Mandatory Birth Control Welfare Requirement Debate Essay Example

Mandatory Birth Control Welfare Requirement Debate Paper The American welfare system began in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, to aid families with little or no income. The welfare system expanded over the following six decades. Allegations of welfare fraud and abuse increased proportionally. Some welfare recipients were staying unmarried, unemployed, or acquiring more children to manipulate the system and qualify for more aid (Welfareinfo.org, 2013). In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed a bill turning control of the welfare system over to the individual states. Thus, allowing states to choose their preferred mechanisms to modify the requirements and restrictions of welfare applicants and recipients to minimize the abuses. Both sides of the aisle have introduced bills to eliminate funding to chronic welfare abuses and preserve the limited welfare funds for families and individuals in genuine need of temporary financial assistance. Despite sounding like an oxymoron, political officials have the most appropriate career competency for understanding state laws and determining the better courses of action for preserving state tax revenues. We will write a custom essay sample on Mandatory Birth Control Welfare Requirement Debate specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mandatory Birth Control Welfare Requirement Debate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mandatory Birth Control Welfare Requirement Debate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On June 20, 2013, The US Congress led by Rep. Stephen Finchers (R-Tenn) put forth a bill that would require states to perform random drug tests on 20% of the people receiving benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The bill did not pass the Congress. Rep. Fincher intends to revise the bill and submit for a vote later. On February 2, 2009, the Obama administration revised the TANF program adding a requirement that welfare recipients must take an active role in searching for employment, and to remain employed when possible. Numerous other bills have been introduced in Congress over the years to address the issues of drug use, intentional unemployment, and fraud in state or federal subsidized programs. Adding children to a family already in welfare programs increases the amount of welfare payment and extends the amount of time a person can be unemployed and receive taxpayer funded welfare. Some welfare recipients have additional children simply as a way to profit from the system. The topic of this debate will be: Should individuals, enrolled in a government assistance programs, be required to be on birth control to receive benefits? This debate paper will begin with three arguments from the pro perspective, followed by three arguments from the con perspective. The merits of these debate arguments will be discussed, followed by a conclusion based on the team’s determination of the stronger set of arguments. Lastly, the weaker perspective will offer a rebuttal to the team’s conclusion. Pro Arguments Foster Child and Adoption Programs A person qualifies for welfare when he or she does not have the means, or ability to provide adequately for them self. Social service agencies will not place foster or adoptive children in economically unstable household to ensure the child’s needs are adequately met. As a ward of society and for the protection of unborn children, a welfare recipient should be required to be on birth control and meet the same standards required for adoptive or foster parents before mandatory birth control can be suspended. Doing this would mirror the social service guidelines already established, which ensure children’s need can be adequately met by their guardians, and also prevents additional burdens on the welfare system. Social Responsibilities and Constitutional Rights The Constitution holds an individuals rights to be inalienable. The Supreme Court has ruled that citizen rights are exercised only to the extent that they do not infringe on the rights of another. Therefore, irresponsible reproduction by welfare recipients infringes upon the rights of fellow Americans, by forcing them to support the reckless behavior of the welfare recipient. Further, welfare is an entitlement program, not a constitutional right. The government has numerous restrictions and requirement for social security, unemployment, education, and every other entitlement program. Those restrictions preserve the intent of the programs and reduce abuses. This requirement is simply asking potential mothers and fathers to take responsibility for their own actions. Having children should not be forbidden; however, temporarily restrictions while a potential mother or father is dependent upon taxpayer backed state assistance should be required. This should help eliminate many of the cases of welfare abuse by decoupling the desire to have children and the current financial incentive of welfare recipients to have more children. This creates a further incentive for seeking employment and self improvement of potential mothers or fathers wanting children and should reduce the amount of time a recipient stays in the welfare system. Universal Health care and contraception A person should be required to use birth control to receive government assistance if he or she is cannot to support and feed themselves and any children he or she already has. If this person refuses to participate in preventative measures for religious or other reasons then monetary assistance should eliminated if they were to have another pregnancy. The state should provide free contraception to them as part of their assistance. Free vasectomies to the men should be offered as part of this program. Con Arguments Religious conflict to birth control A person should not be forced to take birth control to receive assistance if he or she chooses not to. Many religious beliefs do not permit contraception to be used. The Catholic Church, for example, is one. If God wants a person to have a child, what right does the state or federal government have to override His will? Social Responsibilities and Constitutional Rights The Constitution of the United States of America gives the same rights and protections to all persons regardless of their employment or income status. The government has no authority to regulate when, why, or how often any person procreates. Requiring that welfare recipients submit to birth control to receive welfare benefits is a violation of that person’s constitutional rights. Such a draconian measure will harm families and promote suffering of innocent children who welfare recipients already have. For the government to cut off a citizen’s rightful assistance for the very natural and inalienable right of procreation is tyrannical and stands in stark contract to every principle that this great country was founded. Universal Health Care and Contraception Before an individuals reproductive rights are taken away, we must speak of global access to birth control. Does a welfare recipient pose a higher long-term risk, compared to a teenage mother? Focusing birth control mandates on citizens who are already struggling with hard times will not address the broader issues of decreasing the demands on the welfare system. Planned Parenthood, one of the largest sources of free and low-cost birth control, and has experienced countless budget cuts, year after year. These budget cuts make providing services to the neediest participants extremely difficult. What other services will need to be provided in the long term to young mothers. Better funding of family planning programs is a better use of tax payer dollars. Providing more funding to family planning clinics provides solutions to individuals who are actively seeking family planning rather than infringing on the rights stereotyped group who find themselves needing help, not oppression. Welfare Requirements Debate In an evaluation of the arguments presented, Team D has determined that the pro side of this debate presented stronger arguments. Several logic errors or fallacies were noted in the con arguments, which further weakened the strengths of the con side of the debate. There were two direct parallels between the pro and con arguments. One of the set of arguments is not directly paired, but did overlap with some relevance. The team determined at the con argument of religious belief is a fallacy, shifting the burden of proof. The con argument of universal health care addresses the religious argument without side stepping the issue. The team evaluation also determined the con argument is an argument from popularity. Further, the separation of church and state should not allow or require that state welfare policies cater to individual religious concerns. There are numerous legal precedents, such as Roe v Wade that establish government policy despite conflicting religious perspective. On the issue of constitutional rights, the team opinion again found the pro argument better reasoned. The most convincing aspects of the pro argument were welfare is an entitlement program, not a constitutional right, and entitlement programs can place restrictions. This was viewed as the pro side providing legal precedent. The con side is a statement of faulty comparison and does not provide any counterargument to pro side’s establishment of the legal precedent. The arguments of universal health care were also determined stronger on the pro side. While neither side had a particularly strong argument, the pro side did provide a rebuttal to the religious argument of the con side. The con argument is not substantive to the debate and is considered to be a red herring. The team concludes the pro side presented a strong case for each of the arguments. Since, welfare benefits are not constitutionally mandated, and individual’s rights to procreate freely are not protected under the Constitution. States should have the liberties to decide requirements that must be met to use welfare benefits, including use of mandatory birth control. Rebuttal The government has the responsibility to protect its citizen’s rights and responsibilities, not remove them. Regardless of whether welfare is an entitlement program or a right, the government does not have the authority to make family planning decisions for its citizens. Such actions would be a clear and blatant violation of constitutional rights. Imposing such requirements on welfare recipients is not simply a slippery slope, but an avalanche of issues that have not been discussed or evaluated by the proponents of mandatory birth control. What recourse will women have if they suffered any of the potential side effects of birth control such as decreased fertility, hormone regulation, depression, mood disorders? What happens to the people kicked off the welfare system? Are they left to starve? The moral wrongs of this requirement far outweigh any tax saving biased statisticians can produce. Abuses and fraud may exist in the welfare system, but mandatory birth control is not an effective approach to try to address that. The many who depend on the welfare system would be undeservedly punished for the crimes of a few that take advantage of it. Mandatory birth control is a one-size fits all approach, like using a nuclear bomb to swat flies. There are many other approaches that can and should be taken that can achieve the goal of reducing fraud and protecting the rights of families. Many mothers cannot work because the cost of childcare is greater than the income they can earn. Creating more affordable childcare programs would aid to get mothers in the workforce and off the welfare roles. Sick children cannot go to school or daycare, which means mothers cannot work and cannot earn money when their children are sick. Health care is prohibitively expensive. Affordable health care or access to universal health care would create healthier children and allow them to stay in school or daycare. This cycle of mothers having to leave work to stay at home with their sick children has been the very cause of many mothers losing steady employment and end up dependent on welfare. These are just a few of many alternatives that would create a positive impact on all parties involved and reduce dependence on the welfare system. There are better ways to preserve and protect the welfare system and families. For these reasons and many more, birth control should not be made as a mandatory part of receiving welfare benefits. References http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/ welfare-drug-testing-bill-congress_n_2806450.html

Tobacco Smoking and American Lung Association Essays

Tobacco Smoking and American Lung Association Essays Tobacco Smoking and American Lung Association Essay Tobacco Smoking and American Lung Association Essay Topic : Smoking Among Teenagers Thesis Statement : Smoking among teenagers has been increasing in an alarming rate. There are many effects on cigarette on the teenagers and the numerous ways to quit smoking. Fact : According to the American Lung Association, there are an estimated 50 million people who smoke. For some reason people just do not fully understand the risks they take by smoking. Cigatette smoking is a frequent cause for many health problem with smokers. To begin with, there are many hazardous ingredients in cigarette tobacco. Some of th ingredients are poisonous or addictive. Cigarette smoke produces thousand of chemicals that are hazardous to a smoker’s health. There are over 4000 chemicals produced by a burning cigarette. At least 200 chemicals are known to be poisonous to a persons health. Though filters help block some of the chemicals, they will not stop them completely. Effect : 1. Smoking can effect not your health but also your social and family life. It can also affect the non-smoker around you. Non-smokers suffer from allergies, noise and eye irritations and headaches as a result of inhaling second hand smoke. * Smoking while youre pregnant can result to the growth of the foetus and may even result in the death of the baby. 2. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. * It is also responsible for chronic bronchitis. Last, there is emphysema, which is another disease caused by smoking. * By smoking, people have a fivefold increase in the risk of dying from lung cancer, chronic b ronchitis, and emphysema. Lung cancer accounts for 29 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States and smoking accounts for about 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. The risks of dying from lung cancer are 23 times higher for male smokers and 11 times higher for female smokers than for nonsmokers. 3. Smoking can cause died. * The majority of smokers are cognizant of the dangers of inhaling the poisons and toxins that deteriorate their health and those around them, and they either don’t care or are so addicted to tobacco, that they are at an impasse to do anything about it. Ways to quit smoking : 1. Think about starting an exercise program and a sensible eating plan. Again speak to your doctor or dietician. Exercise will give you more energy and help you to relax and relieve stress. 2. Tell your family and friends about your intentions. Ask them for their support before you quit and explain that you may not be yourself while experiencing withdrawal. When you reach your quitting date rely on those that have been most encouraging for support. . Consider finding yourself a quitting partner relatives, work colleagues and friends are a good place to start. Set a date to quit together and you will be able to give each other support. Conclusion : In conclusion, smoking is bad for our health because it produces a lot of damage and in extreme cases, the death. Smoking is also like a slow death, so if you are smoker, you are in risk, you are dying. So, we must be careful of that.

Asda Marketing Plan

To combat this, the report suggests that ASDA looks to change its strategy to focus more on a sustainable supply-chain, potentially one which is focused on UK food and products. While this may lead to higher prices from the retailer, it could improve its image when it comes to sustainable food retailing, and so warrant higher prices to consumers, especially if the introduction of local products develops an emotional attachment for customers. Introduction The following assignment will consider ASDA, considering the external environment in which the business operates as well as its ethical consideration, determining whether the current strategy should be maintained or whether a change is needed, with the assignment then making recommendations. Company Overview ASDA is a UK-based grocery retailers owned by U.S. listed Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ASDA has been part of the UK’s ‘Big 4’ retailers in the UK grocery sector, also compromising of Tesco, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s, however it recently moved from 3rd from 2nd place on the list, being overtaken by Sainsbury’s after disappointing sales. The latest report from Kantar Worldpanel (2016) put’s ASDA’s market share at 15.3%, behind that of Sainsbury’s after suffering a 4.7% fall in sales, compared with a 0.7% fall in Sainsbury’s, and a 1.6% rise in sales at Tesco. To many UK consumers, ASDA has developed on the back of price competition, with the retailer being heavily focused on being the UK’s best value supermarket. Due of its focus on price, ASDA in the past could have been seen to ignore ethical consideration, with some of the top places seen with premium retailers such as Marks Spencer, who use their premium pricing to better consider the quality/ ethics behind their supply chain. Market Environment However, it is this strategy which has been a downfall for the retailer, especially when put against competition from the expanding ‘discounter’s’, namely Lidl and Aldi (Ruddick, 2014). These retailers have aggressively expanded into the UK market on the back of offering low prices to consumers, with their focus on ‘prime-match’, similar of marketing conducted by ASDA against the other ‘Big 4’[1]. Given this, Aldi managed to record sales growth of 10% over the same period, beating all competition and increasing its market share to 6.2%. At the same time, Aldi also announced that it looks to take its store tally from 450 to 1,000 by 2022; Lidl also announced plans to open 40-50 new stores in the UK each year, noted by Gale (2016). This move in the market has been supported from a new business model and changing consumer habits. Discounters have benefitted from economies of scale, reducing the scale of choice to offer just one option; in tu rn allowing them to increase sales of that product and reduce the production costs. At the same time, these discounters have also expanded on a no-frills approach to stores, moving away from the ‘Superstore’ concept which became popular with Tesco and ASDA. This comes at a time when consumers have also looked to move away from superstores, preferring little-and-often shops to better budget. There also seems to a reduction in customer loyalty as consumers look for the best value. Marketing Situational Analysis Building on the above, a SWOT analysis is shown below; Strengths  ·UK wide presence with 525 stores.  ·Still the UK’s 3rd largest grocery retailer – potential to increase share.Weaknesses  ·Recent marketing seems to have placed it in the ‘discount’ category when it comes to grocery stores – potentially restricting sales of some of its higher-value items. Opportunities  ·Recent improvement in UK economic fundamentals – coupled with rising wages may increase consumer disposable income.  ·Fall in ?GBP has put some spotlight on UK food/ products to escape price rises.Threats  ·Competition remains the biggest threat to ASDA, especially with discounters such as Lidl/ Aldi quickly expanding their store network, as well as expanding their marketing activities, with a focus on value. Ultimately, the analysis is suggesting that the main weakness in marketing lies within this continued focus solely on the price. This has come under pressure given new entrants into the market, with the discounters of Lidl/ Aldi coming into the market with business models which mean they can potentially undercut ASDA on prices. This is the main threat to the business, with ASDA still seeing a fall in sales, even with the recent buoyancy in UK retail sales. However, there are potential opportunities for ASDA to diversify, expanding its marketing to cover issues within sustainability and UK produce; improving the ethics when it comes to food sourcing, and issues such as food security and locality[2]. Objectives In the past, ASDA’S objectives have been focused on customer value, however given an expanding ‘discount’ sector, the retailer is now under more pricing pressure to maintain customers. With this, there is the expectation that the retailer may need to diversify, essentially look to attract more customers back to its stores. The objective for ASDA is to tempt customer’s back into its store; or tempt new customers back. Given continued expansion of Lidl/ Aldi, it could be expected that the new strategy will need to focus more on attracting new customers, be it from retailers such as Sainsbury’s. Strategy Segmentation To support its strategy, ASDA will look to segment the market into different consumers, based on demographics, location, income etc. Given marketing campaigns undertaken by the business, it would appear that ASDA has segmented the market; looking to appeal to those families of lower incomes. Its focus on being the cheapest is indicative of its primary target market. Because of this, the business has become somewhat specialised on this business model, a focus on low-cost, which in turn could impede quality. It has positioned itself in the low-cost end of the market, however given new entrants and intensified competition, is now finding it hard to compete and develop with new competition (Peter, 2011)[3]. The business model helped ASDA over the years of recession given constrained consumer income, however as economic conditions have improved, consumers have essentially traded-up. This has provided support to other retailers such as Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose which position themse lves at the higher end of the market. With this, ASDA may feel that its business is currently positioned to narrow, targeting a consumer base which is shrinking which competition is increasing. There are two ways in which the retailer can broaden its consumer base, either through changes to marketing which will target a new market, or by differentiating the product to appeal to a broader base of consumers, noted in Armstrong et al (2012)[4]. Tactics Action Given the above, the main tactic for ASDA s to re-position itself in the market, remove this constant focus on price and look to focus more on ethical issues such as sustainability, which in turn may suggest quality. To do this, the retailer has a number of actions: ASDA will move to focus on local; putting its focus on supplying more UK produce in-stores, having dedicated aisles in superstores to local producers. The benefit here will not only be from higher sales of these goods, put also of the positive PR which could arise through supporting local farmers, and local communities. This is essentially classed as differentiation; the retailer will be introducing new products to do so. ASDA will also look to introduce convenience aisles into superstores. This will be seen as segmentation,[5] looking to attract a new set of customers to its stores who may have previously left as they prefer to do ‘little-and-often’ shops. This can be marketed by ASDA to target these specific customers. Budget This section will now discuss the budget for such a change in strategy. The main costs to the business will be seen as the marketing. For instance, when it comes to the ‘convenience aisle’, it could be noted that the infrastructure is already there; the stores will simply have to shuffle around stock to create the new aisle. When it comes to introducing the new products, the costs may be more down to developing the local links, with the suppliers themselves bearing the costs associated with producing the goods. Rather than a major financial cost, the introduction of more local products may be more time consuming for ASDA, given that they will need to ensure that the new products are in-keeping with the goals of the business, both in terms of pricing and quality (Ferrell, 2012)[6]. Marketing will be done through all ’traditional’ channels given the mass-market appeal of ASDA and the fierce competition within the UK grocery sector. While this would involve a higher cost than say digital marketing opportunities, it would be hoped that print advertisements and TV commercial will draw more attention, and so inform more customers. However, digital marketing could also be used, especially when it comes to advertisements through social media, and targeted banner ads which can be used online. Control Control remains an important consideration, both in terms of ensuring a level of consistency in the marketing message as well as also monitoring the return on investment (hereafter ROI). When it comes to consistency, while marketing could change to reflect changes in the marketplace, the business must look to maintain its ‘core’ message. For instance, while the focus on new marketing campaigns may be on local produce, the core message remains with the slogan ‘Save Money, Live Better’. Too much of change may lead to current customers becoming detached with the business and its values. Control will also come with ROI. Essentially, all businesses need to ensure that their marketing spend is generating business. New, digital marketing allows businesses to track this, with businesses able to use tools such as Google Analytics to view web traffic etc. (Chaffey, 2012)[7]. Traditional marketing may be harder to manage in terms of ROI, given that it is harder to distinguish how a certain poster/ TV commercial may have driven demand. However, if ASDA move forward with a unified campaign, so changing all marketing to reflect a single message, then the business can understand the potential ROI of the campaign. Recommendation/ Conclusion To conclude, ASDA has in the past focused its marketing plan on price, looking to drive consumption through low prices. This is itself would not be considered ‘ethical consumerism’, given that some of the lower prices products could be viewed as a damage to the environment. However, this strategy has now placed ASDA into a market segment which is seeing more competition, at a time when the size of the market may be slowing, given improving economics in the UK[8]. To combat this, ASDA has an opportunity to diversify its product range into a more ‘premium’ space; be it the expansion of their ‘Extra Special’ range, or through the introduction of more local products and brands (Perreault, 2010)[9]. The focus on UK produce could provide ASDA with a ‘Unique Selling Point’; which could allow the business to justify higher pricing, noted in Fifield (2012)[10]. This may also improve the organisations ethical position as it suggests that ASDA is considering sustainability in its wider supply-chain; given that more food is local, opposed to international, reducing the ‘distance’ of the supply chain, potentially being seen as more environmentally friendly. However, at the same time, the retailer must be wary that any change to its pricing may impact on its core customers. In the end, this may further impact on market share, however this is seen as a potential risk of an opportunity. The recommendation for ASDA is that is moves forward with a change in marketing, highlighting developments in both local sourcing as well as convenience. However, ASDA must look to control this movement, and potentially monitor the opportunity. This could be done through monitoring sales of, as well as monitoring footfall into stores. References Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M., Brennan, R. (2012). Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Prentice-Hall, London. Chaffey, D., Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2012). Digital marketing, London, Pearson Higher Ed. Ferrell, O. C., Hartline, M. (2012). Marketing strategy, text and cases, London, Nelson Education. Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making cases, London, Nelson Education. Fifield, P. (2012). Marketing strategy, London, Routledge. Gale. (2016) [Online]. How long will Aldi and Lidl’s onslaught last?, Available at http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/long-will-aldi-lidls-onslaught-last/future-business/article/1386497, Accessed 17.12.2016. Kantar Worldpanel. (2016) [Online]. UK Grocery Market Share, Available at http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/grocery-market-share/great-britain, Accessed 17.12.2016. Perreault, W. D. (2010). Essentials of marketing: A marketing strategy planning approach, London, Pearson. Perreault Jr, W., Cannon, J., McCarthy, E. J. (2013). Basic marketing, London, McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Peter, J. P., Donnelly, J. H. (2011). Marketing management: knowledge and skills: text, analysis, cases, plans, London, Pearson. Ruddick, G. (2014) [Online]. It may already be too late for Tesco and Sainsbury’s, the rise of Aldi and Lidl looks unstoppable, Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10974773/It-may-already-be-too-late-for-Tesco-and-Sainsburys-the-rise-of-Aldi-and-Lidl-looks-unstoppable.html, Accessed 19.12.2016. Wood, S., McCarthy, D. (2014). The UK food retail ‘race for space’and market saturation: A contemporary review. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 24(2), 121-144. Asda Marketing Plan To combat this, the report suggests that ASDA looks to change its strategy to focus more on a sustainable supply-chain, potentially one which is focused on UK food and products. While this may lead to higher prices from the retailer, it could improve its image when it comes to sustainable food retailing, and so warrant higher prices to consumers, especially if the introduction of local products develops an emotional attachment for customers. Introduction The following assignment will consider ASDA, considering the external environment in which the business operates as well as its ethical consideration, determining whether the current strategy should be maintained or whether a change is needed, with the assignment then making recommendations. Company Overview ASDA is a UK-based grocery retailers owned by U.S. listed Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ASDA has been part of the UK’s ‘Big 4’ retailers in the UK grocery sector, also compromising of Tesco, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s, however it recently moved from 3rd from 2nd place on the list, being overtaken by Sainsbury’s after disappointing sales. The latest report from Kantar Worldpanel (2016) put’s ASDA’s market share at 15.3%, behind that of Sainsbury’s after suffering a 4.7% fall in sales, compared with a 0.7% fall in Sainsbury’s, and a 1.6% rise in sales at Tesco. To many UK consumers, ASDA has developed on the back of price competition, with the retailer being heavily focused on being the UK’s best value supermarket. Due of its focus on price, ASDA in the past could have been seen to ignore ethical consideration, with some of the top places seen with premium retailers such as Marks Spencer, who use their premium pricing to better consider the quality/ ethics behind their supply chain. Market Environment However, it is this strategy which has been a downfall for the retailer, especially when put against competition from the expanding ‘discounter’s’, namely Lidl and Aldi (Ruddick, 2014). These retailers have aggressively expanded into the UK market on the back of offering low prices to consumers, with their focus on ‘prime-match’, similar of marketing conducted by ASDA against the other ‘Big 4’[1]. Given this, Aldi managed to record sales growth of 10% over the same period, beating all competition and increasing its market share to 6.2%. At the same time, Aldi also announced that it looks to take its store tally from 450 to 1,000 by 2022; Lidl also announced plans to open 40-50 new stores in the UK each year, noted by Gale (2016). This move in the market has been supported from a new business model and changing consumer habits. Discounters have benefitted from economies of scale, reducing the scale of choice to offer just one option; in tu rn allowing them to increase sales of that product and reduce the production costs. At the same time, these discounters have also expanded on a no-frills approach to stores, moving away from the ‘Superstore’ concept which became popular with Tesco and ASDA. This comes at a time when consumers have also looked to move away from superstores, preferring little-and-often shops to better budget. There also seems to a reduction in customer loyalty as consumers look for the best value. Marketing Situational Analysis Building on the above, a SWOT analysis is shown below; Strengths  ·UK wide presence with 525 stores.  ·Still the UK’s 3rd largest grocery retailer – potential to increase share.Weaknesses  ·Recent marketing seems to have placed it in the ‘discount’ category when it comes to grocery stores – potentially restricting sales of some of its higher-value items. Opportunities  ·Recent improvement in UK economic fundamentals – coupled with rising wages may increase consumer disposable income.  ·Fall in ?GBP has put some spotlight on UK food/ products to escape price rises.Threats  ·Competition remains the biggest threat to ASDA, especially with discounters such as Lidl/ Aldi quickly expanding their store network, as well as expanding their marketing activities, with a focus on value. Ultimately, the analysis is suggesting that the main weakness in marketing lies within this continued focus solely on the price. This has come under pressure given new entrants into the market, with the discounters of Lidl/ Aldi coming into the market with business models which mean they can potentially undercut ASDA on prices. This is the main threat to the business, with ASDA still seeing a fall in sales, even with the recent buoyancy in UK retail sales. However, there are potential opportunities for ASDA to diversify, expanding its marketing to cover issues within sustainability and UK produce; improving the ethics when it comes to food sourcing, and issues such as food security and locality[2]. Objectives In the past, ASDA’S objectives have been focused on customer value, however given an expanding ‘discount’ sector, the retailer is now under more pricing pressure to maintain customers. With this, there is the expectation that the retailer may need to diversify, essentially look to attract more customers back to its stores. The objective for ASDA is to tempt customer’s back into its store; or tempt new customers back. Given continued expansion of Lidl/ Aldi, it could be expected that the new strategy will need to focus more on attracting new customers, be it from retailers such as Sainsbury’s. Strategy Segmentation To support its strategy, ASDA will look to segment the market into different consumers, based on demographics, location, income etc. Given marketing campaigns undertaken by the business, it would appear that ASDA has segmented the market; looking to appeal to those families of lower incomes. Its focus on being the cheapest is indicative of its primary target market. Because of this, the business has become somewhat specialised on this business model, a focus on low-cost, which in turn could impede quality. It has positioned itself in the low-cost end of the market, however given new entrants and intensified competition, is now finding it hard to compete and develop with new competition (Peter, 2011)[3]. The business model helped ASDA over the years of recession given constrained consumer income, however as economic conditions have improved, consumers have essentially traded-up. This has provided support to other retailers such as Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose which position themse lves at the higher end of the market. With this, ASDA may feel that its business is currently positioned to narrow, targeting a consumer base which is shrinking which competition is increasing. There are two ways in which the retailer can broaden its consumer base, either through changes to marketing which will target a new market, or by differentiating the product to appeal to a broader base of consumers, noted in Armstrong et al (2012)[4]. Tactics Action Given the above, the main tactic for ASDA s to re-position itself in the market, remove this constant focus on price and look to focus more on ethical issues such as sustainability, which in turn may suggest quality. To do this, the retailer has a number of actions: ASDA will move to focus on local; putting its focus on supplying more UK produce in-stores, having dedicated aisles in superstores to local producers. The benefit here will not only be from higher sales of these goods, put also of the positive PR which could arise through supporting local farmers, and local communities. This is essentially classed as differentiation; the retailer will be introducing new products to do so. ASDA will also look to introduce convenience aisles into superstores. This will be seen as segmentation,[5] looking to attract a new set of customers to its stores who may have previously left as they prefer to do ‘little-and-often’ shops. This can be marketed by ASDA to target these specific customers. Budget This section will now discuss the budget for such a change in strategy. The main costs to the business will be seen as the marketing. For instance, when it comes to the ‘convenience aisle’, it could be noted that the infrastructure is already there; the stores will simply have to shuffle around stock to create the new aisle. When it comes to introducing the new products, the costs may be more down to developing the local links, with the suppliers themselves bearing the costs associated with producing the goods. Rather than a major financial cost, the introduction of more local products may be more time consuming for ASDA, given that they will need to ensure that the new products are in-keeping with the goals of the business, both in terms of pricing and quality (Ferrell, 2012)[6]. Marketing will be done through all ’traditional’ channels given the mass-market appeal of ASDA and the fierce competition within the UK grocery sector. While this would involve a higher cost than say digital marketing opportunities, it would be hoped that print advertisements and TV commercial will draw more attention, and so inform more customers. However, digital marketing could also be used, especially when it comes to advertisements through social media, and targeted banner ads which can be used online. Control Control remains an important consideration, both in terms of ensuring a level of consistency in the marketing message as well as also monitoring the return on investment (hereafter ROI). When it comes to consistency, while marketing could change to reflect changes in the marketplace, the business must look to maintain its ‘core’ message. For instance, while the focus on new marketing campaigns may be on local produce, the core message remains with the slogan ‘Save Money, Live Better’. Too much of change may lead to current customers becoming detached with the business and its values. Control will also come with ROI. Essentially, all businesses need to ensure that their marketing spend is generating business. New, digital marketing allows businesses to track this, with businesses able to use tools such as Google Analytics to view web traffic etc. (Chaffey, 2012)[7]. Traditional marketing may be harder to manage in terms of ROI, given that it is harder to distinguish how a certain poster/ TV commercial may have driven demand. However, if ASDA move forward with a unified campaign, so changing all marketing to reflect a single message, then the business can understand the potential ROI of the campaign. Recommendation/ Conclusion To conclude, ASDA has in the past focused its marketing plan on price, looking to drive consumption through low prices. This is itself would not be considered ‘ethical consumerism’, given that some of the lower prices products could be viewed as a damage to the environment. However, this strategy has now placed ASDA into a market segment which is seeing more competition, at a time when the size of the market may be slowing, given improving economics in the UK[8]. To combat this, ASDA has an opportunity to diversify its product range into a more ‘premium’ space; be it the expansion of their ‘Extra Special’ range, or through the introduction of more local products and brands (Perreault, 2010)[9]. The focus on UK produce could provide ASDA with a ‘Unique Selling Point’; which could allow the business to justify higher pricing, noted in Fifield (2012)[10]. This may also improve the organisations ethical position as it suggests that ASDA is considering sustainability in its wider supply-chain; given that more food is local, opposed to international, reducing the ‘distance’ of the supply chain, potentially being seen as more environmentally friendly. However, at the same time, the retailer must be wary that any change to its pricing may impact on its core customers. In the end, this may further impact on market share, however this is seen as a potential risk of an opportunity. The recommendation for ASDA is that is moves forward with a change in marketing, highlighting developments in both local sourcing as well as convenience. However, ASDA must look to control this movement, and potentially monitor the opportunity. This could be done through monitoring sales of, as well as monitoring footfall into stores. References Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M., Brennan, R. (2012). Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Prentice-Hall, London. Chaffey, D., Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2012). Digital marketing, London, Pearson Higher Ed. Ferrell, O. C., Hartline, M. (2012). Marketing strategy, text and cases, London, Nelson Education. Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making cases, London, Nelson Education. Fifield, P. (2012). Marketing strategy, London, Routledge. Gale. (2016) [Online]. How long will Aldi and Lidl’s onslaught last?, Available at http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/long-will-aldi-lidls-onslaught-last/future-business/article/1386497, Accessed 17.12.2016. Kantar Worldpanel. (2016) [Online]. UK Grocery Market Share, Available at http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/grocery-market-share/great-britain, Accessed 17.12.2016. Perreault, W. D. (2010). Essentials of marketing: A marketing strategy planning approach, London, Pearson. Perreault Jr, W., Cannon, J., McCarthy, E. J. (2013). Basic marketing, London, McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Peter, J. P., Donnelly, J. H. (2011). Marketing management: knowledge and skills: text, analysis, cases, plans, London, Pearson. Ruddick, G. (2014) [Online]. It may already be too late for Tesco and Sainsbury’s, the rise of Aldi and Lidl looks unstoppable, Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10974773/It-may-already-be-too-late-for-Tesco-and-Sainsburys-the-rise-of-Aldi-and-Lidl-looks-unstoppable.html, Accessed 19.12.2016. Wood, S., McCarthy, D. (2014). The UK food retail ‘race for space’and market saturation: A contemporary review. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 24(2), 121-144.

Explain the role of management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Explain the role of management - Essay Example Managers look specifically at the individual's performance at any one time while leaders look at a team and their future prospects (Maundy, 2001) Managers within an organization do the planning for most of the sectors such as policy formulation, financial, marketing of products, and control of major assets. They also exercise their power on any issue arising such as the decision making processes. The leaders in an organization are responsible for building the large workforce and human resources within the company. These leaders also inspire, innovate, mentor, set examples, and revolutionize all the employees within the organization in order to achieve the best from them and also achieve the organization goals and objectives. (Maundy, 2001) The first function is planning-it can be defined as the process of developing the objectives and mission of the organization. A manager must also organize-this involves coordinating and dividing tasks among members of the organization. Here, the manager assigns responsibilities to team members. Staffing is another managerial function and can be defined as the filling and maintaining of all the positions available in a company. Some of the activities involved in this function include: recruiting, training, hiring, evaluation and compensation. Managers are also expected to control members of staff. This involves measuring performances, setting performance standards and taking corrective or preventive measures to ensure that the standards set are adhered to. Communication is another vital element in management and involves the transfer of information from management down to other members of the organizational structure. Lastly, managers are expected to motivate their team members, this involves influencing or channelling people's behaviour to accomplish the missions and objectives of the organization. (Mullin, 2007) Importance of team approach in achieving organisation's goals The model below is a pictorial representation of John Adair's action centred leadership. He believed that a manger has three roles; 1) he must plan, assign, review tasks of the organisation 2) he must communicate, create a culture of ethics, hive feedback to the team 3) he must understand individuals, develop, train and recognise each individual's efforts An organisation can be viewed as a combination of two sets of workers i.e. management and subordinates. Both categories have their own goals that have to be directed towards overall goals of the organisation. It is important for management to try and align employee goals with organisational goals. This means that everyone in the organisation will be working towards the same direction. This can be achieved by creating a sense of loyalty among employees and through communication. This implies that workers will work hand in hand with management thus achieving overall goals. In contrast, if every member of the organisation focuses on their own needs and did not consider their work group as a team, resources will be drained and losses will occur. Case study Taking an example of a hospital like

Can Technology Improve Our Quality Of Life Essay

Can Technology Improve Our Quality Of Life - Essay Example For example, when I was in high school for the second year, my teacher told me that she has to go to another country for her higher studies. I was worried about that because if I am going to study with another teacher, I will have to learn their style again to start with. So I told my teacher that I don’t want to study with another teacher. In the beginning, we don’t know what to do because we were very far away from each other and she could not just leave me even for one year. So we decide to use a webcam to have a lesson. It was very easy to have lessons online because I just need to put the webcam in a right place and we could start the talk. My teacher could see me studying and I could see my teacher too. We did this for one year and didn’t have any problem, and I got a very high grade for my final exam too. If I had to change my teacher, I will have to start to learn different style again under a new teacher. Moreover, my teacher was very much expert in music and the new teacher may not be so and that will cause difficulties for me to learn more about music in my high school. That will make me less expert than my other friends and classmates. Moreover, if I change my teacher, her styles and way of teaching may not fit my requirements. Technology helped me in retaining my teacher even if she had to leave my country. Such things may not be imaginable in 18 th or 19 th centuries. Thus the technology helped me in keeping the quality of my life. Technology can improve our communication too.

Spamalot Response Essay Example for Free

Spamalot Response Essay A play about a King on a quest for a magic grail, by the sound of that it seems like this is just some ordinary play, but no this is Spamalot. Spamalot is a comedy where everything is humorous and light hearted. There are many things I love about this play including the set and costumes, these two elements really made the play better to me. However, one improvement that could have been made was the lighting in the play. As the curtains of the theater opened up I saw a big castle with huge wooden doors and a balcony. In this first scene I was blown away by the size of this set piece and was truly amazed by the detail. One of my favorite things about this set piece is how the characters were using it for more than just a castle, for instance when the front was turned into a cave. I thought it was very clever how the curtains dropped down from the balcony to create the cave. An interesting fact about the set is how it wasn’t just a flat backdrop to have in the background, it was three-dimensional, like the fact that there were windows that actually opened and closed as well as a real balcony that the actors went up on. My favorite scene was one where the Frenchmen were up on the balcony mocking King Arthur and the rest of the Knights of the round table, this was one of the funniest moments of the play. Another thing about this set that really amazed me was the realization of how much time it took to build this, but it made the difference and was completely worth it. The one and only thing that I did not like about this play was the lighting. Throughout the play I wanted different lighting effects to surprise me but most of the time I felt like it was just a general wash and nothing else. I think if there was a variety of different types of lights the play would have been more interesting. Although there was one lighting effect that I loved, when the light bulbs starting flashing along the perimeter of the stage I was surprised and mesmerized by this effect, it really improved the performance. Otherwise I felt the selection of lights was boring and dull. One scene where I think they could have used this variety of lights was when King Arthur came across the Knights of Ni. In this scene they were lost in the woods, I think a good effect would be to darken the lights slightly and maybe change the color of the light so it would feel more like they were in a forest. The costumes were my second favorite thing about this play. My favorite costumes throughout the play were the Knights of Ni. I think it was a mix of them changing thepitch of their voice’s and the costumes that made me really enjoy their part. I loved how their cloaks fell down to the floor and covered their entire body, then they had the leaves on their shoulders which showed they lived in a forest with many plants and vegetation. Another costume I really liked was Herbert’s father, the long purple cape he wore reminded me of old cartoons. He looked exactly how I would picture him in my head. Although I liked these costumes the best, I thought all the costumes were amazing. This play has many great aspects including the costumes and set that amazed the audience. Although this play was very good I did feel there could have been an improvement in the variety of lights used during the performance. To sum up the entire play it was funny every second of the way and was a show to go see.

Executive Women: Substance Plus Style :: essays research papers

Executive Women: Substance Plus Style PSYC 4310 Executive Women: Substance Plus Style The article "Executive Women: Substance Plus Style" deals with the issue of whether the "abilities and attitudes of male managers are different from those of female managers" and that these differences have been used to keep women out of managerial positions. Furthermore, it suggests that it has now become "fashionable" to state that these differences are favorable and complement the business environment. Lastly, the article focused on several strategies that women should follow in order to succeed as a middle or upper level manager within a large corporation. The authors refute the notion that the differences between male and female managers are great. They mention that "the few studies that have looked at women and men in comparable managerial roles have discovered more similarities than differences across sexes" (Catalyst, 1986). A test bank from "thousands of managers and professionals in management development programs from 1978 to 1986" was cited as another reason why they believe there are few differences between male and female executives. The tests revealed that executive men and women scored equally on most areas and that executive women are just as capable at leading, influencing, and motivating groups, as well as analyzing problems. The authors go on to show that, despite these similarities, women are disproportionately represented in the ranks of Fortune 500 company executives. Repeated references are made to studies that were conducted with 22 people, 16 men and 6 women, whose job is to select executives for top jobs. These people are continually referred to as "savvy insiders" throughout the article. These so called savvy insiders were tasked with providing an example of what they considered to be a woman who "made it" and one who "derailed". They describe what basically amounts to a woman who utilizes characteristics of both masculine and feminine personalities. They came up with these four contradictory sets of expectations that women must overcome: take risks, but be consistently outstanding; be tough, but don't be macho; be ambitious, but don't expect equal treatment; and take responsibility, but follow others' advice. The research was based on a comparison between male and female managers and by tests that measured personality dimensions, intelligence, and behavior in problem-solving groups. As I had learned in a previous psychology class, personality tests are not really an effective measure of personality, nor is an intelligence test necessarily an accurate means of determining ones' success in the future. I would have been more convinced by experimental research rather than by a review of tests or an interview with 76 people. I have noticed a trend that has been

Ooks

Nazar, Bombata History, Per 1 10, 28, 12 Nazar, Bombata History, Per 1 10, 28, 12 Muhammad the Great Once upon a time there was a young man named Muhammad who was 18 years old. He was one of the youth that lived amongst the nomadic tribe in Ghana. They were well known for griot storytelling mainly about his great ancestors and their relationships with the kings of Ghana and Mali. One night when a member of the clan was telling Muhammad about the story of Sundiata, the first king of Mali and how he organized a powerful army and captured the former capital of Ghana, Muhammad, was very intrigued.They talked about how Sundiata expanded beyond Ghana’s old border and was a great force. When Sundiata fell a new leader named Mansa Musa who was Muslim and had spread Islam came into power. The story continued to describe a pilgrimage to Mecca and how upon returning to Mali, Mansa Musa rode on a horse with 500 slave’s dresses each in silk and all carrying gold staffs. He brought b ack 12,000 slaves, 80 camels and 300 pounds of gold, the story got Muhammad thinking.The next day Muhammad and his family went out into the savannah to hunt for animals to trade. But Muhammad decided he would go on an adventure of his own and leave his clan so he could do all the great things Sundiata and Mansa Musa did. After a day of hunting with his family, he had enough food to last him a whole year. So Muhammad left his clan and decided to go where all the great leaders went-Mali. In 1365 Mali was known as Songhai many years past and Muhammad was now 23.He had been able to learn from what Sundiata & Mansa Musa did so he followed in their footsteps. Muhammad became very close to Sunni Ali (Present king of Songhai) he was his helper. Soon Muhammad had studied all of the kings of Mali and Songhai like Sundiata, Mansa Musa. By now Askia Muhammad was in power and the new king. Muhammad forged a strong relationship with him. When Askia Muhammad died and his son took over power, becau se Muhammad had now been known by many and stood by the side of many strong and powerful kings.It was a natural transition that Muhammad became the new kings right hand man. As the years passed Muhammad helped expand Songhai and make their government stronger, the center of trade and education. Muhammad was a wise kingsman he was powerful and well respected†¦ Muhammad was happy that he was able to follow his dreams. The key here is to never be afraid to follow your dreams, learn from others to be able to achieve all that you want to be.

George W. Bush more like T. Roosevelt as opposed to Taft and Wilson Essay

President George W. Bush’s post September 11th policy certainly shows great resemblances to President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy more than that of Taft or Wilson. Roosevelt had a more stern policy, encouraging the forceful defense of the nation and the spreading of democracy and Christian ideals to less fortunate countries. This was very much so a direct correlation to what Bush tried to do Taft’s policy emphasized economic ideals in that he argued the US should lend out money and help countries elevate their economic status in order for the promotion of peace and prosperity throughout the world. Wilson’s policy emphasized morality, and the â€Å"nice guy† standpoint of how the US should carry out obligations. Consequently, President George Bush’s policy is a better reflection of President Theodore Roosevelt’s policy more than Taft’s or Wilson’s policy because of the military and political ideals that the two pol icies share. President Bush’s post September 11 policy reflects Roosevelt’s is because of the swift, stern actions that Bush’s administration took after the attacks on the nation. As Bush sent the troops over to Iraq quickly and in great numbers, the administration sent a candid and stern message. The United States would not stand for an attack on its soil, and those who did so would receive grave punishment for their actions. This message echoes the morals behind the â€Å"big Stick† policy. Just as Theodore Roosevelt once said, â€Å"Speak softly and carry a big stick.† Theodore Roosevelt believed that power was an important and unavoidable thing in foreign affairs. He also noted in his addition to the Monroe Doctrine (called the Roosevelt Corollary) that if any nation in the Western Hemisphere appeared in a political or fiscal situation that would allow for European control, the US should intervene. With an imperialistic outlook on the world, Roosevelt made the US a nation that constantly intervened and helped Latin American countries avoid European interference in the Western Hemisphere. Examples of this lie in Theodore Roosevelt actions when he made Cuba a protectorate, took Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as when he ventured out and involved the United States in the counterinsurgency of the Philippines all in order to fortify the existence of democracy and Christianity and help the individuals of the nations govern themselves. These ideals and policies were mirrored in Bush’s actions when the US troops inhabited the Middle East, and the Bush administration took it upon itself to take advantage of their occupancy of the lands by spreading its ideals of democracy and ‘correct’ political procedures. By doing this, the Bush Administration had essentially identified these locations in the Middle East as lesser fortunate nations, deemed themselves fit to help these regions, and force their ‘help’ past the governments of the regions and to the people. This decision and series of actions greatly resembles the actions and opinions of Roosevelt’s Corollary. Taft’s policy by contrast, was more of the United States venturing out to foreign land allowing for each foreign nation’s gradual acquiring of political and economic power through US investment in the countries’ infrastructures, which has little to do with Bush’s initial choice to attack the Middle East after September 11. Taft used â€Å"Dollar Diplomacy,† instead of military force. He wanted control and to aid businessmen in the US, and was in strong favor of solving problems via economic means rather than militarily. He saw his policy as humanitarian, for stabilization improved the living scale and conditions. For instance, in Nicaragua during 1912, the government would default on its debts, which might mean European intervention. The US offered to loan money (by private men) if the US could have some supervision over Nicaraguan finances. Bush’s post September 11 policy does not mirror this because he was in favor of military force and making it known militarily that the US could not be attacked without grave punishment. Wilson however based his policy on Morality. Bush’s post September 11th policy did not wholly reflect Wilson’s policy because Wilson’s Missionary policy aimed more in the direction of seeking peace and prosperity by means of creating pathways for institutions to branch out globally while Bush’s aim after the September 11 attacks was to retaliate forcefully and brutally (neither of which was peaceful). For instance, when the Japanese attempted, in the notorious Twenty-one Demands (1915), to reduce China almost to the status of a Japanese protectorate, he persuaded them to modify their conditions slightly. The ‘Twenty-One Demands’ required that China immediately cease its leasing of territory to foreign powers and to ascent to Japanese control over Manchuria and Shandong (Shantung) among other demands. Such persuasion as opposed to attack and forcefully making the US point reveals the difference between Bush’s and Wilson’s policy. Consequently, it is evident that President Bush’s post September 11 policy best resembles Roosevelt’s â€Å"big stick† diplomacy. Roosevelt’s policy was based on pragmatism as well as the idea of the nation’s obligatory retaliation to threats and attacks on the nation’s soil. His belief in the United States’ obligation to help foreign nations in need of political/military assistance is also a part of his policy. After the September 11th attacks, each of these ideals was echoed in President George W. Bush’s new foreign policy in that he reacted to the tragedy through military retaliation and force. Additionally once occupying the lands, the Bush administration chose to assist the Iraqi people and help them acquire the democratic ideals the US holds so dearly.

Free Essays on Surgeon

Imagine a modern day surgeon walking into an operation room or worse, tent, in the early 1860’s, during the Civil War. This time was considered to be the middle ages of medicine. A Civil War general graphically depicted the typical surgery routine like this; â€Å"There stood the surgeons, their sleeves rolled up to their elbows, their bare arms as well as their linen aprons smeared with blood, their knives not seldom held between their teeth, while they were helping a patient on or off the table...The surgeon snatched his knife from between his teeth.... wiped it rapidly once or twice across his bloodstained apron, and the cutting began.†# Picture that in your mind and now wonder why 60% of the 620,000 people who died during that four-year war died from disease after visiting the so-called hospital. In this time period before Louis Pasteur and his discovery and work with bacteria and viruses. Doctors during this time had inaccurate views about the causes of disease and infection; most blamed toxic â€Å"miasma† or â€Å"efflura† from wet swamplands or tents with poor ventilation. Some also thought that the ingestion of too much or too little salted meat, heat alternating with cold, battle stress or even the smell from the latrines caused all these diseases. A report in 1864 by the American Medical Association noted that the air was full of â€Å"pus corpuscles, floating about as dust,† which would settle in the wounds and cause infection. These experts suggested that the need for better ventilation in the operating room was â€Å" the great lesson of war.†# Granted, the last statement was an idea heading in the right direction, but the bloody, dirty, hands and tools of the surgeons were definitely overlooked as a problem. While most surgeons were aware of a relationship between cleanliness and low infection rates, they did not know how to sterilize their equipment. Due to a frequent shortage of water, surgeons often went days without... Free Essays on Surgeon Free Essays on Surgeon Imagine a modern day surgeon walking into an operation room or worse, tent, in the early 1860’s, during the Civil War. This time was considered to be the middle ages of medicine. A Civil War general graphically depicted the typical surgery routine like this; â€Å"There stood the surgeons, their sleeves rolled up to their elbows, their bare arms as well as their linen aprons smeared with blood, their knives not seldom held between their teeth, while they were helping a patient on or off the table...The surgeon snatched his knife from between his teeth.... wiped it rapidly once or twice across his bloodstained apron, and the cutting began.†# Picture that in your mind and now wonder why 60% of the 620,000 people who died during that four-year war died from disease after visiting the so-called hospital. In this time period before Louis Pasteur and his discovery and work with bacteria and viruses. Doctors during this time had inaccurate views about the causes of disease and infection; most blamed toxic â€Å"miasma† or â€Å"efflura† from wet swamplands or tents with poor ventilation. Some also thought that the ingestion of too much or too little salted meat, heat alternating with cold, battle stress or even the smell from the latrines caused all these diseases. A report in 1864 by the American Medical Association noted that the air was full of â€Å"pus corpuscles, floating about as dust,† which would settle in the wounds and cause infection. These experts suggested that the need for better ventilation in the operating room was â€Å" the great lesson of war.†# Granted, the last statement was an idea heading in the right direction, but the bloody, dirty, hands and tools of the surgeons were definitely overlooked as a problem. While most surgeons were aware of a relationship between cleanliness and low infection rates, they did not know how to sterilize their equipment. Due to a frequent shortage of water, surgeons often went days without...

Breaker Failure Detection Algorithms Research Paper

Breaker Failure Detection Algorithms - Research Paper Example The second part addresses issues worth consideration when applying Breaker Failure Protection and lastly, advances towards breaker Failure Protection. Using algorithms significantly enhance the numerical BF protection. Introduction Contingency analysis remains to be one of the great tasks that face protection engineers. The reason to this is due to the fact that a Protection Engineer has to focus on Murphy’s Law and Ohms Law concurrently. The design for PRS plays a key role in detecting any fault that happens on the power system and the possibilities of eruption of any fault in the protection system of the power system. When the protective relay system is order, the designers of the power system understand it but the condition changes when a failure is detected. Deriving solutions towards this failure is what makes a protection engineer proficient. The protection engineer can only succeed by understanding how operations of the system. The best approach that the engineer can ha ve is to have a proper understanding of each component of the system as well as their interaction and overlaps needed. The need for Breaker Failure Protection To successfully analyze this topic, the differences between fault detection devices and fault interruption devices should be understood. Any disturbances like faults are detected by protective relays. The protective relays works in either way, interfere with the fault current system or cuts off any connection to the power system. Systems that lack breaker failure detection fail to analyze detection and interruption failures. This is not the case for breaker failure detection. The redundant relay systems play the role of detecting fault in case of failure (IEEE 8). What to consider for Breaker Failure Protection Before considerations necessary for breaker failure detection, aspects of back up protection need to be focused. The aspects include speed, sensitivity and user friendliness together with maintenance required. Sensitivi ty The question considered under this aspect is on the reliability of remote relays in detecting faults in the power system. A difficulty arises when analyzing the conditions that lead to system failure. The hindering factor is the load encroachment. The radial system has limitations in the fault current and the circuit load. The source acts as a controlling factor thereby making this system simple. Complications arise for networked systems. The possibilities of the relays detecting failure past the remote bus is limited because of the in feed. To solve this issue, a remote backup through distance relays with applications in the adjacent zones seems appropriate. This leads to change in the reach setting of the in feed to long ones. Complexities arise when the zone three relays are relied on as a backup protection. When breaker failure protection and a normal back up are applied, the problem is solved (Daume, Jon 20). Speed Speed of the system in clearing faults that arise due to fai lure of the primary protection is vital. Over tripping of the system is prevented by the time taken by the relays in overlapping zones. The outcome to this process is for a remote back up to be set up after a reasonable delay. When breaker failure protection is used, tripping of back up circuit breakers is quickened. The set up speed of the system is guided by damage that is likely to be incurred on equipment, quality of power and its impact on its environs and stability. Incase

Are the different theoretical models that attempt to provide a general Essay - 1

Are the different theoretical models that attempt to provide a general theory of employee relations in small and medium sized firms (SMEs) reliable, or is the sector to divergent Critically discuss - Essay Example SMEs provide new flexible forms of employment which is not an inferior form of work organization but necessitated by supply and demand forming an additional basis for new segmentation in work and employment relations in the labour market (Thurman 1993). Official statistics on the incidenceof SMEs provide valuable information stating that these SMEs employed a total of 8.66 million employees i.e. 36 percent of all UK employees and accounted for 47 percent of private sector employers’ turnover. This makes it apparent why employee relations are important in small and medium sized firms apart from innovation and economic growth (Forth, Bewly and Bryson 2006). The above statistical records for SMEs make it vital for the involvement of employee relationship in these firms and whether industrial relations theory or model are reliable in the context of their operations and management. According to Bolton Report ‘Committee of Inquiry on Small Firms† (cited in Forth, Bewly and Bryson, 2006), it was concluded that â€Å"although physical working conditions were generally inferior to those found in larger firms, industrial relations in smaller firms were distinctive in conflict prone economy as being predominantly harmonious. Arrowsmith et al (2003) further elaborate the report of Bolton Committee characterizing about the size of SMEs and observe that there is a close proximity between manager and workers in SME which promotes mutual and informal ‘give and take’ that undermines collective organization and conflict. While industrial relations or employee relations is necessary to so as to maintain a balance at bargaining for the purpose of which unions are formed, putting forth their demand in front of the employer in case of large firms (Farnham, 2000). The three main competing sets of theories are classified and explained by Farnham and Pim lott (cited in Farnham 2000) which depict the nature of industrial conflict between employers and employees and between