Meterology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Meterology - Essay Example produced by a tornado of 1953 in Flint, Michigan in which 115 people were died; however, death toll remained less than a tornado of 1947 in Woodland, Okalahoma, when 181 people were killed. A well advanced tornado warning was issued by the local meteorological office as well as special updated were released by National Weather Service. A great coordination between meteorological and administrative agencies enabled the general public in advance to take necessary safety measures and thus saved many lives. However, despite of taking all the measures, tornado was strengthened enough that it not only produced tremendous loss of infrastructure but also caused 162 human fatalities and moderate to severe injuries to more than 1000 people (Reuters, 14 Sep, 2011). This paper explains several aspects of Joplin Tornado which include the synopsis of the incident with the help of real-time dealing with of the event, loss of human life and damage to businesses and properties, and some statistics as well. At the end, few points are suggested for forecasters to improve their forecast related to any such occurrence in future. A tornado is defined as â€Å"a rotating column of air ranging in width from a few yards to more than a mile and whirling at destructively high speeds, usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud† (http://www.the freedictionary.com). Tornadoes appear in a number of sizes and shapes; however they are often in the style of an observable condensation funnel, as their thin end meets the ground and are oftentimes surrounded by clouds containing waste and dust particles. The majority of tornadoes possess violent winds having speed not less than 110 miles per hour, however, a lot of severe tornadoes can gain the wind velocities greater than 300 miles per hour with an extension of width well over two miles around, and remain to the earth for a great deal of about more than 100 miles in length (Edwards, 2006). The strength of a

Unemployment research Essay Example for Free

Unemployment research Essay Unemployment From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Unemployment (or Joblessness), as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without Jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks. [2] The unemployment rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment and it is calculated as a percentage by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labour force. In a 2011 news story, BusinessWeek reported, More than 200 million people globally are out of work, a record high, as almost two-thirds of advanced economies and half of eveloping countries are experiencing a slowdown in employment growth, the group There remains considerable theoretical debate regarding the causes, consequences and solutions for unemployment. Classical economics, neoclassical economics and the Austrian School of economics argue that market mechanisms are reliable means of resolving unemployment. citation needed] These theories argue against interventions imposed on the labour market from the outside, such as unionization, minimum wage laws, taxes, and other regulations that they claim discourage the hiring of workers. Keynesian economics emphasizes the cyclical ature of unemployment and recommends interventions it claims will reduce unemployment during recessions. This theory focuses on recurrent supply shocks that suddenly reduce aggregate demand for goods and services and thus reduce demand for workers. Keynesian models recommend government interventions designed to increase demand for workers; these can include financial stimuli, publicly funded Job creation, and expansionist monetary policies. Georgists, half a century before Keynes, also noted the cyclical nature but focused on the role of speculation in land which pushes up economic rent. Because rent must be paid mostly from wages (yield of labor) but also from interest (yield of capital), economic activity cannot be sustained in the rent bubble, which finally burst resulting in recessions or depressions. Once the speculation is wrung out of system the cycle of land speculation begins again. [4] Henry George therefore advocated the taxation of land values (Single Tax) to stop land speculation and in order to eliminate taxation of labor and capital. George opposed land nationalization and Marxs theories. Marxism focuses on the relations between the owners and the workers, whom, it claims, the wners pit against one another in a constant struggle for Jobs and higher wages. The unemployment produced by this struggle is said to benefit the system by reducing wage costs for the owners. For Marxists the causes of and solutions to unemployment require abolishing capitalism and shifting to socialism or communism. In addition to these three comprehensive theories of unemployment, there are a few categorizations of unemployment that are used to more precisely model the effects of unemployment within the economic system. The main types of unemployment include structural unemployment which focuses on structural problems in the conomy and inefficiencies inherent in labour markets including a mismatch between the supply and demand ot laborers witn necessary skill sets . Structural arguments emphasize causes and solutions related to disruptive technologies and globalization. Discussions of frictional unemployment focus on voluntary decisions to work based on each individuals valuation of their own work and how that compares to current wage rates plus the time and effort required to find a Job. Causes and solutions for frictional unemployment often address barriers to entry and wage rates. Behavioral economists highlight individual biases in decision making and often nvolve problems and solutions concerning sticky wages and efficiency wages.

A Good Man Is Hard To Find Essay -- essays research papers fc

Flannery O'Connor's short story collection A Good Man is Hard to Find has many elements of a southern gothic work. Images of ancient castles with sliding panels create suspicious themes and settings that lead the readers into the dark and gloomy world of the southern United States. With all of the violence, horror, and dismal surroundings presented in O'Connor's stories there is too a moral message given. Later gothic work did not always explain horror like this, holding little moral value to contrast their grotesque images (notes, November 1). O'Connor's stories do include a strong moral element, frequently in the form of religious explanations. The characters within A Good Man is Hard to Find are usually ignorant and self-satisfying people, who come across "the grotesque" and are shocked into self-realization, no longer self-satisfied. These grotesque elements are usually the divine in disguise forcing the characters into introspection. In a letter Flannery O'Connor wrote she stated: "You have found Christ when you are concerned with other people's suffering and not your own." In this quotation we can see the moral message O'Connor was attempting to convey in her stories, and through further analysis of the work this fact can be more clearly illustrated. In the first story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, O'Connor's moral message is clearly presented. The grandmother protagonist in the story is very self-serving. She demands constant attention (although rarely getting it) and stubborn in the fact that her wishes must be carried out. She only wants to go to Tennessee to see old connections (O'Connor, pg. 1). The grandmother cannot move away from past and is at the same time confused by accuracy of past events. On the trip a road stop seems very suggestive of a hellish place: barbecue fires, Red Sammy, etc (O'Connor, pg. 6). The grandmother's lack of character judging is pointed out in this scene. She believes that Red Sammy is a good man because he relates to her old fashioned values (she thinks). Sammy is surprised at this and exclaims, "Yes'm, I suppose so," his unsureness makes the reader question Sammy's character. What is more telling is what the waitress says while bringing the food: "It isn't a soul in this green world of God's that you can trust†¦ I don't co... ...ot helping the needy, greed, dishonesty)? By finally accepting the priests company after becoming bed ridden we can infer that Mrs. McIntyre has indeed been changed by what the displaced person has taught her and is more willing to accept her past deeds and be forgiven for them. As we can see O'Connor's moral message of religion leading people's concerns away from self-suffering is quite prevalent in most of the stories in A Good Man is Hard to Find. By analyzing stories such as A Good Man is Hard to Find, The Displaced Person, The Artificial Nigger, and Good Country People we can see the representation of religion hidden behind grotesque elements that force the characters towards introspection and change. These interpretations can be taken further as a possible comment of American culture showing sometimes a horrible apocalyptic vision. O'Connor's moral lessons seem to be telling us that by finding Christ we may overcome these grotesque elements and become stronger people who, through the grace of God, care more for the people around us than our selfish wants. Bibliography 1. O'Connor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace and Co., 1976

Compare and Contrast of a Two Grand Theories Essay

Virginia Henderson (1897-1996) is a Nursing Grand Theorist who was often referred to as the â€Å"first lady of nursing.† In the article by Nicely (2011) it depicts how she developed a nursing model which is based on activities of daily living. She believed that nursing as a profession stood separately from medicine. In this article, I was able to decipher how Henderson’s theory is applied to the specialized area of organ donation for transplantation. It is reflected that although organ coordinators are from different backgrounds such as: allied health professions, physicians’ assistants, and paramedics, most of them are â€Å"registered nurses.† Nicely (2011) portrays 14 different activities that Henderson identified for patient assistance which would allow patients to return back to independence: â€Å"eating and drinking, elimination of body waste, desirable posture/sleep and rest, select suitable clothing: dress and undress, avoiding dangers in the en vironment and avoid injuring others, maintaining body temperature within normal range, grooming/protecting the integument, communication with others, worship according to one’s faith, play and recreation, learn and discover† (Nicely, 2011, p.73). Henderson’s activities reflect on how nurses can provide a good foundation in which they can become more proficient in their abilities to provide care for their patients. She stressed the importance for including the patient’s family. In her theory, Henderson states the â€Å"the complexity and quality of the service is limited only by the imagination and the competence of the nurse who interprets it† (Nicely, 2011, p. 77). The article extrapolates very good points about how equally important it is for the nurse to work with the family, as well as the patient. The second article I chose by Merritt and Procter is entitled, â€Å"Conceptualizing the functional role of mental health consultation liaison nurse in multi-morbidity,† using Peplau’s theory. This article surmises the role of the mental health consultation liaison (MHCLN) and how it can be integrated to Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations. In the introduction of the article, it focuses on the importance of â€Å"mentally ill† patients being involved actively in their treatment and care planning. This article describes that â€Å"it is a global consensus that mental health care should be undertaken  collaboratively, no matter where the patients live, and in the least restrictive environment† (World Psychiatric Association, 2009, p.159). I agree with the above statement, as I work as a mental health consultant and psychiatric nurse. There is not enough being done to help the patients and their families in seeking psychiatric care and providing a continuum of care. It continues to be a â€Å"stigma† that needs to be addressed globally, so that the patients who are in utmost need of care are able to receive it. This includes medication, behavioral management, and psychotherapy by specialists in the field. Throughout my many years of practice in the mental health field, I have witnessed so much neglect instilled on the mentally ill patients. Many facilities have closed down, and in particular one research facility called the â€Å"Lafayette Clinic† which was linked to Wayne State University in MI, closed due to the government not prioritizing mental health in their budget. As a result, there are more homeless residents living on the streets and not being treated for their mental illness until something hap pens. At times, people who are living on the streets become loud, argumentative, and combative, hallucinate, injure someone, or themselves before any action is taken. I firmly believe in the stand of the MHCLN in helping to decrease the stigma of mental illness, as well as reducing patient’s symptoms by providing a â€Å"means† for treatment. Education and research are a â€Å"key source†, as well as funding for the above to happen. Merritt’s paper represents a stepping stone in my opinion to many patients that are out there suffering and being belittled by their mental illness. The use of Peplau’s interpersonal relations theory if placed fully into practice can help patients adjust to their mental illness, and through education they would be able to have somewhat of a grasp on their illness, the importance of taking their medications, and seeing a psychiatrist and/or psychologist on a regular basis. Once stabilized, the mental health patient can reap the benefits of engaging in a more normalized lifestyle and have a better chance of adjusting to the roles that are not always able to participate in. This paper provides good insight into Peplau’s interpersonal relations theory. The methodologies utilized provide patients with an avenue to work through their psychological distress, and adjustment to changes that occur as a result of their illness. More research and education is necessary to provide the interventions that are  necessary in stabilizing the patients who suffer from mental illness. The nurse is of key importance in facilitating this process with the patient and their families, as well as the psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, recreational therapist, and mental health worker. In comparing Henderson’s article to Peplau’s article there is some correlation as to the importance in working with families, as well as the patient who is also â€Å"stressed†. In Nicely’s article, the donor patient is usually deceased, or if not deceased, the nurse works with both the patient and the family. Henderson’s theory allows the nurse to be patient as well as family focused. In Merritt’s article, it is both important for the nurse to work with the patient and family as well. In both articles, I feel that the â€Å"nurse† serves as an â€Å"advocate† in different ways, one from a medical perspective, and the other from a psychological perspective, however these can be intertwined as the families who lost a loved one due to â€Å"brain death† and a transplantation will occur, also need emotional support. Nurse-patient relationship encompasses many strategies throughout both articles. In Peplau’s psychodynamic nursing theory four phases of a nurse-patient relationship are identified: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution. By utilizing these phases, it will allow a nurse to better identify, respond to patient’s need, and build trust. Both articles stress the importance of â€Å"nurses† in different types of roles, one as an â€Å"organ donation coordinator†, and the other as a  "mental health liaison or consultant† providing psychological and emotional support to families. References: Merritt, M. K. & Procter, N. (2010). Conceptualizing the functional role of mental health consultation-liaison nurse in multi-morbidity, using Peplau’s nursing theory. Contemporary Nurse 34(2). 158-166. https://lmscontent.embanet.com/MVU/NURS600/Readings/W3_Peplau.pdf Nicely, B., & DeLario, G. T. (2011). Virginia Henderson’s principles and practice of nursing applied to organ donation after brain death. Progress in transplantation, 21(1), 72-77. https://lmscontent.embanet.com/MVU/NURS600/Readings/W3_Nicely2011.pdf

Giant Foods Case Analysis

This case involves convergent technologies, a blending of traditional and cutting-edge business models and an alliance between an established pharmaceutical provider and a fledgling, Information Technology based, Drug marketing firm. Together, these two companies endeavored to create a patient education and prescription drug compliance program by deploying the deep well of customer data acquired by Giant Foods and the proprietary software of Elensys Care services, Inc. Elensys uses information from Giants pharmacy to send personalized letters, written on pharmacy letterhead but often paid for by pharmaceutical companies, that remind customers to refill prescriptions and pitch new products to customers with particular ailments. Giant first tested the feasibility of running a drug compliance program in-house but quickly determined that its’ Information System requirements were too overwhelming and decided to outsource the program to Elensys. However, the backlash to this new initiative was negative and strong as dozens of angry customers called officials at Giant to complain. Privacy specialists said the practice raised new questions about patient confidentiality and also blurs the line between medicine and marketing. â€Å"People assume that their medical information, including prescription information, is held in the strictest confidence,† said Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer group in San Diego. â€Å"When that information is shared with a third party, they're surprised and outraged. This case exemplifies the privacy issues surrounding Giant Food's decision to outsource a prescription drug compliance program to Elensys. Ignoring for a moment the underlying profit motive of this program, approximately half of all patients stop taking their medication within the first six months of being prescribed, compliance programs remind patients to refill their prescriptions and help address a major public health issue. However, these programs also raise privacy issues because they involve the use of sensitive personal information. This case provides business and law students, firms and legislators with an opportunity to assess the privacy issues raised by this situation. The case also provides an opportunity for firms to deal with the challenges of developing a privacy sensitive implementation strategy and CRM programs in general. Background: Giant Foods, Inc. Beginning in February of 1936, Giant Foods was brought to life by N. M. Cohen and Samuel Lehrman. Using the business model of offering a large, self-service grocery store with revenue based on high volume and low prices, the store was an instant success. An innovator from the very start, Giant Foods was the first to install front-end scanners in all its stores, market a private label house brand and the first to hire a consumer advocate to promote its products. Much of the success that Giant has earned is due to technology, innovation and well planned vertical integration. Giant presently operates its own bakery, dairy and soft drink firm. Giant also builds its own stores, produces its commercials and advertising in-house and even makes its own signs. This vertical integration strategy has been highly successful in the food-pharmacy combination with which Giant helped to pioneer. The fact that each Giant pharmacy fills over 1,000 prescriptions per week suggests that this is a profitable tactic and highly regarded by its customers. Elensys: Elensys began its business life in 1993, in Burlington Massachusetts. Its business model was one of an IT enabled information system built as a â€Å"prescription compliance† program between consumers and Pharmacists. Elensys, whose name comes from an ancient Greek city known for medicine and health, was a â€Å"first mover† in this area and, due to strong network effects, was able to reach a critical mass within three years. Initially, Elensys started with four employees and served two local pharmacies. Presently, Elensys receives prescription information from 15,000 pharmacies about millions of people every week, and it uses proprietary, cutting-edge computer equipment to keep track of these records, according to Elensys founder Dan Rubin. In an Internet post, Elensys describes itself as â€Å"the leader in patient behavior modification programs. † Interest in the company has soared, in part because so many people fail to take medicine properly and most chains don't have the technical wherewithal to track customers as precisely as Elensys, Rubin said. Up to half of all patients who should routinely take medicine for such ailments as hypertension or high cholesterol quit prematurely, he said. â€Å"It's the primary reason for our existence. † Much of the cost of the analysis and mailings is offset by payments from drug manufacturers, who contract with pharmacies for the right to mail information to individual customers. Among other things, Rubin said, that material could include suggestions that customers switch from one drug to another. In addition to the customer backlash from this program, many legal issues become prescient due to the ill-defined nature of privacy laws. In a marketing practice that some experts say raises new questions about medical privacy, several large drug store chains and â€Å"thousands† of independent pharmacies have been providing confidential patient information to a Massachusetts database company that profiles and targets patients who don't refill prescriptions. The Washington Post reports Elensys receives prescription information on millions of individuals from 15,000 pharmacies each week, using â€Å"some of the most sophisticated computer equipment available† to profile patients and send them â€Å"educational materials† about drugs available for their conditions. Dr.  George Lundberg, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, called the direct marketing tactics, known as â€Å"drug compliance programs,† a â€Å"breach of fundamental medical ethical issues. † He said, â€Å"Do you want †¦ the great computer in the sky to have a computer list of every drug you take, from which can be deduced your likely diseases — and all without your permission? † Elensys describes itself in an Internet posting as â€Å"the leader in patient behavior modification programs† The Boston Globe reported that â€Å"Giant Foods said yesterday it is considering suspending† the practice of sending confidential information to Elensys. Stung by disclosures in the Washington Post, Giant Foods held high-level meetings all day before issuing a statement defending the program and asserting extensive measures were taken to protect confidentiality. † The statement said, â€Å"Giant pharmacies engages in a limited number of programs designed to educate customers about prescription therapy and improve compliance with their drug regimen. These programs in no way compromise the confidentiality of patients. † Elensys backed Giant, defending itself in a statement that emphasized it â€Å"merely served as an agent of Giant, and the chain exerted sole control over the use of information. The Washington Post reported Sunday that officials at Giant defended the marketing program, â€Å"saying customers benefit from their reminders and from the information provided by drug manufacturers. Both companies said they value customer privacy and allow customers to remove themselves from participation by submitting an ‘opt-out' form. † A spokesperson for Giant â€Å"stressed that Elensys does not share its prescription database with third parties,† and Elensys President Daniel Rubin â€Å"said drug companies never get access to the pharmacy's files. Instead, pharmaceutical companies decide which patient groups they want to target and pay Elensys and the pharmacies to mail information to those patients. The Washington Post also reports that the direct marketing is â€Å"part of a far-reaching move by drug manufacturers and pharmacies across the country to make greater use of medical information, new technology and sophisticated marketing techniques to sell more drugs. Rather than promoting their products to doctors,† companies are targeting patients in hopes of influencing them to ask for specific prescriptions. The New York Times reports a parallel trend in which the â€Å"pharmaceutical industry is increasingly marketing mental health drugs directly to consumers. † Manufacturers claim the information is useful to patients, while some doctors and patient advocates contend that â€Å"people with certain mental illnesses are much more susceptible to being manipulated than those with other medical problems. † The Times reports that â€Å"in the most aggressive example of approaching patients directly, Eli Lilly & Company said recently that it would offer scholarships to some schizophrenic patients who took Zyprexa, its new antipsychotic drug. Future problems associated with this new marketing ploy include: The melding of the entrepreneurial ethic, where the goal is to sell a product and the more traditional medical ethic, where the goal is the well-being of the patient. The information could be sold to an insurance company that would then refuse to sell the person insurance or charge them a higher premium. This private information could make its way to head-hunting firms, employers and even divorce courts.

IKEA assignment Essays

IKEA assignment Essays IKEA assignment Essay IKEA assignment Essay Essay Topic: IKEA In this writing we will try to analyse IKEA, the furniture retailer in relation to the assortment of its products and the position it holds in the market. Another question we would analyse is what causes the consumer to decide on where to buy their products enabling the companys position in the market To complete this report we would use a SWOT analysis and a map positioning IKEA along with its competitors with reference to the variety of designs and the value for money. Mintel will be used to obtain statistical information and further research will be carried out from journal, books and news paper articles to support the evidence. As a result of the research we would also develop a list of factors that effect IKEA completing it with a summery. Facts and figures Ingvar Kamprad the founder of IKEA was 24 when he started selling furniture in 1943 opened his first store in his home town Sweden in 1958. As to date IKEA has 180 outlets operating in 22 countries to which 60% of the products are developed in Sweden and consists of approximately 10,000 home ware products in various assortments as listed below. * Bathroom, Beds, Mattresses, chairs and Childrens IKEA * Bookcases, storage systems, Kitchen Cook wares * Floors, Rugs, Lighting, Mirrors * Sofas, Sofa beds and Armchairs * Tables, Textiles, Wardrobes cloths storage * Workspace Furniture accessories During the year 2004 over 365 million customers have visited IKEA stores. The company purchases products from approximately 1,500 suppliers in 55 countries with 27 distributions centres in 16 countries. IKEA is 40% dependent in sourcing from other countries and also transporting from swedwood (own industrial groups)1 to other outlets, therefore it is important for these transport to supply their end of the purchasing to the customers. However the approach IKEA follows is mainly based on being environmentally friendly and they expect their suppliers wherever they are in the world to follow their code of conduct the Ikea Way (IWAY) which is explained in further details in Appendix A Ikea requires the routes from the suppliers to customers to be direct, cost effective environmentally friendly as possible which is also why flat packs are important to them and the customers Ikeas ethos is to provide affordable furnishing for working families, the flat pack nature of the products developed specifically in that format to enable prices to be kept low2. 12 months prior to February 2003 the mintel report has stated that Argos was the favourite source of decorated house ware products but less in functional house ware at 18% whereas IKEA attracted 12% of consumers holding its position in the 2nd place. However it would be necessary to mention that Argos also attracts shoppers interest in other products such as clothing, electrical and entertainment. Below is a table with further details from Mintel. On the other hand as seen on the table below in 2004 the retailer used for purchasing furniture is IKEA with 16% followed by Argos with 10% and department stores being 3rd with 5%. Source Mintel report3 Although IKEA may have counteracted with difficult situations in the past such as the the deadly poisoned bookshelves4 where formaldehyde was found after a tests were conducted by an investigative team from Germany. They have taken immediate action with stopping production world wide showing how the values of the customers were important to them. There may also be difficulties for the shoppers with no transports, with IKEA stores located in retails parks out of the city; however they do ensure transport via train and buses along with the offer to deliver. Position mapping After completing a research travelling the stores, browsing the catalogue and websites, it has helped to analysing the variety of products IKEA produces in comparison to its revelries. This has enabled us to compare prices and position them on the map as seen below. The map is designed to show where the companies stand in relation with its competitors with one line marked as the design/style of assortment the company has and the second line is to measure the value/pricing with both indicating the low and high levels. With approximately 10,000 assortments of furniture the consumer would know that there are varieties to choose from at reasonable prices with quality. This also helps the positioning of IKEA to be the 1st in the market place. `The UK is Ikeas third biggest market, generating 12% of group sales, or pounds 800m last year. Germany is biggest, with 21% of sales. In addition, Brent Park is the busiest Ikea store in the world.5 We can see that IKEA has the highest assortment of all 5 companies with 10,000 products at reasonable pricing. Whereas Habitat was placed on the map for the lowest design yet high with pricing. On the other hand although Argos was the cheapest company the assortment was also much less than IKEA with 3,500 furniture products. John Lewis was positioned on the map to be the third least expensive with the third in line for the variety of assortments in its product range, whereas MFI was placed to be 4th in line of varieties but 3rd with higher prices compared with IKEA. This is a tool used to measure the strength, weakness, threats and opportunity of a company in the market upon competitors as shown in Appendix B One of the major strengths of IKEA is that it a wide variety of products therefore giving them a competitive edge in comparison to their competitors. IKEA strengths come from storing their products under one roof and producing catalogues in various languages and delivers to homes. Last year, a total of 145 million copies were printed in 48 editions and 25 languages 6 The idea was to produce and sell simple, practical items of furniture that were easy to install The flat pack packaging is another one of IKEA strength with easy to install instruction. Another weakness of IKEA is the number of outlets with in UK and in order to strengthen that weakness it would be advisable to open further outlets which would be to their advantage. Although MFI has more outlets, unfortunately most of their furnitures are made as units which are one off to order that requires few weeks of delivery time where the likes of MFI or Courts may make money selling to the customer on a one-off basis7. An opportunity for IKEA is that it does not do e commerce as it is missing out on a great opportunity with large market segmentation, which is one of Argos strengths On the companys website it states that trade through the Internet is small but growing. However, in the UK IKEA does not offer home shopping either through its websites or the catalogue. Customers must make a trip to one of the stores to actually make a purchase8 One other weakness of IKEA is as stated by Mail on Sunday is the queuing system It is reckoned that customers often spend an hour queuing to pay at the checkouts of a busy store. And that helps explain why it wants to build 20 more9. Factors effecting IKEA There are a few factors which affect Ikea in a positive and negative perspective such as the change in fashion If you bought a new coat or boots this winter, the chances are it was not because your old ones had worn out but because you wanted the latest style, label or colour.10 Below listed are few other factors that effect IKEA and the consumer before buying the product. * Change in fashion and taste * Busy life schedule * E commerce * Retailing mistakes/Delivery issues * Marital status Factors in selecting a retailer * Flexibility Buying furniture is an emotional process. Customers require time, flexibility and support from their retail outlets when making such important decisions. We have to respect their needs11. * Quality and Price We are the ones who make the selection of the products by the quality, variety, and also by the price. It doesnt work if we pay a high price12 * Assortment of Product range * Location/ packaging * Media Pressure * Fashion change * Customer loyalty and perception.

Political parties goal and interest group goals essays

Political parties goal and interest group goals essays One of the Democrats goals is to support abortion rights as a fundamental constitutional liberty for all women. Second, they also oppose eliminating the affirmative action program. Third, they support balancing the budget by 2012. Furthermore, the Demarcate party endorses more charter school and more public school choices. However they do not support issuing vouchers for private school. Therefore, The National Education Association (NEA) interest group does have the same goals as the Demarcate party because they think that voucher would not help the Public School system. The NEA is supporting other programs like smaller class size of 15 students. On environmental issues the Democrats supports tax credits to preserve open spaces and create parks and to improve water quality. The Greenpeace an independent campaigning organization is suggestion that action is taken regarding genetically engineered food. I think this interest groups listed about try to influence public policy as a w ay to protect or advance their groups issues. I think sometimes their issues are to intense or to narrow to really impact all citizens. The Republican goal is to oppose abortion rights because the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life. They also feel that affirmative would be achieving equality on the job by stressing equal opportunity without quotas or other preferential treatment. They support a constitutional amendment to require a balance budget. On education would like parents to take a share of federal education money to a school of their choice. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) also supports focuses on academic achievement, student behavior and smaller classes. So the Republican get little support from educational interest group whose common causes is listed above. On the environmental issues the Republican would allow oil exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. So his support from Sierra Club grassr ...

The History of Candy Canes

The History of Candy Canes Almost everyone alive grew up familiar with the hard red-and-white candy with the curved end known as a candy cane, but few people realize just how long this popular treat has been in existence. Believe it or not, the origin of the candy cane actually goes back hundreds of years to a time when candy-makers, both professional and amateur, were making hard sugar sticks as a favorite confection. It was around the beginning of the 17th century that Christians in Europe began to adopt the use of Christmas trees as part of their Christmas celebrations. The  trees were often decorated using foods such as cookies and sometimes sugar-stick candies. The original Christmas tree candy was a straight stick and completely white in color. Cane Shape The first historical reference to the familiar cane shape though goes back to 1670. The choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany first bent the sugar-sticks into the shape of canes to represent a shepherds staff. The all-white candy canes were then given out to children during the long-winded nativity services. The clergymens custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services would eventually spread throughout Europe and later to America. At the time, the canes were still white, but sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to further decorate the canes. In, 1847, the first historical reference to the candy cane in America appeared when a German immigrant named August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes. Stripes About 50 years later, the first red-and-white-striped candy canes appeared. No one knows who exactly invented the stripes, but  based on historical Christmas cards, we know that no striped candy canes appeared prior to the year 1900. Illustrations of striped candy canes didnt even show up until the beginning of the 20th century. Around that time, candy-makers began adding peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes and those flavors would soon become accepted as the traditional favorites. In 1919, a candymaker named Bob McCormack began making candy canes.  And by the middle of the century, his company, Bobs Candies, became widely famous for their candy canes. Initially, the  canes  had to bent by hand to make the J shape. That changed with the help of his brother-in-law, Gregory Keller, who invented  a machine  to automate candy cane production. Legends and Myths There are many  other legends and religious beliefs surrounding the humble candy cane. Many of them depict the candy cane as a secret symbol for Christianity during a time when Christians were living under more oppressive circumstances. It has been claimed that the cane was shaped like a J for Jesus and that the red-and-white stripes represented Christs blood and purity. The three red stripes were also said to symbolize the Holy Trinity and the hardness of the candy represented the Churchs foundation on solid rock. As for the candy canes peppermint flavor, it represented the use of hyssop, an herb referred to in the Old Testament. However, no historical evidence exists to support these claims, although some will find them pleasant to contemplate. As noted earlier, candy canes werent even around until the 17th century, which makes some of these claims improbable.

Explain the issues in natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies Coursework

Explain the issues in natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies that China faces and propose solutions that you feel may be - Coursework Example Again, Chinese regulations require their buildings to be earthquake-resistant. However, the collapses of schools, hospitals, and factories during natural disasters raise questions about the country’s enforcement of building codes (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, n.d.). The Ministry of Science and Technology of China has established a few monitoring and early warning systems around Mount Ailao in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, the southeast China’s Fujian Province and the reservoir region of the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River. However, these structural systems are not sufficient given the vast topography of the country (Xinhua, 2011). In order to address these issues, the government of China needs to invest considerably towards the expansion of the public health system to provide shelter, potable water, food, medical care and sanitation. Secondly, the country can work in collaboration with international agencies to develop and impl ement frameworks for disaster response, risk assessment, evacuation measures and public education. Finally, the government also needs to ensure that building codes and policies are implemented within their country.

Work of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Work of Art - Essay Example Next what the viewer sees is the man struggling under water to release his hands from the rope tied around, a life and death struggle in which he finally succeeds, and then daring the firing squad that pours bullets at him from above, he swims to the shore safely. The entire sequence is fraught with breath-stopping tension as at one moment, the man seems to be going to die and the next moment, he is again seen to be surviving some how in this race against death. The moment in which the man arrives at the shore of the river, totally exhausted and breathless, yet living and happy to be alive, he sees a small wild flower just near to where he was lying half-conscious. And he is in divine ecstasy seeing that beautiful manifestation of life, especially because the same life a moment before was slipping away from him. Thus the flower becomes a metaphor of his own survival and hope. The film next depicts the firing squad once again closing in on him and he running for life like a amad man. The hunter and the hunted become engaged in a intense saga of killer instinct and survival instinct. Then the film shows the viewer a gate which opens before the running man, and for a moment, it seems that his trial by fire is over and he has safely arrived at his house. The visuals of a woman and a child happily welcoming him reinforces this impression. He is seen running towards them in relief and immense joy. But, suddenly, something invisible seems to be pulling him back at one stroke and the next shot that the viewer sees is the man hanging on the bridge. It is only at this moment that the viewer realizes that the rope-breaking and escape sequence that he/she saw earlier was unreal and was just a last thought, vision or wishful thinking of the man being hanged. There was no escape possible and he died. The film ends here. While watching the film, I have been finding it difficult to even breath as the struggle of the

Entrepreneurship- Patent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Entrepreneurship- Patent - Essay Example It works a great deal in detecting cases of diabetes to those who show no symptoms towards the disease. Working tirelessly with my colleagues, we have developed a system whereby it would be simply easy to test for diabetes, pre-diabetes or people who have suffer from diabetes complication. The information included therein contains every procedure and the test device used to test for diabetes. In this regard, the information remains intellectual property of the original owners according to US Patent rights. The information contained in the file named under, â€Å"METHODS FOR DETECTING PRE-DIABETES AND DIABETES USING DIFFERENTIAL PROTEIN GLYCOSYLATION†, Application and Publication Number US 13/457,225 & US20120214179 A1 respectively is the property of the inventor. The materials and procedure provide a unique way which has not be invented by any other individual on testing of pre-diabetes which are those likely to have diabetes in future. This is the cutting edge as the owners’ claims exclusive rights towards an improved diabetes testing

The Economic Impact of the Loughor Marine Lake Development Essay

The Economic Impact of the Loughor Marine Lake Development - Essay Example The tidal lake waterfront would create opportunities for leisure activities such as sailing and boating.   Generation of electricity for the use in the development area is also included as a part of the master plan.  Ã‚   The project is expected to act as a catalyst for the economic development of the region benefiting Llanelli and Swansea as well.     The employment opportunities arising out of the project will benefit the community in Swansea and the surrounding areas such as Port Talbot, Neath, Llanelli, parts of Lliw Valley and the District of Dinefwr. The mobility on account of tourism, leisure, and other related activities would create an excellent climate for the business and trade development in the region as a whole in the long term. The long-term jobs created will be in Manufacturing and Commercial sector.   The second major sector will be Services covering retail, wholesale, distribution, personal services, tourism, and leisure.   It is proposed to construct 250,000 Sq. feet area for commercial purposes in the development project. The consortium’s interest in obtaining grants from Europe under the European Regional Development Fund for which tourism is seen as a prime means of economic regeneration.   Weaknesses and shortcomings of the project are also analyzed in this paper.   The study also covers recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to develop the region as an economic hub and a tourism spot of national importance and recommended a program of implementation.   The study analyses and reports the project in terms of its scope, limitations or shortcomings, and arrive at general conclusions and give recommendations for a comprehensive strategy for the development of the project and implementation of the program.   The Master Plan of the Marine Lake Development consists of two independent and related projects. The first one is related to infrastructure development.

Touchpoint Mapping by Mounir Ariss and Not All Interactions Qualify as Assignment

Touchpoint Mapping by Mounir Ariss and Not All Interactions Qualify as Dialogue - Assignment Example 3. Logical: The logical dimension as suggested by the author incorporates the business processes, the information flows and the technology components within the organization. It is important for the organization and the employees to understand their business processes to foster good relationships with the customer. A touch map is an illustration that depicts all kinds of interactions that take place between the company and its customers. Its foundation is laid on the basis of various customer segments and is a reflection of the customer’s perspective. It aims at enabling the organization to maximize customer value by catering to customers differently. The touch map addresses the Logical experience dimension. 1. Use a flexible opt-in policy: through this policy the customer is prompted if he wants any communication from the firm or now. The customer should be given the opportunity to decide if he wants the firm to communicate to the extent of how much communication does he want from the firms end. 3. Tread cautiously with targeted Web ads: It is important to be cautious while targeting web ads. Be aware of customer’s informed consent on this matter if you want behavioral targeting to succeed. 5. Create a culture based on customer trust: Cultivate a culture of customer trust within the organization. If the employees know that customer’s privacy is to be protected, it will become second nature to them and they would be very cautious about dealing with customer information. 6. Remember: you are responsible for your partner too: Make sure that suppliers, vendors and distributors associated with you also respect your customer’s personal information if you are sharing it with

Cleaning tasks in home care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cleaning tasks in home care - Essay Example This essay describes the role of home health aide in maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment. The essay further talks about principles of safe home environment and procedures for house hold tasks. It explains how to clean utensils, linen and personal items. Guidelines on organizing the household tasks are discussed in this paper. 2. Role of home health aide. Home health aide gives safety, cleanliness and health assistance by giving personalized care, checking for physical dangers and report to medical authority about the client. By helping in bathing, dressing and toileting they reduce the chances of discomfort and infections (Prieto, 2008, p. 184). Assistance in movement, taking medication and feeding reduces accidents. Purchasing, preparing, serving and feeding ensure the client remain healthy. In some cases the home health aide educates the client and family which facilitate their cooperation when it comes to maintaining a safe, clean and healthy environment. Home health aide gives support to client and family by ensuring the surrounding is comfortable and can allow safe mobility (Anene 2009, p. 46). 3. Principles of safe home environment. To maintain a safe home environment avoid objects that could cause stumbling. One can put hand rails or bars in the house for support. Cabinets with dangerous substances and tools should be locked. Allow temperature for water heater to be adjusted to prevent burns. Naked flames should not be left unattended. Moreover, ensure there is an equipped first aid kit and functional fire extinguisher ready and accessible. Communication should be encouraged. A safe environment will ensure that there is no risk of burns, drowning, chocking, cuts, falls, loud noise, falling objects, broken items, robes and naked electric wires. It may be necessary to implement a system of monitoring movement like a door alarm, bell or supervision. Ensure there is a working telephone in case of an emergency. The home health aide can practice appropriate body mechanics when moving, lifting and transferring client (Birchenall and Streight 2003, p. 4). In addition cover the mouth when coughing and wear a mask if the client is coughing frequently. Avoid sitting or standing too close to the patient when they cough or have flu. Ensure there is ventilation to allow flow of fresh air. Soiled cloths, linen and items should be kept away from the clean ones. They can be kept together in a room. The soiled linen can be wrapped so that the soiling is at the middle and does not spill. 4. Procedure, equipments and supplies for house hold tasks. Leahy et al (2008, p. 17) point out that, it is necessary to collect and get the right equipment and supplies to protect self and to avoid infection when cleaning. House hold equipments and supplies required include: broom, mop, dust pan, disinfectant, bleach, rag, scrub brush, vacuum and scrap. Infection control measures should be considered in every procedure. Wear gloves when performing task s and handling soiled linen, equipment or cloths. Clean hands regularly, preferably before and after completing tasks. Separate dirty and clean areas. The bathroom should be cleaned with cloth and the toilet wiped with a disposable cloth. When cleaning the kitchen start with the top to bottom, wipe spills and throw garbage daily. To clean the bathroom cleaning starts from top to bottom then clean sinks, shower and then the toilet. The floor and the water spills should be

Touchpoint Mapping by Mounir Ariss and Not All Interactions Qualify as Assignment

Touchpoint Mapping by Mounir Ariss and Not All Interactions Qualify as Dialogue - Assignment Example 3. Logical: The logical dimension as suggested by the author incorporates the business processes, the information flows and the technology components within the organization. It is important for the organization and the employees to understand their business processes to foster good relationships with the customer. A touch map is an illustration that depicts all kinds of interactions that take place between the company and its customers. Its foundation is laid on the basis of various customer segments and is a reflection of the customer’s perspective. It aims at enabling the organization to maximize customer value by catering to customers differently. The touch map addresses the Logical experience dimension. 1. Use a flexible opt-in policy: through this policy the customer is prompted if he wants any communication from the firm or now. The customer should be given the opportunity to decide if he wants the firm to communicate to the extent of how much communication does he want from the firms end. 3. Tread cautiously with targeted Web ads: It is important to be cautious while targeting web ads. Be aware of customer’s informed consent on this matter if you want behavioral targeting to succeed. 5. Create a culture based on customer trust: Cultivate a culture of customer trust within the organization. If the employees know that customer’s privacy is to be protected, it will become second nature to them and they would be very cautious about dealing with customer information. 6. Remember: you are responsible for your partner too: Make sure that suppliers, vendors and distributors associated with you also respect your customer’s personal information if you are sharing it with

Popular culture-Respond to questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Popular culture-Respond to questions - Essay Example As land continuously became scarce, the American frontier concept evolved the great land expanse to the frontiers such as ocean and space exploration, which were less tangible. Shames asserts that had the supply of more carried on indefinitely, expansion would could be a goal in itself. This would give rise to a value system founded on bulk rather than quality of life. Therefore, the American situation today is based on the fact that there is less to be had (Shames et al 93). According to Shames, there are connections between the history of the American frontier and consumer behaviour. The connection stems from the American culture of wanting more, which is not easily satisfied, which is synonymous to the frontier history. In this sense, the â€Å"more is better† notion that emerged during the frontier era has not changed and is still evident in consumer behaviour. He further points out that the sense of quality among American consumers has lagged behind that of scale. Therefore, both the American consumer and the frontier history are not quite about the quality of what one gets but rather, quantity. In the frontier history, people were more concerned about the acreage of land they would acquire and not its quality. In a similar manner, the modern consumer behaviour focuses more on how much the consumer can get rather than the quality of what they are purchasing (Shames et al 94). Retailers make use of spatial organisation design to affect consumers’ buying habits and their behavior. Depending on how stores use their space to arrange merchandise, they can determine how easily consumers can locate what they are shopping for. The idea of displaying the latest designs of clothes on the right hand side of the entrance to American shops was informed by the notion that people tend to walk the way they drive. On the same note, that is why fast-food outlets are

Engaging Students during Instruction Essay Example for Free

Engaging Students during Instruction Essay Differentiated instruction is the critical element of effective education. Differentiated instruction guarantees that the learning needs of every student are satisfied. Bloom’s taxonomy can be used to determine the level of individual learners’ thinking, while Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences can help evaluate the level of learners’ knowledge and determine the ways to enhance this knowledge by using differentiated instructional strategies. Engaging Students during Instruction Differentiated instruction is the critical element of effective education. Differentiated instruction guarantees that the learning needs of every student are satisfied. Bloom’s taxonomy and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences are the two complementary models that can be used to develop differentiated instructional strategies in any type of learning environment. Out of many educational researchers, B. Bloom is considered one of the most prominent education professionals in the 20th century. â€Å"Bloom and his colleagues undertook the daunting task of creating taxonomy of educational objectives† (Tomlinson, 1999). It should be noted that Bloom has initially concentrated his attention on differentiating the learning objectives; thus, his taxonomy can be successfully applied to differentiate between the learning outcomes for different groups of learners. Howard Gardner was deeply involved into researching human creative abilities (Gardner, 1993). The result of his profound investigation is reflected in the discovery of eight levels of intelligence (knowing). Each of these multiple intelligences can be used to determine the level of knowledge for a particular learner, and to develop the set of strategies to address the most significant knowledge gaps. In many instances, the combination of the two learning theories will serve the basis for the creation and implementation of effective instructional approaches that will satisfy the learning needs of all types of learners. In reality, both Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s multiple intelligences create a stable framework for successful learning. Each lesson must have individualized learning objectives, a clear set of instructional strategies, and a choice of evaluation criteria, but these elements cannot be developed and applied without sound knowledge of Bloom’s and Gardner’s learning theories. Each lesson should be characterized by â€Å"a variety of teacher techniques aimed at reaching students at all levels† (Skowron, 2001), and by engaging all students into discussion. Here, Bloom’s taxonomy will be used to determine the level of individual learners’ thinking, while Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences will be used to evaluate the level of learners’ knowledge and the ways to enhance this knowledge using differentiated instructional strategies. Gardner pays special attention to non-linguistic intelligences, including bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, and naturalist learner abilities (Gardner, 1993). Gardner’s theory can be used to â€Å"convey learning experiences with understanding of the many different ways individuals gain mastery in their learning processes† (Tomlinson, 1999). However, Gardner’s approaches are limited to knowledge and comprehension areas of instructional design, while Bloom’s taxonomy further expands to setting clear objectives and evaluating the learning outcomes through the prism of six different levels of learning. Gardner’s multiple intelligences and Bloom’s taxonomy form a detailed observation of the learners’ style, needs, abilities, and knowledge. The two theories create an excellent combination that will motivate students to learn. â€Å"With the outcomes clearly defined for students, the possibility exists that they will feel more challenges; they may motivate them to push on to the next levels of understanding† (Skowron, 2001). At each level of student intelligence, a variety of instructional strategies can be implemented to satisfy the widest range of the learning needs, and to ensure that each of Bloom’s learning outcomes is achieved by all groups of learners. When learners are aware of the six groups of learning outcomes (Bloom’s taxonomy) they may also choose, whether they need to work on their strongest intelligences, or whether they should concentrate on their weaker intelligence sides to achieve the anticipated outcomes in particular learning process. Thus, the combination of Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s learning theory offers substantial freedom for student participation in the learning process (Tomlinson, 1999). Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences offer better choice and independence to students, creating favorable conditions for developing and implementing differentiated instructional approaches in classroom. References Gardner, H. (1993). Multiple intelligences: the theory in practice. New York: Basic Books. Skowron, J. (2001). How to differentiate instruction. In J. Skowron, Powerful lesson planning models, Arlington Heights, IL. Tomlinson, C. A. (1999). The differentiated classroom responding to the needs of all learners. ASCD. Paper responses Daniel’s paper Daniel is very correct: there is no â€Å"one size fits all† in education. Differentiated instruction should stem from the optimal combination of learning theories and approaches. Piaget’s epistemological theory and Gardner’s multiple intelligences form a good combination of differentiated approaches toward instruction, and Daniel uses a simple and effective mathematical example to illustrate his findings. However, Daniel’s work also implies that there is unlimited number of theoretical combinations that can be used to differentiate instruction. I think and agree with Daniel that by using only one theory, instructional professionals risk losing significant learning benefits that each learning theory offers.

United Nations Childrens Fund :: essays research papers

Introduction (United Nations Children's Fund [UNICF], n.d.)The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a leading advocate for women and children rights. Founded in 1946 and active in 157 countries and territories around the world. The UNICEF has committed it resources to achieve results for children in five major areas: Rights to an education Best possible start in life Safeguard against disease, provide immunizations Stop spread of AIDS/HIV and care for those already infected Protection from violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination UNICEF’s mission is to remain focus on these five priorities all over the world in all circumstances including conflicts, war, natural disasters, emergencies and also in times of peace. In order to accomplish their mission UNICEF’s management must take into account ethics in planning and the factors of strategy, tactics, operations and contingency which influence each plan in management. Strategy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Management at The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) must have a strategic plan which serves as the framework to build â€Å"A World Fit for Children.†(UNICEF [UNICEF], 1998) To plan strategically management must take into account UNCEF vision and mission and there strengths, weakness and threats to accomplish their goals.(World Health Organization [WHO], 2003, 1) An example of this is UNICEF working with all those who share their commitment to the rights of every child. Organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO) who have been working with UNICEF on a strategy to fight vaccine-preventable diseases called The Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) goal is to fight vaccine-preventable diseases, which kill more than two million people every year, two thirds of those killed are children. WHO and UNICEF will assist governments in designing, financing and implementing national immunization programs while also taking into account et hics involving culture and religious beliefs of those who do not believe in immunizations. Tactical The tactical plan of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) management must describe how the organizations goals will be met and by when. It must also entail plans to help assure ethical business practices throughout UNICEF. The success of these goals will depend on the quality of there programs, information, communication, advocacy and the excellence of their internal management and operations. UNICEF management must hold them selves accountable to do all that they can for the success of their goals by planning, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting to achieve the results in the five major areas to change the world to serve the best interest of the child. Operational Operational planning in Management at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is setting out clearly the implementation of the strategic plan against specific objectives.

Psychotherapy Essay -- Psychology, Empirically Validated Treatments

I believe that the art of psychotherapy is more important than the use of empirically validated treatments (EVT). I feel that the art of psychotherapy exists through the use of the common factors, which include the therapeutic relationship, client and therapist factors (e.g., personality), helping clients deal with problems, and hope or expectancy factors (Reisner, 2005). Although I do believe that empirically validated treatments may enhance the therapeutic process, the treatments themselves are by no means the most important or fundamental aspects of therapy. I agree with the idea presented by Allen (2008) that scientific knowledge is important, but it is not sufficient for the successful outcomes in psychotherapy. There appears, at least to me, to be much more of an art involved in developing the relationship with the client and understanding the client’s perspective, and if this cannot be done successfully then it is unlikely that individualized techniques could be success fully applied. Managed care has not completely eradicated the art of psychotherapy; however, as more research reveals EVTs are effective on more disorders, the use of the art of psychotherapy will likely decline. This would occur due to managed care’s preferences for the use of EVT, since there is evidence that they likely work quickly, saving time and money (Cukrowicz et al., 2005). In order to receive reimbursement and compete with psychopharmacology, there is a growing necessity for the reliance on empirically validated therapy (Reisner, 2005). However, certain artful tactics involved in psychotherapy will never be entirely removed, such as the development of a therapeutic relationship (Allen, 2008). With the rise of EVT, there is a possibility that mana... ... generally equal in how effective they are, but generally, it is the common factors across therapies that account for the most improvement in clients, not the specific techniques or treatments that are used (Reisner, 2005). Psychotherapy is arguably an art that cannot be conducted without some sense or understanding of life, meaning, and relationship issues that cannot be learned from science alone (Allen, 2008). Ideally, therapy should involve both science (empirically validated treatments) and art by combining the therapeutic relationship and knowledge of the client’s needs with the proper treatment techniques. Overall, I do not feel that manualized treatments will ever completely replace the art of psychotherapy; however, it is likely that the combination of manualized treatments and the art of psychotherapy will lead to more successful therapeutic outcomes.

International Politics Essay

Transformation—is one of the few words which could be used in order to define and describe the current situation of the international community. In every parts of the world, transformation is currently occurring from the simple acquisition of one product to another. Such situation could be one of the few examples of the changes which are present in the current society. In the modern society, boundaries and limits had now been erased due to the technology including the issues facing most states in the global community. The past limitation of states in surpassing territorial boundaries of their own state is now removed. Such hindrances are not a concern any longer. The gaps in which divides states are now being linked therefore making each and everyone of us connected. The far away lands of Africa or Europe could now be reached through one click of a button. The then complicated processes of communication as well as the process of international relations had changed due to globalization. The process of globalization became a significant change in the relations of states. In addition, states are not only the actors in the international community. The active participation of non-state actors had been highlighted in the past events which had recently occurred such as wars, conflicts and environmental phenomenon. In the past such as the events of the World War I, nations were the only actors in the war. Decisions were only influenced by the leaders of the states involved. Although international organizations were present in providing aid to the victims of the war, they were not equally involved in the decision making process. But as these events unfold, it is evident that international organizations are similarly participating with the political issues at hand. In the principle of realism, the main actors were only states however; in the view of the liberalism theory, other actors such that of international organizations, trans-national organizations, multinational corporations and the likes. In the book of Baylis and Smith, the authors stated that in â€Å"Realists emphasize states’ ruthlessly self-interested search for territorial, military and economic resources† (Baylis and Smith, 2008). On the other hand, Liberalism or Idealism pursues to promote internationalism during the inter-war period (Baylis and Smith, 2008). The theory of liberalism’s main idea is to attach government together with good governance which will create a connection between states and the societies of the global community. Liberalism promotes the need for the world to unite and commune with the issues of the international community equally. However, unlike the liberalism, realists approach the view of internationalism is translated as anarchy. (Baylis and Smith, 2008) Evidently, the world is already shifting and adopting another form of ideology other than realism which was mainly utilized in the past. In the inter-war years, the liberalist theorists started to promote their perspective in which advocates that international institutions should encourage the values of having order, justice, liberty and toleration within the relationship of states. It was believed in such theory that the conflicts between states could not only be resolved through the use of force and warfare. International institutions or organizations much act as mediators when conflicts are at hand. In addition, such international institutions must be the area of discussion for the reason that it could create other actions in resolving disputes in a much objective manner. Therefore, the liberalists were able to influence every state in creating an international organization which lead to the creation of the League of Nations in which became the fundamental foundation of the United Nations. Although the ideas of the liberalists were idealistic, each state must be a member of the organization in order to fully accomplish and pursue the goals of the international organization. (Baylis and Smith, 2008) In our changing world, the past conflicts and issues of a state are realized to also be affecting the world. The recent war on terror had been actively participated by different states in order to deter the effects of terrorism. After the war on terror, many states changes their view point which such situations—following the chief state which proclaimed the war. The war on terror became a global issue due to the involvement of different states. Additionally, international organizations became a great factor in such war. The war in Afghanistan for example, the United Nations became one of the main decision maker and supporter of the war. The United Nations launched protocols and written agendas in order to promote action against the cruel ruling and the storage of the weapons of mass destruction of Saddam Hussein. In the incident given, the United Nations played a great role in encouraging and promoting in the issue against terrorism. United Nations became one of the main actors is countering against terrorism unlike in the past. (Bredel, 2003) Another issue which is currently in debate until this day is the issues concerning the global environment—climate change. This issue is one of the most controversial and debated issues because it is one of the problems of the world which passes the boundaries of states. Climate change not only affects the climate and the environment but also the politics and economics of each state. One of the few very specific problems under climate change is pollution. Pollution had been a great problem for different states for the reason that it encompasses the boundaries of states. It is known that most industries or factory excretes smoke which turns out to be air pollutants due to the machineries used to create products and the likes. Water pollution also has the same situation for the reason that it flows although out different forms of water and continuously flow to the water of other states. The problem obviously passes through the limitation of the international law and protocols available. The problem becomes a trans-national issue that requires states to cooperate and coordinate with each other in order to solve such crisis. With the issue of climate change, trans-national entities are the most reliable organizations in laying down such issues. Trans-national organizations provide states a much immediate and larger picture of the issue. Due to the personality of trans-national organization, different organizations that aim for the same goals as others come together to be able to solve the dilemmas at hand. With the issue of climate change, the main agent which is very much focused is the United Nations. The international organization created a branch which focuses on the issues of environment which is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The branch of United Nations provides answer to the needs of each state in order to address the problem. The UNEP together with the states and other organizations with the same advocacy such as Green Peace and other local organizations with in the various states to be able to provide answer to the issue. The role of non-state actors and trans-national networks had become significant in the international community due to the promotion of international organization during crisis. The power given to non-state actors as well as trans-national networks enable these agencies to freely interfere with the conflicts of states and within states. Therefore, these groups provide their own view points, influencing states and individuals with their perspective. Most of the time, such organizations changes the civil society which then results to the change of the government. One example that could be cited is the pursuance of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) in Asia to promote change in the civil society, therefore promoting development within the society. It is stated by Harriet Bulkeley and Michele Merrill Betsill (2005) in their book that â€Å"the international, regional, national and local interact â€Å"with actors influencing the activities of different levels simultaneously† (cited in O’ Riordan and Jordan 1996). With the statement given by the authors, it is evident that the role of non-state actors as well as trans-national organization is equally important as the responsibility of states. Therefore, the international order is changed due to the additional actors that are also acting in the international community. Currently, the international community is evidently reliant to non-state actors as well as to the trans-national networks due to the important role that it is undertaking with conflicts and decision making processes of a state. Non-state actors and trans-national networks had become one of the main components of international relations whether it may be in conflict resolution or in times of celebration. Such groups empower and support positive ideology due to the idealistic nature of most non-state and trans-national networks. The usual â€Å"state-only† theory had now been changed into a new form of relations of states which brings together actors that has the same goals to attain making the relations of states peaceful. Although most non-state actors and trans-national networks aims to create a united international community, there are also groups alike that promotes otherwise. One well known group is the Al-Qaeda which seeks to promote terror and violence from the eyes of most states. Although Al-Qaeda is seen as an extremist group in promoting change, it is also considered a trans-national network for the reason that it encompasses the boundaries of its home state and promotes their ideology to the world. The group creates networks in different parts of the world while maintaining a balance relation with other networks associated to the group. Due to the negative effects they such trans-national network is creating; it definitely changes the order of the international community. Not only it brings terror to the whole global community but the group promotes division and conflict within the global society. (Pearlstein, 2004) In conclusion, the issues that the international community is facing are now crossing the boundaries of states such that of the terrorism and climate change. There is a need for states to get together and resolve such dilemma. Therefore, trans-national networks and non-state actors play a vital role in resolving such problems. The non-state and trans-national networks are the best area for the resolution of such conflicts because objectiveness within the situation is achieved. The international community sets the non-states actors and trans-national networks as the one of the numerous vital actors in the global community. The participation of such actors promotes the unity of the whole international community in times of crisis or triumph. References Baylis J. , Smith S. , & Owens, P. Eds.(2008). The Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to International Relations. New York: Oxford University Press. Bredel, R. (2003). Long-term Conflict Prevention and Industrial Development: The United Nations and Its Specialized Agency, UNIDO. Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Bulkeley, H. , and Betsill, M. M. (2005). Cities and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Governance. London: Routledge. Pearlstein, R. M. (2004). Fatal Future? : Transnational Terrorism and the New Global Disorder. Texas:University of Texas Press.

Dissociative Identity Disorder in Women

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in Women An Annotated Bibliography Dissociative Identity Disorder is also known as â€Å"Multiple Personality Disorder†. This can be defined as an effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual or emotional abuse. I chose this topic because I had to do a research paper about it in my Psychology class, so I just used the research I did to do this paper.This was my first choice of a topic because it’s a psychological disorder that I have been fascinated with, since coming to America. Although there were times that I had to look for a topic that was much broader, such as, â€Å"disorders and women† in general in order to find anything reliable about my topic. By broadening my research to include the â€Å"disorders that relate to men and women†, I was able to write a paper with a much more effective argument. I initially started to do research using the Internet and looking for scholastic journals.While this provided plenty of sources it was often difficult to determine if the information was reliable and half of the results were not relevant to my topic, like there were many times that I found myself looking through thousands of search results. Many of which were so irrelevant to my topic, like bulimia and anorexia, which are disorders but these are eating disorders, not psychological disorders. The most effective research method I found was going into EBSCOHOST and using the Academic Search Premier and Psychology databases, while trying a variety of search phrases.This method helped me find many useful journals with information that I could use directly, or, by going to the reference section of the journal, would lead me to other sources. I used IUCAT to find the reference books and the encyclopedias for my paper, the reference books were much more useful than I expected, proving that women suffer from DID more than men. I assumed that all encyclopedias were filled with broad, general definitions, but I found several that had very specific information on my topic and also listed sources that I could use for further research.I found several of the new research methods introduced during this course to be extremely helpful. I was surprised by how much of a difference changing a phrase or using Boolean Operators made at the beginning of a search. I hated the nesting search method, because it complicated everything and gave me millions of results, most of which were very irrelevant. I started out on the internet using the search phrase, â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder and women† which gave me plenty of results, but when I put limiters like Peer Reviewed Journals and Scholarly articles, I got fewer, more relevant articles.When I replaced â€Å"and† with â€Å"or† I got much different articles. By isolating or deleting certain words in a search phrase I would get a completely new set of sources, and I was comple tely surprised at how little I knew about doing research in the library. The library turned out to be much more useful to me than the Internet since I did not have to spend nearly as much time verifying the reliability of a source or checking to see if the source was relevant.I learnt that to judge the relevance of anything- a journal article, website, a book, we do so with the following criteria: The purpose of the article, Type of Journal, Coverage, Date of Article, Authority, Usefulness, Bias (of the publisher) and Organization and Content, and this was indeed the most important thing I learnt in this class. MLA Format Movies The Three Faces of Eve. Dir. Nunnally Johnson. Perf. Joanne Woodward, David Wayne and Lee J. Cobb. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 1957. DVD.I watched this movie in high school; it was about Eve White, who had 2 other personalities living in her. Whenever she is faced with different situations like fear, anger, happiness, sadness, a different person ality would take over her actions. She was Eve White, a quiet, mousy, unassuming wife and mother who keeps suffering from headaches and occasional black outs. Eventually she is sent to see psychiatrist Dr. Luther, and, while under hypnosis, a whole new personality emerges: the racy, wild, fun-loving Eve Black. Under continued therapy, yet a third personality appears, the relatively stable Jane.This film, based on the true-life case of a multiple personality, chronicles Dr. Luther's attempts to reconcile the three faces of Eve. The movie really captures the frustration of a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder, because after each personality takes over, Eve White does not remember anything the other personalities said or did, so in the movie the therapist is trying to combine all 3 personalities back into 1 personality, so it was a very good visual representation of a woman with DID. Books Schreiber, Flora Rheta. Sybil. Chicago: Regnery, 1973. Print. I actually read this book a nd own it.This book is a fictional story about Sybil Dorsett, a pseudonym for a real woman named Shirley Ardell Mason, who was originally in treatment for social anxiety and memory loss, but whom during the course of treatment, manifests 16 other personalities. Throughout the book, her psychoanalyst, Cornelia Wilbur, encourages Sybil’s various selves to communicate and reveal information about her life. It describes Sybil's selves gradually becoming co-conscious, able to communicate and share responsibilities, and having musical compositions and art published under their various names.Wilbur attempts to integrate Sybil's various selves, first convincing them via hypnosis that they are all the same age, then encouraging them to merge. I included this in my research because at the book's end, a new, optimistic self-called â€Å"The Blonde† emerges, facilitating Sybil's final integration into a single, whole individual with full knowledge of her past and present life, whi ch is the goal of every person with DID. Comer, Ronald J. Abnormal Psychology. 7th ed. New York: Worth, 2010. Print. I found this book through the IUCAT online library catalog using the search terms â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder and women†.This is a book about different types of abnormal disorders. It offers a fresh, comprehensive, and exciting presentation of the field, with objective, balanced coverage of a wide range of theories, studies, disorders, and treatments and all major models. According to student reviews, â€Å"There has never been a text for the course so well-attuned to both the field of abnormal psychology and the wide range of students exploring it†. I liked this text because it presented the information in an unbiased manner.It used a lot of case studies and current events to support the various psychological theories. Hyman, Jane Wegscheider. I Am More than One: How Women with Dissociative Identity Disorder Have Found Success in Life and Work. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print. I read this book in high school and also own it. In the book, I Am More Than One, Jane Hyman takes on and succeeds at a difficult task, one which few authors manage to accomplish: communicating to her readers the deep respect with which she holds the women she interviews, even though their experiences are so foreign to her.It is clear from the beginning that Jane wants us to understand these women's experiences from their own perspectives, without denying the clinical descriptions of their illness. The stories in this book are riveting; the women are sharply and almost affectionately drawn, but as much as possible Jane â€Å"gets out of the way† of her subjects. Most chapters focus on a theme such as work, family, or relationships, but all in all, my favorite part of the book is that the author treats all her subjects with the same respect and a sincere desire to understand a life lived with DID and pass that understanding on to the reader .Reference book First, Michael, M. D. , ed. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Vol. 4 Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Print. I found this source by using the IUCAT online library catalog and it was available in the reference section of the IUSB library. This book covers all mental health disorders for both children and adults. It also lists known causes of these disorders, statistics in terms of gender, age of onset, and prognosis as well as some research concerning the optimal treatment approaches.In here, I discovered that, â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder is diagnosed 3 to 9 times more frequently in adult females than in adult males. Also, that females tend to have more identities than do males averaging 15 or more, whereas males average approximately 8 identities†, which did my topic a lot of justice. I liked this source a lot because some of the websites I had visited; had redirected me to this book as additional reference, and it was of great help. Government Publication United States. United States Courts. Court of Appeals. 6-3545 – United States v. Carol L. Gillmore. N. p. : n. p. , n. d. GPOaccess. Web. 8 Aug. 2012. . I found this publication by doing a search on GPOAccess. It is a court case about a woman who had DID, Carol Gillmore, who alleged at trial that her actions toward George Stately were a result of her DID causing her to experience a â€Å"red-out,† meaning that she entered into a dissociative state in which she suffered â€Å"a disruption . . . of consciousness, memory, identity and perception of [her] environment. She killed someone while in a state of amnesia with DID, so she is appealing her sentence because she claims she doesn’t remember killing George. I included this article because it is a life example of how the government handles people with DID. Journal articles Eric Eich, Dawn Macaulay, Richard J. Loewenstein and Patrice H. Dihle. â€Å"Me mory, Amnesia, and Dissociative Identity Disorder†. Psychological Science 8. 6 (1997): 417-422. EBSCOhost. Web. 23 July 2012. I found this article during a search in EBSCOhost.I found this article particularly interesting, because it explained a very common symptom of DID. It explained that virtually all patients with dissociative identity (or multiple personality) disorder manifest interpersonality amnesia, a situation where events experienced by a particular personality state or identity are retrievable or can be remembered by that same identity but not by a different one. That though it is considered as a hallmark of dissociative identity disorder (DID), inter-personality amnesia has to date being payed little to no attention.I found this article interesting because I remember how Eve from the movie got frustrated with herself when she could not remember things that she herself had just done or said. Ennis, Mark William, and Pamela Pater-Ennis. â€Å"Sanctuary Healing: One Congregation's Experience with Dissociative Identity Disorder. † Journal of Religion & Abuse 7. 4 (2006): 19-39. EBSCOhost. Web. 23 July 2012. I found this article in EBSCOhost. This article looked at different religions and how they view people with DID. Specifically the Christian and how they did a sanctuary healing to try to heal a woman with DID.The other personalities are seen as demons that have to be cast out of a person’s body. I found it as an interesting article, it was a very different view about DID, it’s good to be included in a research paper. Baker, Karen. â€Å"From â€Å"It's Not Me† to â€Å"It Was Me, After All†: A Case Presentation of a Patient Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. † Psychoanalytic Social Work 17. 2 (2010): 79-98. EBSCOhost. Web. 27 July 2012. I found this article in EBSCOhost. It sheds light on the fact that, in cases of extreme childhood trauma associated with abuse and neglect, one's sense of self is seriously compromised.Attachment patterns, symptoms, defensive operations, and character formation will differ depending upon the level of interference and impingement. That when repeated trauma occurs in early childhood, the dissociative response may become the first line of defense for the person to rely upon. This paper addresses the case of a woman diagnosed with DID. It describes the restoration of a unified sense of self from the eight parts of a dissociated and fragmented self in the course of therapy. The clinical case material presented is that of the child part of her, known as Lucy. Her treatment resulted in the integration of the ‘it's not me! self to the patient's knowledge that ‘it was me, after all. I like this article because it focuses on the child identity of an adult woman and what the child identity in the midst of adults has to go through, it was very interesting. Laddis A, Dell P. Dissociation and Psychosis in Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia. Journal Of Trauma ; Dissociation July 2012; 13(4):397-413. Academic Search Premier. Web. July 17, 2012. I found this article using the Academic Search Premier in EBSCOhost. This is a case survey of people with DID versus those with schizophrenia.Dissociative symptoms, first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia, and delusions were assessed in 40 schizophrenia patients and 40 dissociative identity disorder (DID) patients with the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID). DID patients obtained significantly (a) higher dissociation scores; (b) higher passive-influence scores (first-rank symptoms); and (c) higher scores on scales that measure child voices, angry voices, persecutory voices, voices arguing, and voices commenting. Schizophrenia patients obtained significantly higher delusion scores than DID patients. It was an interesting article of how other disorders relate to DID.Websites Johnson, Kimball. â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality D isorder): Signs, Symptoms, Treatment. † WebMD. WebMD, 26 May 2012. Web. 10 Aug. 2012. ;http://www. webmd. com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder;. I found this website while doing a search on Google. I choose to include this article in my bibliography because WebMD has always had a very reliable name. The information they provide is unbiased and is simply there to inform and help the reader. The article includes everything you need to know about DID – from the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments. Grohol, John. Dissociative Identity Disorder Symptoms. † PsychCentral, 9 July 2012. Web. 9 Aug. 2012. . I found this website while searching using Google. I included this website because the article goes into depth about the several different treatments of DID. These include Psychotherapy, Medications and Self Help. How effective each treatment type is, and it was determined that psychotherapy is the most effective way of trea tment that gives way to â€Å"integration† of the personalities. There are some things included in this website that were not included on the WebMD website and vice versa.

Formula 1 Constructor – Choose a Team – Ferrari

The resources, capabilities and attributes that are required for the success in Formula One (F1) can be looked on a number of dimensions taking into consideration the unique and fast paced context of Formula One. F1 is a highly competitive industry and based in a rapidly changing environment, which has been defined by Porter’s five forces (Appendix One). Key resources within F1 are both tangible and intangible and can be considered under the following broad categories: Physical Resources: The car and its components such as engines and chassis are vital resources but the technological advancement determines its ability to win races.Test Tracks are also vital physical resources both in the competitive context and in the ability to test cars, the location of such tracks may also be an important factor. Own testing and development equipment is also important for technological advancement and knowledge gain. Factories are also an important physical resource for constructors. Financ ial Resources: High start up costs and continued running costs involved with the sport, result in the need for high capital investment, for example a medium sized constructor needs ? 30-? 50 million capital investment as a basis for being competitive.The majority of team finance is generated through sponsorship – a lucrative sponsorship deal can help improve a team’s level of performance through cash injection alone. Fans are a huge resource for the sport as they act as a huge funding society for Formula One. At present tickets cost upwards of ? 330 per race and for VIP access ? 1700. Revenue is also provided by prize money from winning championship points and through shareholders within each constructor. Human Resources: Team Principles are an important aspect to every constructor.Initially, teams were managed by the founders themselves, but as time has moved on the emphasis has shifted to managers and their ability to run the team in a business manner. The intangible resource of their skills and knowledge is incredibly important in F1 due to the highly competitive environment. For success a team needs a certain level of experience and expertise, either built up over time or recruited from elsewhere. To gather this expertise is expensive and requires investment in personnel as well as technology. Such gains are provided by the knowledge from other important employees including designers, engineers and drivers. Another crucial factor is the motivation to carry-through the bright idea into detailed implementation† (Cross and Clayburn Cross). Drivers are a key human resource; important attributes of a driver include the ability to drive fast, think strategically while racing on the track, good communication skills, and motivational skills. Intellectual Capital: Although patents are not allowed in F1, other intellectual capital includes the constructors brand and reputation – largely used to gain finances. A key brand in F1 is the Maran ello Red used by Ferrari.Complex business systems are required by F1 teams for managing the large amount of data that flows in the organisation. These resources will not reach their potential purely from existence, the way in which they are managed, used or deployed is essential in understanding strategic capability. See Appendix Two for example of resources and the competencies gained. To be on the F1 grid and compete in the market, capabilities gained through the above resources must reach the threshold level. The F1 constructors generally function at the peak of resource utilisation and, therefore, manage resources very efficiently.Hence, almost every resource that becomes a capability for competitive advantage is converted into a competency for competitive advantage. Internal strategic capability allows for successful strategy and is required for survival and success (Johnson et al, 1998). To gain competitive advantage involves adjustment of capabilities, for example acquiring m ajor improvements and advancements in attributes such as technology and from the creation of new opportunities. Stretching and exploiting capabilities in such a way that competitors cannot imitate, results in them becoming a rarity and providing competitive advantage.Though such advantageous technological strategic capabilities have been required by constructors for competitive advantage, they have also become been a pivotal factor for the introduction of increased legislation designed to reduce uncertainty and increase competition, such as the introduction of generic tyres. The factors responsible for the success of the teams in their respective periods of dominance can be considered through analysis of the organisations core competencies, a form of competitive advantage which s usually a result of â€Å"collective learning processes† and are manifested in business and activities and processes. The core competencies are those unique capabilities, which usually span over mult iple products or markets. † (Hafeez 2002). Ferrari’s dominance in the mid 1970’s Much of Ferrari’s success during the period of the mid-1970’s can be attributed to the ability to build their race cars at the Maranello site without the need to outsource for component parts.This created centralisation of knowledge and expertise, thus the ability to transfer knowledge between departments without leakage. When Ferrari sold 40% of the company to Fiat, in 1969, providing huge cash injection thus acquiring the Fiorano test track allowing them to test the change in any aspect of the car on the track and observe real time results. This gave a competitive advantage through testing technology and making changes faster than their opponents. This led to the creation of a team dedicated to engine design and development.A much needed management discipline was also imposed upon the organisation with the appointment of Luca di Montezemolo as team principal in 1974. Luca restructured the management, added focus to the organisation, and enabled the team to reach its collective potential. Montezemolo defined strict areas of responsibility in order to reduce the amount of interference and internal politics. In 1973, along with the arrival of Mauro Forghieri as the technical director, Niki Lauda was recruited. He provided the team with driving skills and racing experience. McLaren’s domination in the late-1980sMcLaren’s domination can be attributed largely to the culture created under Ron Dennis’ leadership and the recruitment of personnel matching this culture. Dennis’ obsessive attention to detail coupled with John Barnard’s ‘technical excellence’ created an atmosphere where new ideas and innovations in technology could thrive. Consequently, McLaren differentiated themselves from other Formula One teams by taking bold steps into unchartered territories both in their strategy and their design of cars , for example by using carbon fibre instead of metal for the chassis of their successful MP4 car.Prahalad and Hamel (1989: Page 64) argue that gaining leadership in any given industry requires a ‘strategic intent’ to guide operational direction and its resource allocations. For example, when Canon sought to ‘beat Xerox’ in the photocopier industry, it was able to do so over a period of years by incrementally attacking all of Xerox’s ‘loose bricks’, the criteria left unfulfilled by its competitors. Similarly, Ron Dennis built an ‘intent’ of having the ‘smartest and the best presented car’ in Formula One despite the risks of failing in its races.This attitude evidently became entrenched in the whole organisation as the element of fear was removed, helping McLaren achieve success even after Barnard’s departure. Although many strategists argue that a company’s core competence cannot be derived from a s ingle person, Tampoe (1994: Page 69) argues that a leader with a personal core competence such as a ‘strong vision and enormous energy to expand’ can help an organisation sustain competitive advantage. Ron Dennis, with his perfectionism and ‘legendary’ marketing and management abilities, was considered by many the best manager in sports.McLaren’s core competence, therefore, appears to have been Ron Dennis’ vision and his skills through which McLaren won 15 out of 16 races in 1988. Tampoe’s (1994) model for ‘Market Survival Strategy’, shown below in Figure 1, explains how companies competing with their core competencies can gain higher competitive advantage. Figure 1: Tampoe (1994): Market Survival Strategy Patents Low High Profit Low Competitive Advantage High Competitor Response Hard Easy New Product Know How Sources of Market StrengthPrice Place Core Competence Tampoe (1994) shows that competing on the basis of lower cost s and technical know-how is easier for competitors to imitate. As patents are not allowed in F1, teams need to compete on the basis of their core competencies to sustain their competitive advantage. Dennis’ abilities could not be imitated or substituted by McLaren’s competitors as he achieved success by synthesising McLaren’s budget, designers, engine, drivers, and sponsors to create a perfect ‘overall package’.McLaren achieved success on the race track through an overall strategy that was invisible to its competitors. This included long term partnerships with sponsors such as Marlboro and TAG, a design team led by John Barnard, and possibly the best management in sports. These core competences are evident as Dennis applied them successfully in other areas including a marketing consultancy operation to help smaller teams find sponsors, while also launching the McLaren F1, the world’s most expensive and fastest road going car.McLaren’s sponsorship partnership with Marlboro cigarettes, lasting 22 years, was particularly helpful as Marlboro were responsible for Ron Dennis’ recruitment when McLaren were struggling against their competitors. Furthermore, McLaren’s relationship with Honda was a key reason for success as the engine makers had recently split from rival constructor Williams and had some of the most talented engineers and expertise. This relationship produced the MP4, Honda powered car which became the most reliable and fastest car on the track in 1988.William’s success in the mid-1990s Perhaps the most important factor in the success of Williams during this period was the relationship between Frank Williams, the founder and owner, and Patrick Head, the designer. The partnership provided the combination of â€Å"entrepreneurial energy and technical excellence needed to succeed in F1†. Williams’ autocratic and frugal approach, paired with Head’s ability to develop g ood ideas, led to the team becoming leader of the â€Å"technical revolution† during the 1990’s.This long standing relationship is unique to a sport where personnel changes frequently, and gave stability to the organisation leading the team to gain its competitive edge. Another key partnership leading to Williams’ success during this period was with the engine supplier Renault, lasting 10 years. Its success led to the development of the Williams FW15 and FW16 cars powered by the Renault V10 engine, still widely regarded to be the most technologically advanced car of the time. It assisted in the team winning 56% of their races between 1992 and 1994, as well as winning the constructors title in 3 consecutive years.Ferrari’s return to winning ways from 1999-2003 Since Ferrari’s success in the mid 1970’s, much change led to a move towards revamping the management, technical department and design development. Appointing British technical director John Barnard led to a change in attitude of the organisation as they were now prepared to imitate the British constructors with a base in Britain. Luca Di Montezemolo, team manager of Ferrari during their dominance in the mid 1970’s, returned as CEO in 1993 to restore Ferrari’s dominance. Jean Todt was appointed to handle the overall management of the team.After Barnard left in 1996 the role left was split up between Rory Bryne and Ross Brawn, and between them they built a new design department based in Italy. Ferrari entered into a commercial partnership in 1996 with tobacco company Marlboro. Phillip Morris, in charge of the Marlboro brand, agreed to pay for the team driver’s, Michael Schumacher’s, salary. They also made a contribution to Ferrari’s annual operating budget. In Schumacher, Ferrari had one of the best drivers in the business, who was able to lead them to success.Schumacher was not only a talented driver, but also a motivator with th e ability to communicate effectively with the team, demonstrated by learning Japanese to communicate with an engine technician recruited from Honda. The change in Ferrari as a constructor is evident. Jeremy Clarkson, a well know auto-journalist, documented this fact: ‘In the olden days they (Ferrari) used to build their cars with a lot of passion and enthusiasm. And then, on lap 3, as often as not, they would explode in a passionate and enthusiastic fireball.But a few years ago they started building their racing cars with science and math and since then, as we know, they’ve been top of the tree’. Reasons for failure Ferrari Ferrari, unlike other competitors in F1, made all parts of their car, including the engine, themselves. Although, this resulted in huge success during the mid 1970s, Ferrari’s uniqueness was also the reason behind their failure. Ferrari’s failure due to technological negligence can be explained using the Quantum Hypothesis: 1. Th e pursuit of efficiency increases internal consistency and cohesion. Ferrari had developed a unique engine-gearbox combination using their ‘flat-12’ engine and a transverse gearbox and applied it in their 312T series of F1 cars. Ferrari chose to develop this combination further and with this revolutionary configuration they were able to stay ahead of the competition from 1975 to 1979, winning the constructor’s title in 1975–1977 and 1979. 2. Overtime, configurations ‘change to adapt’ OR alternatively, match poorly with the environment as it changes (the overtly cohesive ones). * In 1980, new innovations in the aerodynamics brought the ‘ground effect’ revolution.This was developed by Lotus and quickly adopted by Williams and Brabham, but Ferrari was not able to adopt this new technology as their engine design was different. 3. Overtly cohesive configurations resist change for as long as possible. * When the ‘ground effectâ₠¬â„¢ technology was developed, Ferrari knew that their cars would not be competent enough to keep up. Instead of finding a way of incorporating the new technology in their current cars, they chose to concentrate on a longer term project of developing a V6 turbocharged engine.In essence, Ferrari made a crucial trade-off between the current and the future plans. 4. When such configurations change it tends to be sudden and relatively rapid (and often painful). * Although the change for Ferrari was neither sudden nor rapid, it was quite painful. When Ferrari did eventually come out with their new car sporting a V6 turbocharged engine and employing the ‘ground effect’ technology, it was perhaps too late. Ferrari was not able to win a single driver’s championship between 1980-1999, and didn’t win a constructor’s championship between 1984-1998.In Ferrari’s case, the flow of the stages of the Quantum Hypothesis can be easily seen. Ferrari was overtly cohesive and resisted change in 1978 when the ‘ground effect’ technology was developed. Enzo Ferrari’s autocratic leadership style lead to a political environment, causing rivalry and confusion. Good management is of paramount importance in any industrial context and this was proved by the turnaround in Ferrari’s fortunes achieved by Luca di Montezemolo’s restructuring. Furthermore, in 1977, Niki Lauda ended his partnership with Ferrari.This was a major blow for the team as Lauda had the ability to translate what he wanted in the car to the technical team. Reasons for failure McLaren McLaren’s main reason for failure came when Honda pulled out of F1 racing in 1992. Ron Dennis failed to respond to widespread speculation that Honda would be leaving. Due to such failure, Ayrton Senna left McLaren for Williams, taking with him his great ability to motivate designers with valuable feedback. McLaren seemed to have lost their focus on their carâ₠¬â„¢s design, evident in 1995 as both their drivers failed to fit in the new ? 0 million MP4/10, ultimately leading to Nigel Mansell’s departure. Other reasons for failure include the departure of John Barnard, whose presence was seen by many as the reason behind their developing dominance. Despite their poor relationship, the partnership between Dennis and Barnard had been highly successful and held potential for even greater success had it been sustained for a longer period. Another relationship problem leading to failure was the fierce rivalry between two highly competitive drivers, Prost and Senna.This could be attributed to the fact that, rather than applying the usual team ethics of having primary and secondary drivers to support each other, McLaren recruited two top drivers and did not give either driver ‘first’ priority. This left both drivers competing for top position, causing friction within the team even when it had the best car in the sport, the Hond a MP4. Notably, McLaren were able to sustain their success by substituting John Barnard with Gordon Murray, and McLaren’s success was not greatly affected by Prost and Senna’s conflict.Therefore arguable the only factor that led to their complete failure was the lack of a contingency plan for the departure of Honda. Reason for failure Williams The Williams team’s failures, like McLaren’s, show the bargaining power of engine suppliers and drivers, as well as talented designers in the F1 industry, proving to some extent that Ferrari had a degree of advantage by producing their own engines, despite the technical issues. In 1988, Honda’s departure from Williams, like their departure from McLaren left the team reliant on off-the-shelf engines, leading to the departure of their main driver, Nigel Mansell.The importance of a good driver was signified during the early 1990’s as Williams went from winning only two races in 1990 to dominating the race s in 1992 after the return of Nigel Mansell. However, the Williams team remained steadfast in their belief that the driver was not as important as the car’s design process, despite the valuable contributions a good driver can make towards this process. Placing a lack of importance on the driver, as well as the ‘masculine’ approach of Frank Williams led to many successful drivers leaving the team.Due to their technologically competitive car, Williams retained their constructor’s title in 1994 despite Ayrton Senna’s death. With only a more advanced car, Williams’ competitors were soon able to catch up as Benetton used the expertise of Ross Brawn, formerly a junior designer at Williams, to design a car replicating the innovations from Williams. There have been instances in Williams of their knowledge being transferred to competitors as their employees left to join other teams.This shows a fracture in the culture of the team with little sense of belonging. Furthermore, Renault, ambitious in becoming a top engine supplier in F1, had decided to supply Benetton with engines as well, and therefore, by pairing a similar car with a better driver in the form of Michael Schumacher, Benetton were able to break Williams’ three year domination period in the sport by leaving them with no unique competitive advantages. Proposed strategies for maintenance of dominance of each constructor Ferrari: The Crescendo Model of RejuvenationFerrari was a team driven by the ambitions of one man – Enzo Ferrari, when Luca di Montezemolo was appointed the opportunity to rejuvenate should have been taken due to several important signals: * Even after the considerable cash injection by Fiat, the team had not been able to perform very well. * Enzo considered the most important part of the car to be the engine almost neglecting the importance of other parts. * Enzo’s autocratic style of ‘divide and rule’ had created much confusion and rivalry within the team. There was a huge supply of talent at Ferrari and it had not always reached its collective potential, mainly due to Enzo’s management style. There was clearly the need to start a fresh and Montezemolo had this opportunity when he joined the team along with technical director, Mauro Forghieri, and a new team driver, Niki Lauda. Baden-Fuller and Stopford (1994) argue that the obvious thing to do at the start of a rejuvenation process is to establish measures that heighten the sense of urgency to deal with emergent problems before they become serious.Luca could see the problem, which is why he made some managerial changes in the way the departments interact, but was not able to make the problem evident on a broader scale. It can be argued that if Montezemolo had realised the team needed an organisational turn-around and would have started a rejuvenation process, using the Crescendo Model, the team could have started the 1974 season with an a lternative strategy and would have been able to sustain its period of dominance by adopting the ‘ground-effect’ technology in 1978.This process had to be initiated by Montezemolo as â€Å"Rejuvenating a mature organisation is impossible without commitment from the top† (Baden-Fuller & Stopford, 1994). This eventually took place, but at a much later stage in 1992 when Montezemolo was called back to Ferrari as a CEO, to take Ferrari to the top again. SECI – Strategic Knowledge Creation Recent work by Chou and Te (2004) sought to empirically test the roles of knowledge assets in the promotion of SECI outcomes, finding some support for hypotheses which asserts the presence of knowledge assets.For example organisational routines which can have a strong impact on certain SECI outcomes. Such a model can be transferable to Ferrari. In 1978, after the launch of the revolutionary ‘ground-effect’, Ferrari should have started a SECI (Strategic Knowledge C reation) within different departments, particularly in the engine development department. Discussion of the possible solutions to overcome the threat posed by the new ‘ground effect’ technology and the ways of quick implementation, without disrupting undergoing future developments was essential.The managerial implications of such knowledge in a new climate of learning and innovation required collaborative learning and task sharing. Vital questions such as: How great a threat does the new technology pose? should we adopt it? , and if so, in what context? needed to be considered. Ferrari should scrutinize their own motive force mechanism on the basis of defining its objectives, not only considering the intended results but also setting up colony incentive mechanisms to strengthen corporate cohesion. It must be realised that unlike competitive environment within the team, all members should strive towards the same goal, to win the races. Ferrari’s success is gained through their ‘team’ culture and therefore such knowledge transfer may be deemed easier to extract in this environment. The authors of this assignment argue that the transfer of SECI principals to Ferrari are suitable to not only change the team dynamics but also create knowledge that may be turned into suitable technology (Wei, 2007). Introduction of a Project OrientationFollowing the knowledge creation process, knowledge development is needed; it would benefit Ferrari to assign a small team of engineers to the same task – more like a project. The main advantage of adopting a project orientation in this matter is that with this method no major changes need to be introduced in the management of the team. If a separate team is assigned for this aim, then the current developments are not disrupted. This newly assigned project would come under the category of an ERD project (Exploratory R&D project) as the main objective would be to find a way to improve the current technology at Ferrari to remain competitive.The only possible conflict could be the common resources, solved by giving the project team a clear preference in the need to regain competitive edge, and the project team is dedicated solely to accomplish that objective. It is important to note the need for SECI and Logical Incrementalism within the project team as well. Quinn (1978) argues that ‘Logical Incrementalism allows organisational actors to modify the idea behind the reorganisation as more is learned’, hence, giving the option of developing a flexible platform for the project team to work on. McLaren:McLaren’s core competences, as mentioned earlier, lay in Ron Dennis’ management abilities as a leader and his success in fulfilling all necessary criteria to create a perfect ‘overall package’. McLaren had all the components, such as good designers, drivers, and sponsors required to sustain competitive advantage. According to Mintzberg (1978) , organisations need to have a ‘peripheral vision’ to achieve strategic learning not only from their competitors’ successes but also their failures. McLaren’s failure resulted from absence of a contingency plan and lack of strategic learning rom the Williams team, who suffered similar experiences with Honda’s departure. The Deliberate-Emergent Pendulum Due to Honda’s departure, McLaren’s intended strategy to compete in partnership with Honda as an engine supplier was unrealized in 1992. Although an emergent strategy did come about in a successful partnership with Mercedes, it was three years too late. McLaren had lost not only their dominance in F1 but also their main driver, Senna. Dennis could have sustained McLaren’s domination by planning prior to Honda’s departure, creating an emergent strategy involving a different engine supplier.This is demonstrated in Figure 2. Figure 2 Intended-realised strategies by Mintzberg ( 1978) Unrealized Strategy Emergent Strategy Realised Strategy Intended Strategy Deliberate Strategy McLaren’s partnership with Mercedes has been highly successful but could have been achieved earlier, avoiding the organisational inertia following Honda’s departure. Mercedes has made a substantial investment in McLaren, acquiring 40% equity, tying them into the alliance, showing that McLaren learnt from their experience with Honda by negotiating a more secure alliance.An approach that may have better managed McLaren’s success was the relationship between Barnard and Dennis which, despite its success, was not maintained. Ikujiro Nonaka (1998) writes about the concept of ‘Ba’, a shared place for emerging relationships. The space is described as being physical or mental or any combination of the two. The most important differentiator of ‘Ba’ from ordinary human interaction is the platform provided to enhance both individual and collective k nowledge.The relationship between team principle Ron Dennis and John Barnard provided an environment that would lend itself well to the creation and sharing of tacit knowledge. Williams: According to Voelpel et al. (2005) the Red Queen effect, as coined from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, is essentially: â€Å"a comfort trap† where â€Å"running harder is easier to do, it is of an analytic-benchmark nature, it shows short-term success and is less risky in the near horizon, but ultimately holds long term downfall. † The Red Queen effect illustrates that in Williams’ case the organisation walked into a dead-end which moved them faster to failure.They just worked harder to improve traditional industry and organisation success factors rather than looking outside their core competencies. The need for management at a strategic level was to be creative and come up with new strategies to challenge their core competencies. According to Voelpel et al. (2005) â€Å"reinventing old ways, will provide a wide range of options to choose from in dealing with the uncertainty of the environment. † Whilst the industry is a closed environment in terms of technological revolutions, continuous development will push industry boundaries and help keep the organisation on top.Had Williams analysed their business model, they could potentially have moved away from being design led (their core competency) to focus on areas of the organisation in need of improvement and development, whilst still making the technological advancements and improvements that led their dominance initially. Voelpel et al. (2005) provide a practical sense-testing tool for developing and adapting new business models to avoid the traps of the Red Queen principle. According to the theory, a comprehensive and cohesive understanding of a business model and its key elements can provide an important source of sustainable competitive advantage.Figure 2 shows that there are four se nse testing dimensions displayed as: business System infrastructure, technology, customers, and economics/profitability. By analysing the different components of their business model from the four elements, management can determine the feasible business models that possess acceptable success probabilities. Applying this tool would have helped to sustain Williams’ advantage by encouraging development of the organisation outside of their core competencies.Figure 3: Business Model Reinvention by Voelpel, S. (2005) With regards to a business model, a clear understanding of the nature of the business and its core competencies creates a situation where change and development can take place. The sense-testing tool helps companies grasp the concept of adapting and creating business models for strategic inflection, enabling managers to discern where competitive advantage could be achieved and eventually leading to the constructor prolonging their period of dominance.Williams’ c ompetitors imitated aspects of their race car design realising the advantages that a Renault powered engine had in gaining a competitive advantage. Barney (1991) suggests that a firm should aim to have â€Å"causal ambiguity when the link between the resources controlled by a firm and a firm’s sustained competitive advantage is not understood or understood only very imperfectly. † The competition should, in an ideal situation, find it difficult to duplicate a successful firm’s strategies through imitation of its resources, it should be impossible to know which resource is giving a constructor the advantage.According to Barney (1991), Williams’ competitive advantage was not sustained because their methods could be duplicated due to their competitors realising the link between the resource and its advantages enabling them to acquire the same resources taking away Williams’ competitive advantage. Knowledge Management When talking about Knowledge Manag ement (KM) Satyadas at al. (2001) argue that there are challenges in the â€Å"people† aspect of KM outlining several factors that make up these challenges. In the case of Williams, the most disruptive element of knowledge retention is the affinity and sense of attachment felt towards the organisation.A lot of talent departed Williams, which shows the lack of affinity towards the organisation held among the employees. â€Å"Concerns around intellectual capital in a highly competitive environment need to be balanced with social capital benefits. † (Satyadas et al. 2001). Perhaps Williams was not able to provide these social capital benefits which ties in with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Appendix Three), Williams might not have been able to satisfy the higher level needs and therefore, their employees tried to fulfil these needs with other teams.The suggested solution for Williams would be to modernise their management style and steer away from the current autocr atic style. There is a need for a more democratic management style – where the manager allows the employees to take part in decision-making: therefore everything is agreed by the majority, making the employees feel more valued and bringing a sense of belonging to the team. The Future Ferrari won 5 consecutive championships from 1999 – 2004. Schumacher played an important role towards Ferrari’s success.Hence he has been brought back as Jean Todt’s assistant linking to knowledge retention. In 2007, Ferrari returned to top form by winning both the drivers and constructors championship. McLaren has evolved as a business by applying their core competences in marketing and technical excellence successfully. They have gained finances from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain governments, along with sponsorship from Vodafone among others. McLaren has also developed an Electronic Control Unit that has been deemed mandatory by the FIA to be used by all other constructors for the 2008 season.Recent news speculates the retirement of Ron Dennis with Martin Whitmarsh, current CEO of McLaren, as his replacement (Appendix Four). It will be interesting to see if McLaren retain the successful culture created by Ron Dennis. In 2005, Williams had to rely on off-the-shelf engines once again, when BMW, their engine suppliers, created their own team. This shows that Williams failed to learn from their experiences with Honda and Renault, repeating the same mistake for the third time. This can be attributed to a lack of managerial focus and the inertia to change.While other teams are being managed by professionals, Williams has stuck with its orthodox ways, a major factor for Williams’ poor performance. In 2007, Williams ranked 4th in the constructor’s championship, no longer being a threat to McLaren and Ferrari. References Journals Baden-Fuller & Stopford (1994) The Crescendo Model of Rejuvenation from rejuventing the Mature Business. Harvard Business Scho ol Press [In MLQG: pp. 189] Barney, J. (1991) Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage, Journal of management, Volume 17. Constantinides, E. 2006) From strategy to e-strategy: Lessons from two success stories, handbook of business strategy, Emerald Group publishing limited. Cross, N. Clayburn Cross, A. (1996) Winning by design: the methods of Gordon Murray, racing car design, Design Studies, Volume 17, number 1. Hafeez, K. Zhang, Y. Malak, N. (2002) Core competence for sustainable competitive advantage: A structures methodology for identifying core competence. IEEE transactions on engineering management, Volume 49, Number 1. Hamel G and Prahalad C K, Strategic Intent, Harvard Business Review, Vol 67, No 3, 1989, pp 63-78.Heracleous, L. (2002) The contribution of a discursive view of understanding and managing organisational change, Strategic change, John Wiley and Sons Limited. Jenkins, M. And Floyd, S. (2001) Trajectories in the Evolution of Technology: A Multi-Level Stud y of Competition in Formula 1 Racing, Organization Studies, 22 (6) pp. 945-969 Lampel, J. , and Jha, P. P. (2004) Models of Project Orientation in multi-project organisations, The Wiley Project Management Resource Book, (eds: Pinto, J. K. and Morris, P. W. G. ) New York: Wiley. Nonaka, I. , & Konno, N. 1998) The Concept of Ba: Building a Foundation for Knowledge Creation, California Management Review (Spring) 40(3): 40-47. Quinn, B. (1980) Strategies for Change: Logical Incrementalism, Irwin, Homewood Ill. [In MLQG pp 10: Ch 1 and 5] Quinn, J. B. (1978) Strategic Change: Logical Incrementalism, Sloan Management Review, pp. 1-21 [In MLQG: pp. 183 ] Rice, J. & Rice, B. (2004) The Applicability of the SECI Model to Multi-Organisational Endeavors: An Integrative Review, International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, Vol. 9, Issue 8. Stalk, G. Evans, P. Shulman, L. E. 1990) Competing on capabilities: the new rules of corporate strategy, Harvard Business Review, 1992. Tampoe, M. (1994 ) Exploiting the core competences of your organisation, Long Range Planning, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 66-77. Voelpel, S. (2005) Escaping the Red Queen Effect in competitive strategy- how managers can change industry rules by sense-testing their business models, European Management Journal, Volume 23, Issue 1, P. 37-49. Wie, L. (2007) Reflection upon Present Competition-orientated Corporate Culture: in Knowledge Management Perspective, Wireless communications, Networking and Mobile Computing BooksIkujiro, N. & Hirotaka Takeuchi,(1995), The Knowledge-Creating Company; How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation, Oxford University Press, New York Johnson, G. , Scholes, K. , Whittington, R. (1998), Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7th Edition, Pearson Education Limited, Essex Mintzberg H, Lampel J, Quinn J B and Ghoshal S, The Strategy Process, Concepts Contexts Cases, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003. Appendix Appendix One: Porter’s five forces Threat of New Entrants: A n ew entrant to the Formula one industry faces many barriers. * High start up cost Excessive running cost (The total spending of all 11 teams in 2006 was estimated at $ 2. 9 billion) * High level of resources required, also act as a barrier for potential new entrants to the industry. * Certain level of experience and expertise is necessary which requires investment in personnel and technology * Sponsorships and a lucrative sponsorship deal can help improve a teams level of performance * The rules and regulation that exist regarding the design and construction of the car Bargaining Power of Buyers: The buyers in F1 enjoy high power.They play a vital role in the popularity of the sport as well as a considerable contribution to the funds for various teams. * Fans * Media * Sponsors Competitive Rivalry within the Industry: Formula One is, like any other sport, a highly competitive industry. Each constructor places emphasis in different capacities on a number of variables. * Engineers * Dr ivers * Management * Sponsorships * Designers * Technology Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The primary suppliers of F1 constructors have a lot of power. So much so that in a few instances, suppliers have been the cause of the end of the period of dominance of some constructors. Drivers * Engine manufacturers * Designers * Technical team Threat of Substitutes: All the other popular racing and sporting events can be considered to be a threat for F1 as they may take away resources such as money, drivers, sponsors, popularity, etc. from the F1 industry. * Soccer * Cricket * Olympics * Le Mans * BTCC * WRC * Moto GP Appendix Two: Resources and competencies gained Appendix Three: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Appendix Four: Speculation of Ron Dennis Leaving the McLaren Team Source: The Guardian, Monday March 3 2008, pp. 15 Appendix Five: MinutesMinutes were taken at every meeting since October, meetings took place either weekly or fortnightly depending on work load and no meetings wer e held over the Christmas vacation. Meeting 1- Pret a Manger Minutes 15th October 2007 * Introductions to the group * Confirmation of group members * Vanessa Barnes * Laura Bentley * Ankur Dawar * Aashir Agarwal * Saqib Munir * Joe Abernethy * 2 people were assigned (or chose depending on personal preferences) which company they would like to be responsible for initially researching. * Ankur and Aashir: Ferrari * Laura and Vanessa: Mclaren Joe and Saqib: Williams * Arranged a set time and day for the meetings: Tuesdays 11-1 * The task for the next meeting: * Each read the article * Print off background information about our particular company (from the website) * All think about how the questions could be answered Next meeting: Tuesday 16th October in the Library Meeting 2- Library Minutes 16th October 2007 * Group discussion of how the essay should be structured * Each member of the group gave feedback about their company and interpreted the competitive strategies adopted by each c ompany. * Question oneAttempt to answer it using the model of porters 5 forces to firstly analyse the general industry of formula one * On a large piece of paper- we mapped out all the key issues that need to be considered in each aspect of porters 5 forces model and related them to Ferrari, Williams and Mclaren. Tasks for next meeting * Each member has been assigned one of porters 5 forces discussed and the individual has to relate the discussion to the three companies and bring a copy of the written up notes for the next meeting. * Find any relevant information to your ‘force’ e. g. e-journals etcNext meeting: 23rd October 2007 in Library Meeting 3: Library Minutes 23rd October 2007 * Feedback to the group our individual pieces of work from last week and make key points for improvement * From the case study made a list of all the apparent resources, capabilities and attributes of formula one * Linked all of the information to the strategies of each constructor Resourc es * Capital Investment * Money * Manager * The car * Sponsorship * Research facilities * Raw materials Capabilities * Skills * Extensive driver training * Engineering * Design * Performance * Racing tactics Different strategies for every track Attributes * Technology * Corporate Identity * Design * Tactics * Strategy * Track knowledge * Constructors have different strategies for different tracks therefore the design of the car changes with the track Discussion of case study: Amazon * Read the article and picked out key points Things to do for next meeting * In our constructor groups, identify the resources capabilities and attributes of Ferrair, Mclaren and Williams Next meeting: 6th November: Bistro Study Area Meeting 4: Library Minutes: 6th November 2007 * Main emphasis of the meeting was on question 2 Divided the work up between the team: Ankur and Aashir: Ferarri success in the mid 1970’s Joe and Saqib: Mclaren and Honda 1980’s Vanessa and Laura: Williams 1990â₠¬â„¢s * Decided on the word counts for each section * Set deadlines for each section Next meeting: 20th November in Bistro Study Area Meeting 5- Bistro study area Minutes 20th November 2007 * Incorporate the crescendo model into the assignment, particularly in questions 2 and 3. Link this to logical incrementalism and how was it implemented? * The next task is to focus on question 3 and look at each F1 constructor and find their reasons for failure.Some of the problems were then discussed in the meeting: * Breakdown in relationships * Unreliability of technology * Alliances pulling out * Drivers leaving * Discuss the possible reasons for each of the above factors and then in our teams, produce a document which states the reasons for the failure of each F1 team. * Ferrari: Ankur and Aashir * Williams: Joe and Saqib * Mclaren: Vanessa and Laura * It is also important to consider why and how Ferrari have sustained success!! Tasks for next meeting * Each team member should be responsibl e for finding e-journals and bring at least one journal on competitive strategy to the meeting. Competitive advantage * Competitive Strategy * Formula One * Is it possible to get hold of any financial statements for any of the companies? * Conduct a PEST(LE) analysis of your particular team to go into the appendix of the assignment. Next meeting: Tuesday 4th December at 12pm in Bistro Study area. Meeting 6 in Library Minutes 4/12/2007 Tasks for after Christmas * Look at the reading list and pick an item each * Got through the lecture notes so far and highlight what needs to be included in the assignment. * Find 2/3 journals each on our selected topics: read, highlight and make notes. Highlight the reasons for failure for each constructor and type up (300 words) * Do a PEST analysis for each constructor E-journals to look at: Vanessa and Laura Porters 5 forces and the value chain Critique of Porters five forces Saqib and Joe Emergent, intended and realised strategies Ankur Resources and capabilities Aashir Focus differentiation Cresendo model Constructors to look at reasons for failure: Vanessa and Laura Mclaren Joe and Saqib Williams Ankur and Aashir Ferrari Next meeting: After Christmas meet 6th Feb due to exams Meeting 7 in library Minutes 6th Feb 2008 Discussion of previous work that has been done over Christmas * Identified the need for theory to now be integrated into the questions * Discussion of peer assessment- decided to give each other equal marks * Discussion of question 4 and the theory that needs to be built into it * Discussion of the basic strategies for each constructor Theory for question 4 * Growth strategies: Alliances Alliances with suppliers and sponsors To gain sponsors and get more money the company needs to pitch a strategy if they are not already achieving success. * Imposed strategiesThe constructor doesn’t want to do it but the environment imposes change: e. g. legislation * It is difficult to innovate due to the imposed limit ations on the industry * Quantum Hypothesis * Cresendo Model * Logical Incrementalism Used generally throughout Formula one, small changes being made all the time * Red queen principle After Ankur and Aashir have sent the first draft of question 4 to the group- we all need to go through it before the next meeting and have some improvements on it and things that we need to add to it. Tasks to be done for 8th Feb * Format question 1: Laura Type up the minutes: Laura * Put question 2 together from everyone’s answers for each constructor: Joe * Put question 3 together from the reasons for failure for each constructor: Saqib * Do a first draft of question 4 taking into account the notes and discussion that was produced today: Aashir and Ankur. * Send all questions to Vanessa, she will format the questions and make them into ‘one voice’. * All look at previous lecture notes and the review of semester 1 to see what else we need to include in the questions What needs to be in the Appendix? * Porters five forces model * Minutes Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs * Resources and the competencies gained Discussion of the unipart and Sony Case studies Next meeting: 22nd Feb Meeting 8 in Library Minutes 22/02/08 * Cutting down the word count from 7000- 5000 * Checking all theories used and adding any relevant material * Reading the Guardian news article and discussing it’s relevance Tasks to be done * Front cover of assignment: Aashir * Word count- cutting words out: Vanessa, Laura, Saqib, Joe, Aashir * Formatting: Laura * References: Laura * Proof reading: Laura * Printing: Aashir * Compile appendix: Aashir, Laura, Vanessa