Supply chain management Essay

In this final paper for Managerial Finance I will attempt to show how the supply chain inventory management method can be affected depending on the situation of the retailer. Studying the control method for problems in inventory, which would include both, excesses in inventory as well as shortages, and hoping to minimize loss. Use of SCM as a Method of Inventory Control I have decided to do the final for Managerial Finance on the use of the SCM method as a form of inventory control, because I have worked in a business that has used many different forms of inventory control. As a manager it was one of my responsibilities to maintain inventory and observe any losses as a loss prevention issue that must be discovered. The ordering responsibility for inventory was one of my most important duties as a manager. â€Å"Supply Chain Management is a set of synchronized decision & activities, utilized to effectively integrate suppliers, manufacturers, transporters, warehouses, retailers & customers so that the right product or service is distributed at the right quantities, to the proper locations & at the appropriate time, in order to minimize system wide costs while satisfying customer service level requirements. (Misra, 2010) Finding different options for inventory choices as well as finding prices that reflects a profit for the company was primary reasons for me to research the available possibilities in inventory. Deciding a price for acquiring inventory is an important aspect of making a determination in product for any company striving to make a profit. An important aspect of inventory is the amount of inventory that needs to be ordered, as over ordering or under ordering can be just as problematic for a company. A company that over orders does ot receive profit, because they have put out too much money without a return on that investment, will not make a profit. A popular product may sell very well for a company, but an overabundance of product means that the remaining product after sales may end up being a loss if sales do not again pick up. Under ordering can be just a big of a problem for a company because when customers start coming in for products that are not on the shelves it leads them to find alternate sources for their purchases. Under ordering can also create problems when it comes time to do a secondary order. The initial under ordering of product can lead even the most cautious of managers to second guess their ordering process. The initial under order leads a manager to think that they need to order more of the product to compensate for future sales of the product. The main problem that comes from this common over reaction is that the company lost out on sales on the initial order so tried to compensate by ordering more of the product on their new order. There may have been an increased demand on the first day of sales that may not (usually not) return when the manager orders more stock. The ability to make an initial determination as to the proper inventory can be a deciding factor on a profitable business and an unprofitable one. SCM or supply chain management is a process that refines the process in which managers make their decisions for the products and services that the company offers. SCM is a way for a company to find the products that they offer to their customers. â€Å"The Supply Chain management (SCM) is defined by the Supply Chain Forum (SCF) as the integration of key business processes from end user through suppliers that provide goods, services and information that add value for customers. (Assey, 2012) Supply chain management takes the production of a manufacturer and presents it to a supplier; the supplier then presents those products to the retailers which in turn provide those products to the customers. Choosing the supplier that gets the best deal from the manufacturer is going to give the most profit for the retailer selling the product to their customers. The process of supply chain management can actually merge retailers with supplier just as suppliers merge with the manufacturers. Some companies choose to use various different suppliers for their products while other companies choose to use a single supplier for their product. Personally I worked for a video game company called FuncoLand which was purchased by a company called Babbages, which merged with Electronics Boutique. After the merger the name of the company was changed to GameStop which is now the largest video game retailer in the United States. The thing that makes this important to this paper is that when FuncoLand was purchased by Babbages the supply chain changed. The change in the supply chain meant that all orders must be relooked at to insure the same profit levels for products that GameStop enjoyed. The single supplier for GameStop was replaced by the numerous different suppliers of Babbages. Every item of inventory needed to be checked to make sure they reflected a price that was going to produce profit for the merged FuncoLand and Babbages stores. Inventory charts were created and every store of both needed to inventory all items listed so that they could be compared with the new companies overall stock as well as profit ratios. Once the inventories of both companies were done there was a coordinating effort by upper management to determine prices of available product as well as the suppliers that were going to deal which each stores location. The numerous different suppliers made each location different in their ordering and inventory procedures. As could be expected this made it very difficult for these merged companies to be individually managed by the district and upper management. Each individual store was looked at by the store managers and was expected when issues arose to contact headquarters immediately. The buyout of these two merged companies by Electronic Boutique turned out to be a blessing in disguise for all involved. Electronic Boutique used a single supplier had dealt with the same supplier for years and had already worked out their profit ratios (including the purchase cost of the two companies) and store management once again needed to inventory their entire product for the new owners. The name was changed to GameStop and all store locations now used the same supplier and the prices for each store location were set by upper management. Ordering was done automatically based on the initial stores inventory counts and the new POS systems. While I understand there is an alternate definition for POS in this instance it refers to â€Å"point of sale†. The point of sale system was built using the store’s inventory, and orders for products were made, when the sales reached a certain level. Once a product reached a certain level of sales and did not continue to sell the item was automatically removed from the automatic reorder listing. The product would not be reordered into that store location unless it was a pecial order done by the stores management and usually had to be presented with a reason for the order to be made. In the four years that I worked for GameStop I only ever had to use this feature one time. A customer wanted Final Fantasy 7, new and unopened, and this was well over a year after the initial release of the game. The suppliers notified the upper management that they could do this, and I placed an order for the product as a full pre-sale, which means that the money was available to GameStop before the product was available to the customer. Being the only time this issue ever arose for me while working at GameStop it was an interesting learning experience about how a supply chain management process works. â€Å"The descriptive model presented is useful in settings where organizational structure and the supply chain are needed to support sustainable products and processes and whose success is facilitated by establishing strategic partners, especially those that make possible economies of scale†. Pullman & Dillard, 2010) Since one of the primary reasons for using supply chain management is to reduce inventory and cost for a company, GameStop has achieved what neither FuncoLand nor Babbages were able to because their use of a single supplier made achieving profit that much more possible for the mangers making their store orders. â€Å"Most of the decline is due to more efficient cash and inventory management†. (Ross, Westerfield, Jaffe, Jordan, 2010) The main purpose of examining the supply chain management method is insuring that the retailer gets the best uses of their supplier(s). Minimizing shortages, while acquiring profits, in an attempt to optimize the proper supply for each location, is another purpose of using supply chain management. The strategy can be difficult to implement for those unaware of the procedures. I must admit that I did not realize the purpose (or the concept) of supply chain management, at the time I worked for GameStop. Looking back at my time at GameStop has led me to a new appreciation for the business that was built off of the back of FuncoLand.

Marketing Review Essay

You track sales and profits, and discover that pants are selling better than shirts, apparently because the shirts are too expensive. You will look for a lower-cost supplier for shirts, or consider dropping your prices if you can afford to do so. 2. You realize that your experience as skaters is a plus; however, your lack of experience in selling clothing could hurt you. You find out that a skateboard shop in town wants to branch out into inline skating; however, you also find out that Nike is thinking about expanding its product line to include special inline skating clothes. 3. You decide that you will target college students who enjoy inline skating, and will aim to establish yourself as a company that offers trendy clothes for the student budget. 4. You decide that your business focus will be to offer fashionable yet durable clothing for inline skaters, with built-in protection for knees and elbows. 5. You offer clothing that college students would want to wear, price it for a student budget, sell it online and in sports stores near college campuses, and promote your products on Facebook. 8. As the text explains, Nike, the prominent athletic shoe manufacturer, relies heavily on athlete sponsorships to build demand for its products. Spectators at major sporting events–both those attending in person and those watching at home–frequently see the Nike â€Å"swoosh† logo worn by elite athletes. Given the vast worldwide audience for Olympics broadcasts, an Olympic year gives Nike increased exposure. On a Nike situation analysis in an Olympic year, would you consider this exposure to be a strength or an opportunity? Explain your reasoning; be specific. Nike, the prominent athletic shoe manufacturer, acquired Cole-Haan, a manufacturer of dress and casual street shoes, in 1988. Depending on your interpretation of the products and markets involved, you might be able to argue that this acquisition represented any of the four major growth strategies. For EACH of the four growth strategies, offer a justification that the Cole-Haan acquisition represented that particular strategy. Don’t just define what the growth strategy means; apply the definition to this specific example. Once you have offered a justification for each of the four growth strategies, choose the one you think the Cole-Haan acquisition best represents, and explain why. Subway is a large chain of franchise sandwich shops. Marcia owns three Subway stores in a large city. At the end of the year, she notes that sales rose from two to five percent over last year’s sales at Stores 1 and 2, but fell two percent at Store 3. Marcia decides to give large bonuses to the managers of Stores 1 and 2, and to put Store 3’s manager on probation. Critique Marcia’s evaluation of her stores’ performance. What would you have done differently? Be specific. Question marks: low market share/high growth rate. Candidates for strategic marketing planning, assessing potential for growth. 2. Dogs: low market share/low growth rate. Candidates to be phased out unless they are needed to complement or boost sales of other products. 3. Cash cows: high market share/low growth rate. Sources of funding for other parts of the firm. They typically require modest promotional and production support. 4. Stars: high market share/high growth rate. Usually require continued promotion efforts and expansion of production capacity. 136. The two bases of classification are relative market share (high-low) and market growth rate (high-low). This leads to four quadrants labeled stars, cash cows, dogs, and question marks. 137. Your sales manager wants you to stop selling those products that are in slow growth markets and which the company has a small relative market share. The manager also wants you to spend more time and effort selling products that are in high growth markets and which the company has a high market share. Finally, you should continue to sell but not put additional effort into high relative market share, low market growth products, referred to as cash cows. If Ryan pursues a market development strategy, he will attempt to serve new market segments. Since his product is a restaurant, market development would likely include opening additional locations in other areas, offering the same menu. 138. If Ryan pursues a market penetration strategy, he will likely expand advertising and promotion, maybe adding billboards, promoting specials, adding hours and likely expanding the restaurant to serve more customers. If they pursue a diversification strategy, they would market new products or services to a market segment they are not currently serving. Targeting landscape design or maintenance services for commercial customers would be one type of diversification. 139. If they pursue a product development strategy, they will offer new products or services to the firm’s current target market. A nursery could logically provide a landscape design consulting service, landscape maintenance service, soil and pest testing service or add additional products such as indigenous plants. 140. Many elements might be included, but it is important for students to demonstrate they understand the importance of allocating resources, leveraging competencies, capitalizing on strengths and minimizing weaknesses, coordinating efforts and decisions, and facilitating smooth operations for the firm. 141. Firms operate in a complex environment, and it is easy to overlook critical issues in the overwhelming possibilities. A structured approach will minimize the possibility that important items will be overlooked. It is also a way to ensure the transparency for the rest of the organization who depend on marketing for leadership. 142. Operational excellence, because it focuses on efficiency in its supply chain. 143. Creating and developing customer value. 144. Summer–planning; Fall–implementation; Spring–control. 145. SWOT analyses help a firm evaluate the current situation, both the internal environment and external environment. 146. Opportunities that build on a firm’s strengths relative to those of their competitors. 147. Market penetration, because the companies are trying to sell additional products (marked down) to current customers. 148. Product development, because the CD is a new product (just recorded) and it’s being sold to current customers. Some students might say that it is a market development strategy. For this to be correct, they would have to argue that a different market segment that currently doesn’t drink orange juice is being targeted. 149. The best answer is that this is a market penetration strategy. The slogan seeks to increase sales of a current product (orange juice), which reduces the options to market penetration or market development. â€Å"It isn’t just for breakfast anymore† sounds like the Growers Association wants those who drink orange juice at breakfast time to consider it at other times of the day too. In other words, it focuses on increasing usage among current customers, which is market penetration. 1. Locational excellence: In addition to having a top-notch website, try to get your products into as many retail stores as possible, probably focusing on sporting goods stores. 2. Operational excellence: Develop close relationships with suppliers of fabric and other raw materials and with retailers. 3. Customer excellence: Offer outstanding service, perhaps including live chat on the website as well as no-hassle returns if the customer changes his or her mind about a purchase. 4. Product excellence: Focus on continually improving the products and making them the most advanced ones on the market, perhaps using stylish yet durable fabrics that won’t be damaged in a fall. Then work to develop a clear positioning statement for your brand. 150. There are many correct answers; here is a sample. To make this question easier, you could ask the student to provide an idea for just one or two of the macro strategies. 1. Threats-could include the recession, a glut of graduates in the field, or reduced demand for professionals in the field 2. Opportunities-could include expected growth in the field, a new firm starting up in the area that will be hiring, or a shortage of graduates in the field 3. Weaknesses-possibilities include lack of experience, inability to relocate, or a low GPA 4. Strengths-students might mention internship experience, past work experience, classes taken, personal characteristics, or personal contacts Students will come up with a variety of answers depending on their individual situations. They will probably need to do some speculation for Opportunities and Threats. Here is a sample: 151. In order to make sure the students clearly classify the factors, you might want to provide an answer space with four sections; in each one, include a blank line for the name of the section and additional space for the factor. If you want to make this question more difficult, you can add to the question the following: â€Å"What should Microsoft have done before deciding to discontinue the product?† The answer: Microsoft should have determined the causes for the disappointing sales in order to determine whether or not another action (perhaps a different target market, a price adjustment, or a revised promotion plan) could put sales back on track. Some students might also answer â€Å"Control phase.† Strictly speaking, this is a phase and not a step; however, Step 5 is the only step of the process that fits into the Control phase, so you may want to accept both as correct answers. 152. Step 5–Evaluate performance using marketing metrics. 153. A. Evaluate results; B. Situation analysis; C. STP; D. Business mission; E. Implementation 154. A reasonable argument can be made for this being a strength or an opportunity, so this is about the rationale offered. This could be viewed as a strength in that Nike’s logo is ubiquitous and well-recognized, and customers in Nike’s target markets will be reminded of the many sports for which Nike offers shoes and apparel. It could also be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Nike’s position overseas (due to international viewership) and to increase awareness of the breadth of Nike’s products (due to increased viewership of niche sports that ordinarily don’t get much attention). This question helps to point out that classifications are rarely black and white–how things are viewed depend on assumptions. Diversification: If you argue that dress/casual street shoes represent a different type of product from athletic shoes, but that different customers would buy Cole-Haan’s dress shoes from those that buy Nike athletic shoes, then the Cole-Haan acquisition enabled Nike to sell new products to new markets. Product development: If you argue that dress/casual street shoes represent a different type of product from athletic shoes, and if you argue that Nike’s customers would also purchase dress/casual street shoes, then the Cole-Haan acquisition enabled Nike to sell new products to its current customers. Market development: If you argue that shoes represent one type of product regardless of the type of shoe, but that different customers would buy Cole-Haan’s dress shoes from those that buy Nike athletic shoes, then the Cole-Haan acquisition enabled Nike to sell its existing product (shoes) to new markets. 155. Market penetration: If you argue that shoes represent one type of product regardless of the type of shoe, and if you argue that Nike’s customers would also purchase dress and casual street shoes, then the Cole-Haan acquisition enabled Nike to sell more of its existing product (shoes) to its current customers. 156. The major problem with Marcia’s evaluation is that her only point of comparison seems to be last year’s sales figures. She should attempt to obtain information on sales trends at other Subway sandwich shops, and if possible, at competing sandwich shops in her city. For example, perhaps her competitors and/or fellow franchisees saw much larger gains, perhaps due to an improving economy. She should also seek to understand whether or not there might be an explanation for the reduction in sales at the third store. Perhaps it is located in a shopping center that has been losing tenants, which would be beyond the manager’s control and therefore shouldn’t factor into a performance evaluation. ch02 Summary Category # of Questions AACSB: Analytic 158 Blooms: Analyze 5 Blooms: Apply 52 Blooms: Evaluate 9 Blooms: Remember 23 Blooms: Understand 69 Difficulty: 1 Easy 23 Difficulty: 2 Medium 82 Difficulty: 3 Hard 53 Grewal – Chapter 02 158 Learning Objective: 02-01 Define a marketing strategy. 40 Learning Objective: 02-02 Describe the elements of a marketing plan. 17 Learning Objective: 02-03 Analyze a marketing situation using SWOT analysis. 14 Learning Objective: 02- 18 04 Describe how a firm chooses which consumer group(s) to pursue with its marketing efforts. Learning Objective: 02-05 Outline the implementation of the marketing mix as a means to increase customer value. 17 Learning Objective: 02-06 Summarize portfolio analysis and its use to evaluate marketing performance. 27 Learning Objective: 02-07 Describe how firms grow their business. 25 Topic: Evaluating Performance 10 Topic: Growth Strategies 25 Topic: Implementing the Marketing Mix 8 Topic: Marketing Mix 6 Topic: Marketing Plan 6 Topic: Marketing Planning Process 11 Topic: Marketing Strategy 40 Topic: Portfolio Analysis 13 Topic: Step 2: Conduct a Situation Analysis 4 Topic: Step 3: Identifying and Evaluating Opportunities Using STP 1 Topic: Step 4: Implement Marketing Mix and Allocate Resources 2 Topic: Step 5: Evaluate Performance Using Marketing Metrics 4 Topic: STP 17 Topic: SWOT Analysis 10 Topic: What is a Marketing Strategy? 1

An Analysis of Rumis Poem Unmarked Boxes

Jalà ¢lal-Din Mohammad Rumi, an analytical writer without a mark, embraces the wisdom of accepting that fate and the world can not be changed in the poem Markless box using metaphors and sound techniques I am sharing. In the sentence at the beginning of Rumi, two short and violent words of do not be sad are included (1). By saying this, he warned him not to change what he could not turn into a reader. He also told the reader not to worry about this. And I suggested that everything is for reason. But for many readers Rumi's Persian career has little impact on the power of his poetry. He embodies a completely different American spirit like Walt Whitman and Muhammad. The work of Rumi is so general that it is meaningful, and readers use poetry for self discovery of recreation. It is impossible to get Rumi out of the background, said Remy's translator, who often reads Rumi's poetry at a yoga studio, performance poet Shah Ramshiva. Jalal-ad-Din-Muhammad Rumi is commonly known as Rumi (120 7 - 1273), Persian of the 13th century, Muslim poet, Sufi mysticism. Rumi's influence exceeds national borders and ethnic groups. Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pashtoans, Central Asians, South Asians have valued his spiritual heritage for the past seven centuries. His poetry is widely translated into many languages ​​of the world. Rumi is said to be the most popular poet and best selling poet in the United States. Like many others, Omid Safi believes that Barks' achievement is to introduce Rumi to millions of American readers in the process of turning Rumi into an American poetry, Bacchus. Pour much time and energy into the work and life of the poet. There are other versions of Rumi that can be deleted from the original including Deepak Chopra and the book of the new era of Daniel Ladinsky. Chopra, spiritual work and creator of alternative medicine enthusiasts, acknowledges that his poem is not Rumi's words. On the contrary, as he wrote in the introduction of Rumi's Love Poems, they are emotions, we caught some of the phrases spoken in the original Persian language and gave a life to new creation The essence of its source. I am busy reading novels and I just started reading poems recently. The poet I contacted includes Robert Frost, Ruskin Bond, William Wordsworth, Rumi. Some of the poems I read at school have always been shocked, such as solitary readers, poems and stones of life. Returning to your question, after I started writing in YQ for 2 months, I learned that other people were using my pseudo at that time then - Indhu. As I was angry, I complained that FB's App founder (Harsh Snehanshu) violated my pen name (now looks a bit childish). He explained the actual problem that the user can change the copyright of the pen name at any time. So I want to add myself a unique pen name. Because this is what I want, I want something that is warm, witty and reasonable. As a lazy one, I chose Warm.Witty.Wise.

American Diplomacy in Vietnam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American Diplomacy in Vietnam - Term Paper Example The diplomatic interests in Vietnam dates back to after the Second World War, when the Americans quickly moved to block the spread of communism in the South East Asia region. Japan was strategically located not only for trade interests, but its deviation from the larger Asian political and trade dynamics meant the country was not prone to the communism ideologies that were spreading fast in the Asian region. Japan was thus used as a strategic location to help in curbing the spread of communism from Russia and China, towards the South East Asia region. 2 This implies foreign diplomatic approaches in the Indochina region by the Americans were mainly designed to curb the spread of communism in the region, rather than to promote trade; the Asian countries were a bit poor, and with little trade links with the outer world as Schaller argues. The American interests were therefore based on blocking communism in Indochina region, rather than policies to help in developing Vietnam and other So uth East Asia region. ... oes not elaborate on how the ethical and moral concepts were being evaluated in this case, the actions of supporting a Junta in a country deep in civil crises raised doubts over the national interests of the American government in Vietnam. Kissinger critically elaborates American interests and their conflict with moral authority, which led to involvement of the American armies in the Vietnamese war, and critically tries to investigate the policies under President Nixon after inheriting the war in 1969. The conflict with moral principles is observed in serious critics that resulted after the war to challenge this mission.3 However, Kissinger notes that the Americans were fighting a vague war, and no ultimate answers concerning American interests have been clearly outlined.4 All the same, the article does not provide elaborate response by other nations involved in this crisis in the Indochina region. The article critically takes the Vietnam War on a moral approach in describing reasons behind American involvement in the war, and its affects. In addition to the interests that the American government had in Vietnam, the war presented a case of a badly prepared army in a foreign land to fight for unknown causes. After the collapse of the South Vietnam in April 30 1975, although having achieved a resounding victory over the battle field, the Vietnamese were holding Unites States over promised reconstruction aid amounting to over $ 4 billion.5 Though the Vietnamese people had worn the war, there was still a bargain to make in pressing the United States government to inject funds for reconstruction. The aim of this aid by the United States government could be read suspiciously. Either the government had some interests to promote in Vietnam, to which they had promised massive

Course work questions 10-11-12 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Course work questions 10-11-12 - Coursework Example As a teacher, encourage correction from both the person and the group incase a mistake happens. Participate in correcting students where they go wrong by first explaining why that is wrong then giving the correct answer. How would you introduce your students to the culture of an English-speaking country? Please describe an activity, which would help them learn more about the country and increase their cultural sensitivity. You may use one of the activities mentioned in the module, (Polls, Excursions, films, Q&A, Guest Speaker) see upload from module. I will use guest speakers who have integrated into the new culture. Before every session, I will first alert my students that we will have a guest speaker in the class to help us understand the new culture. Being their teacher, encouraging students to prepare questions on the culture will be helpful to avoid cases of no response to anything presented by the speaker. I will talk with the guest speaker on the issues I will need him/her to handle concerning the cultural differences in my class before the session. Once the guest speaker is in class, I will introduce him/her and once again encourage students to ask as many questions as they can to the guest speaker. Later on, we will have an open session where students will give feedback on the importance of having the speaker and how well the session has helped them understand the culture of an English speaking

The History of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India Research Paper

The History of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India - Research Paper Example Taj Mahal depicts the internal love of Shah Jahan for his second wife Mumtaj Mahal. There are many people, archeologist and historians who feel that Taj Mahal was one of the most famous architectural masterpieces which was the undisputed beauty and a magnificent art of human hands (Tillotson, 2008, p. 1). It is one of the most symmetrically perfect monuments ever built in India and it is the mixture of great beauty, perfection and extreme engineering. It was built during the timeframe of 1631 to 1648, it took almost twenty two years to complete. It was built by the side of Yamuna River and its total area covers the forty two acres or 17 hectares of space (DuTemple, 2003, p. 6). And it took a staggering forty million rupees to complete the Taj Mahal, which was a huge amount of money at that time making the Empire almost bankrupt (Garg, 2009, p. 44). The basic structure was replicated from the Humayuns’s tomb. However, it can never be stated that Taj Mahal is a replica of any ot her tomb; it has its own beauty which can never be replicated. The whole complex and design consist of the Taj Mahal itself, the symmetrical lake, Mahtab Garden, a mosque and a guest house on the east side. It is basically made by bricks but the outer part is of expensive white marble. The main tomb it based on a huge marble platform which is called plinth, the expensive gemstones were used in flowery shapes to give an outstanding beauty to the white body of the marvelous tomb, and the entire complex of Taj Mahal is guarded by the red sand stone (DuTemple, 2003, p. 25). The Taj Mahal is consisting of four major octagons and those were centered by the main central dome. The facade of the central tomb consists of tall architectural constructions; the Quranic calligraphy was exhibited on the walls of the four pillars (Petersen, 1999, p. 275). The most important and the most beautiful part of the Taj Mahal is the enormous white coloured central dome. The main dome was positioned exactly at the center of the architectural phenomenon and it has the height of forty four meter (DuTemple, 2003, p. 43). It should be remembered that the Taj Mahal was not built by one person it was a complex design and it was initiated by many artists. The chief architect was Ustad Ahmed Lahori; his two colleagues were Mir abd al-Karim and the great Makramat Khan (DuTemple, 2003, p. 23). The facade of Taj Mahal got a great central Iwan which has the great Quranic calligraphy (Petersen, 1999, p. 275). The Great Garden of Taj Mahal known as the Mahtab Garden also has a great significance. It was a part of the Moonlight garden which occupied twenty five acres (Deitz, 2011, p. 151). This was the garden mostly visited by the royals in the night. This was meant to be like the garden of heaven and the lake within reflects the beauty of the Taj Mahal, which is another wonder. By 1642, the garden had been finished (DuTemple, 2003, p.64). The garden has a great implication on the beauty of Taj Maha l. The Mahtab Garden was the added beauty to the Taj Mahal with the magnificent aroma of jasmine and other fragrant plants. This architectural beauty also has many stories which reflect both positive and negative impression about the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and also about the Mughal dynasty itself. The beauties are not created to be replicated in many forms. Some people and guides say that Shah Jahan chopped off

Psychological abuse in the adolescence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Psychological abuse in the adolescence - Essay Example The feeling of guilt might become prominent in some cases. This might even make the individual become prone to self-injury or self-harm. The condition might become more evident through changes in the victim's body language. For instance, some victims avoid eye contact while talking to someone else. There are many chances that such people might get misunderstood for exhibiting such weird behavior patterns. However, it becomes very important to exercise patience and understand the real problem. The need to do so becomes greater when the victim is an adolescent on the threshold of looking at life with an independent perspective as well as enthusiastic to take the responsibility of his/her own life. A psychological setback at this stage could just de-alienate them from their purpose and dreams. Samuel Griswold Goodrich's contention that abuse is the weapon of the vulgar is not at all exaggerated. How else would one explain the hatred of one human towards another by not only causing physical but also psychological trauma to another The concept of the entire humanity being an extended family just goes for a ride, for there is no tolerance and synonymous virtues attached to an action that robs an adolescent off his/her future. It is vulgar and there cannot be a more disturbing explanation. The most common symptoms that come out as psychologica... However, a more banal form of abuse involving exhibitionism can be very shocking to young adolescents. Abuse of teenagers can also be in the form of physical or emotional neglect or parental incompetence. A salutary reminder is the number of children who are in care at any one time, some of whom will have been taken into care because of abuse at home. (The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, ) It is very important to observe adolescents with an insightful eye. According to leading theorist Erikson's contention, adolescents are constantly exploring their identity. Every stage in their life poses a new question on identity crisis. An abusive setback can add more chaos to this crisis. The stages of 'split images' and 'dispersion' might be at the helm during such a phase. The victims of psychological abuse are generally not very communicative about their experiences. Even when they are probed, most adolescents would talk in terms of flashbacks or also might try to exhibit dissociative symptoms. Social withdrawal and avoidance of any stimuli that are closely related to the trauma (traumatic trigger) are very typical for traumatic experiences. Some adolescents try to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs to compensate for flashbacks and major emotional disturbances. Many adolescents are also afraid to talk about their traumatic experiences, especially if close relatives are invol ved. They may even feel extreme guilt over their failure to prevent the traumatic event. These adolescents need intensive care and protection. There is another side to the concept of abuse. The abuse might not always have physical or sexual overtones. It could be as abstract as a perspective that an adolescent might develop as he/she is maturing. It could be

Who are the decision makers in the European Union Essay

Who are the decision makers in the European Union - Essay Example The spirit behind formation of the trading block was that countries with high trade interdependence had higher chances of being peaceful. The goal was to establish peace, stability and prosperity among member countries for improved living standards (Europa, 2013). Since its formation, the trade block has undergone significant changes from an economic trade block to a political organization overseeing policy issues affecting economic, political and environmental issues in the region and beyond. Some of the noticeable transformations the EU has undergone include change from European Economic Community to European Union - EU in 1993. Currently, the membership has increased to 27 members drawn from the Euro zone. Most significant of all these changes is the level of development in decision making in matters pertinent to the region and global trade. Decision making has been strengthened by strict adherence to the rule of law, Constitution for Europe, treaties and establishment of strong d ecision making institutions. Some of the key decision making institutions within the EU are; The European Commission, The European Parliament, European Central Bank (ECB), European Council, The Council of European Union, Presidency of EU council among other bodies (Europa, 2013). Mungersdorff (2009) noted that the co-decision procedure is often a rule other than an exception where the European Commission, the European Parliament, The Council of EU and ECB are key decision making institutions of the EU. This paper primarily focus the main decision making organs of the EU and the politics behind that tend to strengthen the trade block in its quest to achieve its vision and mission. The analysis covers the country and regional levels of influence in the decision making process. Subsequent sections of this paper discuss the decision makers in economic, political, social, environmental and arbitration issues affecting the trade block. Decision making in EU is spread across several bodies mandated to oversee specialized functions and operations in harmionising and facilitating operations in the world’s most effective trading block. The paper operates each of the EU bodies mandated to oversee trade, legal, political, justice among other aspects in the trading block and how these bodies work alongside others to support EU in all its functions. Objectives of the European Union The main objectives of the European Union are â€Å"to promote peace, the Union’s values and well-being of its peoples (Europa, 2013).† They are explained in detailed in Article 1 – 3 of the Constitutional Treaty, which outlines both the internal and external objectives of the Union. Decision Making Institutions in EU The Constitutional Treaty of the EU provides a multi-level decision making process where different institutions are involved. Actors in these organizations are drawn from the region as well as from persons from member countries. The decision making struct ures exhibit a high level of interdependence where intra and cross-institutional alliances, as opposed to long-term coalitions is pronounced (Cini and Borragan, 2010; Mongersdorff, 2009; Thomson, Boerefijn and Stokman, 2004). Key decision making EU bodies include; The European Commission, The European Parliament, The European Council, European Central Bank (ECB), European Investment Bank, Council of European Union, EU Court of Justice and the EU presidency. The institutions work closely with other bodies and organizations of the EU including the European Ombudsman, European Court of Auditors, European External Action Service, European Economic and Social Committee,

Tranexamic Acid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tranexamic Acid - Essay Example The researchers indicate that tranexamic acid is an effective antifibrinolytic agent. Tranexamic acid competes with lysine for the binding sites on the plasminogen molecules. Thus, it effectively inhibits the formation of plasmin. The binding of tranexamic acid on lysine binding sites located on plasminogen molecules is reversible. Other studies have shown that a good number of orthopedics use tranexamic acid because of its safety, efficacy and affordability. The researchers conducted a double blind study involving 40 patients who had to undergo a unilateral TNR for osteoarthritis. The study occurred in a tertiary health care facility after obtaining approval from the hospital’s ethics committee. The procedure was conducted by three experienced orthopedic surgeons. The study aimed at determining whether tranexamic acid significantly reduces post operative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion in Indian patients undergoing TKR. One half of the group was given 10mg/kg of tranexamic acid prior to the surgery. The placebo group was given normal saline without tranexamic acid. The study found out that tranexamic acid significantly reduces post operative blood loss and the need for blood transfusions in patients undergoing TKR. However, the study lacked sufficient clinical evidence and literature to support the findings. The usefulness of the study to my research is that it illustrated the significance of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during surgical procedures. Furthermore, same results were posted in the study carried out by Dunn and Goa. The researchers’ study methodology relied on meta-analysis of previous studies. One study reported that the need for transfusion was reduced by 60% in patients administered with aprotinin (1005). On the other hand, the study indicated that administration of tranexamic acid reduced the need for transfusion by 43% (1005). In order to validate this information, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies. The researchers utilized literatures that have been in the journals since 1966. The researchers used Adibase to locate literatures. In addition, the researchers found references from the list of published journals resourceful. The study endeavored to explore the use of tranexamic acid in surgery and other indications in order to recommend its usefulness and effects associated with its use. The researchers revealed that tranexamic acid can be used in various hemorrhagic conditions. They reported the acid can significantly reduce post operative blood lose and the need for blood transfusion. They noted that the acid is affordable and tolerable when compared to aprotinin. In addition, the researchers found out that tranexamic acid reduces mortality and urgent surgery in patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The acid can also be use as an alternative to surgery in menorrhagia, reduces menstrual blood loss and, has been effectively used in reducing bleeding during child birth. The research seems to have been limited to literature that could be accessed via the search engine. The researchers also concentrated on past literature in evaluating their objective.

The State of the Visual Arts in Colorado Case Study

The State of the Visual Arts in Colorado - Case Study Example Just recently, Colorado State University celebrated the openings of the final two spaces in the new University Center of the Arts located in the old Fort Collins High School. These are the University Art Museum and the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising where visitors can take a tour CSU's art and historic clothes and textile collections (Colorado State University). "The University Art Museum has four discrete galleries that offer flexibility for the installation of small or large exhibitions that will allow some 3,000 objects including Japanese prints, Warhol photographs, African sculptures and contemporary art to rotate through the space" while the Avenir Museum is "home to a collection of 12,000 artifacts including historic clothing, lace, textiles, accessories and chairs" (Colorado State University). Aside from these two new art-improving developments, the Colorado State University is also in the process of constructing the visual art complex, a premier visual art building which will be open to the public (Colorado State University). Colorado also has an art market. One is composed of outdoor fine arts and crafts fair showcasing work of 90 artisans. There are still a number of art galleries and stores in Colorado.

Qatari law Essay Example for Free

Qatari law Essay Qatar is located in a peninsula jutting out 100 miles into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia. The country is mainly barren and is situated with Saudi Arabia on its west and United Arab Emirates on its southern border. Qatar occupies a total land area of 11,437 square kilometers. (Infoplease, 2007) Climate experienced in this region is generally hot and dry due to the desert landscape. The air is usually humid but is sultry during the summer time. Naturally occurring disasters experienced in the area are haze, dust storms and sandstorms. Qatar has only 1% of its land area that is classified as arable while 5% of the land is used for raising pastures. Qatar has an estimated population of 1,000,000 (in 2007), and approximately 200,000 are citizens. Nearly all Qatari profess Islam approximately 95% of the population. Majority of the population migrated due to the availability of employment for the oil industry in Qatar. Arabic serves as the official language while English and other languages are also spoken in Qatar. Many Qataris trace back their roots to natives of the Arabian Peninsula. Migratory tribes have settled in Qatar during the 8th century. There were also migration from gulf Emirates and as well as Persian merchants. Today, most of Qatar’s inhabitants cluster in Doha, the capital city. Foreigners with temporary status comprise 52% of the total population and make up approximately 89% of the total workforce. In 2004, the country had a total population of approximately 1,000,000 (in 2007), of whom approximately 200,000 were believed to be citizens. Of the citizen population, Shia Muslims account for approximately 3 percent and Sunni Muslims comprise the remaining 97 percent. The majority of the estimated 800,000 non-citizens are individuals from South and South East Asian and Arab countries working on temporary employment contracts in most cases without their accompanying family members. They are of the following faiths: Sunni Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Bahais. Most foreign workers and their families live near the major employment centers of Doha, Al Khor, Messaeed, and Dukhan. The Christian community is a diverse mix of Indians, Filipinos, Europeans, Arabs, and Americans. It includes Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican, and other Protestant denominations. The Hindu community is almost exclusively Indian, while Buddhists include south and East Asians. Most Bahais in Qatar may come from nearby Iran. Religion is not indicated on national identity cards and passports, nor is it a criterion for citizenship in Qatar according to the Nationality Law. However, Qatari citizens are either Sunni or Shia Muslims with the exception of a Bahai and Syrian Christian and their respective families who were granted citizenship. Shia, both citizens and foreigners, may attend a small number of Shia mosques. There is some limitation of the religious liberty of Christians. No foreign missionary groups operate openly in the country. Culture Qatar explicitly uses Sunni law as the basis of its government, and the vast majority of its citizens follow Hanbali Madhhab. Hanbali (is one of the four schools (Madhhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam (The other three are Hanafi, Maliki and Shafii). Sunni Muslims believe that all four schools have correct guidance, and the differences between them lie not in the fundamentals of faith, but in finer judgments and jurisprudence, which are a result of the independent reasoning of the imams and the scholars who followed them. Because their individual methodologies of interpretation and extraction from the primary sources were different, they came to different judgments on particular matters. Qatari law When contrasted with other Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, for instance, Qatar has comparatively liberal laws, but is still not as liberal as some of its neighbors like UAE or Bahrain. Women can legally drive in Qatar, whereas they may not in Saudi Arabia. The country has undergone a period of liberalization and modernization after the current Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power after becoming Emir in place of his father. Under his rule, Qatar became the first Arab country in the Persian Gulf where women gained the right to vote. Also, women can dress mostly as they please in public (although in practice local Qatari women generally don the black abaya). Before the liberalization, it was taboo for men to wear shorts in public. The laws of Qatar tolerate alcohol to a certain extent. However, public bars and nightclubs in Qatar operate only in expensive hotels and clubs, much like in the UAE and Bahrain, though the number of establishments has yet to equal that of UAE. Qatar has further been liberalized due to the 15th Asian Games, but is cautious of becoming too liberal in their law making the country viable weekend immigration from their western neighbor. Overall Qatar has yet to reach the more western laws of UAE or Bahrain, and though plans are being made for more development, the government is cautious Economy Before the discovery of oil the economy of the Qatari region focused on fishing and pearling. After the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearl into the world market in the 1920s and 1930s. Qatar’s pearling industry faltered. However, the discovery of oil reserves, beginning in the 1940s, completely transformed the state’s economy. Now the country has a high standard of living, with many social services offered to its citizens and all the amenities of any modern state Qatar’s national income primarily derives from oil and natural gas exports. The country has oil estimated at 15 billion barrels (2.4 km3), while gas reserves in the giant north field (South Pars for Iran) which straddles the border with Iran and are almost as large as the peninsula itself are estimated to be between 800 – 900tcf (Trillion Cubic Feet – 1tcf is equal to around 80 million barrels of oil equivalent) (Anonymous, 2005). Qatar’s primary source of income relies on its oil reserves, which constitutes more than 30% of its Gross Domestic Product. An estimated reserve of 3. 7 billion barrels is predicted to last up to 23 years with sustained level of output (Qatar: Background, 2007). Qatar also has one of the world’s largest reserves for Natural Gas, estimated to be more than 5% of the world’s total reserve or amounting to 7trillion cubic meters. These two natural resources constitutes the backbone of Qatar’s economy (Qatar, 2002). Oil industry in Qatar On 1935, a 75-year oil concession was granted to Qatar Petroleum Company, which was owned by Anglo-Dutch, French and USA. At Dukhan, located at the western side of Qatar, high quality oil was discovered. Oil exploitation was delayed due to the onset of World War II and Qatar was only able to export oil during 1949. Due to the increase in revenue from oil export during the 1950s and 1960s, Qatar entered the start of its modern history. This was the start of Qatar’s prosperity, rapid immigration was experienced due to employment brought about by the oil industry and substantial social changes was experienced. When UK announced in 1968 the policy of ending the treaty relationship with the Gulf Shiekdoms, failed talks with the other sheikdoms in a plan to form the United Arab Emirates resulted to Qatar declaring independence on September 3, 1971. Oil still forms the cornerstone of Qatar’s economy well into the 1990’s. Today Oil still accounts for about 62% of total government revenue. In 1973, income generated from oil production and exportation gradually increased the country’s revenue. This has helped Qatar move from previously ranked as one of the world’s poorest countries into one of the highest per capita income in the world. In 2006, the country has a per capita income of $62,000, which is ranked as fifth in the world (Beureau_of_Eastern_Affairs, 2007). During the 1990’s, OPEC or Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries had lower oil production quotas resulting to fall in oil prices. The result was an unpromising outlook in the international markets and reduced earnings in oil products led to recession in Qatar. Many small businesses were affected and expatriate staffs were affected by massive lay off. However the country was able to regain economically by the late 1990’s and expatriate population have grown again. Qatar’s oil production is currently estimated around 835,000 barrels a day. It is expected to reach 1. 1 million barrels per day by the year 2009. With the current rate of producing oil, reserves in Qatar are expected to last up to more than 40 years. However Qatar has other resources that are also exploited for production. It’s proven reserves of natural gas are the third largest in the world. The gas reserves of North Fields in Qatar exceed more than 900 trillion cubic feet or 14% of the worlds total gas reserves. Qatar is the largest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas with more than 31 million metric tons per annum. By 2010, Qatar is expected to produce 77. 5 million metric tons per annum and will account for one third of the world’s LNG supply (Beureau_of_Eastern_Affairs, 2007). Qatar’s oil fields are estimated to be depleted by 2023. But with the discovery of natural gas in the Northern fields, Qatar economy received a great boost from gas reserves income generated from exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Currently Qatar exports gas to Korea, India and China via shipping lines while gas is delivered via pipelines to Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain. Exploration: Early exploration took place in May 1935 as part of an agreement between the English-Persian Corporation and the Sheikh of Qatar at that time Abdullah Bin Jassem Al-Thani to explore oil for a term of 75 years. The agreement was executed by a corporation, which is later known as Qatar Oil Associated Corporation. Exploration, however, was adjourned due to border problems with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but eventually started in 1938 extensively (Country profile: Qatar, 2008). In 1949, Qatar started to export oil through Mesaieed port on the East Coast. The first exported quantity was 80,000 tons on board President Liner on 31/12/1949 for a price of 5. 9 million Indian rupees received in 1951. Qatar developed its production speedily; and in 1951, it reached 46,500 barrels a day compared to only 34,000 a day before that time (Energy and Resources—Sources and Definitions, 2003). The State of Qatar became number 11 among oil exporting countries in 1952, with a production of 67,700 barrels a day, i. e. , 0. 5% of world production. Consequently, oil revenue increased to 4. 2 million US dollars in 1951, and 12 US million dollars in 1952.

Decision Model Theory Essay Example for Free

Decision Model Theory Essay Case Here we use the Thompson Lumber Company case as an example to illustrate these decision theory steps. John Thompson is the founder and president of Thompson Lumber Company, a profitable firm located in Portland, Oregon. Step 1 The problem that John Thompson identifies is whether to expand his product line by manufacturing and marketing a new product, backyard storage sheds. Step 2 * The second step is to list the alternative. * Thompson’s second step is to generate alternatives that are available to him . In decision theory the alternative is a course of action or strategy that the decision maker can choose .According to him his alternatives are to construct: 1†¢ a large new plant to manufacture the storage sheds 2†¢ a small plant, or 3†¢ no plant at all * So, the decision makers should try to make all possible alternatives ,on some occasion even the least important alternative might turn out to be the best choice. Step 3 * Third step is to identify possible outcomes. * The criteria for action are established at this time. According to Thompson there are two possible outcomes: the market for the storage sheds could be favorable means there is a high demand of the product or it could be unfavorable means that there is low demand of the product. * Optimistic decision makers tend to ignore bad outcomes; where as pessimistic managers may discount a favorable outcome. If you don’t consider all possibilities, it will be difficult to make a logical decision, and the result may be undesirable. * There may be some outcomes over which the decision maker has little or no control is known as states of nature. Step 4 * Fourth step is to list payoffs. * This step is to list payoff resulting from each possible combination of alternatives and outcomes. Because in this case he wants to maximize his profits, he use profits to evaluate each consequences .Not every decision, of course, can be based on money alone – any appropriate means of measuring benefit is acceptable. In decision theory we call such payoff or profits conditional values. Step 5 6 * The last two steps are to select and apply the decision theory model. * Apply it to the data to help make the decision. Selecting the model depends on the environment in which you are operating and the amount of risk and uncertainty involved. * Decision Table with condition values for Thompson TYPES OF DECISION MAKING ENVIRONMENTS * The types of decisions people make depends on how much knowledge or information they have about the situation. There are three kind of decision making environments: * Decision making under certainty. * Decision making under risk. * Decision making under uncertainty. Decision Making Under Certainty * Here the decision makers know about the certainty of consequences every alternative or decision choice has. * Naturally they will choose the alternative that will result in the best outcome. * Example: Let’s say that you have $10000 to invest for a period of one year. And you have two alternatives either to open a savings account paying 6% interest and another is investing in Govt. Treasury Bond paying 10% interest. If both the investments are secure and guaranteed, the best alternative is to choose the second investment option to gain maximum profit. Decision Making Under Risk * Here the decision Maker knows about the several possible outcomes for each alternative and the probability of occurrence of each outcome. * Example: The probability of being dealt a club is 0.25. The probability of rolling a 5 on die is 1/6. * In the decision making under risk, the decision maker usually attempts to maximize his or her expected well being. Decision theory models for business problems in this in this environment typically employ two equivalent criteria: maximization of expected monetary value and minimization of expected loss. * Expected monetary value is the weighted value of possible payoffs for each alternative Decision Making under Uncertainty * Here there are several outcomes for each alternative, and the decision maker does not know the probabilities occurrences of various outcomes. * Example The probability that a Democrat/Republican will be the President of a country 25 Years from now is not known. * The criteria that is covered in this section as follows: 1 – Maximax †¢ this criterion find the alternative that maximizes the maximum payoffs or consequence for every alternative. Here we first locate the maximum payoff with every alternative and then pick that alternative with the maximum number. This is also known as optimistic decision criterion. * Maximin †¢ this criterion finds the alternative that maximizes the minimum payoff or consequence for every alternative. Here we first locate the minimum outcome within every alternative and then pick that alternative with maximum number. This is called as pessimistic decision criterion. * Criterion of Realism: Also called as weighted average, is a compromise between an optimistic and a pessimistic decision. Let the coefficient of realism is ‘a’ selected. The coefficient is between 0 and 1. When ‘a’ is close to 1, the decision maker is optimistic about the future. When ‘a’ is close ‘0’ the decision maker is pessimistic. It helps the decision maker to build feelings about relative optimism and pessimism. * Weighted average =a (maximum in row) + (1-a)(minimum in row). * Equally likely (Laplace)-one criterion that uses all the payoffs for each alternative is the equally likely also called Laplace decision criterion. This is to fi nd alternative with highest payoff. * Minimax Regret †¢ the final decision criterion that we discuss is based on opportunity loss or regret. Expected Value of Perfect Information * Formula EVPI = A – B A = expected value with perfect information B = expected value without perfect information Calculation of (A) value: A = the best of each outcome x their prob. The best of outcomes: Best outcome= (100,000) (30,000) A= 0.6 x 100,000 + 0.4 x 30,000 = 72,000 Calculation of (B) value: B = we select the max value of each given below Outcome of each event: 0.6(50000) + 0.4 (30,000)= 42,000 0.6(100,000 -0.4(40,000)= 44,000 0.6(30,000) + 0.4(10,000)= 20,000 The max value for all computed value = 44,000 EVPI = A – B = 72,000 – 44,000 = 28,000 Expected Opportunity Loss The expected opportunity loss is the expected value of the regret for each decision (Minimax) EOL (Apartment) = $50,000(.6) + 0(.4) = 30,000 EOL (Office) = $0(.6) + 70,000(.4) = 28,000 EOL (Warehouse) = $70,000(.6) + 20,000(.4) = 50,000 Marginal Analysis * Most of our decisions are made following our â€Å"marginal analysis† of costs and benefits * To achieve a given outcome we often have to make a choice from among alternative means; we normally try to make the â€Å"least costly† choice among the available means * Sometimes our decisions result in benefits as well as costs; * How much food should you buy? * How many years of schooling should you have? * How many hours should you work? * How many workers should you hire? * How much should save/invest?

Effect Of Corporate Parenting On Looked After Children Social Work Essay

Effect Of Corporate Parenting On Looked After Children Social Work Essay This dissertation is based around the role of corporate parenting in looked after children. It will discuss and explore the role of corporate parenting in general with the exposed group: looked after children as this is relevant to practice experience as it is based upon 80 days work placement. The concept of Corporate Parenting was first introduced in September 1998 by the Secretary of State for Health Frank Dobson, as one part of the governments Quality Protects program to make over childrens services. It emphasized the key role that chosen members would play. The Governments Quality Protects Initiative (1998) requires local authorities to identify children with additional family burdens and to provide services that are geared to ensure these childrens education and general development do not suffer. (www.doh.gov.uk/qualityprotects)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…’   When a child becomes looked after, the responsibilities of their parent become the liability. And it is required to serve everyone working for the council as elected members of the council. This is known as corporate parenting and it is the collective responsibility of the council to provide the best possible care and protection for children who are looked after. As a corporate parent, we should act in the way we would if the child were our own. (http://www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/exeres/b10f32d0-3db1-4b38-980d-147f4ad1f6d4) 1.2 Who are Corporate Parents? Corporate parenting contains any person who has responsibility for the care and security of children. The concept of corporate parenting relates to the collective duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority for looked after children safeguard and to promote the life. Corporate Parenting is a collective responsibility of the Council, with Councillors having a distinct role to play in ensuring that the outcomes and life chances of looked after children are maximized ( The Role of Councillors as Corporate Parents May 2005 Scrutiny Review Group). The essential principle of Corporate Parenting is that all councillors and staff employed by the Council should parent the Looked After children and young people in their concern as they would their own children. All selected members of the Council have a duty to act as a Corporate Parent to children in the care of that Council. The function of the Corporate Parent (Councillors) is to make sure that the services provided by the Council as an entire contribute to achieving constructive outcomes for kids in care. Specifically, they must guarantee that children in their care are: healthy safe enjoy and accomplish in life make a positive input to society achieve economic security In order to implement this responsibility, Councillors must be: Should be well informed about the children for whom they are responsible Need to think about how they are affected by council decisions Must listen to what children and young people say Must be a supporter for children and young people. 1.3 Who are looked after children? The phrase Looked After was commenced by the Children Act 1989 and refers to children and young people: under the age of 18 who live away from their family or parents are supervised by a social worker from the local council childrens services department.   The term Looked after children applies to those children who are looked after by a local authority when either: They are accommodated by the LA at the request of a person with parental responsibility, or because they are lost or abandoned, or because there is no person with responsibility for them (S. 20 Children Act 1989) They are placed in the care of the LA by a court (part IV Children Act 1989) Interim Care Order or Full Care Order In very rare cases children and young people may also become looked after via Ward ship proceedings (High Courts exercise of its inherent jurisdiction independent of stature (Children Act 1989) Thais topic will initiate with the below questions and answers with brief explanation and references to be sorted out the focus upon right direction. They are subject to emergency orders to secure their immediate protection, (Part V Children Act 1989) Emergency Protection Orders or Police Orders or are remanded by a court to the care of the LA (S. 23 Children Young Persons Act 1969) In very rare cases children and young people may also become looked after via Wardship proceedings (High Courts exercise of its inherent jurisdiction independent of stature (Children Act 1989) For most children, care is proposed to be time-limited with the mean that the child will return home as soon as possible. (The Children Act 1989) aims to get a balance between the need to protect children from destruction and the need to protect children and families from unnecessary intervention. It encourages arrangements for services to children to be agreed between the parents and the service providers whenever possible. The Act embodies the belief that children are best looked after within the family unit without legal intervention unless this is inconsistent with their welfare and safety. 1.4 Why is corporate parenting necessary? Children may be looked after for many different reasons, including protection from harm and abuse. Children have had a long history of being looked after away from home, in such places as institutions, orphanages, foster homes, approved schools and borstals (Department of Health 1998a). Parents who are unable to look after their child may ask a local authority to do so. Children can become looked after for a numerous reasons; some children may have been abused or suffered distressing experiences, some may be in care due to family illness or the death of a parent. Others may have complex needs or disabilities and be unable to be cared at home. Often children who  become looked after for a short time period due to family problem like some children do not have a parent or relative to look after them, possibly because of death or serious illness  or because they have been separated. Young people aged over 16 years may choose to be looked after for a variety of reasons, including abuse, domestic violence or stress at home. Local authorities must provide accommodation for children who are lost, abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. Authorities shall provide accommodation for any child in need in their area who appears to them to require it as a result of there being no person with parental responsibility for him, or because he is lost and abandoned, or because the person who has been caring for him is prevented from providing suitable accommodation or car (Section 20 (1) CA 1989) Section 20(3) of the Act gives local authorities a duty to provide accommodation for a child age 16 and 17 years if the authority considers that his welfare will be seriously prejudiced without such a service A local authority may provide accommodation for any young person who has reached the age of sixteen but is under twenty-one if they consider that to do so may safeguard and promote his welfare, even if their parent objects. (Section 20 (5)-(11) CA 1989) The Governments aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to give the support they need to: Improving outcomes also involves narrowing the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. The Government is focusing particularly on improving outcomes for looked-after children Ed Balls says in his letter to looked-after children: 2009 We want to make sure you have the same chances as other children to fulfill your dreams and to be happy. When there is breakdown and a child has to be removed from its family, the local authority is then expected to act as the corporate parent and to provide substitute care. The job is delegated to a local authority department, and its paid professional agents social workers, foster carers or residential staff act on behalf of the wider community. And when they leave care, they are on their own, having to find their way in the world. It is no wonder that a high proportion of care leavers end up in prison, or with mental health problems, or with unplanned pregnancies, or in abusive relationships. Chapter 02: METHODOLOGY The study aimed to discover from children their views on being looked after and the degree of power they felt they had to manipulate decisions made about them. Total fifteen looked after children were interviewed. Social workers were asked to identify children who met the criteria of between ten to seventeen and having been in care for at least two years. The children were given a questionnaire from the researcher to explain the purpose of the study and asked if they were ready to be interviewed. The method was selected, however, because confidentiality prohibited the researcher being given names and addresses without the childrens permission. It is not clear how many children were carry forwarded and rejected. Of those who initially said they would participate, later on dropped while arranging their interviews, leaving a total sample of fifteen. This comprised: Gender: Girls: 7 Boys: 8 Age: 10 years 1 14 years 4 15 years 4 16 years 3 17 years 3 Length of time in care (based on childrens report): 2 years 3 3 years 3 4 years 3 5 years 3 7 years 1 13 years 2 Type of care: only two were in residential care, the remainder in advance care. Children were given a common view of the research aim. But the interviews were decided to be conducted in unstructured way. They were informed that the examiner wanted to hear their vision on how much they are told about what is happening to them, whether they feel their standpoint is listened to, and whether they are supposed to feel as they are involved in decisions made about their lives. Research involving children creates particular moral dilemmas in that they are typically less powerful than the adult researcher (Thomas and OKane,1998). The unstructured interview was chosen in that it gave them maximum control over the research process and ensured that each child talked only of those topics that mattered to them and could avoid personal issues they did not want to discuss with a stranger. 2.1 Findings: Because of the promise of confidentiality, care has been taken in reporting the findings to ensure that no individual can be identified. The importance of the social worker All mentioned the importance of the social worker in their lives. The social worker was seen as very powerful and, when the relationship worked well, as a very strong ally. One described the qualities needed in a social worker as: Someone who can talk to children, get to know them, take them out, and phone regularly so they keep in touch with what is happening. Most could remember at least one social worker with whom they had got on particularly well and who had made them feel well cared for and supported. She would sort out anything that was bothering me. The biggest complaint about social workers (from eight children) was the high turnover and the subsequent interruption for them. Social workers were also criticised for their reliability in everyday matters such as keeping appointments on time or holding reviews on time. Children interpreted this carelessness as a sign of their low priority in the social workers life. However, Butler and Williamsons research bears out both the approving and critical opinions. They report that many children are seeking a more emotional, empathic level of interaction but that the experience for many is, in contrast, an almost technical, allegedly robotic nature of professional interventions in childrens lives'(1994, p.84). Confidentiality It is essential to share information for good planning and care but, from the childs point of view, this can seem very intrusive. Again, the problem reflects the normal processes of growing up. Teenagers develop autonomy and increasing privacy as part of maturation but, for a child in care, it is difficult to achieve that same sense of privacy. Several of the older teenagers complained of the lack of confidentiality and, hence, a reluctance to share their thoughts and feelings because it would all get written down in their file and read by strangers. Butler and Williamsons research also highlighted the importance and perceived lack of confidentiality to children: there is a pervasive feeling amongst children and young people that even a commitment to confidentiality is, too often, a false promise and that information divulged will then be spread around without the consent of the individual concerned (1994, p.78). 2.2 Anti-discriminatory practice: Only one young person spoke his experience of racism. He was a seventeen year old black man who complained that he was continually stopped and questioned by the police and that white women looked fearful and crossed the road to avoid him. Since he had no record of crime or violence, he felt this was completely unfair and due to racism. 2.3 Debate This is only a small sample so the responses cannot be taken as representative of the views of looked after children in general. However, it is possible to examine the issues they raised and discuss the challenges they pose to professionals endeavoring to listen to their voices whether or not they are typical. Chapter 03: Literature Review There are approximately 61,000 children and young people in care in UK, with boys comprising 55% of that population. These statistics are almost a quarter higher than those of a decade ago. Of this group, more than two out of three children live in foster care, and just over one in ten in residential care (childrens homes). An estimated 1% of care leavers progress to University, compared with 37% of young people in the population as a whole (Jackson et al 2003). The outcome nationally is poor for looked after children and there is an over-representation of previously looked after children amongst those who are homeless, unemployed or in prison. In 2002, 6% of all school leavers were unemployed. Of this figure, 25% were young people in the care of were unemployed. Of this figure, 25% were young people in the care of Local Authorities. There is a high proportion of these children who suffer from poor mental health or become teenage parents with looked after children being 5 times more likely to develop mental illness than their peers. If the child also has a disability or comes from a black or minority ethnic background they face a double jeopardy and are at greater disadvantage. There remain a disproportionate number of disabled children accommodated by local authorities. Only one per cent of Looked After Children go to University. 3.1 THE ROLE OF CORPORATE PARENTING The role of corporate parent is defined in Think Child (1999) as the following: Finding out getting the facts and follow them up, Make decisions by playing your part in the business of the council, Listening to children and young people also finding out from them how councils services work for them and remembering that children are citizens too. To be a champion for children by taking a lead in the community in putting children first. This strategy embeds the following core values that all Children in Care should benefit from: A positive sense of identity and self-worth. Belonging to a family in the widest sense and also a community. Good health. A safe, healthy, child-friendly environment, including appropriate housing, play and leisure facilities. Freedom from bullying. A right to privacy. Equal access to services. Respect Children in care have a unique relationship with the state. The local authority fulfils some, or all, of the traditional parenting role this can happen on many levels, from decisions about their day to day care through to decisions about where a child will live and which school they will attend. This responsibility has become known as corporate parenting in recognition that the task must be shared by the local authority as a whole, from lead members to frontline practitioners. Strong corporate parenting arrangements are central to improving services for children and young people in care. Improving the role of the corporate parent, as part of childrens trusts, is key to improving the outcomes for children in care. It is with the corporate parent that responsibility and accountability for the wellbeing and future prospects of children in care ultimately rest. A good corporate parent must offer everything that a good parent would, including stability. It must address both the difficulties which children in care experience and the challenges of parenting within a complex system of different services. Equally, it is important that children have a chance to shape and influence the parenting they receive. 3.2 WHERE ARE THE PROBLEMS? The circumstances and experiences of looked-after children and young people have shown that they can experience many disadvantages. Research indicates that looked-after children experience poorer outcomes than other children across a range of measures, including health and education. To achieve these outcomes, councils must demonstrate their commitment to helping every child they look after wherever the child is placed to achieve their potential. The complicated role of parenting happens on many levels from basic decisions about their day to day care and the quality of the emotional support they receive, through to big decisions about where a child will live and what school they attend as well as imparting values which help to shape their future aspirations and ambitions. For most children, these different levels are fulfilled by the same people but it is more complex for children in care. And children and young people in care themselves have told us repeatedly that they want and need stability and continuity of care so that those who look after them do not change so frequently. The challenge, therefore, is to ensure that the quality of care which children experience meets their need for a secure attachment and promotes their resilience and that this is achieved as far as possible without the need for a series of placements before finding the right one. For the first time, the Department for Children, Schools and Families presented data on the emotional and behavioral health of looked-after children and young people, finding that about 60% of those looked after in England were reported to have emotional and mental health problems. It also reported that a high proportion of looked-after children and young people experience poor health, educational and social outcomes after leaving care (Department for Children, Schools and Families 2009c). A government strategy for children and young peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s health noted that a third of all children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system have been looked after (Department for Children, Schools and Families and DH 2009). 3.3 EVERY CHILD MATTERS Green Paper, 2003, led to the Children Bill, which was presented to Parliament in March 2004 and is now enacted as the Children Act 2004. The Act sets out a long term programme for change for childrens services across the country. It places a duty on all Local Authorities to produce a plan which addresses disadvantage, raises achievement and safe guards children and young people in their area. This legislation is the legal underpinning for Every Child Matters, which sets out the Governments approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The aim of the Every Child Matters program is to give all children the support they need to: be healthy stay safe enjoy and achieve make a positive contribution achieve economic well-being. The Every Child Matters agenda has been further developed through publication of the Childrens Plan in December 2007. The Childrens Plan is a ten-year strategy to make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. It places families at the heart of Government policy, taking into account the fact that young people spend only one-fifth of their childhood at school. Because young people learn best when their families support and encourage them, and when they are taking part in positive activities outside of the school day, the Childrens Plan is based around a series of ambitions which cover all areas of childrens lives. The Plan aims to improve educational outcomes for children, improve childrens health, reduce offending rates among young people and eradicate child poverty by 2020, thereby contributing to the achievement of the five Every Child Matters outcomes. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/about/ This strategy reflects many of the initiatives recommended in the Children Bill and subsequent Act and demonstrates the commitment of the Council to discharge its duties and improve childrens services. The development of Childrens Trust arrangements will bring together representatives from key agencies and Primary Care Trusts. Whilst the Councils responsibilities towards looked after children are discharged primarily through the and Young Persons Department, the Council recognises the significant contribution to the well being of looked after children and their carers to be made by other Council departments and therefore requires, as part of this strategy, the effective and executive engagement of all service departments in meeting the needs of this group of vulnerable children and young people. 3.4 WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? In 2003, the Government published a Green Paper called Every Child Matters alongside the formal response to the report into the death of Victoria Climbià ©. After a thorough consultation process, the Children Act 2004 became law. This legislation is the legal underpinning for Every Child Matters, which sets out the Governments approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The aim of the Every Child Matters programme is to give all children the support they need Looked-after children have a right to expect the outcomes we want for every child. These are that they:Enjoy the best health and live a healthy lifestyle .Are kept safe from harm and neglect and feel secure at all times .Are given the chance to learn and achieve, and enjoy leisure time .Are given the opportunity to make the most out of life and take a full part in the community .Grow up in a strong and secure family situation and achieve rewarding adult lives .( The Charter for Children and Young People ) ( Every Child Matters Agenda)

Urinary Fluid Electrolytes Essay -- Health, Hearth Disease

A 60 years old man was admitted into the hospital with congestive heart failure and a history of heart disease. Heart failure lead to this patients potentially fatal diagnosis of pulmonary and peripheral edema. The heart actively works as a double pump meaning that each side could independently fail. When the heart starts to fail, a reduced renal perfusion and sympathetic activation to the kidneys stimulate the release of renin. Renin will cleave on to angiotensinogen to create angiotensin I. Angiotensin I then travels through the lungs where the enzyme ACE cleaves off two amino acids to form angiotensin II. Angiotensin II stimulates the release of the hormone aldosterone will increase the renal reabsorption of sodium and water. The increased volume can be deleterious leading to pulmonary and peripheral edema (Klabunde, PhD. 2007). When the left side of the heart fails pulmonary edema occurs. As the heart fails, the blood vessels become engorged with blood and pressure increases in the lung capillaries pushing fluid into the alveoli and lung tissue. As a result oxygen is unable to move as it typically would, causing a shortness in breath (Heller MD, 2009). If this was left untreated the patient may suffocate. The patient is also suffering from peripheral edema this is usually due to the right side of the heart failing. Once the right side of the heart fails, it can no longer effectively pump oxygenated blood through the capillaries. Blood then begins to stagnate in the bodies organs and fluid gets pushed into interstitial tissue (Marieb, 2010). Swelling generally occurs in the lower extremities and can cause permanent nerve damage if untreated. The patient was administered a potent loop diuretic to treat his edema, furosemide... ...opment of hepatic encephalopathy to worsen (Seifter, 2007). Hyperaldosteronism has also been associated with hypokalemia leading to renal cystic disease. Cysts begin to appear in the collecting duct epithelium leading to interstitial fibrosis. The cause of these cysts are unknown however ammoniagenesis seems play a role (Seifter, 2007). Furthermore, increased urination or polyuria is another complication. Increased thirst from the increase of angiotensin II also acts on the thirst center in the hypothalamus (Crumley, 2009). This is a mild form of diabetes insipidus. In conclusion, loop diuretics should be used with extreme caution when treating patients with congestive heart failure. Electrolytes test should be run frequently while on this medication. If this patient wouldn’t have come in his conditions could have worsened resulting in a life threatening situation.

Affirmative Action :: essays research papers

Affirmative Action in the words of Louis Fairykhan (humor) Affirmative Action is Necessary for Minorities to be Competitive in the Workplace The audience that I intend to attract are those that are minorities and agree with the idea of affirmative action. The persona that I chose is that of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of The Nation of Islam. I imagine that this is a speech to thousands of African-Americans that agree with Mr. Farrakhan. I appeal to tha emotions of my intended audience because I feel it is a strong tool in writing a good paper. I am notan authority on affirmative action but I feel that I know enough about it to present a good case on the subject. Good day my beautiful brothers and sisters. I'm sure you all know me by now because of my extensive involvement with the African-American movement. I, Louis Farrakhan, your delicious leader in this march towards equal rights and equality, feel that among our many obstacles in "White America" the most important is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is definitely a necessity in our long drive towards freedom. It certainly seems that we as a minority have come a long way since the days of slavery. Unfortunately, we are not yet considered the equal by our Vanilla brothers and sisters. It has been a long and treacherous journey, my savory brothers and sisters, but I feel that we can do more as a community if we can work side by side with the "crackers." It is not the white man's or the Jew's problem that we are not treated equally, it is ours. I was reading a well-known African-American newspaper the other day and I came across something that I felt was interesting. Our strong black brother, Ron Brown of the NAACP stated, "We're not ready to be color-blind because racial discrimination continues to afflict our society. Affirmative action continues to be needed not to redress grievances of the past, but the current discrimination that continues to exist"(Khalenberg). Can I hear an Amen? Was that not pinning the tail right on the hide of the milky-white donkey? We definitely have a strong black brother that knows his stuff and does his thing for our lovely, delicious community. Mr. Brown is obviously an intellectual and brilliant man because he has the last name Brown, which is a good reference to our beautiful chocolate colored skin. Affirmative Action :: essays research papers Affirmative Action in the words of Louis Fairykhan (humor) Affirmative Action is Necessary for Minorities to be Competitive in the Workplace The audience that I intend to attract are those that are minorities and agree with the idea of affirmative action. The persona that I chose is that of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of The Nation of Islam. I imagine that this is a speech to thousands of African-Americans that agree with Mr. Farrakhan. I appeal to tha emotions of my intended audience because I feel it is a strong tool in writing a good paper. I am notan authority on affirmative action but I feel that I know enough about it to present a good case on the subject. Good day my beautiful brothers and sisters. I'm sure you all know me by now because of my extensive involvement with the African-American movement. I, Louis Farrakhan, your delicious leader in this march towards equal rights and equality, feel that among our many obstacles in "White America" the most important is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is definitely a necessity in our long drive towards freedom. It certainly seems that we as a minority have come a long way since the days of slavery. Unfortunately, we are not yet considered the equal by our Vanilla brothers and sisters. It has been a long and treacherous journey, my savory brothers and sisters, but I feel that we can do more as a community if we can work side by side with the "crackers." It is not the white man's or the Jew's problem that we are not treated equally, it is ours. I was reading a well-known African-American newspaper the other day and I came across something that I felt was interesting. Our strong black brother, Ron Brown of the NAACP stated, "We're not ready to be color-blind because racial discrimination continues to afflict our society. Affirmative action continues to be needed not to redress grievances of the past, but the current discrimination that continues to exist"(Khalenberg). Can I hear an Amen? Was that not pinning the tail right on the hide of the milky-white donkey? We definitely have a strong black brother that knows his stuff and does his thing for our lovely, delicious community. Mr. Brown is obviously an intellectual and brilliant man because he has the last name Brown, which is a good reference to our beautiful chocolate colored skin.

M-16 :: essays research papers

The development of the M16 rifle began with the research conducted at John Hopkins University in September of 1955. Research was conducted to question infantrymen, who fought in Korea, about their battle experiences as they pertain to firing their weapon. It was found that 95% of their firing was within 300 yards. Also, there were just as many lethal hits from un-aimed shoots as from aimed ones (it so happens that most of the interviewed were soldiers of the US Army, which may explain the inaccuracy). This information led the military to the conclusion that a .22 caliber rifle capable of selective fire would be most conducive to current battle tactics. The small caliber provides more control, and selective fire would enable a soldier to better control their RPM. With this information the military went to Eugene Stoner, a Marine Corps Veteran who started to design rifles after being decommissioned, and asked him if he was interested in designing a weapon based on their research. This was one of the better decisions that Uncle Sam made; get a Marine to make a rifle that even Army boys can shoot. The requirements for the new weapon were that it had to weight less than 6 pounds loaded, it had to be a .22 caliber, it had to be selective fire capable and it had to be able to penetrate a steel helmet out to 500 meters. The rifle the military was using up to that date, the M14, was a heavy, .308 caliber, selective fire capable rifle. The benefits of a large caliber like the .308 NATO, which are longer range and greater penetration, were no,longer needed for close combat. The rifle has actually some major disadvantages (other than the fact that it weighed about as much as a bicycle). Due to its large caliber, when fired in full-automatic mode, the rifle recoils so much, that only the first one or two bullets hit the target. Secondly, the large caliber means that the ammunition itself is quite heavy and large compared to an M16 round. This proved to be very heavy for the individual carrying the weapon. Its large size and heavy weight make it difficult for soldiers to use during combat situations. The M-14 isn’t all bad, though, it could literally blow somone’s head off, if you could hit him. It was very popular among soldiers due to its great reliability, It could be compared to an old t ruck; loud, powerful, but damn hard to live with.

Whole Food

Industry Analysis Dominant Industry Characteristics Since going public in 1991, Whole Foods has focused on acquiring other small owner-managed natural and organic food stores as well as opening new stores of their own. However in 2002-2006, they decided that instead of making acquisitions, Whole Foods growth strategy would be based on opening new stores. Whole Foods chooses upscale, urban metropolitan areas to place their stores. These locations are high traffic shopping locations, some are freestanding, some are in strip centers, and some are in high-density mixed-use projects.By the end of 1991 fiscal year Whole Foods had 10 stores and by the end of 2007 they had 276 stores. By 2008, Whole Foods had stores in 36 states. The most important industry characteristic would be the market size and growth rate. â€Å"The combined sales of foods and beverages labeled as ‘natural' or organic – about 62 billion in 2007 – represented about 7. 3 percent of the roughly 850 b illion in total U. S. grocery store sales. † 7. 3 percent of 850 billion total grocery store sales seem like a small number for a large market but the market is still growing. According to the Organic Consumers Association, sales of organic foods in the United States hit 17 billion in 2006, up 22 percent from 13. 8 billion in 2005. When natural foods and beverages (defined narrowly as those with no artificial ingredients) were lumped in with organic foods and beverages, the U. S. retail sales total came to 28. 2 billion in 2006, up from 23 billion in 2005. † All this information is a brief explanation on the industry's position and the product life cycle.By 2008 organic foods and beverages were available in nearly every food category and were available in over 75 percent of U. S. grocery stores. These numbers show that industry is most certainly in rapid growth concerning sales. Offering organic and natural food at most grocery stores other than specialty stores also sho ws growth. â€Å"While only about 1 percent of U. S. farmland was certified organic in 2005, farmers were becoming increasingly interested in and attracted to organic farming, chiefly because of the substantially higher prices they ould get for organically grown fruits, vegetables, and meat†. This shows that the industry is still in early development because farmers that are not growing organic crops are becoming interested and attracted to organic farming. Being able to charge a higher price and bring in more profit is an eye opener and it encourages farmers to start organic farming. Another industry characteristic in the organic and natural food industry is number of rivals.An important industry driving force is marketing innovations. â€Å"In October 2002 the U. S. Department Agriculture (USDA) officially established labeling standards for organic products, overriding both the patchwork of inconsistent state regulations for what could be labeled as organic and the differe nt rules of some 43 agencies for certifying organic products. † By establishing labeling standards for organic products concerning what could be called organic insures that people are receiving pure organic products. The new labeling program was not intended as a healthy or safety program (organic products have not been shown to be more nutritious than conventionally grown products, according to the American Dietetic Association), but rather as marketing solution. † By creating stricter standards it made it harder for growers, processors, exporters, importers, shippers and merchants to prove that their product were truly organic because they are required to provide a documentation verifying that they are certify to grow, process and handle organic products.With the issue of obesity becoming a bigger and bigger issue in our country, people are taking more interest of their personal health. Many companies are trying to appeal to that population by making health changes to their products such as eliminating the use of MSG. To reduce the risk of obesity in children many schools are also making changes to their daily lunch menus such as cutting out carbonated beverages and providing the students with healthier menu choices. Food Network stars such as Rachael Ray are also aware societies growing desire to eat healthier food so they trying to express this to their viewers.All of these examples reflect changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles. The new labeling system was not intended as a health or safety program but that is exactly what it is becoming. The association between natural and organic meant that it is safe to eat since these products are being held at a higher standard. Because of societal concerns there is a change in who buys the product and how they use it. For example more people are trying organic or natural food as a substitution to products that could be considered unhealthy. Instead of purchasing carbonated beverages consum ers are trying different type of flavored water and teasIndustry Key Success FacDue to the growth of natural and organic food industry, the products are becoming more easily accessible. By making the products more easily accessible the industry is finding that consumers want more knowledge on the product features and benefits. One marketing key success factor would be courteous, personalized customer service. â€Å"Whole Food spent about 0. 5 percent of its revenues on advertising, a much smaller percentage than conventional supermarkets, preferring instead to rely primarily on word-of-mouth recommendations and testimonials from customers. Employees at Whole Foods stores take pride in being knowledgeable of their product and are eager to provide excellence customer care. Having good customer relations helps them build clientele. Whole Foods also ensures that each department is staffed with an employee that is knowledgeable about their products and always ready to answer customer co ncerns and give feedback on the products. To provide excellence customer care they offer personal attention in every department in the store and when customers asked where an item was located, team members would often take them to the spot.The team members are quite knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their products and they take advantage of opportunities to inform and educate customers about natural and organic foods. Another success factor would be a talented workforce. Having team members that are skilled and capable of providing information about their product to consumers is very important. There are a couple sources consumers can gain knowledge on natural and organic foods and they are; the store, the internet and their peers.Information found on the internet is usually not reliable because anyone can post anything on there. Even though a blog or website might be dedicated to the industry it is still not reliable because the information on there can be written by anyone. Inf ormation from your friends and family may or may not be reliable. Since the industry is still growing it might be a challenge for new customers to find someone to give them information and feedback on a particular product. This leaves consumers relying on the stores to give reliable knowledge on a product.