Medical Social Work Agency Organizational Report - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2560 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/03/16 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Social Work Essay Did you like this example? INTRODUCTION The report is based on an interview conducted at a medical social work agency. The primary purposes of this investigation were: to explore the organization and its delivery of services given to the society, and to understand and assess the function of the workers at the medical social work agency. This report attempts to provide a qualitative analysis of the organizational context of the services rendered, and the influences this has on agency practice, standards and functioning. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Medical Social Work Agency Organizational Report" essay for you Create order In this study, we will begin with an overview of the agency, then we will look at the necessary avenues of a social worker in the healthcare sector; their roles and responsibilities to their firm and as a worker of the community, and finally the techniques used in the agency for working with the different parts of a community or society. Avenues such as practice and intervention, client population, ethical standards and professionality in dealing with issues arising within the firm, will be explored. The data was collected via a single interview and thus all data collected and analysed would be assumed as the standard for all social workers in the organization. AN OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY The name of the organization of focus was The Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA), located in Mayaro. It was founded in 1994 as an act of parliament and is one of five health authorities in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ERHA is responsible for healthcare in Trinidads eastern area which consists of places accounting for approximately one-third of Trinidads land mass. The agency covers from Rio Claro in the south, to Valencia in the east (The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2018). The organization works in line with the Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago and it functions based on clusters which separate the different areas. The number of health facilities in the different areas will account for the varying of cluster numbers. According to the social worker, the area of research is split into two clusters and this is done throughout the different branches of the organization for easier management. Also, social work in ERHA is divided into two profes sional groups, psychiatric social workers and medical social workers. VISSION STATEMENT, MISSION STATEMENT AND VALUES OF THE AGENCY The vision and aims of the agency are to continuously improve the quality of life for clients by delivering quality health care that is accessible to all. The mission statement and intended actions of the agency are to promote social welfare while collaborating with the community and by focusing on the needs of the population, the agency provides help for members of the community. It allows members of society to obtain several healthcare services that they may not be able to obtain, within the guidelines of national social policy. The core values of the agency that define their identity and actions are as follows: Respect for Human Dignity Integrity Shared Ownership Commitment to excellence Partnership Universal access affordability and equity and Quality Care. THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER IN THE AGENCY The role of the social worker interviewed was that of a medical social worker. His role in the agency and to the community is to improve and maintain quality healthcare. An integral part of social work in healthcare management and service delivery is to provide support advice and sometimes advocate on behalf of clients and members in society. The social worker is highly qualified for the job as in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, social workers must at least obtain a social work degree before gaining employment. The worker must obtain a full understanding of the theoretical aspect and principles of social work discipline to promote positive development and empowerment for those in society. They must also be mindful of social work policy and keep themselves up to date on all ethical standards and guidelines of both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the agency. THE QUALITIES, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS OF THE WORKER Specific skills and competencies are highly required in the medical social work settings. One the worker considers is of great importance is the quality of self-awareness. The medical social worker utilizes this skill in dealing with client situations to allow for maximum service quality. By paying attention to his biases and other impeding qualities, along with personal understanding of his capabilities in managing a clients situation, self-awareness helps the worker to determine the best route of action for his clients. The worker highlighted that the field of social work is never entirely manageable or comprehensive, and by engaging in continuous practical field work he can and has built on his skills and capacities. Through human interaction, the worker was able to see how interpersonal skills are necessary; and how things such as journaling were important for understanding himself as it allows for reflectivity and re-evaluations of oneself to take place. ETHICAL STANDARDS, PROFESSIONALITY OF THE AGENCY Ethical values of the NASW are upheld and maintained by the firm and as stated by the worker, the quality of service and ethics in the agency is not lost based on the continuous urgency of protocol and guidelines of policy administration. Workers are kept up to date on social policy, and, to maintain the standard that the organization holds, workers must sustain these ethical standards by the board to meet the responsibility of their clients. Its important to be mindful of the ethics and other vital areas to ensure that there isnt a breach in policy or standards. Example, rules of the organization include no conducting of business and not giving out money to clients but, seeking the relevant avenues for them to receive the financial assistance and help they need. The worker however disclosed that although it is shunned, sometimes they do help clients financially, but it is not to be exposed to the public because it will question workers integrity, and only occurs in urgent situations . Its important to note that because the firm looks at empowerment, they try to provide discussions and forum for persons in need of financial assistance, to explore their strengths so that they arent dependent on government assistance so cases of physically giving clients financial assistance are few. Although it is a thoughtful sentiment, it can also be counterproductive in leading clients to believe that the system cannot fulfil their needs. At all times, workers in the firm are to practice an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory intervention approach even in cases where their values, beliefs etc. lay elsewhere. This is an obligation of the social worker as it ensures that the clients rights are upheld and that they are comfortable in the environment. DESCRIPTION OF CLIENT POPULATION Approximately 450 clients are seen for a given year at the firm with the more significant numbers seen in female clients as opposed to males. This was assumed to be the cause of the psychological and emotional aspect that is focused on in the firm. As the worker believed that women may be more comfortable than men in discussing their feelings. Men are likely to be referral cases whereas women tend to seek and access the services of the organization more frequently. The age group of the client population varies from elderly, middle age and persons from the younger population. Elderly client population deal with mainly care and management and non-compliance i.e. elderly persons who do not have someone to ensure that they take their medications etc. The middle age population is generally focused on situations like domestic abuse with intimate partner violence. The younger population consists of youths with learning disabilities or those of child abuse. THE ORGANIZATIONS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CLIENT GROUP The organization is a medical organization and as such it deals with all individuals in the community that require health care services and cant afford it. The phrase ?all individuals, relates to the diversity of individuals in the community. The client group will pay attention to most individuals in the community seeking assistance within the health facility but is open to members of the community that have no reference in the facility. INTERVENTION METHODS USED BY THE AGENCY AND WAYS IN WHICH THE GROUPS OF SOCIETY ARE HANDLED IN THE FIRM In the firm, the focus is on all levels of society, including macro, mezzo and micro levels and it was noted that the worker does this to bring about communal change in society. The medical social worker stated that he works with all the agents of society in the following scenarios: 1) casework which deals with one-on-one sessions with individuals utilizing methods of interviewing, home visits and play therapy; 2) groupwork in the form of support and providing knowledge to persons on a basis of need; and 3) community work dealing with outreach programs like lecturing the public about the services of social workers and informing them of the social work calendar, persons rights, contacts for seeking help etc. The workers also act as brokers and advocators to link required resources to all of their clients. For example, advocating for clients and persons in different forums like a childrens authority seminar, where the worker(s) will utilize it as an avenue to speak about child-related issues. The worker uses different techniques in different work environments. In casework, he encourages self-mediation to help persons deal with stressors. In group or community settings he may involve persons in mediation exercises to promote the interdependence of the group but, in the community, mediation is done as the promotion of services so that people have a sense of direction as to where to go for whatever requirements they have. The worker also highlighted that in dealing with family situations, he first speaks to each member of the family to get their ideas of commitment towards the family unit and, lays specific ground rules to avoid conflicts arising. The family members engage in discussions and are free to disagree; their interactions are valuable towards the family settings because social workers arent to advise persons on actions but to guide or provide suggestions. In extreme cases towards the law, however, the worker does give advice and may sometimes need to take matters i nto his own hands. The organizations most famous theory followed is the Ecological systems theory, because of the community setting that they work in. The theory allows for all areas of society to be addressed or looked at such as individuals, families and communities. The worker conveyed that the reasons for using this theory were that it speaks to all the facets that filter into an individual being who they are and how the individual reacts to their environment. Cognitive behavioural therapy is another method used in the firm because it looks at persons with personal issues such as self-esteem. He inferred that there may be other models used but in the intervention approach to social work at the firm, these are the most appropriate and functional methods. Usually, persons are needed and recommended to go through referrals by the health facility instead of walk-ins. In severe cases, however, like suicide, the person may be allowed, if they do not wish to enter or disclose their issues with the health facility. Clients are informed of alternative services in cases that the firm cannot address their needs and are told when these services are not available. Example if there is a lack of funding for equipment or persons may not be able to obtain them, they should know because it is their right. Lastly, the medical social worker works as a part of multi-disciplinary teams with other professions such as education, health and probation services, to ensure that all aspects of clients lives are taken into consideration when help is being discussed. The worker also aims to foster empowerment in society by looking at the psychological aspect of his clients strengths and by working alongside the medical team, he can enhance the quality of health care for them and ensure that they can cope with stressful or traumatic events that occur. ISSUES OCCURRING IN THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS PRACTICE The worker inferred that transport difficulties and lack of finance are some of the significant challenges that clients face when seeking his services. He claimed that members of the firm are readily available and accessible to the public for these reasons. In the cases of home visits, they require persons to show a level of willingness and voluntariness by first reaching out to the organization, because they try to not make clients complacent about their services. There is not much, if any, of social obstructions or hindrances on the worker from the society. The worker believes that if he trusts that the person(s) being helped can do well through the services, he can utilize this skill in supporting the intervention methods that are used. HOW THE WORKER RESPONDS TO VALUES IN PRACTICE The worker claims to be tolerant of all religious and cultural beliefs, and associations of his clients. It was stated that he is open and inquisitive to other religious beliefs which allows him to function in-line with the standards of a multi-diverse community. He believes that learning about other religions, cultures etc. is an integral and essential requirement of a social worker. In the medical field, a social worker encounters many persons with varying beliefs which sometimes may impede proper or necessary services being accepted by clients and if the worker is not able to deal with the client(s), he refers them to someone else or a different agency. The worker mentioned that there are not any significant situations that have occurred regarding cultural or religious differences to impede his practice. He believes that this is because he prepared himself to deal with the varying gender issues in society by enrolling in gender studies that facilitated his understanding of the vast gender differences in the society today. CONCLUSION In a nutshell, the medical social worker is to be knowledgeable of all aspects of social work including standards, methods of practice and their self-awareness. It was found that the necessary and vital methods, theories and other avenues were like those learnt in the units. Besides healthcare, the organization also shows responsibility and commitment to the community by providing other services when needed. Challenges occurred in summarising and digesting the crucial areas of the interview and placing each piece of information in their right category. However, conducting the actual interview was quite easy as the social worker was readily forthcoming with the answers. REFERENCES Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (2013). Eastern Regional Health Authority. Retrieved November 10, 2018, from https://www.erha.co.tt/Home.aspx Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (2018). Ministry of Health. Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). Retrieved November 4, 2018, from https://www.health.gov.tt/sitepages/default.aspx?id=90 Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (2018). Ministry of Health. Social Worker. Retrieved November 4, 2018, from https://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/results/?o=69,50,63c=63,56,50e=44,44,25a=81,69,56n=81,88,69y=1990g=f Macro, Mezzo and Micro Social Work. (2017). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://socialworklicensemap.com/macro-mezzo-and-micro-social-work/ Sartorius, N. (2006). The Meanings of Health and its Promotion. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080455/ The Audiopedia, (2017). Youtube. What is Social Work? What does Social Work Mean? Social Work Meaning, Definition Explanation. Retrieved November 08, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj5-Vdh1B3E

Family Health Assessment - 1252 Words

Family Health Assessment A family health assessment is an important tool in formulating a health care plan for a family. This paper will discuss the nurse’s role in family assessment and how this task is performed. A nurse has an important role in health promotion. To perform these tasks the author has chosen a nuclear family. By the use of family focused open ended questions, 11 functional health patterns were covered. This principle is known as the Gordon’s functional health patterns. This assessment tool included 11 systematic principles for data collection of the family, and assists the nurses to develop a nursing diagnosis and appropriate interventions. Using Gordon’s functional health patterns, this paper will summarize†¦show more content†¦The father has a part time job in the hospital and is studying for a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The mother is working full time as a nurse and is working the night shift. They both work opposite shifts to look after their children and try to take off on the same days. They both help each other in cooking, washing, and cleaning. The next question was related to sexuality and the reproductive patterns, which revealed both parents, were knowledgeable about sexual health and use of contraceptive methods. They expressed satisfaction in their sexual relationship. The patterns of coping as stress tolerance describe the family’s ability to manage stress effectively in life. The main stressful issue was their opposite work schedule. The mother stated that she was not getting enough sleep, especially when the children get sick. They both have to work to pay off their bills, and for their children’s future education. Both parents speak with each other and take mutual decisions in stressful times. Along with this, they find stress relief in prayer and speaking with intimate friends. The pattern of family values and beliefs reflects on their own values, life meaning, and spiritual life. Even though they follow Indian cultures and traditions, they adopt some of the western lifestyle too. They maintain good family values, such as respect for one another, understanding, flexibility, support, and spending time together. Based upon theShow MoreRelatedFamily Health Assessment : Family Assessment Essay1469 Words   |  6 PagesFamily Health Assessment Family is so important in the society and it is a blessing from God. Healthy behaviors learn from within the family and family member’s stimulus one to each other with health promotion practices. There fore, the health behaviors are very essential in the family assessment and which notifies health-promotion and disease-prevention. Within families, members will be the first one to learn about to promoting health. Families have impact on children’s lifestyle choices. 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Health can be defined as a complete state of wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease. Gordon’s functional health

Law VRS Pty Ltd.

Question: Discuss about the Law for VRS Pty Ltd. Answer: Name and Purpose of the Company The name of the company to which this Constitution applies is a proprietary company named VRS Pty Limited. The basic purpose of starting this company is to make the dealing in the selling of retail objects in the market of Australia. Internal Management of the VRS Pty Ltd Company Like the other companies, the internal management of the VRS Pty Ltd is to be administered by the rules that are provided in the Corporations Act of 2001. The provisions of the Corporations Act are incorporated in the Constitution as the replaceable rules. The provisions of the Corporations Act of 2001 apply to the VRS Company through the instrument of this Constitution and the replaceable rules. Therefore, both the Constitution and the replaceable rules will together act in administering the internal management of the Company. The rules regarding the internal management of any Company is stated in Section 135 of the Corporations Act of 2001. This Constitution through the application of the said section makes it express and clear that it has the authority and the powers to make the alterations and changes in the replaceable rules that follow a procedure that is stipulated and fixed. The Section also makes it clear that in case the replaceable rules are violated in some form, that sha ll not be deemed as the violation of the provisions of the Corporations Act of 2001. Directors The Company in accordance with prescribed rules in the Corporations Act of 2001 regarding the appointment of directors shall make the appointment of the director. Till then the director is an appointment of the director of the Company, Mr. X shall act as the director and shall maintain and administer the internal management of the Company. Shares The Company has made the resolution through this Constitution to make the issue of the shares and that too in accordance to the rules of the issue of shares that is stated in the Corporations Act of 2001. The authority of the Company to make the issue of the shares is provided in Section 124 of the Corporations Act of 2001. The said authority makes the inclusion of the right of the Company to make the issue of the bonus shares, partly paid shares and the preference shares. The term bonus shares refer to those shares, for the issue of which there is no amount of consideration amount that is charged by the Company. The company gives the holders of the bonus shares the incentive. However, the rule that is incorporated in the Corporations Act of 2001 states that any company is permitted to make the issue of the preference shares only at that time when the rights of the preference share holders are stated in clear terms in the Constitution and the same is approved by any special resolutio n. But, if any company makes the wish to issue preference shares that are redeemable, then the rights of the shareholders of the same type of shares are to be mentioned in the Constitution of any company. The rights of the redeemable preference shares are as follows: The right to get the repayment of the capital The participation in the extra assets and profits The right to the non-cumulative and cumulative dividends The rights to get the priority in the payment of the dividends that are related with the other shares or the other class of preference shares. Signed: .. Signed: Signature of the Director: .. Dated: . 1. The Corporation Act 2001 in Australia makes rules and regulations, which every company operative in Australia has to comply with, and is the primary statute to govern the business law in Australia. Section 124 of the Corporation Act 2001 discusses the legal capacity and the powers, which the Corporation Act 2001 gives a company in Australia. The section states that a company has a legal capacity of an individual in and outside jurisdiction. Thus, the section was introduced to give a company in Australia the rights, freedoms and liberties which a living person enjoys and makes the company separate and distinct from its directors, managers and employees. The primary objective of entrusting a separate legal entity to a company was to permit the company to perform individual tasks, which every person is allowed to perform like entering into contracts, being sued, or suing. Another advantage of the said feature is that it minimizes the risks from the top management of the company for b eing sued as giving an individual legal capacity to a company; a company can be sued itself (Cummings 2012). Additionally, a company has powers, which a body cooperate possess which includes powers like:- Grant and cancel company shares Issue debentures and issue options for unissued shares Grant security interest in shares which are uncalled Arrange company to be registered as a body corporate and perform other legal tasks The section 124 of the Corporation Act 2001 also states that a company which is limited with guarantee cannot ever issue shares. Thus, with the grant of separate legal capacity to a company, the Corporation Act 2001 makes a company in Australia like an artificial person who has most of the rights, liberties and freedom of a natural person along with the entrusting it the powers of a body corporate (Lowry 2012). However, the section clearly states that the said section does not allow the company to engage in any activity which is illegal or prohibited by the statute and law in Australia. Section 129 of the Corporation Act 2001 is related to section 128 of the Corporation Act 2001. Thus, to understand section 129 of the Corporation Act, it is first important to discuss section 128 of the Corporation Act 2001. The section 128 of the Corporation Act 2001 states that an individual is permitted or entitled to make certain assumptions when hes dealing with a company in Australia (Graw 2012). Section 129 of the Corporation Act 2001 gives the list of all such assumptions which an individual is allowed to make while he deals with a company in Australia. Thus, under section 129 of the Corporation Act 2001, a person dealing with a company can assume that the company has followed its constitution along with the rules in the Corporation Act 2001 which are applicable to a company in form of replaceable rules in their internal management. The said section was created to protect an outsider who is dealing with a company and may not have any way to find out about the internal managem ent of the company, thus he is allowed to assume that the company has complied with all the regulations in its internal management (Latimer 2012). These assumptions include compliance with constitution and the replaceable rules are always followed by a company and in accordance with section 129(1) of the Corporation Act 2001. The said section was adopted to introduce the doctrine of indoor management in the Corporation Act 2001. Section 588 M of the Corporation Act 2001 talks about recovery of compensation for loss resulting from insolvent trading by the company. The said section is a punishment or consequences of section 588G which makes it a duty of a director to prevent a company from engaging in insolvent trading. Apart from the director duties mentioned under section 180-184 of the Corporation Act, section 588G puts an additional duty on director of a company to refrain from trading if the company is insolvent (Lowry 2012). Thus, if a director breaches the said duty under section 588G, he is liable for the same and the liability is mentioned in section 588M. Thus, section 588M of the Corporation Act 2001 states that if a director engages in insolvent trading he is liable to pay creditors of the company, if they have suffered any loss due to insolvent trading. The recovery of this amount can be collected in the form of debt from the directors. The objective of this section was to refrain the directors of a company from engaging into trading if the company is insolvent and be personally liable if they breach the said duty (Vasudev and Watson 2012). Reference List Cummings, B., 2012. Benefit corporations: How to enforce a mandate to promote the public interest.Columbia Law Review, pp.578-627. Graw, S., 2012. An introduction to the law of contract. Latimer, P., 2012.Australian Business Law 2012. CCH Australia Limited. Lowry, J., 2012. The Irreducible Core of the Duty of Care, Skill and Diligence of Company Directors: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Healey.The Modern Law Review,75(2), pp.249-260. Lowry, J., 2012. The Irreducible Core of the Duty of Care, Skill and Diligence of Company Directors: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Healey.The Modern Law Review,75(2), pp.249-260. Vasudev, P.M. and Watson, S. eds., 2012.Corporate governance after the financial crisis. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Planning Models in Software Project Management

Table of Contents Build-and-Fix Model Waterfall Model Incremental Process Models Evolutionary Process Models The Unified Process Model Selection Criteria References Software project planning has become more specialized since the branching out of software project management from general project management. The initial project planning models available for use by software project managers were from engineering projects. These models did not meet the needs of the software industry because of the nature of software projects.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Planning Models in Software Project Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This led to the development of several models for software project management that apply to the unique nature of the software development process. The aim of this paper is to review these models and their application. The models include the build-and-fix model, the waterfal l model, the incremental process models, evolutionary process models, and the unified process model. Build-and-Fix Model The simplest project-planning model in software engineering is the build-and-fix model. As the name suggests, this model has only two stages. The developer develops the software and fixes arising problems. Figure 1: The Build-and-Fix Model The main limitation of this model is that it is not applicable in the development process of any meaningful software. It can help with very small adjustments of larger projects and the development of small patches and fixes to an existing project. Otherwise, it is too simple to support a fully-fledged software development project even for relatively small projects. Waterfall Model The name of the waterfall models comes from the relative similarity of this software development model to a cascading waterfall. This project management model came from the construction industry. It is very useful in situations where there is a high d egree of predictability in a project.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Construction projects are predicable because of the large body of knowledge based on the long experience of the construction Industry. The main attributes of this model is that after the completion of each phase, there is no room for revisiting earlier choices. It calls for careful planning, followed by precise execution. There is no room to accommodate any changes in scope. This model works best if the developers of the project have a wide experience dealing with similar projects. This gives them the ability to define the project requirements accurately, and to determine the best procedures for use in advance. In addition, this model works well if the client is sure about the needs of their organization. The model is not suited for software novel products, and projects employing new techniques. I n addition, the model can lead to massive loss of time and money if there is failure to detect bugs in an earlier phase of the project. The cost of fixing bugs escalates depending on the gap between its occurrence and its detection. Figure 2: The Waterfall Model Incremental Process Models Incremental process models are refinements of the waterfall model that take advantage of the clarity of results and processes, while avoiding problems caused by bugs and bottlenecks noticed late in the design phase. These models work very well when the project includes several independent units that do not rely on the other units to operate. The two models under the incremental process models are the iterative enhancement model and the rapid application model.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Planning Models in Software Project Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The iterative enhancement model resembles the wa terfall model with the exception that it allows several iterations of the design process. After each cycle, there is a product released. The lessons learnt feed into the next cycle. Figure 3: The Iterative Enhancement Model The second type of incremental process model is the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model . This model involves the quick creation of a prototype, which the users analyze and provide feedback. The feedback forms the basis of the refinements made to the prototype, until the product achieves the desired level of functionality. RAD works only if there is an active set is users willing to offer feedback on the prototypes. Evolutionary Process Models Evolutionary process models are useful for projects that need to start functioning immediately, but the full needs of the system are unclear. It requires developers to work concurrently on all parts of the project and to add functionality as needs become clear. These models are ideal for very large projects composed of several parts. The specific models under evolutionary process models are the prototyping model and the spiral model. The prototyping model maintains the overall structure of the rapid application prototyping, but applies it to several components of the project simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to create a very large system in a very short time. After producing the first operational system, the prototyping model requires the developer, working with the users, to refine all sections of the project in an incremental way until the project reaches acceptable standards.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second model under the evolutionary process models is the spiral model. This model stresses the functional aspect of project management. The development cycle follows a cyclic path based on the project development cycle in use. As the spiral fans out, the four quadrants remind the project manager to carry out certain functions. The model is very good for taking care of risks by committing one of the quadrants to risk management. It ensures that risk management is a regular aspect of managing the project. However, this model makes it difficult to keep track of project time. It is necessary to have a separate means for time management for the project. The Unified Process The unified process model provides a conceptual means of addressing the modeling of long-term software development projects. This model is ideal for guiding the development of software released in versions over time. A good example is the Windows Operating System. Microsoft releases a new version of Windows period ically based on the feedback it receives from customers and based on the trends in the software industry. The unified process model categorizes software development processes into four phases within each development cycle. The phases are inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. The inception phase of a project cycle covers the preparatory aspects of a software development project. It includes budgeting, planning, and risk identification. In addition, the developer and the client clarify the scope of the project and establish timelines for the project. Where needed, the software developers also establish the business case of the project. During the elaboration phase, the developers test the viability of the project, and establish the needed resources and technologies. This stage is the final preparation phase of the project. The client revises all costs and estimates, and prepares to commission the project. The development phase follows the elaboration phase. During this stage, the developers create the product and release it to the client or to the wider market. The software development process under this stage can include the full cycle of the other software development models. For instance, the software developer can use the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model to deploy a limited version of the software. The developer then works with a test group to develop a stable version of the software for release at the end of the development phase. After successful development, the project moves to the transition phase. During this phase, the developers study consumer reaction and collect data relating to user experience. The developers also train users as needed and keep track of consumer satisfaction levels. Model Selection Criteria The selection of an appropriate model depends on the exact circumstances of the project. Each model works best within a given set of conditions. The four main aspects to take into account are the requirements of the pro ject, the technical capacity of the development team, the nature of users, and risk exposure of the project. The requirements of the project determine the ideal model for a particular software development project. If the requirements are clear, then a linear model can suffice. The capacity of the development team is also an important part of the software development process. If the team has experience, then the project can proceed using a linear model and with little input from the users. The users influence the project based on whether they can use the software on their own and whether they know what they need. Whenever the users are not sure about what they need, then a model that allows them to interact with the process is advisable. The spiral model is ideal for any project with significant risks because it stresses the functional aspects of project management. References Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (10 Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. Klastorin, T. (2003). Project Management: Tools and Trade-offs. New York: Wiley. Selby, R. W. (2007). Software Engineering: Barry W. Boehm’s Lifetime Contributions to Software Development, Management, and Research. New York: John Wiley and Sons. This research paper on Planning Models in Software Project Management was written and submitted by user Doc Samson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.