Experience Of Facilitating Cpbl Tutorials Education Essay

I am asked to ease PBL and CPBL at St. George ‘s ( SGUL ) on a regular footing. Consequently, I selected this learning experience as the subject of this assignment, in order to let an chance to see the function of these tutorials within undergraduate medical instruction and how to maximize the acquisition experience for the pupils. When I was a medical pupil, PBL was comparatively new and merely comprised a really little proportion of the course of study. Since so, PBL has been progressively used in the UK and some medical schools now offer classs which about entirely employ PBL as the acquisition method. This has stimulated me to believe about the theory underlying PBL and how it compares to traditional undergraduate medical instruction. SGUL runs three separate undergraduate classs. One of these is the traditional five-year class, which accepts both school departers and alumnuss. In this assignment, I shall mention to this class as MBBS5. The other class that is relevant to this assignment is the four-year class, which is merely unfastened to alumnuss. I shall mention to this class as MBBS4.The experience of easing CPBL tutorialsI shall be depicting my most recent experience of easing a series of five hebdomadal CPBL tutorials with a group of seven pupils in the next-to-last twelvemonth of the MBBS4 class. I have chosen to concentrate on the 2nd tutorial in the series, as I felt that this was a peculiarly successful larning experience. As usual, the tutorial started with one of the pupils showing a patient that they had seen. Once the instance had been presented, the other pupils asked inquiries, easing a treatment about diagnosing, direction program and any other issues that the instance generated. The pupils identified subjects that they would wish to read more about and put larning aims consequently. They so researched these larning aims for treatment at the following tutorial. Once the pupils felt they had exhausted the treatment about the instance, we moved on to discoursing the larning aims set the old hebdomad. In the first tutorial, the pupils had identified the mental province scrutiny ( MSE ) as a subject that they would wish to read more about. In the tutorial, the pupils discussed each country of the MSE, with peculiar focal point on what inquiries to inquire to arouse symptoms from a patient. This stimulated an interesting conversation about the different ways each pupil had learnt to arouse the symptoms. I besides shared the inquiries that I use to analyze a patient ‘s mental province. The pupils reached the decision that there was no individual right manner to inquire the inquiries and that they needed to develop their ain manner that they felt comfy with. We so used function drama, during which I acted as a patient and the pupils were given an chance to pattern executing a MSE. The pupils reported that they found this highly utile, as it helped them to get down to develop their ain method for MSE and improved their assurance for executing the scrutiny on a existent patient.Critical contemplation on the experienceI frequently feel dying prior to learning Sessionss. My specific anxiousnesss around PBL tutorials include actuating the pupils, as I have found it hard in old tutorials to promote MBBS5 pupils to originate a treatment ; staying within the boundaries of my function as a facilitator, instead than supplying a didactic instruction session ; and a fright that the pupils will inquire inquiries that I am unable to reply. I exhaustively enjoyed easing this set of tutorials. This was my first experience of tutorials with the MBBS4 pupils. I found them to be much more occupied with the tutorials than their equals on the MBBS5 class. They were able to bring forth first-class treatments without motivating from me. I found it easier to stay within my function as a facilitator, instead than supplying active instruction. The pupils discussed complicated psychological constructs at a high degree, which I found peculiarly exciting. This highlighted the deepness of cognition that can be gained from others and reminded me how of import it is for physicians to pull upon this cognition as they progress through their callings, instead than dismissing their juniors as pedagogues. The MBBS4 pupils come from a huge assortment of backgrounds, so each was able to convey a different set of accomplishments and cognition to the tutorials. For illustration, one of the pupils had a background in catering and she was able to raise of import issues about a patient ‘s nutritionary position that I would non hold considered. In the past, I have found myself learning instead than easing in CPBL and PBL. However, during this set of tutorials, I found that I was better at inquiring inquiries to motivate the pupils to believe about the right replies, instead than stating them the reply. I felt that this was besides what the pupils wanted, whereas in my old experiences with MBBS5 pupil groups, the pupils frequently seem acute to be ‘spoon-fed ‘ the replies, instead than utilizing treatment to obtain cognition from their equals. This may be because the MBBS4 class uses PBL as its chief acquisition method from the start of the class, so the MBBS4 pupils are more familiar with the format and anticipate to larn by autonomous acquisition and sharing of cognition. On the contrary, the MBBS5 pupils have a batch more traditional talks and are accustomed to being taught in this mode. I did non see in anxiousness during this set of tutorials. We successfully created a safe, relaxed environment and the pupils seemed to experience comfy inquiring inquiries and discoursing hard feelings that they had experienced. This may hold been because all the pupils in the group knew each other and were used to working with each in PBL scenes. Again this is different to easing tutorials with MBBS5 pupils, who frequently are non well-acquainted with the other members of the group because until now the MBBS5 class has had a much larger cohort than the MBBS4 class. However, the Numberss accepted onto the MBBS4 class are increasing and I wondered whether this will impact on the group kineticss in MBBS4 PBL tutorials. In footings of countries for betterment, I think it would hold been helpful if I had besides researched the larning aims each hebdomad. I was surprised by the deepness and comprehensiveness of reading by the pupils. At times, they discussed really complex topics and I was non ever able to reply their inquiries. For me, this highlighted the abrasion of my cognition since finishing my postgraduate scrutinies two old ages ago and encouraged me to set about more professional reading and alteration. On a positive note, I think the pupils found it helpful to see that I was able to work aptly as a senior physician despite being unable to remember everything I have learnt. Students can experience overwhelmed by how much they have to larn and retain. I felt that I was able to reassure them that it is acceptable non to be able to remember everything you have learnt and that you can mention to text books. I received positive feedback through verbal remarks from the pupils and written feedback to the class organizers. The pupils seemed to bask the tutorials and found them of educational value. Equally good as discoursing the instances and larning aims, we discussed a calling in psychopathology, as a figure of the pupils expressed an involvement in this field. I think I was able to give the pupils a realistic and enthusiastic penetration into my profession. My hope is that, even if the pupils do non prosecute a calling in psychopathology, they will hold a positive position of mental wellness professionals, assisting to decrease stigmatization of the profession.Key pointsWhat is the grounds behind the development of PBL course of study? Does holding an adept facilitating PBL impact on pupil acquisition? Are graduates better suited to PBL?Literature reappraisalMy literature hunt revealed really minimum literature on CPBL. Therefore, I have decided to concentrate my cardinal points and literature reappraisal on the broader subject of PBL.The theoretical footing of PBLOriginally, PBL was based on the theory of contextual acquisition. The basic rule is that when stuff is learnt in the context of how it will be used, it supports acquisition and capacity to utilize the information. PBL uses this rule by supplying a instance in the real-life context of a patient sing a physician. Colliver ( 2000 ) undertook a reappraisal of the literature and concluded that the contextual acquisition statement was based on a weak research determination. Albanese ( 2000 ) concurred with Colliver ‘s unfavorable judgment of contextual larning theory as an statement for PBL and proposed four new theories for understanding how and why PBL works, specifically information-processing theory, concerted acquisition, self-government theory and control theory. Schmidt ( 1983 ) claimed that information-processing theory underpinned PBL. This theory involves three major elements, viz. anterior cognition activation, encoding specificity and amplification of cognition. Prior cognition activation is the procedure of pupils utilizing previously-gained cognition to understand and organize new information. Encoding specificity is similar to contextual acquisition theory, i.e. acquisition is promoted when the environment in which something is learned resembles the environment in which it will be applied. Amplification of cognition describes how information will be better understood and easier to remember when there is an chance for amplification in the signifier of treatment and replying inquiries. This theory incorporates contextual larning theory but provides a more comprehensive theory for understanding PBL. I will now briefly discuss each of the other three larning theories of PBL proposed by Albanese ( 2000 ) and reflect on my experience of easing PBL with regard to these theories. First, concerted larning refers to an person ‘s perceptual experience that they can merely carry through their ends if the other group members besides do so. Qin et Al ( 1995 ) conducted a meta-analysis of surveies measuring the consequence of concerted versus competitory acquisition on job work outing. They defined cooperation as the presence of joint ends, common wagess, shared resources, and complementary functions among members of a group. In competitory acquisition state of affairss, persons perceived that they could merely make their ends if the other group members could non. They found that members of concerted squads outperformed persons viing with each other with regard to job work outing. These consequences held for persons of all ages and for surveies of high, medium, and low quality. The high quality of cooperation, nevertheless, was greater on non-linguistic than on lingual jobs. I observed concerted acquisition in action during the set of CPBL tutorials that I have described in this assignment. The pupils were acute to portion the cognition that they had reaped from autonomous acquisition and support all group members to achieve the same degree of understanding. I felt that the pupils were better able to place the beginnings of misconstruing if a fellow pupil was fighting to understand a construct than I was as an adept facilitator. Self-determination theory may underlie affairs of motive and behavior relevant to PBL. Williams et Al ( 1999 ) argue that self-government theory has the possible to significantly better instruction. The theory differentiates between two types of actuating conditions, controlled and independent. Controlled incentives are thought to be maladaptive and include external demands every bit good as â€Å" introjected ordinance † , which are internalized beliefs about what one â€Å" should † make. These are all associated with either explicit or inexplicit wagess or penalties. Under controlled signifiers of motive, persons act with a sense of force per unit area and anxiousness. In educational footings, this refers to ephemeral, rote acquisition, which pupils do non incorporate into their long-run values and accomplishments. Albanese ( 2000 ) inferred that traditional course of study tended to affect controlled signifiers of motive. Albanese ( 2000 ) described independent incentives as â€Å" those which are personally endorsed by the scholar and reflect what the single finds interesting and of import † . In comparing to the external wagess and penalties associated with controlled motivation conditions, independent motive allows the person to act with a sense of will, bureau, and pick. PBL promotes independent incentives by sing the positions of the pupils and encouraging pupils to accept more duty for their ain acquisition. I felt that I was able to back up this by inquiring the pupils what they wanted to accomplish from the tutorials, easing their treatments by inquiring motivating inquiries and seeking the sentiments and feelings of pupils in a non-judgemental mode. As I discussed in my contemplation, we were able to make a safe, relaxed environment, which minimised force per unit area and control and encouraged a high degree of public presentation and collaborative acquisition. The concluding theory of PBL proposed by Albanese ( 2000 ) was control theory. This theory was foremost introduced by Glasser ( 1986 ) , who conjectured that all behaviors, including acquisition is intended to fulfill one or more of the undermentioned five internal demands: 1 ) To last ; 2 ) To belong and be loved by others ; 3 ) To hold power and importance ; 4 ) To hold freedom and independency ; and 5 ) To hold merriment. Albanese felt that PBL satisfies all five demands. It allows freedom because the pupils are able to construction their clip and take what to discourse. It satisfies the demand for power, as pupils have the power to put their ain acquisition aims. PBL promotes love and belonging because it allows pupils and facilitators to go more personally involved with one another than in talks. The literature ( Albanese and Mitchell, 1993 ) foreground how both pupils and module enjoy PBL, thereby fulfilling the demand for merriment. PBL promotes survival through pupils assisting pupils. These claims by Albanese ( 2000 ) are in harmony with what I experienced as the facilitator of the CPBL tutorials. To reason, although Colliver ( 2000 ) found the theoretical development of PBL to hold been weak, there is an array of theory that can be applied to PBL. I have described four theories but there may be others. Further research is required to look into how theory can be transformed into effectual PBL.Comparison of PBL-based and traditional course of studyIn the early 1990s, four separate systematic reappraisals comparing PBL to traditional course of study were published. I shall summarize these reappraisals before traveling on to discourse the more recent literature. The first reappraisal was published in 1992 by Norman and Schmidt, who examined the psychological footing for PBL. They found no grounds that PBL brought about betterment in â€Å" general, content-free problem-solving accomplishments † . However, they felt that there was some preliminary grounds to propose that PBL may â€Å" heighten both transportation of constructs to new jobs and integrating of basic scientific discipline constructs into clinical jobs † . Their other decisions were, â€Å" acquisition in a PBL format may ab initio cut down degrees of larning but may further, over periods up to several old ages, increased keeping of cognition † ; â€Å" PBL enhances intrinsic involvement in the capable affair † ; and â€Å" PBL appears to heighten autonomous acquisition accomplishments, and this sweetening may be maintained † . Albanese and Mitchell ( 1993 ) conducted a systematic reappraisal and meta-analysis of literature on the results and execution issues of PBL. They concluded from their findings that, compared with conventional medical instruction, PBL is more nurturing and gratifying ; PBL graduates perform every bit good, and sometimes better, on clinical scrutinies ; and they are more likely to come in household medical specialty. However, they besides found that PBL graduates tended to prosecute in backward concluding instead than the forward concluding experts engage in, and at that place appeared to be spreads in their cognitive cognition base that could impact pattern results. Vernon and Blake ( 1993 ) published a really similar meta-analysis of the literature, which supported â€Å" the high quality of the PBL attack over more traditional methods † . They found that pupil attitudes, category attending and temper were all systematically more positive for PBL than for traditional classs. In footings of clinical operation, PBL pupils performed better than traditional pupils. However, there was no important difference between the two groups on steps of clinical cognition. The decisions of a literature reappraisal by Berkson ( 1993 ) were much less positive, saying, â€Å" the alumnus of PBL is non distinguishable from his or her traditional opposite number. The experience of PBL can be nerve-racking for pupil and module. And execution of PBL may be unrealistically dearly-won. † In 2000, Colliver reviewed the medical instruction literature from 1992 to 1998, including the four chief reappraisals of PBL from the early 1990s, and produced a critical overview of PBL, its effectivity for cognition acquisition and clinical public presentation, and the implicit in educational theory. Colliver concluded, â€Å" the reappraisal of the literature revealed no converting grounds that PBL improves knowledge base and clinical public presentation, at least non of the magnitude that would be expected given the resources required for a PBL course of study † . Unlike old reappraisals, Colliver ‘s reappraisal challenged believing about the educational effectivity of PBL. Colliver suggested that farther research was required to clear up both theory and pattern. Subsequently in 2000, Norman and Schmidt responded to Colliver ‘s paper with their ain reading of the research grounds. They did non believe its was sufficient to trust on randomized controlled tests and argued for the usage of a wide scope of research designs and variables. Albanese ( 2000 ) besides produced a paper as a rejoinder to the reappraisal by Colliver. Albanese used consequences of pupils from differing course of study on the United States Medical Licensing Examination ( USMLE ) to propose that PBL produced higher tonss than traditional talks. Albanese concluded that the positive consequence that PBL has on the acquisition environment is â€Å" a worthwhile addition in, and of, itself † , despite the absence of a thorough apprehension of its consequence on cognition. Since 2000, PBL has been used progressively in undergraduate medical instruction in the UK. During this clip the educational theory behind PBL has continued to develop and several new reappraisals and surveies have been published. A reappraisal was conducted by Newman ( 2003 ) , which included merely randomised controlled tests and quasi-experimental surveies in which pupil public presentation or other results were objectively measured. They concluded that results for pupils in the PBL groups were less favorable than those in the â€Å" control group † . However, there was no consensus in the surveies that they reviewed on what constituted a control group. Dochy et Al ( 2003 ) were responsible for another recent meta-analysis of the effects of PBL, which showed that PBL had a positive consequence on cognition application of pupils. However, no consequence on cognition was found. A figure of surveies including that by Prince et Al ( 2005 ) ( look into ref ) have used self-report questionnaires to compare the sentiments and competences of alumnuss from PBL and non-PBL schools. The consequences suggest that PBL alumnuss are better prepared with regard to several of the competences. Antepohl et Al ( 2003 ) conducted a questionnaire survey of all alumnuss of the new PBL medical course of study at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Sweden. They found that â€Å" alumnuss of the new medical course of study showed a high grade of satisfaction with their undergraduate instruction and how it prepared them for medical pattern † . However, this survey had some restrictions. The usage of postal questionnaires introduces response prejudice. They had a good response rate of 77 % but it is possible that the 23 % who did non react may non hold a positive position of their medical instruction. This survey raised inquiries sing the grade to which alumnuss ‘ subjective retrospective rating of their ain undergraduate instruction can supply relevant information refering the quality of the class. Schmidt and van der Molen ( 2001 ) overcame this issue when comparing PBL alumnuss to traditional alumnuss. They identified and corrected self-overestimation among PBL alumnuss by mentioning to self-ratings consequences in countries in which a difference between PBL and traditional pupils was non expected. If differences did occur, they were used to quantify self-overestimation and to rectify for it. Tiwari et Al ( 2006 ) conducted a randomised controlled test aimed at comparing the effects of PBL and talking attacks on the development of pupils ‘ critical thought. Their consequences revealed that PBL pupils had â€Å" significantly higher critical thought temperament tonss on completion of PBL compared with talk pupils † . â€Å" They besides continued to hold higher tonss, albeit to a lesser grade, than the talk pupils for two old ages afterwards. † This survey involved little Numberss of pupils and relied upon self-report by pupils, which can present recall prejudice. Despite these restrictions, this survey highlights the demand for farther research to find whether the differences in critical thought are maintained in subsequent old ages. Besides in 2006, Schmidt et al conducted a big, robust survey comparing professional competences of PBL alumnuss to traditional alumnuss in the Netherlands. Participants were asked to finish a questionnaire, evaluation themselves on 18 professional competences derived from the literature. They concluded, â€Å" PBL non merely affects the typical PBL-related competences in the interpersonal and cognitive spheres, but besides the more general work-related accomplishments that are deemed of import for success in professional pattern † . More late, Koh and co-workers ( 2008 ) performed a systematic reappraisal of how PBL during medical school affected the competency of physicians after graduation. The writers merely included publications that incorporated a control group of alumnuss from a â€Å" traditional † course of study. This high quality study employed a thorough methodological analysis, whereby physicians ‘ ego appraisals of their competences and appraisals by independent perceivers were considered individually. Small correlativity was seen between self-assessed and observer-assessed competence. Self-assessment showed a strong degree of grounds against PBL for ownership of medical cognition, but this was non confirmed by independent observation. The writers concluded that PBL has positive effects on alumnus competences in of import societal and cognitive spheres. Again, one of the jobs with this reappraisal was the absence of a definition of the control â€Å" traditional † course of study . In 2009, Macallan et Al evaluated which constituents of CPBL contributed most to the success of the theoretical account utilizing semi-structured questionnaires, focal point groups and a consensus method. They showed that pupils found CPBL a â€Å" positive acquisition experience † . They found that successful CPBL was supported by â€Å" the coach ‘s degree of expertness and a non-threatening acquisition environment, contributing to student oppugning † . This survey verified the thought that CPBL is â€Å" a parallel instruction attack that helps construction the instruction hebdomad, but does non replace traditional bedside instruction † .AndragogyUpon contemplation, I noted important differences in the manner in which the MBBS 4 pupils interacted in the CPBL tutorials and their ability to utilize these tutorials as a larning tool compared to pupils on the MBBS 5 class. I wondered whether this may reflect how learning manners change as we become grownups and mature. McCrorie ( 2002 ) described graduate-entry pupils as â€Å" extremely motivated and committed † and â€Å" much more autonomous, ambitious, demanding, oppugning † . â€Å" Alumnuss have already larn how to analyze and how to ration the other enticements of pupil life in order to maintain up with their surveies. This makes them better able to manage a autonomous acquisition attack † ( Rushforth, 2004 ) . Taylor et al stated, â€Å" the major difference between grownups and younger scholars is the wealth of their experience † ( Taylor, Marienau, & A ; Fiddler, 2000, p.7 ) . This is something that I reflected on following the CPBL tutorials, as the pupils in the group came from a assortment of backgrounds. Each pupil was able to convey a different position and cognition to the group, leting for a richer acquisition environment. On the other manus, pupils on the MBBS 5 class who have started their medical grade heterosexual from school tend to hold a similar educational background and experiences. In the 1950s, Malcolm Knowles developed the theory of andragogical acquisition, contrasting the larning methods of grownups with those of kids, pedagogical acquisition. Knowles claimed that one of the chief differences between these two signifiers of acquisition was that the function of the pedagogue was minimised in grownup acquisition. Andragogy is based on the undermentioned five premises about how grownups learn and their attitude towards and motive for larning ( Kaufman, 2003 ) : Adults are independent and self directing ; They have accumulated a great trade of experience, which is a rich resource for acquisition ; They value larning that integrates with the demands of their mundane life ; They are more interested in immediate, job centred attacks than in capable centred 1s ; and They are more motivated to larn by internal thrusts than by external 1s. Learner-centeredness is described in the literature as a separating feature of grownup instruction. Traditional medical course of study reflect inform pupils as to what they should larn and what sorts of cognition are considered of import ( Sheared & A ; Sissel, 2001 ) ( Titmus, 1999 ) . In contrast, PBL places scholars at the Centre of their learning experience and promotes flexibleness and individualization for autonomous, sceptered grownups ( Manusco, 2000 ) . However, andragogy has been criticised, as grownups do non automatically go autonomous upon accomplishing maturity. They may non be psychologically equipped for it and may prefer or necessitate way from others ( Beitler, 1997 ) ( Titmus, 1999 ) ( Courtney, Vasa, Luo, & A ; Muggy, 1999 ) . Kaufman ( 2003 ) suggested that alumnuss may hold some restrictions to their acquisition, including fixed learning attacks, greater fiscal concerns and a limited scientific background at registration. Survey of the literature reveals a deficiency of empirical grounds to back up the distinction between childhood and grownup acquisition. Nonetheless, many instruction methods that are frequently used in higher instruction, including experiential acquisition, pupil liberty and autonomous acquisition, root from andragogy.Analysis of literature and treatmentWhat is the grounds behind the development of PBL course of study?In the early 1990s, four systematic reappraisals of undergraduate medical instruction carefully supported the short-run and long-run results of PBL compared with traditional acquisition ( Albanese & A ; Mitchell, 1993 ; Vernon & A ; Blake, 1993 ; Berkson, 1993 ; Norman & A ; Schmidt, 1992 ) . There were restrictions to the reappraisals, as highlighted by Albanese and Mitchell ( 1993 ) , including failings in the standards used to measure the results of PBL ; general failings in survey design ; a limited research base, with surveies of PBL course of study coming from merely a smattering of medical schools ; and diverseness in what different persons call PBL. Furthermore, these surveies were conducted at a clip when PBL was a comparatively new and advanced manner of medical instruction. Therefore, studies of negative experiences may non hold been submitted or accepted for publication. There was besides a hazard of confusing, as it is really hard to randomly assign pupils to different learning methods for big sections of their preparation. These restrictions lessen the assurance one can give decisions drawn from the literature sing the results of PBL at that clip. On the whole, recent research mostly supports the findings of the earlier reappraisals, which suggested that alumnuss of PBL course of study are better able to use cognition and map clinically. However, the literature does non show differences in the cognition base of alumnuss from the two different course of study. Albanese ( 2000 ) argued that PBL improves clinical competency by doing pupils more confident and self-conscious as professional scholars, thereby bring forthing more efficient and enthusiastic physicians. However, non all the literature is consistent with this position. Rolfe et Al ( 1995 ) demonstrated that alumnuss from a traditional course of study were rated higher for instruction, diagnostic accomplishments and apprehension of basic mechanisms compared to those from a PBL course of study. There is a wealth of grounds to back up the claim that PBL consequences in greater participant enjoyment and enthusiasm for larning than traditional medical instruction. For illustration, Colliver ( 2000 ) found that pupils value the interpersonal accomplishments that PBL encourages and that are besides cardinal to effectual clinical pattern. Research into this field continues to be debatable. A batch of the recent surveies used questionnaires to compare the results of different course of study, which introduce callback and response prejudice. When measuring some PBL quantitative surveies, I noticed that the surveies were non based on any learning theory or were non proving anticipations from a larning theory and, therefore does non offer better apprehension of why or why non PBL might work. A challenge for future research is to utilize larning theory to plan quantitative PBL surveies and use the information from surveies to back up theory. Macallan et Al ( 2009 ) considered CPBL from the pupils ‘ point of view. They acknowledge that this is a common restriction of PBL research, as â€Å" pupils may non right perceive those factors that truly heighten their acquisition † . However, I agree with their remark that more nonsubjective steps are hard to use in this context. Another of the failings of the surveies that I have encountered is that comparings are frequently made between pupils or alumnuss from different medical schools. Consequently, it is hard to cognize whether any differences observed are the consequence of course of study design or the overall context of the school. Although randomised controlled tests have non been able to turn out statistical effectivity of PBL, there is considerable practical grounds from the 1993 reappraisals that pupils and module enjoy PBL more than traditional instruction methods. There are a assortment of statements for believing that it is excessively early to accept the negative findings of the literature. It seems that more refined research methods and a wider scope of research designs and variables are required to place educational alterations in a complex, larning environment. Bligh ( 2000, page ) stated, â€Å" deficiency of difficult `scientific ‘ grounds for the effectivity of PBL is non a ground for detaining execution of PBL in course of study † . There is chance for more UK-based surveies following the debut of PBL-based course of study at many UK medical schools over the past 10 old ages. The literature sing CPBL is really thin, so this could be a cardinal focal point of future research.Does holding an adept facilitating PBL impact on pupil acquisition?There is much contention in the literature as to whether an adept PBL facilitator promotes larning or non. Barrows ( 1985 ) suggested that non-directive facilitation was more of import than subject-matter expertness when he described the function of PBL coach as follows: â€Å" Alternatively of giving pupils the information and facts they need through talks and readings, they must larn to ease and indirectly guide pupil larning. They must let pupils to find on their ain what they need to cognize and to larn through the survey of varied resources. Alternatively of stating pupils precisely that they should larn and in what sequence they should larn it, the coach must assist pupils find this for themselves. † Hendry et Al ( 2003 ) claimed that some PBL coachs are excessively dominant. They reported that â€Å" a dominant coach causes tenseness and struggle in groups which leads to miss of committedness, cynicism or pupil absenteeism † . However, it has besides been shown that excessively small ordinance by the facilitator besides causes jobs. Silver and Wilkerson ( 1991 ) demonstrated that adept coachs impede student-to-student treatment by taking a more directing function in the tutorials, talking more frequently, supplying direct replies to pupils ‘ inquiries and proposing more points for treatment. However, other surveies have found the opposite consequence. A survey by Eagle et Al ( 1992 ) found that in tutorials facilitated by an adept coach, pupils generated twice every bit many larning issues and spent about twice the sum of clip on autonomous survey than pupils go toing tutorials facilitated by non-experts. Macallan et Al ( 2009 ) found that pupils â€Å" greatly appreciated it when adept clinicians demonstrated how clinical logical thinking applied to the instance † . As a consequence of these contradictory findings, some research workers began to look into the relationship between coach features and differential contextual fortunes ( Dolmanset al, 2002 ) . These surveies were based on the impression that â€Å" PBL is a complex acquisition environment in which different variables influence each other reciprocally † ( Dolmans et al, 2005 ) . Schmidt examined the consequence of coach expertness on trial tonss under conditions of PBL classs with low or high construction and curricular stuffs that match ill or good to pupils ‘ degree of anterior cognition ( Schmidt, 1994 ) . He found that when the construction of a class is low and/or pupils lack anterior cognition, the coach ‘s expertness has a greater impact on pupil public presentations. Dolmans et Al ( 1999 ) demonstrated that tutorial groups with comparatively low degrees of productiveness require much more input from a coach than extremely productive groups. As discussed in my contemplation, this is consistent with my experience. The MBBS4 pupils were extremely productive and my function in the tutorials was minimum. On the other manus, my old experience of PBL and CPBL with MBBS5 pupils has been that the pupils did non prosecute in the procedure or bring forth sufficient treatment or larning aims. In these tutorials, I found myself taking a much more cardinal function. Bochner et Al ( 2002 ) identified one contributory factor to the inconsistent findings is as the fact that there are no established criterions by which to find expertness. Although there has been debate as to whether the facilitator needs to be an â€Å" expert † , the consensus position seems to be that expertness in group kineticss together with supportive enthusiasm is more valuable than deep capable cognition. I found that, for the most portion in this series of tutorials, my function was entirely as a facilitator. However, the pupils on occasion discussed complex clinical issues, which were non easy to to the full understand from reading a text edition. This was when I would step in to explicate the construct in the clinical context.DecisionHelped to understand how PBL should run to be effectual – attempt to utilize motivating inquiries instead than give direct replies Use ice surfs at first tutorial to assist with group kineticss The accomplishment of PBL facilitation is that of cognizing when to supply aid to the group, be it proposing utile resources they might wish to see or come ining with thought arousing remarks to steer the comprehensiveness and deepness of acquisition, without needfully leaving facts.4a† Ã‚ µ4Maudsley G. Roles and duties of the problem-based acquisition coach in the undergraduate medical course of study. BMJ1999 ; 318:657-61.

We grieve that the innocent have suffered but we are satisfied that evil has been defeated

In the play ‘Othello' by William Shakespeare it could be said that in the end, despite the killing of Desdemona, Othello and Emilia that, â€Å"we grieve that the innocent have suffered but we are satisfied that evil has been defeated†, but to what extent is this actually true? There is no doubt that ‘Othello' is full of the suffering of innocence. None more so than the suffering of Desdemona who can be described in no other way than pure and virtuous. At no point in the play can it be said that she shows anything other than these qualities and there really can be no justification for the fate that befalls her. ‘She is indeed perfection', which is stated by Cassio, is the perfect description of this woman and yet she arguably suffers most within the text. Not only is her integrity questioned, the man she loves and has given her soul to, denounces her as a ‘whore' and a ‘strumpet' and in the end murders her. There is no doubt either that Othello suffers within the play. He is driven to kill Desdemona, the woman he loves, due to the notion that she has lied, cheated and is ultimately a lustful adulteress. His innocence however, could be questioned. The only proof that Desdemona has done the things she had been accused of is that which is in Othellos imagination. He never really has any real proof, just suggestions. It is in fact his jealousy and imagination that makes him believe that Desdemona is an adulteress. Without his jealous tendencies, the seed of suspicion could never have been planted. As well as the circumstances it is a personal failing within Othello himself that leads to the murder of his wife and so therefore he is not completely innocent in his suffering, or that of Desdemona. Despite Othellos already jealous personality playing an important role in the events, it cannot be denied that Iago is the character who initiates, and through exploiting Othellos jealous nature and the naivety of Desdemona, brings about the suffering of all. The blame, to a great extent, lies with Iago. His character is nasty, crude and disrespectful. This is shown in the scene where he encourages Roderigo to inform Brabantio (Desdemonas father) of her where abouts. He says, ‘an old black ram, is tupping your white ewe', which is an altogether crude and animalistic way to describe the act of love making between two people who are clearly in love. He again uses a vulgar description of the pair when he says, ‘your daughter covered with a Barbary horse'. Despite talking about Othello in this derogatory way he pretends to be his friend throughout the play. He clearly states that ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him' and ‘I must show out a flag and sign of love, which is indeed but a sign', which shows his vindictive and scheming nature. Although he pretends to be a friend to Othello, he is actually only doing it in order to let him suggest that his wife isn't the women he thought she was. With this in mind, the most truthful words that Iago says are, ‘I am not what I am'. Iago never actually does anything, he doesn't kill or hurt anyone physically and yet he undoubtedly lies behind the suffering within the play. This makes what he's doing all the more sinister. His evil nature is unquestionable and so when he is found out at the end of the play it could be said that evil has been defeated. However, Iagos true colours being shown and him being punished hasn't stopped him doing what he set out to. He has after all still made Othello suffer significantly and in turn got his revenge. In conclusion I feel that although it is true that innocence has suffered a great deal throughout the play, the fact that Othello played a role in his own suffering cannot be over looked. Nor can the question of to what extent he really was innocent in the whole scenario. In addition to this there is the question of, has evil (Iago) really been defeated? I don't believe that it has, as in my opinion, evil has done what it set out to do and has in fact won.

Police Administration Essay

Since the early part of the twentieth century, academicians and criminal justice practitioners have debated whether police officers should be required to have a college education as a minimum qualification to be hired. Today, there is general agreement that a college education will not necessarily make a person a good police officer, but a good police officer can be made better by having one. Many police executives believe formal college education can improve critical thinking skills of officers and that is becoming a more important factor as the complexity of police work continues to increase.1 According to a recent article in Police Chief Magazine â€Å"We expect (police officers) to understand and apply the law evenly. We expect them to grasp the nature of social problems and the psychology of people with different attitudes toward the law. We expect officers to professionally and effectively handle disputes involving people from varying cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgro unds.† 2 The importance of possessing a college degree by police officers seems to have substantial support in the literature. If the need or desire is established for the possession of a college degree by police officers, then how do they get one? Traditionally, a college program involved students attending classes at a â€Å"brick and mortar† campus. This was difficult for many officers that already had substantial work and family commitments. With the advent of online (internet delivered) college programs, it is possible for officers to enter or return to college and pursue a degree where previously it may not have been practical for them to do so. With that being said, does an online program sufficiently address the desirable attributes for police officers that the possession of a college degree represents? Historical Perspective for College Educated Police In 1916, August Vollmer, the former Chief of Police of Berkeley, California, was the first to emphasize the need for police officers to have college  degrees. At about the same time, the University of California at Berkeley began to offer law enforcement related courses.3 In 1931, The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (the Wickersham Commission) gave â€Å"national recognition for higher educational standards and more professional police officers.†4 Although the issue of college education for police officers was not specifically addressed, it laid the foundation for subsequent calls to increase educational levels for police. Largely due to Vollmer’s influence, the University of California at Berkeley created a School of Police Administration in 1933, followed shortly thereafter by a similar school at Michigan State University.5 In 1936, Vollmer wrote in his book, The Police in Modern Society, that police officers should be required to have a colleg e education.6 In 1967, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice made specific recommendations regarding increasing the level of police education. This report was followed by the passage of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which established the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP). LEEP, in part, provided grants and loans to officers to enroll in college and earn their degrees. This infusion of money created a large incentive for institutions to develop academic programs geared toward law enforcement. As police officers began to return to or enter college, some institutions created accelerated or nontraditional programs in criminal justice. Officers could receive credit for experience in related courses and some courses were configured so officers did not have to meet as often as traditional courses. These types of programs were usually administered through the college’s extension program. Today, many public and private institutions offer nontraditional programs that are delivered in the online or e-learning format. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in the 2000-2001 academic year, forty-eight percent of all four-year Title IV8 degree granting public institutions and thirty-three percent of four-year Title IV degree granting private institutions had degree programs for undergraduates that were to be completed totally through distance learning.9 Today there are an abundance of distance learning programs being marketed to police officers, especially online programs. The flexibility of the course schedule makes it attractive to busy students. Police officers can do their course work when it is convenient for them and some courses are designed to  be completed at the student’s own pace. Many departments have made strides in requiring some college education as a prerequisite for hiring but most have not. The high school diploma still exists as the most common minimum educational requirement. Even where departments have not required a college degree for hiring, many require or make it desirable to possess a degree for promotion. As early as 1989, the benefits to having educated officers were noted to include:10 †¢ Greater knowledge of procedures, functions, and principles †¢ Better appreciation of their professional role and it’s importance in the criminal justice system as well as in society †¢ More desirable psychological make-up, which includes such qualities as alertness, empathy, flexibility, initiative, and intelligence †¢ Greater range of interpersonal skills centered in their ability to communicate, to be responsive to others, and to exercise benevolent leadership †¢ Greater ability to analyze situations, to exercise discretion independently, and to make judicious decisions †¢ Strong moral character, which reflects a sense of conscience and the qualities of honesty, reliability, and tolerance †¢ More desirable system of personal values consistent with the police function in a democratic society Even back in 1978, though, researchers expressed reservations about the quality of criminal justice programs. The rapid increase in program offerings seemed to make some institutions gear their courses more vocationally than academically. Some recommendations were made to overcome what was perceived as major quality problems in college programs developed for police officers. In addition to perceived quality problems in criminal justice programs, there was a concern that police officers would take college courses just to get the degree. In 1979, Goldstein stated, â€Å"The factor that makes the whole movement toward college education for police personnel most vulnerable to attack is the emphasis which has been put on the acquisition of college credentials without sufficient concern for what is to be learned. Given the multitude of colleges and the number of people who attend them, the degree itself reflects little about the values or relevance of the educational experience.†11 Clearly, the need to ensure that a college program is delivering the appropriate academic curriculum is  critical. In the past, an officer attended a local school and it was more than likely regionally accredited. Today, online colleges can market themselves across the United States or even internationally, claiming accreditation from some official sounding group. Accreditation, curriculum, and instructor competence are all of critical importance in a college program. More than a decade ago, researchers articulated considerations that would be relevant as one considers the potential quality of an educational program. The recommendations included:12 †¢ No college credit should be given for police academy and similar training †¢ Technical and professional police subjects should be limited to a maximum of twenty-five percent of any curriculum †¢ A four-year baccalaureate degree should be the minimum educational qualification for entry into police service †¢ No one should be considered qualified to be a faculty member on the basis of experience alone †¢ Police education faculty should be held to the same standards as other college professors (i.e. Ph.D., master’s degree minimum; involvement in research and publication) These issues among others were discussed by a group of criminal justice related experts who were brought together in a nominal group setting to discuss online education and its potential effect on the future of law enforcement. The Nominal Group Panel As part of a California Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College project, a panel of interested professionals was formed to discuss future trends and events that may have an effect on law enforcement online educational programs in the next five years. It consisted of a Chief of Police of a medium sized police department, a professor who teaches online courses for a major public university and at a local community college, a deputy district attorney, a police officer who is a former high school teacher, a police officer who is a member of the executive board for a police officers association, the criminal justice program coordinator for the local community college, the editor of the local weekly newspaper, and a  counselor for a youth diversion program. There was consensus among the panel members that it is important for police officers to have a college education, and to possess the appropriate degree. The panel felt that a college education earned the traditional way (attending classes at a brick and mortar institution) was the best preparation for a person to be a police officer. The discussion included many of the issues published by researchers and criminal justice practitioners since the 1930’s. The panel felt it was critical for police officers to be socialized with diversified groups of people and exposed to differing viewpoints. The requisite skills of tact and diplomacy learned in a physically social environment, effective public speaking, and command presence are attributes that are learned and reinforced in a traditional educational setting. The panel recognized it may be difficult for a police officer to pursue a traditional degree due to family and work obligations. So what is this officer to do? Many of the officers returning to college or entering college for the first time have turned to online college programs. The panel concluded the flexibility of online educational programs was a tremendous opportunity for current police officers due to the demands of their course schedule. They also understood there was a proliferation of programs being marketed to police officers through police websites or law enforcement related magazines. Legitimate accreditation was a key concern about such programs. The panel members expressed that testing-retained knowledge could be problematic since testing is done in the same delivery format as coursework, and all tests were essentially open book. With regard to the value of such programs, panel members believed that a college degree earned through online programs was different than a college degree earned traditionally. The panel believed that criminal justice practitioners were overused in criminal justice programs especially in online programs. Their concern was the overall value of the college degree since true academic professors were not doing the teaching. They felt that for some disciplines, such as engineering, mathematics or history, an online program was sufficient. But when it came to being a police officer, class attendance and contact with other students face-to-face was preferred. The panel agreed, however, that much of what is done in a traditional setting could be done  online, such as submittal of written reports or studies and coursework assignments. The panel also felt that too much academic credit was given for experience in police work through online programs. The panel felt that rather than rely on a purely online program for an officer to obtain a four-year undergraduate degree, a cross or hybrid approach, with a traditional program could bring the desired benefits of both delivery methods. The Educational Hybrid Amy Fanter, a researcher in the field of hybrid education, noted that â€Å"Hybrid instruction, or hybrid courses refer to classes where there is a carefully planned blend of both traditional classroom instruction and online learning activities.†13 According to criminal justice researchers and practitioners (and supported by the expert panel) the most effective collegiate preparation for police officers are settings inclusive of a social environment. They should be exposed to other racial, ethnic, and diverse groups in an arena where ideas are broached, concepts discussed, and conflict is resolved through dialogue, research, and consensus. Many components of any particular course can be done using the online system (such as writing book reports, completing written requirements and posting of thoughts on issues). If a class was required to meet for a certain amount of time every week or every two weeks, or even once a month to be tested on retained knowledge, to be challenged by other students on stances taken on issues, to participate by speaking about issues, and so on, then the socializing of the officer can be effectively satisfied. No matter how effective, a distance learning program not offering this option will impact skills that might only be gained in this type of setting. Using a hybrid approach for coursework would allow for the flexibility of online educational programs and meet the some of the critical benefits of traditional programs. Those that may advocate for pure e-learning should remain mindful of the â€Å"soft skills† necessary for the modern law enforcement officer, and the best opportunities to acquire them. Conclusion The desire for a police officer to have a college education appears settled.  National commissions, criminal justice professional associations, academicians, attorneys, and courts have all expressed this view. The question remains; how does the individual peace officer best do it? Attending the traditional college program at a brick and mortar campus seems to be the preferred way. This method may not be practical for some officers, so the alternative of the hybrid approach should be considered. It blends many of the positives from both traditional and online programs. Certainly, there may be situations where even a hybrid approach is not practical. It seems Vollmer and many others would support an online program to gain at least the concepts and critical thinking skills a collegiate education offers. Progressive police agencies may take the lead to shape their future by entering into a partnership with a local public or private institution to develop a hybrid program to be implemented for their staff. In any case, police management should encourage officers and employees to return to college to earn their four-year degree. The result will be better staff and officers, and a better chance to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. ENDNOTES 1 Bueermann, Jim, â€Å"Redlands, California,† The Police Chief, August 2006, accessed February 1, 2007, available at www.policechiefmagazine.org 2 Bowman, Theron, â€Å"The Chief’s Perspective: Demolishing the Recruitment Myth,† The Police Chief, August 2006, accessed February 1, 2007, available at www.policechiefmagazine.org 3 Travis, Jeremy, â€Å"Education in Law Enforcement: Beyond the College Degree.† An address presented to the Center for Research in Law and Justice, Chicago, February 10, 1995, accessed December 19, 2006, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/speeches/police.htm 4 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 1 5 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 4 6 Coons, Jeffrey, â€Å"Studies, Case Law, Quotes, Standards and Trends in Support of College Education for Police Officers.† An Information Paper for the Police Association for College Education, March 18, 2004, Accessed August 18, 2007, available at www.police-association.org 7 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 1 8 An institution that may participate in most Title IV federal student financial assistance programs, National Center for Education Statistics, accessed September 9, 2007, available at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary/index.asp?id=465 9 â€Å"Distance Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions: 2000-2001.† National Center for Education Statistics, accessed Sept 9, 2007, available at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/2003017.pdf 10 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 10-11 11 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 24 12 Carter, David, Sapp, Allen, and Stephens, Darrel, The State of Police Education: Policy Direction for the 21st Century, (Washington, D.C., 1989) 27 13 Fanter, Amy, â€Å"Hybrid Education: The Future of Instructional Models.,† World Wide Learn, accessed September 9, 2007, available at http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/hybrid-education.html

Climate Change Policy in a Globalizing World Essay - 1

Climate Change Policy in a Globalizing World - Essay Example According to the 4th assessment report, there is proof that Africa is warming quicker than the global average, and it is likely to persist. It is projected that by 2100, temperature changes will drop in ranges of about 1.4 to almost 5.8ËšC rise in mean surface temperature contrasted to 1900, and around 10 to 90cm increase in mean sea level. This warming is most over the heart of semi-arid boundaries of the Sahara also central southern Africa. Before the atmospheric amount of carbon dioxide equivalent has multiplied by two, the worlds mean precipitation is anticipated to be around 1-5 % more than 1900. Under the least warming situation, equatorial east Africa will have rainfall increase by 5-20 % during December, January as well as February and diminish by 5-10 % during June, July also August (Schreuder, 2009, p.39).Agricultural production with foodstuff security in most areas of Africa is likely to be strictly compromised by climate change, as well as climate variability. Climate c hange will deteriorate the water stress presently faced by some nations; while some of those nations, presently not at risk of water stress, will be affected. Changes in an array of ecosystems are by now being noticed faster than expected, mainly in the Southern African environments. Climate change and unpredictability could also lead to the flooding of low lying lands, comprising coastal settlements. Human health could also be more negatively affected by climate change with climate variability, for instance, there has been a rise in the frequency of malaria in southern Africa as well as East African highlands. These unfavorable effects together with poverty, institutional frameworks and Poor policy, cause Africa to be one of the most susceptible continents to climate change as well as climate variability.

Project on leaflet ordering within the workplace Essay

Project on leaflet ordering within the workplace - Essay Example These provide customers with comprehensive information regarding tenancy, ownership, entitlements, neighbourhood plans, safety, security and all supportive systems forming part of the housing scheme. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process and effectiveness of changes implemented in the ordering and display of customer information leaflets at KHT’s six offices across the borough. When undertaking changes in any part of an organization’s functioning, the individual, team and organizational levels need to be taken into account. Effectively addressing the issues that require change through relevant management processes, leads to the required results. It is essential to consider beneficial outcomes for customers, cost-effectiveness for the organization, have both vision and pragmatism, â€Å"pay attention to global and local issues, and encourage individual accountability at the same time as enabling team work† (Cameron and Green 2004, p.3). Effective management of change provides competitive advantage, improves enterprise and helps to consistently meet organizational goals. Managing change is a â€Å"complex, dynamic and challenging process† (Paton and McCalman 2000, p.2) involving assessment of the situation, planning tactical, strategic processes, and implementing operational changes. The work profile includes travelling to each of the Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) offices on a weekly basis, to check whether all leaflets pertaining to KHT and its various benefit schemes, support and services are displayed correctly. A short notice inspection revealed that some of the leaflets displayed were out of date. Secondly, it was found that staff members were not willing to take responsibility towards stock taking and ordering fresh stocks according to the requirement. This resulted in the ordering of excessive numbers of the information leaflets, causing expensive wastage. A

Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Starbucks - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to do this, as well as thoroughly investigate and consider the key elements related to these three issues. In doing this, we can come to a more understanding, knowledgeable, and critical point of view on the matter of Starbucks, its history, its strengths, and weaknesses. This is what will be dissertated in the following. It is rather well known that Starbucks has come to be, by some, regarded as a symbolic of the problems posed by globalization. In fact, several Starbucks locations were actually vandalized during a World Trade Organization in Seattle. This is why the issue of the global matters in regards to Starbucks is so essential. When Starbucks first opened its doors in Seattle in 1971, no one realized by 2006 they would be an international icon. Why has Starbucks become such a success No, they have not reached the global status of companies such as McDonalds or Nike but they are well on their way. The company is always looking ahead and re-inventing how people think about coffee. Value and quality brings customers back for more. They have offered an experience for each person who enters. Starbucks international mission is "to be a global company, making a difference in people's lives by leveraging our brand and the coffee experience to foster human connections (Starbucks Coffee Internatio

William Hill Plc acquired 624 betting shops of Stanley Leisure an Coursework

William Hill Plc acquired 624 betting shops of Stanley Leisure an Evaluation - Coursework Example The researcher states that there are different forms of growth approaches that companies generally follow. Typically if a company wants to make growth, then in such circumstances the company has two choices whether to go for an organic growth or to go for acquisition or a combination of both. For organic growth, the companies generally expand their business operations by opening up new branches, adding up new product lines etc. On the other hand, for acquisitions, the companies generally purchase an existing business such that the company owns that business and in this way it brings expansion in its existing business operations. Capital budgeting is a tool which is used to evaluate the financial viability of the projects whether in the form of organic growth or in acquisitions. In this technique the future cash flows are estimated including both the outflows and the inflows pertaining to that project after which net cash flows are computed. Those net cash flows are discounted by a re levant cost of capital of the company to arrive at the present values of all the net cash flows. Those net cash flows are then summed up to obtain the Net Present Value of the project. The NPV is then used as a tool to decide whether a project is feasible or not such that if the NPV figure is positive, then the project should be accepted and if it comes as a negative figure, then that project is advised as not to be accepted. Capital budgeting also has some other related criteria for checking the viability of the projects. ... The NPV is then used as a tool to decide whether a project is feasible or not such that if the NPV figure is positive, then the project should be accepted and if it comes as a negative figure, then that project is advised as not to be accepted. Capital budgeting also has some other related criteria for checking the viability of the projects. Those criteria include Internal Rate of Return, Profitability Index, Discounted Payback and other similar techniques. Most of these techniques work on the basic principle of discounted cash flows. These financial projections and the computation of NPV are generally prepared by the finance departments of the companies and they are used for internal reporting purposes. Those kinds of information are not disclosed to the general public because these valuations can certainly influence the share price of the company as there are likelihoods that investors may welcome those valuations and in this way share prices can be increased. If the valuations are not consistent with shareholders’ expectations, then there comes a decline in the share prices. If the projects are not likely to influence the existing operations and financial results of the company, then the shareholders might remain indifferent as to which way they should react. In case of acquisitions, generally when the terms and conditions of the purchase are settled, then some of the details of the proposed acquisitions are disclosed to the shareholders. The company does not provide them the comprehensive financial prospects and projections of the acquisition deal, rather it provides the necessary information to the shareholders such as purchase price, amount of goodwill, total amount of synergies that can be obtained from the acquisition, the capital

LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN - Compare & contrast humanitarian & Essay

LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN - Compare & contrast humanitarian & business supply chains. Provide anD analysis of similarities & d - Essay Example Though the supply chain strategies in both the cases aim at efficiency, there are differences arising due to the objectives, nature and goals of the operations, the management structure and management style. Blecken, A. (2010, p. 8) states â€Å"Thomas and Kopezak (2006) see the lack of recognition of importance of supply chain management and logistics in humanitarian organizations as a challenge to efficient and effective logistics and supply chain management†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This observation is in contrast to the recognition of its importance given by the private businesses, though an encouraging trend is evolving in humanitarian supply chain. I Factors differentiating humanitarian and business supply chains Factors differentiating humanitarian and business supply chains are discussed in this section. Though the operational strategy in the case of both humanitarian and business supply chain basically involves procurement, storage, transportation and distribution, similarities and dif ferences relative to these functions in respect of humanitarian and business supply chains are discussed separately under section II for understanding of the operational issues in proper perspective. Stakeholders The primary stakeholders in the humanitarian supply chain are the people affected by earth quakes, floods and other natural calamities; afflicted by epidemics, poverty or other events. Unlike the customers or suppliers of a business organization who comes to do business with the corporations or associate with them as employees, the humanitarian organizations are involved in the rescue or rehabilitation operations of unknown people from different parts of the world in need of assistance and support. These people are not related to other stakeholders like donors, service providers, NGOs or other agencies and the service to humanity is the cornerstone of these humanitarian organizations. Management structure The management structure of humanitarian organizations is not uniform as in the case of private corporations with a defined hierarchy and chain of command. Lack of accountability is a systematic problem in the charitable organizations. However, Tomasini & Wassenhove (2004, p. 446) noted that in the case of humanitarian supply management system (SUMA) developed by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in El Salvador a public-private commission was set up, including Price Waterhouse and KPMG Peat Marwick to audit the reception and distribution of goods as well as the management of funds. SUMA has successfully overcome the inherent weakness in the management structure of the humanitarian supply chain. Coordination with the Stakeholders Humanitarian operations are complex with different stakeholders such as government agencies, local authorities, private sector corporations, service providers, goods suppliers, large and small aid agencies and NGOs apart from the communities involved. Adherence to the humanitarian principles in the activities at all lev els and ensuring relief without partiality or discrimination is very important for sustaining the confidence level and trust of the donors and other stakeholders for their continued assistance and support. Infrastructure facilities Problems faced by a typical humanitarian orga

UK National Health Service Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

UK National Health Service - Assignment Example Since then, the government is engaged in expanding the scope of health and social care policy  as  an attempt to become the best welfare state.   First published in 1942, Social Insurance and Allied  service, which was widely known as Beveridge Report, was the work of Sir William Beveridge. The aim was to take the state towards  the welfare  state. In 1942, this influential report was completed and published.   He described various maladies such as disease, idleness, ignorance, squalor as the giant evils and proposed wide-spread reforms in each area (Beveridge, 1969). This report also became the basis for the scheme for free school meals and vaccination against diphtheria for the children who were studying the school. As the medical profession criticized the separation of NHS in 3 parts, local health authorities, general practice, and hospitals, the unification of these services were approved with Enoch Powell’s Hospital Plan. The aim of this report was to do  an investigation  in prevalent inequality in healthcare services in  the country  despite the founding of NHS and was commissioned by  then-secretary of  state, David  Ennuals. This plan brought about  the biggest  change in healthcare in  the country  with increased funding and reform to eliminate geographical inequalities, extension in patient choice and improvement in service  standards.   The concept of welfare state includes the key role of the state in promotion as well as protection of its citizens which includes health, social and economic being. The Poor laws implemented by Royal commission in 1832 anticipated the modern UK welfare state. They were ceased when it was found that they were abused by people. As  the labor party  became  very popular with the people, the Liberal party initiated Liberal  welfare  reforms and laid the foundation of the modern state.  Gradually, they were extended  to  all fields during next 40 years.

Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) Assignment

Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) - Assignment Example Etisalat is established on three values that include openness, energy and enablement. Etisalat cultivates the value of openness by being direct, fair and honest in business deals and by being friendly and sociable to their suppliers, customers and employees. The company values and foster energy and enthusiasm required for achieving the best performance in business and are prepared for the future opportunities and challenges (Etisalat, 2015). Finally, the corporation focuses on creating new opportunities and enabling people to attain their goals.   Etisalat’s vision states what the company offers and how they do it, for whom and the reason or intended results. It states as follows; â€Å"People will effortlessly move around the world, staying in touch with family, making new friends as they go, as well as developing new interests. Businesses of all sizes, no longer limited by distance, will be able to reach new markets. Innovative technologies will open up fresh opportunitie s across the globe, allowing the supply of new goods and services to everyone who wants them† (Etisalat, 2015).Location Planning The UAEs Etisalat corporation has it is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and other three regional offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates (Etisalat, 2015). UAE is the central business region with a focus from across the globe. The mobile penetration in the region is the highest globally having reached over 200% penetration. The region has highly developed technological infrastructures.  

Critically discuss the view that anti-globalisation arguments Essay - 4

Critically discuss the view that anti-globalisation arguments seriously undervalue the benefits that globalisation has delivered for all countries 01296 - Essay Example In this paper, role of anti-globalisation arguments in undervaluing benefits of globalisation has been critically assessed to determine its validity. According to different scholars, no specific definition of globalisation exists and consequently the debates initiates at this very point. However, in common language, globalisation can be defined as integration of several national markets into one common global forum where national boundaries are largely diminished (Das, 2010). It is an intensification of interconnectivity and movement of trade, finance, human and non-human resources, culture and investment (Robertson, 1992). According to studies, economic globalisation can be considered as the most influential force that has shaped the globe since the wars (Das, 2010; Huwart and Verdier, 2013). Over the time, globalisation became one of the drivers of structural changes with respect to global, regional and national economies. It is also referred to as a powerful transformative force on the face of world economy (Amin, 2004; Das, 2010). It was observed that globalisation has resulted in significant rise in value as well as volume of international trade in goods and services along with expansion in long and short periodic flow of capital (Amin, 2004; Huwart and Verdier, 2013). It was also gathered that liberalisation as a part of globalisation movement cause trade and financial integration and raised economic growth rate and earning rate. As the worldwide economic integration progressed and intensified, it caused increase in efficiency of various tangible and intangible resources and utilisation of inputs (Das, 2010). According to studies in 2007, the volume of goods and services in global multilateral trade was equivalent to $16.9 trillion and it was about 34 percent of total global gross domestic product (Huwart and Verdier, 2013). In the same year, private

Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender Essay Example for Free

Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender Essay The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender is crime novel about contemporary Australian life, written with all the ambiguity and moral sophistication of most â€Å"who dun-nits . It looks like crime, and sounds like crime, and sells like crime, but it’s Literature! Its Opening is a subversion of the genre a reversal of expectation as we are duped into believing this is your typical male private eye (P. I. ). The role reversal a female in a traditional male dominated field; women can do everything men can do challenges the stereotypes of traditional crime fiction. Purpose: (themes, concerns, issues main ideas.) 1. To create a sense of place — Sydney. Marele Day had spent four years travelling the world and when she came back to Sydney recognised its special charm and atmosphere. She became determined to write a book about it and its special appeal. a) Find references to Sydney, favourable and unfavourable. * what aspects are emphasized? * In totality how does Day present Sydney? * what are the links with the past? * what is meant by the â€Å"facade of Sydney’? 2. Corruption and suspicion vs probity and trust. 3. Effect of technology — have we become dehumanised? Will technology take over from humans? * What is the relationship between humanity and technology? 4. Isolation — Most of the characters are isolated in one way or another. * Find as many examples of isolation as possible. * What overall comment is made about isolation? * Is there a connection between it and technology? II. TECHNIQUE 1. Day uses a lot of the technique of modern day films especially the â€Å"black and white† scenes on Harry Lavender. How is he portrayed? He is very detached and aloof. We the audience get to see and hear what Claudia is not privy to. Are these extracts from the book Mark Bannister was writing? 2. Comment on Claudia Valentine’s PhrasingÃ'Ž Claudia speaks in the manner of a hard-boiled worldly wise Private Investigator (P. I. ). slick, glib, swaggering, at times sassy (cheeky) and sometimes tongue in cheek. â€Å"Live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse† (22) â€Å"I was changing cars more often than I changed my underwear† (101) â€Å"But it’s one â€Å"It’ll be dead end if you don’t. Now move† (162) Word Play Double entendre (meaning) â€Å"It must have been a plant. † â€Å"A lavender plant. † (126) â€Å"Terminal illness† (6, 17, 20, â€Å"Alter, (141 â€Å"curse, cursor (143 heart ( 55, â€Å"waiting for the developers to give them a new lease of life, or maybe just a new lease. † (69) Humour â€Å"wit† â€Å"I wait for bald men to pass by and ash on their heads (23) one of the former and two of the latter, and the former is former† her reply to Steve regarding her marital status. ( 27) â€Å"You put it away, Otto, you don’t know where it’s been. † â€Å"That’s the trouble,† he moaned, it hasn’t been anywhere lately. (53) social commentary â€Å"Divorced? † â€Å"Isn’t everyone? † (27) â€Å"I had made a mistake getting into a car with a law-abiding policeman† â€Å"You young folk are always in a hurry,† she said managing a smile. (45) â€Å"pollution and syringes (54), women (54), fast food (68)Ã'Ž

Corporate Social Responsibility Environmental Disclosures Philosophy Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility Environmental Disclosures Philosophy Essay In many nations debates over current global issues such as climate change and poverty are sites of educational, social and political conflict. This paper explores the academic attempt made by Human Development (HD) model, to address Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) environmental disclosures in annual reports. Also this essay seeks to examine the impact of the notion of social contract and legitimacy upon corporate responsibility and Environmental Disclosure Policies. Discussion then shifts to an ecocentric critic on Marx and an ecofeminism critic on Frankfurt school on ecological crisis. As a way forward, an ecocentric outlook is introduced. The paper ends with conclusion. Introduction There is a growing understanding that the current crisis we face is both ecological and social furthermore the global challenges of poverty, that are foreseen to grow in many ways through Climate Change demand constructive, innovative and forward looking approaches between development sectors (World Bank, 2003). In recent years, there has been a proliferation of corporate social and environmental disclosures in business practice (Coles and Murphy, 1999). This study goes further than accepting the achievements in voluntary environmental disclosures in (CSR) annual reports, into actual commitment by the industrialized world in tackling environmental degradation. It critically evaluates the impact of mainstream notion of social contract and legitimacy in (HD) literature upon corporate responsibility disclosure policies theoretical arguments a way forward, an ecocentric perspective is introduced, one that draws leading an ecologically informed philosophy of internal relatedness to narro w the gap between (CSR) environmental disclosures and actual commitment to environmental protection. Description of a New Sustainability view Ever since the Bruntland Commission introduced the concept of Sustainable Development in its seminal report, Our Common Future, (UN, 1987). Governments and their development partners at the national, regional and international level have struggled to operationalize the concept of sustainability in development policies, programs and plans (World Bank, 2003). Part of the reason for this struggle is because sustainability is a highly complex concept that over time has come to mean different things to different people (Pepper, 1996). Sustainability actually describes several different approaches as well these approaches carry with them different visions of society and different political commitments to action (Pepper, 1996). Although, the sustainability defining roots come largely from environmental-economic fields (Constanza et al, 1992) the concept of Sustainable Development incorporated other aspects questioning justice, poverty, inequality, and peoples aspiration for a better life, only to mention a few (Naess, 1990). As a result, cultural, technological, ethical ambits have been most recently introduced in various innovative ways to better picture a multidimensional and integrated perception of the sustainability notion in an attempt to achieve progressively, what has called; a public relation response between business sectors and environmental organizations (Coles and Murphy, 1999). Like many critical theorists, we are strengthening corporate responsibility as fact that must be taken into account when talking of people and their environment, not only on the things that affect them but also on things on which they have an effect (Naess, 1999). Under this idea, sustainability has been recently define d in Human Development model with rather different and new terms and further characterizations demonstrating levels of interaction between business sectors and nature originating thoughts from many authors; such as Coles and Murphy, 1999), who has for instance defined it as: a proactive environmental management. CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in (HD) has emerged largely since the 1950s, but its origins in the UK can be traced back to nineteenth century and early twentieth century philanthropists, many of whom left a lasting legacy; for instance, William Cadbury, who became a leading philanthropist as a result of successful business endeavors at the turn of the twentieth century (the William Cadbury Trust). Since then Businesses sectors has been engage in (CSR) for diverse reasons, driven by economic, ethical and other considerations. The conception of (CSR) is closely related to the conception of the social accountability in Human Development (Coles and Murphy, 1999). It is evident in this post-modern world that the business (CSR) annual reports have moved away from narrow financial disclosures to the disclosure of a number of broader social issues for a larger audience on a voluntary basis ranging from information about employees, political and charitable donations, environment pollution, social audit and other social information (Coles and Murphy, 1999). Perhaps this is one of the attempts to building what literature now describes as social accountability in Human Development (Coles and Murphy, 1999). The (CSR) annual reports are already advancing future concern for peoples ´ welfare foreseen as a long run problematic issue, but certainly is not yet questioning environmental havoc as one key aspect to analyse within. Most recently though, UNDP ´s Human Development notion began to question the fact that yet through elaborated definition and examination (CSR) is not really focusing enough on people and environment. Defining CSR eco-social unsustainability Defining current patterns of (CSR) and corporations as eco-social unsustainability is one way of making transparent human-nature connections (Williams, 1980). One needs to question the reasons for a sudden increase in these broader disclosures. Some may argue that such procedures on the part of the preparers of corporate annual reports may be nothing but a giant public relations campaign. From a more critical perspective the above may be seen as celebrations by environmentalists and researchers in sustainability. As Coles and Marphy, (1999) point out (CSR) Annual report of corporations these days are filled with information that celebrate successful social accountability actions but negative consequences of their actions such as externalities from pollution as costs to the society are never highlighted, thereby silencing injustices. The difference between voluntary environmental disclosure practices and the actual tackling or commitments to environmental performance of corporations cannot go unaddressed for long. A study by Perlo-Freeman in Nigeria (2002) reports a significant negative relation between sustainable development performance and Shell (CSR) annual reports. The findings support the argument that companies with worst environmental performance records (highest levels of toxic releases) provide most extensive environmental disclosure. Given the widespread variation in social and environmental disclosure, it is not surprising that a number of narrow, human-centred overlapping theories of such disclosure have evolved (for example, social contract, legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory and progressive market) (Pepper, 1996). We argue that a (CSR) approach thorough ecocentric theory on environmental issues is capable of providing a more comprehensive theoretical framework to the (HD) current ecological cris is. A Critique of Social Accountability Mainstream Theoretical Arguments Mainstream theoretical arguments for environmental in (CSR) comprise the Social Contract Theory approach and Legitimacy Theory. Social Contract Theory approach is the base of managerialist school of thought in addiction Social Contract Theory hypothesizes that the foundation stone of morality are uniform social accords that best serve the interests of those who make the agreements. Legitimacy Theory is closely related to the conception of the social contract. The theory posits that businesses are bound by the social contract in which the firms agree to perform various socially desired actions in return for approval of its objectives and other rewards, and this ultimately guarantees its continued existence (Guthrie and Parker, 1989). Legitimacy theory is essentially a systems-oriented theory, i.e. organisations are viewed as components of the larger social environment within which it exists (Dowling and Pfeffer, 1975). As this paper demonstrates these approaches favour an anthropocent ric (CSR) stance and concur with the arguments of the critical school in relation to the limitations of such approaches. Critique of Social Contract Theory approach Firstly, it is evident that the traditional (CSR) model, although dependent upon a range of conventions, has restricted itself to a dominant principle: value of goods and services also non human perception (Ormerod, 1994). This attitude is in line with the concepts of objectivity and profit that enhance shareholders and creditors welfare. They are seen as the primary users in the managerialist model, their needs are known (wealth maximisation), and are paramount, and the needs of other users are secondary. This observation, from an ecocentric (CSR) environmental perspective, ignores the information of the environment impact furthermore is just an ideological cloak to protect corporations. With this line of argument, (CSR) under the managerialist approach becomes important only if it affects the survival and continuity of an enterprise. Critique of Legitimacy theoretical arguments Legitimacy Theory is closely related to the conception of the social contract. The theory posits that businesses are bound by the social contract in which the firms agree to perform various socially desired actions in return for approval of its objectives and other rewards, and this ultimately guarantees its continued existence (Guthrie and Parker, 1989). This theoretical arguments for environmental (CSR) are ineffective according to the eco-socialists school (Pepper, 1996), largely due to the fact that social responsibility and profitability are at odds as a result of the neoclassical economics foundation on which the social accountability model is based. In spite of severe criticisms, legitimacy theorists defends their thought by questioning whether progress could be made under the critical approach by think that is possible to somehow reconcile the destructive tendencies in neoclassical, capitalist economics with radical sustainable development (Pepper, 1996). They state that while it is acknowledged that present practices (CSR) are far from perfect, one must work within the system and slowly refine it to be reflective of social and environmental issues rather than completely accepting or completely rejecting current systems which have been widely accepted for centuries as a decision useful tool in (HD) paradigm (Pepper 1996). Ecophilosophical point of view of Social Accountability From an ecophilosophical (HD) point of view, the most fundamental division in eco-social theory is between those who adopt an anthropocentric perspective and those who adopt a nonanthropocentric (ecocentric) perspective (Pepper, 1996). The distinction could be best understood as representing a spectrum of thought rather than separate and distinct positions. The first approach focuses on human freeing and fulfillment in an ecologically sustainable society, while the second examines the notion of emancipation in a broader context emancipation that also recognises the moral standing of the nonhuman world (Dobson, 1990). We are of the view that an ecocentric philosophical orientation provides the most comprehensive, promising and distinctive framework to study todays environmental problems. This is not to claim that ecocentrism would solve all our environmental social responsibility problems. Instead, emphasis is on providing sufficient details of an alternative model that could improve the present practice of (CSR) for the environment and provide a basis for a sustainable future in Human Development. An Ecocentric Critique of Marxism In this section we present an ecocentric challenge to Marxism and the critical theory of the Frankfurt School. A complete overview of these works remains beyond the scope of this paper, and only key ideas/issues in ecological context have been considered. Pepper (1996) argues that literature is far from clear about the extent to which Marxian analysis can be said to be compatible with or at conflict with environmentalism. Marx focused on capital, labour, surplus value, class conflicts and so on, and this placed him closer to liberal economics than to environmentalism (Pepper 1996). As for Marx, environmental problems, like social problems are traced directly to the exploitative dynamics of capitalism and solution to such problems require revolutionary transformation of the relations of production (Pepper, 1996). Marx was only marginally concerned with environmental degradation with no systematic theory of humanitys relationship to nature. The dominant sense in which Marx characterised nature was as a medium for human labour (Mellor, 1992). The above arguments seek to demonstrate that an ecocentric perspective on environment cannot be wrested out of Marxism without seriously distorting Marxs own theoretical concepts. Social Ecofeminism Critique of Frankfurt School The critical theory of the Frankfurt School is not a single doctrine or a unified worldview. Sharp differences have existed for long time among critical theorists at the Frankfurt School, as evidenced by the increasingly heterogeneous nature of their works. The first generation of Frankfurt theorists focused on different levels and dimensions of domination and exploitation through critique of instrumental reason, which also included critical examination of the relationship between humanity and nature (Mellor, 1992). First, early Frankfurt Schools critical discourse was pessimistic in outlook towards nature romanticism and was increasingly preoccupied with theory instead of practice. Secondly, a more fundamental explanation lies in the way critical theory developed in the hands of Habermas, who has, by and large, focused on social and political rather than personal aspects, thereby marginalizing green movement (Warren, 1990). Critical scholars in corporate responsibility have drawn up on Marxist and Habermasian themes to think and act about environmental (HD) pathways. Yet to date, critical theory has not had a major direct bearing in shaping the theory and practice of the green movement, except in indirect ways (Pepper, 1996). An Ecocentrism Critique of Frankfurt School There are two other problematic aspects of Frankfurt Schools theses that deserve attention. One is that it separates and privileges good life for humans concerning the emancipation of nonhuman world. And the other is the claim that we know nature, through science and technology ignore the reality of biological and ecological (Mellor, 1992) only insofar as we can control it, thus legitimising continued exploitation of the nonhuman world. In this way Frankfurt Schools endorses rather than challenges dominant anthropocentric prejudices towards the nonhuman world. As Eckersley (1992) argued that according to Habermas schema, a norm is considered right if it is achieved via a consensus reached between truthful and rational human agents. Thus the principal objection to Habermas social and political theory has been that it is human-centred, insisting that the emancipation of human relations need not depend upon the emancipation of nature. Alternative Ecocentric Arguments for (CSR) Environment There is no intention on our part to offer a detailed proposal on what an ecocentric corporate responsibility might look like as this will amount to putting the cart before the horse. Instead, we argue in support of a broad, thoroughgoing framework, sensitive to both human and nonhuman world, and one that seeks emancipation which will provide a better and more meaningful theoretical basis for environmental (CSR) and related environmental disclosures. Anthropocentricism and ecocentricism represent two opposing poles on a continuum, with different orientations towards nature, and major streams of modern environmentalism fall between these poles. It is argued that this classification enables an evaluation with regard to the kind and degree of anthropocentricism or ecocentricism that is manifest in green political discourses. Eckersley (1992) discusses at least four positions (resource conservation, human welfare ecology, preservationism, animal liberation and ecocentricism) on the continuum, moving from an economistic and instrumental environmental ethic towards a comprehensive and holistic environmental ethic (Pepper, 1996). The latter conforms to key ecocentric beliefs that recognise human and non-human interests, present and future within a more encompassing framework for human development. Ecocentrism draws upon an ecologically informed philosophy of internal relatedness that advocates that all organisms are not only interrelated with their environment, but also constituted by those environmental interrelationships. Ontologically, under this perspective, the world is an intrinsically dynamic, interconnected web of relations in which there is no absolutely discrete entities and no absolute dividing lines between the living and the nonliving, the animate and the inanimate or the human and the nonhuman (Eckersley, 1992). Ecocentric theorists emphasise on the absence of any rigid and absolute dividing line between humans and nonhumans to point out the logical inconsistency in anthropocentric models that justify exclusive moral considerations of humans and their superiority (for example, language skills, reasoning skills and technological skills). Some may argue that there are countless things that nonhumans do better (see for example, Fox, 1990) and to single out special attributes of human simply tantamount to human prejudice. To criticise ecocentric orientations as anti-science, ecocentric theorists have pointed out how new scientific discoveries have served to challenge long standing anthropocentric prejudices (Eckersley, 1992), and further argue that the philosophical premises of ecocentrism are actually more consistent with modern science than the premises of anthropocentrism. The concept of internal relatedness upon which ecocentrism stands, equally applies to relations among humans, in a biological, psychological, and social sense. In other words, we are all constituted by our interrelationships between other humans, and our economic, political and cultural affiliations (Eckersley, 1992). Since birth, humans are constituted by, and co evolves within the context of such relations and cannot be separated from them. Based on this social interactionist model, which is not new in social sciences, humans are neither completely passive and determined nor completely autonomous and self-determining, rather, are relatively autonomous beings, who by their knowledge, thought and action help constitute the very relations that determine who they are ( Anderson, 1996). Further, it needs to be pointed out that ecocentric theorists are not against the central value of autonomy as depicted in Western (CSR) political thought; they are concerned with the revision of the notion to incorporate into it, a broader ecological framework a framework that incorporates individuals and social aspects in a more encompassing way. Eckersley (1992) argues that while the liberal idea of autonomy as independence from others can be seen as philosophically misguided, socialists tend to adopt a more relational model of self, but both are deeply embedded in anthropocentrism. The ecocentric reformulation of autonomy at no stage implies that the boundary between the self and others is removed, it rather seeks to emphasise the soft and flexible nature of line between them. Ecocentric foundation requires psychological maturity and involves a sensitive mediation between ones individual self and the larger whole with a view to having a sense of competent agency in the world (Ec kersley, 1992). On the contrary, the quest of radical independence from others or power over others leads to an objectification of others, and a denial of their own modes of relative autonomy or subjectivity. What is new and adds strength to an ecocentric perspective is that it extends the notion of autonomy to a broader and more encompassing pattern of layered interrelationships that extend beyond personal and societal relations to include relations with the rest of the biotic community (Pepper, 1996). In this way the nonhuman world is not posited in the background but recognised as having their relative autonomy and their own modes of being. Zimmerman (1988) made this comment: the paradigm of internal relations lets us view ourselves as manifestations of a complex universe; we are not apart but are moments in the open-ended, novelty-producing process of cosmic evolution. Some critiques are cynical of ecocentrism, as it interprets nature selectively, something that is essentially h armonious, kindly and benign, providing and all too convenient framework for human relations (Eckersley, 1992). But there is no need to depict the nature as such, and to judge the nonhuman world by human standards, we will invariably find it wanting, for nonhuman nature knows no human ethics, it simply is (Livingston, 1981, Eckersley, 1992). Conclusion While voluntary environmental disclosures in corporate annual reports throughout the world are on rise, we have argued that these disclosures do not provide sufficient grounds for celebrations. One needs to go deeper and examine the silences in those successful stories in order to understand better the motives for such disclosures and more so, the extent to which corporations are actually tackling the environmental problems. It is the actual commitment to environmental performance that matters the most, for (HD) and (CSR) disclosure of such information will fall into its appropriate place when the former is taken care of. In seeking emancipation an existential attitude of mutuality needs to be adopted simply because ones personal fulfillment is inextricably tied up with that of others. The gap between voluntary environmental disclosures in corporate annual reports and lack of firm decisive actions to protect environmental by the industralised world will continue, as long as environme ntal philosophical enquiry favours human interests over the interests of the nonhuman world. Theoretical contexts: Anderson, E.N. 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