Bhagavad Gita: The Choice of Arjuna Essay

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most renowned pieces of literature from India. It is the most popular segment of the Mahabarata, and is recognized as an essential teaching of the Hindu religion. The title, when translated to the English language, means Song of the Blessed One. It is a profound religious poem composed of 700 stanzas, arranged in 18 chapters, within the great Sanskrit epic of Mahabarata. Various philosophic and religious points of view are expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, but its greatest message is that God can best be known and reached by man through loving devotion to Him (Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, no page). In this Indian classic, a dialogue transpired between Arjuna, the general of the Pandava forces in the epic battle, and his charioteer Krishna, who is an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Just before the battle, Arjuna has Krishna drive him into the unoccupied ground between the two marshaled armies. As he surveys them he becomes despondent that on the morrow he must fight with kinsmen, friends, and revered teachers. But Krishna, instructing him, tells him that as a warrior he must not avoid a battle of righteousness. In addition, he need fear no harm in the highest sense, for the highest part of man, the soul, cannot be destroyed, and is in fact unitary in all men. Krishna then develops his teaching of God and the soul, and in Chapter 11 reveals himself in transcendent form. Arjuna accepts the teaching, is heartened, and prepares to enter the battle, which his side is destined to win (Johnson 3-82). Ethical Issues in the Gita The opening chapter of the Gita depicts the hero Arjuna in a dilemma between his social duties and his familial obligations. His predicament is that he is a member of the warrior class, or the ksatriya varna, that instructs him to engage in a battle against his own family members. However, these blood attachments leaves Arjuna hesitant from fighting, thereby resulting to a heightened tension. This brought Arjuna absolute grief, for the mere prospect of committing wrong against his kinsmen is inconceivable. Therefore, he sought the wisdom of his charioteer and counselor. This is the human form Lord Krishna, with Arjuna oblivious of his charioteer’s real identity. Arjuna confided that he has arrived to a decision that he would not fight his family (Gupta 380). Krishna gladly came to Arjuna’s aid in resolving the latter’s dilemma using both â€Å"absolute and relative standpoints† (Gupta 380). According to Krishna, when one takes the absolute standpoint in consideration, the immortality of the self is essential. If one only regard the human body, he would eventually find it destroyed, thereby grieving for the flesh killed in the battlegrounds will be left in futility. Since humans have immortal souls, both birth and death are transcended. On the other hand, from the relative point of view, Krishna tells Arjuna that his membership into the warrior class gives him the duty to fight. Therefore, it is not negotiable whether he would perform this duty. For he must do what he ought to do, for both moral and spiritual values are in line. He is a soldier, and this is his niche. It is his mandate to act as a soldier to engage in a righteous war, fighting for both truth and righteousness and regain the balance of morality in his society. Hence, the only option, the only proper action, is for Arjuna to fight in the war. One must do what he is assigned to do for the sake of doing it, and not because of the possible results of his actions. He therefore needs to learn to detach himself from the consequential results of his actions and only commit his entire soul in doing his duty (Gupta 381). The primary teachings of the Hindu religion, especially in this context, are not comparable to that of Kant’s categorical imperative. Instead, it is â€Å"not an unconditional command† (Gupta 381). When an individual belongs to a specific caste, then the role of the caste is endowed upon him. When a person is warrior by caste, then he is obliged to participate in battles defending righteousness. And when one is priest by caste, then one must always prevent himself from engaging in fighting. One must never be associated with the duty of another, for he is expected to do his duties given to his own caste (Gupta 381). Personal Duty The choice that Krishna is imposing on Arjuna is a very difficult course to take. Perhaps it takes a strong conviction upon well-founded religious beliefs in order to stand by this decision. I personally do not agree with the reasoning that Krishna gave, for my moral compass tells me that blood is thicker than water. I can never commit evil or any act of transgression against my kin, for I do value familial relationships without extent nor condition. The decision that Krishna wishes for Arjuna to take is somehow in contrary to my personal principles. I do not condone sacrificing the lives of the people I love for the purpose of self-benefit. For in this case, I see the performance of one’s personal duty is more of a selfish act. It only served you, and not the people you love. I have been taught by my religion to give unconditional love towards others, and to always think of the welfare or my neighbor. I believe that Krishna’s argument does not apply to me as it is not applicable in my life. This does not however mean that it is impossible or far-fetched. The example I could think that this dilemma is possible to arise is on the lives of policemen and soldiers. Police officers are expected to enforce the law regardless of the person who committed the crime, for no one is above the law. However, especially in critical and life threatening cases, some are faced with the dilemma whether to arrest people they love who they know perpetrated a certain crime. Although it is one’s moral obligation to convince his loved one to confess or to arrest him, it is still difficult to do what is righteous. Here, one is give a duty that must be performed no matter what. As a student, I do believe that I have a duty. And this duty is to prepare myself to a life ahead of me in order to make a positive contribution for the betterment of this world. I am the hope of this generation to direct the world into the righteous path and correct the societal wrongs I could possibly change. With this at heart, I do believe that I have a determine nature. It is a spirit that would never be daunted in the face of obstacles, for I know what I must achieve. Conclusion The Gita presents a very important perspective of the Hindu religion, which enables us to understand the moral grounds of the people belonging to this religious belief. It is difficult to grasp the essence of the story’s moral, for it is somehow foreign to the values that I have been accustomed to. But being exposed to other kinds of belief systems, to other principles, and to other practices allows me to rethink my character. The Gita is about Arjuna and how he followed the advice of Krishna. Whether or not it is the universal choice, the important thing is to obey the dictates of the heart of what is right and what is wrong. Sticking to one’s principles somehow outweighs the actual consequences of one’s actions. For one cannot always anticipate what cannot be predicted, one can only act upon what one firmly believes in, and fight for it.

Bose Marketing Structure

A History of Bose Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, then professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As an MIT grad student in the 1950s, Dr. Bose decided to purchase a new stereo system. He was disappointed to find that speakers with impressive technical specifications failed to reproduce the realism of a live performance. The quest for better sound was on. Extensive research in the fields of speaker design and psychoacoustics—the human perception of sound—led to the groundbreaking 901 ® Direct/Reflecting ® speaker system in 1968.Its unprecedented approach to sound reproduction came much closer to the essence and emotional impact of live music, and won immediate acclaim. The list of major Bose innovations continues to grow. Fourteen years of research led to the development of acoustic waveguide speaker technology, found in our award-winning Wave ® radio, Wave ® music system and Acoustic Wave ® musi c systems. Acoustimass ® speaker technology reshaped conventional thinking about the relationship between speaker size and sound, enabling palm-sized speakers to produce audio quality previously thought impossible from speakers so small.Auditioner ® audio demonstrator technology removed the guesswork from sound system design for arenas and other large venues. It allows builders, architects and facility managers to hear precisely what a Bose ® system will sound like in their building, before any equipment is installed, even if the building only exists as a blueprint. Bose Lifestyle ® systems provided a welcome alternative to conventional component-based systems by offering fully integrated home entertainment solutions. Lifestyle ® systems deliver award-winning performance and elegance from elements specifically engineered to work together.The systems approach has paved the way for numerous Bose solutions, audio and beyond. Integrated systems account for the acclaimed perfor mance of Bose automotive sound systems and Acoustic Noise Cancelling ® headsets. The revolutionary Bose suspension system and ElectroForce ® linear motion system rely on proprietary Bose software and hardware working together in harmony. All feature technologies available only from Bose. Today, you can find Bose wherever quality sound is important. From the Olympic games to the Sistine Chapel. From NASA space shuttles to the Japan National Theatre.In the home and on the road, from large outdoor arenas to intimate neighborhood stores, restaurants and clubs, you can hear the realism of the most respected name in sound—Bose. | Organisational Structure of Bose Corporation – February 2nd, 2011 Bose Corporation (pronounced /? bo? z/) is a privately held organization, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, that specializes in audio equipment. [2] Founded in 1964 by Amar G. Bose, the company operates 5 plants, 151 retail stores (as of October 20, 2006) and an automotive subsi diary at Stow, Massachusetts. With respect to sales in the U. S. or home audio retail and portable audio retail sales, Bose was ranked third for the period of November 2008 to April 2009. [3] Bose is known for the 901 speaker series. CEO Amar Bose CFO Daniel Grady * Forming – during this stage of group development, the members get acquainted with each other. During this stage, the group establishes ground rules. * Storming – this stage is characterized by a high degree of conflict within the group. I consider the storming stage as the most crucial stage. In this stage, the group members and the leader have to resolve the issues that may affect the group in the future.If the group is unable to resolve the issues, it may be disbanded. If the issues are resolved the group will become cohesive. * Norming – during this stage, the group becomes more cohesive and identification as a member becomes greater. During this stage, the group members start to develop relations hips. * Performing – during this stage, questions about group relationships and leadership have been resolved and the group is ready to work. Each member devotes his/herself to getting the job done. * Adjourning – during this stage, the group will cease to exist. This is because it has met its goals and is no longer needed.Another interesting topic is group structure. Group structure refers to the characteristics of the stable social organization of the group, the way the group is ‘put together’. I learned that the way the group is structured affects its performance and ability to function. Through class discussions, I learned about the factors that affect group performance. * Size – the size of the group affects its ability to function. I learned that is best to maintain a small group with 10 members. In a small group, everyone feels needed and everyone is given responsibility. Nature of the task – the nature of the task affects the groupâ⠂¬â„¢s ability to function. The task should contain the right amount of challenge that will excite and push members to perform better. * Resources and support – adequate resources also affect group performance. * External recognition – rewards and recognitions are linked motivation.The members must feel that their work and efforts are valued. * Group composition – it is important to maintain a small group with diverse talents and skills. * N. B: Bose products are found in homes, theaters and large sports arenas. The U. S. ilitary and NASA have contracts with the company Bose Mission Statement The challenge of accurate music reproduction The ability to differentiate live music from all others is what makes its reproduction so challenging. The singular mission at the heart of Bose ® is to reproduce music as true to the original performance as possible. And that involves research, technology and a strong commitment to excellence. Bose Company Objectives Bose main tains an exceptionally strong commitment to research, for it is within the discipline of research that yesterday's fiction becomes tomorrow's reality.We strive to identify things which, when made better, improve people's lives. But it's more than just research. We aim for excellence in everything we do. From the way we run our business to our customer service. From the products to the owner's manuals you'll use to set them up. In everything we do, we truly believe that â€Å"good enough† is merely a starting point. We've taken our commitment and our passion for innovation and applied them to developing unique sound solutions to meet virtually any audio challenge in any application, even the space program.While many of our products are designed for entertainment and home audio solutions, you'll find Bose sound is prevalent in both the aviation and automotive industries, too. We've also designed professional sound systems for many applications, including stadiums and auditorium s, houses of worship, retail businesses, department stores and restaurants. Our commitment has served us well. Today, Bose has operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The Bose ® Commitment to Customer SatisfactionAt Bose, an overriding goal is to create value for our customers by offering products and services that meet their needs. Our experienced sales and applications specialists strive to understand your specific testing needs, and then provide a solution for you. We put customers at the center of a dedicated focus on quality and service, and we measure success by the satisfaction of our customers. We are dedicated to bringing you products of superior quality and performance, and exceptional service so you can achieve your goals.

Effect of Power and Politics in an Organization Essay

There are many aspects of an organization that can greatly affect their success and moral. Some of the areas that can play a key role in the organization are; power, politics, code of conduct, business intentions, objectivity, personal agendas, and organizational goals. Power and politics can have both a positive and negative affect on an organization. Businesses must make objective decisions and insure their intentions remain in line with the organization’s goals. Organizations must not allow personal agendas to interfere with their business decisions and must make sound ethical decisions. Organizational politics can have a detrimental affect on employee’s, moral, loyalty, and trust. Power and PoliticsPower can be motivators in both a positive and negative manner. Wideman, 2003, states that power is the ability to persuade others to do the following; get them to do what you want them to do, when to do it, and in the manner you want them to do it. Wideman also maintains that influence is the exercise of authority or leadership, to persuade others, and organize them to follow. The struggle of power and influence by competing groups creates politics. Some believe that the practice of politics can be cunning and deceitful, while others believe it can be a motivator with positive results. The reality is that office politics does exist in most organizations. Some issues in an organization that may create competing groups; departmental budgets, space allocations, project responsibilities, and salary adjustment (Robbins, 2001). Limited resources in an organization will also form competing groups because the gained resource of a group is always at the expense of another group or department. Competing groups require more than convincing facts in order to get management to make a decision; the group that can influence and pollute the facts of other groups will be more successful (Robbins, 2001). Office politics or effective management; some of these terminologies are used when office politics are obvious and things go wrong; â€Å"kissing up†, apple polishing, passing the buck, covering your rear, creating conflict, forming coalitions, cunning, arrogant and scheming. These are a some terminologies associated with obvious office politics with positive results; developing working relationships, encouraging change and  innovation, improving efficiency, facilitating teamwork, planning ahead, astute, and practical-minded. (Robbins 2001). Robbins, 2001, states that there are two different forms of office politics legitimate and illegitimate politics. The normal everyday politics such as â€Å"complaining to your supervisor, bypassing the chain of command, forming coalitions, obstructing organization policies or†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Robbins 2001). Illegitimate politics are acts of sabotage, whistle-blowing, different types of protest such as group coming in to work late or not coming in at all. The negative impacts can be described by past scandals resulting in the crash of corporations, non-accountability in the accounting industry, and lack of ethical direction from boards of directors and have cost thousands of people their jobs and taken millions of peoples’ retirement funds to zero. 401k plans that held the stocks for retirement were all depleted from the unethical practices of Enron. How, with all the checks and balances that are supposedly in place within the government, did Enron happen? The answer could very possibly be greed, fear, or just following the crowd. This can be related to the politics played upon by power. On a positive side of power and politics organizations have also been found to be responsible and able to promote trust. Take Johnson & Johnson for example, when Tylenol was tampered with leaving several people ill, they did not listen to their lawyers who were trying to prevent lawsuits, they admitted there was a problem and pulled all products from off the shelves. They did not hide behind the organization shirttails’ of attorneys’, they faced up and proved to society to be trust worthy. Which in turn, they gained respect from the general public. Scandals grow larger and more intensive day-by-day for organizations. In part certain government laws have provided guidelines to follow as a check and balance for the unethical behavior amongst large organizations. Sarbanes-Oxley being one to keep company’s honest in bookkeeping and allowing documentation to be proof that the organization is doing what is ethical. This will also be a source of insurance that individuals will not loose everything like those thousands of people did in the demise of Enron. Code of Conduct, Intentions, and ObjectivityIf the employees accept gifts, the company or organization wants to make sure the employees are in compliance with the policy or law. Which is also called â€Å"Code of Conduct† and this is to ensure that employee’s decisions will not create a conflict of interest. The code strengthens standards and includes measures to protect employees from outside pressure, such a solicitation for personal affairs and the offering of gifts. Most companies have a strict code of business ethics and conduct. The code discourages employees from accepting gifts that could be seen as an attempt to manipulate business decisions. Some companies forbid their employees to accept any gifts of any value. If gifts are received or if employees are undecided about whether they can accept the gift, the incident must be reported to the manager or supervisor. â€Å"All managers should establish a written policy limiting the acceptance of gifts and entertainment to items of small value. Managers should consider creating limits, for example-an amount per time period, per vendor for accepting gifts and prohibit the acceptance of any cash gifts† (Unswerving Loyalty, 2006). Employees should be required to document or disclose to the manager, the acceptance of any gift or entertainment. However, this is not meant to stop managers from maintaining multiple business relationships with a client, as long as possible conflicts of interest are managed and disclosed. Violating the code of conduct, regarding gifts if not reported can result in punishment. The employee can be penalized and there will also be an investigation. Providing clients with a code of ethics, sets a framework for how the manager conducts their business is an important step in developing the trust and confidence necessary for a successful investment management relationship. Organizations must make sound business decisions and have good intentions. They must have processes in place in order to insure upper management remains objective. Organizations can be easily influenced by outside forces when having to hire employees, contractors, or expansion. Executives and upper management must be able to decide, when making business decisions, on whether to decision will benefit the organization as a whole or suit their  personal or future needs. Organizations of today have to deal with a high amount of turnover in their executive positions. After these positions are vacated and new individuals are appointed is when an organization may finally find information on whether their executives were making sound organization decisions or decision that benefited them and assisted with their future gains or employment. Personal Agenda and Organizational GoalsAs a society and within organizations we stand behind the shared belief in the concept of structure, the openness of our management, and building trust. Within many organizations there is an underlying search for power. People seek power within an organization through many means. Power can be based on the influences of certain groups or individuals within an organization that might be another step closer to the desired position, goal, or outcome. People have become wary of organizations. An example that surfaced this year is the scandal involving the huge insurance company named AIG. According to (Scherer, 2005), the scandal links two of the world’s richest men. According to Forbes Magazine, Buffet is the world’s second-richest person with assets of $41 billion. Greenberg is ranked 132nd in the world and 59th in the US with assets of $3.1 billion. Using a position or influence within an organization can be considered a conflict of interest. In other words, conflict of interest exists when a board member or officer personally benefits, or is perceived to personally benefit, from an activity of the organization (Colbert, 1999). Personal power is used within an organization for personal gain as well as to benefit the organization. Expertise, rational persuasion, and reference are forms of personal power used by management to control the behavior of subordinates. Possessing the knowledge and experience needed uses expertise power. Expert power is increased when subordinates are denied access to critical information or to key contact persons. Rational persuasion can be effective by gaining the trust of the subordinates. Through reverent power, subordinates are controlled because they respect, admire and want to please their managers. Organizational politics are the processes used in which individuals work  together, conflict, compete in to make decisions, evaluate information, and structure or restructure an organization. They can have both good and bad effects. Organizational politics can cause loyalty to decrease and one’s own interest to increase. Individuals may be impacted by feelings of unfairness, discontent, anxiety, and stress. They may also be less willing to share information and be more competitive. Organizational politics can also lead to productive changes and enhance the achievement of organizational goals in an organization. Legal vs. Ethical It is human nature to want to succeed and achieve. Some individuals have been fortunate to work for an organization that is respected by the community from an external perspective and feel treated and respected as a part of the organization from within. Credibility can be an important part of an organization. There are often choices that might have to be made, for many different reasons, as we have seen that can lead to the most well respected individuals and organizations to fall. Deciding on what might be in the best interest and not necessarily ethical can be a difficult decision made by one or a few. What is legal and what is ethical affect nearly every aspect of today’s life. A few examples are the use of the internet, ethics in medicine, and ethics within an organization. Putting a legal box around what is ethical conduct is a challenge that many companies face today. The processes by which the organization is operated should be ethically based. The behavior of all employees from the highest to lowest should be ethical. Their behavior should result in the most favorable outcome for all involved. All involved should be treated fairly and their rights respected. Conclusion There are many aspects of an organization, both internal and external, that will affect their success. Some of these are out of their control, but quite a few can be controlled within the organization. Organizations must insure decisions are not based on personal agendas or outside influences offering certain perks for contracts. Power and organization politics can have both a negative or positive affect on an organization. Through all the decisions an organization will make, they must  insure they do not compromise their code of conduct, code of ethics, or decrease employee moral. References Colbert, S. (1999). Conflict of interest: what it is and how to avoid it. OCD Technote. Retrieved January 28, 2007, from http://ocdweb.sc.egov.usda.gov/technotes/tn15.pdfRobbins, Stephen (2001). Organizational behavior. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice HallScherer, R. (2005). A top insurance company as the new enron? Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 28, 2007, from http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/crisis/corporate/2005/0401aig.htmUnswerving Loyalty-Global Investor, (2006) http: web.ebscohost.comWideman, Max (2003, August). Power, influence & politics. Retrieved January 26, 2007, from Max’s Issacons Web site: http://www.maxwideman.com/issacons3/iac1365/index.htm

Renewable Energy and Combustion Process Assignment - 5

Renewable Energy and Combustion Process - Assignment Example Question 4, b: The age of the shoe is about 112 years. Question 4, c. the huge disparity in the quantity of carbon in both the shoe and the shoelace validates the claim that the lace does not belong to the shoe. Question 5: taking a tour of Okuma city is a safer choice owing to the fact that she will wear protective gear unlike in the dinner date where she is likely to eat fish exposed to the active radioactive substance. Question 6, a: The energy released every second is 2.55Ãâ€" 10−13 Joules. Question 6, b: the amount of energy released in the context is higher than the energy consumed by a 100W bulb. Question 6, c: Shutting down the reactor stops the reaction but the core would still emit energy amounting to 1.55Ãâ€" 10−13 Joules owing to the constant rate of reaction daily. Question 7, a: The capacity of the dam is likely to increase with the increase in the amount of water in its reserve. Question 7, b: Renewable energy is often unreliable owing to climatic disparities. Question 8: Furthermore, the two types of fuels just as any other renewable energy does not pollute the environment since they emit unstable yet harmless gaseous components that readily react with the oxygen in the atmosphere to form water vapor. Question 8: Biodiesels and is renewable because just as the name suggests the key raw material in its manufacture are plants, which grow just like any other. The same is the case with ethanol whose manufacture relies on plants that act as the raw materials.  

Freedom and Equaity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Freedom and Equaity - Essay Example As this manifesto had influenced many of the communist countries such as Korea, Cuba, China, Vietnam and of course many countries in Europe, both Marx and Engel can be considered as two important people that shaped world history. Marx and Engels ideals and principles declared publicly evolved the Marxism principle which is now an interesting subject and topic under political science. The principles embodied in the manifesto had developed the so called communist form of government. Marx had considered communism in relation to socialism very closely. As an advanced form of socialism, communism is very near to anarchism, viewed freedom and equality as vain, illusionary and incomplete. Generally, the right to freedom is considered as equality. Engels and Marx had issued freedom as bounded with fullness of material considerations. Freedom in morality also considered the absence of alienation and that man is the only bearer of this so called freedom. The manifesto pointed out that freedom is achievable only in the community when a man submits his total will and desires to serve the community and its demands. â€Å"Society as a whole is more and more splitting into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Burgeoisie and Protletariat† (Marx and Engels). There are two classes of men stated in the manifesto: the bourgeoisie- the so-called owners of the production living off with man’s profit; and the proletariat- the one who labored and lived on their salary. These men live in a community where there is difference in their life style and status. There are men who labored hard to survive in this world while there are men belonging to chosen few who derives their means of living in behalf of the other working class. This capitalist world has been criticized by Marx and Engels. There are human struggles produced in the lower striving class which are demonstrated in strikes, riots, and other revolutionary actions in search for enlightenment. The manifesto criticizes this kind of society. Accordingly, there is the absence of equality and freedom among the two classes of men. Individuals make up the society. Engels and Marx are calling in behalf of the lower class in search for freedom, that is, the Marxist way, to liberate society from the capitalist way of living. As quotes from the Communist Manifesto: â€Å"The executive of the modern state is but a committee for the managing of the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie†¦..They are unfit to rule because it is incompetent to assure an existence to its slave within his slavery, because it cannot help letting him sink into such a state, that is has to feed him, instead of being fed by him. Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie, in other words, its existence is no longer compatible with society.† In the same manner, Engels pointed out in his book â€Å"The Condition of the Working Class in England† about his concerns of the citizens laboring themselves physically during the Industrial age. He considered the working class as being exploited and being subjected to societal crimes. In his point of view, there is no freedom and equality in the time of the industrialization period as these working men are being subjected to labor for the food the upper class of men. He even described the

Proposal Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Proposal Example (a) Horizontal dimensions, and (b) Extended uniform setbacks. The analysis is conducted using total 24 two-dimensional five-story, five-bay MRSF models that cover all possible combinations of the vertical and horizontal dimensions of uniform setbacks. The effects of irregularities and variations in elastic demands, in response to earthquakes, will be investigated and compared through; (a) Modal properties (b) Elastic base shear strength demands (c) Elastic story shear strength demand (d) Global displacement demands (e) Story drift demands (f) Elastic multi degree of freedom systems (MDOF) modification factor. Variation in these parameters is determined using accepted linear static and dynamic procedures. During the study, the variation in inelastic capacities will also be evaluated and compared through; (a) Base and story yield shear strengths (b) Global and story ductility capacities (c) Failure mechanisms and ultimate strengths (d) Inelastic seismic design coefficients such as; structural ductility factor (), ductility reduction factor (R), structural over-strength factor () and their distributions using nonlinear static procedure, namely push-over analysis. The limitations and adequacy of each analysis procedure in predicting demand and capacities of buildings with specific amount of irregularity will also be evaluated by comparison with the results obtained from "exact" nonlinear time-history analysis procedure. The study is expected to define, 'limit states' of uniform setbacks, for the application of each procedure determining seismic demands and capacities. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background and Motivation of the study Design of a building with vertical geometric... (d) Inelastic seismic design coefficients such as; structural ductility factor (), ductility reduction factor (R), structural over-strength factor () and their distributions using nonlinear static procedure, namely push-over analysis. The limitations and adequacy of each analysis procedure in predicting demand and capacities of buildings with specific amount of irregularity will also be evaluated by comparison with the results obtained from "exact" nonlinear time-history analysis procedure. The study is expected to define, 'limit states' of uniform setbacks, for the application of each procedure determining seismic demands and capacities. Design of a building with vertical geometric irregularity to resist earthquake loads is a challenging problem that structural engineering needs to overcome early in the conceptual design phase.

Acheulean hand axes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Acheulean hand axes - Essay Example that much research has been conducted to determine the antiquity, stratigraphic context and the associated middle Pleistocene stone tools of the Narmada man. Accordingly Mccowns discoveries can be useful to the paleoanthropologists of the 21st century. In the document one the findings is from central India in Narmada and Tapti valley. The researcher anticipated to study the prehistoric archaeological problems of the Pleistocene time. He studied the region around Narmada river and the tools found indicated the presence of man. He however discovered four main problems among other the use of infer climate model by pre- historian that seemed imperfect in India. He proceeds to japan where he has a conversation with a PhD archaeological candidate who had excavated Narmada (Kennedy and Langstroth 2013:2). They excavated yeldari dam and Purna River. In Narmada MSA materials are found in the river banks. The same materials are found between mandia and jabulpur. In Kamharabna, ESA tools were found appearing on several good and hand axes. The second document was composed of typed field notes by Mrs Shrkurkin who was among the team that had worked with McCown. The document contains several discoveries made at various points during the study. In a nutshell it is a summary of the discoveries that they had made during their survey, much of the tools discovered according to this document were MSA tools. The third document composed of a letter that McCown had written to his wife while surveying mula dam, a place where LSA tools were found. Including the elephant molar teeth (Kennedy and Langstroth 2013:7). In his discussion of the research done by McCown, the author notes that in this period only primary relative dating methods were used. However, in the 21st century more advanced dating method such as absolute dating method are used. The discovery of Acheulian tools in Narmada River or valley is an indication for the middle Pleistocene and later geological deposits in the

CASE STUDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case Study Example The research objective is a set of goals you set for your marketing research. This is very important part of your research as it tells what do the researcher hope to achieve and why is s/he carrying out the research. (Koch) For our research problem, the specific objective is to find out what kind of customers shop at the store and what their preferences are, shopping style, shopping style, behavior and demographics. The outcome of this research will be used to design marketing strategy according to the needs of the customers, and providing them what best fits them. In this research, they should go for Primary as well Secondary research. Primary research will be of prime importance they actually need information on customers characteristics. This information can be found out with the help of detailed questionnaire, interviews, and mall intercepts. The use of Secondary sources is also important because researchers will need to look at the past researches done by the mall, and see a general buying behavior among the shoppers of the city or region. Once you have outlined the sources of your required information, you look into the details of how this information will be extracted. In this scenario, we need to find the characteristics of customers who come at the mall. The research conducted will be qualitative as well as quantitative. The quantitative research will involve questions that need use of words to express. There will be very few questions that can be answered in a quantitative manner. By qualitative analysis, the researcher can find out the answers for every unique customer, his/her beliefs, insights, opinion, preference, experience etc in words. These things cannot be measured in numbers, they are unique for every human

Implementation of Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Implementation of Public Policy - Essay Example There present study has been conducted to understand the loopholes of the present education system and provide some recommended solutions. The education system is one of the support pillars for economic prosperity for any economy. Therefore the administrative bodies try to cement the pillars which will bring future prospects for the society. In this paper the focus of attention will rest upon the tuition policy practices and the effective policies that might improve the policy. Countries generally tend to follow the combination of tuition as well as the student aid programs with the aim to regulate the enrolment rate which will open up the opportunities for higher education. In this fashion proper education can be provided towards all income groups. Identifying ineffective public policy A good education is worth investing and this has always been true. Providing quality education to the citizens of the country is all about turning vision into reality. At this point of time, one of th e major problems faced by the people of the country as far as the education system is concerned actually lies at the very grass root level, i.e. with the schools. The tuition fees imposed by the schools are actually quite high which is difficult to bear for parents belonging to different financial backgrounds. Again the problem is higher fees do not guarantee quality education. In fact the tuition policies followed by some of the schools are not advanced. The teacher student ratio is alarming and signifies the fact that major portion of students literally lacks caring. The American kids are devoid of getting quality or great schools simply because at this point of time there is not enough clarity around the ultimate objective of schooling. Here lies the concern. USA being a developed country will have to maintain sustainable economic policies. Children, being the future the society must be provided with quality education and they are the ones who will take the responsibility of the country in times to come. At an ideal school the educational professionals would understand that the mission is to help the children from a cognitive as well as social point of view. Also the physical, emotional and ethical perspectives should also be kept in mind. However, right now in USA it is all about cognitive growth. The American Schools are failing because the schools are looking to suppress the students into a compliance based educational model. Children are natural learners and are actually at the young age the children tend to have a lot of creativity, curiosity and intrinsic motivation. But various research studies have shown that the American public schools resemble that of prisons and as a result after certain years of formal schooling the inherent qualities of the students are dying. The willingness to learn of the students is an important aspect. The American schools are failing to provide the right environment and the right policies that keep the willingness to lear n alive. There have been various educational reform movements that have focused one side of the coin, i.e. the problem of educational inequality. There is very little doubt that educational inequality is a very serious problem. However, that is the not the only core issue. Such movements for some reason have totally undermined other important issues like support for underachieving students, improvements of the skills set of the teachers,

Student teacher ratio Essay Example for Free

Student teacher ratio Essay Introduction Policy makers nationwide, in the field of education, are concerned about the educational system, particularly with regards to the overall success of educational programs. Considerable research has suggested that, compared to their Asian and European counterparts, American students, especially at the secondary level, do not perform as well (Ehrenberg, Brewer, Gamoran Willms, 2001). Given the evidence in support of this observation, policy makers have set out to examine the weaknesses in the system so that improvements can be made in deficient areas. One of the issues that have continued to figure at the forefront of debates is the matter of the student-teacher ratio. Researchers are concerned about the potential effects it may have on student performance and achievement (Borland, Howsen Trawick, 2005, p. 73). Gursky in 1998 indicated that adjusting class size was probably the most â€Å"popular educational initiative across the country (p. 16). At that time school districts across the nation were seeking to implement mandated policies on the required size of classes. President Clinton, in that same year, demonstrated his commitment to improving educational programs when he proposed in his State of the Union address that $12 billion be invested over a seven year period into programs geared at reducing the class size in the lower grades. This, he suggested, would be accomplished through the hiring of about 100, 000 additional teachers (Gursky, 1998). President Clinton’s position reflects that held by some analysts in education who believe that increasing and improving inputs into the educational system is a useful way of impacting student performance. Inputs, on the part of administrators or government, are usually classified in terms of finances or resources. Adjusting the student-teacher ratio or government spending on education, for example, are some of the means by which policy makers have tackled the issue of student achievement (Lamdin, 1995). This is based on the hypothesis that student achievement, as measured by their performance on standardized instruments, is dependent on and determined by the resources invested into the educational institutions, the student-teacher ratio being one of the most important and noted investments (Graddy Stevens, 2005). Student achievement in these contexts is usually measured solely or primarily on the basis of performance on standardized test instruments. However student performance on tests is not the only way of determining achievement. Dustmann, Rajah van Soest (2003) examine achievement in a broader context. They consider that the decision to pursue further education after completing high school could be considered an aspect of student achievement. Therefore school continuation after completing high school could also be a measure of learning. This is, as the literature demonstrates, that individuals who pursue higher education and thereby obtain higher qualifications earn significantly more than individuals simply completing high school (Colorado Association, n. d. ). According to statistics reported by the U. S. Census Bureau in 2004 persons who drop out of high school earn, on average, $19, 169 annually, those graduating high school earn $28, 645, college graduates earn $51, 554 and those with advanced degrees earn $78, 093 (as cited in Colorado Association, n. d. ). Considerations on student achievement should therefore not be restricted to scores on standardized instruments but should take into other factors which demonstrate, in the long run, that the educational system has been of benefit to the student. It is therefore not strange that policy makers wish to improve student performance. The option of reducing class sizes is probably, indeed, one of the most popular governmental initiatives geared at impacting student performance. By reducing class sizes the government is able to increase the resources available to individual schools and districts (Dustmann et al. , 2003, p. F99). Thus, the rationale for reducing class size, according to researchers, is that it is a tool for school improvement. Governments have tended to adopt this strategy because, according to Dustmann (2003), these programs are visible to voters and comparatively easy to implement and not necessarily based on research which demonstrates that this strategy is indeed effective in improving student performance. Though much research has gone into the issue it is still debated whether or not the student-teacher ratio shares a direct relationship with student performance. Not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom the supporting arguments from either side are equally as weighty (Graddy Stevens, 2005) and it is still disputed whether or not reducing class sizes has a noticeable effect on student achievement (Dustmann et al. , 2003, p. F99). The merits of smaller classes There are many arguments put forward that a smaller class size is more beneficial. Among the arguments some propose that smaller classes are better in terms of discipline (Gursky, 1998). Having fewer students in the classroom means that there will be less noise and also a less disruptive behavior (Ehrenberg, Brewer, Gamoran Willms, 2001). Another argument put forward for smaller class sizes is that the teacher has greater opportunities to provide individualized instruction for the students in the classroom (Gursky, 1998). In this way teachers can provided needed assistance to struggling students as there is less demand on his/her time due to the lower number of pupils. Teachers are in a better position to familiarize themselves with all the students in the class in order to develop a greater understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, challenges, learning styles etcetera, and make the necessary accommodations to ensure each child is successful in the regular classroom. Instructional variety has been one of those topics that have been heavily debated, especially given that more and more culturally diverse students are entering the classroom. With the new mandates under the No Child Left Behind policy all students are expected to perform to the same level at the end of the year, regardless of learning, cognitive or other difficulties. In a smaller classroom the teacher is able to manipulate stimulus material to gain the interest of the cross section of pupils, adopt varied teaching strategies, provide for greater in-class interaction of pupils and overall free up time for the teacher to complete activities in the classroom that are often constrained because of time and class size (Ehrenberg, 2001). The benefits of smaller classrooms thus illuminated seem overwhelming. However, considering that research has not been conducted to justify these claims they are really superfluous (Ehrenberg et al. , 2001). Until a consensus has been made on the place of smaller class sizes in the educational system, it is hasty to matter-of-factly say that these benefits are automatic with smaller classes and reduced student-teacher ratios.

Development of Car Environment Light System (CELS)

Development of Car Environment Light System (CELS) Chapter 2 STATE OF ART Chapter 2 introduces all the important fundamentals this thesis is based on, in order to provide a better understanding of the concepts related to AmbiLight system, image processing using JAVA and OpenCV libraries. Initially, the general architecture of the AmbiLight system is explained elaborating each modules and components of the system. Going further, the basics of image processing, its need and various techniques of image processing are discussed. Finally, the chapter focuses on JAVA and OpenCV libraries which will be used to implement the image processing techniques. 2.1 AMBILIGHT SYSTEM The AmbiLight system is a Car Environment Light System (CELS) designed to dynamically adapts to the driving situation and enhances the orientation and perception of the passenger compartment in vehicles. Light sources are integrated in the roof liner in-order to create the ambience. These light sources are fed with colour information by the scanning devices attached to the vehicle to capture the colours of the outside environment. Hence, the colour of the light emitted by the lightings in the roof liner can dynamically adapt to the outside environment in real-time. Thus, the CELS provides an enlargement of the visual perception. In particular, the effect is created as the colours displayed by the lightings correspond to the view from the window. Therefore, by looking out of the window, one perceives the coloured light as an extension of the window. This thesis is part of the TUM CREATE joint research programme. The programme is funded by the National Research Foundation of Singapore and executed by the two universities, namely, Technische Università ¤t Mà ¼nchen from Germany and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Apart from other research topics, one of the major goals of TUM CREATE is to design and build the world’s first purpose-built electric taxi. The AmbiLight system will also provide the driver and the passengers a pleasant spatial atmosphere thereby creating a feel-good experience psychologically. It also improves the orientation within the vehicle, facilitating the search for things. The below section will cover the design of the Car Environment Light System (CELS). The general system structure of the CELS is also specified. Fig.1 Architecture of the AmbiLight system The design of the Car Environment Light System comprises of camera(s), a computer, a micro-controller unit (MCU) and LED strip which act as the colour display. The camera(s) take images of the car’s surrounding environment. By running a program the computer will acquire and process the images that are captured by the camera(s). The program also determines the representative colours that will be emitted by the LEDs by means of several implemented calculations. The LED-strip is mounted in the roof liner of the car. This arrangement in conjunction with the correspondence of the light colour results in the perception of a larger view. In the below section we will discuss in detail about the design of the input component the camera, the processing unit CPU, the micro-controller unit the arduino and the output component the LED strips. 1. Design of the Input Component This section discusses the realization of the input component. Also the input data types are also discussed. In order to create the enlargement of the perceptual view, the CELS needs to adapt to particular changes in the environment. This comprises of the illuminance, colour and motion. Thus, images as holistic visual information have to be considered to function as CELS input data. Cameras are used since they satisfy the requirement of providing images of the present. Google provides different online services such as Street View which systematically takes and saves images with its geographic parameters, like the GPS coordinates and the cardinal direction. Hence these images can be utilized in a deliberate manner [Goo12]. The Street View data base covers most of Singapore’s streets, hence permitting the possible operation of the CELS. Summarizing, apart from cameras, Google Street View can also be used as a input device providing real-time input data for the CELS, if the vehicle movement is defined as the only changing parameter. Since the Street View images are stored online, access to the internet must be ensured. In general, this does not present a big challenge, as the automotive human-machine interface, which was presented in Section 1.5, provides internet access via a 3G connection. However, the use is still problematic due to the risk of low connectivity or even complete loss of either the mobile or the GPS signal. This would result in asynchronous data, which obviously deteriorates the pursued effect. But, relying on Google Street View implies a disadvantage. Buildings are generally not frequently teared down and constructed again. Walking people and driving cars for instance however are in motion, hence are not considered by the Street View images. The designed CELS, being the first prototype, the achievement of the maximum effect possible is preferable. Consequently, the dynamic features of the environment have to be considered in the calculation of the representative colour. Otherwise, the enlargement of the visual perception could be impaired. Due to this fact, the input component has been realized with a camera. 2. Design of the Processing Component In-order to cater various features and needs of the vehicle, the system relies on a centralized Car PC with a multitude of input and output possibilities. TANK-700-QM67 is chosen as the Car PC. The TANK-700-QM67 provides high performance and cost-effective solutions. The high performance TANK-700-QM67 fanless embedded system is furnished with powerful computing capability, video capture, dual display, flexible I/O configuration, and long product life support. It supports Intel Mobile Core i7/i5/i3 processors and full feature I/O such as Gigabit Ethernet, two high-speed USB 3.0 ports and optional 8 channel video/audio capture and IEEE802.11a/b/g/n wireless module.It also supports DDR3 memory up to 4GB. The TANK-700 embedded computer is fit for high performance embedded controller and rugged environments. These features ensure complex programs written using high-level programming languages like C, C++ or Java can be processed effectively. 3. Design of the MCU Arduino as SPI-Interface For the processing unit to communicate with the output device, here, the LEDs of the LED strip, a MCU is used. Its task is the communication with the LED drivers via the SPI bus. For this purpose, the Arduino board has been used. It is an open-source computing platform which is based on a microcontroller board [Ard13] and is illustrated in Figure 5.1. In particular, the used Arduino Uno model utilizes the 8-bit ATmega 328 microcontroller from Atmel Corporation. Apart from other features, the ATmega 328 has a 16 MHz processor and 32 kBytes of programmable flash memory [Atm12]. Moreover, it supports the required SPI interface. An integrated UART enables the RS-232 serial communication with the computer. Fig.2 Arduino UNO board Arduino Environment The Arduino board comes with its own environment, particularly an integrated development environment (IDE) and programming language. The Arduino programming language is a set of commands, which facilitates the programming of microcontrollers. This is achieved by simplifying the AVR C programming language, which the Arduino originates from. In addition, the Arduino programming language bundles several native commands to single command in some cases. The Arduino software is published as open source. This ensures programmers to develop and offer C++ libraries which can expand the functionality of the Arduino software [Ard13]. FastSPI Library FastSPI, a third-party library has been used to facilitate the control of LED-strips. It provides several distinct commands to configure and control LED-strips. Moreover, characteristics of different LED-drivers are integrated. Thus, the library allows a fast adaptation of the existing code to different LED-strips. The library version from the October, 14th, 2012 bas been used for the implementation of the process structure. 4. Design of the Output Component LEDs are suitable for interior lightings due to their minimal size, long service life, low power consumption and also quick response. The specification of the LED-strip is discussed in the following section. RGB-LEDs In order to achieve the necessary colour environment adaptation, the LEDs need to be capable of emitting different colours. For this purpose, the LED strip that utilize RGB-LEDs that is able to display up to 16.7 million different colours by mixing the three primary colours red, green and blue is chosen. Individually addressable The LEDs of the LED-strip are individually addressable to enable a smooth light colour adaptation over the whole roof liner. This enables the control of both the brightness and the colour of each LED. 12 V input voltage To avoid the necessity of additional devices such as voltage converters, the compatibility to the 12V auxiliary power grid is preferable. LPD8806 LED driver has been used. It offers SPI communication interface having a LED density of 32 LEDs/m Amount of LEDs Two parameters have been taken into account for determining the Amount of LEDs. They are 1. LED density 32 LEDs per meter or a LED distance of 31.3 mm has been assumed for the calculation of the total amount of LEDs.

Good Faith and Contract Law

Good Faith and Contract Law the governing principle applicable to all contracts and dealings . This statement was made by Lord Mansfield in 1766 and was an (unsuccessful) attempt to raise good faith to the level of a general principle, the common law as it subsequently developed rejected his initiative. The traditional law of contract, as it became established in England in the second half of the nineteenth century, did not impose or recognise a general duty of good faith. The notion of good faith undoubtedly pervades English law, but there is no single recognised doctrine of general application. The law is generally ready to strike against instances of bad faith: for example where lies are told in pre-contractual negotiations and where the weak are exploited or pressurised the application of concepts of contract law will make such contracts void or voidable,. However, no liability or remedy is to be had against the party who, acting in his own best interests, disengages from the negotiations. Moreover, the traditional view of the law is that during the performance of a contract one partys motivation is not relevant to define contractual rights, nor may (bad) motives increase the scope of express obligations. Aside from specific types of contracts, insurance being the notable example, there is no recognised extra-contractual duty on one party to disclose facts that may turn out to be of importance to another . This can be contrasted with the position i n other countries including Australia and Northern Ireland where the notion of good faith is more readily accepted. Steyn J who foresaw a future for good faith doctrine in English law however such a future has sadly not developed, or if indeed it has developed it has so in a piecemeal fashion. Bingham L.J’s perception has proven to be closer to reality, he stated when speaking with reference to the incorporation of conditions in contracts: The tendency of the English authorities has been to look at the nature of the transaction and the character of the parties to it; to consider what notice the party was given of the particular condition ; and to resolve whether in all the circumstances it is fair to hold him bound by the condition. This may yield a result not very different from the civil law principle of good faith, at any rate so far as the formation of contract is concerned . The classical theory of contract appeared to be hostile to the emergence of a general doctrine of good faith. Sir George Jessel M.R. emphasised that their was a strong public interest in maintaining the notion of freedom of contract which would necessarily exclude the notion of good faith : If there is one thing which more than another public policy requires it is that men of full and competent understanding shall have the utmost liberty of contracting, and that their contracts when entered into freely and voluntarily shall be held sacred and shall be enforced by Courts of justice. Therefore you have this paramount public policy to consider that you are not lightly to interfere with this freedom of contract. A party to a contract could therefore expect that the contract would be enforced according to its terms even if the terms were unfair. Despite these early reluctances to include good faith as part of contract law, it emerged as an important and necessary role in some aspects of contract law. The modern law of contract places more emphasis on conduct which takes account of the interests of the other party to the contract . Some of these specific circumstances will now be considered, The common law imposes a duty of good faith in insurance contracts. The requirement of utmost good faith in insurance contracts requires disclosure by the insured of any fact material to the risk and abstention from misrepresentation. The justification for the creation of the duty is that only the insured knows the material facts and the insurer has no reasonable means of discovering them, although this same argument could be advanced in respect of general contract law. Another aspect of good faith arising out of insurance contracts is the rule that an insurer settling claims under a limited liability policy must act in good faith towards the insured and must have regard to his or her interests both in the defence of actions against the insured and in their settlement . The Supreme Court of Ireland have taken a very different view to the principle of good faith in insurance law and this is best highlighted by the case of Aro Road and Land Vehicles Ltd v Insurance Corporation of Ireland in this case the assured wished to send goods by road via a carrier. At the carriers instigation they effected insurance, the carriers acting as the insurers agents for this purpose. They were asked only for the details of the journey and the value of the goods, and did not volunteer any further information. The lorry carrying the goods was hijacked and set on fire, but the insurers refused to pay out on the policy, pleading that the assured had failed to disclose that their managing director had, some 20 years previously, been convicted of a number of offences of receiving stolen motor vehicles, for which he had served a sentence of 21 months imprisonment. The decision in this case was in summation that this was not reason enough for the insurance policy to be invali dated and the reasoning was that there is no breach of utmost good faith if the proposer has genuinely forgotten a material fact, at least where there is nothing (eg a proposal form) to jog his memory. Utmost good faith, they say, requires a genuine effort at accuracy, but does not require the proposer absolutely to guarantee the accuracy (and by implication the completeness) of his disclosure. This shows an inherent flexibility in the courts of Ireland to utilise and dismiss the notion of good faith in a sensible manner and this is evident in the general application of good faith in Ireland. Again in Contracts for the sale of land the vendor of land is under a duty to disclose material matters relating to the title which are known to the vendor but which the purchaser has no means of discovering . The duty of good faith also exists in the following situations, the mortgagee’s exercise of a power of sale, in relation to the principles of equity governing fiduciaries, undue influence and unconscionable conduct and estoppel, including promissory estoppel and in the duty to refrain from making misrepresentations. More importantly it is suggested that in certain situations there exists a common law duty on the parties to a contract to co-operate in achieving the objects of the contract. Where the parties have agreed that something shall be done which cannot effectively be done unless both parties agree in doing it, there is an implied obligation on each party to do all that is necessary to be done on his or her part for the carrying out of the thing . This can be seen specifically in the case of Meehan v. Jones where performance of the contract was conditional on the purchaser receiving approval for finance on satisfactory terms. Wilson J considered that there was an obligation on the purchaser to make reasonable efforts to obtain finance on such terms, though we doubted that the purchaser was required to do more than act honestly in deciding whether to accept or reject an offer of finance. That approach to the situation gave effect to the expectations of the parties and achieved a fair and se nsible balance of their interests. Another important element of the concept of good faith is that that can be seen in the notion of fiduciary relationships. The principles of a fiduciary relationship require the disclosure of material matters and require the fiduciary to subordinate his or her interests to the legitimate interests of another by reason of the relationship which subsists between the two parties. It can of course be argued that the fiduciary principle is stronger than the good faith doctrine in that it gives primacy to the interests of the party to whom the fiduciary obligation is owed. The good faith doctrine is concerned with those who contract and are on an equal footing. The principle of good faith also finds ground in the doctrine of â€Å"unconscionable bargaining†, this is the situation where relief is granted when a transaction, is so unconscionable that it cannot be allowed to stand. The requirement is thus that there exists an unconscientious taking advantage of the serious disability or disadvantage of the person in the inferior bargaining position by procuring or retaining the benefit in question in a way that is both unreasonable and oppressive . . In Australia, unconscionability has been relied upon as a ground in relieving a purchaser from forfeiture of his equitable interest under a contract of sale pursuant to a notice making time of the essence of the contract leading to rescission of the contract . Once relief against forfeiture was available specific performance of the contract could be ordered. The purchaser had gone into possession under the contract and erected a house on the land but was unable to pay the balance of the purchase price on the due date. This approach was taken further in the case of an instalment contract for the sale of land under which the purchasers had been let into possession, though they were not entitled to possession until completion, and had built a house on the land . Again, the contract had been rescinded, this time for non-payment of an instalment. In this instance the majority likened a terms contract to a mortgage, the forfeiture provision being by way of security for the payment of the purchase price so that there was no need to establish unconscionable behaviour of an exceptional kind. In Australia, the emergence from the shadows of this ground of equitable relief has relegated the doctrine of undue influence to a position of relative unimportance. Unconscionability and undue influence overlap, the latter being more limited in scope, concerned as it is with the exercise by the contracting party of an independent and voluntary will. Perhaps the most important notion of good faith can be found in the law of restitution which transcends the traditional common law causes of action and equitable grounds for relief. General principles are being articulated and refined which may apply indifferently, whether the basis of the claim has its origins at common law or in equity. In Lipkin Gorman v. Karpnale Ltd , it was acknowledged that the underlying principle governing the recovery of money had and received at common law in restitution is unjust enrichment. Here again unconscionability underlies the claim for unjust enrichment and imports into contract law the notion of good faith. Good faith and fair dealing concepts are already substantially in place under English law, though not in contract negotiation. In that area, the application of specific good faith and fair dealing duties, based on the reasonable expectations of the parties, might advance the interests of justice. Furthermore, recognition of good faith and fair dealing concepts would bring greater coherence and unity to the varied array of principles which are presently available in the area of contract performance. Finally as Mason points out â€Å"the criticism of those doctrines may be no more than the reluctance to accept unconscionability as a basis for relief; in other words, the reluctance is in truth an objection to the application by courts of generalised concepts and standards instead of rigid rules† . As to whether or not there exists a future in English Law for the principle of good faith remains to be seen. There are underlying notions of the principle of good faith and it would se em that the sensible notion would be to codify this principle and make it generally applicable to all contractual dealings; it seems unlikely however that English Law is willing to accept such a principle. Bibliography Cases Aro Road and Land Vehicles Ltd v Insurance Corporation of Ireland [1986] IR 403 Bridgewater v. Leahy (1998) 194 C.L.R. 457 Carlish v. Salt [1906] 1 Ch. 335 Carter v. Boehm (1766) 3 Burr. 1905 Devonport Borough Council v. Robbins [1979] 1 N.Z.L.R. 1 Distillers Co. Bio-Chemicals (Aust) Pty. Ltd v. Ajax Insurance Co. Ltd (1974) 130 C.L.R. 1 Interfoto Picture Library Ltd v. Stiletto Visual Programmes Ltd [1989] Q.B. 433 Louth v. Diprose(1992) 175 C.L.R. 621 Mackay v. Dick (1881) 6 App. Cas. 251 McInerney v. MacDonald (1992) 93 D.L.R. (4th) 415. Printing and Numerical Registering Co. v. Sampson (1875) L.R. 19 Eq. 462 Stern v. McArthur (1988) 165 C.L.R. 489. Journal Articles Denning LJ, (1991) The Role of Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Contract Law: a Hair-Shirt Philosophy? Finn, Statutes and the Common Law (1992) 22 U.W.A.L. Rev. 7 Mason A F, (2000), â€Å"Contract, Good Faith and Equitable Standards in Fair Dealing†, Law Quarterly Review 2000 116 66-94 Books Beatson J, (2002), â€Å"Anson’s Law of Contract†, Twenty Eighth Edition, Oxford University Press Denning LJ, (1991) The Role of Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Contract Law: a Hair-Shirt Philosophy? Elliot Quinn, ( 2003) â€Å"Contract Law†, Fourth Edition Forte A (ed), (2001), â€Å"Good Faith in Contract and Property Law†, Sweet and Maxwell McKendrick E, (2003), â€Å"Contract Law†, Fifth Edition, Palgrave McMilliam McKendrick E, (2003), Contract – Text and Materials, Oxford University Press Stone R, (2002), â€Å"The Law Of Contract†, Fifth Edition, Cavendish Publishing

The Absence of Knowledge :: Essays Papers

The Absence of Knowledge â€Å"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into a long night†¦ never shall I forget that smoke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Night doesn’t always represent the absence of light, but is a symbol for the absence of knowledge. Elie Wiesel’s book Night is a true account of what the Holocaust did, not only to many Jews but to humanity as well. The night was dark, flooded with death and decay, in the silent gray sky, secreting all that happened in Germany at that time. Crematories filled the night sky with the horrific odor of burning flesh, searing your nostrils. In this night, a concealed operation was occurring. Millions of Jews, including Elie’s family suffered horrible deaths of incineration, being shot to death, lack of food, and terrible death marches. This book was titled Night because of the worlds ignorance towards the slaughtering in Germany by the Nazis. Elie and his family were transported by train; cramped, starved, and fearful of death. These massive trains carried thousands of women, children and men to an unknown destination, leaving them in the dark, without windows or fresh air they were living in an everlasting night. Many Jews went crazy and tore their hair out from living in a cramped space. They were not given food or water for many days so they became dehydrated and desperate for just a bite of hard bread. There was no sanitation in the boxcars. Not having bathrooms and sinks made the train cars reek of waste. Many people went crazy like the woman in Elie’s car who had images of smoke and fire, screaming and yelling till she got knocked out. Because the train cars were so dark and dim it gave everyone within them a long night, full of fear. Gleiwitz concentration camp was one of the nastiest camps he had been to. Elie Wiesel worked endless nights, trying to stay alive, and keep his father alive. Many Jews were worked to death by hard labor and no food. His father was getting weak, so Elie gave him extra rations of food to keep him living.

Greek Tragedy :: essays papers

Greek Tragedy The tragedy was a large part of people's lives in ancient Greece. Tragedies became prominent long before Christ was born. A tragedy, or goat-song, usually were seen during festivals in ancient Greek times. Tragedies gradually increased in seriousness until they were given utmost importance. Greek tragedies began at a festival in honor of a god, there were three great tragic authors, and all tragedies include a tragic situation. Greek tragedies began at a festival in honor of Dionysius, who was the god of wine. At the early festivals, drinking, quarrels, and sexual activity occurred frequently. Later on, tragedies gained much more respect and were taken very seriously. The plays dealt with man's relationship with god(s). These plays also dealt with a specific instance of life. The chorus wore goat-skins and served a great purpose in the tragedies, themselves. Thespis, the father of the tragedy, created an actor who talked with the leader of the chorus to further make the importance of the chorus seen. In Greek tragedy, three masters were paramount. They were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. These three playwrights all wrote for the festivals of Dionysius, but none of the three were alike. Aeschylus writes about Athenian power, arrogance, and ancient rule. Sophocles accepts the gods as the way they are. He does not believe in the violation of cosmic order. Euripides questions spirit. He also faults the old way of doing things. Every tragedy has a tragic situation in which the tragic hero finds himself. There are two basic tragic situations. The most common situation is a man between two clashing principles. Every situation results in sorrow and suffering for the protagonist, or tragic hero. Creon is the tragic hero who suffers dearly for his situation. A choice is imperative to a tragic situation. In tragic situations, a conclusion must be made, or has already been made, which results in suffering for the hero.

Record Retrieval System Essay

Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Scope Introduction Technology plays an important role in retrieving patient records in the lives of every patient, an office staff and a medical hospital because of the big boom of technology across the globe it enhanced the services of health institutions. Big, small hospitals or even clinics use the advantage of technology that gave ease to every transaction made especially on important document stored and released for patients. Every record is important just like birth certificates that every parent will retrieve from a hospital for future use of their children, a medical record or laboratory results needed by doctors for medical purposes. For the past decades, medical hospitals all over the world are using a paper system in the retrieval of patient’s records. Patient Record Retrieval is the process of getting the patient records back from a repository or a place where records are stored. Such as, an outpatient record is stored in the deck of folders, envelopes mostly sorted by family names, and there are hundreds or thousands in one of the corner of the office. Patients come and will retrieve records if needed anytime and does not have the assurance that a record will be able to retrieve in a short period of time. Medical centers in the country, it maybe prestigious or not, has also encountered the same problems as other countries encountered, scattered records are everywhere and occupied the whole space of the office, adds manpower for processing transaction and waste of office supplies and most especially retrieval services are slow. Government hospitals have many patients most especially poor people from rural areas and retrieving patient records in the hospital is the common problem. Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is a government health agency intended for the poor and one of its services is to retrieve records of patients. One problem that clients lost their patience is because of turtle-like services of the agency in retrieving records. Factors that the hospital has a slow service in retrieving patient records and it is because records are very hard to locate that consumes couple of minutes in retrieving for a specific record being requested. In addition to the problems of Negros Oriental Provincial Records Department is that the paper  system consumes the office space, waste of paper materials and additional personnel for locating records. Thus, with all problems encountered by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records, the researchers came up a solution to have a new computerized patient records retrieval system. Review of Related Literature, Studies and Systems Review of Related Literature Patients record a collection of documents that provides an account of each episode in which a patient visited or sought treatment and received care or a referral for care from a health care facility. The record is confidential and is usually held by the facility, and the information in it is released only to the patient or with the patient’s written permission. A problem-oriented medical record also contains a master problem list. The patient record is often a collection of papers held in a folder, but it may be computerized. Retrieval of medical record has been a significant means of communication between the Provider, Payer and Legal community. For decades it has been an extremely manual driven, paper driven process and time consuming process. With the advent of technology, issue of regulatory guidelines of PHI security and confidentiality such as Privacy Rules or HIPAA, Medical Record Retrieval and Release of Information is an industry which has undergone and is going through a lot of transformation. Earlier being done by the organizations themselves, this service is now being outsourced to specialists with the end goal to reduce retrieval time by process automation, reduce paper usage, and abide by the stringent HIPAA and Privacy rules. Retrieving medical records isn’t overly difficult, but it is a process with specific requirements. For example, medical records aren’t always stored at a physician’s office. First, the medical provider needs to be contacted and asked about where the medical records request forms should be sent. Once the correct mailing address has been obtained, the record request forms as well as a HIPAA authorization form and a check for copy charges needs to be sent. In a perfect world, the provider would receive the request and fill it right away. However, it’s not unusual for a request to sit in a pile on some clerk’s desk making follow-up calls an absolute necessity. Lehnart et al. defines a patient record management system as a system that stores demographic, and medical information from ancillary services such as registration, lab, radiology, pathology, pharmacy, consultation and transcription.They state that a record management system is not simply automated updates of paper based charts, but rather a dynamic system used to help health care workers make better informed dragonesses. According to Gaillour et al. a record management system is only effective at achieving the goals of increasing quality of care and lowering costs if the organization re†designs it’s current workflow and practices. Hence a very user† friendly system needs to be created to mitigate the risk of user dissatisfaction towards the new system. Fromberg et al. claim the clinical benefits to such a system includes easier, more rapid access to patient data charts; Improved clinical decision making and disease management; More educated patients about their own ailments; An increase in time to spend consulting with patients; An increased perception of patient care and theoretically a better working environment. All these benefits overall translate to better patient care. More benefits include a more efficient workflow, as duplicate tasks would not be performed as the need to re gather information would be eliminated as all data pertaining to the patient is readily available at all times. Time taken to execute administration functions, such as capturing patient demographics, drop dramatically. According to Dassenko and Slowinski, an average of up to 15 minutes was saved per patient on the patients first visit and further 20 minutes on each subsequent visit as a result of implementing a computer based patient record. Fischer and Bloude (1999) states findings that the retrieval of paper records was time consuming and finding the required information amongst many documents for certain patients could be a lengthy process. Wellen et al (1998) emphasized the advantage of EPR because it enables information be Time is saved by EPR in not requiring the whole patient file to be used to find to available quickly about specific requirements perhaps just one piece information. Coiera (2003) EPR added that information instantaneously drugs though many documents. with EPR instead of requiring a search such as allergies to particular could be obtained information strategy states that in the EPR system the patient records should be secure, accurate, and legible. They can be easily accessed by authorized staff and in addition to use for individual patients can be incorporated in research. Data can also be available for the improvement of quality. Bush (2002)recommended introducing and using an appropriate EPR system since it helps to reduce costs and ongoing expenses in providing multiple users access to faster. Distance is information, data protection and backups. An EPR backup system is more economical than the manual system since it saves space, time to locate and access information and maintenance costs. Abdellhak et al (1996) and Young (2000) state that physical control of a file are not always available, EPR data can be accessed at any provides adequate security. However, sometimes as many as 30% of which is not possible with paper records. Englebardt and Nelson (2002) and Reynolds (2003) agree that an increasing number of paper records approved workstation are authorized difficult more Robert(2002) one the information for the right reason. Especially Friedman (2005) considered security for confidentiality must be ensured this is and relevant with EPR systems even if it makes authorized access access patient record especially in emergency cases. Kirshna and authorized person. Where as a paper based system is available to only one person at a time to point out that an EPR system can  be used simultaneously by more than Amatayku (2004) drew attention to access policy which needs not only a ban sharing passwords but also a reminder of the possible legal consequences. Schmitz (1979 p.74) described an early EPR system at a time when â€Å"there is as yet no such thing as a fully electronic medical record†. The benefits were then seen to be â€Å"timeliness, accuracy, completeness and availability† resulting from†having physicians interact directly with an electronic management information system† (Schmitz 1979, p.75). He seems to have been one of the pioneers in anticipating the potential of EPR, and the benefits from professional input. Kovner (1990), who considered the use of electronic records for patient history and current treatments. The availability of computer systems from 1990 onwards further helped to prove the arguments raised by the two authors above. This availability changed medical record keeping to electronic methods, which were beneficial in many ways. methods of recording have reduced the size of records despite the fact that they contain very much more information. By using computers, doctors can easily access information from more than one source. The organization of records for ease of access is essential for efficiency and the importance of the service is recognized by supervisors in charge. Good organization and management requires good leadership to ensure efficiency and co-operation and a constant improvement performance. In addition to the above observations, Meijden et al (2000) measured the attitudes towards electronic patient record among physicians and nurses. The researchers noted that the experienced physicians and nurses were move positive, whereas the inexperienced ones found EPR to be more time consuming for data entry and retrieval, and they were concerned about their familiarity with computers and the need for training. This study implies that one has to be experienced in making the optimum use of EPR systems. Furthermore, an EPR system proves to have more effect on improving quality of patient care. Bickford (1995)noted the in as a restriction potential that EPR systems have for improving patient health costs, adding satisfaction for providers, researchers and administrators. Dick and Steen (1991) argued that patient records should include more information than just treatment details for as proposed by earlier researchers such as Kovner (1990), example, guiding problem solving, decision analysis, reminders, and risk assessment ,an do the relevant details(Dick & Steen1991,p.37). The system could prompt staff about additional considerations not available in paper records. The system would be accessible at all times. Similarly, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM 1997) helped to argue further that an electronic patient record is to be as the one that is specifically designed to support users through of complete and accurate data, practitioner reminders and alerts, clinical understood availability decision support systems, links to bodies of medical knowledge and other aids. Novak(2005) considered EPRs as time saving which can be life saving, transfers to cost other physicians history, effective whilst maintaining confidentiality and, making easy and immediate. However A personal EPR can contain a total medical complicated. EPR systems have to a greater extent improved patients records and facilitated  the selection of the most appropriate treatment. Amongst these advantages, Burton et al with the patient’s input can be created when records are retrieved much Lane & Hayward (1999) investigated the value of electronic patient records make adequate and legible records has been reduced to take only a few minutes per patient, when physicians’ time is tightly scheduled. However, Soper (2000) observed that more time to see a patient, together commented that the time taken to. Furthermore, the above author noted that accessibility of record sat a made possible. Electronic records are more legible and can resolve the problem of misplaced documents and the opportunity to show parents the records of their children if required. For  GPs and found them to be considerable, but there were doubts about the system on a larger. Furthermore, (Atkinson 1997; British Medical Association 2002). The training of users on EPR scale in hospital use. Mansoor (2002) Training the users in manipulating EPR systems has proved to be easier them to familiarize themselves with other aspects of computer supports the observation in that physicians use systems motivates applications. Computers for administrative purposes as well as EPR systems, and are keen to acquire computer skills and knowledge to enhance their clinical practice. They learn how to access computer based information and to how to make the best use of such resources. Svenningsen (2003) found the advantages of EPR included no loss of records, ease of access for all medical staff, some reduction in professionals. The same was the case for Smith, (2003) who considered good medication errors, better documentation, and more co-ordination between leadership and supportive staff were essential for a planning, strong successful EPR system. Benefits include accurate medication lists, legible notes and physician. Having experienced EPR he would never revert to paper records. Seems to summarize the general point of view of those who have experienced prescriptions. This the change from manual to electronic systems. Amatayakul (2005) emphasized the value of EPRs providing reminders to alert hospital staff to particular problems which may arise, and improve decision making, in addition to reducing errors. At the same time much information is still being handwritten in many hospitals and the electronic records do not necessarily include information which would assist decision making. Also it was helpful to have systems which work similarly in different places e.g. surgeries, clinics and hospitals. The benefits of EPR as outlined by Ginneken (2002, p. 115) included Flexibility in content and use, integration and adaptability to change. Once consensus is reached on terminology, architecture, and legislation, the EPR  will become as established as the Hippocratic Oath record has been for centuries†.It seems from the literature that benefits have been obvious in all the countries that have adopted the system, and even those who originally had difficulties in making the changes now express no regrets, because they have experienced the great advantage of electronic systems. There was a reported reluctance to change which needs to be overcome by a good training programme, and some people under-estimate their capabilities to cope with different systems ( Loomis & Ries 2002). As Huston (2004) noted, to such a change would require an agreed standard procedure and provision for the transition period. Faber(2003)draws attention to the fact that several authors new and implement argue that the implementation of EPR can fail if the assumed nature of the medical work being considered does not match the real aspects of that work. Related Studies and System According to the study of abdullah, f. Epr system in hamad medical corporation   Qatar that it greatly resolved the dissatisfaction with the existing manual patient  Record system expressed both doctors and nurses referred to many defects of the  Present manual system which caused irritation and potential exposure to reducing  Patient safety. Such obstacles can affect the improvement of patient care and delay Important treatment. From the findings the major problem of the traditional paper  Based record system appears to be misfiling of records causing difficulties in obtaining   Information quickly in emergencies. Thus the newly EPR system benefited the   Hamad medical in terms of the accuracy,legibility, confidentiality and time saving  in the patient records. Another study from Droma, Fahad et al. in automation of the patient record management sytem in St Francis Hospital Nsambya that Patient record management systems in hospital today necessitate a competent administration when handling patients, generating reports from cashier, patient details which serves as a key factor for the flow of business transactions in St Francis Hospital Nsambya. Unfortunately the current Record management system leads to misplacement of drug details, payment details, and late release of reports and insecurity to records. This research project is aimed at computerizing all the records about patients, staff and drug suppliers. In order to achieve this goal, a thorough System Study and investigation was carried out and data was collected and analyzed about the current system using document and data flow diagrams. The concept of report production has been computerized hence, no more delay in report generation to the hospital manager. Errors made on hand held calculators are dealt out completely The method used to develop the system include iterative waterfall model approach, dataflow, logical and entity relationship diagram were used to design the system and finally the language used were MySql, php, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Atkinson (1997), whilst seeing the benefits of EPR systems, also that they could change clinical practice, and that there could be problems of controlling access to them. His research also reported anxieties that were expressed regarding the possibility of computer failure. The argument shows that the electronic record system has a â€Å"back up† scheme for computer failure patient which automatically prevents information from being lost. In addition, even if the benefits of EPR are recognized,found that the time taken to learn procedures was an obstacle to their use. A software engineering consultant, Sam Simple was hired to design a Computerized Patient Record system for a hospital. Each patient’s record in the database consists of a patient’s name, address, age, phone number, next of kin, name of parents, phone number, birth date and place, social security number, occupation, marital status, religion, military service, treatment history, family background, lifestyle information such as drug history and sexual  preferences, diagnostic and testing information, and insurance information. At the initial meeting held to discuss the project requirements, a hospital representative indicated to Simple that the hospital had conducted research on CPR systems prior to hiring him. Based on the report produced from the hospital’s research, it considered that user authentication to verify users’ ID and password at login was sufficient for their system, as far as the system security was concerned. However, Simple learned from a study that 85 percent of the passwords on a typical computer system were guessable. According to Dr. Marie Sy, CHITS, an electronic medical record (EMR) specifically designed for the community health centers in the Philippines, was developed through a collaborative and participative process involving health workers and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community, using the primary health care approach and guided by the open source philosophy. â€Å"The development of CHITS that the paper record retrieval time was decreased from 2.41 minutes to less than 5 seconds,† has resulted in increased efficiency of health workers, allowing them to spend more time for patient care, improved data quality; streamlin ed records management; and data-guided decision-making, both operationally and strategically,† Dr. Sy added. The development of EPR in most countries has been rapid in recent years with some differences to meet local requirements. Beaumont (1999) noted the advantage of electronic records in the UK, including simultaneous access from multiple locations, legibility, ease of exchange of data, and confidentiality. He compares the advantages with those of paper records which are: easily transported; easy to read; require no training and are never â€Å"out of order†. According to Beaumont’s personal experience, electronic records are an improvement on medical handwriting which is often illegible. In addition, he noted a need for training in the details of categories which the manual records should contain, just as computers may be â€Å"down†, so misfiled patient records can be equally frustrating. Frolick, (n. d. ) noted that electronic patient records in USA are of great benefit to patients, because they are not subject to loss, illegibility or inaccuracy, and assist in guiding patients’ daily treatment. In addition, the records would be readily available for research and accessible directly on the users’ screen. Furthermore, Madison(1997) reported Dr. Paul King’s opinion that the ability to create, and retrieve  charts quickly was of importance and time saving. The choice of the best EPR in USA for a particular department as important and there should be a wide range of availability of a system for selection. By the immediate accessibility of the right technical information lives could be saved, and this is the most important consideration of all. In addition to aspects such as time saving and quality of care, Kowalsky (2002)observed that, to make the system comprehensive and cost effective was a large task and integrating existing systems was difficult. Much as the EPR systems are suggested to provide the best solutions to improve patient record keeping, several authors have observed a number of challenges to them. For example, Fields & Duncker (2003) mentioned that although EPR systems are planned to be universal in UK by 2008, there were doubts about this. The complexity of the task and the need to complete it rapidly caused concern after previous NHS computerisation problems. There was anxiety and the need to convince staff of the benefits of the system. Bishop (2003) referred to availability, as being able to use the information or the source desired i. e., hardware, software or networks. The same issues were discussed by Singh et al. (2004) who noted that primary care in USA is complex and includes safety problems, with no two providers being alike. EPR imposed on any health system can have unpredictable effects, reducing or increasing safety. To some extent EPR could distract a GP from properly recording observations, but, if used correctly, would greatly assist in providing immediate and accurate information. In practice it is essential that all staff are familiar with EPR systems, if these are to be used effectively, and all aware of hazards and how to avoid them. Similarly, Pizziferri et al (2005) considered one factor which inh ibits the use of EPR in USA was the concern that it may take more time than paper records. A study of 20 physicians’ use of time at primary health centres was recorded, before and after the introduction of EPR, and a decrease in time was noted. This was also the case with dictating notes, reading, and writing; however searching for data was much faster than before. The researchers concluded that EPR took less time than manual records but that there was a need to identify EPR users who had difficulty with the system. Mikkelsen & Aasly (2005) of the neurology department at St Olave’s Hospital, Norway analysed electronic patient records and how the system affected performance, e. g. the ability to access information. Records for a neurological department were of variable accuracy because of lack of precise definitions, and were a potential threat to the safety of the system. Strict procedures are required to ensure accuracy and sufficient relevant information. The Steiermà ¤rkischeKrankenanstaltenGes.m.b.H. (KAGes), the governing body of the Styrian hospitals. Out of a new MIS, termed OpenMedocs, has been conducted. This system shall simplify the management, the access to and the exchange of health-related patient information. It is a centrally managed system at the headquarter of KAGes in Graz. The core of OpenMedocs is an electronic patient record (EPR) system. All documents concerning patients are stored in this system. Thus, it is possible to receive documents from a patient which have been generated in different hospitals ’at the push of a button’. Since almost all medical information of the hospitals concerning patients is managed in the ERP system, it is possible to avoid various disadvantages of ’traditional documentation’, like multiple medical attendance or local constraints of usage of retrieval possibilities, and user-oriented presentation of data should help, among other things, to speed up and to improve the quality of the medical decision-making process of physicians. Since the roll-out of OpenMedocs, the amount of these patient-related documents increased continuously. Thus, the efï ¬ cient storage and the timely retrieval of documents in the EPR system have gained considerable importance. The Problem Statement of the Problem This present study tries to analyze, design, develop, test and implement a Record Retrieval System for Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. This study attempts to answer the following questions. 1. What is the current retrieval system used by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records? 2. What are the problems encountered by retrieval section employees in the retrieval of patient’s records in NOPH Records Department? 3. What are the requirements needed for the development of the Computerized Retrieval System for Negros Oriental Records Department Retrieval Section? 4. How secure and manageable is the Computerized Retrieval System for NOPH Records Section? 5. How beneficial is the Computerized Retrieval System for  Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department Retrieval Section. Hypothesis H0: There is an existing problem with the current retrieval system of Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department. H1: Negros Oriental Hospital Records Department is in need of a new system that will help them improve their service. Technical Background Design Concept Input Data Captured Process Working with records Output Showing results by print outs Storage of the patient records Figure 1 It shows the input, process and output of the patient record retrieval system that in input in order to retrieved such records they need a personal information and the records they want to be retrieved in a system. In Process it is where the records has been process in order they could release the record and in output it is where the records have been already retrieved and ready to release to the authorized person. Design Method Figure 2 Agile Approach The methodology that use in developing the system is agile the researcher use  agile since it promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development and delivery; time boxed iterative approach and encourages rapid and flexible response to change. A conceptual framework promotes foreseen interactions throughout the development cycle. There are five phases in this methodology the requirements, design, implementation, test and deployment. In requirements phase in which the requirements for the software are gathered and analyzed. This is equivalent to researching and brainstorming what the product requires. Examples can include general features, architecture discussions, workflow discussions and general product discovery. Design phase this is which will have all the requirements defined for the product. Implementation phase during the development, needed to test the code as well as get feedback from the customer on progress. Feedback from the customer can include mockups, front-end designs, and usability. Testing phase bugs and defects are always a constant in the software development process. It is important that there are good quality assurance standards to eliminate general issues. Deployment the software application is finally deployed and live. Once this occurs, a support plan needs to be in place for maintenance and general support on potential future issues. Significance of the Study Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Record Department.The study will serve as a new instrument for the technological advancement that greatly benefits for Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. This computerized system is intended to lessen the manpower which will lead to a faster and more accurate record retrieval process which will lead to profitability of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. Employees. The job of the employees will become more accurate and efficient through the use of the proposed system. This leads to less error which saves time and energy on the side of the workers. Employees can also focus on other tasks assigned that will make them more productive. Patients. The service of Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital to the patient will become more convenient. Less time will be consumed during the retrieval process. This will also lessen time for patients to wait for their records to be release. The study is also expected to increase the satisfaction of the patients to the services of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. Researchers This study is a great achievement for the researchers because it  will improve their skills in technical writing. The experiences while doing the research build up their characters and teach them values like creativity, working hard, team building and responsibility and time management. It also builds friendship and camaraderie among the co-researchers. It also gives them an overview of the IT industry and trains them to prepare to the competitive professional field. Questionnaire Directions: Please put a checkmark on the selected choice. Name (Optional):____________________________________ Age:______ Gender:____________ Department:______________________ I. The current system that NOPH are using in retrieving records: 1. What is the present system used by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department Retrieval Section? __ Manual Retrieval __ ComputerizedRetrieval If manual, what are the tools or things used in retrieving records or how a single record is retrieved according to its arrangement? _By folders _By logbooks _By envelopes _By family names _By cabinets _By disease/injury Others (Specify):______________________ If computerized, what are the applications used? _ Microsoft Excel _Microsoft Word _Microsoft Access _Others(Specify):_____________________________ II. The problems encountered by employees in retrieving records: 2. What are the problems encountered by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records? _Unarranged Documents _Difficulty in finding records _Lost Documents _ Mountainous Stocked Files _Crowded area Others(Specify):______________________________ III. Particular documents that Negros Oriental Hospital retrieve. 3. What are the common documents that hospital clients retrieved mostly? _Birth certificates _Death certificates _Laboratory results Others(Specify):___________________________________ References: Related Literature http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/patient+record http://www.wipro.com/industries/healthcare-segments/medical-records-retrieval.aspx http://www.sunbeltreporting.com/sunbelt-blog/bid/45059/Benefits-of-Outsourcing Medical-Records-Retrieval) Fischer, J. S. & Blonde, L., 1999. Impact of an electronic medical record on diabetes practice workflow. Clinical Diabetes, 17(2), 10-12. Wellen, D. et al., 1998. The electronic medical oncology record: misconceptions, barriers, and benefits. Cancer Management, 3 (5), 6-8. Coiera, E., 2003. Guide to health informatics. 2†³d ed. London: Arnold. Bush, J., 2002. Looking for a good electronic medical records system? Family Practice Management, 9(1), 50-51. Lenhart, J. G., Honess, K., Covington, D., and Johnson, K. 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