector language specialists on the open market (Chassy & Amey, 2011).
Stakeholders in the TSA
The greatest stakeholder in TSA is the federal government. TSA consists of the aviation system with the government as the major stakeholder. The government sets standards and policies that govern the entire aviation system. It plays the role of the regulatory oversight of all the screening operations. For instance, the government sets principles on arms regulations, as a basic good-government principle.
There are three expert private firms that carry out screening at TSA airports namely G4S, Securitas and Garda and each of firms these are responsible for a group of specific Canadian Airports. There are also Aviation Security firms which form part of the stakeholders that offers a great deal of expertise. They have accumulated this expertise for decades. The firms provide best practice service which is exemplified their professional response to the clients’ demands
The firms apply the best practices that are provided across different airports.
Effect of the Privatization on the Stakeholders
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) through the Screening Partnership program (SPP) provides cost reviews of federal government and the contractor employees. TSA created SPP in the process of introducing privatization with an aim of allowing commercial airports an opportunity to hire contractor screeners in preference to the federal employees. According to the Aviation Transportation Security Act of 2001 (ATSA) P. L. 107-71, it is the responsibility of SPP to allow the airports to go through the process themselves from the screening services provided by the federal government. As a stakeholder in TSA, airports are therefore allowed by the law to choose whether to remain working with the federal government or to use private screening services. A report released by GAO on TSA contractor in 2009, showed that passenger screening at the airports where the staff consists of contractors has historically cost the federal government or the tax payer’ money from 9 to 17 percent more than the airports with federal employees. The contractor screeners’ performance was at a level equivalent to or greater compared to that of the staff from the federal government. The recommendations made by GAO based on the highlighted limitations focused on the methodology applied by TSA that will form part of the foundation of privation policy (Program Application, 2014).
The most affected stakeholder in TSA is the workforce in case of downsizing in the course of privatization. In order to reduce expenditure through paying salaries and wages, private companies usually reduce the size. Both private and commercial airlines will have to adjust all their levies upon a full implementation of the policy to privatize TSA (Rebuilding TSA into TSA into Smarter, Learner Organization, 2012).
Benefits and Drawbacks to Privatization
The SPOT program helps to illustrate the problems associated with the top-down federal system of controlling the aviation security. The TSA “deployed SPOT across the nation without prior determination of whether this action had a scientifically valid basis. The TSA did not perform a cost-benefit SPOT’s cost analysis before deploying it. Although this is the tradition of the government, rolling out an expensive plan that will affect the whole country, it is one way taxpayers’ money is misused. Cost-benefit analysis is paramount in any organization before implementing any plan. This is because of the reason that the government does not care whether the ultimate benefits will materialize or not. Despite a huge investment of more than $1 billion in SPOT in just the previous decade, the GAO discovered 23 occasions where known terrorists from neighbouring countries managed to breeze through airports where SPOT was operated by TSA. None of the terrorists have ever been caught of the last one decade. In this case consider the escape of Faisal Shahzad from the JFK in New York, an airport with an active. His name was in the “no fly”. House Republicans considered SPOT as one of TSA’s greatest failures, bearing a great cost but leading to meager results. Although it is has been used to apprehended 1, 083 criminals, over 2 billion passes through the airport gates applying SPOT. According to TSA employees, privatization is likely to jeopardize passenger safety.
Decision Making Process
The privatization process of TSA began when Rep. John Mica tabled a motion in the Congress in 2010 requiring the urgency to be privatized. Orlando Sanford International Airport announced in 2010 that it was necessary to opt out using TSA for the Screening Partnership Program. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Public Law 107-71, under § 44920 allowed the creation of a private screening program through which the SPP was formed. The House Committee dealing with Transportation and Infrastructure was then given the mandate of analyzing the reasons and impact of privatization. The committee then compiles a report with recommendations on how to go about the privatization to the congress. Upon receiving the report, the Congress holds a debate on the issue and votes whether to allow the TSA to be privatized or not.
In the case of Orlando International Airport, it was alleged that there was a different reason for pushing for the privatization of the airport rather than enhancing security. Although several airports had done their exploration and saw the necessity of opting out using TSA, politics has it that he is drumming up support for his daughter D’anne Mica. D’Anne was the head of the Airport’s Strategic Communications at the time the Sanford International Airport expressed interest in using SPP. Being the Communications Contractor, the father, and the daughter had a reason to push for the privatization of the agency. However, the decision-making process in transportation planning and ensuring security is designed in a manner that involves all users of the organization. The users include the business community, environmental organizations, freight operators, and the general public.
Social or Ethical Issues Affecting the Public,
The use of a costly investment technology on TSA has drawn a lot of controversies due to the application of Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines. The machines that were deployed in 2008 are “full-body scanners”. It is unethical to use these machines since they are able to see beneath passengers’ clothing resulting to major privacy concerns. They also bear an antisocial effect since it may lead to erosion of values of the airport workers using these machines since they are likely to become immoral with time. The machines also cause extra airport congestion and carry high costs. The questionable detection gains of the AIT machines make them a dubious investment. The screening process involves ransacking travelers’ personal items which are sometimes lost. Additionally, it is common for travelers to miss their flights as a result of the screening procedures.
The conflict of interest is another source of ethical issues. Employees breach Ethical Conduct Standards. Examples of breaching ethical standards include preferential treatment and endorsement of private entities, misuse of government resources such as funds and information (Potts, 1999). Abuse of civil liberties had frequently been associated with the nationalization of TSA.
Applicable Theory and Trends,
Privatization of government agencies has become a trend in many countries. The U.S has become a laggard privatizing its efforts. The country Airports such as Orlando International Airport is one of those that have already established its links with SPP. The terrorist attack of the U.S.A in 2001 had initially led to a unanimous vote in the congress to federalize the security at the airports. According to Representative John Mica, one of the architects of the 2001 TSA legislation, it was a mistake nationalizing airport screening. His scathing attack on TSA as a bloated bureaucracy and that the agency had set a track record of failure especially in catching terrorists is very influential. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was in charge of the civil aviation. Part of its duties included supervising passenger and baggage screening done on behalf of the airlines by private companies. The primary reason that seems to cause the push for privatization is to enhance security.
Currently, almost all stakeholders are pushing for the abolition of TSA. Emphasis is laid on the elimination of activities that do not show substantial benefits not only to the government but also to the travelers. For instance, passenger and baggage screening should be moved to the airports where they will be subject for private bidding. They form two-thirds of the annual budget of TSA. It is suggested that the remaining fraction of TSA such as intelligence and analytical activities be moved to other federal agencies E(dward, 2013).
Diversity or Ethics Issues
Promotion of ethics such as by respectful and lawful treatment of both employees and travellers, observing the federal laws, privacy and civil rights protecting regulations, affording redress and prohibition of discrimination are to a large extent promoting diversity. Being among the workforce is everyone’s obligation to be dedicated in upholding the code of ethics of the organization and being professional. In so doing it is easy to promote diversity, although in unity (Edwards, 2013)
Fiscal Considerations
A comparative cost analysis released by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in June 2011 showed that the efficiency of SPP screeners is more efficient by 65 percent than their TSA federal counterparts. The analysis also indicated that the taxpayers are likely to save $1 billion spread within five years if the top 35 airports in the nation performed efficiently, such as the San Francisco International airport which is already under the SPP program. It is hard task to compare the costs incurred by when using federal employees and private employees. This is because contradictory results are produced as a result of using disparate methodologies. To facilitate a smooth process of privatization, the government needs to create a system that can give exact cost of executing commercial services. Otherwise, it will be hard for the pubic to determine the actual savings realized in a fiscal year (Rebuilding TSA into TSA into Smarter, Learner Organization, 2012
Transportation Security Information Sharing: Stakeholder Satisfaction Varies; TSA Could Take Additional Actions to Strengthen Efforts. (2014, July 14). Retrieved December 14, 2014.
Rossmoor Community College (MRCC) has recently recorded low completion rates. The main problem is balancing an increased student population and the funds available to run the college. It is evident that this is a new problem for MRCC caused by budget cut by the government. A cut on the national budget will require the MRCC to either look for extra funding to boost the budget such as through fees increment, reduce the current budget, reduce subject offerings, and demolish some structures in order to reduce reduction of electricity and other options available to solve the problem. The public policy limits me as a superintendent increasing fees or reducing the budget. The policy problem faced is the challenge of protecting the rights of the students against the college prerogative in the terms of paying and levying fees respectively.
The budget crisis in the country where the college is found has contributed to a similar problem in MRCC that is now facing a budget reduction of 15% and this would take the college another process of amending the budget. However, since the public university system of the state is undergoing similar budget cuts, MRCC can grab the self-presented opportunity and make strategic decisions that will move it from the its current rate as fifth fastest growing community college in the nation to become the fastest. The location of MRCC is in a community that gone through incredible growth in terms of housing market, is now experiencing the results of its steady growth and excellence that is reflected in a 24 percent increase in the population of the student capacity in the last five years (Kim, 1992). State universities increased their tuition fees by 14 percent last year and there are further plans to raise it again by eight percent i this year. This is the opportune moment for the MRCC can step in and fill goals of the higher education goals for many students who are not likely to be able to traditionally attend MRCC for various reasons.
The dilemma we are in as MRCC is how to solve the problem posed by our own budget reduction of 15 percent at the same time anticipate the student population to continue increasing. There are number options available through which the challenge can be solved. By maintaining the course of action that we already have about the amount of tuition to be paid, it will force us to resort to our budget reserves. Although this is a solution, it will only be short-term. Also, the situation of the state budget does not seem to be improving in the changing anytime soon, and it is apparent that our situation will not change significantly in the coming several years. Again, if we raise our tuition significantly, it will not be possible to deplete the budgetary reserve. However, the raise of tuition will drive away potential students because they would feel that the fees charged by MRCC are too high for them, yet they cannot manage to pay for the state universities’ education. The increment will therefore bar them from the benefit of transferring to our campus (Born, Reyes & Johnson, 2013).
Another possibalternative that can be considered is about course offerings. The concern is whether MRCC should increase or decrease them. Increase of course offerings will pose the challenge in class management. It will be necessary to maintain staffing levels they are currently. The result of this would an enlarged instructor student ratio. The current budget will not allow hiring of more instructors. Nevertheless, if the option of decreasing the course offerings would be force some staff members, either lay-off instructors or participate in mandatory furlough days in order to meet the budget prepared earlier. There is still another option that relates to course options, and that is increasing online availability. This option minimizes the necessity of some buildings within the campus. These buildings can be shuttered to reduce electricity and air conditioning expenses. In fact, some buildings are so old and not used frequently, yet their lights have to be on at night. These are some of the buildings that will be demolished first. The reduction of these operational costs will enable MRCC to manage live within the current budget hence avoid increasing fees. The result is an increased admission of the students who miss out on state universities and this gives MRCC an opportunity to move closer to being the fastest growing learning institution (Altbach, 2013).
Policy Option
Public policy requires a superintendent to make a right choice on the basis of morality, since rights of individuals are involved in this challenge. The policy presents a two side-interpretation of morality, that is, morality with regards to a goal and morality in terms of delegation one’s duty. The challenge at hand in view of the public policy, with regards to morality, is my duty to respect the students’ rights on the basis of what they, as a majority feel is right and are ready to abide by. On the other hand, I have a choice to consider morality as a goal that will favour me to judge the whole situation and make my own convenient decision. It is unfortunate on my side since the policy provides an inconsequential benefit to the side of the students. It will tend to preserve the reputation of the students as well as society as a whole at the expense of college administration. Therefore, it remains the responsibility of the superintendent to remember that making decisions is central and paramount in the course of executing duties and the focus should be what is best for the society (NETView Communications, 2014).
The community based model college is successive everywhere in the United States. Therefore, our college is a key differentiator of what an American can achieve at a low cost and easy accessibility. Through our successive partnership with key stakeholders, our college has grown immensely in terms of student enrolment. The admission of the expected 24 percent increment of students, whom we are working to accommodate, will imply our potential to achieve anything we purpose to do. According to the model, a community college such as ours can do more by hinging on partnership with, instead of competing against, the existing or neighbouring Community colleges (Kim, 1992).
Identify Stakeholders
Our future success as MRCC depends on the response we give the situation we are in. This is a situation that not only demands an immediate attention, but it also needs a carefully thought of and as well as well informed decision. We must begin drafting the plan for our upcoming semesters with the consideration of this situation. The decision making process will involve all stakeholders of the institution who include all the employees of MRCC, ranging from the support staff to instructors to directors, each of the current and potential students, local elected officials as well as local homeowners. There are community colleges of our category that have developed and grown at a faster rate compared to four-year institutions over 40 years ago (Taylor, 2013). Similarly, public community colleges have traditionally enrolled about 40 percent of all undergraduate students. That means that we can afford the capacity to accommodate even more than that so long as we respond well, first to these situation and any other that will definitely be coming (Trani & Holsworth, 2010). Community colleges provide a lot to the society where they are situated and this is just due in part to such services .Others include ease of access, community responsiveness, more creativity, and an improved focus on learning. In addition, the innovation of the faculty and leadership of community colleges has been more compared to that of the four-year college counterparts. This is primarily in terms of increasing accessibility to higher education a more diverse with regards to economic and cultural backgrounds of the student body (Kim, 1992) that is the same trend we need to continue at MRCC.
Convenience for students means a lot to their smooth academic life and performance. It plays an important role in community colleges such as our college, MRCC, in what they are created for. Students will always choose to study in an institution that they find convenient in terms of accessibility and the affordability of the tuition fees charged. Our college has been able to admit students who have qualified to join state universities but opt for MRCC due to accessibility and affordability of what we provide. With regards to the current situation, the whole dilemma encompasses around enrolment. It occurs for various reasons such as taking a single course in order to enhance a promotion at one’s work place or just to gain a specific skill. Some students are seeking enrolment in MRCC to take general education classes before they finish their courses at a four-year college while others enrol in order to complete a technical program that will enable the student to fit a specific job market of interest (Boggs, 2011). The time when the society and specifically students looked at community colleges as stepping stone between high school and a four-year college is gone. Interested students do not have to possess necessary skills to be admitted in a community level college. Again, students who are unable to afford tuition fee or are generally unable in terms of financial support are able to find an opportunity to learn in our college through certain or financial arrangements available both within and without MRCC. In recent times, community colleges have experienced an increased number of four-year college students returning to community colleges prior to completion of their degree in state universities (Kalogrides & Grodsky, 2011). We want to capitalize on this situation which we are in to become successive.
Funding of community colleges occur through a combination of fees, local community funding through tax, tuition and state funding. About two-thirds of community college operating funds arises from State and local funds. However state funding support has reduced significantly in most states in the USA. We are now experiencing the same problem currently. For instance, Arizona has been funding its community colleges up to 25 percent of its operating budget but that has gone down to less than 1 percent. Many other community colleges throughout the nation have now turned to other options of getting funds to support its functions. For example, in 2009-2010, there was an almost unanimous increase of tuition and fees at almost all by 7.3 percent at community colleges across America to an about $2,543.00. In comparison, public four-year colleges charged tuition and fees were at an average of $7,010.00. Tuition charged by community college is approximately 36 percent of four-year colleges (Russell, 2010).
The application of these average costs last year forced the state university system to raise tuition by 14 percent to $8,003.00. There are also plans to raise the amount further by 8 percent in the current year, to $8,643.00. If we use this as the baseline, it is approximated that the average community college tuition next year could be $3,111.00, and that will be consistent Nevertheless, our goal is to capitalize on the pricing out of four-year college students, while still keeping our current rate of student population enrolled. The MRCC will maintain its consistence with the national average and eventually increase its tuition rates by 7 percent to attain a sum of $2, 722.00. This is part of the strategy described regarding keeping the current population. Our major target is raising MRCC’s tuition and fees to about 31 percent of that of the tuition and fees for four-year colleges. That would be below the community college national average of 36 percent of tuition and fees of four-year public college.
A decision to transfer the excess cost of operations to the students by increasing their tuition and fees will cause a decrease in overall student enrolment, especially if not done carefully (Dickeson, n.d). The worst that will happen for those students who will not afford to attend the state university system is that they will have no option except going back home to stay with their parents. However, will be available and affordable to hence they will have another chance of continuing education from there. The disadvantage will be for those students who live far away from our college MRCC. The solution for them is that they would be exempted from paying part of tuition and fees that was increased, to compensate for their stay at home instead of boarding and having to pay for room at board (Romano, 2012).
MRCC, just as any other community college can fit in the description “catch-all higher education” provider for everyone. Unlike in the past, it is now impossible to provide all the necessities everyone may need (Romano, 2012). As MRCC considers the options available to itself out of the dilemma it finds itself, we do not lose focus on our mission but we are getting more committed to funnel our resources only to those programs regarded by the public as successful and popular. Based on the current situation that we are facing is characterized with the influx of four-year college students, we are more careful on spending to provide general education studies. We shall not lock out students taking those programs not offered in our community college but are in the local technical schools. It will be necessary to partner with them to partner with the schools on class offerings (Koester & Shulock, 2014) The aim of this partnership is the reduction of the number of faculty members with specialities, which may translate to cutting down on specialized lab or the need for some equipment. Although these necessities are cut down, we still ensure that all the students access coursework. A lot of people living in the community depend on the community college to get the education they want according to their specific needs. Examples include, health care workers, people in new technological fields, teachers and others that are not specific but want to apply the education in diverse places in the society such as in economy (Boggs, 2011). We will primarily focus our energies on these areas. As a successful graduate with a specialty in a field with a high demand, I will be a position to increase MRCC’s reputation, ensuring that there are continued enrollments through the success that will be realized.
Besides streamlining our campus course offerings, we will provide more courses through distance learning, for example, online learning. In order for higher education to extend their reach, they offer online courses, and this mode of education has become common across the country. The courses potentially maximize the use of resources of MRCC through an increased enrollment that is not limited by the size of classrooms, but they will be utilized for traditional course offerings. The only facilities that will remain closed are those mentioned earlier such as labs and classrooms that remained without use following successive partnerships with local technical schools. The technical staff already on the payroll will be in a position to accommodate the network in a start-up online program. Additionally, in order to fully capitalize on the impeding state university systems exodus of students, MRCC has to address the issues concerning faculty. Part-time faculty will be the preferred option for faculty since they are less expensive compared to full-time faculty. Part-time faculty has been commonly used at community colleges in the past 40 years. According to national statistics, the staffs makeup to about 67 percent across the country. Part-time staffs have areas of technical expertise relevant for today’s students. They also offer more flexibility that most students prefer. Majority of the part-time faculty members have their full-time jobs although they also teach for various reasons, such as pursuing employment through teaching or they could be teaching in order to raise potential entrants into the professional field suitable for them of the job market for a more globally conscious group of graduates (Koester & Shulock, 2014)
The strategy to be applied in order for the MRCC succeed will begin with ensuring that the increase in tuition and fees is consistent with the average tuition and fees at national which is about 7 percent as determined over a number of past several years. MRCC will then go ahead, and partner with local technical schools in order to provide the specialized coursework, not offered in MRCC, for both our students and theirs. The partnership will give room for MRCC to close down some specialized labs and classrooms so as to save on utility costs. Some of the equipments may be transferred to the partner school. Next, MRCC will use a combination of full-time faculty to teach traditional courses and part-time faculty to introduce online course offerings. The composition of the courses will include larger class sizes, and there will not be a necessity for an extra or larger classroom space. Lastly, the online courses will be provided for the purposes of beginning general education courses. Later, the courses will be expanded to include other basic technical courses. Beginning online courses in this manner will enable an increase in course offerings within MRCC without necessarily adding class space (Trani & Holsworth, 2010).
In application of this situation, analysis of several trends identified in higher education will give a glimpse of what probably to expect of higher education in future. It is already apparent that state funding of education is reducing at a high rate despite an increasing standard of living in terms of rising costs. For instance, benefits packages for full-time staff and faculty take a significant portion of MRCC’s budget and the same applies to all other community colleges. Considering the rout of offering online courses is becoming increasingly common for traditional students, while non-traditional students have been found to be slower to in embracing the new learning technology. It is also noticed that majority of non-traditional students are returning to school to receive technical diplomas in specific areas of their interest or to complete their degrees. An effective response to these trends will require a superintendent to draw an effective plan consisting of both financial and academic issues. y (Romano & Djajalaksana, 2010). In conclusion, the plan that MRCC will come up with will not be satisfy every stakeholder accordingly, but it will play an essential role for the success of the community college (Hirsch, 2014).
References
Altbach, P. (2013). American higher education in the twenty-first century: Social, political, and economic challenges. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Boggs, G. (2011). The American community college: From access to success. About Campus,16(2), 2-10.
Koester, J., & Shulock, N. (2014, July 1). MAXIMIZING RESOURCES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS: Maximizing Resources for Student Success by Reducing Time- and Credits-to-Degree. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://hcmstrategists.com
Russell, A. (2010, October 1). Update on the Community College Baccalaureate: Evolving Romano, R., & Djajalaksana, Y. (2010, January 1). Using the Community College to Control College Costs: How Much Cheaper Is It? Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/cheri/upload/cheri_wp116.pdf
Trani, E., & Holsworth, R. (2010). The indispensable university: Higher education, economic development, and the knowledge economy. Lanham, Md.: Rowman
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Mental health care and screenings in public school system
Mental health care and screenings in public school system
Order Instructions:
Planning Your Visit Guidelines
Graded Assignment 2
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to: (a) identify and articulate a plan for a legislative/policy making visit (CO #2); (b) deliver a message and ask/recommendations (CO #2, 3), and (c) communicate ideas in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner. (CO #3)
COURSE OUTCOMES
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
(CO #2) Employ strategies to affect the development, implementation, and consequences of policies at the institutional, local, national, and international levels. (PO 4, 8, 10)
(CO #3) Communicate with policymakers to advocate for effective policies that affect nurses and nursing, consumers, or the health care system. (PO 2, 3,10)
(CO #4) Analyze the historical, ethical, and political contexts of health care policy and the consequences of policy implementation. (PO 6, 10)
(CO #5) Advocate for institutional, local, national, and international policies that influence health care and its consumers and nurses and their nursing practice. (PO 2, 10)
TOTAL POINTS: 175 points
REQUIREMENTS
Assignment Criteria for Presentation
1. Introduce your chosen policy issue, the current status, and an overview of your plan for a legislative visit.
2. Articulate key strategies involved in your plan, message, and recommendations under each of the Planning Your Visit Ungraded Worksheet 2 sections using headings in your paper.
3. Provide an analysis of empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies including plan, message, and follow-up.
4. Provide specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing.
5. Provide concluding statements summarizing the content.
6. Paper will be five (5) pages, excluding title and reference pages, and in APA format 6th edition.
PREPARING THE PAPER
Following completion of Planning Your Visit Ungraded Worksheet 2, develop a plan for visiting your policymaker, including the message/ask, and the recommendation(s) you will deliver. Include a minimum of five (5) classic references or current references (published within the past 5 years) that support your plan, the message, recommendations, and follow-up.
Category Points % Description
Introduction and Conclusion 35 20 Introduction clearly introduces your policy-priority issue. Concluding statements summarize content.
Key Strategies 40 22 Articulate key strategies involved in your plan, message, and recommendations under each of the Planning Your Visit Ungraded Worksheet 2 sections using headings in your paper.
Empirical Evidence 35 20 Provide an analysis of empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies including plan, message, and follow-up.
Specific Examples 35 20 Provide specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing.
APA Format 15 9 Text, title page, and references are consistent with APA format 6th edition.
Writing Quality 15 9 Rules of grammar, word usage, sentence and paragraph format, and punctuation are followed. Paper length appropriate.
Total 175 100
A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
GRADING RUBRIC
Assignment Criteria A
(100–92%)
Outstanding or highest level of performance B
(91–84%)
Very good or high level of performance C
(83–76%)
Competent or satisfactory level of performance F
(75–0%)
Poor or failing or unsatisfactory level of performance
Content
Possible Points = 145 Points
Introduction clearly introduces your policy-priority issue, current status, and overview of plan for legislative visit. Concluding statements summarizing content have no inaccuracy.
Introduction of your policy-priority issue, current status, and overview of plan for legislative visit has rare inaccuracy. Concluding statements lack occasional important element or specificity.
Introduction of your policy-priority issue, current status, and overview of plan for legislative visit lacks occasional important element or specificity.
Concluding statements lack occasional important element or specificity. Introduction of your policy-priority issue, current status, and overview of legislative visit has multiple instances of inaccuracies or is lacking content. Concluding statements have multiple instances of inaccuracies or lacks content.
Identification of all key strategies of your policy-priority issue plan, ask, and recommendations are clearly analyzed and fully articulated.
Identification of key points of your policy-priority issue plan, ask, and recommendations has rare inaccuracy or lack of detail/clarity. Identification of key points of your policy-priority issue plan, ask, and recommendations lacks occasional important elements or specificity.
Identification of key points of your policy-priority issue plan, ask, and recommendations has multiple instances of inaccuracies, lacks content or clarity.
Empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies to your policy-priority issue has no inaccuracy and is clearly articulated.
Empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies to your policy-priority issue lacks occasional important elements or specificity.
Empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies to your policy-priority issue has multiple instances of inaccuracies or lacks detail/articulation.
Empirical evidence supporting your approach strategies to your policy-priority issue is missing.
Specific Examples 35–32 Points 31–29 Points 28–27 Points 26–0 Points
Provides specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing and has no inaccuracy and is clearly articulated.
Provides specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing and lacks occasional important elements or specificity and/or lacks clarity.
Provides specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing and has multiple instances of inaccuracies and/or lacks clarity.
No specific examples of the impact and/or importance of a successful visit and follow-up to nursing.
Points Points Points Points
Content Subtotal _____of points
Format
Possible Points = 30 Points
APA Format: 15–14 Points 13 Points 12–11 Points 10–0 Points
Text, title page, and reference page(s) are completely consistent with APA format. There are 1–2 APA format errors in the text, title page, and/or reference page(s). There are 3–4 APA format errors in the text, title page, and/or reference page(s). There are 5 or more APA format errors in the text, title page, and/or reference page(s).
Paper is appropriate in length. References include the minimum of five (5) scholarly references, excluding the course text. Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are consistent with formal written work.
Paper is short or long in length and/or contains fewer than 5 but more than 1 scholarly reference, excluding course text, or references utilized are not scholarly. Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are consistent with formal written work with1–2 exceptions.
Paper is short or long in length and contains only 1 scholarly reference. Additional references are not scholarly.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are consistent with formal written work with 3–4 exceptions.
Paper is two or more pages short or long in length and does not contain scholarly references.
References utilized are not scholarly. Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are not followed with 5 or more errors.
Format Subtotal _____of points
Total Points _____of points
SAMPLE ANSWER
Mental health care and screenings in public school system
In healthcare setting, there are various policy issues aimed at providing solutions to various healthcare problems. This discussion focuses on policy on mental health care and screenings in public school system. Many children in schools suffer from mental diseases such as autism, memory loss and this impact on their studies in schools. Coming up with a policy on screenings of students with such problems will help to promote their healthy living as well as improve their learning outcomes. This paper therefore provides a plan and strategies in addressing these problems in schools.
Mental health is one of the challenges that many schools experience across the world. Out of the 450,000 youths in schools, around 47 percent of them elementary and middle school suffer from emotional disturbance and other mental problems (Atkins, Hoagwood, Kutash, & Seidman, 2010). 73 percent of students in secondary school as well suffer from this problem while only 20 percent have the opportunity to access to appropriate services (Atkins, Hoagwood, Kutash, & Seidman, 2010).
The current status of the mental health care and screenings in public school systems is that twenty five percent of children experience a mental health disorder annually. Other than that forty percent of adolescents meet lifetime diagnostic criteria for multiple mental health disorders according to Stiffman et al., (2011), mental health disorders can greatly affect children and adolescents’ functioning in multiple domains, including at school, in the home, with friends and in communities (Stiffman et al., 2011).
Given the high prevalence of mental health disorders among children and adolescents,
Schools have developed programs to meet students’ mental health needs. These students mental
Health (SMH) programs can range from universal to highly target. Universal programs are designed to increase awareness of and sensitivity to mental health issues in students. For example, by supporting students coping with stress and encouraging student help-seeking behaviors. The more-targeted programs are designed to provide staff or faculty skills to identify and respond to specific mental health issues or populations (e.g., suicide prevention, substance use).
Before making a visit to the policy maker (superintendent) it is important to have a good plan on the same. In this case, I will have to come up with a draft on the major aspects that are required to discuss with the policy maker. As part of my preparation, I will be forced to carry out a survey and as well read various literature studies on the topic/policy issue to acquaint myself with the information about the same. This will enable me to have a clear understanding of the problem and make the argument credible and persuasive.
The purpose of this assignment is to identify and articulate a plan for a policymaking and legislative visit while exploring strategies to affect the development, implementation, and consequences of policies at the institutional, local, national, and international levels. The paper also seeks to create strategies to communicate with policy makers to advocate for effective policies that affect nurses and nursing, consumers, or the health care system. An attempt to analyze the historical, ethical, and political contexts of health care policy and the consequences of policy implementation will also be made. Arguments made in the paper will advocate for institutional, local, national, and international policies that influence health care and its consumers and nurses and their nursing practice.
Evaluating the diverse array of SMH programs is critical to improving their effectiveness. Health care professionals for children and adolescents must educate key stakeholders about the extent of these problems and work together with them to increase access to mental health resources. School-based programs offer the promise of improving access to diagnosis of and treatment for the mental health problems of children and adolescents. Pediatric health care professionals, educators, and mental health specialists should work in collaboration to develop and implement effective school-based mental health services.
The plan must have key strategies that indicate clearly how the policy will be implemented and its implications on the society. I will have to review works done by others in this area. This will enable me to gain a deeper understanding of what has been found in the field and the gaps (Keeton, Soleimanpour & Brindis, 2012). I will therefore use this knowledge to build a strong case by focusing more on these gaps to provide an insightful solution to the problem at hand. I will also abreast myself to understand how the policies are legislated before they are adapted. Therefore, one of the strategies is to make sure that the policy addresses salient aspects that have not been addressed by the current legal systems. I will as well base my arguments on evidence-based research to enhance its adaptability. The policy maker need to be motivated and satisfied that indeed the policy is workable and credible.
Communication is also very critical strategy in this process (Keeton, Soleimanpour & Brindis, 2012). Being able to communicate effectively is important in influencing the policy makers to buy into ones idea. I therefore, will establish rapport with the policy makers through appropriate communication skills. The messages conveyed must be positive to influence the whims of the policy maker. Example of the messages I will send will manifest my level of professionalism and attention to detail. They will also provide positivity about the policy to influence its adoption. The recommendations of the policy will also play a critical role in determining whether the policy makers will supported it or not recommendation will be clear and precise (Keeton, Soleimanpour & Brindis, 2012). They will also be based on the evidence-based research.
The approach strategies including plan, the messages, recommendation and follow up will be based on empirical evidence. Planning is important as it allows one to be ready and understanding the scope of the project. Planning allows the researcher to estimate the resources required, time required human resources requirements among many other aspects. It therefore helps to provide an overview of the project and whether it will be successful or not hence if worth implementation or not (Keeton, Soleimanpour & Brindis, 2012). The messages must as well be appropriate to trigger positive outcome. The medium of communicating is also essential. Using face to face is one of the methods of relaying communication. It is effective because, people can observe the emotions and gestures of the parties when communicating hence enhancing understanding. Follow up is also critical in any communication process. It allows one to determine whether the process was successful or not (Happell et al., 2013). For instance, in these initiatives, follow up is critical to ensure whether the policy makers will have approved the same or not. It will also allow the policy makers to provide recommendations on areas that require further amendments to refine the policy
Importance of a successful visit and follow up to nursing is exemplified through various outcomes. A nurse will often feel good and successful when policies proposed by them go through. A successful visit by the nurse is evident through the negotiations and the final decisions reached by the policy maker. Managing to convince the policy maker about the viability of this policy will be one of the indications of success of the policy (Rutten, Gelius, & Abu-Omar, 2010). A nurse gets gratification from positive feedback from the policy makers and this increases their level of commitment in rendering better quality services.
It is therefore important for nurse to participate in policymaking. They have an opportunity to help contribute positively in promotion of health through evidenced based research. Strategic planning is also very important to ensure that the policy maker responds positively on the policy. The messages and recommendations must indicate professionalism. It is also important to follow up to ensure that the project recommendations are acted upon. Nurses are gratified and feel good when they help to change the society though their initiatives. Mental healthcare and screening is school system is a policy that will impact positively on the lives of many students with various mental problems. This will promote their learning and will allow them to receive appropriate training. Children in schools that are mistreated and discriminated against because of this mental status will also be able to learn in conducive environment. Specialist training services can be provided to such children to help them achieve their dreams. Some of the conditions are not worse and if assistance is accordance, the lives of these children can be transformed.
References
Atkins, M., Hoagwood, K., Kutash, K., &Seidman, E. (2010). Toward the integration of education and mental health in schools. Administrative Policy Mental Health, 37(1-2). 40-47. doi: 10.1007/s10488-010-0299-7.
Rutten, A., Gelius, P., & Abu-Omar, K. (2010). Policy development and implementation in health promotion – from theory to practice: The adept model. Health Promotion International, 26(3). 322-329. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daq080
Stiffman, A.R., Stelk, W., Horwitz, S.M., Evans, M.E., Outlaw, F.H., & Atkins, M. (2010). A public health approach to children’s mental health services: Possible Solutions to current service inadequacies. Administrative Policy Mental Health, 37(1-2). 120-124. doi: 10.1007/s/10488-009-0259-2.
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2) Write down the eleven (11) “lessons” that organize the narrative as they appear. (It’s easy–they pop right up).
3) Describe what McNamara MEANS by each “lesson.” To what is he referring? (Your answer will be longer than a single sentence and reference both his meaning and the history he cites.)
5) Lessons Learned: Bay of Pigs Invasion
www.youtube.com/watch
a) How did Castro view the US and what worried the US about Castro?
b) Which president first approved the CIA plot to overthrow Castro?
c) The plan was that Cuban elites abroad would invade and trigger what?
d) JFK inherits the plan, and he doubts it; but, if he chose not to support the so-called Operation Bumpy Road, what would he probably have been accused of being?
e) Partly, it failed because JFK refused to authorize what?
f) Also, who failed to rise up?
6) Cuban Missile Crisis (from Fog of War with Robert McNamara) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZVR-DKERhc www.youtube.com/watch
a) What did the Soviet Union do “under the cloak of deceit”?
b) What does McNamara tell JFK on an audio tape are the two things that needed to be done?
c) What was General Lamay’s recommendation?
d) On “that critical Saturday,” how many messages did they have from Khrushchev [the head of the Soviet Union]?
e) The first messages said if the US promised not to do WHAT, that the Soviets would take the missiles out of Cuba?
f) What did former ambassador to Russia, Tommy Thompson, tell JFK to do?
7) Gulf of Tonkin Incident (also from Fog of War)
www.youtube.com/watch
a) The ship Maddox reports what?
b) Though nothing blew up, the US ordered air bombing attacks where?
c) With the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Congress gave the president what power?
d) As it turned out, the error was allegedly by the sonar men. Why?
8) Vietnam: Road to War (3 mins) http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war
www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war
[Please be aware this video states that N. Vietnam attacked US ships, but remember that no boat was hit and the “attack” amounted to alleged blips on a radar screen.]
a) If Americans knew about Vietnam at all, they knew it as a….what?
b) Americans feared that if Vietnam fell to communism that what would then happen?
c) What president was going to pull US military advisors and money out of a failing situation in Vietnam?
d) Who was president (the former’s v.p.) during the Tonkin Incident and who really started the actual war?
e) Did the “resolution” declar war officially?
f) In five years, how many US troops were in Vietnam?
g) How many Americans total served?
h) In what year did the US lose this war and Vietnam “fall” to communists?
9) Tet Offensive (5 mins) http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive
a) What was “Tet”?
b) The North Vietnamese declared a seven-day what?
c) So the “Tet Offensive” was what? (It’s posted in a words/titles frame)
d) How many cities get attacked at the same time?
e) How many Americans were killed that one year?
f) Although the US technically win against the Tet Offensive, the N Vietnamese see it as a long-term victory because what happened? That is, why was this a turning point?
10) AGENT ORANGE (5 mins) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65KFpyxK0Ho www.youtube.com/watch
a) Agent Orange was a herbicide. What is that?
b) The first man to speak (to be interviewed) said he saw what?
c) How many gallons were sprayed by the US on Vietnam?
d) How long does it take Agent Orange to “degrade”?
e) What disease did the American soldier who spoke have?
11) Nixon https://www.video.pbs.org/video/14275557/
Nixon was writing a special speech in response to what?
He called the “forgotten Americans,” his supporters, what??
Did his overall ratings rise or fall after the speech?
12) Nixon Speaks on Vietnam in 1969
www.youtube.com/watch
a) How long had the war gone on when he was inaugurated?
b) How many Americans were in Vietnam at the time?
c) In what city were failed negotiations going on?
d) What would have been “the popular and easy course to follow”?
e) Nixon says the real question at hand is how to win America’s WHAT?
f) He says Eisenhower sent what? Kennedy sent what? And Johnson sent what
Secretary of Defense during Kennedy/Johnson administration
2) Write down the eleven (11) “lessons” that organize the narrative as they appear. (It’s easy–they pop right up).
Empathize with your enemy.
Rationality will not save us.
There’s something beyond one’s self.
Maximize efficiency.
Proportionality should be a guideline in war.
Get the data.
Belief and seeing are both often wrong.
Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.
In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.
Never say never.
You can’t change human nature.
3) Describe what McNamara MEANS by each “lesson.” To what is he referring? (Your answer will be longer than a single sentence and reference both his meaning and the history he cites.)
Empathize with your enemy: It is important to loot more at the world through the eyes of our enemies so as to appreciate their opinions and thoughts processes.
Rationality alone will not save us: It was luck that saved the US from the Cuban Missile crisis. There is potential for nuclear war up to date. This might result from a combination of nuclear weapons and human error.
There’s something beyond one’s self: McManara’s important events in his life greatly influenced his policy decisions as Defense Secretary.
Maximize efficiency: McManara helped maximize efficiency after being brought back from the 8th Air Force and assigned to the 58th Bomb Wing flying planes to the Pacific theatre. He was majorly responsible for the decision to begin firebombing Japanese cities.
Proportionality should be a guideline in war: Accoding to McManara, if the US had lost the war, they would all have been subjected to criminal proceedings. His belief is that they indeed acted as war criminals.
Get the data: While working as an executive member at Ford, MacManara commissioned several studies with the purpose of getting information on everything from buyer demographics for vehicles to accident reports in order to make cars safer. This information was used for designing care that great successes. McManara believes that in order to improve the deteriorating conditions, it was important for American people to be educated on the dire conditions of the country.
Belief and seeing are both often wrong: Despite the US putting themselves in the “skin of the Soviets” during the Crisis, the US still failed to do so with Vietnam because of a lack of understanding of the Vietnamese position. In the eyes of the people, the Vietnamese conflict was a civil war and not a Cold War battle that the US thought it was.
Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning: Despite being the most powerful nation in the world today, it is not good to use power unilaterally. Failure to convince allies about the correctness of our actions means that there is need to reexamine the US’s reasoning.
In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil: Despite having to engage in evil at times, it is important to do the best to minimize it. McManara sympathized with the anti-war protestors during his time as Defense Secretary.
Never say never: McManara believes that the president was solely responsible fir the Vietnam War. He also feels apologetic for his errors.
You can’t change human nature. According to McManara, ‘the fog of war’ implies to the complexities of war and the inability of human mind to fully comprehend them at one time. Human nature complicates war and it makes it difficult to end it. Though we are rational individuals, rationality is limited.
5) Lessons Learned: Bay of Pigs Invasion www.youtube.com/watch
a) How did Castro view the US and what worried the US about Castro?
Castro viewed US as an enemy to Cuba, while US were worried about Castro’s anti-American rhetoric. In addition, they were worried about the bearded revolutionary of Cuba.
b) Which president first approved the CIA plot to overthrow Castro?
President Eisenhower.
c) The plan was that Cuban elites abroad would invade and trigger what?
To overthrow Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba.
d) JFK inherits the plan, and he doubts it; but, if he chose not to support the so-called Operation Bumpy Road, what would he probably have been accused of being?
He would have been accused of being a failure both at home and abroad.
e) Partly, it failed because JFK refused to authorize what?
They introduced nuclear missiles into Cuba that besieged 90 million Americans.
b) What does McNamara tell JFK on an audio tape are the two things that needed to be done?
Develop a specific strike plan.
Consider the consequences.
c) What was General Lamay’s recommendation?
He recommended that President Kennedy to go to war in the Bay of Pigs and later in the Cuban missile crisis.
d) On “that critical Saturday,” how many messages did they have from Khrushchev [the head of the Soviet Union]?
Two messages.
e) The first messages said if the US promised not to do WHAT, that the Soviets would take the missiles out of Cuba?
Promised not to invade Cuba.
f) What did former ambassador to Russia, Tommy Thompson, tell JFK to do? He is the one who revealed the scheme of Khrushchev that he had ordered his ambassadors in Washington to resist temptation when provoked.
7) Gulf of Tonkin Incident (also from Fog of War) www.youtube.com/watch
a) The ship Maddox reports what?
There were two attacks that were going to take place.
b) Though nothing blew up, the US ordered air bombing attacks where?
North Vietnam.
c) With the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Congress gave the president what power?
They gave President Lyndon B. Johnson unlimited powers that he was to go up against the communist aggression in Southeast Asia.
d) As it turned out, the error was allegedly by the sonar men. Why? Because it was concluded that the motive was not political. NSA deliberately distorted intelligence reports to cover up honest intelligence error.
8) Vietnam: Road to War (3 mins) http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war
[Please be aware this video states that N. Vietnam attacked US ships, but remember that no boat was hit and the “attack” amounted to alleged blips on a radar screen.]
a) If Americans knew about Vietnam at all, they knew it as a….what?
They knew it as a communist group
b) Americans feared that if Vietnam fell to communism that what would then happen?
That the surrounding territories would have fallen.
c) What president was going to pull US military advisors and money out of a failing situation in Vietnam?
President Lyndon Johnson.
d) Who was president (the former’s v.p.) during the Tonkin Incident and who really started the actual war?
Richard Nixon.
e) Did the “resolution” declar war officially?
No.
f) In five years, how many US troops were in Vietnam?
500,000 US troops were in Vietnam.
g) How many Americans total served?
This was a revolving point in the war when the enemy seemed to rebel against the attackers.
b) The North Vietnamese declared a seven-day what?
It was declared a world heritage site.
c) So the “Tet Offensive” was what? (It’s posted in a words/titles frame)
This was the time when the South Vietnamese army was able to repel the assault from the U.S forces.
d) How many cities get attacked at the same time?
These were about a hundred cities.
e) How many Americans were killed that one year?
9000 Americans.
f) Although the US technically win against the Tet Offensive, the N Vietnamese see it as a long-term victory because what happened? That is, why was this a turning point? Because President Johnson was faced with the public, that were unhappy Americans. However, he also dismissed Tet Offensive as complete failure. He even faced opposition in his party.
10) AGENT ORANGE (5 mins) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65KFpyxK0Howww.youtube.com/watch
a) Agent Orange was a herbicide. What is that? It was used in by the military in the Vietnamese war.
b) The first man to speak (to be interviewed) said he saw what?
He saw Agent Orange pouring from the skies.
c) How many gallons were sprayed by the US on Vietnam?
20 million gallons.
d) How long does it take Agent Orange to “degrade”?
It takes decades to degrade.
e) What disease did the American soldier who spoke have?
The Vietnam War.
He called the “forgotten Americans,” his supporters, what??
The ‘great silent majority’
Did his overall ratings rise or fall after the speech? The rating soared very high.
12) Nixon Speaks on Vietnam in 1969 www.youtube.com/watch
a) How long had the war gone on when he was inaugurated?
The war had gone on for four years.
b) How many Americans were in Vietnam at the time?
540,000 Americans.
c) In what city were failed negotiations going on?
Paris
d) What would have been “the popular and easy course to follow”?
The popular and easy course to follow was to order the immediate withdrawal of all American forces.
e) Nixon says the real question at hand is how to win America’s WHAT?
Peace.
f) He says Eisenhower sent what? Kennedy sent what? And Johnson sent what?
Nixon says Eisenhower sent economic aid and military equipment to help the South Vietnamese in their attempts to prevent the takeover by Communists. Kennedy sent 16,000 military personnel to Vietnam to act as combat advisers. Lastly, Johnson sent U.S. combat forces to South Vietnam.
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Surveillance System Comparison
This section of your Scholar-Practitioner Project prompts you to explore modern surveillance systems applied at different levels of government related to the disease you selected. In addition, you describe the government’s responsibility to monitor and report at the four political levels. By understanding the reporting requirements of government, you are able to design your surveillance system to meet those requirements.
To complete this portion of your Scholar-Practitioner Project, write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
Identify modern surveillance systems implemented at the local, state, regional, and national levels related to the disease you selected.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the modern systems in monitoring the disease you selected.
Analyze the government’s responsibilities for monitoring the disease/condition you selected at the different political levels (local, state, regional, and national). Include an explanation of how the reporting requirements differ at each level.
Suggest how you would apply any lessons learned in this exercise to the system you are constructing.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Surveillance System Comparison
Modern surveillance systems implemented at the local, state, regional, and national levels
Early warning surveillance systems are designed to create an early alert of a disease threat through the detection of mere presence of potentially infectious micro-organisms. Early warning surveillance systems are mostly monitored at the federal level. Syndromic surveillance deals with symptoms indicative of Ebola virus. This surveillance system providing real time monitoring for non-specific, prediagnostic indicators of disease outbreaks has been broadly adopted by cities, states and the national government. States use The Real Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance System (RODS) in gathering data on symptoms of emergency room patients (Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on Microbial Threats, 2007).
Situational awareness surveillance systems are used in monitoring the progress and outcome of an intervention for purposes of mitigating or stopping the progression of a communicable disease. Cities, states and the national government have shown a wide and multifaceted use of surveillance for describing and informing response throughout the entire period of an outbreak. Animal surveillance systems help in detecting transmission of the Ebola virus among animal and human populations over space and time, in addition to predicting future transmission patterns.
The effectiveness of the modern systems in monitoring Ebola virus
The modern surveillance systems assist local and state health departments in enhancing, designing, and developing means for rapid detection of Ebola outbreaks as well as other public health threats and emergencies. These surveillance systems enable the health departments to investigate and mitigate such outbreaks of part of a National Electronic Disease Surveillance System. For instance, syndromic surveillance systems help in providing timelier identification of disease outbreaks than could be achieved through traditional surveillance systems. Nevertheless, sysndromic surveillance has been criticized for the few outbreaks that it has managed to detect and most people are doubtful as to its potential to perform better than alternative systems to alert the public health community to a problem.
The government’s responsibilities for monitoring Ebola virus at the different political levels (local, state, regional, and national)
In America, public health surveillance for infectious diseases occurs through a variety of local, state, regional and federal programs. Healthcare providers and others often report cases of ‘notifiable’ infectious disease as defined under local and state health codes to health departments. Accordingly, health department officials conduct a verification of the disease reports, monitor disease incidence, identify possible, and send the findings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies carry out an independent gathering and analysis of information for disease surveillance. Furthermore, the federal agencies fund national and international networks for disease surveillance laboratories which establish diagnostic tests and develop disease diagnostic research. Despite the CDC having set out guidelines for surveillance systems funded by the national government, there is a general lack of evaluation. In addition, so far there is barely any evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of massive national public health surveillance investments.
In conclusion, it is very important to note that effective surveillance requires a clear appreciation of the capabilities sought. When designing a surveillance system, I need to establish the phenomena that need detection, the populations in which detection is needed, and the data that would be most effective for that purpose. An effective surveillance system should be follow legally and professionally acceptable processes, be cost-effective, and have the ability to identify in an ongoing predictive, sensitive, simple, timely, standardized, and flexible manner the emergence of meaningful epidemiological phenomena as well as their particular associations.
National and State Challenges for Electronic Disease Surveillance
Order Instructions:
Governmental Challenges of Disease Surveillance
Different levels of bureaucracy produce unique challenges. This holds true even in the context of disease surveillance. The inherent advantages and disadvantages of specific surveillance systems require each level of government to determine which system will best fulfill its needs.
elect two levels of government (e.g., local, state, regional, or national) and consider the challenges faced by the two levels in electronically monitoring conditions/diseases.
identify the two levels of government you selected and post an analysis of the challenges they face when implementing electronic disease surveillance systems. Then explain which challenges are common and which are unique to the two levels you selected. Consider the similarities and differences, and propose recommendations to mitigate the challenges.
SAMPLE ANSWER
National and State Challenges for Electronic Disease Surveillance
The first challenge occurs in the initial stages of implementing the electronic disease surveillance system: few or no personnel have the necessary knowledge and skills (Noah, 2006). Therefore, governments must begin by training personnel all over the country and states. At the same time, the trained personnel are frequently sent to remote areas, reducing the number of skilled personnel in their states.
More challenges arise when implementing the system in rural areas. Most of these areas have communication are less efficient compared to those in urban areas (Noah, 2006). Therefore, state and national governments must start by improving all the communication networks in all rural states. Worse still, many such areas lack modernized diagnostic laboratories, which hinder the speed of monitoring the diseases. Hence, the authorities must improve the laboratories first.
Also, epidemiological personnel find it hard moving from the old system to the electronic system due to the number of piled cases. Medical personnel spent much time reporting outbreaks and prevalence of diseases (Burdakov, Ukharov & Wahl, 2013). It is, usually, difficult to clear the many pending cases in the stations before normalizing the operations.
Lastly, the system encompasses many local sites, which must be compared with each other in determining the most affected areas. It is very difficult for the personnel to compare data for the purpose of giving preference to some areas. This exercise requires keen involvement since the personnel must go for very minor details (Noah, 2006).
National, state, regional and local authorities experience the same challenges in terms of skilled personnel, the lack of efficient resources in remote areas and the mobility of trained personnel. On the other hand, only the national and state authorities are affected by the problem of handling many affected sites. Regional and local governments have relatively fewer cases due to their geographic sizes (Burdakov, Ukharov & Wahl, 2013). Hence, they easily compare the prevalence of the diseases in different areas.
Mitigating these challenges requires training enough personnel and improving diagnostic laboratories and communication networks in every state before introducing the system. This ensures that the reporting of cases is not hampered by the mobility of personnel and poor communication networks.
References
Burdakov, A., Ukharov, A., & Wahl, T. (2013). One Health Surveillance with Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System. Online Journal Of Public Health Informatics, 5(1). https://www.doi:10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4480
Noah, N. (2006). Controlling communicable disease. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.
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When developing an IT system for disease surveillance, it is essential to consider the needs of the system, the scale and availability of data, the robustness of the algorithms, and the budget. These considerations are important in determining the system’s architecture, which is a critical component of the system. Subtle differences in architecture design can greatly impact how a surveillance system may be used and how it will perform under different conditions.
Select a public health organization of interest to you and research the organization’s surveillance activities. Consider the organization’s needs and how its needs align with the system’s software architecture.
brief description of the organization you selected and its surveillance activities. Considering the needs of the organization, recommend whether a single-purpose desktop application with local-level data or a networked application with broad-based information access is best for the organization, and describe what architectural features you would propose. Justify your selections. Respond to a colleague who selected a different architecture and/or organization than you.
SAMPLE ANSWER
IT Needs of Disease Surveillance
CDC’s Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the Influenza Division focuses on compiling and analyzing data on influenza activity on an annual basis in the United States and producing FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report. The U.S. influenza surveillance system comprises of collaborative efforts between the CDC and its various local, state, and national partners in different health departments, emergency departments, clinics, healthcare providers, vital statistics offices, and clinical laboratories.
CDC’s influenza surveillance activities include; monitoring the time and place of occurrence of influenza, tracking influenza-related illnesses, determining the influenza viruses that are circulating, detecting changes in influenza viruses, and measuring the effect of influenza on hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. Influenza surveillance is classified into five categories: virological surveillance, outpatient illness surveillance, mortality surveillance, hospitalization surveillance, and summary of the geographic spread of influenza.
CDC works towards the development of a comprehensive system for influenza surveillance due to the fact that influenza viruses are dynamic, thus requiring ongoing collection and characterization of the strains. In addition, there are high chances for influenza strains to undergo changes that may lead to pandemics of influenza; surveillance of viruses helps in detecting these changes. Furthermore, there is need for annual administration and updating of vaccines on the basis of surveillance findings. Surveillance data is also an important foundation for triggering national responses to emerging pandemic strains.
CDC utilizes de-centralized information architecture, which is the most appropriate system for enabling secure and timely exchange of information across multiple pragmatic areas. Thus, a broad-based information access is the best for CDC. Unlike CDC which should adopt a networked system, a city health department should adopt single-desktop design because local control programs are not properly designed for data integration (Jennings, 2009).
Digital Dashboard
Without the usability features inherent in effective design, informatics systems may overwhelm a user with data. This portion of your Scholar-Practitioner Project requires that you put to use the informatics display techniques that are covered in this week’s Learning Resources.
This week you create a mock-up screen of a “digital dashboard” for your disease surveillance system. Include a framework for the display of data based on the algorithm you designed , using appropriate graphics, symbols, and words. You may use PowerPoint, Word, Prezi, or a program of your choosing to create the screen. Additionally, you may choose to annotate the mock-up as appropriate.
Please save the mock-up in one of the following formats:
PowerPoint file: Use “.ppt” extension
Word file: Use “.doc” extension
Prezi file: Use “.pez” extension
PDF file: Use “.pdf” extension
Image file: Use “.jpg” or “.gif” extension
Rich text file: Use “.rtf” extension
