Challenges

Renee Hollered The Challenges Of The Baby Boom Generation They are aging, and they are currently distressed from ailments and diseases that the generous before never really had to suffer through. Oddly enough, they are living longer despite these problems. Their healthcare is better than it has been before, but they are paying dearly for it. For some in this generation, getting good and thorough medical care can be a challenge.

For a few, It Is almost Impossible without resorting to Medicare. This generation is facing a new challenge. To either retire early, and not have enough benefits and income to help them in their senior years, or to stay In their current jobs and not see retirement until they are well into their ass or even perhaps their ass This generation is the Baby Boomers. They were born between 1946 and 1964. They arrived after a brutal world war, the rise of nuclear power, of racial Identity and equality, and the start of the Love Generation.

They are now getting older and want to retire and find that most cannot afford to end their careers gracefully. Some prefer to stay in the workforce. Even after retirement. Employers want these individuals to retire to free up space for newer and younger employees. A younger employee Is less of a risk health-wise than an older employee, Most Baby Boomers find that staying in the workforce reinvigorates them and keeps them feeling young and vital. Burr, M. T. (2006) “Almost 40% of utility workers will become eligible for runtime In the next five years.

Assuming only nominal growth. By 2010 the industry will need to hire 10,000 new skilled workers each year. ” (p. ) Finding younger workers in the utility field within the last 1 5 to 20 years, been relatively easy. Apprenticing with an older mentor meant the younger individual got to learn a new trade and thus, passed on the responsibility that their older mentor previously held. This also meant the younger initiate received health benefits trot the company they are now working tort, and the new trade the young Journeyman inherited, progressed from there. 2001) explains, “About half of the people between ages 50 and 59 who made the decision to delay retirement and remain in the work force reported that they were in excellent or very good health. But, over time, their state of health has declined. ” (p. L) Diabetes, cardiac vascular disease and high blood pressure has been diagnosed more frequently in the baby boom generation, than any other before. One reason is because of easy access to food; food that is not healthy, e. G. Fast food.

This may also have to do with living fiscally disabled because of perhaps living on worker’s come, Social Security or both. For these people, able to afford good health care as well as good nutrition can be a challenge. It is getting harder for some cash strapped Baby Boomers to find affordable health care that will be there when they need it. In some cases, they will probably have to do without. This author has seen first hand, some of his friends that he grew up with, going through some of the same things that he is going through as well, like health issues, financial issues, personal issues, etcetera.

Many of them will go without health care insurance because they think they are still healthy enough to carry on without it. Some could go on Medicare, but to do it meaner a filling out paperwork and waiting weeks to finally see a doctor. The hope is that with rent challenges faced with getting good and affordable medical care, that our president will see what needs to be done, and not let the house of representatives dictate what will be the future of health care in the United States.

Our president, whether some like him or not, will have the final say; the Baby Boomers could quite possibly, be a big influence in this area. Despite their health problems, the Baby Boomers will probably live as long as their parent’s and grandparent’s did because of the kind of medical care they are receiving today as opposed to medical care 50 or so ears ago. More are taking up Jobs that tend to make them happy as well as give them the benefits they need. Some employers are not offering the same kind of benefits that the Baby Boomers have seen in the past.

They are offering less in the way of full coverage benefits, and are opting to offer benefits where the aging employee has to pay more out-of-pocket for their own care. When retirement comes around, some opt to stay in their current Job longer. That offsets the Job pool and makes it harder for younger applicants to find good employment. According to Morris, T. J. (201 1), “Even Hough boomers are starting to reach the magic age of 65, a large number either cannot retire or simply don’t want to. ” (A Challenge For Baby Boomers, Para. ) Most cannot retire because they need the health care benefits their employer offers, so turn-around tends to be lower in this age range. Most types of companies like utility and infrastructure maintenance companies are not seeing the vast labor pool of younger employees and younger applicants coming in like they did 15 to 20 years ago. Most of industry, than their counter-parts did previously. Burr, M. T. (2006) “l worry about the laity of the labor pool,” says Howard Hinkler, director of human resources strategy for Southern Co. In Atlanta. I’m not only concerned about the number of employees we’ll need to hire, but about their readiness to take on the kinds of technical Jobs we need done. ” (p. L) In other words, it will be harder to find a younger person today who wants to take up being a plumber, carpenter or lineman as opposed to 30 to 40 years ago. Those in the Baby Boom generation are staying on longer in their Jobs to fill these vacancies in this particular Job niche, and thus, the medical benefits for them ill have to adjust accordingly. The main concern here, is that getting the younger generation to apprentice in these kinds of Jobs, e. G. Lumber, carpenter, lineman, electrician, etcetera, is getting harder to have them want to expend their energies into labor intensive careers, and careers that could go back many generations. Burr, M. T. (2006) adds, “During the sass, utilities across the country focused on reducing their operating costs in an effort to become more efficient and competitive in an increasingly deregulated industry. Utilities minimized their Rockford growth by promoting people from within the organization, allowing attrition to make the staff leaner, applying labor-saving technologies, and outsourcing non-core functions where it made sense. (p. L) In essence, the Baby Boomers will probably be the last to do these kinds of Jobs, the only other way to replace individuals who did this work is to outsource to perhaps, overseas workers. Many jobs within the United States are already outsourced to other countries, and the thought of outsourcing Jobs within our infrastructure may be an uneasy prospect; nonetheless, it will have to be done if we want to keep the kind of lifestyle we have grown accustomed to. The Baby Boomer generation still has many challenges to face. The future for them is still uncertain.

Their health is not up to the standards like it was 20 years hence, but they are living longer, and have the will to fight for receiving proper and affordable healthcare. Some say that the Baby Boomers tend to despise their parent’s, and fear their children. This individual, the author, would say that the Baby Boom generation is not through yet. There is still a such work to be done in this country and the boomers want to be there when it happens. The challenge to the next generations would be to find those individuals who will take on what those before them excelled at and to keep those traditions alive and vital.

This may be for naught since today’s young generations do not, or will not, see what’s coming around the bend for the next 50 years. They are young and will not bother with those concerns for now. Hopefully at some point, they will realize that what the generations before them had to come to terms with; that they will understand why the Baby Boomers did what they did, and will make their own determinations which will help get them into the next stage of their lives.

CHALLENGES FACED BY PVOS IN EFFECTIVE MOBILIZATION OF COMMUNITIES IN RURAL AGRICULTURE PROJECTS IN KIRINYAGA DISTRICT Name: PATRICK KARIMI Adm No: EMB/0088 COURSE: DIPLOMA IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT Subject: Project Research Methods (DPM 5) Lecturer: Mr. J. Ndukanio Due Date: 15th Aug 2009 A Research Proposal Presented In Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Diploma in Project Management Kenya Institute of Management AUG, 2009 DECLARATION Declaration by Student I do here declare this is my original work and has not been presented for exams before.

Signature………………………………………………Date……………………. Patrick Karimi Adm No: EMB/0088 Declaration by Supervisor LETURER: Mr. Ndukanio Signature………………………………. …… Date…………………… DEDICATION To My wife and friend. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thanks to my lecturers at KIM and class mates. Thanks also to my workmates and friends TABLE OF CONTENTS Title pagei Declarationii Dedication iii Acknowledgementiv Table of contentsvii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction 1. 1 Background of the study 1. 2 Statement of the problem . 3 Objective of the study 1. 4 Research questions 1. 5 Significance of the study 1. 6 Limitations of the study 1. 7 Scope of the study 1. 8 Conceptual framework CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 0 Introduction————————————————————————————– 2. 1 Empirical review 2. 2 Critical review 2. 3 Research gaps CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3. Introduction 3. 1 Research design 3. 2 Target population 3. 3 Accessible population 3. 4 Sampling technique 3. 5 Data collection method and procedures 3. Data analysis technique References APPENDICES APPENDIX 1………………….. Questionnaire APPENDIX II………………… Time line APPENDIX III…………… Budget CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction This chapter will cover the background of the study, purpose of the study, problem statement, objectives of the study, research questions, importance of the study, limitations of the study, scope of the study and the conceptual framework 1. 2. The Background of the study Agricultural production and productivity in the EAC is largely constrained by natural factors, policy and adoption of technologies.

The reasons for poor performance of the agricultural sector include:  Policy related factors, Technology related factors, Nature related factors, Cross cutting and cross-sectorial related factors. The above constraints have inhibited the rural economy’s potential to: alleviate poverty through employment creation and income generation, meet growing food needs driven by rapid population growth and urbanization; stimulate overall economic growth, given that agriculture is the most potential lead sector for growth and development; and conserve natural resources.

The main challenge facing the rural sector is to increase productivity and economic growth in order to halt the worsening food security and to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2015. This is at a time when East Africa faces declining financial resource base, HIV and AIDS pandemic, globalization and declining natural resources, which reduce availability of investment funds. East Africa has a significant irrigation potential that remains unexploited.

Irrigation can play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity, expanding area under production and stabilizing agricultural production in situations of adverse weather conditions. Opportunity to expand irrigated agriculture exists. Utilization of this opportunity would boost agricultural production. From past studies in community projects, it is clear that meaningfully involving communities at all phases of a development project are determinant to ensuring development.

Only in such a manner can people become leading actors in and generators of their own development, rather than being passive recipients of external support (Bessette, 1996). 1. 3. The Problem Statement The Community is faced with a number of challenges: harmonizing various policies and legislations; increasing involvement of local communities in planning and decision making; increasing production and economic growth; elimination of trans boundary pests and diseases including wildlife diseases; expanding irrigated agriculture; reducing poverty levels; combating the HIV and AIDS pandemic; slowing down the environmental egradation and desertification process; sustaining utilization of natural resources; establishing an effective early warning system and improving governance, security and political stability Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in Kenya have of late been exerting great efforts to increase communities’ access to sanitation and hygiene facilities and to promote safe hygienic behavior, especially in rural areas. However, their efforts have not been able to bring about the desired output.

Underlying reasons for this failure are that most of the projects were supply-driven; top-down interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions rather than agreed-upon involvements. There has been more emphasis on the construction of latrines than on the promotion of their proper use and usage and technologies employed were, by and large, expensive.

Thus, coverage, access and usage of sanitation are still inadequate. In other words, with regard to safe hygienic behavior, much remains to be desired. Consequently, diarrhea morbidity and mortality originating from fecal contamination, especially among under-five children, are still high. Demographic health statistics show that 46% of childhood deaths in Ethiopia are caused by diarrhea, and 80% of the diarrhea is attributable to unsafe water supply and poor sanitation and hygiene.

These suggest the need for a development approach that empowers communities mentally and psychologically; and promotes self-respect and self-reliance for communities to properly plan and act. Programs designed should center on needs-based and community-led panning and implementation of projects to create a strong sense of ownership on the part of the user communities. This study therefore seeks to address the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District. . 4 Research Objectives: 1. 4. 1 General Objective The research Project aims to improve the mobilization approaches to community agriculture productivity and sustainability of existing small and medium farmer-managed irrigation systems suffering from low productivity and poverty in Central Kenya and thereby enhancing the livelihoods of the poor. 1. 4. 2 Specific Objectives 1. To examine the challenges caused by incidence of poverty in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project 2.

To investigate the challenges caused by social infrastructure in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project 3. To find out the challenges caused by Gender balancing in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project 1. 5. Research Questions 1. To what extent does incidence of poverty a challenge in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? 2. What challenges are caused by social infrastructure in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? . Are there challenges caused by Gender balancing in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agricultural project? 1. 7. Significance of the Study • To community workers and stake holders: The research project will enhance the livelihood of rural smallholders by improving the performance of the existing farmer-managed irrigation systems. • By establishing sound evidence on service delivery mechanisms and community institutions to support such initiatives To future researchers; As this research study is limited to the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District, it can be used as a platform for further research studies to identify additional challenges and also explore how these challenges can be overcome. 1. 8. Limitations of the Study ? Collection of data: Lack of extensive data in some aspects of the study will be overcomed by making use of a diverse range of sources for the data including the internet, newspapers, magazines, books, business journals, and any other available material. Questionnaire responses So that respondents would not find it time consuming to complete the questionnaire, the researcher attempted to simplify the questionnaire as much as possible so as to make it easier to complete without it being time consuming. 1. 9. Scope of the Study The study covers agricultural based irrigation projects in Kirinyaga District. The study will cover the challenges faced by PVOs in effective mobilization of community participation in rural agriculture projects in Kirinyaga District. The study duration will be October-December 2009. . 10. Conceptual Frame Independent variables Dependent variable CHAPTER TWO 2. 0. LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1Introduction The Chapter reviews literature related to agriculture based project and its impact on community mobilization done by different writers and researchers. 2. 2. Main Review The main challenge facing the rural sector is to increase productivity and economic growth in order to halt the worsening food security and to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2015.

This is at a time when East Africa faces declining financial resource base, HIV and AIDS pandemic, globalization and declining natural resources, which reduce availability of investment funds. East Africa has a significant irrigation potential that remains unexploited. Irrigation can play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity, expanding area under production and stabilizing agricultural production in situations of adverse weather conditions. Opportunity to expand irrigated agriculture exists. Utilization of this opportunity would boost agricultural production.

The Community is faced with a number of challenges: harmonizing various policies and legislations; increasing involvement of local communities in planning and decision making; increasing production and economic growth; elimination of trans boundary pests and diseases including wildlife diseases; expanding irrigated agriculture; reducing poverty levels; combating the HIV and AIDS pandemic; slowing down the environmental degradation and desertification process; sustaining utilization of natural resources; establishing an effective early warning system and improving governance, security and political stability Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in Ethiopia have of late been exerting great efforts to increase communities’ access to sanitation and hygiene facilities and to promote safe hygienic behavior, especially in rural areas. However, their efforts have not been able to bring about the desired output. Underlying reasons for this failure are that most of the projects were supply-driven; top-down interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions designed and implemented with little or no involvement by the user communities. In fact, most of the projects were forced interventions rather than agreed-upon involvements.

There has been more emphasis on the construction of latrines than on the promotion of their proper use and usage and technologies employed were, by and large, expensive. Thus, coverage, access and usage of sanitation are still inadequate. In other words, with regard to safe hygienic behavior, much remains to be desired. Consequently, diarrhea morbidity and mortality originating from fecal contamination, especially among under-five children, are still high. Demographic health statistics show that 46% of childhood deaths in Ethiopia are caused by diarrhea, and 80% of the diarrhea is attributable to unsafe water supply and poor sanitation and hygiene.

These suggest the need for a development approach that empowers communities mentally and psychologically; and promotes self-respect and self-reliance for communities to properly plan and act. Programs designed should enter on needs-based and community-led panning and implementation of projects to create a strong sense of ownership on the part of the user communities. Accordingly, in early 2007, plan Ethiopia and Plan Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (RESA) learned that the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach proved successful in countries of Southeast Asia and Latin America in producing desired outcomes. Thus, inviting the pioneer of CLTS, Dr. Kamal Kar it introduced the approach in eight kebeles in Shbedino District of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples’ Region (SNNPR).

CLTS works by encouraging communities to “call a spade a spade,” thereby creating an element of shame, of disgust, and of fear as triggering elements. Dr. Kar also admonishes facilitators, or experts, not to dictate communities but, instead, to encourage them to identify their problems and come up with solutions. He also recommends close follow-up and periodic monitoring. In March 2007, Plan Ethiopia’s Shebedino program unit, together with the Shebedino District Health Office, Water Action, Kebele health extension workers, health messengers, community leaders, and communities themselves began exercising the CLTS approach. Members of Fura’s community ere highly triggered and they promised to proactively involve in sanitation activities: dig pit latrines and put an end to open defecation in their kebeles by mid-April 2007. Their motto was “No to open defecation! ” “No to eating and drinking shit! ” They then made good on their promise. With only some facilitation and follow-up by plan Ethiopia’s Shebedino Program Unit, the Shebedino Wereda Health Office, the health extension workers, the health messengers, and the community leaders, the communities in many of these kebeles registered impressive achievements. For instance, 465 of the 1265 households in the Fura kebele constructed household pit latrines after introduction of CLTS.

That was about one-hundred-percent pit latrine coverage in the kebele. Furthermore, determined to make their kebele open-defecation-free (ODF), the residents of Fura built nine communal pit latrines for passers-by and for the pupils of the Fura Elementary School. They did it all on their own initiative, and with no subsidy, using only locally available materials. The pit latrine construction has accelerated in many her keeles, too. Monitoring reports indicate the communities in Taremessa, Midre Genet, Morancho Negash kebeles as well have constructed pit latrines and reached almost one hundred percent coverage, as compared to 28%, 25%, and 65% coverage respectively.

Plan Ethiopia supported this initiative at negligible cost: around US$ 2,000 to train community leaders and other facilitators in Fura and other kebeles as well as staff members from partner institutions.. In the past, plan Ethiopia spent about US$ 25 per household for san plat provision alone. Thus, to support the construction of 465 pit latrines in Fura would have, therefore, cost plan Ethiopia more than US$ 11,625. Children, women and men are involved not only in construction pit latrines but also in keeping a watchful eye to make sure that passers-by do not defecate out in the open in Fura. They have set rules for penalizing offenders: offenders scoop their feces into nearby toilets and penalize and amount of US$ 0. 5-1. 00. Data from clinics operating in these areas indicate that the number of diarrhea cases is continuously declining.

The residents of the Fura kebele designated September 02, 2007 as Open-Defecation- Free Environment Day. Around 500 people, including community members of the Fura keble, various government officials, health extension workers of the 35 kebles in the Woreda, staff members of Water Action and staff members of plan Ethiopia attended the celebration. Success recorded was however, not without challenges. Lack of efficiency and commitment on the part of the community leaders in some areas or among stakeholders was one of the problems. The fact that the various beneficiaries of the CLTS approach did not always reach a consensus also posed challenges. At times there have been problems of regressing to the old, unhygienic practice.

From this project it is clear that meaningfully involving communities at all phases of a development project are determinant to ensuring development. Only in such a manner can people become leading actors in and generators of their own development, rather than being passive recipients of external support (Bessette, 1996). CHAPTER THREE 3. 0 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3. 1 Introduction This chapter outlines the process the researcher uses to identify the target population, research design, sampling design, data collection methods and data analysis methods. 3. 2 Research Design The research design that will be adopted in this research study is the descriptive survey research design.

Descriptive case study is a method of collecting information by interviewing or administering a questionnaire to a sample of individuals (Orodho, 2003). It can be used when collecting information about people’s attitudes, opinions, habits or any of the variety of education or social issues (Orodho and Kombo, 2002). The design adopted is an investigative design since it will be easy and efficient to use and is an accurate counter and indicator to measure (Pamela, 2003). The researcher chose this research design because the study aims at collecting information from respondents on their experiences, perceptions and opinions in relation to the challenges of marketing the credit card services to teachers. Both primary and secondary data will be colleted.

Primary data will be obtained using questionnaires while secondary data will be from the internet, newspapers, magazines, journals, government publications, published company records and reports. 3. 3. Study population The target population will be all PVOs involved in community agriculture projects in Kirinyaga district. The accessible population is 12 PVOs. 3. 4. Sample Size The researcher selected 32 respondents on whom to conduct the survey. The choice of 32respondents will be based on Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) recommendation. The accessible population consisted of 32 respondents and so the sample size of 32respondents will be 100% as recommended by Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). 3. 5 Sampling design

The research will be use a Stratified random sampling method to ensure that all categories are equitably represented in the sample. Then the researcher adopted case study census. 3. 6. Data collection instrument The researcher will be use a questionnaire for the teachers and an interview guide for the Bankers as the data collection instruments. The interview guide will be enable collection of in-depth information and they are appropriate where the population size is not large (Kothari 2007). The questionnaire is made up of both structured and unstructured questions so that qualitative and quantitative data is collected for the study. The researcher chose to use a questionnaire because of the following benefits.

First, the questionnaire enables the researcher to ask structured or closed-ended questions which are easier to analyses as well as to administer since each question is followed by alternative answers. Secondly, the questionnaire also enables the researcher to use open-ended questions thus permitting a greater in-depth response from the respondents. These particular responses enable the researcher to get greater insight into the feelings, decisions and thinking of the respondents (Fraenkel, 2000). 3. 6 Data collection procedure Questionnaires were self administered as all respondents are literate enough to for purpose of the questionnaire items. The questionnaires will be conveyed to the respondents by use of the drop and pick method.

An introductory letter from the KIM authorizing the research to be undertaken will be used by the researcher to assure the authenticity of the study. 3. 7. Reliability and validity Data reliability and validation will be done to maintain accuracy. Data reliability is the degree to which research instrument yield consistent results or data after repeated trials Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). To achieve this, the questionnaire has been designed with systematic and comprehensive questions to enable respondents to answer them without much reference. Data validity refers to the degree to which results obtained from analysis of data actually represents phenomenon under study, Mugenda and Mugenda (2003).

To achieve content validity the researcher will seek assistance from the experts (supervisor) on various sections in the questionnaire as instruments for data collection. 3. 7 Data Analysis Procedure Analysis of raw data collected will enable the researcher to generate information. Data analysis will involve reducing accumulated data looking for patterns and applying statistical techniques. Data analysis will be done using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, because it is important to obtain data on the study by trying to establish trends. Patterns and relationships from the data gathered. The procedure included recording results from respondents and, evaluating the accuracy and relevance of data.

Quantitative analysis will be used since the distribution of measures or scores need to be extensively described using descriptive statistical analysis as these are suitable in giving accurate findings revealed by research. Data will be presented in form of tables, graphs, charts, figures, to give meaning to the responses. APPENDIX I REFRENCES Thomas F. Patterson (1987) (HTML). Refining Performance Appraisal. http://www. joe. org/joe/1987winter/a5. html. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. Joyce Margulies (2004-03-24) (PDF). Performance Appraisals. http://www. bnabooks. com/ababna/eeo/2004/eeo55. pdf. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. Archer North & Associatiates (1998), Introduction to Performance Appraisal, http://www. performance-appraisal. com/intro. htm U. S. Department of the Interior, Performance Appraisal Handbook Mugenda A & Mugenda, O. 2003). Research Methods. Nairobi: Focus Hashemi, S. , Scholar, S & Riley, A. (1996). Rural Credit Programmes and Women Empowerment in Bangladesh. World Development 24(4). Pgs 635-653. Wall JA Jr, Callister RR. Conflict and its management. Journal of Management(21:3), 1995, pp 515-558 APENDIX II Questionnaire for Respondents Name ……………………………………………………….. (optional) Organization/ NGO………………………………………………. Designation…………………………………………………………. 2. (a) How did you come to learn about PVOs In Embu? i. Founder member ii. Through a friend iii. Through the radio/TV iv. From church / chief (b) To what extend do the following motivate membership? |Very much |Much |Not much |Not very much |Not at all | |To get an income | | | | | | |To keep you busy | | | | | | |To help your relatives | | | | | | |To help community | | | | | | |Because your friends were members | | | | | | 2 (i) Are you involved in formulating the activities of your organization? Yes No (ii) If no, who formulates the activities of the organization / group? The chairman The donors The committee All the members 3 (i) Are there benefits for success in the activities of the group? Yes No (ii) If yes, kindly rate the nature of the relationships of each stakeholder using the scale below. a) Committee of the group 12345 b) Donors to the activity 12345 c) Other group members 12345 ) The non participating group members 12345 e) Other CBOs 12345 Key 1= very supportive 2=supportive 3= just supportive 4= not supportive 5=not at al supportive 4 (i) Are your activities competitive in nature? Yes No (ii) If yes, answer question (a-b) and if no skip question (c-d) start at question e. (a) Briefly state, two recent activities of the organization. 1. ——————————————————————————————————— 2. ——————————————————————————————————— (b) Kindly rate the involvement of the groups in the following issues involved. |Very much involved |Involved |It depends |Not very involved|Not at all | | | | | | |involved | |Group management | | | | | | |Group reconcile | | | | | | |Selection of group team members | | | | | | |Group activity selection | | | | | | (c) State two recent activities of the organization. 1. ——————————————————————————————————— 2. ——————————————————————————————————– (d) Briefly state two methods used to accomplish organization activities. 1. ——————————————————————————————————— 2. ——————————————————————————————————— 6 (i) How does the group choose the activities engage in In a meeting Informed by chairman Through lettersInformed by committee (ii) Do you always agree on the priorities of the group activities? Yes No (iii) If no, what causes most conflict disagreement? Kindly rate the following Determining the activity| | | | | |Choosing participants | | | | | |Allocating resources for | | | | | |activity | | | | | |Planning the activity | | | | | |Determining how much to | | | | | |do. | | | | | 7 (i) As group members what three issues about group leadership don’t your like? a) b) c) (ii) What two things about the group have made you feel appreciated? a) b) ‘ASANTE SANA’ ———————– Gender imbalances High incidence of poverty

Challenges Facing Developing Countries Janita Aalto Principles of Microeconomics ECO 204 Instructor Kathryn Armstrong March 28, 2011 Challenges Facing Developing Countries Developing countries, also known as third and fourth world countries; face economic challenges that first world countries do not face, on a large scale. Poverty, low literacy rates, poor investments in both human capital and domestic capital, poor nutrition and devastation to populations due to the HIVAIDS pandemic contribute to developing countries moving towards development.

The primary focus of this paper is to explore the impact the HIV/AIDS pandemic has had on Sub-Sahara African economies and to explore the challenges facing developing countries to stimulate domestic savings. The impact on the economies of some of the African countries is still not completely known. If we look at economic impacts, first we must look at the human cost HIV/AIDS is having on Africa’s economic development and ability to cope with the pandemic.

According to an online journal, there are four variables that outline the effects on Africa’s future development: “Economic research helps to estimate the effects of HIV/AIDS on the African economy and the cost effectiveness of prevention and treatment programmes; Economic theory predicts that HIV/AIDS reduces labour supply and productivity, reduces exports, and increase imports; The pandemic has already reduced average national economic growth rates by 2-4% a year across Africa; Prevention and treatment programmes and economic measures such as targeted training in skills needed in key industries will limit the economic effects of HIV/AIDS”, (BMJ. 2002, p. 232). In examining the economic effects of HIV/AIDS, it is hard to look past the fact that over 17 million African people have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS and has 70% of all HIV/AIDS related cases in the world. These are staggering statistics. As outlined in the above journal article, the mortality rates have caused a reduced labor supply, reduced labor productivity and reduced exports and increased exports. The population of people hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic are the prime-aged adults. HIV/AIDS robs industries of both skilled workers and a generation of workers in their prime working years.

The associated illnesses and sickness as a result of HIV/AIDS can lead to high absenteeism which impacts labor productivity. The effects of a reduced labor supply and reduced labor productivity, “reduces exports, while imports of expensive healthcare goods may increase. The decline in export earnings will be severe if strategic sectors of the economy are affected. The balance of payments (between export earnings and import expenditure) will come under pressure at the same time that government budgets come under pressure. This could cause defaults on debt repayments and require economic assistance from the international community”, (BMJ. 2002, p. 233).

In a 1992 macroeconomics a study on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa, it was concluded that “reduced availability of skilled labour would reduce growth rates by about 50% and investment by 75%, that imports of food and other basic products would increase, and that exports of manufactured and other products would decline”. It was also estimated that by 2010, “South African’s GDP per capita would be some 8% low and consumption per capita would be about 12% lower than would have been the case without the HIV/AIDS pandemic”, (BMJ. 2002, p. 234). The pandemic will have lasting effects on the economic development on the Sub-Sahara African countries without international assistance. “An important step in limiting the economic effects of the pandemic is to develop comprehensive policies tailored to the needs of the economies of individual countries.

These policies will inevitably include the introduction of treatment and prevention programmes but may also include economic measures, such as targeted training of skills needed in key industries”, (BMJ. 2002, p. 234). One way to help stabilize the economy may be to push expensive antiretroviral drugs at “highly productive groups of socioeconomic groups in specific industries on the basis of their contribution to economic output rather than their healthcare needs”, (BMJ. 2002, p. 235). This would most likely be a controversial plan, but the strategy would help the people in those groups and buy time for skills training and development of a new work force to replace those that will either lose their health or their lives.

It would also boost the economy if industry production levels can be maintained and exports of goods can remain at a profitable pace. The pandemic is having a major effect on life expectancy, which has been dropping. “ In Zimbabwe, for example, life expectancy is 40 instead of 69. In seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, life expectancies are below 40 years of age”, (CHG, 2009, p. 3). Not only does this impact the work force, but impacts the children, many of whom lose not only one, but both parents, and other family members that might be able to take them in. Instead these children now become a government responsibility, as they are put into orphanages, group homes, etc. It is estimated that there are 15 million orphaned children across Africa.

Standards of living are decreasing, and countries that were once starting to make progress both socioeconomically and economically are headed backwards instead of forward. Poverty is increasing as the family breadwinners are dying or becoming incapacitated by their illnesses. If there are savings, those savings are dwindling as people use their savings just to survive. With mainly young adults dying off, the tax base is shrinking which reduces a countries ability to invest in human capital, such as education and health services, which puts pressure on government finances and reduces economic growth. Investment in education is not a priority with the belief that children will contract HIV/AIDS in adulthood. The poor education of children translates into low adult productivity a generation later. This raises important social and fiscal implications for economic policy. The first is the threat of worsening inequality. If the children left orphaned are not given the care and education enjoyed by those whose parents remain uninfected there will be increasing inequality amount the next generation of adults and the families they form”, (CHG, 2009, p. 6). Investing in human capital is one of the keys to bringing economic growth to developing countries. According to an online website, human capital is defined as “the set of skills which an employee acquires on the job, through training and experiences”, (InvestorWords. com).

An investment in human capital also includes; development of and access to, health and nutrition programs. “Recent studies suggest that 40 percent of the population of the developing nations has an annual income insufficient to provide adequate nutrition”, (Case, Fair & Oster, 2009, p. 427). Low nutrition affects health and poor health affects productivity. Low productivity levels then affect the ability to provide for one’s family, let alone provide any surplus that can be sold and the money put into savings. There are two explanations as to why capital is in such short supply in developing countries. The first is the vicious-cycle-of-poverty hypothesis.

According to our text, “the vicious-cycle-of-poverty hypothesis suggests that a poor nation must consume most of its income just to maintain its already low standard of living. Consuming most of national income implies limited savings, and this implies low levels of investment”, (Case, Fair & Oster, 2009, p. 428). Investment is needed for capital stock to grow and for income levels to rise. Without it, “poverty becomes self-perpetuating”, (Case, Fair & Oster, 2009, p. 428), and the cycle is complete. The second explanation is that there is a lack of financial incentives for citizens to save and invest, as well as a lack of financial institutions. It is common for the wealthier citizens to invest their monies in Europe or the United States instead of in their own countries.

The term for this is capital flight, which “refers to the fact that both human capital and financial capital leave developing countries in search of higher expected rates of return elsewhere or returns with less risk”, (Case, Fair & Oster, 2009, p. 428). According to an online article, “Africa is estimated to lose hundreds of billions of dollars in domestic revenues annually through capital flight”, (Africa Renewal, 2008, p. 12). In order to reverse this trend, it is imperative that the government remove the barriers that turn away wealthy citizens from investing in their own countries. Without domestic savings, investment isn’t possible. Without investment, growth isn’t possible and this cycle continues much like the vicious-cycle-of-poverty hypothesis.

What decisions do leaders of a developing country make in order to stimulate domestic savings and in turn, capital? If I were the President of a developing country, I would invest in human capital and banking reform. In investing in human capital, I would target health and nutrition programs for kids and young adults, the next generation of workers. With life expectancy rates falling, efforts must be made to reverse that trend. A much larger investment in education would be made; incentives for college kids that go to school abroad to return to their home country and work in their field for a required number of years. I would emphasize training and skill development for replacement workers in the industries hit hardest by HIV/AIDS.

In investing in banking reform, I would offer incentives to people who put their money in banks and other financial institutions. Some of the reasons African people in particular do not put money in savings accounts are; “physical distance from banking institutions, high minimum deposit and balance requirements…and the considerable documentation needed to open an account”, (Africa Renewal, 2008, p. 7). There are also a limited number of banks available and with over 60 percent of African people living in rural areas, they just don’t have physical access to banks, unless they travel a long distance. In order to convince people to put their savings in banks, interest paid on savings would need to be high and interest rates on loans low.

Somehow, people must be encouraged to place their money into savings so money will be available for future investments. “The UNCDF noted in its 2004 report that in Rwanda about half a million savings passbook accounts, with an average account size of $57, pulled almost $40 mn into circulation in 2001. “ Although this may not appear significant”, argued the UNCDF, “proper circulation of these funds into credit products could have a significant multiplier effect in the Rwandan economy”, (Africa Renewal, 2008, p. 7). Poverty, low literacy rates, poor investments in both human capital and domestic capital, poor nutrition and devastation to populations due to the HIVAIDS pandemic contribute to developing countries moving towards development.

For these countries to become economically viable, the governments must encourage citizens to invest in their own countries and not rely on international assistance. It’s time for both the citizens and the governments to step up and help themselves. References: Case, K. E. , Fair, R. C. and Oster, S. E. (2009) Principles of Microeconomics (9th ed. ) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:  Pearson Prentice Hall. Dovi, E. (2008) Boosting domestic savings in Africa: From Africa Renewal, Vol. 22#3 (October 2008), page 12, Retrieved on March, 26, 2011, from http://www. un. org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol22no3/223-boosting-domestic-savi ngs. tml Economic Commission for Africa, CHG: Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa: Africa: The Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS, Index No. CHGA-B-11-003, Retrieved on March 27, 2011, from http://www. uneca. org/chga/doc/SOCIO_ECO_IMPACT. pdf InvestorWords, Retrieved on March, 20, 2011, from http://www. investorwords. com Copyright©2011 by WebFinance, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PubMed Central: The impact of HIV and AIDS on Africa’s economic development Simon Dixon, Scott McDonald, and Jennifer Roberts BMJ, 2002 January 26; 324(7331):232-235 PMCID:PMC1122139 ; Retrieved on March 25, 2011, from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC1122139

“What are the major obstacles in your country’s development to achieve long-term and sustainable growth and in addressing such obstacles what public policies need to be put in place, particularly in relation to national technology and innovation capability? ” Vietnam’s reform process named Doi Moi (Renovation) since 1986 witnessed success of market-oriented changes. Not only has Vietnam been one of the world’s fastest growing economies (averaging over 7 per cent p. a. GDP growth), it has made great strides towards eliminating poverty, achieved national food security and become a major exporter of agricultural commodities.

However, the process of shifting from agricultural dominance to industrial dominance has also created number of negatives effects for the country that public policies should be put in place to address. Three main obstacles, which Vietnam has to face up with, are those issues of growth, society and environment: Firstly, the country’s economic growth primarily is factor-based and quantity-based while knowledge-based development accounts for minimal proportion. The growth made by input capitals (foreign investment, natural resources) makes the results do not deserve with investment.

IMF experts make a comparison of Vietnam case with Thailand and Philippine in the past 2 decades, when two country experienced same position as Vietnam currently, 30-40% total revenue of the nation created 12% growth rate, while Vietnam’s investment up to 60% of total revenue but growth rate is only 6-7%/year. It’s the time to pay attention on economic effectiveness rather than just targets setting. Secondly, economic growth in short time has lead to series of social issues.

Inequality and the gap between rich and poor, rural and urban, plains and mountainous areas has been widened not only in terms of income but also living standards and chances. The rapid growth of urban economy and industry has not been linked harmoniously with rural economy and society. While many new jobs continue to withdraw young labors from the rural, they also worsen the unbalance of rural family life, gender and age. More jobs are created but unsecured, life in industrial zone or city suburban with rental house, low-income and manual job can not secure a future.

The rest of people stay with agriculture, however, the growth of and is being contracted, constraining the application of hi-technologies; farming syste agricultural production (so far mainly relying on in labor and natural resources – intensive investment) has no longer enjoyed favorable conditions. Agricultural land is scattered m is still based on habitant and qualitative; products are low competitiveness. Thirdly, environment is damaged seriously. Pollution is increasing, urban and industry waste is poured to the rural. Some natural resources are over exploited for exports purpose without planning.

Fossil fuel is the main source for the economy, technology to create alternative energy is slowly applied. In addition, the happening of epidemic, climate changes is becoming complex. Long term policy to adapt with climate change is still in the beginning stage of formulation while the country have to struggle with day to day disasters. In order to addressing those obstacles, new strategic orientation should be identified; main approaches of public policy in the new period are as follows: Distribute equally the growth results.

Remove all barriers and create favorable conditions for the development of resource markets in the rural (labor, land, capital and science and technology) so that the market mechanism and internal capacity of rural people can be mobilized to regulate effectively all available resources; mobilize abundant rural labor resource, urban savings, and international capital to upgrade rural infrastructure and develop rural services and crafts (including industry and non-agriculture activities in the rural); move the urban and industry to rural areas, export and take rural labors to the urban.

Focus investment on education to improve the human resource capability through appropriate vocational training policy; develop health care system in the rural, especially in difficult and poor areas; stimulate economic sectors to provide services in the urban and favorable areas; gradually, narrow the gaps of service quality between the rural and the urban. Stimulate all economic sectors to participate in the development and application of science and technology to create higher quality products.

The State should concentrate its investment in science and technology applied for public services in agriculture, extension, in difficult and poor areas Identify clearly necessary criteria and areas for economic-environment balance; ensure the sustainable social and environmental development; actively make harmoniously economic, social and environmental planning

In conclusion, entering new development phase, Vietnam’s development course requires new policy solutions to change investment direction into knowledge-base, mobilize hidden resources, create motivation for a large number of people to achieve a long-term and sustainable growth in which national technology and innovation capability enhancement play an crucial role.

For the past years, Ikea’s cultural branding stands out from other competitors because it blends value into their fashionably designed furniture to ensure that modern household goods are made affordable. However, rising prices in raw material and transport cost has forced Ikea’s first price hike in five years. Furthermore, with competitors such as Wal-mart, Carrefour and Tesco’s expansion into furniture and furnishings, and following Ikea’s similar approach of low-priced strategy, it has certainly presented a challenge for Ikea in terms of maintaining its differentiation (Euromonitor 2009).

Ikea being able to maintain or improve its corporate image through social and environmental responsibility is a challenge as well, as it is essential for customers to have positive association to the brand with trust and shared values. For instance, customers that are concerned with the environment will be delighted to purchase Ikea products that are recyclable, made from recycled materials, or both (Euromonitor 2009).

Recent economic crisis has dampened the world’s economy including Western Europe, slowing most of their GDP growth. As a result, it has exposed Ikea’s over reliance on Western Europe market for its growth, whereby its 10 largest markets accounted for 75% of its sales in 2008, and out of the 10 largest markets, 8 were from Western Europe (Euromonitor 2009). In addition, as mentioned previously, Ikea’s major markets are faced with maturity and fierce price competition. Therefore, Ikea’s brand and growth sustainability in its major markets is one of the key challenges, so as to ensure the brand does not fade away in the next decade.

The target group in developed market are mainly made up of broad consumer base as compared to emerging markets which is pretty much different, targeting growing urban middle class. Hence, it is a challenge for Ikea lock down the growing urban middle class in order to secure a reasonable share in these markets (Euromonitor 2009). When it comes to Ikea moving into emerging market, it is a challenge to customise the local needs without compromising the brand’s concept or values. For instance, in China, customers are not used to the DIY idea; as a result, more focus on assembly service is allocated to its assembly services as compared to Western markets(Euromonitor 2009).

The basic purpose of choosing this topic is that organizations have managers and CEO’s but organizations lack is building up leaders. This book gives a proper understanding about the term leadership and the roles of a leader. Leadership is a trait and it allows people to lead from the front and develop a pathway for others. In organizational aspect, this term has a broader connotation and people in organizations act as leaders when they motivate one another in achieving a shared target or goal.

However, in real terms business consider those people as leaders that contribute towards the betterment of the company. Thus, leadership is one of those charismatic characteristic that creates a path for organizational excellence (Drucker, 2001). In order to progress in the world an organizations must need an individual that is leads them to their objective and after achieving the desired results, a proactive leader searches out new opportunity and then decides to achieve that. That is why the topic of leadership is chosen.

• Peter Drucker is considered a management guru and his books on management are treated like a bible in business studies. This book highlights the concept of leadership in detail and the theories related to it. Practical examples of leaders are highlighted in this book and an in-depth analysis on every topic that is related to management and the challenges face by the managers of 21st century is discussed in detail. This book defines the roles of a leader and relates it to the practical world. However, case study approach and business oriented examples are adopted by the author.

Although, the topic is similar and can easily be accessed through author books but this book is far better than other because of its detailed approach and practical examples of the corporate world.

• This book helped a lot in identifying the roles of leaders and their approaches towards the corporate world. The biggest contribution of this book is developing a mindset among people that every individual in an organization can be a leader if he/she takes risk and develop a broader vision in such a way that his/she mission is aligned with the organizational mission.

Conflicts through effective leadership skills can be resolved and people can attain their desired goals if they follow their leaders. This book can contribute a lot in transforming the mindset of a normal employee towards becoming an effective leader for his/her organization.

• There are certain functions of management like planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Besides these functions, certain attributes of management revolves around these functions. These attributes are motivation, leading, staffing etc. In this entire book, each function is discussed in detail and proper emphasis is laid on the basic functions of management.

Radical changes of the 21st century are highlighted in this book and all factors related to the corporate change are discussed in detail. Although, the book emphasizes the change in philosophies of the management but the basic principles remain the same. Thus, all the basic principles of management are discussed generally but through the approach of 21st century. The change management technique, leaders of the 21st century, elements to attain strategic advantage is discussed in detail.

The two new words are:

1. Span of control
2. Decentralized organizations

These two words are new to me and they have contributed a lot in this course. Span of control is a terminology that describes a number of subordinates a superiors can have. It is a theory of organizational behavior that highlights the fact that how relationships can be structured within organizations leaders and subordinates (12 Manage-The executive fast track , 2009).

Besides that in a decentralized organization, the power is equally distributed and all members of the organizations experience the phenomenon of decision-making.

• The concept of changing attitudes of people and the changing norms of the 21st century are similar in both the books. This concept speaks about the fact that norms of the workplace are changing and integrated approach is followed by every stakeholder (Drucker, 2001).

People are trying to reap out more benefits by implementing new strategies that help them in the long and the short run. The concept and theory that was famous and applicable in the previous century might be destructive and obsolete in the current era. In both the books it is highlighted that people have to adopt new methods of working and in order to be successful they have to erase the conventional mentality. Although, it is a theoretical concept but if it is applied positively then it can favor an organization and can transform the entire structure of the organization.

The three “take-aways” from this book are

• Requirements of leadership
• How to manage your own careers
• The scenario of management is changing in the current era

Requirements of Leadership Drucker, beautiful identifies the requirement of leadership in a way that not everyone can be a leader and people who possess leadership skills and forward-looking approach can lead an organization. Besides that, a leader is always ready to change his/her working methodology, as he/she knows the importance of change. How to manage your own careers In this book, the author highlights the fact that an individual has to manage his or her own careers.

They have to keep their own missions and the missions of the organizations aligned. The scenario of management is changing in the current era. One of the biggest take-away from this book is the fact that the working and management style of the corporate world is changing. People are adopting new methodologies and they are creating new business models to achieve their desired goals.

• All the aspects of this book are nearly complete and accurate too. However, managing the resources through internet is a concept that is not discussed in detail.

Managing the internet and effectively using this resource for your business can increase productivity. This approach must be highlighted by Peter Drucker. In the book every concept of management is discussed in detail, the author has beautifully discussed the each concept, and emphasis is laid on the modernized approaches.

References

1. 12 Manage-The executive fast track . (2009). www. 12manage. com. Retrieved feburary 7, 2009, from http://www. 12manage. com/description_p_of_control. html
2. Drucker, F. (2001). Management Challenges for the 21st Century. Collins Business.

The intent of this paper is to measure and pull out the chances and challenges associated with the use of e-health in Australia. The important alterations in people ‘s life style in recent old ages have raised legion desires to accomplish and limited clip to carry through them in a twenty-four hours. Today from directing mail to telling nutrient, all is done through electronic media sitting at place. Similarly, the wellness concerns are besides solved by the usage of E-health which is electronic wellness system. However, there are different challenges like, fiscal, societal, proficient and legal which are hinderance in the growing and acceptance of E-health system in Australia. The literature indicates the important countries in which the people of Australia are bringing the benefits of the E-health. However, the most of import concern for hereafter of E-health is fiscal support by the authorities which will speed up acceptance of the engineering.

Recent old ages have seen a important alteration in people ‘s life style and in order to pull off the basic comfortss one has to work twenty-four hours and dark. In such competitory and scheduled scenario where every minute utilized is counted, people are happening speedy methods to pull off life. Today from directing mail to telling nutrient, all is done through electronic media sitting at place or office. The 24 hours of the twenty-four hours seems to be deficient for completing the work and the inauspicious effects of this busy life consequences in terrible wellness jobs. However, it can be observed that the people sing the infirmary, medical clinic and pathology for assignments to run into the physicians has significantly decreased. The ground for this drastic alteration is the engineering, which has brought a revolution in the wellness sector.Moreover, with the debut of cyberspace the universe seems to be captured in one thaumaturgy box and the words like mail, commercialism, wellness are now known as e-mail, e-commerce and e-health.

Harmonizing to Maeder ( 2008 ) , e-Health is defined as the technological system with scope of information with systematic communicating for people and tools deployed in health care applications, including package systems for wellness informations direction and processing, computing machine assisted clinical procedure and determination support systems, and systems interoperability constituents. Furthermore, with the rise in the cyberspace users it is noticed that clients now straight entree health care related information over the web as a consequence of which the issues and solutions related with medical specialty, medical informations are available on finger tips. Furthermore, in Australia the National E-Health Transition Authority ( NEHTA ) promises to develop criterions and substructure for interrelated wellness sector, clinical informations criterions for the exchange of clinical information, national criterions to uniquely identify patients, suppliers, merchandises and services and unafraid electronic transportation of information across the wellness sector ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) . This revolution in the wellness sector due to electronic media will supply possible chances and benefits to many people. However, the benefits are hindered by several challenges that include privateness and security of information, technological inefficiency and fiscal scarceness.

The intent of this paper is to measure and pull out the chances and challenges associated with use of e-health in Australia. This preliminary reappraisal will research the possible benefits for patients, wellness experts and wellness organisations every bit good as the possible barriers and issues related to e-health use in Australia.

2. Australia: background and context

Australia is the universe ‘s largest island and smallest continent. It is besides the driest inhabited continent, and features a broad scope of climatic zones. Today, Australia is place to an estimated 20.3 million people. Australia is a comfortable state with an established capitalist economic system and the overall Australian population is one of the healthiest when compared internationally ( Glover, Hetzel & A ; Tennant 2008 ) . Furthermore, Australia is a developed state equipped with advanced engineering and important research in medical specialty which marks a planetary impact about its wellness sector.

2.1. Health sector in Australia

The wellness sector in Australia is governed by public and private organisations. The public organisations are supported by the Government. Harmonizing to Li et Al. ( 2008 ) Australia has a complex wellness system, with patients treated in both the populace and private sectors and in urban, regional, rural and distant countries. Furthermore, wellness service suppliers include general and specialist medical and nursing practicians, other wellness professionals, hospital staff, community wellness workers, druggists. In add-on, the Australian authorities provides chronic and complex conditions, electronic wellness records, and improved safety and quality of infirmary attention ; and better national wellness information ( Glover, Hetzel & A ; Tennant 2008 ) .Furthermore, the new engineerings and research in the medical field has raised important chances related to the use of e-health.

3. Potential chances associated with use of E-health in Australia

To speed up the acceptance of an electronic wellness information system across Australia and to develop user specifications, criterions and substructure necessary for an interrelated wellness sector, National e-health Transition Authority ( NeHTA ) has taken major stairss in forming the medical system accurately. Furthermore, Australian Governments approved $ 130 million to present a alone wellness attention designation figure for all persons, a alone designation figure for every wellness attention professional, and a common linguistic communication for wellness communications and to computerise the general pattern for the success of communicating web across the wellness attention system ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) .Furthermore, it is to be noticed that Australian wellness sector is a wide endeavor and is turning with the support from the authorities, as a consequence of this the possible benefits to people, wellness experts and wellness organisations will significantly alter the mentality of the hereafter wellness attention system.

3.1. Benefits to patient

The engineering has flourished the present wellness sector in Australia and the patients are blessed with benefits like easy entree to the studies, medical specialties etc. Maeder ( 2008 ) draws the attending towards the elaborate information system which will supply the patients with prescribed intervention, inauspicious reactions to drugs or therapies, understanding activities of day-to-day life and modifying bad wonts besides it will move as personal monitoring device. Furthermore, Ray ( 2006 ) stresses that the electronic wellness records ( EHR ) will assist patients routinely sing multiple health care suppliers. Similarly, EHR will besides assist each health care supplier to hold an integrated position of the patient ‘s health care position based on an collection of all the patient records. Therefore, these records will give a proper overview of the patient ‘s wellness and will cut down the load of interchanging the information from different health care supplier. Furthermore, e-health has driven people towards healthier life with information about yoga, dieting and workout tips that are easy available on web sites. In add-on, medical insurances are besides purchased and renewed utilizing web sites like Medibank, Medicare in Australia. However, the wellness experts like physicians, general practicians are happening this engineering really utile with regard to managing information about the patients.

3.2. Prospects for wellness experts

The general practician in Australia seems excessively positive with the usage of computing machine for keeping the patient ‘s information. The history of the disease that a patient is enduring and the medicine that is advised can be fetched from the system which reduces the load of paper work. On the other manus patients excessively have less tenseness of maintaining all the records and they visit the physicians with positive head. Furthermore, Maeder ( 2008 ) emphasizes that E-health tools are progressing human apprehension and interaction every bit good as it supports collaborative activities like statistical sum-ups and graphical show for studies, multiparty conferencing bundles, and tele wellness patient scrutiny applications. Ray ( 2006 ) draws that wellness experts can overview the sum-up of interventions received, consequences from blood trials or X raies and discharge referrals in the Health Link system. Similarly, the benefits of electronic wellness record over the paper record is its usage enables improved information flow, improved communicating between wellness practicians across different wellness attention scenes, easier entree to medical files, improved issue of prescriptions, and determination support therefore the Australian Government has recognized these advantages, and, through the Department of Health and Ageing, provides financess to the General Practice Computing Group ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) .However, Henderson, Britt & A ; Miller ( 2006 ) argues that medical record used lacks the specificity to find the sum or type of patient information being stored in the computing machine and each physician has a duty to protect his patient ‘s involvement in footings of the privateness of their EHR.

3.3. Aid to infirmaries and wellness organisations

The infirmaries and wellness organisations in Australia are divided in public and private sectors with the duty to keep healthy environment in the state. The authorities supports this sector and warrants proper wellness attention to the people.The E-health system has united these organisations to work consistently and co-ordinate with each other which has resulted in clip and cost nest eggs. The engineering has proved easy for infirmaries to reassign and keep patient ‘s information. The infirmaries know the sort of experts present in the other wellness attention organisations and advice the patients to see that topographic point from the system which connect to cardinal database. The squad meetings utilizing video-conferencing engineering are assisting the experts and organisations to work out the critical instances from one topographic point diminishing the long distance travel ( Ray 2006 ) . The wellness direction package ‘s have helped the infirmaries to keep the substructure and paysheet. The wellness attention devices like X-ray, CT scan, computing machine aided imaging, endoscopy are supplying speedy methods for analysis of single wellness and the information files are saved in the database for future mention.

4. Challenges associated with use of E-health in Australia

The information system has given human society handiness and easiness to manage multiple things at one clip.However, the duty to procure the critical statistics has increased to heighten the quality of wellness informations.The hinderance to E-health systems are substructure, fiscal support to keep the systems, deficiency of proficient experts, societal acceptableness etc. The support from Australian authorities to wellness organisations is still deficient to function the mass. Maeder ( 2008 ) draws the important challenges like cost and demands of chronic diseases like malignant neoplastic disease, diabetes with worsening size and capableness of the professional work force in the wellness attention sector.

4.1. Fiscal Issues

The Australian work force mostly depends on the skilled immigrants from other states. The cost for the intervention of diseases like malignant neoplastic disease, cardiovascular etc are really high and the equipments for supervising them is an extra load to the organisations. Second a major issue is the demand for systemic battle with quality and safety betterments which requires excess fiscal support ( Ray 2006 ) .Moreover, Robinson et Al. ( 2005 ) draws that accidental or unwilled revelation of patient ‘s information constitute breach of privateness, loss of wellness insurance and fiscal harm. Harmonizing to Anderson ( 2007 ) a major barrier to execution of EMRs and other clinical IT applications is the primary costs which are really high and the care of the system in add-on which consequences diffident final payments to doctors.

4.2. Technical hurdlings

The down clip and clangs are the footings which are common with computing machine engineering and the dependability on systems for storage and endorse up of the information is ever on high precedence therefore the wellness experts have less faith on the engineering and they keep records in paper excessively ( Henderson, Britt & A ; Miller 2006 ) . Li et Al. ( 2008 ) draws that the engineering back uping distributed medical squad depends on apprehension of the human computing machine interaction involved in the engineering. Furthermore, the deficiency of assurance in general practicians towards computing machine systems because of inability to type rapidly, less cognition about package are issues in acceptance of engineering in the wellness sector ( Henderson, Britt & A ; Miller 2006 ) .The immense volume of informations generated by multichannel supervising device provides many proficient challenges like informations transportation, storage and entree. In add-on, it requires appropriate package to supply analysis, comparing and reading of the informations ( Maeder 2008 ) .The security of the information is besides a country of concern for the proficient experts while implementing the package and proper preparation to be provided to the user. However, Ray ( 2006 ) draws that in Australia the criterions like HL7 seek to procure the transmittal of the informations and supply terminal to stop security demands.

4.3. Cultural and Social Confront

The development of engineering has brought assorted positive facets like comfort, clip nest eggs etc but on the other side it has raised the menace to the single privateness. The common people are cognizant of the benefits of the terminal devices and least bothered about the security. The breach of information by authorised users of electronic wellness records is an ethical affair which sends a incorrect moving ridge among people about the new systems ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) . Furthermore, the privateness related to the patient ‘s record is addressed and signed before utilizing it for other instance surveies in Australia ( Li et al. 2008 ) .However ; in Australia the Government enterprises to propagate the cognition refering the security and privateness of informations are a positive measure in the way for acceptance of E-health ( Ray 2006 ) .

4.4. Law and policy obstructions

The security and privateness in E-health systems are non as per the statute laws criterions of Australia which is a menace to hereafter of wellness sector ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) . The E-health system has many benefits for the patients and society nevertheless ; the privateness concerns are going legal issues with the wellness attention organisations ( Ray 2006 ) . Harmonizing to the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 ( NSW ) , wellness information must non be disclosed to anyone other than the patient and physician. However, the wellness attention suppliers must take the permission from the patient for revelation of the confidential information for the intent of survey or work outing same instance. In failure of such conditions will ensue in menace to the involvement of people for illustration, describing catching diseases to the appropriate wellness organisation ( Robinson et al. 2005 ) . Legal barriers to E-health acceptance exist in Australia, Torahs sing fraud and maltreatment, antimonopoly rational belongings and province licensing has developed a cloud of uncertainness for wellness attention suppliers to implement the engineering ( Anderson 2007 ) .

5. Decisions

Finally, this study has explored current thoughts in the field of E-health acceptance in Australia concentrating in chances and challenges. The wellness sector in Australia is supported by the Government and is booming with the technological development. The different subdivisions in Australia like patients, wellness experts and wellness attention organisations are deriving the benefits from the new system. Additionally, the improved methods have given physicians a tool to manage critical wellness issues and diseases in more structured manner.

Equally far as challenges are concerned, there are issues related to societal and fiscal sectors. The major hurdle is with proficient cognition which is an indispensable factor to drive the electronic wellness strategy. However, the current wellness direction has its legal barriers which are to be implemented with the engineering for societal security and privateness.

The literature indicates the important countries in which the people of Australia are bringing the benefits of the E-health. However, the most of import concern for hereafter of E-health is fiscal support by the authorities which will speed up acceptance of the engineering. Furthermore, the extra barriers will merely be removed with the inclusion of greater security of medical informations to convert practicians and patients.