Final Reflection Paper

1. In this course, we have focused on approaches that focus on the “higher levels” of the social-ecological model (organization, community, policy). What are two benefits of focusing public health practice on the higher levels versus the individual/interpersonal levels?

a. Please include specific examples to support each of the two benefits that you identify.

Community interventions and medical policies that cover higher levels, significantly contribute to minimizing the burden of poor health in the society as it covers an enormous number. For instance, community health nursing covers both the person and the entire family hence promoting good health. Through community nursing, it is easier to identify genetic disorders than it would be if the diagnosis and treatment got done at the individual level. After identification, proper treatment or preventive measure can get prescribed for the family, and even for the unborn children so as to treat or minimize the impact of the disorder. The general practitioner can also observe family interactions and risk factors that can be the cause if the disease. Ockene, et al., (2007), states that public health threats get addressed and prevented best from a community and multi-level perspective, through the media and increasing collaborations in the health systems.

Public health at higher levels is not only cheap but also encourages public participation hence improving the quality and state of health care. For example, community vaccination against a disease covers a wider number of individuals at a lower cost but delivers a great outcome as more people get vaccinated. Public health care at higher levels involves targeting communities with a similar factor such as geographic region, race, gender, or a particular health condition, and this makes it easier to manage using few resources in a short time framework. The media has also played a significant role in educating and mobilizing a large number of people regarding a certain public health concert at a low cost and within a short time.

2. Which one of the following approaches do you think should be the highest priority for public health practice? B. Community-Based Prevention C. Media Advocacy D. Prevention Policy & Legislative Advocacy E. Addressing Corporate Practices Explain and justify your choice, including responses to the following.

a. How does this approach contribute to public health practice?

b. Why is it more important/effective than the other approaches?

c. Why is it well-suited to an ecological perspective?

Media Advocacy

Media advocacy gets defined as a kind of public health communication that entails the use of various media for different purposes in the health sector. These purposes include communication of public health issues and measures, shape people’s opinion, mobilization of society’s activists and influencing decision makers on legal and public health policies. Media advocacy is a powerful tool for addressing numerous public health issues and threats more than community-Based Prevention, Prevention Policy, and Legislative Advocacy and addressing Corporate Practices. Media advocacy entails the multi-levels of public healthcare interventions that are individual, organization, network and society levels. It involves the prevention, treatment, and management of public health concerns.

Media applies different strategies to improve public health practice. One of the common techniques is through mass media (television, radio, internet, print publications and films) to disseminate information to the public (Edberg, 2007). Communication campaigns for public health practices such as campaigns against drug and substance abuse and best practices to promote public health that get communicated through public media influence people’s behaviors. Mass media may also get used to gain public support regarding a particular public health policy hence influencing the decision makers. The internet is also a vital tool for providing information concerning a public health issue as well as creating awareness. Technological advancement has also enabled easier interactions between the patient and the physician, such as tethered patient portals that allow communications between healthcare providers and the patient. These tethered patient portals enhance chronic disorder management, patient-health provider communication, patient’s compliance with medications and preventive services, and patient satisfaction (Otte-Trojel, et. al. 2014). The media also includes campaign programs such as the Truth campaign, campaign against HIV/AIDS, and National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign that promote public health through messages and campaign activities targeting the youth and parents. Media advocacy is also effective because, unlike the objective of addressing corporate practices that focus on a specific group, media advocacy reaches all individuals whether affected or not affected by the issue. Unlike prevention policy and legislative policy, media advocacy also covers o treatment and diagnosis of the public health issue.

Media advocacy is important and effective in the public health sector due to various reasons. Media advocacy can reach a broad audience in limited time. This audience includes decision makers, and individuals in remote areas that do not have access to a health facility, areas with poor infrastructure as well as areas hit by disasters such as floods. Media advocacy is effective since information always disseminated has a greater credibility than information presented through paid media advertisements. Media advocacy is also important since it is less costly. Media advocacy is one among the few public health interventions in which focus gets directed upstream to influence the environment in which individuals make various healthcare decisions. It gets used to accelerate and amplify the policy work so as to achieve the public health objectives for a safe and healthy environment in an informed and quick manner. Rowitz (2002), states that when media advocacy is community-based its most effective and entails collaborative measures at framing concerns, defining agendas, and monitoring the effectiveness of policy proposals.

Media advocacy in public health is well suited to an ecological perspective since it blends communications, politics, research and advocacy in achieving public health objectives (Dorfman & Krasnow, 2014).

3. Briefly, discuss which one of the approaches you think would be your preferred focus if you choose a career in public health. Some questions to consider:

a. Which one of the approaches do you feel best matches your personal strengths and weaknesses?

b. Which one do you feel is most aligned with the public health issues you are interested?

c. In what way do you anticipate that you would be involved in this approach?

Media advocacy
If I chose a career in public health, I would select media advocacy since by using the approach I would be able to reach a broad audience as well as influence public health policies. Through the use of creative writing which is one among my personal strengths, I would significantly make an impact in the public health sector. My publications and articles would emphasize on preventive and proper health habits, hence result in decreased health issues. I would also use research to identify emerging health threats and warn people in advance hence mitigate the impact of the risk or eliminate the problem.

Media advocacy is the most aligned with the public health issues of interest. For instance, most diseases are as a result of lack of information of certain avoidable actions. For example, diseases caused by poor dietary or tobacco and alcohol abuse or poor sanitation could easily get avoided and minimized if the community gets sensitized to the effects of these activities. Other diseases such as polio that can get prevented through immunization can get avoided if the society gets sensitized to the importance of vaccination of children at an early age. My aim in these activities would be to make the world a better place where diseases get prevented more that they get treated.

As an activist in public health sector, I would get involved in creative writing to sensitize people on certain components of public health. These components include effects of drug and substance abuse, the importance of maintaining a clean environment, proper hygiene, and public health. I would also get involved in organizing community support for the change in public health policies. I would also make publications regarding the current government policies regarding public health, the newest research regarding diseases and the effective prevention measures and also changes in the trend of the illnesses.

Siemens and Halske

Introduction
From the company’s humble beginning as the telegraph-bauanstalt von Siemens and Halske in the year 1847, the company has managed to grow into the second biggest employer in Germany, having more than 427,000 employees worldwide by 2009. The company’s 150 years history is characterized by the ingenious inventions as well as the trend-setting developments. With time, the company diversified their business to include a wide assortment of electrical engineering applications. The company’s earliest specialty was on the heavy current engineering which encompassed finding the means to satisfy the growing power requirements of the contemporary industrial machinery. Through their extensive expertise in electrical engineering, the company expanded its operations to encompass the generation of electric power. Although most of the company’s initial power plants relied on coal for their operations, the company was additionally undertaking major investments in R&D on the alternative sources of energy. The company continued with the diversification of its operations even further from the mid 19810s where it expanded to wind energy. Alternative energy generation technologies continue to be the major priority at Siemens, with their emphasis being on solar as well as wind applications.

The company’s energy sector encompasses five divisions which include renewable energy, fossil fuel generation, oil & gas, power transmission as well as power distribution.

What Problems are they facing In the Case?
The current situation that Siemens is facing relates to the formulation of a strategy to guide in the best position that the company will adopt in their effort to dominate the global renewable energy market. The main hurdles revolve around the fact that the stakes are high as a result of the recent financial turmoil as well as the credit crunch that are making it harder for them to reach fast decisions. The decisions that the company needs to make include whether the company should make its best guess about the future by investing deeply in a limited number of options. Additionally, it is imperative that they decide on whether they should cast their net wider and thus hedge their bets on the diverse types of alternative energy. Siemens needs to decide on whether they should focus on a narrower field and what strategy are they going to adopt in deciding on the type of alternative energy that is going to be their leading technology in the future. It is imperative that they decide on whether it is possible for them to foresee any new disruptive innovations and additionally take advantage of them.

Additionally, they need to decide on whether they can pick any alternative technology and additionally ensure that they make it a winner. The last challenge that Siemens were facing is on deciding the manner they are going to compete in the new fields. The decisions revolve on deciding whether the company shall be going alone, develop proprietary knowledge and consequently keeping the probable profits to themselves, with full knowledge that they run the risk of going too far on the wrong path. Conversely, they need to decide on whether they should base their focus on the acquiring of smaller companies that have developed promising technological advancements, aiding them down the development path. Additionally, it is necessary for Siemens to decide on whether making alliances will make it possible for them to share both the returns as well as the risks with a partner thus becoming their optional solution to the domination of the global alternative energy industry.

Alternative Energy Opportunities Siemens Pursues
There are various types of alternative energy opportunities that Siemens can pursue to realize their global success in the alternative energy sector. The logic behind the clamor for the alternative energies is the use of the natural based resources such as water, the wind, solar radiation or the heat for the creation of energy other than the reliance on the carbon-based fuels.

1. Wind energy is one of the options that Siemens could venture into as a form of alternative source of energy

The common assertion about the wind energy topic is that although it is some disadvantages, it is one of the fasted growing alternate energy sectors and is additionally a trend that should continue. The company has consequently staked a firm presence in the wind energy turbine business, having won some large contracts for the installation of both of as well as onshore wind turbines. On the global arena, the company is the fifth largest installer of wind turbine power by the year 2009, aiming to the second by the year 2012. The portfolio of the company encompasses the diverse stages of wind-turbine development inclusive of the deigning of the components as well as the system, manufacturing, R&D, installation as well as maintenance. These activities have managed to earn the company approximately 19 billion Euros in revenues in the 2008 fiscal year, which accounted for approximately a quarter of the company’s overall revenues. The fact that Siemens has the foundation that is necessary for the development of these alternative energies presents an excellent platform for them to undertake the investment in the wind power energy opportunity.

The additional reason as to why Siemens should venture into the wind power sector is the fact that they have few competitors as a result of the technological complexities of the business. The fact that the market offers a high future potential about the industry growth implies that other competitors are going to enter into the competition mainly from China. However the fact that wind power requires constant maintenance implies that the Siemens will have long-term service contracts, an attribute that makes it instrumental for them to enter into the wind power sector.

Solar energy is the other opportunity that Siemens needs to adopt, considering that the company is already the market leader in the turnkey CSP plants. In this case, Siemens would be able to leverage its plant size, their experience in the development of power plants, as well as the reliability, being a long term service provider effectively. The main reason that the company should target as they undertake this opportunity is the long term servicing required for the generators and turbines long after the completion of the plant’s construction.
Hydropower is the additional opportunity that Siemens needs to capture. The fact that the company has been a strong player in the hydrometric power dams implies that they have the experience that can set them apart from their competition. There numerous opportunities for the company to expand into such as in the US where the company government has designed policies to increase their low costs hydroelectric power production. The US offers excellent expansion opportunities as there are more than 5,677 sites that have an undeveloped capacity of approximately 30,000MW, which offer an opportunity for Siemens to introduce their expertise.
Geothermal power is the additional opportunity that Siemens can exploit because the company has an expansive wealth of expertise on electric energy. In the production of this energy, two shafts are drilled deep into the earth core, with water being pumped in through one shaft and extracting energy through the other shaft inform of steam. The main attribute that makes the technology an excellent option for Siemens is the fact that it can be installed in any area that requires energy. Additionally, geothermal plants need minimal amounts of fresh water as well as external fuel sources and their layouts makes them highly scalable.
How Aggressively Should Siemens Pursue These Opportunities?
Siemens should need to pursue these opportunities with aggressiveness. For instance on the wind power opportunity, they should attack the Europe market with utmost aggressiveness considering that they are among the best in the region as well as the fact that are minimal transportation costs. About the expansion to other regions in the world, they should be the first movers of the technologies as they already possess the technology as well as the R&D attributes. Waiting to introduce their technologies will only serve to diminish the market for their alternative energy. The advantage that makes it imperative for Siemens to be first movers of these alternative energy technology opportunities is they already have a reputation for being the best in the world as well as the fact that they have exceptional R&D strategies in the same sector.

Should They Go It Alone, Form Strategic Alliances Or Pursue Acquisitions?

On whether Siemens needs to undertake these opportunities either alone, form alliances or acquisitions, various factors are taken into consideration. In the case of wind energy, Siemens possess the best technology, but the costs of transporting these turbines are very high, a factor that limits their expansions. The fact that there are few established competitors in the industry for Siemens to acquire or engage in alliances implies that their best option is to set up industries in their desired markets.

Regarding solar energy, the fact that the company has the best turnkey CSP plants in the world makes acquiring the existing companies in their desired markets the best option as they will not have to share their profits. Siemens has minimal technologies in the hydropower generation and thus pursuing alliances with the established players in their desired markets is a worthwhile plan where they will be supplying technologies and expertise. Geothermal powers involve minimal costs and through their technology as their main bargaining, Siemens should enter their desired markets alone.

Conclusion
Siemens is facing a critical point in their survival in the alliterative energy production sector. The company possesses some of the best technologies in the world relating to the production alternative energy, and the contemporary market challenges are making it imperative for them to make decisions that will see them enter excel in the sector. Some of the decisions that the company has to make revolve around the number as well as the type of alternative energies they will be pursuing. From the assessment of the case, it is clear that wind power, solar energy, geothermal power as well as hydropower present the company with the best opportunities to succeed in the alternative energy markets.

Jobs Market in Middle East – Impact of Reforms

Middle East has been attracting people from all over the world, East or West, equally. Tax free (well almost) regime, political stability, cultural accommodation, growing market and excellent salaries were main attractions. The vacancies in Dubai mainly were more home bound and always attracted job seekers from all over the world. The openness of the market had a big impact on the number of jobs available.

Visa reforms, reforms related to ownership of companies in mainland, attractive licensing pricing and policies and long-term commitment to retaining talents within the country are the main attractions of the recent announcement by the UAE government. The impact of these slowly started showing with large number of new companies being formed across various free zones such as TECOM, DIC, SHAMS, and others.

Free Palestine
There are going to be huge job opportunities in Dubai, a hub of Middle East market. These will be mainly in Marketing, IT, Sales, Accounting and Finance, Engineering, and Oil and Gas. Being the most efficient and biggest logistic hub, Dubai attracts talents from all over the world. Job vacancies in Dubai will mark a paradigm shift in terms of skills, from all over the world to the Middle East, all attracted to the latest jobs in Dubai.

It is expected that there will be surge in jobs in Dubai in coming years, starting from the fueling of the funding from refund of labor deposits and Expo 2020 and other catalysts. The job seekers should be careful of the fake job offering and should rely on trustworthy and reliable service providers. They should avoid spurious and bogus agents and always counter check the offers/postings with original provider/company. In case of doubt we always recommend to contact us via our website jobultra.com

And then there are a large number of job websites, many of them providing outdated and obsolete data and information. There are several free job posting sites, with limited features and limited search capabilities. A job seeker should look at sites which are fresh, such as JobUltra.com which offer new lease to the job seeking market with fresh approach.

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