Humanistic Theory

Experiential and Humanistic Theory As a person goes through life and has ups and downs, their ability to handle the stress varies from person to person. At times, a person has difficulties maintaining all the pressures of issues that sometimes feel to manifest into deep sensations of falling. Not knowing where to turn or where to go to get a clear view of what it is that may has them continuing to feel all of the world is against them. Many people rely on friends and family to get that ear to sort out their troubles.Calm down an agitated person, assisting a friend through a death of a family member, or something as simple as avoiding negative thoughts through distracting, these forms of lending a hand can be described as psychotherapy. Anton Meamer discovered the age-old wisdom in the eighteenth century, early nineteenth. Anton realized that when a person or individual suffers a variety of mental anguish or illness, when put in a hypnotic trance, their symptoms disappeared. Many didn ’t understand the nature of what Anton was doing and dismissed a lot of his work.Later, Sigmund Freud rediscovered the theory and showed that the presence of caring, being attentive, becoming a trusted listener assisted with their issues or situations. Allowed a person to focus on their experience through revisiting long forgotten traumatic events and assist with symptoms of the trauma. Through observation, psychotherapy became a form of treatment and a new revolutionary form of therapy was born. As the foundation of psychology was being laid out, the development of theories began to be discovered.Understanding behavior and what may cause a person to want to strive in life and become successful in society opened the doors for theorist to develop a humanistic theory. The potential of an individual making a contribution to society and becoming a person who is likeable by peers, family, and friends led two theorist to develop the humanistic theory movement. Abraham Maslow and Ca rl Rogers regarded an individual’s personal growth and feeling fulfilled in life as basic human motive. Humanistic theory involves the development of an individual.The achievement of happiness is dependent upon the willingness of an individual to pursue their own deepest interests and desires. By an individual focusing on themselves, creating a strong sense of self gives a person to feel positive about their contribution to society. Humanist’s theory looks at behavior not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the individual presenting the behavior. A goal of humanistic theory and therapy gives the client the opportunity to deal with their behavior and situation in their own terms of real self and ideal self.With this idea, a client’s progress and direction in the therapy is based from what they are and what they want. Achieving self-esteem in therapy through this process allows the client to evaluate their own sense of what. Self-esteem will also strengthen the understanding of self and not be something or someone they are not. As the foundation is being set, as the clients acceptance of real self begins to emerge, their self-esteem becomes solid and their awareness to eventually not strive for being someone or something they’re not creates a positive sense of self and their needs begin to be met.With the qualities of positive regard for self, having an unconditional awareness of self, creates an empathetic and genuine client and humanistic therapist relationship. Using the techniques of humanistic therapy allow therapist to assist the client in agreeing with the merging of their real self and the ideal self. No matter what the client reveals of them self in therapy, keeping a positive regard will keep the client in an accepting and warm environment. In the context of humanistic psychotherapy, the individual should expect the therapist to be accepting of whatever has been revealed.As this bond is established , the client’s achievements towards self-actualization can be secured through the understanding of the therapist creating a solid and functional use of the client’s needs. The development of the â€Å"pyramid of needs† by Maslow in 1943 became the blue print used today to identify the needs of individuals. Maslow believed that in the correct order, an individual can become self-actualized through a hierarchy of needs. Once an individual has met the basic physiological needs such as food, water, sex, sleeps etc. then they are able feel safety through the security of body, employment, morality, family health, etc. As the individuals moves up the hierarchy, feeling loved and belonged strengthens their self-esteem and reaching self-actualization is achieved. Carl Rogers believed that in order for an individual to develop fully, in addition to Maslow’s hierarchy, their environment needs to be genuine, accepting, and have empathy. Rodgers felt that without the essential environment that is nourishing, development of healthy personalities and relationships will not have the opportunity to flourish fully.Rogers continued to expand on Maslow’s theory by going a little deeper. He felt that an individual operates from a unique frame of reference through building self-regard and self-concept. As an individual is identifying how to meet their basic needs, what about the experiences that are learned? David Kolb took a different approach then just viewing behavioral theories. Kolb developed the experiential learning theory that takes the approach on how experiences, including cognitions, environmental factors, and emotions influence the learning process.Kolb illustrated that experiences provide a great deal of information that serves as the ground level for reflection. Through reflections, Kolb believes an individual forms an abstract concept. Kolb describes four stage cycle theory of learning that creates a transformation of an experience. Concrete experience also known as â€Å"Do†, reflective observation also known as â€Å"Observe†, abstract conceptualization also known as† Think†, and active experimentation also known as† Plan†. One may begin at any stage, but must still follow each other in sequence.The first two stages are ways to grasp an experience and the last two are ways to transform an experience. The first stage, concrete experience is when the individual actively experiences in an activity such as a lab session or field work. The second stage, reflective observation is when an individual consciously reflects back on that experience. The third stage, abstract conceptualization an individual attempts to conceptualize a theory or model of what is observed. The fourth stage, active experimentation is when an individual is trying to plan how to test a model or theory or plan for a future experience.When speaking of individuals, this describes the learner. Both theories d emonstrate an approach that helps an individual identify with their selves. Each approach taken may have a different model that is adhered to, however, each approach focuses on the experiences that an individual has had that make up their psyche. Through understanding where an individual is at with their level of needs, the understanding of how they perceive and learn the information helps build a strong foundation when addressing the issues and situations of a person.As with any type of therapy, using techniques that is considered traditional in the aspect of a person-centered therapy, creating an environment where the clients is allowed to lead the conversation in a therapy session gives the client a sense of control. Feeling as if they are being heard, the relationship can begin to form and the therapist will continue to be aware of the different levels of theory that can present itself. Using the correct technique in a session will be sure that the client’s subjective per spective isn’t being missed and both client and therapist benefit from the potential growth that is uniquely inherent in them both.References: Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2013 Kolb, D. A. , Boyatzis, R. E. , & Mainemelis, C. (2000). Experiential Learning Theory: Previous Research and New Directions. In Perspectives on cognitive, learning, and thinking styles. Retrieved January 26, 2013 McLeod, S. (2012). Humanism. In Simply Psychology. Retrieved January 26, 2013 Severin, F. T. (1973). Discovering man in psychology: A humanistic approach. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved January 26, 2013

Position Paper: Pepsico’s Restaurants

Position Paper: PepsiCo’s Restaurants Pepsi Co’s Restaurants is a Harvard Business School Case which states PepsiCo’s large organization, its structure, its acquisitions and management approach. It also covers two companies, Carts of Colorado (COC) and California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) which are pursued from PepsiCo in 1991 to buy. In this position paper PepsiCo’s acquiring strategy and management approach will be evaluated to examine strengths and weaknesses of acquiring these two companies and possible solutions of other strategies. It will be also qualified whether it is a successful company in restaurant business.Pepsi’s acquiring strategy is diversified. First, it merged with Frito-Lay in 1965 and named PepsiCo. The case states the belief of Kendall that â€Å"snack chips went well with soda. † It was a product-extension merger. These two companies were selling different but related products in the same market. Snack foods and soft drinks a re related. With the help of established distribution network and brand recognition the merge resulted higher growth and economies of scale. This synergy was the basis of further developments. After that PepsiCo. acquired restaurant chains, which was the third segment for the company. You can read also Classifications of RestaurantsPepsiCo made market-extension and also product-extension with this purchase. It acquired the largest chains like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell at late 70’s and KFC in 1986. (Exhibit 1) With their economies of scale, it created market access for its own products and the restaurants could make cost reduction and cost efficiency with the growth of PepsiCo through soft drinks and also similar purchases. (PepsiCo Food Systems) Additionally, the acquirements of KFC with its franchises (Exhibit 5) was important because it helped PepsiCo to be internationally powerful.For this purpose, they used also a different strategy for their snack food segment and acquired Smith Crisps, Ltd from United Kingdom which was its competitor for European market. (horizontal acquisition) Besides, PepsiCo purchased supplier companies like bottling subsidiaries as backward integration (instruments of standard-cycle approach like PepsiCo Food Systems, cost efficiency is very important ) and also conglomeration like Wilson Sporting Goods, but they sold what they acquired when the parts are not greater than the whole. PepsiCo has decentralized management approach.Every decision didn’t taken by top management. The responsibility for authority and decision making is distributed. Pepsi commercial which included Michael Jackson with a 5$ million record fee was told CEO only a few hours before the contract. Moreover, Kendall encouraged managers to take risks and stated â€Å"If you go through your career and never make a mistake, you’ve never tried anything worthwhile† and the president of Pizza Hut, Steve Reinemund mentioned that Calloway, the follower CEO after Kendall, had never told him what to do.These are typical examples for decentralization, but it also shows us that there is a tradition at PepsiCo, the top management showed their managers their trust and tried to challenge their thought process. This is the result of Pepsi Co investment on them. Calloway’s response for outstanding performance was â€Å"the three P’s people, people, people†. Such decision makers should be experienced. Actually their two phase system was very successful because it let successful managers to promote another divisions, challenging positions or different functional areas.Most of the top management which can be seen from organization chart (Exhibit 2) had participated at all levels of PepsiCo with different assignments, so they were generalists and great managers with different experiences. Their management approach can be described as Calloway states â€Å"We take eagles and teach them to fly in formation. † Carts of Colorado and California Pizza Kitchen were two companies that PepsiCo. were interested to acquire. The advantages and disadvantages of such acquisitions will be considered separately.But first of all, we have to consider what was the strategy of PepsiCo for the future and what Pepsi Co has experienced. According to strategic planners of the company quick service restaurants would remain the largest segment over the following decade. Based on their analyses, quick service, casual dining and take out segments would be attractive. On the other hand, PepsiCo. invested to casual dining like Pizza Hut Cafe and experienced that their know-how for this segment is low. (Reinemund: â€Å"We needed people to come in and break the mold of our thinking.We knew enough to know what we didn’t) Additionally, Salsa Rio Grill which is also an investment for casual dining was a failure, but it has also mentioned it could be successful with a different setting. These are aspects that we have to think whether to acquire CPK. The case also mentions that PepsiCo. needed non-traditional program to increase points of distribution. That can be achieved with carts. The company also purchased carts from COC because they saw a potential future that the location of sales was really i mportant. If COC is acquired, than PepsiCo ould acquire skills or technologies more quickly or at lower cost than they could be built in-house. This can be seen as a strength, however COC’s carts wouldn’t cover the core competence of PepsiCO, therefore its acquisition could be not cost efficient. There is also an opportunity of first mover with the know-how of COC PepsiCo could achieve the most efficient mobile storesi, might be also apply some strategies for automats. The threat was that COC has a centralized organization, because of adaptation problems whole project could be a failure. Acquisition of CPK has strengths according to its operating segment of casual dining.The weakness could be because of its cost comparing to its benefit. Strategic planners saw casual dining segment a growth market and with its know-how they would expand their market. Its threat is centralized structure of CPK. They failed with Pizza Hut Cafe and Salsa Rio Grill and it could also happen with CPK if they apply their quick service strategies. According my point of view PepsiCo should not acquire CPK because PepsiCo. ’s tradition is very powerful and they want to adopt their strategies to CPK, but added value and core competence of this companies is its centralized structure.If they act so, they will fail, instead of acquiring synergy. Additionally, the economies of scale CPK is also small which would not add value to its soft drink segment, the acquirement of other restaurant chains was also beneficial for brand awareness and reputation, this wouldn’t happen for CPK. They would acquire it for know-how of this company, but the company is not public and centralized, everything will depend on cofounders of CPK, this a very big risk if we compare benefits and its cost.On the other hand, PepsiCo could acquire COC, but they could make a technology contract with such a company. In such a contract the threat is the benefit, the synergy with experience of Pepsi Co and know-how of COC can be extraordinary. If COC shares the results to other competitors, that wouldn’t be a one sided gain, so comparing with its cost, it would be much better to acquire it because built-in of such department would be also very costly. As a result, I want also add my comments about the success status of Pepsi in restaurant business. I believe, it is successful.Although its history is short comparing with soft drink segment, its revenue is greater than soft drink segment and this is a success, PepsiCo differentiated its products, it made a great purchase system for cost effectiveness, but it had to increase its profitability according to 1991 data. Although it covered 36% of PepsiCo sales, but operating profit was 29% and as we knew from case, PepsiCo main strategy was investing to where it believed it could achieve the highest returns. (Exhibit 4) Reference: http://www. mckinseyquarterly. com/The_five_types_of_successful_acquisitions_2635 PepsiCo’s Restaurants Harvard Business School Case Position Paper: Pepsico’s Restaurants Position Paper: PepsiCo’s Restaurants Pepsi Co’s Restaurants is a Harvard Business School Case which states PepsiCo’s large organization, its structure, its acquisitions and management approach. It also covers two companies, Carts of Colorado (COC) and California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) which are pursued from PepsiCo in 1991 to buy. In this position paper PepsiCo’s acquiring strategy and management approach will be evaluated to examine strengths and weaknesses of acquiring these two companies and possible solutions of other strategies. It will be also qualified whether it is a successful company in restaurant business.Pepsi’s acquiring strategy is diversified. First, it merged with Frito-Lay in 1965 and named PepsiCo. The case states the belief of Kendall that â€Å"snack chips went well with soda. † It was a product-extension merger. These two companies were selling different but related products in the same market. Snack foods and soft drinks a re related. With the help of established distribution network and brand recognition the merge resulted higher growth and economies of scale. This synergy was the basis of further developments. After that PepsiCo. acquired restaurant chains, which was the third segment for the company. You can read also Classifications of RestaurantsPepsiCo made market-extension and also product-extension with this purchase. It acquired the largest chains like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell at late 70’s and KFC in 1986. (Exhibit 1) With their economies of scale, it created market access for its own products and the restaurants could make cost reduction and cost efficiency with the growth of PepsiCo through soft drinks and also similar purchases. (PepsiCo Food Systems) Additionally, the acquirements of KFC with its franchises (Exhibit 5) was important because it helped PepsiCo to be internationally powerful.For this purpose, they used also a different strategy for their snack food segment and acquired Smith Crisps, Ltd from United Kingdom which was its competitor for European market. (horizontal acquisition) Besides, PepsiCo purchased supplier companies like bottling subsidiaries as backward integration (instruments of standard-cycle approach like PepsiCo Food Systems, cost efficiency is very important ) and also conglomeration like Wilson Sporting Goods, but they sold what they acquired when the parts are not greater than the whole. PepsiCo has decentralized management approach.Every decision didn’t taken by top management. The responsibility for authority and decision making is distributed. Pepsi commercial which included Michael Jackson with a 5$ million record fee was told CEO only a few hours before the contract. Moreover, Kendall encouraged managers to take risks and stated â€Å"If you go through your career and never make a mistake, you’ve never tried anything worthwhile† and the president of Pizza Hut, Steve Reinemund mentioned that Calloway, the follower CEO after Kendall, had never told him what to do.These are typical examples for decentralization, but it also shows us that there is a tradition at PepsiCo, the top management showed their managers their trust and tried to challenge their thought process. This is the result of Pepsi Co investment on them. Calloway’s response for outstanding performance was â€Å"the three P’s people, people, people†. Such decision makers should be experienced. Actually their two phase system was very successful because it let successful managers to promote another divisions, challenging positions or different functional areas.Most of the top management which can be seen from organization chart (Exhibit 2) had participated at all levels of PepsiCo with different assignments, so they were generalists and great managers with different experiences. Their management approach can be described as Calloway states â€Å"We take eagles and teach them to fly in formation. † Carts of Colorado and California Pizza Kitchen were two companies that PepsiCo. were interested to acquire. The advantages and disadvantages of such acquisitions will be considered separately.But first of all, we have to consider what was the strategy of PepsiCo for the future and what Pepsi Co has experienced. According to strategic planners of the company quick service restaurants would remain the largest segment over the following decade. Based on their analyses, quick service, casual dining and take out segments would be attractive. On the other hand, PepsiCo. invested to casual dining like Pizza Hut Cafe and experienced that their know-how for this segment is low. (Reinemund: â€Å"We needed people to come in and break the mold of our thinking.We knew enough to know what we didn’t) Additionally, Salsa Rio Grill which is also an investment for casual dining was a failure, but it has also mentioned it could be successful with a different setting. These are aspects that we have to think whether to acquire CPK. The case also mentions that PepsiCo. needed non-traditional program to increase points of distribution. That can be achieved with carts. The company also purchased carts from COC because they saw a potential future that the location of sales was really i mportant. If COC is acquired, than PepsiCo ould acquire skills or technologies more quickly or at lower cost than they could be built in-house. This can be seen as a strength, however COC’s carts wouldn’t cover the core competence of PepsiCO, therefore its acquisition could be not cost efficient. There is also an opportunity of first mover with the know-how of COC PepsiCo could achieve the most efficient mobile storesi, might be also apply some strategies for automats. The threat was that COC has a centralized organization, because of adaptation problems whole project could be a failure. Acquisition of CPK has strengths according to its operating segment of casual dining.The weakness could be because of its cost comparing to its benefit. Strategic planners saw casual dining segment a growth market and with its know-how they would expand their market. Its threat is centralized structure of CPK. They failed with Pizza Hut Cafe and Salsa Rio Grill and it could also happen with CPK if they apply their quick service strategies. According my point of view PepsiCo should not acquire CPK because PepsiCo. ’s tradition is very powerful and they want to adopt their strategies to CPK, but added value and core competence of this companies is its centralized structure.If they act so, they will fail, instead of acquiring synergy. Additionally, the economies of scale CPK is also small which would not add value to its soft drink segment, the acquirement of other restaurant chains was also beneficial for brand awareness and reputation, this wouldn’t happen for CPK. They would acquire it for know-how of this company, but the company is not public and centralized, everything will depend on cofounders of CPK, this a very big risk if we compare benefits and its cost.On the other hand, PepsiCo could acquire COC, but they could make a technology contract with such a company. In such a contract the threat is the benefit, the synergy with experience of Pepsi Co and know-how of COC can be extraordinary. If COC shares the results to other competitors, that wouldn’t be a one sided gain, so comparing with its cost, it would be much better to acquire it because built-in of such department would be also very costly. As a result, I want also add my comments about the success status of Pepsi in restaurant business. I believe, it is successful.Although its history is short comparing with soft drink segment, its revenue is greater than soft drink segment and this is a success, PepsiCo differentiated its products, it made a great purchase system for cost effectiveness, but it had to increase its profitability according to 1991 data. Although it covered 36% of PepsiCo sales, but operating profit was 29% and as we knew from case, PepsiCo main strategy was investing to where it believed it could achieve the highest returns. (Exhibit 4) Reference: http://www. mckinseyquarterly. com/The_five_types_of_successful_acquisitions_2635 PepsiCo’s Restaurants Harvard Business School Case

Economic freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic freedom - Essay Example The essay "Economic freedom" concerns the concept that called economic freedom. Studies have shown that human beings operate more efficiently when not under pressure. Freedom allows individuals to practice and fully exploit their creativity. Sociologists have linked human freedom to human creativity and have found it to be working hand in hand. The Sociologists argue that it allows for greater risks taking that would generate better ways of doing business. Economic freedom has three classical viewpoints, institutions, political and indices of economic freedom. This paper presents a discussion on economic freedom. For there to be a smooth flow of trade between parties, there are institutions of economic freedom set to achieve it. The first is the observance of the rule of law. In the application of the law, all parties are equal, and none is superior. The rule of law has obligations that ensure equality of individual in spite of any form of difference between them. Observance of the l aw protects traders from unfair completion. In law, two kinds of parties exist, the one with power and the other one who is governed. Both parties should act in a manner that is required of them and feel protected by the law. In as much as there is the observance of equality, it is not logical for every party to earn the same income. Equality comes in the sense of treatment of one another and not in the distribution of private resources. It is illogical for the government to redistribute earned resources. from citizens in the name of equality (Asafu-Adjaye 78). The next institution is a clear outline for the rights to own private property. A free market allows for the right for people to control their property and benefit from them. In addition to this, the individuals have a right to transfer their property at their own will. Therefore, an individual cannot be prevented from doing whatever he or she likes with the property. With this kind of system, traders are motivated to pursue their goals and continue adding value to their property. The traders are confident that they are capable of transferring their income anytime without the fear of having to leave anything behind when they opt to leave. Studies show that areas with well-defined property rules have a faster economic growth as compared to the areas without. Most research argues that this property rule is the main reason for poverty in third world countries since they do not have well spelt out systems. The third is the freedom of contract, which refers to the right of choosing whom to trade with, or not. The individual parties choose the form of contracts to get into and establish an agreement. However, once establishing the contract they both have to fulfill the terms and conditions and see it through whether one realizes that he will incur losses. In as much as most of the contracts are fair, some are not especially when the parties are unequal. An example is in the case of workers and employers when negotiating a number of working hours. The employer would be looking at maximizing the hours while the worker will be looking at minimizing it. However, since the employer has an upper hand, he tends to win the negotiation (Noyes 43). Economical freedom has come hand in hand with political freedom. Since the market is free, it has prevented politics to dominate trade. This has reduced the threat of suffering because of a political affiliation. It is a point worth noting that economical freedom has grown with the coming of political freedom.

(Business information system) You are required to conduct a detailed Research Paper

(Business information system) You are required to conduct a detailed on an organization's information system, analyze - Research Paper Example These included Europe, comprising all existing controlled business located in Europe, in addition to Turkey, Hungary, and Czech Republic. The company heavily relies on IT and it has incorporated IT in its Market structure as a tool for successful implementation of it programs. This paper discusses and describes the Vodafone Group business organization structure with a focus on the role of IT in its business organization structure. Historical Background of Vodafone Group Vodafone Company started as a joint venture between Hambros Technology Trust Millicom and the subsidiary of Racal Electronics PLC’s strategic Radio Ltd in 1982 with its name being derived from a company’s goal of establishing data services and voice services over mobile telephone networks. Hence, its network was called Racal Vodafone (Saylor 56). The company was renamed Racal Telecom in 1988. In 1991, Racal Telecom became demerged from the Racal Electronics there is when the mobile telephony giant came i nto existence. In 1996, the company bought people phone and acquired 80% of the Astec Communication, a move that so it increase its shares of the UK mobile customers (Read 46). In 2000, the Group reverted its former name Vodafone Group PLC selling most of the manufacturing related operations. It made the first 3G Voice Call in 2001 on the Uk’s Vodafone 3G network. The company signed a partner agreement with the Mobikom Australia, and became introduced in the Icelandic market. In 2004, it went into an agreement with Luxembourg’s LuxGSM. The Group increased its participation in the Connex of Romania and purchased Czech mobile operator. The period between 2004 to date has seen the company expand through entering into partnership with various communication companies worldwide (Read 57). On the overall from 1980 to 1991, the company bore the name Racal Telecom Brand. Its name was change to Vodafone Group retaining this name from 1991 to 2000. Since 2000 till now, the compan y has retained the name Vodafone Group PLC (Thomson 43). Business Organization Structure of the Vodafone Group Since it was founded under the auspice of Vodafone Group plc, the Vodafone Company has realized drastic transformations. It has changed its brand from the Racal Telecom Brand to the Vodafone Group and finally the Vodafone Group PLC, alongside its organization structure. As of 9th December 2010, the company has retained a business organization that is all inclusive and diverse. This section describes the Group’s Organization structure as of 9th December 2010 to date. In regard to its operating companies, the Group has two operating regions reflecting the different geographies or different nature of assets, as well as to reflect the differences in development of the sector considering various economies. These included Europe, comprising all existing controlled business located in Europe, in addition to Turkey, Hungary, and Czech Republic. The CEO (Michel Combel) is in charge of Europe region. For other regions, including businesses located in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Fiji, Australia plus New Zealand, Nick Read is at the top as the Regional CEO. The Vodafone Group has other senior officials including the Group CFO, CEO and Strategy and Business Development Director. These officials are charged with the responsibility of effecting strategies for maximization of the shareholder value

National Branding vs Private Label Branding Essay

National Branding vs Private Label Branding - Essay Example Usually, it is hard to know, without the aid of chemical analysis or other forms of tests, whether private brands match national brands. Uncertainty may occur due to many reasons. For example, a bread company produces many private-label breads. This however does not mean that private brands are of the same quality as the name (national) brand. The bread company may differ in its formula when producing private brands, and we should also consider that the private brands may not be as fresh as the national brands (Kis 10). Similarly, we can also look at the case of say the largest brewer of beer in your region under its own national label; can also be among the biggest supplier of private-label brand of beer. Many private-label brands of wines and spirits as you have witnessed are produced by well-known national-brand companies. Consumers are usually willing to pay more for national brands, because they are confident in their quality. This way they evade the risk of purchasing a low-qua lity product, which is usually a private label brand. Hence, if they can be convinced to try out cheaper brands and find out that their quality is similar to the national brand they are accustomed to, they may switch (Lincoln 23). In a Gallup Poll, it was discovered that about 80% of consumers who tried a product with a private-brand label like a store brand, instantly became regular buyers. Store-brand customers are typically well-informed people, who pay attention to the labels. The Gallup Poll also showed that many consumers make an effort to study the labels and prices. The Poll indicated that 40% of shoppers are selective: this means that they compare products on different dimensions considering the quality, price and special offers; therefore they do not just choose the national brand. Most national-brand products are known to be of a superior quality; therefore, they are usually sold for significantly higher prices than private labels. In June 1984, the Private Label Manufact uring Association conducted an independent research where they compiled a "Market Basket List" for 17 staple items. Private labels’ total cost was found to be lower compared to national brands. It was found that private-label shoppers generally pay less as compared to national brand shoppers. Private-label strength is highly susceptible to economic conditions and will vary depending is this factor. This means that private-label market shares goes up when the economic situation is not good and down when the economy is good (Mennen 23). The main reason for the existence of brand names is because consumers usually need to be sure of quality when they lack the time, opportunity, or ability to examine other options. Brand names simplify the selection process, since you will find that the products are cluttered. A survey by DDB Needham conducted in 1994 indicates that 60% of consumers prefer factors pertaining to national brands, for example, security, value and comfort, as opposed to private label brands. National brand-name goods have better competitive advantage over private labels, due to their solid foundation. They have a running start. The strongest national brands have been in existence for decades and have consistent quality. National brands have value for retailers, which mean that retailers must have them, since consumers expect to find them widely distributed. If consumers fail to find them, they are

Bar Code Man Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Bar Code Man - Assignment Example The Woodland and Silver barcode can be described as the â€Å"bull’s eye† symbol made up of a series of concentric circles. Barcode was first used commercially in 1966, however it was soon realized that would have to be some sort of industry standard set. By 1970, the Universal Grocery Products Identification Code (UGPIC) was written by a company called Logicon Inc. Since then the use of barcode has been adopted by many companies and institutions. Barcode man is an exploration of how software can reveal different patterns and variations contained within single textiles. Similarly shaped black and white woven motifs are printed in similar colors to turn them into red, yellow and blue textiles (Seideman 2011) Some of the influence of barcode man in the society today incudes revolutionizing the process of inventory control. And to date they are everywhere around us keeping track of product information and inventory levels. In addition, barcode has brought more transparency and accountability to the society hence limiting fraud especially in prisons and banks. Due to barcodes, hospitals are associated with significant increase in total medication accuracy rates hence ensuring safety. In my opinion, it is the ultimate experience of transformation that has excited us most as a human race. In the last decade, we have only witnessed a small part of what is possible. Specifically the barcode technology was the preserve of the few companies and organizations who could afford it. As the technological possibility of barcode envelopes in the society, it will instill in us a sense of belief, and faith that has traditionally been associated with religion such as the number 666 in the bible. Therefore I believe ‘barcode man’ has created a sense of security and promoted coherence to the society in

Apple Company Domestic and International Market Research Paper - 1

Apple Company Domestic and International Market - Research Paper Example Understanding the domestic market is a necessary requirement to determine economic performance and forecast on future objectives. Apple has initiated innovative strategies that ensure they stay relevant in the market, even with the high price of their products (Davies, 2007). However, the European market has reported slow growth because of competition from the android, Microsoft and windows phones. Asia and other emerging markets such as Africa provide a fertile ground for Apple’s expansion. Cook maintains that segmentation to Asian countries has been beneficial, and it has been able to claim a considerable share of the market. The international market involves multifarious factors such as cultural adaptation, political interference, and consumer trends in the region. Apple has a considerably large market in Europe and Asia that presents diverse consumers of its products. Planning and strategizing is necessary to capture such complex markets, especially with the current competition and globalization concerns (Davies, 2007). HP and Dell are two large competitors in the international technology market that concern Apple. While China provides Apple’s largest international market, Europe provides a considerably large market for their products. However, it has declining sales in the international market (Asia and Europe) that is worrying. Apple plans to retain most of large financing outflows in the domestic market. Capital expenditures, share purchases, and dividends characterize the outflows. Its international target market largely hinges on a well-off market, and Asia presents a large market for this objective as the nation continues to build on its richness. The company has no intentions to reduce the price of its commodities or manufacture inferior products to widen its international market. The iPhone, despite its high price, remains to be a considerable selling point for the Apple products. It perceptibly will dominate the international Asian market, just

Howard Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligence Research Paper

Howard Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligence - Research Paper Example Before discussing the theory of Multiple Intelligences in detail, let us get a brief introduction of the theorist, Howard Gardner. Howard Gardner was born in the United States in 1943. He got his major education from Harvard University where he studied history, social relations, psychology, and human behaviors. His ideological beliefs and perceptions are influenced by some key figures related to the fields of psychology and sociology. Some of those prominent figures include Nelson Goodman, Jean piaget, Erik Erikson, and Jerome Bruner. Currently, Garner is serving as a professor in Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard University.Seven Intelligences of the Theory Multiple intelligence theory suggests that humans usually have a variety of intelligences that are independent of each other (Marchetti, n.d.). This theory is more humane and veridical as compared to alternative views of intelligence (Gardner, 2006, p. 6). The seven intelligences included in the Howard Gardner†™s Multiple Intelligences model are linguistic intelligence, logical/mathematical intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily/kinesthetic intelligence, visual/spatial intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence (Bogin, 2012). Let us discuss all of them in detail in order to develop an understanding of key intelligences.This intelligence refers to the use of language to accomplish certain goals. A person can use language to write something, learn something, and to express his/her feelings to others.  Ã‚  

Compare and contrast the 7S and Mintzberg's configuration models of Essay

Compare and contrast the 7S and Mintzberg's configuration models of organisations - Essay Example Henry Mintzberg enhanced organizational design literature by suggesting different forms of organizations (Clegg, 3-7). McKinsey 7s model explains how an organisation goes about analyzing how well it is positioned to achieve its intended objective. This model has remained persistent over the years because it is applicable in wide range situations where an alignment perspective is useful (Strategic management journal 279). Regardless of how an organization decides to define its scope of operations, alignment issues apply, making the model significant. Organisations being complex, this model eases the difficulty in understanding them, and helps to understand them, consequently yielding maximum benefit and profitability (Clegg, 27). Description Mintzberg defines organizational structure as, the total number of ways in which an organization distributes its labor into distinctive parts and then attains harmonization amongst them. He argues that each configuration comprises of six constitue nts, which are (Clegg, 23-29): Operating core: The human labor directly linked to the manufacturing of goods and services Calculated apex: Aids the necessities of the people in the organisation Intermediate line: Managers who link the premeditated apex with the operating fundamental Techno-structure: The expert who scheme, plot, modify or train the operating fundamental Support staff: Professionals who deliver sustenance to the organisation external of the operating core’s undertakings Ideology: Philosophies and customs that make the organisation exceptional. Each one of the above part is in control to tug an organization in a specific way which is advantageous to them. As a result, Mintzberg presents organisation configuration framework with six valid organizational configurations. They are (Clegg 31-89): Entrepreneurial organization: This is a simple structure characterized by little or no techno-structure; few support staff, minimal division of labor and work differentiati on and little managerial hierarchy. There is no formal behavior, thus coordination is simple with direct supervision. This is the most starting point of many organizations (Davidson 46). Machine bureaucracy: Comprises of high specialized, routine operating tasks, very formal procedures, proliferation of rules, regulations, and formalized communication throughout the organization and reliance on functional basis for grouping tasks. There is centralized decision-making and an elaborate administrative structure with clear distinctions between line and staff. It houses the specialists who do the standardizing. Machine bureaucracy is mostly found in mature or old organizations, large enough to have repetitive and standardized tasks. Managers at this level are not problem solving, rather, they concentrate on enhancing work processes to generate more output efficiently (Hardling, et al 33). Professional organization: This bureaucracy depends on the synchronization on the adjustment of skil ls. It employs duly accomplished experts or professionals for the operational core, and gives them significant control over their exertion. They work autonomously of their coworkers, but, closely to the customers they attend (Semler, 47). Previously

Corruption in the Teamsters Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Corruption in the Teamsters Union - Essay Example (Myint, 2000), notes that the lack of Accountability, mingled with Economic Rent, here defined as a unique feature in a person which causes them to be at an ad vantage with the competitors, and Discretionary Powers, defined as the allowance for leaders to twist rules in their own way brings about corruption. Taking this in mind, most trade union members join the unions just their work rights insured. They hence don't give a keen thought to a leader's character as long as he or she is representing their rights well. Therefore, Trade Unions provide an even field for greedy men and women to propagate their activities without confrontation. Mismanagement and embezzlement of collective funds has led to the collapse of famous trade unions in several countries. This increasingly destructive vice has spurred an unprecedented input in research on the Causes, effects and cures of Corruption in Trade Unions. Surprisingly, the issues of corruption continue in increasing numbers. Nevertheless, we have a better knowledge and deeper understanding of the causes and effects of Corruption, not just in Trade Unions, but also in other agencies. For the sake of this paper, I will examine Corruption in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBP), otherwise called the Teamsters Union. The findings and recommendations will represent the possibilities in other Trade Unions. Background Information The IBP is the largest private sector labor union in the United States and Canada. It comprises of over 2 million blue-collar workers in the public service and private sectors. Unlike most Unions, the IBP divides into many strong smaller unions, with their own leadership structures and policies. The International Body acts only as a coordinating agent. IBP history dates back to the early 1900s, being a merger of two former Trade Unions. The Teamsters' National Union is the Foundation stone for the Union. It was established by truck drivers and deliverymen from Chicago who had defied the A merican Federation of Labor (AFL) attempts of creating a teamsters trade union. The Union later merged with Team Drivers' International Union (The Union formed by AFL), to form the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). The new group now registered as an affiliated group to the AFL. At its inception, the Teamster Union aimed at ensuring fare working conditions for the members. Its leadership structure has smaller subsidiary groups called Locals. The Locals elect their own leaders who then elect the national leaders. The initial membership consisted of deliverymen using horse drawn vehicles, until in the 1930s after Truck Drivers surpassed them. From the onset of the Union, its mandate has been representing the rights of truck drivers, service deliverymen and other similar job groups. The Union has a great bargaining power, fueled by its large membership as well as its capacity to hamper the transportation of important goods. It has always been important to the AFL, for a stri ke by its members would hamper the movement of products throughout the nation. Inasmuch as, the numbers were important in ensuring a good bargaining power, the same was also a brooding ground for corrupt leaders. Most of its leaders are notorious in soliciting for bribes from

Fallacies Assignment Essay Example for Free

Fallacies Assignment Essay The source in question is a response to the episode of â€Å"Oprah† that featured an â€Å"expose† of puppy mills. The person posting to the site makes several arguments that attempt to support the claim that animal breeders are responsible for pet overpopulation, all based on fallacies. Overall, the writer makes an appeal to the readers’ emotions. One such argument is that â€Å"Ive volunteered in the rescue trenches for over ten years of non-stop blood, sweat and mostly tears. † This statement is not only an appeal to emotion due to the â€Å"mostly tears† statement, but it is also an appeal to emotion in that it focuses on the negative aspects of rescue and with the reference to being â€Å"in the trenches,† the writer compares being in rescue to war (par. 3). The writer makes an appeal to authority, citing Oprah as an example of the desirability of adopting a pet, stating that â€Å"she has been educated† and that â€Å"if [Oprah’s] who she appears to be† that she would adopt her next pet (par. 6). The writer follows up this appeal to authority with an ad ignorantiam, with the question â€Å"how could she not? † implying that adoption would be the only way that a reasonable person, in this case, Oprah, would acquire another pet. In addition, the writer makes a red herring argument about the nature of the purebred dog, stating that it is a manipulated creature and therefore is not worth having. How this argument relates to the argument about overpopulation is never made clear, other than that it demonizes breeders and owners of purebred animals. Finally, the writer makes two statements of innuendo. The first of these is the implication that the reader and Oprah are both foolish if they don’t realize that Oprah can get her purebred Cocker Spaniels from sources other than a breedernot pausing to make the connection that all purebreds have their origin with a breeder, good or bad. The writer also makes the comment that she challenges the reader to volunteer with a breed rescue to get â€Å"a big dose of reality,† implying that the reader is ignorant and that only by doing what the writer has already done can the reader understand the â€Å"truth. † The entire post made by the writer is based on fallacies; there is not a single attempt to support these assertions with fact. Although there is some good argument for adopting a pet from a shelter, the writer seems to prefer to make arguments that will either inflame or confuse the reader, rather than providing good information to the reader. Reference Not all breeders are bad. (2008). Message 17. Retrieved from http://www. oprah. com/community/message/370577 17. Re: NOT ALL BREEDERS AND PETSTORES ARE BAD Apr 6, 2008 3:38 PM The bottom line is that it doesnt matter. The bottom line is that we are in a huge, crushing pet overpopulation crisis. HUGE. How is that conveniently ignored by the people who make more dogs for money? Ask yourself, What is your pet stores motive? Money. Ironically, thats what matters the most in all business. Sure there are responsible breeders. But who cares? These responsible breeders are still part of the problem: adding more pets into a pet overpopulation crisis of unbelievable proportions. Youre still dealing with a really unethical issue here making more dogs for money while millions die. Can you ignore that? How can you make that o. k. in your mind? Ive volunteered in the rescue trenches for over ten years of non-stop blood, sweat and mostly tears. I can sit here right now and tell everyone reading this that you can adopt any kind of dog you want. Any kind. Big or small. Whatever breed. You know why? Because owners are irresponsible and dump the pets like so much garbage because theyre moving. Or theyre having a baby. Or whatever else stupid reasons Ive heard. Its a disposable society. There are rescues working for nothing to save these animals. Who are you going to believe has the best interests of the animals at heart? The non-profit rescues, or the Pet Store/Breeder industries who are in it for one reason only: to make money? The breeders will tell you that theyre doing it for the preservation of the breed or some such thing. The truth is that there are are a whole lot of these same purebreds dying because there arent enough homes. The purebred rescues dont have any shelter facilities they cant afford them, just like any rescue cant. They rely soley on foster homes. When youre full, youre full. So for those of you thinking, Well, the rescues will save them, it just isnt true. There are just too many. Finally, lets think about what a purebred dog is. Its an animal that has been manipulated by man through breeding practices to have certain traits that man wants. Thats all. Purebreed dogs were never just naturally born that way. They were manipulated over the years to become breeds by men. So if you truly want a purebred dog, theres only one: Natures purebred. Never manipulated, never messed with. Thats why mutts are always healthier and have natural immune systems. Thats why Golden Retrievers have such a high incidence of Hip Dysplasia, for example. As for Oprah, she has been educated. All of us, at one point in our lives, didnt know what we know now. If shes who she appears to be, then she will adopt her next Cocker from a Cocker rescue. How could she not. (Btw, there are three Cocker Rescues in the city I live in, two Golden rescues, two Doxie rescues and it goes on and on just like that with every breed. ) To suggest that Oprah could have only gotten her PURE BREED Cocker Spaniel from a breeder is absolutely ignorant and completely ludacris. You are clueless as to what is really going on out there. People dump their animals (which they bought from pet stores and breeders) and the rest of us who care about them and not money are left to care for these innocent animals. A dog is a precious gift, not a purchase that has monetary value and as such, can be thrown away or sold again through the paper. Sorry! I suggest a big dose of reality. I challenge you to go and volunteer for your local Cocker Spaniel rescue. You will not ever be the same again and one day, you will wonder how you could have worked in a Pet Store that sells animals. Ever hear of Petsmart? Huge corporation. They refuse to sell animals. Ask yourself why. And please, go educate yourself. I took in a scarred up two year old Shar Pei mix whom I found wandering on an Indian Reservation. She is the most loving, loyal, gentle, silly, playful and amazing dog anyone could hope for. Are you actually going to tell me that her life is worth less than a purebred Cocker Spaniel from your store Her life and the life of the dogs in your store are all priceless. PRICELESS. Get it? Lets start changing our thinking, people, for the sake of all animals. Until there are no more; adopt. Dont Breed or Buy while Homeless Animals Die. Sorry, but Pet Stores and Breeders are losing ground and for good reason..

Impact of mass communications and mass media within modern culture

Impact of mass communications and mass media within modern culture The culture is very diverse. It is quite evident that due to the dramatic development of mass communications and mass media the modern culture impacts on many national cultures around the world. Every society is a legacy of the institutes. These institutes are kind of a collection of habits and customs. Without culture, the real freedom is impossible. Many researchers are certain that modern challenges require a resolute approach to the problems, and that chief problems appear in the area of culture and their solution is in the development of culture. All nations that are cultured in a traditional sense have their folklore, their own cultural identity elaborated by many generations. Thor Hansen claimed: Culture is something that evolves out of the simple, enduring elements of everyday life; elements most truthfully expressed in the folk arts and crafts of a nation. We make history; but we are also made by our history. Individuals and societies constantly move in history and use it as a reservoir of experience, allegiance and ideals that craft identities and outlooks. The patina of history ages the present. But more important: when today is steeped in a vision of the past it becomes a means to envision and shapes a trajectory into the future. History is never a dead letter, even if we fail to learn its lessons, or refuse anything except reliving its mistakes. (Sardar, 2002, p.11) Tradition, heritage, modernism all contested terms. But no less contested are the very words art and history, the one leading away from, the other towards, a time-based judgement of the ethical outcomes of creative practice. But it is precisely when the terms are held in dialectical conflict that they function together to produce illuminations not just of the past, not just of the present, but of the processes of change in which we all humanity now alive must take our places. (Sardar, 2002, p.14) The aim of the present work is to found such phenomena as modernism, postmodernism and contemporary art as cultural reference points. In connection with this aim, the following tasks can be set: to look at the history of these movements; to relate the art movements under concern with social developments. Cultural situation of the end of XIX first half of XX centuries developed under the sign of modernism. Fauvism, impressionism, cubism, futurism, abstractionism, Dadaism, surrealism are not nearly the full list of modernistic art movements. Modern (fr. Moderne means newest, modern, Art Nouveau, Jugendstil) European and American art style of the end of XIX early XX centuries. Modernism is variously argued to be a period, style, genre or combination of the above; but it is first of all word, one that exists, alongside cognate words. Its stem, modern-, is a term that, from the latin modo, means current, and so has a far wider currency and range of meanings than modernism. (Childs, 2008, p. 12-13) The new style spread all over Europe and first influenced architecture and decorative art. Modern representatives used new technical and structural facilities, open-plans, unique architectural decor in order to create extraordinary, deeply individualized buildings. Plastic and fluent lines, floral patterns are typical for modern. Modern architecture,  new architectural style that emerged in many Western countries in the decade after World War I. It was based on the rational use of modern materials, the  principles  of functionalist planning, and the rejection of historical precedent and ornament. This style has been generally designated as modern, although the labels International style,  Neue Sachlichkeit,  and functionalism have also been used. (Answers.com) Speaking about modern in the broad sense the term avant-gardism may also be used. In other words the art movements mentioned above can be named either modernist or avant-garde ones. Avant-Garde the term was first applied to artists in the nineteenth century to indicate those whose work seemed to be at the forefront of new developments in art as opposed to artists who hitched their artistic fortunes to Academic conformity and as such its linguistic fortunes have paralleled Modernism (although theorists such as Peter Burger prefer to see the two as separate). Some critics have argued that with the demise of Modernism and the inception of Post Modernism, avant-gardes too have disappeared. (Investigating Modern Art, 1996, p. 173) Considering the above mentioned material we can state that avant-gardism is connected with the retreat of culture from realism and declaration of art independence from reality. Creation of new and unique style and language in art. Let us go into particulars of art movements of modernism. Impressionists were against conventionalities of classicism, romanticism and academism, they insisted on the beauty of day-to-day life, simple democratic motives, strove for true-to-life honesty of picture, tried to catch the impression got from what an eye sees at the particular moment. The landscape is considered the most typical theme of impressionists. (Britt, 1990, p. 11) Cubism signified total rupture of connection with real image of the nature, which had been predominating in European painting since Renaissance. The aim of Picasso and Braque was to construct three-dimension form on the plane, its partitioning into geometric elements. Both painters were inclined to simple tangible forms, uncomplicated themes, what was especially typical of early cubism. (Britt, 1990, p. 159-161) Dadaists didnt develop their own original style. They lurched from one extreme to another, tried by any means (including provocative behavior) to shock self-complacent middlebrow. Cross-cutting, collage and ready-made (ordinary items presented as a work of art) were favorite Dadaism genres. Dadaism became popular very fast (especially in New York, where Marcel Duchamp was its leader), but the formed movement existed for a small period of time only. (Britt, 1990, p.203-210) It influenced much to other movements, in particular to surrealism (in its devotion to absurd and fantastic), abstract expressionism and conceptual art. Freuds theory of the unconscious and his method of free associations as a way to pass from consciousness to the unconscious are the source of Surrealism. However, the forms of these ideas expression were quite different among surrealists. For instance, Dali drew his illogical paintings, resembling nightmares, with religious exactitude, likelihood enhancing impression of hallucination or delusion. Mark Ernst, in his turn, worked out his paintings nearly automatically, turned off his mentality, preferring arbitrary characters, which often transferred into abstraction. Though Joan Miro is distinguished from other surrealistic painters by variety and cheerfulness of paintings. (Britt, 1990, p. 226-245) If we aggregate all historic facts and description of modernism in art, it is possible to assert that the feature of this movement is harmonious combination of very different things, and it constitutes its attractiveness and uniqueness. The age of modernism needed painters with universal talents. Postmodernism literally means something after modernism, or the contemporary times. The genealogy of the term postmodernism dates back to 1917. It was first used by the German philosopher Rudolf Pannwitz in his work Crisis of European Culture. He was talking about a new person, called to overcome the decline. It was just a paraphrase of the Nietzsches idea of a superman. (Cahoone, 2003, p.2) If we disregard further uses of the term, the next stage, leading directly to modern disputes, was a literary discussion of the sixties in the USA. (Ward, 1997, p. 8-9) Initially, postmodernism denoted the crisis of avant-garde literature in it. However, later the term acquired a positive meaning denoting hopes to overcome the crisis, in particular, the gap between elite and mass culture. This term is used more and more often to characterize innovations in literature and art, and also transformations in the social and economic, technological and social and political sphere. (Ward, 1997, p. 4-7) Postmodernism receives the status of a notion in 80s first of all thanks to the works of Lyotard who spread the discussion of postmodernism to the sphere of philosophy. (Ward, 1997, p. 169-170) In the culture of postmodernism there is a trend called neo-expressionism. This is a trend in the art of certain artists in the USA and Europe, especially Germany, which appeared at the end of 1970s. The artists turned again to the expressive means of Expressionism, every time creating a very individual style, often charged with aggression and nervous twist. (Heartney, 2001, p. 13-18) In the postmodernism epoch there were such interesting terms as postmodernist feminism. From the mid 80s, the increasing number of feminists who studied the implications of postmodernism for the benefit of feminism discussed the problem of their common foundation and even described their own theories as postmodernist ones. According to Linda Nicholson, if feminism continues this movement towards a more historical, non-universal, non-essentialist theory, the one that acknowledges differences between women, then feminism will become postmodernism in its essence. However, this movement also means that feminism should reject universal statements concerning the gender, patriarchate and concerning women or a woman. For many feminists it means rejecting too much. (Heartney, 2001, p. 51-54) In the seventies, new trends appeared in the architecture. There is even an exact date July 15, 1972. On this day a block of new comfortable houses was blown up in the city of Saint Louis. (Introducing Postmodernism, 2004, p. 115) I think that postmodernism serves as assimilation of the experience of artistic avant-garde. However, unlike avant-garde, postmodernism fully erases the border between formerly independent spheres of spiritual culture and levels of consciousness between scientific and ordinary consciousness, high art and kitsch. The postmodernist attitude to culture appears as a result of violating the purity of such a phenomenon as art. Postmodernism consciously moves away from creating original works to collage. And the strategy of postmodernism does not consist in assertion of destruction versus creation.

Health Care Access for Maori and non-Maori

Health Care Access for Maori and non-Maori Health care access and opportunities for Maori and non-Maori   Assessment 1 individual INTRODUCTION It can be said that; ‘Of all form of inequality, inequalities in health care the most inhuman of all’. This assessment is concerned with social, economic, political and historical factors which contributed to health status of Maori and non-Maori. Inequalities and disparities in health status comes are considerable. So there is a dramatic difference between Maori and non-Maori health status due to many reasons such as poor nutrition, lowest income, inappropriate education system, culture, language, loss of lands, unhygienic foods and many more. The recommendation in this assignment focus on different factors related to health of Maori and non-Maori people. In which to identify the biggest causes the poor health status and better understand the casual path linking of social, political, economic and historical factors. There is wide disparities in health exist among people in New Zealand. Treaty of Waitangi The treaty established a British governor of New Zealand, which recognised Maori ownership of their lands and other properties. The treaty of Waitangi is first signed in 6th February 1840 by British crown. Around 530-540 chiefs, at least 13 of them women, signed the treaty of Waitangi. The English and Maori version of treaty different, so there is no consensus .the Maori believed they ceded to the crown a right of governance for protection without giving up their authority to manage their own affair. There is following views which contributed to inequalities and disparities in Maori and non Maori health status; Social Review Social status is based on occupation, education and life style of Maori and non-Maori people which is key determinant of health. There is a combination of materials like poverty in which includes poor housing, poor nutrition and stress caused by low social health status results in health inequalities. As a social factor, lifestyle is most dominant cause of inequality because the Maori has different lifestyle than non-Maori. In which cancer is single biggest cause of death in Maori due to taking of smoking and exposure to second hand smoke. Apart from this, it is noticed that the Maori women were twice as likely to smoke as women of non-Maori population. so the excessive smoking may lead to lung and breast cancer in Maori people. Moreover other associated factors are excessive alcohol consumption and more exposure to sun which contribute to bad health status. In addition nutritional habits also put great impact on health status of Maori and non-Maori. The Maori has poor nutritional ta ke and also more obese than non-Maori. So obesity is very dangerous for health that may lead many other health problems and dangerous diseases which may even lead to death. Furthermore heart diseases and genetic components are major factors that associated their lifestyle in which Maori people has low physical activity and poor nutrition intake influence the health. In addition to it, the use of mental health services served in 2002 was more in Maori rather than other islanders. Maori have high admission rate to mental hospitals and the diagnose and aetiology behind the mental disorder was related to their lifestyle like alcohol and drug consumption because drugs are directly affecting on brain nerves and a person becomes mentally week which can make is mind unstable and he is a way of any understanding due to the effect of drugs. Moreover unsafe sexual habits, gambling and participate in dangerous activity are also a case of bad health status on Maori people. In brief social conditions are particularly important in determining health of people because when a social environment is supportive then great influence on health. At last it can be said that poor nutrition, bad lifestyle, disruption, urbanisation, inappropriate education and poor nutrition intake lead to inequalities and disparities between Maori and non-Maori population. Economic Review There are number of survey has been done to recognise the economic factor that contribute to the health status of Maori and non-Maori. The economic level is very different of Maori and non-Maori people that may affect the health of both populations. It has been showed that non Maori men have more income than Maori. The low income people have not sufficient money for the treatment of disease because in new island income inequalities have been increased in late 1980 and 1990. This standard of living is some degree of hardship and fall in unemployment. Beside this loss of shelter, food and land are important determinant that may lead bad health effect on Maori people. The Maori population has no access of telephone, not receiving a man texting benefits, low income, illiteracy, overcrowded housing and even not living in their own home. So in this way Maori health status is very low as compared to non-Maori. It is also suggested that inequalities in income also contribute in death rates. Furthermore, decline of Maori population in 18th and 19thcentury of colonisation. It is also believe that impact of colonisation in such a way like loss of land, houses, food, culture and language may lead to bad status on health 0of Maori people. Furthermore, racial factor is also contributed in inequalities. It can be understood by low qualification rate of Maori people because western education system was not appropriate for Maori. Maori and the reason behind this was other cause is unemployment in which seen that Maori have high rate of unemployment than non-Maori were lived in rural and natural places. Last but not the least cause under economic factor is poor health delivery care service to Maori people. So at the end it can be include that colonisation, loss of land, literacy, and overcrowded housing leaded negative effect on Maori health status. Historical view In view of history the Maori people lived in rural areas or small town. The ancestor of Maori was illiterate and had no value of education. So in this way their children have also not went to school and unaware about value and need of education. The rate of school completion in 2001 was very low in Maori group (30.5%) as compared to non-Maori (52.4%).as a result of rate of unemployment was twice than European part. Apart from this, from a decades and century the Maori was very prone to many ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, liver cancer and diabetes which all diseases may be seen in hereditary form also. In addition, most of Maori was prone to physical disabilities that may put great impact on Maori health. The other reason behind inequalities of health status in Maori and non-Maori people was old education system. Before 1840s, the Maori children only learnt language, skills in fishing, mat-making, hunting, gardening, cooking and many more which only related to Maori. But after 1840s many schools were established by European missionaries and forced Maori children to attend ordinary schools. But Maori children did not reach an acceptable level of European education and consequently, Maori students leave the school early. So in this way they were illiterate and unemployed which resulted that they were not participated in health care services and self-health care that may lead to high mortality rate in Maori population than non-Maori. In addition, bad and negative perception regarding hospital was one of reason of inequalities in Maori and non-Maori. There was hospital system proven ineffective in Maori population because nonetheless, thirteen Maoris patient were died from 1849-1851 and these deaths had negative effect on Maori perception. They concluded that ‘hospitals had a bad name among Maoris, they were thought of as places where one went to die’. Political view The politics has great impact on Maori and non-Maori health during the 1990s there was broad agreement between major political parties that settlement of historical claim was appropriate, in recent years it has become the subject of heightened debate. According to have Mann (1999) in 1848 -1863 the whole land of South Island by unscrupulously purchasing land from Ngai tahu tribe’s .but consequently this leaded to invasion in Waikato and tahini tribes. In case of question about the responsibilities of central government ,more than 80% respondent thought it should be the government role to maintain the standard of living and standard of health so in this way ,it was the government responsibility’s to provide jobs and reduce the income inequalities between Maori and non-Maori during the 1990s there was broad agreement between major political parties that settlement of historical claim was appropriate ,in recent years it has become the subject of heightened debate. According to have Mann (1999) in 1848 -1863 the whole land of South Island by unscrupulously purchasing land from Ngai tahu tribe’s .but consequently this leaded to invasion in Waikato and tahini tribes. In case of question about the responsibilities of central government, more than 80% respondent thought it should be the government role to maintain the standard of living and standard of health so in this way, it was the government responsibility’s to provide jobs and reduce the income inequalities between Maori and non-Maori. Housing The structure of housing is different in Maori and non-Maori population. The Maori people lived in rural areas where all facilities in home were not reached properly. so in asthma. In 2001 air pollution from home heating was associated with almost 1100 premature deaths. so because health status is largely determined by socio economic factors the improvements are mainly influenced by housing quality. Health care access and opportunities for Maori and non-Maori The Maori journeyed to New Zealand via pacific approximately 1000 years and the first recorded accrued in 1769 at the time of James cook from Britain. There is increasing evident that Maori and non-Maori differ in term primary and secondary health care services .in which the Maori less likely to preferred to surgical care and specialist services .other one is the Maori received lower level of health care than expected level of quality hospital. The Maori obtaining necessary care only from local areas as compared to non-Maori. There is another evident from previous study which reported the barrier to assessing the diabetes among Maori and Maori got unsatisfactory care rather than non-Maori population. Moreover, the cost involved for a treatment is also a significant barrier to Maori access to health services. Rights of others and legitimacy of difference This way the Maori people has not proper ventilation and exhausted fan in house which leaded respiratory problems in Maori population. The Maori houses are cold, damp and polluted which leads many problems. The all human being in this world has their own rights according to their culture and religion. So it is important to understand the different rights of others. The first which one is absolute rights which must never be limited in any way even a state of war or emergency. Moreover the right is not to be tortured in an inhumane way. Other one is non- absolute which can be limited in certain circumstance. Under this right the all people have right to liberty can be limited include being sent to jail if commit any crime. In which non- absolute the qualified right is that to respect for private and family life, right to freedom of expression, thought, and religion. LEGITIMACY; is a popular acceptance of an authority. It is a value whereby something or someone is recognised and accepted as right and proper. In which include different people has their different rational values, customs and habits.Morover every person have their own ideas or charisma of leader. Apart from this, government institution establishes and enforces law and order in the public interest. The legitimacy of intergroup status differences has profound effects on attitude, emotions and behaviour. In 143 hospitals organization noticed the effects in two forms managerial and technical. Results shows that both the managerial and technical forms provided notable improvement in survival chances. The power relationship in healthcare; The health care providers and practitioner play a vital role in power relationship .they are the persons which provide the health care in all level of health and all category of people either poor and rich, Maori and non Maori there was a strong evidence of a dose –response relationship between Maori and non Maori and racial discrimination in health care centres. The Maori was 10 times more likely to experience multiple type of discrimination as compared to Europeans and others. These results highlight the need for racism to be considered to eliminate ethic inequalities in health care. In health care setting the nurses identifying the power relationship between the services provider and the people who use the services. the care provider must an emphasis health gains and positive health outcome because all people has different in age, gender, sexual orientation, occupation and socioeconomic status, ethnic origin or migrant experience, religious or spiritual belief, disability. The nurse accepts and sorts alongside others after undergoing a careful process ofpower relationship .the health care provider concern about quality improvement in service delivery and consumer rights. Moreover health care provider resolves any tension between the cultures of nursing and the people using the services. Beside this, accepting the legitimacy of difference and diversity in human behaviour and social structure. So at last but not least it must needed to understand that such power imbalances can be examined, negotiated and changed to provide equitable, effective, efficient and acceptable service delivery, which minimises risk to people who might otherwise be alienated from the service. Conclusion All above review has been evident for disparities and inequalities in health care between Maori and non-Maori. There is complex factor complex of factors associated with historical, social, economic, housing, and political views for access to The all above review has been evident for disparities and inequalities in health care health care that also underpinned by racism which leads ethics inequalities. Although study has reported how the uses of health care services in Maori and non Maori population at the different level and different way. So it is a combination approaches which meet the different views and cultural safety is one of the indigenous nursing approach which response to inequalities for Maori. References The British Institute of Human right.(2013).Human right tool kit. Different right –a balancing act? London ,U.K.Retrived from www.bihr.org.uk/human-right-in-action/chapter-3-different-rights-a balancing act. Jansen,P.,Bacal,K.,Crengel,S.(2008).He Ritenga Whakaaro:Maori experience of health services.Retrieved from http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/media/6399/He-ritenga-Whakaaro.pdf. Jansen ,P., Smith,K.(2006).Maori experience of Primary healthcare:Breaking down the barriers.New Zealand Family Physician,33(5),298-300.Retrieved from http://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/assests/documents/Publications/Archive-NZFP/Oct-2006-NZFP-Vol-33-No-5/JansenOct06.pdf JaspinderkaurPage 1

Rates of Reaction :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

The affect of varying hydrochloric acid concentration of on the rate of reaction with sodium thiosulphate Background knowledge:The equation of this reaction is Na2S2O2+ 2HCl  ± 2NaCl + H2O + SO2+ S A reaction is a process by which a substance or substances change to produce a new substance or substances. Rate of reaction is the speed at which products are formed and reactants disappear during a chemical reaction. The rate will be measured by following the production of sulphur. The rate of reaction is affected by temperature, surface area, concentration and catalysts. These are the affecting factors. In a reaction, the particles of the reagent must come together and collide before the reaction can take place. This is called the collision theory, particles must collide before they can react, and the colliding particles must contain enough energy to cause bonds to brake. Apparatus: * Beaker * 'Log its' light meter * stand * black card * syringe * glass delivery tube * tripod * measuring cylinder * stop watch Method: We decided to use a 'loggits' light meter to follow the precipitation of sulphur on the basis that the light passing through the solution would decrease in intensity as the reaction proceeds. We will firstly cover the beaker with card, leaving a 2cm gap at the bottom of the beaker to allow light to pass through the solution. Secondly we would place the 'loggits' light meter directly above the beaker (the meter will have the bottom half of it covered with the card to prevent any alien light from affecting the light intensity of the light passing through the water) Preliminary: After the first trial we had to change the way in which we covered the beaker with the black card because we found that the amount of light passing through the solution from all angles was uncontrollable, because we were using a natural source of light (the sun). Instead of leaving a 1cm gap from the bottom of the beaker, our solution was to cover the whole beaker and cut 2 arches, so that we could direct the required amount of light into the specific area of the beaker. Secondly we will use a lamp, covered with 2 sheets of A4 paper to achieve a constant source of light. The Initial light intensity reading will be between 40% and 45%. Procedure: Step 1) Set up the stand to hold the log its light meter above the beaker (fig i). Then place the beaker beneath the meter. Form a shielding from the surrounding light by using the black card, doing so by forming a cone around the beaker and the bottom half of the light

The wife of Baths tale Essay -- essays research papers

Among unequals what society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Can sort, what harmony or true delight?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Milton, Paradise Lost, VIII, ll. 383-4   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  GEOFFREY CHAUCER AND THE WIFE OF BATH ´S TALE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chaucer begins the tale by exploring the institution of marriage,through the character of the Wife who starts by making an statement of authority, her own experience on marriage. In order to show her experience in relationships she states that three of her husbands were old and rich and two of them, young and wild.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage at that time, was considered a transaction organized by males to serve economical and political ends, in where women were treated as an object, a very useful one intended for procreation, and the exchange of land and goods that they owned before marriage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the Wife recalls, she had her first arranged marriage at the age of twelve years old, and this aspect was very common since marriage was used to be solemnized and arranged, when children were even in their own cradles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Wife does not regrets to have had five husb...

A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner :: Free Essay Writer

"A Rose for Emily';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In life people often think that the life they live in is either a good one and do not think that a change would do their life any good. In reality change is good, but Emily in the short story "A Rose for Emily'; thinks that the life she has lived through is the one to keep and does not want to change it even though to us we might think of her life as a tragic and deprived one.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The time frame of Miss Emily Grierson to her was the greatest time era, which was the "Old South';. How do we know that she wanted to stay in the time era of the "Old South'; is when the new generation moved into Jefferson and asked Emily for taxes. When they did this she ranted and raved that Colonel Sartoris has written her a letter in which relieves her of any taxes. She told the tax collectors "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson.'; The fact that the tax collectors could not see Colonel Sartoris is because Colonel Sartoris had been dead almost ten years. Even the furniture that she had was not updated. Emily's parlor was furnished with heavy, leather-covered furniture that was cracked from not being used. She had been trapped in the ways "Old South';, and did not care to change as time went by.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another factor that showed Miss Emily was not interested in change is when Jefferson came up with a mail system. This new mail system that the people of Jefferson created included putting brass numbers of the house on the door so they could organize where the mail was going. Miss Emily did not like the fact of putting something new on her house and she did not like the fact of a new system coming in. She then told the people that she did not want the numbers put on her door and did not participate in the new mail system in Jefferson. In her earlier years, Emily, grew up with her father who was a wealthy man of the "Old South';. While growing up she was restricted from all people of the opposite sex, and was a cast away from the social nature of life. She was never to date or be seen with a man while her father was around. The day that her father died she did not show a sign of death in soul until a couple of days later.

Love Vs Liking

Watson English Compare and Contrast Essay 9/24/2014 Loving Someone and Liking Someone: The Comparison What is the difference between loving someone and liking someone, or is there even a difference at all? Loving someone, or something, is to have a strong constant affection for them that may include physical attraction depending on what relation the person is to you. Liking someone, or something, is to enjoy that person, or thing, and to feel affection for the arson in a friendly, or sometimes more than friendly, manner.Both to love and to like that person or thing mean to have affection for it, or them. They both mean that you enjoy and take pleasure in having that person or thing in your life. When you have affection meaning either loving or liking them, for someone then you tolerate and possibly help them with the problems and â€Å"baggage† they bring along. Whether you like that person or you love them, you would do nearly anything for them, depending on the strength of y our feelings.Although the two are similar in most aspects, they do differ in others. There are a few different types of love and liking someone, one is meant for a partner in life and the other is meant for friends who might not last as long. When you like someone, you tolerate them for a short time until they do something to upset you. People you love will not be able to upset you as easily as those you like, and will treat you with consideration whereas friends and those you like, will think of mostly themselves and what they can get out f you.

Holland Theory and Application Essay

John Holland made his mark from 1953-1556 while working at Vocational Counseling Service in Perry Point Veterans Hospital followed by his work as the Director of Research for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. His work at these two organizations leads to the first edition of Vocational Preference Inventory. In 1959, John Holland was published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology for his vocational theory (Gottfredson & Johnstun, 2009). He established his theory of matching people to vocations in the world of work. Although the trait and factor approach was established in 1909, John Holland took it a step further using the Army as his model (Bolles & Figler, 1999). John Holland was quoted, â€Å"I am a psychologist who pays attention to the obvious† (Bolles & Figler, 1999, p. 63). This was the theme of his theory. Holland theory is about the fit of the individual to the work environment. Some clients will be better suited for certain working environments and poorly matched to others (Anderson & Vandehey, 2012). The Holland theory is based on identification of people environment, skills, and values leading into six occupational categories known as ‘RIASEC’ (realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional) (Bolles & Figler, 1999). Although each category is consider a unaltered type of personality most clients will not fit into just one type. Holland’s theory assigns them a set of two or three of the types (Anderson & Vandehey, 2012). The first of Holland’s types, realistic, are clients who have athletic or mechanical ability, work with objects, machines, tools, plants, animals and the outdoors. Realistic client will be competent in reading blue prints, repair of furniture, making mechanical types of drawings, using special instruments such as a voltmeter, and will also have good math and mechanical backgrounds. They will also have interests in woodwork, metal work, and easily work with tools. Some realistic occupations would include radio operator, civil engineer, machinist, or piano tuner (Bolles & Figler, 1999). The next type, investigative, will be clients who like to observe, learn, analyze, investigative, solve problems or evaluate in general. Their proficiencies include scientific and technical training using a slide rule or microscope, using a logarithmic table, describes white blood cells by their uses, interpret chemical formulas, and understand the workings of a vacuum tube. These clients readily enjoy scientific books, lab work, chemistry, math puzzles, and normally take several classes in physics, math, and biology. Investigative job opportunities could be physician, math teacher, lab technician, or oceanographer (Bolles & Figler, 1999). The artistic clients, Holland’s third type, are innovating or intuitive thinkers, like to work in unrestrictive environments, and tend to be extremely creative or imaginative. Skills for creative people would contain playing a musical instrument, choir, designing, creating photography or art, or read/write poetry. Artistic types, according to Holland, would enjoy sketching, attending plays, taking an art class, or reading popular fiction. Occupations for these clients can be drama coach, advertising executive, photographer, or foreign language interpreter (Bolles & Figler, 1999). Holland’s fourth types of clients, social, like to work with people by informing, helping, training, or are skilled with words. These clients will feel competent with peers older than them, easily plan a school or church function, and are good judge of others personalities. They will belong to clubs, write letters, attend sports events, go to parties, help others with personal problems, and like to meet new people. Director of social services, employment representative, counselor, recreation administrator, and Foreign Service officer are a few of the occupations well suited for a social Holland code (Bolles & Figler, 1999). Enterprising, Holland’s fifth code, are comprised of clients that a people-influencing, leaders, persuaders, or economic goal friendly. They easily sell, influence others, give pep talks, meet important people, and discuss politics. In college or high school these clients were elected to office, organized clubs, debated, supervised the work of others, or acted as a spokesperson for a cause. They become bankers, personnel recruiters, labor arbitrators, insurance managers, and small business owners (Bolles & Figler, 1999). The conventional is the last of Holland’s types. Conventional types like to work with data and carrying out in detailed instructions. They have the ability to file correspondence, work in office setting, type 40 words per minute, use shorthand, post credits and debits, and keep accurate records. They may have done bookkeeping, operated business machines, written business letters, or maintain neat records and files. Conventational types are often employed as accountants, credit managers, payroll clerks, bookkeepers, library assistants or personnel secretary (Bolles & Figler, 1999). Holland realized that not every client would fit into a type nice and neatly hence the Holland two or three codes are established in order to have a person in a job that would give work satisfaction. They are several resources available to clients and counselors to aid in discovering a client’s RIASEC code. The Self-Directed Search (SDS) was first published in 1970 and was development by John Holland. The advantage of this assessment is that it is intended for the college or adult setting. The written version not only includes the assessment but also Holland’s Occupation Finder (OF) booklet for a counselor to use with their clients. Holland also created a seven page booklet, You and Your Career, that can be used to enhance the SDS and OF with suggestions for effective career planning (Reardon & Lumsden, 2002). Later, Holland, with Amy Powell, created SDS Career Explorer designed for middle school students along with his booklet Exploring Your Future with the SDS. Along with the assessment are several tools for educators and students alike. Holland, along with several other colleagues, has expanded the abilities of instruments to include measures for stability, environment, and additional resource to ensure understanding of the instruments and proper use and application (Reardon & Lumsden, 2002). In my world of career counseling, I apply Holland’s theory of putting the right client into the best fit for client. I agree with his theory that if a client is not using the skills or interests that they enjoy that will have poor performance. This ultimately in my opinion leads to job hopping, lack of self-efficacy, and depression. I have the advantage of money on my side and we use the program Discover for most assessments. However, I do not always jump to test. By having knowledge of Holland theory and his types and code match through counselor I am able to get a client to find their career goals on their own without test. With my â€Å"type† of client they do not want to sit through testing no matter how short it is, they already have to study for their current jobs, college classes, and advancement exams. I try to incorporate Holland’s theory daily which can have its drawbacks. They occupation that my client would be good at may not have openings or worse the Navy does not have it, so I try help them compromise with community service or college course that would satisfy their needs. Over the last ten years, I have learned that I am not the answer person more like their vessel to maintenance phase of their transition cycles (Anderson & Vandehey, 2002). I could not trade in the feeling of when I see them finally figure out what they want to do when the grow up.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Instructions: Read the information below. Do not simply answer the questions!! You will hand in your work on a separate piece of paper. Please put your information in paragraph form. Include any information you have found which helped you to answer your questions. The better Job you do of explaining your results, the more points you will receive. Best wishes and remember to cite all resources! A 34-year-old male from India presents with slowly progressive discovered skin attaches and nodules accompanied by a strange deformity of the nose.The patient has a history of nasal stuffiness and some nasal discharge which is slightly bloody; he also reports loss of libido. A physical examination reveals the following: leonine faces; loss of eyebrows and eyelashes; nodules on the sclera; a depressed nasal bridge; adipose fat deposits in the breast; testicular atrophy; many symmetrical, flat, discovered areas on the skin without defined borders; numerous nodules & broad, raised areas on the ski n; partial loss of pinprick and temperature sensation; no noticed changes; symmetrically enlarged lunar and common personal nerves.A blood work-up was ordered and the CB showed mild anemia. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was slightly elevated. Swabs were taken from the skin patches and they revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli on modified ZEN staining. 1. What disease does this patient have? (be specific! ) 2. What Is the causative organism? 3. What are some of the complications seen associated with this disease? 4. What Is the mode of transmission of this disease? 5. What Is the recommended treatment for this disease?

Service quality management

This case study talks about the many service quality issues faced by a local mass transport company, SMRT. The company has to still remain functional amidst mass crltlclsrn amongst the public due to Inefficient communication networks, inefficient maintenance and various problems in the senior management. As a newly appointed senior manager, it is imperative that we work towards delivering a high quality service to our customers. There are many tools and quality improvement frameworks that we can use to improve existing service quality standards.The problems faced by the company start with over 10 breakdowns that have occurred In d span of two years. Due to repetitive service disruptions, the previous CEO, Ms. Saw Phaik Hwa who has apologized publicly and offered false promises, further causing more service disruptions affecting around 127,000 passengers including 1000 passengers stranded in each of the four trains that were stalled. Malntenance Issues This Is one of the main problems that have Impacted the quality of the services provided by SMRT.Various issues such as misalignment of tracks & lack of evacuation nd emergency plans have impacted the customers' health and have caused some of them a lot of inconvenience and stress There has been serious impact on the servicgs productivity due to the same problems as they have not been able to successfully carry out their promised service. Even when the breakdowns happened, the backup power systems did not turn on and this made the people stranded very uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Excuses were given once again to quickly dismiss these accusations.By using Deming's 14 Points of Management, we could find out the root causes of the problem. 1 . Management Commitment: The senior management had not been able to live up to the promises that they have publicly given mainly due to the Inefficiency of the senior management. Had the senior management a closer involvement In the lower-level operations, they might have be en able to take suggested actions. 2. Understand Inspection: Due to the various problems mentioned above, it was important for the senior managers to gather relevant information regarding the frequently occurring problems.This suggests that the communication networks are not very efficient and this wlll be further discussed later In the report, 3. Improve Constantly: The Jepanese have developed d technique called â€Å"Kdlzen†, which means â€Å"Continuous Improvement†. This could be used to ensure that quality standards and customer expectations are met by constantly developing all dimensions of the service prov10ea. 4. Institute Iralnlng: Atter one 0T tne DreaK00wns, around 60 maintenance staff were deployed to gather information and rectify the problem that had caused a 5 hour disruption in the services.However, their inefficiency to analyze and rectify the root cause of the problem suggests that SMRT need to invest in training. . Institute Leadership: Leaders shoul d be coaches and mentor staffs rather than checking on them. The senior management has clearly shown a lack in leadership skills as they have only been giving excuses and false promises. Inefficient Communication Networks: This is another factor that contributed to the reducing service quality of SMRT. Efficient communication between various levels of the business is very important to run an efficient and successful business.SMRT has been facing various barriers in communicating instructions and messages from senior management to the operating evels and vice versa. The problems that have been occurring have not been reported properly to the higher authorities and hence not been able to receive instructions from the senior management on how to proceed further and improve the quality of the service being provided. Using ISO standards as a benchmark, we can see that SMRT is not being able to maintain high service quality standards.Since ISO is internationally recognized, this serves as a suitable benchmark. There are few principles that need to be followed in order to get their certification: 1 . Customer Focus: SMRT needs to meet the equirements of the customers and exceed their expectations but they have failed to do so. They have not improved their service quality and hence, their customer experience. 2. Leadership: As mentioned earlier in the report, the leaders have not been able to achieve the goals set and have disappointed their very large customer base. . Factual approach to decision-making: Since the employees are inefficient and have not been able to analyze data and information, their supervisors have not been able to suggest proper course of action. 4. System approach to management: According to this principle, all processes are interrelated. Since there has been a lack of co-ordination amongst the employees of every level, SMRT has not been able to manage their technologically advanced systems.One other instance of lack of a coordinated communicatio n systems was the humiliating and controversial message template that SMRT sent to its taxi drivers asking them to seize the â€Å"income opportunity' that arose because of the MRT breakdown. The common citizenry has heavily criticized this inappropriate message further contributing to the declining public image of the company. uggested Improvements Using Malcom Balbridge National Quality Award's 7 Criteria of Performance Excellence as the benchmark, there are quite a few improvements that could be suggested.To begin with: Leadership: Effective leadership brings out the best out of every employee of the firm, since the resignation of the previous CEO, the current CEO will take some time to settle into the position and it is important to make sure that he/she receives timely communication and proper assistance from other managers. Strategic Planning: It was very clear that the previous management have ot defined their future strategies clearly and have not prepared proper contingenc y plans and this has made life difficult for the customers and the management of SMRT.To ensure that this does not happen in the future, SMRT could conduct a formal meeting with all stakeholders to develop a strong and effective strategy with the public's opinion also taken in mind. Also, regular track and train maintenance should be conducted to reduce the chances of such problems arising again. Customer Focus: Surveys could be conducted to understand the customer's xpectations and SMRT could work towards fulfilling them.The constant service disruptions have already caused the company's image to decline and to make sure that this does not happen in the future, SMRT could look into developing proper plans. Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management: The lapses in information and data have also caused grave problems to the company and SMRT should invest in training existing and hiring new skilled employees to analyze and report field data. Workforce Focus: It is important to cons tantly monitor, motivate and rain the workforce.As a happy workforce is more efficient and can provide higher service quality that an unmotivated one. This would also increase service quality. Process Management: Ensuring proper contingency, emergency and evacuation plans during service disruptions can help increase quality and reduce the risk to customer's, while indirectly improving the image of the brand. Results: Putting everything together, it is still important to get results and improve the customer's image of the company while maintaining very high standards of service quality.