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Proposed business problem solutions

Create an outline of an executive summary that includes the type of problem, requirements, and proposed business problem solutions.

Order Instructions:

The assignment must build off this section….This is the project that I chose to write about.
Select a project for the purpose of completing the writing assignments of this course. Provide a rationale for your selection from an organizational strategy standpoint. Next, respond to at least two posts of your classmates, and comment on their project selection. Note: Ensure that you can develop enough information to thoroughly cover the project topic. Assume that your projects will have duration of 12 to 15 months with a functionally allocated project team. Adhere to confidentiality standards if you are discussing projects from your organization
Today, my organization uses a system called RightNow to respond to customer requests via email and fax. The company has been talking about switching to a new response system called Salesforce. The Salesforce system is supposed to be more user friendly and also coincides with the system our company uses to submit service orders; this will eliminate a lot of extra work for the agents that are completing these type of requests. It keeps them from moving back and forth from system to system. However, there a lot of things the company would need to take into consideration such as migration. All of the previous requests we’ve received in the RightNow system would need to be migrated to the new system. This is very important, being that there is no Third Party Verification being recorded for electronic requests it is our way of proving that customers are requesting the service should any legal issues come about. The end result of migrating to this new response system would make it easier on the agents completing the job.

Write a seven to eight (7-8) page paper in which you:

Recommend a project portfolio management method for your selected project. Provide a rationale for your recommendation. Note: Be sure to align your project with the strategic efforts of the organization.
Create an outline of an executive summary that includes the type of problem, requirements, and proposed business problem solutions.
State the vision and the goal of the project. Note: Be sure that the goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely (S.M.A.R.T.).
Determine five (5) major deliverables of the project, and explain the importance of each major deliverable.
Provide the timeframe for delivering the solution to the project.
Create a table which contains the generic resources, including people, equipment, and materials needed to undertake the project. Note: These are only generic figures to give the Project Sponsor an idea of the level of resourcing required to finish the project.
Estimate the total budget for the project based on the cost of the resources specified in the table that you have created. Next, add contingency and any other additional costs (e.g., intangible costs, the cost of a change in culture or process within the business, etc.).Support your response.
Determine the key success criteria for your project. Provide a rationale to support your response.
Assume that your project is delivered on time, within scope, and budget. Justify your stakeholders’ satisfactory level with three (3) key success criteria, against which the project will be measured.
Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Analyze corporate strategy and the project life cycle phases to define the project and initiate a project plan.
Apply the concepts of project management to prioritize project portfolios and align the projects with corporate strategies, culture, and organization.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in project management.
Write clearly and concisely about project management using proper writing mechanics.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Proposed business problem solutions

Create an outline of an executive summary that includes the type of problem, requirements, and proposed business problem solutions.

Executive Summary

RightNow has done a great work in making sure customer requests via email and fax are responded to promptly. However, the only thing that is constant is change and when an organization does not embrace change, it is setting itself up for failure. To ensure this does not happen, my organization is seeking to adopt Salesforce. This is a new response system that will not only address customer queries and requests, but also capture the service orders from the sales agents. This would rope in the critical information and present it in real time to the critical decision makers allowing them to make the right decision given the right and latest information. The elimination of the service order requests and others requests of this type, the efficiencies to be achieved should be sufficient enough to supersede associated costs – migration, retraining and Third Party Verification.

Recommend a project portfolio management method for your selected project. Provide a rationale for your recommendation. Note: Be sure to align your project with the strategic efforts of the organization.

Project Portfolio Management Method

To achieve a successful switch-over from RightNow to Salesforce system, the project implementation will be anchored on the Portfolio, Programme and Project Management Maturity Model (P3M3) (Harold, 2011). The maturity model is suited for this challenge, since unlike other models where managers are more often than not in a reactive mode, the former expects and requires of its mangers to be in a proactive mode. An organization should not settle on producing excellent results occasionally, this should be the norm. Only then do its customers feel wanted – that the organization values them. The maturity model is especially useful in improving portfolio programme management processes. This will be achieved at fine levels – initial, repeatable, defined, managed and optimized processes (Ralph, Irwin & Ken, 2009).

State the vision and the goal of the project. Note: Be sure that the goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely (S.M.A.R.T.).

Goal of the Project

In Salesforce, the organization will be able to achieve its desired long term goal of operating an effective and efficient business. This will mean the vision of the organization of making sure the customer requests and queries are addressed rapidly is achieved and additionally, that growing the business by getting sales orders in and deliveries out fast is vital. When these two components are made central to the operations of any organization, then the growth the organization can start to be experienced. For the organization, the pain that will be guaranteed with the switch will be smoothed over by the expected growth in order delivery and customer experience optimization that should make them more satisfied thus increasing sales (Jean, 2012).

Determine five (5) major deliverables of the project, and explain the importance of each major deliverable.

Deliverables

For this project, the deliverables will be critical in determining achievement of the objectives. The Salesforce is marketed as a programme that will make the turnaround time between raising a sales order and delivering on a sales promise. By making order rising instantaneous, the decision makers in the office who are responsible for preparing order requests from the field will now have better information when making decisions. Then will be able to determine which product/s trends and consumption cycles. To achieve this desired outcome, some of the tools to be used will include Brainstorming, Fishbone or Ishakawa Diagrams, Gnatt Charts (GC) and Critical Path Analysis Flow Diagrams (CPAFD). Each tool has its strengths that make is best suited for specific functions and aspects in the process (Batrol, & Martin, 2012).

	Brainstorm	Fishbone	CPAFD	G C
Project brainstorming and initial concepts, ideas, structures and aims	3	2
Gathering and identifying all elements, especially causal and hidden factors	1	3	2
Scheduling and timescales			2	3
Identifying and sequencing parallel and interdependent activities and stages	1		3	1
Financial – costing, budgets, revenues, profits and variances	1	1	2	3
Monitoring, forecasting, reporting		1	2	3
Troubleshooting, problem identification, diagnosis and solutions	2	3	2	1
‘Snapshot’ or ‘map’ overview – non-sequential , non-scheduled	2	3
Format for communication, presentations, updates, progress reports		1	1	3

3 – Main tool; 2 – Optional / Secondary tool; 3 – Sometimes useful

To successfully achieve the switch over from RightNow to Salesforce, the organization will need to designate a manager to be in-charge of this implementation – one who will be the Champion of Salesforce. This could be the IT manager since Salesforce is an IT based platform. In an effort to develop teamwork, the IT manager will be ably assisted by the Sales Manager and the Customer Experience and Relationship manager. This three-sided team has adequate input from the critical departments who are on the front line in having the Salesforce switchover.

Determine the key success criteria for your project. Provide a rationale to support your response.

Key Success Factors

In order for the switch-over to be successful, the methodology will follow the following guidelines. These guidelines are developed from intensive research and in as much as they are not the only ones; they offer a good guideline which if embraced, will make implementation seamless.

Define the project

This is vital in making sure that the risk of getting back-tracked, the management will have to communicate clearly beforehand to the employees, the defining management’s intent in undertaking the switch, outline the full extent of the switch-over project. This will entail pinpointing the department, functions and staff to be involved and their degree of involvement, a clear description of the end results of the switch-over project and its long-term effects if any on the organization and its components (Watson, 2013).

Establish a Project Organization

As pointed out earlier, the IT manager will take the lead in implementing this switch-over project. To capture the cross-cutting nature of this switch-over, the IT manager will have two principal assistants on this project – the Customer Experience and Relationship Manager and the Sales Manager. These two departments are the current main consumers of the project as presently configured. In addition to appointing experienced managers to run the projects full time, their terms of responsibilities will be clearly set out. This is further strengthened by the appointment of line managers of the main consumers of the project. In addition to the line managers, a dedicated staff of three people will permanently offer back office support for the project around the clock. This will ensure queries are addressed promptly and glitches in the system that could affect the end-consumers are troubleshot and addressed before they happen. Finally, a sensitive balance has to be established between the functional heads of department and the project manager (Kristoffer, Tor, Terry, 2007).

Install Project Controls

These special controls will focus of costs, quality and time. This is because; these components will not be captured as they would with routine reports. Time control; this is especially vital when undertaking the Critical Path Method-ideal for providing the best time control for the project. Cost Control; though this controls are not as formalized as time controls, they break the aggregate costs into work packages, develop obligation reports for technical decision makers and focusing human capital talent on major opportunities and problems. Quality Control; are envisioned to compromise of elements that define the performance criteria, use quality standards to express the objectives and monitor advancement towards these set standards (Robert & Randall, 2012).

Implementation Benchmarks

When implementing the switch-over, the main activities will include a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). This allows for decomposition of the project in various levels of detailed tasks. It is this small parts that when managed optimally will ensure project success. A Dependency Analysis will organize the tasks recognized by WBS in a sequence that allows for order while allowing simultaneous implementation where applicable. After this, Network Development, which entails developing a network diagram that captures all tasks in an orderly fashion, will follow. When allocating or committing resources, the appropriate individuals with the requisite expertise and skill are identified and tasked adequately. The resources are allocated to ensure they are adequate and cover all phases – build up to the phase out. It is important to estimate the time it will take on each activity and the whole project. To achieve this, the organization will either employ the quantitative, constraint, forecast or unit of work methods. Irrespective of method chosen, the technique will consider the effort-energy exerted and calendar-duration elapsed. Budgeting is important and the next step. Budgeting allows for the allocation of related project development costs over the lifetime of the project. This ensures that costs do not pile up at the beginning of a project but appear as they are incurred – in the course of a project implementation timeline. Finally, the status report detailing the work-in-progress on the different components of the project – resource load, schedule and budgets is prepared. This assists to track the actual.

It is important to point out that studies have shown that there are no alternatives to project management methods. Should the organization choose not to implement and formalize project management; it will be choosing to work at random – no clear plan. By embracing project management, individual contributions – based on specific tasks developed as part of the whole, outcomes when joined together with others results and by individuals.

Having established the power of the project management as a technique, it should be noted that this power can be harnessed for both large and small projects. Given the multiplicity of benefits and uses of project management tools, some industries are especially suited for this. They include, manufacturing, servicing construction among others. By implementing the switchover project, the organization will benefit from reduction in the cost of doing business, a reduction in the time used to attend to customer queries and complains better resource allocation and increased quality of the final product or service. These are the factors that determine the competitiveness and profitability of the organization. By being able to break-down complex projects into small independent task, cost and time resources will be better managed and more gotten from them. Additionally, project management techniques accrue to the organization benefits including, failure reduction, reduction of inappropriate tasks, close examination of the sub-tasks, scheduling, integration and communication (Fuller, 2010).

When considering the cost of implementation, the switchover will be made up of two components: resource allocation and infrastructure needed, and implementation schedule. The switchover requires cross-organizational collaboration between the customer experience and relationship and sales departments. In the switchover project, it will be very important that the project costs management be inclusive of the vital processes central to the project completion within its approved budget. To achieve this, the resources to be considered include: resource planning – establishing the resources and precise quantities needed of each in performing project activities; cost estimation – determining an estimate of the costs needed to get the project to the desired conclusion; cost budgeting – apportioning the overall costs estimates to individual work items; and finally, cost control – controlling changes to project budget (Megginson, 2011).

	Recourse Planning	Cost Estimating	Cost Budgeting	Cost Control
Information needed	· Work Breakdown Structure · Historical information · Scope statement · Resource Pool Description · organizational policies	· Work Breakdown Structure · Recourse requirements · Recourse rates · Activity duration estimates · Historical information · Chart of accounts	· Cost estimates · Work Breakdown Structure · Project schedule	· Cost baseline · Performance reports · Change requests · Cost management plan
Tools and Techniques needed	· Expert judgment · Alternatives identification	· Analogous estimating · Parametric modeling · Bottom-up estimating · Computerized tools	· Cost estimating tools and techniques	· Cost change control system · Performance measurement · Additional planning · Computerized tools
Results – Profits	· Recourse requirements	· Cost estimates · Supporting detail · Cost management plan	· Cost baseline	· Revised cost estimates · Budget updates · Corrective action · Estimate at completion · Lessons learned

Irrespective of the project dynamics, each project requires time to implement it. Having a grip on the time will enable the organization maximize its resources as well as operate efficiently and effectively. When considering the timeframe for the switchover project, the organization will have to consider the activity definition – pinpointing the project deliverables and specific activities to be performed. Activity sequencing – pointing out and documenting dependencies between interactivities (Meredith & Mantel, 2010). Activity Duration Estimating – given the individual activities, there is need to estimate the number of work periods needed. Schedule Development – sequencing activities, duration of activities and requirements for recourse when creating the project schedule and schedule control – changes to the project schedule.

For the migration to be considered successful, it must increase sales by 25%. In as much as Salesforce can be used by other department in the organization, as the name suggests it is meant to make selling effective and efficient. Despite the cost that the migration will cost the organization, the overall cost of doing business should come down by 10%. Finally, the bottom line should increase by 5%.

Provide the timeframe for delivering the solution to the project.

Timeframe

Activity/Time	Months
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Training of IT and back office staff on Salesforce
Training of sales staff on Salesforce
Training of Customer experience and relationship management staff
Training of Accounting staff
Migration to from RightNow to Salesforce
Activation of Salesforce and switch-off of RightNow

Create a table which contains the generic resources, including people, equipment, and materials needed to undertake the project.

Generic Resources

RESOURCE	COST
Project Champion (IT Manager)	–
Project Ambassadors (Sales and CE&R Managers)	–
Training	10,000
Data Entry Devices for the Sales team	7,500
Dedicated Server	2,500

Estimate the total budget for the project based on the cost of the resources specified in the table that you have created. Next, add contingency and any other additional costs (e.g., intangible costs, the cost of a change in culture or process within the business, etc.).Support your response.

Project Budget

ITEM	COST
Training	15,000
Data Entry Devices for the Sales team	10,000
Dedicated Server	5,000
Migration Costs	70,000
Total	100,000

The Migration costs will include intangible costs. These are costs that will only be incurred as a direct result of the migration – whether successful or not. This will include cost of a change in culture and processes within the organization among others. This figure may seem huge, however when invested wisely, it will mean the difference between the success or failure of the migration.

Assume that your project is delivered on time, within scope, and budget. Justify your stakeholders’ satisfactory level with three (3) key success criteria, against which the project will be measured

Stakeholder Satisfaction

There are many stakeholders who have a stake on the successful migration from RightNow to Salesforce. To the management, the successful migration will result in better decision making. They will be able to get the latest information thus allowing them make strategic decision. When demand trends change, management does not have to wait for a long time to respond. The can anticipate this and act as opposed to reacting. The shareholders should be satisfied with the migration since it will have resulted in better returns from their investment. Additionally, since Salesforce is a new technology, the shareholders will feel that the strategic direction the management is taking the organization is agreeable to them. Finally, the sales force will be motivated when they get to interact with satisfied customers. The satisfaction of the customers will be enhanced by experiencing responses to the queries in a timely and comprehensive manner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the success of the switchover project will depend on addressing some conditions of implementation. After initially adopting and embracing the project management philosophy, there is need to appreciate and acknowledge the remarkable benefits and profits that can be gained. Focus will, thus, be in ensuring the organization has sufficient cash flow; adequate existing and new infrastructure; the project manager and assistants are appointed, and that the requisite staff are hired and the resultant team satisfactorily developed.

References

Batrol K. M and Martin D. C (2012) Management, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

Fuller, J (2010) Managing Performance Improvement Projects: Preparing, Planning and Implementing, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

Harold K (2011) Project Management: A System Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling, 6^th Ed, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

Jean H (2012) Sharpen Your Team’s Skills in Project Management, Hoboken, New York, NY.

Kristoffer V. G, Tor H, Terry G (Editor),(2007) Goal Directed Project Management, 4^th Ed, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY

Megginson L.C. (2011), Management, Concepts and Applications, Harper Collins Publishers Inc, Chicago, IL.

Meredith J.R. and Mantel S.J.Jr. (2010). Project Management, J. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.

Ralph L. K, Irwin S. L, Ken L. R (2009) Project Management Methodology: A Practical Guide, J. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ

Robert J. G, Randall L. E (2012) Creating an Environment for Successful Projects: The Quest to Manage Project Management, The Jossey-Bass Business and Management, SF

Watson, M (2013) Managing Smaller Projects, Project Manager Today Publications, Miami, FL.

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In the Praise of Athletic Beauty: Baseball

In the Praise of Athletic Beauty

In the Praise of Athletic Beauty: Baseball

SAMPLE ANSWER

In the Praise of Athletic Beauty: Baseball

This paper provides a comprehensive discussion on what makes baseball really beautiful, for Gumbrecht that is. It also discusses what makes the performance of a baseball athlete worthy of praise, as well as the role that gratitude plays in watching baseball. In addition, this essay provides an account of why I believe my answers to the questions are actually correct. Substantiation for claims made in this essay are offered with quotations from the text In Praise of Athletic Beauty by Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht.

Baseball is a beautiful game and performance of a baseball athlete is worthy of praise

Baseball is essentially a ball-and-bat game that is played between 2 teams each comprising 9 players who take turns in batting and fielding, and it is a particularly beautiful game owing to its fascination. According to Gumbrecht (151), fascination is understood as the eye as indeed paralyzed by, attracted to, the appeal of something perceived, which in this case is athletic performance. It also encompasses the added dimension contributed by those watching the game. The various dispositions on the side of the watcher contribute to the shaping of dissimilar fascinations (Gumbrecht 151). If a novice spectator and a seasoned baseball coach watch a baseball game, both of them can enjoy what they watch. However, their fascination will be different since their engagement and knowledge are very different. Baseball can be seen as a beautiful game and the performance of a baseball athlete worthy of praise by taking into consideration seven different sport fascinations. These include: (i) sculpted bodies; (ii) grace; (iii) suffering in the face of death; (iv) embodied forms; (v) tools that improve the potential of the body; (vi) good timing; and (vii) plays as epiphanies (Gumbrecht 152).

Sculpted bodies: there is always continuous admiration of the beautifully sculpted bodies of baseball players. The bodies of baseball players such as those of Mark Teixeira of New York Yankees, Prince Fielder of Texas Rangers, and Ryan Howard of Philadelphia Phillies contribute to the sort of pleasure that centrally concerns people, that is, the pleasure taken by those watching the game – the spectators. Viewers of baseball also admire the movement of the athlete’s body and this really makes the sport beautiful.

Grace: “grace is a function of how distant a body and its movements actually seem to be from subjectivity, consciousness, as well as their expression” (Gumbrecht 168). Grace turns upside down all the accepted knowledge as regards the relation between human mind and human body. In baseball, grace is seen in the challenge when the player pushes faster, higher, and farther in a given sequence of body movements – throwing and running – which are performed under and shaped through detailed constraints. As the baseball athletes perform these movements continuously, they program their bodies in such a way that knowledge moves from their brains to their muscles and nerves in the arms and legs. The performance of the athlete “may undeniably improve in proportion to the distance that he gains from consciousness as well as from the realm of intentions” (Gumbrecht 170). As such, the grace displayed by baseball athletes is an important reason as to why his performance is worthy of praise and what really makes the game beautiful.

Suffering in the face of death: the devastating violence for both the spectators and athletes is another fascination according to Gumbrecht (158). In baseball, the closeness to death comes from the extreme physical exhaustion of the player. It is of note baseball entails a considerably high level of physical tiredness, and this is another important reason that makes the performance of a baseball athlete really worthy of praise. The fact that the baseball athletes suffer so much in spite of death because of too much exhaustion makes this game really beautiful. Embodied forms and plays as epiphanies: Gumbrecht (177) stated that “a beautiful game in baseball, that particular element of fascination on whose every expert fan can concur, independently of the defeat or victory of the team for which they are supporting, is essentially the epiphany of an intricate and embodied form”. As an epiphany, Gumbrecht (182) stated that “a beautiful play is usually an event because the viewers may never predict when or whether it would emerge. If it really emerges, one does not know how it would look like, and it undoes itself as it emerges.” A baseball game can be seen as epiphany in that the spectators can never predict which team will win or lose, and this aspect of baseball sports contributes to making the game beautiful. Just like other ballgames, baseball has fascinated large crowds throughout the world; baseball is highly popular in Korea, the Caribbean, Japan, and the United States.

Tools that improve the potential of the body: a tool is important to an athlete as it enhances his human abilities. Athletes also adapt their bodies to the movements, form or function of the tool (Gumbrecht 175). Success in baseball depends on an intrinsic paradox: the more rightly a player manages to adapt his body to both the movements and form of a bat and the ball, the better this athlete will control them and the more he will make the most of the effectiveness of his body. This important aspect makes the performance of a baseball athlete actually worthy of praise. A baseball player knows that to win, he must score runs by hitting the ball as hard as possible using a bat thrown at him by the pitcher and then he must run counter-clockwise encircling 4 bases: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and home plate. A run will be scored when a player moves round the bases and comes back to the home plate. Good timing: in a game of baseball, the spectators admire the good timing that is involved when a shortstop stretches for a line drive and throws to first base for a double play in a continuous pivot. In addition, they also think highly of the execution of a strategic play at home plate. In essence, a number of fascinations can, and commonly do, come together as a spectator watches a baseball game. Baseball, besides emphasizing the grace of the players of the two teams, also makes those watching the game to be ardently aware of the agony as well as exhaustion that those players suffer, and this makes the game beautiful (Gumbrecht 152).

The role of gratitude in watching baseball

Gratitude is of major importance in watching baseball. Gumbretch (231) stated that gratitude is the main source of beauty in athletics and it is in fact the impetus for praising athletes as well their achievements. According to Gumbretch (231) on gratitude, “watching sports is essentially a way of waiting for something that may rarely occur; something that is not guaranteed to take place since it is not within the pre-calculated limits of human performance.” To let occur and to see occur, infrequently, what people have no right to anticipate, this might without a doubt be the sort of experience towards which fans are open when they are watching a baseball game. Gratitude is the ultimate source of fascination in baseball. There is a sort of gratitude which ties the spectators to the presence as well as to the memory of their favorite athletes such as Robinson Cano of Seattle Mariners, Joe Mauer of Minnesota Twins, Albert Pujols of Los Angeles Angels, and Brian McCann of New York Yankees to name just a few.

The appeal of a National League Championship Series (NLCS) tournament lies exactly in the possibility of the unanticipated happening several times or sometime during the event. This occurrence could be a superior baseball team such as Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals or the New York Yankees somehow getting defeated by the underdog team, or a score being made within the last seconds of the match to seal victory. In essence, the baseball tournament every year provides moments when the fantastical, unexpected conclusion becomes a reality. In his explanation of gratitude, Gumbrecht (235) points that “for all the strategy and statistics involved in sports which are included to create a body of sports knowledge as well as rational anticipations, both for the competitors and watchers, it is the very possibility of the irrational occurrence that inexorably glues the viewer to his/her seat.” As a result, in a baseball game, the happening of what at first appeared not possible will unglue the watcher from that seat, throwing him/her into joyful gusto for having seen the feat. Thoughtful reflection will then replace this excitement when the ecstasy of the moment subsides, and the baseball fan will then become thankful for having the privilege of seeing the event – this is the gratitude of watching the baseball match.

Work Cited

Gumbrecht, Hans Ulrich. In Praise of Athletic Beauty. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press. Print. 2006.

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The Montara Oil Spill Research Assignment

The Montara Oil Spill

Order Instructions:

REFERENCING

Students are required to use correctly one of the following referencing systems for Task 2:

APA (in-text referencing with reference list at the end)
Chicago 16 (footnotes and bibliography)
Harvard (in-text referencing with reference list at the end)
MLA (footnotes and bibliography)
AGLC

The deadline is in 24 hrs not as shown as it was to enable us to get the agreed price.

SAMPLE ANSWER

The Montara Oil Spill

Description of the Issue

The world has been experiencing various disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and other forms of natural disasters that pose threat to all living things. However, in August 2009, Australia was attacked by an oil spill that took place in Montara oil field in the Timor Sea, which was named Montara oil spill. Montara development project is owned by a company known as PTTEPAA, a subsidiary of Thai production public company limited (PTTEP) and PTT Exploration Company (Cheremisinoff, 2011). The development is situated at Timor Sea that is approximately 250 kilometers in the western side of the Australian coast. The spill occurred after the blowout and fire in the wellhead platform of Montara. Surprisingly, the lick continued for the next 74 days without stoppage although the government and the company worked hard to stop it. The intervention to stop it became successful on the third of November. Within this time, the leak was spreading and threatening the lives of people along the shore. Australian marine safety authority reported that the slick was about 170km from the coast of western of Australia and was moving towards the shore (Guertin, & Neville, 2011). Thai technicians estimated that the flow was about 1500 barrels in the early stages which reduce late to 400 barrels.

The issue in Relation to Common Good and Social Justice

The Montara Oil Spill is an issue of common good or social justice. One of the most dangerous disasters is oil spill. The spill poses threats to all of living things since it interferes with the food chain. Benestad (2012) says that the effects of oil spill stays for years before it ends. An example is Exxon Valdes oil spill which still has the effect on the environment. The issue of montara oil spill looks at the welfare of animals and human beings. Oil on the surface is capable of preventing the passage of oxygen into the sea. In this case, animals including fish are killed destroying the food chain at that point. It is an issue of common good in that, the oil on the surface of the sea can easily explode to an extent that kills plants and animals. The government and the companies involved took a lot of time to stop the slick, however, the companies looked at the welfare of individuals who were affected and rewarded handsomely. On top of that, as assign of social justice and common good of the future generations, the government employed strategies and rules that governs oil exploration so that individuals are not threatened and lives at their best of state. Guertin and Neville (2011) say that by doing that, the government and the responsible companies looked at the welfare of the society which is the principle of common good and social justice.

Stakeholders and their Perspective

There are various groups known as the stakeholders who are involved in this issue in one way or the other. Such stakeholders include the company who was responsible, the Australian government where the issue occurred, the people of Timor who were affected by the issue, and the environment which was affected by the issue. Their perspectives that are discussed here evaluates whether they showed a concern of common good or social justice.

The companies such as Thai-based Company, PTTEP Australasia (PTTEP AA) did not show the common good of the community at the early stages of the slick. Any person can agree that with the help of the government and global companies, the slick could not stay for 74 days. It is therefore the obligation of the company to act as fast as possible because its present in the country is what has caused the spill. Later on, the companies accepted their responsibility that showed social justice. Scibilia et al. (2012) argue that by just agreeing that they were responsible, some people forgive them. The company has pleaded guilty of the act. Fitzpatrick pleaded to be guilty and says that “Mistakes were made that should never be repeated.” The chief executive ken says that “From the outset we have admitted responsibility for the incident and deeply regret it occurring,” in this manner the gentlemen showed their concern for the community about the incidence. The company went ahead and compensated those who were directly affected by the incidence. The company has also changed the culture of operation which assures people of unlikelihood of such incidences in future to protect communities and its people.

Secondly, show of social justice by the Australian government has been criticized in several ways. First, the country prioritizes the economic development and leaves people and the environment at a risk. Even before the incidence happened, the government new that exploration of oil along the shore is not only unhealthy, but also put a lot of threats to the sea. A good way they would have shown the social justice and common good is any prohibiting exploration of the oil in the area. Two, other than just acting after 74 days to get the solution, the government took long duration before compiling t reports about the incidence. It seems that the government is less interested in the community affairs. Martin Ferguson The minister of resource and energy says that the penalties will be put up to $ 320 dollars for companies that will be engaged in such in incidences. According to Cook and Wasson (2013) such kind of penalties would have been long time ago after observing the effects of oil spill of Exxon Valdes. As much as there are mitigation processes about natural disaster, the Australian government has not shown social justice by just giving a fine of $1.7billion to such a wealthy company.

The people of Timor are considered to have suffered the negative side of the social justice. This is through the Australian, Indonesian government and the company. Both of the above parties took considerable time to mitigate such a deadly accident. Report through questionnaire identifies the three groups as very irresponsible and slow in matters that concern several lives. Although the directly affected people were evicted and given shelter by the government after the company compensation, indirectly affected people up to now pose threats to the future generation. The report revealed that there are possibilities of liver intoxication that results from oil compounds. These later problems have not been addresses by either the governments or the company. Therefore, if these conditions are genetic as said by Benestad (2012) the future generation is likely to be affected. All these acts violate the principle of social justice and common good as the future generation is liable to suffer the sins they never committed. It is for these reasons that the people of Timor have seen the other side of common good.

The role that the environment plays to both human beings and animals was violated. The oil spill has affected the life of marine animals and fishes. The lives of birds were also threatened as their wing got stuck on contact with the oil. The mitigation process of using dispersant chemicals reached west Timor which resulted to loss of livelihood of many individuals. The interest of economic development has passed the interest of the environment which host animals and plants. If the government and the companies were in deed considering the common good of individuals, they would have not used another chemical that could pose more threat to people. The compensation does not reclaim the affected land. The company and the government delays on the safe process of montara reclamations so that it becomes to be the home of fauna and flora again.

Analysis of the Issue in Relation to the Stakeholders’ Perspective

There are stakeholders that became part of the issue to see a change in future. Their main reasons are governed by the principles of common good and social justice. These stakeholders believe on the principle of human flourishing which states that “to live within an optimal range of human functioning, one that connotes goodness, generatively, growth, and resilience” (Appleby & Kenny, 2010). Flourishing is the opposite of both languishing and pathology, which are defined as living a life that feels empty and hollow. Flourishing is an optimistic psychology notion, which is a degree of overall life well-being of individuals and is seen as important to the idea of personal success and happiness. These stakeholders are the government, the environment leaders, people of Timor and the religious leaders.

Environmental leaders argue that the environment is the home of all living things and should be kept at high level of sanity. Pritchard, the Director of the Environs Kimberley environment group argues that he was disappointed by the fine that was given to the company. He says “it was an absolutely massive oil spill,” he argues that the fine was too small for an oil exploration company. The environmentalists argue that making the environment clean by all parties is a social justice and common good for both current and the future generation. It is for this reason that Pritchard says that reclaiming the Montara region is more beneficial than compensating the individuals. The point of environment reclamation arises from Exxon Valdes that has taken years to be reclaimed and still pose threats to sea animals and fish. Leaders of the environments’ arguments are based on the reports that the long existing compounds of oil can intoxicate even the future generation. As a result, they say that the common good of people and social justice will only come after the environment where man leaves is made safe for their existence. Benestad (2012) adds that in making political and economic decisions, states should focus and evaluates the effects on such decisions on the environment which is the home of people.

When the interests of individuals come to be the priority of the nation, social justice becomes the order of the day (Renn, Baram, & Lindøe, 2014). That is the stand of Timor people. In this situation, the government gives the economic development a priority and neglects the citizens. Melé (2014) says that when the economic principle become the priority of the state, the leaders can do anything including sacrificing the citizens to gain political and economic fame. As the stakeholder of the issue, the agreement between the companies and the government to allow the oil exploration on shore without proper precaution of spills which have been seen in other countries was a move to violate the social justice and common good of the citizens. Thus, there point concerning social justice is that people’s interests in a country should come first before the economic interest. In this case, people of Timor are likely to get intoxicated; they have been evicted from their place of living hence the principle human flourishing is violated as people of Timor live under condition that they must survive.

The religious leaders draw their argument from religious perspective and sandwich it with human flourishing. They say that no human being should suffer the consequences of other human beings. The act of subjecting innocent individuals to serious suffering such as contacting liver diseases does not only violates religious principles but is also injustice. The religious consequences of the act are harsh and can lead to total demolition of the company out of the country. Religious leaders also agree with environmental leaders that the company has been given small fine that is incomparable to the effects It has caused to the future generation that will be affected by the oil compounds since it takes years to disappear from the environment. In a bid to stop future explosion, the religious leaders called for an environment that regards God’s creations as important aspects in the world. Hence, a culture that respects them should be fostered.

The fact that the government has employed and initiated acts such as a fine of $320 billion on companies that may be caught in such incidence in future will assist to guard the common good. In this manner, the companies will ensure that every aspect of precaution and mitigation actions is put in place to avoid human humiliation and violate the social justice. The government has also provided the shelter of the evictee after compensation that calls for the principle of human flourishing. Although people of Timor are complaining of future effects of the oils spill, the government has solved the current problem.

Evaluation

Following this discussion, it important to negotiate a balance that exists between social justice and development; environmentally sustainable development and just development. After evaluating those aspects regarding this case study, a definition of social justice, human flourishing, and common good will be automatically seen. Therefore, the oil company should put the interest of its citizens first before the development interest. The company should also look for better solutions of such predicaments if they happen in future. If those factors are observed, both the company and the government will be institutions that foster human flourishing, common good, and social justice.

References

Appleby, B., & Kenny, N. P. (2010). Relational Personhood, Social Justice and the Common Good: Catholic Contributions toward a Public Health Ethics. Christian Bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies In Medical Morality, 16(3), 296-313

Benestad, J. (2012). 4. Seeking the Common Good through Justice and Social Justice. In , Catholic moral thought (p. 143). The Catholic University of America Press.

Cheremisinoff, N. P., & Davletshin, A. R. (2011). Emergency Response Management of Offshore Oil Spills : Guidelines for Emergency Responders. Salem, MA: Scrivener

Cook, E., & Wasson, K. (2013). The Common Good and Common Harm. National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 13(4), 617-624.

Guertin, L., & Neville, S. (2011). Utilizing Google Earth to Teach Students about Global Oil Spill Disasters. Science Activities, 48(1), 1-8.

Melé, D. (2014). ‘Human Quality Treatment’: Five Organizational Levels. Journal Of Business Ethics, 120(4), 457-471.

Renn, O., Baram, M. S., & Lindøe, P. (2014). Risk Governance of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Scibilia, D. P., Giamario, P., & Rogers, M. (2009). Learned Piety: Education for Justice and the Common Good in Jesuit Secondary Education. Peace & Change, 34(1), 49-61.

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Quadratic Equations and Healthcare Paper

Quadratic Equations and Healthcare

In week 3 there are various concepts that are covered, from exponents to quadratic equations. In your text for this week, page 1 states that quadratic equations can be used to determine the number of trees in a grove, the size of a tennis court, etc. Additional
application on this week’s topic include:
•Life insurance calculations for projecting death rates
•Throwing a ball in the air and determining the time till it reaches the ground
•Analyzing tumor volume and cell survival
•Impact of Insurance on Health Care
View the video:
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/quadtratics/v/application-problem-with-quadratic-formula

Choose an application of one of the topics above that applies to your field of study (Healthcare) and write a short 1-2 paragraph APA-style paper about quadratic equations and your program of study. Try searching quadratic equations AND healthcare.

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Reading Log Assignment Help Available

Assessment Item 1: Reading Log
Rationale
Reading logs help students interact with reference materials. They provide a record of what students have read and a starter to discuss what they achieved by reading it. They help students reflect on themselves as readers.
Reading log entry criteria
1. The correct citation of the reference;
2. The main thesis of the reference;
3. Any predictions or applicability to future states or about what might happen next;
4. How you felt about what you have read in terms of accuracy, applicability, reliability, validity and generalizability;
5. Issues in the reading that you agree with;
6. Issues in the reading that you disagree with
7. Why the material read is useful (or not).

The Task
1. For each module (Module 1, 2 and 3) pick two articles from the course reference resources/bibliography plus one that is not on the list (has been discovered by literature searches etc.) So for each module you will select 3 articles, 2 that are in the course and one non-course. This means you will be writing a total of 9 entries in your reading log.
2. Using the above seven (7) criteria listed in the rationale section, write at least 200 words and no more than 300 words on each of the reference materials selected
3. For the article that is non-course (that you found by literature search) you must supply a copy of the reference by:

scanning and attaching to your reading log; or
supplying a hyperlink to the actual article.
Failure to do so will mean that all marks (see mark allocation below) for that part of the log will be forfeited.

4. This means you will supply a total of three (3) non-course supplied reference materials, one for each module.
5. The non-course supplied reference must be applicable to the course module being studied prior to the due date of the Reading Journal Entry.
6. Each set of three (3) readings for each of the modules are worth a total of 100 marks and when aggregated, this accounts for 40% of the total mark for this subject. See mark allocation below.

Marks
Mark allocation for Assessment Item – Reading Logs – For each group of three references per module:
1 x non-course supplied reading entry 200 words log
entry 40 marks
2 x Course supplied reading entry 200 words log entry 60 marks

TOTAL
100 marks
Assignment submission
• Students are to submit each of their Reading Log Entries via Turnitin Submission points below. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO OTHER FORM OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
• Use the Turnitin draft submission point below to upload your draft reading logs. Turnitin will produce a text-matching report. Carefully check and consider
the text matching report before submitting your final copy. (Please note that there are two submission points, one draft and one final, so that you can
review your submission in the draft folder and make necessary changes before submitting your final copy in the final folder).
Before you submit it is important that you read the following documents:
• Instructions for submitting your assignment via Turnitin.pdf
• Viewing your marked assignment
• Interpreting Turnitin originality/text-matching report.pdf
• Please be aware that e-mailed word documents will not be accepted. Late mark penalties will apply as per University policy and re-stated in the assessment
plan section of this course web site.
• The due dates and times given above under due dates are the latest that students may lodge their Reading Log Entries. Entries after that date will incur
late penalties as per University policy.

Marking criteria
Criteria Marks
Citation 2
The main thesis 8
Predictions and applicability 15
Opinion on accuracy, reliability and validity 15
Issues you agree with 20
Issues you disagree with 20
Why is this article useful/not useful 20
Topic M1 Health Care Systems
The following l provides the Bibliography for this MODLE
1-Bibliography
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2016) Australia’s Health
http://www.aihw.gov.au/ Accessed January 2016
Curtis, S., & Taket, A. (1996). Health and societies: Changing perspectives. London:
Arnold.
Detels, Roger; Beaglehole, Robert; Lansang, Mary Ann; Gulliford, Martin, Oxford
Textbook of Public Health, 5th Edition, Copyright (c) 2009 Oxford University Press. Ovid
Technologies Accessed 6 January 2011
Duckett S J (2007) The Australian Health Care System – 3rd University Press
Roemer, M. I. (1985). National strategies for health care organisation: A world overview.
Ann Arbor, MI: Health Administration Press.
Wall, A. (Ed.). (1996). Conclusion. In Health care systems in liberal democracies (pp.
183.199). London: Routledge.
WHO, Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the
International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946
by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization,
no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
World Health Organization. (2000). The world health report 2015. Geneva: Author.
Retrieved (n.d.), from http://www.who.int/whr32
World Health Organisation, (2013) Social Determinants of Health, The Solid Facts

World Health Organization. (2014). Achievements through September
2004. Retrieved (n.d.), from
http://www.who.int/macrohealth/action/update/achievements_wpro/en/print.html
WHO (2006) African Regional Health Report
2006 http://www.afro.who.int/regionaldirector/african_regional_health_report2006.pdf
WHO (2007) Every Body’s Business Strengthening Health Systems To Improve Health
Outcomes Who’s Framework For Action
WHO Fact Sheet on Spending on Health (2017)
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs319/en/index.html : A Global Overview
Accessed January 2011
WHO (2008) The Global Burden of Disease 2014 Update
http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/2014_report_update/en/index.html
2-Bibliography
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012) Australia’s Health http://www.aihw.gov.au/ Accessed
November, 2013.

Doggett, J (2017) A new approach to primary care for Australia, June 2007

Duckett S J (2017) The Australian Health Care System – 3rd University Press Edition Oxforrd.

Palmer G and Short S Health Care and Public Policy: An Australian Analysis 3rd Edition, 2000
Macmillan Publishers Australia Pty Ltd
Saunders P and Davidson P Rising Poverty is Bad for Our Health Medical Journal of Australia, Vol 87
No 9 Nov 2007 p 530-531

World Health Organisation, (2013) Social Determinants of Health, The Solid Facts
3- Bibliography
Aday, L. A., Begley, C. E., Lairson, D. R., & Slater, C. H. (1998).
Introduction to health services research and policy analysis. In Evaluating the healthcare system: Effectiveness, efficiency, and equity (2nd ed., pp. 1.3,
247.273). Chicago: Health Administration Press.
Aday, L. A., Begley, C. E., Lairson, D. R., & Balkrishnan, R. (2014). Introduction to Health Services Research and Policy Analysis. In L. A. Aday (Ed.), Evaluating the healthcare system: effectiveness, efficiency, and equity (3rd ed.). Chicago, USA: Health Administration Press.
Armstrong, B. K., Gillespie, J. A., Leeder, S. R., Rubin, G. L., & Russell, L. M. (2007). Challenges in health and health care for Australia. Med J Aust,
187(9), 485-489. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442459734
Braveman, P., & Gruskin, S. (2013). Defining equity in health. J Epidemiol Community Health, 57(4), 254-258. doi: 10.1136/jech.57.4.254

Courtney and Briggs (2014). Health Care Financial Management. Chruchill-Livingstone. Sydney.
Courtney, M. D., & Briggs, D. (2014). Health care financial management. Marrickville: Elsevier Australia.

Department of Health, National Health Service, (2018) Real Involvement Working with People to Improve Health Services October 2008

Department of Health Commissioning and System Management (Patient and Public Empowerment). (2018). Real involvement: Working with people to improve.

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Hyperlipidemia (advanced pharmacology)

HTN and hyperlipidemia are two of the most common issues in primary care. Children, adults, and elders are all affected and the prevalence of these
disorders seems to be increasing. This week think about: 1). What is the medication of choice for a 35 year old female with significant hyperlipidemia and a
significant FH CAD (two siblings had MIs in their 30’s). 2). What medication could be used for a child with hyperlipidemia? 3). Should an elderly person be
continued on a statin drug forever?
Example
According to (Mulders et al., 2012), a daily regimen including vitamins C. and E, with atorvastatin 20 mg in individuals with a significant family history of
coronary artery disease at an early onset demonstrated a remarkable reduction in the rate of acquired coronary artery disease (p. 257)
The current recommendation for children is to place an emphasis on diet and lifestyle changes not just for the child, but for the family as well (O’Gorman,
O’Neill, & Conwell, 2011, p. 5). Patients with a significant family history of coronary artery disease and a low- density lipoprotein (LDL) of greater than
or equal to 160 mmol/l or LDL greater than or equal to 190 mmol/l can be started on statins in conjunction with diet and lifestyle modification (O’Gorman et al., 2011, pp. 8,9).
In my experiences in managing hyperlipidemia in adolescents, it is critical to emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in terms that they can relate to. They are generally less receptive to prevention of health concerns like CAD that could occur later in life. Focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise in relation to improved physical performance, mood stability, and a healthier appearance, are aspects that are of more
immediate concern to this age group. It is also important when considering a statin, to emphasize that taking a cholesterol-lowering drug is not a license to engage in poor eating habits in the false assumption that the medication will make them impervious to the effects of eating unhealthy food.
(Edmunds, Mayhew, & Setter, 2017, p. 300) recommends that children who are taking statins should be managed by a specialist (p.300). The majority of our patients are on Medicaid. Medicaid requires that simvastatin is the drug used for initiating therapy. The basic tenants of prescribing should be followed with considerations to cost, effectiveness and lowest potential for adverse effects. The rationale of treatment must also be considered with the goal of short-term therapy logically being a primary goal.
According to (Edmunds et al., 2015) states that “no data are available on patients older than 75, and lipid-lowering therapy is controversial” (p. 300). It
is important to always assess the risk against the benefits when considering therapy at any age. Some of the adverse effects of statins can include
confusion, amnesia, muscle aches, liver dysfunction, and potentially diabetes (p. 301). These are all serious considerations in the geriatric population due
to the potential for comorbidities such as falls, and damage to organs that already may demonstrate a diminishing function. (LaRosa, 2014) state that many of the side effects of statins can be addressed and prevention of stroke and CAD should be a high concern.

Edmunds, M. W., Mayhew, M. S., & Setter, S. M. (2013). Pharmacology for the primary care provider (Fourth edition. ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

LaRosa, J. C. (2014). Treatment of cholesterol in the elderly: statins and beyond. Curr Atheroscler Rep, 16(2), 385. doi: 10.1007/s11883-013-0385-x
Mulders, T. A., Sivapalaratnam, S., Stroes, E. S., Kastelein, J. J., Guerci, A. D., & Pinto-Sietsma, S. J. (2016). Asymptomatic individuals with a positive
family history for premature coronary artery disease and elevated coronary calcium scores benefit from statin treatment: a post hoc analysis from the St.
Francis Heart Study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging, 5(3), 252-260. http://www.doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2011.11.014
O’Gorman, C. S., O’Neill, M. B., & Conwell, L. S. (2014). Considering statins for cholesterol-reduction in children if lifestyle and diet changes do not
improve their health: a review of the risks and benefits. Vasc Health Risk Manag, 7, 1-14.

http://www.doi:10.2147/VHRM.S7356

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Reflective testimonial Research Assignment

Should produce a reflective learning statement (400 words)/ reflective testimonial that covers the following

The key highlights of your learning on the module e.g. Enjoyed most( Ramploy guest speaker- pret a manger guest speaker – ( wwf guest speaker- marks & Spencer guest speaker )
Learnt most ( HRM approaches – HRM plannings )
Struggled with most

The skills you feel you have developed in the module as a whole and how you envisage using these in the future (Employment Relations – Employee
Engagement-Employment Relations)

Use at least three (3) quality references Note: Wikipedia and other related websites do not qualify as academic resources.

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Investigating Executive Case Scenario Paper

Investigating Executive

Investigating Executive.Research a Portland politician; what information can you find on their most recent election? Percentage of winning vote? Percentage of votes from women? Men? Minorities? Specifics on counties won, campaign budget and spending. Major campaign platforms. Write a 300-400 word article on your findings.

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Pharmacology on Prozac Research Assignment

Pharmacology on Prozac

The paper must follow the specific outline for the drug Prozac:
1) Medication/drug name (brand and generic, common street names)
2) Type (and sub-types, as applicable) of substance
3) Discussion of development
4) FDA indication, common off-label use, reason why abused
5) Route(s) of administration, dosages, etc.
6) Describe the specific population for which the drug was developed, and how the drug use differs in other populations (e.g. children, elderly,
ethnopsychopharmacological issues, etc.)
7) Pharmacokinetics
8) Pharmacodynamics
9) Desired effects vs. adverse effects
10) Discussion of efficacy
11) Conclusions

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History and development of the athletic running shoes

This paper must have a table of contents, references, and appendix pages (if needed). Double space, 11 font, Times New Roman using 1″ margins. There can be
graphs or charts but not a lot. The paper must look at various issues and concerns that should include some or all: expenses, operating expenses, marketing
issues, distribution, logistics, and procurement.

Use at least three (3) quality references Note: Wikipedia and other related websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

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