Cs251 Fundamantals of Database Systems Ip 1 - 5 - 1676 Words

CS251-1301B-03 Fundamentals of Database Systems Phase 1 -5 Individual Project Robert March 24th, 2013 Table of Contents Project Outline 3 Description of the Database Design Life Cycle 4 The Entity Relationship Diagram 7 The Logical Model and Normalization 9 The Microsoft Access Database 11 The Microsoft Access Database Application 14 References: 18 Project Outline My idea for a project concept is for a granite fabrication and installation company called MasterStoneWorks. We will perform counter sales, contractor and walk-in customer kitchen and bath design, templates, fabrication, installation, and follow-up. To run efficiently (or at all) we must have a centralized DBMS with access for all employees in†¦show more content†¦Design – The requirements needed for functioning, support, and training are designed in this step. Emphasis is given to the functioning of the system and is produced as a high level guide. All the technical details for developing the system are created in a final system design. 4. Development and Testing – This step involves using the final system design to acquire or develop the system. Testing of units, integration, performance, system, and acceptance are done to ensure system functionality and the sponsor’s requirements and that all segments/structures, communications, applications, procedures, and documentation are in place, tested, and integrated. End users are implemented to verify and thoroughly test that the system functions as required. 5. Implementation – This phase involves installing the system in its planned operating arena, training the users, converting data, turning the system over to the sponsor, and evaluating its performance and processes. System bugs are identified and corrected and planning for sustaining the system takes place. 6. Operations and Maintenance – This step is where the system becomes operational and that the sponsors needs are met with expected system performance. Hardware and software is maintained and upgraded as necessary to continue expected operation and performance. User training is maintained for users and support for reported problems is ongoing. 7. Disposition – This is the end of a systems life cycle and

Analysis Of Grendel And Beowulf Essay - 1228 Words

Point of View in Grendel and Beowulfnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Contrasting points of view in Grendel and Beowulf significantly alter the readeramp;#8217;s perception of religion, good and evil, and the character Grendel. John Gardneramp;#8217;s book, Grendel, is written in first person. The book translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf, is written in third person. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Good and evil is one of the main conflicts in the poem Beowulf. How is Grendel affected by the concepts of good and evil? Grendel is an alienated individual who just wants to be a part of something. His desire to fit in causes him to do evil things. Grendel is fascinated by the Shaperamp;#8217;s poetry. He often†¦show more content†¦Evil comes from the monsters. They attack the good side by killing innocent men because they are hungry or just want to defy the laws. Good fights back when the evil creations are killed and all is back to normal. Beowulf is truly good because he helps people when they need it the most and hopes that God is with him even though he doesnamp;#8217;t have to do anything to help the people who have an evil creature killing their villageamp;#8217;s population every night. In Grendel, the main belief is that of existentialism, however, there are also numerous references to Cain throughout the entire book. The basis for his version of existentialism is the following excerpt from the book itself: I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindlyamp;#8212;as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. I create the whole universe, blink by blink.amp;#8212;An ugly god pitifully dying in a tree (Gardner 22)! One can explain this view of existentialism by considering some simple concepts of existentialism. Existentialists believe that man is forlorn and totally responsible for his acts, and that his choices are important because existence precedes essence. Furthermore, the references to Cain,Show MoreRelatedBeowulf And Grendel Analysis729 Words   |  3 PagesIn the books Beowulf and Grendel they discuss the meaning of our world, the power of good and evil. Prince of the welders was portrayed as the hero because this spine chilling â€Å"immortal† monster was to be slain at the hands of this warrior. The reason that â€Å"the slayer† wanted to defeat Grendel was so he could keep the riches and try to fill that void that fuels the greed within him. The creation of Grendel was a sound decision due to the aspect that it shows the ulterior motives of the story. TheRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel And The Epic Of Beowulf 1294 Words   |  6 Pagescharacter who does bad things. Th ese definitions may not be so indubitable as John Gardner takes a hero and villain to a whole new level in his novel, Grendel. Throughout the years of novels and short stories, heroes and villains have been constructed as strictly good versus evil, but what if there is good in evil and evil in good? Grendel and the epic, Beowulf, revolve around this idea of heroes and villains and good versus evil. Gardner’s twist on the stereotypical hero leads to the true definition ofRead MoreAn Analysis of Grendel Based on the Classic Poem Beowulf922 Words   |  4 Pagesis a story Grendel based on classic poem Beowulf in which there is three main characters the mother the dragon and the Grendel. Not only Grendel but other two characters too represent alien world evils. Grendel is analyzed here to assess if he is man, monster or a notion. THESIS STATEMENT Is Grendel a man, monster or a notion? THE FIGHT WITH GRENDEL The idea of Grendel is based on a poem Beowulf. 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Although many themes in this story stick out and a main theme will never be accepted, one main theme is very noticeable in the story of Beowulf. The main theme found in Beowulf is good versus evil. Good versus evil is very easy to recognize. â€Å"Some peopleRead MoreThe Becoming Of An Epic Hero1240 Words   |  5 PagesBecoming Of an Epic Hero Beowulf became the epic hero he was, from his will for his love to succeed, his strength to never give up even if it meant death .He existed trying to become like his father or even to surpass him. He defeated the dragon and his pride lead him to his death, but he saved so many lives before his inevitable demise. He gave his life for what he believed in, for honor, pride and for his people. Which in turn creates the next hero, Wiglaf who served Beowulf willing to give his lifeRead MoreEssay about Beowulf Battles: The Death of Comitatus1101 Words   |  5 Pagesepic poem of Beowulf, written by an unknown monk in about 725 AD, the Anglo-Saxon virtue of comitatus is displayed as a slowly dying aspect of life. Comitatus is the basic idea that everyone protects the king at all costs even if it means a warrior giving up his own life, and if a king is killed, the warriors must avenge the death of the king or they can no longer serve as warriors for the next king. This value of comitatus i s displayed mostly through the three battles that Beowulf encounters duringRead MoreGrendel1242 Words   |  5 PagesGrendel as a Ridiculous Character Probably one of the greatest questions of the 19th century comes directly from John Gardner’s novel Grendel. Given a world with no inherent meaning, how should one live his or her life? Grendel lives in a world that he is not supposed to be in, acting out on emotion. Grendel represents the animalistic traits of humans. His actions are primitive and based around society’s acceptance throughout the novel. Grendel portrays a ridiculous character that is convincedRead MoreTheme Of Heroism In Beowulf1139 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Beowulf† is the oldest surviving poem in Old English Literature. It is an epic poem, which is a narrative poem typically revolving around heroism. The poem emphasizes repetitively on how Beowulf is a hero. He saves countless people from countless monsters, three of which are the main antagonists in the poem – a demon, the demon’s mother, and a dragon. But is saving innocent lives the only factor to justify and determine a per son’s heroism? Throughout the story of Beowulf, the author makes appealsRead MoreEssay on Good vs Evil in Beowulf1568 Words   |  7 PagesIn Beowulf, the clash between good and evil is the poems main and most significant focal point. Although the epic poem Beowulf utilizes many characteristics of Christian themes, the violence in the poem relates to paganism. By exploring the characteristics of â€Å"good vs. evil† such as Cain, Grendel and Beowulf, this paper will explore the elements of Beowulf in such a light. The Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, was originally told orally then later was written down anonymously in the Old English language

Essential Skills for Researchers †Free Sample for Students

Question: What is the Essential Skills for Researchers? Answer: Introduction Across the world, over 20 million preterm, low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) are born each year. One out of 3 children born with low birth weight (less than 2,500g) die even before they attain 1 year, especially in developing countries (Were and Bwibo, 2009). In Australia, there were approximately 23.2% incidences of low birth weight infants among Aboriginals, which attributed to the relatively high rates of neonatal and prenatal mortality (Gogna, Smiley, Walker and Fullerton, 1986).Preterm birth is therefore a serious health concern and problem for infants and prenatal healthcare providers. Statistics by the World Health Organization suggests that preterm birth is a global health challenge and it is a leading cause of infant death in both low and high-income settings across the world (Blencowe, Cousens, Chou, Oestergaard, Say, Moller, Kinney and Lawn, 2013). It is desirable to develop interventions that are applicable and feasible to the problem of preterm birt h both in the low and high-income settings. Over the years, advancement in neonatal medicine, prenatal care, therapeutic and diagnostic treatments, and pediatric surgery have contributed significantly to the improvement in survival rates and subsequently reducing the mortality rates of the infants with low or very low birth weight (Reddy and Mclnerney, 2007). Kangaroo mothers care (KMC) is a scientifically tested and evidence-based approach first utilized by doctors in 1979 in a maternal-infant institute in Bogota, Columbia with the aim of reducing maternal death rates (Arivabene and Tyrrell, 2010). KMC has been adopted and applied in reducing morbidity and mortality rates in preterm children (Seidman, Unnikrishnan, Kenny, Myslinski, Cairns-Smith, Mulligan and Engmann, 2015). According to the World Health Organization, KMC comprise lengthened skin to skin (STS) contact between the infant and the mother, including breastfeeding, early release from the hospital, adequate support and follow-up, commencement of the practice at the hospital and continuation in the home setting (World Health Organization, 2003). The use of KMC has significantly improved preterm child outcomes, which include reduction in infant stress and pain, improvement in breastfeeding, preterm infant growth and development in the various neonatal intensive care units (Thomas, 2013; Lawn, Mwansa-Kambafwile, Horta, Barros and Cousens, 2010). Recent studies indicate that KMC also improves maternal health outcomes, fosters satisfaction and motivation of the parents to offer care to the infant and significantly reduces the risk of the mother experiencing postpartum depression (de Alencar, Arraes, de Albuquerque and Alves, 2009; Heinemann, Hellstrm?Westas and Hedberg Nyqvist, 2013). Problem Statement Although KMC is increasingly becoming popular across the world, because of its human nature of care and close contact with the mothers body, some countries are yet to adopt it fully (Suman Rao, Udani and Nanavati, 2008; Eichel, 2001). According to Lawn et at. (2010) KMC is unavailable to most low income and developing countries. Moreover, a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of KMC, especially regarding its flexibility and safety for use in different care settings, such as home, and for the different therapeutic objectives (Charpak, Gabriel Ruiz, Zupan, Cattaneo, Figueroa, Tessier, Cristo, Anderson, Ludington, Mendoza and Mokhachane, 2005). While the mother is integral in the effectiveness and success of KMC, a few studies have investigated their experiences while giving Kangaroo care for their infants. More importantly, no study has specifically addressed the experience of mothers in the provision of Kangaroo care for infants in the Australian context. The aim of this study is to examine the experiences of mothers in providing Kangaroo care low and very low birth weight infants in Australia. The main research question is, what are the experiences of mothers giving Kangaroo care? The study will seek to address the following objectives: To determine the perceptions of the mothers while preparing for Kangaroo care To determine the experiences of mothers following the implementation of Kangaroo care To determine the nature and quality of support given to mothers during the implementation of Kangaroo care Hypothesis This being a qualitative investigation, the researcher will not endeavor to formulate and test a research hypothesis. Since the purpose of the research is to investigate the experiences of mothers giving Kangaroo care. The researcher does not have prior knowledge of the feelings and experiences of the mothers, hence it is not possible to formulate meaningful hypothesis for testing. For the purpose of clinical practice, the researcher is interested in subjective experiences of mothers giving Kangaroo care. Hypothesis testing requires numerical variables, which fail to which fail to address and reflect the subjective experiences of mothers regarding the Kangaroo care nursing practice. Consequently, the use of the qualitative approach provides the researcher with the opportunity to have a broader perspective where the research goes through the entire research process, and then begins to narrow down to the themes and trends in the study that then guide the formulation of hypothesis (Blankenship, 2010). The hypothesis for the proposed study will be formulated at the end following a process of data collection and analysis. For the purpose of this investigation, the researcher shall employ the grounded theory to generate hypothesis from the data, findings and responses received from the study participants. According to Corbin and Strauss (1990) grounded theory enables researchers to begin an investigation without the need of formulating a testable hypothesis and generate the hypothesis or theories as they emerge from the data, findings and participant responses. Grounded theory uses two principles, namely, questioning instead of measuring and using theoretical coding to generate hypothesis (Corbin Strauss, 1990). Research Methodology There are different approaches for achieving the purpose of the proposed study. A research approach is important in determining the size of the research sample, the data that is relevant and appropriate to the study, and the relevant methods for collecting, analyzing and presenting the data and research findings (Caulley, 2007). Qualitative research allows the research to incorporate inspirations, motives, meanings, attitudes, values, beliefs, and human perspective in investigating the social reality and daily life experiences of people (Holloway and Galvin, 2016). Moreover, the qualitative design allows the researcher to investigate subjects, cases, phenomenon in their real and natural environment and settings thus generating appropriate meaning and insights from the experiences of the participants. With qualitative research design, the researcher is able to use different methodologies, approaches and methods of data collection, analysis and presentation. This allows the researcher to achieve flexibility, freedom and adaptability while investigating the research question and attaining the purpose of the study (Marshall and Rossman, 2011). The qualitative research approach is therefore appropriate, relevant and important in providing an understanding of the experiences of mothers giving Kangaroo care and the support they receive during the implementation of the nursing practice. Research Design The exploratory research design is important when investigating a phenomenon, research question or problem limited prior knowledge or research on the topic or subject. The aim is to gain clarity of the research problem, prioritize areas that need investigation, establish and operational definition of concepts and develop improvements on the final research design. Employing the exploratory research design also enables the researcher to establish the best methods of collecting data and selecting the participants in the study. Since a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of KMC and the experiences of the mothers who implement it, it would be prudent and appropriate to use the exploratory design to examine the experiences of mothers in providing Kangaroo care low and very low birth weight infants in Australia. The researcher will use semi-structured interviews to address the research problem and question. Semi-structured interviews work very well in gathering, relevant, qualitative and focused textual data from the research participants. The use of semi-structured interviews offers the researcher flexibility and balance of the open ended interviews and highly structured ethnographic research (Bernard and Bernard, 2012). Semi-structured interviews are effective when analyzing, developing and refining a research question. It is also useful when researcher is seeking to uncover descriptive data concerning the experiences of the research participants. Using semi-structured interviews enables the research to move from a general topic to specific variables and factors in the study (Galletta, 2013). Moreover, semi-structured interviews offer the researcher an opportunity to identify and describe existing relationships and develop theoretical background for further research. Semi-structured interv iews enable the research to examine and explore the lived experiences of research participants (Galletta, 2013). Participants and Procedures Population Study population shall comprise mothers who had babies below 2,500 g and who had delivered at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan St, Parkville VIC 3050, Australia between January and May 2017. Sampling Technique Sampling allows the researcher to select participants from the entire population for the purpose of the study (Privitera, 2013). A good sampling technique enables the researcher to identify a representative sample from the population that aids in attaining the purpose of the study while remaining cost-effective and appropriate to the available resources, both people, time and money (Privitera, 2013). This study will use purposive sampling technique. Purposive sampling is one of the non-probability techniques useful for conducting qualitative studies and enables the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the problem, phenomenon or issues under investigation. The researcher deliberately makes choices and selections of the research participants based on the predetermined qualities that they have (Tongco, 2007). The researcher determines the information he/she wants to collect and goes out to identify and select people who are able and willing to provide the desired information based on their personal experiences and knowledge (Tongco, 2007). The purposive sampling technique would be very effective in achieving the purpose of the proposed study. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria The sample for this study will be drawn from mothers with preterm babies admitted to the intensive neonatal unit and who subsequently utilized the Kangaroo care. For the mothers to be eligible to participate in the research, they will be required to demonstrate a recent memory of their experience. Only those who had stopped KMC practice in the last three weeks will be included in the study. The condition of the baby shall also be considered in deciding which mother to include and exclude from the study. Only parents with stable infants shall be included, and the stability shall comprise normal vital signs, no abnormality or malformation and lack of dependence on intravenous fluids or oxygen support. Moreover, the mother should have implemented Kangaroo care for a minimum of two weeks and should be able to speak and understand English. The researcher will conduct sampling until the right participants and the required sample size has been attained. Sample Size For the purpose of the research, given the limited time and financial resources, the researcher shall target to recruit a sample size of n=25 mothers giving Kangaroo care and who met the above stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. Procedures and Informed Consent A nursing staff in the intensive neonatal unit will be tasked to approach each of the mothers and request for their participation in the proposed study. Informed consent is critical to ensuring attainment of the research objectives while safeguarding and protecting the interests of the participants in the study (Shrivastava, Shrivastava and Ramasamy, 2015). Therefore, the staff will inform the mothers the nature and importance of the study. The mothers shall be granted an opportunity to accept or reject the invitation to partake in the study. Their decision will be reached without force, or undue influence. The names of those who agree to participate in the study will be forwarded to the researcher who will educate the mothers on the purpose of the study, nature of activities they would be involved and the use of the information and results generated from the investigation. They will be expected to read, understand and sign an informed consent sheet, which will be assessed by the Eth ics Committee for accuracy, completeness and relevance for the proposed study. Data Collection The proposed study will use both primary and secondary data to attain its purpose and objectives. Secondary data shall comprise books, journals and other scholarly publications that the researcher will use to establish the context, theoretical background, explain the concepts, refine the research topic and identify gaps in the existing literature on the topic for future research (Rabianski, 2004). The qualitative design offers variety regarding the methods of collecting primary data for the purpose of the study. Ethnographic approaches to primary data collection use different methods, including face-to-face interviews, primary and secondary data, case studies, observations and discussions within focused groups (Rabianski, 2004). The choice of the preferred method depends on the objective and purpose of the investigation and the kind of data that the researcher seeks to collect (Rabianski, 2004). For the purpose of the proposed investigation, primary data will be collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by the researcher over a period of 4 months. Face to face interviews provides an opportunity for the researcher to ensure the completeness of the semi-structured interviews, ask other emerging or probing questions and observe the non-verbal cues from the participants to compliment their stated feelings, perceptions and experiences concerning the research question (DiCicco?Bloom and Crabtree, 2006). For the purpose of the proposed study, all the interviews will be conducted in English language. The researcher will conduct each interview with mothers implementing Kangaroo care in their specific rooms used to provide their nursing care. The interview shall comprise asking mothers with infants to describe their experiences while practicing and implementing Kangaroo care. The researcher will use probing questions to guide the mothers in delving deeper and offering more information and detail concerning their perceptions and experience of Kangaroo care. The researcher will use instruments such as notebooks and electronic recorders to document and preserve the interviews for reviewing later during the data analysis phase. At the end of the interviewing process the researcher will recap and summarize every key point provided by the mothers, and then verify with the mother to determine the correctness and accuracy of the data collected. After agreeing with the mother, that the informati on is accurate and correct the mother will grant the researcher approval to proceed with the information to the data analysis phase. Data Analysis Data analysis is critical to understanding the collected data, and deriving relevant insights, conclusions and recommendations. After completing all the interviews, the researcher will listen to the recorded tapes and engage in verbatim transcription of the recorded interviews. An independent observer will be used to check the content of the recorded tapes and compare it with the non-verbal behavior noted during the interviews. The researcher and independent observer shall engage in careful reading and re-reading of the transcripts to establish actual meanings and trends emerging from the data, and the non-verbal cues observed among the research participants. Following Morse (1994) framework, line-by-line reading of the narrative will be conducted and the arising text divided into categories. This shall comprise level 1 coding where unique words or codes will be assigned to every category to convey specific meaning of the category (Graneheim and Lundman, 2004). The level 2 coding shall involve grouping all the coded data to common meaning, generating categories and subthemes from the information (Graneheim and Lundman, 2004). Level 3 coding will include grouping the subthemes together to achieve emerging trends or themes constituting the Basic Social Psychological Process (Graneheim and Lundman, 2004). Three independent coders and assessors will review the entire coding process, the codes assigned and categories formulated in order to determine the trustworthiness, validity and accuracy of the codes and ensure easier and effective interpretations of the information and findings gleaned from the study. Rigor, Reliability and Validity Rigor It is very difficult to establish rigor in qualitative investigations due to the subjective and theoretical nature of data collected and findings established from the study. rigor is best investigated in quantitative studies through reliability and validity tests because it is possible to apply statistical measures to test the findings. Nevertheless, it is still possible to test the trustworthiness of the research data, findings, and conclusions from a study through investigating credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability variables (Lincoln and Guba, 1985). Reliability and validity Although reliability and validity are research concepts commonly utilized in quantitative investigations, they also have a role in qualitative studies, especially while designing, analyzing data and ensuring the overall quality of the study (Patton, 1990). Hence, researchers tend to use terms such as credibility, comfirmability, neutrality, trustworthiness, dependability, consistency, transferability and applicability to assess the quality of qualitative studies (Lincoln and Guba, 1985). Trustworthiness is a critical measure of reliability in qualitative studies (Seale, 1999). Lincoln and Guba (1985) further note that the measure of trustworthiness replaces validity and reliability measures while conducting qualitative research. Research rigor or trustworthiness is achieved through researchers attention and confirmation of information gathered to represent the actual experiences of the participants (Thomas and Magilvy, 2011). Credibility will be attained by tape recording the interviews, conducting participants debriefing, member checks and comparing notes and summaries with the participants to verify their experiences. The researcher will assess transferability by sharing the findings with an independent colleague to offer constructive critique and sharing the findings from nurses and mothers that did not participate in the study. An independent reviewer will also check the findings, analysis, interpretations and the recommendations to confirm that they are supported by the available data. The researcher will assess dependability by using a more experienced independent person to check and review the coding and analysis process. Finally, confirmability will be achieved by using the actual words of the participants to explain and describe their experiences of Kangaroo care. Ethical Issues While conducting an investigation, the researcher has ethical obligations to ensure and protect the rights of the participants (Munhall, 2012). It will be important to establish trust between the researcher and the participants. Hence, ethical considerations will be very important in the proposed study. Three ethical considerations will be utilized while conducting the study. Firstly, before conducting the study, the researcher will seek informed consent and written approval the university ethics committee (Munhall, 2012). Permission will also be sought from the management of the hospital where the study will be conducted. Finally, informed consent will be sought from mothers, who will participate in the actual study. Secondly, the researcher will ensure confidentiality and anonymity by using codes instead of the actual names of the participants to avoid divulging personal information to the public (Munhall, 2012). Lastly, the participants will be informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any given point without any punishment. Limitation The proposed study will however experience a few challenges that will affect the quality of the research findings and applications to the general population. The collection and analysis of qualitative data is time consuming, and expensive, which will hinder the researcher from exploring a larger sample size (Anderson, 2010). The use of a small sample size reduces credibility and reliability of the research findings, which will create a problem in generalizing the findings to the entire study population (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). This being a qualitative research, it is very difficult to assess rigor through reliability and validity tests, forcing the researcher to use trustworthiness measure (Green and Thorogood, 2013). Conclusion In conclusion, this paper has presented a proposal for investigating the experiences of mothers giving Kangaroo care for preterm infants in Australia. This research proposal is significant to my overall academic performance since it will culminate into an academic enquiry that is relevant and appropriate for my program. while the advantages, value and benefits of Kangaroo care for low and very low birth weight infants and mothers, especially in enhancing weight gain, reducing hospital stay and supporting breastfeeding, are well documented in literature, there is very little information on the application and implementation of the nursing practice in Australia. Being a relatively new concept in Australia, there is little or no information concerning the experiences of mothers implementing the Kangaroo care practice. This study will contribute to a body of literature on the subject and topic by identifying existing research gaps, and developing knowledge, recommendations, and research based evidence concerning the experiences of mothers. Mothers, nurses, caregivers and future students will find this study important in their practice and application of the Kangaroo care approach to nursing. Nurses will understand how to best care for mothers to ensure better outcomes of the Kangaroo care approach. References Anderson, C., 2010. Presenting and evaluating qualitative research.American journal of pharmaceutical education,74(8), p.141- 145 Arivabene, J.C. and Tyrrell, M.A.R., 2010. Kangaroo mother method: mothers' experiences and contributions to nursing.Revista latino-americana de enfermagem,18(2): 262-268 Bernard, H.R. and Bernard, H.R., 2012.Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage Blankenship, D., 2010.Applied research and evaluation methods in recreation. Human Kinetics Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Chou, D., Oestergaard, M., Say, L., Moller, A.B., Kinney, M. and Lawn, J., 2013. Born too soon: the global epidemiology of 15 million preterm births.Reproductive health,10(1), p.S2. Caulley, D.N., 2007. Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theories and methods.Qualitative Research Journal,7(2), pp.106-108 Charpak, N., Gabriel Ruiz, J., Zupan, J., Cattaneo, A., Figueroa, Z., Tessier, R., Cristo, M., Anderson, G., Ludington, S., Mendoza, S. and Mokhachane, M., 2005. Kangaroo mother care: 25 years after.Acta Paediatrica,94(5), pp.514-522. Corbin, J. M., Strauss, A. (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. Qualitative sociology, 13(1): 3-21. de Alencar, A.E.M.A., Arraes, L.C., de Albuquerque, E.C. and Alves, J.G.B., 2009. Effect of kangaroo mother care on postpartum depression.Journal of tropical pediatrics,55(1), pp.36-38 DiCicco?Bloom, B. and Crabtree, B.F., 2006. The qualitative research interview.Medical education,40(4), pp.314-321 Eichel, P., 2001. Kangaroo care: expanding our practice to critically ill neonates.Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews,1(4), pp.224-228 Galletta, A., 2013.Mastering the semi-structured interview and beyond: From research design to analysis and publication. NYU Press Gogna, N.K., Smiley, M., Walker, A.C. and Fullerton, P., 1986. Low birthweight and mortality in Australian Aboriginal babies at the Royal Darwin Hospital: a 15 year study.Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health,22(4): 281-284 Graneheim, U.H. and Lundman, B., 2004. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness.Nurse education today,24(2), pp.105-112. Green, J. and Thorogood, N., 2013.Qualitative methods for health research. Sage. Heinemann, A.B., Hellstrm?Westas, L. and Hedberg Nyqvist, K., 2013. Factors affecting parents' presence with their extremely preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care room.Acta Paediatrica,102(7), pp.695-702 Holloway, I. and Galvin, K., 2016.Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. John Wiley Sons Lawn, J.E., Mwansa-Kambafwile, J., Horta, B.L., Barros, F.C. and Cousens, S., 2010. Kangaroo mother careto prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications.International journal of epidemiology,39(suppl 1), pp.i144-i154 Lemmen, D., Fristedt, P. and Lundqvist, A., 2013. Kangaroo care in a neonatal context: parents experiences of information and communication of nurse-parents.The open nursing journal,7(1):41-48 Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches.Health promotion practice, 16(4):10-25 Lincoln, Y.S. and Guba, E.G., 1985.Naturalistic inquiry(Vol. 75). Sage Marshall, C. and Rossman, G.B., 2011.Designing qualitative research. Sage Morse, J.M., 1994. Emerging from the data: the cognitive process of analysis in qualitative enquiry. IN: Morse, JM.Critical Issues in Qualitative Research Methods Munhall, P.L., 2012.Nursing research. Jones Bartlett Learning Patton, M.Q., 1990.Qualitative evaluation and research methods. SAGE Publications, inc Privitera, G.J., 2013.Research methods for the behavioral sciences. Sage Publications Rabianski, J., 2004. Primary and secondary data: concepts, concerns, errors and issues.Australian Property Journal,38(4), p.306- 313 Reddy, J. and Mclnerney, P.A., 2007. The experiences of mothers who were implementing kangaroo mother care (KMC) at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.Curationis,30(3), pp.62-67. Roberts, K., Paynter, C. and McEwan, B., 2000. A comparison of kangaroo mother care and conventional cuddling care.Neonatal Network,19(4), pp.31-35 Roller, C.G., 2005. Getting to know you: mothers experiences of kangaroo care.Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, Neonatal Nursing,34(2):210-217 Seale, C., 1999. Quality in qualitative research.Qualitative inquiry,5(4), pp.465-478 Seidman, G., Unnikrishnan, S., Kenny, E., Myslinski, S., Cairns-Smith, S., Mulligan, B. and Engmann, C., 2015. Barriers and enablers of kangaroo mother care practice: a systematic review.PloS one,10(5), p.e0125643. Shrivastava, S.R., Shrivastava, P. and Ramasamy, J., 2015. Informed consent in clinical research.CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research,2(2), p.183-185 Suman Rao, P.N., Udani, R. and Nanavati, R., 2008. Kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.Indian pediatrics,45(1), p.17-23 Tarus, T.K., 2008.Mothersexperiences Of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization Of Their Preterm Babies In An Academic Hospital In Johannesburg(Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg). Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015.Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons Thomas, E., 2013. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birth-weight infants.Breastfeeding Review,21(2), pp.54-56 Thomas, E. and Magilvy, J.K., 2011. Qualitative rigor or research validity in qualitative research.Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing,16(2), pp.151-155 Tongco, M.D.C., 2007. Purposive sampling as a tool for informant selection.Ethnobotany Research and applications,5, pp.147-158 Were, F.N. and Bwibo, N.O., 2009. The contribution of very low birth weight death to infant mortality.East African medical journal,86(8):374-377 World Health Organization, 2003.Kangaroo mother care: A practical guide. World Health Organization

Modern Times free essay sample

How is Chaplin’s film and allegory Charlie Chaplin’s film â€Å"Modern Times† is an allegory satirizing the society of the 1930’s. In his film he uses many examples of symbolism, using one object or event to express a hidden meaning. The movie uses these hidden meanings to show that during this time industry was taking over humanity. The opening of the movie is a shot of a large clock expanding the entire screen. The symbolism is obvious. The people of the world are controlled by mechanically measured time, the tyranny of the clock. Another use of symbolism is used as crowd of people flood out of a subway station. This idea is accentuated by the shot of sheep running and out of all of these animals there is one black sheep. This is alluding to the fact that one character will go against the grain. When one watches the scene of â€Å"the Tramp† working endlessly in a machine run factory the message is clear. We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Times or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page People in this age have become part of the machinery. This is also shown when the automated food tray is tested on Chaplin’s character. The tray locks Charlie in and feeds him as he works. In the end it malfunctions to a humorous note but the point is that businesses are dehumanizing their workers. During the 1930’s the depression was hitting hard. Chaplin portrays just how bad it was in his jail scene. After stopping some escaping inmates at the jail he is imprisoned at the guards of the jail make him comfortable. In a newspaper one can see the headlines of â€Å"unemployment† striking the country. When Charlie is about to be released he asks if he could stay in jail rather than go out into the world. Chaplin’s movie is full of satire and symbolism expressing how the world is being run inside and out by machines. The last scene of the movie is Chaplin and his female companion are seen walking off into the distance in search of their own niche in the extremely industrialized society that they live in.

Managing Human Capital Essay Example

Managing Human Capital Essay I certify the content of the assignment to be my own and original work and hat all sources have been accurately reported and acknowledge, and that this document has not previously been submitted in it’s entirely or in part of any educational establishment. RAVIKUMAR P RATHOD. STUDENT ID: 0076LHLH0609 TASK 01: A. 1) abstract: From this report reader will able to understand HR managers role take in to consideration when there is change in external environment factors, and what human resource strategies will helps to became more competitive and how an organisation can take competitive advantage with various human resource practice within organisation. This part of the report will guide you around human resource strategies. A. 2 Key words: Role of human resource managers, organisational change, human resource practices, competition, benefits and drawbacks, communication channel, information technology and system, market, societal norms, external environment. (Words, -191) A. 3 INTRODUCTION: Human resource managers and leaders constant make efforts to accomplish successful and necessary change within the organisation. During this process, HR managers and leaders must follow certain approach to fulfil the necessary requirement to the organisation. Internal and external change can able to switch business environment. Moreover, organisational change and other development have become rife in communication for organisational leadership and management itself. However, the most important factor which affects the majority of the organisation is the competition. How accurately and fast organisation can compete with their product and services that another organisation supply. This will also analyse the organisations external environmental factors. Likewise, consumers uncertain demands and wants, and a new competitor enters into market. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing Human Capital specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Managing Human Capital specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Managing Human Capital specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In the following paragraphs, this report will analyse, organisations human resource practises and role of human managers during the external change in organisations with relevant examples. For example 01, Virgin Corporation plans to enter in cold drinks business in USA. They want to launch their own brand virgin cola. As a result, many companies in US such as, coca cola and PEPSI may face more competition and they needs to do more efforts to remain their products more competitive and their share prices remain stable in the market. Moreover, new technology and information system plays vital role, because advance technology means, new products and services can be improve. Nevertheless, natural disaster or dynamic situation can made change in to organisation. Such as, gulf war or swine flu virus. John bra ton and Jeffery gold, 1999 human resource management: theory and practice, London, Mc Millen publication house. * â€Å"Market is uncertain, it change every time. It is always depend on the variety of products and consumer behaviour. As results, an organisation needs to react or lose customers. A. 4 Organisation and competition: The amount of varied competition relies on the market the organisation operates in. For example 02, Small businesses like, High street mall, city centre mall, Large size of businesses likes, Cock, PEPSI, wall mart, M amp; S. And a constant moving market where the technology is being invent fast like, cell phone market. These types of organisation and situations may boost competition externally like, * Decrease in product price * Better quality but increase in product price Large amount of investment in advertisement to increase brand loyalty and publicity. A. 4 Human resource practices at external change: The most vital part for human resource managers is planning for the external change is scanning means to examine the environmental situation to recognise scopes or potential dangers to an organisation. To ignore the external change can have divesting effect on a business. For example 03, Easter Island: misunderstanding their natural resources, the jungle in this issue; left the place unable to sustain life. Nobody knows what happen to the inhabitants. But we know why their presence became extinct. The same thing can happen to any organisation, which neglect (ignore) the external environment changes. A. 5 Information system and technology: Joseph martocchio, 2009, research in personnel and human resource management, Howard house, emeralds group publishing limited. Many organisation senior executive and mangers don’t know how technology can affect the organisation and can bring change in to organisation. So, organisation must upgrade their production firm, machinery and administration within the organisation. HR managers needs to consider regularly briefing about technology, as a result, the technology which they are using, is it right for them. This can helps to make their position more competitive in the market. For example 04, A mobile manufacture company must know about what types design, software and style are in demand in market. So, they can make their hand set more demanding and they can make their product different t han other producers. This can increase the selling ratio and company’s total revenue Moreover, having advanced and right technology can improve organisation standard and profits. This will also give opportunity to HR managers to make their organisation more challenging for their competitors. â€Å"Technology is queer thing, it brings you great advantages with one hand and it stabs you in the back with the other. † C. P. SHOW, 15 march 1971. New your times, NY Ecological and environmental issues plays vital role within organisation. Change in government’s policy for the industries can also bring major changes within organisation. Change in legislation can affect the organisation selling and purchasing policy. Robert l Mathis, john H Jackson, 2008. Human resource management, 9 Thomas learning Inc. US For example 05, * Changes in national minimum wage for the workers or inflation. * Increase in corporation and other national insurance taxes. * In addition, external trading policy and funds, grants, and initiatives. This is the sources of income for the organisation but they can bring change internally within organisation from changing trading policy. * Organisations often fundamentally challenge invited societal norms. Because organisation can suffers from support, financial and public as well. This are the sources can make major changes into organisation. Change in lifestyle and fashion can bring change. Likewise, various types of age group buy various types of products. So, change in the population affects the demand for the product. As a results, HR manager needs to considered external factors which may bring change in business, such as fashion and trend. For example 06, Change in taste, businesses must react quickly as possible. Like, * Mc Donald, offering more healthy food. Consumers are more aware about environment and are against exploitation. A. Human resource strategies and dynamic situations: Majority of entrepreneurs have gone to invest and efforts to define human resource policies, practices and procedures that comply with government legislation and consistent with their organisational culture and ethic. â€Å"John Bretton and Jeffrey gold, 1999. â€Å" Human resource management: theory and prentices â€Å"London, mac Milan press ltd p 152-70 * Major Service markets such as, fast food outlets, supermarket like ASDA and TESCO, Sainsbury’s. Majority of organisations work design are typically involve the two types of framework, mostly is Hertzberg. And some firms adopt Taylor’s. While, others are irrationalised practices. in both frameworks cost ,and labour cost are in competition due to consumers are very price sensitive. A. 7 Cost based competitive strategy : This strategy HR managers allows to sustain paying only the market – clearing wage and minimally with labour law. Most organisations pay their workers and employees as a government law. However, to take competitive advantage organisations can pay slightly more than minimum wage for workers. For example 07, In UK, for student or contingent workers minimum wage is ? . 93 per hour. However, many organisations pay six to seven pound per hour. This is higher than minimum wage. From paying more, organisation can keep contingent means part time workers who can work with flexibility and organisation can also get benefits from hiring part time workers. This helps to reduce corporate taxes. * The only firm which sustain their presence in the pressurised market condit ions that built outstanding brand identity. They can dominant market share and enjoy reputational benefits in labour market. A. 8 mix market and greater customer service strategy: Certain types of service markets such as, older care centre, hotels and BPO, where different types of customers and higher valued added customers can be targeted. There is a clear potential for job enrichment competitive dynamics than based around a mix of cost and quality based competition. * Human resource takes into count as a higher value added segments. Organisation can higher highly skilled employees with experience and or can provide necessary training to their employees, and it is simply necessary that there are profitable higher value segment and it is cost effective to invest employee training and development programmes. For example 08, Telecommunication company, when customer call to buy contract phone from the company , sales executive not only offers what customer ask but also offers many packages as per customer budget. And evermore, they also offer cheap and affordable bundle and other services such as next day delivery or in case hand set faulty or if you’re Not happy with the hand set. As results, company can keep customer for longer period and take competitive advantage by providing excellent customer service. A. 9 Expertise – driven: In today’s world, high level professional services and other knowledge intensive services, work organisation is always dealt with high level of employee discretion. High performance work system in the service sector, like, management consulting energises, banking sector, organisation typically invest to build employee skills, enhancing motivation and providing opportunities to participate. * According to Michal losey, 2005. â€Å"Resource management â€Å", Alexandria, Virginia, john Wiley amp; sons, Inc. â€Å"Committing to hiring experts, in other word, bring them into partnership. This will leads to emergent competitive strategies in their field of expertise. They plays vital role within the organisation. † For example 09, When founder of Walt Disney past away, Roy became owner of the Walt Disney, but in his hand, Disney not performing well, then Disney’s board of directors and shareholders decided to hire new chief executive officer for Disney. And Disney comes with new CEO Robert Eger. He is expert in his profession. And he increases the Walt Disney total revenue and establish new picture studio name touchstone. According to box all and steeneveld, 1999; greenwood el al, 1990; literature. It is essential to measures competitive strategy in professional services firms in federalists rather than top down kind of way. * There are much more opportunities for human resource advantage in these expertise era. Experts can perform well and trained employees while there is external change within the organisation. A. 10 Conclusion: To sum up, it is clear that, HR managers and HR practices can transform due to uncertain market and government policies. HR must parallel the needs of his or her changing organisation and with the right HR strategy. Organisation can became more adaptive and resilient, fast to change in direction and customer centred. Moreover, HR managers can promote overall success of organisation from their practises and identify the organisations goal, mission, vision, values and action plans and they can measures how well it is succeeding in all this , how organisation gain sustainable competitive advantage. (Words: 1589 excluding abstract, keywords) A. 11 Recommendations: In my opinion, organisation must invest in employee development programmes, so they can gain knowledge about organisations product and services. Furthermore, organisation should hire a young graduates who are willing to work in challenging environment with flexibility, this allows organisation to become more competitive for their competitors in market. Moreover, businesses should have advance technology which becomes more competitive and helps to take competitive advantage. PART-02: discussion on compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining agreements are a major cause of our inability to compete in many sector of the international market. B. 1 Abstract: From this part of report, reader will able to understand how organisations employers and trade union negotiate their agreement through collective bargaining and what are the factor affecting to compete many sector of the international market for the entrepreneurs. How types of agreements will affect the organisation and their employees. B. 2 Keywords: Human resource management , competitive advantages, compensation package, collective bargaining, international market, trade union, total revenue, union representative, negotiations, small and large scale businesses, wages and hours, promoters, agreements. Words – 135 excluding) B. 3 Introduction: According to Clive Jenkins, Barrie Sharman, 1977 collective bargaining P-156-8 Mc grew hill publication Inc. â€Å"Collective bargaining is a process whereby workers representative, employees and investors, and trade union through their representatives, treat and negotiate with a view to the conclusion of a collective agreement or rene wal there of the resolution of internal or external disputes within the organisation. † In the following paragraphs this report will analyse situation in for and against of collective bargaining in organisation and give recommendations and my opinion. In addition, a collective agreement normally in written agreement between employer and organisations union. On behalf of workers employed by the owner of the organisation, it also refers to organisations terms and condition of employment of the workers. And their right, privilege, and responsibilities within the organisation. * When employer hires workers, they can demand labour, and agree on a price for that labour. Moreover, the agreement accepted, consideration and intension to create legal relationship constitutes a bargain to which compliance can be sought in law. B. 4 INTERNATIONAL MARKET: Clive Jenkins, berry Sherman, 1977, â€Å"collective bargaining† p 156 Mc grew hill publishing Inc. During the process of negotiation between trade union and employers, employers almost always offer less than what they are willing to pay. They expect that there will be a negotiation of salary and other benefits. In international markets, there is no business without two different parties. Each may relate to different countries. Due to high demand of trade union especially when it’s higher value added segments, management’s authority and freedom are became much more restricted by negotiation rules in case of business is new to country. If trade union representatives are miss placed by the union, it can be irrational for the organisation and workers. Because during the process of agreement between employer and representatives disputes or unsuccessful negotiation can be resulted into union strike. This creates dynamic situation for the business and workers itself. * Compensation package negotiated through collective bargaining may create significant potential for polarization between workers and managers of the organisation. Furthermore, mostly negotiation in workers’ wages and salary can be became major cause for organisation in international market. For example 10, Recently, Subsidiary company of Wal-Mart, ASDA is paying some its Bangladeshi workers just ? 6. 70 for a 48 hour week. The proper living wage in the country would be ? 25. 90 per week. As a result, workers went to strike in Bangladesh their production firm, workers stop making products for ASDA. Due to this it affects international trade and organisations revenue. Source: METRO newspaper, 22 July 10. P 09 * However, collective bargaining agreements may cause disproportionate effect of relatively few active employees on the many in the bargaining unit. This is particularly the case when process involves a system wide structure of election. * It also increase bureaucratization and consume more time for making decisions. When trade union demand is high and varied it also leads to management obelised more control on organisation. And consume time to give respond to agreement. * Moreover, it also creates more difficulties for employers at small companies to have their voices heard. And it also increase management expense relates to negotiation and administration agreements. Furthermore, collective bargaining restricts organisation top management’s ability to deal directly with individual employees within organisation. This will affect the communication channel between managers and workers. It also increase dependence on the small scale businesses for particularly those requiring technological competence, they may be compromise. B. 5 employment policy: * Compensation packages through negotiated through collective bargaining agreements may became cumbersome and time consuming, requiring flexibility during negotiation process. As results, there will be increase burden on the employers to solve or define flexible plans to solve as the basic of negotiations with a trade union representative. * On the other hand, collective bargaining promotes fairness and consistency in organisations employment policies and personnel decisions within and across organisation. However, compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining agreements eliminate ability of management to make unilateral change in workers’ wages, working hours and other terms and condition of the organisation employments policy. According to Randall Schuler, peter j doling, 1994, international dimensions of the HR management, second edition, wad worth publishing Inc. â€Å"compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining agreement can make employee and employer relations worsened rather than improved under such an agreement. For instance, workers within organisation will resist innovation due to time motion study. Hig hly demand compensation packages by trade union, generally unfair and less motivating for the big investors. According to Carlos Diaz – Moreno 2002, university of Minnesota, Spain. â€Å"Negotiation between workers and entrepreneurs is major bargaining game in economics. In majority of cases, agreements are delay as the parties continue negotiations or agreements are never reached. † For example 11, Automobile Manufacture Company called TATA wants to introduce world cheapest car in India. There for they decided to build their production plat where land and taxes are in favour. They built their plant in SINGUR, WEST BENGAL. But increasingly violent protest by local workers and government forced to TATA to move their plant somewhere else. This is the major case of failure in negotiation between workers and employers at international market. As results, organisation has to face huge amount of loss and they have to stop their production plant and local workers lose their employment. * According to Merlo and Wilson, 1995. Literature review, â€Å"Delays in bargaining are the results of the uncertainty about the size of cake, and the identity of compensation packages through collective bargaining. During the process of collective bargaining agreements, trade union and board of director’s utility is not transferable. This factor captures an essential issue for the labour market negotiation. Generally, predict that workers are less patient than investors giving the firms more negotiation authority. * Negotiation process between workers and employers basically considered two factors, workers minimum wag e and working hour’s regulation. Employer must meet the requirement what government minimum wage policy law for the international market. As a result, collective bargaining agreements are major cause to our inability to compete international market because it is not necessary, workers and employers are agree to with their demand every time. In some cases, organisational external factor also make negotiation processes slow down. * In addition, during the process of compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining workers always depend on their wages and specially, in some cases, when organisation is expanding along with total revenue of the organisation, workers demand will also increase. As results, workers and trade union realise their role and importance within organisation. Therefore, workers demand to increase their compensation packages or they may threaten organisation to gone into strike. This creates dynamic situation in many sector in international market. B. 6 CONCLUSION: To sum up, it is clear from the data, that union and employers played significant role during the process of collective bargaining agreement. It may discourage to investors at international market and encourage to seeking to creates attractive work situation prevent unionization at workplace. Therefore, I agree with this statement, that compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining agreements are major cause of our inability to compete in many sectors of the international market. Each negotiator is searching for advantage and one has to down, as a result, inverse relationship between two parties. Compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining process can create high impact situation at international market. Total package proposal is placed on the desk with an agreement of all elements crucial for settlement from trade union and employers in many sector of international market. B. 7 RECOMMANDATION: In my opinion, during the process of compensation packages negotiated through collective bargaining agreement, trade union must aware of the organisations profit and loss account, cash inflow ant out flow, and other balance shits and information provided in the financial reports of particular organisation with whom they negotiating. This can reduce burden from both parties and agreement in international market. Words-1538, excluding part01 and abstract, keywords and recommendation.

Free Essays on The Power and The Glory

The Extended Allegory in The Power and The Glory Graham Greene pieced together The Power and the Glory from his own personal memoirs in 1940 after a three-year trip to Mexico. Drawing from his own observations of a small town torn between the anti-religious laws of the secular government and the people’s religious beliefs, Greene created the story of a Catholic priest being pursued by the police to illustrate the conflicting relationship between the church and state (Greene 2-4). Greene used his experiences in Mexico to create an extended allegory that illustrates the conflict between the two world views and, in turn, reveals his own values and philosophy. Drawing from his experience in Mexico, Greene developed a "whiskey priest," a character introduced to Greene by a friend in Mexico in a story of a drunken priest that christened a child by the wrong name, to embody the religious world view. The priest, who remains nameless throughout the novel to emphasize his allegorical role, is less an individual than a symbol of the "Church [and] of the cumulative wisdom of the past, in short, of Western Humanism" (DeVitis 89). The priest, however, is seen as a traitor to the state and to his religion. The last Catholic priest in a secular Mexican state, the priest’s photograph is hung next to that of a notorious American gangster on the wall of the police office. The priest’s tendency towards gin, cowardliness, and his moral weakness make him a traitor to his faith and religious order. On the allegorical level of the novel, the priest’s flight from the police is seen as a "flight from God" and away from becoming a saint (DeV itis 90). Refu! sing to accept his destiny of being captured by the police and becoming a martyr for his faith, partially out of fear of pain and his own refusal to abandon the Catholic people of the state, his escape becomes a journey of self-recognition. Only after a "half-caste," a "Judas figure of evil and ... Free Essays on The Power and The Glory Free Essays on The Power and The Glory The Extended Allegory in The Power and The Glory Graham Greene pieced together The Power and the Glory from his own personal memoirs in 1940 after a three-year trip to Mexico. Drawing from his own observations of a small town torn between the anti-religious laws of the secular government and the people’s religious beliefs, Greene created the story of a Catholic priest being pursued by the police to illustrate the conflicting relationship between the church and state (Greene 2-4). Greene used his experiences in Mexico to create an extended allegory that illustrates the conflict between the two world views and, in turn, reveals his own values and philosophy. Drawing from his experience in Mexico, Greene developed a "whiskey priest," a character introduced to Greene by a friend in Mexico in a story of a drunken priest that christened a child by the wrong name, to embody the religious world view. The priest, who remains nameless throughout the novel to emphasize his allegorical role, is less an individual than a symbol of the "Church [and] of the cumulative wisdom of the past, in short, of Western Humanism" (DeVitis 89). The priest, however, is seen as a traitor to the state and to his religion. The last Catholic priest in a secular Mexican state, the priest’s photograph is hung next to that of a notorious American gangster on the wall of the police office. The priest’s tendency towards gin, cowardliness, and his moral weakness make him a traitor to his faith and religious order. On the allegorical level of the novel, the priest’s flight from the police is seen as a "flight from God" and away from becoming a saint (DeV itis 90). Refu! sing to accept his destiny of being captured by the police and becoming a martyr for his faith, partially out of fear of pain and his own refusal to abandon the Catholic people of the state, his escape becomes a journey of self-recognition. Only after a "half-caste," a "Judas figure of evil and ...

Social Work - Welfare Agenda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Work - Welfare Agenda - Essay Example Wales also introduced Childrens Commissioner into the social welfare network. This was later to be implemented by Scotland as well. However, Wales did not limit itself to Children’s Commissioner but rather went a step ahead and introduced the Older Peoples Commissioner. The chairperson of this new post would be bestowed with the primary job to consider and promote interests of the senior citizen in Wales by removing discrimination and modifying legislations among other things. The Welsh Assembly actively participated in these programs. Only in England and Wales has the Mental Capacity Act 2005 been implemented. An adult mental health plan is also in the pipeline as the Welsh Assembly is working on it. The Councils in Wales also take part in the development of the social sector and also helps in the development of the social services workers and volunteers. A Social Services Improvement Agency has also been introduced in Wales in order to develop the services rendered by the local authority. This is done by informing the workforce about the prevalent policies, research and various legislations in practice. Since 2007 the Welsh Assembly government facilitated the amalgamation of two bodies into a new Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). The purpose of the CSSIW was to develop the existing facilities for social services. In the future, one may foresee two possible scenarios1. Qualified social workers are most important to attend to the welfare of the society. Over the years, the demand for social workers has increased leading to an imbalance and which is likely to remain for the next few years to come till there are more qualified social workers pitching for the job. This leads to the consequence wherein there is lack of local authorities to deliver social work services. The challenges thus presently existing the local authorities are

International Relations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Relations - Research Paper Example In fact, it â€Å"refers both to a process of growing material interconnectedness as well as to the ‘idea’ or consciousness of that process† (Ravenhill 302). The purveyor or enforcer of such idea is the WTO. Although the WTO is supposedly a consensual type of organization, where the majority, which consist of the underdeveloped and developing countries, is theoretically the more powerful group, it is actually the few developed and advanced capitalist countries that are most influential in the formulation of its policies. Since its founding, the WTO has been accused of making the economic conditions of the poorer nations worse. According to Global Exchange, an international human rights advocacy organization, the WTO has made the world’s richest become richer at the expense of the poorest as it has â€Å"hastened these trends by opening up countries to foreign investment and thereby making it easier for production to go where the labor is cheapest and most easily exploited and environmental costs are low† (Top Reasons to Oppose the WTO). The WTO was established in January 1995. However, the basic principles behind it were already being implemented since 1948 through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or GATT (World Trade Organization). ... However, there are developing countries with governments that have continued to adhere to the policies of the WTO despite the massive protests that have been held in their respective countries. Behind these are the corporations who have accumulated profits because of globalization (Berberoglu 68). Since the WTO regularly meets in order to discuss the implementation of trade liberalization, the agendas that it often tables are scrutinized by different people’s organizations. One contentious issue that has been the subject of intense protest campaigns from farmers is agricultural liberalization. The WTO calls for â€Å"the removal of exemptions for import controls and supply management regimes† (Shrybman 50). The net effect of this policy is that a less developed nation that could not compete well can be dumped with agricultural products coming from the more developed countries. This naturally puts the farmers of the said country at a grave disadvantage because of unfair competition resulting from it. With inadequate subsidy, the farming sector of the less developed country would certainly not be able counter the heavy importation. Another major criticism of the WTO is that it tends to ignore the impact of its policies on other important aspects of society. It is said that in every forum that is held by this multilateral body, â€Å"global commerce takes precedence over everything – democracy, public health, equity, the environment, food safety and more† (Wallach & Sforza 20). There are two other issues that have been consistently raised against the WTO; these are on matters of the environment and labor. When it comes to the environment, there have been calls by environmental groups to use trade sanctions as a means to pressure erring nations to comply with

Rephrase Completely Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rephrase Completely - Essay Example tickets with much lower costs with their business model mirroring that of SWA with only a single type of airplane being used thus lowering their total maintenance costs. In addition, JetBlue has also been successful in its cost management strategy by plying their aircrafts to longer distances and also boarding more passengers in a single flight. This strategy has enabled them to gain more profits by covering the fixed costs in the higher number of tickets sold. The low fares offered by the airline per available seat-mile is the lowest fare provided in the whole of the US. Apart from the cost leadership, JetBlue further distinguishes itself from SWA in other facilities offered to the passengers. SWA has only been able to offer the low air fares by compromising on certain passenger amenities. However, JetBlue has been able to provide high-class services to its passengers even while offering low fares. Some of the facilities offered which distinguishes JetBlue from its competitors include comfortable leather seats; several facilities for entertainment such as individual screens and radio channels. Thus JetBlue has been able to successfully integrate the lower costs of structure and operations with high-class facilities and service provided to the passengers. In addition to these, better services and low fares are also available even during ticket procurement. JetBlue deploys live agents in the ticketing department as it has realized that several customers prefer to speak to agents directly while purchasing their tickets. They also offer home sourcing fo r aged customers who are unable to commute or buy tickets online. Such measures have increased their productivity and emerged as a cheaper alternative to outsourcing and has also contributed to better face value among its customers. Adopting the integration strategy has given a competitive advantage to JetBlue which offers low cost and a relatively better service value While such integrative measures can create a

Psychological Effects of Single Parent Family

Psychological Effects of Single Parent Family CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The purpose of this project proposal is closely observer the psychosocial problems faced by adolescents from single mother families in the state of Selangor which has higher level of divorce and separation cases. Thus, the intent of this proposed study firstly is to identify, the influences of the family, social system and socioeconomic issues which cause the rise of psychosocial problems of the adolescents from single female parent families, such as anti-social behaviour. In that regard, there are three chapters in this project proposal. Chapter 1: Introduction, provide a discussion around the basic theme and problem statements which contribute to psychosocial problems of the adolescents. The purpose of qualitative research of face to face interview is to wear down the objectives acting upon the adolescents from single mother’s family. Chapter 2: Through the literature review extends the analysis and provokes an idea from the theories. Chapter 3: Qualitative research method of facial expression to face interviews were utilized to identify (N=5) adolescents from the age of fifteen to eighteen from single mother families, (N=5) of their mothers and (N=1) from the NGO, in order to interpret and explain the societal phenomenon of adolescent from single mother families. The determination is to address why anti-social behaviour occurs among adolescents from single mother families and also how to and implement methods to prevent and overcome anti-social behaviour among these adolescents, with the help and associate with the aid of others, such as, government, NGOs, relatives and friends. 1.1  Background of study The focus of the background study reveals increase as in separation and divorce levels due to several factors and influences. From previous studies, single parent family in Malaysia is growing faster than other family relationships. The arrangement of two parents in the family is broadly conceived as an accepted family, and the single parent family is known as a sort of non-accepted family. (Baharudin, R., Et al. Journal of comparative Family Studies, 2011). Established on the article from (Overturf, J. V., Downs, B., 2003) it states; parental monitoring is an important connection of adolescence risk behaviour. The full point of adolescence is really essential to the maturation of any person. The identifying features of this period make it unique from other aspects of development. It is a transitional period from childhood to maturity; it requires an atmosphere full of passion and understanding to do well. (Ajidahun, B. O., 2011). Therefore, adolescents from single mother families may experience peculiar psychological and emotional problems of separation anxiety, sorrow, anger, depression, aloneness, and poor sexual self-identity. (Meier, P.D. Minirth, F. B. el ta, 1991). Hence, the significance is likely employed in several risk behaviours, such as antisocial behaviour is high. Anti-social behaviour is considered a personality disorder and brings up to behaviour that lacks affection for others with a high chance of harming others without feeling guilty and an evident failing of most emotions. (Kalat, J.W., 2008). The development of antisocial behaviour among teens could be drug abuse, vandalism, bullying, and gangsterism. Nevertheless, based on studies (Lee et al., 2007; Chiah, 2009), it has been discovered that adolescent from single mother families were more frequently taken in social problem behaviours than their twins in two-parent households. Hence, the context of this background work is founded on face to face questionnaire, interviews in order to gather information that comprises samples of (N=5) adolescents from NGO residential home for the teenagers which residing in the City of Petaling Jaya, Selangor and (N=5) of their mothers and (N=1) from the residential dwelling. The interviews questionnaire is used to pack out the collection primary data in this field to assess the findings of the research. In addition, based on the qualitative analysis from the work of other researches on anti-social behaviour among these adolescents from single mother families, the factors highlight the realization of several reasons in this area. The important results of the conditional relation of this background study for the adolescents from single mother families seriously need more attention and counselling in the field that becomes problems for them. Parents attention is recommended as revealed in this study, the adolescents need a conducive environment where they can look for help and affirm to resolve their problems inside their families. Therefore, through the interview samples as well as the interpretation of literature and journals, and research has facilitated to improve and determine the levels of the different social classes’ problems. Aside from the discussion of background study, the following section in particular addresses the problem statements. 1.3  Problem Statements This research aims to identify the psychosocial problems of adolescents from single mother families. The issue of divorce and living in fatherless families, infidelity of husband and wife, financial issues, emotional and psychological problems and social stigma are some of the major ones. (Faizah bte Abd Ghani Azian Abd Aziz, 2013). Their troubles are often pushed under the carpet, but manifest in anti-social behaviour which includes poor academic performance, relationship with teachers, school mates, mother or father, siblings, relatives and the public at large. They also resort to anti-social activities including drinking, which frequently result in adolescent pregnancies. My study samples are (N=5) adolescents between the ages of fifteen to nineteen, (N=5) single mother and (N=1) from the residential homes for the teenage boys in the state of Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 1.5  Research Questions In this research, these are the questions which my research will be addressed: What are the psychosocial problems of the adolescents from single mother families? What are the factors that influence the development of adolescents from single  mother families? What is the mother involvement in psychosocial problems of their adolescent’s  development? To what extent the changes come about when the adolescents stay in the NGO  residential homes for the teenagers? These research questions are directed at seeing the chief objectives of this study, which look at the factor causing psychosocial problems, such as, anti-social behaviour in the adolescents from single mother families. 1.4  Research Objectives The intent of this proposed research objective is to limit the possible factors that carry the potential to delay the effective operation of the psychosocial problem of the adolescents from single mother families. It is also aimed at the objective as stated below: To find out the psychosocial problems among the adolescent. To identify the factors that influencing the development of adolescents from single  mother families. To find out what is the mother involvement in their adolescent’s development. To determine what is the mother involvement in psychosocial problem of their  adolescent’s development. To find out what extent the changes come about when the adolescents stay in the  NGO residential homes for the teenagers. 1.6  Study Contribution This research covers (a) The definition of a psychosocial problem among the adolescent from single mother families. (b) The factors of psychosocial problems. (c) The mother involvement in psychosocial problems of their adolescent’s development. (d) The changes occur when the adolescents stay at the NGO homes. The responses to the interview questions and samples will be held through from a residential home for the teenage boys which residing in the City of Petaling Jaya. This chapter closes the call for the proposed research in psychosocial problem among adolescents from single mother families. The financing will be gained from the scope, significance of the problems and aims. The next chapter of this research covers the pertinent literature, letting in the factors, causes and solutions. Additionally, the recommendations proposed will also be discussed, such as, with the psychosocial, socioeconomic and the ecological problems and also how the adolescents from single mother families can seriously consider living a better lifestyle?

Play dough activity Essay

I discussed with my manager that i was going to carry out a play activity. The project i have chosen to do is the making of play dough. I have chosen this activity because i feel this is a great pastime and a great experience between me and the children. I say this because the children can actually take part in the making of the product. I think this activity will help them to learn about colours, shapes†¦ My manager confirmed the activity and she was really pleased with idea and she also thought this would be a great learning experience for the children. I already have a recipe on how to do play dough, but my manager confirmed one more time all the ingredients: flour, food colouring, salt, oil and water. I make the play dough activity with four Montessori children. The first thing i did it was to get all my materials ready: small basin, large spoon, flour, salt, oil, water, paint, shape cutters, rolling pin. In this activity children can develop Motor skills -Using play dough h elps a child practice using certain physical skills with the hands when they manipulate the dough with their fingers. Children can practice skills such as pinching, squeezing or poking while they play with the dough. Cognitive Development-Using play dough helps a child practice using imagination and other cognitive abilities such imitation, symbolism and problem solving. This helps the child learn more about his environment as he makes and mimics everyday objects with the play dough. Emotional Development-Using play dough may help a child to calm down when frustrated or angry. Holding and squeezing the play dough can produce a calming effect on the child and is useful for teaching anger management skills. Additionally, children may feel more comfortable expressing themselves in other ways while their hands are busy. Social Development-Using play dough may help a child develop social skills as she plays along with other children with the dough. Additionally, making play dough is an opportunity for a child to practice cooperation and sharing with a caregiver. Physical development. Using play dough may help a child to develop motor skills needed for writing and drawing. Language development. Because of the interactive nature of play dough use, children need to listen, understand the communication of others, speak, and practice their oral communication skills as they mold and manipulate their play dough  constructions. Science understandings. The tactile experience of manipulating play dough helps children develop a deeper understanding of how matter changes (physics) and encourages them to use scientific thinking as they observe changes, make predictions, and talk through differences in the materials they are using. Mathematics concepts. Mixing up a new batch of play dough with adults is one way in which play dough engages children in mathematical learning as they measure and count recipe ingredients. Discussions about shape, relative size (greater than, equal to, or less than), height, length, and weight provide additional opportunities for children to develop mathematical understandings. Literacy Learning. When paper and writing utensils are added to the play dough area, children can make signs, labels, and create stories related to their play efforts. Exploring and thinking- children used their senses, their minds and their bodies to find out about and make sense of what they see. They used the imagination to create new shape or different monsters from play dough; they are imitating in special the mothers in the kitchen when are cooking; are making gestures as adults ;are playing and talking about the experience. Identity and belongings-children build respectful relationships with others; they express their own ideas, preferences and needs, and have these responded to with respect and consistency; they feel that they have a place and a right to belong to the group; Well-being-i n the play activity children were happy and playful; they were interacting to each other; the group activity make them feel comfortable and contents. Communication-children used a range of body movements, facial expressions, and early vocalisations to show feelings and share information; they interact with other children by listening, discussing and taking turns in conversation; children used language with confidence and competence for giving and receiving information, they asked questions and request too. Through this activity i found the children had great fun. Children were very excited about the fact that they were going to help me make the play dough. They were full of all different questions. Over all i felt the activity went very well.

Starbucks’ Mission & Strategic Choices

Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Executive Summary This paper examines strategic management, which encompasses business decisions and actions that: define the organization's mission and objectives, determine the most effective utilization of organizational resources, select best courses of action to meet its mission, and seek to assure the effectiveness of the organization within the environment. This case study evaluates the strategic management process, and applies those concepts to a practical case study of Starbuck’s mission statement. This case study is presented in the format of a formal business report – prepared by a consultant and presented to the Starbucks' Board of Directors and CEO – that provides an analysis of Starbucks' mission and strategic choices, and a summary of the alignment of those strategies to its mission. This report is based on a critical review of the Starbuck mission statement, goals, and objectives, which is then compared against the strategic choices that Starbucks has made (e. g. product differentiation, research and development, operations) to determine how well Starbuck’s strategic choices are aligned to the company’s mission and vision. Finally, this study answers the question: Will the company continue its past  success? Randy Tanner, 2009 Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Cover Sheet: Starbucks Corp. 2401 Utah Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134 Phone: 206-447-1575 Fax: 206-682-7570 Web Site: http://www. starbucks. com Business Plan presented to:Howard Schultz, Chairman of the Board, President, CEO Starbucks Board of Directors Prepared by:Randy S. Tanner Statement of Purpose:Analysis of Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Table of Contents Executive Summary4 Background4 Company Description4 Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. 4 Strategies. 5 Management Team. 6 Business Model. 6 Infrastructure7 Offering. 7 Revenue Model. 7 Pricing. 8 Customers. 8 Competitors. 8 Stakeholders. 8 Marketing Strategy. 9 Financials. 9 Analysis10 Company Analysis. 10 Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). 10 Current Target Markets10 Market Analysis. 10 Competition & SWOT Analysis. 11 Competitive advantage. 12 Financial Analysis. 12 Conclusion13 Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? 13 Will the company continue its past  success? 13 Executive Summary Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks published mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to apply strategies to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels to multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity – less waste equals more profit. The corporation has tempered its original goal of market dominance by saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. The strategy of using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of corporate customers also supports Starbucks’s prime mission. This elevation of Seattle’s Best does not create a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, but does serve as an alternate distribution channel for the company’s expanded product line. Therefore, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet captures additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. This strategy can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – and increase overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. † (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) Background Strategic management is â€Å"a company-wide process that includes  a long-term plan of action that assists in achieving  an  organization's objectives and  fulfills company vision,† (course material) and is comprised of four major elements: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation. (Bushman, (2007) This Strategic Management process includes the following steps: (Luca, 2009) 1. Developing a Vision/Mission/Goals and Objectives 2. Analyzing the environment company (internal and external) 3. Identifying internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Threats and Opportunities (SWOT) 4. Articulating  strategic choices at the business, functional, and corporate levels 5. Selecting a strategy or strategies, based on in-depth internal and external analyses, to accomplish vision and mission goals. These strategies may exist at several levels: business, functional, corporate, and global. Company Description According to the company’s Factsheet (2009), Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The original name of â€Å"Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices† was later changed to â€Å"Starbucks Coffee Company. As quoted from Google Finance (Starbucks Corporation, 2009), Starbucks, together with its subsidiaries, â€Å"purchases and roasts whole bean coffees and sells them, along with fresh, rich-brewed coffees, Italian-style espresso beverages, cold blended beverages, complementary food items, a selection of premium teas, and coffee-relate d accessories and equipment, through Company-operated retail stores. Starbucks also sells coffee and tea products and licenses its trademark through other channels. Starbucks produces and sells a range of ready-to-drink beverages. The business segments of the Company are United States, International, and Global Consumer Products Group (CPG). The CPG segment includes packaged coffee and tea sold globally through channels, such as grocery stores and operates through joint ventures and licensing arrangements with consumer products business partners. † Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. Mission statements are â€Å"fundamental to the survival and growth of any business,† (Analoui and Karami, 2002) and â€Å"set the direction and goal for the long term, reflecting the strategic intent. (course material) According to Germain and Cooper (1990), an appropriate mission statement serves to â€Å"promote a sense of shared expectations amongst employees and communicate a public image of the firm to important stakeholders and groups in the company's task environment. † Starbucks’ mission statement as stated in the corporate Factsheet (2009) is â€Å"To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. The company’s stated Vision, Goals, and Objectives may be found listed as â€Å"Our Starbucks Mission† in the corporate website (The Company, 2009). This vision is expressed as â€Å"To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Some of the company’s objectives – referred to as â€Å"guiding principles† – included in that strategic vision focus on: 1. Quality of the coffee 2. Robust partnerships 3. Human connection to customers 4. Unique atmosphere of the retail stores that encourages social interaction 5. Being accepted as neighbor in the community 6. Obligation to shareholders (long-term success and profitability) Strategies. The original focus since the company’s beginning has been on product differentiation, in both the product and the store setting. This strategy emphasizes a premium product served in a unique atmosphere. Some claimed tactics employed to execute these strategies are to: (Factsheet, 2009) †¢ Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. †¢ Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. †¢ Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting, and fresh delivery of our coffee. Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. †¢ Contribute positively to our communities and our environment. †¢ Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success Historical Strategies for business growth noted in the 2006 shareholder’s meeting included continued expansion of retail stores, and exp ansion of the company’s portfolio of unique and innovative products â€Å"to appeal to a broad consumer base. † (Business Wire, 2006) These products included: †¢ Premium and proprietary food offerings as a component of the Starbucks Experience. Introduction of warm breakfast items in Company-operated stores by 2008. †¢ Joint venture with Apple to launch a Starbucks Entertainment Area on iTunes. †¢ Introduction of a heated-on-demand vending initiative, †¢ Expansion of its Kraft relationship to distribute Starbucks coffee into supermarkets. Recent changes to this original approach – which were in response to the recent economic downturn and drop in share prices – are aimed at retaining customers, rather than gaining new ones. According to Howard Schultz, the company’s CEO, â€Å"The issue at hand†¦ is the cost of losing your core customer. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) These changes in business strategy shift the focus from mark et saturation with additional stores to: (Starbucks Newsroom, 2009) 1. Increasing profits in existing stores, 2. Expanding the product base, and 3. â€Å"Disciplined global store expansion in key markets. † While continuing with the strategy of product expansion (to even include some non-food products), Starbucks has tempered its desire for continually opening new stores. This â€Å"disciplined† approach includes more niche targeting in key markets and even opening, or converting to, a Seattle’s Best vice Starbucks. Some of the new tactics announced at the 2009 Shareholders Meeting to implement this strategy include: †¢ A $500 million structural expense reduction to align the company’s cost structure to its current business strategy †¢ Focused efforts to improve operational efficiencies with technology investments, and better training for store managers †¢ Emphasizing the concepts of value and quality to the customer with selective price incentives †¢ Launching VIAâ„ ¢ Ready Brew instant coffee to tap the $17 billion instant coffee market †¢ Expanding alternate foodservice channels Management Team. Corporate organization and key management team members include: (Reuters, 2009) Howard SchultzChairman of the Board, President, CEO Troy AlsteadChief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer Arthur I. RubinfeldPresident – Global Development Martin P. ColesPresident – Starbucks Coffee International Clifford BurrowsPresident – Starbucks Coffee US Paula E. BoggsExec VP, General Counsel, Secretary Michelle GassExec VP – Marketing and Category Olden C. LeeInterim Exec VP – Partner Resources, Director Dorothy J. KimExec VP – Global Strategy, Office of the CEO Peter D. GibbonsExec VP – Global Supply Chain Operations Culver, JohnExec VP, President – Global Consumer Products, Foodservice & Seattle's Best Coffee Business Model. According to Osterwalder, Pigneur, & Tucci (2005), a company’s business model includes: infrastructure, offering, customers, and revenue model. 1. Infrastructure – the core capabilities and competencies, partnership network, or business alliances, and value configuration (what makes it mutually beneficial for a business and its customers). . Offering – the value of products and services offered for a specific customer segment, and how it differentiates itself from its competitors. 3. Customers – includes (1) the target audience for a business' products and services, (2) the distribution channel used to reach the customers (includes marketing and distribution strategy), and customer relationship management. 4. Revenue model – the cost structure and revenue flows that define the company’s income. Infrastructure. Starbucks infrastructure (sales & distribution model) began as a basic shopkeeper model[1]; brewing and serving fresh, premium quality coffee in a relaxed â€Å"neighborhood† atmosphere. This model chooses a location frequented by targeted customers, employs low-wage workers, and establishes repeat business based on customer satisfaction and ease of access. Recent strategic management emphasis is trending toward, or adapting part of the Loyalty or Service Quality model to reinforce the perceived quality of the product. Part of this model is based on the belief that it is cheaper to keep customers than gain new ones. Offering. The Starbucks brand portfolio is marketed as premium and, therefore, is luxury goods, relying on â€Å"consumer discretionary spending to drive sales. † (Hattery, 2009) This portfolio includes Starbucks Entertainment, Starbucks Hear Music, Tazo, Ethos water, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee – offers a variety of products and services through its retail stores and other channels, including: †¢ 30 blends of Coffee †¢ Handcrafted Beverages – fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, and Tazo ® teas. Merchandise – home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, premium chocolates, coffee mugs and accessories, and gift items. †¢ Fresh Food – baked pastries, sandwiches, and salads. †¢ Starbucks Entertainment – selection of music, books, and film from both emerging and established artists. †¢ Global Consumer Products – bo ttled Frappuccino ® beverages, Discoveries ® chilled cup coffee, DoubleShot ® espresso drinks, Starbucks ® Iced Coffee, whole bean coffee and Tazo ® teas, Starbucksâ„ ¢ Coffee Liqueurs, and a line of premium ice creams. †¢ Starbucks Card – a reloadable pre-paid debit card. Revenue Model. Starbucks’ revenue model includes its cost structure and revenue flows. Starbucks operating costs are directly influenced by fluctuations in the commodity prices (milk and coffee beans) which have risen sharply in the past. Starbucks purchases teas and primarily Arabica coffee beans directly from international markets in Costa Rica, Africa, Asian Pacific, and China. The wholesale price of coffee beans is unstable and often susceptible to dramatic price changes from a variety of weather and political events that may, or may not, affect global production. These reactionary prices can remain elevated for several years. Coffee prices in 2008, for example, were 20% higher on average than 2007, resulting in Starbucks paying an average price of $1. 42 per pound of green (unroasted) coffee. The price of Milk futures also rose dramatically from $13 to $18 per hundredweight in March, 2007, falling only recently to $17 in September, 2009. Starbucks’ revenue flow from its company operated coffeehouses relies on discretionary consumer spending, and can be affected by negative economic conditions. In fiscal 2008, Starbucks generated $10. billion in revenue through the sale of whole bean coffee, food, equipment, and beverages. The distribution channels included both its retail stores and specialty operations. [pic] Figure 1 – Revenue Categories Company operated retail stores (7,238 stores in North America and 1,979 international) generated 84 percent of the total revenue. (Hattery, 2009) The remaining 16 percent was generated through the specialty operations segment, which is chartered to â€Å"develop the company's brand through third parties outside the traditional coffeehouse. This segment channels, and percentage of specialty operations revenue generated, include: 1. Licensed Stores (48 percent) located in airports and supermarkets that generate licensing fees, royalties, and retail revenue from coffee, tea, and CDs. 2. Foodservices Operations (25 percent) sells Starbucks coffee to restaurants, offices, hotels, and Barnes & Noble Cafes under different licensing contracts. 3. Packaged Tea and Coffee (21 percent) sold at various food stores. 4. Branded Products (4 percent) like ready-to-drink beverages and ice creams sold through partnerships with Pepsi and Dreyer's. Pricing. Starbucks has maintained a premium pricing strategy for its branded premium quality coffee beans and unique customer experience. Customers. Starbucks serves approximately 50 million customers a week in its stores. The target market is defined as â€Å"young (25-to-45 years old) professional men and women, in higher income brackets with stressful lives (at work, home, or both). Most members of this target market live in the suburbs and commute to work in urban areas. † (Holmes, Bennett, Carlisle, Dawson, 2002) Competitors. Although Starbucks maintains a â€Å"dominant position in the specialty coffeehouse market and has no single clear rival in the sector,† (Hattery, 2009) competitors include other specialty coffee shops, doughnut shops, and restaurants. The closest specialty coffeehouse competitor is Caribou Coffee, with only 415 stores, with the major competition being â€Å"dispersed among the thousands of independent or small-chain coffee shops (i. e. , Die drich Coffee, Inc, Coffee Heaven Intl. , Autogrill S. p. A. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Inc), and McDonalds Corp[2]. Stakeholders. Starbucks’ organizational stakeholders include both individuals and groups â€Å"who have an interest (give-and-take) relationship with the firm. † (course material) These internal and external stakeholders of Starbucks are identified as: shareholders, employees (including board members, executives, managers, supervisors, and baristas), customers, suppliers, local communities, and global alliance partners[3] Marketing Strategy. As described in VoteForUs (n. d. ), since the company’s inception in 1971, its marketing strategy has â€Å"ignored the traditional advertizing avenues of billboards and commercials and focused on seven fundamentals to differentiate Starbucks from other cafes. † These fundamental areas of marketing focus are: (VoteForUs, n. d. ) 1. Perfect Cup of Coffee – an emphasis on product quality (rich, delicious taste and aroma) to support the premium pricing structure. 2. Third Place – creating the â€Å"third place† for everyone to go to between home and work. This is another differentiation technique, aimed to create a unique and relaxing experience or atmosphere with which Starbucks could be branded. 3. Customer Satisfaction – ensure that customers feel the uniqueness of enjoying their Starbucks coffee experience. 4. Creating a Starbucks Community – this marketing strategy has even expanded to create a community around their brand. On their website, individuals are encouraged to express their experiences with Starbucks history, and the company strives to â€Å"personally† join in the discussions. 5. Smart Partnerships – create strategic partnerships that expand business opportunities and increase sales. 6. Innovation – a strategy to continually create new products or services that support their customer base or add new customer segments. (different coffee flavors, more food on their menu, and one of the first to offer internet capability in their stores) 7. Brand Marketing – The Starbucks marketing strategy has always focused on â€Å"word-of-mouth† advertising and viral marketing, letting the high quality of their products and services speak for themselves. Financials. Evaluating the company’s financial statements since the economic low point of May 2008 – with its first quarterly decline in profit, and 38 percent stock plunge – Starbuck’s has managed to maintain a healthy balance sheet. Consolidated company revenues for Q3 2009 were $2. 4 billion, compared to $2. 6 billion in 2008, reflecting a five percent decline in store sales. Quarterly financial sheets verify the reduction in operating income and corresponding slight increase in net profits. With the cost realignment scheduled to be completed in 2009, operating costs are expected to drop further. Total revenues for Q2 2009 show a positive rebound with a sustained upward trend over the last two quarters. Share prices – which bottomed around $8. 00 during Dec08 through Mar09 – have stabilized around $19. 00 for the last quarter. In response to the implemented cost reduction strategies, Standard & Poor’s raised the company’s short-term debt ratings (from â€Å"A-3† to â€Å"A-2) and â€Å"revised its outlook to ’stable’ from negative,† (Ogg, 2009), reaffirming the â€Å"BBB† corporate credit rating. According to Ogg (2009), â€Å"S&P believes that the company’s performance will continue to stabilize and that the credit metrics will continue to improve or remain at the current levels. † Analysis Alignment in the framework of strategic management refers to the mutual agreement and enforcement of the company’s vision, mission, and goals with its business strategies. These strategies are employed to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage in the market segment, and ensure long-term profitability for the company. Company Analysis. This company analysis focuses on three factors or issues involved in maintaining a competitive advantage. These factors and issues are: (1) current target markets, (2) current marketing mix strategies, and (3) the strengths and weaknesses of the Company. The company's marketing mix strategies are discussed in relation to the Five P's of Marketing. The elements of Five P's of Marketing include product, price, place, people and promotion. (Nimetz, 2009) These factors are explored in comparison to Starbucks’ published mission, vision statements, and guiding principles. To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. †¢ To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). Starbucks built its coffee stores on the principle product of Arabica coffee beans. T his product was marketed as a premium quality item that â€Å"† The pricing scheme followed the premium quality scheme, offering the customer more than a cup of coffee. Starbucks stores became the â€Å"third place† to go to and enjoy a unique atmosphere. One new strategy that CEO Howard Schultz brought with him was the emphasis on the role of sales clerks, or Barristers who brewed and served the coffee. Specialized training for employees reinforces their role in the customer’s perceived value of the product – the unique Starbucks experience. The promotion tactics employed by Starbucks broke with traditional concepts and avoided advertising, relying on word-of-mouth or viral advertising techniques where satisfied customers willingly share with others, and promote the Starbucks experience. This viral advertising has proven quite effective. Current Target Markets. For most Starbucks most consumers, coffee is not just coffee, but more of a ritual – a deserved reward. However, although the targeted market of professionals contains a significant percentage of higher-income professionals, the recent decrease in sales (and corresponding drop in shares) implies that they too are affected by the economic downturn and willing to reduce their â€Å"rewards. † Market Analysis. A market analysis reviews the specific market segment being targeted, and examines the demographic and social data required to â€Å"know your customer. This required information concerning the targeted customer includes: †¢ Who they are †¢ Where they are †¢ How to reach them †¢ Identifying their needs (what justifies premium price) †¢ Size of market †¢ Percentage of market captured †¢ Market growth potential Starbucks market for its coffee stores is targete d at 25- to 45-year-old professionals looking for solitude, or social interaction, without alcohol. This higher-income crowd of young, college-educated represents a group which tends toward higher luxury-consumption levels. The failure to successfully add drive-through service to its stores clearly differentiates its clientele from McDonalds or Java Hut customers whose needs or to grab a quick caffeine jolt on the way to or from work. According to Euromonitor International Plc,[4] Starbucks has captured 52 percent of the global specialty coffee market. According to Mintel (global consumer research firm in Chicago) Starbucks controls 43 – 73% of the U. S. market share[5] in coffeehouse sales in 2005, with its closest rivals being Caribou Coffee, and Peet's Coffee and Tea. Competition & SWOT Analysis. The SWOT analysis identifies and evaluates a company’s internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities, and threats). This analysis helps to focus on key issues to consider in strategic planning. The following details are an updated paraphrase of the SWOT analysis from Marketing Teacher (2007): Strengths. †¢ Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $459 million in 2008. The company generated revenue of more than $10. billion in 2008, exceeding revenue for 2007. †¢ It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services with approximately 9000 cafes around the globe. †¢ Starbucks is know as a respected employer that values its workforce, and was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. †¢ The organization displays strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement that emphasizes its commitment to environmental lea dership. Weaknesses. †¢ Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. †¢ The organization has a strong presence in the U. S. with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. An increased percentage of international cafes would help to spread business risk. †¢ The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities. †¢ New products and services can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations with the emerging markets for coffee in India and the Pacific Rim nations. †¢ Additional co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink can be pursued. †¢ Capitalizing on the Seattle’s Best brand in both the retail and franchise markets could diversify revenue streams and spread business risk. †¢ With recent economic conditions, and dwindling disposable income, Starbucks could pursue a larger market share of the home-brewed coffee market with increased advertising. Pursuing additional partnerships with manufacturers of other goods and services has potential to decrease Starbuck’s dependency on it single competitive advantage in retail coffee. Threats. †¢ Starbucks has been branded and marketed as a luxury item, relying on the disposable income of its targeted customers. Regional, or national economic instability can be reflected quickly in revenue loss. †¢ Future growth of the coffee market is uncertain. A change in the current fad of coffee shops would significantly impact Starbuck’s major source of revenue. †¢ Starbucks is exposed to unpredictable cost increases in wholesale coffee and dairy products. Recent growth in the coffee house market has attracted many competitors, including copy cat brands and national restaurants that pose potential threats to S tarbuck’s competitive advantage. Competitive advantage. Starbucks established an early dominance in the market segment of coffee houses, and sustains its competitive advantage[6] through differentiation[7] by capitalizing on a unique experience that offers ambiance and unusual product variety. The primary strategies employed to establish market dominance were branding, creativity, and saturation by store expansion. 1. The branding strategies include quality product, personal service, a sense of community, and environmental responsibility. This strategy is strengthened by market and demographic analyses to slightly customize each store to the local city/community personality. 2. The creativity strategies emphasize â€Å"constantly looking for new ideas, new products, as well as new experiences for guests. † (Thompson & Gamble, 1999) Successful products are retained while weaker products are eliminated in a continuing cycle of process improvement. 3. Although growth in the store expansion strategy has peaked, new stores are still being added. This strategy has been modified from saturation by area concentration, to a more disciplined approach, that identifies key markets, based on market analysis that emphasizes individual store profitability. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) Financial Analysis. Starbucks has a solid financial status with multiple revenue streams from multiple coffee related products. A look at Starbucks Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables[8] (shown in Table 1) reveals a slight dip in gross revenue, but a positive trend for increased net income. This is probably a result of the recent cost restructuring and emphasis on store profitability. Future revenue streams from coffee house sales are expected to increase from a combination of stable sales and higher efficiency. Revenue streams from alternate distribution channels show a slight, but steady increase, further bolstering Starbuck’s solid financial foundation. |In Millions of USD |Jun 2009 |Mar 20099 |Dec 2008 |Sep 2008 | Jun 2008 | |Revenue |2,403. 90 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Total Revenue |2,403. 0 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Gross Profit |539. 10 |470. 20 |481. 80 |393. 50 |452. 60 | Total Operating Expense |2,199. 90 |2,292. 40 |2,497. 50 |2,501. 20 |2,595. 60 | |Operating Income |204. 00 |40. 90 |117. 70 |14. 20 |-21. 60 | |Income Before Tax |217. 30 |34. 90 |98. 30 |-1. 20 |-33. 20 | |Net Income |151. 50 |25. 00 |64. 30 |5. 40 |-6. 70 | |Table 1 – Quarterly Financials Conclusion Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels that will multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity. Less waste equals more profit. The corporation has shifted its goal from market saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. Using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of customers for the greater corporate good requires close examination. As a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, this strategy seems in conflict with the prime mission. However, as an alternate distribution channel for an expanded product line, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet can capture some additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. Seattle’s Best can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – with a different set of customer needs, while increasing overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past  success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) References Adamy, J. & Wingfield, N. (2009). Starbucks brews new strategies to fight slump. Wall Street Journal (Europe), p. 4. Retrieved July 11, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1662578621). Analoui, F. and Karami, A. (2002). CEOs and development of the meaningful mission statement. Corporate Governance, 2(3), 13-2 0. 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