Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Recommendations to CEO

Dynamic is a significant component in running associations. Everything that happens in associations is affected by dynamic procedures which are led by the top workers, for example, CEOs, executives, chiefs and head of offices. A few choices are simpler to make than others because of their uniqueness. For instance, some are made by single people while others include more than one individual (Koller, 2005).Advertising We will compose a custom article test on Recommendations to CEO explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Those which include a few people are described by conferences which must occur all together for the gatherings to agree. This typically occurs so as to guarantee that the activities of associations are not influenced by the procedures. Significant choices in associations require the gatherings engaged with the procedures to direct earlier research to recognize which are influenced in light of the fact that choices have the two benefits and negative marks (Chapman, 2010). So as to deal with troublesome dynamic procedures that address worker relations in associations, certain rules are followed. By doing this, every potential issue related with the choices made are broke down. For the situation being investigated in this paper, a CEO for a transportation organization is planning to get into another agreement with a trade guild. In any case, he/she needs to settle on a troublesome choice in regards to a portion of the workers in one of the divisions who use drugs. There utilization of medications is related with mishaps in plants which cost the organization tremendous wholes of cash in remuneration. Despite the fact that he/she feels that all new and existing representatives ought to experience medicate testing, the association is against the move. Thus, certain proposals are significant with the goal for him to settle on the correct choice. The primary suggestion that should be received is that all representatives should experience th e medication testing. This is on the grounds that there is no point of reference in the organization that impacts the procedure. In its history, the organization has never enlisted instances of medication misuse along these lines no representative has been presented to such a procedure previously. The procedure is reasonable on the grounds that it incorporates every one of them with no segregation. Therefore, they are completely qualified for a similar treatment during the procedure. The circumstance would have been extraordinary if the organization had encountered issues of medication maltreatment among workers prior. In such a circumstance, it would have been constrained to take alert not to set an alternate point of reference from the current one. This methodology depends on the primary proposal that it is significant for the organization to think about any current points of reference. The second proposal that is significant in managing the case is that the organization needs to consider making another strategy that requires all workers to be tried for tranquilize use. This is on the grounds that it is critical to locate an enduring answer for the issue so as to stay away from a rehash of the mishaps related with utilization of medications among employees.Advertising Looking for article on business financial matters? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This depends on the suggestion that it is imperative to set up whether the issue being managed is a one-time issue or another strategy being presented. For this situation, building up this as another approach is fitting for the organization. The third suggestion that the organization needs to consider is the distinguishing proof of the legitimate issues that may be associated with the procedure. Medication misuse is of worry to the administration in its offer to control the issue consequently certain lawful issues must be watched. For instance, the treat ment meetings that the organization wishes to offer workers who turn positive should be led under certain legitimate rules gave by the bodies worried about medication misuse (Gordon Cumberlege, 2007). This guarantees the CEO doesn't settle on any choice that has lawful ramifications for the organization. During the procedure, it is critical to look for counsel from medication and law specialists so as to settle on the correct choices. This depends on the suggestion that lawful issues that may decide the dynamic procedure should be thought of. The fourth suggestion that is significant in managing the case is that sure advantages should be incorporated for representatives who energetically upbraid utilization of medications and help those still in the propensity to stop. By doing this, the organization can counter the misfortunes brought about because of medication use among representatives. At the point when representatives who use drugs desert the propensity transparently, this pers uades their partners in comparative circumstances to do likewise. The thought should be supported through remunerations to such representatives. This procedure depends on the proposal that the choice procedure ought to be ruled by instruments that bring long haul advantages to the organization. At the point when workers partake in end of medication misuse, the organization benefits over the long haul. The last suggestion that is significant for the organization is that there is have to start a battle inside and outside the organization to teach individuals on the effects of medication misuse. During such crusades the wellbeing and money related ramifications of medication use should be analyzed.Advertising We will compose a custom exposition test on Recommendations to CEO explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This technique assists with countering the negative recognitions that the outside network may have after testing representatives for drugs is received. The sys tem depends on the suggestion that the effects of the choice on outside network ought to be broke down. References Chapman, A. (2010). critical thinking and dynamic. Recovered from https://www.businessballs.com/critical thinking and-dynamic/dynamic and-critical thinking/Gordon, L., Cumberlege, P. (2007). Prologue to Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs. Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd. Koller, G. (2005). Hazard Assessment And Decision Making In Business And Industry: A Practical Guide. New York: Chapman Hall/CRC. This paper on Recommendations to CEO was composed and put together by client Tucker Rush to help you with your own investigations. You are allowed to utilize it for examination and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; be that as it may, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation

5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation 5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation 5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation By Mark Nichol Bringing extra however unnecessary data into a sentence muddles the reader’s task when accentuation is abused. Here are five sentences that delineate different accentuation issues related with making incidental components in an announcement. (Note that incidental, here and in different posts on this site, doesn't allude actually to the utilization of the accentuation marks called brackets; it applies to the utilization of any accentuation to set off any intensifying or illustrative word, expression, or sentence, for example, this expression you are perusing at the present time, or â€Å"here and in different posts on this site.†) 1. Nextdoor, the well known neighborhood long range interpersonal communication site that individuals use to share neighborly news again and again mirrors the racial predispositions and partialities of its clients. At the point when an appositive of a thing or a thing expression an appositive is a word or expression proportional in significance to the thing goes before or follows the thing, the depiction must be treated as an independent expression organized by accentuation: â€Å"Nextdoor, the well known neighborhood long range interpersonal communication site that individuals use to share neighborly news, again and again mirrors the racial predispositions and preferences of its users.† 2. Six articles in the cold Kuiper Belt, or Twilight Zone at the most distant compasses of the nearby planetary group, give off an impression of being impacted by a so far unfamiliar planet. Here, the accentuation incorrectly recognizes â€Å"Twilight Zone at the most distant spans of the sun powered system† as the appositive of â€Å"Kuiper Belt,† yet just â€Å"Twilight Zone† serves that work; â€Å"at the furthest reaches of the sunlight based system† is only another incidental expression, which should likewise be set off from the remainder of the sentence: â€Å"Six questions in the frosty Kuiper Belt, or Twilight Zone, at the furthest reaches of the nearby planetary group, give off an impression of being affected by a so far unfamiliar planet.† Even better, decrease the interference of the substitute name of the Kuiper Belt by utilizing really enclosures: â€Å"Six questions in the cold Kuiper Belt (otherwise called the Twilight Zone), at the most distant compasses of the close planetary system, seem, by all accounts, to be impacted by an up 'til now unfamiliar planet.† (Retain the two commas organizing â€Å"at the furthest reaches of the sun based system.†) 3. He found one of these six articles over 10 years prior, Sedna, a huge minor planet a long distance on the sun based system’s boondocks. This sentence’s accentuation recommends that Sedna is an incidental. Be that as it may, the expression following Sedna is an appositive, a sort of incidental. To give perusers a feeling of relative significance, one of the two commas ought to be changed to another accentuation imprint to eradicate the suggestion that they have the equivalent authoritative weight. The most clear arrangement is to utilize a colon instead of the primary comma to set up the depiction of what â€Å"one of these six objects† is: â€Å"He found one of these six items over 10 years back: Sedna, an enormous minor planet a long distance on the sun based system’s frontier.† 4. Twitter’s item head Kevin Weil, media head Katie Jacobs Stanton, senior VP of building Alex Roetter, and Vine head Jason Toff are for the most part leaving the organization. To relate the arrangement of appositives in this sentence, all names ought to be set off with commas, however that dramatically increases the quantity of accentuation marks, which jumbles the sentence. Even better, essentially change the possessive type of the organization name to its base structure, so that â€Å"Twitter item head† and the resulting proportionate titles become basic elucidating phrases, in this way taking out the requirement for incidental sets of commas: â€Å"Twitter item head Kevin Weil, media head Katie Jacobs Stanton, senior VP of designing Alex Roetter, and Vine head Jason Toff are for the most part leaving the company.† 5. Designing making sense of how to accomplish something-is the inspiration, while reiteration making a similar sort of segments again and again eases back him down. Utilizing more than one lot of runs to section incidental remarks in a single sentence may befuddle the peruser, so use brackets rather when at least two equal incidental components are included: â€Å"Engineering (making sense of how to accomplish something) is the inspiration, while redundancy (making a similar sort of parts again and again) eases back him down.† Need to improve your English shortly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities day by day! Continue learning! Peruse the Punctuation class, check our mainstream posts, or pick a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†Among versus Amongst10 Terms for the Common People

Friday, August 21, 2020

How To Fumble Your Way Through MIT and Still Turn Out Pretty Okay

How To Fumble Your Way Through MIT and Still Turn Out Pretty Okay Sometime in the last four years, between graduation and, oh, a week ago, I decided I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up. (A brief introduction for the uninitiated: My name is Keri, I used to write here, and as a student, I did not want to be a doctor when I grew up.) As a result, I’ve been spending my summer writing essay after essay for twenty-three medical schools to show them who I am: a wonderful, accomplished, compassionate human being who plays well in the sandbox with others and is juuuuuust competent enough to make a halfway decent doctor. Ive also been working full-time, because that seems to be a thing that self-supporting adults do. The illusion of adulthood: it continues. In the last month and a half, I have become a more prolific writer than ever before; naturally, 99% of the words spewing forth from my facehole have been inappropriate for my med school applications. Three weeks ago, I wrote a no-fail guide to cleaning my bathroom instead of writing about my most significant achievement outside the classroom. Ill spare you the bathroom cleaning tips â€" theyre not great â€" but as the blogs already have four years of Keri-is-not-good-at-life-themed posts in the archives, whats another post on the pile? Here are some excerpts of my early drafts, edited out because I have common sense: My first day of school in the United States, at the start of third grade, was less than stellar. I sat in my assigned seat at a table next to Jennifer Kasow, who, after learning my name and who I was, had heard enough from me to confidently announce to the entire class that the new girl ‘talks funny.’ Thanks for that, Jennifer. At least I didn’t have to switch schools midyear after my mom ran over a crossing guard outside the Pinewood Elementary playground. My most significant achievement outside the classroom? I have a checking account. And an emergency fund. I was excited about Med School As demonstrated commitment to diversity amongst its students and faculty, but when I clicked on your websites link to its diversity office, I got a page with nothing on it except Access Denied. I promise you, Im actually a black female immigrant scientist. Please dont redirect me to youarenotblack.com again. You can see why none of this is making the final cut. This is not how my college applications went. I was completely myself without any pretense of normality, and I was sure that would get me everywhere I needed to go, and to an extent, it did. This turned out to be what I was actually supposed  to do, but a slight problem has emerged since then: I am twenty-five, not sixteen, and my mucking about in some sort of soul-searching venture is more self-aware, equally irreverent, and less charming than it was nine years ago. (Nine? The blogs are ten now? I was an annoying prefrosh during their first birthday. STOP HAPPENING, TIME.) From what Ive read about myself on the blogs in an attempt to remember who I used to be (SERIOUSLY. TIME. STOP IT.), college is for thrashing about, taking hold of whatever comes near you, and adopting it as an integral part of your personality as you try to develop a sense of who you are. I havent been around here to write about it as it happened, but heres the skinny: it turns out that ones twenties appear to be for thrashing about even more, trying to consolidate the least awful parts of that college personality with the Sage And Wise Lessons Of Adulthood. Dont quote me on that, as Im only halfway through the decade. Ill get back to you on my 30th birthday. Anyway, MIT did quite a bit to help me out on the whole Sage And Wise Lessons front; I worked there for three years after I graduated, and that radio show of mine is still limping along. The seven years I spent there werent all fantastic â€" my experience was similar to Lauras, only I havent yet Made It and Im still not convinced I ever will â€" but Im a better person because of them, if only because I was constantly surrounded by unbelievably brilliant people and kept pushing my limits to prove that I belonged. (When youre at the Lake Wobegon  of colleges, what other choice do you have?)  As I met and learned from more and more of these wonderful, driven, unique, insert-another-positive-modifier-here people, a few changes came along: Every MIT undergrad I overlapped with graduated, making me Definitely Officially Cruft. I began to feel cranky towards the newest students, in a totally unoriginal, kids-these-days-just-dont-work-hard-anymore way. This is not true. Kids these days still work hard, but with time, technological advances, hindsight, and a little bit of a good ol generational gap, you too can fall prey to the belief that they dont! About twelve seconds later, I got over that crankiness towards the current students. Nobody likes that damn millenials guy, and not just because they lack perspective. Dont be that guy. I stopped pretending that everything was good all the time. If anyone who knows me is thinking, but you complained, like, all the time, yeah. I sure do. Things were even less good than that. Even so, Im pretty okay. Youre pretty okay. Were all eventually gonna be pretty okay. Related: I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune illness shortly before I graduated, so all those times in school when I thought I just wasnt tough enough to handle MIT? Turns out I was sick the whole time. If you are in the same boat â€" especially if you are a prefrosh applying to MIT and worried about managing your courses and your health at the same time â€" hit me up. Well talk. Some of the people and things I loved most about MIT went away. Others are still going strong. So it goes. The blogs turned ten. I tested an eight-year-old at work last week. He was born on the day I got into MIT. Hes a child with feelings and a personality and a complete command of sentences and the English language. WHAT YEAR IS THIS I took this super sweet picture of a jellyfish. Its my favorite of all my photographs, except for baby mud wrestling during Steer Roast 2012, and thats only because that was adorable. I would not be here were it not for the blogs. Theyre what convinced me to apply in the first place â€" dont tell Ben or Nance; itll go to their heads â€" and as a first-generation college student, I had no damn clue what I was doing. Regardless of whether or not you end up at MIT, I hope and believe that they will be as helpful for you as they were for me. With ten times more information here now than when I was a prefrosh, youve got a lot of digging ahead of you. Theres a ton of good stuff in these archives, and it grows by the day. More so than usual today, what with the birthday and all. If you have a free moment or two, take some time to look through here and learn from a decades worth of students, staff, faculty, and alumni writing about the things they love (or dont). If theres something you want that isnt there, feel free to ask about it, unless youre a troll or your argument is baseless. And on that inflammatory note, Im out of here. See you in another four to ten years.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Cognitive Development Throughout A Lifetime - 913 Words

Cognitive Development Throughout a Lifetime Children are different from adults when it comes to a lot of things, memory being one of them. This is because children are able to better receive and process large amounts of information vs adults. There are many reasons for this. Mostly because the brain of a child is open and excited about their surroundings and new experiences. Because they are so openly engaged in their environment, this causes them to be more aware of small details that most adults would not normally pick up on. The brain of a child is also growing at a much faster rather than that of an adult. The growth rate corresponds with the rapid cell increases that occur in other places of a child’s body as they develop (Papass,2010) The way in which children and adults receive information is the same. The main difference though between the memory of a child and an adult is that children make use of their memory in a more inefficient way than adults. This is just becaus e adults have more real world experience in deciding what information is useful to use on a daily basis. This is based off adult’s experience and memories from positive outcomes which are produced from recalling and using certain information. The way adults receive information also makes them better at processing new information and being able to put new information with other stored information they already have. This makes them efficiently use there memoires in a way that enhancesShow MoreRelatedThe Frequency of Social and Intellectual Activities Within Young Adults and Their Influences on Cognitive Functioning1759 Words   |  7 Pageswhich has more influence on their cognitive functioning skills such as attention, perception, memory, problem solving and reasoning. There has been a lot of research into the decline in cognitive abilities as we get older and how our lifestyle affects these abilities. However, there is a lack of research considering the lifestyle effects in younger adults. A lot of research has shown that more intellectual and social engagement is associated with better cognitive performance, but there are few investigatingRead MoreExploring Human Development Essay927 Words   |  4 PagesExploring Human Development Development begins with conception and ends in death. It pertains to the changes an individual faces both physically and mentally throughout their lifetime, and can be shaped through a number of reasons. Development: The changes one undergoes during their lifetime. Cross-Sectional Design: Observing the differences between individuals by taking age into account. Nature: Deals with an individual s genetic makeup. Nurture: Deals with an individual’s experience with lifeRead More To what extent and in what ways are people ?fixed? and ?open to change1567 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern lifespan development draw on and are influenced by Darwin’s ideas. His functionalist perspective primarily focused on the reason for development of specific human characteristics over many generations, and therefore an enormously long timescale. However, inspired by the observations in the development his own son, Darwin also acknowledged that â€Å"an individual is the result of a gradual sequence of prior changes, both in a broad evolutionary sense and within individual’s own lifetime and furtherRead More Psychological Development Essay624 Words   |  3 Pages Psychological development is the development of a person’s emotional, intellectual, cognitive, and social capabilities and functions that they acquire throughout their lifetime. This starts from birth and carries on until death , but how does pregnancy affect the development stage? There are many myths that when women become pregnant their cognitive capabilities begin to decrease and the mother suffers from ‘baby brain’ or ‘placenta brain’. Scientists are interested in this and some wondered whatRead MoreThe Importance Of A Healthy Development For Children s Development Essay1612 Words   |  7 Pageschild’s life for the development of skills needed throughout their lifetime. That is why it is very important to promote a healthy development for each of the development areas. This report presents information on toddlers and how they develop in each of the different development domains, cognitive, physical, language and social-emotional. It looks at the theories created by Jean Piaget, Arnold Gesell, Noam Chomsky and Erik Erikson to help support the different developments. Lastly, provides strategiesRead MoreNature And Nurture : Language Development877 Words   |  4 Pages language development. Language development refers to how children understand, organise, speak and use words in order to communicate at an effective, age-appropriate level (Karen Kearns, 2013, P.105). For centuries, theorists have been debating the roles of nature versus nurture. Although, each child’s language will develop at their own pace and there will be many individual differences based on culture, ethnicity, health and ability. As well as physical, social, emotional and cognitive development in whichRead MoreJoan Eriksons Stages Of Psychosocial Development792 Words   |  4 PagesEriksons stages of psychosocial development, as articulated by Erik Erikson, in collaboration with Joan Erikson,[1] is a comprehensive psychoanalytic theory that identifies a series of eight stages, in which a healthy developing individual should pass through from infancy to late adulthood. All stages are present at birth but only begin to unfold according to both a natural scheme and ones eco logical and cultural upbringing. In each stage, the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challengesRead MoreReaction Paper : Cognitive Development Theories Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesDenk 11/29/16 Sociology Reaction Paper: Cognitive Development Theories This key term found in chapter 5 of the Sociology textbook is defined as the four stages of intellectual development for children. Each shift in development marks a change in how a child views and understands the world. The first of the four stages of cognitive development is known as the sensorimotor stage. This stage takes place from birth to age 2. The second stage of cognitive development is the preoperational stage taking placeRead MoreThe Progression And Maturation Of Human Development841 Words   |  4 PagesDevelopmental psychologists examine the progression and maturation of human development throughout a lifetime (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Additionally, developmental psychologists study how humans are able to acclimate to changes. Traditionally, their roles focus around the various stages during childhood and adolescence due in part to the rapid changes experienced during the first stages of life, however they are not limited to those age groups. Undergraduate and graduate degreesRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Knowing921 Words   |  4 PagesSwitzerland. He is known for his epistemological studies with children. He was the first to make a systematic study of cognitive development. Piaget was also the Director of the International Bureau of Education. He was â€Å"the great pioneer of the constructivist theory of knowing.† He was known as the second best psychologist after Skinner by the end of the 20th century. Throughout his career, Jean Piaget declared that â€Å"only education is capable of saving our societies from possible collapse, whether

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The French Revolution - 2967 Words

The setting alternates between various locations in France and England, taking place primarily in the cities of Paris and London respectively. Within each geographic location are specific recurring locations. In France, these include places such as the Defarge’s wine shop, the estate of the Marquis, and the Bastille. In England, these include places such as the courthouse, the Manette home, and Tellson’s Bank. The story spans several decades, from 1775 to 1793. This time period covers critical points in European history, encompassing the American Revolution as well as the beginning of the French Revolution. 6. Importance of the setting (consider ideas/beliefs indicative of the time and possible symbolism) The setting is an integral part of†¦show more content†¦The recurring motifs of death and darkness are given an extra dimension due to the actions of the heartless aristocracy and bloodthirsty masses, and the story’s setting provides further context for these key moments. 7. Plot (key conflicts and resolution, approximately 250 words) The story of A Tale of Two Cities begins with the immortal lines of literature – â€Å"it was the best of times, it was the worst of times†. The very introduction of the novel captures the unease and contrast of the time period, as well as the conflicting extremes in ideology that were present on both sides of the English Channel. The first few chapters are rather ambiguous, filled with metaphors and three powerful words – â€Å"Recalled to Life†. As Mr. Jarvis Lorry, an employee of Tellson’s Bank, soon finds out, these words refer to the reappearance of Dr. Manette, a man who turns out to have been imprisoned in the Bastille for the past eighteen years. Accompanied by Manette’s daughter, Lucie, Lorry sets out to France to reclaim Manette. Upon meeting the doctor, it is easily apparent that his time in prison has been detrimental to his mental health. The doctor sits in the cellar of a wine shop, making shoes and repeating the number of his p rison cell. However, the sight and touch of his daughter, Lucie, reinvigorates him, and slowly, Dr. Manette begins to return to normal. He accompanies his daughter and Lorry back to London. The story flashes forward a couple years to a trial. A handsome man by

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Military Policy And Foreign Policy - 706 Words

As nations mature into international relevance, the pressure to consider defense and military strategy in foreign policy grows. These modern tensions have made contemporary countries orient themselves to be more militaristic, embracing international affairs and dedicating themselves to armed preparedness with varying degrees of fervor. While most industrialized nations have acknowledged the necessity of a robust military, all but one restrict their buildup to a reasonable level. America consistently outranks its international rivals in terms of defense budgets, the purest example of exorbitant militarism in existence. China takes second place, but its military spending needs to be added to the next six countries on the list to match Uncle†¦show more content†¦America remains in a state of perpetual war. National policy has holistically embraced a Hobbesian worldview – one where life is solitary and trying, a justification for our excessive individualistic approach to defense. In the end, we can only rely on ourselves. This interpretation of militarism contrasts starkly with the way European countries have evolved since world war two. Devastated by the environmental carnage sustained throughout the international conflict, Europe, acting communally as an entire continent, dedicated itself to perpetual peace. While the amounts European nations set aside for military spending are dwarfed by American, Chinese, and Russian defense budgets, the type s of investments they make drastically stand out. Instead of pursuing technological advancement and developing better ways to kill other people, the European Union has focused on cooperating with the abilities of other nations to implement humanitarian interventions (Rifkin). Beside spending less overall, Europe proportionally allots noticeably fewer funds for defense than other nations. Since Truman, American military spending comprised over half of all proposed federal budgets, matching other heavily militarized nations such as Russia in consistently using around four percent of its gross domesticShow MoreRelatedThe Military Industrial Complex On Foreign Policy Decision Making Essay1429 Words   |  6 Pagesof unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex† (Eisenhower 1961). Despite being a warning from so long ago, time has vindicated Eisenhower’s words. From the time of Eisenhower to present day, the United States has seen an unprecedented growth of the power, size, and influence of the military industrial complex. Today, the military industrial complex exerts great pressure on the foreign policy decision making process of the United States government. ThisRead MoreThe War On Terror : An Example Of All Three Foreign Policy Tools Is Afghanistan Essay1303 Words   |  6 PagesThe War on Terror required utilizing pre-emptive war, regime change, and unilateralism. An example of all three foreign policy tools is Afghanistan. Bush took a hard line approach with the Taliban government of Afghanistan, who had a semi-friendly working relationship with Osama bin Laden’s terrorist group, al Qaeda, by declaring that if the Taliban government did not hand over bin Laden, the U.S. would invade Afghanistan. The War on Terror created a renewed moralism that had effectively disappearedRead MoreThe Three Branches of the United States Government913 Words   |  4 Pagesresponsibilities to govern the nation, both domestically and abroad. In terms of foreign policy, Congress and the President have different powers that ensure that each branch works in conjunction in handling foreign affairs. The President, as Commander-in-Chief, commands the armed forces and can negotiate and sign treaties. The President also has the power to recognize foreign countries and nominate U.S. diplomats to foreign countries, a key role in the representation of the U.S. abroad. The PresidentRead MoreLeadership : The Public Policy Process1299 Words   |  6 PagesRunning Head: LEADERSHIP 1 Leadership in the Public Policy Process Sharon Lockhart Foundations of Public Administration/PPA601 Dr. LaQuita Gray-Baker April 3, 2017Read MoreForeign Policy And The Middle East1107 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican foreign policy and what it entails. Foreign policy of the United States determines how we interact with other nations and also the standards or guidelines for these interactions. Foreign policy is designed to protect America and ensure our safety both domestically and globally. There has been an ongoing struggle involving American foreign policy in the Middle East and specifically the war on terrorism. Conflict in the Middle East has been at the top of the American Foreign policy agenda forRead MoreEssay on Somali People and Djibouti640 Words   |  3 PagesRed Sea and Gulf of Aden, is strategically important to the U. S. Foreign policy. All instruments of U.S National Power – diplomacy, information, military and economic – are exercised as part of a deliberate and sustained ‘whole of government’ approach. The U. S. Ambassador to Djibouti, the Honorable Geeta Pasi, leads a State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Team in enabling U. S. Strategic policy vision in HOA, while enabling and collaborating with Djibouti in strengtheningRead MoreTheodore Roosevelt And William Howard Taft1501 Words   |  7 Pagesnarratives of their tenures to truly delineate their comparability. Through a comprehensive analysis of these two leaders on the subjects of foreign policy, we begin to parse out many similarities and differences between these two early 20th century leaders. First, we will look at aspects of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency as they pertain to issues of foreign policy and diplomacy. Famous for his â€Å"cowboy demeanor† and unwavering bravado, Roosevelt was once quoted talking about his diplomatic philosophyRead MorePresident Obama And President Bush879 Words   |  4 Pagesissues focused on the topic of foreign policy. President Obama and Bush had to deal with continuous threats and problems arising from the tumultuous political climate of the Middle East. The way each president saw it fit to eliminate the problems was quite different as, President Bush often saw it more appropriate to use military force in the intervention of these issues, where as President Obama is more likely to take a diplomatic approach before resorting to military intervention. Regardless of theseRead MoreThe Future Effect Of The Election Of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau1131 Words   |  5 PagesThis political study will define the future effect of the election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in terms of the Canadian foreign policy in the restructuring of military intervention in foreign affairs and the pro-trade globalization mandates of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Trudeau’s election defines the overriding political agenda of the Liberal Party of Canada to stop ineffective bombing missions in Syria and Iraq, yet to maintain special forces troops to better manage the war againstRead MoreRussia QA Essay1604 Words   |  7 Pagesideology, national power and international relationships as well as foreign policy. The paper will also describe the Russian commitments and its national security relationships with the United States. Question one. National purpose of Russia Russia is keen to increase her economic growth, protect the security of her people and safeguard vital markets for her products. The country has managed to use technology in developing military influence to protect her people and enhance power and influence in

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

A Pair Of Silk Stockings Summary Example For Students

A Pair Of Silk Stockings Summary Kate Chopin is an American writer of Irish-French origin, who is considered to have been a forerunner of twentieth-century feminist literature. Her literature work has been recognized as a classic of American literature of the XIX century. Womens theme takes a special place in the literature of the United States of the second half of the XIX century. During this period, the scientific and philosophical ideas about a woman became immeasurably complicated, that could not but affect the ways of its artistic representation. In this case, Kate Chopin is not an exception. Of all aspects of human existence, Chopin was most interested in the inner, spiritual life of a woman and how it could be related to the role imposed on women by society. The formation of the artistic world of the writer was undoubtedly greatly influenced by the time and the family, where the foundations of gender individuality are laid. What are the key ideas of the story? A Pair of Silk Stockings is a short story about women, who struggles looking for stability between family life and personal enjoyment. It takes place after the Civil War in a city from the South. The plot summary tells about Mrs. Sommers, who one day suddenly discovered that she had won fifteen dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money, and the way her old wallet filled up and bulged out gave her a sense of importance that she had not experienced for many years. Where to spend them is a question that has completely taken possession of it. She did not want to act hastily, having done something, which she later regretted. â€Å"Where to spend this money?† was a question that has completely taken possession of her. She did not want to act hastily, having done something, which she later regretted. So, she decides to buy clothes for her children.  The idea that her children would look fresh and elegant in new clothes for the first time in her life did not give her peace. The narrative suggests the statement that Mrs. Sommers had been a wealthy woman before her marriage, but now needs of the present absorbed her every faculty. Mrs. Sommers was one of those who knew the full value of sales and discounts, who could stand in queue for hours. But that day she was rather pale and tired. Resting at the counter, she suddenly found a pair of silk stockings for sale, and she was delighted by their smoothness. At this moment, she forgot about children and about all the worries. She changed her mind and started shopping for herself. She bought shoes to go with her beautiful stockings, new gloves, two expensive magazines, visited the restaurant and ended her day in the theatre. Then Mrs. Sommers got into a cable car to return home. The man sitting opposite her seemed to study her small pale face. In fact, he did not see anything unless he was a wizard and did not recognize the painful and keen desire that the cable would never stop, but go and go on forever. What is the main focus of the story? The main focus of this story is on the complexity of the relationship. But the tone of a slight irony smooths out sharp edges and relieves tension from the reader. It is one of the greatest examples of how skillfully selected place decorates, complements and saturates the entire work with colors and paints. Events take place in difficult times, but if you look, the problems and difficulties are almost always the same for all times and people. Chopin shows a woman in different roles. The leading thesis is the fact that Mrs. Sommers does not want to refuse of her family, but at the same time, she also does not want to refuse of her personal identity and wishes while carrying out the role of mother. The moral lesson is about the internal conflict of the hero, as she became a real fighter and the main victory for her is a victory over herself. .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .postImageUrl , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:hover , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:visited , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:active { border:0!important; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:active , .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497 .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucb2c66a4f675b0ce27b354abb92f6497:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Friend Green Tomatoes EssayThis story contains symbolism that is embodied in the image 15 dollars as a mean of confidence and self-esteem for Mrs. Sommers, the pair of silk stockings that is a symbol of women`s selfish needs and poverty and a cable car that represents the way back to her real life. The analysis reveals that the dynamics of events unfold gradually, as the actions of the characters of the events are connected by a temporary and causal connection. Skillful use of visual images by the writer creates a fundamentally new, transformed setting, energetic and saturated with colors. A pair of silk stockings by Chopin Kate cannot be read without experiencing feelings of love, appreciation, and gratitude. So, when Mrs. Sommers came into the small fortune, she faced with an essay for her, as this money gave her the sense of freedom.

Monday, April 6, 2020

Tesco Essay Example

Tesco Essay Executive Summary Starting from a small stall in the east end of London, Tesco today is the largest retailer in the UK with over ? 59 billion sales in 2008. In this dynamic environment, Tesco has managed to stay ahead of its competition through focus on people, both customers and employees. However, in today’s rapidly changing globalised environment, anything could happen. Companies today need to always innovate and reinvent themselves in order to maintain their competitive advantage. The macro environment that Tesco operates in provides both opportunities and threats. Therefore, for sustainable growth and development, Tesco needs to have proper strategic direction that addresses these macro environmental challenges. Though the company has extensive operations worldwide, Tesco’s largest market is still the UK. This report analyses the macro environment that Tesco UK operates in using the PESTEL framework and its interconnectedness to external opportunities and threats. Competitiveness of Tesco UK is analyzed by applying Michael Porter’s five forces model. The paper is further expanded by linking both the PESTEL framework and the 5 forces to understand Tesco’s dynamic macro environment. A stakeholder analysis is carried out in order to understand the expectation of Tesco’s stakeholders. Strategic capabilities of Tesco are explained through the identification of core competencies of the firm. Justification of these competencies explains how Tesco manages to stay ahead of its competitors. Table of Contents 1. Introduction to Tesco Plc6 1. 1. Tesco UK7 2. The Macro Environment Analysis8 2. Political Factors8 2. 2Economical Factors8 2. 3Social/Cultural Factors8 2. 4Technological Factors8 2. 5Environmental Factors8 2. 6Legislative Factor8 2. 7Overall impact of the PESTEL factors8 2. 8Potential opportunities from the external environment8 2. 9Threats from the external environment8 3. Competitive Analysis on Tesco Using Porter’s Five Forces Model8 3. 1. Threat of New Entries8 3. 2. Competitive Rivalry8 3. 3. Substitutes8 3. 4. The Power of Supplier8 3. 5. The Power of Buyer8 3. 6. Summary of the 5 Forces Model8 4. Stakeholder analysis8 . Core Competences8 5. 1Value8 5. 2. Rarity8 5. 3. Inimitability8 1. 4. Non-substitutability8 6. Conclusion8 7. References8 Introduction to Tesco Plc Founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen, Tesco Plc is the largest British based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain, and is the world’s third largest retailer, after Wal-Mart of the US and France’s Carrefour. The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. The first store was opened in 1929 in London. Tesco floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1947 with a share price of 25p. We will write a custom essay sample on Tesco specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Tesco specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Tesco specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer During the 1950s and the 1960s Tesco grew organically, and through acquisitions. Most of this early growth was in and around London. The â€Å"pile it high, sell it cheap† strategy of Cohen had left the company â€Å"stagnate† which resulted in his resignation in 1973. In 1977, Tesco launched â€Å"operation checkout† which included price reductions and centralized buying for all stores. The result was a rise in market share of 4% in two months. Today, the company operates over 3000 stores in several countries including the U. S ad Japan with over 440,000 employees. Tesco has diversified their business into other areas such as clothing, consumer electronics, financial services, telecommunication, insurance schemes etc. With their core purpose of â€Å"create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty†, the company has been able to build a multibillion-dollar empire. Operating income for 2008 was ? 3. 12billion. (The Guardian 2009). The ability to appeal to all market segments through their own brand products with up market and low price value range has been a key element of their success. The two key values of Tesco are 1. No-one tries harder for customer, and 2. Treat people as we like to be treated With their â€Å"Every little helps† strategy, they regularly ask their customers and staff â€Å"what we can do to make shopping with us and working with us that little bit better† (Tesco. com) 4 Tesco UK Tesco UK is the first and largest operations under Tesco PLC. Tesco UK contributes approximately 70% to the group’s sales and profit. Its business is significant in the UK, with over 285,000 employees and over 2,200 stores. UK business’s growth comes from new space, extensions to existing stores and a multi-format approach. The overall growth in UK was contributed by the sales of non-food, which forms another key part of Tesco strategy. Tesco customized their store formats to satisfy customers needs. It has more than 1960 Express stores offering a range of approximately 7000 quality, great value, and fresh food close to where customers live and work. Tesco opened its first Metro in 1992 catering to the needs of busy customers, bringing Tesco nearer to customer in town and city centre locations. The superstores which began in the 1970s is an ongoing program of extending and refreshing their superstores to improve the overall experience for customers, including introduction of new non-food ranges such as DVDs and books. Since 1977 the one-stop Extra destination store has proved extremely popular and Tesco now have more than 175 Extra stores offering the widest range of food and non-food lines. The 10 Homeplus stores (approx 35000 to 50000 sq ft) are dedicated to non-food, including clothing, with more available through Tesco Direct order and collection points. In addition to array of formats, Tesco continually innovate and invest in new lines to increase choice for their customers, such as, lifestyle ranges like organic, healthy living. Various own brand also enable customers to purchase product to compliment their lifestyle. Value-adding service, such as Tesco nutritional signpost labeling targets to provide customers with the key information they need to help them choose a balanced diet. Tesco innovatively counteract the recession challenge by launching around 500 new ‘discount brands’ products because customers were shopping around for best prices without compromising on quality. The Macro Environment Analysis The Macro environment gives organizations their means of survival as well a source of threat. Understanding the strategic position is concerned with identifying the impact on strategy of the external environment, an organizations strategic capability and the expectations and influences of stakeholders. Organizations exist in the context of a complex political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal world. The PESTEL framework will be used on Tesco UK to identify how future trends in these environments might impinge on the organization. This analysis aims to provide the broad data from which to identify key drivers of change and understand the interconnectedness of the macro environment. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittingon, 2008). 1. 2. 6 Political Factors Even though, this paper is concerned with the Strategic perspective of Tesco UK, it is important to consider the global political scenario considering Tesco’s scope of operations. The company has over 3000 stores in 13 different markets outside the UK including Europe, North America and Asia. Tesco therefore, is greatly influenced by political and legislative circumstances among these countries as well as European Union (EU). ‘As Tesco grows ever bigger in more countries, it has inevitably faced criticism from consumer activists and environmental groups and also regulators. Brussels recently referred Tescos acquisition of three stores in Slovakia to domestic regulators, claiming the deal could potentially reduce competition in certain areas. ’ (BBC 2006) Another important aspect to consider is the policies and regulations governing monopolies and dominant market shares within the EU. Even though, Tesco is yet to be recognized this way, it is an important factor to note considering it’s scope of operations. In the UK, planning permission is an important political factor. There have been several cases where Tesco’s request to build new stores in the UK have been denied by the Town councils due to oppositions by the public. Therefore, careful analysis of the political factors when opening stores in UK is critical. 7 Economical Factors Considering that Tesco is UK’s largest private sector employer, economic factors such as unemployment rates and purchasing power are important factors to take note of. The recessional period that the world has been experiencing has had quite an impact on western countries such as the US and UK with high job lay off’s etc. Unemployment rate in the UK has increased by 2% when compared with 2008. (National Statistics UK 2009). Unemployment rates affect Tesco in two ways. One is that it reduces demand for products and can affect Tesco’s sales. However, average earnings including bonuses rose by 1. 2 per cent in the year to September 2009 which is an indicator that the UK economy is picking up. The other issue is that with Tesco being the leading private sector employer, it will be under severe pressure on job lay off’s. Tesco’s strategy of catering to many segments of the market has been able to keep them afloat in the rise of the economic recession. According to the research firm TNS WorldPanel, The UK number one, who has reaped the benefit of its double Clubcard points promotion, took 30. 7% of the grocery market in the 12 weeks to 1 November 2009. (Press Association 2009) The recessional period is slowly picking up with UK’s retail sales showing an increase of 2. % as of September 2009 when compared with the previous year which indicates a positive outlook for Tesco. (National Statistics UK 2009). 8 Social/Cultural Factors UK has a population of 61. 4 million and considered an ageing population with a relatively equal split between male and females with 62% representing the workforce. The proportion of people aged 65 and over is projected to increas e from 16 per cent in 2008 to 23 per cent by 2033. (Statistics online). Therefore, Tesco will have to consider this an important aspect of future strategic direction. The increase in employment among older people and females have created a demand for value added products and convenience goods and meals The need for bulk purchasing and one stop shopping has prompted Tesco to have more non food items available for sale. However in recent times, there seems to be a decrease in this trend as more and more people are pinching their pennies in times of recession and reducing the use of such convenience products. While money is tight, women will feel obliged to forgo the price premiums they have been paying for this kind of help and take on the labour themselves. Euromonitor 2009). Therefore moving into house brands with different market segmentation and the focus on own label share of the business mix and supply chain which reduces cost as Tesco has done is an important element of their corporate strategy. According to Eurominitor international, Value rather than cheapness will now count when consumers have to choose between brands when making purchasin g decisions in the year ahead. Hence consumers will reward brands focusing on quality with loyalty. (Euromonitor 2009) Tesco’s focus on retaining customers is evidence to this trend. Another important socio cultural aspect to consider is the migration of eastern Europeans and Asians to the UK. There is a large community of Indians living in the UK. Tesco needs to ensure that they are able to cater to this segment with product differentiation. Consumers in UK are also being more health conscious and therefore increased their use of organic products. Also offering products which has been manufactured in an ethical and socially responsible way is also becoming increasingly important in the UK consumers mind. 9 Technological Factors Technology is an important macro environmental factor that affect any organization. Tesco has been successful at exploiting the widespread phenomena of internet purchasing. Their comprehensive website and online catalogue with easy checking out options have boosted their sales. To retain their competitive advantage it is important for Tesco to always reinvent and re-innovate and to be abreast of the rapid technological changes. Adoption of technologies such as intelligent scales, electronic shelf labeling, self checkout and RFID as helped the company to maintain its competitive advantage. In order to make maximum use of strategic capabilities, Tesco UK has transferred their IT support structure to Bangalore India. 10 Environmental Factors Today, environmental issues play a key role in business. Matters such as global warming and pollution have pressured companies into being more socially responsible towards the environment they operate in. Tesco has been instrumental in supporting carbon reduction and has created a a ? 100 million Sustainable Technology Fund for this purpose. In order to be carbon free, Tesco is revamping their own stores and building new low carbon stores. Their target is to halve carbon emission totally by 50% by the year 2020. Tesco is also encouraging their customers to go green by introducing a new ‘Greener Living’ brand. The range comprises 200 products as diverse as energy-saving light bulbs, paper goods and kitchenware TESCO’s corporate social responsibility exceeds the minimum expectation levels set by the industry. 11 Legislative Factor In 2000, the government introduced legislation that allowed schemes, set up in line with the regulations, to offer employees savings on tax and national insurance contributions when buying and selling shares in the employing company. Tesco has used this legal framework to provide comprehensive share schemes and has had considerable success in retaining their employees as shareholders and potentially reaping the benefits from their increased commitment to the company. (Eurofound 2008) The UKs Competition Commission is to introduce a code of practice for supermarkets in a bid to ensure the fair treatment of suppliers and address issues hindering competition in the market. The commission believed that this food control the buying power of certain supermarkets. (Justfood. com 2009). This affects both Tesco and the industry in general; in terms of higher cost. 12 Overall impact of the PESTEL factors Identifying the PESTEL factors for Tesco, has given insight to the environment they operate in and the interconnectedness of these factors. Identifying these factors are important in creating future strategic direction and growth. The political impact of the EU and the UK is an important factor for this British Retail giant in terms of market growth and monopoly. The present economic crisis has increased unemployment levels which is a negative indication. However recent reports on increased sales and changes in socio cultural patterns are an indication for new prospects for Tesco. 13 Potential opportunities from the external environment The recovery of the economic situation means that there will be increased market potential and increased spending power. This is already in evidence by the increase in sales of Tesco UK in September 2009. The demand for non-food retail items is increasing and is in favour of Tesco. Their health and beauty products are top of the range and there is further potential to grow. The increasing population of Asians and Eastern Europeans is also an opportunity for Tesco to explore this particular market segment. Increased focus on ‘going green’ is beneficial to the company considering their many steps towards this process both in terms of influencing the consumer and improving the processes within the company. The increased use of online purchasing means the reduction of related costs and processes could be more efficient. This would also enable Tesco to provide other services such as banking, delivery etc. 14 Threats from the external environment Consumer behavior patterns are slowly changing towards organic and ethically produced goods. This creates both opportunity as mentioned above as well as threat. More and more research and capital will need to be allocated to sourcing these products. The company has made substantial investments in energy saving projects around the business. The price war between the supermarkets is another cause for concern which will be later discussed under competition. The possibility of increased regulation in terms of pricing is a threat to Tesco and other supermarkets in the industry. Competitive Analysis on Tesco Using Porter’s Five Forces Model Porter’s five forces framework were developed to determine the competitive intensity and market attractiveness of an industry. (Porter, 2001) Market attractiveness refers to whether a company will have the profit potential in an industry. Porter’s five forces structure (as shown below) constitutes of the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute, the power of suppliers, the power of buyer and competitive rivalry. [pic] 16 Threat of New Entries According to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2008), threat of entry depends on the extent and height of barriers to entry such as economic of scales and experience, access to supply or distribution channels, legislation or government action and differentiation. The combination on two factors: Tesco, having 85 years of retail experience since the â€Å"TESCO† brand name started and with the existance of the incumbent retail giants (i. e. Asda, Sainsbury, Mark Spencer) make it difficult for new entrant to penetrate into the UK retailing market. Potential entrants will find that barriers are imposed on them, either explicitly or implicitly, by the conglomerate incumbents. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) Tesco, as the largest retailer in UK has control over supply and distribution through customer or supplier loyalty. They have the established loyalty program such as offering loyalty card, point card, advantage card or club card to attract and retain the customers. Besides that, Tesco has direct ownership (vertical integration) for some of the products that they are selling with the brand â€Å"Tesco†. The new entrants will find it challenging to find the new supply and distribution channel as the more common ones had been cornered by Tesco and other giant retailers in UK, who have the advantage of economies of scale. While the new entrants find it easy to enter into UK market, they may face many challenges in the operating environment. Therefore, it can be said that Tesco has a considerately low threat of new entrants in UK. 17 Competitive Rivalry Competitive rivalry refers to the direct competition between organizations that sell the similar products aimed at the same customer group. Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) Tesco has many direct competitors who do the same business as them, namely the Asda Group Limited, Carrefour S. A, J Sainsbury PLC, Marks and Spencer Group PLC, The Big Food Group PLC and etc. As the number of competitors increases and become roughly equal size, the rivalry become intensified and competitors attempt to gain dominance over others. Though Tesco is presently the largest retailer in UK, many other upcoming retailers mentioned above are trying to gain more market share by dominating the market. Rivalry is also stronger when demand for the product is growing slowly. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) With the rivalry intensity, each competitor is tempted to use price cuts to boost unit volume and hence create price war between rivals. Besides that, Tesco’s business and products are also weakly differentiated that customers do not require any cost switching from one retailer to another. The intensity of rivalry in the retailing industry where Tesco belongs to is great. Therefore the threat of competitive rivalry is high for Tesco. 18 Substitutes The accessibility and availability of acceptable substitutes for products that Tesco offers are easy and abundant. For example, Sainsbury can match the low prices that Tesco offers in the market and even equal the quality of products they offer, making the substitute force high in the retailing industry. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008) This drives Tesco to upgrade the product quality, reduce prices and differentiate their products from its substitute in order not to be affected by the threat. The upcoming trend of online shopping and free delivery also pose a substitute threat for the conventional shopping. Busy working adults can order their groceries or anything they need with just clicks on the PC. E-bay for instance, can offer a wide range of products from all over the world to its customers. However, Tesco had anticipated this new trend and has an online shopping website to cater the needs of this group of people. Hence, Tesco faces low threat on substitutes looking at the fact that Tesco affords to go on the price war since they are the biggest retailer in UK and most of the people still would want to go on the conventional way of shopping. 9 The Power of Supplier The factors increasing supplier power are the converse to those for buyer power and the supplier power is likely to be high where there are concentrated suppliers, high switching cost and supplier competition threat. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) However, this is not the case for Tesco who has the power over the suppliers. Suppliers are clamoring attention from giants like Tesco to buy their products. Suppliers understand that the purchasing volume from Tesco will be enormous if they clinch on any deal with them. With this, giant retailers have the overwhelming advantage to dictate the price and if the suppliers do not give in to the price that they are willing to pay, the suppliers are left only with the small supermarket chains that do not give them huge orders. Besides that, suppliers will have to maintain good services and prices with Tesco to sustain the order. This is due to the fact that switching cost from one supplier to another is low and therefore creating stiff competition among suppliers. With the above explanation, it is clear that Tesco faces low threat from the suppliers as they has much more negotiating power than any others would have. 20 The Power of Buyer Customers are essential for the survival of any business and buyers will normally have strong position when there are only a few concentrated buyers who buy in bulk and low switching cost from one supplier to another is low. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) In the retailing business, the number of customers is very large and they do not purchase in bulk. Therefore, the buyer’s power is not that strong. However, the switching cost for a buyer is virtually none. Buyers have the freedom to choose supermarket that can offer good prices since the things that all supermarket sells are almost the same. Fortunately for Tesco that all competitors have a disciplined approach in price setting, partly due to the government regulations. (Tesco Porters Five Force Model , 2008)The prices may differ, but it would not be a huge difference. Therefore, it will be more economical for customers to buy all the things they need in one place, rather than hopping around for the retailer that sells the cheapest in certain items. With the mentioned reason, it can be said that the threat of buyer is relatively low. 1 Summary of the 5 Forces Model |Porter’s Five Forces |Level | | |High |Low | |Threat of New Entries | |v | |Competitive Rivalry |^ | | |Substitute | |v | |The Power of Buyer | |v | |The Power of Supplier | |v | From the above analysis, Tesco clearly has a strong position in the retail industry in UK. The business is attractive to Tesco in UK and Tesco is enjoying the profit from the business. The only high threat that Tesco faces is the threat of competitive rivalry from the rivals. The following statistic shows the market share of the closest rivals that Tesco has. Supermarket in UK |Market Share | |Tesco |30. 6% | |ASDA |16. 6% | |Sainsburys |16. 3% | |Morrisons |11. % | |Somerfield |5. 4% | |Waitrose |3. 7% | |Iceland |1. 8% | (Source TNS cited by BBC 2006) Though Tesco has the largest market share, other retailers are coming up quickly. Tesco must keep an eye on these rivals so that the threat of substitute will not become high over time. Besides that, the easy entrants to UK also increase the rivalry for Tesco. It is good that Tesco is already well established in UK and the new entrants will require time to build up their experience and network to compete with Tesco. The rivalry forces can also affect the power of buyer. For example, if ASDA does some promotion that can attract the customer, Tesco will lose some of the market share to their rivals. Therefore, it is clear that Porter’s five forces are inter-related to each other and Tesco must always be alert to any of the forces. The macro environment give an impression of the political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental factors that influence Porter’s five forces. The government regulation on the price setting actually had help Tesco to manage the threat of rivalry and substitute. UK is also getting more open in their economy, hence, Tesco is able to source from the cheaper suppliers from other countries and lower the threat from local suppliers. The buyers are now consisting of diversified people and Tesco must take into consideration of the new goods that can be sold to this group of people. This is one of the tactics to reduce threat from buyer and rivalry from other retailers who had catered into this new need. In addition to that, Tesco can make use of the latest information technology to sell their products online to avoid the substitute threat from retailers who do online business. Stakeholder analysis ‘Stakeholders are people or groups with a legitimate interest in a company. Since stakeholders are interested in and affected by the organization’s action, they have a ‘stake’ in what those actions are’ (Williams, C. 2000). Therefore it is important to understand the role stakeholders play in terms of Tesco as a business. Applying the concept of stakeholder mapping provides better understanding to the influence of stakeholders on corporate strategy. This can help to identify potential risk, establish the political background to the area, seek to influence the decision-makers, and provide intelligence about competitors, key themes and area of potential risk. The availability of the source of power determines the extent of power that can be exerted by both internal and external stakeholder group, this includes key position in the hierarchy or the decision-making process e. g. key managers, key role in strategy implementation or important shareholders; control of strategic resources and possession of know-how, or information. At Tesco, a big part of that is listening to the people around them, and making sure they act on their concern. Engagement helps Tesco identify new risks and opportunities to ensure that long-term strategy is sustainable. In some instances working with stakeholders in partnership can help deliver shared goals. Tesco acknowledge that customers need to be able to trust their business and customers will only trust them if they do the right thing by all their stakeholders Key players: Tesco core value defines â€Å"people† as a critical success factor. People includes customer, employees. Customer question time meeting are invaluable to Tesco. Staff hears customers’ views on everything from how they are being served in their stores to Tesco’s role in the community. Employee gives feedback through viewpoint staff survey, staff question time sessions and staff forum process. Tesco core value is â€Å"treat people how we like to be treated†. And its something Tesco applies firmly to their supplier relationships. Tesco loyalty card scheme – â€Å"Clubcard† enables Tesco to better understand their customers and show appreciation to customer for shopping with them. Tesco creative marketing created more than eight million unique coupon variations of Clubcard mailing, to ensure that each Clubcard member receives the kind of offer that is appropriate for them. (Tesco, 2009) Tesco employs more than 285,000 employees in the UK, besides market-leading package of pay and its employees are entitled to fringe benefits such as childcare vouchers and share schemes. (Tesco. com) Tesco shareholders are also key player, the investor relations team regularly meets analysts from the financial institutions which invest in them or represent Tesco shareholders. Keep Satisfied Non-Government Organization (NGO) have less power but bear high interest on the organization, regular meetings with NGO to understand and respond to issues of concern will keep this group satisfied as getting their ‘endorsement’ is critical to the success of a strategy. Keep Informed Rival retail chain and trade magazine also have influencing power to their corporate strategy, therefore need to take them into account. Minimal Effort This group exerts low power and low interest. Core Competences Core competences are defined as the â€Å"skills and abilities by which resources are deployed through an organization’s activities and processes such as to achieve competitive advantage in ways that others cannot imitate or obtain†. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008, p. 97) Tesco’s core competence is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. Its success depends on people, the people who shop and work with Tesco. If the customers like what Tesco offer, they are more likely to come back and shop again. And if the Tesco team finds what Tesco do rewarding; they are more likely to go that extra mile to help the customers. To achieve and sustain the competitive advantage, Tesco own its strategic capabilities which are valuable to customers, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable. Value No-one tries harder for customers like Tesco does. Tesco regularly ask the customers how to make shopping in Tesco better. Tesco creates value by listening to what the customers have told them, understand and be the first to meet their needs. Therefore, Tesco has created the â€Å"Every Little Helps† strategy which to ensure the aisles are clear, the customers can get what they want with a good price, customers need not to queue and the staff are helpful and great. With the aim of become the â€Å"best value retailer† and customer deserve best value for money, Tesco had worked hard to find ways of keeping the prices down which has resulted in 17% of price reduction between 2000 and 2006. (Tesco 2009) The company has also been successful in creating a great place to work which is â€Å"treat people how we like to be treated†. Staffs are treated with respect, managers who always help, opportunities are provided to get on. The better the staffs are treated, the better services they would provide to the customers. 25 Rarity To win over other competitors means one company must possess a unique and rare capability. Tesco has been so successful in capturing leadership of the market for online grocery shopping by designing and implementing supply systems that effectively link existing shops with Tesco. com web site. (tutor2u, n. d. ) Although online shopping is a feature of competitors such as Wal-Mart and other competitors, Tesco’s ability to design and deliver a â€Å"customer interface† that personalizes online shopping and makes it more efficient has resulted the customers valuing the Tesco. com experience highly. Customer’s confidence has been built up with Tesco’s reliable and efficient delivery infrastructure from product picking, distribution to customer satisfaction handling. 26 Inimitability To create sustainable competitive advantage over time is not so straightforward and it must be competitively unique and difficult for competitors to imitate. (Kotelnikov, n. d. ) Tesco PLC of the United Kingdom has greater market share than its rival ASDA Group PLC in Britain. The market share for groceries is 31 percent for Tesco PLC compared to 16 percent for Wal-Marts Asda chain. The supermarket chain has introduced a loyalty program called Tesco Clubcard that collects detailed market information. (Advameg Inc. , 2008) Tesco pioneered the Clubcard rewards program to gather customer detail information, which it then used to accommodate to specific customer needs and potential desires. When shoppers signed up for the card, their age, gender, and income are automatically provided. Tesco was then able to segment their shoppers based on these factors. As long as the shopper used the card when shopping online or in-store, purchased product information was automatically captured into Tesco database. This enables Tesco to collect data about the spending habits and product choices of the customers allowing Tesco to target goods and services effectively such as grocery delivery services. (Knowmore. org, 2008) Apparently Tesco has done significantly better than competitors in winning customer’s loyalty. 27 Non-substitutability In order to maintain a big market share in this competitive environment, Tesco has to provide value to customer and possess competence which is non-substitutable over time. Hence, Tesco has evolved from merely food supply store (Tesco Express and Tesco Metro) to a wide range of food and non-food provider (Tesco Superstore, Tesco Extra and Tesco Homeplus). In addition to a variety of store formats, Tesco also provides a broad appeal by continually innovating and investing in new lines to increase options for customers. â€Å"From Value to Finest and lifestyle ranges like Organic, Free From, Healthy Living and Wholefoods, our various own brands enable customers to buy products to compliment their lifestyle. Our nutritional signpost labeling aims to provide customers with the key information they need to help them choose a balanced diet. † (Tesco 2009, The recent recession has shown a new challenge to Tesco because although customers tend to shop around more for the best prices when times are hard but it doesnt mean they want to compromise on quality of the shopping trip or on choice. â€Å"That is why last year we made the biggest change to our range in a decade, launching around 500 new products as part of our Discount Brands at Tesco initiative. (Tesco 2009) This new range of products enables customer to match their budget without compromising on quality or choice. This act managed to retain the customer to continue to stay on Tesco. Core Competencies need to be flexible and evolve overtime with adaptation to the environment. As a business evolves and adapts to new circumstances and opportunities, so its core competencies which underpin the success will have to adapt and change . With the capabilities of which are valuable to customers, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable, Tesco manages to sustain as British largest retailer over its competitors. Conclusion Today, companies operate in a dynamic global environment whether they are domestic or international players. In order to stay competitive, companies need to innovate. ‘Innovation requires pressure, necessity and even adversity. The fear of loss often proves more powerful than the hope of gain’. (Porter, 1999,p. 164). In these changing times, Tesco has been able to maintain their position as Britain’s number one retailer through innovative approaches in all aspects of their business, from customers to employees to supply chain management. The dynamic macro environment that Tesco UK operates in provides both opportunities and threats. The present economic situation in UK is an important indicator that would and is affecting Tesco’s operations. Though the country has been experiencing high unemployment rates presently, recent statistics show an improvement in sales figures which is an indication for future growth. Changes in consumer behavior patterns and socio cultural changes such as increased migration will no doubt play an important role in creating strategies to have a sustainable competitive advantage for the company. Through Porters 5 Forces Model, we have gained a better understanding of Tesco’s competition. The biggest threat is the existing rivalry in the UK between the supermarket giants such as Asda, Sainsbury, Safeway, Marks and Spencer ad Tesco. Price competition is still the main form of competition existing within these giants. However, Tesco has understood the importance of their stakeholders, mainly consumers and employees and focused their strategic direction towards creating a loyal consumer and employee base with long term commitment. Constant changes to meet customer demands and high response to consumer feedback are important core competencies of the company. Value for money and being able to cater to all market segments have also been vital in maintain their competitive advantage. With the identification of these competencies and the environment analysis, Tesco now could align their future strategic direction to achieve long term sustainable growth as a responsible leader in the UK retail industry. References Johnson, G. , Scholes, K. , Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Kotelnikov, V. Core Competencies: Things You Can Do Better Than Your Competition. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from 1000 Ventures: http://www. 1000ventures. com/business_guide/crosscuttings/core_competencies. html Knowmore. org. (2008, May 21). Tesco PLC. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Knowmore. org: http://www. knowmore. org/wiki/index. php? title=Tesco_PLC Tesco 2009. Core UK. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Tesco PLC: http://www. tescoplc. com/plc/about_us/strategy/coreuk/ tutor2u. Strategy Core Competencies. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from Tutor2u: http://tutor2u. net/business/strategy/core_competencies. htm The Press Association, Tesco sees market share growth, 10 November 2009. Retreived on 17 November from http://www. google. com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hBp-Szv5JTubP4tXxSQSQdL3bsMw Office for National Statistics, UK Statistics Authority 2009 retrieved on 19 November 2009 from http://www. statistics. gov. uk/instantfigures. asp Just-Food. com, Sound Bites – The UK Grocery ‘code of practice’ . Russel Michelle, 3 March 2009 retreived from ttp://www. just-food. com/article. aspx? id=105666 The Guardian, UK 21 April 2009. Wearden G. Tesco unveils record profits of ? 3bn. Retrieved on 19 November 2009 from http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2009/apr/21/tesco-record-profits-supermarket Eurofound 2009, Tesco, UK: Make work pay – make work attractive retrieved on 19 November 2009 from http://www. eurofound. europa. eu/areas/qualityofwork/betterjobs/case s/uk04tesco. htm BBC News Online, Stamp Gavin 25 April 2006 Foreign growth jey to Tesco goals retrieved on 19 November 2009 from http://news. bc. co. uk/2/mobile/business/4781458. stm Tesco corporate responsibility report 2009 retreived on 17 November 2009 from http://www. investis. com/plc/cr09/crr09. pdf Porter, Michael. E. (1999) On Competition. Harvard Business Press Williams, C. (2000). Management, Cincinnati Ohio, South-Western College Publishing Advameg Inc. . (2008, n. d. n. d. ). Abstract. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Internet FAQ Archives: Online Education: http://www. faqs. org/abstracts/Business-international/No-1-retailer-in-Britain-uses-Clubcard-to-thwart-Wal-Mart. html

Sunday, March 8, 2020

10 Interesting Facts About Mercury (Element)

10 Interesting Facts About Mercury (Element) Mercury is a shiny, silvery liquid metal, sometimes called quicksilver. It is a transition metal with atomic number 80 on the periodic table, atomic weight of 200.59, and  the element symbol Hg.  Here are some fast facts plus 10 interesting element facts about mercury. You can find even more detailed information on the mercury facts page. Fast Facts: The Element Mercury Element Name: MercuryElement Symbol: HgAtomic Number: 80Atomic Weight: 200.592Classification: Transition Metal or Post-Transition MetalState of Matter: LiquidName Origin: The symbol Hg comes from the name hydrargyrum, which means water-silver. The name mercury comes from the Roman god Mercury, known for his swiftness.Discovered By: Known before 2000 BCE in China and India Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure.  The only other liquid element under standard conditions is bromine (a halogen), although  the metals rubidium, cesium, and gallium melt just warmer than room temperature.  Mercury has a very high surface tension, so it forms rounded  beads of liquid.Although mercury and all of its compounds are  known to be highly toxic, it was considered therapeutic throughout much of history.The modern element symbol for mercury is Hg, which is the symbol for another name for mercury: hydrargyrum. Hydrargyrum comes from Greek words for water-silver (hydr- means water, argyros means silver).Mercury is a very rare element in the Earths crust. It accounts for only about only 0.08 parts per million (ppm).  It is mainly found in the mineral cinnabar, which is mercuric sulfide. Mercuric sulfide is the source  of the red pigment called vermilion.Mercury generally is not allowed on aircraft because it combines s o readily with aluminum, a metal that is common on aircraft. When mercury forms an amalgam with aluminum, the oxide layer that protects aluminum from oxidizing is disrupted. This causes aluminum to corrode, in much the same way as iron rusts. Mercury does not react with most acids.Mercury is a relatively poor conductor of heat. Most metals are excellent thermal conductors.  It is a mild electrical conductor. The freezing point  (-38.8 degrees Celsius) and boiling point (356 degrees Celsius) of mercury are closer together than for any other metals.Although mercury usually exhibits a 1 or 2 oxidation state, sometimes it has a 4 oxidation state.  The electron configuration causes mercury to behave somewhat like a noble gas. Like noble gases, mercury forms relatively weak chemical bonds with other elements. It forms amalgams with all the other metals, except for iron. This makes iron a good choice to make containers to hold and transport mercury.The element Mercury is named for the Roman god Mercury. Mercury is the only element to retain its alchemical name as its modern common name.  The element was known to ancient civilizations, dating back to at least 2000 BCE Vials of pure mercury have been found in Egyptian tomb s from the 1500s BCE. Mercury is used in fluorescent lamps, thermometers, float valves, dental amalgams, in medicine, for the production of other chemicals, and to make liquid mirrors. Mercury(II) fulminate is an explosive used as a primer in firearms. The disinfectant mercury compound thimerosal is an organomercury compound found in vaccines, tattoo inks, contact lens solutions, and cosmetics.   Sources Lide, D.R., editor. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 86th edition, CRC Press, 2005, pp.  4.125–4.126.Meija, J., et al. Atomic Weights of the Elements 2013 (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, vol. 88, no. 3, 2016, pp. 265–91.Weast, R.C., editor.  Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 64th edition, CRC Press, 1984, p.  E110.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Terrorism - Essay Example ychological concept of chosen trauma is the basis of a section of the society taking retaliatory action against the rest of the society or the part of the society that the group feels has historically oppressed them, without feeling guilty or even considering the adverse effect of their retaliatory actions (Volkan, 2004). This concept is related to terrorism in the sense that; terrorism consists of a group of people in the society who are seeking to attack the rest of the society or at least target the section of the society as a way of avenging for a perceived historical injustice or oppression against them (Volkan, 2004). In this respect, the terrorists engage in attacking and causing harm to the rest of the society without considering that they themselves could be doing something wrong, since chosen trauma makes them feel justified to react to a perceived historical injustice that they feel is unresolved (Volkan, 2004). The sociological aspect of terrorists’ fear of victory refers to the characteristic of terrorism that is different from the rest of violence that are perpetrated in the society. The aspect of terrorists’ fear of victory means that the aim of terrorism is not to perpetrate either terror or violence on their own sake, but with a more unpronounced objective of either instilling fear on the target victims, or to achieve victory through coercing the target victim to fulfill a premeditated intention of the terrorists (Fine, 2008). Terrorism is a form of violence that does not in itself seek to attain personal gains as does with most victims, but to achieve the objectives of a certain section of the society that wants either to make a political statement or instill fear of being a potentially harmful section of the society that is capable of forcing the society to take certain decisions that the society may not be voluntarily open to (Gregg, 2014). Therefore, when terrorists plan an act of terror towards any section of the society, the intention

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Charity and charitable purposes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Charity and charitable purposes - Essay Example In Incorporated Council of Law reporting for the State of Queensland v Federal Commissioner of Taxation , the judge had the following observation with what amounts to a charity: â€Å"The benefit should be charitable in the Elizabeth sense†. Understanding from the context of the judge, we arrive at the conclusion that any activity which amounts to the benefit of the public, or a section of the public amounts to a charitable purpose. A trust which carries out the duties of helping the needy and the poor sections of the society amounts to charity.This definition of charity encompasses all the above definitions mentioned: "The relief of aided, impotent and poor people, the maintenance of sick and maimed soldiers and mariners, schools of learning, free schools and scholars in universities, the repair of bridges, ports, havens, causeways, churches, sea-banks and highways, the education and preferment of orphans, the relief, stock or maintenance for houses of correction, the marriag e of poor maids, the support, aid and help of young tradesmen, handicraftsmen and persons decayed, the relief or redemption of prisoners or captives,   the aid or ease of any poor inhabitants concerning payment of fifteens, setting out of soldiers and other taxes†Understanding the Ambit of Charitable TrustA charitable trust is a trust which provides charity services to a particular section of the society, and such services should be for charitable purposes only. Relief from poverty:The main question that was sought to ask was how poverty.... This definition of charity encompasses all the above definitions mentioned: "The relief of aided, impotent and poor people, the maintenance of sick and maimed soldiers and mariners, schools of learning, free schools and scholars in universities, the repair of bridges, ports, havens, causeways, churches, sea-banks and highways, the education and preferment of orphans, the relief, stock or maintenance for houses of correction, the marriage of poor maids, the support, aid and help of young tradesmen, handicraftsmen and persons decayed, the relief or redemption of prisoners or captives, the aid or ease of any poor inhabitants concerning payment of fifteens, setting out of soldiers and other taxes†4 Understanding the Ambit of Charitable Trust A charitable trust is a trust which provides charity services to a particular section of the society, and such services should be for charitable purposes only.5 Relief from poverty: The main question that was sought to ask was how poverty could be defined, and within the definition, which kind of people needed to be brought in to given relief to. Poverty is a very relative concept and thus includes people who are not able to provide a lifestyle for themselves that include the basic necessities like shelter, food and clothing. As found in a number of cases, only showing kindness or generosity to someone is not enough to come under a charitable trust or purpose because a factor of poverty must be defined so that it also serves the purpose of having benefit to the public in a way that it is useful to a certain community and helps to fight the problems that those people face with regard to poverty. In the case of Oppenhiem, we understand that

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Effective Teaching Strategies for Deaf Students

Effective Teaching Strategies for Deaf Students What protocol would you put in place to ensure that pupils hearing aids and other amplification equipment are working optimally and used appropriately and that other aspects of your role in relation to audiology are met? Give the rationale for the procedures that you have specified. How would you evaluate the effectiveness of procedures that you have established? Rationale From the outset it is essential to determine what a ‘protocol is? As stated in the online Ask Oxford Dictionary protocol has many definitions, the one I believe provides a clear definition in this instance is â€Å"The accepted code of behaviour in a particular situation†. (Ask Oxford, Nov 2009) An educational establishment where children are using hearing aids and other amplification equipment would benefit from a protocol being in place. This would ensure that children using amplification equipment are accessing the curriculum at an optimal level. Teachers of the Deaf have a duty to ensure that each childs equipment is working and allowing them to learn and thrive within their educational environment by carrying out the protocol that is in place. It is therefore the duty of the teachers of the Deaf to carry out checks on the equipment. A protocol is therefore required to ensure that all Teachers of the Deaf are carrying out the same procedures and there is consistency through out the school. â€Å"Teachers should aim to give every pupil the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve as high a standard as possible.† (NCDS, 2005, p.5) By carrying out the checks, Teachers of the Deaf establish good practice and in turn aim to allow pupils to succeed. The children benefit when the protocol, which the school employs, is shared with parents and carers. Listening and learning take place in both the home and school environment. This would extend the â€Å"accepted code of behaviour† to the home life optimising the childs access to everyday learning experiences. With the need for a protocol established it is also necessary for that protocol to become a routine as to how, when and why Teachers of the Deaf should apply the specialised knowledge they have within their specific educational establishment. â€Å"Teachers of the deaf are specialist teachers, whose firm base in audiological knowledge is a fundamental part of their specialism† (Malthy and Knight, 2000, p.vii) Putting into practice a clear set of guidelines allows for each individual, working with children using these devices, to know who is responsible for each area and who to report faults to. This is the case, especially when multi-agency teams are involved in an individuals learning. To answer the question outlined I intend to: Describe the setting to which the protocol applies to Discuss the aims of the protocol and whom it applies to Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the protocol in relation to practice and research Protocol Setting The setting to which this protocol applies to is unique, in Scotland, in the sense that it is a mainstream school where hearing-impaired children are fully integrated into mainstream classes. Children have access to a full curriculum, which enhances their educational experience. (See Appendix 1 for a full policy statement) Teachers of the Deaf are also used in a unique way they are class committed in a mainstream environment with no more than four hearing impaired children in their class. It is important now to emphasise that the teachers have a responsibility and a duty of care to hearing and hearing impaired pupils in class. It is recognised in Watson. L and Parsons.J (1998) that the majority of Teachers of the Deaf are working in mainstream schools either as part of a unit or in peripatetic work but in this setting children are fully integrated into mainstream classes. This setting provides a real life setting for the children as hearing and hearing-impaired peers work together as they would in everyday life. This allows an inclusive ethos to develop educating respectful and open-minded individuals. It allows for the development of a safe and secure environment where all children feel valued and equal. Aims The aims of the protocol are clearly set out in the Aims of the Audiology Programme (Appendix 1). They are in bold and easily identified on the page. This is of great benefit to Teachers of the Deaf and other individuals that encounter the document. The mix of visual diagrams and the clear print allows this section to be user friendly and less intimidating to the user. The initial statement presents a positive and motivating aim for everyone involved. I will look at each aim individually and discuss how effectively the protocol (Appendix 2) achieves those aims. All pupils with a hearing impairment will be assessed regularly through a range of tests. Included in the protocol are the schools own testing strategies, which are of great importance as they make the protocol more meaning full to the individual establishment as these tests will differ depending on establishment. In Appendix 2, the protocol outlines the different checks that would take place to ensure that pupils hearing is assessed regularly. The G.A.P assessments are included in each child record and include a variety of linguistic and speech tests that are outlined in Appendix 2 and are carried out by the in house Speech Therapists. The Ling Speech Sound Test could be included in this however; it is outlined in the actual protocol. It will be used to gather information on how well a pupil is able to identify frequency elements in sounds. Ideally, this should be carried out before teaching and listening takes place to ensure that the amplification equipment is working optimally. If the test highlights any frequency issues, the stetoclip can be used to investigate further. In the event of everything, appearing to be working properly the issue can be raised with the educational audiologist on their visit to the school. They can then investigate and adjust amplification equipment to ensure opt imal teaching and learning conditions are maintained. Tympanometry tests are carried out and a record kept in each pupils file. This provides information on the middle ear. It looks like an audiogram, which can be difficult to interpret. If the information from this was translated into a report that was more understandable Teachers of the Deaf could use this information and translate it positively into their teaching environment so that it makes learning more accessible to the child and in turn meets the needs of the pupil. Other tests included in the protocol are Pure Tone Audiograms aided and unaided. These tests are usually used to determine the degree of deafness. The tests are carried out using different frequencies and intensities. The tests can be conducted through air conduction, using headphones or bone conduction using a bone conduction headband. Air conduction: this is where the individual wears headphones, the tester then selects pure tones from different frequencies and intensities. This test relies on the person being tested to be honest. Once the test is completed the range of deafness is apparent however the cause is not. Bone conduction: this is conducted in a similar way to air conduction. Maltby and Knight (2000) explain that it determines the nature of deafness. The signals are passed through the skull bone and travels to the cochlea. â€Å"The difference between the air conduction result and the bone conduction result is known as the air-bone gap and this indicates the extent of any conductive hearing loss.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.34) The results produced are displayed on an audiogram. It is important to emphasise that these tests are not carried out by Teachers of the Deaf but by audiologists. However, it is important that Teachers of the Deaf are aware of them and how results can be used to improve a pupils residual hearing. This brings me to the point I made earlier on how the audiogram can be difficult to interpret. It would be of great advantage to teachers, parents, and other professionals if the information were transposed into a report, which can be used to benefit the child. The use of pupils residual hearing will be maximised Many factors can contribute to ensuring that a childs residual hearing is maximised. In Appendix 2 it outlines the documentation and assessments, each individual will undertake during their time in school. This part of the protocol needs to be looked at as Record of Needs is being replaced with Additional Support Plans and Co-ordinated Support Plans. This highlights the need for the protocol being a working document and not something that is just produced to meet audiology requirements. In completing these assessment such as Pure Tone Audiograms aided and unaided and Tympanometry Records all agencies involved will be able to contribute to the action that should be taken within the educational environment to maximise the pupils residual hearing. In addition to this it is of great importance to consider the acoustic setting as this contributes to how well residual hearing is maximised. This leads on to the next aim. The acoustical settings for learning will be monitored and acted upon where necessary. In every classroom, there is background noise and this contributes to how effective a hearing aid can be. â€Å"Hearing aids work well when there is little or no background noise† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.61) However, this is unrealistic to attain within an educational environment. Children are often working in groups and teaching can take place in whole class settings where they can be further away than what would be desired for optimal hearing. The hearing aid volume can be increased however this will amplify the background noise that is present also. A quiet learning environment is one, which would provide optimal learning conditions however in a mainstream school this is unlikely. The increased class effects noise. Areas, which contribute to background noise within a mainstream class are, movement, chairs being pushed and pulled, bags being accessed and the rustling this produces, increased amounts of talking, group activities going on independently when other direct teaching is taking place. All of these can lead to a poor acoustic setting. It would therefore be beneficial for the protocol to include measures for the Teachers of the Deaf to assess this before teaching in this environ ment. They could use a sound level meter, which encourages the teacher to put his or herself in the position of the deaf child and try to remove any pieces of furniture, which are not essential which sounds can reflect off. The teachers are also able to position themselves around the class identifying where the best place for a deaf child to sit within the class is. This allows for greater access to teaching and learning and ultimately reducing some of the background noise. As the background noise does not only come from the people inside the class, it is important for the teacher to do this so that outside noises are reduced. Traffic, toilets, general outside activity, weather can all be heard in the classroom. (Maltby and Knight 2000) It would therefore be of great value for the protocol to offer ways of minimising background noises within the classroom setting however it doesnt provide ways of making the classroom acoustically sympathetic. Reducing background and reverberation could be set out in guidelines and could provide suggestions. â€Å"An acoustically good environment is crucial for effective classroom listening †¦ schools provide an acoustically hostile environment that particularly disadvantages hearing aid wearers.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.54) Therefore, guidelines within the protocol should encourage the use of carpets, curtains blinds, acoustic ceiling tiles and soft materials, which can in turn absorb and reduce the amount of background noise. (BATOD, 2001) This will help promote the fruitful learning environment outlined in Appendix 1. As classrooms are, in general, noisy places to be it would also be of great value that the protocol takes into account classroom management strategies, laying out rules for talking and listening. Establishing a whole school approach would provide consistency for not only the children but also the Teachers of the Deaf who undoubtedly have varied teaching styles and approaches. â€Å"†¦It is the teachers responsibility to maintain discipline and cooperation and thus reduce noise levels. Ensuring only one person talks at a time. (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.58) Fm and Sound Field systems help reduce the amount of background noise as this amplifies one source of sound benefiting the hearing aid or cochlear implant user. This will allow for enhanced teaching and learning taking place and allow the learner to become more focused and interactive with the lesson in hand. It is therefore of great importance that they are utilised effectively. Sound Field systems not only benefit hearing-impaired children in the class but those of hearing children as well. This is due to the teachers voice being amplified and making it clear for all present in the room. Brett and McCraken (1998) have referred that some authorities are not using the system successfully and in turn not providing children with the heightened sensory provision. The system not only increases the volume of the person using it but also helps eliminate noises in the classroom, which can be controlled such as movement, chairs moving, quiet discussions. This has outlined the importance of monitoring the acoustic setting for the children it has also highlighted areas in which the protocol could be improved to optimise the service provided to the children. Including these areas would make Teachers of the Deaf and Teachers of the Deaf in training more aware of areas which can be detrimental to the learning environment and moreover have a negative impact on the childs learning. The amplification needs of each pupil will be assessed and addressed. Each child is an individual and in turn, each child has individual needs. So it is of the utmost importance that Teachers of the Deaf regularly assess the equipment each child uses. This will ensure that faults are highlighted quickly and fixed without any real issues arising for the child and their learning. Brett and McCracken (1998) outline the particular needs of a Hearing Aid wearer and provide outline for assessing the equipment. These include making sure that hearing aids are well fitted and that the individual is able to hear in a range of environments. These are of great importance in a school as children are moving from area to area rather than being stationary in the one environment. This is where the acoustic setting assessments are monitored and acted on if necessary. Tests are carried out, which were discussed in the first aim, to gather information. This information can then be used to make decisions regarding amplification equipment of each individual making sure that Teachers of the Deaf are meeting the needs of each child. The amplification equipment and technology will be working to optimum effect and will be used effectively. It is essential that this aim is addressed in the protocol as teachers and parents should be checking the childs amplification equipment on a daily basis. This will allow problems to be detected quickly and rectified. In turn, this will maximise the potential learning that, the child has access to and allow the child to engage fully in their learning and the social interactions, which can take place within the classroom. This is concurred by Maltby and Knight; they believe that auditory equipment if working properly will enhance the learners experiences and the overall progress which a child can make. This setting is one, which uses oral communication, and not signing so any problems with amplification equipment is extremely detrimental to the childs development. â€Å" †¦ without effective exposure to the sounds of the environment and particularly of speech the opportunity to develop spoken language will be diminished.† (Maltby and Knight, 2000, p.38) The mainstream protocol for this setting outlines how to check all different kinds of amplification equipment. However it may need updated as, no child now wears the Sprint (the body worn processor) as this just adds to the bulk of the protocol and the amount of paper which you have to go through especially if you are new to the school. In addition to this upon evaluating the protocol, I also feel that there should be a checklist record for each child, keeping track of any issues with equipment. This could be a simple tick list to ensure that time constraints do not impose an issue for the teachers. This would provide useful information for the educational audiologists when they visit asking if there have been any problems. This is of greater use in the lower end of the school where the children are less able to vocalise any issues, which they may be having. As it is just now, there is no such method of recording and Teachers of the Deaf are making notes on an informal basis with no consistency being formed throughout the establishment. Parents should be considered also; they could be consulted on what would be easily managed for them at home, so that the protocol can be continued there, as it is of great importance that the equipment is at an optimal level there also. Appendix 2 outlines the checks, which should be carried out on a daily basis. Daily checks begin with a visual check. By looking closely at the casing of a hearing aid or cochlear implant cracks can be identified. Moulds and tubing can be looked at and the build up of wax or condensation can be apparent. It has been argued that it is not the role of the Teacher of the Deaf to clear wax obstructions from tubing and ear moulds (NCDS, 2005) in the case of children there might not be anyone else. In meeting the overall aim of the protocol â€Å" †¦ to provide a fruitful learning environment†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it is essential that we do what we can to meet each childs individual needs. In the setting which this protocol applies, as stated before it is an oral one, it is important that the older children become responsible for checking their equipment and that the Teachers of the deaf promote each individuals independence and provide support for these checks only when needed. In this setting, other equipment is used also Radio aids and Sound Field systems are in place to provide further amplification. These have been included in the protocol along with whose responsibility it is to check these and how often the checks should be carried out. â€Å"Deaf pupils who are being educated orally without any sign support will be highly dependent on amplification, both in the form of personal hearing aids and other equipment, for example radio aids.† (Gregory, Knight, McCracken, Powers and Watson, 1998, p.138) This quote highlights the greater importance placed on amplification equipment in a mainstream school and the necessity for it to work optimally. This equipment is what the children solely rely on to communicate effectively with. Radio aids should be checked monthly using a test box. This can highlight any problems with equipment and it will ensure that the hearing aid is producing sound at a high intensity this should also be carried out across a number of frequencies. It is also important that hearing aids and processors also be checked monthly to ensure that they are in line with the manufacturers specifications. Teachers of the Deaf are not responsible for these tests and are not fully trained in the technologies used to carry out these tests however they should be aware that they take place and of their importance in ensuring that amplification equipment works at its optimal level. In this setting and as stated in the protocol (Appendix 2) the Depute Head is responsible for ensu ring these tests are completed. I am of the opinion it would be beneficial for the protocol to outline what a Teacher of the Deaf should do when the equipment is not working properly. For example if shoes or links are faulty are there temporary replacements, or are there contacts in place with manufacturers to highlight faults. It would not be the responsibility for the Teacher of the Deaf to contact manufacturers directly but that of the Depute Head however there needs to be a record or pro-forma included in the protocol for passing this information on the Depute Head to guarantee that any problems are rectified quickly. Evaluation The technology surrounding audiology and amplification equipment is evolving so the first point is that the protocol should be regularly evaluated and adapted to ensure that it fits the requirements of the equipment being used. As I stated previously there are steps and procedures included in the document that no longer apply to children in the school, I am not saying this should be discarded completely however it can be removed from the working document until required, if ever required again. The steps are clear and it is identify who is responsible for each job; however some equipment is checked annually. I feel that as there is a heavy daily reliance on these pieces of equipment and there is a strong argument that these checks should be more frequent. This would allow for problems and issues to be identified and rectified more quickly. Especially when these equipments help achieve the aims outlined in the protocol (Appendix 1) In addition to more frequent checks it would beneficial to have a check list and record sheet this would benefit, not only Teachers of the Deaf but parents, audiologists and other professionals that work with the children. It would allow for quick reference for any issues children are having with their hearing aids or cochlear implants and would highlight any recurring problems. This information would be recorded in a consistent format providing continuity throughout the school. It would also be provided to parents to allow them to keep checks on their childs equipment. With everyone using the same format, the child can be encouraged to become more responsible for maintaining and checking their own equipment. Not only does audiology evolve but also education and the way we approach teaching and education is continually evolving so the protocol should be updated with these changes. That is in Appendix 1 the policy statement outlines that the establishment follows the 5-14 guidelines. This is still the case however the Curriculum for Excellence is becoming the more dominant tool in the planning and implementing of lessons and therefore should now be included also. The greatest indication of how successful the protocol has been is whether it is still meeting the needs of the children it poses to serve. It would therefore be good sense to establish a working party within the establishment to evaluate how well it is doing this, and adapt it to be more successful or it could be added for discussion to the agenda of the Hearing Impairment meetings, which are held regularly. This would incorporate views of everyone working with the document and not just a selected few on the working party. Conclusion The protocol, which appears in Appendix 2, is one, which is already in place, and I have broken it down and looked at the aims that it says it achieves. As a Teacher of the Deaf, this protocol is established and has to be adhered to. It is an important agreement, which has to be followed by all Teachers of the Deaf, to ensure that the needs of each child within a class are being met. â€Å"One way to ensure the teacher of the deaf and other professionals working with deaf children are meeting their obligations is to devise an audiology protocol.† (Course Team University of Birmingham, 2009, Unit 4 p.80) I feel that this protocol has plus points and negative ones. It achieves all of the aims outlined however it has not been updated in some time. With new equipment, needing to be included i.e. our new FM system and older amplification equipment, which is not currently in use needing to be removed. It would also benefit from additions, some parts being condensed into a daily check sheet, which would be more time efficient as it operates within a mainstream school. This would allow for even younger children becoming more familiar with the checks they should carry out. Moreover, I feel there should also be a place for a parental part of the protocol as they are a vital part of their childs life. Even though it is heavy on wordage, it does include pictures of the equipment in question allowing for quick finding of the part of the protocol, which relates to children in your class. The protocol does establish the roles of individuals and the duties and responsibilities that they have. It also states timelines for different checks whether they are daily, weekly or annually. It outlines what should be present in each class for carrying out checks, e.g. First Aid Kit. To conclude I do feel that this protocol does suffice but would benefit from regular updates as needs change and children within educational establishments continually move on. As a teacher and particularly for Teachers of the Deaf it is important to meet the needs of every child. As a profession we endeavour to do this and having a protocol allows for consistency and continuity throughout the stages. We have ambition for all our young people and we want them to have ambition for themselves and to be confident individuals, effective contributors, successful learners and responsible citizens. All Scotlands children and young people need to be nurtured, safe, active, healthy, engaged in learning, achieving, included, respected and responsible if we are to achieve our ambition for them.† (December 2009, Scottish Government) In managing the protocol more successfully, we will achieve the above aim as set by our Government and all the aims outlined within the document of the establishment. In doing this the needs of all children that are taught, within the setting, are met.