Implementing Immunizations Essay

Implementing Immunizations Implementing immunizations into the clinics can be challenging for the facility and the staff. There are several methods that have been implemented to monitor the methods used by the staff to give the immunizations to the patients in the clinics. There have been several obstacles and challenges that the staff and leaders have faced. As with any changes that take place in patient care within an organization methods must be set up to monitor those changes. Changes promote challenges not just to staff leaders but the organization as a whole. Communication with any changes can be challenging for the leadership and staff (Surdu, 2010). Methods to Monitor Change In implementing changes there needs to be methods to monitor those changes. The first method is to monitor the reimbursement value units per visit associated with the immunizations. The need to monitor the increase of visits, the percentage of increase of the reimbursement value units now that the immunizations that are given in in the clinic since they are ordered immunizations ordered directly by the physician and not given on protocol (Surdu, 2010). Another method to monitor the change of implementation is to survey the patients to see how they have responded to immunizations being given directly in the clinic. This can be done in a survey form either via email or sent in the mail so patients can voice their opinion on the changes that have been implemented (Helfrich, Blevins, & Smith, 2011). The leaders in the clinic can sit down with the staff to get their opinion and suggestions on how the changes of giving immunizations in the clinic are affecting their time management with patients. This can be very helpful to  leaders in adjusting the change that have been implemented because no change should never be set in stone. The input of the staff can be crucial when monitoring changes that have been implemented to determine whether they are successful or not (Helfrich, Blevins, & Smith, 2011). The final method used to monitor that immunizations are properly being implemented in the clinic setting are going to be chart audits by the leadership. This will be used to ensure that the proper immunizations are given to the patients and that patient care is not being compromised (Helfrich, Blevins, & Smith, 2011). Of all of the monitoring methods mentioned above the main issue is patient care. The â€Å"Patient Medical Center Home Model† consists of modeling the care around the patient. Ensuring that patient care is at the forefront of the facility, monitoring the changes is one way to ensure that this takes place. The quality control standards of the â€Å"Patient Medical Center Home Model† consist of upper management performing quality control chart checks on a monthly basis. These chart audits are done to ensure that the standards are being met which are determined by the Department of the Army. This is one of the main differences that a military treatment facility is held to as a standard versus a civilian facility. Therefore this can be seen to some as has bureaucratic red tape in some instances, whereas in others it does have its advantages (Marshall, Doperak, & Milner, 2011). Organizational Relationship The relationship between organizations process systems and professional roles on a staff can be essential to the success of an implemented change. The Department of the Army has specific protocols when implementing changes such as implementing immunizations into the clinic setting. Organizational process systems will provide how changes will be implemented in the facility. In the facility changes come from Western region then trickle down from the Command or another words upper management. The changes are then implemented throughout the clinics in the facility. The responsibility falls on the clinic officer in charge to implement the changes throughout each clinic (Marshall, Doperak, & Milner, 2011). In a military treatment  facility changes are implemented differently than in the private sector. In the organization upper management solely consists of military personnel while leadership within the clinic is a mixture of military and civilian personnel. The process of changes is not set in stone but guidelines are set forth from Western region. The actual written standard operating procedure for the facility is implemented and brought to the forefront by upper management. Then upper management delegates the implementation down to the clinic officer in charge for actual rollouts into each clinic (Marshall, Doperak, & Milner, 2011). The roles of the leadership in the clinics are essential to the success or unsuccessful implementation of change. The attitude of the leadership carries weight on how well the rest of the staff receives the change. Leaders on the clinic level have to accept changes whether good or bad and expect staff to challenge them. Leaders have to be strong and accept the change themselves and to support upper management. There are problems dealing with changes when issues arise between created civilian and military personnel. These issues are not easily dealt with and when changes are ensuing within a facility this causes undue stress within the organization. This is one reason that leadership needs to bring forth and implement changes within an organization as all one team because staff is well suited at picking up any rift within the management team (Marshall, Doperak, & Milner, 2011). Communication Techniques Communication techniques are one of the mainstays in addressing any issues when implementing changes in any organizational plan. There are several ways in an organizational plan change that communication can take place such as talking directly to leadership on the front lines who deal with the change or all the way up the chain dealing with upper management. Without communication problems with the changes that have been implemented will not be resolved and the changes will not be successful (Marshak. & Grant, 2011). One communication technique that can be used is that leadership can address staff that seems to have issues with the changes that have been implemented. They can speak to staff on an individual basis using a closed-door setting to try to alleviate any issues that are affecting any of the employees work.  Employees may feel more comfortable speaking with a member of the leadership team on a one-on-one basis to voice their concerns with the change. Sometimes most of the issues dealing with an employee that have issues with changes that have been implemented, the staff member has questions or does not understand why the change has been made. This issue is best addressed in a one on one sit down conversation with the employee in a closed-door situation (Marshak. & Grant, 2011). Another communication technique used to address any implementation issues with the changes can be providing specific emails to a particular person. By addressing issues to one particular person within the organization instead of problems associated with the change can be addressed centrally and immediately if necessary. If issues cannot be handled by this one person than the contact person can go to their resources and take care of the issue or issues at hand. Emails are the preferred method of communication unlike phone calls at a military treatment facility. Phone calls should only be used for emergencies, where there is an immediate response that is needed. In other words the majority of the issues dealing with the implementation of the changes that occur can be dealt with through emails. These issues are not needed to be dealt with in an immediate time frame and can be dealt with and a normal work week depending on the issue that have arisen (Marshak. & Grant, 2011). Without proper communication, the need to communicate and how the communication is to take place the change implementation may well as not have ever taken place. Communication for a successful organization does need to take place in several forms; this is in the hands of a successful management and leadership (Borkowski, 2005). Conclusion In implementing changes there needs to be several methods to monitor how those changes are affecting the organization on the clinic level and as the organization as a whole. Many times staff along with the patients; both whom are giving input on the change in which the organization is trying to improve care on how the changes are taking place. The organization must be  willing to change its process in its systems whether or how management runs a certain part of their business develops a new process or because of a change implementation downsizes a facility. In order for the change to be successfully implemented communication is essential for this to take place. There are many techniques that organizations can use to accomplish this task. The communication technique will depend on the change implemented and the structure of the organization. Staff leaders whether at the clinic level or upper management are still the main key whether the organizational plan that has been set forth if the changes that have been implemented will be successful. Reference Borkowski, N. (2005). Organizational behavior in health care. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database Helfrich, C., Blevins, D., & Smith, J. (2011, July). Predicting Implementation From Organizational Readiness for Change: A Study Protocol. Implementation Science , 6(76). Marshak., R., & Grant, D. (2011, Sep). Creating Change by Changing the Conversation. OD Practitioner, 43(3), 2 – 7. Marshall, R., Doperak, M., & Milner, M. (2011, Nov). Patient-Centered Medical Home: An Emerging Primary Care Model and the Military Health System. Military Medicine, 176(11), 1253 – 1259. Surdu, G. (2010, Winter). Organizational Change- Different A. Romanian Economic and Business Review, 5(4), 48-54.

Role Clarity Through Competency Mapping

04-Oct-12 1 Human Resource Management: Overview Management Essentials †¢ Management is the process of efficiently and effectively achieving the objectives of the organization with and through people. What is an Organization? Purpose Structure People Management Essentials †¢ Primary Functions of Management – Planning – establishing goals. – Organizing – determining what activities need to be done. – Leading – assuring the right people are on the job and motivated. – Controlling – monitoring activities to be sure goals are met. Human Resource Management †¢ process of acquiring, utilizing, improving, and preserving an organization's orkforce. †¢ set of organizational activities directed at attracting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce. All accomplished to achieve organizational objectives Human Resources Process Recruitment Orientation/ Training Human Resource Planning Performance Compensation E xternal Influences External Influences Disengagement Selection Organizational Boundaries Organizational Boundaries 04-Oct-12 2 HRM Process 1. Human Resource Planning: – Forecasting Demand Supply and Job Analysis. 2. Staffing the Organization: – Recruitment, Selecting, and Orientation. 3. Developing the Workforce: – Training and Performance Appraisal. . Compensation and Benefit: – Wages and Salaries, Incentive and Benefit Programs. Basic Functions of HRM †¢ Staffing †¢ Human Resource Development †¢ Compensation †¢ Safety and Health †¢ Employee and Labor Relations Importance of HRM to an Organization †¢ concerned with the â€Å"people† dimension. – it is both staff (support) function (assists line employees) and function of every manager’s job. Importance of HRM to an Organization †¢ The Strategic Nature – – support the business strategy; †¢ assist in maintaining competitive advantag e. – determines value added to the organization; Importance of HRM to an Organization Changing Environment, Changing HR managers’ roles (HRM today requires a new level of sophistication): – Jobs have become more technical and skilled. – Employment legislation has placed new requirements on employers. – Traditional job boundaries blurred with advent of project teams, telecommuting, etc. – Global competition has increased demands for productivity. Human Resource: Certification Recruiter EEO coordinator Training specialist Labor relations specialist Job analyst Compensation manager HR Certification 04-Oct-12 3 ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON HRM Recruitment Orientation/ Training Human Resource Planning Performance CompensationOrganizational Boundaries External Influences Disengagement Selection External Influences Organizational Boundaries legal considerations political parties unions shareholders society competition customers economy technology un anticipated events labor market HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Internal Environment External Environment Marketing Operations Finance Others†¦ legal considerations labor market society political parties unions shareholders competition customers technology economy unanticipated events Organizational Environments: Review ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON HRM Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Legal considerations †¢ Labor market Society †¢ Political parties †¢ Unions †¢ Shareholders †¢ Competition †¢ Customers †¢ Economy †¢ Technology †¢ Management Thought †¢ Unanticipated events Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Legal Considerations – Governmental Legislation; national/local. – Laws directing employer and employee actions. †¢ Labor Market – Potential employees located within certain geographic area; always changing. – Workforce diversity. Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Society (ethics/soc ial responsibility) – Act ethically and responsibly, to remain acceptable to the general public. †¢ Unions – Group of employees. – Bargain (joint decisions) with management n members’ behalf. – Third party dealing with the company. 04-Oct-12 4 Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Shareholders – Owners. – May challenge management’s programs. †¢ Competition – In product/service and labor markets. – Maintain supply of competent employees. Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Customers – Employment practices not to antagonize†¦ – Capable workforce for quality output. †¢ Economy – Booming: difficult getting qualified workers. – Downturn: more applicants available. – Different economies in same country. Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ HR Technology – Innovations has led to Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS). HRIS: (Assignment – WHA T IS HRIS? ) †¢ used to obtain and track information for HR decisions: recruitment, benefits administration, safeguarding confidential information. – Social Networking †¢ Virtual community: people use internet to communicate: blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Management Thought (Management practices) – Scientific management – Behavioral approach – System approach (Reading Assignment) – Contingency approach Environmental Influences on HRM †¢ Unanticipated Events – Unforeseen occurrences. – Require tremendous amount of adjustment. CHANGING STRATEGIC ROLE OF HR 04-Oct-12 5Changing Strategic Role of HR †¢ HR’s Changing Role: Questions †¢ Can some HR tasks be performed more efficiently by line managers or outside vendors? †¢ Can some HR tasks be centralized or eliminated altogether? †¢ Can technology perform some of the tasks that were previously done by HR per sonnel? Changing Strategic Role of HR †¢ Who is Responsible for HRM Tasks? – Human resource managers – HR outsourcing – Professional employer organization (employee leasing) – Line managers Changing Strategic Role of HR †¢ Human Resource Manager – Historically , responsible for HR functions. – Staff capacity; support other managers on HR matters. Today, getting smaller. †¢ HR Outsourcing – Transfer of responsibility to external provider. Changing Strategic Role of HR †¢ Professional Employer Organization (Employee Leasing) – Company that leases employees to other businesses: becoming common – Advantages: †¢ Economies of scale. †¢ Greater job mobility for workers. †¢ Job security through leasing company. – Disadvantage: employee loyalty. Changing Strategic Role of HR †¢ Line Managers – Involved, by nature of their jobs. – Now performs HR specialists’ job due to automation processes: †¢ record keeping †¢ recruitment/selection †¢ performance appraisal †¢ etc Questions†¦

How would you define quality in healthcare If you had to explain the Essay

How would you define quality in healthcare If you had to explain the importance of safety and quality reports to someone outside of healthcare, how would you do this - Essay Example As a result of quality healthcare, the staff can get a good working environment. Such an environment can include good administration and management, right and standard equipments, and good working schedules (Altman, 1996). Safety and quality reports ensure that the information contained in them is accurate. It ensures that privacy is maintained at all cost. Security of the information ensures that no unauthorized persons can get access to it. It encourages transparency since the information will be recorded accordingly, and no alterations will be made (Ginzbery, 1991). There is also easy access to the information. To be able to explain to the public about how safety and quality of reports is important, I would organize forums and workshops with healthcare experts, and allow them to teach people, and let them share information to their patients and the public. Use of media such as talk shows, writing articles, or use of charts with diagrams and explanations can also be helpful (Altman, 1996). With this entire framework being put in place, the public will be able to appreciate the importance of quality services not only to the healthcare sector, but in other sectors, as well. It will lead to effectiveness, efficiency, good customer care, and professional staff in the nursing environment (Ginzbery,

Hitlers Table Talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hitlers Table Talk - Essay Example Hitler was born in a Catholic home and he became a staunch Catholic once he began school. It is noted that he even contemplated becoming a priest because the Catholic faith was good to him. After the death of his brother in 1900, his passion for church declined. This may have been as a result of a blow in his belief about God and Jesus being a healer and yet his brother died of measles and God did not help him (Weinberg 53). The invasion of Vienna by Jews whom according to him seem to want to take over the country also further drove him away from Christianity and his belief in God. However he believed and continued to believe in Islam and even Japanese religious culture and hence that may be reason why he did not want to interfere much with religious issues as he did not understand them that well as he thought he did. Hitler’s earlier staunch belief in the Catholic faith and even his support and following of Martin Luther’s protestant movement indicate that he truly continued to follow Christian teachings. This may be the reason why he made that this talk because he did not try to force people to leave their Christianity faith even though he considered parts of the faith to be superstitious like that of the Jews. Even though Hitler was not so religious and especially after he gained power in Germany and he was said to be anti-Semitic, he never denied anyone the freedom of religion. It’s openly known that he was constantly in conflict with the Catholic Church but he did not openly denounce his faith in the church and it is still thought that he died a catholic. His lack of denial of people to worship and his joining of protestants which had almost the same rituals as those performed in a catholic mass strongly supports this table talk from him (Weinberg 135). Hitler is known to have positive comments about Islamic religion and even supported the religious culture of the

SWOT Analysis as a Strategic Management Tool Essay

SWOT Analysis as a Strategic Management Tool - Essay Example The next section will tackle SWOT analysis' advantages and limitations. The paper will conclude with its findings. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is one of the most widely utilized strategic management tools in assessing the position of a business entity. This analysis is an integration of the results of other tools like the PESTEL analysis, industry analysis, and internal analysis. The company's strengths and weaknesses are derived from internal analysis while the PESTEL and industry analyses provide the required information to ascertain the opportunities and threats specific to the company. According to Thomson (2004), a company's strength is "something a company is good at doing or a characteristic that gives it enhanced competitiveness." A strength can take several forms like a skill or important expertise, valuable physical assets valuable human assets, valuable intangible assets, competitive capabilities, an achievement or attribute that puts the company in a position of market advantage, and alliances or cooperative ventures. Meanwhile, a weakness denotes to a something that a company lacks or is not good at doing relative to its competitors and puts the company in a disadvantage. ... tity: "deficiencies in competitively important skills or expertise or intellectual capital of one kind or another; lack of competitively important physical, organizational or intangible assets; and missing or weak competitive capabilities in key areas" (Thomson 2002). Opportunities are essential external factors, which can propel the business entity into higher profitability. However, distinction should be made in order to determine whether an opportunity is an industry or company opportunity. While company opportunity is an opportunity specific to a business institution, industry opportunity needs to be thoroughly evaluated in order to assess if a company has the required resources to take advantage of the opportunity. Threats are external factors which causes threats to a business entity's profitability and competitive well-being. An Application The following table shows the SWOT analysis as applied to the large computer manufacturer Dell, Inc. Strengths Weaknesses large market share strong brand equity no inventory buildup cost efficiency direct to customer business model customization total command of supply chain strategic alliance with suppliers no proprietary technology high dependence on component suppliers Opportunities Threats strong potential markets in Europe, China , and India low costs and advanced technology growth in business, education, and government markets more intense rivalry currency fluctuations high customer bargaining power SWOT Analysis: A Critique SWOT analysis is indeed a useful tool in determining the internal capability and incapability and the external forces that affects the operation and profitability of a business organization. As shown above, SWOT analysis is very useful in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Dell,

Learning Difficulties and Dyslexia Literature review

Learning Difficulties and Dyslexia - Literature review Example For a child with learning difficulty, it becomes hard to understand, learn and communicate when compared to the other children. A learning difficulty may be mild, moderate or rigorous. Few people with mild learning difficulty can speak easily and take care of themselves, but it takes a little longer than usual for them in order to learn new skills. A learning difficulty happens when an individual’s brain development has been affected, either before the birth, during birth or in the early childhood. â€Å"In 1975, Congress enacted the education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)† (Bradley et al. 2002, p.25).which defines learning difficulties. This Act supports localities and the states to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and provide them the right to public education. After the passage of this enactment, significant progress has been made in order to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. Despite the problems associated with disabilities, with suitable academic and cognitive interventions and technology support, the effects of disability can be reduced. Persons with learning difficulties may face exceptional challenges which are often pervasive throughout the life period. On the basis of the type and rigorousness of the disability, current technologies and intervention may be made use of in order to help the person learn strategies that can help overcome their limitations. Dyslexia is a kind of learning difficulty which is â€Å"neurobiological in origin† (Lyon, 2003, p.3). It manifests through difficulties with fluent or accurate word recognition along with poor decoding and spelling abilities. These difficulties mainly result from a shortage in the phonological element of language which is frequently unexpected in connection to other cognitive abilities and the proviso of effective classroom instruction. The other consequenc es include problems of reduced reading experience and problems in reading which may impede the background knowledge and growth of vocabulary. ‘A specific learning difficulty can be defined as: an unexpected and unexplained condition, occurring in a child of average or above average intelligence, characterized by a significant delay in one or more areas of learning’ (Selikowitz, 2012, p.4).   According to Vicki L. Cohen and John Edwin Cohen, students having â€Å"learning disabilities† and trouble in reading can be diagnosed as having dyslexia. â€Å"Such students more often possess phonological reading disabilities and problems in identifying that words can be broken down into phonems and also that letters have sounds. They can also have problems in decoding words and in reading fluently. It is said to be â€Å"neurobiological† in origin since there is disruption of the neural system in the brain’s left hemisphere† (Lyon, 2003, p.2).  "Dyslexia is one of several distinct learning disabilities. It is a specific language -based disorder of constitutional origin characterized by difficulties in single word decoding, usually reflecting insufficient phonological processing† (Lyon, 2003, p.2). These problems in single word decoding are frequently unexpected with respect to age and other academic and cognitive abilities and are not the consequence of sensory impairment or any generalized developmental disability. Dyslexia is evident by variable difficulty with diverse forms of language, often include, along with problems in reading, a noticeable problem with acquiring expertise in writing and

Acient art image discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Acient art image discussion - Essay Example The art has conspicuous grey and yellow colors. The art of the colors represents artistic painting reminiscent of Egyptians’ Minoan style (Gardner and Fred 90). All the painted figures have a representation of Mediterranean cultures. The paintings have a characterization of fluidity line, small waist and vitality of character. The Minoan style depicted in the art shows emphasize on spontaneity, elasticity, and dynamic motion. The high-contrasts patterns and the colors elaborate the freshness and elegance of the scene and its characters. Many features of civilization, such as writing and drawing, originated during the ancient Near East. Most communities were hunters and gatherers. The image, therefore, is from the ancient Near East. Art of the ancient Near East displays similarly great variety of forms and style that reflect the many individuals, kingdoms, cities and empires flourishing in the region for thousands of years. Making of this image happened about two thousand years ago. The image depicts the culture of the ancient Near East of a number of ways. Promotion of artistic work was primarily by spiritual, religious, and religious. The image was a major form of communication. Therefore, most of the ancient Near East communities were visually literate than reading words. They could easily read the inscribed words. Two women are featured in this image. The materials used as a part of the craft of the ancient Near East were deliberately selected with gimmicks, for example, color, and hardness as integral elements. Gold and silver were considered to have particular supernatural and apotropaic properties, as did the Lapis Lazuli and Carnelian stones. Valuable metals were referenced in legendary writing to pass on ideas and qualities connected with divinities, essentially in light of the fact that their color, sparkle, and splendor were regarded fitting for divine

Cost Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cost Analysis - Essay Example 6 Works cited 8 1. How much do US Airways profits fluctuate due to fuel volatility? The quarterly report of 2013 of US Airways shows that, as compared to 2012, the net income earned by the company in the second quarter of 2013 has decreased, which has further lowered the Earnings per Share (EPS) available to the shareholders. The reason for this decrease in profits can be apportioned to the volatility in prices of fuel. As mentioned in the quarterly report of 2013, on a daily basis the prices of Brent crude oil had fluctuated between $110 per barrel to $97 per barrel in the month of April, and in the quarter end the price was found to be $102 per barrel. Although the U.S. airline Industry is facing moderate fuel prices in the second quarter of 2013, but in the 1st quarter of 2012, the industry faced higher volatility and uncertainty which have affected the business. The uncertainty in the prices of fuel has caused disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel and has adversely affected the operating results and liquidity of the company. 2. Â  Why is fuel volatility bad for profits? Do a cost analysis alone, and then do a full profit maximizing analysis. Volatility in the prices of fuel has serious affects on profits of the company. The volatility results in ups and downs in dividends and share prices which adverse affects global growth. Volatility in the prices of fuel also affects output, operations and cash flow, which in turn affects profitability. The cost of express and mainline fuel was $1.13billion in the second quarter of 2013, which was 4.6% or $55million lower as compared to the second quarter of 2012. The company is trying to maintain a low cost structure, but it is dependent on two factors, the health of the economy and the price of fuel. The mainline costs per available seat mile excluding special items, fuel and profits have decreased by 0.4%, i.e. 0.04cents, from 8.25cents in the second quarter of 2012, to 8.21cents in the second quarter of 2013. I n such a situation, the company can attempt to maximize its profits by an attempt to minimize its risks by adopting risk control measures. Systematic risk is not under the control of the company, but the company may try to overcome unsystematic risks with the help of strategic decisions. 3. What is Express Operation’s operating cost per ASM? What is its operating cost per RPM? What is the difference between these two numbers? Cost per Available Seat Miles (CASM) is a measure of unit cost used commonly in the airline industry. It is expressed in cents to manage each seat mile offered. It is computed by dividing various measures of operating revenue by ASM (Available Seat Miles). Cost per ASM is used to compare costs of different airlines or of the same airline across different time periods. A lower CASM makes it easier for an airline to make profit, but does not guarantee profitability. Revenue Passenger Mile (RPM) is created when a passenger pays to fly one mile and is consid ered to be the basic measure of airline passenger traffic. RPM can be considered to be the basic amount of production created by an airline. RPM can be calculated by multiplying the number of filled seats by the number of miles flown. Over an airline’s system ASM can be compared to RPM to determine the total passenger load factor. RPM is frequently compared to ASM, as ASM determines the total number of passenger miles that could be produced to verify the amount of revenue

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

Aerodynamics - Essay Example the main topic, the Vortilon, a simple stall prevention device that was developed based on shared experience and is now freely integrated with all new aircraft entering the intensely price and performance-sensitive market. In today’s cutthroat competition between airlines, only those airlines operating the entire gamut of air and ground operations at optimum efficiency will survive. The principal contributor to an airline’s bottom line is the quality of aircraft it operates. The same competition exists between the manufacturers as well, with an identical base criterion, i.e., the quality of aircraft they produce. Essentially, the governing factor is the maximum number of passengers that can be flown the longest distance in one trip with the minimum consumption of expensive aviation fuel in each category of aircraft─ short, medium, long and ultra-long range. â€Å"Every Kg. of basic aircraft weight saved is a million dollars saved over a life span of twenty-five years,† according to Dr. Kota Harinarayan, Project Director, LCA, India, my mentor in aerodynamics (1986) (n.p.). Designing an aircraft and sections thereof take millions of man-hours from the drawing board to first flight to fully operational status. Aircraft have to be sleek and light, its surfaces as smooth as a baby’s skin, no unwanted drag creating protrusions, etc. Everything is centered about minimum weight, minimum drag and optimal use of CAD/CAM in the field of aerodynamics to extract maximum lift at minimum engine thrust in flight, with highest passenger density. Any aerodynamic innovation is most welcome. I do not propose to look at ground operations like ticketing, loading, salaries, etc. That leaves only the aircraft. Here, there are two factors to be considered, the engine and the airframe. Since this Paper is specifically aimed at an aerodynamic concept, I will discuss engines only in brief. NASA (2008) describes four propulsion systems: The Propeller, the Ramjet, the Rocket and

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Combating Compassion Fatigue - Essay Example It ensures that the nurse associates with the feelings of the patients and that as the nurse cares for the person and their family, and they are moved to act with empathy. Compassion fatigue in this case of nursing describes a state of exhaustion with severe malaise that ensures form caring to patients and their significant others that experience different aspects of emotional spiritual and physical pain (Yoder, 2010). The cost nurses pay for caring for patients. When compassion fatigue is not addressed in the early phases, it results to burnout. However, several differences are notable between the two terms. The conflict in the work setting of the nurse serves as the impetus for burnout while interpersonal intensity and emotional engagement are the impetus for compassion fatigue. Most of the time if the nurse is unable to cope with compasses fatigue and therefore to show compassion while caring for the patient, guilt and distress may result. Consequently, failure to adopt proper coping strategies for burnout result into powerlessness, fatigue and frustrations. There are several etiologies and risk factor to compassion fatigue. These include the nurses who are first responders. These categories of nurses like the trauma and emergency nurses are more predisposed to first-hand strategies than others as they are at the front line of caring for these patients. These nurses are more predisposed because they daily have an obligation to meet patient needs on a â€Å"moment to moment â€Å" basis and in a comprehensive manner. These makes these nurses have a strong empathically and emotional connection to these patients. This element of their work is made worse by a lack of formal support systems frequently to counter the squeal of negative feelings from their work (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). The other risk factors are found in nurses whose personality easily identifies with the nursing profession. These nurses have a

Speed Quality in Apparent Motion Essay Example for Free

Speed Quality in Apparent Motion Essay ABSTRACT Seven participants each viewed two flipbooks of slow and fast speeds of hand-drawn dots and stick figures. By counterbalancing the conditions, each participant watched the flipbooks according to the sequential order. After viewing either the slow or fast flipbooks, a questionnaire was used to collect and calculate raw data of the experience; which concerned realness, enjoy ability, smoothness, and speed quality. Hypothesizing how speed affects the quality of a flipbook supports Gestalt’s theory and dynamic case of apparent motion perceived. However, contradicting and compromising with the low-speed assumption and case first reported by Wallach. Introduction A popular and thorough explanation for brain and visual functioning, perception, and sensation is known as ‘Gestalt Theory.’ Gestalt theory explains that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Individual parts alone cannot conclude to be as great or effective as the whole entirely. This is important to recognize because a better understanding of why and how the world is viewed as a whole picture can be related to real world instances. Such as in motion pictures and in flipbooks, which helps to differentiate between perceiving apparent motion and actual, real motion. For instance, we involuntarily blink our eyes everyday, and although this is an action of real motion, apparent motion plays its part by filling in the blanks of blackness or darkness when blinking occurs. Furthermore, the theory then can translate to: the whole experience of sensation and perception is greater than the sum of individual parts of sensation and perception. The theories of Gestalt help to explain extraordinary circumstances and phenomena’s of perception that are experienced in life, whether that may be visual or auditory illusions as well. In particular,  apparent motion is a more specific area of study in Gestalt theory which touches upon this psychological and perceptual experience. Apparent motion previously studied suggests that it â€Å"may result when stationary stimuli are presented sequentially to different retinal locations. Apparent motion is inferred from information about change in position. (Green, 1983).†The successive presentation elicits an impression of motion (Sato, 1989).† â€Å"The perception of motion depends on the integration of visual information over space and time.(Snowden, 1990).† This information subsequently leads to the research question to pursue of: does speed effect the quality of apparent motion perceived in a flipbook? It may seem like a simple question to ask, but also factoring in a questionnaire, participant feelings, two flipbooks of with two speed settings of slow and fast, and different colored pages can lead to possible, unsuspecting findings about the phenomena of apparent motion; which has mostly been individually considered in previous studies. There has been many studies on dot patterns, biological factors, vision, sound perception, and real motion in relation to apparent motion. So, this experiment is quite different than the usual, although it may be as simple as using a flipbook and participants. However, previous studies helped strengthen the answers of the research question and hypothesis. Therefore, supporting studies reported by Gepshstein and Kubovy (2007) suggest that: for every speed, there â€Å"exists a condition for which contrast sensitivity is maximal.† They also found results that determined speed concludes the regime of motion; which can strengthen the hypothesis of speed effecting apparent motion being perceived. Method Participants. Seven participants from Connecticut participated in an independent research project concerning a class of psychological sensation and perception. There were four males and three females who had normal to corrected vision. Participants ranged from 21 to 52 years of age. Materials. Two hand drawn flipbooks were created by using bamboo paper and binder clips. A Likert rating scale was used as the method of answering questions. Design and Analysis. The experiment was a 2 (sequence: flipbook A and flipbook B or flipbook B and flipbook A) X 2(speed: fast or slow) design with four questions manipulated between subjects. There were two  independent variables in this study, which were the flipbooks and the questions. The flipbooks had two levels of fast and slow; the fast flipbook (A) consisted of all the same colored paper and an image of a ball in different locations on the ascending pages. The slow flipbook (B) had different colored pages of paper on every other page, on every other page there was not any image drawn on it. This flipbook had a drawing of a stick figure walking and bumping into a wall. The dependent variable was the effect of speed quality through the obtained scores from participants from the questionnaire. Since there were not many participants available for this experiment, it was necessary to counterbalance the conditions. The first participant seen the fast flipbook first, then took the Likert scale questionnaire; secondly, the slow flipbook was shown to the first participant afterwards and then answering the questionnaire. The second participant was shown the slow flipbook first, then took the questionnaire, following that the fast flipbook was shown second and then the questionnaire was answered. The questionnaire was made up of four questions. This would continuously go on from participant to participant until the last, seventh participant. From these factors, a two-way, within-subjects ANOVA of within-subjects was the design Procedure Participants were seated at a table and were informed that they would be participating in an experiment and to answer all questions honestly. Then, the first flipbook was presented to the participant by the experimenter whom operated both of the flip books which accurately set the speeds. This happened continuously until the last participant. There were two trials of this experiment, which consisted of showing a fast flipbook (A) and slow flipbook (B). Upon completion of watching each flipbook, participants were questioned about their experience by using the Likert Scale rating. The responses were collected and recorded in Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS 20. The experiment lasted about 35 minutes. Results The main effect of flipbook responses for flipbook A (fast) had a mean of M=3.36. The responses for flipbook B (slow) had a mean of M=2.14 (see table 1 and figure 1). A two-way, within-subjects ANOVA illustrated that the  difference between the mean of flip book A and flipbook B was statistically significant; F(1,6)=12.892, p0.05. The error bars represent the standard error of means (SEM) and flipbook A SEM=0.31 and flipbook B SEM=0.51.The main effect of flipbook was significant due to speed manipulation. Flipbook A had the highest score of the two, which made it the fastest and flipbook B the slowest. The main effect of questions (see table 2 and figure 2) response for question 1 had a mean of M=2.43. Question 2 had a mean of M=2.57, question 3 had a mean of M=2.07, and question 4 had a mean of M=3.93. Based on a two-way, within-subjects ANOVA, the results showed the questions were a statistically significant factor of the experiment; F(3,18)=3.627, p0.05. However, the questions as well differed irrespective of speed quality (Q4A/B). This showed the differences among the four question conditions were impactful in determining other factors such as animation realness (Q1A/B), enjoyment (Q2A/B), and smoothness (Q3A/B). | Table 2: main effect of questions| | | | Q1 Mean| Q2 Mean| Q3 Mean| Q4 Mean| Mean| 2.43| 2.57| 2.07| 3.93| SD| 2.31| 1.87| 2.27| 2.13| SEM| 0.62| 0.50| 0.61| 0.57| The interaction effect between the flipbooks (shown in figure below) and the questions showed that in flipbook A the mean values for the questions were as the following: Question 1 mean M=2.57, question 2 mean M=1.71, question 3 mean M=4.14, question 4 mean M=5.00. In flipbook B the mean values for are as follows: Question 1 mean M=2.29, question 2 mean M=3.43, question 3 mean M=0.00, and question 4 mean M=2.86. This shows that the interaction between the flipbooks and questions were highly significant and falls on a boundary as reported by the two-way, within-subjects ANOVA; F(3,18)=8.144, p=0.001. However, the questions differed irrespective of the speed. The questions received different scores, however not too different to make it insignificant. It had nothing to do with the speed manipulation; rather it showed the differences among the four question conditions were impactful in determining other factors such as realness (Q1A/B), enjoyment (Q2A/B), and smoothness (Q3A/B). Q1 asked about the realness of the animations and they were perceived as real regarding both. The scores show that flipbook A was a little more real than flipbook B by a 0.28 difference of interaction. Q2 asked about the enjoyment of the flipbook and showed that flipbook B was more enjoyable than flipbook A by a 1.72 difference of interaction. Q3 showed that flipbook A was most smooth than flipbook B, and that flipbook B had no perceived smoothness. Q4 showed that speed mattered and affected the quality most in flipbook A, and flipbook B had the slowest speed of the two. The impact of experimental manipulation has shown to be significant between the two independent variables of flipbooks and questions. Discussion The hypothesis in question was to discover if speed affects the quality of apparent motion perceived in a flipbook through research and experimentation. Results indicate that the hypothesis was supported because speed did matter according to the findings. Gepshtein Kubovy (2007) indicated that motion was not always seen along the slower path. It was interesting to find out that the slower flipbook was determined to be most enjoyable in this experiment when interactions were looked at (see figure 3). In Gepshtein Kubovy’s study, they challenged Wallach’s previous study about low-speed assumption, which viewed low speed as prevailing when in competition with faster speeds. However, the results of their existing theory and experiments that challenged Wallach’s found that the ratio of two speeds were always less than unified. Which means motion was not always seen along the slower path. These results may be different because of altering procedures between the two studies, but the most current  research conducted by them indicates what is most rationale when deterring speed effectiveness. In flipbook B, every other page was a different color. The pages that had different colors also did not have any drawings or images on them This was a technique used to find out more through speed manipulation. In a previous study, Giaschi and Anstis (1989) reported that â€Å"apparent motion created by two spots illuminated in alternation looks faster when there is a dark temporal interval between the offset of one spot and the onset of the other than when spots are presented immediately after one another, even though the temporal frequency and spatial seperation spots are held constant.† This helped to support the added feature of flipbook B, which had alternating, darker colored pages. This can be a potential reason as to why the flipbook was most enjoyable than the fast flipbook A; this finding can be a contributing factor for the real world because it can often be assumed that if things move fast (er), then it is better or more enjoyable. On the contrary, it can be more desirable for things to be slowed down, even if by a few seconds, so to give an audience more time to process and comprehend what is happening. It can also aid in exposing people to pay more attention to detail and to be more particular in such a fast paced society. Although slow motion may often be seen as less effective, this does not mean it is less important. Gephstein Kubovy’s study contrasted with Wallach’s theory, but Wallach’s findings occurred between the 1930’s and 1970’s, so in more earlier and previous times his participants may have been more accustomed to slower occurrences; compared to the 21st century’s faster moving conditions. Although the hypothesis was supported by the findings and other scholarly studies, it can as well be assumed that the results could be better and stronger if there were not any major limitations of the experiment. Limitations such as not having a not having the desired facilities and equipment; for instance, in a laboratory designated only for participants or equipment such as MRI machines to factor in brain functioning and perception. It would have also been nice to have more time to conduct this study over months or even years. The use of mathematical equations and  theories might have been important. Being able to have a wide range of participants would be of importance so to look at education level, gender, race, and age to see if those factors bring about any disadvantages, advantages, patterns and/or similarities. Having multiple speeds would have been interesting to add into the experiment. Taking into consideration the amount of pages and certain colors which could effect perception further. Lastly, having considered the son and mother used in the experiment would be interesting to learn if there is some sort of similarities and/or differences between parents and their children. In the future these can be improved so to come across more findings, unsuspecting conditions and/or disregarding current information for a more updated viewpoint. The experiment may have been effected by error, such as by participant misunderstanding or misleading answers that may have been more desirable than another. It may have been an error to counterbalance conditions and control the experiment in that way by manipulating speed and sequence of the flipbooks. There was not much mathematics involved so there were no errors of numbers and data, but the procedure as mentioned potentially could have been. Cumulatively, Gestalt’s theory ties all of this information in to help better understand why we perceive the way we do and how we perceive this, as mentioned in the Introduction. When we see the world as one entire picture rather than one individual part, it assists in humans having an overall pleasurable experience when viewing, perceiving, and sensing the world. Apparent motion strengthens our abilities to think fast and fill in all of the blanks necessary to cumulatively understand any myriad of circumstances. As mentioned in the Introduction, blinking can fill in the blanks that our visual system processes in order to elude an illusionary, motion picture so to view the world as a whole, and not by just parts. This is a concept important to understand and cherish when applied to daily lives because it can help to be appreciative that we view the world so concisely and promptly, when in reality it is not as fast paced as assumed. Concerning flipbook B (slow), it could be advantageous to notice individual parts leading to better comprehension, when noticing entireties. All in all,  there are interrelated factors which tie speed, space, time, apparent motion, real motion, perception, and sensation into many theories of Gestalt. One without the other would not be as effective as when all used wholly. References 1. Gepshtein, S., Kubovy, M. (2007). The lawful perception of apparent motion. Journal of Vision, 7(8), 1-15. 2. Giaschi, D., Anstis, S. (1989). The less you see it, the faster it moves: Shortening the â€Å"on-time† speeds up apparent motion, Vision Research, Volume 29, Issue 3. 3. Green, Marc. Inhibition and facilitation of apparent motion by real motion, Vision Research, Volume 23, Issue 9, 1983, Pages 861-865. 4. Sato, Takao. Reversed apparent motion with random dot patterns, Vision Research, Volume 29, Issue 12, 1989, Pages 1749-1758, ISSN 0042-6989, 10.1016/0042-6989(89)90157-0. 5. Snowden, R. J., Braddick, O., J. (1990) Differences in the processing of short-range apparent motion at small and large displacements, Vision Research, 1211-1222. Volume 30, Issue 8.

The Difference Between Perception And Expectation Marketing Essay

The Difference Between Perception And Expectation Marketing Essay The survival of any organisation is determined by satisfying the needs and wants of its customers. Sivadas and Baker-Prewitt (2000) asserts satisfaction is a critical measure of a firms success and has been shown to influence attitude, repurchase, and word-of-mouth communication. A customer is satisfied once he steps out of the sellers shop and his happy when the immediate need or want his met. Lovelock Wirtz (2007) explains that dissatisfaction drives customers away; it makes them willing to switch to other alternatives. Therefore, if customers are not satisfied with the services received, they easily find a substitute which makes the other organisation unprofitable. Fornell (1992) argues that high customer satisfaction will result in increased loyalty for the firm and that customers will be less prone to overtures from competition. Bainbridge (2003) defines convenience stores as a retail business with primary emphasis placed on providing the public with a convenient location to quickly purchase a wide array of consumable products. Therefore, Village store is considered as a convenience store. Lovelock Wirtz (2007:29) If a service experience does not meet expectations of customers, they may complain about poor service quality, suffer in silence, or switch providers in the future, customers evaluate service quality by comparing what they expected with what they perceived. 1.2 ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND Village store started on the 24th of September 2007 during the Welcome Weekend and is accommodated in the same building with the Sports Centre close to the school hostels (Student Village and Carroll Court hostels). It is been controlled by the University of West of England Bristol, United Kingdom. Village store operates only on the main campus, Frenchay. Village store is a grocery shop that sells goods and provides services to its customers (students living in the school hostels and students that go to the Gymnasium). Their rush hours are between 5pm till 8pm. Their opening times are: Monday Friday 9am 10pm, Saturday Sunday: 11am 8pm. 1.3 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND CONSEQUENCES. This problem focuses on Village store failures in satisfying its customers needs and wants despite its convenient location to them. This report is as a result of students complains about the delay in processes of goods sold and in services provided in Village store in UWE. After a close observation and investigation, it was discovered that students were not satisfied with the following: service promptness (Speed) and goods not available on time (Dependability). This results into some students saying they would prefer walking to a big store closer to UWE rather than shop at the Village store despite its convenient location to their hostels because they dont take the stocks of their goods on time and this would dissatisfy a customer that wants to purchase a good and finds out the good is not available (Dependability). 1.4 CUSTOMERS SATISFACTION FRAMEWORK Village stores objectives is to provide adequate goods and services to meet its expectant customers needs Slack et al (2007) Five Performance objectives would be used to analyse the difference between the companies objective and its customers expectations also the concept of the 7Ps of Service Marketing Mix Lovelock Wirtz (2007:22) to analyse the Processes services rendered and the People. Village store is a grocery store that sells goods and delivers services. The goods are displayed to be bought by the customers and their services are provided by the cashiers for the payment of their purchased items. 1.5 OBJECTIVES This objective is based on the problems encountered by students dissatisfaction of services provided in Village store. These issues could be divided into two parts which are the marketing and operational perspective of the grocery store which briefly explains the motive for this report and how it would be achieved. How does Village store know what their customers expect? What makes Village store objectives different from their customers expectation Why does a part of services provided by Village store not satisfy its customers? To recommend ways to improve the satisfaction of Village store customers. Brassington Pettitt (2006: 193) explains that Segmentation can be viewed as the art of discerning and defining meaningful differences between groups of customers to form the foundations of a more focused marketing effort and they further explained the organisation that fails to segment deeply enough on significant criteria will lose customers to competitors that do. Thus Village store customers are differentiated below: Segmentation Profile of Village Store Variable Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Gender Male Female Male Female Male Female Categories Of Customers Hostel Residents Gym Goers Non-Gym Goers Visits Frequency Regularly Regularly Occasionally Benefits Cigarettes, Alcohol, Sanitary pads, Soaps, etc Energy drinks, towels, socks, Gym bags, water etc Juice, coke, biscuit, yoghurt, crisps, etc 2.0 METHODOLOGY Methods adopted in gathering informations for this report are the two sources of data which are the primary and secondary data. To get the primary data SERVQUAL questionnaires were given out to forty students who visit the Village store during the peak periods of the store between 7pm-8pm to get a clearer view of the situation and their opinions of the goods and services provided (Appendix 1), And (Appendix 2) for a pictorial evidence of my observation of the students at exactly 8pm on a week day. For further data collection a secondary research was also carried out to analyse the situation, sources were mainly from, academic writings, articles, journals, and reports. 2.1 RESULTS Gilmore (2003:23) Service Quality is defined as the ability of an organisation to meet or exceed customers expectations. The outcome of the SERVQUAL instrument by Berry et al (1985) distributed to forty students who visits Village store regularly and occasionally showed students expectations is greater than their perceptions and this is seen from the table below with the aid of the formula which gives all the results in negative. Their responses were from a scale of 1(Strongly Disagree) to 7(Strongly agree) while 4 is neutral. Thus, my discovery was that service promptness of Village store is not satisfactory to what the students expects. EXPECTATION PERCEPTION Frequency of response Average Frequency of response Average 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 reliability 1 2 0 0 5 9 8 16 5.675 1 6 8 4 11 0 3 0 2.4 2 0 0 0 4 3 13 20 6.225 2 19 4 10 5 2 0 0 2.175 3 0 1 0 5 8 12 14 5.8 3 17 6 12 3 0 2 0 4.95 4 0 0 0 3 12 8 17 5.975 4 14 12 7 5 0 1 1 2.3 responsiveness 5 0 3 1 5 5 8 17 5.525 5 14 8 0 5 0 7 6 3.35 6 0 0 0 1 3 5 31 6.65 6 18 5 9 5 1 3 0 2.45 7 0 2 1 3 4 6 25 6.25 7 5 4 5 15 5 2 4 3.825 8 0 2 0 4 1 12 21 6.1 8 14 8 4 7 1 3 3 2.85 Fig 1 Expectations Perceptions (P-E) 1. 5.675 2.4 -3.275 2. 6.225 2.175 -4.05 3. 5.8 4.95 -0.85 4. 5.975 2.3 -3.675 5. 5.525 3.35 -2.175 6. 6.65 2.45 -4.2 7. 6.25 3.825 -2.425 8. 6.1 2.85 -3.25 Fig 2 The the total reliability expectations (23.67) and perception (11.85) of students who goes to Village store is illustrated below Fig 3 The total responsiveness expectation (24.52) and perception (12.47) of students who goes to Village store is illustrated below. Fig 4 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERCEPTION AND EXPECTATION Perception Expectation P-E Reliability 11.85 23.67 -11.82 Responsiveness 12.47 24.52 -12.05 Total 24.32 48.19 -23.7 Fig 5 The pie chart below shows the overall total of students expectations is 48.2 and the total perceptions is 24.3 OVERALL TOTAL PERCEPTION AND EXPECTATION Fig 6 3.0 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND CUSTOMER NEEDS The management of an organisation controls their objectives which determine their operational activities in fulfilling customers expectation. Slack et al (2007), explains that organizations set their objectives relating specifically to its basic task of satisfying customer requirements. Village store provides services that are run by UWE and part of their aim is to ensure that service to customer is delivered promptly. Slack et al (2007). The Five Performance Objectives of organisations are: Quality, Flexibility, Speed, Dependability and Cost. Village store has not been able to meet the needs of its customers in this two: Speed and Dependability. 3.1 SPEED DEPENDABILITY SPEED: It is essential in the operations part of an organisation by providing express delivery of goods and services to its customers. Slack et al (2007) defines Speed as the elapsed time between customers requesting products or services and their receiving them. This objective is important to Village stores serving promptness to its customers as quick as possible to reduce queues at the payment point. Katz et al (1991); Taylor (1994) claims Longish waits impact negatively on customer evaluations of an outlets quality because long queues affect the customers perceptions of the punctuality of a service i.e. how promptly customer requirements are satisfied and hence his or her ratings of the service providers overall efficiency and reliability. DEPENDABILITY: It requires fulfilling all customers needs and wants without delay of their desired goods and services. This makes the organisation dependable to its customers; they are assured that their expectation would be met. Slack et al (2007) defines Dependability as delivering, or making available, products or services when they were promised to the customer. This objective is also important to Village store having a minimum amount of goods out of stock so as to be able to always keep promises made to the customers. 3.2 PROCESS AND PEOPLE The seven elements referred to as 7Ps of service marketing which are product, place, price, promotion, physical environment, people, process: represent decision variables facing managers in an organisation Lovelock Wirtz (2007:21) A process is the method and sequence of actions in the service performance. Therefore if an organisations process is not well built its outcome would be poor. The manner in which an employee relates to a customer boosts the service quality of the organisation. Village store processing of goods and service takes a long time due to its low members of staffs. The frontline staff attends to customers as much as 400-500people in a day (high volume) and this diminishes the quality of the service. f Customer pays for goods Customer search for goods in the store Customer goes to the counter Customer sees the price of goods bought Customer enters the Village Store f Line of interaction Cashier put cash in the till and gives change Cashier politely request for payment Cashiers scans goods at the tills contact person (visible action) Line of visibility Cash till indicates the total amount of goods bought Contact person (Invisible action) F means Fail Points The above diagram is the blueprint of the process of interactions between a customer and Village store. Lovelock Wirtz (2007) defines Blueprinting as a powerful tool for identifying fail points which enables us to visualize the process of service delivery by depicting the sequence of front stage interactions that customers experience as they encounter service providers, facilities and equipment, with supporting backstage activities which are hidden from the customers and are not part of their experience. Mittal Vikas (2004) Managers can identify areas of high service responsiveness, that is, areas in which overall satisfaction is low but customers are highly responsive to improvements in service quality The first fail point pinpoints when a customer search for goods in the store and sees that goods have not been stock for sale; this affects the customers behaviour towards the grocery store since he/she was unsatisfied. After an interview with an employee, it was discovered that there is a capacity problem in Village store. Slack et al (2007) defines Capacity of an operation is the maximum level of value-added activity over a period of time that the process can achieve under normal operating conditions there are four components of capacity and if limited in an organisation can lead to constraints of capacity, they are: Manpower (Human Resource) Machinery(Equipment Facilities) Materials(Raw Materials) Money (Investment Funds). At this point Village store lacks manpower (human resource) capacity and this has resulted into a stock availability problem because there are not enough employees to quickly restore goods on shelf. This has made Village store undependable because customers would get dissatisfied if they cant get what they want from the store. Second fail point explains when a customer goes to the counter to pay for the selected goods. After thorough observation it was discovered at this point that Village store lacks machinery (Equipment Facilities) and manpower (human resource) capacity to cater for its demands which results into a queuing problem since there are not enough employees to serve customers and not enough equipments. 3.3 Gaps in Service delivery The gaps model of Zeithamal, Berry and Parasuraman was extended by Lovelock Wirtz (2007:424) identifies seven service quality gaps that occur at various points during the design and the delivery of a service performance of an organisation and the expectation of customers: The knowledge gap The standards gap The delivery gap The internal communications gap The perceptions gap The interpretation gap The service gap. The gaps noticed between Village store and its customers are identified below: The standards gap: Lovelock Wirtz (2007:424) the difference between managements perception of customer expectation and the quality standards established for service delivery. The management of Village store has not been able to understand the expectations of the customers and have therefore set a standard below what the students expect. Although students have not shown concerns about the cost, quality and flexibility they have shown dissatisfaction about the speed of service and also for the fact that you cant always get what you want when you need it (Dependability). The service gap: Lovelock Wirtz (2007:424) the difference between what customers expect to receive and their perceptions of the service that is delivered. Village store has not been able to meet the expectations of its customers, Customers are dissatisfied when they come into the store and can not find what they want. As shown in the questionnaire Village store customers expectations are higher than the perceived service they are getting. CONCLUSION After observations and thorough investigations for this research it was noticed that Village store needs to work on elements like speed of service and also work towards customers seeing the store as reliable to increase their service quality and customer satisfaction rate. This research also examined the process of interaction between a customer and the store and also identified fail points of the process. The gaps that exist between customers perception and expectations in village store were also discussed in this report. RECOMMENDATIONS Customers needs must always be satisfied at all times in both goods and services received from Village store notwithstanding that they have no competitor in their convenient location and they need to go out of their way to attract more customers. The following suggestions would be helpful in solving the two major problems observed between Village store and its customers Village store needs more effective and trained hands to increase the speed of serving customers at peak periods (manpower) by planning their capacity. Slack et al (2007:299) defines Capacity Planning as the task of setting the effective capacity of the operation so it can respond to the demands placed on it by deciding how the operation should react to fluctuations in demand. To retain these students they need to have an effective capacity management to control high demands of their goods and services. Slack et al (2007:309) explains that there are three methods of responding to demand fluctuations and they are: Ignore the fluctuations and keep activity levels constant (level capacity plan) Adjust capacity to reflect the fluctuations in demand (chase demand plan) Attempt to change demand to fit capacity availability (demand management). Slack et al (2007:309) An organisation uses the combination of these plans but one could overcome the other. Village store should use chase demand plan to respond to fluctuating demands of its customers by hiring a part time staff to assist the full time staff during peak periods to serve demands of customers at these times. Roger Bennett (1998) Other policies for reducing average queue lengths at checkouts include the practice of automatically opening a new till whenever there are more than (say) five people in an existing queue. Village store should provide self service checkouts (machinery) for the students to avoid queue and reduce pressure employee at the till. In closing the standard and service gaps Village store would develop innovative ways of carrying out feedback survey from the students by issuing a single paper form to customers at the cash till or fill a register book for queries to know their perceptions about Village store satisfaction rate to make more people take part in the survey and use incentives to motivate students to want to participate, this information gathered from its students would assist the management on making sure that promises made to their customers should be fulfilled at all times. The management of Village store needs to improve on the standard they aim to achieve these recommendations by making sure they are financially buoyant enough to focus on the areas they lack in satisfying their customers without going bankrupt. This can be done by recruiting employees that are hardworking, committed, focused on achieving target goals of the store, willing to abide by their set rules, and should always do what is expected of them by making sure they not only add value to the store but also to themselves. These are essential in satisfying customers needs and wants. Slack et al (2007) explains that dependability is valued by most customers.

Business Plan For The Mead Johnson Nutritional Company Marketing Essay

Business Plan For The Mead Johnson Nutritional Company Marketing Essay An action research was sponsored by Mead Johnson in collaboration with NGO to access its efficacy in terms of increasing weight of infants of weaning age in urban slums of Dhaka city capital of Bangladesh. The findings of the study states that Infants weaned on ENFAMIL had more weight and length gained compared to control group Mothers attitude and infants acceptance of ENFAMIL was satisfactory. Storage pests (insects) were found on in one batch of weaning packets. Now Mead Johnson wants to access the acceptance of ENFAMIL in terms of its price, packaging, taste/quality among middle and lower middle class families. In the context of the current maturity of the market and the strategic options available, it is first necessary to assess whether the company is marketing the right product form the point of view of the consumers. Hence evaluation of the product is necessary. The specific objectives of the research are to assess consumer evaluation in the broad areas of: Packaging Product Price The end objective is to identify areas that need to be strengthened and also the existing strength areas that can be exploited. Start up summary Start-up costs of Mead Johnson consist of legal costs, research, Manpower, marketing/promotion product is to fund start-up expenses with Companys reserved fund, owner investments and a long-term business loan. Product Testing- ENFAMIL Research Budget Item Unit Cost Total (Taka) Sample product 818 150.00 122,700.00 Consultancy fee 2 8,500.00 17,000.00 Team leader and key members 8 8,000.00 64,000.00 Field Work Supervisor cum Data Quality Controllers 16 5,000.00 80,000.00 Data Collectors 40 3,000.00 120,000.00 Study Coordinator 2 7,000.00 14,000.00 Controller of Field Operation 4 6,000.00 24,000.00 Focus group discussion 64 300.00 19,200.00 In-depth interview 20 500.00 10,000.00 Data Analyst 2 9,000.00 18,000.00 Daily allowance 40 120.00 4,800.00 Particulars 2,000.00 2,000.00 Printing of Data Collection Instrument 5,000.00 5,000.00 Stationary 4,550.00 4,550.00 Photocopying and binding of reports 2,750.00 2,750.00 Pre-testing of Data Collection instrument 3,000.00 3,000.00 Total expenditure 511,000.00 Source of Capital : The source of capital is as follows: Funded by company 45% 270000.00 Owners investment- 20% 120000.00 Loan from Bank- 35% 210000.00 Total Capital: 600000.00 RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATION: Physical resources: The physical resources of this project will be include all essentials office equipments such as, computers, phone and fax, internet connection for data transfer, data collecting equipment. The costs of the physical resources Taka 140,000.00 (  £1320.00) PHYSICAL RESOURCES UNIT TOTAL COSTS Sample product 818 122700.00 Printing of Data Collection Instrument 2 5000.00 Particular 10 2000.00 Pre-testing of Data Collection instrument 5 3000.00 Stationary 7300.00 Total 140,000.00   Human Resources: POSITIONS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES Administrative Assistant 1 Team Leader and key members 8 Supervisors cum Quality controllers 16 Data collector 40 Study Coordinator 2 Controller of Field Operation 4 TOTAL 71 Initially there will be a Team Leader who is responsible for the operational work. One will be an administrative assistant who will deal with all the paper work and who will take care of the administration duties. The remaining people will be divided into few groups. After taking all the necessary information members of the each group will forward these information to team leader to processing the activities. Financial Resources: The funding and investments for this project will be received from the companys own fund, owners personal investment and loan from the Banks. Research budget with sample products initial expenses is taka 511,000.00 (  £4820.00) RESEARCH DESIGN The research design is essentially a concept cum usage test. The details are discussed in turn. New product development: The development of original products, product improvements, product modifications, and new brands through the firms own RD efforts. The major criteria of new development are written below with a short description: Idea generation:The systematic search for new product ideas- Idea screening:Screening new product ideas in order to spot good ideas and drop poor ones as soon as possible. Product concept:A detailed version of the new product idea started in meaningful consumer terms. Concept testing:Testing new product concepts with group of target consumers to find out if the concepts have strong consumer appeal. Product development is a major part on marketing. The RD of any company does the mainly product development. In Bangladesh Mead Johnson havent have any RD departments. Mother company of Mead Johnson well known non-government social organization have innovated the product according to the consumer need, and analyzing the segment, culture and the other part of marketing. Study Design We have conducted a house-to-house random survey using structured questionnaires through personal interview. In our case Monadic test design as followed i.e. each respondent would tried one test product only. Prior to the main quantitative survey qualitative exploration was done through Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The opinions were collected in following sequence in the main survey: Selection of Respondents Discussion on need need gaps on weaning food Introduction to concept reactions thereof Product placement Reactions to product Reaction to price METHODOLOGY The agency proposed a house-to-house random survey to be conducted using a structured questionnaire through personal interview. In this case Monadic test design would be followed i.e. each respondent would try one test product only. Hence, we propose to place the product to the respondents for a period of 15 days after which their opinion on the product will be gathered. During this period they will use the product as suggested. Prior to doing the quantitative product test 8 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) will be conducted to have an in-depth understanding of the choice factors and to generate consumer vocabulary for the same.  ­Ã‚ ­ Measuring tools to used For rating on choice factors an 11-point scale (0-10) was used. Consumers will give mark out of ten. This scale has equality of interval properly and is reliable. This is also closest to reality because consumers are familiar with this scale and can easily rate on any factor. Sampling Universe Considering the geographic spread the Company has proposed that the following towns would be covered in the study. Dhaka( Capital city ) Chittagong Rangpur Syhlett In sum, the sampling universe for this study is all households having infants aged 4 to 10 months belonging to socio-economic classes B and C (appendix) in the selected towns. Sample Size Qualitative (FGD) Quantitative Metro: Dhaka 2 156 Large: Chittagong 2 85 Medium:Rajshahi 2 84 Small: Syhlett 2 84 Total 8 409 The allocation of sample size across the selected towns was done on the basis of sampling error ranges and also of heterogeneity of households within the town classes. For larger towns higher numbers of samples were covered to capture its diversity/ heterogeneity. In all there were a total of 8 FGDs and subsequently 409 respondents for quantitative study. Standard error ranges for different percentage estimates at the 95 % level of confidence based on simple random sample size. Sampling Technique We followed a multi stage, stratified sampling method to ensure representative samples. Within a town, households were selected by the Random Route technique (Cluster sampling). In each cluster/ area (smallest urban unit) 5 households were covered. Thus a total of 17-31 clusters/ areas were covered in each town, depending on sampling size. Target Group As mentioned, ENFAMIL targets the middle class and lower middle class consumers. Middle and lower middle class consumers are more concentrated in the urban towns than in the semi-urban towns or rural villages and hence urban target consumers are more accessible to the marketers for a new brand. Therefore, this study would be limited to urban towns only. Hence, primary target segment for ENFAMIL is all the households of the urban towns having at least one child between 5 to 10 months age and belonging to the middle and lower middle class. Time Plan for the Study Weeks Activities 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sample Survey Preparatory Work for Sample Survey Instrumental Development Field Briefing, Training Field Work For Sampling Survey Data Entry Analysis for Sample Survey Reporting Focus Group Discussion Desk Research for the program Training Module Preparatory Work Collection of Reports, documents and historical Data Reporting Draft Report Final Report Head of the household The analysis of the respondents is given center-wise and on the basis of socio-economic classification. Standard market research classification of income is provided below. Center SEC Age of the Child (In Month) Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Syhlett SEC B SEC C 5-8 Months 8+ Month Total Total 156 85 84 84 188 221 218 191 409 1. Less than Tk 3000 15% 9% 13% 4% 4% 17% 12% 10% 11% 2. Tk 3001-4000 21% 20% 35% 14% 12% 30% 23% 21% 22% 3. Tk 4001-5000 18% 26% 31% 26% 20% 27% 22% 26% 24% 4. Tk 5001-6000 11% 14% 6% 19% 13% 11% 10% 15% 12% 5. Tk 6001-7000 10% 8% 6% 13% 14% 5% 9% 10% 10% 6. Tk 7001-8000 6% 5% 6% 4% 9% 2% 5% 6% 5% 7. Above Tk 8000 19% 18% 4% 20% 27% 6% 20% 11% 16% Mean Score (In Taka) 7199 6682.9 48649.4 6567.9 8422.5 4834.4 6968.5 5930.4 6483.7 Table : Monthly disposable income In majority of the market research projects we consider disposable monthly family income (DMFI). This is the amount of total earning of the family left after paying house rent, if any. This is a very good indicator of purchasing power. Needless to mention, average DMFI of the residents of Dhaka is more. And, quite obviously respondents belonging to SEC B had higher DMFI than their SEC C counterparts. However in all the centers, barring Dhaka, majority of respondents live in own houses especially at Chittagong and Syhlett (around 76-87%). In Dhaka 77% of the respondents live in rented houses paying an average house rent of Taka 574 per month. Family Size Number of Children The respondents had standard family size in most cases ranging from 4.7 to 6.2. In other words the average family size was 5.3. The following table will give an idea about the number of children the respondents have. Table: Family Size Center SEC Age of the Child (In Month) Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Syhlett SEC B SEC C 5-8 Months 8+ Month Total Total 156 85 84 84 188 221 218 191 409 Mean Score 4.7 5.9 5 6.2 5.6 5.1 5.4 5.3 5.3 List of Children Boy Girl List of Children Boy Girl 05 Months 16% 10% 08 Years 12% 12% 06 Months 13% 17% 09 Years 8% 7% 07 Months 12% 13% 10 Years 6% 8% 08 Months 10% 15% 11 Years 3% 6 09 Months 18% 17% 12 Years 6% 4% 10 Months 30% 28% 13 Years 2% 1% 01 Year *% *% 14 Years 1% 3% 02 Years 4% 3% 15 Years 2% 1% 03 Years 6% 9% 16 Years 1% -% 04 Years 11% 9% 17 Years -% *% 05 Years 12% 16% 18 Years *% -% 06 Years 11% 13% 07 Years 4% 6% Total 207 202 On an average the respondents have two children. Among the 409 respondents interviewed 298 had children below 8 months and 191 had children above 8 months on the basis of which they were selected. The Respondent 99% of the respondents were housewives. The respondents were primarily young and 65% of them belong to the age group of 18 to 25 years whereas rests are between 26 to 35 years. able: Occupation of the Respondent Center SEC Age of the Child (In Month) Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Syhlett SEC B SEC C 5-8 Months 8+ Month Total Total 156 85 84 84 188 221 218 191 409 1. Housewife 99% 100% 98% 100% 98% 100% 99% 99% 99% 2. Student -% 1% -% 2% 2% -% -% 2% 1% 3. Part time job -% 1% 2% 1% 2% *% 1% 1% 1% 4. Full time job 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% 5. Others 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% *% *% 2% 1% INFORMATION AREA CONCEPT PACKAGING PRODUCT status motive needs. overall measures -Likeability Uniqueness -Nutrition -Modernity -Overall rating -Attractiveness Attractiveness -Physical appearance (looks, granularity, etc.) -Dynamism -Intention to try -Uniqueness Pack size -Preparation convenience (easy to mix with water, does not form lump, etc.) -Friendliness -Intention to use regularly -Credibility Packshape/Graphics/Design/ color -Taste, aroma, etc -Age Information Literature/information -Storage convenience -Trustworthiness Overall acceptability Ability to preserve content -Longevity, not forming lump -Premium Usefulness of information given on the pack Insect growth, etc. -Sophisticated Credibility of information Can be mixed with milk, soup, etc. -Natural/fresh Usage Experience Majority of the respondents (61%) had consumed almost both the packets given for usage. Some 27% had consumed at least one packet in the 15 days, the time given to them to try the product. During this time phase, on average the product was given two times daily to the child mixed with only water (about average of 253ml) in most cases (69%). About 26% of the mothers had also mixed sugar or other items with ENFAMIL. Hot water was preferred most by the respondents (79%), whereas 14% used tepid water. DIAGNOSTIC OF PERFORMANCE: It is clear that the respondents had adequate product experience. Their views on the product therefore are meaningful. We first examine the overall performance indicators of the product. For this we shall consider three indicators- Intention to regular use, Intention to try, and overall rating. Of these three, intention to regular use is the strongest indicator as it expresses the probability of buying and using the product. Intention to try comes next. And overall rating is the third most important indicator as it signifies how much the product is liked Spontaneous Reaction On exposure to the concept the respondents were asked to express their feeling about good or bad. The major reactions are shown below: Center SEC % Reactions Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Syhlett SEC B SEC C TOTAL Childs health will remain good if fed along with breast milk 41 45 42 7 36 34 35 Liked the literature which states this is necessary along with breast milk 25 12 13 8 11 21 16 Child will get nutrition 29 6 6 7 13 17 15 Has Vitamin 17 12 15 8 14 14 14 Literature gives Impression that it will be a quality product 3 22 4 17 12 9 10 Balanced diet 13 7 8 4 9 10 9 Helps in rapid 10 16 6 4 9 10 9 Base: 156 85 84 84 188 221 409 At a top of mind level, childs health has registered most. It is understood that if fed along side continued breast-feeding ENFAMIL would ensure good health. It nutrition, being balanced diet, and helping in babys growth have also registered moderately. Likes and dislikes of the concept The respondents were also asked to describe what they liked and disliked of the concept. Only about 2% had any dislike while all had one or more likes of the concept. The major likings are picture of the baby (70%), literature on childs food requirement (26%), the packet (21%). MARKETING MIX Attempting to target relatively high-priced offerings to rural families on the margins of the cash economy, or to the poorest of the urban poor, is simply bad marketing. But Mead Johnson developed this new brand of ENFAMIL so that middle class families can purchase this product at a lower price but meet nutritional demands for infants. The next section will emphasize the 4Ps of ENFAMIL: Product: Nature of product: ENFAMIL milk-based, lactose-free, iron fortified infant formula for first 12 months. Product Features: The only lactose-free, milk-based formula, which includes LIPIL, a unique blend of DHA and ARA à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lactose-free and sucrose-free No sucrose (table sugar) Nutrition value: NUTRIENTS (Normal Dilution) Per 100 Calories (5 fl oz)   Protein, g 2.1   Fat, g 5.3   Carbohydrate, g 10.9   Water, g 134   Linoleic acid, mg 860 Vitamins   Ã‚  Vitamin A, IU 300   Ã‚  Vitamin D, IU 60   Ã‚  Vitamin E, IU 2   Ã‚  Vitamin K,  µg 8   Ã‚  Thiamin (Vitamin B1),  µg 80   Ã‚  Riboflavin (Vitamin B2),  µg 140   Ã‚  Vitamin B6,  µg 60   Ã‚  Vitamin B12,  µg 0.3   Ã‚  Niacin,  µg 1000   Ã‚  Folic acid (Folacin),  µg 16   Ã‚  Pantothenic acid,  µg 500   Ã‚  Biotin,  µg 3   Ã‚  Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), mg 12   Ã‚  Choline, mg 12   Ã‚  Inositol, mg 6   Minerals   Ã‚  Calcium, mg 82   Ã‚  Phosphorus, mg 55   Ã‚  Magnesium, mg 8   Ã‚  Iron, mg 1.8   Ã‚  Zinc, mg 1   Ã‚  Manganese,  µg 15   Ã‚  Copper,  µg 75   Ã‚  Iodine,  µg 15   Ã‚  Selenium,  µg 2.8   Ã‚  Sodium, mg 30   Ã‚  Potassium, mg 110   Ã‚  Chloride, mg 67   Core value the product is giving to its customer: Enfamil the first infant formula in all over the globe, which contains the nutrients DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid). Also naturally found in breast milk, DHA and ARA have been clinically shown to support infant brain and eye development. Performance of the Pack Likes and dislikes, attribute rating, and overall rating of the pack are examined below to assess the packs acceptability. Overall rating: The rating on the pack on overall was collected on a 7.0-point scale. The ratings are as below. %all Very Poor to moderate 1 Good 2 Very Good 36 Excellent 1 Mean Score (1-7) 6.6 The pack is excellent on overall consideration. Hence it is quite obvious that it would have few dislikes. Price: Prior to exposure to the stipulated price, an effort was made to identify the price most suitable for the brand, via Psychological Monetary Demand (PMD) technique. The respondents were offered a range of price from Tk. 100 to 200 with and increment of Tk. 5, and asked above which price, and at which price or below they would not purchase the brand. The analysis provides the proportion of the target group willing to purchase ENFAMIL at each price level and corresponding monetary demand. For a marketer profit maximization is likely to occur at the highest level of monetary demand. The analysis depicts that maximum monetary gain can be ensured if the price of ENFAMIL is at Tk. 75. Above this price proportion of buyers and monetary value of sales fall drastically. On the other hand, if the objective is to maximize number of users, one can reduce the price down to the level of Tk. 60. Beyond this, interested buyers will be fewer. Price Market price line ENFAMIL @ TK 75 TIME Figure: market penetration strategy Demand pattern According to the market dynamics, the demand for consumable products depends on the price factor along with other related factors i.e. test and preferences, nature of the product, and economic condition of the target customers. After analyzing the market pattern and relationship of price to quantity through sample survey questionnaire the following demand pattern was observed. The analysis provides the proportion of the target group willing to purchase ENFAMIL at each price level and corresponding monetary demand. For a marketer profit maximization is likely to occur at the highest level of monetary demand. Proportion of consumers Monetary Demand Price (%)willing to buy (Assuming pop=100) Tk.50 67 3337 Tk.55 76 4135 Tk.60 83 4958 Tk.65 83 5419 Tk.70 82 5716 Tk.75 82 6125 Tk.80 69 5535 Tk.85 60 5071 Tk.90 46 4137 Tk.95 42 4018 Tk.100 17 1711 Tk.105 15 1540 Tk.110 10 1103 Tk.115 9 1012 Tk.120 0 0 The analysis depicts that maximum monetary gain can be ensured if the price of ENFAMIL is at Taka 75.00 Above this price proportion of buyers and monetary value of sales fall drastically. On the other hand, if the objective is to maximize number of users, one can reduce the price down to the level of Taka. 60.00 Beyond this, interested buyers will be fewer. Thus it can be concluded that the demand for baby food ENFAMIL is elastic. Place : The nature of distribution of the product and the market accessibility also plays a major role after generating awareness of the product among the target customers. If the customers dont have the product at the right place at the right moment than there exists the possibility that those customers will switch to another brand and have bitter experience while purchasing the product . To reverse the effect of the above situation the company should use both direct marketing and indirect marketing channels to promote ENFAMIL. For distributing ENFAMIL the company should use following methods Manufacturer Wholesaler Retailers Customers Manufacturer Customers Manufacturer Pharmacy Customers 1) 2) 3) Figure: Distribution channels Promotion The range of promotional activities available to todays manufacturer or companies can be overwhelming. The promotional action plan for ENFAMIL is listed below. Advertising Newspaper, Billboard, Electronic media: Radio TV Public relation- Social activities, Sponsorship, Awareness campaign about the benefits of baby food product Direct marketing- Promoting via doctors through medical representatives ENFAMIL is very new in the market it requires specific events such as the launch of an advertising campaign or a press conference to announce the launching of the new product. In other cases promotional activities necessarily be required for the NGO to carry out in different local government and private hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and aware rural, urban middle to lower middle class families about the product. In other cases promotional activities involve putting various elements into place for the long term, such as training salespeople for directing marketing to promote this product via doctors through medical representatives. In all cases, it is important to integrate companys promotion efforts; doing so can decrease costs and increase communication effectiveness. SALES FORCAST The sales forecast has been done in three levels. First level depicts optimistic forecast if all other factors affecting sales are favorable. The second level of sales forecast is based on normal ongoing condition of the economy and the next level of forecast is done based on the pessimistic approach. YEARLY ESTIMATED DEMAND Price remains fixed as the product is price elastics Quantity demanded (units in hundreds) Economic condition Portion of Expected customer (assumption) Sales forecast (Units in hundreds ) TK 75.00 6125 Optimistic 90% 5512 TK 75.00 6125 Normal 75% 4593 TK 75.00

Anthrax :: essays research papers fc

ANTHRAX   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most important responsibilities a Secretary of Defense has is to make sure the United States’ military members are protected as much as possible from any type of harm. Since the cease-fire of the Gulf War, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have discovered that anthrax has become the number one biological threat to our troops. With finding this information, the Secretary of Defense, William S. Cohen, has decided to ensure that each military member is protected from anthrax with its vaccine. Senior military leaders are accepting nothing less than total acceptance for the anthrax vaccine. The reason is that military members have been refusing to take the vaccine due to unsubstantiated reports popping up on various Internet sites. These sites have been claiming that the anthrax vaccine is â€Å"experimental† and will cause harm if taken. However, the senior military leaders also have been doing what they can to properly educate their members about the anthrax vaccine. Anything less than total acceptance of the anthrax vaccine is not permissible. ALIFF-SANCHEZ 2 Anthrax is an infectious disease which is caused by the spore forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be deadly if the symptoms haven’t been caught in time for treatment. Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. B.Anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years and humans can be infected with anthrax by handling animal products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating uncooked meat from infected animals can also spread anthrax. Anthrax can also be spread by biological warfare. Any country that has biological warfare capability can use anthrax on its warheads to spread anthrax (FAQs1). Since the threat of anthrax has been discovered, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended that all members of the military receive mandatory vaccinations against this disease. However, the first set of immunizations will go to troops scheduled to go to the Middle East and Korea (Cohen 1). Force protection should not be optional. Moreover, it would be totally incomprehensible to send a soldier on the front lines without ALIFF-SANCHEZ 3 a helmet; it would make even less sense to send a soldier out into a biologically unfriendly environment without being immunized against it (Cohen 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fear of anthrax vaccine has been unfounded. Unfortunately, the anthrax vaccine has been getting unreasonable criticism in some circles. In particular, a few people have posted incorrect information on Internet sites and distributed it through e-mail campaigns.

Characterization of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Jane Austens Pride and

Characterization of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice      Ã‚  Ã‚   Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, is an authentic character, allowing readers to identify, sympathize, and grow with her. Unfortunately, Austen does not create a match for Elizabeth who is her equal in terms of characterization. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth's sometime adversary, beloved, and, finally, husband, is not so carefully crafted as she, for his character is somewhat undefined, made up of only mystery, inconsistency, and conventionality.    Elizabeth is, initially, quick to make judgments and just as quick to hold fast to those preconceptions. In effect, Elizabeth represents both aspects of the novel's title, being both proud and prejudicial. It is not these factors, then, that endear her to readers, but rather the depth of her character in that she develops into a more even-minded person with a rare capacity for self-awareness. For though at one time she has the highest regard for Mr. Wickham and a low opinion of Mr. Darcy, later, though it is her "greatest misfortune" (Austen 61), Elizabeth amends her former thinking by "feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced and absurd" (135). It is evident that she matures into a fully developed woman who can admit, "'Till this moment, I never knew myself'" (135, emphasis mine).    Mr. Darcy is truly an enigma. Though he is apparently handsome, his physical attributes are nondescript; readers may learn more about this powerful figure's person and tastes from the description of Pemberley, his grand estate. If Pemberley is indeed an extension of, or a reflection of, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth's pondering that "to be mistress of Pemberley might be so... ... "exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her" (Austen 199).    Works Cited Auerbach, Nina. "Waiting Together: Pride and Prejudice." Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 336-348. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 1813. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. Harding, D. W. "Regulated Hatred: An Aspect in the Work of Jane Austen." Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 291-295. Johnson, Claudia L. "Pride and Prejudice and the Pursuit of Happiness." Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 367-376. Mudrick, Marvin."Irony as Discovery in Pride and Prejudice." Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 295-303.