Parent Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Parent Interview - Essay Example Joe is labeled as having autism; however he is also taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (i.e. ADHD). Currently, Joe is going to Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, Virginia. This school has grades from kindergarten thru sixth grade and in located in a middle- class area. Joe is in an autism self-contained class, and his classmates range in educational levels from third through sixth grade. Joe is in the fourth grade. He has been going to this school for five years and has been in the same autism program with three of his classmates for all of this time. Joe is well-known and liked around the school because he is very talkative and social. He also lives in a middle class neighborhood near his school. Joe is a very smart boy, but he is considered to be lower functioning because his test scores place him below grade level. Joe does not take the standard of learning tests (i.e. SOL); however he does qualify to take the Virginia Alternative Assessment Program test (i.e. VAAP). In school he does participate in general education activities, such as art, physical education, and music . In addition, he also has his academic work that is done in the general education classroom and his class. At this period in time, Joe has an Individual Education Program (i.e. IEP) in which he has several goals that he is working on, besides his general education activities and curriculum. His individual goals are in the areas of communication, fine motor/ writing tasks, classroom behavior, math, language arts and reading. Joe interacts socially with his peers and teachers. He responds to questions willingly, participates in all activates and has an average sized vocabulary. However, he likes to use words that begin with the letter s, which sometimes impedes communication. Joe’s goals include

Lab Report on TLC analisys of Analgestic Drugs Essay Example for Free

Lab Report on TLC analisys of Analgestic Drugs Essay In this experiment, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to determine the composition of various over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics: Anacin, Bufferin, Excedrin, and Tylenol. The TLC plates were first viewed under ultraviolet (UV) light and then treated with iodine vapor in order to visualize the spotting. Experiment Scheme Initially, sixteen capillary micropipets were created in order to spot the TLC plates. Two TLC plates were then obtained and marked with pencil for spotting. A line was drawn 1 cm from the bottom of each plate, and five small, evenly spaced marks were made along those lines (see Figure 1). Each mark indicated where a substance would be spotted. All compounds used were in solutions of 1g of each dissolved in 20 ml of a 50:50 mixture of methylene chloride and ethanol. The first plate made was the reference plate. Capillary micropipets were used to spot the first four marks with acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine, and salicylamide (in that order). (See figures 2-5 for chemical structures.) The last mark was spotted with a reference solution of all four chemicals. The second plate made was the sample plate. The first four marks were spotted with Anacin, Bufferin, Excedrin, and Tylenol. The fifth mark was spotted with a reference solution of all four drugs. Figure 1. Prepared TLC plates Figure 2. AcetaminophenFigure 3. Aspirin Figure 4. CaffeineFigure 5. Salicylamide A development container was created with a wide-mouthed screwcap jar. It was filled with the development solvent, which was .5% glacial acetic acid in ethyl acetate, so that the solvent was approximately . 5 cm deep.The first TLC plate was then carefully placed into the development container. Great care was taken to ensure that the plate went in evenly so that the solvent could rise evenly up the plate. Once the solvent front had reached approximately 1cm from the top of the plate, the plate was removed, the solvent front was marked with a pencil, and the plate was allowed to dry. The second plate was then placed in the development chamber in the same manner as the first. Once the solvent front reached approximately 1cm from the top of the plate, the plate was removed, the solvent front was marked with a pencil, and the plate was allowed to dry. Each plate was then viewed under the UV light. Any spots that were seen were lightly circled with a pencil, and their color was noted. The orders of elution (Rf values) were calculated by dividing the distance from the baseline to the center of the spot by the distance from the baseline to the solvent front. After all observations and calculations were made, the plates were placed in a jar containing iodine. The jar was warmed with hands so that the iodine vaporized. The plates were then removed from the jar and observed. The reference and sample plates were then compared to determine which compounds the drugs on the sample plate contained. Data

Concepts of Abnormal Behaviour

Concepts of Abnormal Behaviour 1.1 Normal behavior is known as behavior that is widely accepted as the prescribed norms of a particular society. For example, it is normal for an American to greet someone by shaking hands. Adhering to normal behavior satisfies individuals’ need to fit into society. The ability to behave normally also allows one to fulfill the innate need to interact with others. Abnormal behavior contrasts normal behavior in that it is unacceptable behavior which is outside of the norm of functioning behavior. Abnormal behaviors could range from minor deviations from societal norms to very severe behaviors that are considered taboo, or forbidden. There is a dilemma in defining how these concepts are defined in that behaviors which are known to be acceptable in one culture may not be tolerated in another. No single culture can determine a paradigm for normalcy within another society, since this would imply that another culture’s societal rules are incorrect. Instead, it is necessary to consider behaviors in the appropriate cultural context, as suggested in an article entitled, Epidemiology of major depression in four cities in Mexico. [1] 1.2 To effectively treat the underlying pathological disorders that cause abnormal behaviors, researchers have created paradigms that describe possible explanations for psychopathology. The Biological Paradigm of abnormal behavior states that mental disorders are the result of biological processes. For instance, research in the field of Behavior Genetics describes how genes play a significant role in individuals’ behavior. Also, irregularity in the amount of neurotransmitters released between neurons is the root of some disorders, such as Depression and Manic Disorder. Another model is the Humanistic and Existential Paradigm. It holds that people who suffer from abnormal behavior lack insight into their life issues (Davison et. al., 2003). [2] Paradigms such as the ones described above are invaluable in working with individuals who suffer from pathological behavior. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a universal diagnostic tool that categorizes models of abnormal behavior and provides clinicians with information about a client’s mental functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).[3] The DSM lists specific criteria that are required for an individual to either have features of a particular mental disorder or further, be diagnosed with one. The DSM also incorporates portions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) manual that pertain to mental disorders. The ICD is typically used by medical professionals. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) outlines categories of disorders according to the Multiaxial Assessment Model, which breaks up disorders into five axes of functioning. Axis I includes clinical disorders such as Depression, Manic Disorder and Schizophrenia. Axis II encompasses personality disorders such as Histrionic Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. It also includes Mental Retardation. Axis III is comprised of medical disorders. Axis IV contains Psychosocial and Environmental Problems such as life problems not attributed to a clinical, personality or medical disorder. The last axis encapsulates an individual’s Global Assessment of Functioning, which is a rating system that represents a person’s overall level of mental health. The classification system for mental disorders is comprehensive in covering various areas of mental disorders and symptomology. However, most studies that have assisted researchers in gathering the information included in the DSM were performed by homogenous researchers and did not include diverse study participants. Thus, applicability of the DSM to other cultures is disputed by professionals. Details about the inapplicability of Western cultural values upon other cultures are displayed in an article titled, Mental health issues for Asian Americans, by Lin and Cheung.[4] In order to attempt to deflect this shortcoming, DSM collaborators decided to include popular disorders of other cultures within the DSM. For example, the DSM incorporates Taijin kyofusho, a Japanese disorder described in an article titled, The place of culture in psychiatric nosology: Taijin kyofusho and DSM-III-R.[5] Although this approach is somewhat helpful, results of a study titled, The place of culture in DSM -IV, focused on better integrating diverse populations encourages statisticians to integrate multicultural issues into diagnostic systems.[6] 1.3 One of the greatest struggles a mental health professional faces in diagnosing a client is differentiating which disorder a client may potentially have. Spitzer portrays this difficulty through research titled, The DSM-III-R field trial of disruptive behavior disorders.[7] The difficulty lies in categorizing symptoms into only one disorder. For example, â€Å"sleep disturbance† is both a symptom of depression and anxiety. Although there are notable difficulties in diagnosing a client, differentiation is an important component of diagnosis, and eventually in administrating the appropriate treatment. If a client is misdiagnosed due to lack of scrutiny during the assessment and diagnosis period, the results could be detrimental. 2.1 Mental illness is a complex subject with various facets. However, there is a major similarity in the mode of treatment options allowed to people suffering from mental illness. In many cases a person’s quality of life can be sustained by managing the illness through therapeutic means and possibly psychotropic medication. Regrettably, however, there are a percentage of people who may not receive the full benefits of treatment. An examination of the differences within mental illness is required in order to grasp a better understanding of why this is so. Mental illness is divided into two major categories: neuroses and psychoses. Neuroses represent those mental illnesses that cause a person distress; however, there is opportunity to remedy the source of distress based on a person’s level of insight into the illness. Mood, anxiety, attachment, eating, and personality disorders are some of the illnesses encapsulated under the category of neuroses. Psychoses are similar to neuroses in that they also cause a level of distress that hampers daily functioning. Conversely, however, psychoses also encompass disorders that include delusional and hallucinatory features. In result, a person suffering from a psychosis lacks the insight to understand that these psychotic features are of a pathological nature (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Disorders under the neuroses category include schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and psychotic disorder. While treatment options for neurotic disorders are vast and prognosis for long-term ment al health possible, the outlook for treatment and prognosis of psychotic disorders is not optimistic in many cases, as suggested in the article, Recovery from mental illness.[8] 2.2 Several types of psychopathological disorders have been identified over time. These disorders are now categorized in the DSM according to what areas of functioning are affected and symptomology. For instance, one category includes mood disorders. Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and Depression are found under this heading because all of them affect mood. A second category, eating disorders, includes anorexia and bulimia. Psychotic Disorders are most severe and include disorders such as Schizophrenia and Delusional Disorder. Schizophrenia is one of the most studied psychotic disorders and deserves further explanation. Based on the DSM, criteria for diagnosing a person with the disorder are that it last for at least six months and contain at least one month of active-phase symptoms. These symptoms include one or more of the following: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (such as affective flattening). Other symptomology that is common with Schizophrenia is severe social and occupational dysfunction, which incapacitates important daily living skills. Additionally, there are three subtypes that more clearly identify which symptoms are most prominent within individual sufferers: Paranoid Schizophrenia causes the sufferer to experience delusions and hallucinations in a paranoid state. In result, the person may accuse another entity or person of wanting to harm the sufferer. Disorganized Schizophrenia is diagnosed when a client is ha ving difficulty expressing himself properly. Both thought and speech may be disorganized and incomprehensible. A person with Catatonic Type Schizophrenia displays very little facial expressions, body movements or other normal physical movements and speech. Every client’s symptoms and any applicable subtype may vary. This variation within the disorder makes diagnosis and treatment a difficult task. 3.1 Based on the severity of symptomology, the forecast for effective treatment is not hopeful. However, some treatment options are available. One approach is called Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and is a popular form of treatment for sufferers of schizophrenia, as described in the study, Psychosocial rehabilitation services in community support systems.[9] This model consists of reintroducing clients to basic living skills in order to function in society and in effect, avoid being institutionalized, as stated in the study, Psychiatric and social reasons for frequent rehospitalization.[10] Additionally, the Humanistic Theory is utilized often with this population due to its introspective nature. Theorists who utilize this modality attempt to teach the client to become increasingly self-aware and gain insight into their behaviors and illness. The irony in using this approach is that it is precisely the type of treatment the client needs but has most difficulty applying. Medication is also used as a mode of treatment, mainly to decrease psychotic symptoms. In The Texas medication algorithm project, a study by Chiles et. al, the researchers created an algorithm for administering medication to patients with Schizophrenia.[11] The article details the type of psychotropic medication that should be used, including a â€Å"decision tree† model for administration. The article also details various types of medication used with patients with Schizophrenia. Medication such as Risperidone and haloperidol is mainly used for psychotic symptoms while __________ is used for symptoms related to depressive symptoms as a result of the schizophrenia. 3.2 The types of therapy outlined above can be relatively effective for clients with schizophrenia based on extensive research and application. However, some important factors regarding the implications of therapies and treatment should be considered, particularly due to the nature of the client’s symptoms. Most importantly, it is crucial that there be a positive client-therapist match. The therapist should have the ability to build rapport with the client, be knowledgeable about Schizophrenia, and remain professional in spite of irrational thoughts and processes displayed by the client. Moreover, the therapist should be invested in the client long-term, due to the nature of this type of therapy. There is no timeline for resolution of the client’s problem in the case of Schizophrenia, but rather maintenance of well-being and management of symptoms. This tedious therapeutic process could become increasingly frustrating. However, the onus is upon the therapist to handle this frustration with a sense of beneficence, thereby, remaining emotionally available and dedicated to the client. Once a trusting relationship is established, it is important for the therapist to consider what therapies will realistically be effective. Many modalities can be used, such as group, family and individual therapy; support groups; and various others. However, great importance must be placed on the individual client’s needs. As stated earlier, people who suffer from schizophrenia have very little insight into their behaviors and symptoms. It is important to address the client’s current stressors in a practical and resourceful manner. For instance, if a therapist is dealing with someone who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, a group setting may be difficult for this client. In many cases, medication is also applied as a treatment approach, although carefully. Though many of the recommended medication that exists for schizophrenia seems to work quite effectively, there are long-term side effects. Because schizophrenia is a life long disorder, medication may only make matters worse by igniting damaging side effects. Additionaly, it is important to know whether clients can accurately assess whether a certain medication is helping or hurting. At times, they may not be able to determine this objectively. Professionals have the responsibility of advocating for their clients so that clients are not misled or disadvantaged. Also, both clinicians and psychiatrists must collaborate closely due to for client’s need for both medication and long term therapy. As several studies show, any of the two given alone would not be as effective (Chiles, 1999). Ultimately, professionals must make decisions that are most beneficial for the client. There is opportunity for this population to be taken advantage of quite easily due to their lack of understanding about their circumstances. Unfortunately, sometimes therapists decide not to terminate therapy even though they believe the client has learned appropriate life skills and does not need therapy at the time. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication to a client only because they are promoting a certain type at the time, although the medication might not be the most compatible. Due to disheartening situations such as these, it is important for professionals who are dedicated to the field to work beneficently for the client while considering the most practical and ethical modalities of treatment (Davison, 2003). Bibliography American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Anthony WA. (1993). Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health system in the 1990s. Innovations and Research 2(3):17-24. Chiles, J, Miller, A., Crismon, M., Rush, A., Krasnoff, A., and Shon,S. (1999). The Texas Medication Algorithm Project: Development and Implementation of the Schizophrenia Algorithm. Psychiatric Services, 50:69-74. Davison, G; Neale, J., Kring, A. (2003). Abnormal Psychology with Cases, 9th Edition. California: John Wiley Sons, Inc. DeSisto MJ, Harding CM, McCormack RV, et al. (1995). The Maine and Vermont three-decade studies of serious mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry 167:331-342. Harding CM, Zahniser JH. (1994). Empirical correction of seven myths about schizophrenia with implications for treatment. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 90:140-146. Kent S, Yellowlees PM. (1994). Psychiatric and social reasons for frequent rehospitalization. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 45:347-350. Kirmayer L.J. (1991). The place of culture in psychiatric nosology: Taijin kyofusho and DSM-III-R. Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders. 179(1):19-28. Lin, K., Cheung, F. (1999). Mental health issues for Asian Americans. Psychiatric Services 50:774-780. Mezzich JE, Kirmayer LJ, Kleinman A, Fabrega H Jr, Parron DL, Good BJ, Lin KM, Manson SM. (1999). The place of culture in DSM-IV. Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders, 187(8):457-64. Rogler LH. (1996). Framing research on culture in psychiatric diagnosis: the case of the DSM-IV. Psychiatry, 59(2):145-55. Roshel Lenroot, M.D., Juan R. Bustillo, M.D., John Lauriello, M.D. and Samuel J. Keith. (2003). Integration of Care: Integrated Treatment of Schizophrenia. Psychiatric Services 54:1499-1507. Slone LB, Norris FH, Murphy AD, Baker CK, Perilla JL, Diaz D, Rodriguez FG, de Jesus Gutierrez Rodriguez J. (2006). Epidemiology of major depression in four cities in Mexico. Journal of Depression and Anxiety. Spitzer RL, Davies M, Barkley RA. (1990). The DSM-III-R field trial of disruptive behavior disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(5); 690-7. Thakker J, Ward T. (1998). Culture and classification: the cross-cultural application of the DSM-IV. Clinical Psychology Review, 18(5):501-29. Footnotes [1] Slone LB, Norris FH, Murphy AD, Baker CK, Perilla JL, Diaz D, Rodriguez FG, de Jesus Gutierrez Rodriguez J. (2006). Epidemiology of major depression in four cities in Mexico. Journal of Depression and Anxiety. [2] Davison, G; Neale, J., Kring, A. (2003). Abnormal Psychology With Cases, 9th Edition. California: John Wiley Sons, Inc. [3] American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. [4] Lin, K., Cheung, F. (1999). Mental health issues for Asian Americans. Psychiatric Services 50:774-780. [5] Kirmayer L.J. (1991). The place of culture in psychiatric nosology: Taijin kyofusho and DSM-III-R. Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders. 179(1):19-28. [6] Mezzich JE, Kirmayer LJ, Kleinman A, Fabrega H Jr, Parron DL, Good BJ, Lin KM, Manson SM. (1999). The place of culture in DSM-IV. Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders, 187(8):457-64. [7] Spitzer RL, Davies M, Barkley RA. (1990). The DSM-III-R field trial of disruptive behavior disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(5); 690-7. [8] Anthony, W. (1993). Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health system in the 1990s. Innovations and Research 2(3):17-24. [9] Barton, R. (1999). Psychosocial rehabilitation services in community support systems: a review of outcomes and policy recommendations. Psychiatric Services, 50:525-534. [10] Kent S, Yellowlees PM. (1994). Psychiatric and social reasons for frequent rehospitalization. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 45:347-350. [11] Chiles, J, Miller, A., Crismon, M., Rush, A., Krasnoff, A., and Shon,S. (1999). The Texas Medication Algorithm Project: Development and Implementation of the Schizophrenia Algorithm. Psychiatric Services, 50:69-74.

Metallic Hydrogen :: essays research papers fc

Hydrogen: the most abundant element in the universe. Normally it has been considered to remain a non-metal at any range of temperatures and pressures. That is, until now. Recently this year, hydrogen was changed into a metallic substance, which could conduct electricity. An experiment conducted by William J. Nellis et al. at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory accomplished this feat. Hydrogen was converted from a non-metallic liquid, into a liquid metal. The likelihood that the most abundant element in the universe could be converted into metallic form at sufficient pressures was first theorized in 19351, but tangible evidence has eluded scientists in the intervening decades. "Metallization of hydrogen has been the elusive Holy Grail in high-pressure physics for many years," said Bill Nellis, one of three Livermore researchers involved in the project. "This is a significant contribution to condensed matter physics because a pressure and temperature that actually produce metallization have finally been discovered."2 Livermore researchers Sam Weir, Art Mitchell, and Bill Nellis used a two-stage gas gun at Livermore to create enormous shock pressure on a target containing liquid hydrogen cooled to 200 K (- 4200 F). Sam Weir, Arthur Mitchell (a Lab associate), and Bill Nellis published the results of their experiments in the March 11 issue of Physical Review Letters under the title "Metallization of Fluid Molecular Hydrogen at 140 GPa (1.4 Mbar)." When asked about the significance of the work, Nellis had this to say: "Hydrogen makes up 90 percent of the universe. Jupiter is 90 percent hydrogen and contains most of the mass in our planetary system. Hydrogen is very important to a lot of work done at the Lab. Hydrogen in the form of deuterium and tritium isotopes is the fuel in laser-fusion targets and how it behaves at high temperatures and pressures is very important to Nova and the National Ignition Facility."3 By measuring the electrical conductivity, they found that metallization occurs at pressure equivalent to 1.4 million times Earth's atmospheric pressure, nine times the initial density of hydrogen, and at a temperature of 30000 K (50000 F). Because of the high temperature, the hydrogen was a liquid. The intense pressure lasted less than a microsecond. Optical evidence of a new phase of hydrogen has been previously reported using an experimental approach that involves crushing microscopic-sized samples of crystalline hydrogen between diamond anvils.4 However, metallic character has not been established. Metallic character is most directly established by electrical conductivity measurements which are not yet possible in diamond anvil cells at these pressures. The Livermore team's results were surprising because of their methods, the form of hydrogen used and the pressure needed to achieve the result (which was much lower than previously believed). Virtually all predictions surrounding metallic hydrogen have been made for solid hydrogen at

Big Time Toymaker Case Scenario Essay

1. At what point, if ever, did the parties have a contract? I do not think the two parties involved ever had a contract. In the scenario, the parties reached an agreement only three days before the end of a 90-day deadline set in the original negotiation contract. In the original negotiation contract, it states that there would be no distribution contract unless it was in writing. When the BTT manager sent the e-mail to Chou, he mentioned the terms of a distribution agreement, but it does not make the email a contract as neither party signed it. Only an oral agreement was reached. Without a legally binding draft and the signature of both parties present, no contract existed. 2. What facts may weigh in favor of or against Chou in terms of the parties’ objective intent to contract? BTT had paid Chou $25,000 for the exclusive negotiation rights to his board game which lead Chou to believe they were serious about coming to an agreement on a distribution contract. This is a fact that would weigh in favor of Chou. However, both parties only made an oral agreement, and not a written contract to show this fact. Since the contract was not drafted within the original 90-day period, the new management was not obligated to distribute the board game and therefore, had every right to turn Chou away instead of honoring the oral contract. 3. Does the fact that the parties were communicating by e-mail have any impact on your analysis in Questions 1 and 2 (above)? No, it did not have any impact on my analysis of the situation. E-mail is a form of electronic communication, not a written and signed contract. While both parties may have communicated their intentions and terms of the contract, they never printed and signed any form of a written agreement. This factor makes all of the difference when it comes to enforceable contracts. What BTT and Chou had was not a binding or enforceable contract. 4. What role does the statute of frauds play in this contract? Under the UCC, the statue of fraud applies to a contract for the sales of goods in excess of $500. The negotiations between BTT and Chou were over $500, so the statues of fraud would apply here. Under UCC laws, the statue of fraud applies when a contract cannot be fulfilled within one year’s time. Under these stipulations, the statute would apply. 5. Could BTT avoid this contract under the doctrine of mistake? Explain. Would either party have any other defenses that would allow the contract to be avoided? BTT would not be able to avoid this contract under the doctrine of mistake. A mistake is defined under contract law as the belief that is not in accord with the facts. A â€Å"mistake† was not defined anywhere within this scenario. BTT has only one real defense and that would be that no contract was ever reached in writing nor signed by both parties. The fact that no signatures on a contract ever existed would be a defense that Chou never agreed to the terms and conditions. Chou could argue that there was no existed agreement due to the time passed between communications of the two parties involved. 6. Assuming, arguendo, that this e-mail does constitute an agreement, what consideration supports this agreement? The fact that BTT gave a check for $25,000 for the exclusive negotiating rights shows that BTT intended to reach a contract with Chou. The two parties also reached an oral agreement, but oral agreements are hard to enforce in court. BTT had also sent Chou a fax asking him to send them a draft of a contract for the distribution agreements. At the end of the scenario, BTT states that it is not interested in distributing Chou’s new strategy game, Strat. Assuming BTT and Chou have a contract, and BTT has breached the contract by not distributing the game, discuss what remedies might or might not apply. Equitable remedies may have applied in this case. Chou would be able to seek compensatory damages for his losses. These losses could include out-of-pocket expenses and even loss of potential profits had BTT honored their portion of the contract.

Sop communication engineering

The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, challenges you and gives you a sense of meaning, joy and passion. I have found that one thing that helps me to live peacefully on this glorious planet is â€Å"successful engagement in meaningful work† keeping in my mind where my hands are. An intrepid dream by the Wright brothers to give the humankind wings to fly, an intrepid dream by few thoughtful men to let the human race take the first step on the moon.I think hat it is the gift to dream, the ability to ponder beyond facts and the intelligence to make thoughts into reality that sets us apart from the rest in the tree of evolution. From the wheel to pacemaker, history is replete with events where a simple, yet brilliant idea has changed the way future generations live for decades, and even countries. I believe in seeing dreams and giving my best to realize those dreams that will be a step forward in the betterment of the human race.Dreams are what made the world, what it is today. In an era of competition and excellence, engineering has taken strides which our forefathers never even dreamt of. To be an excellent instrument for the development of our world we must be educated, cultured, refined and thoughtful. Knowledge is what elevates man to a disciplined being. To be an erudite is not only about possessing education but also having skill to implement it in a practical world.An aspiration to become a pioneer in the field of Electronics prevailed right from my childhood. The desire of gaining in-depth knowledge and my enthusiasm and curiosity to understand the mechanics of electronic devices and about communication systems led me to hose Electronics and Communication engineering as my undergraduate study. During my undergraduate studies, lectures delivered by eminent people who are leaders in their field exposed me to the needs and aspirations of the industry. Id my summer in-plant training in Airports A uthority of India, where I was engaged in learning various functional aspects of security and communication equipments such as X-ray baggage Inspection System (SIBS) and CATV camera used for surveillance purpose. During my third year of undergraduate study had the opportunity to visit Doorman's Achaean, which is the Indian's largest public broadcaster. Had a great experience working with the technicians in this platform where I had a thorough knowledge about the working mechanism in Production control room, Master control room, earth station and transmission process.To implement practically what had learnt in my three years of undergraduate study, I did my final year project which is about â€Å"Implementation Of tamper proof ATM and weapon identification system. † Looting money, ATM robbery/ burglars damaging the money vending machines have become common. So, n order to save the lives of common people I had used a vibration sensor and inductive proximity sensor which will al ert the cops using a RFC transceiver.Hence, this is an added protection to ATM itself. In addition to the above projects, I am currently pursuing a course on â€Å"CAN (Switching and Routing)† that validates the ability to install, configure, operate and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks. I believe this course is supportive for any communication engineer to know more in depth about NETWORKING and also hope that this course will be beneficial for me to attain an internship experience in your laboratory.To further my knowledge in the field of Communication Systems, I wish to pursue my higher studies and excel in a graduate school that stands for high quality teaching and infrastructure which could help me realize my goal of becoming a lead engineer in the field of communication systems. Nanning Technological University (ANTI) is likely to provide me just that through its Communication Engineering program. The course listings under this program with subjects such as Digital communication systems, Optical fiber communications,Computer networks, Antennas and propagation for wireless systems and all other courses provides me a great platform to further my ideas. This knowledge shall help me in design an effective, efficient and safe system, play a significant role in long-term planning and help me to become a successful communication engineer. I strongly believe .NET is the place that provides the path towards my destination. NUT has one of the topmost ranked graduate programs in Communication Engineering in terms of experienced faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure and research facilities.

Job Design and Personal Contributions

Job Design and Personal Contributions Introduction Job design is defined as the arrangement or rearrangement of work activities where the main objective is to reduce job dissatisfaction among employees and also reduce employee alienation within the work place.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Job Design and Personal Contributions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Job design also refers to the organizing of responsibilities and work duties so as to make sure there is productivity amongst the employees of an organization. Job design addresses the content of jobs and how this content affects the performance of employees (Mathis Jackson, 2008). The identification of the major components of a job is an important part of job design and many companies today have conducted job design activities to ensure that their employees meet the organization’s goals and objectives. The three major reasons that have been used by companies the world over to conduct job design activities include improving the performance of the company where job design influences the performance of certain work duties especially those that require high employee motivation such as customer service and customer relations. Another reason is that job design affects the job satisfaction of employees as people are more satisfied with particular job configurations that they find to be suitable to their skills and knowledge. Employees who find themselves in non-demanding jobs while they have technical skills might experience job dissatisfaction as their technical knowledge and skills are not being utilized to the maximum (Mathis Jackson, 2008). Personal contribution with relation to job design involves the activities that an individual employee or worker in an organization performs to ensure that they achieve job satisfaction in the course of performing their duties. The personal contribution of an employee would be to change their behavior or attitude towards work where an employee who would report late to work or would record a high rate of abseentism might decide to be punctual for work and not miss any work days. Another personal contribution of an employee towards job design would be to create a set of activities related to the work tasks that would suit the individual needs of the employee.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, a secretary might decide to use a manual filing system rather than a digitized filing system because they are comfortable filing documents in the manual way. An accountant might decide to use online QuickBooks rather than the paper QuickBooks because they view them to be more efficient (Gibson et al, 2006) Classic Approaches to Job Design The most common approach in job design or re-design is the technique of simplifying the tasks and responsibilities of a job to be more manageable. This is referred to a s job simplification and it is mostly suitable for entry-level workers or graduate employees who have no prior experience with the job position. Job simplification is suitable for such types of employees to ensure that they are not overwhelmed by the tasks and responsibilities that come with the job. A major disadvantage of job simplification is that it removes the challenging aspects of a job making the tasks too easy to perform. Another disadvantage is that the job might become boring at some point and loose its appeal because of its simplistic nature (Gibson et al, 2006). There are several approaches that can be used by companies and business to ensure that job design and re-design has been conducted in a successful way. One of these approaches is job extension where the job design attempts to widen the span of the job by increasing the duties and tasks that come with the job. Job enlargement is usually performed on job positions that have limited tasks and duties and where the p erformance of the employee within the organization is limited as a result of the work tasks and responsibilities. Another approach that is used in job design is job enhancement that involves escalating the profundity of a job through incorporating activities such as the addition of organizing planning, and controlling responsibilities (Daft, 2008). Managers within a company might decide to conduct job enrichment activities by promoting work variety as well as providing employees with more managerial responsibilities to ensure that they grow personally within the organization. Managers might also decide to give their employees more freedom and authority to perform their work duties in a way they find most suitable to them. Increasing the employee’s accountability for the work they have performed within a business unit by reducing external control pressures especially from managers and supervisors might also lead to job enrichment within an organization.Advertising We w ill write a custom essay sample on Job Design and Personal Contributions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another way of achieving job enrichment within an organization would be to expand employee assignments to ensure that they are able to learn various strategies that they can use to perform new tasks. Providing employees with direct feedback would also ensure that they can be able to derive job enrichment from planning and organizing activities (Daft, 2008). Another approach that is used in conducting job design or redesign is referred to as job rotation where the monotonous cycle of work is broken by shifting an employee from one work position to another. A major advantage of job rotation is that it enhances the development of an employee’s ability to perform different jobs within an organization. This means that in the event a position within the organization becomes open, they can be able to fill in that position without going f or outside hires. A major disadvantage of job rotation is that it has a minimal effect on an employee’s work performance especially if they are shifted to a boring job (Daft, 2008). Managers need to liaise with their employees when they are choosing which job design approaches to use in the design process. This will involve assessing the personal contribution of the employee in selecting the most suitable job design approach. Managers and employees who want to change their attitude towards work might select the job enrichment approach where employees who have limited work duties are given more assignments to ensure that they have job satisfaction. Job enrichment might also be used when trying to achieve job satisfaction within an organization by increasing the motivation of employees (Gibson et al, 2006). Characteristics of Jobs in Job Design A good job design depends on the characteristics of a job that are relevant to a particular group of people within an organization. Som e common examples of job characteristics include skill variety which refers to the extent to which a job has several different activities that are needed to successfully complete the work duties. If the work duties require the involvement of more skills, the job will become more meaningful to the employee. The personal contribution of the employee in skill variety would be to acquire additional skills that would be used to perform the different activities of the job.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"Another example of a job characteristic is task identity which is the extent to which a job has an identifiable unit of work that can be able to produce a visible outcome† (Gibson et al, 2006). For example if a customer care officer possessed customer care skills as well as technical skills, they might be able to help customers set up technical equipment without having to refer them to the technical support team Another characteristic of a job is task significance which is defined as the impact that a job has on other people within and outside the organization. A job is said to be significant if it is important to other people for the same reason that it is significant to the person who is performing the work duties. For example a soldier might find their job to be more significant when they are defending their country from a real threat rather than when they are preparing to face threats that might arise in the future. Job autonomy is another important characteristic o f a job where autonomy refers to the extent to which an employee within an organization has the freedom and discretion to perform their work duties without any interference from managers or supervisors. Job autonomy is an important characteristic in job design as it ensures that employees have more personal responsibilities to perform their work in the workplace. Job autonomy ensures that the employee can be able to contribute to their performance within the company (Mathis Jackson, 2008). Conclusion The discussion has dealt with job design and personal contributions within the organization. Job design or redesign is an important activity for organizations as it ensures that employee productivity and performance within an organization has been improved. The research findings within the essay have revealed various approaches that can be used in performing job design activities which include job enrichment, job rotation, and job enlargement. The discussion has also focused on the var ious job characteristics that are needed to perform job design activities. The aspect of personal contributions within the essay has dealt with the activities that an individual employee can perform to affect their own job design. Personal contributions in job design are usually driven by the personal behavior and attitudes of individual employees. References Daft, R.L., (208). Organization theory and design. Ohio, US: Cengage Learning Gibson, J., Ivancevich, J., Donnelly, J., Konopaske, R., (2006). Organizations;  behavior, structure, processes, 12th Edition. Chicago: McGraw-Hill. Mathis, R.L., Jackson, J.H., (2008). Human resource management. Mason, Ohio: Thomson South-Western