Research Articles Base: Conceptual Framework Dissertation

stategies for effective procurement in banks Research Proposal

stategies for effective procurement in banks Research Proposal

stategies for effective procurement in banks Research Proposal please cover the introducton backgroung problem statement purpose of stu...

Strategic and Operational credit Management of Microfinance Institution Research Proposal

Strategic and Operational credit Management of Microfinance Institution Research Proposal

Strategic and Operational credit Management of Microfinance Institution Research Proposal The proposal should not go beyond 15 pages The L...

Masters Dissertation Proposal

Masters Dissertation Proposal   Dissertation Preparation Module (NX0422)     Programme MA Business Managment                              1  Researchable Topic This proposal clarifies the intention to examine how the performance of temporary staff  working in a large company like NEXT plc warehouse can be improved. What will come under careful scrutiny is the mechanisms that can operate to motivate such staff to perform at their maximum potential and thereby increase the profitability of the company. I shall be particularly concerned to investigate the more complicated situation, from the perspective of motivating factors, where NEXT warehouse employee staff are employed for short periods of 2-4 weeks during the sale season. Of the greatest interest will be the comparison of those warehouse staff who are incited to complete their tasks within expected time spans with those who will attempt the same tasks in a desultory or less motivated way.   2 Aims and Objectives for the Research   The following points will  feature as central issues for the investigation: 1)      To examine the literature commentaries and current modes of thinking about Performance Management. 2)      To explore the academic literature on motivation factors underpinning exceptional company performance. 3)      To identify specific  human resource management elements that are most important for motivating temporary staff. 4)      To make recommendations on how warehouse companies can improve the performance of their temporary staff.   Currently people who are not employed on a full time or permanent basis demonstrate significant underperformance on the job. It is generally acknowledged that having a short term temporary contract is the main reason why there is such a relative underperformance when compared with those who are employed on long term or permanent contracts. There is evidence that short term staff avoid completing set tasks within appropriate time intervals. Hence one of the aims of this research is to determine the dynamics of such situations and to formulate a possible solution for the radical underperformance. Clearly, an effective solution will save the company money and reduce cost , thereby providing them with competitive advantage. In the first chapter I shall be seeking to explicate the notions of performance management that form the basis for assessing individual performance in the retail industry since that would be more relevant to the research area under scrutiny in this topic. We can take a performance management system to be the process whereby appropriate information is used to achieve superior corporate performance. In the case of retailers it means having the information to monitor corporate and store performance for the purposes of improving operational efficiency and taking urgent action where and when necessary.  A key performance indicator (KPI) is critical to any performance management system. A KPI is the measure of performance of an activity that is critical to the success of an organization. KPI’s will differ depending on the nature and objective of an organization, so you must carefully select which ones to use. Poor performance by individuals who have been recruited to play important roles in the performance of the company will impact badly on the KPI. Any company who keeps regular checks on their KPI and who also recruit temporary staff into key positions will be able to monitor their impact very closely. Of course a company would not normally be expected to employ temporary staff in such key roles. Such an event would only happen where staff  have been laid off due to an illness or sudden redundancies that have been ill thought out. In the second chapter I shall be looking to     3 Literature Review   1. . (2002), Employee Reward, 3rd Edition, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, London. Explains the conceptual framework-reward in context, economic theories, the psychological contract and motivation. Also gives brief view of reward process, analysing job and policy, pay structure, rewarding individual, team contribution, Performance Management, employee benefits and allowance and managing reward system.   2. . (2005), Marketing temporary workers: work identify, diversity and operational HR choices, Human Resources Management Journal, Vol 15, No1, pages 76-92 This journal gives difference of employment model, supporting the strategic of HRM literature, leading to differences between core employee and various kinds of peripheral employees.   3. . (2006), Key to motivating tomorrow’s workforce, Human Resources Management Vol 16, No1 pages181-198 This journal presents perspectives from the inside of what might or should be the motivational sources of tomorrows workforce. It also gives the history of research and theory on work motivation in the 20th century.   4.  (1998), Human resource management and performance; proposition and test of casual model, Human System Management, Vol 17, No.3, page 183-193. This journal clarifies the link which may exist between human resources practices and economic performance of firm.   5.  (1996), Motivation and Leadrship at Work, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, USA. This book looks at motivation and leadership at work. It explains different models of motivation and leadership. Throughout the book there is an examination of the interplay between motivation and leadership as they jointly determine work behaviour.   6  (1999), The Tao of Motivation: Inspiring yourself and others, Harper Collins Publishers, London. This book explains simple but powerful techniques for motivating yourself and others.   4  Sources of  data/information you anticipate using    I will be using various sources of data and information for the dissertation. On of the most important sources of information will be the direct interview with the management of the Next plc company. This will allow me to determine the issues faced by employers in their attempts to motivate their employees. I shal than attempt to either interview directly, or by indirectly providing a questionnaire to the Next permanent and temporary employees, to determine their practises and to elicit an insight about motivational issues. I will discuss the considerations from the view point of their human resources department through formal interviews with them. In this way I shall also be able to acquire useful knowledge about their selection and recruitment process. In addition I will  be using secondary sources of information with regard to the company policy on any kind of a reward or merit system for rewarding their employees. I will  be looking to examine documents outlining  other policies that may  exist, or have existed for some time without being reviewed or updated. One problem I may come to face will be to diagnose the veracity of the comments by the employees who have filled in the questionnaire. The question is: are they going to be telling the truth or will they be they be either lying or only offereing a distorted version of the real story? The other issue will be that this investigation will involve a considerable amount of travelling to the company site in addition to the availability of managers and whether they will be willing to allow sight of their policy documents. One of the major problems will be the time factor since temporary staff will only be available for 2-4 weeks for discussions or interviews.   5 Access/Research ethics (aprox 100 words):   I do not believe that I will face too much difficulty in having access to the workforce since I was previously employed by them and it will also help that my brother is an Operational Manager of the warehouse where I intend to complete my investigation . I have been told that the other managers are also willing to assist me in my project. When I am interviewing the management and HR department, I will get written permission to include the relevant data into my dissertation. For the staff I will tell them before hand that any information acquired by means of either a questionnaire, or an interview, will be used only in confidence  and their name will not be mentioned anywhere in my project.     6 Possible techniques to be used for data/information analysis/interpretation   The techniques for the investigation will include: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Interviews </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Questionnaire </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify"> Examination of company policies </li> </ul> The Interview will be semi structured, which will allow me the flexibility to follow up specific responses to aprticular questions. I will be interviewing them personally. The questionnaire will be used for the puroses of statistical and content analysis. The questionnaire will bedirectly  collected by me. The data collected from company policies will be presented in my own words.     7  Potential Outcomes of your piece of research   The projected outcome  is an understading of the factors that may be having debilitating effects on employee performance and in this way it would allow an edified consideration of the most effective way to motivate temporary employees within an organisation of this type and than to consider whether the findings are generalisable given the current thinking on the subject as underpinned by comments found in the literature on the subject. I hope this research will give me better understanding of the motivational issues surrounding the working practices of employees working on temporary short term contracts. Also, I am hoping that this information will be a useful to the NEXT company for their future dealing with temporary employees and also have an impact on any retail industry where they employee temporary staff.     [8] Timetable for the research project milestones covering the time available.   Activity Time Frame   Refine Research Objectives May Literature Review   June-September Research methodology August Analyze secondary data October Design Data Collection strategy October Conduct Primary Research November Analyze primary research November Final writing up   January       See section 3         Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Masters Dissertation Proposal

Masters Dissertation Proposal Dissertation Preparation Module (NX0422) Programme MA Business Managment ...

TOPIC: An evaluation of ‘Touch Point’ as a strategic tool for competitive advantage – McDonald’s restuarants Research Proposal

TOPIC: An evaluation of ‘Touch Point’ as a strategic tool for competitive advantage – McDonald’s restuarants Research Proposal

TOPIC: An evaluation of ‘Touch Point’ as a strategic tool for competitive advantage – McDonald’s restuarants Research Proposal – Background...

Nursing Critique Article

ARTICLE CRITIQUE   INTRODUCTION             This purpose of this paper is to critically appraise a research article titled ‘Promoting Urinary Incontinence in Women after Delivery: Randomised Controlled Trial’ (2002). This article was published in the British Medical Journal. The reason why this research article is chosen is because urinary incontinence is a problem which patients often fail to discuss with physicians or nurses, making it a problem which is underreported and undertreated (2004). Urinary incontinence is one of the most common chronic medical conditions seen in primary care practice. It is more prevalent than diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions that receive considerably more attention. Incontinence is an expensive problem, generating more costs each year than coronary artery bypass surgery and renal dialysis combined (2005). Interventions designed to promote urinary continence are therefore very important in the medical field.             Nursing researches such as this one improves the practice of nursing and raises the standards of the profession. But not all findings in researches are properly done and can be used as a basis for nursing practice. Therefore there is a need to consider the worth of the study and the evidence provided in the study, thus critically appraising the study.   CRITIQUE The title of the study, ‘Promoting Urinary Continence in Women after Delivery: Randomised Controlled Trial,’ clearly defines what the study is all about. The study population, the major outcome being measured, and a very brief description of the methodology with which the observations are to be measured are all included in the title. The study population here is the women experiencing urinary incontinence postpartum. The major outcome being measured is the promotion of urinary continence. A snapshot of the methodology used in the study is being shown in the words ‘randomised control trial.’ The aim of the paper is to test the effectiveness of a program – physiotherapy – for preventing urinary incontinence in women at three months after delivery. This purpose is feasible, interesting, new, and relevant. However, there is a question whether this is ethical or not. Researches dealing with human subjects need to have an approval first from an ethics committee before it can be performed. Yet this study, if ever it did seek for an ethics committee approval, did not mention in any part of the paper about ethical concerns. This is the first lack of the study that I have noticed at the very beginning of the paper. The study provides an abstract or a summary which quickly provides the necessary information regarding the research activity. In the study, the abstract is divided into parts: objectives, design, setting, participants, main outcome measures, results, and conclusions. The abstract section is especially important for busy reviewers with very limited time allotted for going over the proposal. For expert reviewers, the abstract may be all that they need to read, aside from the budget and the study time frame, to enable them to decide on the acceptability of the research activity. The next segment of the paper is the introduction. The most important purpose of the introduction is to define the question that is to be answered and to provide the reason for finding the answer to the question raised. This section is usually divided into parts consisting of background, rationale, and conceptual framework among many others. But for this particular paper, that is not so the case. The introduction is very brief and was not divided into parts. It did, however, provide the question that is to be answered and the reason for finding the answer to the question raised. The researchers reasoned out that although studies have proved that conservative treatment of urinary incontinence is effective, they could not find studies on preventing incontinence before its symptoms become evident. The next should have been the review of literature which is an exhaustive summary of relevant information regarding the topic of the research. It provides information that justifies the need for the research to be conducted. However, this section is not found in this particular research paper. Except for the brief introduction, there are no other detailed information regarding the topic that could provide relevant information. It seems that the justification needed for the research to be conducted was already given by the authors in the Introduction section. Although the essence is still there, it did not follow the formal format of what a research paper should have. The methodology section comes next. It explained the methods used, the design, the participants, the setting, and how the data was collected and analyzed. However, it did not give out reasons as to why this type of study design is used or why this type of intervention was used. It did not even explain why a randomized control trial was used and why the researchers believe that this would be appropriate for this paper. This may be okay if the researchers are sure that all the readers will be from the medical field and will therefore understand why such a design is used. But that is not so the case. Many readers will be wondering as to the appropriateness of the study design used without a thorough explanation. In essence, the methodology section should chronologically describe the design, conduct and analysis of data collection for the purpose of providing answers to the specific objectives. For ease of review, it is recommended that the methodology section should have subparts with subheadings. It should include the study design, study setting, study population, maneuvers, and the plan for data analysis. In this particular paper, it did have subheadings yet they are different. However, it did provide a clear description of how data will be gathered and analyzed. The data collection process used in this study is one which is applicable to the kind of situation the research is involved. The rationale for following this procedure though is the one that the research lacks. Additionally, data analysis used which is logic regression was not thoroughly explained. The results part of the paper presents the results and includes results of statistical tests if appropriate. It starts with an accounting of subjects from screening to enrollment into the study to final analysis. The characteristics of the final study population as a whole, and summary characteristics of comparative groups are reported. Results may be presented textually, in tables or with the use of various graphs. Attention to appropriateness and choice of graphs is strongly recommended. From the given explanation above, the research paper seems to be able to reflect this. It gives the characteristics of the study population – 720 women with similar age, number of pregnancies, marital status and education in both control and intervention groups. It details how these women were selected and screened, and presents a final analysis also. The results were presented in text and in tables. This is good since the tables supplement what you could read in the text, and vice versa. The next section on discussion is one of an exercise and discipline. In this section, the results are interpreted in the light of the study and assessed in the light of the general schema of current information or practice. These are those that are listed under the strengths of the study. It included in the study’s strength the use of randomized control design yet it did not explain why. Limitations to the study are likewise analyzed in this section. I have also noted that the discussion on the potential limitations of the study is more lengthy than the strengths of the study. In the discussion section, results should have been compared with similar information from other reports and reasons for differences should be identified. Yet for this study, such is not the case and here we see another lack of the study. The implication of the results is discussed also and this one is helpful and clearly structured.             After the section on discussion, there was no section on conclusion. Ideally, the conclusion should be the last one in the study including the summary and recommendations sometimes. There is though a conclusion mentioned in the abstract at the start of the paper. Although brief, this conclusion did at least provide the final or summary answer to the research question.   CONCLUSION The research on ‘Promoting Urinary Incontinence in Women after Delivery: Randomised Controlled Trial’ by Chiarelli and Cockburn has its ups and downs. The authors of the research should provide a scholarly discussion of the research activity that they conducted in which the results indicate a mastery of the topic. In this particular paper, the authors did present a mastery of the topic researched. However, although the authors presented a mastery of the topic and the results are useful and could benefit the entire medical organization, the study in its printed from was not properly presented. It lacks many things that a formal research paper should have. Its redeeming point is only that it is very relevant to the medical community. All in all, this particular research is not bad, yet it could benefit from some improvement.       Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Nursing Critique Article

ARTICLE CRITIQUE INTRODUCTION This purpose of this paper is to critically appraise a research article titled ‘Promotin...

Technical Aspects of Daily Online Positioning of the Prostate for Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Using an Electronic Portal Imaging Device

INTRODUCTION             This purpose of this paper is to critically appraise a research article titled “Technical Aspects of Daily Online Positioning of the Prostate for Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Using an Electronic Portal Imaging Device.” The article provides an abstract which clearly stated the purpose of the study, the methods and materials, the results, and the conclusions. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time electronic portal imaging device procedure to identify intraprostatic gold markers and correct daily variations in target position during external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer.             Researches in medicine and science such as this improve the practice of the health care profession and raise the standards of the profession. But not all findings in researches are properly done and can be used as a basis for nursing practice. Therefore there is a need to consider the worth of the study and the evidence provided in the study, thus critically appraising the study.   CRITIQUE Radiotherapy is the treatment of disease with radiation, especially by selective irradiation with x-rays or other ionizing radiation and by ingestion of radioisotopes. It is also called as radiation therapy. Long-term control of prostate cancer can be achieved in a relatively high-risk patient population using interstitial brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiation therapy (2003). External beam radiation has proven successful in the treatment of localized prostate cancer and is associated with a success rate comparable to surgery for patients with localized prostate cancer. The survival rate for patients with localized prostate cancer, stages A and B, treated with external beam radiation is similar to that for age-adjusted cohorts without prostate cancer (1996). The efficacy and tolerance, however, of external beam radiation therapy depends on the accurate localization of the target, maximal exclusion of critical normal structures, and the delivery of an appropriate dose to this volume. However, the accuracy and position of target is usually dependent on skin markings. Errors therefore occur in field alignment. Thus this study describes an efficient treatment protocol that uses an Electronic Portal Imaging Device with gold markers to measure and find the correct location which needs radiation. All these are part of the introduction of the study which provides the background of the medical issue and the importance of doing such a research. The most important purpose of the introduction is to define the question that is to be answered and to provide the reason for finding the answer to the question raised. This section is usually divided into parts consisting of background, rationale, and conceptual framework among many others. But for this particular paper, that is not so the case. The next should have been the review of literature which is an exhaustive summary of relevant information regarding the topic of the research. It provides information that justifies the need for the research to be conducted. However, this section is not found in this particular research paper. The study has no literature review included but the introduction in itself can be considered the literature review also since it was able to provide relevant literature related to the topic. In the study, twenty patients with clinical stage II prostate cancer were recruited as participants. Informed consent was obtained in this feasibility study. The twenty patients undergo an intended treatment following acquisition of pretherapy electronic portal images and external beam radiation. There was no mention if ethical approval was obtained from the hospital or a higher ethics committee. In the study, a detailed discussion is provided on how the research is being carried out. However, some of the terms used in the research are very technical and can only be understood by a medical practitioner. The results provided are also very detailed. The bottom line is that all markers are identified on 99.6% of the pretherapy. Fifty three percent of the treatment fractions are realigned. In the discussion section, results should have been compared with similar information from other reports and reasons for differences should be identified. The discussion stated that interfractional set up variation and organ motion is a well-described phenomenon in external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Because of the variations in the position of the prostate, the researchers wanted to develop an easy to implement, reliable, and time-efficient localization method, which is the one used in the study. This discussion can be easily understood by non medical professionals and makes up for the confusion that the earlier part of the paper presents. The article then provides a conclusion wherein it emphasized the need to use intraprostatic gold markers during radiation therapy, in order to pinpoint the exact location and save time. This study uses general principles which are focused on prostate cancer and the prostate gland can also be used on other disease sites. Future researchers can gather information from this study and use it on other researches that focus on diseases affecting other parts of the body.   CONCLUSION The research on ‘“Technical Aspects of Daily Online Positioning of the Prostate for Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Using an Electronic Portal Imaging Device” has its ups and downs. The authors of the research should provide a scholarly discussion of the research activity that they conducted in which the results indicate a mastery of the topic. Although the authors presented a mastery of the topic in this research and the results are useful and could benefit the entire medical organization, the study in its printed from was not properly presented. It lacks many things that a formal research paper should have. Its redeeming point is only that it is very relevant to the medical community. All in all, this particular research is not bad, yet it could benefit from some improvement.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Technical Aspects of Daily Online Positioning of the Prostate for Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Using an Electronic Portal Imaging Device

INTRODUCTION This purpose of this paper is to critically appraise a research article titled “Technical Aspects of Daily O...

Patients Satisfaction with Primary Health Care Services in Primary Care Center Research Proposal

Patients Satisfaction with Primary Health Care Services in Primary Care Center Introduction Healthcare professionals are working together to find appropriate solution for the cases of their different patients. From viral diseases to physical injuries, the healthcare providers are always ready to provide attention. All of the healthcare professionals are working with the essence of care, knowledge, skills, and experience to promote health and wellness. Background of the Study and Problem Statement Aside from the truth that the healthcare are contributing for the health and wellness of the people, there are still issues involved in the services they provide for all. The fundamental principles of the ethics of care are already in the main stream of the healthcare process. Still, the problem is about the satisfaction the patients received from the provided healthcare assistance. From the past healthcare studies, the main focus is centered in the innovation, development, and mixing with different technological features in order to obtain the efficiency in providing care services for the patients. But from all the interventions and innovations the professionals created, they often forget on how effective or on what level of satisfaction those innovations gave to the patients. Purpose/Objective of the Study The purpose of the study came from the rate of return of the patients in the healthcare facility. There are two key ideas regarding the return of the patients and its either they are satisfied on the service provided or not. Through the assessment on the level of patients’ satisfaction with primary health care services in healthcare facility the main ideas in the return of the patients can be determined and the fulfillment of the goal of health and wellness can be achieved. Research Questions The study has three main revolving questions in the measuring the satisfaction of the patients in the kind of services provided by the healthcare workers. The questions are enumerated are as follows: a.      What are the issues involved in the decisions of the patients in returning in the healthcare center or hospitality? b.      What are the considerations that can be applied in measuring the patient’s satisfaction? c.       What are the evidences that an improved quality of care can deliver the patient’s satisfaction? Literature Review The return of the patient in the healthcare facilities maybe related in the socio-demographic factors such as the feelings of the symptoms or side effects after the major operation (2007). The satisfaction with the healthcare can be affected by the said factors which enable the healthcare providers’ additional workload and responsibilities and may contribute to the level of rehabilitation. Of course, that action is very necessary to promote the continue wellness of an individual. The idea of being responsive to the needs the patients is related to the assistance that a healthcare worker can provide. The achievement in the responsiveness domain can contribute directly to the patient’s welfare, as well as through the improvement of health therefore; there is a great level of expectations and impact of health ( 2000). The lack of a conceptual framework is considered to have been a major constraint in developing good satisfaction measures. Methodology The applied methodology is the popular use of the surveys on their patients. The questionnaires will give way to the analysis of the level of satisfaction. The patients are also allowed to indicate their suggestions to improve the satisfaction level that they can receive in the hospital. Randomization in Data Collected The data collected will be randomized according to the five levels of satisfaction. Accordingly, each will be assess as Excellent, Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Not Satisfied, and Poor Performance. The assessment will be based on the questionnaires on how they will assess the hospital. Analysis Work Plan and Limitation Patient’s satisfaction levels are increased by the doctor’s conversations with the patient. The longer visits of the patients increase the satisfaction and the feedback they received can be generated from their experience in the facility. Meanwhile the shorter visits only imply that the patient is less satisfied in the service of the healthcare providers. Other than that, there are other elements that serve as factors in assuring that the patients are satisfied. They are enumerated as dignity of the healthcare providers, autonomy over the process, confidentiality of the patient’s information, prompt attentions given to the patients, quality of the basic amenities, access to social supports during care, and the choice of the care provider because some of the patients focus on the gender and the relationship that can increase the satisfaction level ( 2000). There is also a weak evidence that the older people can be easily satisfied than of the younger generation (2006). This idea is probably because the young people are more active to work or studying. In addition, if the healthcare organizations are looking for an improvement in the satisfaction, they should also focus on the improvement on the management, organization and the primary care services to achieve the quality of the health and wellness ( 2005). Comparison with Previous Studies From the previous studies, there is a difference between the patients’ satisfaction and responsiveness. Patient’s satisfaction focuses on the clinical interaction in specific health care settings. It also covers both medical and non-medical aspects of care with the complex mixture of perceived need, individually determined expectations and experience of care. Meanwhile, the responsiveness evaluates the health system as a whole. Its main focus is on the non-health enhancing aspects of the health system as it evaluates the individual’s perceptions of the health system against the universal expectations (2000). Both studies only show the main concern in improving the quality of health care to achieve the levels of patient’s satisfaction. Saying that healthcare is facing critical challenges worldwide, therefore they must engineer the products, services, and procedures with the purpose of providing care and satisfying the concerns for the individuals (1995). Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Patients Satisfaction with Primary Health Care Services in Primary Care Center Research Proposal

Patients Satisfaction with Primary Health Care Services in Primary Care Center Introduction Healthcare professionals are working togeth...

Assessing Solution-focused Brief Therapy in Social Work Context: An evaluation of the case of Hong Kong

Assessing Solution-focused Brief Therapy in Social Work Context: An evaluation of the case of Hong Kong                   Solution-focused Brief Therapy (or SFBT) simply speaks for its own description. The key words solution and brief characterize the whole therapy. Many practitioners accept and believe on the effectiveness and applicability of this therapeutic intervention to common psychotherapy cases (including social work setting) provided that it targets the solution to a problem and it is seemingly brief in ways. However, there are critics who believe otherwise. This paper discusses on the fundamental information about SFBT particularly how it works and its limitations. Further, it will extend on the social work setting with consideration of the local social context of Hong Kong.   Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in Action: How does it work? Most research articles (i.e. Lloyd and Dallos, 2008; Freeman and Wilshaw, 2007; Rothwell, 2005) acknowledge that SFBT was developed primarily by Steve de Shazar and Insoo Kim Berg together with other colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Centre in Milwaukee way back in 1980s. It is also supported by social constructionist and linguistic analyses (Rothwell, 2005; Smith, 2005). In every research discussion, theoretically or empirically in approach, directed to SFBT, researchers always present an inclusive definition. This paper is not an exemption so it will provide various descriptions from a variety of sources. According to Burns (2005), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is an intervention based on conversation that intends to support clients in discovering their individual solutions to problems they are facing. SFBT, on the case of traditional health care, provides solutions for clients’ problems. Majority of solution focused therapies work with an unusual approach since they are using the underlying assumption that the client has the solution to their own set of problems. What makes the difference is the fact that the aid of the therapist, coach or counselor is needed in order to discover solutions. The emphasis of these types of therapy is on client’s empowerment (Burns, 2005). Additionally, Devlin (2006) refer SFBT as “a type of therapy that is typically used in a counselling or clinical setting by practitioners to help clients make improvements to various aspects of their life and/or experience (p. 101).” For Smith (2005), the consideration of the constructionist foundation of SFBT leads to “focusing on skills rather than deficits, producing a unique intervention for each client based upon their particular skills and needs, and providing the client with ‘expert status’ (and hence a sense of self-efficacy) within the therapeutic relationship” (p. 102). The therapeutic focus of SFBT is “a future orientation specifically based on the client’s expressed aims” (Rothwell, 2005, p. 402). The process is mainly communicative in agenda and present opportunities for the client to see his/her desired future outcomes at the same time discovering his/her personal strengths and resources. Further, Rothwell (2005) reports that the therapy, on some instances, is characterized as ‘atheoretical’ mainly because of the listening strategy being employed by the therapist, coach, or counselor. The listening strategy allows the SFBT practitioner “to accept directly what the client is saying rather than seeking to match it to a specific conceptual framework” (Rothwell, 2005, p. 402). Moreover, Beyebach (2000) considers the ‘Miracle Question’ as the signature of SFBT. Lloyd and Dallos (2006) assert that SFBT is a therapeutic approach that is consequential from clinical practice rather than theoretical model. In SFBT, its theoretical and clinical background is based on strategies that include family, brief and narrative therapies. The core assumptions of SFBT as adapted from George, Iveson, and Ratner (2003), Beyebach (2000), and Rhodes (2000) are the following: <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> The problems are directed and subjected to the own perception and interpretation of the client.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> There is no consideration on the past experiences and details of the problem.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> There are instances where problems are less or absent (exceptions).</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> The belief of practitioners that their clients are capable to make changes is certain.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> No matter how small changes are, they can have significant value and impact.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Cooperation, like in major types of therapeutic interventions, is emphasized and resistance is invaluable concept.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> The goal of the client is essentially central.</li> The basic process of SFBT starts by allowing the therapist, coach, or counselor to explore using the client’s frame of reference and language. The client’s condition is recognized through adoption of a respectful, guiltless or non-blaming position, and works towards the client’s goals. The early phases of SFBT cover pretreatment change, coping questions and problem-free talk. The therapist, coach or counselor should emphasize on this phase as it is considered the building blocks or fundamental elements of the whole therapeutic process. Macdonald (2005) notes that problems are briefly identified, considering time factor, directed to achievement of goals in practical and recognizable ways.             Freeman and Wilshaw (2007) affirm that SFBT is “brief in effect” as compared to other therapeutic approaches that are “brief by design” (p. 32). The principle “not one minute more than is necessary and not one minute less” (p. 32) is employed by almost all SFBT therapist, coach, and counselor. O’Connell and Palmer (2005) identify the key philosophical and practical principles of SFBT. Like any other therapeutic intervention, SFBT necessitates a modification of expertise headed for the client and explores the ways where the client concentrates on things that do good on his/her part and minimizing things that do not do contribute to his/her goodness (O’Connell and Palmer, 2005). Macdonald (2005) identifies example of advices such as ‘Do more of what is working already’ or ‘It is time to try something different’ that will aid the client to change after the session. Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is rooted on communication so the client and the therapist, coach or counselor are able to spend time through conversations, interview, and questionings. In SFBT, there are elements to be considered. Lloyd and Dallos (2008) adopted the works of Beyebach (2000), George et al. (2003), Rhodes and Amjal (1995) to come up with the list and as follows: <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Language – Because the notion that problems and solutions are subjected to individual perceptions and possess high tendency to change, language is the common linking agent.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Problem-free talk – The act of asking in the areas of the client’s life is based on competence and strength. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Exceptions – Sometimes, the problem is absent and/or deficient, manageable with or less intense in relation to interest. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Goals – The client should elicit specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, as well as observable goals.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Hypothetical future – A variety of ways is elicited in realizing the client’s vision of his/her preferred future (e.g. the ‘Miracle Question’). </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Rating scales – The client is asked to rate his/her self from 1-10, 1 for worst things have ever been and 10 for best things could be. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Task and compliments – This is focused on the part of the therapist, coach, or counselor and should be given sufficient time for formulation.</li> Upon considering these elements particularly on the aspect of conversation and interviewing, SFBT practitioners are given maximum assurance on the effectiveness of the approach. Beyebach and colleagues (1996) recommend that in order to have successful SFBT sessions, there should be extended listening period and a brief ending in which the therapist, coach or counselor speaks more. At the end phase of SFBT, the practitioner presents a sequence of compliments and tasks for the client to accomplish. These compliments and tasks are rooted on the result of the conversation between them.             The ‘Miracle Question’ is considered as the signature of the SFBT (Beyebach, 2000). It is designed by De Shazer. It is also deemed as “the most controversial part of the approach” and “potentially highly sensitive and difficult to understand for some people” (Lloyd and Dallos, 2008, p. 8). A common example of the ‘Miracle Question’ and usually used by SFBT practitioners is: “Suppose that one night when you were asleep there was a miracle and this problem was solved. The miracle occurs while you are sleeping, so you do not immediately know that it has happened. When you wake up what are the first things you will notice that will let you know there has been a miracle? (Lloyd and Dallos, 2008, p. 7)”   The ‘Miracle Question’ is the externalization of people of the current situation they are into and by using their imagination, they (the client and the therapist, coach, or counselor alike) are having an idea of how would that preferred future be like (Freeman and Wilshaw, 2007). It also allows both participants (client and practitioner) to establish cooperation particularly in defining the resources needed as well as the steps in achieving the preferred future. In further exploration of the response to the ‘Miracle Question’, the client is asked by the therapist, coach, or counselor based on “respected curiosity” (p. 34). Good sets of questions that might be asked include: “What else? Who will notice? Who else? What will they see?” (p. 34). Scaling questions are then encouraged to be sequentially asked. In general, the ‘Miracle Question’ is the key agent or factor that motivates the client or presents the client the actual solutions to problems as well as real aspirations in his/her life. For Freeman and Wilshaw (2007), “it is more a recognition of the fact that most people, most of the time, are able to come up with concrete and achievable goals which are less that perfect and yet acceptable. (p.34)”             Looking on the fundamental principles of solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), it holds on the idea that every person has the solution to every problem that they encounter. The only problem is their difficulty to discern and discover such solution and that they need an intervention of a therapist, coach or counselor. They are empowered by the skills that the therapist, coach or counselor has particularly in helping them to cope up with the conditions that affects their attitudes, behaviors and overall wellbeing. Despite the recognition of the advocates of SFBT, there are some limitations that potentially question the overall effectiveness of this specific type of therapeutic intervention.   One size fits all? – The limitations of SFBT             A considerable number of therapeutic interventions or techniques are largely activity-based. Essentially, some therapies like SFBT centre on the client and its advantage by doing things differently, or more or less often variations. Despite the acknowledgement of interests for SFBT as form of therapeutic intervention, evidence-based support on effectiveness (e.g. in social work practice) is limited (Lloyd and Dallos, 2005). There are many empirical investigations that test the potentiality of SFBT in addressing different types of condition that needs psychotherapeutic intervention. Some are successful, others are not. In reference to some research studies, the limitations of SFBT is said to be on the aspect of applying caution in performing the questioning; rigidity, unnaturalness, too much optimism, insensitiveness, and lack of support; and the emphasis on questions that result to lack of empathy as main ingredient of a successful therapy. According to Stalker, Levene, and Coady (1999), practitioners should be cautious when applying the SFBT model to new client groups. This is applicable on cases where a client is unable to express him/her self or have social communication difficulties. Caution is carefully applied in the process of questioning. There are other clients that are not very cooperative. This will limit the potential of a progressive therapy. Communication is a crucial ingredient in the process of SFBT, wherein the client must be able to express his/her self in the most inclusive and liberated way possible as the practitioner needs to collect information that will be used all throughout the session or therapeutic process. Conversations between the client and the practitioner may use formal and informal methods but interpersonal in origin. Donatelle and Davis (1998) recognize the role of communication as among the most powerful techniques of involvement. Through communication, the practitioner is able to have choices and hints that will help in predicting the essential steps or course of actions that will work toward the ultimate progression or success of the psychotherapeutic case. In particular, practitioners need to pay more attention to considerable number of issues relating to the client’s boundaries and sense of self. They should be cautious of taking on clients who have deprived character particularly in crossing fragile boundaries that may eventually disintegrate to a point where respect in terms of specific boundaries between self and other are no longer apparent. Exercising caution in the process of communication will help clients to cultivate trust on the therapist, coach, or counselor. Trust will basically result to development of connection between the two interacting bodies. In the process of SFBT, the communication process is dynamic and may go beyond the expected set of deliberate communicative functions. For example in dealing with Chinese clients in the social work setting, trust is not easy to gain. Trust and bonding are dependent on some mutual identity (Hardcastle, Powers and Wenocur, 2004). People tend to trust people who are members of their communities. If a Chinese client seeks the services of a non-Chinese therapist, coach or counselor, there is an issue of fostering trust among themselves. Trust stems from community. It involves commitment to others (Haley, 1999). This behavior is also connected to the experiences of the clients. Therefore, a SFBT practitioner should exercise caution not only to encourage the client to express his/her self but also in fostering trust and bond for a harmonious and positive client-practitioner relationship. In communication, the challenge to the part of the practitioner is on the interpretation information being relayed by the client. The practitioner should then again exercise caution. Generally, caution in communication becomes effective when both parties – the client and the practitioner involved in the therapeutic experience – are honest, sincere, and open to share information. Several criticisms of SFBT, as based on parents’ experiences and views, include rigidity, unnaturalness, too much optimism, insensitiveness, and lack of support (Lloyd and Dallos, 2008). This echoes the criticism that SFBT can appear to be solution-forced therapy (O’Hanlon, 2003). Rigidity is seen on the question-answer mechanism. Since clients are obliged to respond on questions being asked by the therapist, coach, or counselor, there is unnatural flow of conversation. They might respond because they are asked to do so without the consideration that they are actually giving the best information needed. The issue of unnaturalness is also embedded on the presence of rigid questioning process. People, on certain instances, are more motivated to speak up if they feel that they are in a natural phase or setting and out of premeditated circumstances. Too much optimism, on the other hand, is a limitation on the effectiveness of the SFBT as therapeutic intervention because the practitioner is already conclusive, even at the start of the session, that he/she will be able to succeed in the end. The practitioner tends to be overly secured and positive on the outcome of the process without even looking on the gravity or existing conditions affecting the client’s problem. Although SFBT is no longer looking on the past, there is a need to have background information, to certain extent, so as to fully understand what the client is experiencing at the moment. The idea of the present and the future will give false feeling of recovery and may result to failed expectations. The possibility of client change or success in the chosen therapeutic intervention is challenged by the limitations caused by personal emotion including fear, individual differences, parental (societal) acceptance and stress, problematic behaviors, anxiety, emotional disturbance (Costas, 1998), and external forces such as social norms and measures. On the issue of insensitiveness, the practitioner is so engrossed in collecting information during the conversation and that he/she is not considering the sensitivities of the client. This instance in the SFBT process affects effectiveness. It is also referent to client’s mistrust or resistance towards the practitioner. The mentality of the clients towards resistance is related to refusal of the implementation of social work practice. Refusal may be interpreted as lack of concern or care. In moments where the client is resistant, there is no other solution needed but to understand what the client have been through and how hard for him/her to accept it. Lastly, the argument of lack of support is felt by the client in instances where the practitioner keep on exploring the client’s problem and forgot that the client is still affected by the problem during the period of conversation. This projects an impression of lack of support. It is appropriate that social workers are aware of the conditions of the clients before undergoing any actions towards them. The establishment of rapport or working relationship among each other will greatly help in extending the most effective social work service. Supervision is also an ambivalent factor in SFBT. According to Bernard and Goodyear (2004), supervision is the basis of counseling and psychotherapy. It serves in assuring clients that they have the best therapy possible while facilitating professional development. In SFBT, supervision is “done in systems where time is sacred and where brief is the mandate” (McCurdy, 2006, p. 141). Due to the strict requisite of supervision, the client is placed in a situation where he/she is not able to act naturally. There is a rigid environment that will prevent the client to succumb on the principles of the therapy being utilized. This is also related to the limitations identified by parents in the study of Lloyd and Dallos (2008). Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) is guided with principles and it is up to the ability of the practitioner to execute and supervise the ways in which such principles will do eventual good on the part of the client. Looking on the general point of view of counseling regardless of any approach used, it is a risky yet challenging and rewarding occupation. Arguably, the emphasis on questions means absence of empathy (Milner, 2005). The principles of SFBT are generally considered and executed in manner of interviewing. Since all counseling approaches acknowledge the importance of empathy in any therapeutic intervention, the rigid and unnatural questioning is perceived as form of distress on the client’s perspective. The uninterrupted asking of questions might be misinterpreted by the client. This is also similar to the argument of lack of support that client feels in certain instances where the practitioner keep on exploring the client’s problem and forgot that the client is still affected by the problem during the period of conversation. On the case of social workers, empathy is as important as the complete social work practice. Social workers are always reliable in terms of empathic listening. In the process of executing SFBT and its underlying principles, the social worker must be keen enough in understanding the concept of the ‘right thing at the right time’. The identified limitations of the solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) is said to occur in case-to-case basis. Like in any other type of therapeutic intervention, the welfare of the client is always prioritized. These limitations, in one way or the other, are matter of fact addressed by SFBT practitioners. Whatever exemption to the principles of SFBT is taken by the practitioner, it is surely bounded on a sincere and premeditated motive that is directed to the whole success of the process. In conclusion, solution focused brief therapy is a therapeutic intervention that is guided by a simple premise that all people are aware of the solutions to their problems but are too blinded or unable to discover it on their own. People needed empowerment from experts. This is the key selling point of SFBT. The presence of the ‘Miracle Question’ facilitates the opportunity of a person to explore the future specifically on the aspect of his/her preferences. Many research studies support the applicability of SFBT in relation to particular situations yet it must be remembered that there are also limitations. In contrast to any other therapeutic approach used in addressing client’s conditions and needs, SFBT is toward the implementation of the most effective solution to a problem in the shortest way and time possible.   References Bernard, J. M., & Goodyear, R. K. (2004). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.   Beyebach, M. (2000). European Brief Therapy Association outcome study: Research definition. Retrieved April 16, 2008 from, http://www.ebta.nu/sfbtresearchdefinition.html   Beyebach, M., Rodriguez Morejon, A., Palenzuela,D.L., & Rodriguez-Arias, J.L. (1996). Research on the process of solution-focused therapy. In S.D. Miller, M.A. Hubble, & B.L. Duncan (Eds.), Handbook of Solution-focused Brief Therapy (pp. 299–334). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.   Burns, K. (2005). Focus on Solutions: A Health Professional’s Guide. London and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: Whurr Publishers.   Costas, M. B. (1998). Filial therapy with non-offending parents of children who have been sexually abused. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Texas, Texas, USA. Retrieved April 16, 2008, from ProQuest Digital Dissertations database.   Devlin, M. (2006, November). Solution-focused Work in Individual Academic Development. International Journal for Academic Development, 11(2), 101–110.   Donatelle, R. J., & Davis, L. G. (1998). Access to Health. New York: Allyn and Bacon.   Freeman, S., & Wilshaw, S. (2007, September). A focused solution to therapy. Primary Health Care, 17(7), 32-34.   George, E., Iveson, C., & Ratner,H. (2003). Solution-focused brief therapy course notes. London: The Brief Therapy Practice.   Haley, J. (1999). Inside Japan’s community controls: Lessons for America?. The Responsive Community, 9(2), 22–34.   Hardcastle, D. A., Powers, P. R., & Wenocur, S. (2004). Community Practice: Theories and Skills for Social Workers. New York: Oxford University Press.   Lloyd, H., & Dallos, R. (2008). First session solution-focused brief therapy with families who have a child with severe intellectual disabilities: mothers’ experiences and views. Journal of Family Therapy, 30, 5–28.   Lloyd, H., & Dallos, R. (2006). Solution-focused brief therapy with families who have a child with intellectual disabilities: A description of the content of initial sessions and the processes. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 11(3), 367–386.   Macdonald, A. J. (2005). Brief therapy in adult psychiatry: results from fifteen years of practice. Journal of Family Therapy, 27, 65–75.   McCurdy, K. G. (2006, Summer). Adlerian supervision: A new perspective with a solution focus. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 62(2), 141-153.   Milner, J. (2005). Doing Something Different. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 16(1/2), 163-167.   O’Connell, H. B., & Palmer, S. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of Solution-Focused Therapy (2nd ed.). London: Sage.   O’Hanlon, W. H. (2003) A Guide to Inclusive Therapy. New York: Norton.   Rhodes, J. (2000). Solution-focused consultation in a residential setting. Clinical Psychology Forum, 141, 29–33.   Rothwell, N. (2005). How brief is solution focused brief therapy? A comparative study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 12, 402–405.   Smith. I. C. (2005). Solution-focused brief therapy with people with learning disabilities: a case study. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33, 102–105.   Stalker, C., Levene, J., & Coady, N. (1999). Solution-focused brief therapy: One model fits all? Families in Society, 80, 468–477.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Assessing Solution-focused Brief Therapy in Social Work Context: An evaluation of the case of Hong Kong

Assessing Solution-focused Brief Therapy in Social Work Context: An evaluation of the case of Hong Kong Solution-foc...