The article written by Dizikes focuses on the topic of vehicle automation technology and its potential implementations in the future. The author explores the process of how multiple levels of automation systems are developed at Toyota Research Institute (TRI), described by MIT professors John Leonard and Avinash Balachandran. During the MIT Mobility Forum, they presented the Guardian automation system designed to assist human drivers without fully replacing them. The article also provides insight into presenters’ perceptions of vehicle automation systems and their potential use in the near future.
The article states that Leonard and Balachandran utilize a realistic approach to developing automated vehicle systems. Thus, they deliberately focus on the integration of AI systems for the purpose of providing aid to drivers in cases of a safety hazards. According to Dizikes, Leonard expresses skepticism toward fully automotive systems and a future where humans will not need driver’s licenses because that future is not coming in the nearest time. Therefore, engineers prioritize focusing on amplifying human possibilities through the concept of “human-centric intelligent driving” (Dizikes). The widespread application of the concept is expected to result in a reduced number of traffic fatalities and an increased level of traffic safety.
The article provides a significant argument in favor of multiple levels of automation systems in vehicles. The article also touches on the subject of ethics in technology related-concerns. The perspective of the wide application of fully automotive vehicles raises several ethical concerns about privacy and lack of clarity for ordinary users in AI systems. Moreover, modern society avoids the widespread introduction of fully automated systems because it is uncertain whether mistakes of ai-based decisions are under the responsibility of the manufacturer. The solution proposed by Leonard and Balachandran offers a partial solution to ethical concerns regarding the widespread adoption of automated systems in vehicles as it prioritizes systems with multiple automation for traffic safety.
The second article, written by Chu, focuses on the new technology of remotely controlled telerobotic systems for the treatment of patients with aneurysms or strokes. The technology allows surgeons to control a robotic arm in remote hospitals to perform endovascular intervention operations. The procedure is usually performed with manual intervention, where the surgeon uses a wire to eliminate blood clots. Manual clearing of the blockage performed on a patient experiencing a stroke in a critical time period can save the patient’s life and provide safe preservation of the patient’s brain functioning.
The new technology utilizes a magnetic guidewire and modified joystick to ensure the safe operation of the blood clot removal process. The wide implementation of technology will partially solve the problem of procedure accessibility, as neurovascular surgeons are rare in hospitals in remote locations. Considering the development of a fully automotive robotic system for endovascular interventions, the technology creators commented that robots lack sophistication compared to surgeons; therefore, robotic systems are more useful for assistive purposes (Chu). Thus, the article provides a valuable example of how technology can be used for solutions related to emergency-qualified medical care in remote locations.
The information from the two articles presents significant value for IT professionals as both articles demonstrate extraordinary approaches to technology development and its practical application in daily life. The first article by Dizikes emphasizes that IT professionals must operate in the existing world, and prioritizing problem-solving can be more effective than the development of technologies designed in isolation from reality. The second article clearly demonstrates the difference that remote operation technology can make for the population’s well-being. The combination of knowledge from the two articles will help me develop more unconventional approaches in my practice as an IT professional.
Works Cited
Chu, Jennifer. “Joystick-Operated Robot Could Help Surgeons Treat Stroke Remotely.” MIT News, 2022. Web.
Dizikes, Peter. “Driving a Human-Machine Collaboration.” MIT News, 2022. Web.
This week my Learning Team was performing the task of searching for appropriate sources. The main task was to check credible sources on the topic each one was proposed and to collaborate in that work. It should be mentioned that collective work, even if the tasks are initially different, is more effective than individual work. Moreover, it is proved by the scientists that the collaboration in literature search is really helpful in scientific fields (Creamer, 2001, p. 133). On the one hand, we had different tasks, like information security, human resource information system, decision support systems, learning management systems and learning content management systems, and medical information system. On the other hand, the research was provided in the same online database and the same field of knowledge and if one came across the information useful for another scholar, he/she shared it. We sat in the same room while information was searched and it helped us. Moreover, each student has different searching techniques and we managed to learn other methods with the help of scholarly collaboration.
My field differs greatly from the fields of other team members in the way that my topic is more specified. Therefore, I often came across sources that did not relate to the medical field but were extremely useful for other team members. The same happened when other team members came across a source that was devoted to information systems in the medical field. They kindly provided me with those sources. Thus, it happened that we managed to look through much more sources while working in a group. It was really important for us to communicate while searching for the information. This is the core element for scholarly collaboration in the literature search.
But, when the identification of the resources was completed, and after the analysis of the collaborative work was done, it could be stated that the work could have been provided more effectively. There are a lot of different methods which may increase work productivity is scholarly collaboration while sources search. Firstly, different libraries and databases can be used. This may increase the area of the research. Secondly, we could use World Wide Web as many academic sources may be considered there. It is just necessary to use an appropriate search engine and choose the information which is credible and may be trusted (Chang, 2001). Thirdly, e-mail and even Skype are the tools that are created to make communication on the distance easier. This may be helpful for us as it allows sharing information fast and without much attempt being in different parts of the city. Moreover, the information considered online may be easily delivered to the person who needs it. Finally, it can be useful to divide the information we need on the sections in the future. Searching for literature in one field, we may create a discussion list and identify the information which is common for everybody. This information should be also divided among the members of the team according to some specific characteristics. This technique may help reduce time on information search and increase the number of considered sources. The specific information should be checked separately, still, the scholarly collaboration should remain as there is always a possibility that one may come across the source helpful for others.
Reference List
Chang, G. (2001). Mining the World Wide Web: an information search approach. New York: Springer.
Creamer, E. G. (2001). Working equal: academic couples as collaborators. London: Routledge.
This reflection paper is based on the interview with the Muslim Students Association officer Maria. The work aims to assess how the organization experiences collaboration with other communities, how it operates and what it strives to achieve.
The MSA is active in the US and Canada. The organization was originally founded in 1963. In the present day, the MSA operates as a network of independent communities in universities and colleges across the US and Canada. Chapters of the organization operate in various famous institutions such as the MIT and the Yale University. The MSA works to unify Muslim students of all cultural backgrounds, protect and support the traditions of Islam. It also strives to dispel the stereotypes regarding Islam and raise money for charity. According to Maria, the MSA runs various events including Hijab Awareness Day, Islam Awareness Week and a charity drive called Fast-a-Thon. The Fast-A-Thon, which takes places during the month of Ramadan. It is an event which encourages students of all religions to fast for a day, according to Islamic traditions and donate money to various charities. The Islam Awareness Week is a regular event, held since the early 1990s. During that week, the MSA offers information about Islamic traditions and ideals through various sources, including interactive games, free literature, and speeches by the prominent Muslim figures. The Hijab Awareness Day is a part of the global initiative, which encourages women of all denominations around the world to try and wear a hijab. The event aims to help women understand how it feels to wear it and support the idea that wearing hijab can be a personal choice. These initiatives are aimed to raise public awareness of Islam and clarify to the people of other religions the meaning and importance of various Islamic traditions. They also serve to bring together and unify the Muslim students.
Maria also mentioned that collaboration with other student organizations is extremely important for the MSA. She states that it helps their organization maintain open-mindedness and learn about other’s thoughts and beliefs. Presently they focus on collaboration with Hindu Students’ Community. Both organizations share the goal of maintaining the students’ connection with their faiths. HSC runs similar initiatives including the Mantra Project, aimed to help people learn Hindu mantras in Sanskrit and Hinduism Awareness Week, which seeks to correct common misconceptions about the religion and explain its rites and traditions to the general public. With both goals and methods so similar the collaboration between MSA and HSC makes a lot of sense. Sharing experience and supporting each other can help both organizations develop their programs and initiatives, making them more efficient.
The MSA fulfills two important roles. Firstly, it brings Muslim students together, helps them stay in touch with each other and their religion. Secondly, it works to improve the public image of Islam, which suffered terribly due to the recent terrorist activity around the world. The MSA works to clarify what Islam really is and teach people more about this religion. They try to coordinate their efforts with other similar organizations, like HSC, which helps to improve the work of both organizations as they strive to achieve similar goals for two different religions. Even facing prosecution by the government which went as far as the organization being monitored by the New York Police Department, the MSA continues its mission to support Muslim students.
The paper is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the case of mental health counselor scatterdesk. A significance of confidentiality is discussed. A possible way of how each of the professionals is supposed to act in order to avoid ethical and legal issues is displayed. An impact of the quality of interaction is determined.
Moreover, the functions of each professional are introduced. Furthermore, the approaches to solving the problems are presented and evaluated. Finally, methods of measuring the effectiveness of communication are described. As for a second part, it is provided in a form of a referral letter to the psychologist.
The primary objective is to refer Jessica Green to a doctor for psychological assessment. The background information and information about the current condition are provided. Moreover, after the assessment the results of the measurements are requested for the further evaluation to determine future actions.
Mental Health Counselor Scatterdesk
Firstly, it is important to discuss with the client with whom the information could be shared (Herlihy & Corey, 2015). Addressing the level of confidentiality of the information is vital, as it helps to avoid legal and ethical issues. In this case scenario, a counselor is able to contacts other counselors. Moreover, according to the moral and legal principles a counselor can share confidential information with the child therapist, psychologist, and social worker since they are the other prominent members of the team.
However, it could be done only with the permission of the client (Herlihy & Corey, 2015). A quality of interaction will have a dramatic impact on the conclusion. As with the quality of information, higher volumes of data would be analyzed. This fact will allow the counselor to provide better solutions and answers to the student’s questions.
Speaking of the functions, a child therapist could assess a physical and mental condition of the children and determine a fact of abuse. He has a right to report it to the counselor. Consequently, he plays a role of the transmitter of the information. In turn, a counselor has to know the principles of the law and can contact a legal advisor in order to avoid and fix ethical and legal issues (Remley & Herlihy, 2014).
Psychologist plays a role of the indicator whether the client is able to act according to the universal principles. As for the social worker, she can prevent legal and ethical issues, as she has a legitimate power. One way to resolve the issues is to pay close attention whether all aspects are solved with the accordance with ACA Code of Ethics and laws (Remley & Herlihy, 2014). Another approach is to contact a legal representative if the situation is uncertain.
Finally, it is necessary to follow the ACA Code of Ethics in the first place in order to prevent the issues. One of the effective methods to communicate with the team members is team briefing. The primary goal is to organize the meeting and provide brief information about the progress and legal aspects (Vidhu, 2012). Sending sessions’ reports is another way to effective communication. Both of these aspects will encourage quick interactions and will help to avoid legal and ethical issues.
There are several ways to evaluate the strategy. Firstly, some approaches to propose relevant solutions will be established, as more information will be acquired, and detailed methods could be designed. Moreover, explanation of the process, which subordinates will use to reach the goal, allows the counselor to understand whether the final aim was understood. Moreover, the counselor could provide possible ways to achieve the objective (Čiutienė & Petrauskas, 2012).
References
Čiutienė, R., & Petrauskas, P. (2012). Management by Objectives Using Coaching. Economics and Management, 17(4), 1159-1563.
Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). ACA ethical standards casebook. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Remley, T., & Herlihy, B. (2014). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Vidhu, G. (2012). Efficient Communication for Effective Supervisors. Asia-Pacific Science and Cultural Journal, 1(1), 1-8.
The approaches towards education and perception of the education process evolved and changed over time as different ideas, concepts, and theories emerged. However, one aspect that continues to affect this domain is the personal mindset or mental paradigm of an educator, which has a direct impact on his or her decisions. This element is especially evident in contemporary society where children come from diverse families and collaboration with parents is vital. Deficit mentality can severely impair an educators ability for objective evaluation and should be mitigated by applying the collaboration paradigm to foster communication and cooperation with diverse families in early childhood education.
Defining “Deficit Mentality”
Unarguably, the environment within a classroom is influenced by a specific mindset that a teacher has, which defines the general practices and approaches to building a cooperation with families of the schoolchildren. This issue can be reflected in a teacher’s willingness or lack of desire to invite parents to observe the classroom and share ideas that help understand a child’s cultural and social background better. Amatea (2013) refers to this concept as a mental model and argues that each individual, including educators and family members, base their decisions on a specific mental map.
Due to the fact that people are raised in different conditions that incorporate specific cultural or person-specific influences, it is common for teachers and parents to have different views of a child’s education process. Hence, when developing a strategy for working with students or introducing a new practice, it is necessary to consider the implications of these mental models because it will help explain the underlying ideas and ensure that the chosen approach is appropriate within a particular context.
Considering this, it is not surprising that some educators or parents only approve of conventional educational strategies and overlook the benefits of new approaches. Deficit mentality can be defined as a failure to recognise specific factors or see beyond a particular mental paradigm (Lombardi, 2016). Thus, it is possible that a teacher subjected to deficit mentality will be unable to communicate with families in modern society because of the differences in the cultural backgrounds, race, gender, or specific beliefs.
Communication within the Deficit Mentality
Considering that collaboration with family members is key to building a successful education process, it is necessary to define and explain the implications of deficit mentality as it may seriously obstruct the educator’s ability to implement novel approaches to teaching. Issues and cases where deficit mentality can be severe because failure to recognise other views, opinions and ideas can impair a teachers ability to work with diverse families, which is a necessity for contemporary early childhood education. One major issue of this approach is connected to the specifics of the mental paradigms, which implies that an individual believes that his or her view of the situation is correct (Amatea, 2013). This approach results in an individual seeing the support for the chosen approach and failing to account for ideas and suggestions offered by others.
Within the context of deficit mentality, the separation and remediation paradigms should be explained as these are the basic concepts explaining the family-school partnerships. According to Amatea (2013), an educator that uses a remediation paradigm focused on fixing a particular education issue or a social problem that a student may have.
Within this context, the inclusion of children in the process of designing an approach that would help reduce the identified problem is not considered, especially in early childhood and families are involved only when necessary. The separation paradigm implies that families and home environment should be used to prepare a child for school; however, the two are considered as separate aspect’s of a child’s life (Amatea, 2013). From this perspective, parents fully trust and reliability on a teacher’s expertise to guide and teach their children and no input from them is required.
The forms of communication that take place within the deficit mentality and remediation and separation paradigms are insufficient for fostering an adequate learning environment for early childhood education. For instance, within the remediation paradigm, the educators contact parents only to resolve a problem and suggest a particular resolution (Amatea, 2013). Within the context of the separation paradigm, communication and collaboration between the school and parents in unnecessary because the two entities are separate from each other. While these paradigms are used by some educators, it is necessary to recognise the value and impact of continuously including families in the education process, which is impossible in the context of these two approaches.
Alternative suggestions, which will be discussed more in-depth in the final part of this essay, include objectively evaluating personal mental paradigm and working towards applying ethical and professional principles when collaborating with families. A teacher should be aware of both his or her mental paradigm and that of others, including educators in the same school and parents to be able to interact with these people for the benefit of students.
Professional and Ethical Standards
The approach that educators can use to overcome the deficit mentality incorporates the application of ethical and professional standards. For instance, from an ethical perspective, mutual respect is imperative for ensuring that schools and parents can agree on a particular issue. Next, no assumptions that do not derive from factual information should be made about student’s families, since this approach is subjected to the bias of mental paradigms. Inclusivity and treating all families equality are other approaches to ensuring adequate cooperation with parents.
The professional code of ethics outlines the main principles of work that educators should follow; however, evidence suggests that most teachers interpret professionalism differently. Ward (2018) argues that early childhood practitioners define the notion of professionalism differently when considering the process of interacting with parents. This data was obtained by interviewing a number of early childhood teachers and parents and implies a need to dedicate additional attention towards promoting a unified approach to building a school-family relationship. Hostettler Schärer (2018) states that within the group of the examined teachers, the majority was concerned with their image as a professional.
More importantly, the perception of the professionalism as a concept affected the structural elements of the education process, which implies that more attention should be dedicated to emphasising a particular standard that incorporates collaboration and engagement of families.
Principle 1.6 and 1.7 declared by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (n.d.) implies that educators have to maintain a professional relationship with students’ parents and work in collaboration with families and communities. These principles involve recognising that students come from diverse backgrounds and environments as well as continuously communicating with parents to provide them with up to date information about their children and the educational process.
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (2014) provides similar suggestions with an emphasis on working with communities to promote successful early childhood education. This element is part of the professional practise lens focus, and unarguably requires a teacher to be able to respect and understand the perspectives of different people.
Within the context described above, proper communication with families becomes essential for adequate schoolchildren education, especially in early childhood where insights from parents can help build a better environment for studying. This communication should be done in an ethical and professional manner, and hence, the use of a collaborative paradigm is necessary. According to Amatea (2013), the collaborative paradigm is a result of the ecological system theory that implies that in early years education a child is influenced, either directly or indirectly, by the different levels of environments he or she is in. This includes both the classroom and home and using this perspective; one can argue that working in collaboration with families is necessary to ensure that different levels complement each other and aid the learning process.
Partnership with Families
One issue described in the reading materials that can provide a better insight into the topic of deficit mentality and family collaboration is a lack of recognition of the same ex marries that can subject children to a variety of issues. Amatea (2013) argues that one should not confuse family-school collaboration with involvement of family members into the process of education. The definition of a traditional family incorporates two individuals who are heterosexual, and it implies that other types of marriages seen in contemporary society do not correspond with this notion.
The impact of deficit mentality and paradigms of remediation and separation on diverse families is complex and affects the communication process between educators and families. Ethical partnerships that promote the collaborative paradigm described above can be reviewed using examples of R.J.E or same-sex marriages. The R.J.E. approach implies a shift from authoritative and restrictive practises within the school system towards democratic and permissive.
Varnham, Evers, Booth and Avgoustinos (2015) explain this approach by stating that most educators fail to engage students in the process of education, which is consistent with the remediation paradigm. As a result, most individuals feel disengaged from their education. While in the context of early childhood education the democratic practices advised by the authors may be challenging to carry out, it is possible to ensure that parents participate and provide their input into the process.
In essence, an ethical partnership incorporates the application of professional standards and moral principles. Additionally, viewing same-sex marriage through one lens can bias the teacher’s perception of this family. The example of same-sex families can be used to illustrate further the problems connected to the impairment of communication because of deficit mentality. A teacher using remediation or separation paradigm would exclude the parents from the process of education, failing to account for the need to incorporate the specific’s of a child’s background into the process of education. Parke (2013) argues that diverse contemporary families should be recognised by educators since according to the author’s survey, approximately 80% of respondents in Canada believe that a family constitutes of two heterosexual individuals.
Considering this information and the mental paradigms described above, an educator that works with same-sex families can encounter difficulties in communication, which can be combatted by adhering to professional and ethical standards of teaching. Hence, the deficit mentality impacts the positive relationship with diverse families by limiting the educators’ ability to recognise the different cultural and social backgrounds of a child.
Suggested Approaches
The literature that focuses on collaboration practices within the educational environment for quickly childhood age provides the following suggestion that helps promote communication and overcome the deficit mentality – using ethical principles when working with families, family-centred practice and strength-based approach. Gregg, Rug and Souto-Manning (2011) state that the family-centred practices that incorporate a strength-based approach can aid in resolving various issues. The idea behind this approach is that parents should have more control over the education process through constant involvement and an opportunity to express their child’s background.
Murray, Mcfarland-Piazza and Harrisson (2015) examined the implications of parent-education communication within the context of preschool education and found that families that were more engaged in helping their children study at home were more likely to collaborate with educators actively. However, as the child went from preschool education to school, the involvement decreased despite the variety of strategies reported by educators to promote engagement.
Using the example of same-sex marriages, which illustrated the issues with the deficit mentality, one can argue that children from these families can encounter difficulties in a society that focuses on the concept of a nuclear family. Crouch, McNair, and Waters (2017) argue that based on their observation, children raised in same-sex marriages develop well but are subject to stigma, which can affect their mental health and educational progress. This issue was previously discussed in this paper, and the recommendations provided by the authors imply the need to collaborate and focus on the needs of these children to ensure that they do not feel different in the school setting.
Conclusion
Overall, within the context of early childhood, a collaboration between educators and families is vital. However, proper communication between the two entities can be obstructed due to the mental paradigms of both parties, and a teacher should consider the implications of the deficit mentality when approaching the problem. The collaboration paradigm allows overcoming the issue by introducing strategies for cooperation when planning and designing educational activities.
References
Amatea, E. S. (2013). Building culturally responsive family-school relationships (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Pearson.
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2014). Australian professional standard for principals. Web.
Crouch, S. R., McNair, R., & Waters, E. (2017). Parent perspectives on child health and well-being in same-sex families: Heteronormative conflict and resilience building. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 22002-2214. Web.
Gregg, K., Rugg, M., & Souto-Manning, M. (2011). Fostering family-centred practices through a family-centred portfolio. The School Community Journal, 21(1), 53-70.
Hostettler Schärer, J. (2018). How educators define their role: Building ‘professional’ relationships with children and parents during transition to childcare: A case study. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26(2), 246-257. Web.
Murray, A., Mcfarland-Piazza, L., & Harrisson, L. (2015). Changing patterns of parent-teacher communication and parent involvement from preschool to school. Early Childhood Development and Care, 185(7), 1031-1052. Web.
Parke, R. (2013). Future families diverse forms, rich possibilities. Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.
Varnham, S.; Evers, M., Booth, T., & Avgoustinos, C. (2015). Valuing voices: Restorative practices and student participation in decision making in seven Australian schools. Connect, 214/215, 3-15.
Ward, U. (2018). How do early childhood practitioners define professionalism in their interactions with parents? European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26(2), 274-284. Web.
Crises may occur under a wide variety of circumstances; therefore, crisis intervention strategies are equally variable. Taking into consideration the fact that counselling is an evidence-based approach to helping clients change their maladaptive behaviors to productive ones, counselors must be able to quickly recognize faulty perceptions of the people seeking help in order to provide them with effective strategies for dealing with acute stressor events (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). The aim of this paper is to explore, dynamic interactions between the following elements in the crisis intervention: a counselling professional, a client, and ecological-cultural determinants. The paper will also examine the role of empathy and collaborative efforts in the counseling practice.
Analysis
Empathy is an essential component of the therapeutic relationships that facilitates the development of a favorable environment for change. The concept of empathy is used to describe “the ability of the counselor to truly understand the client from within the client’s perspective” (Kottler & Shepard, 2014, p. 114). Unlike sympathy, which is utilized for a demonstration of concern for clients’ pain, empathy is necessary for making an objective analysis of their statements (Kottler & Shepard, 2014).
From this vantage point, it is possible to recognize two levels of empathy—primary and advanced accurate empathy. Primary-level empathy is based on the communication of the basic counselor’s responses to a client’s statements, whereas advanced-level empathy refers to the communication of deep insights into a client’s experience, which is beyond their own awareness (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). Feelings of disconnection and hurt, which arise as a result of incorrect interpretation of a client’s inner experiences, may become barriers to the development of empathy. In order to overcome this and other barriers, a good counsellor should immediately apologize for their mistakes.
Crisis intervention theory recognizes that in order for a counselor to intervene appropriately, they have to understand the dynamic interaction between a counselling professional, a client, and ecological-cultural determinants (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). Unlike traditional counseling, crisis intervention aims to decrease immediate suffering prior to referring a client for a long-term treatment. Therefore, counseling professionals have to recognize worker-client as well as ecological-cultural determinants of a crisis in order to understand their meaning for a client and their impact on the development of stress (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). Such three-dimensional approach to the study of a crisis allows counsellors to critically examine contextual dimensions of a problem, thereby giving them a chance to control some of them.
During the course of their practice, counselors might engage in collaboration or consultation with two or more parties in order to share resources and decision-making responsibilities (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). Collaborative interactions are based on voluntary participation and might involve colleagues, communities, and families among others. Collaboration presupposes the development of a strategic plan, which is based on a shared vision, action, and evaluation of progress. Sometimes counselors have to participate in specialized teams that share one or several common goals and are committed to active collaboration. Members of such teams have clearly defined responsibilities and strategies for the attainment of their goals (Kottler & Shepard, 2014).
Conclusion
The paper explored the differences between primary and advanced levels of empathy, which is considered an essential component of the therapeutic relationships that facilitates the development of a favorable environment for change. It also discussed the main elements in the dynamic interaction in a crisis and explicated collaborative interactions in which counselors engage in over the course of their practice.
Reference
Kottler, J. A., & Shepard, D. S. (2014). Introduction to counselling: Voices from the field. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Brooks Cole.
The connection between the process of maintaining homeland security and the development of the private sector might seem tenuous at first, yet a closer look at the subject matter will show that there is, in fact, a distinct link between them. Malware-related innovations in the contemporary realm of the digital world represent an imminent threat to the security of U.S. citizens. To reduce the impact of the specified dangers, one will have to consider opportunities for enhancing the current infrastructure of homeland security (HS). Furthermore, the strategies aimed at improving both the cyber- and physical security of American citizens will have to be compatible. Seeing that a massive part of the critical infrastructure on which the efficacy of HS hinges belongs to the private sector (PS), encouraging its growth must be deemed as an essential objective. Since the PS controls most of the urban infrastructure, the latter resides outside of the range of the government’s influence Therefore, collaborating with the PS is likely to help reinforce the efficacy of the existing defense system, especially as far as cybersecurity issues are concerned.
2014 QHSR: Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security
Since the knowledge of the critical infrastructure, which the private sector owns, for the most part, is crucial in preventing acts of terrorism, a collaboration between HS and PS is essential to ensuring the well-being of American citizens For instance, access to power grids will help reduce the possibility of a cyberattack that may cause the deactivation of the grid The identified threat is especially important to address since most industries and infrastructures rely on the power grid, and interfering with it may affect not only security but also the lives of American citizens. For example, a sudden power cut is likely to have dire consequences in a subway or in an operating room
Cooperation with the PS, in turn, is likely to help prevent the scenarios similar to the one identified above. The cooperation of HS and PS is likely to lead to rather impressive results. Particularly, PS and HS may develop a coherent plan for managing emergencies such as the malfunctioning of the state power grid due to a cyberattack. The fact that smart technologies give attackers more opportunities to extend the range of negative effects that their attacks will have on the American infrastructure should also be deemed as a reason for concern. The PS, in turn, will provide the information that will be necessary to reduce the threat and avert possible cyberattacks. Furthermore, the temporary source of power can be located and used successfully in the identified scenario once the PS will offer its resources to the HS.
Creating a new agency that will address the issue of cybersecurity should be regarded as a necessity at present. Furthermore, multidisciplinary cooperation between the specified body and the private sector must be enhanced to ensure that the threats to the U.S. infrastructure are averted. The specified step will help the HS take control over the process of protecting the power grid, at the same time giving the PS enough room for running essential operations for delivering crucial resources and maintaining the information management process consistent.
It should also be borne in mind that a range of current systems, especially the ones that are used in the industrial control realm, are very old and require an urgent update. Thus, not only is their efficacy highly questionable but they may also pose a threat to the well-being of American citizens due to numerous opportunities for breaking or disrupting them. Herein lies the importance of introducing a multidisciplinary team that would carry out regular assessments of the system and introduces changes to it so that it could remain updated in accordance with the latest technological requirements. The specified goal can be attained by reinforcing cooperation between PS and HS since the former will provide essential data and tools for efficient information management, whereas the latter will create the environment in which threats are eliminated. Therefore, encouraging cooperation between PS and HS will lead to a significant drop in the possibility of a terrorist attack. The specified change must be regarded as a massive improvement given the increasingly high possibility of the infrastructure disruption by terrorists.
2014 QHSR: Securing and Managing Our Borders
Apart from maintaining the safety of the state infrastructure at the required high level, the cooperation between HS and PS is likely to enhance the efficacy of managing state borders. The specified phenomenon can also be explained by the opportunities for controlling the infrastructure and, therefore, restricting opportunities for criminals to trespass the U.S. borders.
Securing the integrity of the state borders is essential to preventing the instances of trespassing and the issues that it entails, e.g., smuggling, illegal immigration, etc. The process of merchandise processing becomes significantly easier once the support of the PS is provided to the HS. By cooperating with the PS, the HS will be able to control the flow of goods much more efficiently. The specified strategy will contribute to not only preventing illegal activities but also help increase the quality of products since imported goods are going to be filtered based on a much more rigid set of standards.
The cooperation between the HS and the PS will also help enhance the cybersecurity levels required to prevent the instances of trespassing. Cooperation with the PS will contribute to receiving the required information in a timely manner and processing it efficiently to produce a viable solution Furthermore, in collaboration, the HS and PS can determine behaviors and other issues that can be defined as indicators of the threat of terrorism. The standardization of regulations aimed at securing the process of passing the U.S. border will also create opportunities for reducing the possibility of a terrorist attack. The identified actions, however, can only be implemented once the HS starts cooperating with the PS since the latter has information about the state infrastructure. Therefore, loopholes in the current state security system can be identified and addressed successfully.
The PS also provides extensive opportunities for increasing resilience levels among the U.S. population. Having a vast amount of resources for supporting community members, the PS can facilitate a faster recovery from outcomes of trespassing, such as the possibility of illegal actions and activities that may jeopardize the well-being of U.S. citizens. The PS can mobilize its resources to address and prevent the scenarios that may lead to destructive and devastating effects.
Furthermore, the cooperation between the PS and the HS is likely to lead to the reconsideration of the current set of values and standards adopted by the HS. Consequently, outdated principles that no longer apply to the contemporary global environment will be filtered and removed from the setting of the organization. Replacing the current framework with a more relevant and up-to-date one is bound to create better opportunities for securing the state boundaries.
Conclusion
Although the connection between the HS and the PS might seem as tenuous, the PS provides a plethora of options for reinforcing the efficacy of the existing information management framework and the state infrastructure. As a result, a range of threats associated primarily with cybersecurity can be eliminated. Therefore, a collaboration between the HS and the PS must be encouraged.
Apart from creating chances for managing infrastructure-associated issues more efficiently, cooperation with the PS will help the HS utilize cutting-edge technology that will accelerate a range of processes occurring within the HS framework. For instance, the process of data collection, its further analysis, and the identification of future security management strategies based on the output will be enhanced to a considerable extent. The specified change is bound to lead to a significant improvement in the levels of security.
Furthermore, the information management issue needs to be brought up as one of the key factors that necessitate collaboration between the HS and the PS. The PS offers innovative tools for data transfer, processing, and acquisition. Consequently, the PS and the HS must join their efforts in enhancing the security levels within the state. As a result, a significant number of threats that affect the well-being and security of American citizens can be eradicated from the political, economic, and financial landscape of the United States. Therefore, a collaboration between the HS and the PS should be viewed as a necessary step in enhancing security.
Bibliography
Bullock, George Haddow, and Damon P. Coppola. Homeland Security: The Essentials. Cambridge, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2014.
Clark, Robert M., and Simon Hakim. Cyber-Physical Security. New York, NY: Springer, 2017.
Gordon, Lawrence A., Martin P. Loeb, William Lucyshyn, and Lei Zhou. “Externalities and the Magnitude of Cyber Security Underinvestment by Private Sector Firms: A Modification of the Gordon-Loeb Model.” Journal of Information Security, vol. 6 (2015): 24-30.
To become a good leader and run a financially successful organization, one must learn how both for-profit and nonprofit companies function. By understanding their economic objectives and functions, as well as how they manage financial concerns, one can develop a general idea of challenges and essential characteristics of the global economic environment. Therefore, the opportunity to explore the wide range of factors that affect nonprofit and for-profit organizations in the global market is one of the essential aspects of the course. Also, it was crucial to learn about the differences in the functioning of for-profit and nonprofit companies. The obtained information helped analyze the two types of organizations respectively, paying close attention to economic, financial, social, legal, and technological factors that affected them (Vlachvei, Notta, Karantininis, & Tsounis, 2016). Finally, the third and the most important insight into the nature of for-profit and nonprofit organizations concerned a detailed analysis of the types of leadership and management styles that could be used when running the specified types of entities.
Nonprofit Organizations and Local Governments: Relationships
Nonprofit organizations (NOs) are linked directly to local authorities since there is a strong need to create a support system in which NOs can function. For instance, local authorities can be very helpful in providing NOs with a chance to build a strong presence within a particular community. Furthermore, local authorities can provide NOs with the leeway for handling political issues that may arise within the chosen setting. For instance, NOs can manage a wide range of bureaucratic hindrances with the assistance of local authorities. As a result, corporate processes will occur at a faster pace, and NO will start its operations faster. Finally, local governmental authorities can provide NOs with access to a vast number of resources, including the ones that are linked to philanthropy (Shick, 2015). Thus, cooperation with local authorities is essential to NOs’ functioning and success in the selected community. It should be noted, however, that the specified opportunities raise a range of ethical questions regarding the allocation of state financial resources.
My Thinking and Learning Process and Implications for Future Learning
Obtaining new information and knowledge about NOs, their specifics, differences between NOs and for-profit companies, and other important data, played a crucial part in shaping my understanding of contemporary business and economic concerns. When considering the advantages of the course, I must mention that it encouraged me to think critically and creatively at the same time. Moreover, I finally managed to introduce orderliness into my thinking process by starting it with the identification of the problem, proceeding to the identification and analysis of important factors, and concluding with the location of available opportunities for improvement. The learning process has also experienced significant changes, becoming more independent. The observed alteration can be seen as a significant change since it will empower me to become responsible for learning new information and training new skills. By engaging in meta-cognition, I managed to deconstruct my learning process, thus becoming capable of managing it more effectively.
Learning Experiences, Derived Learning, and Appreciation
The learning experiences during the course were rich and inspiring. A profound analysis of case studies showed how business-related dilemmas of varied nature could be resolved in the context of an NO. Also, the importance of derived learning must not be left unappreciated. The active use of simulations allowed embracing a vast array of factors affecting decision-making in the environment of an actual market. Thus, derived learning served as the platform for constructing professional knowledge about NOs. The multifaceted nature of the process, in turn, contributed to the promotion of interdisciplinary learning. The resulting in-depth analysis of the issues faced by NO owners in the global market showed the importance of a detailed assessment of crucial economic factors and the application of relevant theories (West & Worthington, 2017). Overall, the course made me appreciate the discipline greatly. Although I used to dismiss the importance of NOs in the realm of the global market, paying attention mostly to for-profit companies, the course showed me that NOs also play a crucial role in the market development.
Learning Experience, Past Learning, Life Experiences, and Future Goals
Due to the multifaceted process of learning, I managed to make an array of connections between the information provided during this course and the knowledge acquired from other courses. For example, the issues associated with risk management in a business environment were related directly to the factors to which an NO is exposed in a particular market. Therefore, background knowledge proved to be essential to the understanding of the course material. Additionally, the life experience that I have had so far appeared to be essential for completing the course. After having observed several issues within an NO, I was ready to participate in simulations and other activities that required fast thinking and analytical skills. Finally, the course had a direct connection with my future goals. Although I do not see myself as a leader of an NO currently, it is important to learn about the factors that defined the efficacy of organizations in the global economy. The course has provided crucial knowledge about managing a company in the global market, and I will use it to succeed as a business leader.
References
Shick, R. A. (2015) Government contracting: A public solutions handbook. New York, NY: Routledge.
Vlachvei, A., Notta, O., Karantininis, K., & Tsounis, N. (Eds.). (2016). Factors affecting firm competitiveness and performance in the modern business world. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
West, L. L., & Worthington, A. (Eds.). (2017). Handbook of research on emerging business models and managerial strategies in the nonprofit sector. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
In your opinion, is there any benefit to these organizations working together? Explain. Which organization do you think should play a greater role in aiding economic development? Why?
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were both formed at an international conference in Bretton woods, New Hampshire, USA (Gautam 231). The main objective of forming them was to induce prosperity in the global economy and to establish a foundation for economic growth and development. IMF’s main laid out roles include stabilization of the exchange rates in the globe, administering loans to countries, and offering advice on loan repayment to help countries establish strong economies. The World Bank, on the other hand, has a role of promoting economic development, eradicating poverty, and hunger among the less developed countries. Despite the difference in goals and functions, the two institutions do join forces regularly and work together on different initiatives. This collaboration is better as the two can achieve more when in cooperation (Guder 104). Benefits of collaboration between the World Bank and the IMF
The collaboration of staff: The staff in IMF and those in the World Bank can share ideas o different subject matters and together achieve more than if there was no collaboration. The IMF staff can assess the financial states of projects while the bank staff provides advice on economic reforms to be taken. Thus, the two can cooperate well to evaluate their lending programs more closely (Gautam 234).
Reduction of debt burdens: Just as in the HIPC initiative and the MDRI, the IMF and the World Bank work together to ensure that the external debt burden is moderated.
Interaction between economists: collaboration between the World Bank and IMF provides opportunities for economists to meet and exchange views and convictions about the economy’s progress. These economists, once brought together, can cooperate and brainstorm on the challenging issues, thus coming up with solutions (Gautam 239).
High coordination level: The level of coordinating activities increases when there is a cooperation between the two institutions. During annual General meetings, cooperation ensures that programs that will bring about economic growth are identified with certainty, and that finances required to carry out the projects are allocated efficiently.
Better management consultation and improved awareness of organizational structures: The combined management of the two institutions are able to issue joint reports and consult each other on major issues, thus an improvement on overall decision making. They can also enforce programs to ensure that the staffs appreciate the Funds and the Banks organizational structures. This will ensure that the staff are well informed of their goals and are equipped with all that is needed to achieve those goals.
Monitoring Progress of the millennium development Goals: With the cooperation of the bank and the Fund, the developing countries and the developed ones can be well evaluated in both the financial side(by the Fund) and the Economic side(by the bank) to assess whether the millennium goals are being achieved (Wild and Han 27).
In my opinion, the World Bank is the one that has a major role in helping to achieve economic development. This is because, from its roles, we can see that its objectives are mainly edged towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
If you were a World Bank donor, would you support the HIPC Debt Initiative or argue against it?
The goal of the HIPC Initiative is to ensure that those poor countries are not left with unmanageable debt burdens. The initiative has the benefit of reducing poverty in those lee developed countries and ensuring economic growth is enhanced using the debt relief proceeds. HIPC also ensures that public debt management of those poor countries is improved, and this will, in turn, ensure that the World Bank does not suffer from bad debts (Guder 104). If I were a donor at the World Bank, I would agree to the HIPC initiative. This is because it would be better than the borrowers are given debt relief and then instead given lower interest rates because, in the end, they might just never pay at all (Guder 108).
Do you think the World Bank and the INF should write off the entire debt of the countries? What are the pros and cons of this approach for debt relief?
Total cancellation of the poor countries’ debt by the IMF and World Bank would not be favorable to the two institutions. This is because it would require donors and guarantors to contribute finances towards assisting in protecting the financial viability of the lending sources. Thus, 100% debt cancellation might have negative effects on both the lending institutions and the borrowing countries (Wild and Han 33).
Pros and cons of the debt relief approach
Pros
Predictability: HIPC initiative proved that debt relief might be more predictable than other sources of financing. Debt relief provides governments with an opportunity to invest in long-term projects as compared to regular financing, which is volatile.
Neutrality: Whereas other forms of aid will tend to fluctuate with Economy cycles, debt relief is neutral and non-cyclical. This means that debt relief reduces the impact felt from Economic deterioration. Without debt relief, recovery from periods of Economic deterioration would be difficult and costly for the borrowing countries.
Transaction costs involved while administering debt relief are low: unlike other forms of aid, debt relief reduces forms any possible disruptions in the use of the funds provided. The costs involved in the administration of the aid are also minimal as compared to other forms of debt.
Country ownership: Debt relief offers opportunities for reforming governments to improve the living standards of their people. This is because it allows countries to utilize their own resources in the ways that they deem to be best possible. Thus, a country is able to have that sense of belonging due to the control it has over its own decisions.
Cons
Possible future effects on the international financing institutions: The World Bank and the IMF are fully committed to the debt relief programs and play a major role in ensuring the success of those programs. This is mainly through the provision of advice and finances. Thus increased debt relief, such as the 100% cancellation, could cause financial problems to the institutions leading to a major hindrance in fulfillment of their roles (Wild and Han 37).
Lack of a clear distinction between levels of debt and levels of poverty. If debt relief is to be funded depending on the standards of governance and previous reforms already established with IMF, then the program would only benefit the countries with a lower poverty level leaving the ones with the greatest need poorer (Guder 101).
Countries, which are poor in controlling their expenditures or those that are weak in administering poverty reduction methods are unlikely to change their strategies even after the administration of the debt relief programs. Thus, it is likely that no benefits will be obtained from funding such countries (Guder 102).
Works Cited
Gautam, Madhur. World Bank. Operations Evaluation Dept. Debt relief for the poorest: an OED review of the HIPC initiative. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2003. Print.
Guder, F. Leonie The administration of debt relief by the international financial institutions: a legal reconstruction of the HIPC initiative. New York: Springer, 2009. Print.
Wild, John, and Han, Jerry. International Business, (5th. ed.). New York: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
The article by Wilson (2012) explores the role of the nonprofit organization in the process of delivery of language access services to persons with limited English proficiency in the setting of Philadelphia. The author utilizes the results of several interviews, findings of document analysis, and secondary data to establish a connection between the public and the nonprofit sources sectors in the facilitation of English access. According to Wilson (2012), the language barrier is one of the most significant and persistent barriers to the integration of immigrant residents. In addition, while the importance of language proficiency in the domains of health care, public safety, and the legislature is firmly established by numerous studies, little is known about the specificities of language access practices in relation to public administration.
Based on the information obtained from the available sources, Wilson (2012) concludes that local government and the nonprofit organizations in the studied area share responsibilities in the process of improving language access to the population with limited English proficiency. The identified collaboration is based on the capability of the nonprofit organizations to provide community outreach and public support as well as on the access to protocols and municipal directives provided by the local government and, to some degree, a favorable political climate. In addition, the author identifies a distinctive approach utilized by the nonprofits in the engagement of language access services, namely the informal practice of immigrant accompaniment (Wilson, 2012). Considering that the local administration is usually unable to provide sufficient coverage of the issue on its own, it would be reasonable to identify the potential collaborative agents and allocate responsibilities in the most efficient way.
The article demonstrates sufficient level of compliance with academic standards. The author provides all the necessary operational definitions and thoroughly explores the topic of language barriers in the process of immigrant integration in the literature review. All sources of information used in the paper are cited in accordance with scholarly standards. The legal and social backgrounds of the study are provided. The choice of research approach, sources of data, and the process of data analysis are clearly stated and substantiated with evidence. The conclusions are laid out clearly and comprehensively. Three sets of recommendations based on the findings are provided in the discussion section.
Two points should be considered with regard to the information provided by the article. First, it would be interesting to explore the effects of the proposed collaboration outside the language acquisition domain and determine its broader influence on the social spectrum. Second, since the author does not provide information on the limitations of the study, it would also be necessary to discuss the possible factor of researcher bias, especially considering the absence of robust metrics confirming the success of the improved language access.
Reference
Wilson, C. E. (2012). Collaboration of nonprofit organizations with local government for immigrant language acquisition. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 42(5), 963-984.