Research and the Sciences Essay Example for Free

Research and the Sciences Essay There has long been an ongoing argument: Is social science scientific? Which approach is better in conducting natural sciences and social sciences? It is believed that hypothetico-deductive approach may be applicable to the natural sciences while it does not relate well to the social sciences. By analyzing research from different levels, this essay presents a judgment that social sciences are sciences. First of all, the concept of research and science are given. Secondly, by accepting that social sciences are different from natural sciences, the features that identify social sciences from natural sciences are summarized. There are many choices of approaches to conduct research. In the level of philosophy, research approaches could go to inductive approach and deductive approach. Qualitative research and quantitative research distinguish each other methodologically. In this essay, the different approaches are compared and contrasted after a concise interpretation of these concepts. And finally, the question better approach to research in natural sciences and social sciences is considered. Research is defined by Join and Keith as seeking through methodical process to add ones knowledge and, hopefully to others by the discovery of nontrivial and insight (Join and Keith, 1996). Williams defined science as the ensemble of knowledge and practices that best reflect and operationalize a critical attitude to the discovery of the world at that moment in time (Williams, 2000 p.26). Basically, sciences can be divided into social sciences and natural sciences. Social sciences study human being and their behavior, while natural sciences study physical world. The presupposition that natural science is the benchmark of research, in some degree, accounts for why most people associate the word research with activities that are substantially removed from daily life and which usually take place in a laboratory. And accordingly arises the doubt whether social science is science. A good deal of overlap and unavoidable duplication will be encountered if any attempt is made to review social sciences and natural sciences  systematically (McErlean, 2000). Yet there are still some typical features in which social sciences are different from nature sciences. Historically and perhaps intuitively, the natural and the social sciences have been identified by distinct subject matters: Natural science is a branch of science which deals with the physical world (Pearsall, 1999 P.950), while social science is the scientific study of human society and social relationships (Pearsall, 1999 p.1362). Invariability of observations is different in two kinds of sciences. The difference lies probably in the number of relevant factors that must be taken into account for explaining or predicting events in the real world(McErlean, 2000). It is agreed that verification is not easy to come by in the social sciences, while it is the chief business in the natural sciences. Measurability of phenomena, whereas physics is clearly ahead of all other disciplines. Natural sciences have got constancy of numerical relationship which social sciences has not got. The social sciences deal so close to a mans own everyday experience that they do not accord the respect as natural sciences. The field of natural sciences needs higher standards of admission and requirements than the social sciences. On this score, the natural sciences are better than the social sciences (McErlean, 2000). Since social sciences differ from natural sciences in many ways, should different approaches be chosen when conducing social science research and natural sciences? This is another baffling question. Now we will turn to the discussion of deduction and induction. Philosophically the approaches are focused on the consideration of induction and deduction, as well as the relationship between approaches and sciences. Deduction entails the development of a conceptual and theoretical structure prior to its testing through empirical research methods. (Carson et al, 2001 p.11). Induction is the action or process of inducing something (Pearsall, 1999). It is learning by reflecting upon particular past experiences and through the formulation of abstract concepts, theories and generalizations that explain past and predict future experience (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Induction and deduction approaches are different in many aspects. They are best used in different stages of Learning Cycle. When learning takes place, the difference between deductive and inductive approach is that one starts  with theory which tested through observation while the other starts with observation and tries to create theory (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Localization of Induction differs from that of deduction (Carson et al, 2001 P12). Induction might prevent the researcher benefiting from existing theory, while deduction might prevent the development of new and useful theory. In contrast to the deductive tradition, theory is the outcome of induction (Carson et al, 2001 P12). The time needed for induction is often prolonged than deduction B Deductive research is normally possible to predict accurately the time schedules, it is quicker to complete, though the time must be devoted to set up the study prior to data collection and analysis. Deduction and induction carry unequal risk. The deductive approach can be a lower-risk strategy, albeit there are risks like the non-return of questionnaires. With induction it is quite possible that no useful data patterns and theory will not emerge. The effect of deduction or induction is relevant to the ability of researcher. The way one thinks about the development of knowledge affects, unwittingly, the way he goes about doing research (Saunders et al, 2000). So it is more appropriate to adopt the inductive approach if the researcher is particularly interested in understanding why something is happening rather than describe what is happening, Inductive designs begin with specific observations and build toward general patterns. This is different to the hypothetical-deductive approach of experimental designs that require the specification of main variables and the statement of specific research hypotheses before data collection begins (Pattern, 1987). Saunders et al (2000) has shown the main differences between deductive and inductive approaches as can be seen in diagram 1. The blending of Induction and Deduction are preferable in conducting a research. In deductive argument, conclusion follows logically from the premises, while inductive argument, in which the premises support the conclusion but do not guarantee it (Rosenberg, 2000). It seems that deductive is more impressive than inductive. Not only because it is more highly structured and more appropriate for people who are inexperienced in research matters but also because it is the basis of much knowledge that  they do have of the subject (Walley, 2002), But the two approaches are not mutually exclusive. They are better at doing different things. So the balance of both approaches in the same research project is preferable. Not only is it perfectly possible to combine approaches with the same piece of research, but also in human beings experience it is often advantageous to do so (Saunders et al, 2000). For example: Sadie decided to conduct a research project on violence at work and its effects on the stress levels of staff. She considered the different ways she would approach the work were she to adopt, the deductive approach and the inductive approach. If she decided to adopt a deductive approach, She should standardize the stress responses of the staff. On the other hand, if she decided to adopt an inductive approach she may have decided to interview some staffs who had been subjected to violence at work. She may have been interested in their feelings about the events that they had experienced, how they coped with the problems they experienced and their views about the possible causes of the violence (Saunders et al, 2000). In order to gain more comprehensive results, it is better to combine both approaches. Diagram 1 Emphasizes of Deduction and Induction Deduction emphasizesInduction emphasizes Scientific principlesGaining an understanding of the meanings humans attach to events From theory to dataFrom observation to theory The collection of quantitative dataThe collection of qualitative data The application of controls to ensure validity of dataResearcher is part of the research process Ensure clarity of definitionLess need generalize Highly structured approachMore flexible structure to permit changes of research emphasis Researcher independence of what is being researchedDependent researcher Select samples of sufficient size Saunders et al (2000 p.91) Researcher may use a variety of methodology to conduct research. It is said that the concept of induction often is applied to qualitative research (Strauss and Corbin, 1998 p.136) while deduction is applied to quantitative research. Qualitative research is so called because its emphasis lies in producing data which is rich in insight, understanding, explanation and depth of information, but which cannot be justified statistically (Crouch, 1985). Qualitative research usually produces descriptions, explanations and reasons (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). It seeks to answer how and why type questions (Walley, 1995). The strengths of qualitative research derive from its inductive approach, its focus on specific situations or people, and its emphasis on words rather than numbers (Maxwell, 1996). It may involve statistics but it is not based on statistical significance. It is characterized by the use of group discussions, personal interviews, projective techniques and non-probability sampling (Walley, 1995) .The usefulness of qualitative research depends very much on the skills of the researcher (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Qualitative methods are particularly oriented toward exploration, discovery, and inductive logic. Walley (2002) cited Proctor (1997) as Quantitative research that primarily research concerned with eliciting information which has statistical significance. Its focus is on quantification of phenomena sampling and large scales postal questionnaires. The quantitative data identify areas of focus whist the qualitative data give substance to those areas of focus. Whereas qualitative data can put flesh on the bones of quantitative results, brining the results to life through in-depth case elaborations (Patton, 1987). The patterns displayed in quantitative research can be enriched with the addition of qualitative information (Gill and Johnson, 2002). The  qualitative should direct the quantitative feedback into the qualitative in a circular (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). Thus, recent developments in the evaluation profession have led to multiple methods including combinations of qualitative and quantitative data. Some evaluation questions are determined deductively while others are left sufficiently open to permit inductive analyses based on direct observations. Indeed, there is often a flow from inductive approaches to find out what the important questions and variables are, to deductive hypotheses-testing aimed at confirming exploratory findings, then back again to inductive analysis to look for rival hypotheses and unanticipated or unmeasured factors (Patton, 1987). Sayre believed that: qualitative methods are chosed because of its emphasis on progresses and meanings while quantitative methods are utilized because they substantiate. Actually both methodologies are combined to provide a comprehensive approach to problem solving (Sayre, 2001). The relation between qualitative research and quantitative research are clearly showed below in the diagram 2. Diagram 2 qualitative research and quantitative research Qualitative researchQuantitative research Type of questions ProbingNon-probing Sample sizeSmallLarge Information per respondentMuchVaries AdministrationRequires interviewer with special skillsFewer special skills required Type of analysisSubjective, interpretativeStatistical Hardware requiredTape recorders, projection devices, discussion guides replicationDifficultEasy Researcher training necessaryPsychology, sociology, social psychology, consumer behaviour, marketing, marketing research Statistics, decision models. decision-support systems, computer programming, marketing, marketing research Type of researchexploratoryDescriptive or causal Proctor (2000) In conclusion, the differences between social sciences and natural sciences have been discussed, and the approaches and methods used in conducting both sciences have been compared and contrasted. Social sciences and natural sciences are fundamentally different in many ways, yet social sciences are, beyond all doubt, scientific too. From the view of philosophy, there are inductive research and deductive research. The deductive approach is probably more impressive. Methodologically quantitative research differs from qualitative research. Each approach has its unique advantages and disadvantages. It would be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one research approach is better than another. Actually they are better in different situations, depending on where the research emphasis lies. It is encouraged to think in a more flexible way about the research approaches and methods adopted. Yet the best policy in conducting research is to blend approaches. So, it is clear that social sciences are sciences likewise as natural sciences. Adopted appropriately, the methodological approach of natural science can be used to study the social world (Williams, 2000). One approach cannot therefore be considered to be better than another in conducting  research in both natural sciences and social sciences. So it is high time to stop arguing about whether social sciences are science or not. Alternatively, to consider which approach is preferable or how to blend them together is what deserves thinking when a research is conducted. Reference Bancroft, G and Osullivan, G.(1993)Quantitative Methods For Accounting and Business Studies .3rded.Berkshire:McGRAW-HILL Book Company Europe. Carson, D.; Gilmore, A.; Perry, C.; Gronhang, K(2001)Qualitative Marketing Research. London: Sage publications. Gill, J. and Johnson, P.(2002)Research methods for managers .3rd.ed.London:Sage Publications Ltd Greenfield, T.(2002).Research Methods For Postgraduates. 2nded. London: Arnold. Sharp, J. A. and Howard, K (1996). The Management of a Student Research Project 2nd.ed Aldershot:Gower Publishing Limited. Maxwell, J.A. (1996)Qualitative Research Design-an interactive approach. London: Sage Publications Mcerlean, J.(2000).Philosophy of Science-From Foundations to Contemporary Issues. London: Routledge. Papineau, D.eds.(1996).The Philosophy of Science Oxford: Oxford University Press. Patton, M .Q (1987). How To Use Qualitative Methods In Evaluation. London: Sage Publications Pearsall, J. eds.(1999).Oxford dictionary. Oxford :Oxford university press. Proctor, T. (2000)Essentials of Marketing Research.2nd.ed.London:Financial Times prentice Hall Robson, S. and Foster, A. (1989) Qualitative Research in Action London: Great Britain. Rosenberg, A.(2000).Philosophy of Science:Acontemporary Introduction.London:Routledge. Saunders, M; Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2000). Research Methods for Business Students. 2nd.ed Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Sayre, S. (2001) Qualitative methods for Marketplace Research. London: Sage publications. Strauss, A and Corbin, J. (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications, Inc. Walley, K. (1995) Qualitative Research-Discussion Paper. Newport: Harper Adams Agricultural College. Walley, K. (2002) Research Methods For The Agrifood Industry. Newport: Harper Adams University College. Williams, M. (2000).Science and social science-An introduction. London: Routledge.

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Concept Analysis

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Concept Analysis Jin Thai, Chong In this assignment, the notion of Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reporting is being analysed critically. The definition of the term, created by John Elkington, as well as its concept and general principles (social, environment and economic lines) are discussed in this report. Representations of TBL in the Business and Government Organisations sectors are further explored with its five different interpretations: Wait and see, Packaging information for community right to know, stakeholder alignment, endorsing core principles, and holistic cultural perspective. The relationship between sustainable development and TBL is discussed in the report by considering the environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability, with a backing example of the TBL Toolkit and the The Capital Works Sustainability Statement practiced in the city of Melbourne. The application of TBL in sustainable construction and its indicators of social and environmental, and economic performance us ed in the construction sector are also discussed in the report. Lastly, a case study has been done on Enviro-Cottage constructed in Spring Hill, Brisbane. The project has addressed TBL reporting considering the sustainable development and construction aspects. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Jump to) Introduction Principles of Triple Bottom Line Sustainable development Application of  TBL in sustainable construction Case study: Enviro-Cottage   Conclusion   Introduction Triple bottom line (TBL) reporting is becoming more common across many sectors of society. Although the concept was born out of the corporate and business world to report corporate social responsibility conveniently, it has been embraced by many organisations to give social and environmental agendas more prominence in the face of corporatist globalisation (Price, R n.d.). The term Triple Bottom Line was formed by John Elkington in 1997. Based in UK as a consultant to companies like BO, DuPont and the World Bank, John Elkington has been described by Business Week as a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades (John Elkington 2010). Instead of the usual financial bottom line, Elkington define and expanded the baseline for measuring performance using social, environmental and economic bottom lines (Centre for ISA Information Sheet 7 n.d.). Elkington stated on his book, Cannibals with Forks that: The triple bottom line focuses corporations not just on the economic value they add, but also on the environmental and social value they add and destroy. At its narrowest, the term triple bottom line is used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters (Elkington,, J 1998). Generally, Triple bottom line is an integrated management approach that consists of managing, measuring and publicly reporting performance in business and government sectors (Potts, T 2004). TBL also acts as a medium to discuss issues regarding the organisation and the community. According to A Tool For Measuring, Communicating, And Facilitating Change In Local Governments by Tavis Potts, TBL is a correspondence and process for reporting on sustainability and the results allow for communities to engage in an ongoing discussion. For sustainable organisations this means balancing the needs of the organisation against the environmental, economic and social factors, as depicted in Figure 1 to enhance the quality of life. Business Sector In the business sector, the growing tension between increased social values and conventional forms of value creation has forced consideration of sustainability (including TBL reporting). Pressure has been applied on organisations to be more socially and environmentally responsible in their pursuit of profit (Beilin, R Paine, M, Pryor R 2007). As an example, BP Australia reported that a TBL approach to business provides them with a sustainable competitive advantage and it is also in a good business sense to do so. It demonstrates to stakeholders the integrity of a business or industry, thus it improves its reputation, increases investor confidence and enhances marketing and profit opportunities. Governments Sector Similarly to businesses, local governments have adopted the TBL in response to community concern about issues of environmental sustainability. In the governments sector, the field of organisational accountability has broadened. Government organisations must now consider the wider impacts of their practices on other local, regional, national and even global stakeholders (Beilin, R Paine, M, Pryor R 2007). Growing government interest in corporate social and environmental responsibility is expressed in policy at local, State and Federal levels. TBL reporting has changed the appearance of the role of government in regulating private businesses and industries. Further, TBL has come to demonstrate good public relations in government organisations with its integrated focus on social, environmental and economic outcomes of practice. Principles of Triple Bottom Line The three vital aspects of corporate and government performance are based on Triple Bottom Line are the economic, social and environmental lines. TBL is also interpreted in 5 ways in business and governments sectors. The Economic Bottom Line The economic bottom line is the organisations record of economic performance (revenue and profit) and integrity. Even though the companies make profits in the business, profit is treated as the economic benefit for the enjoyment of the employees and community as a whole within a sustainability framework. The Social or People Bottom Line The social bottom line is the organisations record of social or people performance as it affects employees, consumers, and communities. This also refers to fair, ethical, and beneficial business practices toward employees, community, and country in which a corporation performs its business. The Environmental Bottom Line The environmental bottom line is the organisations record of performance as it considers all the issues related with environmental concerns. The goal of 21stà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ century companies is not only to help protect the environment by producing green or environmentally responsible products but also to have their own sustainable, environmentally-sound business operating practices. Organisations are expected to function in an environmentally responsible approach, through initiatives such as taking steps to reduce their own environmental footprint, consuming less energy and little or no non-renewable resources and producing less waste. Five interpretation of TBL Five broad categories capture the current diverse state of TBL performance measurement and reporting in Australia according to Triple Bottom Line Measurement and Reporting In Australia. The five categories are more to show the diverse business rationales and analysis of community expectations for triple bottom line measuring and reporting (Suggett, D, Goodsir, B 2002). Wait and see Wait and see is the category where organisations are satisfied with their present approaches to communication and accountability. Examples of such companies are Fosters and Woolworths. This may due to the fact that a change is not necessary in their business priorities, as well as a sense of potential benefit as it is still early in their business to use the TBL approach without understanding the directions of the business. Packaging information for community right to know By observing the community right to know attitude and supporting the notion of greater responsibility to the community for their business performance, other organisations make an obligation to their stakeholders to be open and transparent. To meet this commitment, they collect and package internal information or report for external audience. This report shows the values they seek to meet, their performance against those standards and a description of their activities. Examples of companies practising this approach of TBL in environmental reporting are Wesfarmers and Orica. As they continue to collect data, report on and verify approaches, those organisations do not see that a change in approach is required to embrace social or economic scopes. Stakeholder Alignment This approach analyses the relationship between stakeholders expectations and corporate strategy. In order for TBL reporting to derive maximum value, it is necessary that the information reported aligns with business strategy and objectives and accurately reflects the focus of the company activity. This serves to strengthen the significance of companies developing indicators in a structured way that reflects their objectives and the requirements of key stakeholder groups. As the stakeholders could be the shareholders, investors, employees, customers, suppliers, the community and government, organisations practicing this approach will be required to set up new management systems and in a long run is intensive on the business resource. One example is the WMC. WMC continues to expand in this direction and a number of other companies have embarked on the first steps, such as Westpac and ANZ. Endorsing Core Principles A few organisations outline their response to stakeholder expectations into values that guide their business activity: sustainability principles. Examples of organisations are Rio Tinto and Shell. This approach is directed at integrating these core principles into management practices. Holistic Cultural Perspective Organisations in private ownership define their business purpose and their commitment to sustainability values and accountability as a whole. Their business success depends on this cultural perspective. The Body Shop is the often-quoted example and the Co-operative Bank in the United Kingdom. Sustainable Development Sustainability is a pattern of resource use that aims to simultaneously meet human needs and preserve the environment so that these needs can be met not only for the present generation, but also for future generations. Sustainable development ties together the concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges (Sustainable construction gives a competitive edge n.d). Conceptually, sustainable development can be broken down into three constituent parts: Environmental sustainability Economic sustainability Social sustainability Sustainable development is often portrayed as the act of balancing economic, ecological and social concerns, and the TBL is commonly used internationally to prove corporate performance on sustainability and its approach to sustainable development in the corporate world. However, in sustainable development, TBL also concentrates on the external structure of development and excludes the internal structure of development. In other words, TBL also focuses on technological, economic and institutional development while excluding cultural and personal development (Riedy, C 2003). As an example, the City of Melbourne is using TBL approach to accomplish the goal of sustainable development. The city has developed a TBL Toolkit which includes checklists, guidelines, templates and case studies for the application of TBL decision-making and reporting (Triple-Bottom-Line Evaluation Approach Shows Promise for Local Government 2004). Part of this tool is the The Capital Works Sustainability Statement and it is a rating system that recognizes the degree to which a project contributes to the Councils sustainability objectives. The Capital Works tool is being applied to different ways, such as the bidding of capital works, budget approval process, and evaluating criteria against of capital works. Through this TBL approach, councils are able to demonstrate responsibility and transparency in decision making and administration. Moreover, TBL approach in the public sector including local government has helped to develop global standards and procedures in reporting decisions at all levels (Triple-Bottom-Line Evaluation Approach Shows Promise for Local Government 2004). Application of  TBL in Sustainable Construction Construction activities worldwide consume 40 per cent of all raw material exploited globally (Sustainable construction gives a competitive edge n.d.). For this reason, the use of sustainable building materials can help improve the global environment significantly. The public demand for sustainable solutions is growing, and in the years to come, contractors who are able to document sustainable methods will have a strong presence in the market. In order to make construction sustainable, one has to practise TBL in order to consider the environmental impacts of extraction, transportation, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these materials. It is easy to understand why TBL has received acceptance in sustainable construction. Indicators of social and environmental performance are used to diversify work and practices of construction sector. TBL allows organisations to assess quantitatively and qualitatively how they are achieving their key performance indicators (Triple Bottom Line: A Ticket to the Game Or The Emperors New Clothes? 2005). TBL has been applied to the construction sector in the UK where the phrase Sustainable Construction has been coined. The UK Government is seeking to apply sustainable development practices to the construction industry. Leading construction companies in the UK, USA and Europe now report annually on social and environmental performance as well as financial performance. Jim Lammie, director of Parsons Brinckerhoff in a speech on sustainability of 8 September 2004 said that over 77% of construction companies in the UK had a sustainable development policy to deal with regulation, competitive edge, client policy, enhanced reputation, legal risks and future investments as well as addressing ethical obligations. Lessons from the construction industry overseas have a place for Australian construction companies who want to outperform their counter-parts in a society becoming increasingly aware of such issues. Implementing daily practices to elicit performance under TBL can be as simple as adop ting recycling programs, giving to the workforce through university sponsorship programs and adopting best practice voluntary standards. When a full assessment of practices are made construction players may find that they are already carrying out sustainable practices but are not reaping the reward through reporting their practices to stakeholders. Truly sustainable construction practices may mean assessing projects and work practices with TBL in mind (Triple Bottom Line: A Ticket to The Game Or The Emperors New Clothes? 2005). The triple bottom line concept of sustainable construction could be achieved through the application of sustainable design principles at early stages of planning and construction. By making these decisions earlier, it creates a building which is safer, secure, flexible, comfortable, environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient in the long-run. A sustainable construction project should be designed and constructed to take account of the principles of sustainable design which is to balance the social, environmental and economic aspects (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). The triple bottom line approach to sustainable construction is a balanced integration of design factors that consists of social, environmental and economic sustainability. Social Sustainable buildings are designed for the people considering access, safety, security; it is a design that considers the clients future needs throughout various stages of lives, such as young families, older residents or residents with varying disabilities. Sustainably constructed buildings are safe, easily adaptable to suit a diverse range of needs and comfortable for people with varying abilities at different stages of their lives. This is especially relevant considering the elderly amongst our ageing population (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Socially sustainable construction can also strengthen social networks and allow people of every age and ability to participate in their community throughout their life. An aesthetically pleasing and stimulating built environment will reinforce the sense of well being of residents and people in the local community of the building. Under the social aspect of TBL reporting, the local society and streetscape should also be considere d in order to ensure considerate development, enhancement of the streetscape and the community function (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). Environmental Sustainable construction are resource-efficient by incorporating sustainable and efficient management of water, energy and waste with other features such as passive solar design by considering the orientation, ventilation, insulation, shading and building materials (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Resource efficiency is also related to water efficiency in the building, waste management of materials used during construction, and energy efficiency by practising good passive design and high star-rated green technology appliances and lights. It is also associated with the reduced usage of greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption. Local market for materials should be considered as well (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). Besides that, resource efficiency also means lifestyle benefits for residents of the buildings as the thermal comfort is improved (social sustainability) and affordable running costs for the home (economic sustainability). Economic Economic sustainability of TBL reporting means designs and construction which are more cost-efficient in a long-run, considering the selection of low maintenance materials. Extra expense during construction should be provided for longer term operating cost savings as it is important to obtain the choices of design and material right the first time as it eliminates the need to make additional costly changes to the construction later. Besides that, installation of solar panels or water tanks will also increase the value of the property (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). During the selection of building material, suppliers should consider the materials from local market. It is to optimise costs through reduced transportation expenses to the site (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Sustainable construction could become cost-efficiently over time by improving the design and construction features and the use of low-maintenance materials. Usage of appliances with high energy-star ratings that reduce the ongoing costs of running the home should be encouraged. By practicing sustainable construction, energy and water bills are lowered and potential future modification costs are greatly reduced, thus making the home more adaptable and flexible over its life cycle. Case study: Enviro-Cottage Enviro-Cottage is constructed in Spring Hill, Brisbane. It was built as a workers cottage in the late 1800s. During 2008, the houses were transformed from a traditional Brisbane cottage into a sustainable development for inner-city living. Enviro-Cottage as shown in Figure 2 is not a new, purpose-built house unlike other display homes. It is a renovation project that highlights the simple, technological and the necessary construction methods to help make a home more efficient by using less electricity, water and other resources, while improving how people live in the available space. Some of the ideas are very simple and easy to apply in any home renovation or construction projects to reduce its environmental footprint. Examples of sustainable construction methods used are passive design, thermal mass and solar orientation (Enviro-Cottage n.d.). Other revolutionary sustainable ideas are the installation of solar cell technology, water tank and grey water systems, glass technology, kitchen and laundry appliances, taps and showers, insulation, flooring, paints and other finishes, heating and cooling systems, and energy efficient lighting. The Spring Hill Enviro-Cottage Project has addressed the TBL reporting (Triple bottom line in housing n.d). Examples of the Enviro-Cottage TBL report considerations included in the sustainable development and construction according to Our Brisbane are: Social sustainability Enviro-Cottage is constructed to be multi-purpose. Its multi-use design is suitable for people from different background, such as families, users with disabilities, and elderly people. The cottage is constructed using the local Tuff stone to tie to Spring Hills heritage and preservation of the heritage streetscape Open front aspect to connect with local street life Open design to aid easy internal and external surveillance High security features to all doors and windows with simple and consistent locking systems The set back garage is designed and constructed to de-emphasise the role of the car Addition of two off-street parking options takes two cars off the crowded local street Preservation of the heritage streetscape Environmental sustainability The constructed building maximize the use of passive solar design features, such as implementing natural energy flows, and minimising the scale of overlaid systems lighting, cooling etc. There is no air conditioning or other mechanical heating or cooling systems required in the design. Rainwater is being capture, used, recycled and re-used as much as possible, inclusion of grey water processing system. Generation of required energy needs through onsite photovoltaic system and where possible provision of clean renewable energy back to the community. During construction, environmentally preferred materials are used (Eg. no use of rainforest or old growth forest products). Existing 1800s building are renovated to reduce consumption of new materials Materials with a lifespan equivalent to the projected life of the building are used during construction. Local products and materials are sourced where possible, thus minimising energy used to transport materials. Economic sustainability Enviro-Cottage practises passive solar design and the environmental- friendly products will take future operating costs down to a minimum. Modular design, flexible usage model, and choice of long lifespan materials selected to build the house will minimise any necessities for future renovations, thus decreasing ongoing construction costs. The Enviro-Cottage project has demonstrated sustainable development through TBL reporting and the project signified sustainable living ideas, solution and options which can be part of most constructions even when it is challenged with the many constraints facing such renovations such as council building codes, existing dwelling condition and design, and smaller block sizes. Conclusion In conclusion, the TBL concept demonstrates responsibility to stakeholders in terms of economic, social and environmental impact. The idea behind TBL reporting is sustainable success which will benefit the organisations. Benefits include better reputation and increased confidence, benchmarked performance, increased operational efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, as well as improved risk management of the business. TBL reports may have different representations in the business and government sectors, and each of the sectors has different interpretation of TBL. TBL reporting is one way organisations can add value to their daily practices of their business. In terms of sustainable development and construction, TBL is the union of the three constituent parts social, environment, and economic. TBL is commonly used to prove corporate performance on sustainability as it covers accountability in an economic, social and environmental sense.

Prosthetic Limbs : Past, Present, and Future Essay -- Prosthetics Arti

Prosthetic Limbs: Past, Present, and Future Abstract: The purpose of my research paper is to discover how artificial limbs work in conjunction with the human body, which plastics are used in prosthetic limbs, and if there are any better possible plastics out there that can be used. The 1.9 million people in America who have lost limbs find it hard to pay for them, since they’re very expensive, so I looked into materials used, which are currently plastics such as polypropylene and carbon fibers. However, there are still some problems such as slow reaction time so manufacturers and laboratories are looking into alternate solutions such as carbon nanotubes and microchips. Research is expensive though, so I do not see the cost of prosthetic limbs going down anytime soon. With the cost of everything going up, the price of artificial limbs are going up as well, some even reaching $100,000 just for an arm or leg, preventing many people from getting one, even though it may be necessary to continue their job and normal life (New Life and Limbs). Imagine you were a soldier in the Iraq War. There are about six hundred soldiers who lose limbs from the war, which are costly to replace (War Fuels Prosthetics). After serving your country you would have to come home with your life completely changed, especially if you don’t have enough money to pay for a new limb. By looking at how artificial limbs work with the body and which plastics are used, I will try to see if there are new plastics which can reduce the cost and make artificial limbs available to more people around the world. Although there are only 600 soldiers from the Iraq war who have come home with lost limbs and needed to have them replaced, other ... ...t-is-polypropylene.htm>. Newton's Apple. "Prosthetic Limbs." Reach Out Michigan. Fall 2007. National Science Teachers Association. 27 July 2008 newton/prosthetic05.html>. Ossur Prosthetics. "Prosthetics by Ossur." Ossur. 14 Aug. 2007. Ossur. 28 July 2008 . Patel-Predd, Prachi. "Sensitive Synthetic Skin in the Works for Prosthetic Arms." Ieee Spectrum Online. 4 Jan. 2008. 29 July 2008 . Singer, Neal. "Prosthetic Limb to be Controlled by Microchip." Sandia. Sandia National Laboratories. 29 July 2008 . The Associated Press. "New life and limbs for Iraq war amputees." MSNBC Health News. 8 Mar. 2004. MSNBC. 27 July 2008 .

Johnny Walker :: Johnny Walker Short Story Essays

Johnny Walker Sera walked into Circle K on fifth st. without noticing it had not been remodeled since 1986, and that someone from another, more financially kept city might actually find the convenience store to be disgusting, the dirt being so thick on the windows that you could only see blurry faces on the inside. Inside she saw five people in the store and believed that all of them were staring at her, looking through her like they knew more about herself than she did. The clerk, she thought, had even looked up from her monotonous duties at the cash register to glance her wrinkled leathery face in Sera's direction. An ugly bum in the beer section reached into the cooler with a calloused black hand as Sera walked through the candy aisle to pick up a case of Budweiser. "Ah yes, forty ounces to freedom." The black skinned bum grabbed a forty of old English malt liquor while he turned a decrepit smile toward Sera. She smiled back sheepishly without knowing why and took the Budweiser out of the fridge that Liza had sent for her to get. She thought of Liza as she stood in line behind the old bum. Her face, an illusion in her mind, made out of the back of the bums scraggily black afro. When she walked out the door the bum stood outside with his paper bagged forty in his hand. "Need any help with that tonight?" He grinned with a yellow and half tooth full mouth. "I tend to get pretty thirsty." He held up his forty as if to clarify his thought to Sera. Sera looked at the black man and saw how gross he looked, and then thought why not bring someone back to the apartment for Liza to fuck with. "Sure. I'm walking. It's just a couple of blocks down in the Kohler building." Her voice was firm but also curious. "Lets doer little woman." Sera rolled her eyes, turned around, and started walking. * * * When they passed the third floor on the way up to the Landlady's apartment Sera had glanced down the hall and seen that Luther's door lay wide open, and that some of his books had spilled out into the hallway toppled on top of each other. On the fourth floor, Liza's door lay open and Sera could hear her washing clothes while talking to Luther.

Staging Hamlet for a Modern Audience Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet

I do not agree with the comment of Hazlitt:   'There is no play that suffers so much in being transferred to the stage'  Ã‚   Based on performances I have seen and other plays by Shakespeare, I think this is one of his better plays as it does not stick to guidelines.  Ã‚   Although a long play, it has a depth to it, that, if transferred to the stage well, is transformed from a long and winding script to a fascinating play filled with suspense and the emotions of the characters run high.   'Hamlet', nonetheless is a challenging script and Hamlet himself can either create the play, or destroy it, he is the key element.      To fascinate the audience from the outset you need to examine the setting that Shakespeare describes throughout the script.   For in order to create the atmosphere that is in the book you have to overcome the challenges set out, for example the many different sets in the play, the castle, the battlements, Ophelia's bedroom, and the grounds. The sky is important in 'Hamlet' for the stars and Greek Gods were the interest of the time.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   'This most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this magestical roof fretted with golden fire- why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.      The difficulty of including all the settings for each scene on stage can be solved by a backdrop or sky cloth painting which has perspective, drawing the audience in.   The sky can be painted high on a separate curtain which can roll up or down in order to be able to change the time of day, for example, one of a sunrise and another of the stars and... ...empty corridor, dissolving into a Pepsi machine! But the moment is not a visual joke but a creepy reminder of him being omniscient in the play.   This would be an effective way of playing him on stage, walking from room to room in the castle to show his restless soul.    'Hamlet' is a challenging play which has been produced many times in many different ways.   The ideal 'Hamlet' would be one which combines the old with the new and illustrates the depth and feelings of hamlet through the set whilst creating the characters as the reader sees them whilst reading the script.   Everyone sees the ideal 'Hamlet' differently and it would probably be impossible to create one which everyone would love, but to satisfy most I would create all that I have mentioned and create my 'Hamlet' from modern productions and ideas from the text.   

Support Children and Young People at Meal or Snack Times

Describe the setting’s code of conduct and policies for meal and snack times. When it is snack or lunchtime, the children is asked to visit the toilet as well as to wash their hands, before coming to the table for their meals, in an orderly fashion. The setting used meal and snack times to encourage the children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves. To protect children with food allergies, sharing or swapping of food between children are discourage.Staff joins the children during lunch, and tries to make the occasion an enjoyable and sociable time for everyone and at the same time ensure there is not any rowdiness. The children is encourage either by words or action by the staff how good table manners are. For example, not talking when our mouths are full or stretching across the table to get something. When packed lunches are brought into the setting for lunch, parents are informed about our policy on healthy eating and is encouraged to put healthy items in their lunch boxes.The setting reserve the right to return food considered unsuitable, to the parent as a last resort. 9. 3. 2Describe with examples ways of encouraging children and young people: Present food attractively Involved children in growing food Serve realistic portions Encouraging children to eat food provided for them Eat with children Respect reasonable likes and dislikes Negotiate realistic expectations Involved children in the shopping, making menus and preparing of food A colorful collection of fruits on a white plate, for e. g. contrasting strawberries against avocadoes, will present a more attractive display. In the summer where space allows it, children can grow vegetables e. g. potatoes, carrots and radishes.It is also possible to grow salad indoors during the winter months in window boxes. Adults should eat with the children during lunch, making the meal an enjoyable and sociable occasion. This does not mean loud and noisy. Another way we could encourage the children and young people to eat the food provided for them is to involve them in all the stages it take for the food to get from the shop to the table. For e. g. , take the children shopping (maybe not literally) – set up a pretend shop in the setting and let the children have a go at ‘buying’ the things they might need to make, a muffin, perhaps.Once the children have all the ingredients for the muffin, they can then start to cook/prepare it. If the staff in a setting has talked with the children’s parents regarding their dietary needs, they normally have an idea about the children’s likes and dislikes. The children should be encouraged to try new food but not if it becomes an issue. The staff should learn to respect the children wishes to a certain extend. If a child balks at eating his or her food, try to negotiate with them, encouraging them to take another bite or finishing her sandwiches before starting on h er ‘sweets’.Serving smaller portions seen to encourage children to finish what is on their plate. A plate pile high with food tends to put them off even before they start to 19. 3. 1Describe the food policy of the setting Before any children start attending the setting we check with their parents, their dietary needs, in terms of their religious belief, any allergic or intolerance to specific food or if they are vegetarians or vegans. We record all the information given in the children’s registration record and parents check it and sign that the information given is correct.The record is regularly updated. Information concerning any child in the setting that has special dietary needs is displayed and every staff and volunteers is informed about them. The snacks menus are on display, for parents to see. The children are offered food that is considered healthy i. e. without excessive saturated fats, sugar, salt or artificial additives, preservatives or colourings. We also take into account a child dietary needs and preferences as per their parent’s wishes. We offered food that the children are used to, as well as introducing new ones.The setting take care not to provide food containing nuts or nut products, and especially vigilant with any child know to have a nut allergy. Fresh drinking water is made available to the children. They are informed how to obtain the water and they know that they can ask for it any time during the day. We provide whole pasteurised milk for children who like and can drink it. There is a designated area in the setting where snacks and meals are to be eaten. We inform parents about the storing facilities for food available in the setting. 19. 2. 4Describe where to get advice on dietary concerns. British Nutrition Foundation (www. nutrition. org. uk) This agency provides nutrition information for teachers, health professionals, scientists and general public. * Food Standards Agency (www. eatwell. gov. uk) This agency gives advice about nutrition for children * The NHS (www. healthystart. nhs. uk) The NHS has the ‘5-a-day’ programme. * The Schools Food Trust (www. schoolfoodtrust. org. uk) This Trust gives advice on school meals, children’s food and related skills. * BBC (www. bbc. co. uk/health/treatments/healthy-living/nutrition) The BBC advises on diet and nutrition. The Caroline Walker Trust (www. cwt. org. uk) The Trust is dedicated to the improvement of public health through good food. It produces guidelines for carers and parents concerning babies and young children in early years settings. * Healthy Schools (www. healthyschools. gov. uk) Gives information concerning diets in schools. * National Children’s Bureau (www. ncb. org. uk) The Bureau promotes healthy lifestyles among children and young people. 19. 2. 3Describe how to recognize and deal with allergenic reactions to food. The following might happen when an allergic reaction happens.Difficulty in b reathing due to constriction of airways. The skin turns red and blotchy, like a rash. Skin gets itchy. Vomiting Stomach pain Diarrhoea Swelling around mouth, eyes and in the throat How to deal with allergic reactions to food. Make sure everyone in the setting, including parents, knows about the child’s allergy. Emphasis to everyone not to bring this food into the setting. Teach the child about his allergy so that he learns to recognize it and so avoid eating it. Where the reaction to the food is very severe the child should wear a medical alert bracelet and carry an auto-injector with him.And a person in the setting should be taught how to administer the medication/injection. Always read food labels and ingredients list to find out if the produce contains any food that would cause an allergic reaction. Strictly avoid any such food or product. Let everyone knows that the setting is a nut-free zone. Inform parents not to provide food-containing nuts in their children’s p ack lunches, or any food that their children might bring in. Make sure everyone, including parents, the seriousness of this policy. 19. 2. 2Describe the possible consequences of an unhealthy diet.Food that is full of sugar and fats are considered unhealthy. Our bodies digest them more easily than fibre. This tends to make us feel hunger pains much more frequently. Subsequently this causes us to snack in between meals. Our body does not require that many calories so it will in turn be stored as fat. It seems a catch 22 situation. To burn off this excess fat we need to exercise but because we eat too much processed food, more fat are being stored in our bodies which makes us overweight. This makes exercise much more difficult, since we are carrying more weight. Being overweight is unhealthy.It can make us obese and diabetic. With obesity comes a range of problems like high blood pressure, ache in joints, headaches, sleepiness, snoring, piles, gall bladder diseases, low self esteem whi ch maybe due to our appearances and high cholesterol which can lead to heart problems. Diabetes in turn can cause blindness and gangrene. Life expectancy is reduced. 19. 2. 1Describe the benefits of healthy eating for children and young people. The benefits of healthy eating for children and young people are as follows: – The children energy level is high which helps them to be more active and keen to exercise.High energy level also helps the children to be alert especially during school time, helping them in their study. Lack of sufficient fibre in a child’s diet can lead to irregular bowel movement, which can lead to illness. There are fewer chances for children becoming overweight, diabetic or contacting more serious illness. Hair will look shiny and healthy. The child will have healthy bones and teeth. This means fewer visits to the dentist, thereby letting them live a less stressful life. The child will sleep better which will help them look forward to the challen ges in the day. It can also helps in reducing weight steadily.And life expectancy increases. 19. 1. 3Describe how culture, religion and health conditions impact on food choices. Children and young people known to be suffering from diabetes, coeliac disease, food intolerance and food allergy are restricted in their food choices. Diabetic children need to avoid sugary food but required regular meals and snacks. Children with coeliac disease must avoid food with gluten. They must avoid food made from wheat, rye and barley for e. g. Bread, breakfast cereals, pastry and pasta. Some children are allergic or intolerance to certain foods i. e. they become ill if they eat them.For example, lactose (products made from milk), eggs, nuts, certain food colourings and some fruits like strawberries and tomatoes. For religion reasons, Jews and Muslims eat meat slaughtered and prepared in a certain way, known as kosher and halal meat. They both fast at certain time of the year. Muslims do not eat po rk but do eat fish and shellfish. Jews cannot eat any diary product at the same time as meat and eggs must not have blood spots. Sikhs and Hindus do not eat beef but Hindus are usually vegetarians and Sikhs do eat chickens, fish, shellfish and cheese but rarely pork.Hindus and Jews both eat fish. For Hindus the fish has to have scales and fins but for Jews it also has to have a backbone. Hindus and Muslims do not eat diary products that contain rennet. Rastafarians eat lamb, beef and chicken but not shellfish. We have to keep in mind that not everyone follows these rules. Vegetarians and vegan do not eat meat of fish. Vegans do not eat anything that has come from animals for e. g. cheese, milk and eggs. So their diet consists mainly of nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals. 19. 1. 1Outline the nutritional requirements of a healthy diet for Children and Young peopleFor children to grow up healthy, they require 7 nutrients. They are as follows: – Protein – which b uilds the body, especially the brain, blood and skin tissues. Carbohydrates – which give energy and are mainly found in pulses, oats, and potatoes. Fats – which give energy but will be store as fat if eaten too much. Vitamins – which help maintain a healthy body. Fibre – which helps maintain healthy bowels and are normally taken from plant materials as well as from bread, pulses and oats. Minerals – which helps build bones and teeth. They come from the earth.Though we do not require a lot, it will cause serious health problems if we do not have sufficient amount of minerals in our diet. Water – one of the essential elements in our diet. The human body is 60% water and to prevent dehydration we need to replenish any water lost through perspiring, breathing and urinating. We can find all the 7 nutrients in the following groups of food. 5 Groups of Food to give a Balance Diet Potatoes and Cereals – high-energy food, which provides bulk, vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein (5 portions a day) Fruit and vegetables – provide vitamins, minerals and fibre e. . Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Iron. (5 portions a day) Milk and diary products – rich in Calcium and also provide protein and Vitamin A and B. It is not recommended to give reduced-fat diary products to ‘under 5’s’. (3 portions a day) High Protein food – meat, eggs, tofu, quorn, pulses, nuts and seeds. They provide protein, Iron, Vitamin A and B. (2 portions a day) Oils and fats – high energy food but avoid saturated fats which comes mainly from processed food e. g. chips, pies, sausages. Use unsaturated fats where possible, making sure that this is not the bulk of a child’s diet. In moderation) It is important that children under 5’s get enough energy (calories) for growth and development. 29. 4. 1Explain the importance of personal hygiene at meal and snack times This applies to both the preparation and wh en the children sit down for their snacks and lunch. Before any adults start preparing food for snacks or lunch, they need to wash their hands to avoid any spread of germs to food to be passed on to the children. For the same reason rings and watches should be removed as well. Knives and plates need to be cleaned.The children are sent to wash their hands before they sit down for either their snacks or lunch. This is to prevent infection and to avoid food poisoning. Reminding the children not to put back any food that they had picked up also helps in avoiding cross contamination. During snacks or lunchtime the children should try to remember not to sneeze or cough openly, to avoid the spreading of germs. Any plates or utensils used during meal times should be clean. And if any cutleries are dropped on the floor, they should be replaced with cleaned items, this will help in avoiding infections.

Computers and Information Systems Essay

INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY Information is a valuable asset. The protection of these assets is a basic management responsibility. Employing officers are responsible for: †¢ Identifying and protecting computer-related information assets within their assigned area of management control and ensuring that these assets are used for management-approved purpose only and all employees understand their obligation to protect them. †¢ Implementing security practices and procedures that are consistent with the Company Information Asset Security Manual and value of the assets. PRIVACY AND SECURITY POLICIES TAKEN CARE BY VARIOUS HIGHLY RECOGNIZED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Partners HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information. In order to facilitate and implement the activities related to the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI), Partners HealthCare has appointed a Corporate Privacy Officer. The privacy officer responsible for implementation and oversight of the policies and procedures regarding the privacy of health information at their site. BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER Beth Israel Medical Center has adopted CPRI Toolkit -Technology Resources Policy to ensure uniform and appropriate use of its computer and telecommunication resources (the â€Å"Technology Resources,† defined below). POLICY: In using or accessing the Technology Resources, Users must comply with the following provisions. NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY â€Å"Users understand and agree that: BIDMC retains the right, with or without cause or notice to the User, to access or monitor the Computer Information, including User e-mail and Internet usage.†(Hodge et al. 1968, pg 17) Please keep in mind that anything created or stored on the Technology Resources, including the Computer Information, may be reviewed by others and that even deleted files may be recovered. USE OF E-MAIL AND INTERNET ACCESS AND USE All User e-mail addresses assigned by BIDMC shall remain the sole and exclusive property of BIDMC. Users should endeavor to make each of their electronic communications truthful and accurate. â€Å"Users should use the same care in drafting e-mail and other electronic documents as they would for any other written communication. The quality of your writing will reflect on BIDMC. Users are encouraged to use the Internet and intranets to assist them in the performance of their jobs.† (Thomas. R. 2001, 87) PASSWORDS Users are responsible for safeguarding their passwords for access to the Technology Resources. Users should recognize that the combination of a logon identification and password is the equivalent of a signature and that the disclosure to another individual is the equivalent of handing that individual a signed blank check. MAYO HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Mayo HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information by means of certain policies. ACCESS CONTROL TERMS – Individual-based access control. – Role-based access control. – Context-based access control. POLICY-RELATED TERMS – Policy: a broad statement of principle or intent that presents Mayo’s position. Policies are interpreted and supported by standards. – Standard: a rule or regulation that specifies conduct or a course of action. Standards are mandatory directives for implementing Mayo policy that ensure uniform compliance. – Guideline: a recommended course of action or a response to a given situation. Guidelines should be considered when determining how to implement standards. PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) I. Information security Mayo Foundation will protect its vital information from unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, or destruction, by conducting security program with patients and of Mayo Foundation. II. Security administration A group will exist to develop and maintain an information security program for Mayo Foundation entities. THEMES COMMON AMONG EACH ORGANIZATION`S POLICIES †¢ Controlling Access to Information and Systems, Operations and Administration. †¢ Network Security Policies. †¢ E-mail and the Worldwide Web, Telephones and Fax. †¢ Data Management. †¢ Backup, Recovery and Archiving. †¢ Document Handling. †¢ Securing Data. KEY SECURITY PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS FOR INFORMATION SECURITY AND PRIVACY MANAGEMENT The key security principles and the critical areas needing improvement for the healthcare organization. SECURING REMOTE ACCESS AND OTHER DRIVERS OF PHYSICIAN EFFECTIVENESS For many providers, ensuring physician effectiveness and quality of life is a top priority. This includes helping physicians gain off-site access to records, without having to come to the hospital or sign into multiple hospital systems. EXTENDING SECURITY AND PRIVACY TO THIRD PARTIES Secure interoperability from hospitals to physician practices is also becoming a requirement as the healthcare industry in many global markets moves towards wider use of electronic medical records and information sharing across collaborative groups (such as the emerging US regional health information organizations). (Perry. E., 1967, 48) DEVELOPING BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLANS In the wake of high-profile natural disasters and health-related crises worldwide, most healthcare respondents (70%) identified business continuity and disaster recovery planning as one of the most critical business factors driving their information security spending. Forty-four percent, however, do not yet have such a capability, and 59% report that developing or improving these plans is a strategic security initiative for the coming year. References Hodge, Bartow, & Hodgson, Robert. N. (nod.). 1968 Management and the Computer information system McGraw-Hill Companies, The, New York, NY, U.S.A. pg 17 Peltier, Thomas. R. (n.d.). 2001, Information Security Policies and Procedures: A practitioner’s Reference. TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, pg. 87 Rosove, Perry. E. (n.d.). 1967, Developing Computer-based Information system. John Wiley & Sons, NY,pg. 48