The Benefits of Nursing Homes Essay - 1192 Words

In the early twentieth century, what we now call nursing homes did not exist. If elderly citizens had nowhere else to go, they were sent to live in rundown poor farms. On August 14, 1935 President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, which provided matching grants to each state for Old Age Assistance (OAA). This in turn set in motion the opening of private homes that allowed people to live in a care facility and collect the OAA payments as well. It was not until the 1950’s when nursing homes started developing into the facilities most of us are familiar with today. It was then that nursing homes were required to follow state set standards for licensing and some even received Federal grants if they possessed a hospital like†¦show more content†¦During her stay, we witnessed firsthand all of the fun activities that take place in the home. In the United States, there are 17,000 elderly care facilities in which 1.6 million people reside in (PBS, 2012). Even though there are one bed private bedrooms available in most homes, they tend to be a bit on the expensive side and so most have to settle for staying in public rooms of up to four beds. This can give people the impression that nursing homes are overcrowded and that it can result in a greater risk of neglect and lack of privacy for their loved ones. As a person grows older, there is a higher possibility of becoming ill. At an old age where it’s hard to take care of yourself, it is very important to be around people who can do the job for you. Nursing homes are filled with highly trained doctors and nurses that can give seniors the medical treatments that are needed. Almost all nursing homes, including the Four Seasons, provide health services like physical therapy and round the clock nurse to their residents. This ensures that if there is any medical attention needed at any time of day, it will be administered right away with no need to wait for ambulances or in emergency rooms to be attended. With crowded facilities, as stated above, the risks of medical errors are high. According to Marshall B. Kapp, â€Å"a substantial amount of drugs are ordered and dispensed daily in this [nursing home] setting† (2003). Most would agree thatShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Being A Nursing Home1466 Words   |  6 Pagesgrandmother is in a nursing home also my grandfather was in the same nursing, but a different company owned it when my grandpa was there. I was three years old when my grandpa was there and now grandmas there twenty seven years later. Nursing homes have changed a lot in twenty seven years. There are a lot of restrictions; Medicare and Medicare are very involved in the treatment of the residents. Social services involve the family in the treatment and well-being of each resident. Nursing facilities haveRead MoreNon Profit : The Obvious Choice1724 Words   |  7 Pagesnegative stigma towards nursing homes, I’m sure you are aware that there are problems that need to be solved within the whole industry. One of the main problems that arises is abuse and neglect in many nursing homes which I am sure you are aware of. So many smaller problems that happen in nursing homes effect residents negatively and on a bigger scale can result in abuse or neglect among the residents. This issue became significantly aware to me when I began to work in a nursing home last year, and I experienceRead MoreA Brief Note On Business Management For A Nursing Home1458 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of a Career in Business Management INTRODUCTION Walking into a nursing home one can’t help notice the overwhelming smell and the people in the wheelchairs and other residents who walk down the hall with assistance. Although you may not want to go one step further past the entrance, if one can get past the smell, one will see the many smiles on these people’s faces. You will see a helping hand, and hear a joy in their voice. These people are nurses and CNA’s, and last but not leastRead MoreThe Benefits Of Animal Assisted Therapy Within The Geriatric Community1033 Words   |  5 PagesThe Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy within the Geriatric Community Although the psychological benefits of being around companion animals seem obvious to those of us who share their company daily, many studies have been done to prove the physical benefits of sharing the company of animals as well. Numerous studies have proven that interaction with animals can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and relieve depression and loneliness. The therapeutic benefits of pets may be even greaterRead MoreQuality Based Medicaid Payment During Health Policy851 Words   |  4 PagesQuality-Based Medicaid Payment in Health Policy LeadingAge Texas is working with policy makers to pass the Nursing Home Quality Rate Enhancement health policy. Some of the issues addressed in the meeting regarding quality care will be addressed in this paper. How the NHQRE policy will impact the advanced nursing practice and the delivery of health care. NHQRE is a needed health policy that will increase our quality care. During the LeadingAge Texas 2017 Legislative meeting, which took place inRead MorePersuasive Paper-Elder Abuse1098 Words   |  5 Pagescommonly thinks how the end of their lives will be handled, and how they will be taken care of in the event that one cannot provide care. In most cases, this means placement into a nursing or elderly care facility, but with these come the deadly possibility of elder abuse. Statistics about elder abuse show: â€Å"30% of nursing homes in the US- 5,283 facilities- were cited for almost 9,000 instances of abuse over a two year period† (Ruppe) Most people do not even understand what elder abuse means. The sevenRead MoreWhy Nursing Is A Great Career Choice1608 Words   |  7 PagesWhy nursing is a great career choice As a college student awaiting to graduate and start my career, the nursing field I find is one of the best career choices to choose from. Nursing is known to be a main consideration to young people today when entering the medical field. Nursing has a wide variety of options and different positions for anyone. Nursing is sometimes looked at as an unimportant job, or just a person who helps the doctors above them. In fact nursing has an abundance of definitionsRead MoreEssay On Child Insurance1159 Words   |  5 Pagesis included in their benefit basket. The idea of primary prevention and health promotion with health education is also a covered benefit. In kindergartens, schools and vocational schools educational teaching on healthy eating and exercise increased to 30,000 institutions in 2010, again a program supported by the SHI fund. Care of screening, transmitted diseases and immunization had previously been a part of the public health program, however is now included in the SHI benefit package. 90% of pediatriciansRead MoreThe Difficult Time of Sending a Loved One to a Nursing Home916 Words   |  4 PagesPlacing a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision to make. There are many advantages and disadvantages to take into consideration before producing the final decision. However, when elderly become too frail to manage at home or when their care giver cannot take care of them any longer, many want more assistance than what they receive. This is one of the reasons why an elderly is taken to a long term care institution. Nursing homes are facilities for elderly people who need care and assistanceRead MoreA Rough Past : The History Of Nursing Homes Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesA Rough Past: The History of Nursing Homes One thing every living organism has in common on this planet-- age. No one wants to age or face the fact that aging is inevitable. However, since it’s impossible to beat the never ending time clock that is life; everyone wants to be as comfortable as possible when age finally does catch up with them. When the majority of people think of comfortability in old age, they think of living in their own homes and being surrounded by their loved ones. Not many

Affluenza An American Epidemic Essay examples - 852 Words

Affluenza is an epidemic which effects millions of people in the United States. â€Å"Until this century [20th], to consume was considered a bad thing† says Jeremy Rifkin an expert on affluenza ( Gross ). The victims of affluenza are consumers who work long hours at a job they hate so they can buy things which they don’t need ( Fight Club ). Like AIDS, affluenza has spread quickly throughout the United States showing no prejudice of race, sex or color. However, unlike AIDS, affluenza is a compulsive addiction to shopping, which can be cured by spending less time consuming and more time enjoying life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As the majority of parents work longer hours then other parents did in the past to†¦show more content†¦The average employer in the United States now makes about 326 times more then the average employee. ( â€Å"The Affluenza’ Epidemic† ). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Working a repetitive job, credit debit and unhappiness are some of the other social problems many teenagers will unknowingly have deal with as they enter the workforce. As these teenagers grow into adults and have children of their own, they too will raise their children with the help of television as their parents did. They will be led to believe that they are helping their family relationship by staying at work later and spend less time at home. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The effects of affluenza on our environment are also extremely horrifying. As a Cote Page 3 nation of consumers we neglect our environment, and believe that our natural resources are inexhaustible. Roughly fifty percent of youth in the United States would rather go shopping then enjoy a hike in the woods ( Willis ). According to Allan Gerald â€Å"Our annual generation of total waste...would fill a convoy of garbage trucks half way to the moon† ( â€Å"A Bad Case Of ‘Affluenza’† ). Endangered species and global warming does not concern people who are infected with affluenza. What concerns people who are infected with affluenza are celebrity magazines and cable television ( Fight Club ). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have found that volunteering to live aShow MoreRelatedAffluenza in American Society1739 Words   |  7 Pages This disorder is called Affluenza it is very catching and once polluted with the disease it is difficult to be overthrown. Affluenza is characterized as an unhealthful connection with money, blown up hopes and tiresome efforts to keep up with the Joneses. Affluenza creates anxiety, bankruptcy, and becomes the reason of several problems in associations. Even though, there are some people who have unlike definitions for Affluenza. Many people find Affluenza to be a rich man s mentalRead MoreThe Epidemic of Affluenza is Sweeping Through America Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesAn epidemic is sweeping all through America. This epidemic has affected just about every individual in America. Millions could be diagnosed with it yet they do not realize they have it. It is changing the everyday thoughts and actions of those with it. It damages all individuals who let it consume them. It is nearly impossible to cure. Medication is useless against it. There is not outright proven immunity to prevent one from receiving this nasty disease. It can cause symptoms such as stressRead More Affluenza: To Buy or Not To Buy Essay775 Words   |  4 Pages Affluenza: To Buy or Not To Buy There is an epidemic widespread throughout the country. A highly contagious disease of being out of control; overconsumption, and the symptoms normally include compulsive shopping, high debt, overwork, a sense of entitlement, obsession with externals and quot;having it all,quot; wastefulness, and stress. The disease is called affluenza, which is derived from the word â€Å"affluence,† meaning: abundant supply, wealth, and riches. Affluenza has been described as:Read MoreOverconsumption in America Essay1063 Words   |  5 Pagesmore the quality of life deteriorates. This made me think about how much Americans waste food and natural resources. For example, FOX had a show, where people tried to out eat each other. The glutton and wastefulness was appalling, and at the same time, entertaining to some. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Theres an epidemic sweeping the country. Its not your typical virus, but rather a /highly contagious disease of epidemic overconsumption, and the symptoms include compulsive shopping, high debtRead MoreAffluenz The All Consuming Epidemic By John De Graaf852 Words   |  4 PagesAffluenza is defined as the need to consume and pursuit a high status in society. In the book Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic by John de Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor, the authors explain affluenza, and how it causes overwork, personal stress, the erosion of family and community, high debt, and the growing dissatisfaction for current living. A large contributor to affluenza is advertisement, a tactic that encourages over consumption by purchasing items irrationally. The sports industryRead MoreAffluenza Essay3817 Words   |  16 PagesAffluenza is a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. It is a powerful virus that has infected the American society, threatening our wallets, our friendships, our families, our communitie s, and our environment. Since the United States has become the economic model for most of the world this virus is now flowing freely on every continent. The costs and consequences of this disease are massive even though theyRead MoreFight Club, the Reflection of Materialism2337 Words   |  10 PagesFight Club is directed by David Fincher, written for the screen by Jim Uhls, and based on a novel by Chuck Plahniuk. It was released to Americans recovering from the Columbine school shootings in the fall of 1999. Fight Club tells the story of a nameless, malcontent young corporate clone (Edward Norton) who hooks up with a magnetic, near-psychopathic loner and rebel (Brad Pitt) and descends with him into a quasi-fascist nightmare.1 Nortons character, Jack, narrates the movie, and his ironicRead MoreThe Concept Of Prison Privatization1910 Words   |  8 Pagesthan other members of society. Radzinowicz goes on to say that racism is behind the way in which the law is applied and sanctions are administered. He uses the â€Å"war on drugs† as an example of the racist application of the laws targeting African American communities. Is this truly targeting specific communities because of racial specifics or are they targeting neighborhoods because they are drug infested? With privatization the cost of doing business means operating with the bare minimums. PrivatizationRead MoreEssay on Recreation, Leisure and Play3846 Words   |  16 Pageswhat we own, but rather how we feel about ourselves and what happens to us in our everyday lives. Some people today suffer from affluenza, the bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. It is an epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. In layman’s terms, affluenza is experienced when people have the mentality that their possessions is what defines them as an individual. This is not to sayRead MoreThe Millennial Generation: A False Sense of Entitlement3228 Words   |  13 Pages after stealing beer from Wal-Mart, driving with three times the legal blood alcohol level, with six passengers, and then killing four people in a car crash. He pleaded guilty, claiming that his affluent raising which lacked limits led to his ‘affluenza’ impairing him to discern right and wrong. Many are infuriated that this teen is getting away with these inexcusable actions because of the resources his family has. The Couch’s were able to afford an excellent attorney that helped Ethan get let

Barclays Bank PLC Is A Multinational Company free essay sample

Amenities to attract highly skilled and creative persons at all important levels ? Tradition of closeness to key customers and target customers A business can differentiate itself by performing its existing value activities or reconfiguring in some unique ways. And the sustainability of that differentiation will depend on two things: a continuation of its high perceived value to buyers and a lack of imitation by competitors. There are many alternative strategic directions in which Barclaycard could implement in their current strategy of differentiation. These may include technology innovation or product/ service differentiation. Product/service differentiation Product differentiation occurs when, owing to differences in physical attributes, ancillary service, geographic location, information, and/or subjective image, one firms products are clearly preferred by at least some buyers over rival products at a given price (, 1990, ). For firms seeking to make their demand curve less elastic, successful differentiation provides an insulated position against competitors by enabling firms to sell a larger quantity at a given price or by allowing the firm to create brand loyalty in customers resulting in lower sensitivity to price. We will write a custom essay sample on Barclays Bank PLC Is A Multinational Company or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This uniqueness may build an entry barrier for competitors to overcome (, 1992; , 1980). However, being unique may require a trade-off with investment if achieving differentiation requires costly effort such as extensive research, product design, high quality materials, or intensive customer support. Thus, the firms employing the differentiation strategy cannot ignore costs and risk (, 1980). Horizontal product differentiation focuses on differences in attribute variety among competing brands. It occurs when one brand contains more of some attributes but less of some other attributes in comparison to another brand (). Consumers different tastes will exploit differing strong and weak points among brands given identical prices (, 1992). The shift towards consumerism is accelerating with significant implications in many of the markets in which we operate. Fundamentally, our view is that consumerism involves a shift in power from institutions towards consumers. The rapid transformation of the credit card industry – first with the severing of the traditional tie between bank accounts and credit cards and second, with the emergence of credit as a true commodity in the credit card industry illustrates this so well. Consumers in the past were grateful if they received credit it was seen as a right granted to a special few by a bank and hence banks held power over individuals. The value proposition was the availability of credit. Technology Innovation In the case of Barclaycard, it is could improve its operations and competitive advantage through real time design data driven tools. This tool would improve their credit limit strategies and increase their interest earning balances. A Fair, Isaac Model Builder for the decision trees may be used as this tool uses historical data to assist in identifying optimal account management strategies. Fair, Isaac Model Builder for Decision Trees is a PC Windows based application designed specifically to support data driven strategy design. It gives lenders the power to rapidly create new strategies in real time using multiple performance dimensions, to process large datasets rapidly so strategies at any point for greater understanding of the portfolio and transfers strategies to and from production application with ease, putting new strategies into production faster. This real time, highly interactive approach dramatically shortens the time between strategy creation and roll out. With Barclaycard objectives of the new strategies to increase interest bearing balances, increase turnover, control bad debt, and address attrition, Fair, Fair Isaac can be a big help for the organization. While the average number of cards in a person’s wallet has increased over the last five years, the value to an individual of having multiple cards will diminish in an environment where credit is a commodity.

Yeezus by Kanye West free essay sample

Yeezus There was no doubt in my mind if I was going to write a review on musical album, it would be Yeezus by Kanye West. This masterpiece album dropped June 18th 2013, it is Kanye’s 6th solo album and what I have noticed is every album keeps getting better and better. Yeezus was very different from the rest. Kanye uses primal screams, pixelated out bursts, but also smooth soul and anthmic chorus that my ears and mind enjoyed. Kanye West has many diehard fans that appreciate his music. However, he also has many haters as well that think he’s crazy and arrogant. People need to understand that Kanye West isn’t like any other rapper or artist. This album Yeezus is special because it is balance of his life and also his high-energy anger with confronting us with various stereotypes and issues. I would say Yeezus is his best album since his first album College Drop Out. We will write a custom essay sample on Yeezus by Kanye West or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Giving Yezzus an honest review, I have only five songs out of the nine that are my personal favorites. The first song â€Å"Bound 2†, which is a single is a song you must have on your I pod because its smooth and unique rhythm with all the sounds in the background while Ye’ (Kanye) is rapping about the love of his life Kim Kardashian. Arguably the best rap song of 2013, â€Å"New Slaves†, brings about issues of racial stereotypes. â€Å"New Slaves† was very controversial, but it was natural and real it made your head nod agreeing with Ye’s vicious delivery throughout the song. The last 3 songs that I highly recommend from Yeezus are â€Å"Black Skinhead†, â€Å"On Sight†, and â€Å"Blood on the Leaves†. Overall, Yeezus is one of my favorite rap/hip hop albums of 2013 and that being said I give it a 92 out of 100.

Anti Smoking Essays

Anti Smoking Essays Anti Smoking Essay Anti Smoking Essay On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola, the largest aerated beverage manufacturer of the world, launched a sweeter version of the soft drink named New Coke, withdrawing its traditional 99 years old formula. New Coke was launched with a lot of fanfare and was widely publicized through the television and newspapers. Coca-Colas decision to change Cokes formulation was one of the most significant developments in the soft drink industry during that time. Though the initial market response to New Coke was satisfactory, things soon went against Coca-Cola.Most people who liked the original Coke criticized Coca-Colas decision to change its formula. They had realized that the taste of New Coke was similar to that of Pepsi, CocaColas closest competitor, and was too poor when compared to the taste of the original Coke. Analysts felt that Coca-Cola had failed to understand the emotional attachment of consumers with Coke the brand. They felt that Coca-Cola had lost customer goodwill by- replacing a popular product by a new one that disappointed the consumers.As a result of consumer protests to New Coke and a significant decline in its sales, Coca-Cola was forced to revert back to its original formula ten weeks later by launching Coke Classic on July 11, 1985. Roger Enrico, the then CEO of Pepsi commented on the re-introduction of Old Coke in these words: I think, by the end of their Coca-Cola nightmare, they figured out who they really are. They cant change the taste of their flagship brand. They cant change its imagery. All they can do is defend the heritage they nearly abandoned in 1985. By 1986, New Coke had a market share of less than 3%. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) BACKGROUND NOTE Dr. John Pemberton, an Atlanta-based pharmacist, developed Cokes original formula in 1886. It was based on a combination of oils, extracts from coca leaves (cola nut) and various other additives including caffeine. These ingredients were refined to create a refreshing carbo nated soda. Pembertons bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, suggested that the product be named CocaCola. He also developed the lettering for the brand name in a distinctive flowing script.On May 8, 1886, Coke was released in the market. It was first sold by Joe Jacobs Drug Store in the U. S. The first advertisement of Coke appeared in The Atlanta Journal dated May 29, 1886. Pemberton took the help of several investors and spent $76. 96 on advertising. Initially, he could sell only 50 gallons of syrup at $1 per gallon. To make the drink popular, it was served free for several days only after this that the drink gained peoples acceptance. After Pembertons death in 1888, Asa Candler, his friend and a wholesaler druggist, acquired a stake in the company.Coca-Colas sales soared even without much advertising and as many as 61,000 servings (8 ounces) were Sold in 1889. This made Candler realize that the business was profitable. He decided to wind up his drug business and be associated with Coca-C ola full time. As the business expanded. Candler also invested a higher sum in advertising the drink. By 1891, Candler bought the company for $2. 300. In 1892, he renamed it as Coca-Cola and a year later. Coca-cola was registered as a trademark. Only Candler and his associate Robinson knew the original formula.It was then passed on by word of mouth and became the most closely guarded secret in the American industry. Though occasional rumors spread that cocaine was an ingredient of Coke’s formula, authorities mentioned that this was not true. By 1895, Coke was made available in all parts of the US, primarily through distributors and fountain owners. Coke was advertised as a drink, which relieved one of mental and physical exhaustion, and cured headache. Later, Candler and Robinson repositioned Coke as a refreshment drink. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I)In the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturing firms in the US were criticized for promoting adulterated products and re sorting to misleading advertisements. Coca-Cola was an easy target for such criticisms. The US government passed the Pure Food and Drugs Act in June 1906. A case was registered against Coca-Cola and the trial began in March 1911. Eventually, CocaCola won the case. But the decision was reversed in the Supreme Court. Finally, the case was settled outside the court in 1917 with Coca-Cola agreeing to reduce the caffeine content of the drink by 50%.In 1919, the company was sold to an investment group headed by Ernest Woodruff for $25 million $10 million in cash and $15 million in preferred stock. Woodruffs major decision after taking over the company was to establish a Foreign Department to make Coke popular overseas. When Coke was released in foreign markets, several problems came up. Initially, it had to rely on local bottlers who did not promote the product with sufficient enthusiasm, or on wealthy entrepreneurs, not familiar with the beverage business. The company also faced problem s regarding government regulations, trademark registration, languages and culture.By 1927, Coca-Colas sales rose to nearly 23 million gallons. Even though Pepsi Cola emerged as its major competitor in the 1930s, Coca-Cola continued doing well. By the time the US took part in World War II, Coca-Cola was more than 50 years old and well established. In 1962, Paul Austin (Austin) became Coca-Colas tenth president and four years later, he became the chairman and CEO of the company. By 1965, soft drink sales in the US had risen to 200 drinks per capita, and Coca-Colas market share had risen to 41% against Pepsis 24%. In 1964, CocaCola also acquired a coffee business.The company developed drinks with new flavors and also targeted food chains, which were fast gaining popularity. In 1970, Coca-Cola faced tough competition from Pepsi. During that year, Pepsis advertising budget exceeded Coca-Colas. During the next few years there was a decline in Coca-Colas market share due to Pepsis rising s ales. In 1978, Pepsi was found to have beaten Coca-Cola in supermarket sales because of its dominance in vending machines and fountain outlets. Coca-Colas sales continued to decline during the late 1970s, as Austin began new ventures such as shrimp farming, water projects and viniculture.The political and social unres countries like Iran, Nicaragua and Guatemala had a severe impact on Coca-Colas market share. The companys poor performance and the increasing discontent of its employees led to Austins exit and the entry of Roberto Goizueta (Goizueta), a 48-year-old chemical engineer, as the companys new CEO in 1980. THE RATIONALE Soon after becoming CEO, Goizueta concluded that the obsession about increasing the market share was futile for Coca-Cola and in certain businesses, the return on capital employed ROCE) was actually less than the cost of capital.As a result, he sold Coca-Colas nonperforming businesses such as wine, coffee tea industrial water treatment and aquaculture. Even a fter this, Goizuetas focus strategy could not stop the decline in Coca-Colas market share, which fell from 24. 3% in 1980 to 21. 8% in 1984 a loss of 2. 5% in four years. The decline in each percentage point amounted to a loss of about $200 million for the company. All this happened in spite of the fact that Coca-Colas annual advertising budget in die early 1980s was higher than Pepsis by an average of $100 million.Despite this, Coca-Colas advertisements were not as effective as those of Pepsi were. Pepsi ads showed that even few Coke drinkers preferred Pepsi in blind taste tests. Coca-Colas market share continued to decline though it had more vending machines, occupied more shelf space and was competitively priced against Pepsi. Coca-Colas distribution was wider than Pepsi, which had enabled it to be the leader in the soft drinks industry. It was extremely popular because of its distinctive taste. By 1984, Coca-Colas overall market share had dropped from 9. 8% in the early 1970s t o 4. %. This became a major cause of worry for the top management of Coca-Cola. During the middle of 1983, the idea of reformulating 99-year old Coke formula struck Goizueta. The purpose was to increase Coca-Colas market share as well as to defend its position as the market leader. A thorough market research was conducted which included interviews with about 2,00,000 consumers. This involved an expenditure of $4 million over two years. The results indicated that consumers who were very fond of Coke constituted 10-12% of the total number of soft MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) rink consumers. When asked for their reactions to the change in Cokes taste, half of 10-12% loyal Coke consumers said that they may oppose change initially, but would eventually accept it, while the other half said that they would never accept any change. In some cases, the response was contradictory. For instance, some of the consumers, who had said that they prefer Coke to Pepsi, were found to be drinking Pe psi most of the times. Others said Coke was their favorite drink but they drank even Pepsi, or any other drink, which were available at that time.It was discovered that many people preferred Pepsi to Coke because Pepsi was sweeter. Coca-Cola felt that the sweeter taste would appeal more to teenagers and youth. Hence, it decided to launch a sweeter version of Coke, the taste of which would be similar to Pepsi. Coca-Cola also conducted a Focus group research 2 that revealed that many people were willing to try New Coke. However, some believed that Coca-Cola should not alter the taste of the drink. Although both the surveys (Focus group and Survey research) indicated consumer dissatisfaction, their results were contradictory to each other.While the survey result indicated that such dissatisfaction was limited only to a small segment of the market, the focus group research observed a wider dissatisfaction. In September 1984, Coca-Cola introduced a new drink that tasted better than Pepsi and scored 6 to 8 points3 in blind taste tests. The original Coke already exceeded Pepsis popularity by 10 points. The launch of a sweeter version of Coke was expected to make Coke popular than Pepsi by approximately 16 to 18 points. Though the market research had shown customer dissatisfaction, Coca-Cola ignored it and decided to launch New Coke based on the results of the blind taste tests.THE LAUNCH AND ITS AFTERMATH Coca-Cola launched New Coke in April 1985 with the punch line Catch the wave. This change in Cokes formula was publicized through the television and newspapers. The company said that the introduction of New Coke conformed to its efforts to be innovative in its marketing strategies and establish good customer relationships. The announcement reached more than 80% of the American population within twenty-four hours. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) The launch of New Coke elicited mixed reactions from the public.The initial response to the product was encouraging with distributors reporting a fairly wide acceptance of it. According to the analysts, the reason for this was that consumers had not tasted the product yet, and were thus curious about its taste. The distributors stocked the product in large quantities due to such an encouraging consumer response. However, the consumers realized that the taste of New Coke was similar to Pepsis and worse when compared to the taste of the original Coke. Gradually, distributors began to accept less stocks of New Coke and later on, they did not stock any due to poor consumer response to the drink.A majority of original Coke lovers criticized the companys act of changing its formula (Refer Exhibit I). Many of them stored large stocks of original Coke at home. Consumers perceived New Coke as a me-too product4 with a sweeter taste like Pepsi. Some said that the original Coke had a unique taste that was stronger than New Coke. Some consumers reportedly complained that the taste of New Coke was similar to sewer water, furniture polish or two dayold Pepsi. An old Coke lover said that the company had spoiled the taste of its 99 year-old soft drink and betrayed the nations trust.Meanwhile, black marketers made a killing as they sold original Coke at an exorbitant price of $30 per six-and-a-half ounce bottle. Some of them even tried to import old Coke from abroad. By the end of May 1985, the scenario had worsened with consumer response at its lowest. After the launch of New Coke, Coca-Cola received more than a thousand calls per week from the Coke drinkers, most of whom informed the company that they were planning to substitute Coke with Pepsi since they found no difference between the two.Coca-Cola had received more than six thousand calls and around forty thousand letters from Coke loyalists from the US and abroad all complaining about New Coke after six weeks of its launch. Due to the protests from a huge number of consumers and a significant decline in the market share from 15% at the time of the launch to 1. 4%, Coca-Cola was forced to revert back to its original formula ten weeks later, by launching Coke Classic on 1lth July, 1985. By the end MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) of 1985, Pepsi had more market share than the combined market shares of New Coke and Coke Classic.However, in early 1986, Coke again became more popular than Pepsi as the sales of Coke Classic picked up. By early 1986, New Coke had a market share of less than 3% which came down to 0. 6% in 1987 and further down to 0. 1% in the late 1980s. Coca-Cola later re-launched New Coke as Coke IF in 1990 (Refer to Exhibit IV) which soon phased out due to its unpopularity. NEW COKE WHAT WENT WRONG? Analysts attributed the failure of New Coke due to several factors. Some felt that Coca-Cola had failed to understand the consumers emotional attachment with Coke.Reportedly, their attachment with the brand was so strong that one of them went to the extent of wishing his bones and ashes to be preserved in Coke cans after his death. But, after the launch of New Coke, he said that he did not want to be associated with Coca-Cola anymore. Another consumer said that God and Coke were the only two important things in his life. Analysts felt that people had a high regard for Coca-Cola because of its innovative ideas, excellent products launched and the importance it accorded to people and the environment. During the 1970s, one out of every two cola drinks and one out of every three soft drinks was Coke.It was made available in more than 140 countries to 5. 8 million people. These statistics proved its popularity. Also, Coca-Cola was the pioneer in recycling plastic bottles. Analysts felt that Coca-Cola was losing the goodwill of its consumers by launching a product that went against their preferences, taste and opinion. Some analysts also felt that the findings of the market research group were erroneous and late. The research was either in an inappropriate manner or was interpreted incorrectly. Coca-Cola failed to understand that there was much more to marketing soft drinks than winning taste tests.According to the analysts, the research could not have measured the type of consumer feelings that were evoked from reformulation. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) Market researchers also felt that Coca-Cola must have gone for focus group testing of a new product concept first and then used individual interviews to verify and quantify the results of focus groups. But, in reality, Coca-Cola carried out individual interviews first and then undertook the focus group testing. Though the company knew that 10-12% of its loyal customers would not appreciate the change in its formula, it totally misinterpreted consumers response regarding taste.The company was totally unprepared for unseen possibilities and this caused its market share to decline rapidly after the introduction of New Coke. A MARKETING BLUNDER OR A PLOY? Notwithstanding the negative consumers response, some media report s claimed that CocaColas act of launching New Coke was actually a deliberate marketing ploy to make people develop a stronger liking of original Coke after they tasted a low quality version of the drink. Coca-Cola used cane sugar and com syrup for the sweet taste of New Coke. During early 1985, Coca-Cola ran short of cane sugar stocks, but had sufficient stocks of com syrup.Cane sugar was sweeter and more expensive than com syrup. When New Coke was introduced in the market, people did not like its sweet taste. Such customer response helped Coca-Cola, and only corn syrup was used while manufacturing Coke Classic. People were so eager to see the original Coke come back that they did not notice the difference between the sweetness of cane sugar and that of corn syrup because they were very similar. Coca-Cola thus saved millions of dollars by using corn syrup rather than cane sugar in its soft drinks. Another report said that the company never believed that New Coke would be accepted by the consumers.They deliberately introduced it with an inferior taste When people got a taste which they disliked they would demand for the original taste and when the original taste was introduced they would purchase it in large quantities. This would help Coca-Cola to regain a part of its lost market share from Pepsi. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I) Though these media reports remain unconfirmed, there was jubilation among the Coke lovers around the world after the introduction of Coke Classic Coca-Cola received between 18,000 to 30,000 calls of thanks from every corner of the world.One of them said that it was like an old friend had returned home after a long time. The New Coke fiasco did not result into losses for Coca-Cola. The sales of Classic Coke went up to 10 times as that of New Coke soon after its launch. Coca-Colas stock price jumped from $61,875 to $84,500, a 35% increase. By early 1986, the stock hit an all-time high of $110 (Refer Exhibit II) in 12 years, between 197 4 and 1986. At the end of the whole episode, Goizueta was happy man since it resulted in building shareholders value.He said, But the most significant result of New Coke by far, was that it sent an incredibly powerful signal a signal that we really were ready to do whatever was necessary to build value for the owners of our business. Goizueta was rewarded with $1. 7 million in salary and bonuses and almost $5 million additional bonus for the increase in stock price. Questions for Discussion: 1. The launch of New Coke turned out to be a nightmare for Coca-Cola. Discuss the marketing implications of introducing New Coke. Was it necessary to re formulate New Coke? . Market researchers had expected Coca-Cola to conduct focus group testing of a new product first and then use individual interviews to verify the results of the focus groups. What other types of research methods would have been helpful to the company in providing consumer insights? Discuss. 3. Though some analysts felt that the launch of New Coke was a blunder, others thought it was a deliberate marketing ploy. Is the failure of New Coke really a marketing blunder? Give your opinion and substantiate it. MIT-SOB PGDM- 31st Batch (Sem-I)

Ferment and Foment

Ferment and Foment Ferment and Foment Ferment and Foment By Simon Kewin Is â€Å"foment† the same as â€Å"ferment†? People stirring up discord are often described as â€Å"fomenting trouble†. If you search for the phrase on the Internet you’ll find, for instance, Indian agents fomenting trouble in Canada and the Russian Kremlin fomenting trouble in Belarus, to pick just two recent examples. But quite often, the phrase used in this situation is â€Å"fermenting† rather than â€Å"fomenting† trouble. This is a less common phrase, but there are still plenty of instances to be found, all over the world, of people fermenting trouble. Are both phrases correct or do people write â€Å"ferment† when they should say â€Å"foment†? The Oxford dictionary’s definition of foment as a transitive verb is : instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action) as in for example : they accused him of fomenting political unrest The word derives from the Latin word fomentum, meaning a poultice or a lotion. Originally, to foment was to bathe a part of the body with a warm or a medicated lotion. Ferment as a transitive verb, meanwhile, means : incite or stir up (trouble or disorder) as in for example : the politicians and warlords who are fermenting this chaos This word derives from the Latin word fermentum meaning yeast. As you can see, both foment and ferment have ended up meaning more or less the same thing in this context, despite their different derivations. Perhaps this is because they sound so similar or it might be because they share that sense of heat. Fomentum itself derived from the Latin verb fovere to heat, while fermentum derived from fervere, to boil. So, while it is more common to â€Å"foment† trouble, it is also perfectly acceptable to â€Å"ferment† it. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:60 Synonyms for â€Å"Walk†One Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .Dozen: Singular or Plural?

Hispanic American Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Hispanic American Diversity - Research Paper Example edly larger percentage of people of color and visible minorities within key social institutions such as government office – President-elect Barack Obama is perhaps the most obvious example today but there is also increased representation of visible minorities across the country in all aspects of public office – the police services and the education sector, just to name a few. Changing worldwide immigration patterns have led to an increased flow of people from around the world to the United States, facilitating interracial and intercultural communication. American society has quickly become far less homogenous and cultural institutions are beginning to reflect this. Today, 1 in 3 Americans identify themselves as Hispanic, African-American, Native American, Asian America or Pacific Islander. It is predicted that by the year 2050, more than half of the American population will be identified as minorities. The growth of Hispanic communities in the United States has been profound over the last century and this paper proposes to undertake a thorough analysis of the various Hispanic communities in the United States today. Contrary to popular opinion, the Hispanic community in the United States is not a monolith and is composed of various Spanish-speaking groups which may share various commonalities but also differ in a variety of respects. Accordingly, this research paper aims to explore the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions and/or statuses of the four major Hispanic groups living in the United States. In short form, these groups include Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, and Spanish-American s. Following a brief yet comprehensive overview this essay will conclude by summarizing major differences and commonalties apparent among the groups. We now turn to an introduction to the Mexican-American community (Gans 1995). Mexican-Americans speak Spanish as their mother tongue and include both an older

What are NGOs How do they help and hinder development Essay

What are NGOs How do they help and hinder development - Essay Example rity organizations, and while their social aims may have political undertones, or political support, they are not created or run for political purposes (Ahmed & Potter, 2006) NGOs can be aimed towards a very diverse array of aims, ranging from environmental benefits, social benefits, poverty alleviations, awareness campaigns, health benefits, or educational reform. They can be very large, ranging across cities or countries, or they can be small, run by and consisting of only a handful of people. For example, in his book Three Cups of Tea, author and NGO worker Greg Mortenson describes his efforts at working in areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, aiming to alleviate poverty and in particular focus on educating young girls. The benefit of NGOs is that they are very easy to set up and do not require government grants or tedious official proceedings in order to set up. Mortenson, who was initially a nurse and mountain-climber before directing his efforts towards social benefits, managed to educate over sixty thousand children, out of which more than 50,000 were girls, a remarkable feat in a place where women are rarely allowed to leave their houses, much less acquire education (Mortenson, 2007). As a result, one can conclude that NGOs maximize developmental efforts for two reasons. Governments tend to focus on geographically significant areas, that is, either areas that are significantly underdeveloped, or areas that are significantly developed. NGOs, being more personal in nature, can focus over a wider array of areas and subjects, which the government might not otherwise be able to focus on, owing either to a lack of resources or distribution of priorities. Secondly, they can be set up on any scale, and provide help on any level, be it small or big. Because it is the vision of common, dedicated individuals, not obligated by their jobs or other responsibilities, yet choosing to do so anyway, they are able to focus in a more converged environment and seek out greater

The Environmental Impacts of 2010 Essay Example for Free

The Environmental Impacts of 2010 Essay ABSRTRACT Nowadays as the issues of environmental sustainability have been a heated theme in the event industry, environmental impacts caused by major events are always examined through a bias lens and they are widely believed to be directly bound up with the host surroundings. When realizing the importance of sustainable development, many large-scale festivals such as Olympic Games and Glastonbury Music Festival are striving to mitigate their physical impacts on the local community and looking forward to turning into an eco-friendly event. This report focuses on the environmental dimension of the mega event and investigates both the pros and cons of the environmental impact. Table of Content 1. Introduction 2. Background of 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo 3. Environmental impacts 3.1 Positive Environmental Impacts 3.1.1 Showcasing the environment 3.1.2 Providing models for best practice 3.1.3 Increasing environmental awareness 3.1.4 Infrastructure legacy 3.1.5 Urban transportation and renewal 3.2 Negative impacts 3.2.1 Litter problems 3.2.2 Air Pollution 4. Conclusion 5. References Read more:  Environmental Festivals 1. Introduction As the event industry has been rapidly flourishing and well received over the years, staging the event is seen as one practicable means of displaying the local surroundings. However, conducting an event often has straight physical impacts (both active and passive) on the environment, such as all kinds of  contamination, destruction of flora and fauna as well as the depletion of natural resources. For this reason, I decide to select environmental impacts as the subject of this report. With the increasing consciousness of sustainable development, environmental impacts generated by major festivals in recent years draw deeper attention from all fields of society and become a hot topic around the globe. Most of festivals, especially those large-scale events, now are dedicated to protecting the host environment by effective operations wherever applicable and diminishing any possible negative impacts. The aim of this report is to examine environmental impacts through an instance of 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo as well as evaluate both positive and negative physical effects triggered by the assigned example. 2. Background of 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo  2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, a mega flora festival identified by AIPH (International Association of Horticultural Producers), was organised by Taipei government. It was the first time that Taiwan got authorised to run such an international-scale event and Taipei was also the seventh host city held in Asia. Going along with the previous excellent green practice, Taipei International Flora Expo was designed to show the creativity of horticultural decoration as well as implement the idea of sustainable environmental development and planned for advocating new green life-styles to individuals. The definition of sustainable development refers that ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987). Different from other mega events, the International Flora Expo does not require the host city to spend too much money on new amenities, but encourage it to make use of existing sites. This garden festival enhanced the old facilities and applied the principles of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and 3G (Green Building, Green Energy, Green Transportation) into its whole event project and the construction of infrastructure. Figure.1. 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo (ç ¶  Ã¨â€° ²Ã¥ · ¥Ã¥ »  2010) 3. Environmental impacts Events and surroundings are closely linked with each other. From the moment  that the city has decided to bid for the event, impacts soon started to occur on the environment. Host surroundings may be extraordinarily fragile and great consideration should be taken to look after them. A large-scale event should need to be conducted by an environmental impact assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crucial environmental tool which is seen as the necessary procedure of activity in order to give the environment its appropriate place in the decision-making process by improving the quality of advanced information to event organisers, so that environmentally sensitive determination can be made paying careful attention to minimizing impacts, enhancing the planning of activities and protecting the environment (outlined by Kees Bastmeijer and Timo Koivurova, 2008). Analysis of the environmental impacts of events can be divided into three groups of physical impacts on the natura l environment; impacts on the man-made environment and impacts on the ecosystem (Là ³rà ¡nt, 2009). Firstly, natural environmental impacts contain air quality, geological factors and water quality, depletion of natural resources and flora and fauna. Secondly, the impacts on the man-made environment include the infrastructure put in place at the festival, the changes in the land-use and building and visual impacts. Finally, the ecosystem refers to the ecological network or flora and fauna. As for physical and environmental impacts, they are as complex as other impacts on the surroundings. They may be domestic and international impacts, reversible and irreversible effects, positive and negative influences. In the following section the favorable (positive) and unfavorable (negative) impacts will be come up for discussion independently. 3.1 Positive environmental impacts When it comes to positive physical and environmental effects, Hall (1989) refer that a successful event has five points of favorable impacts as follows: * Showcasing the environment * Providing models for best practice, * Increasing environmental awareness, * Infrastructure legacy * Improved transport and communication * Urban transportation and renewal As an environment-based festival, 2010 Taipei Flora expo as a whole brought about lots of beneficial impacts on the host surroundings. 3.1.1 Showcasing the environment Running the event is an effective approach to showcase the distinctive features of the host environment. Hall (1989) points out that selling the image of a hallmark event includes marking the intrinsic properties of the destination. Taking the opportunity of holding Flora Exposition, Taipei government devoted to renovating the majority of aging buildings in the host area such as Taipei Fine Arts Park, Children’s Leisure Centre, Zhongshan Soccer Stadium and Lin-An-Tai Historic Houses, and converting them into the new look with green concepts. Taipei authority successfully showcased their achievements in the construction of urban afforestation, the refurbishment of local amenities as well as in the areas of sightseeing. According to the official statistics, it is estimated that 2010 Taipei International Expo in total appealed to 8,963,666 attendants during the 171-day exposition. 3.1.2 Providing models for best practice By the event Taipei delivered its outstanding accomplishments in the industry of horticulture and eco-technology and in the implementation of urban greening. Many records created by this festival made visitors from all over the world proud. Dr. Doek Faber, the president of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), publicly admired Taipei Flora Expo as the most interesting, innovative and creative one in the past five decades and added that this event has founded a new flora expo criterion and set an excellent practice for the coming 10 years. 2010 Taipei Flora Expo was considered as the great models of sustainable development and urban afforestation for other cities to follow. After the successful bidding, Taipei started a series of environmental protection work and made ‘urban greening’ into reality. 2010 Taipei Flora Expo also became a catalyst in boosting the environmental sustainable development of Taiwan. Other noticeable achievements which can be regarded as positive models for practice include: (Flora Expo Revisited 2010) * Each material of event was made in Taiwan * This festival attracted extra international attention to Taiwan’s garden industry * This festival offered many chances for Taiwan’s local cultural and creative industries to display their outstanding works * This festival help people realise the importance of the natural environment * This festival was the first mega event conducted by Taiwan * This festival got a good reputation at home and abroad * This festival was an eye-opener regarding urban aesthetics 3.1.3 Increasing environmental awareness 2010 Taipei Flora Expo was highlighted to the importance of environmental protection, so the festival organizers made great efforts to conserve the natural community and they also believed that they have an obligation to increase consumer awareness of environmental issues. The event organizers specially produced a series of 3D record films related to the latest environmental issues that were played in EXPO Theatre and hoped that through watching these movies participants can seriously face up to the environmental problems and can take actual action to protect our surroundings. In addition, there was a new-fashion eco-friendly architecture that was assembled from 1.5 million plastic bottles (instead of bricks) to put an emphasis on the idea of recycling and sustainable environmental development. Figure.2 Eco ark (ç ¶  Ã¨â€° ²Ã¥ · ¥Ã¥ »  , 2010) 3.1.4 Infrastructure legacy Regarding heritage preservation issues, the event managers integrated all legacies which are located in the host venues into the plan and then soon started undertaking the renovation. Taipei Story House and Lin-An-Tai Historic House are rebuilt to leisure places with the combination of cultural heritages and unique-style restaurants. This event not only well preserves local ancient legacies but also successfully broadcasts these historical sites to more visitors. Figure.3 Taipei Story House Figure.4 Lin-An-Tai Historical House 3.1.5 Urban transportation and renewal Unlike the majority of previous Flora Expo, 2010 Taipei Flora Expo was staged in the centre area. Therefore, transportation may be taken into the essential consideration. In order to provide tourists with convenient transport network, Taipei government improved the construction of public transportation, including rerouting bus system, enhancing pedestrian system as well as increasing bike lanes. During the festival, visitors can enjoy free shuttle buses around four event venues, use adjacent public fee-paying parking lot and take the MRT to other places. 3.2 Negative impacts Mega events have often attracted criticism for their perceived negative impacts on sensitive locations (Greenpeace, 2004). Adverse environmental effects such as destruction of the host surroundings, noise disturbances, pollution and disruption of legacy caused by large-scale festivals are always the critical themes remained a significant concern. These impacts may become much severe if the festival takes place in an outdoor public area like a square, street or park. Some opposite positive environmental impacts of 2010 Taipei Flora Expo will be integrated as below. 3.2.1 Litter problems A considerable amount of waste produced by festivals is always a persistent problem troubled the local authority. Taipei government had hoped to popularize the idea of environmental protection through the expo, however, it seemed to have no obvious effect. The reason why litter management of this expo failed can be attributed to its environmental policy. Taipei government specifically made strict rules to prohibit littering, but strangely, it didn’t install enough refuse and recycling bins around the host zones, so that festival goers could not find rubbish bins as easily as possible. As a result, it can be seen that garbage was still tossed by the side of host venues. Figure.5è ®Å Ã©â€º »Ã§ ® ±Ã¤ ¸Å Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¥Å¾Æ'Ã¥Å" ¾ Ã¥ â€°Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¦â€"‡æ˜Žçš„野è   »Ã¥ ±â€¢Ã§ ¤ º(é »Æ'Ã¥ ­ «Ã¦ ¬Å ) In terms of litter management, Glastonbury festival is a successful model of waste volume reduction for other events to learn. This festival makes  greater efforts to efficiently clean the rubbish caused by the event on the host community and thoroughly implements its strategies of reducing rubbish. Hence, remarkable reductions have been recorded in the past three years by taking stronger control of the items brought on spot by staff, sponsors and entrepreneurs – and by focusing on their obligation to remove items brought on spot. Moreover, the event managers of Glastonbury festival annually recruit recycling volunteers to collect litters and separate the recyclables (Glastonbury Festival Ltd, 2000). 3.2.2 Air Pollution In an event-related study Là ³rà ¡nt (2009) indicates that air pollution generated by the festival can cause bad impacts on the natural environment, particularly CO2 emissions from the transport exhaust. Due to 2010 Taipei Flora Expo taking place in the downtown, the provision of solid transportation network was the efficient way to manage the crowded visitors. However, CO2 emissions from vehicles, buses and other motors lowered the air quality of Taipei city. table.2 energy consumption for one passenger kilometer (Halmay et al., 2006) From the diagram, it can be obviously seen that walking and cycling consumed the lowest energy use. Although the host organisers highly promoted the advantages of cycling and walking during the event, the practical implementation was still be very challenging. 4. Conclusion After reviewing literatures and books in relation to the environmental impact, it can be proved that physical effects of festivals, no matter positive or negative ones, may have immediate influences on the environment. Before conducting large-scale events, the crucial step toward success is to assess environmental impacts through the analysis of environmental impact assessment. By doing so, the majority of event organizers can forecast and evaluates possible potential impacts of projects on the local environment and then can make the event going on smoothly. In addition, with the heated discussion about environmental sustainability, it seems a global trend that most of event holders currently have been attempting to apply the principle of sustainability into their events and taking measures to do the minimum of  environmental damage. Looking into the future, relevant research and studies of events suggest that environmental conscious events will be more prevalent in the coming two decades. As a result, more and more festivals are expected to place great emphasis on the sustainable development within projects. Mega events play a vital role in cultivating understanding of environmental issues, arousing awareness and generating resources. 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, the first mega festival held by Taiwan, demonstrated Taiwan’s ambition to encounter the world event industry. How to effectively address negative environmental impacts of the expo and how to keep the positive consequences continuing developing are the primary task for Taipei government to review. 2010 Taipei Flora Expo can be regard as the preparation for the next mega event – 2017 Universiade. 4. Reference Andrea, C., Calvin, J., Max, M., 2008. Assessing the environmental impacts of mega sporting events: Two options. Tourism Management, 30(6). Available from:http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Direct.asp?AccessToken=9II51IQ8XRDJE4M5DD1KRMQJ1PEQ8XQM51Show=ObjectErrorURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinksource%2Eebsco%2Ecom%2Ferror%2Easpx [Accessed 25 October 2012] Benders, R. M. J., Moll, H. C., Nijdam, D. S., 2012. From energy to environmental analysis: improving the resolution of the environmental impact of Dutch private consumption with hybrid analysis. Journal of Industrial Ecology. Available from: http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Direct.asp?AccessToken=544W64JTRR9WYUS99S6SN4QVSQVYTRJFW6Show=ObjectErrorURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinksource%2Eebsco%2Ecom%2Ferror%2Easpx [Accessed 25October 2012] Brain J, M., Marlene, F., 1994. A CASE STUDY OF A TOURISM SPECIAL EVENT: AN ANALYSIS OF AN AMERICAN STATE FAIR. Festival Management Event Tourism, 2 (2), p.75-83 David, L.,2009. Events and Tourism: An Environmental Approach Impact A ssessment. Journal of Tourism Challenges Trends, Vol. 2 Issue 2, p101-113. Chris, R., Alan, S., Sharon, M and Don, G., 1998. NEW ZEALAND EVENTS: A TEMPORAL AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS. Festival Management Event Tourism, 5 (1/2), p.71-83 Evans, W.A., 1994. Approaches to intelligent information retrieval. Information processing and management, 7 (2), 147-168. Gemma, G., Peter, R., 2009. A Critical Comparative Study of Visitor Motivations For Attending Music Festival: A Case Study of Glastonbury and V Festival. Event Management , 13

Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling: A Solution to Kierkegaard’s Despair O

In Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling, the concept of the Knight of Faith is an exalted one, a unique title awarded to those whose devotion to God goes far beyond what is even comprehensible or expected for the average man, who has an aesthetic or ethical life. We are told by Kierkegaard that this Knight of Faith, when in a situation where resignation appears to be the only solution to a problem, puts his faith in what appears to be the absurd, and believes that the solution that he desires lies in God. This fuels his faith, and makes him better than the aesthetic man, who simply abandons or ignores the problem, or the ethical man, the Knight of Infinite Resignation, who accepts the problem and resigns himself to a life of despair. The Knight of Faith exists as a shining beacon of devotion to the will of God, and, according to Kierkegaard, there exist only two known examples of the Knight of Faith: Abraham, and Mary. These exemplary figures in history put their faith in God, and believed that God would provide a solution to their problems. This unconditional faith in their creator is supposed to be inspirational, and in a sense, make the reader feel incredibly pitiful and resentful of their own wavering faith. In the following paragraphs, I aim to argue that a moment of absolute faithlessness can prove to be just as powerful as a moment of pure faith, and that Mary and Abraham serve as God-given examples of an absolute faith that is inaccessible to all but a few humans who serve very specific purposes in this world. Finally, I will propose a different mode of existence, one in which a man’s free will allows him to find joy in whatever God provides for him. In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard uses the example of Abraham as ... ...e individual is able to engage in a deeper and more meaningful relationship with their Creator. The Knight of Faith, when engaging in this relationship, does so in the same manner that a small child would with their parent, however, the devotee attempts to create a mature adult relationship with their parent, one that is loving, but questioning, and while the love that exists between the two may be unconditional, the demands made are not. While Kierkegaard’s analysis of the superiority of the Knight of Faith in relation to those who follow the aesthetic life or ethical life is correct, he fails to acknowledge that faith can be rooted in joy and love, and can be far more spiritual and fulfilling than faith alone. This is the angst-ridden and unfortunate symptom of an existential despair, and does not truly reflect the complicated relationship between man and God.

Bestbuy’s Strategy

In the last few years, BestBuy has been experiencing fierce competition and has been fighting to gain dominance in the consumer electronic market. Apple, Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Target are the current competitors that are giving them the most problems. A lot of people are coming into BestBuy’s stores to try out the products and then leaving the store to buy online or at a slightly cheaper price. C. E. O, Brian Dunn, is left with many questions about keeping customers in his stores and how to develop and sustain a competitive advantage in today’s economy.According to the case, BestBuy is trying to create a competitive advantage in three areas: customer-centricity, employment policies, and exclusive branding. After studying the VRIO framework, I have found that BestBuy’s three areas of strategy do fit into the VRIO framework. BestBuy believes that an effective strategy is a commitment to customer-centricity. A business that implements customer-centricity caters to sp ecific customer needs and behaviors.According to the book, BestBuy wants to steer away from a product-centered marketing approach to a more customer-oriented marketing approach which will have them asking what problems its customers are facing, and then providing solutions. Furthermore, BestBuy wants to segment its customers into four different profiles: Upscale Suburban, Urban Trendsetter, Empty Nesters, and Middle America. In different regions around the U. S. you will find these diverse groups.BestBuy has been able to utilize the rare attribute of the VRIO framework with its ability to serve the needs of the predominant customer segment in a given region. BestBuy is unlike any company in the consumer electronic industry because as the book mentions, â€Å"Nearly all companies claim to be customer oriented, but being customer centric required a radical reorganization and shift in employee mindset. † BestBuy has reformatted the physical space in its stores and related produc ts have been bundled together to meet the needs of certain segments.Store teams have also been trying to answer the following questions: What kind of traffic do we have coming in our stores today, how effectively are we selling to the people in the stores, what does our customer information look like, what segments do we have coming in, and what kind of market share do we have for those segments? To answer those questions BestBuy has been investing in the right tools so that the field knows what to focus on. BestBuy has taken customer interest a step further, and so far it has given them a rare advantage. BestBuy has also done a good job of organizing its employment policies to capture value.According to the book, BestBuy has set up an employee listening program that uses open communication to better understand the needs of its workers. This program has done a great job of exploiting the company’s capabilities because it is implementing tools such as annual company-wide surve ys, a virtual discussion board, and one-on-one dialogue sessions. BestBuy is capturing value because they are listening to their employees and discerning information that was previously unknown to management. The final area that BestBuy is focusing its strategy on is exclusive brands.This last area is very important to BestBuy because it is valuable, rare, and costly to imitate. BestBuy currently owns these private labels: Insignia, Dynex, Init, Rocketfish, and Geek Squad. As far as background goes, Insignia produces TVs, monitors, home-theater systems, and portable video/ audio players. Dynex produces storage media, data and power cables, webcams, and office supplies. Init produces media storage, equipment bags, totes and furniture for home theaters. Rocketfish is a top notch producer of cables that are mostly used for TVs. And most famously, Geek Squad provides computer repair and installation services.BestBuy realizes that they cannot solely rely on these small private labels to create, on their own, enough revenue to stay in business. But nevertheless, these private labels are valuable because they add attractive features to the company. Most of the products offered by these small labels are accessories that add value to the more expensive products which in turn increase the profitability of BestBuy. In particular, I think Geek Squad is valuable because a lot of older people do not know how to set up the more complex electronics and often run into problems.Easy-to-setup installation and troubleshooting is a very attractive feature to most consumers. Along those same lines, these small labels are rare because their products are only being sold in BestBuy stores. If you’re a huge fan of Rocketfish cables or really appreciate the helpfulness of Geek Squad then you have to come to BestBuy to get you want. These private labels are also costly to imitate I imagine because it could be costly to implement and staff a repair and installation service in all o f your stores like BestBuy has done with Geek Squad.Also, these private labels have a few unique products that could be hard to replicate. I know that Init has created some nice, high quality equipment bags and furniture for home theaters. I believe that after weighing the benefits of all three of these areas that BestBuy has indeed created a competitive advantage. In one way or another they have valuable, rare, costly to imitate, or are organized to capture value with their products and services. BestBuy’s business level strategy is to focus on its people through customer centricity and employment policies.The managers in both areas want to listen to the people and discern how to best appeal to them. Managers have planned to become customer centric by profiling its customers and then design the stores and provide products according to the profiles in the region. The cost driver associated is the cost of input factors because it requires a radical reorganization and shift in employee mindset. Stores need to be reformatted and related products need to be bundled. The main value driver for this focus has been customer service.BestBuy has excelled at customer service because they are able to identify customer needs and appeal to their wants because of the unique profiles that have been created. The main cost driver for employment policies has also been cost of input factors because I imagine it has been costly to implement the new annual company-wide surveys, a virtual discussion board, and one-on-one dialogue sessions. The main value driver for the employment policies is customer service. BestBuy has created distinctive techniques for company-wide communication that in turn provide better customer support.Managers now know what the consumers are thinking because the employees are able to share information with their superiors in an efficient way. The competition between BestBuy, Amazon, Apple, and Wal-Mart has been fierce over the last several years. Best Buy has found itself to still be at the top of consumer electronics in the minds of its customers with 40% of the votes. However, BestBuy comes in 11th place in the Top 15 most valuable retail brands. Furthermore, Apple has recently made a large push in the race by reaching $2. 8 billion in sales in 2010 which puts them in third place behind BestBuy and Amazon.However, BestBuy is in last place according to share performance in 2010 and 2011. After looking at all of the different results and surveys I would say that BestBuy is right in the thick of things and battling for the top spot. Amazon may be more a valuable company but the consumers still view BestBuy as the leading consumer electronic company. One of the critical problems facing BestBuy is people coming into the store and testing the products and then leaving and buying the product elsewhere. I think that BestBuy’s strategy to become customer centered is a good strategy.Many of the same products are sold by multiple c ompanies, but if BestBuy can appeal to the segments and profiles of people coming into their stores then they can get people to buy the products in their stores. Identifying the profiles of people coming in is the first step and then being able to bundle products and arrange displays in an appealing way is a good strategy. If BestBuy continues to value its consumers I think they will find a way to sustain a competitive. After all, people want to feel important and be given what they need and desire.

You and i

Martha Cecilia, which was taken after her daughter's name, is one of – if not the most popular Tagalog romance pocketbook writer of today. Most of her written works became best-sellers and her very popular Kristine pocketbook series which consists of a total of 54 books was even turn into a TV series by one of the largest broadcasting network in the country.She is best known for writing love stories with happy endings and she has released over 00 books under her current company, Precious Heart Romance. 9. Carlo]. Caparas He was the man responsible for the creation of the undying story of Ang Panday (The Blacksmith). In addition to that, he also created other great stories who later turned to movies and/or TV series such as Gagambino, Bakekang, Totoy Bato, and Joaquin Bordado to name a few. Caparas was originally a comic strip writer who later ventured in to film directing and producing.In July 2009, he was proclaimed as a National Artist of the Philippines in the category of V isual Arts and Film. 8. Mars Ravelo Like Caparas, Mars Ravelo is also a comic strip writer and creator who rose to popularity because of his works such as Darna (a local version of America's wonderwoman), Dysabel (a mermaid whose fate is a little similar to Ariel of â€Å"The Little Mermaid†), and Captain Barbel (a local version of Superman) to name a few. As you may have observed, Ravelo's works are so much alike to some American fictional stories.This is because he was born at the time when Philippines was still an American Territory. Thus, it's understandable that his writing is heavily influenced by the American literature. Ravelo started out as a cartoonist who worked his way up until he became an editor-in-chief for several publications and film companies before establishing his own company. During his time, he was the highest paid comic writer.

Free Essays on Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was one of the most well known men of his time and has contributed so much to the writing world. He overcame tremendous odds and adversity and should always been instilled in the hearts of the world as a wonderful man who wanted to use his creative mind to produce astounding literature and to have fun. Johnson was born in Lichfield, England on September 18, 1709. Here he grew up with his father Michael, who was a bookseller to support the family. When Johnson was born he certainly wasn’t born healthy and was singled out at an early age, being kept away from most and having problems with almost every body part. He was blind in one eye and suffered from a hearing loss, which was attained when under the care of a tubercular nurse. Later in his toddler year, he had an open â€Å"issue† to drain excess fluid that built up in his arm. Not only was he scarred from physical problems, he also had to face the hardships of poverty. Once when attending oxford, later in his educational years, another student took notice of his deprivation of money and gave him new shoes. Most would take this offer and be happy, but Johnson was infuriated that someone observed that he was poor. This event alone with other childhood incidents showed his independence and refusal to depend on others. But, unfortunately, he had to leave Oxford for those exact financial problems and fell into a depression. To help him through this depression was his friend Edmund Hector that remained by his side. But following this depression, a bright point in Samuel Johnson’s life was his marriage to Elizabeth â€Å"Tetty† Porter who was 46 years old, when he was just 25. Johnson’s first attempt at a career was to be a schoolmaster but this failed because they students were not accepting and respectful of the twitching and odd appearance of Johnson. Next, in 1738, he went to London to seek wealth and attained employment as ... Free Essays on Samuel Johnson Free Essays on Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson was one of the most well known men of his time and has contributed so much to the writing world. He overcame tremendous odds and adversity and should always been instilled in the hearts of the world as a wonderful man who wanted to use his creative mind to produce astounding literature and to have fun. Johnson was born in Lichfield, England on September 18, 1709. Here he grew up with his father Michael, who was a bookseller to support the family. When Johnson was born he certainly wasn’t born healthy and was singled out at an early age, being kept away from most and having problems with almost every body part. He was blind in one eye and suffered from a hearing loss, which was attained when under the care of a tubercular nurse. Later in his toddler year, he had an open â€Å"issue† to drain excess fluid that built up in his arm. Not only was he scarred from physical problems, he also had to face the hardships of poverty. Once when attending oxford, later in his educational years, another student took notice of his deprivation of money and gave him new shoes. Most would take this offer and be happy, but Johnson was infuriated that someone observed that he was poor. This event alone with other childhood incidents showed his independence and refusal to depend on others. But, unfortunately, he had to leave Oxford for those exact financial problems and fell into a depression. To help him through this depression was his friend Edmund Hector that remained by his side. But following this depression, a bright point in Samuel Johnson’s life was his marriage to Elizabeth â€Å"Tetty† Porter who was 46 years old, when he was just 25. Johnson’s first attempt at a career was to be a schoolmaster but this failed because they students were not accepting and respectful of the twitching and odd appearance of Johnson. Next, in 1738, he went to London to seek wealth and attained employment as ...

Graduate positions - Emphasis

Graduate positions Graduate positions For anyone graduating or with offspring who are graduating this year, you could be forgiven for thinking the future looks a little bleak. The average graduate salary is likely to stay frozen at 25,000 for the second year running, according to research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. There are also fewer jobs to be had. And the best that can be said is that the number of vacancies hasnt fallen as sharply as predicted last year: the decrease was by just under nine per cent rather than the anticipated 25 per cent. But competition will be extra fierce this year, because the job-hunting class of 2010 will be joined by around 53 per cent of 2009 graduates, who are still vying for positions. Employers might welcome a bigger talent pool. But such a welcome is misplaced, at least according to one recruitment firm. This rise in the quantity of applications has not brought a rise in quality, says ClodaghBannigan, head of client services at Alexander Mann. So it seems that increasing the size of the talent pool has just diluted the talent. The advice is straightforward: the best approach is to carefully research roles and apply with thoughtful covering letters and tailored CVs. And, as ever, one of the first ways to guarantee your foot in the door (on the way to an interview) is to pay close attention to your writing. Remember the basics too. You might have an exceptionally well put-together CV, full of pertinent experience and encouraging insights into your person. But all that will mean nothing if your application is thrown out based on the typo in the first line. Literacy is a basic hard skill that prospective employers will look for evidence of in your resume. Typos, spelling mistakes and errors in punctuation and grammar can all indicate sloppy attention to detail and wont paint you as the kind of representative theyll want in their company. Until your interview, you are only as good as your paperwork (to quote the Recruitment Employment Confederation). But a great CV can get you a chance to prove you are the right person for the job. So make sure yours is: up to date well-structured and clearly laid out: it implies a logical and considered thought process full of objective, genuine evidence of your (relevant) experience and achievements written in simple language and short sentences: waffle will get you nowhere proofed, proofed and proofed again: check all grammar, punctuation and spelling, paying close attention to any contact details. Get someone else to check it too.

Group report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Group report - Essay Example Working together on a group project however, one learns that the success of the project is not due to the abilities of one man or one woman and that everyone must work together in tandem in order to ensure the smooth and successful operation of the project. This is new for many of us and we must resist our individualistic urges and sacrifice or self-centered individualism for the betterment of the group. While working on a group project, communitarianism reigns supreme and we must work together in harmony. Seeking to address the ways in which group work can be successful, this brief research paper will explore in holistic fashion the ways in which groups work best together. Accordingly, we turn to our ever important research question which asks, â€Å"Despite all the hype and myths about the nature of groups and teams, is it simply a question of ensuring the right mix of skills and that all the members of the group co-operate with each other. Or is this an over-simplification?† The preceding question will guide our analysis as we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of group dynamics and how groups work best together. Our assessment will aim to answer the research question above and provide a thorough analysis about our experiences with group work. Working together on a group assignment is not always easy and it takes negotiation and a willingness to compromise in order to be successful. As Americans we guard our individualism and sometimes do not work well with others. What we understood very early on is that organizational is key to any group assignment and that while it is important to ensure that the right mix of skills are present within the group it is also imperative that we are organized and plan appropriately in order to ensure that the work progress is smooth, streamlined and on target. We do not know if there is a philosophy of sorts for group projects but we found early on that

Parenting Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Parenting Today - Essay Example Planning for a divorce is not that easy because it does not only involve the couples, but it also involves their children; that is why it is best for the couple to find time to relax and plan on how they would manage their divorce. After they have planned everything out, they have to take it easy and have it step-by-step. In confronting their kids, the parents need to be honest and direct to the reason why they are planning to have a divorce. It is best to clarify to the children that it is not their fault, and they have nothing to do with the divorce. Explain to them what to expect and assure to them that they will be fine. In addition, give the children the full assurance that no matter what happens, their parents will always love them. Even though, they are not living in the same roof, but still both parents will take care of them. It is an important manner for both parents to have encouraged their children to express their thoughts and emotions. In this way, both parents can list en and will know how the children are struggling with the divorce, so that they can help them cope with the situation. Lastly, have an open communication with the other partner with regard to the children’s future and plans (â€Å"Children and divorce,† n.d.). Cases of teenage sexual intercourse are relatively increasing, and one initiative done by the government is to encourage teenagers to use proper contraceptives. However, some teenagers are still engaging unsafe sex and consequently result to teenage pregnancy. As a citizen, it is good to encourage teenagers to make use contraceptives in engaging sexual intercourse or rather yet not to engage in such dangerous actions. If so, enhancing the information to the teenagers will intensify their knowledge on the said issue, and making them aware all the possible negative consequences of doing such

The Connotations of Sex Work and Prostitution by Alice Leuchtag Research Paper - 1

The Connotations of Sex Work and Prostitution by Alice Leuchtag - Research Paper Example In ‘Naked Profits’, Friend writes about the sexual revolution in the strippers’ club – Lusty Lady Theatre. The manager, Darell Davis announced that the club will be closed and the dancers bought the business for $400,000. It became the first employee-owned strip club in San Francisco & formed a labour union in 1997. This improved the morale of the current owners. They got could work with more sober customers. A meeting revealed that Lust Lady was in deep financial crisis. The rent was doubled. The dancers made reductions in their wages although they had to do another job for a living. Unionization had increased number of dancers. They were almost broke. Their several plans like ladies night, auctioning, failed. The old problem persisted – they workers always kept complaining about the management, although it was self-selected. In Garvey's writing, one can observe that the author tries to explain the readers about what exactly ‘sexual discrimina tion’ refers to and the various forms. Women face problems right from being assaulted, to the lodging of complaints and seeking for investigation against the assaulters. Many regard them as lies. They are asked if they had been raped or not and other associated questions. Repetitive questioning in front of police or stranger investigators and under the light of media make them recount the horrible experience time and again. Generally, they are also discouraged by their families due to obvious shame and alienation from society. Pelka’s text reveals the experience of a man being raped by another, but not surprisingly in the prison.

Changing Role of HRM: The NHS

Changing Role of HRM: The NHS The Changing Role of Human Resource Management within the National Health Service: Feeling at Home in an Increasingly Complex Environment. Abstract In the context of a widespread programme of reform of the English National Health Service (NHS) this paper considers the changing role of Human Resources Management (HRM) within the service, and reports a study of the changing role of HRM in a large teaching hospital. Empirical research suggests that whilst the perception of the role and effectiveness of the HRM function remains varied, if managed correctly it is potentially capable of having a direct and beneficial impact upon service delivery. Introduction The reforms and changes within the National Health Service (NHS) and its management of staff and services has clearly been well documented, however research into the evaluation of these initiatives remains a neglected area. Walshe suggests that the reason behind this is that researchers do not have time to ‘painstakingly document and measure the progress and impacts of reform due to constant change caused by the initial ‘bright ideas having been poorly thought out (2002:106). Empirical research can though attempt to offer an understanding into the ‘complex relationships that exist between individuals and how they interpret policies within a wider social and cultural organisational context (Clarke 2006:202) and provide insight into the NHS managerial culture to examine how it ‘supports and facilitates the implementation of the recent wave of NHS reforms (Merali 2003:550). Through incorporating a review of the literature that surrounds the changing role of HRM w ithin the NHS and empirically based qualitative research, a comprehensive insight into the current context and position of Human Resource Management within an NHS Trust is given. Whilst such research will hopefully be of academic interest, perhaps more importantly in order for the NHS and other public services to be aware of the impact of reforms upon employees and thus on subsequent service delivery, an awareness of HRM practices and their implementation should be a necessity for practitioners (Edgar and Geare 2005). The Current Context of the NHS â€Å"†¦the NHS is unique. To name but a few of its characteristics, it is in the public sector, exceptionally large in terms of its resources, activities and numbers employed; domestic not international in its operations; its tasks are infinitely varied, complex and difficult; its goals are unclear; it is subject to an exceptionally wide range of political and economic influences; and it is an organisation uniquely and specially close to the hearts (metaphorically), minds and bodies (physically) of British people. It is run by ‘special kinds of people too: dedicated, yet often ambitious, highly qualified and skilled, often bloody-minded and usually tough-minded, yet also caring and even tender.†(Glover and Leopold 1996:256) The NHS is the largest employer in Europe, employing over a million clinical, infrastructure and support personnel (The Information Centre 2006). Whilst remaining close to the peoples heart in terms of its founding values of a universal and comprehensive health care with its service delivery freely and equally available to all in society (Rivett 1997; Talbot-Smith and Pollock 2006), it is also close to the peoples pockets, with billions of pounds having been invested into the NHS in the last ten years (Appelby 2007). In addition to providing a health service to the population, it is also claimed that ‘health and healthcare play a key role in generating social cohesion, productive workforce, employment and hence economic growth (Harrison 2005) and for this reason, as Bach notes, the means to reform health care systems effectively is an issue that confronts policy makers worldwide. (2001:1) As such, the challenges facing the NHS in terms of management, change and efficiency are i mportant to an audience far wider than the UK and those who use and work within the organisation. In consuming around  £50 billion per annum it is no wonder that successive British governments have attempted throughout the history of the NHS to dictate from the centre the ‘minutia of the NHSs activities. A key problem however is that due to the complexity of the organisation itself and the politics that surround it, the methods used are considered by many to consist merely of ‘a plethora of complicated targets and initiatives that confound those who are charged to implement them (Bradshaw 2003:90). In recognising the obvious public concern over the management, and expenditure, of the NHS both the previous Conservative and Labour governments and current New Labour invest considerable time, and tax-payers money, into attempting to improve the service. Yet it is considered increasingly apparent that in responding to health deficiencies ‘by throwing money at them to see the quick, comfortable resolution of the political conflict that these inevitably cause (Duncan -Smith 2002), continual change ‘for changes sake has become the focus at the expense of the ultimate ‘telos that created the health service (Kelly and Glover 1996:31). Changes in Management of the NHS Since its conception, it is clear that the NHS has undergone many changes, both structurally and ideologically, but it is since the reforms of the early 1980s that the focus of NHS management has attempted to move away from obvious ‘command and control techniques and towards local management with local responsibility and accountability not only to the government but to the public that ‘experience the service. It was subsequent to these reforms and as a result of the Griffiths Report and policies such as ‘Promoting Better Health, that ‘Working for Patients'(1989) was introduced which further emphasised the NHSs aims of better health care, choice, complaints procedures, patient information, and overarching quality. Currently a number of policy and management initiatives are transforming the structure and organisation of the NHS (Truss 2003). New Labour are heralding the benefits of ‘choice within the public services as a whole and many of the recent initiatives focus upon the ‘customer and the need for services to attract these customers and the money that they bring, to the extent that within the NHS ‘individual patient preference [is] determining where business will be placed (Bradshaw 2003:87). The logic behind this is claimed to be one of providing a new incentive for ‘providers to improve customer responsiveness, for if money follows patients and patients have a choice of service the power is with the people rather than in the hands of a previous monopolistic service provider (ibid). Such market incentives are driving NHS hospital trusts to perform more like businesses, with a corporate focus based upon meeting the demands of all the various stakeholders, and thus r equiring distinct business strategies which will account for all aspects of the organisation and services provided and ultimately ‘enhance their cash flow (Pollock 2004:218). With the establishment of Foundation Trusts, NHS Trusts which are perceived as high performers can gain Foundation Status, thus becoming corporate bodies, free from the controls of the strategic health authorities and accountable only to those whom they represent their own managers, staff, patients and local residents (Pollock 2004). The thinking behind this is seemingly one of moving away from what has been perceived as a ‘monolithic, inefficient bureaucracy to a system of individual services which are autonomous healthcare provider organisations that could be flexible, responsive and innovative (Walshe 2002:109). As the Department of Health states: â€Å"The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 establishes NHS Foundation Trusts as independent public benefit corporations modelled on co-operative and mutual traditions. Public benefit corporations are a new type of organisation, specially developed to reflect the unique aims and responsibilities of NHS Foundation Trusts. NHS Foundation Trusts exist to provide and develop services for NHS patients according to NHS principles and standards and are subject to NHS systems of inspection. Transferring ownership and accountability from Whitehall to the local community means that NHS Foundation Trusts are able to tailor their services to best meet the needs of the local population and tackle health inequalities more effectively.†(DoH 2007) Walshe considers the introduction of Foundation Trusts as providing organisational stability due to them reducing the ability of ‘future Secretaries of State for Health to reorganise the NHS every two or three years and thus allowing ‘meaningful service improvements to take place (2002:109). However, it is also recognised that this in turn could potentially cause problems as there will be ‘no guarantee of good management and governance resulting in the replacement of ‘one set of dysfunctional behaviours with another (ibid). Many interpret Foundation Trusts as forcing NHS trusts into having to respond flexibly to market forces similarly to private sector organisations, due to the public and political interest in the service it must also contend with the constant barrage of audits, inspections, monitoring, league tables and an increasingly demanding and knowledgeable public (Talbot-Smith and Pollock 2006). The NHS today can therefore be seen as remaining seemingly attached to the ideologies of the business world, and current government emphasis towards ‘modernisation suggests that the premise remains dominantly that: â€Å"†¦no organisational context is immune from the uncertainties of unrelenting change and that, as a result, all organisations public, private and voluntary need to develop similar norms and techniques of conduct: if they do not do so, they will not survive. Thus all organisations need to look to current ‘best practice†¦Government services are brought forward using the best and most modern techniques, to match the best of the private sector.†(Du Gay 2003:676) These government initiatives reflect notions that by improving management and employee satisfaction, the NHS could become both an efficient and effective business, able to satisfy these consumerist needs of the customer. For example, the policy ‘Improving Working Lives aimed to encourage NHS employers to ‘develop a range of policies and practices which support personal and professional development and enable employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance (DH 2000). These management strategies have been labelled within this sector as New Public Management (NPM) and are considered to mark a clear differentiation from the previous strategies of ‘an administered service to a managed service'(Bach, 2000:928). Flynn argues that NPM clearly incorporates all of the changes that have occurred within the NHS following the reorganisations and new rhetorics of the 1980 reforms and the essential components that NPM consists of are clearly visible: â€Å"†¦more active and accountable management; explicit standards, targets and measures for performance; a stress on results, quality and outcomes; the break-up of large units into smaller decentralised agencies; more competition and a contract culture; more flexibility in the terms and conditions of employment; increased managerial control over the workforce and efficiency in resource allocation.†(1991:28) With the introduction of this managerialist emphasis in the NHS it has been suggested that there has been an investment of ‘faith in managers. This faith has been based on the supposition that the ‘language, techniques and values of managerialism were, and are, ‘the only way actually to deliver change; thus an ‘unparalleled position of ‘power and authority has been placed upon public managers (Exworthy and Halford 1999:5-6). Such managerialism, and its values and beliefs is based upon the assumption that ‘better management will prove an efficient solvent for a wide range of economic and social ills (Pollitt 1993:1), and in the case of the NHS these ‘ills are well documented in terms of a lack of capital and thus a shortage of resources yet with a need to provide an increasingly efficient and ‘quality driven service. However, the notion of managerialism must be used with caution. ‘Faith in managers can be perceived as politicians having faith in their own management in that they have failed to ever relinquish control, instead taking even more tight control through the implementation of numerous health policies and operational procedures. Such a need to keep close reigns on the management of the NHS suggests a deep mistrust in the capabilities of the public servants within it rather than a desire to allow it its freedom. Overall it is clear that the NHS is very complex for a range of reasons not least because of its complexity and variety of its duties, the range of skills it needs to draw on, the difficulty of reconciling competing priorities, the cost of healthcare, and the way the NHS has been stitched into the political fabric of England. From an organisational perspective too it is a hybrid mix of hierarchy, bureaucracy, market and network. To efficiently manage such an organisation is therefore a highly complex and unrelenting challenge. HRM in the NHS The role of HRM pre-reforms was mainly focused on administration and support with a lack of defined responsibility. Named Personnel rather than HR, the function was used to deal with general staffing issues of terms and conditions of employment, payment and holiday options, individual and local staffing issues and the well known ‘hiring and firing that it remains renowned for. From Personnel Managers came HR professionals, HR departments, and increasingly HR directors with voting rights on the Executive Boards of NHS Trusts. This has been considered a result of the changes that stemmed from the Griffiths reforms and continue today, and due to a particular focus on corporate business ideals, from which a clear, but nonetheless controversial role was carved out for a function that dealt with the management of the increasingly important resource of people. ‘†¦the effect of the reforms was to stimulate management to review custom and practice and historical staffing patterns, with a view to achieving better value for money. In this context the HR function was caught up in the continuing tension between those health care professionals who focused primarily on patient care, and those managers responsible for cost-effective use of resources but constrained by a lack of clinical knowledge'(Buchan 2000:320). The current role of HRM in the NHS, its status within the service, and its success as an effective function has become especially important at this time where ‘human resources are considered the key to not only improved staff performance but also competitive advantage (Bach 2001; Clarke 2006). Despite the managerialist rhetoric that clearly surrounds the drive for increasing the role of HR, on a more simple note it is little wonder that such an emphasis has been placed upon the HR function considering the cost of staffing in the NHS of the  £19 billion cash increase in the NHS from 2004/5 to 2007/8 the increases in staff pay ‘swallowed up around 34% (Appelby 2007). To add to this, the growing importance of the function is particularly clear in situations where individual NHS trusts are being granted greater financial and operational independence within the increasingly competitive, consumer driven market that the government is creating through such initiatives as Found ation Trust Status. Barnett et als research demonstrated that the HR function within a Trust evolved through these changes in political and organisational focus and ‘generated a new focus on labour productivity and on value for money from which ‘a new and strategic approach to the management of the workforce was required and as a result they decided to ‘embrace the principles of human resource management'(1996:31). So with the acknowledgement that service funding follows customers, customer satisfaction is linked to quality of service, and quality of service is linked to ‘the skills, motivation and commitment of service staff, within such a ‘labour intensive human service industry the role of HRM is imperative (Bach 2001:1; Pollock 2004). The Changing Role of HRM in the NHS Yet HRMs move from an administrative role to a function that potentially impacts upon corporate strategy has been my no means plain sailing. Ham succinctly locates a key basis for conflict within the NHS in his suggestion that ‘there is continuing tension between the role of doctors in deciding treatment†¦and the attempt by managers and politicians to influence priorities at a national and local level (1996:96). There is much literature on the dominance of professionals and the conflict with managers within public sector organisations and in particular the NHS (Kember 1994; Skjorshammer 2001; Atun 2006; Hoggett 2006) and it is clear that their dominance remains not only because of their unique skills and knowledge but also because of their obvious importance within the service (Kelly and Glover 1996). However, within the changing NHS, the dominance of the professionals is subject to more and more management constraints, both on their resources and their autonomy and whilst some acceptance of management expertise is recognised by the professional groups their patience reaches a limit when this becomes encroachment on their ‘professional competence, resulting inevitably in conflict (Ackroyd 1996). Managers within the NHS are marked by a poor image, often both within the organisation and by members of the public. Meralis study found that the ‘majority of the managers were convinced that the general public believed that doctors and nurses were the only professionals in the NHS who are motivated by a desire to serve/provide care to society (2003:558) and similarly within this research the public perception of management within the NHS was consistently negative: ‘Theres too many [managers] as it is, ‘The NHS should swap most of the managers for doctors and nurses, then there wouldnt be waiting lists, â€Å"If you can find out what the management do then thats an achievement in itself. Overall it seems that management, especially in a context of attempting to rationalise the NHS and incorporate business ideals of value for money and efficiency which often results in cost-cutting through redundancies and closing services, are deemed by non-managers to hold an enti rely different ideology that is a far cry from caring for people. Yet the function of ‘management is well placed within the NHS, and its conflict with the medical professionals whilst often cited can appear over-emphasised. However with HRM now shifting in its role from administration and support to management and strategy at the same time as organisational change that is producing a complex and uncertain environment for many within the NHS, the HRM function faces a hostile crowd. This symmetry between the focus upon business and private sector ideals and the rise in HR as a function in its own right, can begin to explain perhaps the antagonism that many within the NHS express towards the HR departments. Those within the NHS who hold close to their hearts the original ideals of the NHS and their role within it rather than fighting against government initiatives and the corporate business world influence instead could hold to account the one group which was ‘created out of these initiatives the HR function. Bryson et al in acknowledging both the power struggle between doctors and management and the increasing role of HRM note that, with a complex organisational strategy that seemingly has no clear direction and with few colleagues from the traditional management functions to align with, HRM are far from being seen as any part of the ‘NHS tribal club (1996:53). Through becoming part of the ‘Corporate Business Team and gaining responsibility and a potential role of ‘power within the new NHS environment the HRM function has run into conflict. Starting off on the wrong-foot, as Bach explains, HR within the NHS must struggle with the constant accusation that it is illegitimate as its role does ‘not obviously contribute to patient care'(Bach 2001:12). It would also be expected that any role within the NHS service that had the role of scrutinising staff and reviewing quality of care when they were not medically knowledgeable would come to blows with the medical professionals, especially when the latter has enjoyed far-reaching autonomy and control in the service since its beginning (Buchan 2000). However, to also find few compatriots within the rest of management due to its timely rise with organisational change which has rationalised and constrained many other departments, many HR departments have been left in a no-mans land. There are few who would debate the continued dominance of the medical profession within the NHS, nor the importance of it remaining in such a position. However, their importance within the NHS as a business is becoming more complex. Management are increasingly holding the power to dictate for example the working patterns of doctors and they have the ability to withhold or reward resources depending upon clinicians abilities to achieve targets. And, with the introduction of Foundation Status, Trusts are running a competitive business within which all are dispensable, as Pollock describes: â€Å"†¦in the past, doctors were free to speak out in fact they were under a moral obligation to do so if they felt it was in the interests of their patients. In a business culture, however, loyalty is said to be due above all to the shareholders. Where the survival of the hospitals depends on massaging the figures and performance ratings, doctors who expose the inadequacies in the system or rail against underfunding or lack of resources are seen to be criticising their own hospitals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (2004:203) With performance targets increasingly dominant in the NHS, to the extent that funding, resources and ‘Foundation Status can be given or taken away accordingly, accountability not only for service provision but also initiatives such as ‘Improving Working Lives have meant that HRM can also take a large piece of the managerial high-ground (Givan 2005). In addition, with the record investments in staffing and government focus upon improving service delivery through effective people management, HRM has been given legitimacy within the NHS through the Governments ‘HR in the NHS Plan (DoH 2002) which represented the NHSs ‘first generic HR strategy'(Truss 2003:49) and more recently ‘NHS Foundation Trusts: A Guide to Developing HR arrangements which highlighted the importance of the HRM function within Foundation Trusts (DoH 2006). With these initiatives in place the effective functioning of HRM is a measurable target it matters not whether the medical professio nals or other managers accept or value the role of HRM. This not only provides the HRM function with a place within the NHS, it gives it the opportunity to ‘adopt a more strategic role within the ‘new public management: ‘it is no longer consigned to a reactive and administrative role, interpreting and applying national rules, and can be proactive (Corby 1996 cited in Truss 2003:49). A number of commentators have assumed that changes in the role and status of HRM in the public sector merely follow orientations developed in the private sector (Buchan 2000; Thomason 1990). Just as the NHS as an organisation can be seen to have taken on private, corporate business strategies, so too it is considered that private sector HR management techniques were established (Buchan 2000:320). Distinct similarities can indeed be seen between the developments of HRM in the private sector and what is currently expected of the HRM function within the NHS as Begley and Boyd summarise: â€Å"The declining relevance of the command-and-control approach to business has extended into the roles played by HRM. Many companies regard their employees talents as providing a significant competitive advantage. they expect their HR professionals to formulate creative, flexible programs and policies to woo, develop, and retain that talent.†(2000:12) This apparent mirroring of private sector HR techniques within the public sector environment has met with various hostile reactions, with accusations of public managers being forced to adopt private sector HRM styles with the possible ‘dangerous result that such language will cause the public domains to ‘neglect their values (Boyne, Jenkins et al. 1999:411). Yet others, and especially some senior HR professionals within the NHS, take a different view. For them, the introduction of more efficient people management is an important and necessary development, one that is sorely needed in an environment where people are not only the service providers, but also the product and customer of healthcare services. The following empirical research and analysis demonstrates that far from being left out in the cold, the HRM function is capable of rising through an NHS Trust, effectively implementing government initiatives as well as producing its own, and finally reaching the position of designing and directing corporate strategy. Whilst the perceptions of HRM by other Trust members may vary, this is not necessarily a hindrance, but perhaps an organisational necessity that must be negotiated. Methodology The paper reports a research project that has followed the changing role of the HRM function within a large teaching NHS Trust (herein called ‘The Trust) in the UK. It reports on in-depth interviews and observations of a number of meetings involving staff from across the hospital hierarchy. The Trust is facing many changes, both in its financial governance and organisational practices. Recently it was granted â€Å"Foundation Trust† status and, as a result, a competitive drive for value for money and the need to develop efficient recruitment and retention practices have become key issues. Despite only requiring access to staff, rather than patients, researching an NHS Trust proved more difficult than originally anticipated. Currently researchers wanting to interview NHS staff are required to gain NHS Ethics Committee approval to the same degree that clinical researchers must do when requesting clinical trials on patients. This can be seen as associated with the increased awareness of the importance and value of hospital staff and their working lives at all levels of the organisation, requiring the researcher to ensure that the research is valid and that staff will not be adversely affected. It could be suggested that by not distinguishing between staff and patients and the need for ethical approval in research the NHS has adopted the understanding that to ensure quality of service and patient care staff must also benefit from an improved working life.[1] The empirical research took place over a period of nine months within the one NHS Trust and included in-depth interviews with twenty-two members of The Trusts staff and observations of key meetings with staff from across The Trusts hierarchy in attendance. A Trust Executive P.A. provided a list of thirty-five potential participants for the interviews, ranging from Assistant Service Managers, Junior Doctors, Ward Managers, Nurse Specialists and Senior Staff (including members of the Trust Executive) who were contacted via email communication. Assurances were given that these participants had not been ‘cherry picked for their perceptions of HR or management initiatives (which was reflected in interview content at times). The interviews were conducted either within an office provided by The Trust or at a location convenient to the interviewee, often a staff room or their office. Each interview was recorded, with the participants consent, and transcribed in full, with all distinguishing information such as names, exact details of roles and personal information destroyed to ensure anonymity, in accordance with the Ethics Approval criteria. The Director of Workforce and Corporate Affairs was interviewed twice, before subsequent interviews took place and again once interviewing was completed. The three meetings observed (Patient and Staff Experience Meeting; Executive Governance Committee for Clinical Effectiveness; and Strategy Advisory Group) were chosen through knowledge of the different staffing groups that would be in attendance in order to attempt to gather information as to how different groups interacted. By chance observation of the RCN Clinical Leadership Programme Presentation to the Patient and Staff Experience Group was also possible. Notes were taken during the meeting regarding staff interaction, comments about policies and Trust issues, though individual names and some meeting content was not recorded due to either anonymity or irrelevance. Due to the highly qualitative nature of this research and in valuing the need to attempt to provide an accurate and indepth understanding into the perceptions of those interviewed and how these relate to the role of HRM and its effectiveness, the following presentation and discussion of the research will use direct quotations, some at length, to highlight issues. It is felt that it is important to allow these views to be expressed clearly and as distinct from over interpretation thus enabling as honest a reflection of the current context as possible. In order to ensure the anonymity of participants they will usually be identified only by their generic role within The Trust. Discussion of Empirical Research The research demonstrates that perceptions of HRM within The Trust remain varied, a stance that is not unknown to those within the role: â€Å"I think lots of different people have lots of different perceptions. I think †¦a lot of managers are starting to see the value of HR and what HR can actually offer them†¦Other managers would probably just think we are only here to make their lives difficult and not let them get on with the job but those are the people who perhaps have never really had any involvement or used HR to its capacity† (Human Resources Staff #1) This suggests that HRM within the NHS remains in a similar situation to when Currie and Procter researched the role of personnel within the NHS and highlight the differing perceptions that the personnel department, and its subsequent human resource strategies, had within a trust: â€Å"Both executive directors and middle level managers see an advisory role as appropriate†¦They differ in their views as to whether the emphasis of the personnel department should lie with operational or strategic issues in an advisory role†¦middle managers view the personnel department unfavourably because it is distant from the operational aspects of health care†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (1998:383-384) Indeed, many of the participants found it difficult to summarise the role of HRM and during the research the role was often described as ‘personnel or ‘medical staffing. This lack of clearly defined role for some within The Trust may, as suggested by the HR staff, stem from minimal contact with the HRM department, other than in specific situations such issues with recruitment and pay-role[2]. â€Å"†¦lower grade staff will still see the HR as a sort of mini police force within the organisation and if you do anything naughty you get disciplined and I guess a lot of the lower grade staff dont have a real idea of what the HR department does†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( Human Resources Staff2) Perhaps another reason could be the constantly changing title of the head of the HR department. Initially The Trust employed a Director of HRM but as the Director developed and expanded the remit and function of the HR departments role his title developed to one of Director of Workfor