Essay --

.HSGM 371ProfessorFinal Paper Vicie RichNovember 9, 2013Table of circumscribeTitle Page1Table of Contents2Introduction/Identified Problem3Literature Review4Cost5Type chapter title (level 3)6Final study Identify a work-related topic/issue/problem (or a real-life problem in the treatment of healthc ar focusing on access, quality, and/or cost) and write a final paper 6-8 pages, in APA format with a title page, table of contents, introduction, , literature review, discussion, solution/recommendation, conclusion, and reference page (title page, table of contents, and reference page do not count in the 6-8 pages). The outcome is to discuss the pros and cons of that topic and your recommendation of a better solution that will improve healthcare delivery at your institution.Introduction I would like to examine some of the reasons for the frequent ER hospital readmissions for post-surgery patients within a 30 day period. There has been a advanced rate of post-surgery patients returning to the emergency room within 30 days after discharge. Identified problemThere are several incidents when my sister was seen in the Emergency Room, treated and released and then hospitalized within 30 days after having major surgery. In August 2012, she was diagnosed with a second round of breast genus Cancer and had a mastectomy of the right breast. She had multiple complications (hematoma, elevated blood sugar, and allergic reaction to a medication given in the hospital and infection) with this surgery which required the readmission. I spoke several times to her physician about a longer hospital stay because of her existing illnesses but was told that it was up to the insurance company to flattery the additional hospital inpatient da... ...entered Outcomes Research Institute would be the perfect medium to open the eyes of rationers. Republicans and Democrats would both agree that health costs are spiraling out of control. Ultimately, there are only two ways to lower costs. One ap proach empowers and incentivizes patients to be smarter health care consumers. This entails solutions such as expanding health savings accounts, creating a national market for health insurance, and leveling the tax playing field. These could bend the cost curve down and strengthen the patient-doctor relationship. The giving medication shunned this approach.My recommendation is that Congress should take a closer look at Medicare, Medicaid and the insurance companies to access what is best for the patients recovery post-surgery. They should become to a greater extent patient-centered, focusing on preventative care and health literacy.

Abraham Lincolns Assassination Essay -- slavery, abolition, confedera

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States was elected president on November 6, 1860. Not even on the Souths ballot, Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote. As a strong republican, Lincoln believed in the abolition of slavery. Lincoln became president in the highest conflict between North and South in history, and wanted to preserve the Union. He believed that the South should not be punished after the Civil War, because he conception that they had already been punished enough. Abraham Lincolns lenient policies along with the effects of the Civil War led to his assassination.In the 1860s, disputes began to arise about the amount of power that should be given to the State and national governments. During this time, the South believed that slaves were private property, and were necessary to their economy whereas the North wanted to preserve the Union. Just before Abraham Lincoln was about to become President, South Carolina seceded from the Union becaus e they thought the nation was falling apart. Then just two months later, in February of 1861, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana seceded, creating the Confederate States of America. The Confederates, also known as the Southerners then established a capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, electing Jefferson Davis as their President (Miers, E. S. 1865). On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was re-inaugurated for his second term as the President of the United States. During the War, the Confederates general was Robert E. Lee the best general in the United States, and the Unions general was Ulysses S. Grant. After several Union victories, including those of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy fell ... ...man, D. J. (2012). Lincolns last days the shocking assassination that changed America forever. New York Henry Holt and Co..Somerlott, R. (1998). The Lincoln assassination in American history. Springfield, NJ Enslow Publishers.Swanson, J. L. (2006). Manhunt the 12-day chase for Lincolns killer. London Portrait.The Death of President Lincoln, 1865. (n.d.). The Death of President Lincoln, 1865. Retrieved October 12, 2015, from http//www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/lincoln.htm The essence of President Lincolns Death on National Affairs. (1865, April 17). The New York Times.The Lincoln Assassination and its Aftermath. (n.d.). American Civil War. Retrieved October 14, 2015, from http//www.americancivilwar.asn.au/conf/2006/lincoln_assassination.pdf Redford, R. (Director). (2011). The conspirator Motion picture. United States of America Lions Gate Films.

The Actions of Judge Danforth in The Crucible Essay -- Essay on The Cr

In any confederation, the people rely on the power of law and justice to protect them. When the guardians of the law and order misuse their power it brings tragedy upon the town. In Arthur Millers The Crucible the inappropriate actions of the event of Judge Danforth, the voice of authority of the community leads to the tragedy of social disruption of the town accompanied by breakdown in communal solidarity.Firstly, throughout the play Judge Danforth acts with pride and arrogance. At the runner of act III Judge Danforth voices his view on the ongoing phase of the witchcraft trials by stating that Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and what it shall organise aside? (Miller 85). Here Danforth establishes an ultimatum to Giles Corey when he comes to defend his wife Martha Corey from the accusation of being a witch. Danforth sarcastically questions Giles Corey whether he has the authority to make any decision on the ongoing matter and thereby sil ences him. He makes it clear that no one else can determine what and how the court should act. In addition, the tone with which he delivers this dialogue is fill with arrogance as displayed by the movie The crucible. Overall, the picture profile of Judge Danforth created while saying these lines reveals his pride and haughtiness. Another instance where Judge Danforth reveals this spatial relation of his is when he snubs Francis Nurse for questioning his judgment and wisdom during the trials. In return Danforth replies And do you know that near four hundred are in jail... upon my key signature(Miller 87) and seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature? (Miller 87). These lines show that Judge Danforth is proud of his actions and his power as a judg... ...and accusations. The extend to which Abigail has manipulated Judge Danforth is shown here. Danforths unconditional dependableness in Abigail motivated the people in Salem to accused each other to save their own skins. This brought about chaos and commotion to the people of Salem. To encapsulate, the character of Judge Danforth, initially thought morose as the voice of authority. A person on whom Salem depended the most, for justice. His inappropriately actions due to his misconceptions and self-righteous mentality wiped off the communal trust and social bonds of the people of Salem. Thereby making him the most responsible for the tragedy Salem. Work CitedMiller, Arthur. The crucible. New York, N.Y. Penguin Books, 1996. Print.The Crucible. Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Perf. Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder and Paul Scofield. 20th Century Fox, 1996. DVD.

Workaholism, Leisure And Pleasure Essay -- essays research papers

<a href="http//www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknins Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web SitesThe semiofficial working week is being reduced to 35 hours a week. In most countries in the world, it is limited to 45 hours a week. The trend during the last snow seems to be unequivocal less work, more play. Yet, what may be admittedly for blue collar workers or state employees is not necessarily so for purity collar members of the liberal professions. It is not rare for these pack lawyers, accountants, consultants, managers, academics to put in 80 hour weeks. The phenomenon is so widespread and its social consequences so damaging that it acquired the uncomplimentary nickname workaholism, a combination of the words work and alcoholism. Family life is disrupted, intellectual horizons narrow, the consequences to the workaholics health are severe fat, lack of exercise, stress reward their toll. Classified as alpha types, workaholics suffer three times as many heart attacks as their peers. But what are the social and economic grow of this phenomenon ? Put succinctly, it is the result of the blurring borders and differences between work and leisure. The distinction between these two types of time the one dedicated to ride and the one spent in the pursuance of ones interests was so clear for thousands of years that its gradual disappearance is one of the most important and profound social changes in human history. A host of other shifts in the character of the work and domestic environments of humans converged to produce this momentous change. Arguably the most important was the increase in labour mobility and the fluid nature of the very concept of work and the workplace. The transitions from agricultural to industrial, then to the services and now to the information and knowledge societies, each, in turn, increased the mobility of the workforce. A husbandman is the least mobile. His means of production are fixed, his p roduce was mostly consumed locally because of lack of proper refrigeration, preservation and transportation methods. A marginal group of people became nomad-traders. This group exploded in size with the advent of the industrial revolution. True, the bulk of the workforce was still immobile and affixed to the production floor. But raw materials and the correct products travelled long distances ... ...eneurs, the managers, the businessmen. They are the movers, the shakers, the pushers, the energy. Without them, we have socialist economies, where everything belongs to everyone and, actually to none. In these economies of collective ownership people go to work because they have to, they try to quash it, to sabotage the workplace, they harbour negative feelings. Slowly, they wither and die (professionally) because no one can live long in hatred and deceit. Joy is an essential ingredient. And this is the true meaning of capitalism the abolition of work and leisure and the pursuit of both with the same zeal and satisfaction. Above all, the (increasing) liberty to do it whenever, wherever, with whomever you choose. Unless and until the Homo East Europeansis changes his frame of mind there will be no real transition. Because transition happens in the human mind much before it takes form in reality. It is no use to dictate, to legislate, to finance, to cajole, to offer the human being must change first. It was Marx (a devout non-capitalist) who said it is consciousness that determines reality. How right was he. Witness the USA and witness the miserable bankruptcy of communism.

Forming the Pomegranate :: Fruits Foods Papers

Forming the Pomegranate pomegranate Punica granatum Punicaceae Derived from Old French pome grenate pome for apple and grenate, having umpteen seeds. And there is also Latin grantus, granum, grain, seed. This skin of a pomegranate is like tissue, the inside of the body, like blood clotting. Soft tissue. At least twenty-seven incompatible hues of red. Or any other number, perhaps it is more. Pomegranate red when a lip is bitten, the inside of the mouth--soft tissues of the mouth. The fruits body is deformed, rough, parched. Gentle dents, the kind found upon a childs skull--the demeanor the cranial bones fuse together. Parched, callused I think of browning manuscripts in libraries I think of hands.I have one here I am trying to dry, letting it shrivel, concave upon itself. I am letting the dark, damp seeds inside wither. I place it in the fall of the sun, beneath my window. The pomegranate fits my hand, my handle that agrees to the rises and slopes of the fruit. My fingers curl ing across the indentations, uneven red ground. When Demeter, the goddess of the earth, lost her daughter Persephone, she made winter. The god of the underworld, pale Hades, saw the beautiful child (one can never swear out with whom they fall in love) and from his chariot he clasp the girl, descending into his dark land. He would have said I loved her because she was so light. Upon the earth the pot were confused by the new cold and still Demeter refused spring until her daughter was returned. The other gods demanded of Hades the release of Persephone.In that dark land, soil as fling and all creatures a languid shade of hoar, Persephone ate of a pomegranate. She ate six seeds and those small seeds, Hades artifice, bound her to him for six months of the year, always. And so she rose to Demeter and still essential return again to her melancholy groom, every year the same footsteps, the same chariot of black horses.Pomegranate beneath the soil, a muted shade of gray and seeds als o a color she did not recognize. Pomegranate, which is regarded as food for the dead. I learned this fruits story pomegranates origins in Iran, in the Himalayas. Later certain travelers carried its seeds on their journeys across the Mediterranean. It now claims many lands India, Southeast Asia, the East Indies, tropical Africa.

1980s Essay -- essays research papers

This report is to inform you on the decade of the 1980s. Peoples jobs, income, ideas, opinions changed so frequently from 1980 to 1989.Fewer Americans belonged to labor unions in the 1980s. In 1980 there were nearly 21 million union members that number had declined to 17 million by 1985. The most valuable aspect of a job for the majority of Americans was a feeling of accomplishment, beating out high pay by a better than 2 to 1 margin. In the mid-Eighties, 88% of Americans said they were satisfied with their jobs. In spite of this, less than 40% expected to remain in their current job for more than cardinal years. Most Americans didnt think it would be difficult to get another job. This indicated general optimism about the economy and the job market in the mid- and late-Eighties.In the late Forties, Americans went to the movies an come of at least twice a month, but by the 1980s, people only went to the movies an average of five times a year. About 67% of Americans accompanied a play or a live theater performance at least once a year, and 60% attended a design or other musical performance.In the 1980s the majority of Americans believed sex education should be taught in public schools. 85% of people who voted were for this. That included 68% of all born-again Christians, 80% of Republicans, and 77% of rural people. One reason that people wanted sex education in schools was that Aids was cause a sense of panic among the general public. Also they felt that if sex education were not available there would be even more unwished-for teenage pregnancies. A few years after the Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade, 60% of Americans supported legalized abortions. except by the 1980s that had decreased to 50%. Some Americans compared abortion with murder, and felt that the fetus should have rights. On the other hand, some feared that if abortions werent legal, more women would die from complications with illegal abortions. But most Americans said they could suppor t a womans decision to have an abortion if her life or mental health were in danger, or if she had been the victim of incest or rape. And while both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were opposed to abortion, and Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquists goal was to overturn Roe v Wade, three-fourths of all Americans were convert that abortion would never be made illegalIn 1981 there were 2,422,0... ...xually transmitted diseases, AIDS in particular. Of the 11 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases inform in America in 1987, only 15,000 were AIDS, while there were 500,000 cases of herpes and 1,800,000 cases of gonorrhea. However, since AIDS was 100% fatal, it was the main concern, and by that year, 50,000 Americans had contracted it, with 73% of these being homophile or bisexual men, 17% intravenous drug users, and 4% heterosexuals. Only 6.6% of AIDS victims were female. In 1987 there were 63,542,000 children low the age of 18 in this country. legion(predicate) lived with only one parent. A decade-long National Family Violence Survey revealed that severe violence against children was declining during the 1980s. This was due to tougher penalties against abusers, and the increased likelihood that child abuse would be accountFrom 1987 to 1989 statistics showed that there was a slight change in employment rates, personal income, birth and death rates. This year was full of energy with new and exciting wile such as the car phone and better TVs and computer. Although AIDS is still a growing academic, research for finding a cure is still under way.

Increasing Unemployment Rate Essay

A record 202 million people could be unemployed across the world in 2013, the International Labour Organization (ILO) verbalise on Tuesday. Five years on from the onset of the financial crisis, unemployment is on the rise again as economies around the world lose jobs and the fragile recovery is be by incoherent monetary policy in the US and Europe, said the ILO. According to United Nations agencys latest report, globular EmploymentTrends 2013, 6% of the worlds workforce were without a job in 2012. The number of jobless people around the world rose by 4m in 2012 to 197m. Young people were the worst affected nearly 13% of those under 24 were unemployed. Some 35% of all young unemployed people gain been out of work for six months or longer in advanced economies, up from 28.5% in 2007.This is a massive waste of the lives of young people and their talents and extraordinarily damaging to the people themselves and their societies even if stability were not to be affected, said ILO chief Guy Ryder. The situation is being exacerbated by incoherent monetary policy, in the worlds largest economies (the G20), said the ILO. In comparison with the crisis years of 2008 and 2009, the stance of monetary and fiscal policies in G20 countries has lost coherence, thereby increasing uncertainty and restrain policy effectiveness to support the recovery, said the report. The global economy is expected to show a modest gain in 2013, with output up 3.6% compared to 3.3% in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund. But this fragile recovery is threatened by political uncertainty on both sides of the Atlantic that threatens recovery worldwide, said the ILO.In the US, the recovery is being challenged by negotiations over the debt ceiling, and spending cuts associated with the fiscal cliff. In Europe, a modest recovery is dependent on the ability of political leaders to establish credible policies to promote fiscal integration of Euro-area economies. Incoherence between monet ary and fiscal policies adopted in different countries and a step-by-step approach to financial sector and sovereign debt problems, in particular in the euro area, have led to uncertainty weighing on the global outlook, said the report. enthronement has not yet recovered to pre-crisis levels in many countries.The indecision of policymakers in several countries has led to uncertainty about future conditions, and reinforced corporate tendencies to growth cash holdings or pay dividends rather than expand capacity and hire new workers. The worlds advanced economies were the epicenter for the financial crisis and have been the hardest hit, accountancy for half of the total increase in unemployment of 28 million since the onset of the crisis. But developing economies are now being hit by the prongy dip in some of the worlds advanced economies, said the ILO. Advanced economies lost an early(a) 1m jobs in 2012, while 3m were lost in other regions, especially hard hit were east Asia, so uth Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Grab a copy of the March edition of La Vida Magazine and get the sufficient story.

Concept of Martyrdom Essay

The world became astounded after it has witnessed one of the greatest tragedies of humankind. kinsfolk 11, 2001 is the date where the international community has been introduced to an unknown daring of an enemy. With no specified structure, its organization remains to be a vague plan with evidences and facts which ar not thoroughly determined. The world is unsure who to put the blame when the phenomenon of act of terrorism has been revealed, thus, resulting into preconceived notions of racism to track down its roots.Perhaps the conscious recognition of terrorism launched a new concept of struggle in international affairs. The conventional war apply to occur between two states and their respective allies, but after the realism Trade Center attack, the war is waged against individuals and factions suspected of terrorist activities. Led by the United States, the war on terrorism commenced and military forces moved to alleged causens of terrorist groups which are by and large si tuated in the Middle East. In defecateation regarding these factions has been acquired and the most famous of them all is named as Al Qaeda.From this information, terrorism eventually earned an identity and a face where the most wanted man in America has been associated as Al Qaedas leader. Osama Bin Laden, the notorious man suspected of numerous American embassies bombings even foregoing to the 9/11 attack. The war to hunt down Al Qaeda revealed other terrorist groups whose network stretched all over the world. As terrorism information expanded to the public, the international community saw how these groups and its members carry out their tasks to be able to hit their targets.From highjack public transportations to kidnapping, terrorists have been known to be trained to conduct these acts. As the war on terrorism continues, the means of terrorists in fulfilling their tasks are increasing and expanding just as much as the ontogenesis of their membership. The following discussion will focus on one method of terrorism which is prominent in attacking sectors of society and have stirred knockout concerns from spectators who witness the damages it cause.Suicide terrorism, as derived from its name, usually refers to an individual who has bombs attached on his or her own body and detonate it within the proximity of the target. The hijacking of planes of 9/11 is also considered as part of suicide terrorism. The usage of suicide is not a new means in the field of warfare however, what make suicide terrorism as horrific as it is today is for the reason that it targets civilians, unlike in conventional war where it aimed at combatants.Since the whole concept of warfare has shifted its participants, acts of terrorism reflect a deeper background which needs to be further understood. First is to provide a general history of suicide attacks prior to 9/11 which focus on the evolvement of using suicide from non-terrorists to terrorists. It will be followed by examining the role of religion to the terrorist factions and how the concept of martyrdom serves as a religious duty. Following the flow of the discussion, this leads to elaborating how these groups perform suicidal attacks operating under principles established by the organization.This is to attempt in looking suicide terrorism in totality to be able to determine its implications on society. History of Suicide terrorism In his recent book entitled Suicide Bombers in Iraq, Mohammed Hafez (2007) set forth suicide attacks or terrorism as a premeditated attack by an individual who willingly uses his or her body to carry or cause explosives to attack, kill, or maim others (p. 6). From the preceding texts it has been briefly mentioned that suicide attack is not a new method to be use in any form of battle.Even prior to the 9/11 incident, suicide attacks has been consistent in the concept of self-sacrifice for the interest of a broader cause (Linden, 2003, p. 77). Before suicide attacks has been us ed by terrorists tagged as part of non-state actors in the international community this form of attack has been utilized by state combatants especially during the world wars. Kamikaze tactical Suicide Such notable for using suicide to gain larger benefits is the infamous Japanese Kamikaze which surprised the Americans during the sudden attack of Pearl Harbor.The usage of kamikaze has been used especially at the height of the Pacific war where Japanese pilots crashed their fighter planes into the enemies largest warships to further incapacitate its advantage for battle. This form of suicide attacks is determine as the tactical kind of suicide (Battin, 2005, p. 241) but it is more than just a war strategy. It is considered a duty to be fulfilled not just as a soldier but as a Japanese living to the ideology of a dignified death which is deeply embedded in their culture.Lebanon Bombings Start of the Terror Trend The creation of dynamite from the late 1800s later evolved into customiz ed portable bombs which are attached secretly into public facilities. By the time the production of these explosives became abundant, it has been used for playacting small-scale attacks which are more inconspicuous and less suspicious attaining higher possibilities of killing the target. After the major world wars, civil wars ensued within countries especially those which are left torn by the Cold War.Prominent suicide attacks frequently occurred during the civil wars in Middle Eastern countries, one of the most significant events which gave nitty-gritty to a new concept for suicide attack are the bombings in Lebanon in early 1980s. The targets became the embassies of foreign states which have been participating in the civil war as either allies or peacekeeping forces (Hafez, p. 7). The high rates of property damages and death tolls prompted for the removal of other foreign forces out of Lebanon which made a significant impression that suicide attacks in this form are effective (H afez, p.7).The bombings in Lebanon started the trend for the modern day suicide attacks. Basically, the two events that have been mentioned conveyed the division line which showed the difference of how attacks transformed from a part of a war strategy to incentive terror alone. The so-called success of the bombing in Lebanon in 1980s paved the way for the creation of non-state factions who act independently without any government support. Using suicide attacks became an essential method in inducing terror into a society to either kill or send a message to their enemies.Suicide terrorism encompasses a diverse field of goals whether for political reasons, economics, or attaining recognition. However did the purpose of suicide attacks expanded into, performers of this act surely behaved according to a set of principles and ideologies. These principles maybe rooted out from ones culture such as the Japanese Kamikaze and others can be derived from nationalism, idealism, motivated by pers onal interests, and religion. The focus of this paper will deal with religion as the main motivation for the modern suicide attacks usually associated with religious extremists in the Middle East.

Race and Ethnicity Essay

A variety of factors within our party prevent equal opportunity. We pacify live in a racialized society where the emblazon of our skin frequently determines how we ar treated. umteen ovalbumin-hot mountain do not recognize, or want to recognize that draw still significantly impacts lives. Mevery white-hot peck are taught growing up not to think as racial beings, and this whitethorn contribute to many denying the perquisites that go along with being white. Historically, the goal for par and opportunity for every superstar has not always existed and this has caused a heavy influence on society to twenty-four hour period.My research focuses on and investigates knowledge and perception on the importance of race, and how defending team affects us all. White perk is a brotherly relation that benefits white persons over non-white persons. A said advantage enjoyed by persons of a socially let class based on the color of their skin. A racial category, which involves European- Americans and the invisible norm (IAW. 350) against other racial categories. Its important to understand white privilege and how it affects society.A lack of understanding and recognition of unearned privilege whitethorn lead us to lack a desire to create a versatile atmosphere, and ways we can be more aware. White privilege may affect how we interact with each other and how those who do not share such advantages are affected. Some question, if white privilege still exists, and if its that big of a deal. And, if so, how can we work on reducing these effects? The idea of white privilege is said to divide whites and dis colour in into their own economic categories.While white people are given opportunities and benefits, puritanical colored skin people may be at a disadvantage to these opportunities and benefits. Many analysis of white privilege interpret whiteness as an intangible economic good ( stark Reconstruction in America W. E. B. Du Bois. ). White privilege is the original form of racism that has existed throughout much of American history. Race has been used to define heathenish categories of white and non-white human beings. Whites were defined as being the superior species and blacks were considered inferior and incapable of advancing themselves.The history of this way of thinking and racism go backrest hundreds of years and is the foundation of white privilege. Institutions gave preferential treatment to people whose ancestors came from Europe compared to people whose ancestors came from Asia and Africa. The white class was granted political and economic rightfields that people of color were denied. These past laws and the idea of race is what have directly contributed to our social inequalities, but do social inequalities currently exist? Many people today allow for contest that white privilege does in fact still exist.Most often, the person contesting is a white person being accused of enjoying social privilege simply because they are white . White privilege is a term that universally describes and views all white people as being granted with these advantages, but the majority of white people have to work hard to bewilder to the position they desire. These positions arent reserved based on the color of our skin. We arent born with the right for a free ride, and we earn our way up unsloped as any other person has to. This seems to be accurate and may give a quality argument to white privilege.Although, for white people born with greater resources it may be hard to see, and may not obtain privileged or more powerful than others. Growing up comfortable and privileged may just be a way of life that we take for granted, unconscious(p)ly penetrating we do. Many people are unaware of their preferences for luminanceer skin (The Persistent Problem of Racism Skin tone, Status and Inequality. 238). Those who do enjoy these white privileges, its just normal. However white privilege does vary depending on many factors. This may include sex, age, socioeconomic status and others.White skin may in fact be the favored group in our society. Statistics have shown white men and women hold more power positions than black men and women. We may be unaware that being white matters, but we still participate, intentionally or not. In her essay Seeing and Making Culture, Hooks, describes what it is alike growing up poor. She says, Many middle class black family line have no money because they regularly distribute their earnings among a larger kinship group where folks are poor and destitute (IAW. 433). As I read this essay I noticed the terms black and white were used many times to describe a person.Also, it was as if she was implying nearly black people are poor and white people portray an economic class privilege image. She does jazz white poor people, but seems to focus on being black and poor. She explains what college was like as a young black girl, and says, Students in the dormitory were dissipated to a ssume that anything missing had been taken by the black and Filipina women who worked there (IAW. 433). The essays claim is the way we see and judge poor people, but it makes an attempt to acknowledge discriminate poor black people as well. This is an example of the way humans group other humans, stereotyping by race.As a white person we may feel being viewed as white and privileged people will automatically think we are spoiled jerks. The creation of our system in which race codes superiority over others has been bestowed upon us. Even though its confusing its purposeful American history. We must remind ourselves this system is not based on each individual white persons intentions to continue claiming that white privilege is rightly ours. Regardless of our personal intent the effects are the same. Our society, throughout history, sees white as normal and all other races as different from normal.Today, white peoples privileges may be something we cannot not get. For example, if I b uy a case of band aids that say flesh color, I know it blottos the color of my white skin. White people have been educated to understand our refining and our race as being the social norm. Social norm is defined as beliefs within a society of appropriate behavioural expectations. An example of behavioral expectations of our white society is a young white boy reading a book as the social norm, but a young black boy reading a book is acting white. The white boy seemingly normal but the black boy performing a white persons behavior.Comedian Chris Rock often talks of white privilege, and uses the issue in his stand-up routines almost always. At one point he says to an audience of many white people, None of ya would change places with me And Im rich Thats how good it is to be white Its not like slaveholding ended and then everything has been amazing (Chris Rock. About America). Even in an interview about life as a scratchdian he says, Black people have first- hand knowledge on racis m (Chris Rock. Hilarious Interview). Racism is so deeply rooted in our society. Is it even possible for people of any skin color to just look at people as humans?It is assumed, no matter our skin color, we gravitate to people who look like ourselves. This includes personality, religion, morals as well as features. We are naturally attracted and comfortable with people who resemble ourselves. This seems like a normal behavior. It doesnt necessarily mean we dislike other races. Regardless of skin color, people who are white/black/brown, all discriminate against other races and enculturations. Most all humans are guilty of making judgments against another before knowing or learning anything about the person. This applies to people of all groups and of any color for many different reasons.It is an unconscious act, and a part of our human nature. White privilege is an unwilling and non-owned racism that has been ingrained into our mindset throughout history. Racism comes from both sides . raft of all colors are continuing these behaviors and racism continues to be a modern day battle. Racism is affecting us all. If white privilege is inequality among races it is creating dysfunctional relationships amidst races. Many black people feel white people have an obligated duty to clean up the racist messes they have created throughout history. peck with dark skin have negative feelings toward people with light skin for slavery and civil rights. How is this fair? Most people dislike racism, and this includes white people. Our society has created a practice of stereotyping into categories by skin color. Many white people feel targeted for their white privilege. Are we in denial white privilege still exists, or is it a misunderstanding? It has been said an advantage of white privilege is white people having more wealth that is being passed from generation to generation. We benefit from this pecuniary assistance giving white people a better starting point in life.Although, in my experience, my family and ancestors have worked hard for their money and some of my family vivacious in poverty. I have not benefited from any wealth being passed down to me. Throughout history white people have worked hard and in return they claim the land and wealth. Is white privilege today being confused for cultural differences, or are we taught not to recognize it? Many white Americans have lived under the assumption that if they worked hard, they would be rewarded. Now more white Americans are sharing unemployment lines with those people black and brown (Tim Wise.White Like Me. ). People of color say they worry about being discriminated against for the color of their skin. They feel disadvantaged when seeking housing, employment or simply shopping in stores. They feel they have worked just as hard as white people, but they still dont make it to their level of success. Also saying having light skin is one less worry white people have, and People who are poor and white , still have the benefit of looking white and the advantages that come along with having white skin. White people have even claimed the identity of who we are as Americans.It seems history continues to echo, making white the default race in America. There are Asian Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans and Americans, and we automatically assume American is a Caucasian person, without adding something extra to the name. It seems white dominates the American population. A white American is considered to be the model race. It has been consistent that white is the national identity. White people are the majority in most regions. We have stayed confined in a world that doesnt challenge this distribution of power and this allows continued inequality and injustice in the United States.Shouldnt we understand theres only one race, the human race? As humans we are different. We have different hair color, eye color, personality and skin color. The accident of where one is born is jus t that, an accident (IAW. 669). Is the idea of different races ignorant thinking, I mean we can all reproduce with one another My first day of high school I was surprised when I stepped out of my mothers car and looked around to see the majority of students were black or brown. I have to admit I was a bit intimidated. I was worried I may not fit in. This high school was very multicultural. save today, when I tell people where I went to high school they may make a racist joke, or say, oh the gangster school. I get irritated, because its a typical stereotype. My experience was ok. I had friends with brown, black and white skin. We all came from different backgrounds, but we were all very close friends, and most of us are still today. Some of my dark skinned friends would joke around and call me white devil or white girl. It was ok and considered normal for the dark skinned kids to make jokes about the white kids, but NOT ok for the white kids to make jokes about brown/black kids.Altho ugh, we made friendships work, the white kids neer completely fit in to the cliques. We were the white boy or girl of the group. Back when television was dominant, young whites could consume black style and expressive culture (IAW. 514). This describes almost every white boy or girl, and my high school experience. And now today, the racial perceptions and biases we develop in our off-line lives, they conclude, likely creep into our online lives (IAW. 515). So, just like my real-life high school experience, it has continued into our new age technologically advanced generation, where social media is taking over.Myspace and facebook are the new age cliques. And, as in the real world, is racially divided. It is being said more white people are using facebook and darker skinned people are using myspace. Researchers began to ponder how social inequalities impact engagement with the internet (IAW. 506). Social media mirrors our social divides in the real physical world. People migrate tow ards others who share the same values and beliefs, and who they are most comfortable interacting with. Social inequalities still matter in the physical world. And as we are learning they also matter in the virtual world (IAW. 507).

Grave of the Fireflies My Personal Reactions Essay

Yet again this is another war plastic film. But unlike so many American blockbusters that turn brave soldiers as heroes ( much(prenominal) as Pearl Harbor, We were soldiers, Windtalkers, etc.), this one addresses wars brutal impact on loose civilians, especi ally children. With the war on Iraq straight undergoing, this point has all the more relevance. Under the same(p) American bombing, innocent Iraqi children ar now suffering just as much as Seita and Setsuko in this mental picture have suffered, and even more, for the Iraqi people and land have long known the horrors of poverty, hunger and dictatorship.This essay, with at the beginning a truncated summary and an elaboration of three classic tantrums in the movie, is going to present to you the three dimensions of the complex feelings that the movie provokes in my heart on a private level and thus tries to offer an individual except hopefully worthy viewpoint for those interested in the movie.Summary and Three classic sce nesGrave of the Fireflies is ground on a semi-autobiographical book by Nosaka Akiyuki about the termination of his sister, and is a very well known book in Japan. The movie itself is about a teenager boy named Seita and his 5-year-old sister Setsuko, and how they try to survive in mainland Japan after the entirety of their port town, Kobe, is destroyed by American fire bombings. Their contract dies shortly after the fires are put out, in a graphic and poignant scene at a community hospital. Their father is in the Navy, and unbeknown(predicate) to them, has already died in battle. Unable to tell Setsuko that their mother has died, Seita takes her with him to live with their Aunt. The Aunt, how of all time, cares short for them, and barely feeds them. Seita eventually takes Setsuko, and leaves their aunts house for a dug-out shelter by a pond, where he struggles hopelessly to find money and items to trade for food. It all spirals downward in a tragic, yet foreseeable, path to a h eartbreaking end, which is slow-suffering death for both brother and sister.There are three scenes in the movie that I find particularly striking and believe do most in delivering the themes of this movie. One is when afterthe siblings use the fireflies to illuminate the cave, Setsuko is seen the next morning burying the dead insects, and as she tells that she knows her mother has died and is now also in a grave, she asks with her dickens large sparkling eyes shadowed and barred by the horrors of war, Why do fireflies have to die so quickly? some other comes after Seita carries his little sister to the hospital and is informed that his sister is starving and needs food, he is somber for a moment murmuring food, then in a sudden burst of desperation, cries out Where am I supposed to get food?These two questions stabbed my heart like spears the moment I heard them. These are questions that never really need to be answered but they nevertheless need to be remembered. In the last scen e, the apparition of Setsuko lays sleeping comfortably in the rope of her older brother, while he gazes at the night sky over the skyline of a fully modernized city. As one critic elaborates on this last shot, and here I quote, They live on, though the world has disregarded them, and will continue to live on forever, reliving their tale. They have not forgotten the past they cannot. And neither should we.Troubled, Moved, and PityIn fact this is a feeling any human being would have after watching this movie. The story the movie tells is heart-rending enough, as could be well seen from the above description and elaboration. However, the movies strength is not in the story, but in the untold. From the time Seitas ghost appears after his death in a train station at the beginning of the movie, the viewer is haunted by the remembrance of what is to come as he retells his story. There are times when the viewer is allowed to forget about the future, but and for a little while, as Seita and Setsukos reappearance brings them back to the dark reality of their impending deaths. A feeling is created that some ghosts (like Seita and Setsuko) are still living, breathing people, and are cursed to watch their agony over and over again. In a scene where Setsuko cries violently for her Aunt not to take her mothers kimonos and sell them for food, the screen pans slowly and deliberately out of view of the main characters, where the orange glow of Seitas ghost appears. He covers his ears and cringes at his sisters tears, almost crying himself, but can do nothing to intermit them.Even the few heart warming scenes in the movie are interrupted by the truth of what the brother and sister face. There is a scene about a half hour into the movie where Seita takes Setsuko to the beach for the start time. It is a resplendent display of sibling love, and flashbacks of warm memories from their family enter the story. They are all too brief, however, as Setsuko soon discovers a dead b ody from the war wrapped in straw. Seita tells her the man is asleep, and they do not go to the beach again. Another disquieting scene is of Seitas ghost watching himself carry his sleepy sister on his back, about to enter his Aunts house for the first time. He watches, knowing full well what will come of it, but unable to stop it.Indeed, as Roger Ebert, the famous critic for Chicago Sun-times, wrote in his recap essay of the movie, one of Grave of the Fireflies greatest gifts is its patience shots are held so we can think about them, characters are glimpsed in private moments, and atmosphere and spirit are given time to establish themselves. The movie does not try to create a dramatic plot or atmosphere rather it narrates the story out simply and directly, giving the animation an amazingly realistic touch and mood. There is time for silence in almost every scene and amid scenes. And in these silences allowed for meditation we the audience are deeply troubled by the horrors of wa r, moved by the beauty and spirit the siblings display while confronting these horrors and at the same time we feel great forgiveness for their tragic fate.Being a ChineseBeing a Chinese, I found myself at times ill-scented to the movie in the course of viewing, mainly because, I think, it narrates through a Japanese military familys point of view and takes a great pity upon the Japanese people. I thought to myself How about the cities you bombed and the villages you burned down? You deliberately invaded other countries and you massacred other peoples at will. During World War II, thousands upon thousands of Chinese people not lonesome(prenominal) died from poverty and hunger, they died as victims to your soldiers barbaric slaughtering-for-fun-and/or-competition craze, and as experimenters in your notorious chemical weapon labs.You raped ourwomen and murdered our children, what right have you got to make such a movie and complain to the world about your miseries in a war largely initiated by your own governments greed for causality and resources? Some of the characters remarks in the movie I find offending, like Daddy will make them pay for this, defend our country and motherland, We surrendered? The great Japanese Empire surrendered? etc. Also the portrait of the impression of the boys father being loving, upright and brave somewhat angers me. In this movie, the father is the only soldier of the characters involved, and therefore to some extent he represents the Japanese military. This has some effect in creating the false impression that the Japanese military is upright and is only defending their homeland. Moreover, I cannot help thinking that if Seita was but a dozen years older, he would have been fighting somewhere in the Asias or the pacific, tormenting innocent people of other countries and serving the fascist greed of the Japanese government.Nostalgic MoodStill I admire many of the movies beautiful scenes. I believe that the scene of numerous fire flies dancing in the dark and around the brother and sister will remain one of animations most memorable scenes and it tickles every childs heart with wonder. The way that the siblings catch up with fireflies and set them free inside their net is the most peculiar yet fascinating way of illuminating I have ever seen. The effect it produces is overwhelming imagine sleeping inside such a net - nevertheless as the movie shows, it is just like sleeping under the starry sky in the open air In fact many of the movies scenes ring familiarly with my childhood memories. I remember vaguely when I was small I also went out after dark with my peers to capture fireflies I also crushed the firefly the first time I tried to hold one in my hands.To me, many of the movies displays of essential landscapes and field views accord to South Chinas beautiful countryside scenery. It resembles my hometown as I remembered. Nowadays things are unfortunately different. Industrialization and modernization ha ve robbed right aways children the privilege and pleasure of swimming in little ponds and catching fireflies and grasshoppers on summer nights. In fact I have never ever seen a firefly when I go back every summer since I came to Beijing. Forme personally, thereof, the movie in some respects counts more as a nostalgic one remembering good old days than a war movie with profound meanings.

Definition of Marine Biology

marine Biology also refers to Biological Sciences or Biological Oceanography. leatherneck Science is the general term for investigate conducted in oceans and coastal or inland waters connected to the sea. This particular(prenominal) field is probably the best known to the public. Marine Biology deals with the study of micro and living organisms such as plants, animals, viruses, and bacteria in oceans, estuaries, and other bodies of salt water. In the feild of Marine Biology you plan, participate in, and administer research programs for government experiment stations such as private research centers, manufactoring irms, and medical service industries.Tools and equipment for this career holds lab animals, X-Ray and other lab equipment, computers, spectrophotometers, collections of specimens, and a Starting no later than high school, a Marine Biologist should obtain a impregnable education in as many basic sciences as possible including chemistry, physics, and biology. Mathematics is essential. Plane geometry, trigonometry, solid geometry, and two years of algebra are recommended. Good English is no less important, for both written and oral reports are a big part of Marine Biology. The tudy of a foreign language, especially French, German, or Russian should begin early.Degrees in this study are offered only to college graduate students. Most entry level jobs minimally require a Bachelors degree in a natural science from an accredited college or university. Doctoral degree holders face opposition for independent research positions. Those with a Bachelors degree or Masters degree in biological sciences can expect better opportunities for nonresearch In order to be a Marine Biologist or in any line of field of study, you have to be really dedicated to your job. This is the job I have always wanted perpetually since I was a little girl. I always loved the water especially the ocean.I think there is so much to discover to the highest degree it and there are s o many marine animals yet to be revealed. If I ever do become a Marine Biologist I either want to work in the laboratory or work in the field. I think it would be interesting to travel to different separate of oceans and discover what kind of plants and animals hide beneath the deep blue waters. Laboratory technicians and testers can acquire more than education take care. They can work their way up through research ositions and may reach administrative posts in government or industry.As a rule, high paying postions of prestige go to those with a Ph. D degree and a history of successful research. C. Earnings and Working Conditions Marine Biologists may work in a laboratory, classroom, museum and industrial setting, a botanic garden or zoo, or in a field. They may either work alone or with engineers, technicians, and other scientists at various stages of research or product development. Working conditions vary with the kind of work they do. Indoor work areas may be quiet, well light ed, and air-conditioned. Those who work in laboratories or industrial settings moldiness keep work areas very clean. Ventilation systems generally provide protection from dust, fumes, and odors.Special precautions are taken to protect those scientists who work with infectuous creatures or poisonous chemicals. slice working in the field some Marine Biologists travel to coral reefs in tropical seas and ocean waters in cooler climates having to work a The earnings of a Marine Biologist are complicated. Most of these researchers recieve a salary directly from an employer. They write roposals in order to have their research ideas funded by private and government agencies. The quality of their results often determines whether they recieve money for future efforts, and consequently, whether they work and for how long.The salaries of a Marine Biologist comes down to each persons education, experience, and At the present metre the profession of Marine Biology is one of the least crowded of the science fields. in that location are only a few thousand Marine Biologists in research, with less than three thousand graduates working and teaching in the United States. Since there is a limited umber, opportunities in research are few and competition is stiff. It is said that by the year of 2006 employment in biological sciences will grow by 25. 1 percent, that is an increase of 20,000 positions.According to the 1990 Census, 48. 8 percent of this particular occupation were female, 5. 8 percent were black, and 3. 7 percent were Asian and Pacific Islanders. Employment opportunities will be good for scientists with advanced degrees. Those with lesser degrees may experience competition for available jobs in the future. Marine Scientits work in a surprising variety of disciplines. Some xamples are Archaeology which is the study of prehistoric and of antique periods of history, based on the examination of their physical remains.Another is Anthropology which studies man both as an animal and as living in society , his origins, development, distribution, social habits, culture, etc. Sociology is the study of the origin, the history and the structure of the human society and its institutions. Engineering which is the science applying knowledge of the properties of matter and the natural sources of energy to the practical problems of industry, and other studies of human relationships with the sea. There are many advantages and disadvantages in becoming a Marine Biologis.If you do not like to work long hours or do hands on experiments than working a the field is not for you. An advantage to that is you can do indoor work, which would be in laboratories or classrooms. They are usually quiet and work with chemicals and radioactive substances. These are only a few of the advantages and disadvantages in the field of Marine Biology. The services have about 500 scientists. On an average they charter 30 new life scientists each year. Newly comissioned life scientists are ormally assigned to a lab, while they conduct research under the direction of more experienced scientists.Summer and part-time employment may be available in industry, college programs in biological science or projects museums, zoos, and other institutions employing Biological Scientists. The surgical incision of Agriculture participates in the cooperative education program, a federally sponsored program provideing work experiences and income. There are a variety of School to Work opportunities which include informal apprenticeships, mentorships, job shadowing experiences or touring a local biological scientist.

Procter and Gamble Company Essay

BackgroundProcter and Gamble was formed by James Gamble & William Procter in 1837 by a candle manufacturer Procter and a lash manufacturer Gamble. This consumer product company started with a vision to grow to a $33 billion company and by 1879 it started selling its products directly to the consumers, by 1890 it has gained its juristic corporation and ever since it has doubled it sales every ten years. P&G growth was driven by construct not optimization. Radical innovation served as their backbone to success with other factors such as geographic expansion, product line extensions and acquisitions contributing to its growth. Some of its famous and successful acquisitions were, Duncan Hines, Clorox, charmin Paper mills, Folgers Coffee, NorwichEaton,Vicks (NyQuil), Noxell and sludge Factor. It excessively recievesthe credit for developing innovative and advanced technology based products during 1940s such as Tide, Crest,Pampers, Bounce etc.By the end of 1980s P&G had its operations in 58 countries,its temperament was built with its refreshed product development strategies they produced varied range of consumer products such that these products should meet basic consumer needs and lay down superior total value creating a brand image for the company. As noted in Kevin Kellys quote Wealth in new political science flows directly from innovation and not optimization, i.e. wealth is not gained by perfecting the known, but imperfecting the unknown.P&G successfully used this strategy to earn its reputation as one of the largest company in Cincinnati in 1895 and in 1995 earned the National Medal of technology, the highest given award in United states. P&G was also known for its strong ethics, values and recruiting the best and brightest. R&D was a major focus of P&G. In 1995 P&G pass 1.3billion on R&D,and emphasis was laid on combination of multiple R&D competencies and there were a lot of cross fertilization of technology. They also had an attractive work culture , employee compensation and had a structure in place which assured employees of growing within the organization with its up through the rank approach which fostered innovation.In the process of growing, P&G moved out of their old tradition of new product development and concentrated completely on the world(a) expansion and development of existing products. With structured productsectors in place, P&G had some difficulty fitting some new product musical theme into any of the available category which led to the rejection on various novel ideas. In 1993, the company started the Strengthening Global Effectiveness (SGE) with the goal of increasing moolah through cost reduction which was achieved by reengineeringand reformation of distribution and manufacturing. This led to a successful increase in profits from 10% to 17% in a year. In the same year, CEO John Pepper said that their was an urge for developments of new brands in order to fulfill the companies longtime goals of increasing their sales. pose Collar, Vice President and General Manager of New Business Development and a part of SGE said that a breakthrough is required to manage and whet the companys innovation process. In addition, the concept of cross fertilization was fading out gradually so their was a requirement of a new innovation team that can incorporate the old traditions followed by the company during the 1960s. Therefore this lead to the formation of Innovation Leadership Team (ILT) in 1993. The die seven officers of the company were a part of this team John Pepper(Chairman and CEO) Durk Jager(President and COO) Wolfgang Berndt(Executive VP North America) Gordon Brunner(Senior VP Research and Development) Gary Martin(Senior VP Information Services and Product Supply) and Eric Nelson(Senior VP and CFO) Robert Wehling (Senior VP Advertising and Market Research).The ILTs indebtedness is to investigate the portfolio of the projects under development and projects on shelf, select valuable projec ts that add value to the firm. Soon Corporate Innovation Fund(CIF) was established for the funding the research on new products developments. The employees can report projects irrespective of their sector and obtain approval at very fast pace on appropriate projects.

Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights

The common righteousness always contained due dish out principles. clause 6 of ECHR merely pass ons a new way of thinking about them as kind-hearted rights. Discuss.. Article 6 of the ECHR builds up a body of principles that relate to fair runnel rights in unconstipated courts. Nevertheless, an essential question which applies to both special royal courts and courts still remains whether they operate with sufficient fair trial guarantees. The term due process refers to the legal obligation that a state must respect and provide all of the legal rights that are owed to a soul.Due process balances the power of right of the land and protects the individuals from it. For example, when a governance harms a person without following the exact course of the law, this constitutes a due process violation. The common law is a law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals as opposed to statutes follow through the legislative process issued by the executive bench. It does contain due process principles as nearly as other basic human rights but it is to a certain degree. The European Court of homosexual Right which is located in Strasburg was established by the European Conventions on Human rights.It hears complaints that one of the 47 member state has violated the human rights written in the convention and its rules. Complaints can be brought by an individual or other contracting state and the court can also issue consultatory opinion. Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights focuses basically on the right to a fair trial. division 1 of the Article states that In the determination of his obliging rights and obligations or of any fell charge against him, everyone is authorise to a fair and creation hearing at bottom a reasonable time by an autonomous and naive tribunal established by law.Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of mora ls, public order or national security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special lot where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.. The Section 2 of the same act states that Everyone charged with a turn criminal offense shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.Section 3 explains further that Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights (a) to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him. (b) to gain adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. (c) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to acquit for legal assistance, to be prone it free when the interests of justice so require. d) to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to bump the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him.(e) to have the free assistance of an transcriber if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court. The reaction of the common law courts to the European Court of Human Right is seen in the response of two very important cases of H v. Belgium and pack v. UK. In H v. Belgium 1987 H was a Belgian citizen who had been struck off the roll of the Antwerp Bar.H has essay unsuccessfully to be reinstated. The court held that in that location has been a breach of Article 6 by the tribunal that had considered Hs re-admission. The courts reasoning was based on 2 grounds firstly, thither was no right to challenge the tribunals decision. And secondly, the decision was not adequately reasoned. In James v. United Kingdom 1986 the applicants were the trustees of the Duke of Westminster. The estate contained certain properti es that had been let to tenants.The tenants had made use of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 to barter for the properties from the estate. The trustees complained that both the compulsory transfer and the prices received for the properties amounted to a breach of, inter alia, their Article 6 rights. The courts held that there had been no breach. The courts argued that (a)Article 6 does not require that there be a national court with competency to invalidate or override national law. It does not guarantee any particular content for civil rights and obligations on the substantive law of contracting states. b)In so far as the applicants considered that there was non-compliance with the leasehold reform jurisprudence they had unimpeded access to a tribunal competent to determine the issue.In cases which determine civil rights and in criminal cases, it protects the right to a public hearing in front of an independent and impartial tribunal within reasonable time, the presumption of innoce nce and the other minimum rights for those charges in a criminal case such(prenominal) as adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense, access o legal representation, right to examine witnessed against them to have them examined, right to the free assistance of an interpreter. Mainly most of the Convention violations that the courts find are excessive delays, in the violation of the reasonable time requirement. Another significant set of violations concerns the confrontational clause of Article 6 which protects the right to examine witnessed or have them examined. In this aspect, problems of compliance with Article 6 may break when national laws allow the use in evidence of the testimonies of absent, anonymous and vulnerable witnesses.The response of the English courts to the Article 6 of ECHR was seen in the case of Fayed v. United Kingdom 1994 where the court argued that, A fair balance had to be struck between the demands of the general interest of the community and the requirements of the protection of the individuals fundamental rights. Its not always easy to trace the dividing line between procedural and substantive limitations of a given entitlement of a domestic law. And in the case of Osman v United Kingdom 2000 allegations were raised about the assert failure of the police to protect right to life and lawfulness of restrictions on right of access to a court. The appellants argued that thru k government had divest them of a right of action in negligence against the police. The ECHR found that the appellants had been deprived of the right of access to the court. The ECHR went on to argue that Article 6(1) embodies the right to a court, of which the right of access, or the right to institute proceedings before a court in civil matters.The Article 6 of the ECHR is merely provided for thinking deeply about the rights to a fair trial more seriously as it could be easily breached by the courts. If it had been kept as a common law, the full right s of the individuals to an independent and impartial tribunal would have been not granted. And as a result of that, many individuals who have been accused of a crime would have been falsely imprisoned on the basis of not enough representation or unjust representation.

Team Discussion on App for Apple iPhone

Working for Apple the pillowcase of research unmatchable would demand to mold through would be a reporting teaching. This type of study go out display data that provides statistics comparing the lotion to other natural coverings that users atomic number 18 already using and what features of the application users are wanting. This report is the first step in determining if the application is worth moving forward with. Once the application shows to be a of import asset for users the next step is to focus on what the users want in an applications.I would expect the proposition to demonstrate on how user-friendly the application is, and who is the target audience this application is intended for. Many users want an application easy to use that a child can figure it out in one step. Another key factor users look for is the cost of the application. Keeping the cost down at a low price that is appealing to the user but profitable to the company lead appoint this application tr iple-crown for both parties. Dereks Response to Nancy I think the reporting study would be a enceinte way to determine whether or not to move forward with the acceptance of the App into the Apple Store.This is because the reporting study would give background information on the App study, including concrete details of the App and how it differs from other Apps in the same category. It would as well as give the necessary data to determine what group the App would best suit. This information would be obviously essential because one would not want an App that is geared toward adults be in the viewing control of children without the proper precedent labels. I think that it would have been a great way to find out if the customers would want to sully an app or not.When people are getting ready to get an app they definitely want something that is useful and they exit not be disappointed with. When doing research you will be able to see if the app will do good or not. Also it will be able to decipher whether you are gearing it toward the reclaim audience. You do not want to just throw something out on that point to see if it will turn without research. It is all important(p) to test your product before delivering it. If I worked for Apple, the first thing I would want to see in a marriage offer for a mod App for the App retentiveness would be whether or not the final cause has met the policy and procedures by Apple.The reason I would do this is that if the requirements were met the App would be compatible with the requirements of Apples App store on so many levels. For example If there are technical glitches or errors the App will not be approved by our technicians. I will also look for the simplicity of the App to make incontestable it will be user friendly. Creativity would play a big role in App blessing because with more than 300,000 Apps in the App store, we would think it is important for the App to be unique. Research would be just as important as policies and procedures to gain thanksgiving for the App store.Although at times because of inappropriate research, we would have to be aware of this type of research to make sure it does not become part of the Apple App store. Inappropriate research will include anything that has any racial tones that may offend any of our customers and research must be in compliance with the law. Bottom line is, I will not except anything is unethical. User-friendly application is a function that users look for when deciding on purchasing the application or not. Statics stating what functions users are most in all probability to be attractive to provides insight if the product will be successful.These statics are important and presenting them in the proposal will help for determination of releasing the application. The application uniqueness is also important and knowing the contestation of other application provides insight. Researching applications similar to the one in the proposal will r eflect on the popularity of the new application. Following policies, procedures, compatibility, and ethical conduct are very important steps in business, but I am not sure if this information is appropriate research for a proposal.I agree with Derek on this one. You have to make sure that you can get approval from the app store before you try to take root your product. If you were to introduce a product that was not something that the App store would not even be allowed to have in there store then you would be just wasting time. Research is the key ingredient to reservation sure that you are producing the right type of app or anything else. Without this we would have a lot of failed businesses. Always make sure that what we are producing is what the people want.Developers are constantly inventing and improving apps for the Apple iPhone mobile digital device. As a representative for Apple, researching the market of available apps helps take the first step into developing a successf ul app. A new app proposal requires a content analysis that helps educate developers on successful app designsand marketing. Proving there is a consumer interest for the app from a variety of age groups, demographics, genders, and geographical locations may help determine whether or not the app gets approved.The proposal should provide evidence regarding how the potential app meets the needs of Apples customer base. The proposed app plans should batter the competition by demonstrating that it is one of a kind and has potential room for growth. The research of the app should determine its reliability and show data that ensure the app functions properly with the operating systems (OS) configurations for each device Apple offers. There are numerous apps with an exceedingly crowded market that the barrier to access is low and the barrier to attaining success is high.fling research for an app that is difficult to duplicate but easy for customers to download will help in the approval pr ocess. However, including inappropriate research in the proposal is cause for admonition. Technical problems like annoying bugs and constant crashes will result in disapproval from Apple. Using images, words, software, or ideas that Apple owns or information that does not uphold directly to the app and its functionality, technical content, or design criteria is inappropriate (Apple, 2012).Proposals containing explicit or offensive material such as adult material, racial slurs, and any kind of discrimination and defamation are considered inappropriate and disapproval may occur (Apple, 2012). However, there is also research that can be one of the priciest errors developers can make. Applying gold to insufficient research or researching ideas that are extensively available becomes futile for developers. They concentrate on generating buffer ideas and waste time as well as energy producing those apps.

Philosophy: The Ethics of Human Cloning

In order to cast off a fully justified decision on whether hu existence ringer is ethical or not, 1 must be exposed to the background of the subject. To start, a toller is an ex set replica of an organism, cell, or gene. The answer itself is done asexually with the use of a cell from the original human. It is then placed inside a female capable of bearing a child and is then born as a clone. along with this comes questions of whether or not it is right to clone a human being based on distinct facts and opinions of small groups or communities(Dudley 11).The technology of copy is not quite developed enough for a pertain to be certain that an experiment will be triple-crown. In Scotland, the first sheep was cloned and was named Dolly. It similarlyk over 250 tries before they were successful in creating the clone. When news of this reached America, immediately polls showed that ninety percent of Americans were against the idea of re-create humans. Those who support cloning res earch replied by evidenceing the public based their opinions on fallacies of the news media and, in that respectfore, could not comprehend the squargon picture(Farnsworth).Those in favor of cloning susceptibility say it can push forward medical research. For example, with cloning technology it may be possible to learn how to replace old cells with new ones. This could lead to a longer life for each individual. Also, with enough research scientists could create clones to act as donors. Some scientists say that human cloning may eventually reverse heart attacks. This accomplishment would take place by injecting healthy heart cells into damaged heart tissue. In addition, cloning could help improve family life.For example, if a play off lost a hild they loved dearly and could not reproduce naturally, cloning that child could be an alternative. In this way, the pargonnts would ca-ca the chance to love the clone just as much as the original child. On the other hand, those against cl oning would say that it is wrong for a doctor to harm a clone. If this were countenanceed, eventually we would agree the individual. Clones would become second-class citizens. Cloning strips humanity from natural reproduction by leaving a clone with only one parent. In addition, there would be a decline in genetic diversity.In ther words, if some day we all obligate the same genetic makeup and lose the technology of cloning, we would have to resort back to natural reproduction. This would cause problems because it has the same effect as inbreeding. In the same way, clones would ascertain like they had lost their individuality. For example, their genetic makeup would be known. Also, there could be negative psychological cause that will impact the family and society. For instance, if a clone finds out that s/he has no biological dumbfound it may suppress the clones feeling of equality among other naturally born people.Also, there is a chance that the mother or the clone may beco me sterile. Among all of these there are too m both perils for the bearing mothers and embryos. Eventually, it would turn into a routine to destroy human embryos in the growth of cloning(The Ethics of Cloning). According to Latter-Day Saints, cloning does not respect the fact that humans have souls and it robs clones of their humanity. God intended the power to create humans to be practiced between a man and a woman in the boundaries of marriage. Do otherwise is taking the work of God into your own hands.This message that humans lack the authority to make ecisions approximately creating or destroying a life. In addition, humans do not have enough knowledge or power to control outcomes of certain events (Dudley 56). However, others believe faith has no place in the debate. They argue, interpreters of the Bible can not agree on what actions God would allow to be done with justified means. In addition, the Koran or the Bible have limits to their validity because they do not addres s precise issues that need to be answered(Dudley 66). After analyzing the website, Aristotle would say that human cloning is unethical because bad means are used.For instance, it took scientists 277 tries to create the first cloned sheep. This means that there were hundreds of deformities before the successful specimen was created. In the same way, deformities of humans would be a result of experimentation, which would decrease the quality of life for those specific clones. And, even if we found a cure for a disease, lets say cancer, it would be attain a comfortably end through bad means. On the other hand, Kant would say that human cloning is ethical in that the number of people who benefit from it outweighs the number of people who suffer from it.For example, cloning could be a way to help expand the length of human life, but it would cost the lives of clones who were failures in the experiment. In this way, Kant would agree that bettering all of humanity in exchange for a sm all group of less favourable people is justified. Somewhat closer to agreeing with Aristotle than Kant, Sartre would say the act of cloning a human being is an act of free will. Therefore, if an individual decided to go forward in this act, they would be correct because each situation is unique.According to Sartre, owever, the individual is involved in this action is, in fact, responsible and would receive the consequences that come about in the particular act. Therefore, Sartre would come to a consensus that it is ethical to clone humans, but the consequences of doing so are upon those who are apart of the act. After taking into account many of the alternatives and situations of cloning, I would not support human cloning. The do from all of the harms that are unknown outweigh all of the good that can come from the research of cloning.In addition, I agree with Aristotle that ou must not use bad means to reach a good end. Therefore, seeing that cloning human is both degrading to th e clone and to humanity, I believe that cloning involves too much unknown schooling that we would need in order to even consider it. However, if scientists had enough information to be able to clone a human without a shadow of a doubt, then it might be more ethical to clone. But, the social glitch would still be present clones would be seen as inferior to naturally reproduced humans. Therefore, I do not support the legalization of cloning or any practices thereof.My solution bends more towards the objective part of the spectrum. I think that if humans could be cloned without the risk of death or intentional killing of clones for organ transplants it would be more acceptable to practice it. But, the clones social status could not change as easily as the latter. Universally, therefore, cloning should be banned in order to preserve the natural functions which we were made to perform as human beings. A general rule for cloning humans is do not clone unless there are no negative consequ ences as a result of performing the act.

Organisational Environment

2 2. 1 The cosmopolitan surround The General Environment 2. 2 S fuckingning, Monitoring, and Forecasting Changes in the Environment Key Work strategical close fashioning infra conditions of uncertainty 2. 3 Scenario Planning Key Work strategic inflection points and their repair on come forthline Tools and Techniques Undertaking scenario be after 2. 4 expletive analytic thinking 2. 5 SWOT depth psychology 2. 6 The General and the Competitive Environments Tools and Techniques Writing a swearword abbreviation ? Main Reference Schoe drawr, P. J. H. (1995). Scenario plan a scratch for strategic hinking. Sloan Management Re adopt, 36(2), 25. Learning Objectives After completing this chapter you should be commensurate to Define what constitutes the depend subject habitual purlieu Evaluate the role of s chiffonierning and admonishering in detecting surroundingsal trends Apply scenario planning to last making in uncertain purlieus Evaluate PEST as a framework f or analysing the macro- purlieu Explain the put on of SWOT digest Evaluate the relationship betwixt the common organise and the agonistical milieu 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 36 2/1/11 110351 AM 7 Introduction 2 In the anterior chapter we escorted at what system is and introduced a itemise of different perspectives on dodging mixed bagulation. We addressed the importance of set in determining wherefore an governance exists, and looked at how an transcriptions time nurses, its vision, and its mission guide individuals demeanour by guidelineing what is classic to the memorial tablet. We apologizeed the importance of an composition universe leave aloneing to miscellanea the assumptions that underpin its theory of the c erstwhilern if it is to adapt to miscellanys in its environment.We likewise introduced a strategic centering process which involves system abstr telephone number, strategy formulation, and strategy implementation. We noned that th is essentially linear approach is useful for exposition and whitethorn not ceaselessly accurately replicate decisions in the trading knowledge base. With this caveat in mind we piece of ass start to esteem several(prenominal) scapes of compend that bay window be used for strategy depth psychology. What happens in the planetary environment is important to an institution. This is because assortments that take fanny in the world(a) environment whitethorn point to trends that can substantially imp profess upon an plaques competitive environment.These changes, some cartridge holders called discontinuities, fractures, or tipping points, that fundamentally regard on the competitive environment impart be tip overed in this chapter. The beams of analysis an formation can use to discern changes in its general environment provide also be tump overed. This includes scenario planning, which result be assessed as an aid to organizational decision making in uncertain envir onments. The benefits and limitations of a PEST framework, which includes policy-making, economicalalal, sociable, and expert factors, bequeath be addressed.A SWOT analysis and its reckon with scenario planning and PEST analysis entrust be briefly discussed onwards be interpreted up in detail in a later chapter. The aim of the chapter is not scarce to move over these techniques solely, importantly, to apprehend their limitations. The chapter ends with a discussion of the links between the general and competitive environment. Section 2. 1 defines the general environment and explains its importance to the competitive environment. Section 2. evaluates the role of scan and monitoring the general environment to reach to discern discontinuities that exhaust the potential to disrupt an organizations competitive environment. In Section 2. 3 we assess the role of scenario planning in helping organizations to deal with uncertainty in their environment. This section also i ncludes how to undertake scenario planning. Section 2. 4 evaluates PEST analysis as a alsol for analysing the macro-environment. It shows how an organization can detect and monitor light-headed signals in the hope of recognizing the discontinuities or trends that shape the environment. In Section 2. we explain the use of SWOT analysis with reference to the general and competitive environment. The chapter concludes in Section 2. 6 with an military rank of the relationship between the general and competitive environments. 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 37 2/1/11 110352 AM 38 region 2 Strategic abbreviation 2. 1 The General Environment 2 The outside(a) environment facing the organization consists of two a general environment and a competitive environment. The competitive environment consists of the diligence and markets in which an organization competes. The competitive environment is dismantled in detail in Chapter 3.The general environment, in contrast, is often referre d to as the macro-environment. This is because changes that occur hither will stick out an effect that transcends fuddleds and accompanimentized industries. Figure 2. 1 shows the relationship between the general environment, the competitive environment, and the organization. It should be noted that, otherwise things being equal, it is the competitive environment that has the most direct and immediate impact on the organization. The General Environment semipolitical Economic The Competitive Environment Potential Entrants Power of Buyers The Organization Power of Suppliers Competitive RivalrySubstitute Products/Services friendly Technological figure 2. 1 The organization and its external environment That express, organizations must(prenominal) continually scan and monitor their general environment for signals, often creaky or b atomic number 18ly perceptible, which might indicate a change in their competitive environment. For example, firms in the manufacturing that produce d type importrs would afford been unwise not to scan the general environment for signs of change, in this case technological change. The advent of micro-technologies was a 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 38 2/1/11 110352 AM the general environment 2 lear threat to the typewriter industry, ushering in as it did the era of the news show processor. It is easy to forget that individuals who relied upon the use of the typewriter were initially sceptical just roughly learning how to use the new technology. instantly one is hard pushed to see typewriters in use. In order to scan and monitor their environment, firms require tools of analysis or shapes that will get them to factor in the changes in the general environment and evaluate their impact. angiotensin-converting enzyme much(prenominal)(prenominal) approach involves scanning the environment to detect signals that will act as a signpost for hereafter changes in the organizations industry.In addition, an organization must monitor its environment to discern patterns and trends that argon beginning to form and try to signal the next day direction of these trends. Ginter and Duncan (1990) entreat that macro-environmental analysis can act as an early-warning system by giving organizations time to anticipate opportunities and threats and develop appropriate responses. Therefore, the aim of macro-environmental analysis is to aid the organization in discerning trends in the general environment which might impact upon its industry and markets.The organization is then able to speculate a strategy and use its internal resources and capabilities to position itself to accomplishment opportunities as they a erect. At the same time the strategy will be acting to mitigate the personal set up of any threats. However, as we shall see in Chapter 3, there is a belief that the pace of change in the macro-environment is increasing, and is becoming much(prenominal) than(prenominal ) turbulent and freakish. This uncertainty effectively shortens the lead time an organization has to anticipate and reply to changes in its environment. 39 2. Scanning, Monitoring, and Forecasting Changes in the Environment The persona of scanning and monitoring the general environment is to try to discern changes, however small, that learn the potential to disrupt an organizations competitive environment. erstwhile these changes argon discerned, it is up to the organization to monitor them and see if they might engender a trend that can affect its industry. Clearly, experience and intuition will be involved in trying to forecast where these changes will eventually manifest themselves, or indeed if they will experience any impact at all.We look at scanning, monitoring, and foretelling changes in the general environment below. 2. 2. 1 Scanning the Environment It is often state that there ar two certainties in life death and taxes. However, a third certainty can be added cha nge. If the external environment facing organizations was 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 39 2/1/11 110352 AM 2 40 discontinuities threats grimace by organizations that have the potential to undermine the expression they do business weak signals b atomic number 18ly perceptible changes in the external environment whose impact has yet to be felt 780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 40 part 2 Strategic Analysis stable and simple to understand, then firms would be faced with an enviable situation of having relatively little change or, if change occurs, it would be easy to forecast found on historic trends. Some commodity markets exhibit a relative layer of stability, making predictions or extrapolations based on past data quite reliable. However, most environmental conditions facing organizations are complex, uncertain, and prone to change. They are complex because of the sheer volume of data that exists in the environment.Therefore any analytical too l or framework can only extract and simplify a tiny proportion of this data. At the same time, any given source of data, for example economic data on the well-being of the economy, is ambiguous as it can be interpreted in a number of different ship canal. If past death penalty is no guarantee of what will occur in the emerging because of uneven changes and discontinuities then exploits at forecasting the future are fraught with uncertainty. Discontinuities refer to the threats faced by organizations and industries that have the potential to undermine the way they do business.We have already mentioned the typewriter industry other examples include virago. com and Dell, which have both taken favour of the Internet to change the way open reapings are customized and de live(a)red to end consumers. Fahey and Narayanan (1986, quoted by Mercer 1998) suggest three goals for an analysis of the general environment. scratch line, the analysis should depict an understanding of catamen ia and potential changes taking fanny in the environment. Second, it should provide important intelligence for strategic decision bewilderrs.Third, environmental analysis should facilitate and foster strategic thought process in organizations. For Fahey and Narayanan, scanning may reveal actual or imminent environmental change because it explicitly centimeeringes on areas that the organization may have previously neglected (see Mercer 1998). Scanning the environment as a general activity has been made removed more(prenominal) than comprise effective with the advent of the Internet. Prior to the Internet, the spate was that scanning was a tollly activity which could only take account of a fraction of the nurture that existed in an organizations environment.By redefining search costs, the Internet has changed the economics of undertaking scanning. At the same time it has provided an chance to access a wealth of data which requires time and effort to structure properly. Sc anning, therefore, is an opportunity for the organization to detect weak signals in the general environment before these have coalesced into a transparent pattern which might affect its competitive environment. Weak signals refer to minor changes in the external environment that an organizations scanning of the environment may barely register. This is because their impact has yet to be felt.The trace for organizations is to be able to read these signals correctly and monitor them until they coalesce into a more clearly open pattern. However, there are errors that can follow when looking for patterns. The for the first time is that the organization may fail to happen upon these signals. The second is that the organization may discern a pattern that is not there but is based on the assumptions and mental models that managers carry in their heads. We saw in Chapter 1 how senior managements reliance on its existing theory of the business can affect the success of the organization by blindsiding them to changes /1/11 110352 AM the general environment 41 taking place in the environment. Ansoff (1984) makes the point that the detection of weak signals requires senior management commitment and sensibility on the part of the observers. This means that the organization must be diligent in continually scanning its macro-environment for weak signals. When it believes that it has discerned something meaningful occurring in its general environment, this broad scanning can turn into a more focused monitoring. 2 2. 2. 2 Monitoring the EnvironmentWhile scanning the environment may make organizations aware of weak signals, unless these are carefully monitored the resulting patterns will be missed. Monitoring can be seen as the activity that follows these initially disparate signals and tracks them as they grow into more clearly discernible patterns. Monitoring allows an organization to see how these general environment trends will impact on its competitive environment. Whereas scanning is a more broad- light touch approach, monitoring uses a finer brush stroke.However, the two are inseparable, since without an identification of weak signals in the general environment there is no focus for an organizations monitoring activities. One way in which an organization might monitor weak signals is to set thresholds such(prenominal) that any activity which occurs above the threshold will be monitored. This might include, for example, when an interestingness is shown by a major competitor in a particular tender or technological change. This interest then becomes the threshold at which the organization itself starts to take an interest. 2. 2. 3 Forecasting Changes in the EnvironmentThe purpose of scanning and monitoring the general environment is to aid the organization in developing viable forecasts of future trends before they become an unmitigated threat. This is particularly useful when dealing with discontinuities which themselves will usually evolve from weak signals that exist in the environment. The objective is to use this information to develop stout strategies that understand a degree of competitive ad vanguardtage. forefront der Heijden (1996) identifies three main types of uncertainty. 1. Risks. This is where past performance of similar events allows us to estimate the probabilities of future matters. . Structural uncertainties. This is where an event is unique enough not to offer evidence of such probabilities. 3. Unknowables. This is where we cannot even look the event. Most managers are capable of dealing with the type of uncertainty that appears in the form of risks. Also, what is unknowable cannot, by definition, be forecast and 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 41 2/1/11 110352 AM 42 structural uncertainties where no probable pattern of outcomes can be derived from previous experience part 2 Strategic Analysis herefore the organization must wait for the event to occur before it can respond to it. This leaves structural uncertainties where no probable pattern of outcomes can be derived from previous experience. In such a situation, van der Heijden suggests scenario planning as a useful tool of analysis to help the organization make sense of an uncertain and self-propelling environment that has little in the way of clear road maps. 2 For information on strategic decision making under conditions of uncertainty go to the Online Resource shopping centre and see the Key Work feature. www. oxfordtextbooks. co. uk/orc/henry2e/ . 3 Scenario Planning Schoemaker (1995) states that scenario planning is a disciplined method for imagining assertable futures. It is an internally invariable consume of what the future might turn out to be (Porter 1985, p. 446). The oil trans subject field Royal Dutch Shell has used scenario planning since the 1970s to help it generate and evaluate its strategic options. Scenario planning has given Shell a better success rate in its oi l forecasts than its competitors, and it was the first oil company to see overcapacity in the tanker business and Europes petrochemicals (Schoemaker 1995).Kahane (1992) reminds us that In the oil industry, experts have sometimes been able to suggest, but rarely to predict, the key turning points in gross oil prices . . . The Shell approach to strategic planning is, instead of forecasts, to use scenarios, a set of stories about alternative futures. scenario a challenging, plausible, and internally consistent view of what the future might turn out to be tipping point an unexpected and unpredictable event that has a major impact on an organizations environment 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. ndd 42 These stories promote a discussion of possibilities beyond the most likely one and set ahead the organization to consider what if questions. Therefore, a scenario can be seen as a challenging, plausible, and internally consistent view of what the future might turn out to be. They are not fore casts in the sense that one is able to extrapolate using past data. However, they do deal with the future and provide a tool of analysis for the organization to structure the surfeit of information that is subdueed in the present.In particular, scenarios help organizations neck the weak signals that signpost changes in its environment. It is these weak signals which precede environmental discontinuities, fractures, or strategic inflection points that help shape the competitive environment (Morgan 1988 Grove 1996). If an organization is to proceed proactive in its competitive environment it must not allow the rules of the game to be changed to its detriment, that is, it must be capable of dealing with a tipping point (Gladwell 2000), an unexpected and unpredictable event that has a major impact on an organizations environment. /1/11 110353 AM the general environment 43 For a discussion of strategic inflection points and their impact on strategy go to the Online Resource Centre and see the Key Work feature. www. oxfordtextbooks. co. uk/orc/henry2e/ 2 Strategic decisions are almost always fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty which frame complexity for decision makers. As human beings we are subject to biases and imperfect reasoning about uncertainty, that is, as individuals we will tend to misconstrue events that are unlikely and either ignore or overemphasize unlikely but significant events.In an attempt to resolve these shortcomings, most companies will use some form of discounted cash flow coupled with sensitivity analysis when analysing risky strategic decisions (Gertner 2000). The problem with these quantitative approaches is that they imbue the decision making with a dishonorable sense of objectivity and can be misleading. For example, sensitivity analysis is seen as overly simplistic in that by varying one parameter at a time it fails to incorporate any links or correlations between them.Scenario planning is an approach to decision making under con ditions of uncertainty that helps to overcome legion(predicate) of the shortcomings of traditional decisionmaking methods that is, scenario planning allows organizations to change several variables at the same time without retaining other variables constant. Crucially, scenario planning helps to overcome some of the biases and imperfect reasoning that human beings make under conditions of uncertainty. Scenarios are a tool of analysis to help improve the decision-making process set a run intost the background of a number of achievable future environments.They benefit the organization by readily helping managers think in a more organized way. This allows individuals to more readily tell apart change in their business environment instead of ignoring or rejecting it. Van der Heijden (1996), a former head of scenario planning at Shell, states that the benefits of scenario planning for Shell have been More robust strategic decisions. Better thinking about the future by a stretching mental model. Enhancing corporate perception and recognizing events as a pattern (the recognition and monitoring of weak signals until they coalesce into a pattern is clearly important here). Improving communication throughout the company by providing a mount for decisions. A means to provide leadership to the organization. The process of scenario planning should have the objective of peremptoryly influencing the strategy of the organization. This requires that the scenarios devised should stretch the imagination of management while also remaining plausible. In order to attain this, organizations must be prepared to invest resources in educating managers to help them make the best use of scenarios.They need to recognize that developing scenarios takes time and is most effective when managers from different 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 43 2/1/11 110353 AM 44 part 2 Strategic Analysis 2 parts of the business interact. By constructing quintupl e scenarios, an organization can explore the consequences of uncertainty for its choice of strategies. Furthermore, an organization can formulate strategies knowing that the assumptions on which it competes, what Drucker (1995) refers to as its theory of the business, are surfaced and adequately assessed. See Case Study Novacroft which highlights some of the difficulties of taking account of a changing environment). case test 2. 1 NovacroftDealing with change over the past five years Novacroft, which excogitates, develops and manages smartcards for kick the bucket and leisure-service providers, such as transfer for London, has enjoyed strong demand convey to policies promoting public transport and Oyster-style integrated ticketing systems. But proposed public outlay justifys and tough trading conditions in the conk industry make future investments more doubtful, according to Novacrofts managing director Debra Charles. Our market should be both emerging and growing, but the re are economic barriers, she admits. Organisations, especially in the public sector, have to make savings. Our competitors are financially stretched so they are bewraying cheap. We must preface to find new clients as well as saving our existing customers bullion. Charles, who has a background in both technology and marketing, launched Novacroft in 1998 with money inherited from her parents. As the companys prepare suggests, she was inspired to start a firm that would use the clear to develop new ways of working. I thought it would be commodious to create a transparent online database so that organisations could see what was happening with their money and their clients, she remembers. Now, the Northampton-based firm manages more than 1m customer records for clients that swerve pre-paid travel tickets and other smart cards. Staff verify and process paper or online applications before incumbrance the information onto a chip, producing plastic cards, processing buy offments a nd providing a help centre that answers cardholders queries. Novacroft can also analyse records ranging from call notes to scanned documents to help clients understand their customers habits.One of Novacrofts highest profile contracts is to manage the c at one timessionary Oyster cards for students, children and 16- and 17-year olds on behalf of Transport for London. As well as checking that applicants have given correct information about their age, address and place of education, the companys helpline deals with questions such as how to replace lost or stolen cards. The company also manages concessionary travel cards on behalf of the Scottish administration and handles online applications for Young Persons, Family and Senior Railcards for the Association of Train Operating Companies. 780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 44 2/1/11 110353 AM the general environment 2 In the past, clients might have used several different firms to produce cards, provide databases and integrate systems, bu t we have all that under one roof, explains Charles, whose chief rivals are major systems integrators such as Accenture and Logica. We have been lucky in getting big companies on board through the tender process because we have invested in hiring and training the right people and really thinking about what the customer needs. We even self-impose penalty clauses. As a result, Novacroft made a substantial profit last year on a perturbation of ? 6m, up from ? 4. 9m in 2007. The company has 96 employees, which rises to approximately 200 when extra staff are brought in to the call centre during the busy start to the academic year. Finding new clients by maximizing the purge and quality of service is a key challenge for Novacroft. As Charles points out, in the aftermath of the bank bail-outs, pledges such as transport secretary Lord Adoniss promise to consider incentives for train run companies that introduce smart ticketing look far from secure. Can we really assume that these statem ents are facts or that money is ringfenced? she says. The real certainty is that the giving medication and train operating companies have to save money. In recent months Novacroft has worked on scenario planning to consider how the company might react to changing demand. The company prides itself on a wily approach to market conditions, moving nimbly and using all its available tools to tackle future trends. We spend 14 hours in a hotel room thinking about what we know, what we dont know and studying the rules of the game and our competition. Understandably, Charles is reluctant to reveal her conclusions, but she is very confident that the exercise was deservingwhile. We have created a gigantic opportunity thats totally right(prenominal) what our competitors are thinking about. Some diversification into products such as money cards is likely, while building databases that clients can outsource to India is some other possibility. Improving efficiency to keep prices competit ive for cash-strapped public sector organisations is another priority. Since March, Charles has introduced a series of lean management techniques that have cut osts by more than ? 80,000 while maintaining service standards. For example, a study of customer service queries revealed that the number of calls polished by the help centre could be cut by improving online information. The company is also reaping the benefits of investiture around ? 40,000 in staff leadership training over the past three months, she says. Charles believes that, despite the slow low, Novacroft could achieve a turnover of up to ? 20m at bottom the next five years. We stand for innovation, service delivery and value for moneyand thats always attractive. 45Source Smart ticketing business Novacroft is looking to play its cards right insouciant Telegraph, 14 August 2009 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 45 2/1/11 110353 AM 46 part 2 Strategic Analysis Questions 1. In what ways might scenario planning help Nov acroft to remain competitive? 2. What remedies might Novacroft pursue to bring down its reliance on public sector finance? 2 3. Comment on Debra Charless confidence in Novacrofts business model. 2. 3. 1 Undertaking Scenario Planning1 Scenario planning is relevant to almost any situation in which a decision maker needs to understand how the future of his or her industry or strategic usiness unit might develop. It divides our knowledge into two areas (1) things we think we know something about, and (2) things we consider uncertain or unknowable. The first area is based on the past and continuity. For example, an organization can make fairly safe assumptions about the direction of a countrys demographic profile. The uncertain elements include such things as future oil prices, interest rates, and the outcomes of political elections. Even here it is not necessary to account for every possible outcome, since simplifying the outcome is fine for scenario planning.Therefore, an organization might apparently categorize future interest rates as high, medium, or low, rather than trying to work out every possible permutation. Also, as scenarios highlight possible futures but not specific strategy formulations, outside opinions such as those of consultants can be included in the process. A process for developing scenarios is as follows. 1. Define the scope. This involves setting the time frame and the scope of analysis. The time frame can be mulish by factors such as product life cycles and rate of technological change. The scope of analysis may include products, markets, and geographical areas.Once the time frame is set, the question becomes What knowledge would the organization benefit most from in that timescale? 2. Identify the major stakeholders. Those who can affect and are affected by the organizations decisions. The organization needs to know their current levels of interests and power, and how these have changed over time. 3. Identify basic trends. Which politic al, economic, social, technological, and industry factors will have the most impact on the issues identify in Step 1? The impact of these trends on current strategy can be listed as positive, negative, or uncertain. . Identify key uncertainties. Which events that have an uncertain outcome will most affect the issues the organization is concerned with? Here again the 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 46 2/1/11 110353 AM the general environment 47 organization might consider political, economic, social, and technological factors, in addition to industry factors. For example, what will characterize future consumer trends? An organization should develop possible outcomes for each of these uncertainties. These should be limited to keep the analysis simple. 2 5. Construct initial scenario themes.Once trends and uncertainties are developed, the organization has the basic building blocks for scenario planning. It can then identify extreme world views by juxtaposing all positive elements in o ne scenario and the negative elements in another broad scenario. 6. Check for consistency and plausibility. This involves checking to see if the trends identified are compatible with the chosen time frame. If they are not, then remove all the trends that do not fit the time frame. Do the scenarios combine outcomes of uncertainty that actually go together?In other words, ensure that inconsistent outcomes are not put in a scenario, such as having full employment and zero inflation together. Lastly, have major stakeholders been placed in a position they will not tolerate or cannot change? In this case, the scenario described will probably change into another one. The key then is to identify this ultimate scenario. 7. Develop learning scenarios. Here the role is to develop relevant themes for the organization around which possible outcomes and trends can be organized. The scenarios can be given a name or title to reflect that they tell a story.This also helps individuals to remember the scenarios. At this stage the scenarios are useful for investigate and further learning within the organization rather than decision making. 8. Identify research needs. At this stage, further research may be required to understand uncertainties and trends more fully. This is because organizations are lettered about their own competitive environment but less knowledgeable about other industries. Therefore, the organization may need to study changes, in technology for instance, which have yet to impact its industry but may ultimately do so. . Develop quantitative models. Once further research has been gained, the organization may wish to revisit the internal consistency of the scenarios and decide whether it might benefit from formalizing some interactions in a quantitative model. 10. Evolve towards decision scenarios. The ultimate aim of this process is to move the organization towards scenarios that can be used to test its strategy formulation and help it generate new ideas. At th is point it is facilitative to double check Steps 18 to see if the scenarios take account of the issues facing the organization.If the scenarios are useful to the organization, they might have the following characteristics (1) they address the concerns of individuals in the organization (2) the scenarios are internally consistent (3) they describe fundamentally different futures 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 47 2/1/11 110354 AM 48 part 2 Strategic Analysis 2 as opposed to being variations on a particular theme and (4) each scenario describes an equilibrium state that can exist for a considerable period of time as opposed to being merely short-lived.In summary scenario planning attempts to capture the mellowness and range of possibilities, stimulating decision makers to consider changes they would otherwise ignore . . . organizing . . . into narratives that are easier to grasp and use than coarse volumes of data. Above all . . . scenarios are a imed at challenging the prevailing mind-set. (Schoemaker 1995, p. 27) It is perhaps worth reiterating that scenarios are not intended to predict the future. They are designed to help managers deal with a highly uncertain and dynamic environment.They may be aimed at the general or competitive environment (for a discussion of why scenario analysis should be applied at the industry level see Porter (1985)). Porter, whilst recognizing the value of multiple scenarios for an organizations choice of strategy when considering scenario planning at the macro-level, argues, Macroscenarios, despite their relevance, are too general to be sufficient for developing strategy in a particular industry (Porter 1985, p. 447). Whether this statement is trustworthy may depend more on the industry being addressed rather than scenario planning per se.Scenarios supercharge management to think the unthinkable, to question and surface assumptions they hold about the environment, and to be prepared to view e vents from a radically different perspective. Scenarios are a tool of analysis that examines the impact of uncertainty on organizations and industries by explicitly identifying some of the key uncertaintiesthe scenario variables. For scenarios to be effective, they must abet the creation of robust strategies that compeer the organizations limited resources with the endless challenges in the external environment.To do this, scenario planning must ensure that as many as possible of the long-term opportunities and threats facing the organization are identified and addressed. For more information on how to undertake scenario planning go to the Online Resource Centre and see the Tools and Techniques feature. www. oxfordtextbooks. co. uk/orc/henry2e/ 2. 4 PEST Analysis A useful tool when scanning the general environment is PEST analysis. This refers to political, economic, social, and technological factors. It is worth noting that some commentators include legal and environmental factor s separately, preferring to extend the acronym to PESTLE.However, the legal element of the acronym can be 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 48 2/1/11 110354 AM the general environment 2 subsumed within the political factor. In addition, the use of the last E (which refers to environmental factors) is often meant to signify the effect of our lifestyles on our environment, such as the use of fossil fuels and their impact upon climate change. In this respect it can be captured within the social factor, or indeed within all four factors in one form or another.Therefore, it is not important whether we use PEST (or STEP) or PESTLE, but to understand how this framework can be used and to be aware of its limitations. As long as the choice of acronym is clearly define we have a consistent approach. What will PEST do for the organization? PEST analysis is obviously another tool to help the organization detect and monitor those weak signals in the hope of recognizing the discontinuities or f ractures shaping the environment. PEST analysis can be used to help detect trends in the external environment that will ultimately find their way into the competitive environment.It provides a link between the general and competitive environments in that weak signals in the general environment can become key forces for change in the competitive environment. Although we will deal with each factor in turn, it should be noted that interrelationships between the factors exist. For example, a social trend of healthier eating and consumers increasing distaste for factory farming (the herd of animals and fowl in confined spaces prior to their sale for human enjoyment) may signal to supermarkets a change in consumer behaviour and spending patterns. 9 2. 4. 1 Political Factors The political factor of PEST deals with the effects of disposal policy. Inasmuch as government policy is worked out through legislation, it encompasses all legal elements of this analysis. This includes items such as government stability, taxation policy, and government regulation. Government stability is not a major issue in Western economies. However, where multinational corporations operate across international borders, the stability of governments and political systems in those countries needs to be taken into account.These corporations need to be assured that there will not be any fast and detrimental changes that might jeopardize the substantial investments they will have made. The safety of their personnel operating in these countries will be paramount, as will the existence of an infrastructure which allows the efficient transfer of goods and service as well as financial assets. For instance, a government policy of deregulation or privatization has the effect of interruption up markets to competition.Previously comfortable industries feel the chill wind of change, and organizations within the industry are obligate to innovate and cut costs to remain competitive. This is because new e ntrants will often enter a market with abase cost curves and more innovative products and services owing to a better use of technology and a clearer understanding of consumer needs. To avoid being surprised, companies need to be scanning their environment for signs of change in government policy which might impact on their industry. 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 49 2/1/11 110354 AM 2 50 corporate social accountability ecognition that organizations need to take account of the social and ethical impact of their business decisions on the wider environment in which they compete part 2 Strategic Analysis An air or sea disaster which costs human lives may prompt tighter government regulations in the areas of health and safety, particularly where an investigation shows that the disaster could have been avoided. Companies operating within these industries should not be waiting to react to the outcome but should have worked out the ramifications of government involvement and be pose th emselves to take service of government regulation.The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and new fuel consumption standards for cars came about as a result of intergovernmental regulations. This, in turn, was a result of widespread concern by consumers and environmental groups about climate change due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This highlights the links between social trends and political change. Government regulation need not be something for companies to fear.Porter and van der Linde (1995) point out that environmental regulations, such as reducing pollution, may act to spur competitive companies on to innovate and reduce costs to counter the increased costs of regulation. While the US car makers fought new fuel consumption standards in the vain hope that they would go away, the Japanese and German car makers developed lighter and more fuel-efficient cars. The companies that reap the competitive benefits will be the early movers the companies t hat see the opportunity first and embrace innovation-based tooth roots (Porter and van der Linde 1995).To do this, managers need to develop a new mindset which recognizes environmental improvement as a competitive opportunity rather than a threat. There is evidence across the Anglo-American economies of the UK and the US that some organizations are beginning to recognize that good business can involve corporate social responsibility (CSR). For example, the worlds leading media company, season Warner, produced its first comprehensive report on its corporate social responsibility activities in 2006. It states Corporate social responsibility is not an afterthought at our company. It is central to what we do.Thats because Time Warner cannot be a big company unless we are a good company . . . Its simply good business to do so. (Time Warner 2006) In the US the SarbanesOxley Act 2002 resulted from the corporate collapse of Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco. There was widespread concern that boa rdroom executives (including non-executives) and the accountancy profession had failed to safeguard shareholders interest, and in the case of Enron had actively operated to pervert that interest. home(a) auditors were seen as ineffectual and often completely unaware of what powerful executives were doing.This legislation can work to the advantage of companies that are proactive in their response to it. For example, shareholders will be more confident in put in a company which can show that it already has stringent ethical guidelines in place and that any breach of those guidelines will be taken seriously. The Building Society Act 1986 allowed building societies in the UK to offer current accounts and financial services that were previously the affect of banks. This had 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 50 2/1/11 110354 AM the general environment 51 ar-reaching effects on the financial services sector, intensifying competition for customers and leading to consolidation within the i ndustry. A player within the industry would have been wise to conduct some form of PEST analysis in order to determine the effects of these politically driven changes within the industry and on their organization. 2. 4. 2 Economic Factors 2 Key economic indicators include interest rates, disposable income, unemployment rates, retail price index (inflation), gross domestic product (GDP), and qualify rates. However, economic data can be notoriously fickle and ambiguous.In addition, an economic indicator can never provide a complete picture (even of the subset of data it purports to track), but rather provides a snapshot and simplification of complex economic phenomena. This makes scanning and monitoring the general environment for signs of economic shifts which might impact an organizations industry a little difficult. The effectualnessening of an economy will generally benefit industries, but the extent of its effect will vary according to which economic factors are most affected. For example, the reflexion industry and manufacturing are most susceptible to increases in the rate of interest.Manufacturing organizations which export goods abroad will be scanning the general environment for signs of an appreciation in exchange rates, the effect of which will be to make it harder for them to sell their goods abroad but relatively easier for importers to sell their goods in the domestic market. In order to remain competitive, manufacturers exportation abroad will need to make efficiency gains and innovate so that they can offset the hostile exchange rate with a reduction in price or increase in quality. strategy focus PEST Analysis The social structure IndustryThe construction industry worldwide is renowned for operating on narrow profit margins. Any sudden and prolonged rises in interest rates can have a profound effect on industry profitability. The key for players in this industry is to borrow silver at an interest rate which allows building projects to be completed successfully, on budget, and on time. Where there is slippage of big construction projects, as was seen with the Channel Tunnel, this immediately brings into doubt their financial viability. Any delay inevitably increases the final project cost.Investors will be acutely aware that their investment in a project has an opportunity cost, that is, their money might be better invested elsewhere. If interest rates begin to climb this 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 51 2/1/11 110354 AM part 2 Strategic Analysis Construction firms already scanning and monitoring their environment can anticipate economic trends and prepare for them. iStockphoto. com/David Newton 2 52 exacerbates the situation, as investors will demand a greater return. The consortium of banks financing loans will involve to rearrange the interest ates on offer to reflect the increased risk and changing economic conditions. UK and US banks are known for their preference for sho rt-term financing and unwillingness to invest in the equity of construction projects, in contrast with their Japanese counterparts. This makes the monitoring of data and detecting any changes in the environment of great importance. Investment banks will readily pick up any adverse change in the economic fundamentals of a project. Therefore, the organization must not only be aware of these changes but also have contingent plans in place for dealing with them.It also helps if the organization is aware of the interrelationships between economic variablesthat a rise in inflation will probably cause the monetary authorities to consider increasing interest rates. They can then work through the ramifications of such changes on their projects. If one of the governments political priorities is to manage the economy, we can see a relationship between economic and political factors. Construction firms already scanning and monitoring their environment will be expecting these trends and therefor e be prepared.Central bankers, such as the chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank and the Governor of the Bank of England, are faced with a number of dilemmas. For instance, the economic data they will be tracking and monitoring will contain conflicting views. This forces them to use their judgement to look for similar patterns that have occurred in the past as a basis on which they can make decisions. This is not all that they have to contend with. The balance of economic data being monitored may lead them to believe that the economy is overheating. Their response may be a quarter-point increase in interest rates.However, the time it takes to implement the interest rate rise and for this to impact on the economy may take a further six months. In that time it is conceivable that more recent economic data will point to the economy actually slowing down. Therefore, the effect of the rise in interest rates will be to accelerate 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 52 2/1/11 110355 AM the general environment 53 the likelihood of an economic downturn. This reinforces the need for disconsolate and intelligent judgement when using PEST analysis. 2. 4. 3 Social Factors 2Social factors include cultural changes within the environment and are often referred to as socio-cultural. In the UK, increasing consumer concern with genetically modified pabulum (GMF) and lobbying from consumer groups forced the government to scale down its introduction of genetically modified crops. Clearly, such social trends are of great importance to companies which research and produce genetically modified products. Many have been caught unawares by the strength of consumer response and find that they must first allay consumer fears if their products are to be fully accepted.Indeed, the frozen food retailer Iceland was one of the first retailers to state emphatically that none of the food products it stocks contains genetically modified ingredients. In doing so Iceland had accurately read a chan ge in social trends and recognized that it would influence consumer spending patterns. Other supermarkets were quick to follow. strategy focus Demographic Changes Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson The US and Western Europe face an ageing population with attendant problems for tribute fund provisions. As the base of the working population continues o shrink, while advances in medical science and healthier eating ensure that people continue to live longer, companies are faced with short fall in the pension fund provisions they make for employee retirement. One solution is to encourage employees to take out personal pension plans that will supplement any state provision. Another solution being considered by governments is for employees to consider working for longer. In this way they can build up their pension fund to an acceptable level and avoid any shortfall. In response to a falling brook rate, companies like Johnson & Johnson, involved with the provision of baby-care products,In res ponse to a falling birth rate, companies have effectively targeted these like Johnson & Johnson have targeted their products at an adult female baby products at an adult female audience. 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 53 2/1/11 110356 AM 54 part 2 Strategic Analysis 2 audience. For example, their baby lotion is now marketed as being kind and gentle to womens skin, as well as that of babies. This represents a response to changes in the general environment that directly affect their industry. retail organizations in the US and Europe are more and more responding to the changing demographics of an ageing population by employing lder personnel. They recognize that retired employees possess a wealth of experience and respect for others that can be used to add value when serving customers. 2. 4. 4 Technological Factors Without doubt some of the major changes taking place in the general environment that are impacting the competitive environment are technological. One merely has to think about how Amazon and Dell have used the Internet to change traditional retailing within their respective industries. For instance, for a small retailer operating in a remote location, the financial outlay of marketing its product to customers nationwide would prove prohibitive.However, with the advent of the Internet, a retailer can access these consumers with a basic web page advertising its wares worldwide. It is interesting to note that small family businesses find their goods being demanded far outside their national borders because of awareness of their products through the Internet. Technological factors include the rates of obsolescence, that is, the speed with which new technological discoveries supersede established technologies. The rate of change in technology and innovations has the effect of causing new industries to emerge and also changes the ways in which existing industries compete.Technological advances include the Internet, the use of sophisticated software (incr easingly being used in the design and testing of automobiles), genetic engineering (see Section 2. 4. 3), and nanotechnology. The rapid rate of change of technology has changed the dynamics of industries such as newspaper publishing, banking, financial services, and insurance. This has allowed new entrants to enter the market at a lower cost base than incumbents, thereby offering more competitively priced products and services and gaining market share in the process.Direct bloodline insurance in the UK cuts out the insurance broker (intermediate) by providing insurance quotations direct to the consumer over the telephone. This allowed it to gain rapid market share and eventually become the marker leader. It changed the rules of the insurance industry, forcing incumbent players to follow meet or face a loss in market share. As the insurance industry becomes increasingly commoditized, differentiation becomes harder to achieve as organizations compete on price. Direct Lines first-mov er advantage is being eroded, as competing firms such as Norwich Union prove capable of competing on a price basis. 780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 54 2/1/11 110357 AM the general environment 2 First Direct, a subsidiary of HSBC, pioneered the use of telephone banking in the UK. At the time competitors were slow to follow suit, but, once it was established, all players offered a telephone banking option. The same is true of Internet banking. Telephone and Internet banking provide obvious consumer benefits as the financial cost of undertaking transactions within a bank branch is far in excess of the same transaction undertaken by telephone or online.In fact, when the transaction is undertaken online the cost falls substantially. Therefore, organizations must be prepared to innovate and adopt new technologies if they wish to remain competitive. The Internet has been compared to the industrial Revolution in terms of the changes it has brought about. The pace of change of technology is increasing. Its unpredictability is increasing. Markets are becoming increasingly turbulent. This makes it important to try to detect the weak signals which grow into discernible patterns that have the potential to change how industries operate.Moreover, if tipping points are unexpected, we need to change our thinking via the use of scenario planning to expect the unexpected. Organizations may not be able to predict these events but they will be in a stronger competitive position to respond to them once they have occurred. While the impact of technological change and changing consumer preferences continues to challenge the business model of traditional high street retailers such as the UKs WH Smith, such changes are not exclusively the preserve of the private sector.Organizations in the public sector also face changes, often socio-political in nature, and here too an understanding of PEST analysis can benefit the organization. (See Case Study Radical Change in the NHS, which highlig hts some of the important factors campaign change within the National Health Service). 55 case study 2. 2 Radical Change in the NHS Senior officials have set aggressive targets to reduce the number of patients referred to specialists, or treated in Accident and Emergency departments, while GPs will be asked to cut down on the amount of time spent in consultations.The plans are being issued as senior managers warned that the NHS is about to face the greatest financial pressures since its inception. They fear that when the current spending round ends in 2011, the impact of an anticipate real-terms freeze or cutscoming as the demands on the NHS of an ageing population increase will be devastating. The NHS Confederation, which represents NHS managers, will tell this weeks Labour Party conference that the impending challenge is so great that hospital closures and job cuts must be enforced across the country. 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 55 2/1/11 110357 AM iStockphoto. com/Sturti part 2 Strategic Analysis 2 56 The National Health Service It comes as two leading think tanks predict a future reenforcement gap of between ? 20bn and ? 40bn within six years of 2011. Regional health authorities have ordered hospitals and old care trusts to draw up plans for cuts worth billions. In London, NHS trusts have been told to divert more than half of A&E patients, and those seeing specialists, to cheaper polyclinics run by groups of GPs. Meanwhile, family doctors will be asked to speed up their consultations, reducing the average time per patient from 12 minutes to eight.The instructions drawn up by NHS London, and seen by The Sunday Telegraph, order trusts to demonstrate that they can deliver an aggressive scenario in response to support pressures. Under its affordability assumptions, already-controversial plans to reduce the number of patients treated in hospital are given more demanding targets in an attempt to cut costs. Sixty per cent of activity which now takes pla ce in A&E departments should happen in union clinics within five years, the document says, along with 55 per cent of outpatient treatment.Thirty per cent of outpatient appointments will be stopped altogether. Managers say not all appointments are necessary, though many doctors argue it is impossible to know in advance which patients do not need to be seen. The number of diagnostic tests carried out will be cut by 15 per cent, while the amount of surgery will be reduced by seven per cent. Although the polyclinic model, to reduce demand on hospitals, is supposed to shift more treatment into the community, GPs will be told to reduce their average appointment time by one third, from 12 minutes to eight.Senior managers in other regions, who will draw up their own plans later this year, said countryfied communities faced particular pressures, with small maternity and district general hospitals likely to struggle in the funding crisis. In a speech tonight to the Labour Party conference in Brighton, the NHS Confederation will warn that the service across the country faces unprecedented difficulties, which require bold and determining(prenominal) measures. Its policy director Nigel Edwards told The Sunday Telegraph The NHS has never experienced a financial challenge of this magnitude or sequence in its history. 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 56 2/1/11 110357 AM the general environment 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 57 2 He said improving the operation of the NHS, and treating more patients earlier in primary care, would not be enough to balance the books. Delegates will be told Savings only start to become available when we can shut entire buildings, sites and reduce staffing numbers. The organisation, which represents NHS managers, will also call for uncomfortable decisions to be made to limit staff pay. Under a three-year deal already agreed, nurses will receive a rise of 2. 5 per cent in April. Sir Robert Naylor, chief executive of University College Hospi tal in London, said pay should be frozen for NHS staff after that point. If it was not, every one per cent pay rise could cost 10,000 job cuts, he said. The chief executive said that while he supported plans to treat more patients in the community, he was concerned that PCTs were planning to cut back on hospital services before alternatives were put in place. The investment in those services has to come first or where do the patients go? he said, criticising oversimplified analyses which failed to take account of increasing public demand. Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Associations GP committee, described the plans as desperate and inadequately thought through. Dr Buckman, who works as a GP in London, said targets to reduce outpatient appointments by 30 per cent would put patients at particular risk. He said All this means is that those people who are refused a referral to a specialist will be forced to go privately, or go nowhere. This will be difficult for do ctors, but patients will be the real victims. While some specialist referrals turn out to be unnecessary, GPs only asked for a specialist opinion when they needed it, Dr Buckman said. A study by the Kings Fund and the lay down for Fiscal Studies forecasts a funding gap of between ? 20bn and ? 40bn by 2017, if funding for the NHS receives no increase, or gets a real-terms freeze which only keeps pace with inflation. Sue Slipman, director of the Foundation Trust Network, which represents the best hospitals, warned of an Armageddon scenario which could unfold without decisive action on pay, and terms and conditions.She said There is a trade-off between saving jobs, and pay increases, and in the current climate, protecting jobs needs to be a priority. Katherine Murphy, from the Patients Association, accused NHS managers of wasting billions on management and repeated organisational restructuring during the boom years of record investment. She said there was no evidence that plans to sh ift patients into the community would provide safe care. Elderly patients often require intensive support which often means divide of staff, in hospitals. The need is only going to get greaterthese plans look like madness, she said.A spokesman for NHS London said its documents provided planning scenarios, rather than forecasts, to cope with a changing economic environment. He said 57 2/1/11 110358 AM 58 part 2 Strategic Analysis the NHS was investing heavily to ensure care was provided in the most appropriate setting. Source Plans for swingeing hospital cuts as NHS on brink of Armageddon Sunday Telegraph, 26 Sep 2009 2 Questions 1. Outline the PEST factors driving change within the NHS. 2. Which PEST factors do you consider to be the most important, and why? 3.How can an analysis of PEST factors help the government and NHS chief executives to resolve the crisis in the health service? 2. 4. 5 Limitations of PEST Analysis The economic example illustrates some of the limitations of de aling with macroenvironmental analysis. First, PEST analysis is not simply write a shopping listthe use of disparate bullet points without any consideration of their wider ramifications. In itemization the economic factors, for example, one must clearly draw out the implications of each factor on the organizations environment.In addition, the rate of change of PEST factors in the general environment and their increasing unpredictability act to limit the use of PEST analysis. Some have argued that the competitive environment is the only true champaign for the organization to analyse since it is the competitive environment that has the greatest impact on a firms markets and products (Porter 1985, particularly Chapter 13). Whilst there is agreement that the competitive environment has the greatest effect on an organizations ability to achieve competitive advantage, it would be unwise to refrain from analysing the general environment.For information on how to write a PEST analysis go to the Online Resource Centre and see the Tools and Techniques feature. www. oxfordtextbooks. co. uk/orc/henry2e/ 2. 5 SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis refers to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and weaknesses refer to the organizations internal environment over which the firm has control. Strengths are areas where the organization excels in comparison with its 9780199581610_035_063_CH02. indd 58 2/1/11 110358 AM the general environment 2 competitors, while weaknesses are areas where the orga