Self-Assessment reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self-Assessment reflection - Essay Example I highly value an opportunity for independent thought or action and moderately consider frequent raises in pay. Moreover, I attach little significance in developing close friendship at work. Notably, these aspects would enhance my intensity, direction, and persistence towards attaining a organizational goal. In considering my dominant needs, my scores for the need for achievement were 19, for affiliation were 14, for autonomy were 20, and for power were 18. Notably, my dominant needs relate to the McClelland's Theory of Needs, which recognizes the need for achievement, and the need for power. However, I negate the need for affiliation. More so, I do my best at work, where I rarely spend time interacting with people. I disregard supervision and enjoy leading a project in my work. This relates to the expectancy theory, which asserts that efforts lead to successful performance and that we should reward successful performance. In analyzing the rewards that I value most, I have a score of 4 for good work, 4 for prestigious title, 3 for vacation time, 4 for job security, 3 for recognition, 5 for interesting work, 3 for pleasant conditions, 5 for advancement, 3 for flexible schedule, and 2 for friendly workers. In fact, recognition is the most powerful and least expensive workplace motivator. As such, I highly value, good pay, prestigious title, and job security. However, vacation time does not matter to me. Indeed, payment should correlate with performance. Indeed, I value piece-rate pay where get a fixed sum for each unit of production completed. In considering my view on the nature of people my Theory X- Theory-Y, orientation had a score of 25. I value people of theory Y who exercise self-direction and self-control if committed to objectives. Ideally, I disagree that the average human being requires direction and supervision and hence has no ambition. This represents people of theory X whom I must coerce or control to perform. I also disagree that everybody can acq uire leadership but agree that rewards motivate people to work. However, I am not sure whether fellow employees can influence me and whether individualism is more objective oriented than teamwork. Moreover, I agree that a good leader should give specific, detailed, and complete instructions in a work environment. Indeed, this relates to the Goal-Setting Theory, which asserts that the goals set by the leaders increase performance in an organization. In analyzing my willingness to delegate, I responded to 18 items and scored 52 points. Ideally, I disagree that delegating jobs leads to poor performance. Moreover, I do not supervise my subordinates in secrecy and wholly delegate all my jobs to the subordinates with an aim of reviewing the results. Nevertheless, it is not certain that I will get time to delegate properly. As such, according to my assessment results, a manager can achieve the greatest success in motivating me by satisfying my growth needs and creating an enabling environm ent for the development of new skills and knowledge at work. Moreover, the manager can successfully motivate me by giving me a good pay and offering me a chance to think and act independently. On the other hand, according to my assessments, I highly value rewards, which include good pay, prestigious title, and job security in my work. I also value an interesting work and chance to advance in my work.

Value chain Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Value chain - Case Study Example Studies from a range of disciplines show that global value chains have become much more prevalent and elaborate in the past 10 to 15 years.' Global value chains now contain activities that are tightly integrated and often managed on a day-to-day basis. The globalisation of value chains is motivated by a number of factors. Continuous growth of competition in domestic and international markets forces firms to become more efficient and lower costs. One way of achieving that goal is to source inputs from more efficient producers, either domestically or internationally, and either within or outside the boundaries of the firm. Emergence of new markets and access to strategic assets that can help tap into foreign knowledge is one of the important motivations of global value chain. Notwithstanding these anticipated benefits, engaging in global value chains also involves costs and risks for firms. Increasing liberalisation of trade and decreasing costs of transport and communication have made it possible for enterprises to split up production processes into more complex parts spread to an increasing degree across national borders. The result is often that each enterprise specialises in a core area of production while other activities are outsourced to suppliers. This leads to a fragmentation of the production process, which is counterbalanced by closer integration between the enterprise and its trading partners http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/35/38558080.pdf (Feenstra, 1998). Trade in intermediates Global value chains allow intermediate and final production to be outsourced abroad, leading to increased trade through exports and imports, and to a rapidly growing volume of intermediate inputs being exchanged between different countries. In 2003, 54% of world manufactured imports were classified as intermediate goods which include primary goods, parts and components and semi-finished goods. Relocations of existing activities Relocation of activities overseas is also a factor of growth of international sourcing. Sometimes implying the total or partial closure of the production in the home country while at the same time creating or expanding affiliates abroad producing the same goods and services as in the host country. More often, it is about the substitution of domestic stages of production by activities performed in foreign locations, with goods and services being exported from the host country to the home country. The basic purpose of relocation of activities is to gain higher product quality, efficient assets utilization with lower cost. Outsourcing and off shoring Global value chain made possible fragmentation of the production process across various countries, which have given rise to considerable restructuring in firms including the outsourcing and off shoring of certain functions. Outsourcing typically involves the purchase of intermediate goods and services from outside specialist providers, while off shoring refers to purchases by firms of intermediate goods and services from foreign providers, or to the transfer of particular tasks within the firm to a foreign location (Figure 1). Off shoring thus includes both international outsourcing where activities are contracted out to independent third parties abroad and international in-sourcing to foreign affiliates. http://www.oecd.o

Construction resources Essay Example for Free

Construction resources Essay Construction resources make use of physics in many of their products. Two that I have picked are solar collectors and their use of insutation. Insulators have the purpose of preventing conduction, convection and radiation to unwanted areas. There are a wide range of techniques and materials used in doing this and I am going to look in depth at this idea. The company uses solar collectors in many different ways, their main purpose is to collect solar energy and heat energy. They can be used to heat and power many different appliances. Photovoltaic cells: Photovoltaic cells transfer the energy carried by the electromagnetic waves that make up sunlight directly to an electrical circuit in order to make a current flow. Light excites electrons to move from one layer to another through semi conductive silicon materials. Only a fraction of a volt is produced so a large array is needed to produce appreciable currents, usually about 20W to 100W. The Photovoltaic cells produce DC current so if alternate current AC is desired then an inverter is required. AC form is commonly available from the mains. Solar cells: Sunlight may also be used to heat water directly. This can be done in two ways, water can be circulated through pipes which run through the back of the solar cells, producing water at around 60oC suitable for household use. The other method is to focus sunlight from a large are to a small spot using an array of mirrors, this can produce temperatures of up to 4000oC and its quite feasible to produce power stations from this, however it has not been implemented yet. Here is on way in which the hot water can be used, this is quite economical and environmentally friendly. Solar panels are quite versatile and can be put on many roofs of simply in the garden, which makes them popular when it comes to heating swimming pools of hot water for showers. Any material that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity can be used as an insulator. Thermal insulating materials reduce the flow of heat between hot and cold regions. Thermal insulation may have to fulfill one or more of three functions: to reduce thermal conduction in the material, in which heat is transferred by electrons; to reduce thermal convection currents, which can be set up in air- or liquid-filled spaces; and to reduce radiation heat transfer, in which thermal energy is transported by electromagnetic waves. These are three ways in which heat energy can be transferred. Conduction, where heat energy is transferred through solid materials, metals are normally the best conductors. There are a number of factors that affect thermal conductivity. Increasing the area of the cross-section of the solid through which hear flows increases the rate of flow, however increasing the thickness of the wall decreases the flow of heat. Provided that a steady state has been reached (where the temperature of any point is not changing through time) then the rate of flow of heat ? Q/? t is given by: ?Q/? t A ? T/? x Besides the physical dimensions of the materials, another factor affecting rate of flow is the properties of the material, the Thermal Conductivity of the materials ? through which the heat energy is travelling is the constant of proportionality in this relationship, so:?Q/? t = -? A ? T/? x The units for thermal conductivity are watts per metre per kelvin. The Quantity ? Q/? t is called the temperature gradient. On my visit to Construction resources I noticed that they have used these Physical conclusions in there insulation. One in particular is Homatherm a wall and roof insulator. The slabs are thick which means less flow of heat, and have a thermal conductivity is only 0. 04 W/mK. Conduction in terms of particles: The particles in metals and non-metals are arranged differently, which gives them their different characteristics. In a non-metal the particles have forces between them that can be described like springs. When heat is delivered to the solid the oscillations of the particles being heated will increase in amplitude. For heat to be conducted the neighboring particles must also receive the extra energy, as particles oscillations increase in frequency the neighboring particles also gradually increase in frequency as heat is transferred to them. This is a very slow process. In a metal the arrangement is different, metallic boding occurs between metal atoms where a sea of delocalized electrons hold the positive metal ions together in a lattice. It is these free electrons that are responsible for the high conductivity character of metals. When a metal is heated the metals ions vibrate with an increase frequency. When an electron hits these ions with extra energy, they receive this extra energy and move faster. This electron can then travel to another parts of the lattice, to an ion that hasnt received any of this heat energy and collide with it, transferring its energy to this ion. Now that ion has extra energy and vibrates with a greater frequency. This process is a lot faster as there are many electrons in a metal lattice. U-Values: Architects and heating engineers use U-Values to calculate the flow of heat energy through building materials. The U-Values is quoted for a given thickness of a particular material, and is based on actual measurements made using the material. The U-Value is defined as: U-value = Rate of energy flow Area X Temperature difference Construction resources uses this knowledge of U-Values when designing building materials to reduce the energy wasted in the form of heat going out of the build and to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions. But there are obvious limitations with reducing thermal conductivity, you can only reduce it to a certain amount, 0. 025 in air, so there will always be heat loss. Also too much insulation in the house will lead to what construction resources refers to as internal pollution. This has lead to construction resources researching in trying to lower the energy that is used to build and transport he construction materials. Bibliography: Microsoft Encarta Heinemann Advanced Science Salters Horners AS Advanced Physics Strengths and Limitations of Photovoltaic cells: Since one photovoltaic cell only produces a small fraction of a volt, large arrays are required to produce appreciable voltages. This requires a lot of space and the cells need to be in a place where no shadows will be cast on them. This limits what they can be used for. Also the amount of power produced by the photovoltaic cells directly depends on the amount of sunlight, so they cannot be relied on to produce power for something that constantly needs it. The only way this can be overcome is if some power was stored for a rainy day. But this again would take up space. Also an array of solar collector will be expensive and have a long pay back time. However it is environmentally friendly and after the pay back time, savings can be made. Also photovoltaic cells can be made look attractive depending on where they are placed. Strengths and Limitations of solar cells: The solar cells have similar limitations to the photovoltaic cells in regards to positioning and cost but a small array is only required to produce enough hot water for something like residential showers or central heating. This is economical and environmentally friendly and solar cells are quite versatile.

Reflection On Experience Working In Accident And Emergency

Reflection On Experience Working In Accident And Emergency This fieldwork exercise was a visit to the Minors Department within Accident and Emergency (AE) for a large London National Health Service (NHS) hospital, to observe and interview an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) within the Department, and link their role in relation to primary health care (PHC). I had expected to learn further about the main connection between PHC and an acute care setting such as AE, assuming that it would be due to poor PHC management and issues with accessibility. These assumptions were based on some experience in AE as an Agency Nurse, along with colleagues, patients and media reports. 2.0 VISIT TO MINORS IN ACCIDENT EMERGENCY My fieldwork exercise began with covert observation in the AE waiting room, waiting for my fellow Nurse Practitioner (NP) student to arrive for a Saturday night shift. There were around 15 people and one child within the waiting room; a relatively calm environment, albeit for quiet restlessness, sighing, guarding and rocking, questioning companions as to when they would be seen, alongside comparing with others who had got in. Reception was a glass-shielded counter staffed by two personnel, informing patients registering, that there was a three hour wait. An electronic sign above reception welcomed patients, friends and relatives to the hospital, also informing them that we endeavour to see you in 4 hours; a reference to the Department of Healths (DoH) target, for patients to be discharged, admitted or transferred within four hours of presenting, in 98% of cases. The sign also requested for those with a minor illness, to attend the adjacent walk-in centre (WIC). Of note, aside from a clear focus on hygiene, was a sign notifying patients that treatment may not be free if not a United Kingdom (UK)/European Union citizen or resident. Such signage brings a principle of the Alma Ata declaration into question. The Alma Ata declaration arose following a joint World Health Organisation-UNICEF international conference, with a vision for healthcare for all people worldwide, with PHC at the heart (World Health Organisation, 2010). Although it can be argued that international guests are not paying into the NHS, and healthcare in the UK is not essentially free, given the National Insurance levy, the declaration views healthcare as a right for all, and not just those who are in a position to pay. On arrival, my fellow NP student showed me around AE. Within the adults section, the Department can be broken down to: Table 1: AE layout Department/Room Cubicles/Rooms Additional/Other Information Resuscitation 5 +1 paediatric cubicle Majors 16 Including 1 psychiatric cubicle Minors 12 Assessment/Triage 3 Clinical Decisions 10 Investigations and short term treatment (not more than 24-36 hours) Eye 1 Ear, Nose Throat 1 Plaster 1 X-Ray 1 Adjacent CT room being built next to Resuscitation The hospital is one of Londons major hospitals, opening in the 1700s in central London and developing into a main teaching hospital. With the increase in healthcare demands, more space was needed, and the hospital relocated to its present day location in the 1950s. In the 1970s, construction on the present hospital building began, and by the early 2000s, building and the final relocation of one of its hospitals was complete (Hospital website, 2009a). The AE Department is a 24 hour service, seeing around 100 000 patients per year, and of those, around 21% are admitted to hospital. Twenty two percent are children, to which a separate paediatric AE between the hours of 9am and 2am is available (Hospital website, 2009b). From April this year, the AE Department will become one of Londons four major trauma centres (MTC), and one of eight acute stroke centres (Healthcare for London, 2010). Preparations for this new designation were evident by the building of a computerised tomography scanner next door to Resuscitation, enabling suspected stroke patients to be scanned within two minutes of arriving. I spent most of my visit in Minors, a Department with 12 cubicles, which is staffed by two to three ENPs, one Senior House Officer, Registrar support, and a General Practitioner (GP) on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Despite having an adjacent WIC, this section of AE is dedicated to patients with minor injuries and illnesses. The most common presentations are due to infections (mostly ears, nose and throat, and urology), foreign bodies, wounds, fractures and head injuries. Numbers seen can vary, and around 150 patients had already been seen that day. There is a difference between days and nights, with days mostly seeing occupational injuries and GP referrals, with alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, assaults and foreign bodies featuring in the nights. In addition, weekends and evenings can see Minors taking on the role of an extended hours GP practice; supporting my hypothesis of poor PHC management and accessibility, as being a key cause of PHC in AE. The Department closes at 3am to reduce costs, but is sometimes too busy to do so. From next year, Minors will be a 24 hour service, with the aim for a Nurse-led service with Registrar support. This is to release medical staff for the new MTC, and in response to recommendations in Lord Darzis review on healthcare for London, discussed further in this assignment. The most surprising element of my visit, was to find out that ENPs are viewed and treated as junior doctors. This was mirrored by the consultation: history taking, examination, assessment, plan of care and documentation was that of seeing a medical doctor. While I was aware of the advanced and autonomous role of a NP, enabling diagnosing, prescribing and referring, I was taken back that NPs, certainly in this Department, have shifted from the nursing side of healthcare, and are now affiliated with medicine. The ENPs line management is a Registrar, who also supervises and signs off competencies. Any problems or concerns which need to be escalated, are dealt with by the Consultant. The AE Matron, and ultimately, the Director of Nursing are nowhere in the ENPs reporting line. The role of NP, reviews of urgent care, and PHC management are the topics I have chosen to base my discussion on. 3.0 DISCUSSION 3.1 Urgent care reviews The key review of urgent care in London is Lord Darzis Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action report. It was commissioned by NHS London in December 2006, in order to fulfil Londons healthcare needs over the next 5 to 10 years. The report acknowledged that many patients presenting to AE for minor illnesses and injuries would be better looked after in polyclinics or urgent care centres (UCC) with longer opening hours. Patients presenting to AE is not optimal due to the waiting period and being seen by junior doctors rather than GPs, who more suited to these complaints along with managing long-term health conditions (Healthcare for London, 2007a). The report proposes UCC with diagnostic equipment, where patients will have access to a Nurse or GP, recommending 24 hour access if based in AE (ie. Minors), or to be open on weekends and afterhours for those not hospital based (Healthcare for London, 2007a). A co-located UCC within AE can be important, in diverting urgent care away from attending AE/MTCs (Healthcare for London, 2007b). However, the ENP reported problems recruiting fellow ENPs with appropriate qualifications and experience, and was unsure whether Minors would be a Nurse-led 24 hour UCC, to coincide with the transformation of the main part of AE into a MTC in April. The Darzi report received criticism, largely directed at cost cuttings, cashing in on privatisation, the demotion of acute hospital services, the question of elderly care, and that future predictions on PHC and AE usage was an understatement. There is also criticism that recommendations have been made without practicalities, including polyclinic staffing, failings and costs of minor injuries units, and the future of healthcare staff (London Health Emergency, 2007). The ENP reported a poor skills mix at the adjacent WIC, such as not being able to read x-rays or suture, with patients being referred on to Minors. Alongside the question of resources being doubled up, such referring on leads to disjointed care and greater waiting lengths to be treated. It could also be confusing for patients to know where the best place to attend is, especially having been diverted from AE to the WIC on the advice of the Reception sign, only to end back up in AE. Clarity and streamlining of services is needed to improve patient experience. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey found that Emergency Nurses were under huge strain to meet the DoHs four hour target, termed as unrealistic (RCN, 2010: website). The survey also reported that the majority of respondents felt that patients with various and complicated needs, have had their care rushed to meet targets, and 59% of respondents feeling the responsibility lying solely within Nurses (RCN, 2010). Yet the ENP I spoke to was happy with the target, which gave momentum if a patient needed to be seen by a Registrar and had been waiting over an hour, this would then be escalated to a Consultant. On questioning, the ENP felt that the target was realistic, practical and they had the resources. 3.2 Primary health care management and accessibility London has the most AE attendances and admissions than anywhere else in England, and many of the 83% of patients not admitted could be treated elsewhere, with 40% of complaints able to be resolved through PHC. However, access to PHC services in London after hours is inadequate; a main thought behind AE attendance. AE patients are more likely to be fulltime workers and may take reassurance in knowing that they will be seen in four hours, rather than a wait of up to (or longer than) 48 hours to see their GP (Healthcare for London, 2007b). According to the ENP, patients report issues making GP appointments and that AE is quicker than seeing their GP, as the main reasons for presenting with PHC matters. The Healthcare Commissions (HCC, now the Care Quality Commission) review on urgent care in England, found that more than 50% of patients have problems calling their GP surgery, and a quarter of patients found GP hours were not convenient, and avoided going (HCC, 2008). Incentives for GP surgeries to provide afterhours care was a recommendation by The Royal College of General Practitioner (RCGP) in their review on urgent care (RCGP, 2007). Yet, the HCCs review found that where GP services provide afterhours care, less than half had organised a phone diversion with local GPs, to divert afterhours calls to their services. The majority of patients attending afterhours GP services are seen within two hours after an initial telephone assessment (HCC, 2008). This is not only faster than attending AE, but a more appropriate use of resources. The review found that many people are not aware of healthcare services other than their own GP and AE, or they might be unsure of using them. There were also examples of patients being referred to services that were not accessible. Work needs to be done to increase both patients and healthcare professionals understanding of alternative healthcare services, and when to use them (HCC, 2008). This is a view shared by the RCGP, along with GP practices implementing systems to deal with urgent care and GP training (RCGP, 2007). The ENP expressed frustrations with GPs making inappropriate referrals to AE, rather than to Specialists, generally noting the practice of defensive medicine. Despite referring back to the GP on discharge, patients were bouncing back for simple things, such as to have their dressings attended to. The ENP rarely had time to speak with GPs, but when they did, it was mostly to phone to question why they had referred. In respect to patients, the ENP felt that they were either not taking responsibility for their health or there was poor self management, possibly due to poor or no patient education, such as not taking analgesia and attending AE to request. The RCGP also note the need for improved patient education and self management promotion in their review (RCGP, 2007). The ENP was also very critical of NHS Direct, Englands telephone advice line for healthcare. They felt that the service was inadequate, as it was not possible to make an assessment over the phone, and defensively referring to AE. Yet half of callers to NHS Direct were given advice on self management at home (NHS Direct, 2010). 3.3 The role of the Nurse Practitioner 4.0 SUMMARY This fieldwork exercise has been a valuable experience. It has demonstrated the impact PHC has on AE, an already stretched resource, exacerbated by poor PHC management and accessibility. For these reasons, I will bear in mind my present practice and on qualification as a NP, to make seamless and appropriate referrals.

Literary Essay on “in the Kitchen” by Henry Louis Gates, “Am I Blue” by

The meaning of segregation is a disliking matter, all African Americans wanted was equal rights, no harm against them, and to be seen as one. Yet, the African race had to endure on changing their appearance, being compared to animals, and having to alter public space just to try and fit in with the white community. Hearing stories of those such as Henry Louis Gates and Brent Staples shows us how history can repeat slightly from the past. Indeed, African Americans would try and transform their hair, going from kinky to strait. In Henry Louis Gates, an American Literary critic, short story â€Å"In the Kitchen† (1994), informs the reader the politics of â€Å"good hair which is straight and bad hair which is kinky (314),† The title â€Å"In the Kitchen† is ambiguous meaning it has a double meaning. One meaning it is being in a three dimensional room, and the other meaning doing hair. Gates uses process analysis to give reader a vivid picture on how the African Americans endure on the difficult process of straightening their kinks, just to fit in with the white society. Given details on how African Americans would change their appearance just to try fit in with the white culture. According to Alice walker, she gives examples on how no matter what African Americans do to change their appearance as far as hair, African Americans will still be compared and objectified to animals. Laster 2 Additionally, In Alice Walker, an American Author, short story â€Å"Am I Blue† she persuades the reader to be sympathetic to animals and to show how similar animals and humans are. Alice Walker also gives examples on how sl... ... In conclusion, segregation is how separation was between groups of race is a dreadful situation. African Americans wanted no harm, they wanted be able to share the same places such as restrooms. The black community tried to change the way they looked, sound, or objectify to animals. African Americans are being seen as a negative light, because of the skin color, hair, and where we come from. Works Cited "In the Kitchen" Analysis"  StudyMode.com. 11 2010. 2010. 11 2010 . Walker, Alice. Am I Blue? Clouse, Barbara Fine. Patterns of a Purpose 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print Staples, Brent. Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders his power to Alter Public Space. Clouse, Barbara Fine. Patterns of a Purpose 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print

The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn Essay -- essays research papers

In an article ' The Plug-In Drug ' the author Marie Winn discusses the bad influence of television on today's society. Television is a ' drug ' that interfere with family ritual, destroys human relationships and undermines the family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marie Winn claims that television over the years have effected many American family life. Since television is everyday ritual, many American tend to spent more time with television than they do with their family and this result in unhealthy relation in family. She also acknowledge that television destroy family unique quality that they carry, such reading, cooking, games, songs and other special rituals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author claims television also destroys a human relationship. During free time instead working our difference with conversing each other, we are absorbed by imaginary world of television. Therefor we fail to interact through the real world leading to the ' distortion of real life relationship.' Television gives an escape root for people who need to be spending time on relationships with their family as well as others. Because children have ' one way relationships ' with the television, they fail to fully develop their communication and social skills. This further intensifies the decline of the family relationships.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Author also point out television undermines the family. Most parents are now relying on outside sources such... The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn Essay -- essays research papers In an article ' The Plug-In Drug ' the author Marie Winn discusses the bad influence of television on today's society. Television is a ' drug ' that interfere with family ritual, destroys human relationships and undermines the family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marie Winn claims that television over the years have effected many American family life. Since television is everyday ritual, many American tend to spent more time with television than they do with their family and this result in unhealthy relation in family. She also acknowledge that television destroy family unique quality that they carry, such reading, cooking, games, songs and other special rituals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author claims television also destroys a human relationship. During free time instead working our difference with conversing each other, we are absorbed by imaginary world of television. Therefor we fail to interact through the real world leading to the ' distortion of real life relationship.' Television gives an escape root for people who need to be spending time on relationships with their family as well as others. Because children have ' one way relationships ' with the television, they fail to fully develop their communication and social skills. This further intensifies the decline of the family relationships.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Author also point out television undermines the family. Most parents are now relying on outside sources such...

Strategies by Apple for Successful Change

Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs recently described apple as a mobile device company. Apple once considered a desktop computer company is slowly moving towards mobile devices. This statement shows how apple’s strategy has changed significantly in past few years. Challenges faced in the past – The major challenge Apple faced in the past was the isolation it has created from other products and companies in the market. Apple users had very limited options. The other challenge faced by the Apple was the compatibility of its product with the other products available in the market. Core Competency – Apple’s core competency is to provide exceptional experience through superb user interface. Apple provide this experience along with very large ecosystem of various online distribution system (App stores) where user can find almost every application they need. Strategy – Apple’s strategy is to provide superior product in the market through innovation. Apple also charges premium price for these product and keeps high margins. Strategy Execution – Moving towards mobile products -Apple identified the customer behavior of moving away from desktop computers towards mobile products at the very early stage. Apple realized it much earlier then any other computer manufacture or software company. In last few years Apple created two superior mobile products, iPhone and iPad. iPhone was superior then any other mobile phone product in the market and because of that Apple captured the big percentage of smartphone market. iPad had the first mover advantage in the market backed by superb marketing of the product and created a new market space for product. Ecosystem Creation – Apple also created a very effective ecosystem of apps store for their products. This ecosystem gave Apple more acceptances in the market and among the customers. Apple also created the ecosystem for developers to develop the application for their products, which help them to get continuous supply of very good application for their products. High Margins – Apple charge premium price for its products and makes big profits since manufacturing cost is considerable low once product is designed and developed. Apple also charges a big percentage of the data plan price from the mobile service provider and big percentage from apps store application and it is another big source of profits for them. Also by managing and keeping tight control on these distribution channels, Apple dictates the terms to their suppliers. Timing for implementation – Apple’s timing of the implementation in last few years has been very good. They understood the need of the customers in the market in advance and developed the products to meet that need much in advance then any other competitors.