Should the university cancel on-line courses Essay - 1

Should the university cancel on-line courses - Essay Example The results of such studies insinuated that the positive perception regarding online education has continued to grow. Apart from the previously mentioned driving factors, the study also revealed that its growth is facilitated by the increase in the adult population who seek education. It has also grown because most school leaders have endorsed it as an equally competitive option. Above all, the advancement in the information technology concepts has triggered the adoption of online education. This paper focuses on discussing whether universities and colleges should cancel online courses. The initial theory and stand of the argument is that online education provides an alternative that is equally competitive in every aspect compared to the traditional or classroom learning approach. For this reason, higher learning institutions should not cancel online education. One of the most obvious reasons why online courses should not be rescinded is owed to the flexibility and convenience presented by the education system (Ni, 205). The learning system allows individuals who have tight schedules such as working mothers, to access education at their convenient time. Other people who exist in the same category include managers and students who wish to pursue multiple courses at the same time. In this context, such people can access education without interfering with other equally important agendas. On the same context, it helps students to access education without being inconvenienced by longer distances of separation between the location of the institutions and their locations. Secondly, it provides alternatives for students who cannot find their preferred courses in the universities near them without having to relocate to other regions. Studying online is also advantageous because the web is full of different kinds of information that may support students study progress.

Paths Of Overprotected And Neglected Children Young People Essay

Paths Of Overprotected And Neglected Children Young People Essay Commercials and posters flood our daily lives by projecting images of helpless children who are in desperate need. Many people are aware of the children living in poverty, orphans, and abusive households. The media portrays neglected children who suffer from malnutrition, starvation, and the absence of love. In return, the advertised organization seeks for a small contribution of a dollar a day to help make a childs life better. However, what about the child who endures the exact opposite of neglect? Less attention is veered towards the silent abuse of parents who control their child to the extreme that they are actually hindering their development and performance by not allowing their child to grow and experience life healthily. Does a child who is overly cared for and overly protected by their extremely overprotective parent still possess a better life than the child who is neglected? Or is the overprotected child just as helpless as the neglected? Significance: The children today are the future and faces of tomorrow. A childs future is greatly influenced by his or her parents. A parent who is abusive restricts a child from possessing a healthy lifestyle and developing healthy relationships with other individuals. However, a parent who is over controlling will limit a child from developing essential skills necessary to govern and direct their own life in a positive and healthy manner. Yet many fail to acknowledge this and assume that parents are just being loving and caring; emotions that all parents and guardians are expected to express. Therefore, many people do not listen to these children and believes that their problems are not as severe as the children who suffer from physical or verbal abuse. This is significant to human development because many children suffer from the limitations their overprotective parents impose and do not have access to the same amount of help and assistant as children with abusive parents. Problem Statement: Through my research, I hope to raise public awareness of this silent abuse. Most importantly, I hope to reach out to parents who are over controlling, as well as abusive, and have them place their childs interests before their own. If a parent, who is over protective of their child, cares about their child deeply, then they should care more about their childs wellbeing rather than their own personal desires and expectations of their child. Literature Review: Parents who overprotect their child to the extreme can prevent their child from acquiring the basic fundamental skills of life. As a result, the child can become emotionally handicap and rely on his or her parent throughout their life. As stated by Cossentino, children in this situation are not able to develop a knowledge of independence and remains bound to the parent while the parent is bound in a cycle of overprotection (The Overprotected Child). This dangerous cycle leaves the child and parent bonded together in such a way that it is unhealthy for both members. The child relies on their parent immensely that the parent is responsible to attend to every single matter of the childs life; from basic chores, resolving a conflict, to communicating with acquaintances of the child. This often stifles the growth and development of a child, who cannot live without authority. Thus, the parent cannot leave this cycle because the parent raised the child in this manner. Children lack a knowledge of resolving conflicts and have a high chance of being rejected by their peers due to low confidence and an inability to stand up for oneself (Cossentino). With parents always protecting them, the child will never be aware of how to stand up for oneself and is unable to confront the realities of life. These children have the inability to be very social among others besides their own parents, which causes them to develop a low self-esteem as well as low self-confidence. The inability to make decisions on his or her own can cause a child to be unprepared for the future and is unable to live without a parent or authority figure. As stated by Cossentino, children will lack life-experiences of decision making, life skills, age appropriate freedom, and conflict resolution. An overprotected child becomes bound to a parent in a way that is similar to how a baby is bounded to its mother for the rest of its life. The child is completely unprepared for freedom and responsibility, finding it hard to exercise self-discipline and is more vulnerable to getting emotionally hurt. As argued by Guthrie and Matthews, Overprotecting parents can lead children to develop Peter Pan Syndrome (No More Push Parenting, 44). The Peter Pan Syndrome affects people who do not want or feel unable to grow up. In other words, people with the body of an adult but the mind of a child. Peter Pan was a fictional character who refused to grow up and had a never-ending childhood. Those with this syndrome do not know how or do not even want to stop being children and start being adults. These people are unable to grow up and take on adult responsibilities; they see the adult world as very problematic and glorify being a child, which is why they want to stay in that state of privilege. Children who have been neglected on the other hand are in complete control of their life and are forced to survive on their own. Neglected children do not have an authority figure and may be more likely to replace the unknown feeling of love with hate and anger. Children tend to try and please their parents to gain affection. However, when they cannot please their parents, they become filled with rage and take their anger out destructively (Nguyen). The violence neglected children seek for may be towards other individuals or other substances, but for some, they seek to hurt themselves. Children repress rage only to become depressed and suicidal (Watkins, A3). These children possess a great amount of emotion built up inside them that it becomes unbearable and hard to deal with. Thus, they try to fill the void of love in their life with other things or someones acceptance. As Andron stated, Children with low self-esteem search for someones acceptance, which usually winds down a damagin g path eventually set up for death or become life-threatening (23). More than likely, they fall under peer pressure or experiment with drugs and alcohol, anything to make them feel accepted. Because they lack a knowledge of what is normal or who to trust, they are more vulnerable to perpetrators and are often abused by their peers. One form of violence an individual may express is through school. For example, the University of Texas massacre in Austin left 18 dead while the Columbine High School took a death toll of fifteen, and the highest toll of thirty-three lives was the Virginia Tech massacre (Watkins, A3). When an individual commits a crime, he or she is questioned for the reason of their action. However, few people turn to the parents or even glance at the childs home life. Children turn to destructive manners for coping as a way to test if their parents really care for them or not (Nguyen). By hurting oneself, an individual tests the love of a parent, or to see if anyone else bothers to really care. Many parents are incapable of seeing the damaging effects of placing their own needs before their childs. They fail to see the atmosphere and living situation they created and forced their child to endure. Most importantly, they fail to treat and raise their child healthily. By overprotecting to the extreme, a parent not only shields a child from pain, but also robs the child of their adulthood by keeping them from developing friendships, intimate relationships, and independent skills along their journey of life. Thus, through neglect, a child is forced to learn how to survive through life on their own without the protection of a parent, without the love and guidance a parent has to offer, and without the comfort of a real family. Therefore, what is worse: overprotection or abandonment? Methodology: By listening to the personal stories of my volunteered subjects, I hope to obtain data that reflects whether or not both children, who are on opposite ends of the spectrum, share the same difficulties. The individuals I will choose will be children and their parents who reside in Cambodia. Cambodia is a poverty-stricken country and the home to many neglected children who roam the streets begging for food. Sadly, because of this, it will not be difficult to find a neglected child to speak with. The difficulty will be trying to find the parent or guardian of the neglected child and persuading him or her to share their own personal story. In addition, families who are wealthy have higher expectations for their children and try to mold their child into what they want by controlling every aspect of their childs life. Because of this, I will listen to the stories of a child is in a more well-off family and his or her parents story .

Remote Network Administration for the Home and Small Office User :: Design and Technology

Remote Network Administration for the Home and Small Office User Remote network administration is a fast growing and widely used technology in the IT field today. It gives system and network administrators as well as home users the ability to fix problems, allow or deny access to websites, download information directly from another computer, and give program permissions for different users from the office that they are at or from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. With this very powerful technology, come some very significant problems such as securing remote access sessions via data encryption, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN’s) and a vast amount of networking and connection problems that can occur. There are very useful tools and articles that have been written and programmed to help the network administrator or the savvy user that wants to connect to his computer at home. This paper will focus on network administration for small business and home users using a VPN, Remote Desktop Connection and Symantec’s PC Anywhere for Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Personal experience has shown that working remotely is very difficult to set up. This tends to discourage many users from using this kind of technology because it requires a large amount of know-how and patience. A SOHO user must have at least a basic knowledge about home and office networking. Microsoft has put together a wealth of information about not only their operating systems, but networking using windows as well. The Microsoft knowledge base is a fantastic source for information. It covers everything from error codes to troubleshooting internet connectivity problems. Microsoft TechNet (http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx ) is a collection of information about slightly older content. Lastly, the Microsoft Developers Network (http://msdn.microsoft.com ) is a collection of articles, forums and journals straight from IT professionals that develop for windows applications. Almost any SOHO user can get the information that they need about any problem from these websites. XP Pro is now the industry standard for an operating system with advanced networking features. Working remotely for the SOHO user starts with the configuration of the network in the home or office. The small business users need to access all of their data at all times. This is most efficiently done by having all computers in the office connected to a central server, having the server host all of the other computers and have all of the computers connected via a workgroup. After that is accomplished, the SOHO user can then attempt to establish a connection remotely. A VPN is one of the most secure ways to connect to the home or small office to date.

Evidence Based Practice In Nursing

INTRODUCTIONResearch studies are conducting all over the world, throughout the year . Research is conducted to improve the existing practices. If the study findings are implemented to practice only , the study is effective. Evidences getting from the study which are utilized into practice makes the profession more fruitful, bright and effective. Most nurse researchers want their findings to contribute to nursing practice and there is growing interest among nurses in basing their practice on solid research evidence RESEARCH UTILIZATION IN NURSING The terms research utilization and evidence based practice are used synonymously.Although there is overlap between these two concepts they are in fact distinct. Research Utilization is: â€Å"A process of using findings from conducting research to guide practice† (Titler, Mentes, Rake, Abbott, and Baumler, 1999). â€Å"The process by which scientifically produced knowledge is transferred to practice† (Brown, 1999) DIFFERENCES: N urses should not confuse EBP [Evidence Based Practice] with research utilization. While research utilization overlaps with some of the same philosophic threadworks of EBP, EBP goes beyond just the rigorous scientific research steps.Research Utilization refers to the review and critique of scientific research, and then the application of the findings to clinical practice. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) represents a broader concept. When clinicians use the EBP approach, they go beyond the expertise of clinicians and researchers, and consider the patient's preferences and values to guide patient care. THE RESEARCH UTILIZATION CONTINUM The start point of research utilization is the emergence of new knowledge and new ideas. Research is conducted and over time knowledge on new topic accumulates.In turn knowledge works its way to use to varying degrees and different rates. Theorists who have studied the phenomenon of knowledge development and diffusion of ideas typically recognize a continu um in terms of the specificity of the use to which research findings are put At one end of the continuum are discrete , clearly identifiable attempts to base specific actions on research findings. . This type of utilization has been referred to as instrumental utilization. Research findings can be used in a more diffuse manner. In a way that promote cumulative awareness, understanding or enlightment.Caplan and Rich [1975] refer to this as the end of the utilization continuum as conceptual utilization. Conceptual utilization then refers to situations in which users are influvanced in their thinking about an issue based on their knowledge of studies but do not put this knowledge to any specific , documentable use. The middle ground of this continuum involves the partial impact of research findings on nursing activities. This middle ground is the result of a slow evolutionary process that does not reflect a conscious decision to use an innovative procedure but rather reflects what Weis s termed knowledge creep and decision accretion.‘ knowledge creep’ refers to an evolving percolation of research ideas and findings. ‘Decision accretion’ refers to the manner in which momentum for a decision builds over time based on accumulated information gained through informal discussions , readings , meetings and so on. Increasingly now a days nurses are making conscious decisions to use research in their clinical practice and the EBP movement has contributed to this change. Estrabooks [1999] studied research utilization and found evidence to support three distinct types of research utilization.Indirect research utilization: involving changes in nurses’ thinking and therefore analogous to conceptual utilization. Direct research utilization: involving the direct use of findings in giving patient care and therefore analogous to instrumental utilization. Persuasive utilization: involving the utilization of of findings to persuade [typically those i n decision making positions] to make changes in policies or practices relevant to nursing care.These varying ways of thinking about research utilization clearly suggest that both quantitative and qualitative research can play key roles in guiding and improving nursing practice The research utilization process; Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory Rogers’ theory is one of the most accepted theories that has developed models of how knowledge gets disseminated and used. It has influvanced several research utilization projects in the nursing community. Rogers postulate that knowledge diffusion is an evolutionary process by which an innovation is communicated over time to members of a social system.The key elements in this process, all of which influence the rate and extent of innovation, adoption include the following, 1. The innovation is a new idea, practice or procedure that if adopted will result in changes the nature of innovation strongly affects the decision about adoption. 2. Communication channels are the media through which information about the innovation is transmitted and can include both mass media or individual face to face communication. Communication is most effective when there are shared believes , values and expectations on the part of the sender and receiver of information.3.  Time is component of theory in that the process of knowledge diffusion occurs over time. There are varying amounts of time that elapse between the creation of knowledge and its dissemination and between knowledge awareness and the decision to use or reject the innovation 4. The social system is the set of interrelated units that solve the problems and seek to accomplish a common goal. Diffusion occurs within the social system that vary in their norms and receptivity to innovations Rogers Characterized the innovation adoption process as having five stages knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation.During the knowledge stage individu als or groups become aware of the innovation and during the persuasion stage they form appositive attitude towards it. In the decision stage , a choice is made about whether to adopt or reject the innovation. The innovation is actually put into use during the implementation stage. Finally the effectiveness of the innovation is evaluated during the confirmation stage, and decisions get made about continuation or discontinuation of the innovation. Recent research on utilization has challenged the linear nature of the process Evidence-based practice.During the 1980s, the term â€Å"evidence-based medicine† emerged to describe the approach that uses scientific evidence to determine the best practice. Later, the term shifted to become â€Å"evidence-based practice† as clinicians other than physicians recognized the importance of scientific evidence in clinical decision-making. Various definitions of evidence-based practice (EBP) have emerged in the literature, but the most commonly used definition is, â€Å"the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of the current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients† (Sackett, Rosenberg, Gray, Hayes, & Richardson, 1996).Subsequently, experts began to talk about evidence-based healthcare as a process by which research evidence is used in making decisions about a specific population or group of patients. Evidence-based practice and evidence-based healthcare assume that evidence is used in the context of a particular patient’s preferences and desires, the clinical situation, and the expertise of the clinician. They also expect that healthcare professionals can read, critique, and synthesize research findings and interpret existing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.Definitions of research utilization, quality improvement, and nursing research Evidence-based practice is not research utilization, quality improvement, or nursing research, although it may be rela ted to each of these processes. For example, quality improvement projects may be evidence-based, and the findings may contribute to other EBP or research initiatives. Also, an evidence-based practice project can lead to a research study or quality improvement initiative. What is research utilization? For decades, nurses have used available research to guide nursing practice and their efforts to improve patient outcomes.This process involved critical analysis and evaluation of research findings and then determining how they fit into clinical practice. Incorporating pertinent research findings into clinical practice (and evaluating the changes’ effectiveness), helps close the gap between research and practice. More recently, research utilization efforts in nursing have been replaced by evidence-based practice, What is quality or performance improvement? Quality, clinical, or performance improvement focuses on systems, processes, and functional, clinical, satisfaction, and cost outcomes.Typically, quality improvement efforts are not designed to develop nursing practice standards or nursing science, but they may contribute to understanding best practices or the processes of care in which nurses are actively involved. A commonly accepted view is that quality improvement activities in healthcare are not intended to generate scientific knowledge but rather to serve as management tools to improve the processes and outcomes within a specific healthcare organization or setting.More recently, experts have focused on improving care by examining and working within clinical Microsystems or the specific places where patients, families, and care teams meet (Nelson, et al. , 2002). To improve and maintain quality, safety, and efficiency, clinical teams must blend analysis, change, and measurement into their efforts to redesign care within these clinical Microsystems. Quality improvement initiatives generally address clinical problems or issues, examine clinical processe s, and use specific indicators to help evaluate clinical performance.Data are collected and analyzed to help understand both the process and the related outcomes. The findings help contribute to efforts to achieve and maintain continuous improvement through ongoing monitoring and improvement activities. Quality improvement projects vs. research projects Many have asked whether quality improvement projects are the same as research projects—they are not. In clinical practice, these efforts may seem similar in that, for example, both may seek answers to clinical problems and use similar data collection and analysis methods.However, factors that may differ include participant or subject recruitment, the study’s methods, and how the results are used. For example, in most quality improvement activities, the participants generally are the patients within a specific clinical micro system. In research efforts, the investigator recruits human subjects using approaches that will ensure a representative sample of the population. In many improvement activities, the intervention may change as it is evaluated, whereas in a research study the treatment or intervention remains the same.Furthermore, in most quality improvement initiatives, the healthcare team is trying to solve a problem in a particular setting instead of trying to generalize the results of the study to other settings and populations. Although it might be helpful to learn about the activities and experience of other improvement teams, their findings may not apply to or be appropriate in other settings or patient populations. The intent of research, however, is to develop new knowledge that can be generalized to other similar populations and clinical settings.Despite the differences between research and quality improvement projects, however, one must consider the protection of human subjects in both. To ensure that you adequately protect the rights of patients or subjects, always ask an Institution al Review Board (IRB) to review the research proposal or quality improvement project before implementing the study and beginning data collection. Also note that, whether the effort is research or quality improvement, one goal may be to disseminate the results of the project in a published paper or oral report.For any dissemination project, address adequate human subject protection and adherence with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) guidelines before beginning the improvement project or research study. Individuals involved in either quality improvement or research projects should seek advice from their organization’s IRB, privacy officer, and risk management department to ensure that data are managed in a manner consistent with any pertinent federal or state regulations and organizational policies and procedures..Multidisciplinary effort Within clinical settings, many such opportunities exist for both nursing and multidisciplinary impro vement efforts. Improvement activities for nursing can be as simple as reducing time in giving verbal report or improving compliance with documentation requirements. Multidisciplinary collaborative efforts may address complex health issues, such as the care of acute myocardial infarction patients or individuals with community-acquired pneumonia.These initiatives are becoming more important in acute care hospitals as the national focus on public reporting increases. Such efforts help consumers compare the quality of care that various hospitals provide. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); various organizations that represent hospitals, doctors, and employers; accrediting organizations; other federal agencies; and the public have combined efforts to develop Hospital Compare and, thus, have made key clinical outcome measures available to the public.In this way, the public can monitor performance indicators to related common medical conditions and certain evidence-based i nterventions that are consistent with achieving the best patient outcomes. Collaboration within multidisciplinary teams creates opportunities to address clinical problems and issues using various perspectives and expertise. Nurses play key roles in such efforts and often benefit from the synergy that can be realized by working with others interested in or concerned about the problem.The group can work together while measuring their progress against pre-determined objectives What is nursing research? Nursing research involves systematic inquiry specifically designed to develop, refine, and extend nursing knowledge. As part of a clinical and professional discipline, nurses have a unique body of knowledge that addresses nursing practice, administration, and education. Nurse researchers examine problems of specific concern to nurses and the patients, families, and communities they serve. Nursing research methods may be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed (i.e. , triangulated):†¢ In quantitative studies, researchers use objective, quantifiable data (such as blood pressure or pulse rate) or use a survey instrument to measure knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, or experiences †¢ Qualitative researchers use methods such as interviews or narrative analyses to help understand a particular phenomenon †¢ Triangulated approaches use both quantitative and qualitative methods Regardless of the method they use, researchers must adhere to certain approaches to ensure both the quality and the accuracy of the data and related analyses.The intent of each approach is to answer questions and develop knowledge using the scientific method. Examples of nursing research projects Examples of nursing research projects include the following: †¢ Randomized clinical trial examining best practice for orthopedic-pin site care †¢ Efficacy of examination gloves for simple dressing changes †¢ Reliability of methods used to determine nasogastric tube placement †¢ The effects of relaxation and guided imagery on preoperative anxiety †¢ Quality of life in patients with chronic pain†¢ The relationship of a preoperative teaching program for joint replacement surgery and patient outcomes The scientific method involves collecting observable, measurable, and verifiable data in a prescribed manner so as to describe, explain, or predict outcomes. For example, one might collect data to describe the effects of massage on blood pressure, explain decreased needs for sedation, or predict lower levels of anxiety. Research methods demand that the collected data remain objective and not be influenced by the researcher’s hypotheses, beliefs, or values.In the massage example, the researcher could easily bias the results by administering the massages or collecting the data. Using certain approaches to subject recruitment, performing faulty data collection, and not controlling for other confounding variables also can bias research findings. Therefor e, when developing a study proposal, the researcher must develop a plan that minimizes these risks and supports the development of reliable information and results. EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE EBP begins with search for information about how best to solve the specific problems.Findings from rigorous research are considered the best possible source of information but EBP also draws on other sources. A basic feature of EBP is that it deemphasizes decision making based on custom, opinion of the authority, or ritual. Rather the emphasis is on identifying the best available research evidence and integrating it with clinical expertise, patient input and existing resources. EBP movement has both supporters and critics. Supporters say that EBP offers a solution to sustaining high health care quality or in our cost constrained environment.Their position is that a rational approach is needed for providing best possible care to most people, with most cost effective use of resources. Critics worry that the advantages of EBP are exaggerated and that individual clinical judgments and patient inputs are being devalued. TYPE OF EVIDENCE AND EVIDENCE HIERARCHIES Positions about what constitutes useful evidence have loosened, but there have been efforts to develop evidence hierarchies that rank studies according to the strength of evidence they provide.The most accepted hierarchy is given below 1. Meta analysis of controlled studies 2. Individual experimental studies 3. Quasi experimental studies [eg; time series, non equalant control group] or matched case control studies 4. Non experimental studies [eg; co relational studies , descriptive and qualitative studies] 5. Programme evaluations, research utilization studies, quality improvement projects, case reports 6. Opinions of respected authorities and expert committeesThe nine alternative sources include Bench marking data, Cost effectiveness analysis, Pathophysiologic data, Retrospective or concurrent chart review, Quality improv ement and risk data, international, national , and local standards, institutional data collected for infection control purposes, patient preferences and clinical expertise EBP implications for nurses Nurses serve instrumental roles in ensuring and providing evidence-based practice. They must continually ask the questions, â€Å"What is the evidence for this intervention? † or â€Å"How do we provide best practice?† and â€Å"Are these the highest achievable outcomes for the patient, family, and nurse? †Nurses are also well positioned to work with other members of the healthcare team to identify clinical problems and use existing evidence to improve practice. Numerous opportunities exist for nurses to question current nursing practices and use evidence to make care more effective. Nurses throughout the country also have been involved in multidisciplinary efforts to reduce the number and severity of falls and pressure ulcers/injuries. Such projects can help save m oney and improve care processes and outcomes.By implementing existing evidence-based guidelines related to falls and pressure ulcers/injuries, care has improved, and the number and severity of negative outcomes have decreased. Importance of evidence-based practice Evidence-based practice helps nurses provide high-quality patient care based on research and knowledge rather than because â€Å"this is the way we have always done it,† or based on traditions, myths, hunches, advice of colleagues, or outdated textbooks. Why is EBP important to nursing practice? †¢ It results in better patient outcomes †¢ It contributes to the science of nursing †¢ It keeps practice current and relevant†¢ It increases confidence in decision-making †¢ Policies and procedures are current and include the latest research †¢ Integration of EBP into nursing practice is essential for high-quality patient care often, nurses feel that they are using â€Å"evidence† to gui de practice, but their sources of evidence are not research-based In a study conducted by Thompson, et al. , (2003), nurses reported that the most helpful knowledge source was experience or advice from colleagues or patients. Of concern were reports that up-to-date electronic resources that included evidence-based materials were not useful to nurses in clinical practice.This barrier contributes to significant gaps in clinicians applying research findings to practice and dissemination of innovations. The failure to use evidence results in care that is of lower quality, less effective, and more expensive (Berwick, 2003). Evidence-based practice can be easier for nurses to use if they refer to already-developed evidence based or clinical practice guidelines. Numerous expert groups have already undertaken systematic efforts to develop guidelines to help both healthcare providers and patients make informed decisions about care interventions.Guideline developers use a systematic approach to critique the existing research, rate the strength of the evidence, and establish practice guidelines. The overall goal of these types of efforts focuses on guiding practice and minimizing the variability in care MODELS FOR EVIDENCE BASED NURSING PRACTICE During the 1980,s and 1990’s a number of different models of research utilization were developed. These models offered guidelines for designing and implementing a utilization project in a practice setting. The most prominent of these models were the Stetler model and The Iowa model.These two models were updated to incorporate the EBP process rather than research utilistion alone. THE STETLER MODEL The Stetler model of research utilization was designed with the assumption that research utilization could be undertaken not only by organizations , but by individual clinicians and managers. It was a model designed to promote and facilitate critical thinking about the application of research findings in practice. The updated and refined model is based on many of the same assumptions and strategies as the original but provides an enhanced approach to the overall application of research in the service setting.The current model involves five sequential phases 1. Preparation ;- in this phase the nurse defines the underlying process, purpose and outcome of the project ; search, sort, and select sources of research evidence; consider the external factors that can influence potential application and internal factors that can diminish the objectivity and affirm the priority of the perceived problem. 2. Validation ;- This phase involves a utilization focused critique of each source of evidence focusing in particular on whether it is sufficiently sound for potential application in practice.The process stops at this point if the evidence sources are rejected. 3. Comprehensive evaluation and decision making ;- this phase involves the synthesis of findings and the application of four criteria that , taken together are used to determine the desirability and feasibility of applying findings from validated sources to nursing practice. These criteria include Fit for setting:- Similarity of characteristics of samples to your client population. Similarity of study’s environment to the one which you work FeasibilityPotential risk for implementation to patients, staff and organization Readiness for change among those who would be involved in a change in practice Resources requirements and availability Current practice Congruency of the study with theoretical basis for current practice behaviour Substantiating evidence Availability of confirming evidences from other studies Availability of confirming evidences from Meta analysis or integrative review The end result of comprehensive evaluation is to make a decision about using the study findings. If the decision is a rejection, no further steps are necessary4.  Translation/ Application;- this phase involves activities to Confirm how the findings w ill be used formally or informally Spell out the operational details of application and implement them. It involves the development of a guideline, detailed procedure, or plan of action, possibly including plans for formal organizational charge. 5. Evaluation:- in this final phase the application is evaluated. Informal use of the innovation versus formal use would lead to different evaluative strategies.Although the Stetler Model originally was designed as a tool for individual practitioners, it has also been the basis for  formal research utilization and EBP projects by group nurses. THE IOWA MODEL Efforts to use research evidence to improve nursing practice are often addressed by groups of nurses interested in the same practice issue. Formal EBP projects typically have followed systematic procedures using one of several models that have been followed systematic procedures using one of the several models that have been developed, such as The Iowa Model of the research in practice . The model was renamed as Iowa Model of Evidence Based Practice to Promote Quality Care.The current version of the Iowa Model acknowledges that a formal EBP project begins with a trigger- an impetus to explore possible changes to practice. The start point can be either a knowledge focused trigger that that emerges from awareness of innovative research findings and thus follows a more traditional research utilization path, or a problem focused trigger that has its roots in a clinical or organizational problem and thus follows a path that more closely resembles ad EBP path. The model outlines a series of activities with three critical decision points. 1.Deciding whether the problem is a sufficient priority for the organization exploring the possible changes; if yes a team is formed to proceed with the project ; if no a new trigger will be sought. 2. Deciding whether there is a sufficient research base ; if yes , the innovation is piloted in the practice setting; if no , the team woul d either search for other sources of evidence or conduct its own research. 3. Deciding whether the change is appropriate for adoption in practice ; if yes a change would be instituted and monitored; if no the team would continue to evaluate quality of care and search for new knowledge.The 5 steps of EBN 1. SELECT A TOPIC OR PROBLEM The first step is to select a topic. Ideas come from different sources but are categorized in two areas: Problem-focused triggers and Knowledge focused triggers. When selecting a topic, nurses should formulate questions that are likely to gain support from people within the organization. An interdisciplinary medical team should work together to come up with an agreement about the topic selection. The priority of the topic should be considered as well as the severity of the problem.Nurses should consider whether the topic would apply to many or few clinical areas. Also, the availability of solid evidence should be considered because providing proof of the research will increase staffs' willingness to implement into nursing practice. Problem & Knowledge Focused Triggers Problem focused triggers are identified by health care staff through quality improvement, risk surveillance, benchmarking data, financial data, or recurrent clinical problems. Problem focused triggers could be clinical problems, or risk management issues.Knowledge focused triggers are created when health care staff read research, listen to research conferences or encounter EBP guidelines published by federal agencies or organizations. Knowledge based triggers could be new research findings that further enhance nursing, or new practice guidelines. It is important that individuals work closely together to reach the optimum outcome for the chosen topic. Some things that would ensure collaboration are working in groups to review performance improvement data, brainstorming about ideas, and achieving consensus about the final selection.With both types of triggers, it is impo rtant to ensure that there is a general consensus about the importance of the problem and the need for improving practice. The method of selecting a topic does not appear to have any bearing on the success of an EBP project. What is important however is that the nursing staff who will implement an innovation are involved in topic selection and that key stake holders are â€Å"on board. † 2 . FORM A TEAM TO ASSEMBLE AND EVALUATE EVIDENCE Some might become overwhelmed when they first learn about EBP and apply it for reasons other than improvement of patient care.Forming a team increases the chance of EBP being adopted. A team becomes paramount in implementation, and evaluation of the EBP. It is important to have representatives of the team from authority members of the organization and also grassroots members. It is also important to consider interdisciplinary involvement to decrease rejection, and for all to have an understanding of the project. All these individuals have a gr eat impact on the possibility of successful implementation.Other factors to put into consideration include power figures in the organization that may directly or indirectly sabotage the efforts if they are not consulted, and fully included in EBP implementation. The EBP team should have explanations that clearly define the types of patients, setting, outcomes, interventions and exposures. This should be in simplified language that is comprehensible to a lay person. The role of the practitioners is remarkable in any meaningful gains, they are therefore inevitable and their role becomes pivotal.The approach they adopt and their ability to educate the co-workers, answer their questions, and clarify any misconceptions greatly improves the outcomes. In doing a literature reviews background for a new study, a central goal is to discover where the gaps are and how best to advance knowledge. For EBP projects which typically have as end products, prescriptive practice protocols or guidelines , literature reviews are typically much more formalized. The emphasis is on amassing comprehensive information on the topic, weighing pieces of evidence and integrating information to draw conclusions about the state of knowledge.Commentators have noted that integrative reviews have become the cornerstone of EBP. If an integrative view already exists it is wise to make sure that it is as up-to-date as possible and that new findings published after the review are taken into account. Moreover, even a published integrative review needs to be critiqued and the validity of its conclusions assessed 3. ASSESSING THE IMPLEMENTATION POTENTIAL One of the most challenging issues in using EBP in the clinical setting is learning how to adequately frame a clinical question so that an appropriate literature review can be performed.When forming a clinical question the following should be included: the disorder or disease of the patient, the intervention or finding being reviewed, possibly a compari son intervention, and the outcome An acronym used to remember this is called the â€Å"PICO† model: P = who is the Patient Population? I = what is the potential Intervention or area of Interest? C = is there a Comparison intervention or Control group? O = what is the desired Outcome? Once the topic is selected, the research relevant to the topic must be reviewed, in addition to other relevant literature.It is important that clinical studies, (including meta-analyses, metasyntheses and meta-aggregation) and well-known and reliable existing EBP guidelines are accessed in the literature retrieval process. With the internet at one’s fingertips, a plethora of research is just a few clicks away. However, just because you found it in a respectable journal does not signify high quality research. When reviewing any article for evidence retrieval read it very closely. Articles can appear to be precise and factual on the surface but with further and much closer examination, flaws can be found.The article can be loaded with opinionated and/or biased statements that would clearly taint the findings, thus lowering the creditability and quality of the article. Use of rating systems to determine the quality of the research is crucial to the development of EBP. There are several rating systems available online. Time management is crucial to information retrieval. Nurses making their way through the vast amount of research available may find it helpful to read research articles or critical reviews instead of clinical journals.To maintain high standards for EBP implementation, education in research review is necessary to distinguish good research from poorly conducted research. Equally important is that the materials being reviewed, consider if they are current. To assess the implementation potential of an innovation in a particular setting several issues should be considered particularly the transferability of the innovation, the feasibility of implementing it, an d it’s cost benefit ratio Transferability :- The main issue with regard to transferability is that whether it makes good sense to implement an innovation in the new practice setting.If there is some aspect of the practice setting that is fundamentally incongruent with the innovation in terms of its philosophy, types of client served, personal, financial or administrative structure, then it might make little sense to try to adapt the innovation Feasibility :- Assessing the feasibility concerns address various practical concerns about the availability of staff resources, the organizational climate, the need for and availability of external resources and assistance and the potential for clinical evaluation.An important issue here is that whether the nurse will have control over the innovation. When the nurse do not have full control over the new procedure, it is important to recognize the interdependent nature of the project and to proceed as early as possible to establish the n ecessary co operative arrangements. Cost benefit ratio:- It is an important aspect of EBP project innovation. The cost benefit assessment should encompass likely cost and benefits to various groups including clients, staff and the overall organization.Clearly the most important factor is the client. A cost benefit assessment should consider the opposite side of the coin as well that is the cost and benefits of not instituting an innovation. Documentation of the implementation potential is an innovation is highly recommended. Committing ideas to writing is useful because it can resolve ambiguities, serve as a problem solving tool if there are barriers to implementation , and be used to persuade others of the value of the project. 4.APPLY THE EVIDENCE/IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING THE INNOVATION After determining the internal and external validity of the study, a decision is arrived at whether the information gathered does apply to your initial question. It’s important to address questions related to diagnosis, therapy, harm, and prognosis. The information gathered should be interpreted according to many criteria and should always be shared with other nurses and/or fellow researcher. Building on the Iowa model, this phase of project likely would involve the following activities Developing an evaluation planCollecting baseline data pertaining to those outcomes, to develop a counterfactual against which the outcomes of the innovation would be assessed. Developing a written EBP guideline based on the synthesis of evidence, preferably a guideline that is clear and user friendly, and that uses such devises as flow charts and decision trees. Training relevant staff in the use of the new guideline and if necessary marketing the innovation to users so that it is given in a fair test.Trying the guideline out on one or more unit or with a sample of clients Evaluating the pilot project in terms of both processes and outcomes. 5. DISSEMINATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRO JECT It is the final optional step but it is the one which is highly advisable. It is done so that the results of the project can be disseminated to other participating staff members. How to Critique a Research Article The critiquing process is the building block and foundation for the multiple steps that are to follow in the successful implementation of EBP.This is so because you must first ensure that the material and research that you are trying to convince others to accept is reliable and accurate. By taking the time to thoroughly critique a study you can point out both the strengths and weaknesses of the findings and weigh them accordingly. Successful completion of this vital step will help â€Å"weed out† the material lacking the needed proof of effectiveness, therefore minimizing useless, or even harmful, implementation of new practices in the healthcare field.Once the literature is located, it is helpful to classify the articles as either conceptual (theory and clinic al articles) or data-based (systematic research reviews). Before reading and critiquing the research, it is useful to read theoretical and clinical articles to have a broad view of the nature of the topic and related concepts, and to then review existing EBP guidelines Critiquing criteria are the standards, evaluation guides, or questions used to judge (critique) an article.In analyzing a research report, the reader must evaluate each step of the research process and ask questions about whether each step of the process meets the criteria. Remember when you are doing a critique, you are pointing out strengths, as well as the weaknesses. To critique an article you must have some knowledge on the subject matter. There is no replacement for reading the article many times. The reader must search the article for contradictions, illogical statements, and faulty reasoning.It is important to evaluate every section of the research article. Each section has different criteria to meet, in order to be considered a well-written addition to the article. What are the barriers to implementing evidence-based practice? The barriers that prevent nurses from using research in everyday practice have been cited in numerous studies, and some common findings have emerged Nurses often report the following: †¢ Lack of value for research in practice †¢ Difficulty in changing practice†¢ Lack of administrative support †¢ Lack of knowledgeable mentors †¢ Insufficient time to conduct research †¢ Lack of education about the research process †¢ Lack of awareness about research or evidence-based practice †¢ Research reports/articles not readily available †¢ Difficulty accessing research reports and articles †¢ No time on the job to read research †¢ Complexity of research reports†¢ Lack of knowledge about EBP and critique of articles †¢ Feeling overwhelmed by the processDespite these barriers, nurses are engaging in EBP and making a difference in patient outcomes. Furthermore, barriers can be overcome through organizational efforts focused on integrating research in practice and using strategies such as journal clubs, nursing grand rounds, and having research articles available for review The use of evidence based practice depends a great deal on the nursing student's proficiency at understanding and critiquing the research articles and the associated literature that will be presented to them in the clinical setting.According to, Blythe Royal, author of Promoting Research Utilization in nursing: The Role of the Individual, Organization, and Environment, a large amount of the preparation requirements of nursing students consists of creating care plans for patients, covering in depth processes of pathophysiology, and retaining the complex information of pharmacology. These are indeed very important for the future of patient care, but their knowledge must consist of more when they begin to practice.Evidence base d nursing in an attempt to facilitate the management of the growing literature and technology accessible to healthcare providers that can potentially improve patient care and their outcomes. Nancy Dickenson-Hazard states, â€Å"Nurses have the capacity to serve as caregivers and change agents in creating and implementing community and population-focused health systems. † There is also a need to overcome the barriers to encourage the use of research by new graduates in an attempt to ensure familiarity with the process.This will help nurses to feel more confident and be more willing to engage in evidence based nursing. A survey that was established by the Honour Society of Nursing and completed by registered nurses proved that 69% have only a low to moderate knowledge of EBP and half of those that responded did not feel sure of the steps in the process. Many responded, â€Å"Lack of time during their shift is the primary challenge to researching and applying EBP. † There is always and will always be a desire to improve the care of our patients.The ever increasing cost of healthcare and the need for more accuracy in the field proves a cycle in need of evidence based healthcare. The necessity to overcome the current issues is to gain knowledge from a variety of literature not just the basics. There is a definite need for nurses, and all practitioners, to have an open mind when dealing with the modern inventions of the future because these could potentially improve the health of patients. There are many barriers to promoting evidence based practice.The first of which would be the practitioner's ability to critically appraise research. This includes having a considerable amount of research evaluation skills, access to journals, and clinic/hospital support to spend time on EBN. Time, workload pressures, and competing priorities can impede research and development. The causes of these barriers include nurse's and other professional practitioners lack of knowledge of research methods, lack of support from professional colleagues and organizations, and lack of confidence and authority in the research arena.Another barrier is that the practice environment can be resistant to changing tried and true conventional methods of practice. This can be caused because of reluctance to believe results of research study over safe, traditional practices, cost of adopting new practices, or gaining momentum to rewrite existing protocols It is important to show nurses who may be resistant to changes in nursing practice the benefits that nurses, their patients, and their institutions can reap from the implementation of evidence-based nursing practice, which is to provide better nursing care.Values, resources and evidence are the three factors that influence decision-making with regard to health care. All registered nurses and health care professionals should be taught to read and critically interpret research and know where to find articles which rela te to their field of care. In addition, nurses need to be more aware of how to assess the information and determine its applicability to their practice. Another barrier to implementing EBN into practice is lack of continuing education programs.Practices do not have the means to provide workshops to teach new skills due to lack of funding, staff, and time; therefore, the research may be tossed dismissed. If this occurs, valuable treatments may never be utilized in patient care. Not only will the patients suffer but the staff will not have the opportunity to learn a new skill. Also, the practitioners may not be willing to implement change regardless of the benefits to patient care. Another barrier to introducing newly learned methods for improving treatments or patients' health is the fear of â€Å"stepping on one's toes†.New nurses might feel it is not their place to suggest or even tell a superior nurse that newer, more efficient methods and/or practices are available. The pe rceived threat to clinical freedom offered by evidence-based practice is neither logical nor surprising. Resistance to change and to authority is part of human nature. When we make decisions based upon good quality information we are inconsistent and biased. Human nature offers many challenges to evidence-based practice. Can we do a better job of promoting evidence-based practice?And even if we find and use the evidence, will we make consistent unbiased decisions? Even if clinicians do act consistently it is possible that their decisions are consistently biased. People put different values on gains and losses. CONCLUSION Nursing is truly an art and a science. EBP not only provides elements of each aspect, but also contributes to the profession’s overall development. As a result EBP improves everyday practice in by providing empirical data to guide the nursing interventions. Use of research in EBP provides opportunity for research utilisation by all in the field of profession.

Mnc and Foreign Direct Investment in Malaysia Essay

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) in Malaysia Over the Past Decade: A Detailed Look at their Determinants, Patterns and Effects. 1.1 Multinational Corporation and Foreign Direct Investment in Malaysia Primarily, Multinational Corporations or also known as MNC is defined as a firm that has an extensive involvement in international business, owning or controlling facilities in several different countries other than its home country. In other words, firm or group that derives a quarter of its revenue from operations outside of its home country is considered as a MNC. Typically, these types of companies have offices or factories in different countries and continents, but they are controlled by a centralized head office that is responsible for the coordination of the global management. For such companies, the expansion and penetration into foreign market can commonly be achieved via exporting, licensing, joint venture and also foreign direct investment . Foreign direct investment or also called as FDI is a term that is commonly and closely linked to MNC and it is described as an investment made by a company or entity that is based on country into a company or entity based in another country. In order for a firm or corporation to become multinational, they must first acquire a controlling stake in foreign firm. This can be achieved by newly creating a foreign firm (international Greenfield investment), acquiring an existing foreign firm through international merger and acquisition and also through joint ventures. Inflows of FDI into a host country greatly affect the overall development of its economy due to the fact that FDI provides external source of capital, management skills, new technologies and also job opportunities. Since Malaysia first opened its door to FDI in the early 1960s, Malaysia has been receiving a steady arrival of MNC from around the world (Bernama 2012), including from Asian countries and as further as European co untries and the United States. Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), have reported that more than 4000 foreign international companies have set their presence in Malaysia as their offshore base (MIDA, 2009). Among the MNC that have the presence in Malaysia are Dell, Intel, Shell, GlaxoSmith Kline (GSK), Schlumberger and many others. Besides the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, other states that have successfully attract MNCs and investors include Penang and Johor Bahru. According to time Magazine, in the manufacturing industry, Penang is  featured as among the preferred destinations for MNCs due to several factors such as logistics and geography. This is also in line with the Federal Government initiative to develop Penang into the third metropolis in the country, after Klang Valley and Johor Bahru. 1.2 Determinant As mentioned before, from the time Malaysia undergone into the transformation from an agricultural-based nation to manufacturing-service based nation and from the opening of its door to FDI, the number of MNC present in Malaysia has shown an increasing pattern. According to Business Times (2012) Malaysia has emerged as the fifth most popular destination for FDI in Asia in the year 2011, with an increase of 31.5 per cent from 2010 to US$11.97 (RM 37.83 billion). At 44 per cent, manufacturing sector continued to be the major contributor to FDI inflows, followed by service sector (35 per cent), mining and quarrying (20.1 per cent), and also forestry and fishing at 0.3 percent (Business Times 2012). Malaysia is also showing a positive outlook as the Economist Corporate Network’s Asia Business Outlook Survey 2012 have shown that half of the 500 multinational companies were planning to increase their investment in Malaysia in the year of 2012. The survey done also revealed that in the aspect of investment priorities for those MNCs, Malaysia is now ranking at number seven out of 12 Asian countries, while in terms of market attractiveness for the purpose of production and manufacturing; Malaysia is ranking at number four. There are definitely several determinants that resulted in such development. One of the major factors that attracted investors to Malaysia would be the commitment by the government to sustain a business setting that provides companies with the opportunities for growth and profits (Iskandar Malaysia 2012). The commitment is reflected in the government’s continuous efforts to obtain feedback from the business community through channels of consultation like regular government-private sector dialogues. Such dialogues will give the various business communities the opportunity to voice out their views and at the same time to contribute towards the formulation of government policies which concern them. Additionally, Malaysian government has also been very proactive in attracting foreign investment into Malaysia through several policy reforms such as the Investment Incentives Act 1968 that was then repealed and replaced by The Promotion of Investment Act 1986 (PIA 1986). There are three main incentives covered under this Act, namely Pioneer Status, Investment  Tax Allowance and Infrastructure Allowance (KPMG 2005). Pioneer status incentives provide full or partial exemption from the payment of income tax, whereas Investment Tax Allowance provides company with an allowance based on qualifying capital expenditure incurred. In similar manner, Infrastructure Allowance is granted to companies resident in Malaysia which has incurred capital expenditure on infrastructure in respect of business in operation in a promoted area. The introduction of this Act further encourages investment activities in this country, especially in manufacturing industries and it has resulted in the increased number of foreign investors coming into Malaysia. This is shown in the vast increased of share of foreign proposed capital investment in the approved manufacturing project from 19% in 1984 to 64% in 1992. Besides the establishment of Free Trade Zone, the introduction of more liberal incentives under PIA 1986 that allows larger percentage of foreign equity ownership in enterprise is also one of the determinants that draw large inflow of FDI into Malaysia. In addition to the government incentives, there are also various policies formulated by the government with the aim to further enhance the attractiveness of Malaysia as the go-to location for FDI. In 2011, several key initiatives have been implemented which comprise of Economic Transformation Program (ETP) and the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP). These policies lay down the foundation for the country’s transformation into a high income economy, as foreseen in the New Economic Model (NEM). With this implementation, Malaysia continues to be a cost competitive location that has been able to proficiently attract project with significant level of investment (MIDA 2011). Apart from the policy factors, other factors that attract FDI and MNC are the well-developed infrastructure of Malaysia that is aimed to serve the business community. According to World Investment Report of 2008, MNCs usually invest in countries that have well established network of transportation as well as communication facilities (Alex, et. all 2010). Malaysia undoubtedly fulfill the needs of logistic and communication within its boundary particularly in the Peninsula of Malaysia. These well maintained PLUS highways is an advantage to industries as it link major city centers to seaports and airports throughout the peninsula, thus providing an efficient and effective means of transportation for goods. Complementary to these highways, a Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur containerized service that is known as the Asean  Rail Express (ARX) has been initiated with the aim of expanding it to become Trans-Asia Rail Link that will comprise of Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and ending up in China (Iskandar Malaysia 2012). In addition to that, the five international airports and seven international seaports definitely make Malaysia an ideal springboard to the Asia Pacific Market (Trade Chakra 2009). As for communication, subsequent to the successful privatization of its Telecommunication department, Malaysia’s telecommunication network has come a long way with the latest digital and fiber optics technology being utilized to provide supreme quality telecommunication service at competitive price. Other than the determinant discussed above, another major factor that attract FDI into Malaysia is the good environment and the political stability of this country (Har et. all 2008). Despite the several crises that arose recently, Malaysia political environment is still considered as relatively stable in comparison to other countries such as Thailand. Sound environment and stable political environment have attracted many foreign investors to invest in Malaysia because with such stable condition, investors and MNCs will face fewer problem and they will be able to run their business more conveniently and efficiently. According to Ajami and Ricks (1981), the political stability of a country has a positive impact on FDI because political stability is vital in creating a climate of confidence for investor. Bernama (2007) have also reported that the presence of MNCs especially those that have set up regional operating headquarters is a vote of their strong confidence in the strength of the country’s political and economic system. 1.3 Pattern of FDI in Malaysia *Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Over the past decades, Malaysia ha s been received lots of Foreign Direct Investment(FDI). The flow has reached its peak in 1988 to 1993 and started to decrease after 1996 due to Asian Financial Crisis as well as world trade recession that hit Malaysia apart from other countries. From the graph above, the pattern of FDI flow into Malaysia from year 2000 to 2011 can be observed. It shows that the inflow is inconsistent and fluctuates randomly. However, in overall, Malaysia has attracted a steady inflow of net FDI in the recent decade, averaging 3% of GDP per annum with a peak of 4.5% of GDP in 2007(Har, et. al., 2008). According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Prospects & Survey, 2011-2013, Malaysia has been ranked as one of  the top host economies for FDI in 2011-2013. In year 2001, the figures for FDI is much lower compare to the other years due to global trend and collapsed of technology bubble and it increases back in year 2002(The Star Newpaper, 25 March 2010). And this trend once again can be seen during 2009, where the FDI has relatively declined greatly from 2 008 because lack of confidence from the foreign investors due to global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 as mentioned by the Chief Economist RAM Holdings Bhd Dr Yeah Kim Leng(The Star Newspaper, 25 March 2010) and further dampened by the contraction of Malaysia’s export activities. During 2009, although the government tries to promote and attract more investors by promoting more freedom to the investors, it still did not work out. The FDI dropped by 81% which is from US$7.3bil in 2008 to US$1.4bil in 2009. Whereas from year 2006 to 2008, the FDI in Malaysia is much higher than those previous years because during this period, activities like MNEs mergers and acquisitions, establishment of joint ventures and other new investment activities took place which attract more investors to invest in Malaysia. After the crisis in year 2009, the Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) has increased tremendously in year 2010 with most FDI originated from Asian countries. *Sources : Department of Statistics Malaysia One the reason that led to the FDI increment in 2010 was the purchasing activities of US$1billion worth of stake from a local company by the Company from Republic of Korea. During the period of 2006-2009, there are 3 sectors or industries that dominated the FDI received namely the manufacturing, services and oil and gas sectors. Based on the below chart, comparing with all the industries in Malaysia, manufacturing industries shows a highest figures or amount of FDI received and followed by a service sector etc(NST business Times,6th July 2012). And according to Bank Negara annual report, 41% of the FDI received were found in the manufacturing sector whereas services and oil and gas both received 37% and 17% respectively. *Adopted from CEIC *Sources : Department of Statistics Malaysia Last year, among all the states in Malaysia, Penang has received the highest amount of FDI which exceeded the other states followed by Sarawak(Shazwan Mustafa Kamal,2011). From below data, Selangor has contributed most GDP since year 2000 until 2009. And it were reported that most of the GDP were contributed from the non-local company, showing that  there has been high foreign investment within that state. However, in 2011, Penang has showed an improvement in attracting FDI by surpassing Selangor in receiving FDI and maintain in the top list for 2 years since 2010. (more graph in the appendix) 1.4 Effects of FDI on Malaysia. Over the years, there are many impacts of Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) towards Malaysia in many aspects. One of the distinct effects of FDI on Malaysia is the growth of the country’s economy ever since 1990s especially in the manufacturing sector like petroleum, chemical industries and etc by increasing the domestic capital. Hence, the production capacity also increases and further leads to economic growth. This later creates a favorable investment environment that could help in attracting other investment from other investors and further increase the FDI into the country. According to Krugman and Obstfeld (1994), â€Å"FDI functions as one way to bridge an inter-temporal gap of capital demand and supply, and, like other capital inflows, increases the production frontier of developing countries, which normally suffer a shortage of capital†. The economic growth in Malaysia can be seen through the growth of its GDP as shown in the below graph. Malaysia’s GDP seems to be steadily increased in year 2005-2007 where the FDI is high and declined in year 2009 where the global financial crisis affected Malaysia. From the perspective of employment in Malaysia, the FDI inflow by the Multinational Companies has caused an increase in the domestic employment rate. More job opportunities were created and offered to the citizens in Malaysia especially in the manufacturing sector due to the economy expansion in Malaysia. The standard of living of Malaysians is now getting better and better. This can be observed in below data: During the year 2007, when the growth rate for Malaysia is the highest, there is less unemployment, showing that there have been more job opportunities that lead to better employment rate. And when the employment rate increase, the standard of living also increased among Malaysian. Based on the graph above, the rate for unemployment in year 2009 is the highest. This is when the growth rate in Malaysia is the lowest. People are losing job due to less job opportunities and bad economy during that period. According to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohd Yakcop, 3.3millions of job opportunities has arisen in 2011 after the implementation of the Economic Transformation Programme that has  been used to attract foreign investors(Raina Ng, 23 September 2011). Apart from that, FDI has been an important vehicle in transferring many aspects such as new technologies, management and production skills and knowledge. There has been an improvement on the level of skills and knowledge amongst the employees in Malaysia and our local entrepreneurs. When the multinational company brings in their expertise to Malaysia, indirectly Malaysian will be able to learn some skills and knowledge from the foreigners through training or hands-on learning and improve on their technical capabilities. Employees in Malaysia are more expose to high technologies and efficiencies in managing the company’s management. Thus, this allows them to produce products that are competitive enough to compete in the international arena. And workers also are able to increase the production capacity by adapting the new technologies into the production process and this further led to increase the growth in GDP in Malaysia. Looking at previous year in 1990s where FDI started to increase in Malaysia, there has been a major improvement in the Malaysia’s export performance if compare to year 1980s with less FDI even up until now. Since Multinational Companies(MNC) has present in many international market, hence FDI from this organizations is consider as a potential source in transfer process of managerial knowledge, skills as well as new technologies that able to help in better production efficiencies and be competitive in the international arena in terms of pricing and quality of the products. The domestic firms can either obtain the information on the MNCs directly or indirectly to improve their production. The leakage of this information is known as the ‘spillovers’ and it can occur directly or indirectly. Once the domestic exporters have obtained the information regarding the international market, then they can produce accordingly to the international standard and increase the exports.