Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Types of Suture Essay Example

Types of Suture Essay Example Types of Suture Essay Types of Suture Essay Types of Sutures 1) Surgical Sutures 2) Suture Types 1. Absorbable Sutures * Polyglycolic Acid Sutures * Polyglactin 910 Sutures * Catgut Sutures * Poliglecaprone Sutures * Polydioxanone Sutures 2. Non-absorbable Sutures * Polypropylene Sutures * Polyamide / Nylon Sutures * Polyester Sutures * Silk Sutures * Polyvinylidene fluoride / PVDF Sutures * Stainless Steel Sutures Absorbable and non absorbable sutures Sutures can be divided into two types – those which are absorbable and will break down harmlessly in the body over time without intervention, and those which are non-absorbable and must be manually removed if they are not left indefinitely. The type of suture used varies on the operation, with the major criteria being the demands of the location and environment and depends on the discretion and professional experience of the Surgeons. * Sutures to be placed internally would require re-opening if they were to be removed. Sutures which lie on the exterior of the body can be removed within minutes, and without re-opening the wound. As a result, absorbable sutures are often used internally; non-absorbable externally. * Sutures to be placed in a stressful environment, for example the heart (constant pressure and movement) or the bladder (adverse chemical presence) may require specialized or stronger materials to perform their role; usually such sutures are either specially treated, or made of special materials, and are often non-absorbable to reduce the risk of degradation. Absorbable sutures include :- Polyglycolic Acid sutures, Polyglactin 910 , Catgut, Poliglecaprone 25 and Polydioxanone sutures. Non-Absorbable sutures include :- Polypropylene utures, Nylon (poylamide), Polyester, PVDF, silk and stainless steel sutures. Monofilament and Multifilament Sutures Sutures can also be divided into two types on the basis of material structure i. e. monofilament sutures and multifilament or braided sutures. Braided sutures provide better knot security whereas monofilament sutures provide better passage through tissues. In general, Monofilament sutures elicit lower tissue reaction compared to braided sutures. Monofilament sutures include :- Polypropylene sutures, Catgut, Nylon, PVDF, Stainless steel, Poliglecaprone and Polydioxanone sutures. Multifilament or braided sutures include :- PGA sutures, Polyglactin 910, silk and polyester sutures. Synthetic and Natural Sutures Surgical sutures can also be divided into two types on the basis of raw material origin i. e. natural and synthetic sutures. Natural sutures include silk and catgut sutures whereas all other sutures are synthetic in nature. Suture Techniques Running, or Continuous Stitch| The Running stitch is made with one continuous length of suture material. Used to close tissue layers which require close approximation, such as the peritoneum. May also be used in skin or blood vessels. The advantages of the running stitch are speed of execution, and accommodation of edema during the wound healing process. However, there is a greater potential for malapproximation of wound edges than with the interrupted stitch. | | Interrupted Stitch| Each stitch is tied separately. May be used in skin or underlying tissue layers. More exact approximation of wound edges can be achieved with this technique than with the running stitch. | | Mattress Suture| A double stitch that is made parallel (horizontal mattress) or perpendicular (vertical mattress) to the wound edge. Chief advantage of this technique is strength of closure; each stitch penetrates each side of the wound twice, and is inserted deep into the tissue. | | Purse String| A continuous stitch paralleling the edges of a circular wound. The wound edges are inverted when tied. Commonly used to close circular wounds, such as a hernia or an appendiceal stump. | | Smead-Jones/Far-and-Near| A double loop technique alternating near and far stitches. Commonly used for approximating fascial edges. | | Continuous Locking, or Blanket Stitch| A self-locking running stitch used primarily for approximating skin edges. |

Friday, November 22, 2019

Battle of the Crater in the Civil War

Battle of the Crater in the Civil War The Battle of the Crater occurred July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and was an attempt by Union forces to break the siege of Petersburg. In March 1864, President Abraham Lincoln elevated Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him overall command of Union forces. In this new role, Grant decided to turn over operational control of the western armies to Major General William T. Sherman and moved his headquarters east to travel with Major General George G. Meades Army of the Potomac. The Overland Campaign For the spring campaign, Grant intended to strike General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia from three directions. First, Meade was to ford the Rapidan River east of the Confederate position at Orange Court House, before turning west to engage the enemy. Further south, Major General Benjamin Butler was to move up the Peninsula from Fort Monroe and menace Richmond, while to the west Major General Franz Sigel destroyed the resources of the Shenandoah Valley. Commencing operations in early May 1864, Grant and Meade encountered Lee south of the Rapidan and fought the bloody Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7). Stalemated after three days of fighting, Grant disengaged and moved around Lees right. Pursuing, Lees men renewed the fighting on May 8 at Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21). Two weeks of costly saw another stalemate emerge and Grant again slipped south. After a brief encounter at North Anna (May 23-26), Union forces were halted at Cold Harbor in early June. To Petersburg Rather than force the issue at Cold Harbor, Grant withdrew east then moved south towards the James River. Crossing over a large pontoon bridge, the Army of the Potomac targeted the vital city of Petersburg. Situated south of Richmond, Petersburg was a strategic crossroads and rail hub which supplied the Confederate capital and Lees army. Its loss would make would Richmond indefensible (Map). Aware of Petersburgs significance, Butler, whose forces were at Bermuda Hundred, unsuccessfully attacked the city on June 9. These efforts were halted by Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard. First Attacks On June 14, with the Army of the Potomac nearing Petersburg, Grant ordered Butler to send Major General William F. Baldy Smiths XVIII Corps to attack the city. Crossing the river, Smiths assault was delayed through the day on the 15th, but finally moved forward that evening. Though he made some gains, he halted his men due to darkness. Across the lines, Beauregard, whose request for reinforcements had been ignored by Lee, stripped his defenses at Bermuda Hundred to reinforce Petersburg. Unaware of this, Butler remained in place rather than threatening Richmond. Despite shifting troops, Beauregard was badly outnumbered as Grants troops began arriving on the field. Attacking late in the day with the XVIII, II, and IX Corps, Grants men gradually pushed the Confederates back. Fighting resumed on 17th with the Confederates doggedly defending and preventing a Union breakthrough. As the fighting continued, Beauregards engineers commenced constructing a new line of fortifications closer the city and Lee began marching to the fighting. Union assaults on June 18 gained some ground but were halted at the new line with heavy losses. Unable to advance, Meade ordered his troops to dig in opposite the Confederates. The Siege Begins Having been halted by the Confederate defenses, Grant devised operations for severing the three open railroads leading into Petersburg. While he worked on these plans, elements of the Army of the Potomac manned the earthworks that had sprung up around Petersburgs east side. Among these was the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, a member of Major General Ambrose Burnsides IX Corps. Composed largely of former coal miners, the men of the 48th devised their own plan for breaking through the Confederate lines. Armies Commanders Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. GrantMajor General Ambrose BurnsideIX Corps Confederate General Robert E. LeeMajor General William Mahone A Bold Idea Observing that the closest Confederate fortification, Elliotts Salient, was a mere 400 feet from their position, the men of the 48th conjectured that a mine could be run from their lines under the enemy earthworks. Once complete, this mine could be packed with enough explosives to open a hole in the Confederate lines. This idea was seized upon by their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pleasants. A mining engineer by trade, Pleasants approached Burnside with the plan arguing that the explosion would take the Confederates by surprise and would allow Union troops to rush in to take the city. Eager to restore his reputation after his defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Burnside agreed to present it to Grant and Meade. Though both men were skeptical about its chances for success, they approved it with the thought that it would keep the men busy during the siege. On June 25, Pleasants men, working with improvised tools, began digging the mine shaft. Digging continuously, the shaft reached 511 feet by July 17. During this time, the Confederates became suspicious when they heard the faint sound of digging. Sinking countermines, they came close to locating the 48ths shaft. The Union Plan Having stretched the shaft under Elliotts Salient, the miners began digging a 75-foot lateral tunnel that paralleled the earthworks above. Completed on July 23, the mine was filled with 8,000 pounds of black powder four days later. As the miners were working, Burnside had been developing his attack plan. Selecting Brigadier General Edward Ferreros division of United States Colored Troops to lead the assault, Burnside had them drilled in the use of ladders and instructed them to move along the sides of the crater to secure the breach in the Confederate lines. With Ferraros men holding the gap, Burnsides other divisions would cross to exploit the opening and take the city. To support the assault, Union guns along the line were ordered to open fire following the explosion and a large demonstration was made against Richmond to draw off enemy troops. This latter action worked particularly well as there were only 18,000 Confederate troops in Petersburg when the attack began. Upon learning that Burnside intended to lead with his black troops, Meade intervened fearing that if the attack failed he would be blamed for the needless death of these soldiers. Last Minute Changes Meade informed Burnside on July 29, the day before the attack, that he would not permit Ferreros men to spearhead the assault. With little time remaining, Burnside had his remaining division commanders draw straws. As a result, the ill-prepared division of Brigadier General James H. Ledlie was given the task. At 3:15 AM on July 30, Pleasants lit the fuse to the mine. After an hour of waiting without any explosion, two volunteers entered the mine to find problem. Finding that the fuse had gone out, they re-lit it and fled the mine. A Union Failure At 4:45 AM, the charge detonated killing at least 278 Confederate soldiers and creating a crater 170 feet long, 60-80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. As the dust settled, Ledlies attack was delayed by the need to remove obstructions and debris. Finally moving forward, Ledlies men, who had not been briefed on the plan, charged down into the crater rather than around it. Initially using the crater for cover, they soon found themselves trapped and unable advance. Rallying, Confederate forces in the area moved along the rim of the crater and opened fire on the Union troops below. Seeing the attack failing, Burnside pushed Ferreros division in to the fray. Joining the confusion in the crater, Ferreros men endured heavy fire from the Confederates above. Despite the disaster in the crater, some Union troops succeeded in moving along the right edge of the crater and entered the Confederate works. Ordered by Lee to contain the situation, the division of Major General William Mahone launched a counterattack around 8:00 AM. Moving forward, they drove Union forces back to the crater after bitter fighting. Gaining the slopes of crater, Mahones men compelled the Union troops below to flee back to their own lines. By 1:00 PM, most of the fighting had concluded. Aftermath The disaster at the Battle of the Crater cost the Union around 3,793 killed, wounded, and captured, while the Confederates incurred around 1,500. While Pleasants was commended for his idea, the resulting attack had failed and the armies remained stalemated at Petersburg for another eight months. In the wake of the attack, Ledlie (who may have been drunk at the time) was removed from command and dismissed from the service. On August 14, Grant also relieved Burnside and sent him on leave. He would not receive another command during the war. Grant later testified that though he supported Meades decision to withdraw Ferreros division, he believed that if the black troops had been permitted to lead the attack, the battle would have resulted in a victory.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Social Welfare Issues Reaction Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Welfare Issues Reaction - Research Paper Example In simple terms, most of the social protection issues occur because of adjustments to the response of the environmental forces and the quality of life. Hence, Social Welfare Issues emerge as those that are related to Child & Family Social Work Issues, Clinical Social Work Issues, Social Work Values & Ethics, Health, education, security and insurance. On a broad front, the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics and the Journal of the Society for Social Work & Research are the two journals worth critical and creative analysis of the social welfare issues involved under study. Conversely, the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics evaluates critically and creatively the ethical and values issues that are interwoven and impacting with the theological development, social work practice as well as social research. On a broad aspect, the journal uncovers a full range of ethical and social issues that encounter social workers. Similarly, the journal explains its findings vividly by providing the historical perspectives of the social and ethical development exposing off all the ethical and social values dilemmas developing from a state-of-art. In-depth, the Journal of Social work Values and ethics focuses primarily on the examples of good social and ethical practices that clearly concentrate on the ethical and social values considerations. However, the journal reviews as well as examines the ethical and all values dilemmas that correlate with the genesis or development of new technology that may intend to affect the social and ethical aspects of human life.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Lean construction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Lean construction - Essay Example In fact, lean construction is set to be considered as the benchmark for other industries as it is for manufacturing currently. Effective tools and strategies can be implemented in the construction industry to implement lean and reduce waste to achieve operations efficiency through improved quality and productivity. Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction Background to study Aims and objectives Research methodology Summary Chapter Two: Literature review Production and Operations Management Project life-cycle Productivity challenges Lean production system Lean principles The concept of waste The Toyota way Lean construction Lean and strategy Lean implementation Chapter Three: Conclusions and recommendations References Chapter One: Introduction This chapter introduces the concept of lean management in production and discusses its evolution, importance, relevance in construction, aims and objectives of the study, the research methodology applied and the overall organization of the re search study. Background to study Lean concept is much appreciated, tested and practiced in industries like manufacturing, government, health care and other institutions. Lean in construction has been found to save costs and customers too increasingly prefer lean management of construction for cost savings. As there is much waste that is generated in the construction industry, implementing lean in construction industry can yield cost savings and reduce lead times for the benefit of all. It also found that present construction industry creates value at the rate of 10 percent while generating waste at the rate of 57 percent while in the manufacturing sector that implements lean, the reverse is true as it creates a value add of 62 percent and a waste of 26 percent (Sowards, 2012). Lean thinking was first applied to car manufacturing service but later evolved to be applied to other manufacturing sectors and hence been implemented in other industries as well. Lean implementation challeng es traditional business processes to improve performance to give a competitive advantage to the business. The concept of lean thinking or management is defined as â€Å"the process of continuously eliminating waste in all processes and systems† and was primarily related to production. Henry Ford first introduced this concept in his company in the manufacturing segment and later adopted it into other segments like accounting and non0manufacturign operations. The Japanese saw lean as a method to superior manufacturing through quality improvement and later started adopting it in other areas of the business processes, with the efforts and success of Toyota drawing attention worldwide (Bottirov, 2011). As other sectors including government and healthcare started implementing lean methods throughout the entire spectrum of business processes, construction industry too started considering the advantages of lean management (Bottirov, 2011). As the concept of lean management has emerge d from the production line, much of the practices, tools and techniques are readily available for implementation in manufacturing but construction being a different area than manufacturing, all of the principles and practices of lean production management do not fit into the construction industry, although there are many similarities in the processes of the two industry

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Rules and regulations on the conduct and discipline Essay Example for Free

Rules and regulations on the conduct and discipline Essay For the guidance of all concerned, the following rules and regulations on the conduct and discipline of students are hereby promulgated: a. Basis of Discipline Students shall at all times observe the laws of the land, rules and regulations of the Bicol University, and the standards of good society. b. General Rules and Regulations The following student’s rules govern the conduct and discipline of students: 1. Any student who commits any misbehavior in the University premises or outside the University when acting in his capacity as a representative of the University, shall subject to disciplinary action in accord with the schedule of sanctions set by the University. 2. The Bicol University is a smoke-free campus. Smoking shall not be allowed in the University premises. 3. Students are required to attend academic University activities that are conducted within the University. 4. Students of this University are free to participate in co-curricular activities and to express their views and positions in public questions/issues subject to the following conditions: a. Their participation shall excuse them only for the time missed in class and shall not excused them from fulfilling other requirements by the University, and b. Their participation shall be their own personal responsibility. 5. No play, skit, farce or any other similar act shall be staged or presented outside the University without the previous authorization and approval of the Dean of the College/Unit. 6. Only BU student organization duly recognized by the Office of the Student Service during the current school year may be allowed to publish and distribute written materials, or put up posters, signs, streamers, and the like. Each copy (and each page) of the proposed written materials must be submitted to the Office of Student Services/Coordinator Student Activities for verification and stamping of the words â€Å"Approved for Posting/Distribution- Dean of Student Services/Coordinator Student Activities† as a requirements before distribution or display. 7. No student may participate in an outside activity, contest, play, band, orchestra, choir conference, congress,  association, club and similar groups as a representative of Bicol University without being so authorized in writing by the Dean of the College/Unit. Participation of students in such activities in their personal capacities is not contemplated in this reservation, provided, however, that in this case the Universi ty shall not be responsible for any consequence arising therefrom. 8. No student or organization seeking to sponsor any social event or activity associated with the University may make use of the institutional name of the University unless he/she is authorized to do so. Generally, use of the institutional name by any student or group off- campus is prohibited. Permission for such solicitation may, on exceptional cases, be obtained in writing from the Dean of the College/Unit. 9. Students should wear the prescribed uniform of the College while inside the campus. 10. Validated I.D Cards must be worn all the time within the school premises. The validated card should be used in all transactions in and out the University. Any student who fails to produce validated I.D Cards upon demand by any member of the faculty or any schools authority or security guard, may not be admitted to class or inside campus. 11. Students should help keep the building and campus clean at all times. Trash cans and similar receptacles should be used. Littering and writing on the walls, doors or any property of the University is prohibited. 12. Students should handle funds; mail matter or any important papers entrusted to them either by the University or any of the student organizations with utmost care and responsibility. 13. All funds accruing the students organization must be deposited in a reputable bank. At the end of every semester the bank book reflecting the financial assets to the organization must be deposited with the college/unit Cashier for safekeeping. 14. Permission for co-curricular activity, i.e. field trips, educational/observation tours, and extra-curricular activity i.e., conventions, seminar conducted within the Region should be obtained one week in advance and for activities outside the Region two weeks in advance from the University President through the Dean College/Unit, Dean of Student Services and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The requesting party before joining any out of campus activity should meet the following requirements. DEFINITION OF TERMS: a. BULLYING. This refers to any act which causes upon the student emotional, physical or psychological stress making him/her feel lonely and unsafe or to think that there is something wrong with him/her or to lose the student’s confidence and to become disinterested in attending classes. b. CARRYING WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY PREMISES FIREARMS OR DANGEROUS OR DEADLY WEAPONS. Carrying any weapon which can kill, including but not limited to: Firearms, even if licensed, knife, blunt instrument, clubs. c. CONVICTION OF A CRIME INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE. Conviction in any court of a crime having an inherent quality of corruptness, vileness, or depravity with respect to a person’s duty to another or to society in general; such as but not limited to : rape. Falsification of official documents. d. CREATING DISORDER, TUMULT, BREACH OF THE PEACE OR SERIOUS DISTURBANCE WITHIN THE UNIVERISTY.  Any act designed to any serious disturbance within the University premises, office, classroom, hall or shall interrupt or disturb performance, functions or gatherings, peaceful meetings within the University premises. e. DEFACING, DAMAGING OR DESTROYING ANY PROPERTY OF BICOL UNIVERSITY OR OF WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY. Any willful behavior aimed at destroying, altering, or defacing property of Bicol University or of its employees and guests. Possession of the means to commit vandalism, including possession of a drill bit, glass cutter, or other substance (like spray paint) within University premises without proper clearance from the College Dean/Director shall be prima facie evidence of such offense. f. DISCOURTESY TO SUPERIOR. Any discourtesy by words or by deeds committed by a student towards a student-leader, a Bicol University official or personnel (teaching and non-teaching). g. DISGRACEFUL AND IMMORAL CINDUCT. Any scandalous behavior or act contrary to established moral principles committed inside or outside of BU premises which will cause disrepute to Bicol University. Petting, necking or any sexual conduct done with the University premises, inside or outside of classrooms. h. DISHONESTY. The act of concealing or distorting truth, showing a lack of integrity or a character to defraud, cheat, deceive or betray and an intent to violate the truth. h.1. SERIOUS DISHONESTY. Involve the presence of any one of the following attendant circumstances: a) The dishonest act caused serious damage and grave prejudice to Bicol University; b) In order to commit the dishonest act, the respondent gravely abused his authority; c) Where the respondent is an accountable office in any University/College Based Organization, the dishonest act directly involves property, accountable forms or money for which he directly accountable and the respondent shows an intent to commit material gain, graft and corruption. d) The dishonest act of the respondent exhibits moral depravity; e) In the commission of the dishonest act, fraud or falsification of official documents was employed; f) The dishonest act was committed several times or in various occasion; or g) The dishonest act involves Bicol University examination irregularity or fake Bicol University admission eligibility such as impersonation, and cheating. h.2. LESS SERIOUS DISHONESTY. The dishonest act caused damage and prejudice to Bicol University that is not so serious as to qualify under Serious Dishonesty, or  where the respondent is a student leader who did not take advantage of his/her position in any University/College Based Organization in committing dishonest act. h.3.SIMPLE DISHONESTY. Dishonest acts that did not cause damage or prejudice to Bicol University as well as those within no direct relation to or do not involve the duties and responsibilities of the respondent; and where the information falsified is not related to his office as a student leader or status as a student of this University in case of falsification of official document. i. DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR MANIFESTING DRUNKEN BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY PREMISES. Possession of intoxicating liquors or any beverages shall be prima facie evidence of the commission of this offense. j. FALSIFICATION OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. Any untruthful entries I official documents committed thru alteration, deletion, superimposition, intercalation, or any misinterpretation. Official documents shall include birth certificate, official transcript of records. Library card, school ID. Student’s clearance, diploma, and other documents issued by or submitted to Bicol University. k. GAMBLING. Any unauthorized betting of money or something of material value within the University premises. l. HAZING OF ANY VARIETY INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE PREMISES OF THE BISCOL UNIVERSITY BY ANY FRATERNITY OR INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP REPRESENTING AN ACCREDITED BU ORGANIZATION. An initiation rite or practice as a prerequisites for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing of humiliating situations such as forcing him to do menial, silly, foolish and other similar task or otherwise subjecting him to physical or psychological suffering or injury. (Sec. 1, RA 8049) m. MALVERSATION /UNLAWFUL DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY OR A GUEST OF THE UNIVERSITY. Any student who, by reason of the duties of his office, is accountable for student’s fund or property, shall appropriate the same or shall take or misappropriate or shall consent, through abandonment or negligence shall permit any other person to take such students funds, or property, wholly or partially, or shall otherwise be guilty of the misappropriation or malversation of such funds or property. n. MISCONDUCT. Such act affecting performance of his duties as a student and/or an officer of any University/College Based Organization and not such only as affects his character as a private  individual. n.1. GRAVE MISCONDUCT. Acts which manifest elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law or openly disregarding established rules of Bicol University. n.2. SIMPLE MISCONDUCT. Any form of concealment not falling within the definition of dishonesty; or any violation of University/College Rules and Regulations. o. Photo or Video Voyeurism. An act of taking photo or video coverage of a person or group of persons performing sexual acts or any similar activity or of capturing an image of the private area of a person or persons without the latter’s consent, under circumstances in which such person/s has/have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or act of selling, copying, reproducing, broadcasting, sharing, showing or exhibiting the photo or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or similar activity through VCD/DVD, internet, cellular phones and similar means or device without the written consent of the person/s involved, notwithstanding that consent to record or to take photo or video coverage of same was given by such persons (Sec 3(d) of RA 9993). p. PLAGIARISM. The act of copying another’s words/works and passing it off as one’s own original creation. q. POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS OR CHEMICALS. Possession of dangerous drugs or chemicals as defined in Republic Act No. 9165. r. SEXUAL HARASSMENT. An act, or a series of acts, involving any unwelcome sexual advance, demand or request for sexual favor, or other verbal or physical behavior of sexual nature, committed by any person who, having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in training or educational-related environment of the person complained of, without regards as to whether such advance, demands or request is accepted by the other. The foregoing acts may be committed among peers such as those involving student—student, and those committed towards a faculty member or employed by a student, whether of the same or opposite sexes. (Sec. 2, Bicol University Rules and Regulation in Administrative Cases of Sexual Harassment and Similar Offenses) s. STALKING. An intentional act committed by a student who, knowingly and without lawful justification, follows a fellow student or places the latter under surveillance directly or indirectly or a combination thereof. (Modified definition taken R.A. No. 926) t. THEFT. The taking, with intent to gain but  without violence against or intimidation of persons nor force upon things, of property of Bicol University, its employees, students and guests, without the latter’s consent; or the failure to deliver found lost items to University authorities or to its owner. u. UNAUTHORIZED SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTION/DONATION USING THE NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY.Any request for support to any individual or organization, monetary or otherwise, in the name of Bicol University without prior written permit from the College Dean and University President. v. VIOLATION OF SCHOOL RULES AND REGULATIONS. Disobedience to University/College rules and regulation. d. College/Unit Disciplinary Committee 1. All cases involving discipline of students and violation of rules and regulations of the College/Unit committed within its premises shall be subject to the jurisdiction of College/Unit Disciplinary Committee. 2. Investigation of cases falling under the jurisdiction of a College/Unit shall be conducted by a committee of five (5) members. The College/Unit Disciplinary Committee shall be composed of: 1. The Coordinator of College Student Activities as a Chairperson. 2. The President of the Faculty Club of the College as a Co-Chairperson. 3. The President of the College Student Council or his duly authorized representative, as member. 4. The Department Chair as member. 5. A student representative designed by the USC, as a member, and, 6. The Guidance Counselor, as non-voting member. e. The University Student Disciplinary Tribunal 1. All cases involving discipline of students could be elevated on appeal to the University Student Disciplinary Tribunal, which shall be composed of: a.The University Legal Officer as Chairperson. b.The Dean of OSS as Co-Chairperson. c.The Concerned Department Chair, as member. d.The CSC President or his/her duly authorized representative from the college wherethe subject(s)/students(s) is/are enrolled, as member. e.The  Chairperson of the University Student Council or his duly authorized representative, as a member, and f.The University Guidance Counselor, as non-voting member. f. Disciplinary Procedures 1. Disciplinary procedures shall commence upon the filing of a written report to the Dean of the College/Unit by the instructor or any school authority who apprehends a student committing any of the acts enumerated in Section â€Å"C†. It may also be commenced by the offended party upon filing a written complaint under oath specifying the act or omission constituting the misconduct. 2. The Dean of the College/Unit then refers to the matter to College/Unit Disciplinary Committee which shall convene not later than three (3) days after filing of the case. (The College Disciplinary Committee of different college/unit shall formulate guidelines that will govern the conduct of the proceedings). They shall likewise be responsible to inform in writing the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student/s allegedly involved in the case. A student under administrative investigation shall have the following rights: a.The student must be informed in writing of the nature and cause of any accusation against him/her; b.That he shall have the right to answer the charge against him/her with the assistance of counsel, if desired; c. That he/she shall be informed of the evidence against him/her; d. That he/she shall have the right to adduce evidence in his/her behalf; and, e.The evidence must have been duly considered by the investigating committee or officials designated by the school authorities to hear and decide the case. 3. The decision of the College Disciplinary Committee shall become final and executory unless within five(5) days from notice of the decision, the aggrieved party,not satisfied with the decision, appeals to the University Student Disciplinary Tribunal. 4. The University Student Disciplinary Tribunal shall review the decision of the College/Unit Disciplinary Committee based on the records/minutes of the proceeding. The tribunal under certain cases may require the receipt of other pieces of evidence. 5. Decision imposing disciplinary action upon the student shall be reported to his/her parent(s), guardian(s) not later than five (5) working days after the case has been promulgated. 6. The University Student Disciplinary Tribunal shall meet not later than ten (10) working days from  the receipt of the notice of appeal. (The University Student Disciplinary Tribunal shall formulates rules and guidelines that will govern the conduct of the proceedings). 7. The decision of the University Student Disciplinary Tribunal shall become final and executory unless within ten (10) working days from notice of the decision, the aggrieved party not satisfied with the decision, appeals to the Board of Regents, through the President. 8. The Board of Regent shall review the decision of the University Student Disciplinary Tribunal based on the records/minutes of the proceeding. The Board under certain cases may require the receipt of other pieces of evidence. g. Grievance Procedure In order to assure the students the right to redress of grievance, the OSS is responsible for a grievance procedure involving non-academic affair. Any student may file a question, complaint or statement in the OSS in person or in writing. A course of action will be taken within five days after filing. If the OSS’s course of action is not acceptable, the same complaint or statement of grievance could be elevated to the University Grievance Committee designated by the President, composed of: University Legal Office Chair Dean of the College where the complainantis enrolled Co-Chair CSC President or his/her representative Member USC President or his/her representative Member h. Academic Grievance Council Students have the responsibility and right to call the attention of a professor on any grade with the students believe to be in error. Students may appeal in this order: to the Department Chairman, then to the Dean, if the problem is not resolved at the College Level, the student may appeal to the University Grievance Council lodged at the VPAA. i. Students’ Right Article 277. Subject to the limitation prescribed by law and the University  policies and regulations, the right of every student in the University are as follows: a. Every student has the right to receive relevant quality education in line with national/regional goals, educational objectives and standards of the University. b. Every student is entitled to guidance services to enable him to know himself, to make decisions and to select from the alternatives in the fields of works in line with his potentials. c. Every student shall in exercise of the constitutional guarantees of the free speech and press, have the right to express and pursue his opinion on any subject, provided that the expression and dissemination of such views do not disrupt the work and discipline of the University. d. Every student shall have the right to receive a copy of every paid publication. e. Every student shall have the right to participate in the formulation and development of policies affecting the Uni versity in relation to the locality/region and nation through representation in the appropriate body/bodies of the University as elsewhere determined in this Code. f. Every student shall have the right to establish, join and participate in organizations and societies not contrary to the law. g. Every student shall have the right to receive reasonable protection within the University premises. h. Every student shall have the right to be informed of the University rules and regulations affecting him. i. Every student have the right to participate in curricular and co-curricular activities. j. Every student is entitled to be respected as a person with human dignity, to full physical, social, moral and intellectual development and to human and healthful conditions of learning. No student shall be subjected to exploitation, involuntary servitude nor cruel or unusual punishment k. Every student shall have the right to redress of grievances against any wrong or injustices committed against him and/or other students by any member of the academic community in accordance with the defined channels of authority therein. l. No student shall be subjected to disciplinary action without due process. m. Every student shall have the right to access to his class and other records for the purpose of determining his class standing and the University shall maintain and preserve such records. n. Every student officially admitted by the University has the right to continue and pursue his course study therein up to graduation, except in cases of academic delinquency and violation of disciplinary regulations. o. Every student shall have the right to be  assisted by the University through current and adequate information on work opportunities. p. Every student shall be entitled to expeditious issuance of certificates, diplomas, transcript of records, grades and transfer credentials. j. Duties and Responsibility of Students Every student regardless of the circumstances of his birth, sex, religion, social status and other factors shall: a. uphold the integrity and good name of the University; b. strive to lead an upright, virtuous and useful life; c. love, respect, and obey his parents, and cooperate with them to keep the family harmonious and united; d. exert his utmost to develop his potentials for service, particularly by undergoing an education suited to his abilities in order that he may become an asset to himself and to society. e. respect the customs and traditions of his country and the principles of democracy; f. participate actively in civic affairs and in the promotion of general welfare; g. help in the observance and exercise of individual and social rights, the strengthening of freedom everywhere, the fostering of cooperation among nations in the pursuit of progress and world peace; h. respect and cooperate with the faculty, fellow students and University authorities in the attainment and preservation of order in the University and in the society; and i. exercise his rights responsibly with the due regard for the right of others.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

College Style :: Education Writing Language Essays

College Style I was sitting at the bar on my favorite bar stool drinking a rather poor bottle of domestic beer. The sun was glaring off the snow on the outside world. It was dark inside, how I liked it. It was a time to collect my thoughts, a time to think the world out in a rational matter, it was time to think of an expository writing assignment. As I sat there peering through the beer glass watching the reflections off the watered down beer that appeared now more like a glass of tainted water, I noticed a few guys come in that were in my Marxist philosophy class. I waived my hand in that "nice to see ya" kind of gesture and they sat down beside me. I was a bit nervous but the courage I had from the first four beers was making me more at ease. These were the smart kids. There were four in all, two girls, two guys. They surrounded me around the bar. I began to sweat and drips of dew dropped down on to the hard plastic bar that had held up my head so many times before. I'd read their papers before . I realized they were the smart kids when reading their papers, I didn't understand what they were saying. Sure, some of the ideas were familiar but the general concepts of their papers were so ahead of my knowledge for the written word that the meaning was gone. was Now I was sitting among them, in a circle, a circle of knowledge. I was embarrassed that I was sitting amongst the greatest minds of the upper-Midwest drinking from a tainted glass with nothing more then a domestic beer. I quickly finished the drink and motioned to the bartender. "Sir," I cried, as only a intellectual could, "bring me a chardonay, spare no expense with the pretzels, and give yourself ten percent." I was pleased at my request. Certainly I would fit in now. In class the smart kids always spoke in such a manner unlike any dialect that I had known before. When the addressed the professor they used words that I didn't know existed, I flew for my dictionary but by then it was always too late. I would try to fit in this time. I swung my chair towards the semi-circle that had surrounded me. I crossed my legs as only poets and small boys can do and grinned at them.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Leadership Interview and Analysis Essay

I interviewed the owner of a mid-sized engineering firm from this point forward referred to as Jack. Jack has been in the engineering field over 30 years starting as a project engineer and has worked his way to owning his own company. He has no formal training or degree in management or leadership and is speaking from experience. For Jack the definition of leadership is to guide and direct. He compares a manager in business to a platoon leader who can lead a group of people in a productive manor to achieve a desired outcome. When guiding these employees or soldiers the use of direct consequence or praise is the best way to guide your followers to the desired goal. Jack believes that most employees need close watch and a tight leash as to not fall off task. When Jack was asked what characterizes a good leader he continued to refer to the military example, even though he has never served. He believes there are two main components of a strong leader, wisdom and people skills. With wisdo m you will have a strong knowledge of the tasks or products offered and are able to assist in problem solving. Along with wisdom Jack believes that you will be able to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the market. People skills are the second part of Jacks components for a strong leader. When a leader has strong people skills he can relay his wisdom in an effective manner to employees so they can complete the desired task. He also believes that strong problem solving skills come along with people skills; you should be able to mediate an issue between employees or a client in a way as to not effect production or lose a client. Jack believes that situation plays a role in leadership. This is what separates strong leaders from the average. A strong leader can be placed in most any situation and be successful. If a mediocre leader is put into a simple or familiar situation they could be interpreted as a strong leader but will fail when tested. He also states that there are a few situations where even the strongest most experienced leaders will fail. The example of a pilot, seconds from destruction, could direct and organize his crew to the best of anyone’s ability and yet still fatally crash. This relates to business during market downturns and changes in technology. If you have too much expense and debt during a downturn or your only product has just been rendered obsolete by a new technology, there is not much you can do. When asked about the followers he prefers to refer to them as â€Å"the team† and they need to work together if they are going to be lead well. Although when asked if a strong leader can take â€Å"bad† followers and still accomplish a common goal, he believes it can be done. Jack still refers back to the military, when grunts come in general infantry they are generally â€Å"bad† followers but a strong leader can bring them together, have them work as a group and agree to go to war together. In Jack’s career he has encountered good and bad followers, some needing a lot of structure and others which could be trusted to complete the work with minimal supervision. Jack has a very â€Å"laid back† style of leadership and with some employees this became an issue because they took advantage of the freedom. In Jacks experience leaders can be trained but there is a small group that will never be a good leader. In society he believes there is a very large â€Å"middle ground† of people who can be trained to accomplish anything they set their mind to. He thinks that some great leaders are born that way and it comes much more effortlessly than for others. That being said, if one of the â€Å"middle ground† individuals had the desire and training they too can rise to be a great leader and accomplish great things. In general Jack believes that great leaders can either be born or trained to achieve the highest level of leadership and that there is a small g roup of individuals that un-salvageable. After this interview I think Jack has a understanding of what makes a leader but still has leaning to do. First and foremost leadership is a process and not just a single tactic to achieve a single goal. It is the development of relationships between the leader and the followers along with the relationships between the followers themselves. Through these emotional connections a leader can work with a group of followers and accomplish great things even when situation may be very difficult. I found it very interesting when talking about the characteristics of a strong leader Jack’s first response is wisdom, which I believe he relates to intelligence. Intelligence is a very large factor in being a strong leader but being inspiring is just as important. Being a â€Å"people person† does not make you a good leader. An individual can be very kind and a good listener but unless they can inspire a group of people to work together for a common goal they will not be effective. Jack believes that leaders can be trained to accomplish a high level of success much like the ones that are natural leaders. This is idea is in line with academics that leadership can be classically trained and not only gained by experience. Another issue with Jacks interpretation of leadership is how a strong leader can improve an already good situation. He sees that strong leaders can handle most situations and accomplish necessary tasks but fails to acknowledge that the entire dynamic is related. His views seem negative towards a leader with a good group of followers and a positive situation, that with a strong or marginal leader you will have the same result. I disagree with this idea and believe with a strong leader you can have increased productivity and quality of product. It also seems that Jack thinks all managers are leaders which is not the case. Managers and leaders have many of the same characteristics but hold different roles within a company. Managers are there to provide guidance and accomplish a short term goal or task whereas a leader is there to inspire and create a challenging vision for the long term success of a company. True leaders will be introspective as they learn from experience. This is known as the action-observation-reflection model in which a leader will take an experience and give it additional attention to learn as much as possible. First you must review the action that caused the experience, then review the outcome of that action and finally determine how you feel about the outcome. When using this method reviewing a situation one can gain a great deal of knowledge to apply in the future. Jack also seems to have fundamental attribution error when reflecting on why he considers an employee to be bad. He has a bias that when an employee is not functioning at their full capacity it is only due to them taking advantage of him and his method of management. He fails to see if there could be any outside factors causing these behaviors; for example, if an employee is also a student who in enrolled in a very difficult course may appear to be leaving early and â€Å"taking advantage† when in fact they just have a class to attend. This could be easily remedied by offering a flexible schedule where the employee could begin their work day a little earlier. This also relates to the self serving bias where this employee could hold Jack responsible for not performing in class instead of realizing they didn’t dedicate enough time out of class for study. Jack also believes that to be a good leader you must be very proficient in the task at hand. The academics disagree with this idea and note that the higher level of management the less technical knowledge you must have. This is where vision and inspiration become extremely important to guide your followers to success. In conclusion Jack has learned well from his years of experience but there is still room for growth in his knowledge of leadership and management, especially the difference between the two. Something that would greatly help improve the quality of management and leadership within the company would be using some assessment the leaders. This could be accomplished by having a questionnaire rating the leader by the superiors and subordinates. This method would help understand the performance of the leader as assessed by the superior and the effectiveness as provided by the subordinate’s questionnaire.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Education Algebra Essay

Coming into mathematics for elementary educators with my classmates, everyone had some type notion of what this course consists of. For most people math is a very hard and complex subject that requires complicated rules that a person would never use again. A person who has not been exposed to math would say math is just numbers, shapes, and some simple arithmetic. To a serious math student, math encompasses much more than just numbers and geometrical shapes, of course. During math 213 I bought into many misconceptions about math. During Week one I learned about no child left behind act and the pro’s and con’s that are associated with this act. We reviewed the order of operations and learned different meanings to some math terminology. The most exciting teaching strategy I learned in week one was called the pinch card. The pinch card allows the teacher to observe the students, while the students pinch different signs when learning the order of operation. It is a piece of paper that consists of the addiction, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponent, and parentheses symbol. Week two we discuss union, intersection, complement, different properties, commutative, associative, and identity. I learned how to use manipulative to teach different teaching strategy while teaching decimals. I found it difficult to understand some questions off the math homework during week two which help me comprehend how students will feel. Math is not hard for me to understand but I realize I have to stay super focus while in math class or I will get lose easily with the different numbers. Math is not a hard subject and many times I made it harder by not using the problem solving steps which are, explore problem, plan, solve, examine, which are very helpful when understood . My philosophy toward teaching math is to look at math from a logical standpoint instead of trying to figure it out; you will see that logically everything will fall into place. I am not a math teacher however, there is one thing I wish all math teachers would focus more on and that is teaching students to view math logically. While it is very important to know how to work, a problem out it is also equally important for students to learn to look at the problem from a logical standpoint. Math in class 213 made perfect sense and when I looked at math from a logical standpoint along with problem solving techniques I discover it is much easier. Common sense goes a long way when dealing with math problems. I also learned that you will need and use math everyday of your life for the rest of your life. Depending on what you do professionally will determine what form of math you use on a regular basis but rest assured everyone on Gods green earth will use some form of math in their everyday life. Taking this math course made me think about becoming a math teacher. Without math, you cannot check your pay stub to make sure your employer is paying you correctly, pulling out the correct amount for deductibles or that you aren’t paying in to much for insurance or anything else. Without math, you will not be able to budget your income and expenses for the week or the month. Without math, you will have Math is important for our future and it is an important aspect in most jobs. Warehouse workers many times have to take and pass a math test before being hired for job positions. Mechanics use math everyday whether they are pricing parts and adjusting bills or figuring out exact calculations in order to do a job correctly. Construction workers use math to make calculations before beginning and during construction. I have not worked in or heard of a job yet that didn’t involve math at some point even if you work at McDonald’s you have to know math to count the money and give the corrected change. Most often, we use basic math skills without even thinking about it. How sad it would be if we didn’t have those basic skills. Math skills are very important when planning for our financial future and during our everyday life. Without math, you wouldn’t be able to balance your checkbook or many other everyday tasks that are normally taken for granted.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Personal Narrative

My father and I moved to Georgia 4 years ago for reasons pertaining to my father’s job, yet I seemed to look at it like fate had a great deal to do with it. I couldn’t understand why, and it didn’t come to me until much later. It seemed like such a bad thing at the time, I lost all my friends and moved so far from everything I knew, and seemed as if nothing good would occur. Even though at first I hated everything about Georgia, my attitude coincided with that fact and caused me to have problems with the â€Å"Locals†. I thought that everything in Georgia was so backwards and obtuse that I didn’t talk to all of them right off and act outgoing, this resulted in my coming across to them as if I thought I was better than them. Yet the truth being that I was just shy and so lost in this new place, which seemed so far from the world I once knew. After some time had gone by I realized it wasn’t so much the fact that I hated Georgia or the people in it, but rather that I missed where I previously had lived and all of the many things that went with it. I missed my family, friends, house, and basically everything of which my life was composed. But by this time the damage had been done, or so I had assumed. But now that I look back at the situation, I may have overreacted and caused myself more trouble than the situation warranted. The only reason I acted the way I did was because of how I spent my last day before leaving my hometown. One hot summer’s day I found myself inside an Allied freight truck, which was sweltering over 110 degrees, loading boxes of tightly packed personal items from my bedroom. As I was stacking boxes one on top of the other, I heard someone calling my name from afar. I exited the truck out of the side door, which was at least 8 feet tall, and walked down the long steel ramp into the yard. There I found my best friend, Tanner Sharp, standing in the yard with our little group of friends yelling one of his usua... Free Essays on Personal Narrative Free Essays on Personal Narrative My father and I moved to Georgia 4 years ago for reasons pertaining to my father’s job, yet I seemed to look at it like fate had a great deal to do with it. I couldn’t understand why, and it didn’t come to me until much later. It seemed like such a bad thing at the time, I lost all my friends and moved so far from everything I knew, and seemed as if nothing good would occur. Even though at first I hated everything about Georgia, my attitude coincided with that fact and caused me to have problems with the â€Å"Locals†. I thought that everything in Georgia was so backwards and obtuse that I didn’t talk to all of them right off and act outgoing, this resulted in my coming across to them as if I thought I was better than them. Yet the truth being that I was just shy and so lost in this new place, which seemed so far from the world I once knew. After some time had gone by I realized it wasn’t so much the fact that I hated Georgia or the people in it, but rather that I missed where I previously had lived and all of the many things that went with it. I missed my family, friends, house, and basically everything of which my life was composed. But by this time the damage had been done, or so I had assumed. But now that I look back at the situation, I may have overreacted and caused myself more trouble than the situation warranted. The only reason I acted the way I did was because of how I spent my last day before leaving my hometown. One hot summer’s day I found myself inside an Allied freight truck, which was sweltering over 110 degrees, loading boxes of tightly packed personal items from my bedroom. As I was stacking boxes one on top of the other, I heard someone calling my name from afar. I exited the truck out of the side door, which was at least 8 feet tall, and walked down the long steel ramp into the yard. There I found my best friend, Tanner Sharp, standing in the yard with our little group of friends yelling one of his usua...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Balfour Declaration Influence on Formation of Israel

The Balfour Declaration Influence on Formation of Israel Few documents in Middle Eastern history have had as consequential and controversial an influence as the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which has been at the center of the Arab-Israeli conflict over the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The Balfour Declaration   The Balfour Declaration was a 67-word statement contained within a brief letter attributed to Lord Arthur Balfour, the British foreign secretary, dated November 2, 1917.  Balfour addressed the letter to Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, a British banker, zoologist and Zionist activist who, along with Zionists Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow, helped draft the declaration much as lobbyists today draft bills for legislators to submit. The declaration was in line with European Zionist leaders hopes and designs for a homeland in Palestine, which they believed would bring about intense immigration of Jews around the world to Palestine. The statement read as follows: His Majestys Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. It was 31 years after this letter, whether willed by the British government or not, that the state of Israel was founded in 1948. Liberal Britain’s Sympathy for Zionism Balfour was part of the liberal government of Prime Minister David Lloyd George. British liberal public opinion believed that Jews had suffered historical injustices, that the West was to blame and the West had a responsibility to enable a Jewish homeland. The push for a Jewish homeland was aided, in Britain and elsewhere, by fundamentalist Christians who encouraged the emigration of Jews as one way to accomplish two goals: depopulate Europe of Jews and fulfill Biblical prophecy. Fundamentalist Christians believe that the return of Christ must be preceded by a Jewish kingdom in the Holy Land). The Declaration’s Controversies The declaration was controversial from the start, and chiefly due to its own imprecise and contradictory wording. The imprecision and contradictions were deliberate- an indication that Lloyd George did not want to be on the hook for the fate of Arabs and Jews in Palestine. The Declaration did not refer to Palestine as the site of the Jewish homeland, but that of a Jewish homeland. That left Britains commitment to an independent Jewish nation very much open to question. That opening was exploited by subsequent interpreters of the declaration, who claimed that it was never intended as an endorsement of a uniquely Jewish state. Rather, that Jews would establish a homeland in Palestine alongside Palestinians and other Arabs established there for almost two millennia. The second part of the declaration- that â€Å"nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities†- could be and has been read by Arabs as an endorsement of Arab autonomy and rights, an endorsement as valid as that proffered on behalf of Jews. Britain would, in fact, exercise its League of Nations mandate over Palestine to protect Arab rights, at times at the expense of Jewish rights. Britain’s role has never ceased to be fundamentally contradictory. Demographics in Palestine Before and After Balfour At the time of the declaration in 1917, Palestinians- which were the â€Å"non-Jewish communities in Palestine†- constituted 90 percent of the population there. Jews numbered about 50,000. By 1947, on the eve of Israel’s declaration of independence, Jews numbered 600,000. By then Jews were developing extensive quasi-governmental institutions while provoking increasing resistance from Palestinians. Palestinians staged small uprisings in 1920, 1921, 1929 and 1933, and a major uprising, called the Palestine Arab Revolt, from 1936 to 1939. They were all quashed by a combination of British and, beginning in the 1930s, Jewish forces.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Contemporary issues in managing human resources Essay - 1

Contemporary issues in managing human resources - Essay Example As averred by Ferris, et al. (1999), â€Å"driven by a number of significant internal and external environmental forces, HRM has progressed from a largely maintenance function, with little if any bottom line impact, to what many scholars and practitioners today regard as the source of sustained competitive advantage for organizations operating in a global economy† (p. 385). Further, contemporary HRM issues include the more qualified term using strategic HRM as establishing the link towards monitoring the quality of employee performance. Another pervading concern of global organizations is the option for downsizing, specifically when external environmental pressures and competitive factors impinge on the decision-making process, to ensure survival and continued production and operation. In this regard, the current research aims to proffer issues in contemporary HRM, particularly focusing on downsizing. The objective is planned to be attained by initially defining relevant terms , such as HRM, strategic HRM, and downsizing. A concluding portion would highlight the significant issues discussed as supported by various authoritative sources from academic journals on the subject of HRM. Definition of Terms An examination of various definitions of HRM by authors, academicians, and management practitioners, shows more common elements than disparate concepts. After synthesizing these elements, the following definition is arrived at: HRM is the art and science of acquiring, motivating, maintaining, and developing people in their jobs in light of their personal, professional and technical knowledge, skills, potentials, needs and values and in synchronization with the achievement of individual, organization and society’s goals. HRM deals only with people so that they can manage the other resources within their domain of responsibilities more effectively. On the other hand, strategic human resources management (SHRM) is defined by Boxall and Purcell (2003) as à ¢â‚¬Å"concerned with explaining how HRM influences organisational performance. They also point out that strategy is not the same as strategic plans. Strategic planning is the formal process that takes place, usually in larger organisations, defining how things will be done. However strategy exists in all organisations even though it may not be written down and articulated. It defines the organisation’s behaviour and how it tries to cope with its environment.† Authors Boxall and Purcell examined the interrelationships and extent by which organizational goals are achieved and influenced by HRM. They differentiated HRM from SHRM by indicating that â€Å"HRM was defined as including â€Å"anything and everything associated with management of employment relations in the firm† (Boxall & Purcell, 2000, p. 184). The theoretical basis for the inclusion of the word strategic to HRM was detailed using a review of various literatures from scholars on the subject. Boxall and Purcell finally averred at this definition of SHRM as â€Å"concerned with the strategic choices associated with the use of labour in firms and with explaining why some firms manage them more effectively than others† (2000, p. 185). According to Miller (2001), â€Å"HRM could not be conceptualized as a stand-alone corporate issue† (p. 348). The inclusion of strategy was regarded as a necessary addition to incorporate marketing efforts to gain competitive advantage with effective use of the