Defining Moment in a Career Essay

2.Describe a â€Å"defining moment† in your experience. How did it significantly impact you? There was a particular incident where I had a tough time making a decision. One of my team members from a mission critical project wanted to return to India as he had a personal emergency. He wanted to sort this out as it had begun to impact his work. I had learnt that peace & happiness in personal front will reflect into your professional world but till this incident I never stood up for such cases. But this time I decided to discuss the issue with my supervisor. To my surprise, he was more concerned about the $ losses and losing credibility with the customer. He out rightly rejected this. But I wasn’t convinced with the supervisor’s approach and decided to discuss with the client directly leveraging my personal rapport. The Customer was empathetic and was willing to let go of him after a week of overlap with a new person. While this action of mine got me into the good books of my team members it made a seamless entry into the bad books of my supervisor which had a direct impact on my performance rating. I felt dejected but beside this entire scenario I was convinced I was right in my actions and this was my defining moment where I stood up for what I believed in and I continue to do so till today. Meanwhile the new person had picked up job very well and the project had no impact because of this change.

Disability and Rehabilitation: an Ethnography of the “Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed” in Bangladesh

WATER FOOD DIABETES AYURVEDA GENETICS POVERTY YOGA STDS HISTORY SEX SOCIETY FAMILY PLANNING CASTE GENDER RIOTS RELIGION HEALTH DEMOCRACY FLOODING WASTE-MANAGEMENT UNANI PSYCHOLOGY FOLK MEDICINE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GLOBALISATION BIOCHEMISTRY OLD AGE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MALARIA POLICY HIV AIDS WHO MEDICOSCAPES COLONIALISM PHARMACY RELIGION LEPROSY BOTOX DEHYDRATION NGOs AYUSH†¦ Disability and Rehabilitation: An Ethnography of the â€Å"Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed† in Bangladesh by Farjina Malek Health and Society in South Asia Series, no. edited by William Sax, Gabriele Alex and Constanze Weigl ISSN 2190-4294 Disability and Rehabilitation: An Ethnography of the ‘Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed’ in Bangladesh. Master Thesis in partial fulfillment for the award of a Master of Arts degree in Health and Society in South Asia at Heidelberg University 26th February, 2010 Submitted by Farjina Malek Supervisors: Dr. Gabriele Alex Prof. Dr. William S. Sax Name, first name – Malek, Farjina DECLARATION For submission to the Examination CommitteeRegarding my Master’s Thesis with the title: Disability and Rehabilitation: An Ethnography of the ‘Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed’ in Bangladesh. I declare that 1) it is the result of independent investigation 2) it has not been currently nor previously submitted for any other degree, 3) I haven’t used other sources as the ones mentioned in the bibliography. Where my work is indebted to the work of others, I have made acknowledgement. Heidelberg, 26. 02. 10 (Candidate’s signature) AcknowledgmentI would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who helped me to complete this thesis. I am deeply obliged to my supervisors Prof. Dr. William S. Sax and Dr. Gabriele Alex for their assistance and valuable suggestions. Also I would like to thank Constanze Weigl for helping me from the beginning to the end of my thesis. I want to thank all the members of CRP for their logistic supports during my fieldwork. My deepest thanks would go to the patients and staff of half way hostel at CRP; particularly to Aminul, Lokman and Rakib Vai.My deepest appreciation to all my friends and classmates of Masters of Arts in Health and Society in South Asia (MAHASSA); especially to Gen. She edited my thesis proposal. For editing the whole thesis, I would like to thank to my three friends name Mohi, Ratul and Munif. They did a wonderful job by reading and correcting my grammars. I would also like to thank everybody who was important for this thesis, as well as expressing my apology that I could not mention personally one by one. I am deeply indebted to my husband Labib for his continues support in my work.He is a great inspiration for my work. Table of Content a) Declaration b) Acknowledgement c) Table of contents ——————————————— ;————–i-ii d) Abstract ———————————————————————-iii-iv 1. Chapter One: Introduction 1. 0 Introduction ———————————————————————– 1 1. 1 Research Objectives ————————————————————– 1 1. 2 Preliminary Work on the Research Topic ————————————- 2 1. Literature review and the rationalization of the study ———————- 3-10 1. 4 Chapter plan of the study ——————————————R 12;——– 10-11 2. Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods 2. 0 Introduction ———————————————————————– 12 2. 1 My field ————————————————————————– 12-15 2. 2 Entering to the field ————————————————————— 15 2. 3 Data collection technique —————————————————— 16-20 2. The limitation and the advantage of my field ——————————- 20-21 2. 5 Sample size and time frame ——— ;——————————————— 22 2. 6 Ethical considerations ————————————————————- 22 2. 7 Conclusion ————————————————————————— 23 3. Chapter Three: Daily Life in CRP; Living with Disability 3. 0 Introduction ————————————————————————– 24 3. Expression of Pain ————————————————————— 24-26 3. 2 Everyday Recreation in CRP: Entertainment and fun ————&# 8212;——- 26- 29 3. 3 Gender and Disability ———————————————————– 30- 31 i 3. 4 Emotional Desire ————————————————————- 31-32 3. 5 Conclusion ———————————————————————— 32 4. Chapter Four: Disability in the Half Way Hostel 4. 0 Introduction: ———————————————————————– 33 4. The care giver at half way hostel ———————————————33-34 4. 2 Disability in discussion and the enco unters ———————————35- 36 4. 3 Expression of Pain and Language to indicate the disabilities ———— 36- 37 4. 4 Outing and Cultural Program: the formal entertainment of CRP——— 37- 38 4. 5 Occupational therapy and the occupation of the patients ——————– 38 4. 6 Conclusion ———————————————————————– 38- 39 5.Conclusion: Chapter Five: Conclusion 5. 0 Discussion ———————————————————————— 40-43 5. 1 Conclusion ——————————————————————&# 8212;— 43-44 Bibliography————————————————————————– 45-48 ii Abstract: In my research, I engaged in an ethnographic study at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), Bangladesh, where the daily life of the disabled people and their experiences of their situation was my main focus.I evaluated their physical and mental situation by the language used by the patients, their relatives and the therapists and staff at CRP. Here language refers the representation of the physical condition (what is the synonyms and antonyms they use to indicate disabilities), and the way that patients, relative and doctors relate disability both formally and informally. My research question is ‘what is the cultural shape of disability at half way hostel of CRP’? CRP is a huge area to cover, I therefore have chosen one part of CRP and that is the ‘Half Way Hostel’.This is the patients’ pre-discharged hostel. As a data collection technique, I used participant observation. I got myself involved in their daily activities. I took part as well as observed their daily life. In addition, I took interviews and daily notes. The thesis is divided in five chapters; the first chapter’s aims were to introduce the argument, research question and then discuss different relevant literature. My argument is ‘each and every culture has its own way of understanding disability. One should not consider disability from the universal point of view’.From this argument, my research question is, ‘what is the cultural shape of disability at half way hostel of CRP, Bangladesh? ’ In the same chapter, I have also discussed how disability has been discussed in different time and literature. The second chapter is based on the description of the field and the data collection methods. I n this chapter, I described my field; mainly the physical infrastructure of CRP, I discussed the method I have used as well as the limitations and advantage of those methods and I discussed my field experiences.As a volunteer, I got an easy access to my field; which was a plus point. On the other hand, for the same reason, my informants always kept a distance with me. It was a challenge for me to overcome the distance. The third chapter has focused on different events in CRP. These events have taken place at half way hostel in different time where the fun, frustration, every day conflict, love and joy of disabled people and their relatives is pictured. This chapter also focused some patients’ case study, which is iii elpful to understand the events as well as the patients’ background. My forth chapter is the description of deferent points, where the holistic scenario of disability in half way hostel has been described. Apart of the patients, the other actors of half wa y hostel are more focused in this chapter. These other actors are the relatives of the patients, the discussants of the half way hostel, the therapists, the care giver of half way hostel and the other facilitator of the half way hostel. The concluding chapter of this study is based on the discussion of the study.The main findings of the study is the conflicts of CRP’s advocacy and patients’ own agency, the fun and frustration of the patients, the daily reaction of the relatives of the patients and also patients’ everyday language. By the whole study, I have shown a culture of half way hostel, where disability plays a very influential role. iv Chapter One: Introduction 1. 0 Introduction: The ‘Disability and Rehabilitation: WHO Action Plan 2006-2011’ notes that 10% of the total world population is physically disabled (WHO 2005: 1). Most of the literatures published by development organizations who work with the disabled quote similar values.There has recently been established an international convention regarding the human rights of people with disabilities. These two topics – the generalization of disability concept and the universal rights of disabled people, despite the differences in socio-economic conditions – motivated me to study the different cultural shape of disability and associated rehabilitation. My argument is that every disability has its own cultural shape. Moreover in a culture the disability may get different shape with the influences of age, gender, economic situation, and so on.To prove my argument in my research, I concentrated on, how disability gets its own shape in a small scale situation like half way hostel1 of CRP2. From this perspective, my research question is: ‘What is the cultural shape of disability at half way hostel of CRP? And how the different actors act to construct this cultural shape? ’ The subjects of my research, whom I refer to as actors, are comprised of CRP p atients, the relatives of patients, the doctors, nurses, and other staff who work at the CRP, and others who are either in direct or indirect contact with the CRP. . 1 Research Objectives: The cultural shape of disability at the CRP is the central focus of my research. In this context, I want to know how disability is encountered by different actors at the half way hostel of CRP. This research is focused on the understanding of how patients, therapists, workers, and relatives of patients at the CRP interact with the After getting treatment patients used to stay in half way hostel for two weeks. Here patients learn to take therapy independently; they learn how to cope with their community in a new physical condition. CRP is a national NGO of Bangladesh founded in 1979. This NGO is focused on spinal cord injured patients. CRP treats the patients as well as works for their rehabilitation in the community. 1 1 Chapter One: Introduction greater society and among themselves, as well as th e role that disability and rehabilitation plays in their daily lives. In order to address my central research question, I investigated several sub questions: †¢ What is the daily routine of a disable person and his care giver at the half way hostel of CRP? How do the patients relate their physical condition by their verbal language as well as their body languages both in formal discussion and in informal discussion or chatting. †¢ †¢ How do the relatives of the patients describe the patient’s situation? What are the differences among those disabled based on their gender, age and economic condition? 1. 2 Preliminary Work on the Research Topic: My first university3 is about 3 kilometers away from CRP. I personally first sought assistance from the CRP for back pain in 2003.As an outpatient, I had to go there several times. There were many things that interested me about the organization. First of all, they have many workers there who are physically disabled themse lves, especially the people who work at the cash counter. Later, I found a shop in the CRP compound where they sell many crafts made by the disabled in-patients. The goods of the shop really impressed me, and I wanted to know about their makers; I came to know that most of them live in the compound. As an out-patient, I knew only a small area of the much larger ground.I returned to CRP in 2006 for a severe problem with my leg (I fell down and suffered a torn ligament). I came regularly to the CRP for several days and I came to know some of the patients more closely in this time. I became interested in their lives, their perceptions of their bodily constitutions, and so on. My first university is Jahangirnagar University, which is in Savar, Dhaka. I did my bachelor and masters degree in ‘Geography and Environment’ in that university. That is why, I stayed there for 6 years from 2002 to 2008. 3 2Chapter One: Introduction In 2008, I came to Heidelberg for my MA in Medical Anthropology. As a part of our study, we visited various UN organizations in Geneva, Switzerland in April, 2009. Autonomously, I sought out Handicap International and spoke with a few members of that organization. I also went to the CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) Project of the WHO. This study excursion increased my interest in the lay perspective of disability because I found the agendas and work policies of these two organizations to be very grounded in universality.These organizations function holistically on a single concept of disability for all different cultures and apply the same policies for disabled people all over the world. There is not even a differentiation in prescribed rehabilitation process for different cultures. I am very interested in how a universal idea can work in a local setting. To meet my interest, I sifted through different kinds of literature, to include books, articles and many reports of the organizations who work with disability issues. This lite rature review is a fundamental part of my preliminary work for my field research. 1. Literature review and the rationalization of the study: My research is focused on how the concepts of disability are encountered in different contexts, both of which need defining the terms. Defining ‘disability’ is problem because of its intricacy and multidimensionality. As a result, a global definition of disability that fits all contexts, though desirable, is nearly impossible in reality (Slater et al. 1974). Both scholars and different (national and international) organizations try to define disability with simple statements, theoretical models, classification schemes, and even through different forms of measurements.Altman observed that ‘‘there is no neutral language with which to discuss disability, and yet the tainted language itself and the categories used influence the definition of the problem† (Altman 2000:97). He also argues that defining disability has â €˜â€˜contributed to the confusion and misuse of disability terms and definitions, particularly when operationalized measures of disabilities are interpreted and used as definitions† (Altman 2000: 96). However, the concept 3 Chapter One: Introduction f disability covers its definitions, the role of the ‘experts’ (leaders in different organizations who are working with disabled people), the place of experience, and the nature of local politics at that time. Altman argues that ‘‘when trying to make sense of this variety of ideas and forms, it is necessary to take consideration the structure, orientation, and source of the definition† (Altman 2000: 96). Therefore, clarifying the variety of definitions, analyzing their sources and understanding their conceptual strengths and weaknesses in different contexts are the three objectives of y literature review. There are four basic historical categories of attributes toward disability: the individual model of disability, the environmental model of disability, the social model of disability, and the model of the interaction between the individual and social concepts of disability. In the individual model, disability was systematically identified as a characteristic of the individual person (Fougeyrollas and Beauregard 2000). Due to the functional difference of his body, it was the responsibility of that person to overcome any obstacle that he encountered.Any person with significant impairment was labeled handicapped or disabled, resulting in social exclusion and stigmatization. This conception of disability has progressively changed since the 1960s, when several people questioned this reductionist representation of disability; these voices led to the emergence of the disability rights movement (Fougeyrollas and Beauregard 2000). Despite much advancement, there is no consensus as to the determining factors of disability, notably with regard to the environment (the second model), even today.In fact, it would be more accurate to say that there is consensus on the importance of the environment but disagreement on the exact role that factor plays. On the one hand, there is a social model that attributes disability entirely to the environment, ignoring the factors related to the person. On the other hand, there is the biomedical model that mainly focuses on the person and resists consideration of environmental factors.This resistance is notably manifested within the scope of the ICIDH-1 (International Classification of Impairment, Disabilities, and Handicaps) published by the WHO (World Health Organization) 4 Chapter One: Introduction in 1980. The ICIDH-1 conceptual framework is based on the trilogy of body, person, and society (WHO, 1980). The ICIDH-1 model presents a cause-effect relationship between impairment, disability, and handicap. In this model, disease or disorder is shown as intrinsic and causing of impairment, which ultimately results in disability.F inally, both disability and impairment can be causes of handicaps. In the social model, impairment is considered to be an ‘exteriorized’ situation, disability is an ‘objectified’ situation, and handicap is a ‘social’ situation. Thus, an injury that leads to the impairment of an organ’s functions and structures, which then leads to a disability in the person’s behavior and activities, ultimately generates one or many handicaps or disadvantages concerning social or survival roles.Since the dissemination of the ICIDH and its experiment application within diverse fields of study, the problems identified, the critiques, and the adaptation to the conceptual model and classification manual have stimulated for the search for knowledge: â€Å"the most passionate debate is related to the critique of the linearity of the ICIDH model and the work that attempt to explicitly introduce the systematic approach and environmental dimension into th e conceptual model† (Fougeyrollas and Beauregard 2000: 176).The modifications brought forth by these emergent conceptual models aim to illustrate the person-environment relationship in the construction or prevention of ‘handicap’. Thus in 1992, Minaire proposed his concept of the ‘situational handicap’, defined as the result of the confrontation between the functional disability presented by an individual and the situation encountered in daily life (Minaire 1992). In that time, he published an improved version of the conceptual model, explicitly integrating diverse categories of environmental aspects analyzed in terms of situation.According to Minaire (1992), environmental aspects are both social and physical dimensions that determine a society’s organizations and context. In physical factors, he mentioned nature and the development of a society. Here, nature is defined as the physical geography, climate, time, sound, etc. , and development is manifested in the architecture, technology, and national and regional 5 Chapter One: Introduction advancement. Minaire (1992) also broke social factors into in two parts: one is the politico-economic factors and socio-cultural factors.Politico-economic factors are comprised of government systems, judicial systems, economic systems, health systems, etc. , and socio-cultural systems mean social rules, norms, and social networks. Minaire (1992) specified that one is handicapped not in the absolute but with the reference to something. In his opinion, the situational handicaps model completes the dimensions of the WHO model by integrating the person within his/her environment (Minaire 1992). Thus, a handicap is a characteristic not of the person but of the interaction between the person and his environment. In this way, Minaire refutes the linearity of the WHO classification.Following Minaire, several authors: notably Badley (1987), Chamie (1989), and Hamonet (1990) elaborated upon conce ptual models that integrated the concept of environment as a determining factor in the disablement process. The ICIDH-1 was published during a period that also a witnessed the International Year of Disabled Persons, (proclaimed in 1981 by the United Nations) and the Decade of Disabled Persons, which ended in 1992. This period was characterized be the preparation, adoption and application of policies and legislative measures aiming to promote and ensure the exercise of the rights of disabled people (UN 1983).Despite its innovative conception at the beginning of the 1970s, with the introduction of the social concepts of handicap to the biomedically oriented WHO, the ICIDH and its conceptual framework failed to become the international reference tool for persons with disabilities (Barry 1989). A worldwide disability movement, Disabled People’s International (DPI), rejected the ICIDH-1 definitions in 1981 and adopted definitions that are known as those of the ‘Social Model of Disability’ (Oliver 1996).According to this model, disability is exclusively caused by the presence of barriers within the environment and occurs because the environment does not succeed in adapting to the needs of people who have certain impairments. To improve the life situation of the people with disabilities, one must remove the environmental factors that create obstacles to their integration; the model pays little interest to their organic and functional 6 Chapter One: Introduction differences (Enns 1989; Hurst 1993). The DPI defines impairment and disability as follows: â€Å"Impairment is the functional limitation with the ndividual caused by physical, mental and sensory impairment. Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers† (DPI 1982: 3). Within a political paradigm, the social model has insisted that there is no causal relationship between disability and impairment. The achievement of the disability movement has been to break the link between bodies and social situations and to focus on the real cause of disability: Discrimination and prejudice (Shakespeare and Watson 1997).The concept of equalization of opportunities, meaning the process by which society is modified to become accessible for people with disabilities, is putting the social model into action; it was first used in a United Nations document, Decade of Disabled Persons 1983-1992: World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons (UN 1983). These radical changes in the early 1980s were largely the result of a partnership between the disability movement and various governments (e. g.Canada and Sweden), who adopted the new principle of participation. This new outlook of disability has influenced the development of legislation like The Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada and The Americans with Disabilities Act (Enns 1998: xii). From this perspec tive, disability is a political issue. Disability right activists consider that the social environment structurally creates social disadvantages and discriminatory situations experienced by people with disabilities (Driedger 1989; Hahn 1985).Disability is socially constructed and manifested in situations experienced by environmental barriers and causality is no longer placed within the body and functional limitations but in the systemic inadequacy to adapt to their specific needs and oppression (Oliver 1990). It is important to note that the adoption and application of social policies and legislation ensuring the rights of the basic human rights and equal opportunities constitute modifications of the 7 Chapter One: Introduction environment that have had an obvious impact on the disability and rehabilitation process. The impossibility of monitoring the evolution and mpact of these factors through biomedical and compensation models is centered on an inside-theindividual model of disab ility. This fact has led numerous government planners and decision-makers to support the movement for the defense of human rights in the critique of the ICIDH and the inclusion of environmental variables for monitoring and measuring the impact of socio-economic policies in the field of rehabilitation, de-institutionalization, and social participation. This change is wellexemplified within the UN standards for the equalization of persons with disabilities (Barry 1995).Another major criticism of the ICIDH-1 was its lack of conceptual clarity and overlap between the concepts of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps (Nagi 1991). This oversight is mentioned by the Committee on a National Agenda for the Prevention of Disabilities in its report, â€Å"Disability in America,† in order to explain the rejection of the ICIDH as a conceptual framework. The committee preferred the concept used by Nagi (1991), wherein the disabling process is made up of four elements: Pathology, impairm ent, functional limitations, and disability (Pope an Tarlov 1991).After much criticism, WHO changed the ICIDH-1 model. The introduction of the ICIDH-2 states that, â€Å"The overall aim to the ICIDH-2 classification is to provide a unified and standard language and framework for the description of human functioning and disability as an important component of health† (WHO 1999: 7). The classification covers â€Å"any disturbance in terms of functional states associated with health conditions at body, individual and social levels† (WHO 1999: 7).The new draft of the ICIDH-2 proposes three dimensions of the concept of disability: body functions and structure, activities in the individual level, and the participation of the individual in society; it also includes a list of environmental factors. The title of the classification has been changed to ICIDH-2 International Classification of Functioning and Disability (‘functioning’ and ‘disability’ are defined as umbrella terms). 8 Chapter One: Introduction This final conceptual scheme shows that the individual’s health condition disorder or disease) depends on the aforementioned three basic concepts, which are inter-related themselves. These inter-relations again depend on the environmental factors and one’s personal orientation. The body thus has a role in disability at any level of human life (Fougeyrollas and Beauregard 2000). The ICIDH-2 was the result of various influences. It indicates positive change because it recognizes disability within various contexts and cites socio-political and environmental models as essential for counterbalancing the biomedical and economic model based on solely the individual (Bickenbach 1993).Here, the importance of environmental factors are recognized, but there is resistance to making this a separate and full fourth conceptual dimension. The systematic nature of disability phenomenon is acknowledged, but the explanation is made even more confusing by the proposal of a complex conceptual framework that fails to clearly identify the interaction between the individual and the environment as a central factor.The importance of the individual was recognized, but as an unclear contextual factor, creating some confusion with regard to environmental factors (Fougeyrollas and Beauregard 2000). In 2006, Tom Shakespeare published his book entitled ‘Disability Right and Wrong’, wherein he critiqued the ICIDH-2 social model. He thinks that, ‘‘[social model] approaches reject an individualist understanding of disability, and to different extents locate the disabled person in a broader context† (Shakespeare 2006: 9). This social model has also been counterposed to the medical model, a limitation of the former.Shakespeare (2006) stresses three points in order to understand disability and the rehabilitation processes of disability: Social and environmental barriers, the individual concept and sufferings, and the medicalization of disability. To understand the perception of disability and rehabilitation of a particular area, it is important to know the local culture and social settings, the disabled person’s concepts, the treatment procedure for disabled person, and the political systems regarding disabled. 9 Chapter One: IntroductionIn this context of disability study, I want to focus on a particular institution, which is working with disability. I want to examine their understanding about disability and review this understanding with the aforementioned models. However, in my research, I do not take disability as a universally define phenomena, rather the local cultural understandings of disability is important. Therefore, this research is to compare the different models to CRP’s experiences of disability, arguing that culture plays a role to construct the idea of disability. 1. 4 Chapter plan of the study: This chapter describes the overall idea of the stu dy.The argument of the study is ‘every disability has its own cultural shape’. To prove this argument this research selected a small scale area name ‘half way hostel’ the pre-discharged hostel of CRP, Bangladesh. After getting treatment patient come and stay in half way hostel for two weeks to learn therapy and other works, those are important and appropriate for their physical condition. They create a temporary territory there, which have a unique cultural shape. This study is an ethnographic description of that culture, where the disability plays a vital role to give a shape of that culture.Apart of this chapter, this study has four more chapters. The second chapter is focused on the description of field and methodology. I collected information by observing and participating in the daily life of half way hostel, which is my field. This chapter is a description of the experience of entering to the field, the advantage and limitation of my field. At the sam e time, this chapter conveys the gap within the planned methodology (what was in my mind before going to the field) and the methods, what I used in my field.Third chapter is based on the daily events at my field. The aim of this chapter is to get the picture of the culture of half way hostel through the daily life activities. The argument of this chapter is, with the influences of different kind of people; like patients, relatives, doctors, and therapists, half way hostel got a unique 10 Chapter One: Introduction culture. Moreover, this unique culture is always changing due to the age, gander, and socio-economic variation of these actors.The forth chapter is more focused on the particular issues in half way hostel; for instance, discussion that take place there, type of care giver of the patients, outing and gardening for the patients and so on. The aim of this chapter is to show the contradiction between CRP’s discipline and patients’ self agency. Finally the fifth ch apter is the conclusion of the study. This chapter has drawn the conclusion by showing the contradiction between different models of disability and the scenario of disability at half way hostel. 11 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection MethodsChapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods 2. 0 Introduction: In my methodology section, I will first describe my field, which will not only cover the geographical location of my field, but also my informant types, the events that take place in my field, and my experience to enter the field. Then, I will discuss which methods I used to collect the necessary data, the sample size & time frame. At last I will stress on my ethical position at the field. 2. 1 My field: I knew CRP before as a patient1. CRP has its several centers for treating and rehabilitating of paralyzed patients in Bangladesh.CRP's headquarters are in Savar, approximately 25km far from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. This headquarter was my field. There are several buildings and facilities in that compound (100-bed hospital, Operation theatre, Physiotherapy Department for in-patients and out-patients, halfway hostel where patients prepare for returning to their home communities, vocational training centers, etc. ). I had a limited idea of CRP from my past visits at CRP and CRP’s website. However, when I went to CRP for my field work, I was checked by the security. They asked me, where I wanted to go. I want to meet with Mizan Vai (Mizanur Rahman is the volunteer coordinator of CRP)’ I replied. Security asked quickly, ‘which Mizan? Wheelchair-Mizan? Or Crutch Mizan? ’ It was clear to me that both of the Mizans are disabled. I replied that I was looking for the volunteer coordinator and I did not see him before. Two guards discussed together and suggested me to go to BHPI (Bangladesh Health Professionals Institute) building to find out I have been living in Jahangir Nagar University campus from 2002 t o 2008 for my bachelor and masters. This university is about 3km far away from CRP.I first went CRP for my back pain in 2003. I had to go several time there for that reason. 1 12 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods ‘wheelchair-Mizan’. I passed the gate and then the out-patients area. There were around 25 out-patients in that big hall room. The two side of that hall room were open and other two sides were closed by the Doctors room. I saw one young girl was howling in pain. She fall down from the tree just an hour ago and got hurt in the back. Her father was busy to fill up the appointment form and they are waiting for the doctor. I passed them to meet with Mizan Vai.I went to the Speech and Language Therapy Department in BHPI. Mizan Vai is the lecturer of that department and the volunteer coordinator of CRP. He told me that CRP offers nine courses in BHPI; bachelor degree In Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Nursing Dipl oma and also some other diploma and assistance courses. There is no ramp in BHPI building; however Mizan Vai has the ability to use the stairs with his hands and knees. He got another wheelchair in the ground floor. We went together to the main administrative building to fill up my volunteer form.The administrative building was situated directly opposite to the BHPI building. In the main administrative area, we got a ramp. I filled up the form and then we moved around CRP; the In-patients area, the clinical physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech & language therapy department, half way hostel, vocational training centre, staff quarter, inclusive school and the big hall room name Redda Way Hall. For my field work, I choose the half way hostel. I knew the concept of half way hostel before from the website of CRP. I showed my interest to work there. I got an ntroduction of half way hostel and started to work there. There were twenty beds for the patients, one office room, t hree toilets, one tube-well, one office room and one hall room in the half way hostel. Three permanent staff work there; a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and a caretaker. Most of the other works are done by the other staff of CRP; for instance, in discussion period one councilor come and then goes back to his own work or in individual therapy’s time one or two physiotherapists come and after the session they go back to their previous work.Patients come in the half way hostel after getting treatment as in-patients. The concept of half way hostel is to make patients more independent. Patients learn here how to take therapy, how to cope off with their old environment, how to do daily work more independently. This hostel runs by its 13 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods daily routine. Every day from 8 am to 8. 50 am they have group therapy. The patients and the therapists select a group leader from the patients. The leader has to know the therapy. T hey have Physiotherapy for every parts of the body.After 10 minutes break, discussant from different departments like social welfare or vocational training institute, come and discuss with the patients on three days in a week. In every Saturday, the patients got the idea of half way hostel and the other three days (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday) they discuss on various topics, such as hygiene, pressure sore, the home environment, use of wheelchair, future profession, and social relationship. Monday and Wednesday are days for gardening. Patients do gardening under the supervision of the staff of half way hostel.Though in rainy season, they have to pass their time inside the hall room. After one hour of discussion or gardening patients start to do the individual therapy. If any patient requires special kind of therapy they can learn that in this period. The care givers of the patients also learn how to give therapy in this time. At 12 pm patients go to the vocational training centre. C RP offer six types of vocational training; tailoring, computer training, electronics servicing, shop keeping, and painting training. In the half way hostel the most training is the shop keeping.A person without one leg and one hand runs this training. I did find this training is too much effective. I saw the trainees were dissatisfied with the training. I asked one trainee, who is a member of half way hostel about the training. He told me ‘look sister, I have to laugh with the customer and I will be well-mannered to them; this is not a matter of learning rather this is a matter of common sense. ’ I got only four patients out of twenty who were regular in the vocational training on that particular time. The patients, who don’t attend in the vocational training, have to go to the Redda way hall of CRP.Every day from 12pm to 1pm, patients work to produce the package and the bandage for CRP’s internal necessities. Then, they get the launch break for one and ha lf hour. They come back at 2. 30 pm from their break. In different days of the week, patients get different work on that time. On every Saturday there is a cultural program, In-door games on Sunday and Tuesday, film show on every Wednesday and Monday is for discussion. CRP has three selected film for the half way hostel’s patients; Radio Vai (Radio brother), Bihongo (The birds) and Wheel Chair.All the 14 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods films are produced by CRP. After this cultural program session, patients go to the ‘wheel chair skill’ for half an hour. For this ‘wheel chair skill’ training CRP made an intricate ground. With Three trainer wheel chair users go through the ground. Before going back to the hostel, patients join in the outdoor sports for an hour. As a volunteer, I maintained the office time of CRP. From Saturday to Wednesday, I had to stay in half way hostel from 8am to 5pm and on Thursday 8am to 1. 30 pm.Very ofte n I stayed after 5pm to collect more data in their chatting time. 2. 2 Entering to the field: I entered to my field as a volunteer. Many Anthropologists face the problem to enter to the field. Dr. Shahaduzzaman did his hospital ethnography in a Bangladeshi hospital (Zaman, 2005). He got a huge problem to omit his identity as a doctor. At the same time, he was not like a patient. As a result, in the beginning it was a challenge for him to gain the faith from his informants (Zaman, 2005). I did not have this kind of problem to enter in the field.CRP always recruits a good number of volunteers. Like the other volunteers, I did not get attention from the staff and patients. However, as a volunteer, I had to do many things which are not directly related to my research topic; for instance, maintaining the attendance of the patient’s daily activities, counseling the patients, helping them in the extra curriculum activities and so on. In the beginning, I thought these duties are not relevant with my thesis. Later I discovered that irrelevant activities are very important to get a clear picture of my field.By doing these kind of works, I got a high status to the patients, in one hand which is good. I did not have any problem to collect the data; patients and their relatives were eager to give me information. On the other hand, they always behaved formally with me, which was a disadvantage for my field work. It took couple of days to break this formal relationship. 15 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods 2. 3 Data collection technique: Participant observation was the fundamental method of my research: I was in the field as a volunteer for two months.I stayed in the CRP hostel, which is inside CRP premises. As a result I frequently visited half way hostel even after office time. I tried to participate in their daily life. However, the concept ‘participant observation’ broad itself; Singha (1993) mentioned four possible roles for a par ticipant observer: 1) a complete participant, 2) participant as observer, 3) observer as participant 4) a complete observer. As a volunteer, I was not able to be a complete participant, as I could not completely involve myself in the daily lives of the patients.Thus, I will not be a complete observer either. My plan was to fall into the second and third categories: I was a participant as an observer and at the same time an observer as a participant. However, many anthropologists even doubt the term ‘participant observation’. Geest and Sarkodie wrote that, â€Å"participant observation is not an easy thing to do, or to be more precise, it is impossible. Participant observation is a dream, an ideal, and a contradiction in term† (Geest and Sarkodie 1998: 1373).Therefore, I observed daily life at CRP through my work and through building an informal relationship with my informants on the site. I have used many different methods to collect the qualitative and quantitat ive data to supplement my participant observation. For the convenience of data collection, I have divided the information into three categories: place (the half way hostel), people (the patients, staff and the relatives of the patients) and events (the daily life of the hostel). For the place part, I have collected both quantitative and qualitative data.With regard to the people, my focus was on the qualitative data gathered from the patients, their relatives and the people who work there. Here, I have used different tools; In-depth interviews, case studies, mind- map, observation, Semi- structured interviews, and conversation. For the third part of my data, I gathered primarily quantitative information on the daily schedules and events at CRP and then descriptive information on each and every event of half way hostel at CRP. The following tables and the explanation, shows detail of the 16Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods information or the data what I need for m y research and which method I will use for collecting this information. Table 1: the Place: Half Way Hostel Place Types of information Data collection methods Potential informants/ sources of information CRP Location and history of CRP, existing facilities, staff strength, number of patients, physical environment, building arrangement. Half-way hostel Number of rooms, room arrangement, existence facilities inside the hostel Observation, conversations, secondary source.Members and workers of halfway hostel, relatives of the member Patients’ access area Vocational Training, outdoor sports, nursing service, social welfare unit’s service Observation, semi-structured and in-depth in interviews. In-patients, relatives of inpatients, workers and therapist of CRP Staff rooms Facilities inside the room, the activities that take place in the rooms. Observation, interviews. Therapists, Workers, administrative officers Observation, secondary source and semistructured interview. CR P library, staff of CRP, website of CRP, Local people 7 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods To get the information on my study place, I mainly used secondary sources. CRP’s publications, website, documentaries on CRP were some of my secondary sources. Apart of these secondary sources, I took interview, observed the facilities and talked informally with all type of people at CRP. Table-2: The people People Patients Types of information Data collection tools interviews, studies/ life Social background, daily activities and In-depth accessed area in CRP, communication case ith the staff, perception about their life, histories, mind- map, views about the center and the observation treatment, Doctors Therapists / Activities of different doctors/ therapist, Observation, interaction with other staff members, structured interaction with the patients, perception in-depth of disability. Staff (excluding doctors therapists) Relatives the patients and conversation Semii nterviews, Semiinterviews, interviews, Activities of different staff; interaction Observation, with the other with staff the member, structured communication patients, conversation, erception about the patients of Relationships with the patients, Observation, case in-depth perceptions about the disease of patient, studies, experience that gathered for having interviews, disabled person in a family, interaction conversation with the CRP’s staff 18 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods Three kinds of people were my target; first- the patients. I wanted to know how they describe their physical and mental condition. I focused on their language. I tried to observe which words they use for their condition and which words for the opposite condition.I participated in their daily life; I observed their work and their participation in different work at half way hostel. I took 15 interviews to know details about them. I also used mind mapping to understand disabled peopl es’ daily accessed area. My plan was to provide them pen and papers and tell them to draw CRP. From their drawing, I thought I could find the accessed area of patients at CRP. The mind mapping idea was not useful for my field because most of the patients could not use the pen and some of them got paralysis in hand so they could not even move their hand.However, all the other methods I used were useful enough. My second target people were the employees, who work for those patients. Each patient evaluates his life with a special concentration, but the employees have to deal with many patients in a day. My interest was to know their feeling on disability; how they describe the condition of a disabled person. I observed them; we discussed together on different issues of the patients and we worked together for the patients. As a result, it was easy for me to get the data from the employees of half way hostel.My final target group was the relatives of the patients. The patients, wh o cannot move their hands and legs, have to bring their relatives. At the same time other patient’s relatives very often come and rent a home outside CRP. They were also my informants. I talked to them, observed their reaction in the discussion, therapy and the other time. Very often, I participated on their evening gathering time. They discussed on different events of the following day, which was a very important source of my information. 19 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection MethodsTable 3: The Events Events Types of information Data collection tools Doctor’s/ therapist’s daily round in the half way hostel Admission and discharge of patients Discussion Dressing, distribution of medicine, washing and meals Sports, vocational training, gardening and the other extracurricular activities Interactions and the participations of the patients Procedures, interactions Procedures, interactions Procedures, interactions Observation Observation Observation and c onversation Observation and conversation Procedures, interaction ObservationThe information of different events was the most important part of my research. I attended in the regular events of the half way hostel. I saw the patient’s participations in the event, their interaction with the event and their reaction on different matter of that event. In the leisure period, I often asked to the patients and their relatives on a particular event and observed their reaction. Observation and conversation were the main methods to collect the information on the events of half way hostel. 2. 4 The limitation and the advantage of my field: There is a metal and wood workshop behind the half way hostel.CRP makes its wheel chairs, special seats for the patients, and the other metal things in their own metal workshop. The noise of welding machine of that metal workshop made the workshop area and the half way hostel polluted. It was impossible for me to tape the voice inside 20 Chapter Two: D ata Sources and Data Collection Methods the half way hostel due to this noise pollution. Often I took my interview outside the half way hostel. Another limitation of my field is that CRP works for the spinal cord injured patients. As a result, I got a particular type of disabled people there. It is indeed a limitation of my work.On the other hand, I could only focus on a specific type of informants. However these patients come at CRP just after their accident. That is why they could not imagine the loneliness of a disabled person in their local community. This is another limitation of my work. I got the informants, who are used to see too many disabled people around them at CRP. Language played a vital role in my thesis. First of all, to understand my informant’s daily speech, I needed to know the local dialect. Though my native language is Bengali, but some of the patients speak in hard dialect which is tough to understand.Moreover, to understand their jokes and silent langu age, I needed to understand the cultural context of those people. Then the problem rises with the data representation. Many things are easy to understand in Bengali and tough to translate and represent in English. Furthermore, there are many jokes, fun and frustration, which could be translated, but hard to realize the meaning because of the cultural gap. I got many advantages in my field as well. First of all I got many disabled person at a time in one area, which is a big advantage for my fieldwork. Second thing was my residence at CRP’s volunteer guest house.I could stay at half way hostel as long as I wanted as I did not have to worry about the distance between my workplace and residence. At the same time, I stayed there with twenty more volunteers. Many of them came for their study (like research, placement, and internship). I shared many things with them, and we discussed different issues, that discussions were very helpful for getting a clear understanding on the parti cular issue. 21 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods 2. 5 Sample size and time frame: Before going to the field, I did not have any sample size as I wanted to do a participant observation.However after my field work I got a number of informants including their different quantitative information, which will be helpful to get an overall idea of those patients (Annex-1). I was in Half Way Hostel for two months (from 1st of August to 1st of October, 2009). During my field work period, I got 62 patients and 35 care giver in the half way hostel. Out of these 62 patients, only 10 were women. I have taken 15 in-depth interviews of the patients and had conversation with all of them. I had also 5 semi-structured interviews with the staff of CRP.Out of 5, three of them were therapists, 2 were assistant of the therapists. 2. 6 Ethical considerations I worked with the paralyzed patients at CRP. Naturally, they are more sophisticated than ‘normal people’ (according t o biomedicine), as the greater part of the society discriminates them, even with regard to standard daily movement (lack of wheelchair accessibility to facilities, or in busses, trains, or cars), education (special schools for disabled people are only for secondary level), and jobs (lower education levels mean fewer job opportunities).In my research, ethical consideration is very important because I was working with their daily experience, daily feelings, and daily reaction with the existing facilities. I also worked with the rehabilitation process and its limitations or usefulness from the point of view of the patient. Here, I will be very careful to maintain confidentiality of their information, knowing that if the CRP authorities knew that the patient was dissatisfied and complaining, that result in consequences for the patient himself. I asked all of my informants about their preference for interview methods.I used my tape recorder with their explicit. Finally, I wanted to provi de a written and signed statement of confidentiality that I would honor until they personally ratify its content. However, they all gave me the permission to write on their life and to mention their name. 22 Chapter Two: Data Sources and Data Collection Methods 2. 7 Conclusion: The focus of this chapter was to show the field and the data collection technique from the field. My field was half way hostel of CRP (Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed), Bangladesh. Half way ostel is one of the rehabilitation areas of CRP. Patients come to the half way hostel after completing their treatment from CRP. They stay usually two weeks there. I was in the half way hostel for two months. I participated in their daily life and observed their life. I collected the information by participant observation. To supplement this participant observation I have used many different methods like interviews, mind maps, case studies, and life histories. 23 Chapter Three: Daily life in CRP; Living with Disability Chapter Three: Daily Life in CRP; Living with Disability 3. Introduction In my research question, I have noted that I want to know the cultural shape of disability. This cultural shape of disability can be understood from everyday life of disable person. Disable people express their situation to the care givers; care givers at the same time express their reactions. These reactions and responses are there in the everyday life of half way hostel, which are important to understand cultural shape of disability. In this chapter I will focus on this issue. 3. 1 Expression of Pain: ‘Oh God take me, take me (Allah, tui amare nia ja)’ Ershad was shouting with this sentence.He was the only one patient in that hall room. Most of the patients went to the sports. His wife and me were sitting behind him. His wife is not too old but her face seems older and rude. There were two more patients few minutes ago; Khokon and Mofizur. I was playing chess with them; suddenly Ersha d started to cry and his wife was a bit careless. Khokon vai told me ‘look madam, how rude the wife is’. I asked, ‘what happened? ’ ‘Ershad Ershad is a 24years young married man. His home town is in Tangail, which is about 100 km far from Dhaka. He was a farmer. One day he was carying a load of paddy tree.Suddenly he fell down in a rat hole. He got hurt in his neck. His bone in neck broke. Ershad was taken directly to the district hospital and that hospital referred him to CRP. According to the assessment of the therapists, he has to use wheel chair for ever. However, the topography of his area is not plain; the area is full of up and low land. He has a house in a high land and paddy field in a low land. The low land goes under water during the rainy season at least for four months. As a wheel chair person, movement is so difficult for him. Moreover, in the rainy season, it is impossible.On the other hand he took shop keeping training from CRP and wan ted to give a shop in the market. When I asked whether it is possible to maintain a shop with this circumstance, he did not give any answer. peed in his lungi (lungi is like a skirt, but mostly the male of south Asia wear it), so his wife behaved rudely with him. Mofizur vai was leaving the room and saying himself, ‘how bad women she is, no respect for husband†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Khokon Vai react as 24 Chapter Three: Daily life in CRP; Living with Disability well ‘my wife is 100 times better than this woman, I shout a lot, but she never reacts or behave rudely’.However, the wife of Khokon Sharder (32): He is a very talkative man at half way hostel. Before accident, he was a line man of Polly Bitdut (A company for electricity supply). He had to climb electric poles for maintenance purpose. One day he falls from the electric pole and got hurt in back. He took the shop keeping training and wants to build a shop of electronic products back in home. Ershad was careless lik e before. She was starting to do her task in a rude and quiet way; she changed Ershad’s lungi, cleaned the body, and rubbed the lower part of the body.Aminul vai, the care taker of half way hostel came and tried to make her understand ‘look don’t misbehave with your Mofizur Rahman (22): he was laying under his truck, checking its wheel, all of a sudden the truck started to move. A child had climbed up onto the truck, turned the key and got it moving towards his chest. Thus the truck driver Mozifur Rahman got his chest crushed. After having spent several months at the medical care division of CRP-Savar, Mozifur went back to his home in Khulna division to try to live the life in his wheelchair with his parents, sisters and brothers, wife and his four years old son.He would also try to find out ways to earn living for himself and his family. He would decide whether he would work as a shop keeper or earn money from renting out his parents property. He supposed to go back to his home after couple of weeks at CRP for his vocational training, but he did not leave even after three months. husband, if God wants you might become disabled in a second, who knows what is going to happen with us! ’ The woman replied that they don’t have fan in their room. Her husband could not sleep last night at all and make her awake and after a long sleepless night how could she control her temper.Aminul vai left the room and the women took a seat next to the patient. Then Ershad, the patient, started to cry again. He was splitting repeatedly. Feeling pain in the chest and could not take breath. Some patient’s relatives came by this time; they were suggesting the women to go to the nursing station. The woman was trying to pick him up to the wheel chair, but failed. I hesitated to help her not only because he was dirty but also as a Bangladeshi female it is tough for me to take a man on my arm. There were no male around. At last with the help 25 Ch apter Three: Daily life in CRP; Living with Disability f some other women, his wife picked up him on the wheel chair. Ershad was crying and shouting ‘I am dying, I am dying, call my parents, my sister, I am dying. ’ They came back after 20 munities and then the wife was shouting ‘look sister, all blamed me. Now see, he trough out the pill by vomit and again make dirty everything. I will die by cleaning and cleaning. ’ By shouting she was helping her husband to transfer him wheelchair to bed. The patient was shouting at the same time as well, ‘take me to my home, I will die. Call my sister over phone. Tell them to take me home’.Slowly the patients and the therapists came back from the field. One therapist name Lockman asked Ershad, ‘what happened to you? ’ He replied, ‘Sir, please save my life. I am dying. My two legs are burning. Please give me some ice. Lokman vai heard all the events and said to Ershad, ‘if I give you ice you will get a cold then, do you want this? This is very normal to have some pain in this time. ’ The other patients also voted in this regard. Heamayet Fakir, another patient, said ‘you don’t know how much pain I have tolerated every day. You have to adjust with it. Don’t behave like a woman. Ershad’s wife came to me and whispered ‘sister, he got a bad wind. When you get this type of bad wind, you have to suffer three times. Previously, he got injured two times and this is his last time. But this time his neck broke. I came here to treat this broken neck, but now we need to go back to kaviraj (traditional healer in Bangladesh, they mainly use the herbal medicine and very often they recite mantra for the patient’s well being). The kaviraj will give him back the strength of his hands and legs’. I asked ‘why three times of suffering? Why not more or less sufferings? ’ She replied ‘this is the rule’.He r husband kept crying. The therapist came back to him and said ‘is the pain still there? ’ Ershad cried out ‘sir someone is cutting my legs from me’. 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Balanced score card - Assignment Example While some people assert that the balanced score card is an effective method, others tend to contradict this, presenting evidence to support their claims. Among the corporations that have adopted this concept are the Boom-Bust Construction Ltd (BBCL) and The El Nino Conglomerate Group / El Dorado civil engineering Division. This study will thus analyse, interpret and evaluate the balanced score card concept and its effects on the two companies. The balanced score card Stewart, W. E 2001, ‘Balanced Scorecard for Projects’, Project Management Journal, Vol. 32, no.1, pp. 38-53. Stewart (2001), gives a holistic view about balanced scorecards. He asserts that a close look at many organizations reveals they have many things in common. First, organizations are unpredictable. Each day is unique, making it hard to determine the outcome based on the decisions made. Third, organizations are deceptive, as they try to hide outcomes if they are contrary to shareholders’ expecta tions. This not only brings more complications but also prevents the companies from making future decisions based on facts (Stewart 2001). The use of a balanced score card emerged to offer solutions concerning the progress of companies in a competitive environment. As the name implies, a balanced score card tries to balance theories of a strategy with the methods used in its execution (Nair 2004). In other words, it tries to balance the internal and external factors in order to win the competencies of tomorrow. In this regard, it tries to look at an organization from all dimensions, develop metrics and collect data for analysis in relation to all the dimensions. Four major perspectives have been identified namely; the business process perspective, the customer perspective, the financial perspective, and the learning and growth perspective. These perspectives offer an interpretation of the overall vision of the company and the approaches the organization follows to fulfil its agendas and culture (Stewart 2001). Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. 1996, ‘Using the Balances Scorecard as a Strategic Management System’, Harvard Business Review, pp. 75-85. In their article titled ‘Using the balanced scorecard as a strategic management system’, Kaplan and Norton explain how designing and implementing a balanced scorecard can be of great benefit to the organization. They agree that, balanced scorecards are different from one organization to another. This also makes their designs to be different as well as the time taken to implement them. However, there are common steps that the management needs to follow in order to design an effective balanced scorecard. Using a sample of a successful balanced scorecard, the following are the steps every company needs to follow. First, the organization needs to clarify its vision by stipulating what it wants to achieve with the scorecard. Then, the organization should communicate with middle managers on the new development. Middle managers are the best communication channels in an organization, as they link the top management and the line workers. The organization should then develop business units, which translate their strategies into their own scorecards. The other step is to review the business unit scorecards so that the management may be able to align the strategies with the organizational goals (Kaplan & Norton, 1996). Once the unit scorecards are reviewed, the organization moves forward to

HULSE CHRISTMAS WAR LETTER ANALYSIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

HULSE CHRISTMAS WAR LETTER ANALYSIS - Assignment Example In his first letter we are getting cognizance with Hulse`s point of view about the War of 1914, which was declared Germany in August,1914. According to the historical works this decision is often described as the beginning of the World War One. Germany got an ultimatum form Britain`s Prime Minister of that period - Herbert Asquith on the 3rd of August1. So, Asquith `s simple decision had cataclysmically influenced the British society. Hulse names in his letter flanking directions of the army for Gernany, be sea and by Belgium. He expresses his admiration for Churchill as â€Å"his action and the war-like spirit is compatible with his popularity and personal advancement†2. Before the letter dated the 12th of August 1914 their unit was resting and this made the narrator angry, he wanted to start greater action, and on that day he describes the following way â€Å"we start tonight, about midnight, but do not know destination or anything yet†3. Hulse tried not to write in his letter the most strategically important things. Like every person he used to describe also ordinary things like cold autumn. The letter of 27 November is not full of happiness. The soldiers get sick and the Germans are winning on the Western Front, but the most quantity of legends about World War One is about the first Christmas of the 1914, mentioned in the letters. The general situation looked as the British were fighting in the mud of Flanders and got an impression that the Germans want to destroy everything on their way. This impression was clearly broken. â€Å"It was absolutely astounding, and if I had seen it on a cinematograph film I should have sworn that it was faked†4, in such manner lieutenant of the 2nd Scots Guards Sir Edward Hulse described this event. On Christmas Eve the Western Front were not involved into great battles compared to the previous days of this month. The trenches heard the sound of the Christmas carols. German

Evaluating Decision Alternatives and Assessing Risk Essay

Evaluating Decision Alternatives and Assessing Risk - Essay Example The chairman to the bank Kenneth Lewis admitted that the information he gave out was not accurate. The executive of the bank, therefore, made mistakes that were against the ethics required in corporations (Cohen, 2009). There are many decisions that the executive of the bank of America took that render them unethical. Among them includes the disguise by Merrill lynch on the risk involved. It was done by changing the â€Å"investment grade† to other investments referred to as the CDOs. The problem was further increased by the credit derivatives. It was because a person could trade the investments many times. It could only get understood by the professionals due to payments on mortgages being done in several years. The activities in the bank continued deteriorating in the prevailing days that loans begun defaulting (James et al., 2002). Merrill lynch as indicated was not able to trade billions of the CDOs as if it had traded them, the players in the market had a chance of discounting the CDOs. The workers in the Merrill had the intentions of earning high bonuses continuously; as a result, they did not trade the CDOs. The employees did not indicate losses and later escaped with the lies. The accountants in the Merrill lynch failed to perform their duties and obligations. The problem raised alarms to the non professionals, however, the management allowed Merrill to escape with the funds. The bank of America acquired the Merrill lynch in the year 2008. A month later it was known that Merrill had losses that summed up to $15 billion. It was in the fourth quarter of the year and BofA made claims that the losses got incurred in December (Cohen, 2009). The bank did not give information to the shareholders and moved on to putting $20 billion in TARP funds. SEC (Slumbering Esquires Club) filed another complaint against the Merrill failure to disclose information about the losses in the month of

Tennessee Technological University Essay Example for Free

Tennessee Technological University Essay In choosing the right kind of University that mold and hone one person’s talents and skills to survive the â€Å"real world†, one must not only consider the academic quality given by the university, rather all aspects that the university can contribute to the individual. With my aspiration to become a computer science specialist, I chose TTU for the same reason as every one has, it has a strong credibility in terms of its different fields of study, and other curricular activities that promote the well-being of the individual. I can not demise the fact that it was named as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys, which implies that the money invested in the education of a student is very worth it for the quality of education TTU has given. It has remained atop of public schools nationwide, and regarded by the Princeton Review as the Best Southeastern College. With all the qualifications and strength of the school in terms of quality education and instructor, one is only left with the impression that in TTU, the foundation of true college academic attainment is indeed felt. The application process at TTU requires an accomplished application form that is readily made available in pdf format online. A $15 application fee must also be paid. The university’s admission also requires official transcripts of high school record be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. To ensure a healthy well-being of its students, TTU also requires applicants to submit an accomplished Student Health Form, also made available online, and a form for meningitis or hepatitis. I chose TTU as my university not only for the qualification it has in its Department of Computer Science at the College of Arts and Sciences, but also how it maintains an environment that is safe and convenient for its students to enjoy. Aside from the different activities laid out by the school, the campus grounds alone speaks of how dedicated the university is in maintaining a healthy environment for its students to enjoy. I entrust TTU to mold me into someone better and fulfilled, I chose TTU to help me fulfill my dreams.

Performance Measurement Essay Example for Free

Performance Measurement Essay If you were a functional team manager and was asked to loan an employee for a long-term project, how would you assess his performance if he worked for the project manager? Functional managers and project managers must find middle ground and agree how to measure a functional employee’s performance while assigned to a project. There are several ways to measure and report performance, but this paper will describe and compare three techniques used by project managers today. This paper will also why it is important to have a documented performance management process and what could happen if it was missing. Three Performance Measurement Methods According to Kerzner (2009), there are generally nine methods used when evaluating project employees: Essay appraisal Graphic rating scale Field review Forced-choice review Critical incident appraisal Management by objectives Work standards approach Ranking methods Assessment center Of these nine, this paper will choose three methods that are generally used in most companies – graphic rating scale, management by objectives, and ranking methods. Graphic rating scale is a method that is quick to set up but sometimes lacks the details and nuances of an employee’s performance and how the work was completed. Basically, the graphic rating scale is a form with a table that contains general statements about major work done on a project. Examples of these statements are â€Å"communicates effectively with  peers† and â€Å"completes required work all of the time.† These rows in the table have a corresponding value that the project manager can select that best represents the employee’s performance on that topic. An example of these values are â€Å"strongly disagree† and â€Å"strongly agree.† Here’s what the form might look like: Work Description Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree or Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Communicates with peers X Completed all work on time X As indicated earlier, this method is limited to what criteria is listed in the form and does not account for other employee competencies not listed on the form.  Management by objectives is a very common method to measure performance. This method requires that a list of objectives be created before the project starts that the employee must aspire to meet or exceed. Large companies like Microsoft use this method to allow each employee to create their own objectives (called commitments inside Microsoft) at the beginning of each fiscal year. In some cases, employees get to choose which commitment they identify, while in other cases the management creates them and the employees must accept them. This is an effective method because it gives the employee an outline of what is expected of him during the project. The employee can refer back to the objectives regularly to help keep him focused. The ranking method can be effective, but it is not the most well-received or  accurate performance measure. In this method, management gets together and compares the milestones, accomplishments, and results from each employee and creates a stack ranking of the team. The employees at the top of the list usually get more bonuses and other performance rewards, while the middle of the list gets the standard compensation and the bottom of the list might get nothing. This method is not popular with the employees because it relies too heavily on the debating skills of their manager. Also, the ranking system is sometimes subjective because there is no documented list of objectives that all employees should be measured. Often the employees that were assigned to a high-profile project usually get a higher ranking than others, even though the amount of work was the same. Why We Measure Performance Performance measurement is a critical part of the overall project. Firstly, measuring an employee’s performance in the project can provide justification for a promotion, bonus or merit increase in salary. Since project successes usually include some type of bonus payout, an effective performance measurement method can help the project manager determine which employees deserve larger compensation and which deserve less. Another benefit of performance management is that employees can learn about their strengths and weaknesses in their role. This can help employees identify learning or training opportunities to help them become more productive and more valuable to the company. If there was no performance measurement, how could the project manager identify future project team members and make note of low-performing project team members so they are not considered for future projects? Without this process, there would be no way for employees to get honest feedback about their perfor mance. Most employees want this feedback so they can help the company succeed. Conclusion In every company, a project manager must use the resources he is given to complete the project. Sometimes he gets to choose his team, and sometimes not. Every company has many projects with often the same pool of employees doing the work. Most project managers would rather choose their project team based on past performance on other projects so they have a good chance of completing the project within the triple constraints. Without this form  of measurement, it would be a guessing game – and no one wants to leave a project to chance. References Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (10th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons, Inc.

The Relationship Between The Big Five Personality Psychology Essay

The Relationship Between The Big Five Personality Psychology Essay Personality traits as the characteristics of a person with consistent patterns of behaviour are undoubtedly playing a significant role in determining a students success in pursuing his or her tertiary education. Therefore, this research aims to investigate and examine the effects of personality traits on the students performance in UTAR Kampar Campus, Perak, Malaysia. As proposed by Costa and McCrae (1992), the Big-Five Personality Traits model has been used in this study whereby the model categorizes humans personality into five factors, namely the Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, Extraversion, and lastly Neuroticism. Target population for this research is approximately 408 students and a questionnaire encompassing 3 sections was presented to the respondents. The study subjects were 200 accounting students in UTAR Kampar Campus. For data analysis, the Pearson Correlation Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis are adopted to determine the relationships bet ween the variables. Overall, completion of this study will provide a guideline as to which traits would be favourable for students to harness so as to achieve better results in tertiary education. Lastly, this study also confirmed the validity and reliability of the Big-Five Personality Traits model as proposed by Costa and McCrae (1992). CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.0 Introduction This chapter gives a general idea of this research, where it comprises of seven sections. The research background briefly explains what are personality and students performance. The problem statement is addressed in the second section. Research objectives and research questions are also highlighted in this chapter and lastly, significance of the study, outline of chapter, and conclusion is followed by. 1.1 Research Background When someone talks about students performance, what is it actually refers to? Past studies broadly defined students performance as a pedagogical terminology used to determine learners achievement in formal education while to measure a students performance is only by examinations (Tope, 2011). Apparently, it gives rise to the question of whether what is the definite measurement of it? Is examination the only way to measure a students performance? Does the employers nowadays only concern about students academic achievement? While most employers actually view that way, it would be unfair to only compare a persons past achievement in a sole aspect. Nonetheless, some employers nowadays are different whereby they perceive that a successful student should include academic success, secured position in career field, and ability to apply knowledge and skills in real life (Dean, 1998). Therefore, quantitative measurement such as Grade Point Average (GPA) may not be the only factor to determine a students performance whereby other qualities such as communication skills, leadership, and team performance should also be considered (Sansgiry, Bhosle Sail, 2006). Due to aggressive competitions in business world, employers demand higher requirements in fresh graduates (Maurin, Thesmar Thoenig, 2002; Koda, Yuki Hong, 2011). The criterion includes time management, teamwork and leadership ability (Weligamage Siengthai, 2003). Students possessing such skills are definitely in a better position of securing job opportunities. Therefore, higher attention should be placed on graduate students personality as it affects their employability which in turn influences unemployment rates in Malaysia (Ismail, 2011). On the contrary, when people talks about human personality, what is the first thought that comes into your mind? Most people think that it is the different attitudes or habits that each individual possess. This is known as the individual differences or national characters that differentiate people (Mooradian Swan, 2006). Previous studies clarified that there indeed exist differences in individuals attitude from different countries (Lynn Martin, 1994). A simple example of this is where some people would tend to be more sociable and talkative, and some would be the exact opposite (Wilt Revelle, 2008). Such difference would somehow cause different outcomes in ones education with their future career at stake. While it is difficult to completely define the term personality, Pervins study defined it as the characteristics of a person with consistent patterns of behavior (Saleem, Beaudry Croteau, 2011). Apart from that, recent studies presented that personalities can be branched out to other perspectives such as the biological model of the Big-Five personality traits (DeYoung, Hirsh, Shane, Papademetris, Rajeevan Gray, 2010), and the Dark Triad personality traits (Jonason, Webster, Schmitt, Li Crysel, 2012). Personality is becoming an important factor in various situations (Caspi, Roberts Shiner, 2005) where at working place, a right personality allow workers to interact well with colleagues and clients thus expanding their network span; at university, students are more sociable thus studies in a comfortable environment (Bester, 2007). Furthermore, many human-made issues and criminal cases can be related to the decline in ones personality, in other words, lacks of Personality Development (PoliÃ…Â ¡enskà ½, 2006). Then, Jinnie (2011) stated that a person with good personality will enhance his or her communication skills and anger management. Meanwhile, in managements perspective, a positive personality will aid in clearing workers negative conditioning, anxiety, and depressions in solving problems (Morton, 2011; Brunello Schlotter, 2011). Therefore, personality is an important determinant of career choice (Holland, 1976). In relation to students performance at school or university, prior studies have identified the five personalities that affect students behavior where this in turn affects their performances. In this case, the Big-Five personality model is an effective way to predict an individuals behavior as it has been widely used and proved to be convincing (Noftle Shaver, 2006; Robbins, 2007). 1.2 Problem Statement Students performance has been a questionable factor on the employability of fresh graduates and how well are they satisfying the qualities that the employers looking for (Marshall, 2010). According to Department of Statistic in Malaysia, unemployment rate among fresh graduates has been rising from 2.6% in 1996 to 3.1% in 2011. The Prime Minister of Malaysia also indicated that the highly skilled workforce in 2010 is only 23% where this percentage is still far from the minimum requirement, compared with some of the developing countries (Ramakrishnan Yasin, 2011). In the past decade, there are various studies being carried out by the researchers to examine the effect of students performances using the Big-Five personality traits. Gray and Watson (2002) investigated the connections between personalities and sleep that have the combined effects on students academic outcomes in United States. According to Komarraju, Karau and Schmeck (2009), personality traits are important to improve students self-motivation in attaining higher academic honors. Besides, a study in Iran investigated that students distinct characteristic and personality is one of the variables that affect their academic achievement (Hakimi, Hejazi Lavasani, 2011). On the other hand, Taher, Chen and Yao (2011) studied the relationship between MBA students performance and their personality traits whereas Kalshoven, Hartog and Hoogh (2010) carried out a study on individual leadership skill and used only three out of five of the big-five personality traits (conscientiousness, agreeab leness, and emotional stability). However, there are still some deficiencies in the past empirical researches. The study in Gray and Watson (2002) only focuses on the universitys students in their country, therefore no firm explanations that the results of the past research are valid in Malaysia. Besides, Komarraju et al. (2009) pointed out that the personality of the students is being influenced by the environment as the research was conducted in various universities. In addition, Hakimi et al. (2011)s study is very limited due to the area of research were not conducted in Asia. This indicates that little study has been done on the students in Malaysia. Moreover, the study of Taher et al. (2011) also ignored the other aspects of students performance other than their scores and grades. Lastly, Kalshoven et al. (2010) did not include all of the Big-Five factors of personality traits in their research and this implies that the researchs results and measurements of personality traits may not be accurate. Therefore, this research is carried out to fill the gaps of past researches by investigating the personality traits as the one of the important factors that affects the several aspects of university students performance in Malaysia. 1.3 Research Objectives and Research Questions Table 1.1: Research Objectives and Research Questions Research Objectives Research Questions General Objective In general, this research aims to investigate and examine the relationship of personality traits on the students performance in UTAR. General Question Do personality traits relate to the students performance in UTAR? Specific Objectives To examine the relationship between conscientiousness and students performance in UTAR. To examine the relationship between agreeableness and students performance in UTAR. To examine the relationship between openness to experience and students performance in UTAR. To examine the relationship between extraversion and students performance in UTAR. To examine the relationship between neuroticism and students performance in UTAR. Specific Questions Is there any relationship between conscientiousness and students performance in UTAR? Is there any relationship between agreeableness and students performance in UTAR? Is there any relationship between openness to experience and students performance in UTAR? Is there any relationship between extraversion and students performance in UTAR? Is there any relationship between neuroticism and students performance in UTAR? Source: Developed for the research 1.4 Significance of the Study 1.4.1 Theoretical Perspective From an educational perspective, this research can serve as a basic guideline for future researchers as it is a modified research model in terms of measuring students performance qualitatively. This research also confirmed the previous theory of Five Factor Model of personality traits by Costa and McCrae (1992), thus adding credibility towards the theory. 1.4.2 Practical Perspective From country-wide perspective, students, as the citizens of Malaysia, developing their personality and improving their performance would boost overall capability and reduces unemployment rates in Malaysia as more students will be employed. From the industry perspective, findings from this research may contribute to the employer by providing the basic information on which type of employees personality is preferable. Although it may not be of huge importance, employers should not overlook this aspect in recruitment as employees with great personality will definitely enhance the organizations intellectual use of available human resources. 1.5 Chapter Layout Chapter One covers the introduction of this research which includes research background, problem statement, research objectives and questions, and lastly the significance of this study. Chapter Two explores the core theories by reviewing literatures of past empirical studies and developing theoretical framework and hypotheses. Chapter Three explains the research methodology adopted whereby it includes the research design, population and sampling procedures, data collection and analysis techniques, and variables and measurements. Chapter Four presents the analyzed data and results from the target respondents detailed in descriptive and inferential analysis, and scale measurements. Chapter Five briefly concludes this research as it summarizes the findings from this research and also providing implications, limitations, and recommendations for this research. 1.6 Conclusion This chapter has acknowledged the problem statement, research questions and objectives, significance of the study and the outline of the research project. In Chapter Two, it would then provide the relevant literature review. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction The previous chapter has highlighted the introduction of this research project. This chapter will touch on the literature review of the research. Literature review provides a comprehensive review on the secondary sources of data done by previous authors or researchers such as books, journal articles, thesis papers, research projects, and reports. This chapter embodies five sections. Firstly, Section 2.1 is the review of literature whilst Section 2.2 reviews the prior empirical studies. Then, Section 2.3 shows the proposed theoretical conceptual framework. After that, Section 2.4 is the development of hypotheses. Lastly, Section 2.5 summarizes this chapter to provide a general understanding to the readers. 2.1 Review of the Literature Based on the prior researches, it has been widely accepted that the Big Five Personality Traits by McCrae and Costa (1992), and Digman (1990) can determine ones individual characteristics (Moghaddam, Peyvandi Wang, 2009). In this part, this research will define and explain thoroughly each of these traits to provide for the development of hypotheses for this research and lastly, relating each of them with the students performance. 2.1.1 Conscientiousness Conscientiousness is defined by John and Srivastava (1999) as individual differences in the propensity to be goal directed (Savelyev, 2012). According to Barrick and Mount (1991), traits of conscientiousness includes being dependable, responsible, and organized (Trinh, 2002). More specifically, individual who is measured as high in conscientiousness is determined and strong-willed (Bruck Allen, 2002). 2.1.2 Agreeableness According to Nettle and Liddle (2008), Digmans and Grazianos study suggested that agreeableness is associated to a persons warmth, friendliness and conformance with others. It is also supported by Janss and Rabinowitzs study where traits of agreeableness include unselfishness, friendliness and modesty (Bozionelos, 2003). Thus, people who is high in agreeableness is likely to get along well with others (Judge, Livingston, Hurst, 2011). 2.1.3 Openness to Experience Yamagatas study defined openness to experience as people who are intellectually curious (McCrae Sutin 2009) and individuals who are measured high in openness are curious for inner and outer world (Bruck Allen, 2002). Conversely, low in openness to experience usually have a narrow and common interest and likes to enjoy routine activities (Flynn, 2005). 2.1.4 Extraversion Traits of extraversion can be represented by sociability, assertiveness, and social dominance (Bozionelos, 2003). Judges and Wastsons study also supported that viewpoint as it refers extraversion to sociability (Chan, 2007). In other words, it is a tendency to search for stimulation and to enjoy mingling with other people. 2.1.5 Neuroticism Defined as a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, neuroticism continuum ranges from calm and composed to nervous and anxious (Greenberg Baron, 2008). Eysenck (1967) defines that neuroticism accounts for a low tolerance for stress (Norris, Larsen Cacioppo, 2007). In other words, neurotic people respond poorly to environmental stress, and often interpret ordinary and minor situations as threatening and difficult (Hettema, Neale, Myers, Prescott Kendler, 2006). 2.1.6 The Relationship between the Big-Five Personality Traits and Students Performance Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003) indicated that conscientiousness has a strong direct positive relationship with students academic performance and this is also supported by many existing literatures (Conrad, 2006; Zyphur, Bradley, Landia Thoresen, 2008). However, some showed otherwise as a mediating factor exist (Conrad Patry, 2012). The trait is also able to influence a persons behavior which in turn affects their academic behaviors such as self-efficacy and learning styles (Bong, 2008). Additionally, Laidra, Pullmann and Allik (2006) studied the relationship of personality traits and general intelligence with the students academic performances. The study showed that Conscientiousness has a positive association with academic performance. H1: There is a positive relationship between conscientiousness and students performance. Farsides and Woodfield (2003) indicated that agreeableness is negatively correlated with absence for classes. Furthermore, high attendance in classes and seminars has a positive contribution on students performance (Arulampalam, Naylor Smith, 2008). Nevertheless, Nyugen, Allen Fraccastoro (2005) proposed that there was indirect relationship between agreeableness and students performance as the learning style is the mediating factor (Chamillard Sward, 2005). Students with this trait are able to interact and learn well with others especially in groups; thus, agreeableness also enhanced team cohesion which in turn affected their performance positively (Oneill Kline, 2008). Thus, agreeableness is positively correlated with students performance (Taher Jin, 2011). H2: There is a positive relationship between agreeableness and students performance. Duff, Boyle, Dunleavy and Ferguson (2003) revealed that openness has positive effects on learning approach (deep approach) and such approach is positively related to students performance. Learning approach plays an important role in linking the Big-Five traits with students performance (Cano Berben, 2009; Chamorro-Premuzic et al., 2006). This is further supported by Chamorro-Premuzic, Furnham and Lewis (2006). Furthermore, Furnham, Monsen and Ahmetoglu (2009) proposed that openness had significant relationship with students performance provided the mediator is deep approach. H3: There is a positive relationship between openness to experience and students performance. According to Furnham, Zhang and Chamorro-Premuzic (2006), extraversion can be recognized as a persons interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Furthermore, extraversion is made up of two central components; affiliation which was having warm personal relationship and agency which was being socially dominant (Bono, 2004). In addition, the most common definitions of extraversion are ascendance and sociability (Mooradian Swan, 2006). Therefore, extraverted individual are more likely to have a desire to work with others and more confident in their ability to work effectively within a team structure. It is essential when an individual is joining a group study and will enhance student performance (Morgeson, Reider, Campion, 2005). In spite of this, students with high extravert personality prefer to be sociable and active in extra-curricular activities rather than focusing on their studies. Thus, students performance would be adversely affected. Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003) research ed on the relationship of personality traits and students academic performance at University College London and as a result, extraversion was negatively related with students academic performance. H4: There is a negative relationship between extraversion and students performance. Neuroticism may affect a persons ability resulting in poorer academic performance (Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2006; Lievens, Ones Dilchert, 2009). As cited under Ahmad and Rana (2012), many neurotic students suffered higher percentage of failures in examinations because this trait shifts the students concentration away from study due to negative emotions. On the other hand, students who obtained high grades were less associated with anxious emotions (Al-Qaisy Khuffash, 2012; Al-Qaisy, 2011), this suggested students with high grades are good in managing their stress. Nevertheless, Poropat (2011) conducted a research about the use of personality in predicting academic performance and proved that there is significant negative correlation between neuroticism and academic performance. H5: There is a negative relationship between neuroticism and students performance. 2.2 Review of Relevant Theoretical Models 2.2.1 The Big-Five Personality The earliest founders of The Big-Five Theory are Tupes and Christal (1961) as they established the five factors of personality traits that we know today (Busato, Prins, Elshout Hamaker, 1999). Unfortunately, their study was published in an obscure Air-Force publication that was not read by many people, therefore the theory was not widely-known at that time (Locklair, 2011). According to Goldberg (1993), other early explorers of The Big-Five include Borgatta (1964) and Smith (1967) who continued the founders work. The first version of this theory is called  The Big-Five, introduced by  Warren Norman in 1963 (Boeree, 2006). The Big-Five Personality Traits is a comprehensive research which analyzes human personality together with their traits (Digman, 1990). Particularly, a five-dimensional personality traits model is proposed by McCrae and Costa (1992) after studying on the Five-Factor Model (FFM) and its applications. To further understanding humans personality, this study categorized humans personality into five main factors, namely the Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. FFM model dominated the personality field over the past two decades due to its famous recognition as a comprehensive description of personality traits and provided a major degree of convergence in the trait-factor analytic psychology (Nikolaou Robertson, 2001). This study has come across many researches about the Big-Five personality model. Thus, it shows that this model can be used in many areas as it gives us the fasters and accurate way to identify a persons attitudes and behaviors (Pickens, 2005). However, the Big-Five personality model has also been discovered to have effects on social or friendship networking behavior (Wehrli, 2008); in addition that it is also a good predictor for employees job performance (Hurtz Donovan, 2000; Fietze, Holst Tobsch, 2010). Nevertheless, this model can also be applied to almost everyone in this world every individual possess all five personalities of the model to a greater or lesser extent (Soto, Gosling, John, Potter, 2011). Apart from that, the Big-Five model is also applied to the research done by Distel, Trull, Willemsen, Vink, Derom, Iynskey, Martin and Boomsma (2009); studying the five personality traits and nature of personality disorders. Furthermore, in the aspect of employment, studies on the five personalities are also conducted relating to executive mangers job recruitment and fresh graduates (Dykeman Dykeman, 1996). The Big-Five includes Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. As there are many personality-related-researches also utilized this Big-Five model, this study exploit this advantage and uses this model to give us the faster and accurate way to identify a persons attitudes and behaviors (Kumar, Bakhshi Rani, 2009). Hence, this theory will be applied in this research as it is a widely-used theory in evaluating peoples personality (Brown Taylor, 2011; Wood, Linley, Maltby, Baliousis Joseph, 2008). 2.3 Proposed Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework Figure 2.1: Relationship between the Big Five Personality Traits to Students Performance Big 5 Personality Traits Independent Variables Dependent Variable Conscientiousness H1 H2 Agreeableness H3 Students Performance Openness to Experience H4 H5 Extraversion Neuroticism Sources: adapted from Taher et al., 2011; Anwar, Shahzed Ijaz-ul-Rehman, 2011; Chen, Tsai Chen, 2009 Based on the literature review, a conceptual framework has been developed and shown in Figure 2.1. This research is conducted to test the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. Whereby, independent variables comprises of conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience, extraversion and neuroticism, whilst dependent variable is students performance. Previous researches (Nguyen, Allen Fraccastoro, 2005; Chowdhury, 2006) showed that the five factors have produced distinct results. From the proposed conceptual framework, hypotheses will be developed and it is to be proven after completion of a thorough empirical study investigating whether personality traits are related to students performance. 2.4 Hypotheses Development Based on the review of the prior empirical studies discussed at 2.1.6, a summary of the hypotheses development is presented as below. Table 2.1: Development of Hypotheses Personality Traits Hypotheses Conscientiousness H1: There is a positive relationship between conscientiousness and students performance. Agreeableness H2: There is a positive relationship between agreeableness and students performance. Openness to experience H3: There is a positive relationship between openness to experience and students performance. Extraversion H4: There is a negative relationship between extraversion and students performance. Neuroticism H5: There is a negative relationship between neuroticism and students performance. Source: Developed for the research 2.5 Conclusion A review of literature has been carried out in this chapter and it has been discovered that there are different opinions from researchers regarding the relationship between the Big-Five Personality traits with students performance. Besides, an understanding on the Big-Five Personality traits has been done for a clear explanation and how can it be associated with students performance. Then, a conceptual framework has been proposed to show the relationship between each trait with students performance. Finally, hypotheses have been developed based on the literatures reviewed and the discussion for relevant methods to be used in this study will be conducted in the following chapter. CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction This chapter will address an overview of the research methodology. At the beginning of this chapter, the research design in term of quantity methodology and deductive research approach will be described. Next, the population, sample and sampling procedures would be explained. After that, data collection methods that have been applied which are primary and secondary data collection are discussed. In addition, variable and measurement were also being presented in this chapter. Lastly, data processing and its analysis would be presented to summarize the findings. 3.1 Research Design The main purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between Big-Five Personality Traits and students performance in UTAR. Primary data collection and survey method were used in this research in which questionnaires will be self-administered because it is affordable and time saving. Based on the purpose of this study, a deductive research approach was adopted. Besides that, a quantitative methodology was employed because it clearly and precisely specifies both variables of the study (Alaxei, 2002). Moreover, this type of research is a descriptive study because it describes and documents on a phenomenon (Johnson, 2001). The research is based on a cross-sectional study due to the time constraint by academic purposes. Hence, investigation was limited to a subset of population only. 3.2 Data Collection Methods 3.2.1 Primary Data Collection For this research, a self-administrated questionnaire is preferred because it provides convenience to both the researchers and respondents. As an effort to establish the validity and reliability of the survey questionnaire, a total of 30 questionnaires were distributed for a pilot test to check the questionnaires understandability (Black, 2008). After that, questionnaires were distributed to 270 respondents whereby they are expected to complete it under researchers supervisory within twenty minutes and returned to ensure no missing questionnaires. 3.2.2 Secondary Data Collection Secondary data collection involves the literatures review on related past studies (Daas Toth, 2012). This method is vital because relying on primary data collection is not adequate to complete this research (Sandall, Schwartz Lacroix, 2004). Besides, review on literatures also allows the researchers a better understanding on the topic and able to prove the hypotheses developed earlier (Bailey, 2006). 3.3 Sampling Design 3.3.1 Target Population Target population is a complete collection group of objects or people that are specifically identified for an investigation (Wang, 2007). Final year accounting undergraduates in UTAR, Kampar Campus were the target respondents for this research as there is no personality-related study addressing the wide aspects of students performance carried out in this university, hence this university is targeted to examine the relationships between the five factor model of personality traits and students performance. Previous personality-related researches only studied the relationships between personality and perceived benefits on e-ticketing behaviour, and also personality and social networking behavior. Undergraduate students tend to have a higher proficiency in English language, thus they would understand this researchs survey better. Moreover, another reason is that labor market is new to fresh accounting graduate as they will be joining the labor force soon and thus it is emerging trend for the employers to seek high performances, vital interpersonal skills and personality development among the undergraduates (Lim, 2011; Sirat, Chan, Shuib, Rahman, Kamil, Singh, 2012). Besides, Lim (2007) found out that the accounting students in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) would have higher unemployment probability. This highlights that there might be a chance of UTAR accounting students facing the same problem since the competition for best and talented accounting graduates is getting more intense especially in large accounting firm (Brundy Norris, 2011). Therefore, it is interested to investigate the connection between personality traits and students performance in which will affects their employability in future. 3.3.2 Sampling Frame and Sampling Location According to Thompson (1999), sampling is necessary as it is too expensive and impractical to study on every single element in the population. However, sampling frame for this research could not be obtained as the students full details cannot be disclosed due to the universitys privacy policy. Final year accounting undergraduates in UTAR, Kampar Campus were the target respondents for this research because it is convenient and easier to be contacted for researchers (Loh, 2011). The popu