Neural Networks and Their Failures and Successes - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1419 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/03/18 Category Analytics Essay Level High school Tags: Failure Essay Did you like this example? Its no secret at this point that there are some really smart AIs in todays world. From everything to self-driving cars, to something so simple it only takes 9 lines of code. Many AI systems today use something called a Neural Network, which tries to mimic the human brains cognitive abilities. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Neural Networks and Their Failures and Successes" essay for you Create order A human brain consists of 100 billion cells called neurons, which are connected by synapses. When sufficient synaptic input reaches a neuron, that neuron will also trigger in a process called thinking. This is what Neural Networks aim to be, though 9 lines is only about 1 neuron. The main goal of Neural Networks and AI is to try and reach the same level of cognition and learning as a human does, where it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other. For every success made in one area, there are many failures that arise, meaning that there are many examples of the problems with trying to teach Neural Networks how to actually solve problems the correct way. Many Neural Networks are designed to learn different tasks and give consistent results back. This is done through a Training Process where, put simply, inputs are given and constantly adjusted until the correct output is given. Through this process, Neural Networks can learn to walk or play games or to even cheat a system. Neural Networks try to be like the human mind but, much like the human mind, they can learn the wrong things and accomplish tasks in a very different manner. This problem can result in very interesting problem solving. One great example is an experiment held in a system called PolyWorld. PolyWorld is an ecological simulator of a simple flat world, possibly divided up by a few impassable barriers, and inhabited by a variety of organisms and freely growing food (Yaeger). During one of the trials of this, an input mistake was made and, while food gave energy, creating a child did not cost any energy. This led some of the organisms in the simulation to come to the conc lusion that a mostly sedentary lifestyle was the best option, as long as they reproduced and, in very much A Modest Proposal fashion, consumed their offspring to make more energy. This solved the problem of having to search for food, and allowed the organisms to not have to expend much energy to live. This means that while we can train a Neural Network to create its own solutions to given problems, in this case of survival, we are not able to teach them a form of morality and that eating ones children, while practical, is not ethical, nor is it an actual solution to living. Because these kinds of systems essentially teach themselves new solutions after some training, they can adapt to new circumstances and find new solutions as they go, and can lead to some amazing success stories. In one instance, Facebook designed its own AI to learn how to make and carryout deals, which were originally trained with another AI system. Researchers at Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) began a study on multi-issue bargaining. Two agents in the Network system were given a set of items and told to split them amongst each other. While each agent was programmed with how highly they would value certain items, they were not aware of the value of each item for their opponents. These kinds o f interactions had each system trying to create long-term plans in order to meet their needs and get the best personal value out of each interaction. One of the goals of FAIRs AI Network systems was to create an idea known as Dialogue Rollouts. These allowed the long-term thinking systems to understand the flow of a conversation and steer around and away from any part of the conversation deemed uninformative, confusing, or frustrating. The knowledge of these kinds of interactions allows one of these systems to plan for future conversations and generate more value for themselves in future interactions. One problem of these experiments, however, was that the networks created their own language, which was essentially a very streamlined discussion and would conclude with deals being struck, though this was quickly shutdown in favor of basic English. Once the system understood what was needed and expected of it and could achieve favorable deals roughly as often as unfavorable deals. In other experiments, most people did not realize they were negotiating with a System and not another person. Other systems can pick up on language very quickly, even to the detriment of themselves. One mishap that involved a learning AI was Microsofts Twitter AI Tay. Released to the public in March, 2016 and was designed to mimic a 19-year-old girl and learn from interacting with people on Twitter. Because Neural Networks and other AI need some form of a base to learn from, just as humans do, many people started abusing this and taught her inflammatory remarks. The generally accepted problem with Tay is that she was not designed with any kind of emotional intelligence. This led to her making remarks about Hitler and other controversial statements. While Tay seems like she should have succeeded, like many Learning Systems before her, she just didnt quite learn as intended. In the case of one Learning System used by Berkeley students, a reward-shaping experiment was conducted where a Neural Network was rewarded every time it touched a soccer ball. In order to achieve the most rewards per session, the Network learned that it could get to the ball and vibrate, thus touching the ball as much as possible in as little time as it could, receiving a reward for each touch. In the same article, a Neural Network was rewarded for reaching a goal, and thats all it needed to accomplish. The Network discovered that it was not punished for moving away from the goal, so it began reaching the goal and moving in a circle around one end of the goal so that it would have a stable path and could keep moving through and being rewarded. It seems that when reward driven, if there are no set of rules saying you cannot do X, Neural Network systems kind very unique ways of accomplishing the given task in ways that give them the most reward, without actually accomplishing the real goal of the experiment. Many Neural Network systems are given tasks in which they learn to walk, with various limbs added or subtracted, and with different obstacles. Some learn to walk in short pigeon-hops, while others learn how to correctly run while maintaining their balance. Each system is given a structure and each time they fail, a new generation is made with the knowledge of prior generations, so eventually, someone kind of forward momentum is gained. But in other, more extreme cases, like David Has article, when the Neural Network agent is allowed to change its own body in order to accomplish certain goals, such as reaching the end of an area, the agent may create ways never imagined. In one trial, the agent made its back leg more stable and usable as a base and the front leg allowed it to make short hops in order to get around different obstacles. One of the Neural Network agents designed its body to have one extremely long leg that would allow it to simply fall over. In the trials given, the only goal was to make it as far to the goal as possible, but the agents were not required to reach it. By making one large leg and falling, these s ystems could meet all the requirements and had no need to ever reach the goal itself. Neural Network systems are advancing every day, and get smarter and smarter with each new iteration. But just because they are smarter does not mean that they are going to exactly complete given tasks and meet human standards. On a level of cognition, Neural Networks are, in most cases, nowhere near where the human brain is, and can only think of certain tasks 1-dinmensionally. Many reward-based tasks given are worked around and the best way to accomplish the goal is overlooked for the best way to achieve the reward. Other language learning systems only accomplish what they can parrot back. While these are highly advanced systems, they do not truly meet the active cognition that the human mind works on, though there are many new programs coming out every year. In the next few years, we may even have some systems showing signs of emotions.

A Live Action Documentary Of The History And Its Impact On...

The film contains two narratives, a live action documentary of the history of textile mills in the United States and a cartoon drama about people dealing with the struggles typical in the early years of this industry. Although they are interwoven with each other in the film, these narratives will be summarized separately in this essay for the sake of clarity, first the documentary section, and second, the cartoon, but reflected upon as a unit to better focus on the impact of the film as a whole. The documentary section details the evolution of technology in the era and its impact on society, beginning with a description of what things were like in the United States prior to the appearance of mills, noting that everything had to be done manually. In New England, the creation of clothing typically involved shearing sheep for their wool, followed by cleaning and carding the wool, making it into slivers, spinning the slivers into thread, and weaving the thread into cloth, and sewing the pieces of cloth together into clothing. Tools such as the loom and spinning wheel aided in the process, but they had to be operated manually. Water wheels had previously been used to power the grinding of grain. Eventually, in Europe, they also came to be used to power machines that handled carding, then machines called water frames that spun multiple slivers at once, thus drastically increasing the production of yarn. Spinning mills were established, generating numerous jobs. Although, in theSho w MoreRelatedMovie Response : The Interrupters880 Words   |  4 PagesThe Interrupters The documentary, The Interrupters, focus on the impact education has in the brutality and bloodshed in the United States. Chicago, Illinois is one of the most violent cities in the US, and because of this multiple violent prevention projects were formed.The documentary followed â€Å"interruptors† of violence in the streets of Chicago through mediation. â€Å"Interrupters† are former high ranking gang members who volunteered to stop the violence in hopes to save lives. One of the major â€Å"interruptors†Read MoreHow Do Documentaries Produce ‘Truth Effects’? Essay1379 Words   |  6 PagesHow Do Documentaries Produce ‘Truth Effects’? The role of media has often been a subject of much debate, particularly in terms of its role in portraying and conveying truth to the target audience. Some argue upon its utility as a means to disseminate information and to rectify perceptions and facts in the minds of the viewers; while others squabble on the amount of misrepresentation which is often adopted by media as a means to project baseless arguments which lead to severe impact on the minds,Read MoreThe Obomsawin Is A Canadian Film Maker Who Is Well Known For Directing Numerous Documentaries1611 Words   |  7 PagesAlanis Obomsawin is a Canadian film maker who is well known for directing numerous documentaries on the plights of the Indigenous people. Alanis Obomsawin was born August 31, 1932 outside of Lebanon in New Hampshire but raised in Quebec. Obomsawin is a member of the Abenaki Nation but left there when she was just a baby â€Å"returned with her family to the Odanak reserve near Sorel, Quà ©bec, at the age of si x months. Her father was a guide and a medicine maker, and her mother ran a boarding house.† (historica)Read MoreAnalysis Of Raoul Peck s French Cinema 1491 Words   |  6 Pagesdirector and screenwriter and has left a memorable impact in the film industry with his cinematic adaptations of reality. From taxi driver, to Minister of culture, to honorary award winning director, Raoul Peck has experienced the world in ways few will ever have the chance to. Just as he thought his life would revolve around international affairs at the United Nations, he created a bigger platform to spread the news about foreign relations. His documentaries and films have been about real people and heRead MoreSlavery And The African Americans1071 Words   |  5 Pagesthat I was wrong. After having watched the documentary â€Å"Slavery by Another Name† I gained new insight into the history of slavery and the struggles that African Americans suffered during that time. I learned that slavery did not end after the 13th Amendment was passed. After the Amendment was passed African Americans were victims of segregation. Whites in the south continued to be in power and still found ways to continue slavery. According to the documentary Many African Americans were being incarceratedRead MoreThe Perspectives Of Black Women And Girls Of Darker Skin1629 Words   |  7 PagesIn the documentary, the perspectives of black women and girls of darker skin was examined along with the perceived struggles surrounding their existence within the black community. One of the main interviewees was that of an 8 year old dark complexion girl was noted as saying â€Å"I don’t like to be called black.† The little girl spoke of feeling inferior due to her dark skin. On the opposing end, a girl in the same age bracket but of a lighter complexion also shred the same feelings of sadness as sheRead MoreTeaching History in Schools Depends on the Source1073 Words   |  4 Pagesinformation, reacting and indulging differently if that information comes from an educational outlet than that of a social or even private source. This is especially the case with history with more students feeling overwhelmed and unattached to history information supplied to them through classrooms or teachers but respond well to history when it is received through media outlets, technology or just outside the educational system. Maybe it is due to the students’ perception that anything taught at school isRead MoreAnalysis Of Crips And The Bloods Essay1361 Words   |  6 Pages In Crips and the Bloods we see multiple examples of labels continuing crime. First off, most of the children born in this area are black and poor. Already they are labeled and stereotyped as being da ngerous to communities, useless to society, and destined for failure. One man says â€Å"I grew up in the hood, I was born in the hood, I was raised in the hood, and I’m going to die in the hood. I didn’t choose my destiny, my destination chose me† (Peralta, 2008). This phrase demonstrates the power of aRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Burned And Shattered Glass1730 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Shattered Glass Nicholas M. Anthony III Media Ethics 404-02 October 21, 2015 Lynn Waltz Critical Analysis of Banished and Shattered Glass Ethics are the rules of conduct recognized in a particular class of human actions or a particular group or culture. They are principles and values that shape human activity, especially in regard to specific disciplines. (n.d.) In the field of journalism and communications, there is no difference. Ethics helps practitioners in thisRead MoreFed Up And Forks Over Knives1639 Words   |  7 Pagescreated the first generation of children ever in history which is predicted to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The documentaries Fed Up and Forks over Knives are both in support of creating a healthier America for all individuals. Although they both share a similar concept on how fast-food is extremely harmful, but both take quite different approaches to support their claim. In the documentary Fed Up, Stephanie Soechtig allows us to follow the lives of four families who are struggling with a

Taylorism or Scientific Management Principles at Ford...

The central theme of this essay will deal with the role of Taylorism or scientific management in a specific organization. The primary focus will be to critically discuss how the various methods of scientific management are applicable to the chosen organization, which in this case will be Ford Motors. The essay will describe F.W. Taylors early work life and techniques of scientific management and its success. It will then go on to discuss the production methods at Ford Motors prior and post the application of the management principles along with their benefits and criticisms. As the popularity of systematic management rose, there were many organizations that were implementing its main features such as employment of more unskilled workers†¦show more content†¦This would not only be advantageous for the employer but also the employee since it would result in higher wages. Due to this, the worker’s level of motivation and drive to do better would escalate leading to overall productivity of the organization (Salimath and Jones, 2011, p.88). Taylor furthermore emphasized on this method as it reduced the time taken between each activity since each worker was limited to doing a precise task. Thus, the worker was able to complete the job in the least possible time and reduce wastage. Along with improved efficiency, Taylor used scientific management techniques to make sure proper utilization of resources is taking place and wastage is being kept to a minimum (Salimath and Jones, 2011, pp. 85-86). Taylorism can be seen as an evident feature in several production based industries especially organizations specializing in automotive manufacturing. One of the key practitioners of Taylors management principles was Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company. Initially at Ford motors, production used to take place by keeping the vehicle at one position and making the workers move in and about gathering the several parts together. This method unfortunately was a very tedious and time-consuming process. In view of this fact, Henry Ford appointed Taylor to monitor the operations taking place. Ford applied the scientific managementShow MoreRelatedTaylorism Is A Scientific Management System1480 Words   |  6 PagesTaylorism is a scientific management system that was developed by Fredrick Taylor in the 1880s. Taylorism works in a method based on F. Taylor’s scientific study of accomplishing different tasks instead of empirical methods or methods inspired by past experience and knowledge. Taylorism also tends to scientifically train and help develop employees’ skills instead of letting them train themselves during their time in the workplace. Another principle of Taylorism is that it gives comprehensive andRead MoreThe Theory Of Scientific Management1633 Words   |  7 Pagestheory of scientific management, which was revolutionised by Frederick Winslow Taylor in 1887 (A.Huczynski, 2010) and to critically evaluate the benefits and pitfalls of his theory. This theory Taylor developed is known as Taylorism and has been used commonly in various structures of organisation. Comparisons shall be drawn to other theories and advancements of this theory, such as Fordism and Toyotism, which was extremely popular in Japan (Cheng, 2009). Using these variations of Taylorism, we canRead MoreThe Principles Of Scientific Management944 Words   |  4 Pagescontinued to promote his principles through lectures at universities as professional societies, leading to his election as president of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1906. That year he was also given an honorary science degree from the University of Pennsylvania. During his presidency he wrote many books documenting his methods for maximum production, i ncluding â€Å"Notes on Belting†, â€Å"Piece-rate System†, and his bestselling book â€Å"The Principles of Scientific Management.† He would argue thatRead MoreTaylorism and McDonaldization1597 Words   |  7 PagesScientific management or Taylorism is an approach to job design, developed by Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) during the Second World War. With the industrial revolution came a fast growing pool of people, seeking jobs, that required a new approach of management. Scientific management was the first management theory, applied internationally. It believes in the rational use of resources for utmost output, hence motivating workers to earn more money. Taylor believed that the incompetence of managersRead MoreImpact of Taylor and Ford on Organizations Today1747 Words   |  7 PagesImpact of Taylor and Ford on Organizations Today Scientific management is a well known approach towards management and it can be traced back to the work of Fredrick Taylor and Henry Ford. Taylor believed that similar to the way that there is best machine to each job, so there is the best method that people should undertake their jobs. Fordism which picked up the name of its pioneer, Ford, involved mass consumption which is combined with mass production to produce widespread material advancementRead MoreFrederick W. Taylor And Human Relations Essay1274 Words   |  6 Pagesfocus on some important management approaches of Taylorism and the Human Relations School. First the central tenets of both models are outlined giving examples of how they are still applied in contemporary society. The advantages and disadvantages of scientific management theories by Taylor are discussed. This is followed by a comparison of the two theories and how management principles by Taylor were replaced by human relations school of thought. Taylorism is a management approach initiated by FrederickRead MoreCritical Evaluation of Taylorism and Fordism Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesTaylorism is also known as scientific management which named after Frederick W. Taylor. It is a production efficiency methodology that breaks works into small and simple segments which can be easily analysed and taught. Taylorism was first mentioned in 1920s and 20 years later. Henry Ford, who was the founder of the Ford Motor Company, used the scientific management in the form of assembly line production as a method on the T-model car production of his company. This kind of production method thenRead MoreImpact of Taylorism and Fordism on Management2026 Words   |  9 PagesManagement is a very complex field and has evolved over a long period of time. Globalization has affected every part of our lives and not even management has been spared, thus forcing new approaches to management to be developed in line with global demands. The oldest sc hool of thought was the scientific management by Frederick Winslow Taylor. His main objective was to improve economic efficiency through application of scientific principles to labour process and establish one best way to do thingsRead MoreFredrick W. Taylor Ideas in Todays Organisation2487 Words   |  10 PagesFredrick W. Taylor (1856 Ââ€" 1915), pioneered the scientific management movement which studies a job carefully, breaking it into its smallest components, establish exact time and motion requirements for each task to be done, and then train workers to best complete these tasks in the same ways over and over again (Schermerhorn, Hunt Osborn, 1998). These efforts are the forerunners of modern industrial engineering approaches to job design that focus on process efficiencies, the best methods and smoothRead MoreWeber1699 Words   |  7 PagesDrawing on Weber’s ideal type, critically consider the relevance of bureaucratic administration to the management of twenty-fir st century organizations. Max Weber was a German sociologist in the twentieth century; he was famous for his classical management theory. Weber classified three different types of authority, traditional, charismatic and legitimate authority. Traditional authority is based on traditions and customs that the leader has the legitimate right to use authority. Charismatic authority

Summary Of Death Of A Salesman - 3982 Words

Ahmad Maruf â€Å"American Literature and Corporate Culture† Professor Ritzenberg Final Paper Looking for Someone To Blame in the Mirror Arthur Miller s play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† tells the story of a salesman confronting failure in the success-driven society of America and shows the tragic trajectory that eventually leads to his suicide. It addresses a broken family, loss of identity, and a salesman s inability to accept change within himself and society. On the other hand, based on the memoir written by Jordan Belfort, Martin Scorsese’s movie â€Å"Wolf of Wall Street† features Jordan Belfort, the drug-addicted stockbroker who makes millions defrauding investors, laundering money, and manipulating the market. What makes the movie a crucial and troubling document of the present is not so much Jordan s business plan—he tells us repetitively that it s too complicated and uninteresting to explain—as his approach to life. The success of such a sensationalist movie that archives the rise of a reckless, morally questionable, and self-made man reflects a tension of modern American cul ture, making us question traditional values of a good life. It is obvious that both protagonists lead an unhappy, deeply troubled, and broken family life, lacking strong family support system and stability. This is particularly problematic because we often picture the traditional family not only as the socio-economic unit but also as the cradle of human values, nurturing the human spiritShow MoreRelatedDeath of a Salesman Summary + American Dream5929 Words   |  24 PagesAct 1, Scene 1 Miller begins his play with a bedtime dialogue between Willy and his wife, Linda.   Willy, an aging salesman, has just  returned  late from a business  trip.   Linda is very concerned, asking her husband if he had a  car accident.   Willy tiredly explains that indeed he did have a close call with his  car, veering off the road on two  occasionswhile enjoying the scenery.   Though at first Linda thinks that its a problem with the vehicle, eventually she attributes Willys driving problems toRead MoreWilly from Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller: Abandoned and Flawed798 Words   |  4 Pages The dramatic play Death of a Salesman, composed by Arthur Miller in 1949 portrays the hours leading up to Willy Loman’s death. Willy is a sixty-year-old salesman living in Brooklyn New York with his wife Linda and after thirty-five years working as a traveling salesman he feels defeated by his lack of success and difficult family life. As a salesman, Willy Loman focuses more on personality and being well liked by everyone than actual skills. When he returns early from a business trip it is apparentRead MoreAnalytical Exposition in Response to Literature: Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby 976 Words   |  4 PagesThe two texts that this essay will compare and contrast are the novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and the play Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller. Both works are based around the central topic of ‘the American Dream’ and the unceremonious death of it. However, the journeys that the protagonists take to meet their tragic ends are very different though the motives involved are accused murder and adultery. This essay’s aim is to determine whether the novel or the play best is moreRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1270 Words   |  6 PagesDeath of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller 1245 Words 5 Pages Death of A Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, is a play based on the turmoil within an average American family. Miller wrote Death of A Salesman easily showcasing the elements of drama. I was easily able to follow the plot, identify with his characters, and picture the setting. The main theme of the plot seemed to be Willy reaching for the American Dream. Financial success, business success, outwardly perfect family, revered by your peersRead MoreWilly Loman, the Modern Hero in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman1739 Words   |  7 Pagestragic hero a common world of mischance.† When analyzing Arthur Miller’s â€Å"Tragedy of the Common Man†, it is easy to see the differentiation between the modern hero and the classic Greek hero. In the first paragraph of his essay, Arthur Miller, in summary, states that the overriding view in tragedies is that commonplace citizens’ lives are so ordinary that they do not seem tragic (Miller 1833). However, Miller disagrees with that point of view, stating in his second paragraph, â€Å"I believe that the commonRead More Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller Essay1241 Words   |  5 Pages Death of A Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, is a play based on the turmoil within an average American family. Miller wrote Death of A Salesman easily showcasing the elements of drama. I was easily able to follow the plot, identify with his characters, and picture the setting. The main theme of the plot seemed to be Willy reaching for the American Dream. Financial success, business success, outwardly perfect family, revered by your peers, and in general respected by all. EarlyRead MoreLiterary Analysis: Death of a Salesman Essay1705 Words   |  7 Pagesyou end up worth more dead than alive, (Miller, 98). This quote was spoken by the main character of the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman: Willy Loman. This tragedy takes place in Connecticut during the late 1940s. It is the story of a salesman, Willy Loman, and his family’s struggles with the American Dream, betrayal, and abandonment. Willy Loman is a failing salesman recently demoted to commission and unable to pay his bills. He is married to a woman by the name of Linda and has two sonsRead MoreEffectiveness Of Redefining Failure By Julia Baird1263 Words   |  6 PagesRedefining Failure, it is important to note the effectiveness the article has, because of the way the author constr ucts the article. As the author begins her introduction she makes sure to grab her audience with an illustration from the novel, â€Å"Death of Salesman†. She presents her argument by saying that the novel was written 60 years ago. Stating, that because of the difference in society, failure is now viewed completely different than it was before. Furthermore, she explains that the main characterRead MoreComparative Essay; Things Fall Apart1664 Words   |  7 PagesFather-Son Relationships The parent-child relationship plays a large role in various literary works. The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, both explore the dynamic of many parent-child relationships. Death of a Salesman regarded the troubling relationship that Willy Loman, an unsuccessful Salesman, had with his two children Biff and Happy. Similarly, in Things Fall Apart it described the life of a man named Okonkwo who had much controversy when itRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1216 Words   |  5 PagesArthur Miller’s 1949 creation, Death of a Salesman, is adapted for the small screen by German director Volker Schlà ¶ndorff. This 1985 made-for-television film stars Dustin Hoffman as protagonist William â€Å"Willy† Loman. Kate Reid, John Malkovich, and Stephen Lang round out the Loman family in the roles of Linda, Biff, and Harold Happy, respectively. The film closely follows Miller’s original work as it tells the story of Willy, an overworked and underappreciated salesman, losing his grip on reality and

Self Concept Paper Free Essays

Self Concept Paper Although, many people like and dislike many of their physical appearances they have to cope with the fact that they can not change them and that their unique characteristics make them who they are. My favorite characteristic is my hair; I like my hair because it is long and curly. I can do a number of different styles with my hair such as straightening it, making it wavy or leaving it curly. We will write a custom essay sample on Self Concept Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now I’ve never been bothered with my hair because my hair is unique and not many people have the type of curls that I do. Another one of my favorite characteristics is my eyes and eyelashes. I like my eyes because they have a nice shape; like an almond their not to big nor are they too small. My eyelashes are super long, I cut them in fourth grade because I thought they were too long but luckily they grew back at a good length. I also like my legs; I like my legs because they have a nice muscle tone and their not to big. One of my traits that I don’t like is my teeth. I don’t like my teeth because I have a gap. They’re not that bad because they’re all straight but my gap irritates me bad. My feet is another characteristic that I don’t like about myself, the reason I don’t like my feet is because is because they’re too wide and my toes are chunky. Even though, we like to think we don’t relate to anyone and we’re our own person; the truth is that we do, humans share many traits with each other. I like to think that I am caring, hardworking and honest. I’m thoughtful because I care for other people; I like to know what’s going on with people and if something is on their mind. I’m a hard worker because I strive to do my best at anything I do, I don’t like to see myself fail at any goal I’m trying to accomplish. I’m truthful because I’ve been lied to as a child and in the past. The feeling of being lied to hurts, it makes someone feel as though their feelings or emotions don’t matter and that their not strong enough to handle the truth. Me personally, I would never want to lie to someone and put them through anything they shouldn’t have to go through. One bad thing about me is that I’m judgmental, I judge people before I even get the chance to meet them or even know what their like. If I see someone I stereotype them and until I really get to know the person well, I always just have those thoughts. Another thing about me is that I’m naive. I believe anything anyone tells me; someone can tell me there’s a fire in my house while I’m in it and ill say â€Å"where? † The worst thing about me is my attitude. I have a bad attitude and if I don’t like someone it definitely shows, but I have frequent mood swings. If I’m having a bad day or someone frustrated me, half my day will be ruined and ill take it out on everyone else but not intentionally. I have a well rounded personality, I feel as though I’m a easy person to get along with; I’m helpful, friendly, and trustworthy. I like to be beneficial to anyone who needs it, everyone needs a helping hand every once in a while and need someone to help them get on their feet; I like to be that person. I’m extremely outgoing I like to have a good time and enjoy myself know matter where I’m at. I don’t like anyone feeling left out so I always try to make the person I’m with have as much as a good time I’m having. Having someone who is dependable is important. Everyone needs that one friend who they can run to and tell all there secrets to and not second guess them even telling a soul, I feel as though I’m very reliable. A few negative personality traits I have are being shy, stubborn and not talkative. I’m very timid around people I don’t know or around people I feel uncomfortable with, but once I get to know you very welcoming and outgoing. If I don’t know you, I wont talk to you or try to conversate with you, I’m not talkative to people I’m not familiar with. The worst personality trait I have is being stubborn. If I could change me being stubborn I definitely would. Being obstinate can cause a lot of conflict especially with other obstinate people; if things don’t go my way I become highly frustrated very fast. I interviewed three people and how they view me as an individual, I wasn’t too surprise with the responses I received because I can see why they would think that way about me. Some positive things that were said about me are that I’m very responsible, dependable and hardworking. I, myself had also thought I was hardworking; I like to achieve all my goals and get everything done. I’m reliable because everyone knows if they ask me to do something and I’m able to do it, it will get done. That’s sort of where my perfectionist kicks in, where everything has to be done right and in order. A few negative things that my family thought was being hardheaded, impatient and having a bad attitude. I admit that I’m hardheaded because I don’t listen to what people tell me even if they know for a fact it’s a bad decision. I like to make my own mistakes and learn from them because if you don’t learn from your mistakes you’re going to keep making them. I also agree that I’m intolerant because I have no patience to wait for anything. I get easily frustrated when something takes longer than it has to. I take my school work and jobs very seriously, so when it comes to school I work I don’t play around and try my hardest to do everything the way it’s suppose to be and to do everything on time. I’m extremely hard working; I strive to do my best in any and everything I do so I can make something out of myself. I’m a very driven person when it comes to something important because if you loose sight of the big picture, your goals or ambitions you will be lost in the long run and it will take you longer to get to where you want to be. I’m so determined to make something of myself because my whole life I’ve seen my family struggling just to make ends meet and I don’t want to see myself in their shoes, I want to succeed and be someone in the future. I do have a few negative attribute when it comes to performance at school or work, just like everyone else. I’m easily sidetracked because when I’m focused on something I want done and another thing pops up or needs to be done such as cleaning, phone calls or picking up my sister I’ll do it with out finishing the first thing I was doing. I’m most distracted when I’m in school because if I get a text message or phone call while taking notes or listening to a lecture I loose concentration. Being a procrastinator is the worst trait I think I could have picked up on because I throw important things to the backburner, thinking I will do it when I’m ready or when I’m finished with something and I end up forgetting about it all together. I’m often sluggish because I go to school Monday through Thursdays and work everyday, so sometimes I won’t finish or accomplish many things such as homework, projects or studying because I just want sit around, rest or sleep all day. Throughout the day, I’m a pretty laid back relaxed person. I get things done in that process though. I keep myself motivated because if I’m not motivated I won’t succeed but I’m a very organized person and that shows that I care about my priorities. My biggest problem that I’ve dealt with my whole life is waking up late. I tend to sleep in or over sleep most of the time, that’s not a good attribute because I waste my entire day by sleeping and sometimes I’m late to class and miss parts of a lectures. Throughout the day I find myself cleaning up after my self and other all the time. I’m too much of a clean freak, I usually annoy people who are with or around me and because I’m always straightening up the house. A non-clean person irritates me to death, it makes me mad when people don’t clean up after their selves. When it comes to mental functioning I like to think of myself as a multitasked person, very curious and spontaneous, independent, antagonistic, horrible at math and having a bad memory. Being able to do a lot of things at once is a positive attribute to me as long as your doing all the things correct; I can get many things done at one time while doing an impressive job. I like the fact that I’m curious and spontaneous, I like to discover and try new things because we only live once. My friends love hanging out with me and anyways ask me about things to do. I’m a very independent person who doesn’t like to seek help from others, I like to do things on my own and provide for myself, it makes me feel good. I feel as though I need to work for what I want because nothing is ever given to you. Math is my worst subject and I’ve always struggled with it throughout my life, but I’ve come to realize that I am not the only person with that problem. Now that I am in college and need to take 3 more semesters of math I seek help from the math tutors and by doing that I have learned a great amount, math is beginning to become understanding instead of stressful. Having a bad memory is a bad attribute that I have I can never remember important things that I’m suppose to remember. If I’m having a conversation with someone and I get sidetracked I’ll forget my entire train of thought. My friends and family get frustrated with me when I forget things. How to cite Self Concept Paper, Papers

Diabetes As A Public Health Priority In Singapore †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Diabetes As A Public Health Priority In Singapore. Answer: Introduction There have been a revolutionary change in the health care industry in the past decade and the technological advances coupled with the pharmaceutical progress. However, with the advances in the health care industry, the lifestyle characteristics of different socio-economic groups have changed as well. In the present age of acute competition and struggle for existence, the society and the inhabitants of the society, rarely has time left for the personal care and health promotion. Along with the modernization in the society, the impact is visible on the health of the populations by the virtue of lack of health promotional and preventative behaviour and bad lifestyle choices (Png Yoong, 2014). As a result, the health care needs of the target populations are diversifying every day and in form of new challenges, new public health priorities and diseases are becoming rising concerns for the health care authorities. For instance, diseases like obesity, cardio-vascular diseases, renal diseases, hypertension, anxiety, and much more are rising every hour; and among all the rising health concerns, diabetes can be considered a very grave public health priority that has raised the concerns of global health authorities. The prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are enhancing every day, regardless of age, sex, socio-economic conditions and even demographics (Ng et al., 2015). This essay will focus in the current status of diabetes as a public health priority in Singapore, a prime example of a developing nation with alarming incidence rate of diabetes; and will attempt to evaluate the government initiatives taken and its progress linking it with Ottawa charter and the psychosoc ial developmental stages of Erikson. Literature review Elaborating on the current status of diabetes in Singapore, it has to be mentioned that diabetes can be considered as one of the most growing concerns in the health care scenario of the nation (Wang et al., 2012). As per the recent statistics, Singapore is the nation that is considered to be the microcosm of the Asian continent, and the lifestyle characteristics of the rapidly aging population of the nation is a more or less sedentary, the concept of health promotion behaviours and exercise is not very popular in the Confucian society of the nation. As a result, obesity and related health problems like diabetes, cardiovascular and renal diseases are a growing concern for the national health and welfare authorities (Phan et al., 2014). According to the Odegaard et al. (2010), Singapore is a rapidly progressing nation with the second highest diabetes incidence rate among the developing nations and the annual percentage of diabetes incidence has mounted to an alarming figure of 400000. It has to be mentioned in this context that the health surveys have revealed that one in three adults aged 18 to 69 in the Singapore are at very high risk of developing the disease (Yang et al., 2011). The health survey has indicated the fact that the number of type two diabetics under the age of 70 is predicted to rise to a surprising number of 670000 in the coming decade and very alarmingly, it has been predicted to rise to one million by the year of 2050. On a more elaborative note, it has to be mentioned that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is significantly higher for the Singaporeans than that of type 1 diabetes or as popularly known as juvenile diabetes. Along with that, a recent survey report from the national health and welfare authorities has indicted at the fact that the total population of diabetics in the nation constitutes of more than 90% of type 2 diabetes and only close to 8% of type 1 or juvenile diabetes (Brostow et al., 2011). Hence, from the statistics that has been analysed for this assignment, it can be concluded that the burden of type 2 diabetes is far more on the target population in case of Singapore. Now type 2 diabetes targets the adults and the major contributing factors behind the development of this health adversity is the sedentary lifestyle, lack of proper dietary plan, junk eating and most of all obesity. Hence the promotional and preventative strategies or measures for controlling the ever rising concern of type 2 diabetes in Singapore needs to focus on changing the health behaviours and enhancing the awareness of the target population involving the adults belonging to the age group of 18 to 69 (Odegaard et al., 2010). In order to fight the battle against the alarmingly rising statistics of diabetes in the nation, many measures and strategies have been taken by the government. The ministry of health or MOH has focused on programs and plans that urge the citizens to take control of their lifestyle and in turn their health. There have been preventative initiatives taken by the health promotional board in the hopes of incorporating healthy changes to the lifestyle and dietary preferences in an attempt to reduce the risk of type two diabetes in the target population. These initiatives include Healthier Dining Programme, Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme and the Healthier Choice Symbol identifier programs. The main focus of these programs are to propel the awareness in the target population about the risk of diabetes and incorporate healthier eating habits and according to the authors, Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Campaign has been very effective in propelling the general awareness in the target popul ation (Mcqueen De Salazar, 2011). Aside from the preventative campaigns, the diabetes management initiatives by the government are needed to be highlighted here as well. The Diabetes Prevention and Care Taskforce has allied with the beverage and packaged food product manufacturers of the nation in an attempt to reduce the rate of sugar consumption by the nation while consuming the packaged food items. Seven industry leaders including the Coca-Cola, FN Foods, Malaysia Dairy Industries, Nestle, PepsiCo, Pokka, and Yeo Hiap Seng have collaborated with the government and had been successful to reduce the consumable sugar percentage to 12%. This has been very effective in controlling the nationwide sugar consumption rate in the target group, and in turn has contributed to reduce the blood sugar levels of millions of Singaporeans (Moh.gov.sg. 2018). Lastly, the nation has been taking commendable efforts to improve the lifestyle and dietary habits of the citizens by revolutionizing the eating habits of the citizens as well. Health promotional campaigns have been devoted to this particular strategy of the nation, the healthy dining program. Along with encouraging the nation to start eating healthy, this multidisciplinary program has also emphasized on the exercising and physical activity and fitness of the target population. The National Steps Challenge has been the biggest milestone in the process of encouraging the citizens to participate more in the fitness programs. Moreover, the incorporation of the Smartphone technology and wearable devices has contributed in the success of the programs further (Moh.gov.sg., 2018). Now considering the possible benefits and the pitfalls of the elaborate diabetes prevention and management programs designed and implemented in the past couple of years it has to be mentioned that the success that the government programs and strategies has garnered is commendable. However, there is still enough room for more improvement and there are many milestones to cross before the Singapore government can sit back and rejoice in the success of their strategic actions and initiatives. According to the Marcia (2010), it can be stated that the gap left behind in the overall success of the preventative campaigning is the lack of linking to the psychosocial development and welfare needs of the target group. According to the Ottawa charter successful and effective health promotion can be subdivided into five separate areas, building healthy public policies, creation of supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and reorienting health care serv ices according to the prevention or illness and health promotion. Now, elaborating on the policies and programs that Singaporean government has initiated, the focus is on two of the areas, building healthy public policy and reorientation of the health care to prevent diabetes and promote healthy behaviour (Mcqueen De Salazar, 2011). However, the government is taking no sincere community oriented actions and supportive environments where the diabetics and target groups at risk are united as a community that helps and collaborates towards a unanimous and collaborative success. Along with that, the emphasis on personal skill development is also very minimal, there is need for more workshops and campaigns where the target groups should be educated to keep track of their own blood sugar levels and calories consumed. Insulin administration is also a sector that many diabetics struggle with; there is need for enhanced effort on addressing these individual health needs and skill enhancemen ts (Mcqueen De Salazar, 2011). From another point of view, any behavioural change, regardless of it being a personal or associated with health promotional behaviour, it is dependent on the psychosocial development and judgment of the individuals. According to Erik Erikson, there are 8 separate stages of psycho-social development of a human being and each stage has a different impact (Newman Newman, 2017). In this context stage 6, 7 and 8 relate with the target population under focus of this study, and there are implications of these developmental patterns are significant. It has to be mentioned that familial relationships and long-term relationships have a strong relation to the well-being and health related resilience. The promotional strategies should focus on the earlier developmental stages so that the children and adolescents can develop healthy eating habits from the very beginning and the risk factors can be avoided from the early stages (Batra, 2013). Conclusion On a concluding note, it has to be mentioned that wellbeing and better life constitutes psychological, physical, societal and spiritual health for the different individuals. The health promotional campaigns should also focus on the psychosocial and spiritual welfare of the target groups. The health strategies implemented by the Singaporean authorities focus on only physical health and behavioural change, and hence for more success scope the strategies should be aligned with the psychosocial development of the target groups. References: Batra, S. (2013). The psychosocial development of children: implications for education and societyErik Erikson in context.Contemporary education dialogue,10(2), 249-278. Brostow, D. P., Odegaard, A. O., Koh, W. P., Duval, S., Gross, M. D., Yuan, J. M., Pereira, M. A. (2011). Omega-3 fatty acids and incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.The American journal of clinical nutrition,94(2), 520-526. Marcia, J. E. (2010). Life transitions and stress in the context of psychosocial development. InHandbook of stressful transitions across the lifespan(pp. 19-34). Springer, New York, NY. Mcqueen, D. V., De Salazar, L. (2011). Health promotion, the Ottawa Charter and developing personal skills: a compact history of 25 years.Health promotion international,26(suppl_2), ii194-ii201. Newman, B. M., Newman, P. R. (2017).Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning. Ng, C. S., Toh, M. P. H. S., Ko, Y., Lee, J. Y. C. (2015). Direct medical cost of type 2 diabetes in Singapore.PLoS One,10(3), e0122795. Odegaard, A. O., Koh, W. P., Arakawa, K., Yu, M. C., Pereira, M. A. (2010). Soft drink and juice consumption and risk of physician-diagnosed incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.American journal of epidemiology,171(6), 701-708. Phan, T. P., Alkema, L., Tai, E. S., Tan, K. H., Yang, Q., Lim, W. Y., ... Chia, K. S. (2014). Forecasting the burden of type 2 diabetes in Singapore using a demographic epidemiological model of Singapore.BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care,2(1), e000012. Png, M. E., Yoong, J. S. Y. (2014). Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle modification versus metformin therapy for the prevention of diabetes in Singapore.PLoS One,9(9), e107225. Potvin, L., Jones, C. M. (2011). Twenty-five years after the Ottawa Charter: the critical role of health promotion for public health.Canadian Journal of Public Health/Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, 244-248. The Fight Against Diabetes. (2018).Moh.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 February 2018, from https://www.moh.gov.sg Wang, Y., Lee, J., Toh, M. P. H. S., Tang, W. E., Ko, Y. (2012). Validity and reliability of a self?reported measure of medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Singapore.Diabetic Medicine,29(9). Yang, Y., stbye, T., Tan, S. B., Salam, Z. H. A., Ong, B. C., Yang, K. S. (2011). Risk factors for lower extremity amputation among patients with diabetes in Singapore.Journal of Diabetes and its Complications,25(6), 382-386.

Do you have a well designed organization free essay sample

9 tests of organization design: framework to guide the evaluation of an existing organizational structure, or to create a new one. The organizational design of most companies is the result of an haphazard evolution rather than a systematic, methodical planning: as a consequence, strategic initiatives fail because responsibilities are unclear, and opportunities are not exploited for lack of managerial attention. This framework is a structured approach for analyzing all the key variables of organizational success. 4 â€Å"FIT† tests: initial screen for design alternatives, to evaluate whether the structure support the intended strategy 5 â€Å"GOOD DESIGN† tests: tool to refine a design by addressing potential problem areas, and establish the right amount of hierarchy, control and process. A] Getting the FIT right 1) The Market Advantage test (does your design direct sufficient attention to your sources of competitive advantage in each market? ) Organizational structures should be shaped in order to enable and support the market strategy, but in reality often they end up being an obstacle. Define target market segments Determine if the design direct enough attention to each market segment. The ideal situation is the one where you have a single unit dedicated to each segment/initiative. In reality, however, it is required also coordination across units, much more difficult to manage than collaboration within units. Therefore, the design should enable the unit managers to give enough attention to maintain the required cross-border links. 2) The Parenting Advantage test (does your design help the corporate parent add value to the organization? ) Corporate HQ play different roles in different companies. This test helps to make sure the design is tailored to support these roles. Define and list the corporate-level activities that provide real value to the overall company Determine if the design gives enough attention to these value adding tasks. This test helps to see more clearly the organizational implications of the strategy, in order to shape an organizational design that is aligned with the corporate-level strategy. 3) The People test (does your design reflect the strengths, weaknesses and motivations of your people? ) When an organization has troubles, executives are often quick to point the finger at people. In reality, if an organization is not suited to the skills and attitudes of its members, the problem lies with the design. Look at your key players (top management, people with critical roles) For each, ask if the design provides the appropriate responsibilities and reporting relationships. * when creating a new structure, you also need to look at the losers: employees who will lose status or power in the new setting. Losers can become blocks to change. You need to decide how to deal with them, either trying to buy their support or letting them go. 4) The Feasibility test (have you taken account of all the constraints that may impede the implementation of your design? ) All companies have constraints, both external (e. g. laws) and internal ( e. g. information systems). They need to be assessed early in any design effort, to understand their potential role as obstacles. Constraints can be divided in 4 categories 1. Government regulations: can preclude certain design elements (ex: in some countries, it is impossible to do businesse without a JV with a local partner). 2. Stakeholders’ interests 3. Information system 4. Culture B] Refining the Design 5) The Specialist Cultures test (does your design protect units that need distinct cultures? ) Inside companies, there may be units that should maintain distinct cultures: you need to make sure that those â€Å"specialist cultures† are sufficiently insulated. Identify specialist cultures Assess wether any of them is in danger of being dominated or contaminated. If there is this risk, first look for ways to protect it without changing the basic structure, for example granting the unit more autonomy or educating the rest of the company. If these protective measures fail, you will need to change the design. 6) The Difficult-Links test (does your design provide coordination solutions for the unit-to-unit links that are likely to be problematic? ) Some collaboration among units is often necessary. The majority of these links are best handled through self-managed networking among units: whenever possible, units should be left free to set-up coordination mechanisms, rather than impose them. However, sometime can arise â€Å"difficult links†, which calls for specially designed solutions. Similarly to the case above, you can make refinement to the basic structure, but sometimes it is necessary a substantial redesign, such as brigning the units involved into the same division, or set up a new unit. ? Taken together, the 2 tests help to judge how narrowly or broadly to define unit responsibilities, getting the right balance between specialization and coordination 7) The Redundant-Hierarchy test (does your design have too many parent levels and units? ) Big companies can have many parent units: it is important to determine whether each parent level is needed and, if so, whether it has the necessary resources. Identify each level and unit in the hierarchy of the company Evaluate if each one has clear and distinct parent propositions: if a level is redundant, you should think about removing it. ? as a rule of thumb, we can assume that a new level is worth keeping if it is able to improve the performance of the units reporting to it by 10% Determine if every level with compelling parenting propositions has access to the skills and resources it needs. The purpose of this test is to spot major problems, it doesn’t require too detailed analysis. 8) The Accountability test (does your design support effective controls? ) The purpose of this test is to ensure that every unit has appropriate controls over its performance. When assessing accountability, focus on 2 common sources of problems: a. Look at units with shared responsibilities. Shared responsibilities dampen accountability: each unit can easily blame the others in case of problems b. Look at units whose performance is difficult to measure: no objective outcomes, or too costly data collection (i. e. basic research). If full solutions are not possible, you have to rely on subjective judgment, that is satisfactory only if the manager in charge of the evaluation has deep operating knowledge; otherwise, you may need to change the design 9) The Flexibility test (does your design facilitate the development of new strategies and provide the flexibility required to adapt change? ) A well designed organization is fit for the present as well as flexible for the future. Of course, to ensure innovation and flexibility organizations need flexible minds, but it is also necessary a suitable design. The test is aimed at detecting any major organizational roadblocks along the path to the future. Start by assembling a group of managers from across the company Ask them to create a list of future opportunities Check if the current design would support or impede those opportunities. If you find that the current design could be an obstacle, explore possible modifications. * It is possible to follow a similar approach in examining flexibility, identifying a bunch of organizational changes that may be required, and identifying any part of the org. that would be resistant to changes. The power of this test is given by its iterative nature: once you’ve gone through the 9 tests, coming up with a number changes, it is possible to run the test again, to ensure that the changes made to pass one test haven’t caused the design to fail in other tests. To get the best design, it is necessary to take the broad view, working step by step through the myriad of trade-offs