Value and Drawbacks of Activity Based Management Research Paper

Value and Drawbacks of Activity Based Management - Research Paper Example This paper seeks to present a concept proposal for value and drawbacks of activity based management. The paper will develop a problem statement, discuss the significance of the problem, the advantages and drawbacks and explore existing literature on the topic. Statement of the problem The scope of activity based management and its relation to activity based costing identifies the management approach as a key line towards improved profitability of an organization. With its objectives of identifying and controlling activities that do not add value to processes, activity based management is essential in controlling production costs towards managing profitability. It forms the basis on which strategies are developed for effective elimination of ‘non-additive’ processes through activity costing (Maher, Stickney & Weil, 2007). Based on the significance of the management approach, the concept will seek to investigate the significance of value and drawbacks of activity based man agement. Significance of the research The concept into value and drawback of ‘activity-based’ management is based on the importance of the management approach to an organization. ... This understanding will promote successful application of the management approach for improving â€Å"organization performance and value† (SAS, 2007, P. 3). Pre Literature review Activity based management has been practiced over a long period in which it has evolved to a wide scope. This has been because of the capacity of the management approach to bridge other line management for collective management of organizations. Activity based management uses the data and information on all the operational activities in making relevant and result oriented decisions. By providing information on cost of products, services, processes, activities, and distribution channels, among other information; activity based management establishes a central role in managing an organization’s operation costs for relevant managerial decisions. Activity based management is, therefore, essential for its information for decision-making (CIMA, 2001). Drury also argues that activity based management approaches an organization’s operations from different perspectives and leads to improved customer utility. The management approach, therefore, benefits both the organization in its operation processes and customers through the organization’s products (Drury, 2007). Activity management accounting can, however, be costly to develop and implement, instituting limitations, especially to ‘small-scale’ organization. The management approach has also failed to eliminate arbitrary costs in operations. As a result, it is perceived as ineffective in achieving its objectives (Weygandt, Kimmel & Kieso, 2009). Complete literature review. Drury (2007) claims that activity based management is a management information tool used by the managerial board in appreciating results of

Black world study- Intellectual Autobiography Essay

Black world study- Intellectual Autobiography - Essay Example When we find new meanings in old things, it means that our intelligence has developed. Our intellectual development is being changed by many different factors including people, circumstances, observations etc. Some of them have more influence on us than others; still I believe that many things around change at least some small part of us in every moment of our lives. Because it is actually perception and knowledge what constantly make us more intellectually developed. The person that shaped my intellectual development probably more than anyone else in my life was my mother. She is never pitiful to me and after I do something that hurts me, first of all, she asks me what conclusions have I already made about the situation. This makes me hold on complaining for a minute and realize what mistakes I will never do anymore. Thus my mother has developed a strong capability of critical consideration of every incoming situation and information that happens to me. Using this ability helps me to learn faster and do not get stuck on the same things having troubles proceeding them. I believe that, because of my mother, now I can work with my personal development using critical thinking and analytical skills, so I learn easily. When my friend advised me to read â€Å"The Shack† by William P. Young I was really skeptical about the book because it seemed to me that Christian books like this are aimed to reach out to me and teach me a decent living. But the friend assured me that the book was a â€Å"life-changer† and I needed to read it whatsoever. He was right about the book. Before I read it I hadn’t realized that books actually can trigger so much emotions, feelings, and realization about the life. The text changed me as a person and definitely raised my intelligence. The point is that the book doesn’t only show you a completely another way of looking at God and what is bad and what is good in this life but also extends your

Evaluating a Health Promotion Website Essay Example for Free

Evaluating a Health Promotion Website Essay Health Information Technology (HIT) has been introduced into the National Health Service (NHS) in order to improve the quality, efficiency, safety and cost effectiveness of the delivery of health care. The application of computerized information technology in health care settings has so far played a vital role in improving the accessibility of information and has replaced more labour intensive and unproductive methods (Shekelle and Goldzweig, 2009). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2009) maintain that that nurses’ skills, knowledge and practice must be guided by the best available evidence. Often this evidence is found on the internet however many sources of information can be inaccurate so a good standard of critical evaluation is required (Kim, Eng, Deering et al 1998). To evaluate the quality and reliability of a chosen website the use of a framework can be helpful such as Roberts (2012) 5 C’s website tool. This framework evaluates five areas: credibility, currency, content, construction and clarity. The website The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RC Psych, 2012 a) was chosen to be evaluated because as a mental health nursing student this will develop an awareness of how information technology is implemented and applied to practice in health care. Additionally, by using Roberts (2012) 5 C’s framework to critically evaluate this website, knowledge and skills of the quality and reliability of HIT will be acquired. Main Body RC Psych is the professional and educational organisation for psychiatrist in the UK as well as being a registered charity (RC Psych, 2012 b). Their website is aimed at improving the lives of individuals affected by mental illness through educating the public. They claim to be at the head of developing and promoting best practice in mental health services through their education, training and research projects. Additionally they are involved in the publishing of the following world-class journals; British Journal of Psychiatry, The Psychiatrist, Advances in Psychiatric Treatment and International Psychiatry (RC Psych, 2012 c). Credibility Having gained a royal charter this shows us that the organisation has been recognised by the Queen and seconded by the government to call itself a registered organisation of the highest regard. As stated by the Privy Council Office (2012) organisations granted a Royal Charter must have a solid record of achievement. 75% of its members should be qualified to at least first degree level and the work completed by the organisation must be in the interest of the public. Professor Peter Tyrer is named as the Editor, of the website, and is said to be responsible for the editorial and production aspects of its publications in addition to the production of their online continuing professional development (CPD) e-learning resources and its sales and marketing (RC Psych, 2012 d). After researching Peter Tyrer it is evident that he is highly qualified within the field of mental health and is a professor of community psychiatry for the Department of Medicine, within the Imperial College London (Imperial College London, 2012). The website offers a vast amount of information around mental health including conditions, diagnoses, treatments and types of therapies. The advice provided is produced in the form of online leaflets for the use of the public as well as professionals. Within the website there is no evidence to show that the same specific authors are used regularly for their published articles however, at the end of each article the producer, editor and sometimes an author are named in addition to any expert that has been involved in the making of it. All these leaflets are produced by the RC Psych Public Education Editorial Board that is responsible for producing 300 educational leaflets. These leaflets have been accredited by the NHS Information Standard and subsequently gained numerous awards (Byrne, 2011). They have achieved Plain English and BMA patient information awards and have received consistently positive feedback for the web versions. The editor of these leaflets is Dr Phillip Timms who is currently employed as a consultant Psychiatrist for the South London Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust as well as a senior lecturer in psychiatry at King’s College, London (BMJ Masterclasses, 2012). This site’s web address shows that it is delivered by a UK based academic body as it has an ac.uk URL. This confirms their credibility and reassures the reader that they are qualified experts able to give advice in this field (Roberts, 2010). Combining all this it is apparent that the producers of the website have appropriate qualifications and expertise to offer advice in regards to mental health and supports the credibility of the organisation and the website. Some of these points also link into the other five C’s for example, the awards that the leaflets have received show that the content and clarity of their work has been assessed and found to be of an acceptable standard. Currency When using a website for personal development reasons or to recommend to a patient the information being accessed should be the most current evidence available that has been proven in practice. In regards to the advice provided on the website RC Psych (2012 e) states that they endeavour to update it every two to three years. This is reflected in the articles by showing the date the information was last updated and the date it will be reviewed in the future. Additionally RC Psych (2012 d) state that their information derives from the best evidence available at the time of writing and is updated regularly to reflect any changes in knowledge. Another way to determine the currency of information is to consider the references used to back it up (Roberts, 2010). If the sources are dated then what you are reading may not come from the most current research so there may be more up to date evidence elsewhere. The dates of the references used throughout the website are quite varied however, they do contain many recently published articles and up to date clinical guidelines so this suggests that they are committed to producing up to date information and evidence. This is seen in a leaflet on depression where RC Psyche (2012 f) cites a recently updated guideline by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) which looks at the treatment and management of depression in adults. The currency and credibility of the website can also be reflected in its content and therefore this should also be assessed during the evaluation process. Content As well as being credible and current the content must be assessed for its objectivity, accuracy and completeness (Roberts, 2010). The content of a website can be judged by assessing what the website aims to achieve. This could be selling a product, persuading the audience to believe in something or to provide the reader with unbiased and up to date information on a specific topic (Roberts, 2010). RC Psych (2012 a) profess that they aim to improve the lives of individuals with a mental health illness. They aim to do this by educating people through making information and advice available on their website. This would indicate that it falls under the category of providing unbiased and up to date information to the public. The articles on the website are written in the third person so prevents the author from expressing personal opinion. Furthermore the leaflets produced provide links to various other sources of information on the topic being discussed. This encourages further reading which provides a complete and balanced view preventing bias and, where treatment is recommended, allows the reader to make an informed choice (Roberts, 2010). The references used within the website are taken from well known and respected sources that provide current and acknowledged recommendations such as NICE, the Department of Health (DOH) and various field related journals. This indicates that the website seeks to provide and maintain up to date, accurate and unbiased information that concurs with information available in books and journals on the same subjects. Construction The construction of a website, for example, the layout, colours, fonts, sizes and ease of access can determine whether or not a reader believes the website is of good quality or not (Roberts, 2010). A study by Lindgaard, Fernandes and Dudek et al. (2006) found that the first 50 milliseconds that the reader is exposed to a website can cause the reader to form an opinion as to whether a website is worth using or not. On first impression, the website in question looks colourful and professional. The eye is drawn to the bolder writing that states the websites purpose and there are minimal graphics to distract the reader from this. There is a lot of information on the home page of the website and could be considered cluttered, however it is divided into clear sections and appears well organised, giving clear subheadings which guide the reader to their areas of interest easily. The main colour used for the website is grey and presents a professional look. It is subtle but effective in breaking up different sections of the website without being obtrusive. The font size is varied throughout but mainly of a larger size making the website easy to read. There is no option for the reader to change the font sizing or colour which could cause some difficulty as it is not possible to suit everyone with one font size, style and colour (Roberts, 2010). As this is a registered charitable organisation it would be unfair to expect them not to promote money making offers. There are two links to buy books that are published by the royal college of psychiatrists and an option to support them in future development projects. They have presented these links as the last things you would come across on the website. Because of where they are situated it comes across to the reader that they are more interested in providing free and accessible information to educate the pubic over making money. Clarity Clarity is another important area to consider when evaluating a website. Due to our continually growing multi-cultural society it is important that websites cater for all groups in society and not just the English readers. One part of the website caters for professionals working in psychiatry and another to the public wanting to learn more about mental illness. Both sections are presented and written in a way that is understandable to the general public. In the public section they offer their advice in 21 different languages in addition to visual aids using BSL sign language as well as audio pod casts and printable versions. This shows that they have made an effort to cater for diverse cultures and needs. Unfortunately it appears that they have not taken into account the needs of people with dyslexia. Approximately two million people in the UK population are affected by dyslexia of which around 35 to 40 percent experience visual disturbances when reading (Dyslexia Action, 2012). The British Dyslexia Association, (2012) states that the reading ability of an individual with dyslexia can be negatively affected by bright white backgrounds and the use of too much text. By changing the background to an off white colour and spreading out the information over larger areas this would cater for yet another group in society. Conclusion Having the ability to access health information via the internet has given nurses the capacity to constantly improve their knowledge base and skills knowing that they are delivering the best possible care derived from the best available evidence. The RC Psych website not only offers nurses a place to go and build on their knowledge and skills but it also provides them with a safe, reliable and easily accessible knowledge base that they can confidently refer their patients to. The evaluation of this website has shown that the website contains quality, reliable evidence and could be recommended to anyone interested in the field of mental illness. In addition to this the use of the five C’s evaluation tool has provided a great foundation to the development of evaluating skills. It has given an opportunity to discover that the evidence being accessed is suitable for developing personal practice and to help educate patients and is accepted within the NMC code of conduct (Roberts, 2 010).

Ethics in Nursing Essay Example for Free

Ethics in Nursing Essay Nurses are to provide compassionate, competent, and ethical care, and follow the moral principles and guidelines set out by the College of Nurses and the Canadian Nurse’s Association’s code of ethics. The nursing profession is a self-sacrificing one, and nurses take on the Nightingale Pledge, to elevate the standard of their practice and dedicate themselves to those committed in their care (Keatings Smith, 2010, p. 64) However unfavourable working conditions, inadequate patient to nurse ratios, and intensive job-related stress can lead to poor performance of daily routines, and adversely patient safety (Ozata et al. , 2013). In the situation regarding Mr. Gurt who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, it is vital for the nurse to weigh him at the beginning of each month. This is her obligation under her employing institution’s standards of care, as well under the autonomy of her practise in which any deviation from this could result in exposure to liability (Austin 2006, p. 62). In order for the nurse to properly care for Mr. Gurt, assessing his accurate weight is essential in providing a care plan that will focus on his overall wellness and healing. Because Mr. Gurt is frail, and has stage one pressure ulcers on both heels and his coccyx, it is imperative that he has every opportunity to build up his skin integrity and prevent future disruption of his skin surface. Complications that may arise because of the nurse’s neglect in failing to weigh him, may contribute to other underlying problems. General health concerns Mr. Gurt would be facing on top of his current co- morbidities would include a decline his general appearance, gastrointestinal, neurologic, integumentary, and musculoskeletal systems (Holloway, 2004, p. 80). By recording a weight of 70kg with a height of 170cm, the nurse calculated Mr. Gurt’s Body Mass Index (BMI) at 24.2 which is borderline overweight, when in fact it was 14.5, with 18.5 being the baseline for being underweight ( http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/ obesity/ BMI/bmicalc.htm., n.d.). According to this value, it would be likely that Mr. Gurt would suffer from imbalanced nutrition, less than his body requirements leading to other complications and failing to thrive. Nanda defines failure to thrive as the progressive functional deterioration of a physical and cognitive nature. The individual’s ability to live with multisystem diseases, cope with  ensuing problems, and manage his care are remarkably diminished (Ackley Ladwig, 2011, p. 350). To add on to potential problems, drug doses are given based on factors such as age, gender, and the weight of a patient (Raman-Wilms, 2013). Since Mr. Gurt is elderly and suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s with an imbalance of neurotransmitter activity between dopamine and acetylcholine, there may be fewer receptors and a decrease in neurotransmitters to take up his drugs (Raman-Wilms, 2013). Levadopa a dopaminergic medication which treats the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease should be reviewed with b ody weight changes (Raman-Wilms, 2013). A study looking into the factors of weight loss in Parkinson’s looked at the effects of dopaminergic treatment which suggested that the drug had a lipolytic effect and body mass fat was decreased with the advancement of Parkinson’s symptoms (Lorefalt, 2004, p.186). The potential magnitude and likelihood of harm occurring in this case is significant as drug tolerances, adverse effects, and toxic effects are high, making the liver and kidneys susceptible to disease (Urquhart, 2014), as Mr. Gurt’s body mass index indicates he is underweight and a higher risk for drug overdoses. Effectiveness of this drug will diminish over time in which the adverse effects may become severe and may include palpitations, abdominal movement, dizziness, and confusion (Raman-Wilms, 2013, p. 331). Incorrect doses of his medication could lead to physical and psychological issues based on the nurses documented weight and his actual weight. Failing to weigh Mr. Gurt will have a great impact on his nutritional needs, but will also affect his ability to heal his pressure ulcers on his heels and coccyx. Mr. Gurt is emaciated which may be in part to dysphasia, tremors, still muscles, and slow movements among other symptoms of Parkinson’s (Wilk Newmaster, 2013, p. 288). As well, Mr. Gurt’s weight is evidence that he is not receiving the nutritional intake his body’s immune system requires to create the proteins and blood cells (macrophages the body’s first line of defence), needed to attack and repair his wounds, and prevent the risk for infection (Raman-Wilms, 2013). The nurse’s blatant disregard to weigh Mr. Gurt puts him at greater risk for infection and is a form of negligence. Negligence in nursing can be unintentional, however it is important to understand the effects this has on health professionals practicing in Ontario. A registered nurse is responsible to follow the standard of care when performing nursing  acts under autonomy within their scope of practise (College of Nurses, 2004) (CNO, 2004). Standard of Care is the legal benchmark against which a person’s conduct is measured to determine whether a person has been negligent and whether the person’s conduct or actions in a given situation have met those expected of a competent health care professional (Keatings Smith, 2010). The College of Nurses is the governing body for registered nurses that protect the public through regulating the nursing profession (CNO, 2014). A practising nurse is obliged to follow the standards of care and ethical guidelines set out by this governing body (CNO, 2014). The College of Nurses lists seven ethical values which are all important, but recognizes that client well-being is a primary value (CNO, 2014). The College of Nurses connotation of client well-being is to promote the patients health, while preventing or removing harm (CNO, 2014). In the case regarding Mr. Gurt, where the nurse is required to weigh him monthly and record the data, she is morally responsible for the patient’s well-being and for any adverse outcomes regarding his health for failing to provide safe care. The nurse’s complacency in failing to weigh Mr. Gurt, a simple act, would be of concern in investigating her moral responsibility in providing ethical care in her work environment. The nurses ethical duty is to advocate for her patients and provide safe, effective, and ethical care (CNO, 2014). Possible outcomes that could arise for the nurse in failing to provide ethical care include: her co-worker filing a complaint to the College of Nurses, a discipline hearing with the College of nurses, and possibly a lawsuit (CNO, 2014). Potter Perry note the criteria nurses can be found liable for negligenc e as summarized; the nurse owed the duty to the patient; to whom that duty was not carried out; and the patient was injured for failing to carry out that duty (Potter Perry 2013, p. 96). A common negligent act is failing to monitor a patient’s condition adequately (Potter et al., 2013, p. 97). For a nurse to be sued, and in the case with Mr. Gurt, the nurse had carelessly not performed a duty which was vital to his ongoing care. While the ability to predict harm is evaluated is this case, the nurse had committed a wrong doing to Mr. Gurt and could be tried as an unintentional tort. (Potter et al., 2013, p. 97-98). According to the Criminal Code, 1985, if Mr. Gurt was to pass away as a result of improper care or toxic levels of medication being given due  to the nurse failing to weigh him, the nurse could also face criminal liability if the nurse was proven to have a reckless disregard for her patient (Potter et al., 2013, p. 99-100). The best way for nurses to avoid being negligent is to follow the standards of care; be self aware and to reflect on their nursing practise; to follow the ethical framework established by the College of Nurses; and to continuall y educate themselves on best practices, assessments, and evaluations within their nursing abilities (Potter et al., 2013, p.98). With that in mind, one final thing I would suggest is to have professional liability and legal assistance protection insurance coverage. References BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 4105 Ackley, J. A., Ladwig, G. B. (2011). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook (9th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Austin, S. (2006). Ladies gentlemen of the jury, I present the nursing documentation. Nursing, 56-64 Calculate Your Body Mass Index. (n.d.).Calculate Your BMI. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm.(n.d.). College of Nurses of Ontario/Ordre des Infirmià ¨res et Infirmiers de lOntario. (2014). College of Nurses of Ontario. Retrieved June 15, 2014, from http://www.cno.org/ Holloway, N. (1999). Medical-Surgical Care Planning. Orinda: Springhouse Corporation. Keatings, M. (2010). Ethical Legal Issues in Canadian Nursing (3rd ed.). Toronto:Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Lorefalt, B., Ganowiak, W., Palhagen, S., Toss, G., Unosson, M., Granerus, A.K,.(2004). Factors of Importance for Weight Loss in Elderly Patients with Parkinsons disease. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 180-187. Ozata, O., Ozturk, Y.E., Cihangiroglu, N., Altunkan, H. (2013). The Development of a Scale of Malpractice Trend in Nursing and Validity and Reliabilty Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research, 57-65. Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Kerr, J. C., Wood, M. J. (2009). Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing (4th ed.). Toronto: Mosby/Elsevier Canada. Raman-Wilms, L. (2013). Guide to Drugs in Canada (4th ed.). Toronto: Dorling Kindersley. Urquhart, B. (2014). Exploring how kidney failure impacts the bodys systems. Western News. Wilk, M. J., Newmaster, R. (2013). Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker.Toronto: Mosby/ Elsevier Canada.

South Africa fertilizer production

South Africa fertilizer production FOSKOR Foskor Richards Bay is one of the biggest producers of fertilizers in South Africa. It was founded in 1951 as a single phosphate mining operation in order to prevent us form depending on imports of phosphate rocks, which are one of the most essential raw materials needed in the production of fertilisers. It has now expanded to having three main mining and production sites in Richards Bay and Phalaborwa. The facilities in Richards Bay are more focused on producing phosphoric acid and phosphate-based fertilisers and also locally distribute some sulphuric acid. Foskor Phalaborwa is a region famous for the amount of copper and phosphates available there and therefore concentrate more on the mining and beneficiation of these substances. Foskor is nowadays one of the prime international traders of phosphoric acid with a 12% share in the market, importing to countries such as India, Japan and Brazil. It does not only produce phosphoric acid, but also magnetite, fused zirconia, sulphuric acid and fertiliser granules. YARA/KYNOCH FERTILISERS Kynoch fertiliser was founded in 1919 at Umbogintwini. It started out an explosives producer but soon began producing chemical fertilisers as a result of the by-product of explosives, sulphuric acid. In 1924 it combined with Capex to form AECI (African Explosives and Chemical Industries), and was more recently taken over by Yara Norsk Hydro. The aim of Yara is to grow and sustain the fertiliser industry by exploiting their leading position in the markets of ammonia, nitrates fertilisers. Yara aims to evolve from being a leading player into the shaper of the nitrogen-based chemical industry, quoted from the Yara website (http://www.yara.com/about/vision/index.aspx) OMNIA FERTILISERS Omnia is considered one of the most environmentally conscious fertiliser producing companies in South Africa; it has won the 2008 Mail Guardian/Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Greening the future award for Envinox plant. Its motto Growing food security, Growing profitability clearly illustrates the companys aim, which is to encourage farmers to use fertilisers as to yield more crops while preserving the Earths natural or enriched state as not to harm it. Omnia produces granular, liquid and speciality fertilisers which are manufactured at different plants throughout the country. Its biggest laboratory, Chemtech Agri, is situated at Sasolburg, which supplies the product directly to farmers and wholesalers. Other than supplying locally, it also exports from its Johannesburg division to Omnia business in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Angola, and to wholesalers in east and southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They are also exporting more and more speciality products to Europe, South America and Asia. SASOL NITRO Sasol started manufacturing fertilisers and supplying to other companies in the early 1950s. They eventually decided to provide directly to farmers in 1984 by creating Sasol Fertilisers, now known as Sasol Nitro, which is one of the leaders in the South African fertiliser industry. It mainly manufactures LAN (Limestone Ammonium Sulphate) and ammonium sulphate, and nitric in Secunda where some of its facilities are located. It also produces granular fertiliser blends in Durbanville and Bellville, and liquid fertilisers in Potchefstroom, Kimberley and Endicott. These fertilisers are either sold for retail and on a wholesale basis, and are also exported to a few selected regions. Sasol also offers a special agronomical back-up system through its agronomists and agents throughout the country, with the aim to help and satisfy its clients. THE FERTILISER INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY Africa is using the least amount of fertiliser in the world according to John Pender, a senior researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute In South Africa the fertiliser industry is essential as much of population relies on farming in order to sustain themselves. If the crops have little yield, the farmers will not be able to produce much food to eat and sell, which will in turn mean little income and ultimately less money to spend on seeds and fertiliser which would enhance the growth of their crops. Therefore, bringing down the cost of fertilisers is the key to increasing its access to rural communities; and with South Africa being prominently poor, about 40% of the population, this cost reduction is essential, whether it is the price of the products used to manufacture the fertiliser or the actual retail price. Africas rich soil has been one of its biggest sources of wealth throughout the years as it contains diamonds, uranium and petroleum as well as coal deposits, oil and natural gas which are all sources of energy used to produce nitrogen based fertilisers. Therefore, there is ample opportunity for international investments to be made to the South African fertiliser industry which would ultimately enhance our economy. However, it is important to have a balance between the private and public investments to ensure that the pursuit of profit does not eclipse the continents need to feed itself as said by Jomo Kwame Sundaram, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development. The estimated gross value of South Africas agricultural output in 2003/04 is of R72 000 million. The demand of fertilisers comes from the demand for food, which is quite significant in South Africa. This demand is expected to rise in the foreseeable future, which implies that there will be a more intensive food production which will increase the need for fertilisers. The price of fertilisers is mostly affected by the international prices, the currency exchange rate and freight costs. In 2004 the prices were as follow: Urea R2 464/tonne MAP R2 075/tonne MOP R2 110/tonne CAN R1 691/tonne The fertilizer industry of today is fully exposed to the world market forces and operates in a totally deregulated environment with no import tariffs or government sponsored support measures according to fertusouthafrica.pdf (see reference page). South Africa, having no local potassium salt deposits has to rely on imports. This affects the rest of the fertilizer industry as potassium is an essential element in the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers, and the cost of imports are higher than if it had been found locally. We do import quite a lot of phosphoric acid from Foskor (about 725 000 tonnes every year) as well as about 400 000 tonnes of granular NPK to the Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eugenics in America Essay -- Sociology Essays Research Papers

Eugenics in America Eugenics profoundly impacted the culture of the twentieth century. Coined in 1893 by Sir Francis Galton, it studied the heredity and selection of favorable traits. Born out of the social tumults of the late nineteenth century, it represented the Western elite’s attempt to protect itself from so called â€Å"inferior† cultures of the colonies and â€Å"new wave† immigration. The late eighteenth century was a turbulent time throughout America. An influx of immigrants packed into massive cities such as New York and Chicago. As opposed to previously northern European immigration, a wave of â€Å"new† immigration in the 1890’s brought immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, who vastly differed culturally and religiously from their northern European counterparts. Some immigrants brought radical ideologies with them such as Marxism, anarchism, and monarchism, which completely differed from the American ideals of free markets, elections, and democracy. The massive influx of people crowded into sordid city blocks brought a slew of social problems such as alcoholism, poverty, murder, rape, and violence. Coupled with falling birth rates among the elite and rising birth rates among immigrants, Anglo-culture sought out an answer to defend itself against the â€Å"siege† of â€Å"inferior† cultures. The late nineteenth century saw the rise of â€Å"eugenics† throughout academia. Founded by Francis Galton (the word came into existence in 1893), eugenics was the study of the selection of favorable traits in society. Deeply influenced by Darwin, Galton published his first eugenicist tract in 1865 Hereditary Genius, which posited that man’s strength, talent, and skill is passed down genetically fr... ...â€Å"degenerate† or â€Å"inferior.† Popularized in the early twentieth, it manifested itself throughout American culture from textbooks to advertisements for household goods. Eugenics represented American culture’s vain attempt to grapple with non-western European cultures and cope with a quickly evolving social landscape. Bibliography Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Laboratory, http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/eugenics/ School of Mathematics and Statistics at St. Andrew’s University http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Galton.html Pucker, Johnathan, History in the Influences of Intelligence Theory and Testing http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/galton.html Linden, Jeremy http://students.vassar.edu/jelinden/galton.htm McCleymer, Professor at Assumption College http://www.assumption.edu/users/McClymer/his394/contagion.html

Using Wikis in Education Essay -- Education

The diffusion of online tools in education is increasing exponentially. Sener (2010) cites an increase of online class enrollees from 1.6 million in 2002 to 5.6 million in 2009. Moloney and Oakley (2010) predict an annual increase of 20% over the next few years of participants in online education. In order to meet the needs of a changing student population, educators must be aware of the myriad of tools available to enhance learning. This paper presents the use of wikis in education and evaluates the wiki’s effectiveness according to Chickering and Gamson’s Seven Principles of Good Practice (as cited in Hoskins, 2010). Introduction to Wikis The wiki is a browser based editing program which allows multiple users to contribute and edit text. It includes editing tools similar to a word processor that allow the user to control text size and color, make the text bold or italicized, and enter web links and pictures. Changes are tracked by the software and successive edits can be monitored or even rolled back to a previous version. The program allows email notification of changes made as chosen by the user in the settings of their account (Cunningham, 2002; Crocker, Hutchings, Nussey, Park, & Springate, 2010). In education, wikis are useful in that they allow open editing of a document. If one student sees an error, they can simply change the text. Crocker et al. (2010) mention limited knowledge of wikis by graduate students, but point out that interaction on the wiki creates dialogue between students which enhances their learning. The activity on the wiki is useful to educators because it promotes contact and cooperation between students, encourages active learning, and ensures prompt feedback from other users. The col... ...igher education: exploring barriers to successful implementation. Interactive Learning Environments, 18(3), 219-231. Kardong-Edgren, S., Ha, Y., Hallmark, E., Hurd, D., Oermann, M., Snelson, C., & Tennant, M. (2009).Using a wiki in nursing education and research. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship 6(1), 1-10. Doi: 10.2202/1548-923X.1787 Kleine-Staarman, J., & Pifarre, M. (2011). Wiki-supported collaborative learning in primary education: How a dialogic space is created for thinking together. International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, 6, 187-205. Moloney, J. F., & Oakley, B.,II. (2010). Scaling online education: Increasing access to higher education. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14, 55-70. Sener, J. (2010). Why online education will attain full scale. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14, 3-16.