Internalization of Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internalization of Business - Essay Example Presently, the company employs 100 staff to deal with its manufacturing of products such as DVD players and MP3 players. Although the company is supplying products to the Japanese market, it has failed to expand its business over the last two years. A number of reasons are attributable to the company’s stunted growth including higher wages it has been paying and lack of research and development staff. Furthermore, the company is struggling to address highly competitive market environment in terms of technology development and innovation. Hence, it is necessary to critically analyse the present situation of the company and to anticipate the key trends for Elecdyne over the next five years. The 2008 global crisis and recession raised potential challenges to the global economy and it impeded the economic growth worldwide. Many economists are of the view that the global financial crisis 2008-09 is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression in 1930s. As Soifer (2010) poi nts out, the crisis led to the collapse of a series of large financial institutions, the bailout of major banks by national governments, and downward movements in stock markets around the world (p.163). This crisis might have contributed to the growth decline of the Elecdyne. In modern days, market competition is very intense and therefore manufactures tend to design innovative models that would effectively dominate the market. Due to this stiff competition, customers get the extensive exposure to choose the best quality and affordable products. Since the Elecdyne lacks an effective R&D team, the company is really striving to develop innovative product models; and this worse condition keeps them away from the main stream of the international market. According to Despont (n.d), innovation and continued R&D is very important for an enterprise to survive the intense market competition because the modern customers always ask for the best products. However, it seems that the process of u rbanisation though networks and partnerships offer ranges of opportunities to organisations. It is observed that Elecdyne is currently near to sources of information and hence it can certainly become stronger by preparing itself to face international competition. Nowadays social networking sites such as facebook and Twitter have attained worldwide popularity and these social channels will enable the Elecdyne to understand customer tastes and specifications and thereby to maintain profitable market segments by realizing potential business territories. As Gourmelen (2004) points out, EU union expansion has created potential opportunities for organisations. In addition, Eastern European countries like Romania have cheaper salary margins as compared to UK .Hence, the Elecdyne can effectively offshore its manufacturing activities to such countries where favourable business conditions are prevailing. In addition, the company may obtain beneficial market environment in rapidly developing e conomies like India and China where the Elecdyne would get cheaper business inputs. The term STEEP is the acronym for Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political Factors. While analysing the socio-cultural factors, it seems that the company possesses a range of potential challenges. To illustrate; Japan, the company’s home country, is one of the world’s most famous countries for its electronics industry. Therefore cheap and close substitutes to Elecdyne’

Wildlife Conservation in India Essay Example for Free

Wildlife Conservation in India Essay Nature is the major part that gave plenty of chances to flourish mankind. When it comes about doing justice, it’s all what nature do, but not us. We learnt from childhood to save others, to think for others first, and rest all the things. In fact, we are living all because of the nature. And when our turn came to save the nature, we are simply sitting back, relaxing as if nothing has happened. Therefore, the government of India started giving advertisements to save the nature or in easy language ‘Save Wildlife’. Many wildlife organizations are there who try to save and flourish the wildlife. Many natural projects and programmes have been undertaken by the Indian Government like Project Tiger, Nature Camps, and Jungle Lodges. These have been organized to promote the wildlife awareness among the people in every remote areas of India. All of these projects help preserving the natural heritage as well as encourages the eco-tourism. The wild beings are the gift of the nature that helps decorate the natural beauty by their exceptional ways of existence. Today, due to the rising deforestation and negligence, wildlife is receiving a threat that needs special attention from every human being. The green heritage of this world could only be saved by joining hands together. The population of tigers is day-by-day diminishing, and so to preserve and protect them government has taken some initiatives. It is today very important for every individual to know this major issue of wildlife. The education and awareness will at least help people to stop killing more animals or birds. The major example of efforts to save the endangered Rhinoceros is in the Kazirange Sanctuary in Assam. To protect wildlife like Elephants, Periyar in Kerala is also doing exceptionally well, where as, the Dachigam National Park is also joining its hand to save the Hangul or Kashmiri Stag. Gir National Park that is located in Gujarat is the only surviving home for the almost wiped out Asiatic Lions in India. Wildlife Conservation in India covers some 3.29 million square kilometers of area including the floral and faunal species, mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds. Today, the Wildlife Conservation in India has become the most renowned holiday destinations due to its diverseness. In India, you will get total 571 sanctuaries and reserve parks, sheltered by the Indian Government. Some of the significant Wildlife Sanctuaries that could be found in India are: * Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh * Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh * Kaziranga National Park in Assam * Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan * Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal * Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam * Gir National Park Sanctuary in Gujarat * Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh * Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala * Dachigam National Park in Jammu Kashmir Besides this, there are many other NGOs are also working on the wildlife conservation like Wildlife Society of Orissa, Rhino Foundation for Nature, Friends of Forests, North Eastern Society for Preservation of Nature and Wildlife, Nature’s Beckon, Nature Conservation Society Amravati, The Friends of the Doon and Bali Nature, and Wild Life Conservation Society. Wildlife aids in sustaining the balanced living systems of earth that as a result guarantees survival of life. In fact, by studying about the wildlife further, Scientists achieved lots of precious information about different life processes and discovered significant medical products. Tourists when throng to India to see the major attractions and make some memorable time, they make sure that the nation could offer them good sights of wildlife as well. So be the one to save our environment and wildlife and make India a thriving place for these living beings. Active conservation projects in India Tiger Conservation Programme Geographical location: Asia/Pacific Southern Asia India The project aims at conserving the tiger and the species that cohabit its habitat. Project activities primarily focus on conservation efforts within the protected areas and their adjoining forests. There is also a major effort to work with the local communities; primarily to mobilise support for the cause of tiger conservation, and at the same time bring economic benefits to the communities by means of innovative mutually benefitting activities. Objectives Provide support to protected areas to strengthen their anti-poaching activities. Play a facilitators role to develop, ratify and adopt strategies. Protect high priority landscapes and the biodiversity therein. Restore critical habitats. Solution The project relates to conservation action in the 3 priority tiger landscapes in India, i.e. the Sunderbans, Satpuda Maikal and the Terai Arc. In addition to working in the landscape, WWF will also provide support to protected areas to strengthen their anti-poaching capabilities. The proposed activities in the selected landscapes will involve working closely with the governmental and non-governmental agencies along with the local communities. WWF will play the role of catalytic role in facilitating the agencies to collaborate to develop, ratify and adopt strategies, protect important biodiversity areas, conserve landscapes of high priority and restore critical habitats. Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) Geographical location: Asia/Pacific Asia General Asia/Pacific Southeast Asia Indonesia Asia/Pacific Southeast Asia Malaysia Asia/Pacific Southern Asia India Asia/Pacific Southern Asia Nepal Asia/Pacific Southern Asia Sri Lanka  © WWF Laos Summary WWF’s Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) was set up to focus on the conservation of these iconic flagship species. The programme was developed on the back of priorities defined by WWF Asia/Pacific Regional Strategy. This project is concerned with the next phase of the AREAS programme and priorities will be further developed. Background With a few notable exceptions, populations of the 3 Asian rhino species (Greater One-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) have experienced major declines over the past few decades as a result of habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. Large mammals, like rhinos and elephants, are wide-ranging and require extensive areas to support viable populations. It is possible that rhino and elephant populations in several of Asias relatively small protected areas have reached carrying capacity, and the areas have inadequate ecological resources to support larger populations. The animals are unable to use the surrounding areas as habitat fragmentation of their natural habitat has led to the reserves becoming isolated. In many areas, the only chance to maintain or rebuild viable rhino and elephant populations is to include the larger landscape in conservation planning. Objectives 1. Expand existing reserves and creating new reserves where possible. 2. Link proximal protected areas by corridors. 3. Manage buffer zones so that wildlife conservation activities and other natural resources provide more benefits to the local communities than irreversible extraction of resources. 4. Encourage low-intensity land use throughout the conservation landscape that are compatible with wildlife use and dispersal, yet provide equivalent benefits. 5. Re-establish the traditions of the local people that once allowed a relatively benevolent coexistence with wildlife. 2. Conservation of Red Pandas 3. Geographical location: 4. Asia/Pacific Southern Asia India 5. 6.  © WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY 7. Summary 8. Scientific information on the status of the red panda in Sikkim is very scant. While large areas are shown as red panda distribution areas, the reality is that only small pockets are available for the species. Authentic information on where exactly these animals are ranging and how exactly these places are connected and or what threatens these linkages is vital for creating strategies for effective conservation interventions. The Khangchendzonga landscape itself is a large area and the number of stakeholders is huge. Among them are government and non government agencies and influential individuals. These also include educational and research institutions that make key inputs into decision making. Bringing all of these together on a platform to make an alliance for conservation is expected to go a long way in achieving larger conservation goals. It is clear that the entire landscape including the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (Sikkim, India) is facing various threats. But there is no scientifically documented information that actually identifies the threats as well as shows levels of damage each one of them is causing or the potential of the damage that is waiting to happen. While this kind of dataset will appraise us of the level of interventions that are needed, it will also help in generating opinion among decision makers. 9. Background 10. Though the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is the state animal of Sikkim and reported to be found in six protected areas (PAs) within the state (Choudhury 2001), its status in the wild is thought to be steadily declining (Lachhungpa 1997). Choudhury (2001) also reports that a 1,000 times increase in tourists in Sikkim between 1980 and 1995 and their subsequent requirement for firewood has accelerated habitat loss. In addition to this, he mentioned that construction of roads, over-grazing, etc. have also had their toll on the red panda habitats in Sikkim. The ecology of this species has been studied by Pradhan et al. (1999) in Singhalila National Park, West Bengal, an area that is adjacent to the state of Sikkim and has contiguous patches to this state’s largest PA, i.e. the Kanchenjunga National Park. The state of Sikkim is also likely to hold about 20% of the potential red panda habitat in India (Choudhury 2001). Therefore, in order to propose a conservation action plan for the species, the foremost activity to be carried out is to estimate the current status and distribution of the red panda in Sikkim. This activity will identify the PAs and other areas of red panda habitat that need immediate attention. 11. Objectives 12. 1. Understand the conservation status of the red panda in Sikkim. 2. Strategise for long-term conservation of the red panda. 3. Conduct feasibility for reintroductions of the red panda in order to create populations in identified sites. 13. Solution 14. It is known that the red panda inhabits sub-tropical and temperate forests (Choudhury 2001) wherein they are threatened from habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, competition from domestic livestock, reduction of habitat quality by removal of maternal den trees (Glatstone 1994). Hence, conservation needs for this species in Sikkim is to be determined and addressed. The weaknesses of the red panda habitats within and outside PAs are to be quantified and specific strengthening measures are to be implemented. All these activities will require to build-up a partnership with different government authorities like the Forest Department, the Indian army and NGOs like the Mountain Institute, Resources Himalaya and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). A broad-based awareness programme will also be initiated at the middle of the first year to make the people of the state aware about the conservation issues for this species. In due course of time, a tie up could be done with the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, which has successfully carried out an ex-situ conservation programme of red panda, by breeding this species in captivity and releasing them in the wild. Interestingly, one of the two individuals that were radio-collared and released in the Singhalila National Park, has mated in the wild and given birth to offspring. 15. Terai Arc Landscape securing corridors, curbing poaching and mitigating HWC 16. Geographical location: 17. Asia/Pacific Southern Asia India 18. 19.  © WWF-Canon / Helena Telkanranta 20. Summary 21. The Terai Arc Landscape contains spectacular forests, savannahs and grasslands, providing vital habitat for three endangered large mammals: tiger, elephant and rhinoceros. This project will focus on restoring wildlife corridors, poaching and mitigation of human/wildlife conflict (HWC). These activites will have an overall positive impact on wildlife and will be focused on the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 22. Background 23. The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is spread over approximately 49,500 sq km and stretches from Nepal’s Bagmati river in the east to India’s Yamuna river in the west. TAL in India covers approximately 30,000 sq km across the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This area of India is about 50% forested. Vegetation in TAL-India consists of sal forests, sal mixed forests, riverine forests, mixed forests, grasslands and open scrubs. Some of the charismatic mega-fauna in TAL-India includes tiger (Panthera tigris), Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli) and the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica). TAL is also drained by major rivers such as Sharda, Kosi, Ramganga, Gandak, Bagmati, Sonanadi, Rapti, and Saryu. TAL in India has 9 protected areas (PAs) which are Rajaji National Park, Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa National Park and Tiger Reserve, Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary and Valmiki National Park and Tiger Reserve covering a total area of 4,500 sq km. TAL in India is among the most densely populated rural areas in the country as more than 20 million people reside here (2001 census). During the last two decades the population in TAL has increased by as much as 54.2%, which is 9% above the national average. Most of the poorer communities depend on the forest for their subsistence. Firewood, fodder and grass for thatching and rope making are the most significant resources extracted from the forests. Wild fruits, honey, medicinal plants, and leaves are some non-timber forest products (NTFPs) which are also extracted from the forests and these also contribute to the household economy of rural populations. Natural resource based occupations are predominant across TAL-India. Only 7% of the population uses purchased fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal and kerosene in the entire TAL-India, the remainder using fuel wood collected from the forests. This landscape faces several threats like loss of wildlife and its habitat at an alarming rate. Habitat degradation and fragmentation due to biotic pressures and developmental activities are causing immense damage to the TAL. Livelihoods of millions of people are also at risk, as the natural resources in the TAL provide a means of income as well as vital ecological services, which are being lost as the landscape is further degraded. There are direct threats to wildlife in terms of poaching and conflicts with humans. There are tribes who have been hunting animals as a tradition and many of these still continue to do so. Meager amounts are offered to the villagers residing near forests by organized poachers to kill animals. On the other hand when the wild animals move out of the forest areas due to shrinking of natural habitat and come in conflict with the local people, most of the time it is the animal which loses out in the fight. Species which are already stripped of their habitats often face retaliatory killing. The main threats to wildlife conservation in the Indian part of TAL include corridor degradation; poaching, illegal extraction of natural resources and wildlife trade; high levels of human wildlife conflict; lack of participation from the local people; inappropriate policies and inadequate infrastructure support for implementing the wildlife conservation measures by the state departments. The root causes of some of these problems include limited capacity within the Forest Department (particularly staff outside the PA system, i.e. in the territorial forest divisions) to undertake effective wildlife conservation measures in the critical wildlife corridors and tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Another underlying cause of habitat degradation is weak community institutions and limited alternative livelihoods which lead to over-extraction of forest resources. 24. Objectives 25. Secure critical wildlife corridors within TAL-India; Curb wildlife poaching and illegal wildlife trade in TAL-India; Mitigate human-wildlife conflict in TAL-India; and Build strong community based institutions. 26. Solution 27. WWF-India proposes to work with the forest department and other government agencies securing critical corridors and curbing poaching and illegal wildlife trade. It will work with the forest department, local administration and with local communities and community based organizations to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. WWF will also work on the building of a community based institution for wildlife conservation. 28. Achievement 29. 1. Moved the Central and State Government to secure Gola wildlife corridor. 2. Working with different stakeholders for reducing wildlife trade. 3. Human wildlife conflict mitigated substantially around the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour :: Kate Chopin The Story of an Hour

Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kate Chopin was a Victorian writer; whose writing manifests her life experiences. She was not happy with the principles of the time, because women had fewer rights, and they were not considered equal to men. Afraid of segregation from society, people lived in a hypocritical world full of lies; moreover, Kate Chopin was not afraid of segregation, and used her writing as a weapon against oppression of the soul. Marriage was an oppressor to Chopin, she had been a victim of this institution. Being a victim of marriage, Chopin's "Story of an Hour," is an expression of her believe that, marriage is an institution that oppresses, represses, and is a source of discontent among human beings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs. Mallard loved her husband.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She wept at once This was her first response to the news of his death. She would not had grieved over someone she did not love. Even in the heat of her passion she thinks about her lost love. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked safe with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. Her love may not have been the greatest love of all time, but it was still love.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage was not kind to Mrs. Mallard, her life was dull and not worth living, her face showed the years of repression. If she did love this man, why was marriage so harmful to her? Marriage was a prison for her There would be no powerful will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature. Marriage oppressed her, she needed freedom, freedom to grow and do what she wanted to do, and marriage took that away from here. Chopin didn't believe that one person should take away another's freedom.

Nutrition for Lean Muscle :: Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As important as it is to exercise, it may be even more important to watch what you eat. It is not so much of what you eat, but how much you eat, when you eat, and how often you eat. If you eat low in calorie snacks between meals, you will not be as hungry during normal meals, causing you to eat less then you would have without the snacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating five or six smaller meals a day, rather than three large meals, is said to increase your metabolism. An increase in metabolism should help you burn calories when you are exercising. A small meal may be a bowl of whole-wheat cereal with one percent milk for breakfast. For a mid morning meal, you could have a cup of cottage cheese. Your whole day continues like this, with small, yet healthy meals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The problem with low protein, low calorie, low fat, low anything diets is that when you are working out, or even performing everyday activities, your body does not have anything to get energy from in order to burn off fat. Foods that are high in protein or calories give your body energy, which is important if you are trying to increase your metabolism. Smoking and drinking don’t help if you are trying to lose weight because they make your body hungry, one because you are not aware of how much you are eating, or two because your blood pressure and pulse increase, and they too need nutrition to keep them down.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If you are careful about what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat, your muscles should become healthy and lean. It is also important to note that skipping meals does not help you loose weight, but gain weight, because when your body does get food it stores it as fat because it does not know when you ate going to eat again.

Drosophila Melanogaster

Autosomal Inheritance of Wrinkled and black Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster Abstract Homozygous Wrinkled virgin females and homozygous black male Drosophila melanogaster, were crossed. Mutations were located on chromosome two and three respectively. The F1 generation, all Wrinkled and black, was inbred yielding and F2 generation. A phenotypic ratio of 9:3:3:1 was hypothesized with wrinkled wings and wild type body: wrinkled wings and black body: wild type wings and body wing: wild type wings and black body correspondingly. A p-value

Jane Austens views upon marriages essays

Jane Austens views upon marriages essays Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice carries through a lot of thoughts about marriages in the 18:th and 19:th century. In the novel, Jane Austen is rather critical about the whole system of hierarchy during the time. The critics are especially directed towards the situation for women. This can be seen in several of the marriages, where she uses them as examples of the focus on class and money, instead of on love. Another part of the novel is where she gives a warning to everyone, telling you to be really careful with who you marries, and not just take the first one. Yet, she does not only complain about how it works, but she also shows us what she considers to be a wealthy marriage. In Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice there is a lot of criticism upon the system of hierarchy. This is shown in many of the different marriages, with the way they do not like each other, persons marrying for class instead of love, and several other aspects. One example of people marrying just for the different advantages it means in society, is the Collins. Charlotte goes into the marriage with the reflections of it to be general satisfactory (90).The result of it is being rather depressing. Already in the beginning of the engagement Charlotte feels that she [cares] not how soon that establishment were gained (90) . All because of the societys demands on how a marriage should look like, and also because of the trap Jane Austen consider young girls to be held captured in. Since girls can not own anything in any way, they have to marry. Otherwise they take the risk of being thrown out a house some day. An highly uncomfortable situation for the women who can sometimes come even f rom the upper gentry. Therefore, if you are approaching the age of being to old for marriage, you should seriously consider to get married as soon as possible, just like Charlotte Lucas. Another big part of the novel is wh...

A paper about the Mary Kay LeTourneau case. Her life, struggles, the case, and an educated explanation of the criminal theory she falls under.

A paper about the Mary Kay LeTourneau case. Her life, struggles, the case, and an educated explanation of the criminal theory she falls under. Mary Kay Letourneau became a parent's worst nightmare. Children are assumed safe and protected while in the care of teacher and it would be implausible for their child to become romantically involved with his or her own teacher. What makes a thirty- four year old woman to fall in love with a fourteen year old male? The details of the crime will clarify the trait theory that Mary Kay Letourneau is categorized.Mary Katherine Schmitz was born on January 30, 1962 southern California. She was the daughter of a respected politician father and a homemaker mother. Her parents were devout Catholics and she was the fourth of seven children. Growing up Mary Kay was active in school activities and always idolized her father. Academics were never important to her and she spent much of her time attending parties and taking road trips to Mexico. In 1970 her father won a seat in the United States House of Representatives and the family moved to Washington D.C.Cover of The Night of the Mary Kay Comma ndosJohn Schmitz then became the presidential candidate for the Independent party in 1972 but lost. The Schmitz family then moved back to California.Mary Kay's first tragedy struck August 11, 1973 when she was responsible for her three year old brother, Philip. When friends and family gathered in the background his body was noticed floating in the pool. No person was found responsible for his death however; Mary Kay always felt that her parents blamed the death on her.In 1975, a sex scandal broke loose about Mary Kay's father. John had been carrying a long time affair with a former student of his and had fathered two of her children. The scandal only caused a brief separation period between her parents. They reconciled shortly after. Mary Kay remained loyal to her father by claiming...

History of Womens Basketball in America (1891-Present)

History of Womens Basketball in America (1891-Present) Womens basketball began the year after the game was invented. The history of womens basketball success is a long one: collegiate and professional teams, intercollegiate competitions (and their critics) as well as the sad history of many failed attempts at professional leagues; womens basketball at the Olympics. Its all here in this timeline. 1891 James Naismith invented basket ball [sic] at a Massachusetts YMCA school 1892 first womens basketball team organized by Senda Berenson at Smith College, adapting Naismiths rules to emphasize cooperation, with three zones and six players on each team 1893 first womens college basketball game played at Smith College; no men were admitted to the game (March 21)womens basketball began at Iowa State College, Carleton College, Mount Holyoke College, and Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane) in New Orleans; each year more schools added womens basketball to their sports offerings for girls 1894 Senda Berenson published an article on womens basketball and its benefits in the Physical Education journal 1895 Basketball was being played at many womens colleges, including Vassar College, Bryn Mawr College, and Wellesley College Baer published rules for womens Basquette 1896 Bloomers introduced as a playing costume at Sophie Newbomb College, New OrleansStanford and the University of California at Berkeley played the first womens intercollegiate game; Stanford won, 2-1, and men were excluded, with women guarding the windows and doors to exclude menfirst known womens basketball game between two high schools was played in the Chicago area, with Chicago Austin High School against Oak Park High School 1899 Conference of Physical Training established a committee to form uniform rules for womens basket ball [sic]Stanford banned womens basketball from intercollegiate competition, as did the University of California 1901 University of California at Berkeley was given an outdoor basketball court for women by philanthropist Phoebe HearstSpalding issued womens basketball rules, edited by Senda Berenson, establishing 3 zones with 5-10 players per team; some teams used mens rules, some used Baers rules, and some used Spaldings/Berensons rules 1904 A Native American team played womens basketball at the St. Louis Worlds Fair, as an exhibition 1908 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) took the position that women or girls should not play basketball in public 1914 The American Olympic Committee declared its opposition to the participation of women in the Olympics competition 1920s industrial leagues teams sponsored by companies for their workers were established in many parts of the country 1921 Jeux Olympiques Fà ©minines held in Monaco, an all-womens sports competition for sports excluded from the Olympics; sports included basketball, track and field; Britains team won the basketball event 1922 Jeux Olympiques Fà ©minines held, an all-womens sports competition for sports excluded from the Olympics; sports included basketball, track and field 1923 Jeux Olympiques Fà ©minines held, an all-womens sports competition for sports excluded from the Olympics; sports included basketball, track and fieldWomens Division of the National Amateur Athletic Federation (WDNAAF) held its first conference; over the next few years, it will take on womens extramural basketball and other sports as too competitive, working to get high schools, industrial leagues, and even churches to ban tournaments 1924 Olympics included womens basketball as an exhibition eventInternational Womens Sports Federation founded, hosted a womens event paralleling the Olympics, including basketball 1926 AAU held the first national tournament for womens basketball, with six teams participating 1927 AAU National Womens Basketball Tournament canceled under pressure from the WDNAAF; Sunoco Oilers (Dallas) declared AAU national champions 1928 Olympics included womens basketball as an exhibition eventAAU National Womens Basketball Tournament canceled for the second year under pressure from the WDNAAF; Sunoco Oilers (Dallas) declared AAU national champions (again) 1929 AAU selected the first AAU All-America teamAAU re-started national championship tournament; Sunoco Oilers won, defeating the Golden Cyclones; a beauty contest was part of the event 1930 AAU national championship included 28 teams; Sunoco Oilers won, defeating the Golden Cyclones 1930s Isadore Channels (of the Chicago Romas team) and Ora Mae Washington (of the Philadelphia Tribunes) starred in two rival black womens basketball barnstorming teams; both women were also American Tennis Association title winnersWDNAAF continued to pressure states to ban womens basketball tournaments, with success in many states 1931 Golden Cyclones won AAU Championship, led by Babe Didrikson 1938 three zones reduced to two in womens competition 1940s during World War II, competition and recreation basketball was common; relocation centers for Japanese Americans, for instance, included regularly scheduled womens basketball games 1953 international competition in womens basketball was reorganized 1955 first Pan-American Games included womens basketball; USA won the gold medal 1969 Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (ICAW) held an invitational basketball tournament, the first national tournament not including AAU teams; West Chester State won the championshipwomens basketball was included in the Paralympics 1970 five player full court game adopted for womens basketball 1972 Title IX enacted, requiring federally-funded schools to fund womens sports equitably, including teams, scholarships, recruitment, and media coverageAssociation for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) held the first national intercollegiate championship in basketball; Immaculata defeated West ChesterAAU established national basketball tournaments for girls younger than college age 1973 college scholarships offered to female athletes for the first timeAmateur Basketball Association of the United States (ABAUSA) established, replacing AAU 1974 US Olympic Committee recognized the ABAUSABillie Jean King founded the Womens Sports Foundation, to promote sports and physical activity among girls 1976 womens basketball became an Olympic sport; the Soviet team won the gold, USA won the silver 1978 Wade Trophy established to honor a top collegiate player; first awarded to Carol BlazejowskiBill Byrne founded the 8-team Womens Basketball League (WBL) 1979 WBL expanded to 14 teams 1980 Ladies Professional Basketball Association founded with six teams; played for less than a month before failingfirst USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year Award went to Carol BlazejowskiOlympics held but many nations boycotted, led by the USA 1981 WBL played its last seasonWomens Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) beginsNCAA announced womens basketball tournaments; AIAW filed an antitrust suit in oppositionfinal AIAW tournament held; AIAW dropped the lawsuit against the NCAA and disbandedfirst NCAA womens basketball Final Four championship held 1984 Olympics womens basketball event won by USA team, with the USSR and some other nations boycottingWomens American Basketball Association (WABA) formed, with six teams; it was, like most of the womens professional basketball leagues, short-lived Lynette Woodard  began playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, the first woman to play with that team 1985 Senda Berenson Abbott, L. Margaret Wade, and Bertha F. Teague were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the first women to be so honored 1986 National Womens Basketball Association (NWBA) founded; folded the same season 1987 Naismith Hall of Fame initiated Female High School Player of the Year award 1988 Olympics womens basketball event won by USA team 1990 Pat Summit was the first woman to be awarded the John Bunn Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1991 WBL disbandedLiberty Basketball Association (LBA) founded, and lasted one game, broadcast on ESPN 1992 Howard University womens basketball coach became the first woman to win monetary damages under Title IX, for discriminationNera White, who played with the Nashville Business College team, and Lusia (Lucy) Harris (Harris-Stewart) were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1993 Womens Basketball Association (WBA) foundedAnn Meyers and Ulyana Semjonova inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1994 Carol Blazejowski inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1995 Womens Basketball Association (WBA) failedAmerican Basketball League (ABL) founded with ten teamsplayers Anne Donovan and Cheryl Miller inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1996 NBA established the WNBA with eight teams; Sheryl Swoopes was the first player signed by the WNBANancy Lieberman inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1997 first WNBA game playedWNBA added two more teamsplayers Joan Crawford and Denise Curry inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1998 ABL failedWNBA expanded by two teams 1999 Womens Basketball Hall of Fame opened with 25 inducteesWNBA expanded by four teams for the 2000 season 2000 Olympics held in Sydney, Australia; USA team won gold medal; Teresa Edwards became the first basketball player to play on five consecutive Olympic teams and win five Olympic medalsNational Womens Basketball Professional League (NWBL) foundedPat Head Summitt (coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2002 Sandra Kay Yow (coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of FameAshley McElhiney became the first woman head coach for a mens professional basketball team (ABA, Nashville Rhythm); she resigned in 2005 with a 21-10 record 2004 Lynette Woodard  inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2005 Hortencia Marcari and Sue Gunter (LSU coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2006 WNBA celebrated its 10th year by announcing an All-Decade Team, selected by fans, media, and current players and coaches. 2008 Cathy Rush inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of FameSigning a 7-day WNBA contract, Nancy Lieberman returned to play in a single game

Innovative information systems capabilities of Disney company Research Paper

Innovative information systems capabilities of Disney company - Research Paper Example The IT sector is behind many of the operations of the organization and is responsible for the smooth running of the various companies that are related to the Walt Disney organization (Gabler 56). Due to the large scale of the Disney family, it cannot be said that the IT functions are centralized but rather are set up in the different companies such as the Animation and Amusement park subsidiaries according to the particular needs of that company and their particular requirements. However, there is a section of IT that can be considered to be central in nature as it is responsible for the overview of the various parts of the Walt Disney Empire (Gabler 59). This is to say that it collects and maintains important information having to do with all the parts of the organization into one place so as to formulate an overview of how the companies are performing with regard to various terms such as financially, growth and expansion (Van den Hoven & Weckert 102). This central collection of inf ormation can be considered to be the hub of the Walt Disney Information System. ... These costs arise in different forms such as the maintenance of the machinery involved with the IT infrastructure in a bid to keep it running smoothly, as well as the cost of manpower that is required to operate the various systems (Daintith 75). These costs tend eat into the organization’s budget as they are cheap. There are various opportunities that can be discovered in this sector as well if one is to carefully look around. These include the room for expansion that is provided by the development of IT. This is with regard to the spread of the internet and the resultant market that is available on this new platform. The proper use of IT in this sector will allow the organization the opportunity to fully exploit this new market (Daintith 89). In terms of threats, the most significant in this category would be of insecurity which has become a growing problem within the IT industry as more hackers look to exploit those who these systems to their own advantage. Hackers are a da ngerous lot and could be responsible for the loss of a lot of  money through operation interruptions and thus the proper security measures need to be taken to ascertain that the system is safe and secure from such individuals. Disney's New Technology There are a number of new technologies within the IT sector that have arrived in Disney over the past few years and have served to improve the business operations of the organization in various ways be it the enhancement of operational efficiency or the attraction of more customers as a result of their introduction (Gabler 98). The main introductions have been of the latter variety and have been especially utilized in amusement parks where

Issues in contemporary management - Foxconn Essay

Issues in contemporary management - Foxconn - Essay Example On the same note, twenty people have been stopped by the firm from committing suicide (Argote, McEvily, & Reagans, 2003, 13). The reasons for these suicides have been unclear, but can be analyzed by considering theoretical models pertaining to a company’s management. Suicides committed by workers from Foxconn illustrate noticeable demographic and social attributes. An examination of several value-added terms to suicidal tide in Foxconn indicates that managerial tactics of fragmentation in interpersonal networks among employees stopped grievances from developing into collective actions like strikes (Chan, & Pun, 2010, 44). In the absence of interpersonal ties towards grievances comforting or protest mobilization, a generous compensation package can act as a temptation for the dismayed employees to utilize self-destruction as double-edged sword. Moreover, suicide by employees can expose brutality of the company’s management as well as evoke for global condemnation that fu lfilled their quest to attain revenge (Mezias, & Starbuck, 2003, 34). Compensation for their deaths could also improve material standards in their families that fulfilled family duties on their behalf. Therefore, a series of personal suicidal incidents instead of collective mobilization occurred in the company. One of the theories supporting these evidences is the structural conduciveness theory. This explains high confidential standard, atomized workplace relationship and low-cost employment. Another theory is the structural chain theory that explains low-quality system of security, physical exhaustion, intensive overtime workload as well as a horrified spirit (Chu, 2012, 54). Most importantly, the generalized belief theory in social conditions explains several reasons behind the suicides in Foxconn. These include high pension contributions of the self-worth families that became desperate and this develops against their institutional and individual retaliation. There was also the p articipating factor theory that explains rumors concerning cancellation of offering pension to all suicidal attempters. On another note, mobilization theory explains prevention of employees from similar provinces from coming together in order to distract a smooth operation of production lines. In this case, Foxconn management broke down all possible networks among its workers. It is clear that without mobilization, it becomes difficult to develop people’s behaviors into one social movement. Another theory explaining reasons for suicides in Foxconn is failure to engage social control. Foxconn had a culture of ignorance of several first line supervisors altogether with security guards. An initial suicide in the company occurred due to the employee’s incapability to adjust to the new environment. He was required to follow all rules and codes of the company meaning that that could be hard for him. Looking at a value-added theory of conduciveness, an individual can either a dapt or undergo challenges in new environments. In entering such a radical and different environment, a person’s way of understanding the world and their ways of working were to be rewritten (Chu, 2012, 58). This was especially in a new environment in Foxconn whereby every individual was required to operate machines, work with electronics in order to finish tasks as portions of assembly apparatus. The process can best be understood to be

Contribution Margin And Breakeven Analysis Essay

Contribution Margin And Breakeven Analysis - Essay Example This was the wrong decision because she did not consider the fact that despite lower operating profits, Lemon Crme enjoyed higher contribution margin than Real Mint i.e. 0.94 while Real Mint had the contribution margin of 0.64. The right decision should have been that the production of Lemon Crme should continue with the same quantity and its production should not be cut off. The bulk order should be accepted by reducing the current production of Real Mint. 1. If the price offered for the Real Mint is low causing decline in the operating profit OR the price per unit offered can not offset the variable and fixed cost incurred on the production. In the current case, the price per unit of $1.12 is generating the operating profit of $580,000. 2. If the production unit offered for the Real Mint is very high, in other words, in order to produce the required quantity of Real Mint, the production of Lemon Crme should be cut off to its actual position. In that case, the offer should be rejected, as the current price offered per unit is relatively very low than the price of the Lemon Crme and acceptance of the order, will result in the overall lose of operating profit. If the breakeven volume of Lemon Crme cookies in this new plant is 650,000 packs then she should not accept to buy the new unit. There are several reasons for that.

Investment Basics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Investment Basics - Research Paper Example Time frame; the investor will determine the time horizon for his or her investment. Risk capital; the investor will determine the amount of money he or she is willing to invest. Investment experience; the investor will describe his or her individual investment experience. The investor may choose one of the following statements; first, the client has never invested any cash in any financial instrument. Secondly, the client is comparatively a fresh investor, implying that he or she has invested for merely few years. The investor may also consider that the client has invested some of his or her cash through various pension and retirement plans for some time, and he or she prepared to establish extra investment plans. The client has invested for some time, and he or she has the capability to make sensible investment resolutions (Reilly & Brown, 2011). The client has invested cash for several years and has explicit knowledge of how capital markets operate. The client understands his or her investment goals; this involves determining the principal goal of the investment capital. The objective may be for preservation of capital, for current income for growth and profits, for long term growth, or antagonistic growth. Finally, the client will determine the actual investment he or she is considering. The actual investment will involve financial asset allocation among stocks, bonds and cash (Reilly & Brown, 2011). Bonds investors receive a fixed interest rate; therefore, bonds may provide a regular source of income. Bonds investors may fall under conservative, conservative to moderate and moderate risk categories depending on investors risk tolerance. Most investors invest in bonds to earn a fixed income; therefore, their risk category is conservative to moderate. Stocks may assist an investor to build long term growth of his or her investments. Stocks are deemed to be more risky investment than cash and bonds. Stocks may fall under moderate to

Retirement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Retirement - Assignment Example A number of people venture into different fields of work because they desire extra engagement. Reconciliation is the final stage. Ages of individuals at this stage range from the late 70s to early 80s (Schieber, 2012). The imagination stage is core because it dictates the stability of life after retirement in light of finances. In the midst of contemplating retirement, it is important to consider the amount of service credit earned for the total fiscal years of service. Age is another factor of consideration. From the age of 50 to 63 years, for every quarterly of a year there is an increase in retirement benefit (PLANNING YOUR RETIREMENT: Your Retirement Checklist). After the age of 63, the benefit remains constant. The average salary earned is the third factor to consider before retirement. The highest twelve months of salary earning determine the latter factor. Well-being of an individual, that is, health condition greatly influences retirement. An individual ailing from a life threatening illness is unlikely to encounter the five stages of retirement. Retrenchment is another factor that influences retirement in that there is an interruption to a person’s retirement planning. The role one plays in the structure of an organization is a factor that affects retirement in light of benefits earned from service. As mentioned above the average salary of an individual dictates the retirement benefit. The government funding of an employee’s retirement plan guarantees one a particular benefit every month while on retirement. The plan is a defined benefit plan (What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan). Benefit computation at retirement considers average salary, duration of service to the organization and age. The current level of the planning process is working on full time and on the imagination stage of retirement. In planning retirement, it is

Investment Basics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Investment Basics - Research Paper Example Time frame; the investor will determine the time horizon for his or her investment. Risk capital; the investor will determine the amount of money he or she is willing to invest. Investment experience; the investor will describe his or her individual investment experience. The investor may choose one of the following statements; first, the client has never invested any cash in any financial instrument. Secondly, the client is comparatively a fresh investor, implying that he or she has invested for merely few years. The investor may also consider that the client has invested some of his or her cash through various pension and retirement plans for some time, and he or she prepared to establish extra investment plans. The client has invested for some time, and he or she has the capability to make sensible investment resolutions (Reilly & Brown, 2011). The client has invested cash for several years and has explicit knowledge of how capital markets operate. The client understands his or her investment goals; this involves determining the principal goal of the investment capital. The objective may be for preservation of capital, for current income for growth and profits, for long term growth, or antagonistic growth. Finally, the client will determine the actual investment he or she is considering. The actual investment will involve financial asset allocation among stocks, bonds and cash (Reilly & Brown, 2011). Bonds investors receive a fixed interest rate; therefore, bonds may provide a regular source of income. Bonds investors may fall under conservative, conservative to moderate and moderate risk categories depending on investors risk tolerance. Most investors invest in bonds to earn a fixed income; therefore, their risk category is conservative to moderate. Stocks may assist an investor to build long term growth of his or her investments. Stocks are deemed to be more risky investment than cash and bonds. Stocks may fall under moderate to

Macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Macroeconomics - Essay Example Briefly identify and explain three methods intended to encourage economic growth for the typical firm in Hong Kong. Currently, various methods are being enacted by the government to encourage economic growth of the. These include: Adoption of free trading market policies Free markets have increased exports resulting in an increased revenue and surplus trading balance that increases the GDP, overall. Modern technological & labor advancement Boosting the technological sector has not only resulted in grooming of Hong Kong as a financial hub but has also increased the quality & quantity of production which has upgraded the manufacturing sector. Increased adoption of technology has improved the performance of labor, considerably. Adapting limited taxation strategy to attract Foreign Direct Investment Limited-tax policies, upgraded infrastructure and lenient incorporation procedures has played a major role in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. This capital inflow has not only increased revenue but has also decreased the unemployment level. Foreign Direct Investment is a major contributor to economy’s growth. ... ic growth is encoraged by productivity promotion, in accordance with the supply side of the economy, then there will be an increase in aggregerate supply as well as aggregerate demand resulting in a non-inflationary growth. Briefly describe Singapore’s economy (background, GDP, growth rate, etc.) Singapore is an open, trade-oriented economy which has a corruption-free government, skilled work-force, highly developed infrastructure with a good manufacturing sector mainly lead by electronics and biomedical manufacturing industries. GDP (2009): $182.23 billion GDP real growth rate (according to IMF 2009): negative 1.3% GDP real growth rate (according to CIA world of fact book 2010): 14.6% Per capita GDP (2009): $36,537 In 2009, the manufacturing sector with 26.3% and services sector with 69.1% has boosted Singapore’s economy. Briefly identify and explain three methods intended to encourage economic growth for the typical firm in Singapore. Following are few different metho d being used, to increase the economic growth for a typical firm in Singapore. Shifting towards service oriented economy Growth in the service sector increases the growth of overall economy. Financial services facilitates investment while telecommunications and power generation services helps to run a successful market economy. Birth of efficient-markets Establishment of efficeint markets, where prices are determined by supply and demand with few restrictions on trading of goods and services and adoption of free trade has increased healty competition, resulting in significant increase in exports and surplus balance of trade which ultimately boosts the economic growth. Approbation & implementation of business friendly policies Singapore Government has adapted business friendly policieswith a

Bmw Swot Analysis Essay Example for Free

Bmw Swot Analysis Essay Logo-BMW’s white-and-blue logo is recognizable worldwide, and recalls the company’s start as an aircraft engine manufacturer. It symbolizes a pilot’s view through a propeller as alternating white and blue segments. †¢Most successful multi-brand premium car manufacturer-BMW has three brands, BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. They delivered 141,952 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles in 2007 and sales increased by 7. 4% from the previous year. †¢Super luxury Rolls Royce car-The Rolls-Royce phantom holds the number one position in the super-luxury car segment. The Phantom was launched in 1993, and the final assembly, as well as all-wood and leatherwork are custom made for each customers individual specifications. The plant where they are produced, the Goodwood plant in England, contains only two robots to paint the space frame body; all other work is done by hand, in keeping with the Rolls-Royce tradition. †¢Spends one of the highest revenues on R;D-BMW Group employs about 8,000 people worldwide within the research ; development (R;D) network and has invested millions of dollars over the years. They employ engineers, designers, model builders, computer experts, and scientists of various disciplines FIZ co-ordinates and optimize research activities across the group to create the BMW cars of the future. †¢Brand-BMW ranked in the top 20 most recognized global brands. BMW is now the only multi-brand automaker that utilizes a pure, premium brand strategy. The objective behind this strategy is to generate higher income per vehicle on the basis of products with a high intrinsic value and a strong brand image. Their brand ranked number 15 in 2006. Longevity-Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) was formed in 1916 after two small aircraft engine manufacturers merged. In 1923, BMW began to build motorcycles, then its first car in 1928. †¢Driving School-Many manufacturers have associations with driving schools; BMW runs its own. The BMW Performance Center, adjacent to the BMW Manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, attracts owners and prospects from around the country for an ultimate br and experience. †¢Sales-BMW is one among the leading players in the premium cars segment. It achieved a record sales volume of 1,373,970 units in 2006. BMW is ranked among the ten largest car producers globally. Awards/Recognition-Reflecting BMWs commitment to developing quality and innovative products, the company has been honored with several awards in the past. For example, BMW was presented with the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany in February 2006 for the BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible models. Presented by the German Design Council, the award was the highest official German design award. Following this, the MINI model of the company won the Golden Steering Wheel 2006 award in seven out of 15 categories, ten days ahead of its official market launch in November 2006. Formula 1-BMW won its first Formula 1 championship in 1983 using a four cylinder, 1. 5-liter production based engine. Of course it was turbocharged and could develop well over 1,000 horsepower, some say over 1,500 for short periods of time. BMW continues to field a Formula 1 team because it provides the ultimate in competition and thus the ultimate in learning for BMW. †¢Excellence through quality innovation-BMW Group’s success is its strategic focus on developing customer-friendly innovations, coupled with an approach to innovations management that is unique within the motor industry Customize your own car-BMW has the option of seeing a sample of the car you’d like by selecting different options such as the color of interior design and exterior design, the wheels, the model etc. †¢Intelligent processes-the COSP(Customer oriented sales and production process) bases production on the customer’s customized version and not by company standards. They employ 70,000 workers in 23 different locations to build the customized cars. A customer can change or alter the options and style of the car right before it goes into production. †¢Environment-friendly-BMW considers environmental and recycling requirements. They use recycled products to build cars. They have environmental standards for all the plants throughout the world. They build cars that lower the amount of fuel consumption. †¢Superior technology and development of new products BMW is doing this is by developing a hybrid engine as part of a global alliance. The aim of this development is known as a â€Å"two-mode† hybrid vehicle, combining a combustion engine with two electronic engines. This design is aimed towards improving the performance, fuel consumption, emissions and range of conventional hybrid vehicles. The primary goal of modern hybrid systems is to save fuel. †¢Commitment to customers BMWs’ main goal is to focus on getting the product to the customer as quickly as possible. BMW has a program known as the â€Å"Customer oriented sales and production process. † This way, the customer is able to make any last minute changes to the equipment and accessories they’ve ordered shortly before the vehicle goes to assembly-without delaying the date of delivery. †¢Design Work design process of building vehicles is done by California Innovation Triangle. This state of the art firm uses computers to help aid the process of design. The highlight of this facility is what the industry has begun to call â€Å"the model plate. † The model plate is a measurement system that transfers the contours of the object being scanned to computers where a 3D model is produced. The designers can then go in and make changes to the object through the computer in order to make the part as suitable for its intended use as possible. What makes this machine so rare is the size of object that can be scanned. The model plate can scan very large object, up to the size of an omnibus. With the use of this technology BMW and California Innovation Triangle are able to layout and design entire vehicles piece by piece. †¢Involvement in community South Africa serves as good example of BMW’s social commitment. BMW works to bring change from within by enacting equality in the workface, and investing not only in the business, but also in education, healthcare and recreational facilities for employees. The factory at Rosslyn, near Pretoria, evolved from a CKD facility to serve the old South Africa, into a sophisticated facility that is now part of BMW’s international production-distribution network. This risk BMW took provided South Africa the ability to export. And in 2002, the South African factory captured the J. D. Power and Associates gold award for initial production quality. †¢Environmental commitment BMW factories meet the demanding ISO 14001 environmental standards worldwide. This is not only true for the oldest BMW factory in the city of Munich and at 10 year old American plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but also with new factories in emerging and less regulated markets like Thailand and Russia. Excellence through quality innovation-BMW Group’s success is its strategic focus on developing customer-friendly innovations, coupled with an approach to innovations management that is unique within the motor industry. From features like the twin-flat motorcycle engine, V-shaped overhead valves, and hemispherical combustion chambers introduced on the classics of the 1920s and 30s, to modern technology including ABS brakes, Xenon lights, smart airbags, the head protection system, Valvetronic and iDrive, BMW constantly reinforces its credibility as a premium manufacturer Management-Chief executive, Norbert Reithofer, who took office on September 1, will be seeking to build on the Bavarians’ global momentum. Reithofer has a brilliant track record as head of production, such as combining lean manufacturing and Japanese-like continual improvement with benchmark flexibility for a premium automaker which gives BMW a big cost advantage over leading competition and making it tough for competitors like Mercedes to gain any ground. †¢Young customer base-With the Mini and series 3, BMW has a significant dvantage of gaining younger and first time purchasers over other luxury brands. The youth market is critically important because if a young buyer chooses a particular brand for a first car, he or she is more than likely to buy others with the same name plate as they mature and move up in the market. Even though buyers in the 16-35 age category only accounted for a small percentage of overall sales it is important to gain there sales because as the old marketing principle goes it is easier to keep a customer than to gain new ones. WEAKNESSES †¢New Models-Is it really worth developing new models? It entails expenses along with shipping prices. Each day BMW is striving to produce and develop new cars to satisfy the customers. In the long run, who actually knows if these cars are going to be a big hit. The company might actually be wasting their time and money in producing a model that will not be worthwhile. When developing and producing cars it is important to decipher whether or not the car will become one that is popular on the market. †¢BMW’s heavy cost German base. -More and more competitors are shifting product development activities to lower cost countries. BMW could be forced to negotiate a way to maintain cost competitiveness and its reputation for German engineering excellence made in different countries. †¢Price-Another weakness of the BMW industry is getting the customers to buy these cars. Yes, the hybrid vehicle will save you fuel, but it will be so expensive that it might be hard trying to find customers to buy them at such a high price. Another reason the price of the vehicle is so high is because they are shipped across the United States and also come from a factory in Germany. The expenses of the vehicles and the shipping rate are two key weaknesses that many companies must work with. †¢Motorcycle Sales-The European market accounts for more than 60% of BMWs motorcycle sales on an average. The group is heavily dependent on this region with Germany being one of the largest markets for its motorcycles business. With the demand in Germany being highly inconsistent in the past six years, this high dependence on a particular region can have an adverse effect on the companys sales, during periods of demand stagnation in the region. For example, BMWs motorcycle sales in Germany declined by 9. % to 24,064 units in 2005, which further declined to 23,617 units in 2006. †¢Corporate image-too serious ad tradition-bound. †¢Hybrid Prices-These types of cars will save you a lot of money on fuel, but the problem BMW is having trouble with is pricing the hybrids. It would be hard for BMW to find customers that would buy the hybrids at a high cost. †¢Ship ment Cost-Most of the cars are shipped from Germany to the United States. The shipping cost would affect the price of the car. This is one the expenses that the BMW company’s would have to deal with in pricing their vehicles for the customers satisfaction. Online Strategies-BMW is not winning the â€Å"information war† in the market place about its own customers, their attitudes, complaints, wishes, etc. BMW is not operating in a manner, which acts to â€Å"include† its customers including their meeting and information sharing sources. Existing online efforts do not meet consumer needs. There is a lack of â€Å"human intelligence† and an over-reliance on visual marketing in BMW’s on-line strategies. †¢Dealer Networks-BMW’s dealer network is in the midst of great change. Overall basic product margins are down while business infrastructure requirements are up. Many dealers do not feel that the field reps are there to help them build their business but rather just to comment arbitrarily and deliver business change requirements from BMW headquarters. There is a problem with two way information flow in the distributor-dealer relationship. Dealers feel that they are not being listened to and are also not being serviced in critical areas of their business by BMWNA staff. †¢Management-Dealers want to be able to discuss key elements of their business given their limited capital resources. Given the size and nature of he motorcycle market many dealers feel that BMW’s current policies are overly restrictive to the healthy development of their business and that BMWNA should operate in a more flexible manner which could be seen as co-development of a dealer’s franchise not just top-down management by memo. †¢Changing Consumer Environments-Also, as it appears that BMW’s dealer strategy is to move to larger centralized â €˜corporate style’ stores, many of the smaller ‘mom and pop’ dealerships that historically or currently serve a key segment of the BMW owners/riders are being alienated and/or eliminated. By following this policy of upgrade or be eliminated BMW is removing both the habitat in which the consumers live as well as the knowledge base and support structure from which they engage in BMW oriented motorcycle commerce. OPPORTUNITIES †¢India-The Company has been launching several new initiatives and has been widening its product base since 2001. The company expects ample growth opportunities in India, and it is keen on expanding its bases in these countries. †¢The expansion of the euro. -In May 2004 more countries adopted the euro making it the world’s biggest trading block. This offers ample opportunities for BMW to leverage its strong European position in the premium car segment to gather more market share across new and expanding markets. †¢A Chinese luxury car market-Rigorous attempt to get into the Chinese luxury car market signifies an increase in the earnings of the company over the coming years. China already ranks as the third largest market for BMW’s 7 Series luxury limousines. BMW predicts that vigorous growth will place China among the company’s seven largest markets in a few more years. †¢Diesel Power-BMW foresees an immense opportunity in the diesel-powered cars segment. Tourism-the Zentrum building is located in South Carolina. This gives tourists the opportunity to take a look at the history of BMW, also at the cars, the speed and innovation free of charge. It is the only BMW museum in the United States. It is also located next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the United States. BMW should take a look into bu ilding more museums throughout the world. †¢Expansion-although BMW is very successful they should think about expanding their manufacturing plants throughout the United States and other countries. They only have one location in the United States which is in South Carolina. †¢Have the best and most current technology-It is important for BMW to have the best research and development staff where they can keep the company up-to-date with technology. With the latest technology and supplies, BMW can create the best cars the fastest and most efficient way possible. †¢Broaden information sharing -BMW should broaden information sharing amongst their dealers, distributors, and factory. This will improve product repair knowledge resulting in improved customer service and satisfaction. Improve and run their business based on their business plan-Improving the capabilities of dealers to sell more BMW products in the marketplace through refinement of their business plan †¢Utilize the Internet more-Multiply the value of the ‘human capital’ in the BMW network by â€Å"e-knowledge† and â€Å"e-training. † †¢Better training of their salespeople-Deve lopment and implementation of business practices that harness the best of each individual dealer and make their unique market position/skills a valuable part of the entire network. Partnering with Sirius Radio-In 2005, BMW partnered with Sirius Satellite Radio to promote its new 3-serious car for 44 days. BMW used Sirius to promote its new car because the radio station had 1. 24 million subscribers and still growing. On the final day of promotion it broadcasted a live concert with various artists. †¢Acquiring Volvo-The chairman of BMW, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, is plan on expanding the business with a fourth brand name, Volvo. Although sales of Volvo has been slow in the North American and Europe, its brand name focuses mainly on safety and its fashion appeal is not attractive to the eye. BMW could help out by acquiring the company to make it a more global brand, also in the Asian Market. †¢Apple iPhone-The new Apple iPhone is one of the next best things of phones. It is a touch screen phone with a built in iPod. This would give BMW the opportunity to integrate the iPhone into their cars. †¢China market-An opportunity for BMW is the increase in the luxury automobile market in china. The most significant growth of the luxury market can be attributed to Jiangsu province which has created an 84 percent increase. Next to Jiangsu is Guangdong, making 79 percent recorded growth in the market. On the other hand, Zhejiang province also bagged a 54 percent increase. THREATS †¢Demand Patterns-BMW operates in an industry that is prone to cyclical demand patterns due to consumer wants and needs. †¢Currency-Any unfavorable trend in Euro valuation against major currencies can hurt BMWs performance. †¢Fuel Efficiency-While BMW continues to work on high performance, clean and efficient gasoline engines, the company is also committed to a green-house-gas- free hydrogen powered vehicle as a long-term strategy. At this time we have an active development program that will enable us still to bring to market a full size automobile, propelled with hydrogen, before the end of the decade. †¢The continuing decline of the dollar against the euro-This threatens to undercut BMW’s top-line thereby tempering its profitability. The euro to one-dollar ratio has dropped from 0. 702626 euros to 0. 690376 euros from October to November. †¢The rising price of raw materials -Materials such as steel threaten to offset the company’s earnings. BMW continues to face the rising cost of raw materials as the key challenge to maintain and improve their growth performance. The annual average market price of aluminum, copper and plastic rose by 34%, 76% and 13%, respectively, in 2006. Likewise, the price of industrial raw materials also increased by more than 30% in 2006. †¢Rising gas prices – with a weak U. S. market, steadily rising gas prices and gaining popularity in non-luxury vehicles there is the temptation to move down market.

Plato and Aristotle Essay

Plato and Aristotle Essay What is happiness? Happiness is a way of engaging in the various activities of life. Can happiness allow people to live the good life? Aristotle believed that happiness can allow people to live the good life. This essay will be examining the ethics of Plato (428-347 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE) to analyse, justify and compare the major concepts of the two philosophers therein. I will argue that Aristotles solution to the problem of the good life is a better answer than Plato. It will summarise the fundamental concepts of Platos and Aristotles ethical theories, before providing my own opinion on their ethics. Plato: Plato was a philosopher who was both a rationalist and an absolutist in ethics. He was a rationalist because he believed that people can discover knowledge or justification by reason alone and for no circumstances that the knowledge can be wrong (http://philosophy.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/Notes/plato.html). Plato held the belief that human reasoning ability is the condition that allows people to approach the Forms (in Greek, idea). For Plato, human beings live in a world of visible and intelligible things. The visible world is what we see, hear and experience. This visible world is a world of change and uncertainty which means that we have to seek for it only in the realm of the mind in order to find any absolute certain knowledge. Platos rationalism dissimulates his absolutism. He was an absolutist, in that he believed that there is one and only one good life for all to lead since goodness is not dependent upon human inclinations (Popkin, Stroll, 1999, p.4). It is an absolute and exists in dependently of mankind. Thus this had made him believe that If a person knows what the good life is, he/she would not act immorally (Philosophy Made Simple, 1999, p.3). In order to live the good life people must be schooled to acquire certain kinds of knowledge. This training will give them the capacity to know the nature of the good life, since evil is due to lack of knowledge. However, Aristotle had a different perspective to Platos belief of what the good life is and how should people act. Aristotle: Aristotle was a philosopher who was both an empiricist and a relativist in ethics. Aristotle was an empiricist, in that he examined the behaviour and talk of various people in everyday life. He discovered that various lives, which people of common sense considered to be good, all contain one common characteristic: happiness. Aristotle concluded that the good life for people is a life of happiness. Aristotle defines happiness as an activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue (Philosophy Made Simple, 1999, p.8). Aristotle considered that pleasure is essential for a person to live a happy life. Aristotle uses a formula called the Doctrine of the Mean or the preferred name Golden Mean to answer how people should behave in order to achieve happiness. Moderation in all things is the Doctrine of the Mean. This leads to the fact that Aristotle was a relativist, in that he believed that there was more than one good life for people. He stated that we must have virtues of moderation whic h are different for each individual. The virtues are the virtues of moderation as this was how Aristotle perceived it as. By definition, virtue is a means between two extremes, an excess and a defect, with respect to a particular action or emotion (The Purple Philosophy Book: Ethics, p.21). This demonstrates that the mean is not the mathematical definition, average. Knowing what the Golden Mean is, will allow an individual to develop self-control. People must strive for the mean between two extremes: courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice. Also people must act moderately in order to achieve happiness. (http://www.plosin.com/work/AristotleMean.html) Appraisal: I would now like to share my opinion and perspective on how I perceive the theories of Plato and Aristotle. In my view, the better solution to the problem of the good life is Aristotles relativism, rather than Hobbess absolutism. Firstly, Platos argument about the good life is flawed for a number of reasons. The first reason I will analyse is whether his inference If a person knows what the good life is, he/she would not act immorally (Philosophy Made Simple, 1999, p.3) is justified. I believe that Platos account must be rejected because a person could still act evilly even though they know and understand what the right course of action is. For example, if a person knows stealing is wrong but stills commit the crime, then this casts Platos argument in doubt. Aristotles view on the human nature, on contrary, is that what is right for one person is not necessarily right for another, since he believed that there was more than one good life for people (http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/rar/PvA .htm). An example for this is that a person can be more or less courageous than others. When interpreting the theories of both philosophers, it is clear to me that Aristotles view of human nature is far more superior to Plato. This is because Aristotle showed a more realistic view of human nature than Plato about the good life. Therefore, it is evident that Aristotles solution to the problem of the good life is a better answer than Plato. Secondly, Plato suggests that moral difficulties in many cases are theoretically solvable by the acquisition of further knowledge. There seems to be situations in which moral difficulties are not theoretically solvable by the acquisition of further knowledge. For example, a person knows all the relevant facts that inventing a nuclear bomb will be able to kill 1,000,000 people which will then end and shorten the war by years. On the other hand, if the person knows the effects of dropping a nuclear bomb, it will then make the area uninhabitable for numerous years. The situation seems analogous to many problems which soldiers face. Should we or should not drop the nuclear bomb? In this situation, the acquisition of further information will not be able to help the person to solve this moral difficulty. In this account, Platos theory cannot be accepted, since he has mistaken moral knowledge with scientific and mathematical knowledge. Therefore, it is evident that Platos argument about the good life and moral difficulties are like mathematical problems are flawed for a number of reasons. I believe that Aristotles argument about the Golden Mean is flawed for a number of reasons. For the first reason I will analyse whether his inference that everyone always ought to follow the middle course between certain kinds of activities (Philosophy Made Simple, 1999, p.11) is justified. There are some situations that do not have a middle course. (http://www.plosin.com/work/AristotleMean.html) For example, there is no middle for keeping a promise and breaking a promise. Furthermore, moderation is not always appropriate, since some situations require extreme behaviour. Some people have passionate and flamboyant personalities. For example, a person may find that moderation behaviour does not suit him/her as the person may be temporarily passionate about his/her occupation. Therefore, it is evident that Aristotles Golden Mean is flawed in this case. In conclusion, Aristotles argument about the good life demonstrates that the good life is a life of happiness. Platos however, does not; as he believed that people needs certain kinds of knowledge of the good life in order to live the good life. From the reasons above, Aristotles solution to the problem of the good life is a better answer than Plato. On the other hand, Aristotles Golden Mean would not work. However Platos absolutism will work in the situation in keeping a promise and breaking a promise. From the reasons stated above Platos absolutism will be a better answer than Aristotles relativism.

Leaders and Businessmen of the Victorian Era Essay examples -- Victori

Uneducated Gentlemen: The Leaders and Businessmen of the Victorian Era Changing Intentions of Public Education The public education system in Victorian England was originally intended for the education of the poorer working classes, and the training of clergy (Landow, par. 2). The children of the upper classes were often educated at home by private tutors, and therefore it was assumed the public schools would be a place for members of the lower classes. Despite the original intentions of public education, the schools eventually became a primary means of helping to elevate the status of the middle classes. In fact, rather than being primarily concerned with the imparting of knowledge, â€Å"the whole educational process was designed to mold the student into a young Christian Gentleman† (Everett, par. 2). The middle and upper classes wanted to keep children of the working classes from being educated, perhaps as a means of social control, and thus according to Eric Hobsbawm, in 1897 less than 7% of academic secondary school students were members of the working class (qtd. in Landow, pa...

Adult Day Care Centers

Adult Day Care Centers Naomi Noel University of the Rockies Abstract Adult day cares have not received the acclaim due. They are an invaluable part of the communities that they serve. They incorporate succinct mission statements to effectively get their point across while also employing a wide range of professionals to better serve their clientele. The utilize needs based assessment tools for enrollment as well as needs assessment surveys to gather information from the surrounding community. The chain of command is laid out so that ethical guidelines can easily be established and appropriately enforced.They also referrals to agencies better equipped to handle particular situations in order to better serve their clientele. Within the next five to ten years, the need for their services will increase. However, unless federal guidelines change and more funding is established the current trend of only operating for a few years will continue. Adult Day Care Centers The majority of in-home care providers for physically or cognitively disabled adults are family members, generally an adult child or a spouse. Without the care of these family members, many adults would require nursing home care.Family caregivers are extremely valuable, but often need additional help in caring for a loved one. Caregiving can take an enormous toll, both financially and physically. Adult day care can provide needed respite from caregiving and may reduce the need for a nursing home. An adult day care center, also commonly known as adult day services or adult day health care, is a non-residential facility providing activities for elderly and/or handicapped individuals. While centers of this kind are available, they often have waitlists due to the high demand.Most centers operate 10 – 12 hours per day and provide meals, social/recreational outings, and general supervision. Adult daycare centers operate under a social model and/or a health care model. Daycare centers may focus on providin g care only for persons with Alzheimer's and related dementias or their services may be available for any disabled adult. The original concept was to provide a â€Å"sitting service† as it were to provide activities and stimulation for care-recipients in an environment outside of the home.The care-recipient would receive supervision and possibly some limited care while the caregiver would have a break from the routine of daily caregiving thus allowing them to take care of other responsibilities or simply have time to themselves. This also allowed peace and quiet to relieve the stress of caregiving. The care center might offer transportation at a nominal additional cost to transport the loved one to and from the center. This initial model is still around but it has undergone some tweaking in order to prove profitable.There are now three basic models for adult day care that were developed mostly so the government would be inclined to contribute financially. The traditional mode l with social services, activities, crafts and some individualized attention; the medical model with all of the aforementioned services plus skilled services such as nurses, therapist, psychiatrists and geriatric physicians; and the Alzheimer’s model with services specifically designed to support and care for Alzheimer’s patients. Participation in adult day care often prevents re-hospitalizations and may delay admission to residential long term care.For participants who would otherwise want to stay at home alone, the social stimulation and recreational activities may improve or maintain physical and cognitive function. Adult Day Care Centers are designed to provide care and companionship for seniors who need assistance or supervision during the day. The goals of the programs are to delay or prevent institutionalization by providing alternative care, to enhance self-esteem and to encourage socialization. (Eldercare. gov, 2012) A mission statement defines an organization s fundamental purpose.It answers the basic questions of why the organization exists while describing the needs that it is attempting to meet. It also provides the basis for judging the success of the organization and is capable of attracting donors and volunteers while simultaneously encouraging community involvement. Your mission statement embraces the reasons your practice exists (besides just making a living for you and your staff), the core values your organization shares and expresses through its work, how you serve your key stakeholders, and your overarching (sometimes idealistic) goals. Urology Times, 2011) The mission statement of the adult day care center created for this paper would read as follows: To provide a secure and nurturing environment for clients who need social environment, consistent supervision and loving assistance. This mission statement sums up the goals for the center in a concise manner while offering reassurance to the client’s primary caregivers. The list of professionals necessary for organizational success includes licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, a certified nutritionist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist.These employees are the ones who would be required to have a degree, licensure or certification in their respective areas. This does not include staff such as receptionists and bookkeeping. The licensed nurses would be responsible for the overall day-to-day operation of the center and particularly ensuring that the center is operating according to state licensing regulations and health department policies and procedures. They would supervise the nursing assistants and medication staff while also reviewing client history prior to admission to the facility and conducting admission assessment conferences.The certified nursing assistants (CNAs) would be responsible for assisting with overall client care including but not limited to assessment, care planning, mobility, safety, comfort, and unit efficiency. The medication staff’s only role would be to ensure the proper storing and dispensing of client prescriptions. Next would be a nutritionist. Nutritionists play a preventative role while offering education about what kind of foods are consumed. They offer menu suggestions and assist with understanding the connection between food and emotions.They would be a vital member of the center’s team since the typical center serves breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack. The final professionals necessary for a creditable adult day care center are an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Occupational therapists are proficient in modifying the physical environment as well as training the individual in the proper use of assistive equipment to increase independence. They also emphasize helping their patients engage in meaningful activities of daily living (ADLs).Physical therapists are trained to identify and maximize quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation. Their primary focus is on the physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being of the client. While each of these specialists concentrates on differing characteristics of care, they do experience some vocational overlap which allows them to work well in tandem. The physical and occupational therapists would be contracted out of reimbursement purposes.It is important that the timing of each unit of therapy is not inclusive of any other treatments. The clients would be timed from when the actual therapies or services begin. This would not include time for restroom breaks, waiting for someone to get ready or clothing changes. Adhering to these policies allows clients to receive quality therapeutic services while keeping the overall costs down. Needs based assessment tools are a vital part of the overall blueprint for adult day care center enrollment.These assessments allow the facility to obtain data from potential clientele in order to evaluate whether or not the center can address the client’s diverse needs. Some of the more common tools include psychological, physical, leisure interest, nutritional and risk assessments. Some facilities may elect to include financial and estate planning depending on availability and demand. Most states require a licensed nurse to conduct the psychological assessment portion of a patient's intake process. One of the most common assessment instruments in use is the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).The MMSE is a brief assessment of the cognitive state of the adult client. The instrument screens for impairment in cognition, estimates the severity of impairment at a specific point in time (usually during intake) and can be used to reassess and follow changes in the individual's mental state over time or to document changes that happen as a result of therapy or applied therapeutic support services. The nu rse typically obtains copies of any formal psychological evaluations and assessments that have been completed within the past ten years. State minimum standards outline what sorts of physical evaluation are needed.Standard tests include height, weight, blood pressure, respiration and temperature. A nurse also obtains and reviews the patient's medical history from his doctor and follows up with questions about specific conditions that may affect the patient's care plan. At this time, the patient's family and the nurse develop or make a copy of the patient's advance directive, which lays out the patient's wishes in case extraordinary medical intervention is needed to keep him alive. This documentation is crucial especially when working with the elderly. The center activity director (AD) conducts a leisure/recreational interest inventory of the patient.The inventory is a check-off list of recreational activities that the person either enjoys or does not enjoy to varying degrees. By ide ntifying recreational interests of each new patient, the AD can structure an activities program so that activities not only meet physical, mental and social needs in a therapeutic way but also engage the patient. The center's consulting nutritionist may perform their own client assessment while also looking at the care plan drawn up by the center treatment team to incorporate the patient's special dietary needs into the center's meal and snack menus.Clients with special dietary needs may require a detailed meal plan be designed. The nutritionist is also in charge of monitoring the client to ensure that the diet is satisfactory. As part of the intake process, the entire treatment team considers physical, social and mental limitations faced by the patient in addition to special needs, flight risk, fall risk, seizure potential or other possible risks in providing care to the patient. The team as a whole weighs risks, develops strategies and addresses risk factors to be incorporated int o the patient's treatment plan.The family will eventually meet with the bookkeeping staff, to assess family financial resources, insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid) and other social service resources while developing a care contract and payment plan. At this time, the staff typically provides a copy of the center's family handbook to the patient's caregivers with center policies and procedures as well as general information about operations, hours, types of services offered and terms of service.The chain of command is defined as â€Å"The order in which authority and power in an organization is wielded and delegated from top management to every employee at every level of the organization† (Business Dictionary. com, 2012). The clearer cut the chain of command, the more effective the decision making process and greater the efficiency. Military forces are an example of straight chain of command, extending in an unbroken line from the top brass to ranks. However, this ill ustration is not conducive to the requirements of an adult day care center.Chain of command is considered very important in organizations because it enhances the effectiveness of the management. The chain of command clearly shows the line of authority and responsibility in the organization, therefore, it really plays an important role in the organizations. Following is a more appropriate chain of command sequences for a facility of this nature. This type of chain is more of a pyramid and is well-suited to the organization’s needs.Volunteering, in the sense of carrying out tasks or providing services for individuals or community organizations without financial recompense, is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. It is considered as serving the society through one's own interests, personal skills or learning, which in return produces a feeling of self-worth and respect, instead of money. Volunteering is also famo us for skill development, socialization and fun. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment or for a variety of other reasons.Community volunteers would be a substantial part of the center’s staff as their involvement is capable of forging friendship with the clients. It is essential for an agency of this capacity to be knowledgeable about other services and facilities that the clientele can benefits from. The benefit of this is two-fold. First, you show your clients and their families that you really want them to succeed. Second, this service allows you to network with other agencies providing them with additional clientele. If the experience is positive (for all parties involved), then it is likely that they will return the favor.Collaboration among agencies is the key to preventing fragmentation. In addition to reducing the likelihood of clients falling through the cracks between disparate and unconnected agencies, collaboration can foster a more holistic view of the client. Sometimes just a simple change of perspective can make the difference between circumstances being viewed as â€Å"needs† and being viewed as assets. For example, a single parent who cannot find a babysitter on a particular evening misses a treatment session. See Appendix for a suggested agency referral list. The ethical standards that govern the human services profession depend on many variables, including the human service professional’s level of education, professional license, and even the state in which they practice† (Martin, 2011). In the state of Oklahoma, an adult day care is required to have a designated administrator-of-record who has been licensed by the state. Because of the nature of this agency and the mandatory licensure, it falls under the umbrella of the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Long Term Care Administrators’ Code of Ethics which was adopted from the American College of Health Care Administrators’ C ode of Ethics.The abbreviated version contains four simple expectations. EXPECTATION I -Individuals shall hold paramount the welfare of persons for whom care is provided. EXPECTATION II – Individuals shall maintain high standards of professional competence. EXPECTATION III – Individuals shall strive, in all matters relating to their professional functions, to maintain a professional posture that places paramount the interests of the facility and its residents. EXPECTATION IV – Individuals shall honor their responsibilities to the public, their profession, and their relationships with colleagues and members of related professions. American College of Health Care Administrators, 2012) These expectations are reasonable and simple to understand. Maintaining the standard of the governing organization would not present any difficulty. In addition to the code of ethics from a superior governing organization, the center would adhere to the following principles as well: quality of care, participant rights, participant selection, appropriateness of care, representation of care and fees, conflicts of interest, accountability of member, and protection of the public. Enforcing these principles would ensure the utmost quality of service.The final ethical standard for this center would come from the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). NADSA gives what they refer to as the Six Domains of Health Care Quality. The work to ensure that all facilities with their certification provide care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. A needs assessment is a systematic exploration and analysis of â€Å"the way things are† and â€Å"the way things ought to be. † A need is not a want or desire, but a gap between the current situation and the optimal situation.Using both qualitative and quantitative research, a needs assessment identifies gaps in training, programs, services and outreach efforts. Needs asses sments can be used to identify and solve performance problems in order to direct a natural resource or outdoor recreation organization's future planning efforts. Needs assessment surveys provide a way of community members what they see as the most important needs of that particular group. These surveys are important only to agencies who value community feedback.They offer an excellent opportunity to gather and score the opinions of those the agency is trying to assist. Needs assessment surveys are necessary to learn more about the communal needs, gain a more honest and objective description of needs and become more aware of issues that may have fallen under the radar. As baby boomers and others seek quality care for their parents, the adult day care industry is growing at a rate of five to fifteen percent, dependent on location. According to The National Adult Day Services Association 3,500 centers are caring for approximately 150,000 adults daily. In 1990, ADS facilities reported c osts between $30 to $35 dollars a day† (Burke, Hudson, & Eubanks, 1990). Today, cost estimates for not for- profit facilities range from $40 to $50 and for-profits range from $60 to $70 per day. The average age of the adult day center care recipient is 72, and two-thirds of all adult day center care recipients are women. Thirty-five percent of the adult day center care recipients live with an adult child, 20 percent with a spouse, 18 percent in an institutional setting, and 13 percent with parents or other relatives, while 11 percent live alone.Fifty-two percent of the adult day center care recipients using adult day services centers nationwide have some cognitive impairment. (Bauer & Moore, 2009) Since the 1970s there has been a continued growth of adult day health service programs, with the most rapid growth occurring after additional Medicaid funds became available through approved waiver programs. There is no existing federal policy regarding adult and pediatric day health services, so there is great variability among states’ approaches to adult day health services (ADHS), and rightly, great variation in programs, services, and standards.Because literature on reimbursement approaches specific to day health services was scant, long-term care literature to describe reimbursement structures and factors utilized for needs-based reimbursement systems was heavily relied on. In theory adult day services seem to offer an ideal alternative to caregivers by providing a daytime care environment outside of the home. One would think that a program where a loved one could be nurtured, stimulated and provided medical care would be a welcome relief for both the caregiver and the care-recipient. In practice it does not seem to work.To only have added about 133 new care centers a year in the entire country does not seem like enough. Yet there are thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health agencies available coast to coast. Although i t is an extremely valuable service that should be utilized more often, no one seems to have an answer as to why adult day care has not been more popular with caregivers. As of yet, no data collection or research studies have been able to answer this question. However, several theories have been developed. First, and quite simply, care-recipients may not be comfortable with the concept.Many of the people who qualify for these services are afraid to leave their homes unless someone familiar is with them. The thought of being by themselves in a new environment is enough to convince them not to give it a chance. Second, the cost of the services might be detrimental to some caregivers. This is especially true of those with loved ones who did not qualify for one of the numerous waiver programs that are offered by the government. Third, perhaps there are not enough caregivers and families that are familiar with what services these center have to offer.Fourth, adult day care can prove to be its own worst enemy. About half of all centers are nonprofit organizations sponsored by churches or community associations. Often these places find themselves in a catch twenty-two; on one hand they charge next to nothing which does not allow them to cover all of the associated expenses. On the other hand, if they were to raise their rates, they run the risk of turning away potential clients. From 1989 to 2004 the number of ADHS facilities doubled. A survey completed in 2001 put the number of adult day care centers at 3,493 nationwide.This trend is projected to continue. In the next five to ten years, it is expected that the need for adult day care centers is going to drastically increase due to the length of time the general population lives. The average lifespan continues to increase due to advances in health care thus creating an influx of elderly citizens who will eventually need to depend on others for their care. As more and more people continue on in the workforce, they will begin to rely more heavily on adult day and adult health centers to care for their loved ones.Ideally more funding and federal regulations will come about. In addition, one can hope that the general population will become more aware of the benefits of an adult day care center. Once those two things occur, then this service can experience exponential growth while simultaneously extending a helping hand to the elderly population. References Bauer, A. , & Moore, W. (2009, October 09). Adult day service centers are vital to our growing senior population. Retrieved from http://www. journalscene. com/commentary/Adult-day-service-centers-are-vital-to-our-growing-senior-population Burke, M. Hudson, T. , & Eubanks, P. (1990). Number of adult day care centers increasing, but payment is slow. Alternate Care, 34-42. Chain of command. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/chain-of-command. html Code of ethics. (2012, August 24). Retrieved from http://www. ok. gov /osbeltca/Code_of_Ethics/ index. html How to write a mission statement that resonates. (2011). Urology Times, 39(11), 43-44. Martin, M. E. (2011). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings. (2nd ed. Boston, MA: Pearson. Appendix Referral Agencies Adult Day Services Phone:      (405) 521-42291-800-498-7995Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚   73107 Adult Protective Services Program Oklahoma  County (405) 522-2743 Aging Services: Legal Services Shirley Cox, Legal Services Developer Phone:   (405) 521-2281Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚   73107 Area Agencies on Aging Directors Phone:   (405) 521-2281Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK 73107 Respite Eleanor Kurtz, Programs Supervisor Phone:  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 522-62411-866-359-8596Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚  Ã‚   73107 State Plan Personal Care Tom Dunning, Programs Administrator State Plan Personal Care Intake Line: 1-800-435-4711 Transportation Eleanor Kurtz, Programs Supervisor Phone:  Ã‚     Ã‚  (405)  522-66831-800- 498-7995Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚  Ã‚  73107