Abstract The paper examines the ethical issues and requirements when dealing with criminal record disclosures. The paper offers recommendations for professionals that may come across situations where there are no clear cut steps to take, and concludes with a summary of the relevant issues.
Outline:
Introduction
Criminal Record DisclosureRequirements Examples of Ethical Conflicts in DisclosureRequirements Recommendations to Solve Ethical Issues
Conclusion
From the Paper "This raises ethical concerns since sensitive client/patient information is shared, that includes medical and background records. Affiliates are also given access to these records, so there must be some kind of security mechanism in place to protect the confidential information. In the case of open disclosure to officials in the criminal justice system, such criminal justice employees are only focused on their portion that is related to client's case, which may be at reaching a charge or guilty verdict. There is the question of how much disclosure is necessary; this may account for a gap in the relevant ethical code that the professional must decide on their own. In other words, a choice must be made between two courses of action. This is difficult because in most cases there are significant consequences for taking either course of action. Each of the two courses of action can be supported by one or more ethical principle, and the ethical principles supporting the unchosen course of action will be compromised disclosure requests can adequately perform their jobs."
Abstract This paper explains that there are benefits and disadvantages for both full and anonymous disclosure, depending on the specific situation. The author points out that disclosure involves certain exclusions and exemptions from the usual principle of confidentiality. The paper relates that, without full disclosure, a person may never obtain the help he need and other individuals may be placed at risk; therefore, full disclosure can be therapeutic and leads to therapy and healing. The author also stresses that anonymous disclosure can be more appropriate because of culture and stigma; however, the risks and dangers can outweigh the benefits. The paper underscores that debate between the use of full or anonymous disclosurerequires a careful risk-benefits analysis.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Full Disclosure versus Anonymous Disclosure HIV and Disclosure Child Abuse and Disclosure
From the Paper "The immediate goals then are to have the person use safe sex and ensure that the partner is tested. If the person does not agree to make full disclosure, then this is a situation where the health care provider is exempt from normal principles of confidentiality. The reason is that public health is at risk and other people's lives are being endangered. The process to be followed is to attempt to influence the person to disclose; if attempts at influence fail, then notify the authorities; and, if there is no action on the art of authorities, inform the endangered person of the issue."
Abstract This paper explains that the introduction of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act influenced corporate governance practices to the highest degree and fundamentally changed the business and regulatory environment by introducing numerous new accounting requirements. The author points out that, as companies continue to apply Sarbanes-Oxley principles to their operations, many organizations see immediate benefits ranging from improved documentation procedures to the further development of effective ethics policies. The paper states that, once the improved documentation and governance procedures are established, the internal controls are in place and the employees are trained; the costs associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will go down and the organizations will be able to take full advantage of compliance. Tables.
Table of Contents
The Law
The Importance of the Law
The Benefits of the Law
Positive Changes
Costs of Compliance
Costs versus Benefits
Conclusion
From the Paper "Common sense and personal integrity suggest that in today's world, remaining faithful to personal and organizational ethical standards is more important than ever. Many disappointing examples exist in the face of Enron, Andersen, WorldCom, Tyco, and others that prove just how vulnerable employees and organizations are to unethical decisions and how devastating the outcome of unethical behavior can be. Not only personal careers, but also the future of entire organizations and the integrity of the national economy depend on the commitment of individuals and companies to high moral principles."
Abstract This paper provides a thorough overview of the gathering systems requirements process in relation to the overall systems development process. The paper includes an analysis of the two basic types of system requirements, both technical and business related. The paper also provides an overview of both the technical and business-related unmet needs of external and internal customers.
Outline:
Executive Summary
Overview of the Gathering Systems Requirements Process
Why the Gathering Systems Requirements Phase Is Most Critical
Comparing Business Versus Technical Needs In the Context of the Gathering Systems Requirements Phase
Methodologies for Collecting User Requirements
From the Paper "Requirements Specification, Validation and Management is also critical in the Gathering System Requirements Process - This is also a very critical task in that the feasibility of the project and its vision must be rigorously and thoroughly defined into product and solution concepts that can be transformed into specific application features and solution sets. The progression of turning requirements into specifications, validating them, and managing the requirements in the context of an overall product line strategy is also very critical. The database or repository of requirements must be continually managed and updated to reflect current user and customer unmet needs, with a strong focus on how to translate them into future product directions."
Abstract This paper argues that a good requirements analysis is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of a project and essential to the successful development of a product. It discusses the possible negative outcome of a badly stated requirements report. It concludes with a brief discussion of some of the management tools available.
From the Paper "We are in a high-tech world and there is a paradigm shift in business techniques. With the ever-increasing demands of the customers companies are forced to do everything in a swift and cost efficient manner. This approach has however compromised on the quality of the products leading to failed projects. The usefulness and the applicability of any project changes over a period of time. In order to keep abreast in this competitive market companies are forced to have a futuristic perspective of their business. Corporations all over the world are coming to realize the role of proper requirements management in ensuring the longevity and success of their projects. Let us analyze requirements discovery and management in a little detail."
This paper looks at different perspectives of operations strategy and how material requirements planning implementation shift according to which strategy is adopted.
Abstract This paper describes business as mathematics in that it is an equation of balance on both sides of the balance sheet: labor must be balanced with capital, resources with allocation, customers with services or goods and workers with rewards. The paper describes the perspectives of operations strategy and material requirements planning. It illustrates how business organizations differ dramatically in their underlying systems of organization because of the personal preferences and predilections of their managers.
Table of Contents
I. Operations Strategy and MRP: A Brief History
II. The Importance of Operations Strategy
III. Organizational Approach
IV. Political Approach
V. Cognitive Approach
VI. Conclusion
VII. Works Cited
From the Paper "Doing business is mathematics by other means ? all a question of keeping equations in balance on both sides. Labor must be balanced with capital. Resources with allocation. Customers with services or goods. Workers with rewards. At the heart of an ideal operation ? by which is usually meant a business, but a number of other multi-person organizations also qualify ? is a sound theory of operations strategy. Part of that strategy must be a well-designed program of material requirements planning or MRP. After looking generally at the field of operations strategy or operations management, this paper looks at different perspectives on operations strategy and the ways in which MRP implementation plans shift according to which operational strategy is adopted.
Operations Strategy and MRP: A Brief History
Industrial management in business is a term used to describe the techniques and expertise of efficient organization, planning, direction, and control of the operations of a business. In the theory of industrial management, organization has two principal aspects. One relates to the establishment of lines of responsibility, drawn usually in the form of an organization chart that designates the executives of the business, from the president to the foreperson or department head, and specifies the functions for which they are responsible. The other principal aspect relates to the development of a staff of qualified executives (Johnson, Newell & Vergin 19)."
This report represents a concept analysis on disclosure as it pertains to how it is used in a scientific model as opposed to a normal or ordinary sense.
Abstract The objective of this paper is to gain new insights into the concept of disclosure and how it pertains to the nursing profession. The objective is to establish the groundwork for future research in the disclosure legislation, as well as the day-to-day aspects of disclosure rules. The report was outlined according to Avant and Walker's "Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing". The report layout aims to give a brief description of disclosure and how it will be affected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and offers reasoning for why this topic was selected. The report talks about the detailed literature search that would be necessary for full topic coverage and identifies some uses of the concept, with non-nursing literature also included. The report then determines defining attributes by utilizing the concept of 'Model, Borderline, Related, Contrary, Invented and Illegitimate' detailing. From there, an identification of antecedents and/or consequences is done, with empirical referents related to the concept also being discussed. The conclusion entails a discussion pertaining to the theoretical framework as it relates to the disclosure.
From the Paper "By definition, disclosure is simply the act or process of revealing or uncovering something. However, in the medical community, privacy advocates and the technology based information age have redefined what disclosure is and what it is not. The United States healthcare system encompasses many different layers including health plans, physicians, hospitals, clinics, consumers, and public health programs. Today, as consumers go through the process of selecting either a health plan, doctor of other health professional, there are many opportunities for that individual's personal information such as a social security number, medical condition or diagnosis to make its way through the hands of many medical professionals in various capacities. "Almost all of us are aware that our personal information is being collected and stored by many different entities." (Soloye)"
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of disclosure in medical profession, the admission of mistakes/errors by nursing/medical professionals to their patients or colleagues. The paper examines the differences between open disclosure and self-disclosure. The paper presents a literature review of theories of open and self-disclosure.
From the Paper "Disclosure in medical profession refers to admission of mistakes/errors by nursing/medical professionals to their patients or colleagues. There are categories to disclosure such as open disclosure or self-disclosure etc. Wu, Folkman, McPhee, and Lo (1991) defined a medical mistake as "an act or omission for which the house officer felt responsible that had serious or potentially serious consequences for the patient and that would have been judged wrong by knowledgeable peers at the time it occurred" (p. 2089). Studies reveal that doctors are reluctant to admit mistakes for various reasons. Petronio (1994 b) found that doctors are not willing to open up because disclosure of errors leads to risks of vulnerability. Admitting mistakes to colleagues might result in criticism and loss of self-esteem and disclosing errors to patients invites anger and possible lawsuits."
Abstract This paper explores the impact that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has had on patients' access to their own health records. The paper explains that the Act defines exactly what can and cannot be revealed to outside parties, while clarifying the patient's own access rights. The paper also explains that HIPAA requires certain written policies and procedures while the HIPAA Privacy Rule provides that all relevant employees and volunteers who work for a HIPAA-controlled agency must be properly trained according to their role in the enterprise. The paper concludes that HIPAA has standardized privacy practices in the healthcare arena and this will assist in resolving disputes and have a positive impact on healthcare provider/patient relations.
Outline:
Introduction
Patient Access
Permitted Uses
Written Privacy Policies
Training
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 and applies to largely to health care privacy and security standards, along with other initiatives. With regard to privacy, it has defined exactly what can and cannot be revealed to outside parties, while clarifying the patient's own access rights. While allowing for the varying kinds of entities covered by the act along with changing technology expectation, it sets scalable standards that can be adapted by all kinds of organizations. Documentation and education standards will help assure that all patients are treated fairly and equitably under the new laws. Sanctions will be put in place both by the covered entities with regard to their own business associates, as well as within the laws with regard to the covered entities."
Abstract This paper represents a concept analysis on disclosure. The paper offers an in-depth understanding of the concept of disclosure and defines what it represents, as well as what it does not represent. The paper's focus and motivation is to identify a foundation for future exploring, measuring, and testing the idea in regard to a full dissertation on abused pregnant women. The paper is based on Avant and Walker's "Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing" and, therefore, provides a brief discussion of the overall concept and insights into why this topic was selected. The paper discusses how it relates to nursing, as well as to abused pregnant women. The paper describes the inherent literature search process and identifies possible uses of the concept, including non-nursing literature. The paper explores how the theoretical framework used relates to the original concept.
From the Paper "It is critical to clearly define the attributes associated with the aspects of this idea. The first is the concept of disclosure itself which will be driven by the legal community. The second attribute structure would revolve around the pregnant women abused in a scientifically significant way. "Walker and Avant maintained that mid-range theories balance this specificity with the conceptual economy normally seen in grand theories. As a result mid-range theories provide nurses with the 'best of both worlds ' - easy applicability in practice and abstract enough to be scientifically interesting. Thus, the attributes associated with pregnant women's abuses would be of a relatively broad scope of phenomena and would not cover the full range of phenomena that could be of concern in this discipline."
Abstract The paper discusses that self-disclosure refers to both the conscious and unconscious revelation of one's thoughts, feelings, experiences and other personal matters. The paper notes that self-disclosure begins from the time one person meets another and continues as their relationship develops. The paper explains that females are more open than males, how businessmen deal with the subject, the manner in which patients react with doctors, and various other examples of interactions with persons in similar groups.
From the Paper "Current Western cultural identity is not generally supportive of those who grieve and make communication in the time of bereavement difficult. However, it is precisely at this time that the bereaved must communicate and self-disclose in order to rebuild their shattered identity and universe. Future studies should discover how civilians can effectively communicate with them and in a way, which will not affect or violate their cultural belief of the self. The bereaved parents should also be helped in finding parallel ways of communicating with civilians as effectively and within the context of cultural constraints."
Abstract This paper discusses the accounting principle of full disclosure and explains that it calls for the financial reporting of significant facts affecting the judgment of an informed reader or stakeholder. The paper also discusses the companies who failed to properly disclose important company financial information on their financial statements, such as Enron and Xerox. In addition, the paper talks about the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that has caused the full disclosure principle to become mandatory within the corporate world.
Outline:
Substantial Increase in Importance
Approval of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Consequences of Failing to Fully Disclose Financial Information
From the Paper "Full disclosure in accounting has become very important after the debacles of big American companies who misinterpret financial statements, which has disrupted the trust of people in regard to proper practices of organizational full disclosure and accounting principles (Elliott, 2003). After the Enron fiasco, Corporate America has undergone another devastating setback by Xerox. The amounts involved in the scam are worth billions of dollars exhausting small savers and throwing out employees by the thousands. The whole burden of the Xerox epidemic has been seemingly placed on the accountability of the accounting profession, particularly the auditing function and treacherous executive practices. It is a stern accusation on the accounting profession as a whole."
Abstract This paper attempt to prove that the mandatory disclosure of HIV/AIDS status violates basic human rights. The author also addresses the question of how the very concept of human rights relates to ethics.
From the Paper "According to the latest statistics in the year 2000 alone, 5.3 million people worldwide have been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The number of people already living with HIV is 36.1 million worldwide. When the first case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV was reported twenty years ago, perceptions about the disease were different. Since 5 June 1981, the history of AIDS has witnessed an evolution from an object of medical curiosity to a complex health issue with political, economical, human security and ethical dimensions. Today AIDS is also a workplace issue since HIV positive people have the ability and, moreover, the need to maintain their employment. Should they disclose HIV status, however? No equitable answer is available and discussions on the topic are intense."
Abstract This paper discusses success of a project as very much dependant on the accurate, unambiguous and a well-developed requirements specification. The paper goes on to describe requirements engineering's role in assisting the software developer to grasp requirements within software development without room for any ambiguity.
From the Paper "Sometimes prototyping is also used as an important requirements elicitation tool. This is more so in cases where the requirements are ambiguous, making the feedback from users as an important input before proceeding with the actual project development and implementation. Prototypes, typically, have only a portion of the functionality of the system. However, they are very effective in uncovering hidden user requirements. Experts opine that prototyping, being a model of the proposed system, eliminates the problems with the 'Yes but' syndrome as it clearly shows the user what the developed system would do for them. Prototypes are "a partial implementation of a software system, built to help developers, users, and customers better understand the requirements of the system" [Leffingwell, 149]"
Abstract This paper forms a business requirement analysis of the Starbucks corporation. The objectives of this business requirements analysis are to define an online catalog system for Starbucks that includes m-commerce (mobile e-commerce) capabilities. This business requirements analysis evaluates both the use cases and requirements of the catalog management system for the Starbucks website, Starbucks.com, and also further evaluates the integration and infrastructure requirements for supporting m-commerce.
Contents:
Executive Summary
Business Requirements Analysis
Use Cases for Catalog Sales Management
Use Cases for Real-time Price, Availability, and Order Status
Technology Project Plan
Starbucks Solution Plans: Catalog Management must include e-Commerce System (includes Order Capture, Order Status, Order Management, and m-commerce Integration)
From the Paper "AMR Research (2003) has stated that fully 70% of the cost of implementing a catalog management system is in changing the behaviors of existing users. Called change management, this area focuses on getting both users internal and external to the company to change how their jobs are done daily.
The internal stakeholders of sales, product management, service, operations, software engineering, and all other support services need to have a comprehensive understanding of the entire launch process first for the catalog management system they will use to sell their specific products. In fact these organizations need to be included in the development processes and cross-functional development meetings so the needs not only for their own departments but also to enable them to synchronize their efforts with others are critical.
For customers, the launch of the new catalog has to stress ease and speed of navigation and the ability to get real-time pricing and availability on any order, anytime. The need for education is the most critical, and the ability to position and promote both catalog management, e-commerce including order capture, and order management applications. "
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