Evaluate the training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluate the training - Essay Example iduals to provide better customer services, there are some sound principles that the evaluation process must be based upon and some four levels of evaluation that need be considered. Sometimes trainers fail to address the importance of having the evaluation process fit the specific standards and levels of training. Drawing generalizations from a single evaluation design fails to identify the strengths and weaknesses of training given there are different objectives. Level one- results/impacts: this level measures the effectiveness of the evaluation initiative. While this level is the most difficult to consume while compared to the other three, it is evidently the most important as it underscores the whole process. Measurement of results of the learning process might be looked at in the following perspectives: Level three, on the other hand, looks at leaning in the extent to which the learners were able to improve their knowledge and skills and where they also had a change in attitudes after going through the learning process. The last levels measure how the learner perceives and maybe react to both the learning and performance process. The level, known as motivation, makes use of attitude questionnaires passed out after the completion of the learning

Safety and Medicare Requirements Essay Example for Free

Safety and Medicare Requirements Essay Introduction The first SMART goal is regarding the elevated re-hospitalization rates, and how as a team we can reduce these numbers by 10% within the next six months. I chose this goal because the Medicare requirements are changing for reimbursement rates and we are a non-for profit organization where cutting down on any costs are important for not only our organization but also for our patients. Secondly, the next SMART goal I chose was how we can increase the compliance of incident reports being filled out for patient injuries, falls and infections by 10% within the next 3 months. I chose this SMART goal because this is an area in which we have been falling behind and this is an lack in compliance. Case Managers and Triage Nurses are responsible for making sure these are completed and returned to our managers in a timely manner. Goal 1: Leadership Development The complete Hospice Team; Social worker, CNA, Pastoral Care, Bereavement Services, RN/ Case Manager and Volunteers will all work together to achieve this goal by beginning teaching at time of admission. The Hospice team will all work together in order to make sure that the patient will die comfortably in their home with their family by their side and will do this without returning to the hospital. .We will provide the family with all of the information and support they will need in order to feel comfortable in keeping their loved one at home without returning them to the hospital. They will have access to a nurse 24 hours a day/7 days a week through our Triage line and will be reminded at each visit to use this form of communication in order to prevent re-hospitalization. Peer-Reviewed Articles In the article, Hospital Readmission Rates in Medicare Advantage Plans, this article speaks about the changes that CMS (Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services) put into effect this year (2013). The changes are to establish a hospital readmissions reduction program in Medicare, when implemented, the program reduces payments to hospitals based on their readmission rates by 20% and hospital-acquired conditions or adverse events among patients with Medicare by 40%. This was a good article to explain why as a non-for profit organization, we must drop the rehospitalization rates. Credible Websites The website, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, has several tools and articles speaking of how to avoid rehospitalizations. They have materials, documents and tools called, State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations or STAAR. This aims to reduce avoidable rehospitalizations and is focused on how to improve transitions of care and how to address systemic barriers to reducing avoidable rehospitalizations. This is helpful and useful information to use for our SMART goal, as it provides a lot of tools we could use in reducing our rehospitalization rates. Informational Expert Amy Suydam RN CPS (Clinical Practice Supervisor) is over the Hospice RN/ Case Managers at our office. Amy and I discussed the SMART goal about rehospitalization rates and how we are going to decrease these rates. Amy agrees with all of the teaching with the family from admission on and making them aware of all the assistance they have available from our services. One thing she also did mention is that we could do more in-services with our staff regarding this and make sure everyone does understand the decline in reimbursement rates that we are receiving at this time compared to the costs to the organization. Summary In searching information regarding the rehospitalization rates and the drop of Medicare reimbursements for those stays, I was surprised to have found there was so much information regarding this and the tools that are out there also to use. My direct supervisor, Amy Suydam RN CPS, was also helpful in bringing up some things not thought of that would assist in the success of our organization in achieving our goal of decreasing rehospitalizations  by 10% within the next 6 months. Amy Suydam RN CPS did not feel this was an unreasonable timeframe and decline to be looking towards. This is something we have discussed many times as our organization is non-for profit and this is very important that we follow through with our teachings and get all the information put out there that we can regarding these changes. Goal 2: Organizational Planning The RN/ Case Managers and Triage Nurses will increase their compliance of filling out incident reports that are being filled out by 10% within the next 3 months. The nurses will fill these out for patient falls, infections and injuries in order to be compliant with our Quality Assurance Goals. Peer-Reviewed Articles In the article, Introducing incident reporting in primary care: a translation from safety science into medical practice, the authors speak of how most reported incidents were ones that caused little or no injury to the patient. They found those providing care were able to deal with these incidents more actively and taking less of their time away from their other work. This explains how important it is to report any and all incidents. This is what the organizational SMART goal pertains to is making sure we are compliant in reporting everything that should be reported. Credible Websites The website that related to the SMART goal is called, Quality and Safety. This website provides useful tools and different ways that may be effective in reporting incidents easier which may in turn provide increased compliance. On this website they say EHR’s are the best way and more people are compliant when using the electronic reporting. Informational Expert Amy Suydam RN, Clinical Practice Supervisor reviewed the SMART goal and while reading through the plan of action, she declines any further recommendations. She feels everything has been covered even compared it to our policy for incident reports for our organization, and found nothing further at this time. Summary In researching the SMART goal of increasing compliance of filling out  incident reports, it is amazing how many people are non-compliant. This can lead to legal actions at times and other problems. This is a very important part of Quality Assurance within our organization. .Will hold in-services, cover the company’s policy and explain why incident reports are filled out for and how to properly fill them out and who they are turned in to. We will strive to meet our goal of decreasing non-compliance by 10% within the next 3 months. References Qual Saf Health Care 2004; 13: 281-286 doi:10.1136/qshc.2003.009100 Marieke, Adriana. (2013). introducing incident reporting in primary care: a translation from safety science into medical practice. Health, Risk Society, 15(3), 265-278 doi:10.1080/13698575.2013.776014 Lemieux, Jeff. (2012). Hospital Readmission Rates in Medicare Advantage Plans. American Journal of Managed Care,18(2), 96-104 N.A. (2009). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality. Retrieved from http://www.innovations.ahrq.gov/content.aspx?id=3287

Norwegian Health System Analysis

Norwegian Health System Analysis Organization and governance: The Norwegian health care system can best be described as a semi decentralized system. Municipalities are in charge of primary care and have the full responsibility of organizing health services on a local level. Since 2002, the four regional health authorities (RHAs) have been under state supervision and have been held responsible for specialist care. Counties’ role is confined to statutory dental care. The Ministry of Health is responsible for regulation and supervision of this framework, however many missions and assignments are mandated to different subordinate organisms. The ministry regulates the activities of its subordinate organisms through direct controlling in the case of national agencies, ownership arrangements such as budgets and letters of instructions (RHAs), and legislation and money-related instruments (counties and municipalities). It guarantees that health and social services are granted in line with national acts and regulations. Recently, inter-sectorial coordination has become an important tool in order to hinder social imbalances in health. In addition, more consideration has been dedicated to improve resource allocation (by emphasizing on the importance of health technology assessment and through priority settings), quality outcomes and patient safety. Since the beginning of 21st century, reinforcing patients’ role has become a top priority, for instan ce, through an overarching patient rights legislation handling issues such as patient choice and complaint procedures. Overview of the health system: The hierarchical structure of the Norwegian welfare system is based on the moral principal of equal access to healthcare services for all inhabitants irrespective of their social, economic or geographical residency. Norway has a three-tier healthcare system: national/state, regional health authorities (RHA) and municipalities (fig1.2). Counties play a small role in the health-care organization. The system is managed through an expansive number of acts and secondary legislation. Legislation mirrors the decentralized structure of the welfare system: specialist care is controlled by the Specialist Care Act of 1999 and the Health Authorities and Health trust Act of 2001, dental care is managed by the Dental Health Services Act of 1983 and primary care is regulated by the Municipal Health and Care Act of 2011. Other areas of care that encompass several hierarchical levels are managed by distinct acts: for instance, the Mental Care Act of 1999 and the Public Health Act of 2011. The government determines national priorities and the national budget is negotiated within the parliament. Almost all proposals presented to the parliament are studied in depth by an expert committee. The Standing Committee on Health and Care Services is in charge of matters related to health services, drug and alcohol policy, public health and pharmaceuticals. The overall responsibility for the health-care sector however, rests at the national level with the Ministry of Health and Care Services. The ministry determines the national health policy, prepares and oversees legislation, decides on the allocation of funds within the health sector (allocation of resources to health and other sectors is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance), and implements national health policy with the help of several subordinate institutions (Directorate of Health, 2012c). The Ministry of Labor plays an indirect role in the welfare system, essentially through the Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) that regulates various benefits regimens within the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), such as sick leave and disability compensation. The Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Health have been in charge of the healthcare budget in the overall NIS budget plan. This part of the budget is directed by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration HELFO. Historical Background: The directorate of Health was founded in 1945 and its work and the general health policy were inspired by the United Kingdom Beveridge Report (Kuhnle, 2006). The foundation of the NIS in 1967 (which was integrated into the NAV in 2006) was an imperative step towards attaining universal coverage of welfare services. The Regular General Practitioner (RGP) scheme was implemented, giving people the right to choose a general practitioner (GP) of their choice (to be subscribed on the GPs list). Since 2012, the Coordination Reform gave the municipalities a bigger financial responsibility regarding patients who are about to be discharged from hospitals. This reform also aims to amend coordination between the municipal level and the RHAs. Organization Central governance of the health system The ministry of Health puts national health regulations, elaborates major reforms and enforces their applications. The ministry via the RHAs has a direct obligation regarding the procurement of specialist care to patients. In addition, it has administrative control over a number of subordinate agencies (table 2.1, pages 21 and 47) Regional health authorities and hospital trust specialized health care There are four RHAs in Norway: Northern Norway RHA (Helse Nord), Central Norway RHA (Helse Midt Norge), Western Norway RHA (Helse Vest) and, the biggest, South-Eastern Norway RHA (Helse Sà ¸r Øst), covering nearly 55% of the population. The RHAs are in charge of the provision of specialized care and other specialized services including radiology, laboratory and ambulatory services. Presently, there are 27 health trusts managed by the RHAs. Counties dental care and public health In general, the Counties’ part in healthcare is restricted. They are primarily in charge of the procurement of statutory dental care. Municipalities primary care Municipalities are accountable for the procurement and financing of primary care. Moreover, they are accountable for a large scope of public health and preventive measures. Municipalities are not under the direct commands of the central authorities and have a lot of flexibility in arranging primary care services. Private health care sector The engagement of private actors in primary care is considerable. The majority of the general practitioner is self-employed. However, most GPs are integrated in the public system by contracting with municipalities. On the contrary, private pecuniary providers play a small role in the procurement of secondary care: less than 2% of hospital beds are in private profit-making hospitals. Radiology centers and laboratory services remain the major profit-making institutions (80% and 60% of GP referrals for respectively radiology and laboratory services were made to for-profit facilities in 2010) (Directorate of Health, 2012b). Associations of health care professionals The major associations are the Norwegian Medical Association (27000 members), the Dental Association (6300) and the Nurses Union (90000).These associations play a double role as trade union and professional associations. As professional associations, they are responsible for a large scope of activities, for example, trainings, education, health policies and ethics. As trade union, they aspire to protect and enhance the financial and professional interests of their members. Decentralization and centralization (3.3 pooling of funding) Scandinavian health care systems are often characterized as being run according to decentralized national health service (NHS) model: funding is raised by taxation and the main actors are public (Rice Smith, 2002). The twentieth century saw a considerable delegation of power from central authority to the municipal level, however both tendencies currently co-exist. â€Å"The funding system for municipalities was changed in 1986 when about 50 different earmarked grants were replaced by block grants† (Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, 2005). This reform granted municipalities a more prominent level of independence regarding resources allocation across services. Municipalities are also entitled to raise taxes in the interest of financing their activities. In addition, some further decentralization actions were implemented since the beginning of the 21st century. For instance, the 2000 reform changed the paradigm of hospitals’ management (day-to day running of the hospital is the responsibility of the general manager and executive board) (Johnsen 2006). On the other hand, centralization tendencies can be observed at the same time. The 2002 reforms transferred responsibility for second care from counties to the national level (state). The country was segregated into 5 RHAs (then reduced to 4 in 2007) and hospitals were organized as hospital trusts, which were founded at the same time (Hagen Kaarboe, 2007). (Sections 3.3.3 and 2.8.4) Planning The National Health Plans is the groundwork planning tool in the welfare area for the coming four years. The plans describe the existing status of the healthcare system, as well as the major challenges, and propose policy goals and actions aimed at meeting them (Nylenna 2007). Intersectoraility The coordination of the different measures aimed to improve the overall organization of the healthcare system relies on the interaction of various ministries other than the ministry of Health. The Ministry of Education is concerned with the forecasting of the health workforce, the Ministry of finance is involved through the taxation system and the Ministry of Labor is implicated in the NIS. Information systems: National registers gather an extensive scope of healthcare data and cover the entire population (table 2.2). Collecting data is compulsory for healthcare professionals and it doesn’t entail patients’ consent. At this date, there are 15 central registries in Norway. Hence, the quality of data in these registers is in general considered to be high (NIPH, 2009). Statistics Norway is the central institution in charge of gathering, examining, and publishing official statistics. Moreover, there are several medical databases (kvalitetsregistere) which gather data about health outcomes and other information concerning specific treatments or diagnoses. These databases give important information to evaluate the impact of different treatment strategies and provide valuable data for research and quality control. Health technology assessment (HTA) HTA is under the responsibility of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services (NOKC). This appraisal evaluates both the clinical and cost-effectiveness benefits of a medicine or procedure. The new system launched in early 2013 is backed by â€Å"mini-HTA â€Å"reports†(assessed at the level of local hospitals), as well as â€Å"full-HTA† reports carried out by the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NoMA) and the NOKC. The purpose of the â€Å"mini HTA† is to guarantee that patients have fast access to innovative and safe hospital treatments. Priority setting or resource allocation Regulation: Regulation and governance of third-party payers The NIS is the main third party payer in Norwegian welfare system. Its budget is under the control of the Directorate of Health (HELFO). Voluntary health insurance (VHI) is the only other third –party payer in the Norwegian system. Governance and regulation of specialist care We should to a previous section? The ministry of health is in charge of secondary care through RHAs. However RHAs are independent legal entities, governed by independent boards. The RHAs are responsible of health trusts but health trusts are also separate legal institutions with their own management an executive board. Regulation and governance of pharmaceuticals Regulation of pharmaceutical products The Norwegian Medicines Agency (NoMA) is responsible for granting/withdrawing marketing authorizations and is in charge of post-marketing pharmacovigilance. The regulation of pharmaceuticals comes into agreement with applicable EU regulations since Norway is a member of the EEA. Therefore, there are four relevant procedures that industries should use when requesting marketing authorization: the national procedure, centralized procedure, mutual recognition and decentralized procedures. Regulation of pharmacies and wholesalers The 2000 Pharmacy Act shapes the activities of pharmacies in Norway. This act remolded the pharmaceutical environment. First, pharmacist monopole was cancelled (only certified pharmacists can manage pharmacies, however any individual can possess the pharmacy). Second, the restrictions on opening new pharmacies were removed (until 2001 the NoMA adjusted the number of pharmacies). Hence, every drugstore must have two different licenses: one license to possess the pharmacy (the owner’s license) and the second to manage the pharmacy (the operating license). Third, drugstore chains are permitted. Pharmacists have been granted the right for generic substitution since 2001, though only drugs available on the â€Å"substitution list† published by NoMA can be substituted. Only a couple of internet pharmacies are available in Norway and are only permitted to sell OTC medicines. Policies to improve cost effective use of pharmaceuticals â€Å"First–choice scheme† is an initiative taken by the government to encourage the usage of generics. Doctors are now compelled to prescribe generic drugs unless there is a life-threating medical reason that justifies the use prescription of the name brand drug. Pharmacists are bound to advise patients if there is a less expensive generic drug when their doctor prescribes the original name brand medicine. Patients are obliged to pay the price difference if they insist on buying the originator drug rather than the generic. Higher profits on generic drugs are a key driver for pharmacist to encourage the switch.

Ralph Lauren Essay -- essays research papers

Ralph Lauren is American's leading designer in the classic tradition, who has stayed true to his own point of view, despite the seasonal vagaries of fashion. Mr. Lauren has always believed that fashion is function of lifestyle. He believes that clothed should be natural, comfortable and elegant, for the way people live today. His clothes have timeless grace and become more personal and special age. For Mr. Lauren, the starting point is always his concern for quality and attention to detail, while the creative drama comes from his own romantic sense of elegance and reverence for authencity. Always true to his own purely American vision of fashion, his products are nearly as diverse as the country that inspires them. He designs a wide range of products, including menswear, womenswear, boyswear, girlswear, home furnishing, eyewear, scarves, shoes, hosiery, fragrances, handbag, luggage and leather goods. And the stores that carry his products are located across the United States and around the world.   MENSWEAR : POLO BY RALPH LAUREN In 1967, the New York born bred Ralph Lauren started the Polo division of Beau Brummel neckties. Ties at that time were in an Ivy League phase-dark, narrow and undistinguished. But, for several years, Mr. Lauren had harbored the nation that the time was right for a new look. And so, he pioneered the wide tie-a four-inch tie made from opulent materials and fabrications that were unheard of in the business. Polo ties soon became the status tie. And Ralph Lauren became the menswear design to watch, as his ties revolutionized the industry. Mr.Lauren had more dreams to fulfill. He chose the name Polo for his line of ties because the sport repsented to him a lifestyle of athletic grace and discreet elegance, an image of men who wore well-tailored, classic clothes and wore them with style. With that image in mind, Mr Lauren established Polo as a separate menswear company in 1968, producing a complete line of men's clothes. Using only the finest fabrications, Mr. Lares's menswear was distinctive, innovative, but always classic and refined. His suits blended the American Ivy League natural shoulder silhouette with the fitted shape and expensive fabrics of the best European custom tailored clothing. His shirts were all cotton, richly patterned and expertly made. This same care was, and still is, applied to every element of... ... Mr. Lauren took a leading position in raising funds to build new exhibit space and a headquarter building for the museum. In 1989, Mr. Lauren united the fashion industry to support Brest cancer research. Through a personal contribution and fundraising, Mr. Lauren successfully launched the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Lombardi Cancer Research Center at Georgetown University's medical complex in Washington, D.C. The Center is Named for Nina Hyde, the fashion editor of The Washington Post, in recognition to her contributions to cancer research. Mr. Lauren also takes time out to accept a few design project, including costuming all the male Actors in "The Great Gatsby "(1973 and Woody Allen and Dianne Keaton in "AnnieHall"(1971). In 1978, Mr. Lauren designed a uniform program for Trans World Airlines(TWA) that is still in use today. PERSONAL INFORMATION With Demanding work schedules, Ralph Lauren prefers to lead, personal life with his family - his wife Ricky and their three children. They enjoy jogging around the Central Park reservoir near their upper Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City and active weekends at their Colorado ranch.

Matthew Christopher Bourne Essays -- Drame

Matthew Christopher Bourne Born 13th. January, 1960, London. British dancer and choreographer. His parents were June and Jim Bourne and he had a brother Dan. His mother was a secretary and his father worked for Thames Water for 30 years. When 12 or 13 he and his friend Simon Carter waited to get the autographs of actors outside the Apollo, Lyric, Palace, or Queens theatres. He attended a Methodist-run youth club which had a choir and he put on his versions of musicals. He went to school at the Sir George Monoux mixed comprehensive (later a sixth-form college) in Walthamstow in north-east London. He left with two grade C A levels. He didn't admit to himself that he was gay until he was 18. He then rang the telephone number for Gay Switchboard which was printed on the sleeve of Tom Robinson's single Glad To Be Gay and he was directed to a gay youthclub in Holloway. He first took a job in the contracts department at the BBC. He next had a job with the Keith Prowse ticket agency. This was followed by a job in the Royal National Theatre bookshop. He also worked as an usher and became aware that among the other theatre devotees were dance and drama students. In 1982 he was given a place at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance. Being 22 he was older than usual, and he also had no previous dance lessons. However, he had a great breadth and depth of knowledge of theatre, dance, and old musicals. He obtained a BA in dance and theatre in 1986. In 1987, with the help of friends from the Laban, he set up his own dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures (AMP). The company reworked classical pieces including The Nutcracker and La Sylphides. In 1995 the company produced Swan Lake with all the swans being played by men, and in 1997 it became the longest-running ballet in the West End since Diaghilev's Sleeping Princess in 1926. In 1999 it went to Broadway. He received a Tony Award for best choreographer and best director of the musical. He had a seven-year relationship with David Manners who designed for AMP. In 1995 he started a relationship with Arthur Pita, a principle dancer with AMP. In 1997 Matthew Bourne became an honorary fellow of the Laban Centre. Also in 1997 he was asked by Cameron Mackintosh to create the dances for the revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!. The fees from this allowed h... ...egan in his early twenties, and his love for theater and cinema has led him to be dubbed "the Noel Coward of modern dance." Born in London on January 13, 1960, Mr. Bourne graduated from the Laban Centre in 1985 with a degree in Dance/Theater, spending a further year touring with Transitions Dance Company. He was a founding member of AMP at its launch in July 1987, and his stage works for the company include "Overlap Lovers" (1987), "Spitfire" (1988), "Buck and Wing" (1988), "The Infernal Gallop" (1989), "Town & Country" (1991), "The Nutcracker" (1992), "Highland Fling" (1994), "Swan Lake" (1996) and "Cinderella" (1997). His television work for AMP includes "Late Flowering Lust" (BBC TV 1993) and "Drip - A Love Story" (BBC TV/Arts Council Dance for the Camera Award 1993), both broadcast in 1994. As well as creating many roles in his own work, he has also worked with choreographers Ashley Page, Jacob Marley, and Brigitte Farges, and was a founding member, in 1988, of Lea Anderson's company The Featherstonehaughs. Mr. Bourne has won several awards for his choreography, including a Bonnie Bird award, a Place Portfolio commission, and a Barclays New Stages award. Matthew Christopher Bourne Essays -- Drame Matthew Christopher Bourne Born 13th. January, 1960, London. British dancer and choreographer. His parents were June and Jim Bourne and he had a brother Dan. His mother was a secretary and his father worked for Thames Water for 30 years. When 12 or 13 he and his friend Simon Carter waited to get the autographs of actors outside the Apollo, Lyric, Palace, or Queens theatres. He attended a Methodist-run youth club which had a choir and he put on his versions of musicals. He went to school at the Sir George Monoux mixed comprehensive (later a sixth-form college) in Walthamstow in north-east London. He left with two grade C A levels. He didn't admit to himself that he was gay until he was 18. He then rang the telephone number for Gay Switchboard which was printed on the sleeve of Tom Robinson's single Glad To Be Gay and he was directed to a gay youthclub in Holloway. He first took a job in the contracts department at the BBC. He next had a job with the Keith Prowse ticket agency. This was followed by a job in the Royal National Theatre bookshop. He also worked as an usher and became aware that among the other theatre devotees were dance and drama students. In 1982 he was given a place at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance. Being 22 he was older than usual, and he also had no previous dance lessons. However, he had a great breadth and depth of knowledge of theatre, dance, and old musicals. He obtained a BA in dance and theatre in 1986. In 1987, with the help of friends from the Laban, he set up his own dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures (AMP). The company reworked classical pieces including The Nutcracker and La Sylphides. In 1995 the company produced Swan Lake with all the swans being played by men, and in 1997 it became the longest-running ballet in the West End since Diaghilev's Sleeping Princess in 1926. In 1999 it went to Broadway. He received a Tony Award for best choreographer and best director of the musical. He had a seven-year relationship with David Manners who designed for AMP. In 1995 he started a relationship with Arthur Pita, a principle dancer with AMP. In 1997 Matthew Bourne became an honorary fellow of the Laban Centre. Also in 1997 he was asked by Cameron Mackintosh to create the dances for the revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!. The fees from this allowed h... ...egan in his early twenties, and his love for theater and cinema has led him to be dubbed "the Noel Coward of modern dance." Born in London on January 13, 1960, Mr. Bourne graduated from the Laban Centre in 1985 with a degree in Dance/Theater, spending a further year touring with Transitions Dance Company. He was a founding member of AMP at its launch in July 1987, and his stage works for the company include "Overlap Lovers" (1987), "Spitfire" (1988), "Buck and Wing" (1988), "The Infernal Gallop" (1989), "Town & Country" (1991), "The Nutcracker" (1992), "Highland Fling" (1994), "Swan Lake" (1996) and "Cinderella" (1997). His television work for AMP includes "Late Flowering Lust" (BBC TV 1993) and "Drip - A Love Story" (BBC TV/Arts Council Dance for the Camera Award 1993), both broadcast in 1994. As well as creating many roles in his own work, he has also worked with choreographers Ashley Page, Jacob Marley, and Brigitte Farges, and was a founding member, in 1988, of Lea Anderson's company The Featherstonehaughs. Mr. Bourne has won several awards for his choreography, including a Bonnie Bird award, a Place Portfolio commission, and a Barclays New Stages award.

The Definition of E-commerce

E-commerce is the buying and selling of products and services by both businesses and consumers over the Internet. Such practices have exploded over the last year as security has improved with more and more consumers now buying goods and services online. This coupled with the computer revolution of the late twentieth century has lead to e-commerce now becoming the buzzword of trade and industry as hundreds of companies are now moving online in an attempt to broaden their product range and direct contact with customers. Firstly we must understand why companies are being drawn towards selling their products online. An e-commerce site that is implemented well can significantly lower both order taking costs up front and also customer service after the sale has been made. For example being located on the Internet means that place does not enter into the marketing mix of an e-commerce company. As its customers will not visit the business, it means having a prominent high street location is no longer of importance; in fact a business can be set up in someone†s home (if space for storage allows!). Also when considering mail order companies there is no longer the need to endure the costs of designing, printing and sending out catalogues. These factors contribute to e-commerce companies being able to offer products at greatly reduced prices as overheads have been minimised. A company now has the ability to provide customers with a catalogue that has a far more extensive range than that of which any mail-order catalogue could provide. Recently Amazon have advertised that they currently offer more than 3 million books, to further their service they also give the customer the opportunity to read a description of every book supplied and also other titles buyers of the book have purchased. It is inconceivable to imagine all this information being provided in any catalogue that comes through the letterbox. So we now can see some of the benefits that firms encounter from locating on the web but what do the consumers get out of this? It is now far easier to collect market research and make reasonable comparisons as by using the Internet you have the ability to amass, analyse and control large quantities of specialised data. The Internet can give the opportunity for customers to try before they buy. For example the online record store Klik-Klik-Whirly-Bleep-Bleep gives the online shopper the opportunity to listen to any record before they buy it, an essential factor to regular purchasers of records and especially dj†s. There is also the potential of wider availability of hard-to-find products and wider selection of items due to the width and efficiency of the Internet. One such example being â€Å"Squaddies Online†, this company has developed its success by selling goods that are normal in everyday life in the United Kingdom but are sorely missed by those that are overseas for any great length of time. For instance amongst the current best selling items are Heinz Tomato Ketchup and HP Brown Sauce! The increase in the ability to undertake market research has inevitably led to the reductions in prices as more suppliers are able to compete in an electronically open market place. This increase in competition has lead to better quality and variety of goods through expanded markets and the ability to produce customised goods. When the motorbike company Dukati recently launched their online site they sold their stock within 31 minutes of opening with a popular feature being giving the customer the opportunity of designing the exact colour scheme of the bike. So far the benefits of e-commerce are outlined and you would be forgiven for immediately wanting to dream up your own way of becoming rich through the internet. But it is by no means plain sailing. Seven out of ten internet businesses located within the United Kingdom fail to trial their service before it is launched. Even then almost all are likely to have experienced problems and over a fifth are now experiencing significant customer service disruption as a result of sudden surges in demand or server overload. Hundreds of web sites and not just e-commerce services have been launched in the United Kingdom during 1999. The Pricewaterhouse Cooper group informs us on there website that this figure is set to explode to  £60 billion within the next three years. However market shares are going to be effected in ways previously unseen before through the failures of sites and service providers. Failure in e-commerce is not always going to be caused by poor products but rather by not building sites that are as efficient and usable as its competitors. For an e-commerce business to be successful it is essential that the sites are given thorough pilot tests so that faults can be found and also customer behaviour patterns can be learnt. It is possible that such a venture can take off as an amazing success however there is also the danger of overselling. This can cause potentially lethal consequences as if the server used is not big enough to cope with the demand then the site is likely to crash or be severly disrupted through overload. Indeed any e-commerce system should have some sort of early warning device to notify the programmers that there are problems as soon as possible. So far the e-commerce has only been covered in terms of the internet through use of the home computer. Digital television uses television to access a range of interactive services including e-mail and the internet. Once companies build websites to generate businesses they start to recognise the role the Internet could play in the communications process. However there are still worries that the Internet is still not receieving enough coverage in terms of those with access. However didgital television has the potential to cause a far greater impact. Digital television provides access to a larger target audience as its popularity is currently growing at an exponential rate. The large range of channels also means that communications can be tailored to suit the person viewing more effectively especially with the wide range of visual and audio devices at the sellers disposal. Security is not seen as the same potential mishap as on the internet as there aren†t fears hackers being able to break into sites and accessing personal information. By accessing the Open interactive service on digital television you are able to visit stores such as Next, Woolworths, WH Smiths and Dominos Pizza. All of which are firms that are highly reputable which will also give the customer confidence when using. However it is not such an easy options for companies as there is currently a high cost of entry when wishing to move into such ventures. Indeed currently companies are having to rely on the consumer having access to this technology E-commerce is growing at an explosive rate on the Internet. Before the end of this decade, millions of people will be buying, selling, bidding and advertising on a daily basis as the internet merges with other branches of the information highway. The new economies of scale that are evident for such companies drastically lower the cost of establishing and maintaining a successful company. It is vital that any business wanting to start up in e-commerce should continually examine the risks and opportunities created by such a venture. It is essential that designers make use of the technologies that are available. In the long-term the risks of lagging now are likely to exceed those of continuing with less then maximum adoption strategies. Currently the Internet does have its limitations that may not make it suitable for all ventures. However with the rate that technology is expanding the Internet will soon become â€Å"industrial strength† whereby it will be possible to comply with all requirements and safety regulations. This will also include what services can be accessed and by who. The emergence of Digital Television has also increased the significance of e-commerce as now even more people are able to purchase goods within a matter of seconds even if it is in a slightly different way. By encouraging e-commerce all sides will gain through lower prices and better quality. It is only a matter of time before e-commerce becomes an obvious part of our lives.

A Cultural Perspective

The Philippines is part of South East Asia but it many ways it is different from the rest of the region.   For one, almost every Filipino (that is how they are called) can speak English aside from their indigenous dialects (Erickson, 1982, p. 19).While Filipinos possess distinct Malay features such as black hair, eyes and brown skin, there are also a multitude of which has brown hair and eyes, alabaster skin and carry Spanish names. This is due to the long Spanish colonization the country underwent, starting in the 16th century and lasting for more than 300 years (Borlaza and Wurfel, 2002, p. 545).   The Spanish influence is also responsible for the dominance of the Roman Catholic religion in the country.However, it is the countryside of the Philippines, with its rice fields, tropical setting and beautiful beaches that seems to connect the country with the rest of its neighbors.   The country is a magnet for tourist during summer vacation with its endless beaches and temperate weather.   Furthermore, the Spanish heritage, along with the brief American and Japanese colonization has contributed to the shaping of the Filipino culture- different languages and dialects, food, dance and music, and societal order.The country’s contact with China cannot also be discounted.   Starting in the 10th century, the Philippines had engaged contact with the Chinese, resulting in people with Filipino-Chinese descent (p.540). Filipinos are said to have an â€Å"uncommon warmth and courtesy† (p.19).The country has also weathered some of the most colorful incidents in politics- from the Martial Law era during the 70s to the EDSA revolution and People Power in the 80s , impeachment trial of former president Joseph Estrada and the   impeachment attempts against its current president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo( Steinberg, 2009). Truly, the island world of the Philippines offers a unique cultural perspective.The Republic of the Philippines, as it is properly know , is an archipelago made up of 7,100 islands lying some 500 miles off Asia’ south-eastern coast ( Borlaza and Wurfel, 2002, p. 537). The country has three main islands- Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (p. 537).According to archaeologists, there have been prehistoric tribes existing in the Philippines when the country was still attached to the Asian mainland (Erickson, 1982, p.20).   Furthermore, the first people were said to be primitive Negritos or small Negroes who resided in the forest of the islands (p. 200. These people, described as pygmy like were themselves descendants from the great migration in Asia during the Stone Age (p. 20).Indonesians, Malaysians and Chinese also settled in the Philippines. In 1521, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan landed in Leyte Gulf and claimed the island for Spain (p. 20) .Thus began the 333 years of Spanish colonization of the country (p.20).   In 1896, the Philippines started its efforts to relinquish Spanish control on them, organ izing movements and revolts (p. 20). During this time, Spain was also in the midst of battle with America.The Spanish-American War broke out and continued in the Philippines, another Spanish territory (Davidson, Lytle, Heyrman, Gienapp and Stoff, 1998, pp.750). The Treat of Paris granted America control of the Philippines (p.20).   This was greeted with mixed reactions from Filipinos. Some Filipinos viewed the United States as liberators while others labelled them as â€Å"new colonizers† (p. 751).   Under the leadership of William Howard Taft, the Philippines was transformed- building American schools, roads, factories and even introducing new farming methods to guide the country as it becomes independence (p. 753).During the American regime, the Philippines benefited socially, politically and economically. In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was formed with Manuel L. Quezon as its first president (p. 20). The celebration was cut short due to the explosion of th e Second World War. When war broke out, the Philippine was occupied by the Japanese.