Tobacco Prevention free essay sample

Over the past 50 years America has increased its level of knowledge towards the use of tobacco as well as enhanced its cessation techniques through the use of medication and researched programs. Despite these advancements smoking has continued to be a detrimental problem to the American public. According to the CDC, about 1,000 persons younger than 18 years of age begin smoking on a daily basis. 1 Many of the cessation programs directed at youths are still young and creating names for themselves. As a result of all the research that has been done regarding the cessation programs for youths, three effective steps have been found. First, screen for tobacco dependency within families; second, educate parents about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke and third, counsel and the use of prescription medication. While these three techniques have been proven to be effective they are not a 100% guarantee and they dont address the major issue of actually getting the youths themselves to the programs. We will write a custom essay sample on Tobacco Prevention or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Research has extensively documented the harms of tobacco to people, specifically youths but none of it has stopped the tobacco industry from creating advertisements intended for youths. According to the World Health Organization Tobacco companies must attract a new eneration of tobacco users to survive. The industry constantly loses customers because many current smokers quit smoking or die from tobacco-related diseases. As a result, tobacco companies develop massive marketing campaigns to entice youth to smoke and become long-term smokers. 2 To parents, teacher and politicians the youth are the future of our country, to tobacco companies; the youth are the future of their business and their needs for survival. The problem of youth smoking is one that we cannot ignore and must continue to attack. As a whole Healthcare professionals, overnment lobbyist groups, insurance companies and most important the youth themselves all must re-commit themselves to exterminate this persistent problem at hand. Out of the 4,000 chemicals found in cigarettes, nicotine is often referred to as the most dangerous one. It is not regarded as being incredible dangerous to someones health but is feared by many people because extremely addictive. When smoke is inhaled that contains nicotine, the nicotine reaches the brain in a mere six seconds. When used in small doses nicotine acts as a stimulant to the brain or a substance that raises the levels of physiological activity in the body. In large doses it acts as a depressant and hinders the current of signals in the nervous system. Those substances which we call drugs cause their effects by mimicking some substance that naturally occurs in the body or by interfering with some process which naturally goes on. Nicotine acts in the former manner, by mimicking a naturally occurring substance in the body. 3 The substance that nicotine imitates is the chemical neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Each neuron has a protein, which is called a receptor, when nicotine is inhaled they attach on to these receptors in the place of acetylcholine. When nicotine binds to these receptors, like any other drugs they cause changes in the body. The primary changes that occur in the body due to nicotine inhalation are increases in the blood pressure and heart rate. Nicotine also nas psychoactive ettects or m -altering ettect upon use. The release of dopamine during the use of nicotine is a major contributor to the drugs highly addictive qualities. Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter that is naturally released in the body during a pleasurable experience. The nicotine released when smoking cigarettes release dopamine leaving the smoker with the feeling of extreme leasure, resulting in the desire to feel that way often. The evil genius of this drug is that while it produces dopamine it impedes the production of monoamine oxidase, which is responsible for the natural process of breaking down dopamine. The ability for nicotine to block the production of monoamine oxidase wears off short after the end of use, this fact causes the smokers to continue to get the urge to smoke and feel heightened levels of dopamine. 4 Nicotine dependence is defined as an addiction to tobacco products caused by the drug nicotine, meaning you cant stop using the substance despite the knowledge hat is causing you harm. The united States Department of Health and Human Services have concluded that for most youths its takes 2-3 years to become nicotine dependent but as few as 100 cigarettes to become addicted. In 2010 about 2. 6 American adolescents (aged 12-17) reported using a tobacco product in the month prior to the survey. In that same year it was found that nearly 60 percent of new smokers were under the age of 18 when they first smoked a cigarette. Of smokers under the age of 18 more then 6 million will likely die prematurely from a smoking- related disease. 6 There are two primary influences that cau se adolescents to susceptible to developing nicotine dependence, the first being peer pressure. Peer pressure is a fact of life and inevitable in your childhood and adolescence. Wheatear a person is conscious or not towards the pressure the choices and behaviors peers make affect the surrounding peers. According to Phillip Morris USA youths with at least three friends who smoke are 10 times more likely pick up the habit than youths who have friends that do not smoke. 7 The other influence that causes adolescents to be more susceptible to nicotine ependence than adults is not a psychosocial factor but a biological one. There are biological differences in adults and adolescents that leave adolescents more vulnerable to nicotine addition. Much of the research done in this sector has been executed with the use of adolescent rats and adult rats for safety reasons. Adolescent rats are more susceptible to reinforcing effects of nicotine that adult rats, and take more nicotine when it is available than do adult animals. 8 An animal study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported the negative affects that acetaldehyde has on smokers, specifically adolescents. The study found that acetaldehyde, an organic chemical compound found in cigarettes dramatically increases the reinforcing properties of nicotine and may also contribute to tobacco addiction. It was also found that acetaldehyde has an age- related effect and was far more drastic in the adolescent animals brains than the adult animals. 9 In 2009 the Philadelphia Department of Health conducted a study that found the high school smoking rate was higher in Philadelphia then any other large city. The smoking rate for high school students was 3. %, the racial breakdown of those statistics were 1. % of African Americans, 3. 1% of Hispanics and 15. 6% of Caucasians. 10 There are two main contributors that lead Philadelphia to have the highest high school smoking rate; cigarettes are cheaper in Philadelphia then any other major city and the prevalence of tobacco retailers in Philadelphia, there are 27 retailers for every 1,000 youth between the ages 10-17. 11 Pennsylvania ranked 19th in the country for price of cigarettes with an average of 5. 85 per pack, about 5$ behind New York which was ranked 1st. 2 To formulate national statistics the CDC uses the data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. The National Youth Tobacco Survey is our countries most effective way of measuring youth tobacco use. It is a school- based, self- administered questionnaire given to middle school students (6th to 8th grade) and high school students (9th- 12th grade). It has been given every 2 years since 2000 and is used by the Healthy People Foundation to keep track of the 2020 goal it has set. In 2011 the use of all types of tobacco for middle school and high school 7. 1% and 23. % respectively and the prevalence of specific cigarette use was 4. 3% for middle school students and 18. 1% for high school students. 13 The Healthy People oals for 2020 were set in 2009 when the cigarette use rate for high school students was at 19. 5%, the overall goal is to get it down to 16% by 2020. 14 In or der to reach the goals set for 2020 it is crucial that the countries cessation programs are doing their part. Research has shown that the most effective method for youths to quit smoking is a binary method, both behavioral techniques and medication use. In terms of medication use there are two types of medicinal categories, first- line and second- line. First-line medications are the ones that tend to be used first by smokers trying to quit and second-line medications are used if the irst- line medications prove inadequate. The most simplistic first-line medications are over-the-counter and come in the form of nicotine gum, patches and lozenges. The gums, patches and lozenges all offers doses of nicotine, starting with the highest dose the smoker is supposed to reduce dose over-time with the hopes of eventual nicotine independence. Nicotine Inhalers and Nicotine nasal spray are also first- line medications that work in the same way as the gum, lozenge and patch but are prescription rather then over-the-counter. Bupropion and Varenicline are two other forms of first-line medications that are also prescription. Bupropion also known as Zyban and Varenicline also known as Chantix both work to reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and reduce the urges smokers feel. The two second-line medications are Nortriptyline known as Aventyl and Clonidine known as Catapres. Aventyl is traditionally used to teat depression but has also proved successful with tobacco cessation efforts and Catapres is generally used to treat high blood pressue, but like Aventyl has shown effective in tobacco cessation. 1 5 The behavioral techniques that are used in tobacco cessation come in two forms, an intervention style and a program style. The current research efforts that have been done regarding the intervention methods of cessation are deficient. There is simply a lack of evidence- based interventions, which makes it very difficult to Judge the success as well as improve the programs. This issue was addressed with the Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative, which came up with the better practices model. The better practices model is based on the idea that successful solutions to complex problems must draw from both science and experience. 16 The Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative came out with guidelines on what ssues should be used while developing cessation interventions. As time passes with these new guidelines and more evidence based interventions occur it shouldnt ta long to specify what are the best methods for success. 6 Programs can be more accurately researched because their data is much more accessible. A cessation program can mean many different things, ranging from face to face counseling, telephone counseling, Internet counseling and group counseling. The most effective forms of counseling have been face-to-face counseling as well as group counseling. Telephone counseling is relatively new but has showed success in its short life. Rega rdless of how the counseling has been delivered the technique that has been proved to be the most effective is the problem-solving approach. The problem-solving approach asks smokers to think of times they are likely to smoke and then planning what to do to distract themselves from the urge to smoke. 17 Social support such as encouragement and caring has not surprisingly been proven effective ways to help cessation. N-O-T, Not on Tobacco is the American Lung Associations voluntary rogram for teens that want to quit smoking has proven to be successful in the past. It is the most researched, most widely used and most successful program in the United States. (YTC) N-O-T has 7 major characteristics that have made it to successful: 18 1. Allows teens to volunteer to participate 2. Includes group activities 3. Has separate activities for boys and girls 4. Uses a total health approach 5. Consists of 10 session and can be used in school and community settings 6. Is based on more then 10 years of research 7. Is proven effective, has a 21% quit rate, higher then any other program N-O-T evelops skills, confidence and support system that teenagers need in order to quit. They understand that one of the keys to quitting smoking is to have the ability to keep your life the same without the use of cigarettes. By doing this and aiding the teens in other problems other then the smoking such as controlling weight after quitting and managing stress they have been successful. While there has been success in the cessation programs there is clearly an incredible amount of room for improvement. The most effective way to drastically improve success is creating a more accessible environment to programs. Although many youth think about and attempt to quit tobacco many are unaware of or unable to access cessation services. Also, many youth do not think quitting tobacco is difficult enough to warrant professional assistance. 19 The most important thing we can do moving forward is to better recruit youth who smoke and use tobacco. Recruiting for programs such as these should be very specific and focus are the target audience. Using the data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey it can be fgured out which ethnicity has the most smokers and recruitment techniques should be in accordance ith those number . An effective way to do this would be to tap in to previous existing social networks in a community, such as a club or a sports team. While your peers can be the reason you start smoking as a result of negative pressure they can also be the reason you quit as a result of positive pressure. Offering incentives can also be a useful technique for recruitment, offering something like pizza at meetings could raise the attendance and access. Even if the child goes into the meeting with the sole intent of getting the incentive they are still exposed to cessation efforts. One last ecruitment technique can be to use other teens as recruiters. It will give a more personalized appearance and give you the feeling that you will not be alone. It is also on the shoulders of the health insurance companies and the health care system to provide access to these youths. All health insurance policies should cover any cessation program or method used by teens to quit smoking, the high prices of some medications and some counseling practices can deter youths from making an attempt to quit. It should be the standard that all health care services monitor and care for nicotine dependency. It falls on a combination of the government, healthcare systems and public health agencies to formulate a system that can effectively treat youth nicotine dependence. It is also extremely important that high schools are smoke free; the majority of youths time is spent, as schools and creating a smoke- free environment will deter smoking amongst youth. Another way to improve the current youth cessation programs in to apply adult programs to youth specifically for interventions, the most lacking in research of all methods. Due to this lack of research on youth interventions we can use what has been proven effective with adults. The United States Public Health System has provided the public specifically adults with recommendations that have proved successful. These recommendations include: It is essential that clinicians and health care delivery systems consistently identify and document tobacco use status and treat every tobacco user seen in a health care setting, Telephone quitline counseling is effective with diverse populations and has broad reach. Therefore, clinicians and health care delivery systems should both ensure patient access to quitlines and promote quitline use along with eight other proven effective recommendations. 0 As spoken about previously there are biological differences are one of the many things that vary between youth and adults. These differences could lead to a lack of success and should encourage counselors to use adult recommendations carefully. As a country we should be encouraged by the amount of success youth cessations programs have had but also motivated to continue to improve them. While it is unrealistic to think there will be a time when there are no smokers on this earth that should be our goal. We should aim for a 0% high school smoking rate because that will drive people to continue to find successful methods. If we live with the goal of a 0% smoking rate five or ten years down the road when we look at what the youth smoking is and look at its decline, it will be drastic. If you think about it in terms of a professional baseball pitcher, he goes into each game with the mindset of pitching a perfect game and works each day towards that goal. In hindsight with a more realistic mindset he can look back on his performance and see that getting 24 out of 27 men out rather then 27 out of 27 is still a success. Cessation is not an easy process and the only thing that can make it easier is a more committed effort by all parties involved.

Americas First Bioterrorism Attack essays

Americas First Bioterrorism Attack essays This is madness! Whats happened to the world? Is everyone gone insane? In a matter of way, this is what happens when you involve yourself in others business, like U.S. does all the freaking time. I dont know if there is one single war theyve missed, Im pretty sure theyve been in almost all the wars and conflict all over the world. I cant understand why they care to involve them self in all of these wars? Maybe they dont want to be left behind? I think this big conflict between America an Osama Bin Laden is in a way kind of childish. Especially this biological warfare they are having now. I really think its silly, and not to forget cowardly! Youre not a real man if you cant meet your enemy face-to-face! While the physical spread of anthrax has thus far proven fairly limited, the dissemination of its psychic by-product, fear, has been all too successful. In the U.S., a new round of threats continues to test the countrys nerves. Im glad Im not living in America right now. That cant be very fun right now, with all these threats hanging over their heads. The specter of the microscopic spores has sent hundreds of thousands rushing to their doctors offices and pharmacies, begging for prophylactic antibiotics. Thirteen people are now confirmed to have either been exposed to anthrax or to actually have the disease. Time, 16.10-01 ...

Financial management analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Financial management analysis - Essay Example The loan taken by the company is paid back at some future specified date. The interest at which the debt financing is done is called the cost of debt Emmanuel (2012). In debt financing full ownership is retained by the company but the company has to repay the sum due on bonds issued or loan taken before repaying the equity investors. A company with high debt-equity ratio means a company which is highly leveraged or highly reared. According to Chandra (2011) the debt-equity ratio or leverage of a business firm influences the cost of capital and simultaneously the value of the firm. In order to form the desired capital structure a business should be based on minimum cost of capital and maximum value possible of the firm. The portion of capital which is raised by sale of shares or stock is known as equity capital. This capital is owned by the shareholders and involves certain level of shareholders expectation on the investment made. In order to retain the shareholder investment it is ve ry important to ensure return in the form of dividend and appreciation in share price. According to Wiley (2007) the risk of the shareholders is comparatively more than the debt-holders; however, in equity financing a distribution in ownership takes place. A company has two primary sources to raise its capital: debt and equity. According to Graham (2012) to measure the cost of capital of a firm, WACC technique is used. This technique allows the company to determine the accurate cost of financing of any project by allocating suitable weightage to the different sources of finance available . Walmart Stores Inc. is one of the old and renowned names in the retail industry that has been serving the nation with different retail structures like cash and carry stores, supercenters, apparel stores, bodegas, small discount stores, food and drugs, general merchandise stores and restaurants. The company is committed to serve the

Principles of social crime prevention have little to offer in the Essay

Principles of social crime prevention have little to offer in the development of effective crime prevention practices. Critically discuss - Essay Example A detailed discussion of the situational approach to crime prevention, presented further on, shifts accents from social context of crime prevention to a more subjective nature of crime. Prior social context was considered by the crime prevention theorists as a determinant one; starting from 80s more subjective and situational aspects were considered (Lawrence, 2000). Moreover, there is made an attempt to find similarities and differences between these two approaches, to evaluate their efficiency in modern practices of crime prevention. Chicago School is a famous developer of social approach to crime prevention. The main suggestion of Chicago School is that crime is always caused by social force (Melville, Morgan, Norris and Walkington, 2006, p. 70). The primary goal of this theory was to develop welfare in the society through the expansion of welfare states, where no triggers of crime existed (Garland and Sparks, 2000, p. 195). Chicago School has made a significant contribution to crime prevention practices. Social theoretical approach applied by this school, made this study an outstanding laboratory for sociological research in the context of social relationships and influence caused by urbanism. Chicago School made an emphasis on the contextual considerations of crime. In terms of socio-cultural context crime can appear and can be prevented as well. Park and Burgess are sociologists who worked out basic claims of social crime prevention. Their main idea is a concurrent existence of five concentric zones in the process of cities’ development (The Chicago School I). The most risky zone is the â€Å"zone in transition† (Garland and Sparks, 2000, p. 189). Another claim of these sociologists can’t be discussed without arguing. Chicago School sociologists underline that well-being of the society is determined by their living conditions. In other

Implications Of Plastic Elimination For The Human Essay

Implications Of Plastic Elimination For The Human - Essay Example As such various environmental issues like pollution due to the accumulation of such waste in natural habitats occur. In addition, wild and domestic animals sometimes ingest these plastics or entangle in them causing a menace. Furthermore, the leaching of chemicals present in these plastics into the soil pollutes the terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats, which subsequently affects plants and animals. In the economic front, many losses have been incurred because of ghost fishing, which results from discarded fishing nets in water bodies (SEPDP, 2011). Plastics can be hazardous to human health as well, especially when its chemical constituents accumulate in human bodies. This process is referred to as bioaccumulation and causes a myriad of health problems in human bodies. A good example is the component phthalate that has been shown to affect the male reproductive system after exposure (Hu et. al., 2009). This is due to the effect of phthalates on hormones. Studies have shown that phthalates either mimic or interfere with actions of natural hormones like estrogen and androgens. In males, this plasticizer is associated with testicular dysgenesis syndrome, TDS (Hu et. al., 2009). This term refers to a number of disorders and abnormalities in the male reproductive system. Exposure to phthalates causes a condition referred to as cryptorchidism, which is characterized by undescended testes. Another condition, hypospadias, indicating abnormal urethral meatus is also caused by phthalate exposure in young males. In addition to these effect s, phthalate exposure also affects adult males, causing reduced fertility and cancer cases. This could affect the future population in terms of birth defects that could lead to abnormal or malformed reproductive organs. This coupled with reduced fertility and increased cancer threatens the existence and survival of future generations.

Formulating A Research Problem Management Essay

Formulating A Research Problem Management Essay This section of the report is devoted to delivering a complete account and description of how the whole research was carried out, encapsulating the process involved along the way. Nevertheless, this section is pertinent in order to establish the credibility of the research by revealing the knowledge and mastery of the methodology utilized in the research (Clare and Hamilton 2003). Thus, according to Clare and Hamilton (2003) methodology comprises discussion of the research design, which includes strategies for carrying out the study, the participants engaged, how they were chosen and ethical concerns. Moreover, it contains the information of what data were gathered and how the data were sort out, evaluated and accomplished. Thus, methodology of a study represents how the researcher reports the problem and answers the attendant questions (Taylor and Bodgan 1998). Nonetheless, the research study adopted here is categorized as a descriptive study as it endeavours to pronounce analytically a condition, problem, occurrences, or make available information about the situation of a community or looks into attitudes towards an issue (Kumar 2011). However, describing the research process in the following stages allows the systematic unfolding of the study so that judgements could be made as to the credibility of the research. 3.1 FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM Formulating a research problem is the initial and most relevant stage in the research development as it constitutes a possibly problematic work (Kumar 2011). Besides, it does not basically involve selecting a topic, but approaching it purposefully (May 2003). Subsequently, it actually reveals what is intended to be investigated in a comprehensive and explicit manner since the entire research process is greatly influenced by the approach involved in formulating a research problem. Consequently, this problem can arise in a number of ways such as- by finding an unanswered theoretical problem, by detecting an empirical inconsistency, or by merely looking into how some supposedly understood part of social involvement or organization actually works (May 2003). However, in this present research relevant literatures that dwell upon how change is managed in project-based organization were reviewed as it is evident in the previous section emphasizing particularly on construction organization, which is a key example of a project-based organization (Bresnen 1990). Nevertheless, the rigorous and careful review of these relevant literatures unfolds a common feature amongst themselves which led to the formulating of a research problem represented in the form of a research question, which is How can change be managed effectively in a project-based organization to align with its organizational strategy, goals and objectives?. Moreover, the core function of formulating this research problem is to make a decision on what is to be investigated. Hence, the research problem is assessed taking into consideration the availability of financial resources, time, expertise and possession of knowledge in the field of study (Kumar 2011). According to Kumar (2011 pp.47), in the course of selecting a research problem, a list of factors are considered to make sure the study is practicable and motivation maintained throughout the period of the research. These factors include: Interest: Since a research attempt normally consumes time, consists of difficult task and probably faced with unanticipated issues, a great deal of interest in the research problem is necessary to stay motivated and devote substantial time and energy till the end of the research process. Magnitude: Reviewing several relevant literature helps in building up the knowledge base about the research process, however in the context of this research, possessing a vast knowledge about how change is managed in project-based organization enables the picturing of process involved in reaching the end of the anticipated study. Subsequently, the research problem is narrowed down to what is practicable, precise and clear. Hence, effective utilization of time and resources is considered when choosing a research problem. Measurement of Concepts: In formulating the research problem, the concept employed is ensured to be clear about its indicators and measurements. Nonetheless, in the research, factors such as communication, motivation, managerial support and culture are utilized in describing the concept of how change can be managed in project-based organizations. Thus, this does not hinder the development of other measurement procedure as the study evolves (Kumar 2011). Moreover, information in this research is acquired by the measurement and analysis of the variables; hence they are dependent on the purpose of the study. Level of expertise: A particular level of expertise is required for the proposed study, though added knowledge could be achieved from other literature sources and in the course of carrying out the investigation itself. Relevance: The selected research problem is of great significance as it contributes to the present body of knowledge. Hence, it is useful and its relevance keeps the interest of the study focussed. Availability of data: This is also considered in the formulating of the research problem since the availability of sufficient data from secondary sources enhances the drawing of insights that would be an immense influence in the execution of the research process, thus serving as a guideline for the current study. Ethical issues: In the quest of carrying out a research the target population may be unfavourably affected by the investigation either directly or indirectly. Nevertheless, how ethical issues affect the sample size and how ethical issues can be overcome is considered in the formulating of the research problem. 3.2 DESIGNING A RESEARCH STRATEGY A successful research requires a design in which its constituents function harmoniously together, upholding efficiency and effective working in the course of a research process (Maxwell 2005), thus a faulty or inconsistent design leads to a poor setup or eventually failure. Nonetheless, different conceptions of design is being utilized in several studies, some present the design as a simple sequence of steps or task involved in carrying out a study, while some shares the opinion that a research design should consist of circular and recursive stages (Marshall and Rossman 1999). However, the common features that exist amongst these conceptions of design is that they all contain the basic sequence of stages from the formulating of a research problem to the conclusion or establishment of theories. Subsequently, the research design adopted in this current study is reflective in nature and it operates through every phase of the task. Thus, this is typical of a qualitative study where all the activities such data collection and analysis, development and modification of theory, going into detail and changing of the research questions, and detecting and addressing validity threats are generally occurring in a simultaneous pattern, each inducing all of the others (Maxwell 2005). As a result, the design of this research in question is a continuing practice that involves re-examining the different components of the design and assessing their implications on the success of the overall research. Consequently, in the pursuit to carry out this current research, key components of a qualitative research design according to Maxwell (2005) are considered as follows; Goals: This study is carried out to develop an improved way of managing change in project-based organizations as new practices are implemented in the organization. Hence, the research looks into the issue of social human and organizational behaviour in project-based organization towards the adoption of new practices and maintenance of the existing ones. However, this research is actually embarked upon to understand the complexity of project-based organization and how its decentralized nature affects the spread of new ideas. Conceptual Framework: The conceptual framework utilized in the current research is based on the combination of the theoretical foundation of both Kotters (1995) eight-steps and Aiken and Kellers (2009) nine-insights. Nevertheless, these theoretical foundations were chosen in the sense that it creates analytical viewpoint of the relationship existing among the factors such as communication, motivation, managerial support and culture that have been acknowledged as relevant to the research problem (Sekaran 2003) according to the first chapter of the report. Moreover, the theoretical foundation flows rationally from the documentation of preceding research in the area of the research problem as seen in the literature review section. However, by incorporating personal views based on the insights drawn from other publications or research report, taking into considerations the scope of a construction firm in the context of a project-based organization, a scientific basis is developed for inv estigating the research problem (Sekaran 2003). Consequently, the theoretical framework as seen in Table 1 deliberates on the interrelationships in the midst of the variables which is seen as factors that is fundamental to the underlying forces of the condition being studied. Research Questions: The research question in this study is embedded in terms of the conceptual framework to which the theoretical foundation adopted is strongly reinforced (Wengraf 2001). However, in formulating the research question, due consideration is given so as to establish a relationship between the theoretical foundation and the empirical findings it seeks to reveal. Thus, the central research question developed in the quest of this study is How can change be managed effectively in a project-based organization to align with its organizational strategy, goals and objectives?. As a result, four theory questions are designed to broaden the scope of the central research question, besides, these theory questions are not interview questions, they govern the production of the interview questions, thus formulated in the theory language of the research community, while the interview questions are formulated in the language of the interviewees (Wengraf 2001). A sample of these question s is evident in Appendix 1. Furthermore, these central research, theory and interview questions collectively pose questions that the study is meant to answer. Methods: The method of research applied in this study is qualitative, which constitutes interview studies utilizing open-ended interview questions to investigate the research problem, thus follow a more deductive approach (May 2003). Nevertheless, the research adopts a structured approach in the sense that all the components of the research process such as the objectives, design, sample, interview questions are predetermined. However, the structured approach is more suitable since it define the extent of the issue or phenomenon (Kumar 2011), which is How can change be managed effectively in a project-based organization to align with its organizational strategy, goals and objectives?. In the quest to achieve easy access to the prospective interviewees, letters were written to different construction firms in the U.K. Nonetheless, these letters were put forward to them via email and posting. A sample of this letter is seen in Appendix 4. Consequently, after the efforts through the email and posting proved abortive, several phone calls served as an alternative means of contacting the interviewees and confirming the receipt of the despatched letters. Subsequently, a breakthrough was achieved when a senior manager of a construction firm agreed to grant the permission for the interview. As a result of the latter, the interview was held via the telephone at different periods due to the busy schedules and availability of the interviewees. However, substantial data were gathered and transcribed as seen in Appendix 2 and 3, thus serving as a source of information utilized in the development of the primary field framework as evident in Table 1 and the analysis of the researc h outcome in the subsequent chapter. However, this research being theoretically devoted selected a carefully targeted sample that is well positioned to light up the issue under investigation (May 2003), thus the sampling strategy adopted made available a competent way to get answers to enormous questions utilizing relatively small population. Subsequently, to achieve the practicability of this study a construction firm is chosen as a key example of a project-based organization in the U.K (Bresnen 1990) and described by Lindkvist (2004) as being a radical project-based organization. Nevertheless, the interview is based upon the implementation of Visual planning tool, which is a new project management tool utilized by the construction firm based in the U.K and involved in various construction projects. The senior manager, who is responsible for the implementation of the VP aided in facilitating the interview, hence avoiding the issue of obtaining fabricated answers from the interviewees. In the context of this investigati on, a construction firm form the basis from which the sample is drawn (Clark et al 2000). In the light of the above, this research utilizes a non-probability sampling known as convenience sampling (Clark et al 2000). Moreover, in the context of this research, convenience sampling is not a sample in the sense that the selection is done based on the distribution of several characteristic (Clark et al 2000), rather the sample is chosen because they share certain very clearly defined core characteristics as seen in the case of the senior manager and two site managers chosen for the purpose of this research. Thus, the sample is selected based on the variation in significant factors under investigation (May 2003). Consequently, the success of the interview study is highly dependent on the aforementioned assembling of theoretically grounded questions and accessible interview schedules. Thus, the interviewees who offered to contribute intimate information about their lives and time were given a clear, comprehensive and reassuring guide throughout the process of interviewing (May 2003). However, these interview questions were sent to the interviewees via email prior to the main interviewing to serve as a guide during the interview sections. In the analytic process adopted in this study, the extant conceptual framework developed from the data gathered in the course of qualitative interview, and as evident in Table 1 suggests a set of predetermined categories (Symon and Cassell 1998). Thus, these set of predetermined categories are as follows; Communication Motivation Managerial Support and; Culture. However, the extant conceptual framework based upon the theoretical foundation of Kotters (1995) eight-steps and Aiken and Kellers (2009) nine-insights reveals the emerging factors embedded in the aforementioned categories. Hence, the interrelationship among the variable that are fundamental to the changing aspects of the condition being examined (Sekaran 2003), which entail how change is managed in a construction firm will be discussed in the fourth chapter, where the outcome of the research will be analysed. Validity: Subsequently, the theoretical framework developed from the data gathered during the qualitative interview conducted could offer a conceptual foundation to proceed with a further research and also gives rise to testable theory that can be developed to examine whether the conclusion reached or theory formulated in this research is valid or not (Sekaran 2003). Thus, a quantitative method based upon the extant theoretical framework is recommended for further research. 3.3 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS Fundamental ethical issues were considered in the course of this research. However, the confidentiality and anonymity of the interviewees highlighted in the letters distributed is carried over into the writing-up of the reports. Thus, the identities of the interviewees are represented in a disguised form, while the information and data gathered is reported anonymously (Clark et al 2000). Nevertheless, the construction firm under investigation point out that the privacy and confidentiality of their business secrets and practices be protected by avoiding the recording of the conversation via the telephone and present them with an evidence of the research findings in a short report, thus ascertaining the relevance of the research to the construction firm in question (Symon and Cassell). On the other hand, promises of anonymity such as that present in the letter despatched, permitted the interviewees to express more reality about their view concerning the attendant question put forward t o them (Symon and Cassell 1988). Moreover, the interview ends normally as the interviewees complete their responses, besides the interview was conducted at different times due to busy schedules and availability of the interviewees. Hereafter, commendation is put forward to the interviewees for the time and energy contributed to the interview. In the light of the above, this section reveals how the entire research is carried out and why the methods employed were adopted, thus making sense of the research credibility by demonstrating the understanding of the methodology utilized in the study. Consequently, it highlights the ethical concerns arising from the research and how they were addressed. Hence, lay emphasis on what data were collected and how they were handled, evaluated and accomplished, which will be discussed in the subsequent chapter.

Leadership Essay -- Synergistic Leadership Theory

Introduction According to Northouse (2009), leadership is a concept of multi-dimensional facets inclusive of skill, ability, inherent qualities, behaviors, and relationships. All or some of these dimensions may be observed in an individual that possesses leadership potential in different combinations and can be recognized when intent to make a change in an organization is for the greater good (2009). Even with good intentions and desires for positive changes, pathways to leadership can be locked with long periods of time and laborious experiences. The male gender, White males in particular and majority in the United States, have dominated the field of leadership therefore creating psychological barriers that excellence, potential, and aptitude enviably are tied to the male- gender (Jackson, Engstron, & Emmers-Sommer, 2007). Many explorations and developments allure to leadership theories centered around White male-gender prototypes, establishing ideologies ostensible to that same race and gender, signifying status and power, and mentioning minimal influences aspired by females and minorities. The speculations thereof have caused females and minorities to experienced delayed or non-existent advancements in managerial of leadership roles (2007). Recent literature more readily discusses cues that are suggestive of race and male-oriented ideologies of leadership as data depicts possibilities for setting apart females or minorities that may have potential and creditability for top leadership positions. Two articles, The Synergistic Leadership Theory (SLT), (Irby, Brown, Duffy, and Trautman, 2001) and the White Standard: Racial Bias in Leader Categorization (Rosette, and Phillips, 2008) probe female and minority presence ... ...ng from predispositions about behaviors. Subtle aversive racism derived from negative stereotypes continues to lay biases among female and minorities. Leadership prototypes that refer to being White as being â€Å"the† stereotypical characteristic nevertheless existent and lay constructs that affect minorities and not mentioned in these investigation, female minorities. To many instances occur in leadership where individuals in power set the organization’s culture or create biases that undermine the acceptance of leadership potential and follower 7 support. Research that ignores leadership traits, values, behaviors, abilities, and skills establishes, to the contrary, data based on traditional beliefs about any group not excluding the aged, female minorities, and others, is soaked in attitudes given by the majority and questionable.