Factors in Health Services Management

Factors in Health Services Management Members Joanne Tolentino Rosarie Ann Nicole Trespeces Karenne Melo Daisy Kumari Shrestha The ever changing health system poses challenges that require capacity and capability in attaining success. Managing a health care industry requires extensive knowledge, skills and positive attitude in order to run the organization effectively and efficiently. To have an in-depth understanding on operations management and organizational performance, in this paper equal rights in public health care, demographic data, epidemiological characteristics, public health, culture, sources of power, and political aspects of the organization will be discussed. Demographic, Epidemiological and social environment In the health care arena, the primary focus of the health professionals is to provide care for the sick and promote health and well-being to people. The constant challenge, however, is to give equal rights for them to have access to public health. Equal rights for people is almost the goal not of just a single organization, but of every nation for their locals. Thus, equality in the delivery of health services must be observed at all times that no one shall be deprived of access to public health, regardless of age, color, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background. The surge of the influenza incidence in Auckland, New Zealand alarms Kiwi-Asian Persuasion Medical Center (KPMC) to take necessary actions. To prevent transmission or halt the health problem, KPMC not only prepares the skilled staff to provide but also reaches out to organizations to address the health problem. Although income or money plays a crucial part in determining the type of service a person affected with influenza or any health problem could afford, the (KPMC) aspires to provide holistic care with high consideration to health equality and Treaty of Waitangi. This means that the hospital practices free financial access to health services that each individual is entitled to receive holistic care. The health budget is generated from the New Zealand government or fund from the ministry of health. To ensure that equality is addressed, the hospital will conduct research works on how to bridge or close gaps in health and social inequalities. Hence, health policies and laws shall be formulated. Other alliances, non-profit organizations, and national and international organizations related to health will be requested to provide support to attain KPMC’s aspiration in providing equality in health through financial free services to all. According to Bonita and Kjellstrom (2006), epidemiology is that the study of the distribution and determinants of health related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the prevention and control of the health problems. The epidemiological data are employed to arrange and measure methods to prevent disease and as a guide to the management of the patients in whom illness has already developed. For the epidemiologic study various demographic data such as population, gender, age group, ethnicity categories are required. The main features of epidemiology is the assessment of the disease outcome in a risk of the population. The risk of population is the group of people, healthy or sick, population from different ethnic group, different age group, and a different gender. Hence, statistical data for epidemiological study and the primary source of demographic data can take from the census is much needed. New Zealand is derived from the national census, which is carried out every five years. Census encompasses information about variables, including age, gender, ethnicity, birthplace, occupation, accommodation, education, socioeconomic status, divorce, employment, long term illness etc. The analytical techniques applied to epidemiological data consist of general statistical approaches as well as special techniques that have been developed to fit the needs of particular epidemiologi cal study designs. While mathematical formula which may be used for statistical data, such as live birth, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, migrates, health and disease etc, (Koch, 2015). According to World Health Organization (2015), conditions in which individual bears, nurture, live and work that impact an extensive variety of health, operating and life quality results are the social determinants of health. These conditions are formed by the delivery of financial, authority and properties at national and global levels. Resources that improve quality of life can have an important inspiration on population health outcomes such as safe and reasonable housing, education access, safety in public, healthy food availability, local and health emergency and environments free of life- threatening. Breakthrough reports on movements to expand health and reduce inequalities has been created by the World Health Organization (WHO). Social health inequalities that have impact on the spread of influenza in Auckland are health behaviors such as unhealthy diet and inactive lifestyle, social environment or social characteristic like low income, physical environment wherein where the individual lives and the living conditions and health services such as access to low quality health care or having no insurance coverage. These determinants of health also interact with and influence person behaviors too, and these also contributes in the development of social patterning of health, illness and disease. One and all has the right to achieve holistic health that is the reason why government and non- government organizations are combating and addressing those determinants of health. Cultural and Political Environment According to Root (2015), external environment of an organization is those factors which affect the outside of an organization’s ability to function smoothly. Among the five external general environment factors which affect the organization directly one of the most critical external factors is economic environment. According to Jorge (2014), this factor talks about the comprehensive of the nature of economic system of the country, business cycle, the socio economic infrastructure etc. Other external factors, including legal or ethical, political, technological and international factors that relate to the values, attitudes and concerns of the target people and their economic capabilities to afford the services. The political, ethical and legal environment related to the organizational laws and to meet the ethical or social responsibility standards to the communities Gupta (2009). Organizational Culture The Kiwi-Asian Persuasion Medical Center is a Christian, government-run institution committed to deliver high quality holistic care to the poor, sick and the dying. This institution strongly believe that every client, regardless of their ethnicity and culture, should feel comfortable, safe and secured just like home. Thus, Kiwi-Asian Persuasion Medical Center became known for its â€Å"feel-at-home† ambiance (Study, 2003). The hospital is painted with soft, vibrant colors to promote calmness. For a more relaxing place, lazy boy chairs are provided for both the visitors and the clients. All employees must greet every client coming in and out of the hospital with a warm smile. Though they are in a hospital, patients should feel the comfort of their own home. Also, the success of this organization is because of the core values that this institution upholds (Riley, 2014. Cultural diversity is one of the core values of the culture of this institution. The workforce want all clients to be treated like family despite cultural differences. Diversity should be respected and embrace within the workplace. Another core value of this institution is team spirit, working hand in hand in providing care to the clients. Thus, creating a positive relationship with colleagues and clients. Accountability for the actions, decisions and policies made when providing care for the patient. It is also very important to practice balance. Every employee shall maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid poor performance. Lastly, excellence in providing the best quality health care service shall be upheld at all times. This is by inspiring moments of optimism in giving care in order to create value and make a difference in the lives of every client that is admitted in this institution (Wendy, 2013). By aligning the significance of these values with the employees, Kiwi-Asian Persuasion Medical Center has successfully created a strong organizational culture. Task external environment The task environment is closer to the organization and includes the sectors that conduct day-to-day transactions with the organization and directly influence its basic operations and performance (Daft, 2012). External task environment includes competitors, competitors, suppliers, and labour market. Customers are the people and organizations in the environment that acquire goods or services from the organizations. In the health care, patients are the customers of the hospital. The success of the organization largely depends on them since they are the recipient of care. The satisfaction of the patients mirror the performance of the employees and how the managers run the organization. Competitors are the organization in the same industry. They present challenges as they vie for customers in a marketplace with similar products or services (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt., 2014). In the health care, competitors are public health organizations like hospitals that provide similar health services. According to Gupta (2009), it is important to know all the competitors, their organizational size and skills pool, their competitive advantages, their marketing strategies, off shore development. The main point here is to maintain standards by observing quality assurance and keep customers despite the existence of similar organizations. Suppliers provide the raw materials the organizations produce its output (Daft, 2012). In health care, the needed resources are the hospital supplies and equipment used in the delivery of care. They affect the organization because of the dependency of the organization on the raw materials to provide adequate care. Thus, a good team up is necessary to receive high quality supplies at lower prices in order to save money while maintaining quality (Daft, 2012). Labor market as stated by Johnson (n.d.) refers to the people a company hires to fill its position. Employees in the hospital should be more than competent and with certain characteristics in order to maintain quality services and uphold global competitiveness. Those who are involved in direct patient care should be highly qualified, skilled or trained otherwise poor health services will be afforded to patients. This in turn would cause harm and danger to both the organization and the population of people being cared for. Sources of power According to Raven (2015), leadership management and power are relatively connected. Individuals have the tendency to obey people who are powerful. Leaders have different power for different reason. Power is the capability to influence the behavior of other individual with or without enforcing force by means of diverse strategies to make a necessary action. It is an instrument that can end up to either optimistic or pessimistic results in an institution. Power is a fundamental and unpreventable part in any institution. No leaders can be effective and competent starved of understanding and use of suitable power. There are two (2) types of power, the position power and the personal power. Under position power, includes legitimate power, reward power and coercive power. On the other hand, expert power and referent power falls under personal power (French, 2012). Legitimate power is often called positional power. This power originates from the position, role and status of an individual in an institution. It typically consist of formal authority. Reward power emanates from the capacity of an individual to deliberate treasured material rewards or produce added positive incentives. Incentives take account of increase salary, role promotion and positive commendations and appraisal. Coercive power is the capacity to impact individual by means of threat and giving of sanctions and negative penalties which encompasses of direct reprimand or suppression of anticipated rewards. Knowledge is a power. Expert power comes from an individual’s superior skills and knowledge in a certain area. Individuals who exert expert power is usually valued by the institution for their problem solving skills as they can accomplish critical responsibilities. Referent power comes from the capacity of a person to appeal individuals and form their reliability and fidelity. This power comes from appeal and charisma. According to B. Meadows (2011), all sources of power can be used in combination and people often have access to more than one power for the benefit and advancement of the institutions. Leaders use diverse power tactics to force other individual into desired actions and movements. For the KPMC, reward power will be highly employed as it tends to have an influence, impression and impact on the actions, behaviors and attitudes of the employees. Consequently, it will greatly motivate and inspire employees to be an effective and efficient part of the team and to work better as there will be a reward waiting. Rewards can be either tangible or intangible. Even simply openly or secretly admiring an employee for a task well done is deliberated as reward power and can be a valuable administration tool. By employing reward power in the institution, leaders can make an alteration from controlling and leading to modelling and impelling the growth and development of the employees by using reinforcing reward power. Opinions, ideas, decisions of leaders who exercise expert power are held in high regard by the employees; hence, greatly impact and affects their actions and behaviors. Good and Bad Political Aspects In all organizations, conflict and problems may arise due to competition or rival interests between groups and individuals (Mitchell, 2005). The tension brought about by diversity should be resolved through political means. However, politics has also its downside that can sometimes lead to the total destruction of the organization. Negative politics include the use of unethical tactics to regain power. One negative approach they use is backstabbing wherein a person pretends to be a friend but all the while talking about you in detrimental ways behind your back. An example of these is saying something bad about your friend to your other colleagues to destroy her reputation. Another approach is to embrace or demolish rivals in your organization who has suffered past hurts. It is when you fire people who do not favor the takeover. Next is stealing credit to people whom credit is due. Also, territorial games exist which involve competing for resources that gives power such as relationshi ps, authority and information. Good mouthing an employee to make them transferrable is also an unethical tactic. It usually happens when an unwanted employee is suddenly given an outstanding performance which makes her more marketable and more prone for a transfer. Another negative approach is putting a weak manager in place to help secure your position. It usually happens when a manager hires an incompetent assistant manager who is more unlikely to get a promotion. Continuous use of these unethical tactics may undermine organizational goals. However, by promoting good politics it channels away employees from using negative tactics. Some influential tactics use is leading by example. A manager must be a role model to her employees by being consistent with her words and actions. Next is using consultation to encourage employees for their ideas and opinions. Assertiveness as a positive tactic is also practiced. This refers to being straightforward with the person without violating their rights. Managers often use reasoning and logic as an influential tactic to get employees to follow their orders. Another is ingratiation wherein a person acts friendly when asking others for a favor. Lastly, exchange is also an approach for influencing employees by offering a barter with others. When these political tactics are used appropriately it can promote positive resolution to the tension rising in the organization (Mitchell, 2005). References Article Library. (2015). Types of Power in Leadership. Retrieved on March 28, 2015, from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/business-management/6-important-types-of-power-in-leadership/2560/ Bonita, R., Beaglehole,R., Kjellstrom, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology. Retrieved on March 26, 20015 from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241547073_eng.pdf Creative Vision Foundation. (n.d.). What is epidemiology? Retrieved on March 26, 2015 from http://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-readers/publications/epidemiology-uninitiated/1-what-epidemiology Daft, R. (2012). Management 10th ed. USA: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (2014). The External Environment. Retrieved on March 27, 2015 from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/more-subjects/principles-of-management/managerial-environments/the-external-environment Johnson, S. (n.d.). Five Components of an Organization’s External Environment. Retrieved March 29 from http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/five-components-organizations-external-environment-8944.html Mind Tools. (2015). Five Forms of Power. Retrieved on March 28, 2015, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_56.htm Mitchell, R. (2005). Introduction to Organizational Politics. Retrieved on March 23, 2015, from www.csun.edu/~hfmgt001/politics.doc Riley, J. (2014). Organizational Culture- The Crucial Importance of Core Values. Retrieved on March 22, 2015, from http://beta.tutor2u.net/business/blog/organisational-culture-the-crucial-importance-of-core-values Root, G. (2015). Five Components of an Organization’s External Environment. Retrieved on March 28. 2015 from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/five-components-organizations-external-environment-17634.html Study. (2003). What is Organizational culture? Definition Characteristics. Retrieved on March 22, 2015, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-organizational-culture-definition-characteristics.html The Fast Track. (2011). Five Types of Power in Leadership. Retrieved on March 28, 2015, from http://quickbase.intuit.com/blog/2011/08/26/the-5-types-of-power-in-leadership/ Wendy. (2013). Company Core Values: Why to have them and How to define them. Retrieved on March 22, 2013, from http://blog.7geese.com/2013/03/12/benefits-of-having-core-values-and-how-to-set-them-in-your-organization/

The Ratification of the Constitution :: American History

The Ratification of the Constitution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1787, the Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation, because it was felt that the Articles weren’t sufficient for running the country. However, the Constitution was not very well liked by everyone .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The constitution created was very much liked by the majority of the country. This included the farmers, the merchants, the mechanics, and other of the common people. However, there were those who were very important people in the revolution who felt that the Constitution would not work, most notably Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine, who felt they were the backbone of the revolution. Those who opposed the Constitution were deemed anti-federalists. This Constitution decreased the power of the states with less people in it, like Rhode Island... The anti-federalists, which also including George Mason, George Clinton, James Monroe, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Robert Yates, Samuel Chase, and Luther Martin, believed that a republican form of government could work on a national scale. They also did not feel that the rights of the individual were properly or sufficiently protected by the new Constitution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Constitution that was created had a strong central government and weak state governments. The anti-federalists believed in weak central and strong state governments, as the way it was in The Articles of Confederation. They thought that if the Government got all of the power, they would lose their rights and freedoms. This makes sense, because if the people making the rules live relatively close to you, they will be able to judge better than a house of representatives or a president who is 1000 miles away. They also remembered that from their experiences as British colonists, a federal government can tax, and can tax the people highly. One more reason that they didn’t like it is because it didn’t contain a Bill of Rights, so it is hard to judge what rights this government is going to give you.

Coal :: Coal Environment Economy Economics Essays

Coal Coal, a product of decay from plants older than 350 million years, is an integral part of energy production in the United States. Coal provides 56.9% of electricity generation in the United States.[1] With many different types of coal found in different states, the U.S. remains second to Russia in the number of estimated worldwide coal reserves.[2] Between the years of 1885-1950, coal was the most important fuel. One half ton of coal produced as much energy as two tons of wood and at half the cost.[3] Even today, there is, on a Btu basis, about one hundred times as much energy in the coal reserves of the United States as there is in either the oil or natural gas reserves.[4] But coal is also a rather variable energy substance as the different ranks, or measure of degree of change from the peat stage, affects the heating value and sulfur content of the coal. From low rank to high rank, the different types of coal are ordered as follows: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. Low rank coal tends to have a smoky flame and easy ignition whereas high rank coal is known for its clean flame and difficult ignition.[5] All of these types of coals can be found in three major United States regions known as The Appalachian Basin, The Illinois Basin, and the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region.[6] To recover coal from these significantly large coal reserves, workers use a process called strip mining. By using this process, strip miners can recover all the coal in a deposit, and each worker achieves very high productivity, recovering 30-40 tons per worker per day. Sixty percent of coal in the United States comes from strip mining. [7] While strip mining was at one time a dangerous career choice, the coal mining industry is now recognized as one of the safest, with a lower rate of injuries and illnesses per 100 employees than the agriculture, construction or retail trades.[8] A great problem with coal, which has lead to somewhat slow increases in coal production since 1920, has been the environmental impacts involved with surface mining, the effect of CO2 emissions on global climate, and health effects of SO2 and particulate emissions.[9] In 1952 in London, England, 12,000 people died and many become ill due to high concentrations of SO2.

Organizational Outputs Essay

In reviewing the article in reference to the Nadler-Tushman Congruence Model. Another quote from the article, struck me very strongly in regards to the observed organization; ‘The bigger the gap between the formal and informal systems within the organization, the less effective the organization is. ‘ This is from the Weisbord’s Six Box Model and this aspect is quite apparent in the organization observed. A negative output is one of the things that should be avoided, especially regarding consumers. An agreed statistic within many business marketing modules that a dissatisfied consumer will often tell more people than a satisfied consumer. A frustrating fact, however true. Outputs are those products which are dispensed from the organization. These can include product, as already mentioned, the way consumers are treated is another factor. Outputs also include, how the organization interacts with the environment. Technically an output is any factor that the organization ‘puts out’ whether through marketing, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Consumer Satisfaction There is an old saying, ‘You can’t please people all of the time. ‘ In an organization where the internal culture is to ‘never’ say ‘no. ‘ Because, we have also heard the saying, ‘The customer is always right. ‘ An automatic conflict is built between consumer and employee. Someone, is usually wrong. And if a person is doing their job as required under organizational policy, the possibility of ‘pleasing all of the people all of the time’ becomes quite low. However, in an organization ‘pleasing’ every person is a near impossibility. In fact, I believe, it was Menecke who said, ‘I don’t know the sure way to success. I do know the sure way to failure, trying to please everyone all the time. ‘ Certainly a risk every organization takes is how to tell the consumer, ‘no’, while keeping that person as a consumer. Somewhat of a conundrum, as no one likes to hear the word ‘no. ‘ This is where the earlier quote from ‘Weisford’s Six Box Model’ caught my particular attention. Faulty policy or the failure of an organization to uphold it’s own policy, creates extreme difficulties for personnel. In the organization observed, a policy would be set forth, such as a limit to the type or number of courses a student could take in an eight week period. Personnel, following policy and even double checking policy with the Director would refuse the student as directed under policy. The stated policy would then be, completely undermined if the student decided to complain. In most cases, if not all, the student was allowed the ‘exception’ to having policy overturned. When a situation such as this occurs on a recurring basis, morale is severely weakened. Personnel are not trusted to do their jobs with integrity. As well as the fact, that when policy is regularly undermined, what then becomes the point of attempting to enforce any type of policy. Worse, the employee begins to give up altogether in performing their tasks with any independence. As the result is and has been personnel are wrong and can be completely overridden. The result is an organization without compass. And ultimately, in this organizational situation, it is the consumers that are hurt the worst. Personnel become surly and unwilling to help. After all, how can personnel be perceived as being helpful when every decision, no matter how small can be overturned? The situation becomes unbearable, and any attempt at creating consumer loyalty is lost. Policy should serve as that mechanism to provide the means toward providing consumer needs. When that attempt to follow policy is constantly undermined, the result, undoubtedly is weak, powerless leadership and an unwilling personnel to follow any ‘policy’ that is developed. Personnel should be one of the most enthusiastic ‘ambassadors’ to the community when representing the organization. The odd thing about serving the organization in this way, is that a certain pride should be taken in the work one does. A continuous undermining of the personnel’s ability to do the job one has been hired to accomplish. This type of output creates a hostile atmosphere, distrust is built and maintained through this constant turmoil between management, personnel and consumers. Summary Only one type of output has been mentioned in this report. The reason being that personnel are crucial to the way consumers and the public perceive the function ability of an organization. A dissatisfied representative or employee becomes complacent and extremely unwilling to attempt new devices for serving the consumer. Much less becoming innovative in the process. Frustrating employees to the point of powerlessness, is not a recommended means toward the success of an organization. Another reason, I believe in the importance of personnel and their ability is that most organization’s neglect the fact that a sound, successful organization is built on the competence of employees. Yet, this seems to have become the accepted methodology among many organizations, especially older organizations. A basic principle is that personnel are the most valuable investment an organization can make. Personnel, especially those in the front line are those that have the ability to positively affect a second most important resource, consumers.

Mayella Violet Ewell Essay

Mayella Violet Ewell is Tom Robinson’s 19-and-a-half-year-old accuser and the eldest daughter of Bob Ewell; she has to take care of her siblings (such as Burris Ewell) due to Bob Ewell’s alcoholism. Before the trial, Mayella is noted for growing red geraniums outside her otherwise dirty home. Due to her family’s living situation, Mayella has no opportunity for human contact or love, and she eventually gets so desperate that she attempts to seduce a black man, Tom Robinson. Her father sees this through a window, and in punishment he beats her. Ewell then finds the sheriff, Heck Tate, and tells him that his daughter has been raped and beaten by Tom. At the trial, Atticus proves that it was her father who beat her by pointing out that the bruises are on the right side of her face only. This is important because Tom’s left hand is mangled and useless, while Bob Ewell is left handed. When Atticus Finch asks her if she has any friends, she becomes confused because she does not know what a friend is. During her testimony, she is confused by Atticus’ polite speech and thinks that his use of â€Å"Miss Mayella† is meant to mock her.  By testifying against Tom Robinson, Mayella is trying to destroy the evidence suggesting that she had attempted to seduce him, and to do what her father wants her to do so that he won’t hurt her — to eliminate her own guilt and fear of breaking a ‘rigid and time-honored code’. Mayella is played by Collin Wilcox in the movie.

Christianity and Islam Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Christianity and Islam - Research Paper Example The Catholic Church, the Coptic Church, the Orthodox Churches, the Protestant Churches, and other small denominations signify modern Christianity (Miner et al., 2014). The emergence of the Christianity on the Roman Empire was marked in Jerusalem during the 1st Century AD. The fall of the Empire resulted to the emergence of Christianity. The birth of Christianity in the Roman Empire is more often link to the conversion of the Constantine, which led to a different perception of Christianity. Word has it that, Christs vision appeared to the Constantine on the battle’s eve that eventually led to the Constantine winning the battle, hence made him convert the Empire to Christianity something that marked the emergence and spread of Christianity in the entire world by the time the Roman Empire fell. Therefore, since then the religion has spread globally and, it is believed it is one of the largest religions globally. Christianity appealed to many people after the fall of the Roman Empire because of the inequality that was exhibited by the Roman Empire (segregation); hence, Christianity offered mutual social support to its members, hence attracting many people. Therefore, many people adopted Christianity because they felt oppressed by the Roman Empire. In addition, many people from diverse backgrounds and regions viewed Christianity as a uniting religion and hence so the need to adopt Christianity (Mason.gmu.edu, n.d.). Islam came into existence in the 622 CE by Mohammed, a renowned prophet of the Medina. Muslims view Islam as something that has been there since the times of prophets such as David, Moses, Abraham, and Jesus (Levenson, 2012). The two main sacred texts used by Islam are Quran and Hadith. The five pillars of Islam are reciting of the Shahadah at least once a day, performing of the prayer five times a day while facing Mecca,

Racist Skinhead Subculture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Racist Skinhead Subculture - Essay Example The racial skinhead subculture is similar to neo-Nazi ideologies in the sense that aggression is mainly targeted to certain racial groups. In this case scenario, the most hated are often Jews, since the skinheads view them as the ones who have taken all the economic privileges in the country. They also abhor blacks and other races, whom they consider as inferior races to the white race. Over the past three decades, the racist skinhead subculture has continually evolved to be more sophisticated in the way it uses the internet to spread its propaganda. Though various extremist skinhead activities were weakened after 9/11 attacks in the US due to another of issues such as arrest of some leaders and death of another (Sinderbrand, 2004:38), since 2004, and over the past five years most of the groups have been regrouping, getting integrated and increasingly carrying out race motivated attacks on people (Anti Defamation League, 2012a:1). Since such groups often surge during times of economic distress and seek to put blames on various racial groups for taking away all jobs in the economy, I contend that it is probably due to the recent economic recession that most of these racist skinheads have regrouped. It is due to this reason that this paper finds it important to study the intricacies of the brand community of the skinhead subculture, and specifically the racist skinhea ds.... It is due to this reason that this paper finds it important to study the intricacies of the brand community of the skinhead subculture, and specifically the racist skinheads. The study will use subculture theory to understand why the skinhead group is a subculture and to tease out specific elements and themes concerning a specific example of racist skinhead: Hammerskin Nation. It will also analyze empirical studies as to attributes of this group in order to understand their practice. To this end, the key research questions will be what the main characteristics of the brand Hammerskin Nation are, why they have these characteristics and why they are a subculture based on clear themes concerning their movements that have been teased out and highlighted theoretical attributes. Literature review Historical perspective of the racial Skinhead The start of the skinhead head movement can be traced in the UK back in the 1950s and the 1960s. During this time several young people defined themsel ves separately by adopting a high stylish lifestyle bordered on mainly styles adopted by the British rock bands, US R$B, as well as movie stars. Brown (2004: 175) observes these earlier young people known as mods, who were less inclined to violence, became known for their devotion to music, fashion, scooters and their general consumerism. Since not all of the fashion trendy adhering to mod subculture could afford to have the latest trends in fashion, the group split off into two, the well off referred to as the smooth mods and the working class mods who could less afford the fashion trends. Nordstrom and Robben (1995:87) show that due to this the hard mods preferred to be sported in suspenders, boots and straight legged jeans. The hard mods mainly enjoyed he hard rock,