Reaction report free essay sample

Effective communication is key to making any relationship work. Communication can be verbal (speaking), as well as non-verbal (facial expressions, body language, etc. ), and can dictate how compatible two people are, and how long a relationship may last. Communicating includes expressing emotions, interaction, touch and others that dictate how the relationship between two people will develop. Being able to open up to your partner, and covey your feelings allows for a better understanding, and greater rapport which are all important. Effective communication can be directly connected to Reiss’s wheel theory of love, and the four concepts that are part of the marriage market endogamy, exogamy, homogamy and heterogamy all of which can help explain fundamentals of relationships, as well as the different types. Effective communication has a close relationship with Reiss’s wheel theory of love. This wheel theory depicts the development of love as a spinning wheel. Consisting of 4 spokes rapport, self-revelation, mutual dependency, and fulfillment of the need for intimacy. We will write a custom essay sample on Reaction report or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Two of these components are directly connected to effective communication, rapport and self-revelation. Rapport is when two people meet there is a sense of â€Å"ease† and â€Å"understanding. † For rapport to occur, verbal communication, as well as body language is a key component in building this ease. I view rapport as somewhat of a spark between two individuals, and people must be able to have a conversation, and show effecting body language such as flirting, the right greeting (handshake, hug, etc. ) to make each other feel comfortable around each other to build the rapport. After rapport is built, this leads to self-revelation, the act of gaining trust and confidence in the relationship. I believe the key to gaining trust in a relationship is communicating effectively. If you are open with your partner and tell the truth about your past, lifestyle, etc. a sense of trust can build, and you begin to feel more confidence in the strength of the relationship. Effective communication as well as Reiss’s wheel theory of love have a close relationship with the four concepts that are part of the marriage market endogamy, exogamy, homogamy and heterogamy. The concept of exogamy is marrying outside of one’s family. It is important to have effective communication in this instance because growing up you learn how your family does things and live life. When your entering a relationship with someone, they have also grown up learning there style of life. Communicating effectively, and working together to combine different lifestyles is essential to making the relationship work. This is important in the self-revelation aspect of the wheel in building a trust and confidence in living and building a household with one another. This is also tied to becoming mutually dependent upon one another. Being mutually dependent means sharing a lifestyle, such as going on walks, sharing jokes, etc. Communicating with your partner while building a life of your own is a big part of what makes a relationship. Endogamy is the act of marrying someone in the same group as you (neighbors, work members, friends etc). In this situation a rapport is built before hand, leading to effective communication already being present when the relationship is being built. Knowing someone for a while before hand I believe can make a relationship stronger because you already know a lot about the individual, and have plenty of things to communicate about. Homogamy is choosing a mate with similar characteristics. These characteristics can included religious beliefs, political views, among others. In this type of relationship, it seems as if rapport would be high. People tend to feel more comfortable around individuals who share the same ideals and beliefs, and would be able to communicate with one another easily based on their beliefs. This is very beneficial in having someone to talk to that you have a lot in common with, as that is a great start in building a certain comfort level. Heterogamy is choosing a mate whose characteristics are different than your own. This is very similar to exogamy, where as your entering a relationship with new things, different beliefs, way of living, etc. and you must communicate to build a rapport, and comfort with your partner. You must live your life in compromise, and make sure you can adapt your life to make it comfortable for both.

Managed Care Essays (2289 words) - Healthcare Quality, Managed Care

Managed Care Chapter 3: Types of Managed Care Organization ? The distinction between health care providers and health care insurers have blurred substantially ? 10 Years ago managed care organizations were often referred to as alternative delivery systems ? Managed care is now the dominant form of health insurance coverage in the United States ? Managed care can mean managing the provider delivery system can be equivalent in its outcomes to managing the medical care delivered to the patient ? Managed care may not perfectly describe this current generation of financing vehicles, it provides a convenient shorthand description for the range of alternatives to traditional indemnity health insurance ? On one end of the continuum is managed indemnity with simple pre-certification of elective admission and large case management of catastrophic cases, superimposed on a traditional indemnity insurance plan ? Further along the continuum are PPOs, POSs, open-panel [individual practice association (IPA) type] HMOs, and closed-panel (group and staff model) HMOs TYPES OF MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMON ACRONYMS HMOs ? HMOs are organized health care systems that are responsible for both the financing are the delivery of a broad range of comprehensive health services to an enrolled population ? HMO health insurer and a health care delivery system ? HMOs are responsible for providing health care services to their covered members through affiliated providers, who are reimbursed under various methods ? HMOs must ensure that their members have access to covered health care services ? HMOs generally are responsible for ensuring the quality and appropriateness of the health services they provide to their members ? The five common models of HMOs are (1) staff, (2) group practice, (3) network, (4) IPA, and (5) direct contact PPOs ? PPOs are entities through which employer health benefit plans and health insurance carriers contract to purchase health care services for covered beneficiaries from a selected group of participating providers ? PPOs often limit the size of their participating provider panels and provide incentives for their covered individuals to use participating providers instead of other providers ? In contrast to individuals with traditional HMO coverage individuals with PPO coverage are permitted to use non-PPO providers ? PPOs sometimes are described as preferred provider arrangements (PPAs) ? PPA is used to describe a less formal relationship than PPO ? The term PPO implies that an organization exists, whereas a PPA may achieve the same goals as a PPO through an informal arrangement among providers and payers ? Key common characteristics of a PPO include: ? Select provider panel ? Negotiated payment rates ? Rapid payment terms ? Utilization management ? Consumer choice Exclusive Provider Organizations ? Exclusive provider organizations (EPOs) limit their beneficiaries to participating providers for any health care services ? The EPO generally does not cover services received from other providers, although their may be exceptions ? EPOs, like HMOs, require exclusive use of the EPO provider network and also use a gatekeeper approach to authorizing non-primary care services ? The difference between an HMO and an EPO is that the former is regulated by HMO laws and regulations, and the latter is regulated under insurance laws and regulations ? Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ? EPOs usually are implemented by employers (b/c it's cost efficient) POS Plans ? Hybrids of HMO and PPO models ? Characteristics include: ? Primary care physician are reimbursed through capitation payments (i.e. Fixed payment per member per month) ? An amount is with held from physician compensation that is paid contingent upon achievement of utilization or cost targets ? The primary care physician acts as a gatekeeper for referral and institutional medical services ? The member retains some coverage for services rendered that either are not authorized by the primary care physician or are delivered by non-participating providers Open Access or POS HMOs ? Provides some level of indemnity-type coverage along with the HMO coverage ? HMO members covered under these types of benefit plans may decide whether to use HMO benefits or indemnity-style benefits for each instance of care ? The member is allowed to make coverage choice at the point of service when medical care is needed ? Most POS plans experience between 65 percent and 85 percent in-network usage, thus retaining considerable cost control compared to indemnity-type plans ? There are two primary ways form an HMO to offer POS option 1) Via a single HMO license a. HMO provides the out-of-network benefit using its HMO license 2) Via a duel-license approach a. The health plan

The contribution of infrastructure to Nigeria’s economic development and future prospects The WritePass Journal

The contribution of infrastructure to Nigeria’s economic development and future prospects Introduction The contribution of infrastructure to Nigeria’s economic development and future prospects ). There is therefore need for enhanced focus on the growth of the real sector, which in most cases is private sector driven and includes economic activities of a country’s citizenry. Herein lay the import of infrastructure development and the need for its aligned pursuit with financial sector development for enhanced national economic development. This research assesses the potential for utilizing infrastructure investment to enhance economic development in Nigeria, seeking to show need for enhanced focus on infrastructure investments to achieve the country’s desired economic growth and a positive future prospects. Aim of research This research proposes that there is significant potential for utilization of infrastructure investment to achieve enhance economic development of Nigeria. Through the assessment of this potential and analysis of government efforts towards managing infrastructure inadequacies, this research endeavours to answer the question: What is the potential for utilizing infrastructure investment to enhance economic development in Nigeria? It seeks to show that infrastructure investments are justifiable in the quest for economic growth and robust future economic development prospects for Nigeria. Research Objectives With regard to its overarching theme, this research aims to achieve the following objectives: To assess the correlation between infrastructure development and economic growth To assess infrastructure inadequacies in Nigeria impeding the country’s economic growth and what measures are being taken to address them. To evaluate impact of infrastructure development past and present on Nigeria’s future prospects and economic outlook. Structure of proposal Following is a review of literature which lays the foundation for the subject under study. It is followed by the research Methodology outlining techniques and approaches employed in the conduct of study. Literature review There is general consensus that there is a positive relationship between development in the financial sector and economic growth. While acknowledging that financial institutions provide the means to mobilize and allocate funds in the economy hence enhancing development, Schumpeter, in his 1934 work, did not perceive financial sector development as being the cause of economic development. Later in 1954, Robinson supports this view arguing that the financial sector is a handmaiden of economic development, which is passive and responds to needs in the real sector (which encompasses economic production including manufacturing) and therefore growth in the real economy (Masha et al, 2004). However, McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) argue that the financial sector can be more than a passive handmaiden and a major driver of economic growth if it is relieved of its restraints. With repression, they argue that the financial sector responds passively to the needs in the real-sector and can only d rive economic development if liberalized. It is settled for most research work that there is a definite link, between growth in the financial sector and in the real sector (economic production). In an article in 2005, Asagowa identified close to ten indices of growth and deepening of the financial sector. These include rate of growth of all-encompassing money relative to GDP (diversification of the economy), interest rates spread, and ratio of financial assets to GDP, among others (Babatunde, et al, 2012). Infrastructure is a significant contributor to growth in sectors of the economy such as manufacturing and other forms of production easing and facilitating essential constituent processes. Financial sector reforms and economic development Up until the fourth quarter of 1986, Nigeria pursued a government-led economic development paradigm guided by National Development Plans. The government dominated all sectors of the economy including agriculture, commerce, services (especially transportation), and industry, among others, with the private sector playing a passive role. Since its independence in 1960 and subsequent discovery and exploitation of oil through the 1970s, the government had sufficient resources to finance these development plans to a reasonable proportion (World Bank, 2010). However, poor fiscal discipline consequent to the revenue windfalls deriving from oil saddled the nation with a significant external debt burden. The disregard of other sectors of the economy led to a fall in international trade, and as well resulted in high unemployment rates and slow growth of output. These led the government to rethink its underlying philosophy of development resulting in a shift in paradigm to a private sector-led paradigm. With this shift came relief of stringent regulations governing every sector which were put up to enhance government control but which impeded the enhancement of performance and growth (Akinyosoye, 2010). In 1984, therefore, a programme was fashioned called the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) which attempted to move the country away from direct government control of economic activities to indirect control such as through market forces. This involved widespread deregulation of trade, exchange, finance, among others. However, in spite of the increase in the number of financial institutions and greater variety of financial instruments and freedoms, the real economy showed no marked improvement with all macroeconomic indicators declining three years into the new millennium (World Bank, 2013). The country suffered debilitating external debt, high inflation (highest at 72.8% in 1995) (FMW, 2012: NNBS, 2013), high level of fiscal debt, underemployment and low capacity utilization in industry and agriculture. There was general distress also in the financial sector with high levels of insolvency and non-performing loans (Firzli and Bazi, 2011). Financial reforms have not been entirely su ccessful translating into economic growth to desired levels. In this regard, there is need for aligned pursuit of growth in the financial sector with that in the real sector, which is facilitated by infrastructure development. Herein lay the import of infrastructure development. Infrastructure and economic development Infrastructure is herein defined to include the sectors of transport, water and sanitation, telecommunications, power, among others. In all countries across the globe, this aspect represents a large portfolio of expenditure, ranging from a third to a half of public investment (Akinyosoye, 2010). Given the intense capital requirement and the length of time it takes for benefits to manifest, there has been concern and debate among economic policy makers, politicians and the general public regarding the performance of infrastructure and its impact on economic development (Patunola-Ajayi, 2013). However, AEO (2013) and WEF (2010) among others present a widespread agreement that the inadequacy of physical infrastructure in a country is among major constraints impeding sustained and broad-based economic development. There are various correlations between infrastructure and economic activity. In the short term, the construction phase is associated with attendant decision in the public sector that could have an influence on macroeconomic variables such as GDP, employment, public deficit, inflation, among others. The public investment thus expands aggregate demand, yielding a boost to employment, production and income (Patunola-Ajayi, 2013). In the medium and long term (the utilization phase), there are macroeconomic effects such as increases in productivity over the territory and in the private sector, as well as its effect on the degree of competitiveness of an economy (ADB, 2012; Foster and Briceno-Garmendia, 2010). Additionally, various benefits derive from infrastructure development. The availability of infrastructure influences the marginal productivity of private capital with investment of public capital in infrastructure in a particular location often attracting additional flow of resources (Akinyosoye, 2010; ADB, 2012). Infrastructure services such as transportation, electricity, and water are also intermediate inputs to production. Public capital invested in infrastructure therefore complements private capital and serves to enhance economic development (ADB, 2012; World Bank, 2010). Services thereby generated as a result of sufficiency of infrastructure translate into increased aggregate output. At the microeconomic level, the effect of infrastructure is specifically seen through the reduction in the cost of production derived from its impact on profitability, output levels, employment and incomes (Myers, 2007). This is particularly the case for small and medium scale enterprises. Extensive and efficient infrastructure is critical in ensuring effective functioning of the economy and is an important factor in the determination of the location of economic activity and the kind of sectors and/or economic activities that can develop in a particular economy (Patunola-Ajayi, 2013). There is also the intermediate input for economic development which encompasses higher productivity obtained from improved human capacity development. This can be attained through improvements in healthcare, nutrition, education, better roads and transportation, and access to electricity to households as well as telecommunication services which enable the creative engagement of citizens and access to core economic activities (Wilhelm, 2010; Akinyosoye, 2010). On a global scale, and regarding international trade (trade logistics), there is also an impact on the cost and quality of service which determine competitiveness in export and import markets. Infrastructure reduces the effect of distance between regions, enables the integration of national markets, and creates connections at lower cost to markets in other regions or countries (WEF, 2010; ADB, 2012; KPMG, 2012). A remarkable positive effect of infrastructure development has been adduced by models such as the Cobb-Douglas which yield a median value of 0.30. This means that public investment equivalent to 100% of the public capital stock would lead to a 300% growth of private production (Babatunde, et al, 2012). Investment in infrastructure is therefore among the important mechanisms through which to increase income, employment, productivity, and consequently, the competitiveness of the economy. Infrastructure development in Nigeria Nigeria’s economic growth is largely driven by the capital-intensive oil sector which continues to drive the economy. The average growth of this sector was about 8% comparable to -0.35% for the non-oil sectors (NNBS, 2013). Given its limited job creation capacity, focus on this sector has not translated into sufficient jobs resulting in poverty and disenfranchisement of the greater population and, therefore, the country’s low rank in the Human Development Index (HDI) (NNBS, 2013; The Guardian, 2012). In this regard, King, 2003; FMW, 2012 and AEO, 2013; show that economic growth has not translated into sufficient job creation and/or poverty alleviation with unemployment increasing from 21% in 2010 to 24% in 2011 (King, 2003; NNBS, 2013). The countrys outlook for growth remains positive, though, with an annual economic growth rate of about 8% (KPMG, 2011; NNBS, 2013), and an anticipated GDP growth rate of about 12% in the next five years (NNBS, 2013; AEO, 2013). This outlook pegs its vision 20:2020s aspiration to achieve a GDP of $900 billion (FMW, 2012; NNBS, 2013) predicated on improved sectoral performance, the propulsion of a better business environment, and supportive government policies focused on stability in the macroeconomic environment and increased investment. This is however challenged by short and medium term downside risks which include security challenges due to religious conflict in some of its states, slowed global economic growth in major economies of the world and the crisis of the Eurozone (Olaseni and Alade, 2012). There is therefore a great need to diversify the Nigerian economy making it broad-based (both socially and geographically) and to expand the sources of growth. The development of agriculture, manufacturing and services could enable the broadening of growth, creation of employment and reduction of poverty (AEO, 2013). The country is therefore addressing the infrastructure deficit in the country to create linkages and to enable such diversification which would enable inclusive growth (FMW, 2012). Infrastructure made a one percentage point net contribution to the countrys improved per capita growth performance in recent years (NNBS, 2013), notably held back by unreliable power supply (Olaseni and Alade, 2012). In spite of the obvious importance of infrastructure to the nation, governments both at the national and local levels have continued to pay lip service to the provision of infrastructure (Financial News, 2014). As a consequence, the countrys growth prospect is undermined. The following section offers a glimpse at some of the countrys major infrastructure inadequacies. Inadequacies in infrastructure development Urban housing Lack of proper planning and management of rapid urbanization has led to uncontrolled growth in major cities and towns to accommodate an informal economy which stands at 60-70%. This has had a negative impact on the landscapes of urban centres, leading to decay of inner cities, growth of shanty towns especially in peri-urban areas, consequently limiting their contribution to the national economy being inimical to security and good governance (UN Habitat, 2010). Transport Throughout the country, roads are neglected, particularly those connecting major cities, the sea port and commercial centres to the hinterland which are bad and deteriorating. Efforts at repair are often in vain due to the use of substandard materials. Though having the potential to provide a cheaper means of transport, the existing rail network is old and dilapidated, having served half a century after being built by the British colonial government (ADB, 2012). Attempts to procure new coaches or to create new routes have not succeeded. This has fostered the development of a disorganized and unregulated private sector freight and passenger road transport system, which has resulted in traffic congestion in cities, increase in motor accidents, and environmental pollution (UN Habitat, 2010). Given Nigerias endowment of waterways and long stretches of coast with potential for transportation, this option, which could ease congestion on roads and aid easier movements, is neglected and the water ways are left undeveloped. There are only a few canoe and ferry routes which are ill-equipped having no good jetties, harbours, safer boats or ferries. The recently refurbished mini-port at Ikorodu, Lagos State provides relief to commuters going through the Ikorodu-Lagos-Lekki road where they now only cross by ferry to Ajah (Akinyosoye, 2010). This is evidence of potential and should be replicated across the country. Transportation of heavy cargo through waterways can save pressure on roads. There have been recent attempts to improve/ renovate airports which have for a long time remained in deplorable condition, and to address the challenge of adequate capacity. Travelling by air is still expensive in Nigeria compared to international standards with charter options such as helicopter, cargo and passenger planes largely untapped. Air transport has the exceptional advantage in terms of speed, time of travel and distance considerations. It is also of high value in relation to weight and is preferred when accessibility is a challenge (Akinyosoye, 2010). Electricity supply Though it forms a significant avenue for economic empowerment of the people and country as a whole, the power crisis in Nigeria persists. Irregular supply impedes production and manufacturing and consequently some entities have had to relocate leading to loss of employment opportunities (UN Habitat, 2010). The country currently generates 4000MW which is inadequate compared to South Africa’s 34000MW (Olaseni and Alade, 2012). There are however efforts and resources being planned in the medium term towards enhancement of power supply but quite a lot needs to be done given the importance of power in economic development and well-being of citizens who make use of generators for their power requirements (Olaseni and Alade, 2012). Water supply infrastructure Population pressure has strained water supply capacity with damaged supply pipes, deteriorating water treatment infrastructure and erratic power supply challenging the supply of safe water to the population. To many, the main sources of water are boreholes, wells, springs, flowing rivers, and brooks whose safety for human consumption is not guaranteed. Poor sanitation and consequent diseases impacts overall health and well-being of citizens and their productivity (UN Habitat, 2010). Communication The emergence of cellular phones has revolutionized the public and private business environment, bridging communication gaps that hitherto existed. There has subsequently been a reduction in unproductive business trips and an enhancement of transactions. High prices of service and poor reception, inadequate capacity and coverage however need to be addressed for this aspect to facilitate expected economic growth (Financial News, 2014). There is obviously greater need for the Nigerian government and constituent states to develop adequate and effective infrastructure. This requires a more strategic approach to tackle its dearth which has been deemed to constrain the required economic development. There needs to be robust strategic planning, strong political will, as well as the right procurement approach to achieve long term success (Akinyosoye, 2010; AEO, 2013). According to World Bank (2013) estimates, Nigeria’s vision and aspiration to attain middle income status by 2020 requires sustained investment in infrastructure of about $14.2 billion over the next decade which is about 12% of its GDP. The current investment is $5.9 billion (5% of GDP) (NNBS, 2013) falls short. Expenditure on food imports is a significant at $90 billion a year (NNBS, 2013; World Bank, 2013) and is unnecessary given Nigeria’s potential in agriculture, taking up resources that could finance infrastructure development (World Bank, 2013). Reducing this bill requires investment in enabling infrastructure such as rural energy, transport systems, telecommunication and irrigation systems. However, much of Nigeria’s impetus for rural development will derive from investments at the level of the State though such infrastructure run by the State and government is prone to low maintenance and support, hindering efficiency and effectiveness (Olaseni and Alade, 2012). Current development of public infrastructure is occurring in tandem with a huge expansion of private sector developments, particularly in the property market (ADB, 2012). Continued urbanization and an emerging middle class, as well as a shortfall in quality office space for investor companies are key drivers for this wave of real estate development (KPMG, 2011; FMW, 2012). The success of ambitious infrastructure developments is likely to increase investors appetite to expand their operations and capture the anticipated growth, portends significant potential for economic growth (AEO, 2013). Methodology Research Philosophy This study employs a pragmatic philosophy which embraces both positivism in its opening up and confirming valid causal relationships which can therefore be used for prediction; and subjectivism which appreciates the difference between humans as social actors, with varied views of reality, values and knowledge (Creswell, 2002). Focus in this regard is on observable phenomena and their subjective meanings driving applied research integrating different perspectives to help in the interpretation of data. Study Technique and Strategy Given the contextual nature of the study and its focus being an attempt to gauge the impact of infrastructure development on Nigeria’s economy, a qualitative inductive approach is deemed to be a suitable approach enabling a detailed exploration of the subject (Quirke, B., 2008). The inductive approach is useful in condensing varied and extensive data into a brief and summarized format while establishing links between research objectives and findings obtained (Saunders et al., 2000). This technique involves the exploration of published literature on the subject including government reports, working papers, as well as journals and other relevant literature. This research also employs a quantitative technique in the conduct of interviews in a social survey to targeted experts in Nigeria’s development ministry as well as government leaders in sample states. This would enable the acquisition of information on actual infrastructure investment and development, cross-checked to the particular region by local officials towards the realization of study objectives. This would also enable the acquisition of opinions and information on the actual contribution of infrastructure to increased economic activity in the various regions, and/or the enhancement of life which is a precursor to increased productivity. Practical Implementation The targeted experts chosen for the survey include random sample of 20 officials in the national Federal Government in charge of oversight of infrastructure development in the country’s 36 Federal States and the administrative areas of the Federal Capital territory and urban councils. This will enable the attainment of a comprehensive view of projects and prospects given that they comprise the control centre for the entire nation, and arebetter placed to notice and to identify increases in economic activity reflected in increase in revenues to Local government areas and urban councils, and tax revenues to the nation state. This survey will take the form of a structured interview administered by the researcher, a method which ensures consistency of results obtained and answers that can reliably be aggregated. Its format is as appears in Appendix: A comprising both closed- and open-ended questions which afford the research the capability to compare and/or contrast interviewee responses in order to answer the research question (Creswell, 2002). Analysis approach Data obtained from interviews will be analysed using SPSS which enables the production of graphs which would enable the study to show correlations between infrastructure development and increase in economic activity (growth in the real sector) which enables evaluation of its actual or potential impact. A wide and extensive exploration of literature, as well as congruence on the ground as assessed by target experts enhances reliability and validity of data obtained (Creswell, 2002). The choice of a representative sample from across the entire country enhances the study’s generalizability and thereofore its capacity to make comprehensive deductions on the subject (Creswell, 2002; Saunders et al., 2000). Findings showing an increase in economic activities in areas recently served by new or improved infrastructure; entry of medium and large scale investors to locations supported by actual or prospective infrastructure investments; as well as increases in local and federal government revenues signify the contribution of infrastructure investments in increased economic activity engaging the population in the regions and overall expansion in the real sector. These are expected to translate to economic growth and positive future prospects for economic development. Limitations of study Assessment of the impact and actual correlation of infrastructure development on economic growth might be a challenge given the length of time with which the utilization of infrastructure translates into tangible economic activity and causes observable effect on the country’s economy. Economic growth of a country depends on the interplay of several factors including financial deepening, investor confidence, the encouragement of various economic activities, among other socio-cultural and policy factors. The isolation of the contribution of infrastructure development is therefore a challenge and might affect the outcome of this research. Ethical Considerations It is imperative in research to ensure that the survey approach and activities do not portend psychological or social harm to interviewees. An initial important and significant step is in ensuring that the researcher seeks informed consent from the particular interviewees and as well from their superiors in departments or other actors whose areas of duty and responsibility may be touched by the inquiry. This would ensure that there are no breaches in confidentiality, and also ensures that interviewees are not put in tight spots and forced to discuss sensitive areas and information which may be of psychological harm. The researcher should also be keen to note potential language barriers and cultural practices such as cultural gender power disparities that may impede the smooth progress of the interview and which may also negatively impact the interviewees making them feel incompetent or hindered in their participation. In such cases, the researcher should seek support of interpreters and agreeable individuals to help out in the conduct of the interview enhancing comfort and therefore output. Alongside the above considerations, it is also worthwhile to ensure that time set aside for interviews and other activities such as prior meetings is properly consented to both by management or superiors in the relevant departments in which the interviewers are, as well as by the interviewees themselves. This would ensure that the interviews and related activities do not infringe on official or personal schedules, as well as personal, cultural or religious preferences or obligations. The interviewee should also be informed of their right to answer a particular question or to terminate the interview altogether. The researcher in this study therefore in the foregoing will endeavour to obtain proper consent for study survey; respect privacy and goodwill of participants by not asking hypersensitive or confidential information; respect cultural norms and individual preferences of interviewees; ensure the confidentiality of data collected protecting it from access by third parties, and, to honestly and accurately report information obtained from the survey, avoiding the identification of interviewees if they wish that their identity be waived. Conclusion Reform in Nigeria’s financial sector is inadequate for economic development if the economy is not diversified and if citizens are not engaged in worthwhile economic activity. For the government to achieve this shift there needs to be a focus on infrastructure development, which would encourage private investments, enhance well-being of citizens, reduce existing constraints, and overall increase in economic activity which contribute to economic growth. Further research is required to clearly show correlations between investment in infrastructure and economic growth and future economic prospects. This would enable its effects to be isolated from among other factors such as financial deepening which are also essential for economic growth and development. References African Development Bank, 2012. An Infrastructure Action Plan for Nigeria: Closing the Infrastructure Gap and Accelerating Economic Transformation. ADB Group report Africa Economic Outlook, 2013. Nigeria Economic Outlook. AEO Report Akinyosoye, M., 2010. Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: Roadmap to Sustainable Development. Working Paper Babatunde, O., S., Afees, and O., Olasunkanmi, 2012. â€Å"Infrastructure and economic growth in Nigeria: A multivariate Approach.† In: Journal of Business Management and Accounting Vol. 1(3), pp. 030-039, October 2012 Business Newspaper, 2011. PPP as a tool for Infrastructure Development in Nigeria. 20th October; by Dominic Obuzuwa Creswell, J., 2002. Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Federal Ministry of Works, 2012. Road infrastructure and related development in Nigeria: Compendium report. Viewed from: www.works.gov.ng Financial News, 2014. Nigeria takes step to develop Infrastructure. Article by Sarah Krouse Firzli, M., and V., Bazi, 2011. â€Å"Infrastructure Investments in an Age of Austerity: The Pension and Sovereign Funds Perspective.† In: Revue Analyse Financià ¨re, volume 41, pp. 34-37. Foster, V., and C., Briceno-Garmendia, 2010. Africa’s Infrastructure: A time for Transformation. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. King, D., 2003. USAID/Nigeria Economic Growth Activities Assessment. Arlington VA: IBM Business Consulting Services KPMG, 2011. Trends in Global Real Estate: Global Issues and Insights. Viewed from: kpmg.com/Global/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesAndPublications/Pages/Trends-global real estate.aspx Masha, et al, 2004. â€Å"Theoretical Issues in Financial Intermediating Financial Markets, Macro-economic Management and Monetary Policy.† In: Financial Markets in Nigeria, CBN, Abuja. McKinnon, R., 1973. Money and Capital in Economic Development. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution Myers, D., 2007. Construction Economics. Wiltshire, Great Britain: Cromwell Press Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, 2013. Viewed from: nigerianstat.gov.ng/ Olaseni, M., and W., Alade, 2012. â€Å"Vision 20:2020 and the Challenges of Infrastructure Development in Nigeria.† In: Journal of Sustainable Development Vol.5, No 2(2012) Patunola-Ajayi, B., 2013. Infrastructure Development and Economic Empowerment in Nigeria. The Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. NIESV Quirke, B., 2008. Making the connections: Using qualitative research to make research work, 2nd ed., Hampshire: Gower Publishing Ltd. Saunders, M., P., Lewis, and A., Thornhill, 2000. Research Methods for Business Students, 2nd edition, London: Pitman Publishing Shaw, E., 1973. Financial Deepening In Economic Development. New York. Oxford University press The Guardian, 2012. Roads and Rail in Nigeria could be at the centre of Job creation. January 24 UN Habitat, 2010. Nigeria: Country Programme Document (2008-2009). United Nations Human Settlements Programme Wilhelm, T., 2010. EDC Nigeria Economics [online]. Viewed from: edc.ca/english/docs/gnigeria_e.pdf World Bank, 2010. Infrastructure at the crossroads: lessons from 20 years of World Bank experience. Washington DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / the World Bank World Bank, 2013. The World Bank Economic Report for Nigeria. WB World Economic Forum, 2010. The Global Competitiveness Report 2010–2011. Geneva: World Economic Forum

How to Use the French Adverbial Phrase Tout àFait

How to Use the French Adverbial Phrase Tout Fait Tout fait,  pronounced  too ta feh, is a ubiquitous French adverbial phrase  that means absolutely, exactly, completely.  Pas tout fait  means not exactly or not quite. Tout, the  root of the expression, can be used in a number of ways. Tout as an adverb can team with  other adverbs, adjectives, and the prepositions  Ã‚  and  de  to form tout-based adverbial expressions and phrases, which means two or more words act together as an  adverb. Tout  in adverbial phrases and expressions is an intensifier that translates as very, right, quite, all as with tout cà ´tà © de moi  (right next to me).  When it is used  in an adverbial expression such as  tout droit  (straight ahead) or in an adverbial phrase with  Ã‚  and  de  such as  tout fait  (exactly), it is nearly always invariable, meaning its form does not change for agreement.   Pronunciation of the Final 'T' in 'Tout' When tout  precedes a vowel, as it does in  tout fait, the final t is pronounced  to make the phrase easier and faster to say.  Thus, the whole phrase is pronounced  too ta feh. The same goes for tout coup,  tout lheure, and tout au contraire.  When the final t in tout precedes a consonant, the final t is not pronounced, as with tout dun coup, too duh(n) koo.   'Tout' in Adverbial Phrases With the Prepositions: ''and 'de'   Ã‚  Ã‚  tout coup  Ã‚  all of a sudden  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout fait  Ã‚  absolutely  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout lheure  Ã‚  shortly, right away  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout au contraire  Ã‚  on the contrary  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout de suite  Ã‚  immediately  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout de mà ªme  Ã‚  all the same, anyway  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout dun coup  Ã‚  all at once 'Tout' in Adverbial Expressions   Ã‚  Ã‚  tout doucement   very quietly  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout droit   straight ahead  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout haut   very loudly  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout loin dici   very far from here  Ã‚  Ã‚  tout prà ¨s   very near Uses of 'Tout Fait' Generally speaking, the adverbial phrase  tout  Ã‚  fait is used in a couple of ways: 1)  As an interjection to express strong or enthusiastic agreement: Il devrait amener ses parents la fà ªte.   He should take his parents to the party.Oui, tout fait !   Yes, absolutely! 2)  For emphasis: ​Vous avez tout fait raison.   Youre absolutely correct.   Examples Sentences With 'Tout Fait' Ceci constitue notre problà ¨m.   This is our  problem.Tout  Ã‚  fait.   Exactly, I completely agree.Cest tout fait ordinaire.   Its completely ordinary.Ce nest pas tout fait ce que je voulais.   Its not quite what I wanted.Tout le monde est daccord ?   Does everyone agree?Pas tout fait.   Not exactly.En es-tu tout fait conscient  ? Are you fully aware of it ?Je vous comprends tout fait. I understand you perfectly well.Ce nest pas tout fait exact. Its not quite correctNai-je pas raison  ? Tout fait  ! Am I right ? Absolutely !Cest tout fait ce que je cherche. Its exactly what Ive been looking for.Vous faites les retouches  ? Do you do alterations ?Tout fait. Certainly (we do)​.   Additional Resources All About ToutExpressions With Expressions With Fait and FaireSynonyms for NonSynonyms for OuiSynonyms for Trà ¨sMost Common French Phrases

Culture Clash Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Culture Clash - Research Paper Example Each of the group members were to offer an intervention strategy and give their feelings about the recipient of this intervention strategy. After hashing the scenario, all group members were to offer emotional advice to the group member with the new intervention innovation as though to console or criticize how the person chose to handle the given problem. This culture clash was produced by very different personalities and emotional responses and inherent cultural differences were noted. The group activity The scenario involved a hypothetical patient having a difficult time dealing with a parental figure who was both an alcoholic and a perfectionist. The patient was 19 years old, a white American male, still living home and currently unemployed after being let go from a modest-paying production salary. Part of the job perks had been the ability to use deductions from salary to pay for ongoing education, which was unaffordable due to the mother’s excessive costs of drinking and therefore the individual was currently not attending school. To make matters more difficult, the father consistently pressured the now-adult son to find a better path for himself and generally made the environment unsuitable and unsatisfactory living. Coupled with this, the loss of a trusted girlfriend due to an unexpected car accident just four months prior, the hypothetical psychological patient was withdrawing from others, but still remained motivated to become independent of his parents’ unsatisfactory environment. To identify the culture clash involved, it was necessary to outline the entire case study and all of the situations that came along with it. This youth was typically well-adjusted and the group was to come up with social and psychological strategies, or a blend of them both. The person in the group was to take on the role of a trusted friend who happens to be visiting the house during a period where the father is harassing the son in front of the polite company and obviously belittling his talents and attitudes. To add further fuel to the fire, the mother begins the same tirade and the arguments turn into a heated explosion where the entire group is at each other’s throats. In the group, there were primarily white Americans. However, there was one female Chinese group member, one obviously Middle Eastern individual, and an African-American male. The solution offered by the author involved taking a passive stand and just allowing the argument to continue unless the arguing family members asked for opinion or directed comments in the guest’s direction. This was to ensure neutrality in the case. When the group members gave their opinions and emotional responses to how I had chosen to handle this issue, most of the responses from virtually all cultures were criticizing. They seemed to believe that in order to end the chaotic environment that was leading to what looked like physical hostility, it was my responsibility to interven e and try to calm the situation. Conflict negotiation in this case was deemed best to be disruptive and preventative using appropriate soft language. I wholeheartedly disagreed with the group. Most of the responses from the white Americans involved a more passive stand in the situation. This could be due to the sociological norms that exist in the United States in relationship to image protectionism or the lure of curiosity

Strategic analysis of a company located in UAE Essay

Strategic analysis of a company located in UAE - Essay Example Furthermore, the aviation industry of the Middle East will also be evaluated. Based on the findings, the study will underline the key strategic issues faced by Etihad Airways. A conclusion will be drawn regarding the most important strategic issue faced by the company. Once the issue is identified the report will offer some suggestions by which the issues can be either controlled or fully curbed. Finally the implementation process of the strategy will be portrayed. Etihad Airways, the national airlines of the United Arab Emirates was established in the year 2003, by Royal decree. The operation of the company started in the month of November, 2003 (Abed, Vine, Hellyer and Vine, 2006, p.207). Nevertheless, the journey began with a ceremonial flight from the Abu Dhabi airport to Al Ain. It is presently headquartered at the Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Etihadairways, n.d.). The company operates with around 1300 flights in a week. Etihad Airways has its operation in 55 countries of the world. The company has a total fleet size of 67 airbuses and some Boeing aircrafts. According to the recent reports, the company has carried 8.3 million passengers in the year 2011. The data also reveals that the company has been able to achieve a staggering 17 % growth regarding the total number of passenger carries. The net revenue of the company was US$ 4.1 billion and the profit was US$ 14 million. It is also considered as one of the fastest g rowing airlines company in the history of aviation industry. The primary business of the company is to provide transportation services to the customers. However it also offers packaged holiday tours and tender international delivery services for its customers. In the passenger transportation service, the company has three products namely Pearl business class, diamond first class and coral economy class. The

The role of the tutor in the Lifelong Learning Sector Essay Example for Free

The role of the tutor in the Lifelong Learning Sector Essay There are many facets to the role of the tutor within this diverse learning sector and the responsibility and commitment required from the tutor is of the highest. Analysis of the role of the tutor needs to start firstly with†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the tutor! Although qualified to deliver material on a specialised subject, to teach that subject effectively requires strong personal commitment from the tutor. The tutor needs to be committed to a path of delivering excellence in all areas to the pupils and this can only be achieved if the tutor sets high standards in the first place. This is so important as to be quoted in the overarching standards document introduced by Lifelong Learning UK in 2007 titled â€Å"New professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector, Domain A: professional standards and practice† (LLUK2007, pg3). Page 2 To achieve high standards in their own personal work, a tutor must be prepared to maintain a programme of continual professional development enabling continual learning to take place within their own subject matter and the peripheries of that subject. This ensures that only the most up to date information is conveyed to the pupils and maintains relevancy in the latest subject matter. However, â€Å"The key purpose of the teacher is to create effective and stimulating opportunities for learning through high quality teaching that enables the development and progression of all learners. † (LLUK 2007, pg2) and it is within this statement that three key words exist: effective, stimulating and development. The tutor needs to be mindful of these words when constructing, creating, delivering a lesson and especially when assessing the outcomes of a lesson. Tutors are required to deliver curriculum based lessons and as such need to be able to formulate the art form that delivers quality teaching that encompasses relevant material, a delivery methodology, a means of assessing the learning and all done in such a way that measures the value of the learning. Lifelong learning pupils are extremely diverse and as such will require different teaching methods such as visual, auditory, kinaesthetic methods and all these different styles may even be required in one class. Petty (2004, p141) clearly suggests that ‘Student learning styles can be categorised in a number of ways. However, it is now thought that all students can learn in all these learning styles, and the more learning styles each learner experiences the better. ’ although later research has cast some doubt on Petty’s statements. All of this must be done whilst ensuring that every pupil feels they are treated as individuals, certainly without favouritism or discrimination. (This is a professional teaching requirement, supported by Gravels (2008) and made a requirement by the Institute for Learning (IfL) 2008. A tutor understands how to engage with each of their pupils at whatever level of teaching is relevant to that one individual, facilitating the pupil’s progress through the learning and measuring the outcomes to gauge pupil’s understanding. Measuring outcomes may be a relatively simple process done through a simple scoring system based on the number of correct answers and whilst being objective, doesn’t always show that the pupil understands the material, just they can answer questions or pass a test. So a tutor needs to be able to measure in different ways, both objectively and subjectively and this may lead to different formats of teaching and flexibility within the learning process. Now we need to look at the second part of the equation – the pupil. The prime key to a pupil’s learning is motivation and desire to achieve and a successful tutor is able to capitalise on this to allow the pupil to achieve. This was echoed by Reece and Walker who said â€Å"Motivation is a key factor to successful learning. A less able student who is highly motivated can achieve greater success that the more intelligent student who is not well motivated†. (Reece Walker, 1997. p96). In summary a pupil may be likened to an empty book with blank pages waiting to be filled and it is a symbiotic relationship between the pupil desire to succeed and the tutor’s ability to develop interesting and engaging teaching that creates the successful outcome, in other words a moving art form!