Preliminary Research Design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Preliminary Research Design - Assignment Example Akbar, Som, Wadood, and Alzaidiyeen (2010) also state that customer loyalty is a product of good service quality. They state that the reason that customers keep coming back to a business is because they are treated well. They suggest that because people are able to travel all over the world, they are looking for the best service everywhere they go. These researchers studied the hotel industry to see whether people came back to the same hotel when the service was good. They found in one study that 75% of consumers said that they would go back to a business if they had a speedy response to their customer service inquiry. This means that again, service quality was responsible for loyal customers. Customer service can be challenging for some businesses especially when they have some employees who may not be people oriented. Often, this means that employees must receive extra training in order to make sure that they understand how to work with customers. Abildtrup (2010) states that those employees who are in front of people all the time need extra help. He states that marketing and advertising only do part of the work by bringing customers to the business. Once they enter the doors, it is the job of the front line employees (those who meet and greet the customers first) to keep them coming back by providing excellent customer service. Abildtrup states that businesses cannot depend on their employees to understand how to deal with customers on their own; instead, they must have the training they need to get the job done. Employees must understand that they are one of the reasons why people do come back to a business. If someone goes to a business for the first time, they are looking for something in particular that only that business can provide for them at that time. If customer service is genuine and happens quickly, people will remember this experience; they will also remember a bad experience. Buchholz (2010) identifies four levels of interest that employees hav e who work in any business. These four levels are: 1. The survival level where the employee comes to work to do their job. They cannot be depended on to take on additional work because they are only there to get a paycheck. 2. The acceptance level employee is open to new jobs and they believe in the philosophy and the goals of the organization. They are productive employees but they do not like to do more work, and if something else comes along, they probably will leave. 3. The merit level employee loves the company and adds to the company's mission. They love their job and they are the people who actually make sure that things are done. They are loyal employees and are quick to jump in and do more work when it is required; they are also good in a crisis. 4. The self-fulfilling level employee understands that what they do on the job is important. They have a buy-in to the company and they know they make a difference because they want to do a good job. Clearly, it is the third and fo urth level employee who will do the most for the company and they will provide the best customer service because they are involved in the company because they want to be there. Yim, Tse, and Chan (2008) add to this discussion by taking the conversation a bit further and stating that customers that can form an interpersonal bond with employees will be the most loyal. As an example, an individual who goes into a computer store to buy a computer will purchase something once they are satisfied that the store

Pervasive Computing Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Pervasive Computing Case Study - Essay Example Furthermore, it also allows telecommuters to combine their work from home with other forms of teleworking. It is the result of a better access to high speed internet connections, an improved ability to concentrate and a better balance between work and family according to The International Telework Association & Council (ITAC)3. As seen on the extract of Anne Fisher's article, there is a real debate on the advantages and drawbacks of teleworking. We will try to define these two sides of that type of work from two points of views: the teleworker himself and the managers of a teleworking team. In the first question of our essay we have seen some of the benefits of telecommuting. Teleworkers can define their own schedule which can include working before or after regular office hours, they achieve to balance their personal life with their work better than they used to and they show an increased concentration and therefore a higher productivity. The Midwest Institute for Telecommuting Education announces that home workers present an increase of 3 to 25% in productivity4. Nevertheless Paul Dickerson's story is a perfect example of the drawbacks of teleworking. As he was working from home, people started to believe that he was unemployed and avoided him. Even if the share of teleworkers in the total volume of workers is increasing, it has not completely reached a social recognition and people that are working from home could be considered as unemployed or lazy. However it appears, in Dickerson's case that he has now a different problem. As his friends are now aware of how he organizes a day of work, they believe that he has a lot of free time. Working from home requires an important organization. On one hand it is much more flexible and you can combine several activities at the same time, but on the other hand you have to show a strong discipline in order to accomplish your tasks and reach your objectives. The managers and the businesses can also face some difficulties when dealing with teleworking. Joseph Cothrel first describes us the lack of non-verbal communication in teleworking. He explains that when you receive an email from a teleworkers you don't have any tone of voice or meaningful pauses which according to him can convey crucial information. One of the main issues of teleworking is presented here. The communication can be difficult because you are not directly in contact with the worker. All the elements of body language are missing and ultimately this can delay the work. Instead of a direct explanation, you will need several emails to correctly define the work which has to be done and the managers will not have any awareness of the worker's feelings regarding their request. Christina Parr raises another danger. The in-office workers can wrongly consider the teleworkers, they may believe they are not working at all. We are again faced with the social notion of work which is attending work in an office from 9a.m. to 5p.m. However Parr and J. Scott Calhoun present their teleworkers as accountable and reachable and the speech that Calhoun gives to his in-office workers is more than

Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employee Relations - Essay Example The Union disagreed with the Company’s decision to use a different criteria of determining eligibility for promotion and transfers instead of the one agreed upon during the collective bargaining agreement. The third grievance was about a discriminatory action by the company on its allocation of the parking lots. The union argued that the plant workers were allocated the farthest lots from the entrance. 2. What sections of the Wagner Act are in question here? Explain In all the three grievances touched a number of Wegner act sections particularly with regard to the regulation of collective bargain agreement engagements. For example, section 8(a) 3 of the act prohibits employees against discriminatory acts such as assigning them less desirable conditions as was witnessed in the allocation of parking slots in the company. The section also stipulates that matters of promotion or transfers should be solely based on seniority, merit and other criteria of determining eligibility sign ed in the collective bargaining agreement (Budd, 234). In this regard the second grievance will also be handled using section 2 of the act. ... In my opinion, all the three grievances of the union against the company were genuine. In the first grievance, I would rule that the company breached the contract by making changes in the time schedules prior to a mutual agreement. In the second grievance, the company also violated the collective bargaining agreement by using different criteria of eligibility in giving a temporary transfer to a Janitor instead of Mr. Burn who best suitable according to the provisions of the collective bargain agreement. Finally, allocating park workers the farthest car park slots was also discriminatory since it ensured that the workers spent more time between the parking lot and their working stations and this reduced the amount of their monthly bonus. Case 2__ Does the Duty to Bargain Preclude Unilateral Wage Increases? In the case study, Winn Dixie Stores Company effected unilateral changes in the wages of the workers arguing that there was no impasse during the negotiations (Budd, 260). On the ot her hand, the Union’s position of argument was that the Company violated the provisions of section 8(a) 5 and 8(a)1 of Wagner act which states that it is an unfair labor practice for employers to refuse to bargain collectively with the employee representatives when making changes to the wage rates and other terms of employment. Questions 1. You are an administrative law judge who has to decide on this case. Which party do you agree with and why? As an administrative law Judge presiding over the case, I would support the position of the employee Union that the company’s action amounted to unfair labor practice as stated in section 8 of the

Ulysses S. Grant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ulysses S. Grant - Research Paper Example At the college, he established repute as a daring and proficient horseman (Rice 12). During the Mexican-American conflict, Grant served under Generals Taylor Zachary and Scott Winfield, participating in the battles ofPalo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Veracruz. Grant was brevetted twice for gallantry: at Chapultepec and Molino Del Rey and. On 31st July, 1854, Grant quitted from the military (Crow 56). On 24th April, 1861, 10 days following the collapse of Fort-Sumter, Commander Grant landed in Springfield, Illinois, together with a syndicate of men Grant had nurtured (Rice 12). The governor sensed that a West-Point man might be positioned to worthier use and assigned him as the 21st Illinois-Infantry colonel (effective 17th June, 1861) (Lagueux 47). In 7THAugust, Grant was chosenas the brigadier-general-of-volunteers (Rice 12).Ulysses Grant presented the Union-Army its leading major conquest of the American-Civil-War throughapprehending Fort of Henry, Tennessee, in 6thFebr uary of1862, and afterward Fort of Donelson, in which Grant demanded the well-known expressions of "unconditional surrender" as well as apprehended a Confederate military (Crow 56). ... river fortress, Mississippi, during 1863 is deemed to be the extremely masterful within soldierly history; it divided the Coalition in 2, and it embodied the 2ndmajor Confederate military to yield to Grant (Rice 12).Grant Ulysses was the deliverer of Union-forces besieged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, firmly beating Bragg Braxton and opening away to Atlanta, and Confederacy’s core (Crow 56). His disposition to fight as well ascapacity to win fascinated President Lincoln, who selected him as lieutenant-general, a novel rank newlysanctioned by the AmericanAssembly with Grant on mind—in 2 March, 1864 (Bunting 101). On 12thMarch, Grant Ulysses became the general-in-chief of the entireUnited States’ army (Perret 34). In March of 1864, Grant positioned Major Genera Sherman v William in immediate control of all Western forces and relocated his head office to Virginia whereinGrant turned his mind to the long- hindered Union endeavor to terminate the Robert Lee’s army ; his secondary aim was to seize the Confederate’s capital, Richmond, Virginia (Eicher 219). Despite the substantial losses, Grant established a nine-month restriction of Lee's militarywithin the city(Bunting 101). Grant dispatched Sheridan Philip to the Valley of Shenandoah to beat the Jubal’s army early and terminate the farms furnishing Lee (Perret 34). Grant's persistent pressure decisively forced Robert Lee to abandon Richmond and yield at Appomattox Court-House on 9th April, 1865 (Crow 56). Grant presented generous terms, which did plentiful to lessen the tensions amid the forces and safeguard some Southern pride semblancethat would be required to resolve the opposing sides (Eicher 219). In a few months, the American Civil-War was commendably over, though minor engagements carried on until Smith

Middle east and international relation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Middle east and international relation - Essay Example that substantially ‘oils’ the world since large volumes of crude oil, a key source of energy for human global use, are mined in this region (Ismael p.183). As a result of its strategic position and numerous reserves for petroleum resources, Middle East has evolved as one of the most critical regions of contemporary world. In terms of political stability, Middle East has not been lucky as most nations of the region experience unstable political environment, an opportunity that has been exploited by superpower nations as they fight it out to gain advantage in the region (Ismael p.183). Economically, this is a region characterized by poor economic record for almost the previous two centuries. Compared to other western countries, the region’s per capita income is seen to be less than a third of per capita income in most of the advanced nations and life expectancy is almost eight years lesser (Kuran p.1). On overall, major nations of the region are characterized as poor performers economically (Kuran p.1). One theory that still remains disputed for providing reasons for underdevelopment of the region postulate that Islam ‘inhibits’ economic development of the region through its ‘culturally insensitive’ aspects such as â€Å"fatalism, personalism, laziness, lack of curiosity, mistrust of science, superstition, conservatism and traditionalism† (Timur p.2). Therefore, the essence of this paper is to look at issues of Middle East as it influences international relations. Israel-Palestine conflict is an issue that cannot be resolved today, tomorrow or the day after. It is a hot issue that both sides backed by their various international allies have approached with particular definite positions hardening every day. The problem originates from events of 29th November 1947 when the United Nations’ General Assembly passed a resolution to partition Palestine into two countries one occupied by Jewish and another occupied by Arab (Karsh p.8). Jerusalem was to

Leadership and Management Paper Essay Example for Free

Leadership and Management Paper Essay Ursula M. Burns is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Xerox. She has held this position for the last five years. She started out as a summer intern in 1980, and signed on in 1981. From then until she became CEO she has led several business teams and positions within Xerox, all along growing within the company. According to Fortune, she is the 22nd most powerful woman in the world. In addition to the Xerox board, she is a board director of the American Express Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation. Burns also provides leadership counsel to community, educational and non-profit organizations including FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), National Academy Foundation, MIT, and the U.S. Olympic Committee, among others. She is a founding board director of Change the Equation, and President Barack Obama appointed Burns vice chair of the President’s Export Council (Xerox: Ursula Burns, CEO, 2014). Leadership and Management Holding a management title does not necessarily equate to holding leadership skills. Leadership is defined in many ways, and depending on who you ask can simply be â€Å"coordinating the work of others†. However that is taking a very limited view on leadership. Leadership is a combination of rationale, inspiration, science, and art. It is said, â€Å"Leaders are thought to do the right thing, while managers do things right† (Hughes, Ginnett, Curphy, 2009). Not all leaders are managers, look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is argumentatively the most important Civil Rights leader, however many would not look to him as a manager. According to Forbes, Ursula has made Xerox a profitable and viable company, this past year, Burns helped Xerox generate adjusted earnings per share of $1.09, up from $1.02 in 2012, and  post $21.4 billion in full-year revenue (Forbes, 2014). Her skills as a manager aided in building Xerox to the power-house they are today. Burns is responsible for the largest acquisition in Xerox history, and has allowed them to invest in business services, which is a $600 billion industry. Making these decisions requires hard decisions, including outsourcing, closing offices that are not performing well, and adopting a work from home culture. Because of this Burns has found herself on the 2014 Worst CEO list put together by 24/7 Wall Street and Glassdoor. Burns received a positive review from fewer that the 140,000 employees Xerox gained in the business services acquisition. Only 30% approved of her performance (Brown, 2014). Also something that does not help Burns gain leadership approval is the fact that she was paid on average $13 million dollars for 2010 – 2012, while over 500 people were laid off. While Burns has made moves in hopes of ensuring the stability of Xerox there are some that are calling for her to be fired. Burns’ recent letter to shareholders showed just how badly the transaction had go ne. Over the course of 2010 to 2013, revenue, net income and operating margins are flat to down. In particular, revenue fell 1% to $21.4 billion in 2013. In the fourth quarter, revenue dropped 3% to $5.7 billion. Net income was down 1% to $1.2 billion last year. In the fourth quarter, the drop was 4% to $311 million (McIntyre, 2014). When measuring success of a leader, there are many ways to do that and depending on which way is chosen could render different results. Using unit performance indices, Burns appears to be very successful as a leader. Unit performance indices can be used to examine what impact leaders have on the â€Å"bottom lines† of their organizations. Since she has taken over as CEO, Xerox shares have gone up 50% and the S P is higher by nearly 100% (Brown, 2014). Based on this information and her average salary the board must be happy with how she is performing. However, another way to measure success is by subordinates ratings of effectiveness. Subordinates may be relatively satisfied or dissatisfied, may be motivated or unmotivated, may feel relatively committed or uncommitted to the organization, or may believe their leader is relatively effective or ineffective. Because Burns has found herself on the worst CEO’s list of 2014 it can be said that she has been unsuccessful as a leader (Hughes, Ginnett, Curphy, 2009). Conclusion Overall it is important to remember that there are many dynamics to measuring leadership and management. Leadership and management can have many different meanings. Burns is a prime example of this. I believe she is an effective manager, because businesses are in the business of making money and her shareholders are happy. She also sits on the board of several inspirational companies like FIRST and Change the Equation, which could have many people looking at her leadership abilities. However, when it comes to Xerox her primary focus is making the shareholders happy, when could indicate she is not being a true leader in a way that motivates, inspires, encourages, or simply speaks to their employees. Refrences Hughes, R.L., Ginnett, R.C., e Curphy, G.J. (2009). Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hills. Xerox: Ursula Burns, CEO. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.xerox.com/about-xerox/executive-leadership/ceo/enus.html McIntyre, D.A. (2014). Time for Xerox Board to Fire CEO Burns. Retrieved from http://247wallst.com/investing/2014/03/20/time-for-xerox-board-to-fire-ceo-burns/ Brown, A. (2014). Xeroxs Ursula Burns Named One of Worst CEOs in Corporate America. Retrieved from http://madamenoire.com/418058/xeroxs-ursula-burns-named-one-worst-ceos-corporate-america/ Forbes: #22 Ursula Burns. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/profile/ursula-burns/

Literature Review Tuberculosis Article Health And Social Care Essay

Literature Review Tuberculosis Article Health And Social Care Essay According to the World Health Organization, a third of the worlds population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (World Health Organization). New cases were estimated to number 9.4 million with 1.8 million deaths in 2008 (Thomas). Gary Maartens and Robert J. Wilkinson published a review in the December, 2007 issue of The Lancet that outlines the current condition of tuberculosis(TB) in the world today. Specifically, the authors report on the status of research, diagnostic techniques, treatment options and the epidemic of HIV-associated tuberculosis in Africa. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterial causative agent of a disease that has been a leading cause of death for much of earths history and still is for many developing countries. Maarten and Wilkinson noted recent regional changes in the incidence of TB with improvements made in many regions while incidence in sub-Saharan Africa has increased. This increase is correlated with the HIV epidemic in Africa and presents complex challenges in the task of controlling TB. In addition to HIV, multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of tuberculosis account for increasing numbers of new cases and recurrent disease in previously treated patients. The authors state that 4% of patients worldwide have a multidrug-resistant strain. Included in that percentage are patients with XDR strains. One reported study of a tuberculosis outbreak in HIV-infected individuals showed that 24% of those patients had XDR strains and this resulted in a 98% fatality rate (52 of 53 patients) . Genetic analysis of the bacterium indicated that transmission of the TB had been recent and it was noted that two-thirds of the affected patients had been hospitalized in the two years prior. The concern is that they may have acquired the XDR strain of TB while hospitalized, highlighting the need for better treatments and more precaution when treating these patients. Without improvements in rapid diagnosis and treatment, the incidence of drug-resistant strains will continue to rise. Genomic analysis has become an important tool in understanding microorganisms and Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been extensively studied and its genes have been sequenced. Analysis conducted on 875 different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from 80 countries has resulted in the discovery of six distinct lineages of TB that seem to have adaptations to specific populations of humans. As an example, the east African-Asian strain affects people of Indian origin, regardless of where they currently live. Another strain, W/Beijing, has less specificity, affecting people all over the world, but it also seems to be more virulent. Each of these strains is the result of mutations in the DNA of the bacterium. Different strains of TB have different mechanisms which allow them to modulate or suppress the immune system response. Many of these mechanisms have to do with the molecules that comprise the mycobacterial cell wall such as phenolic glycolipids. Two large studies have identified that membrane-associated proteins, molecular transporters, and ion channels play a vital role in the virulence of TB. These discoveries not only help scientists better understand the pathogenesis of tuberculosis; they also provide new targets for treatment. In addition to the genetics of the bacteria, the genetic makeup of the host is critical. Specific receptors on human macrophages recognize specific molecules of the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and trigger cellular signaling cascades that can result in greater host resistance or increased susceptibility to TB. Two of the receptors involved have a role in vitamin D activation and a deficiency of this vitamin has been noted in some tuberculosis cases, leading the authors to speculate about the possibility of vitamin D supplementation for prevention. Mutations in one of these cellular signaling pathways were shown in a series of studies to predispose individuals to severe atypical mycobacterial infections. This line of inquiry, identifying the specific genetic mutations that give rise to virulence factors in the bacteria or greater susceptibility in the host, could lead to huge advancements in the understanding and eventual eradication of TB, but the authors point out that th ese studies would need to be extensive, which equates to expensive. Diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis hasnt significantly changed in decades. Microscopic analysis and bacterial culturing are the standard protocols used to detect a TB infection, but these techniques have drawbacks, the most obvious being the time and labor involved in culturing. Maarten and Wilkinson state the obvious by expressing a desire for a more sensitive test that is rapid and affordable. A few emerging candidates are discussed, including nucleic-acid amplification tests and enzyme-linked immunospot analysis (ELISpot analysis). Nucleic-acid amplification tests have not proven to be significantly better at identifying TB. They are also expensive and require specialized equipment, making them unsuitable for use in most developing countries with limited resources. The ELISpot analysis, however, has promise in that it shows greater sensitivity and specificity than the tuberculosis skin test (TST), particularly in differentiating between exposure to TB and an active infection . In addition to assessing whether a patient is dealing with a tuberculosis infection, it is critical to know whether the strain of TB is drug-resistant. Current methods of determining drug resistance require 6-8 weeks, but microscopic analysis of liquid culture growth can be done within 10 days and has the advantages of being inexpensive and easily available, even to locations with limited resources. HIV infection further complicates diagnosis of tuberculosis and a determination is frequently made based solely on clinical symptoms and x-rays. This can lead to faster treatment, but could also be a contributing factor in the creation of resistant strains. Current methods of treatment involve a cocktail of medications taken for at least six months. This protocol typically has good results, even in patients with HIV. The treatment strategy utilized internationally is called directly observed treatment short course (DOTS). This method of control has contributed to gains made in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but still has many shortcomings. The authors advocate a combined approach and point to very high adherence rates for HIV treatments with a more patient centered approach, which empowers the patient to take care of themselves rather than reporting to a clinic to be observed taking a medication. The medications used to treat TB have changed very little and new medications are desperately needed, especially in light of the increase in drug-resistant strains. A commonly used medication, rifamycin is proving to be less effective in patients with HIV due to the development of resistance or because of some metabolic process reducing the concentration of the medication in their bodies. Fluoroquinolones have been shown to be effective but seem to be prone to rapid development of resistance and toxicity. The authors report on two new antimycobaterial drugs that have novel mechanisms of action and are in the process of testing. The complications of treating patients with HIV and TB are many. Most of the symptoms of TB are due to immune response (immunopathological), but the immune systems of HIV patients are already suppressed. The medications to treat TB can further suppress the immune response leading to an increase in viral load and the possibility of more opportunistic infections. In addition, many of these medications have proven to be hepatotoxic, which HIV patients are even less equipped to handle. Complications can also include paradoxical deterioration whereby the treatment of HIV results in a worsening of TB symptoms. The important point is that more research is required to understand the immune system functionality in concurrent infections of TB and HIV. The treatment of latent infections is aimed at preventing these infections from becoming active, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The most common strategy is a 6-12 month course of isoniazid. Although widely used, this treatment carries the same risks of medication resistance and hepatotoxicity as other TB drugs. Additional information on the physiology of latent infections could lead to better drugs and better strategies for treatment. Vaccination, which is widely available in Europe, but not used in the United States, has shown some efficacy in preventing severe TB infections in children, but the length and strength of protection is in question. Tuberculosis is still transmitted, allowing the continued spread of the bacteria. Novel vaccines are being tested and a few show promise to provide better protection. The authors reiterate the need for large, long term studies. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an epidemic of HIV-associated tuberculosis. The capacity to manage this epidemic is severely hindered by socioeconomic, medical infrastructure, and political issues. Treating with antiretrovirals has reduced the number of cases of tuberculosis, but HIV patients are still much more likely to develop tuberculosis. The best preventative measure seems to be to reduce the incidence of HIV and the best treatment strategy is to identify and treat active tuberculosis. Treating both HIV and tuberculosis concurrently poses special problems. Many of the drugs have potentially negative interactions, either reducing efficacy or increasing toxicity. In addition, there is the possibility of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. This disorder manifests as a worsening of TB symptoms in a patient that was improving, likely due to an improved immune response resulting from treatment of HIV. In essence, successful treatment of HIV results in an escalation of tub erculosis symptoms. Steroids used to treat the TB have some success, but at the risk of increased complications from HIV. There is a fine line in concurrently treating these diseases and much more to understand about it. This article serves both as a reminder of the enormity of the problems associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and as a call to arms for more research. With a third of the worlds population affected, it is extremely surprising that we dont have a symbol, a color, a celebrity backed telethon with accompanying song, or a three-day walk to raise awareness and money for research. I suppose part of the problem is that the problem is over there and so we in America are less aware. Preventing the spread of the bacteria seems to be the best option for a long term reduction in incidence, and a new vaccine would seem to be the logical next step. In reading the article, it seems the challenges in treating tuberculosis are almost overwhelming. Tuberculosis lives and multiplies in the macrophages of the human immune system, the very cells that would normally play a key role in eradication of a bacterial infection. This uncommon arrangement, in addition to the complexity of the interactions bet ween humans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is key to understanding the disease in the hope of finding better solutions. If we could find a way to induce the bodys immune systems to attack the bacteria itself without the formation of tubercles or other negative effects, that would be an ideal solution. If that is not possible, we need to find those mechanisms or characteristics that are unique to the bacterium or its pathogenesis and create a drug to act on those. The challenges are many. The authors repeatedly used the term political will and it seems that this may be the key to resolving the problem of tuberculosis. While the article serves the purposes of reminding and rallying, it seems to be written for those already familiar with the disease and is poorly organized. The authors seem to hopscotch about with very little in the way of transition, making it difficult for a novice to assimilate the information. It is a good review of the current direction, but without the foundatio nal information required to understand what it means.