Online Technologies: Opportunities for Charities

Online Technologies Opportunities for CharitiesInformation Technology and developments in non profit organisationsHow online technologies offer new opportunities for growth to the unselfishness organisationsTable of content (Jump to)Chapter 1 display1.1 creative activity1.2 Aims and Objectives1.3 OverviewChapter 2 Literature Review2.1 Introduction2.2 CharitiesChapter 1 Introduction1.1 IntroductionAs Sergeant and Jay (2004, p.2) hire commented, the design of humanity and their mission of raising funds to help the poor and poor has been around for centuries. However, both the events and complexities of humanity organisations grant multiplied signifi shtuptly oer recent decades. Sargeant and Tof allis (2000) confirmed reports from the NCVO that in the UK as of 1998, the progeny of nongovernmental organizations exceeded half a million, of which 40% could be designated as sympathy base organisations., This group was then reported to take a collective estimated turnover of approaching 20 billion. two of these statistics go awaying sport giving dramatically over the past decade.The main mission of charities is to deliver applicatory and constructive assistance to those in unavoidableness providing information on publicises much(prenominal) as health problems and disability or promoting the pass for fairer laws. These missions faecal matter be related to human activity, preservation of the natural world environment and its wildlife or seeking justice for those that argon oppressed. However, currently charities stomach to face up to a sum up of obstacles in effectively performing the task for which they stick been set up, most of which arise in two distinguishicular argonas. Firstly, with the change magnitude growth of acquirey ca lend sensationselfs, in that respect is a rise in the number of charitable organisations emerging to subjoinress these issues, increasing the competition for funds proportionately. Secondly, there is l ittle doubt from the level of enquiry that has been undertaken, that the charity giver is bonnie increasingly discerning approximately the impact of their donations. This concerns centres around the desire to take in that the boon has the maximum impact. Therefore, it is crucial to the donor that the minimum amount of that gift is dropd for the charitys internal administrative purposes.Despite the item that the mission of a charity has in the past much been deemed much important than economic determinations (Hussey and Perrin 2003, p.200), the current climate within this heavens is requiring them to sound more than economical if they wish to sustain the object glasss of their cause. This means that thy dedicate to come along for ways in which they can improve the effectiveness and the expertness of their operations. In this regard, although some(a)what belatedly when comp bed with the move by commercial corporations, the charity sector is increasingly studying the derives of using information technology processes as a means of achieving the efficiencies that ar essential.However, as Hackler and Saxton (2007), although some charities are incorporating information within their organisations, the extent, areas of the business covered and effectiveness of these developments has not yet been perfected in a significant number of cases. In fact, in some it is considered that with some charities it can be reducing efficiency. Indeed the look conducted by Sargeant and Tofallis (2000) cogitate that the performance of m either charities would appear to fall rise short of the efficient frontier with no immediately obvious explanation forthcoming for wherefore this might be so. Indeed, they could likewise find no pattern to the causes of these failures any.It is the issue of information technology in particular its effective and efficient use in charity organisations that inspired this research project. Of particularized interest is the exco gitation to assess the impact that this technology has upon the duel targets of increasing financial efficiency and improving the deli really of the main services and missions of the charity.1.2 Aims and ObjectivesAs put forwardd previously, the beat back of this research is to identify the ways in which information technologies can be used to improve the efficiencies of charity operations. In this regard it is intend to taper the research upon the system of IT in the online environment. Thus the research question or hypothesis that has been set for this study is as follows Online information technology processes can offer charities opportunities for growth and expansion in terms of the revenue and message and mission generating areas of their operations.To assist with the achievement of this goal the research ordain use the following framework of objectives Growth and maximisation of revenueIt is intended to assure the extent to which a charity can make use of the IT opportun ities uncommitted using the Internet to grow its revenue base and the orders by which this can be achieved.Cost reduction and efficiencyUsing the same expound as that included within the previous objective it is also the intention of this paper to address the issue of the appropriate IT methods that can be occupied for increasing the efficiency of the charity organisation in terms of constitute tally and reduction where appropriate.Mission and programmesBearing in mind the rummy purpose of the charity format, which is that it has a mission to serve a specific cause, the research will also be ensure that, in addition to the financial objectives outlined above, the information processes examined are compatible with the enhancing of the message that charities need to communicate. This will be applied to both the potential and recipient of their services.The research itself will use a mixture of data to address the research question. This will include reference to the extensive range of financial statements which are available from private charity websites or the Charities Commission (2008) online resources, although except a sample of these reports will be utilised. To address the issues and concerns of the individual charities more directly, individual interviews will be conducted with a number of representatives from this sector.1.3 OverviewThe vigilance and presentation of the research paper has followed a logical format. Chapter two presents a refresh of active literature that is available and that relates to the issues being communicate by the researcher. This includes publications and comments by academics, skipper observers and former(a) interested stakeholders. Following this faultfinding palingenesis, in chapter three it is intended to concentrate upon the methodology that has been applied to this project. It will provide an overview of the available methods and the reasons for the method that has been adopted in this instance. Chapter f our provides the in-depth results of the research findings, both that which has been gathered from simple and secondary resources and these will be analysed and proveed in more detail in chapter five. Finally, the research project will reach a conclusion in chapter six and, where considered feasible and appropriate, the researchers recommendations will be presented and explained.include at the end of this study, although separated from the main body of the study, will be additional information. This will include a biography of the non-homogeneous resources that confirm been referred to or used to assist with the development of the project. In addition, in machine-accessible appendices, information that is considered of further value in judgement the issues raised and the examinations undertaken, including the transcripts of interviews, thrust also been included.Chapter 2 Literature Review2.1IntroductionTo assess the issues of the charity use of online information technology, it is important to perform a critical review the existing literature that is available relating to various divisions. In this case that will include providing a brief understanding of the charity environment. In addition, it will include a review of the information technology processes and their advantages as well as the areas where charities have been found to have deficiencies either in the usage of these technologies or the extent to which they have availed themselves of the technology itself. The chapter has been sectioned in a manner that appropriately addresses these areas.2.2CharitiesAs many another(prenominal) academics have observed, in comparing with commercial organisations, the charity is a complex organisation, not least because of its expression and mode of operations (Wenham et al 2004, Hussey and Perrin 2003 and James 1983). There are even different to the otherwise types of non-profit organisations referred to by Hackler and Saxton (2007), such(prenominal)(pr enominal)(prenominal) as those that are often form for regulating the decisions and objectives of various parts of nation and international governmental policies. An example of these would be the various organisations that have been set up in the UK to deal with the reduction of carbon emissions such as The Carbon Trust.The differences referable to the charity organisation can be observed in many areas of the operation. For a start one of the main intentions that is needed for the organisation to change as a charity is for it to have a non-profit making objective (Hurray and Perrin 2003). Secondly, its mission that in the corporate sense would be classed as strategical objective is directed to the service of the external stakeholder or user (Hussey and Perrin 2003). In other words, where the purpose of the commercial organisation is to achieve financial victory that will enable it to return additional value to the shareholders and potential investor, the charitys financial aim is to utilise its funds specifically for the benefit of those whose demands and needs it is intending to address. Often, because of the break-even requirement, the charity will take on projects that are of no immediate benefit, provided will have the effect of helping them to pay other, more graduate(prenominal)ly valued activities (James 1983, p.351).Another difference in organisational processes is that the charity revenues generating activities relies heavily upon the volunteer donor (Wenham et al 2004), thence making it nasty to predict. In addition, this places constraints upon administrative expenditure in areas such as computers and other modern equipment (Sargeanr and Jay 2004). Furthermore, because of the purpose of the charity and the need to concentrate its expenditure upon projects that are determined within its mission statement, together with the fact that funds whitethorn be limited, many charities are heavily reliant upon the efforts of voluntary employees. leg ion(predicate) of these employees might have limited knowledge of the operable processes that are required for an efficient organisation, which can be a disadvantage (Galaskiewicz et al 2006, p.338). This is particularly true if there is a sizable organisation to manage.Irrespective of these differences, to bear true to its mission statement and stated aims, e precise charity console has to create a dodge that allows it to address three specific operational procedures. These are the maximisation of incoming funds, minimising administrative costs to ensure the recipients of its objectives, in terms of projects and services, receive the maximum benefit and effective marketing, which is designed to tear donors and service users (Wenham et al 2004). Therefore, it is important for the charity to be organised in terms of its mission, which means having the right strategies in place (Hussey and Perrin 2003, p.215 and 218) and assessing their appropriateness. As Hackler and Saxton (200 7) acknowledge, it is in these areas that the use of information technology can be considered.All charities have to be registered with the Charities Commission (2008) irrespective of their size. An integral part if this registration is the need to provide regular financial statements whichHolistic Nurse Prescribing A chemise StudyHolistic Nurse Prescribing A Case StudyIntroduction1 the patient and their presenting symptoms.Mr Pickles presents an interesting, complex and therapeutically challenging problem. In internality he is a gentleman with multisystem pathology who presents with an almost incidental finding which he was clearly reluctant to discuss.It is a common finding amongst experienced health consider master copys that in any consultation it is the last 30 seconds which is the most important. As the patient stands up to go, there is the just while Im here wink when they can bring up an issue that really troubles them and may not be the real presented reason for the con sultation. In this evidence we shall discuss the various aspects of this power and the measures we can take to try to help him. (Parker and Lawton 2003)2.a holistic discernment of the pt, including any relevant medical social and mental issues.If we start with the sign presenting symptom under discussion the impotence it is easier to work backwards from that to discuss the possible pathophysiology that can be relevant.Impotence is said to occur whenever the young-begetting(prenominal) fails to get an erection when it is required. This, in itself is neither unusual nor necessarily pathological. It becomes a significant symptom when the manly repeatedly fails to get an erection that is qualified for intercourse. It is quite possible to get full spontaneous erections and yet unflustered be impotent. This is one of the study diagnostic features that distinguishes the psychogenic impotence from the stringently physical. (Ackerman MD, Carey MP. 1995)There are a number of obv ious physical causes of erect dysfunction that are relevant to Mr Pickles (see on), but equally there are a number of possible psychogenic causes that may be either primary factors or possibly secondary contributory factors in the aetiology of his problems.The fact that he has recently undergone major(ip) cardiac surgery is a very relevant factor. Patients will frequently suffer from a major change in body perception when they have come to a close realisation of their own mortality. If we add to this the fact that, as the major breadwinner in the family, it is likely that Mr Pickles would have felt a major bollix to his self-esteem when he was made redundant from a responsible high esteem job and forced to become a taxi driver with long working hours. This is quite apart from the anxiety and fatigue that such a job would engender.(Beck J. 1995)It is possible that the medication that Mr Pickles is taking may have a bearing on his erectile dysfunction as the manful erection is dependent on the hydrostatic push of the prodigal for its maintenance. all medication that reduces the average blood atmospheric pressure, will effectively reduce the electrical capacity to acquire and maintain an erection. In addition to this the adrenergic beta-blocker group will also selectively block the sympathetic pathways that are vital to the neurovascular control of the mechanisms of erection.Pathophysiology of diabetes and impotenceBoth of these topics are immense subjects, so in this essay we will restrict out considerations to those aspects which are relevant to Mr Pickles and his problems.We know that Diabetes Mellitus affects closely 2% of the UK population with a specifically higher incidence in both the Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities(Nathan 1998). There is also a marked transmissible component in the development of Diabetes Mellitus.Mr Pickles has showcase II diabetes mellitus which is associated with a number of factors including a high BMI and increa sing age. At 56 yrs. old he is currently at the peak incidence age for Type II diabetes mellitus (Gregg et al. 2003).Diabetes Mellitus is known to be associated with a number of complications. The prevalence and incidence of the complications, in general, tends to increase with the length of time that the patient has been diabetic. There is also an nonsymbiotic variable for complications that is directly proportional to the compass point of control (as measured by the HbA1 levels). In general terms, the better the control the lower the incidence of complications (Kissebah et al. 1999)As far as Mr Pickles is concerned, there are two major complications of Type II diabetes mellitus that are directly linked with impotence and they are cardio-(macro)vascular distemper and neuropathy. (Wagner et al. 1998)We can deduce that Mr Pickles has macrovascular disease by virtue of the fact that he his recovering from a CABG. And this may well be a very relevant factor in his erectile dysfuncti on but also there is the question of neuropathy which typically occurs in about 2.4% of the general population, but this figure rises to above 8% in the diabetic patient over the age of 60 yrs. ( Hughes 2002)Impotence tends to occur, in varying degrees, in about 10-15% of men under 40 yrs. Its incidence increases with age to the extent that 40% of men at the age of 40 yrs report a degree of impotence and this prevalence rises to 70% at the age of 70 yrs. (Gregoire 1999).If we add to this basic clinical picture the fact that there are other factors such as hypertension, smoking, cardiac neurosis, loss of self-confidence, depression and iatrogenic causes (medication etc.) all of which may well be relevant to Mr Pickles, then it can be seen that there are a plethora of potential causes of his erectile dysfunction. (Barnes, DE. 2004)Both of the first two causes (hypertension and smoking) are independent risk factors for impotence, quite apart for the fact that they are also risk factors for the development of the macrovascular complications of Diabetes Mellitus (Bowering 2001)Mr Pickles diabetic state has been recently well controlled (HbA1 of 6.5%). This is important as the incidence of development of diabetic complications is reduced by between 34-76% (depending on the particular study) for every 10% reduction in the average HbA1 reading. (Bowering 2001).In addition to all of these considerations, atherosclerosis is also a major complication of Type II diabetes mellitus, which, presumably is relevant to Mr Pickles because of his CABG, and this may be a major factor in the development of his erectile dysfunction.Management plan 3.a plan/strategy based on critical understanding of physiological and pharmaceutical issues.Any focus plan must firstly be based on an veracious diagnosis. At this point in time we do not have this luxury. As we have discussed, there are anyone of a huge number of possibilities in the aetiology of Mr Pickles erectile dysfunction problem .When confronted with a problem such as this, any experienced healthcare headmaster may fairly chose to manage the problem by making a rational notion of the probabilities of any one particular cause being relevant. Implicit in such a management strategy is the fact that there are some causes that my be correctable (iatrogenic, psychological, and life style related) and there are some that may not (macrovascular damage, neuropathy and atherosclerosis).It is reasonable, in such circumstances, to discuss the situation openly with Mr Pickles and discuss with him the various treatment options. Patient formerisation and program line is a vital strategy to adopt in circumstances such as this as Mr Pickles is far more likely to comply and respond if he understands the rationale behind the treatment plan.(Howe and Anderson 2003)We would suggest that an appropriate strategy would be to ab initio tackle the situation on two fronts. The psychological aspects of the erectile dysfunction are probably best discussed with an experienced psychologist or councillor who has expertise in this particular area.This is important because there is a considerable skill in eliciting the relevant factors from the patient. Many patients are speechless about talking openly about their imitate sexual elaborate and there has to be a careful build up of dedicate and empathy on both sides. Factors such as good eye reach out and a non-judgemental body stance are essential on the part of the healthcare professional if the optimal result is to be obtainedNot only can the issues that are relevant be explored, but also any one of a number of psychological treatment techniques can be employed. This is a matter of considerable clinical judgement and skill and therefore probably best done by an experienced healthcare professional in that area.The pharmaceutical area can also be addressed as Atenolol is clearly not the best anti hypertensive to use as, not only will it reduce the blood pres sure (which it clearly is important to do) but it also produces a counter fertile beta-blockade which will not help the erectile dysfunction problem.The difficulty is that, after the CABG, Atenolol does have a degree of action on the prohibition of ectopic electrophysiological foci in the myocardium which is a recognised complication of the procedure. It also is archetype to have a cardioprotective effect post-myocardial infarction. It is probably a good root word to change his anti-hypertensive medication, but in the circumstances, it is probably better to seek the advice of the functional team who performed the CABG. before making the transition.The question of sildenafil citrate has been raised by Mr Pickles. This is not as true forward as it might initially appear. Viagra has been shown to work well in these circumstances. It has the downside that it allows sexual intercourse which is associated with increase peaks of blood pressure. As Mr Pickles is still in the postoper ative recovery word form (16 weeks) it would again be sensible to consult with the surgical team as to their advice on the issue.The other problem with Viagra is that if it transpires that the long term aetiology is actually psychological rather than purely physical, then the prescription of Viagra will often breed a feeling of psychological dependency which may firstly be both inappropriate and unnecessary and secondly, very hard to break. It is probably therefore inappropriate to consider such options at this stage in the management.4.legal and professional accountability should be discussed.The legal and professional issues are gargantuanly covered in the making of a management plan. In any area of professional competence, the best defence against comment or censure, is the fact that a healthcare professional works from a rational evidence-based plan. It is for this reason that we have set out the rational and cogitate for the plan that we have chosen to adopt. It is actuall y quite permissible (legally) for a healthcare professional to be wrong on any attached issue, as long as they have come to a effectual and rational decision based on the facts that were placed before them. And behaved in a way that the majority of their professional colleagues believe is reasonable in the circumstances. It is, of course, central to these considerations, that all actions are carefully and fully recorded in the patients notesPrescribing decisions5.a critical discussion of influences on prescribing decisions.The area of prescribing for Mr Pickles is clearly important. To some extent, we have covered the reasoning behind the change of prescription earlier in this essay. There is a common misconception amongst many members of the public (and indeed many of the less experienced healthcare professionals) that the solution to every problem comes in the form of tablets on a prescription. The whole area of patient empowerment and reading is often filled with issues of lif estyle change, healthy living, self care and positive thinking which can frequently be more effective that precisely giving the patient a prescription. (Boule NG et al. 2001)In the circumstance of the NHS, it is a common observation that sometimes a prescription is presumption because it is the most expedient short-term measure in a disposed situation, (Dawes RM et al. 1974), however, time invested in an explanation to a patient as to wherefore other measures might be equally as important is seldom time wasted., (Corrigan B. 1974)Future management 6.consider your upcoming prescribing activity based on experience gained from this case study.In any professional area of activity, the author likes to use the mechanism of reflective practice to allow a critical judging of a past course of action to modify future actions when faced with a similar situation. (Gibbs, G 1988)On careful condemnation of this case, I believe that I may have acted rather headfirst in stopping the Atenol ol as a first choice. On reflection, I believe that the Atenolol did need to be changed for any one of a number of other anti-hypertensive agents but I feel that, in retrospect, I would have been wiser to take advice from the surgical team before I made that decision.Further reflection and discussion with other healthcare professionals (Marks-Moran move up 1996), suggested that another appropriate course of action would have been to stop the antihypertensive medication altogether for a short period.This is on the grounds that his hypertension was not severe and was hitherto well controlled. If the erectile dysfunction was simply a reflection of the fact that the medication was holding his blood pressure down to a level where erection could not easily occur, a few days off the medication may allow a transient increase in his blood pressure to the point that erection could occur. As long as one was careful to monitor his blood pressure to ensure that it did not rise too far, I have been advised that this would represent a reasonable therapeutic trial to depict whether the underlying causes were mainly physical or physiological.(Wagner G et al 1998). On the face of it, this does seem reasonable but I believe that I would have to take further advice before I was fully satisfactory with that decision.It follows from what has already been discussed, that I also feel that I may have been too quick to consider the pharmacological interventions before making a complete holistic assessment of the patient. There are clearly a number of lifestyle adjustments that may be relevant here such as weight loss and increasing exercise and looking for a new focus in life (to minimise any element of depression) which would be comparatively easy to achieve with appropriate empowerment and education of the patient. (Funnell R et al 2004)All in all, this is not a straight forward case. There are many elements which require careful and considered assessment. I believe that it is on e of those cases that helps to point out that although there is a huge emphasis to be placed on modern scientific understanding and application of medical principles, there is also a very large element of human understanding and caring that is so very important to the successful management of patients such as Mr Pickles (Waterlow J. 1998)ReferencesAckerman MD, Carey MP. 1995Psychologys role in the assessment of erectile dysfunction historical precedents, current knowledge and methods.J chaffer Clin Psychol 1995 63 862-87Barnes, Darryl E. 2004Action Plan for DiabetesCopyright 2004 ISBN 0736054596 Pub. 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(1998)Prevention is better than cure.Nurs Times 1988 84 69-70Appendix