Five Phases of the Project Lifecycle Essay

Abstract The project lifecycle describes the tasks that must be completed to produce a product or service (NYS Project Management Guidebook, 2003). The Project Lifecycle has been divided into five phases. The first phase of the Project Lifecycle is the Define Phase in which the project concept is evaluated, selected and defined as the solution to a specific need or set of needs. In the second Plan phase, the concept is developed into a practical plan for implementation. The Launch phase of project lifecycle constitutes the third phase. This is a phase in which management activities are carried out to establish clear terms of reference and a clear management structure. The Manage phase of project lifecycle is the penultimate phase in which the implementation plan is executed. The final phase is termed the Close phase in which the project is completed and documented. The deliverables are then handed over to the care and control of the owner. The Five Phases Each phase of the project lifecycle is associated with a number of activities. The number of activities in a project depends on the class of the project and also on the judgment of the project manager. The different activities associated with each phase of the project lifecycle are described below: Define Phase The Define or Initiation Phase is the first phase in the Project Life Cycle and essentially involves starting up the project. A project is initiated by defining its purpose and scope, the justification for initiating it and the solution to be implemented. (MPMM, 2007) Project Request Approval: Approval of the project request formalizes and institutionalizes the project. This activity ensures that only projects that deserve the kind of investment that is envisaged are selected for implementation and executed. It helps in managing the workload of individual departments. In the ideal situation, anyone can make a project request on a prescribed project request form signed by the operating unit head. The project approver evaluates the report on the basis of pre-specified criteria. The output of this activity is in the form of either an approved or a denied project. If the project is approved, a project manager is assigned. Project Overview Statement: The Project Overview Statement (POS) provides the essence of the project. It is a short document that establishes the purpose of the project and its relevance to the organization in terms of the business value that it will provide. The Project Overview Statement identifies the problem which the project addresses and determines the goals and objectives of the project. The effort that would be required in completing the project is estimated, and the assumptions, risks and obstacles are identified. The primary objective of the POS is top impress the importance of the project upon the senior management and to secure its support for the project. Once the management is convinced, the project manager gains the authority to use organizational resources for the project. During the course of the project lifecycle, the POS becomes the point of reference for the project. Business Case: This activity helps to build a case for the project by justifying it as a business need. All the costs and benefits of the project are weighed before taking the decision to investment in the project. Dependencies, fund requirements and risks are identified. A cost-benefit analysis is undertaken. Project Governance: In this activity the roles and the activities of the different team members and stakeholders are identified and fixed. The decision making hierarchy and structure of the project are defined. Escalation procedures are also drawn up. Management Approval for next phase: This activity concentrates on acquiring the approval of the management to move to the next planning phase of the project. Each phase of the project lifecycle constitutes of a transition activity to move into the next phase. In this activity, the senior management analyzes status report and feedbacks from customers. The senior management together with the project manager then takes a decision whether the project should move into the next phase or not. This activity ensures that projects that are found unworthy or not feasible are rejected early in the lifecycle. Plan Phase The focal point of this phase is developing the project scope into a stable project plan, which will be later used to guide the project through the project life cycle and fulfill the business requirements (Hinds IT Management). Start-off meeting: This is the kick-off meeting in which the project manager sets guidelines for project execution, reviews the Project Overview Statement and lays down the expectations from the project team. Timelines, approach, assumptions and constraints are discussed in this meeting. There is a conscious effort to dispel any doubts that team members may harbor. The minutes of this meeting is documented. Project Approach: The objective of this activity is to define a solution for the project and to identify the method to deliver the solution. An implementation approach to meet the project goals is developed. Policies and standards are laid down. This activity also validates the planning activities required. Various methods in which the project objectives can be achieved are evaluated and the best adopted. Components from other projects that can be applied in the project under consideration are identified. A rationale is provided for the adoption of the particular project approach. The project approach is documented. Quality Strategy: The quality strategy to be adopted for the project is determined. The project manager and his team decide which Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities will be carried out during the course of the project lifecycle. A list of Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities is developed. Work Breakdown Structure: The project is broken down and decomposed into smaller components of activity units, sub tasks and work packages. This enables the manager to estimate the duration of the project more objectively, determine the resources that would be required and also work out a schedule for project execution. It provides the management with enhanced control. A work break down structure evolves out of this activity. This activity is an element of the work plan. Time and Cost Estimate: The time and cost for each task is estimated depending upon the resources available and capability. The time and cost estimate that is drawn up becomes an input for the work plan. Schedule Development: This activity documents the various tasks that need to be executed during the course of the project lifecycle and then assigns responsibilities and establishes timelines for the tasks. Dependencies between various tasks are highlighted. Resources are assigned to the tasks, quality reviews and testing are planned. This activity ensures that the project is completed on time and that the business aspect of the overview statement is addressed. Once the overall schedule is available, the project manager is responsible for monitoring the progress closely. The deliverable of this activity is the work plan. Risk Management Strategy Plan: This activity develops a complete plan for handling risks pertaining to the project. It defines how risks will be identified, who will do so and at what frequency risks will be identified. It adopts a risk monitoring toll, sets the risk escalation matrix and defines how to handle issues with high risk probability. The roles and responsibilities for the risk management process are accorded. Communications Management Plan: This plan is developed to ensure flow of required information to all team members. Access methodologies are worked out, information is categorized according to target groups and overall communication systems defined. Issue Management Plan: An issue management process is defined in this activity. The objective of the activity is to ensure that issues are identified, evaluated and assigned for resolution. An issue log is documented and tracked. Quality Assurance Plan: This plan is implemented to validate that the major activities and processes are completed with an acceptable level of quality. Acceptance criteria for deliverables, quality assurance activities, in-process control plans, and quality-related responsibilities are defined. Frequency of project plan reviews, frequency of receiving and sending status reports, and frequency of checking for process improvements are determined. Resource Plan: This plan is developed to determine the resources that will be required during the various phases of the Project Lifecycle. It also takes into consideration the need training programs or other value-addition processes. The type and amount of resources needed are determined. The estimated output, availability, and cost of the resources are determined. Procurement Plan: This plan draws up the procurement strategy. The scope and type of products and services that are to be procured are outlined. Procurement responsibilities are fixed and assigned. Vendor evaluation criteria and approval procedures are set. Operational Transfer Plan: This activity ensures the smooth activation of the project. Installation processes and related roles and responsibilities are identified. Pre-requisites for smooth rollout of processes are tracked and planned for. Stephenson et. al. (2000) in the Mars Climate Orbiter Mishap Investigation Board puts high importance on this activity. Referring to NASA operations it states that â€Å"close attention should be paid from project outset to the plan for transition between development and operations. Adequate systems engineering staffing, particularly a mission systems engineer, should be in place to provide a bridge during the transition between development and operations, and also to support risk management trade studies.† Integrated Project Plan: This activity enables proper co-ordination of the project. Roles and responsibilities are identified. Reviews are planned; all aspects of the project are examined to ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration. Team Assignment: Team assignment is done to ensure that individuals with appropriate skills are assigned to the relevant group and area of work. The Project Manager balances resource availability with the Work Plan. Work packages are defined and assigned and any questions and conflicts regarding work packages are resolved. Management Approval for next Phase: Management approval is given for the next phase based on analyses of status reports and feedbacks. Planning takes a lot of patience. A traditional mistake is to leap before one is ready. When there is pressure to deliver, the temptation is to ‘get the ball rolling’ (Jenkins, 2006). Launch Phase Initial Meeting: The project manager informs the team members of the ground rules of the project, the working style, the communication plan and the escalation process for conflict resolution. The minutes of the meeting is documented for reference. Initial Risk Identification: Risks are identified and categorized during the course of this activity. For each risk identified, the risk event is assessed in terms of likelihood of occurrence and its effect on project objectives if it were to occur. The objective is to ensure that the entire team is involved in the identification of risks for the project. This ensures that all perspectives are taken into account while planning for risks. Team Readiness: This activity consists of preparing each member of the team to handle the roles and responsibilities that has been assigned to the person. Training programs, workshops and seminars are organized for skill and knowledge updating. Key goals are identified for each team member. Within the team, each role is accountable for the activities necessary to achieve its own quality goal (Microsoft, 2002). Manage Phase The project plan is executed in the Manage Phase. The primary purpose of project management during this phase is to monitor, evaluate and communicate project progress and to define and implement corrective measures if progress does not meet the expectations defined in the Project Plan (Heinsights, 2003). This phase comprises the following activities: Performance Tracking and Reporting: The overall objective is to track the progress of the project and to ensure that the project is progressing at a satisfactory rate. Cost, time, scope and quality are tracked along with actual accomplishments and results. All persons associated with the project are provided access to the progress records. Team meetings are held to exchange information. The status of the project is reported to the relevant stakeholders. Weekly status reports and tracked project schedules are the outcomes of this activity. Schedule Control: The objective of this activity is to ensure that tasks are executed as per the Work Plan so that the deadline for the project can be met. If there is any possibility of delays, the relevant stakeholders are informed.   The project manager tracks the various tasks in a project by exchanging task status information with team members and then incorporating the latest status information into the project Work Plan. If the any task, schedule or resource information changes, the Project Manager communicates the revised Work Plan to the project team. The outcome of this activity is the tracked work plan. Change Control: However meticulous the planning may have been, all projects need to accommodate changes. The objective of this activity is to ensure that all changes to scope are documented and authorized by the relevant stakeholders.   Any change to the scope is communicated to the project manager. Change requests are put up to the project manager who approves or denies the request in consultation with the management. Cost Control: This activity ensures that the project cost adheres as closely as possible to the budgeted cost. Since costs are agreed upon at the beginning by the sponsors, the project manager has to monitor the costs and report any deviation of project cost from the budget cost to the sponsor or customer. A status report documents project costs in the various phases of the project. Quality Assurance and Control: This process comprises project reviews, product reviews, code reviews, testing, and any other process that the Project Manager might think necessary. Defects are identified, and categorized. Root causes are analyzed. This activity is carried out with the objective of ensuring that the project team meets the project requirements in terms of all requisite quality criteria. Monitoring and Controlling consists of those processes performed to observe project execution so that potential problems can be identified in a timely manner and corrective action can be taken, when necessary, to control the execution of the project (Wikipedia, 2008). Procurement Management: The objective is to ensure adherence to the procurement plan and procedures so that the selection procedure is fair and the quality of supplies and services are acceptable. Risk Management: Risk management follows the Risk Management Plan that was adopted in the Plan Phase. The management monitors all risks with a risk exposure over the threshold limit. Risk mitigation strategies are planned and contingency plans are developed. The Risk Matrix is revisited at an appropriate frequency. Information Distribution: This activity ensures that all parties concerned have easy access to relevant information in accordance with the information sharing plan. All relevant information needs to be communicated to the appropriate parties at the right time and in the appropriate format. Time Tracking and Management: This activity is concerned with the logging of all time spent on the project. Time spent is tracked at a project level, and analyzed at an organizational level. The output is in the form of time sheets and variance reports. Management Approval for next phase: Management approval is given for the next phase based on analyses of status reports and feedbacks. Close Phase This consists of bringing the project to an orderly end: formalizing and communicating the acceptance or conclusion of a project, handing over to the ongoing accountable area, completing an Activity Completion Report and, for major projects, holding a post implementation review (QUT, 2008) Transition to Production: The Operational Transfer Plan is carried out after the required checks are done. This activity ensures that all planned testing is carried out, all customer requirements are met and that the product is fully operational. Customer acceptance of the product is ensured before commencing production. Wrap-up Meeting: This final meeting is again called by the project manager to take stock of everything that has happened in the course of the project. Lessons Learned: Lessons learned during the project are documented and incorporated in the knowledge base for future use. The ‘lessons learned’ document is developed and deposited in the knowledge base. Administrative Closure: The Project Manager ensures that the project is approved and accepted by the relevant stakeholders. All documentation and records are reviewed, organized and archived. Backups are taken. Resources are released and the project is closed. This activity marks the final closure of the project. References -01 Heinsights, 2003, Project Management Lifecycle, Development Standard. Hinds IT Management, Project Management Life Cycl, Lilla Nyby; Valmerdalen, Sweden. Jenkins, N., 2006, A Project Management Primer, Creative Commons, California, USA. Microsoft Solutions Framework, 2002, White Paper, MSF Project Management Discipline. MPMM, 2007, Project Management Life Cycle, [Online] Available http://www.mpmm.com/project-management-methodology.php [March 1, 2008] NYS Project Management Guidebook, 2003, Project Management Lifecycle, [Online] Available. http://www.oft.state.ny.us/pmmp/guidebook2/Origination.pdf [March 1, 2008]    QUT, 2008, Project Phases, [Online] Available. http://www.its.qut.edu.au/pp/framework/pmfphases/   [March 1, 2008] Stephenson, A., G., Mulville, D., R., Bauer, F., H., Dukeman, G., A., Norvig, P., LaPiana, L., S., Rutledge, P., J., Folta, D., Sackheim, R., 2000, Report on Project Management in NASA, Mars Climate Orbiter Mishap Investigation Board Wikipedia, 2008, Project Management, [Online] Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management   [March 1, 2008]   

The First Appendectomy

Celeste Chen Ms. Filowitz Language Arts 1 (Pre-IB) Period 5 7 September 2012 Writing Assignment #1: Author’s Purpose When composing a literary selection, an author has a point he or she wants to put across. There is a purpose, whether it be of the conscious or subconscious mind, almost every time an author composes. In Dr. Nolen’s case, he crafted this selection, â€Å"The First Appendectomy†, to inform the reader of the challenges of a young surgeon.To begin with, it is shown in many different ways that Dr. Nolen wanted to inform his reader of the issues a young doctor faces. Dr. Nolen writes with an urgency and a sense of a ticking clock, as shown in his frequent usage of measurements of time. â€Å"He could have tied off all the vessels in two minutes. It took me twenty. † (149) Therefore, the reader can infer from the selection, that the work of a surgeon is difficult and stressful, as a surgeon is racing against time as he or she is operating.The dang ers of going over time are prominent enough to extract much needed confidence, for an efficient surgery, from the heart of an amateur. Dr. Nolen wants to inform the reader on the challenges a young surgeon faces, such as forgetting how to perform a certain task, stressing over how much time is left and trying to impress a senior advisor. Dr. Nolen forgets how to perform this simple appendectomy. â€Å"†¦ for the life of me could not decide where to make the incision. (147) It is apparent, that Dr. Nolen wanted to exhibit the obstacles of a first-time surgeon. Having a purpose to compose a selection is very important for an author, for it sets the tone of the piece. Dr. Nolen decided to inform readers on how a young surgeon struggles in his first surgery. Many people do not quite realize how stressful and nerve-wracking a surgery can be, and Dr. Nolen writes this piece to show to the public exactly that.

A Hypothesis Is a Claim

A hypothesis is a claim Population mean The mean monthly cell phone bill in this city is ? = $42 Population proportion Example: The proportion of adults in this city with cell phones is ? = 0. 68 States the claim or assertion to be tested Is always about a population parameter, not about a sample statistic Is the opposite of the null hypothesis e. g. , The average diameter of a manufactured bolt is not equal to 30mm ( H1: ? ? 30 ) Challenges the status quo Alternative never contains the â€Å"=†sign May or may not be provenIs generally the hypothesis that the researcher is trying to prove Is the opposite of the null hypothesis e. g. , The average diameter of a manufactured bolt is not equal to 30mm ( H1: ? ? 30 ) Challenges the status quo Alternative never contains the â€Å"=†sign May or may not be proven Is generally the hypothesis that the researcher is trying to prove Is the opposite of the null hypothesis e. g. , The average diameter of a manufactured bolt is not e qual to 30mm ( H1: ? ? 30 ) Challenges the status quo Alternative never contains the â€Å"=†sign May or may not be provenIs generally the hypothesis that the researcher is trying to prove If the sample mean is close to the stated population mean, the null hypothesis is not rejected. If the sample mean is far from the stated population mean, the null hypothesis is rejected. How far is â€Å"far enough† to reject H0? The critical value of a test statistic creates a â€Å"line in the sand† for decision making — it answers the question of how far is far enough. Type I Error Reject a true null hypothesis Considered a serious type of error The probability of a Type I Error is ? Called level of significance of the testSet by researcher in advance Type II Error Failure to reject a false null hypothesis The probability of a Type II Error is ? Type I and Type II errors cannot happen at the same time A Type I error can only occur if H0 is true A Type II error can o nly occur if H0 is false Critical Value Approach to Testing For a two-tail test for the mean, ? known: Determine the critical Z values for a specified level of significance ? from a table or computer Decision Rule: If the test statistic falls in the rejection region, reject H0 ; otherwise do not reject H0State the null hypothesis, H0 and the alternative hypothesis, H1 Determine the appropriate test statistic and sampling distribution Determine the critical values that divide the rejection and nonrejection regions Collect data and compute the value of the test statistic Make the statistical decision and state the managerial conclusion. If the test statistic falls into the nonrejection region, do not reject the null hypothesis H0. If the test statistic falls into the rejection region, reject the null hypothesis. Express the managerial conclusion in the context of the problem p-Value Approach to Testing -value: Probability of obtaining a test statistic equal to or more extreme than the observed sample value given H0 is true The p-value is also called the observed level of significance H0 can be rejected if the p-value is less than ? Hypothesis Testing: ? Unknown If the population standard deviation is unknown, you instead use the sample standard deviation S. Because of this change, you use the t distribution instead of the Z distribution to test the null hypothesis about the mean. When using the t distribution you must assume the population you are sampling from follows a normal distribution.All other steps, concepts, and conclusions are the same. One-Tail Tests In many cases, the alternative hypothesis focuses on a particular direction H0: ? ? 3 H1: ? < 3 This is a lower-tail test since the alternative hypothesis is focused on the lower tail below the mean of 3 H0: ? ? 3 H1: ? > 3 This is an upper-tail test since the alternative hypothesis is focused on the upper tail above the mean of 3 Proportions Sample proportion in the category of interest is denoted by p W hen both X and n – X are at least 5, p can be approximated by a normal distribution with mean and standard deviationPotential Pitfalls and Ethical Considerations Use randomly collected data to reduce selection biases Do not use human subjects without informed consent Choose the level of significance, ? , and the type of test (one-tail or two-tail) before data collection Do not employ â€Å"data snooping† to choose between one-tail and two-tail test, or to determine the level of significance Do not practice â€Å"data cleansing† to hide observations that do not support a stated hypothesis Report all pertinent findings including both statistical significance and practical importance

Summary ( Proof reading) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary ( Proof reading) - Essay Example It also found emerging evidence of benefits for asthma and bone health. Report’s co-author and Omega-3 Centre Executive Director Wendy Morgan said lack of omega-3s could also be setting up children for major chronic illnesses, particularly heart disease, in adulthood. "What they are eating now is going to influence their risk of a heart attack in later life," she said. "There is a huge amount of evidence looking at the many roles of long chain omega-3s in helping reduce the risk of heart disease." The report found children aged 14 and over needed 500mg a day of long-chain omega-3s for optimal health. But most children consumed only 34mg to 118mg per day. Ms Morgan, a dietician, said most children were lucky to eat one meal of fish per week, but they needed two or three meals of oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and herrings, each week to meet the daily 500mg target. Deakin University’s Human Nutrition Expert Professor Andrew Sinclair said the problem was that many children did not like fish. "The intake of omega-3s in Australian children is very low because most kids these days are such fussy eaters," he said. "They often just dont like fish and certainly steer away from other seafood which are naturally rich in these healthy long-chain omega-3 nutrients. â€Å"Parents need to be aware of this current enormous shortfall and find more creative ways to help their children consume more essential omega-3 nutrients." Ms Morgan said many foods were now enriched with omega-3s. These included milk, bread, yogurt, snack bars and even frozen chips. She said that while the amount of omega-3s in these enriched foods was usually small, every little bit helped. Long-chain omega-3s are an essential nutrient taken up by every cell in the body. But they are not produced by the body and must be taken in through diet. Oily fish are the best sources, but other

British airways flight 5390 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

British airways flight 5390 - Essay Example Conclusions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9 6. Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 7. Student’s declaration†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 8. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 Abstract Engineers have made certain decisions concerning the maintenance of aircrafts that have led to accidents. The BAC1-11 (British Airways Flight 5390) is an examp le of an aircraft which had an accident due to maintenance incompetence and lack of ethical considerations. The case study summary puts into perspective the events that led to the accidents, as well as the causes. In addition, the discussion section looks into the possible interpretations on who is responsible for the accident occurrence as well as the IPENZ code of conduct practices that were not adhered to. The conclusion presents the lessons that have been learned from the accident, the findings of the report and the limitations of the study. BAC1-11 (British Airways Flight 5390) Accident Introduction Aircraft accidents have occurred all over the world due to various reasons. The main aim of this paper is to find out the role of Shift maintenance engineers in servicing aircrafts according to the code of ethics required. Several accidents have occurred due to the failure by the engineers to, accurately follow quality guidelines while servicing aircrafts. However, the engineers mig ht not be blamed as such because there were inspection bodies charged with the responsibility to assess the quality of aircraft as serviced by engineers. The Birmingham airways management will be evaluated to find out their contribution in the accident. The failure to inspect the quality of aircrafts may be responsible for accidents. The report will establish possible solutions that can prevent future accidents from occurring. Engineers have the responsibility of using quality equipments that can ensure human safety. Limitations of the Case Study The report will not look at the manufacturer’s role in designing quality windscreens that can withstand cabin pressure. The report is restricted to the circumstances that led to the accident but not to the manufacture’s credentials in coming up with quality products. Consequently, this report does not look at the legal issues that may arise due to poor engineering services as well as compensation needs for the affected passeng ers. Other issues concerning pilots and the cabin screw and the capacity to provide quality services during the accident will not be looked into. Case Study Summary The BAC1-11 (British Airways Flight 5390) was involved in an accident while travelling from Birmingham to Malaga, Spain, on June 10, 1990. The aircraft’s windscreen, which had been replaced before the flight, blew out due to cabin pressure. The aircraft had 81 passengers onboard when it took off from the Birmingham International Airport at 0720 hrs. At about 0733 hrs, when the cabin crew staff had just started to serve meals and drinks to the crew, a loud bang occurred as the aircraft was climbing through 17,300 feet pressure altitude (King, Whidborne, Culling and Vance, nd). Due to the incident that caused the loud explosion, the commander of the aircraft was partially sacked out of his windscreen aperture. The fight deck door had been blown off onto the flight deck. The commander was,

Organizational Structures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Structures - Essay Example Adversarial communication can be solved by making flatter hierarchal structures so that communication channels don’t get distorted via the long hierarchy structures of the organisation. Competition for internal resources can be solved by managing by forming team structures within the employees so that a healthy competitive environment is maintained (Robbins and Judge 2007). The steps for managing the transition from the old organizational structure to the new would be a very challenging process. Handling employees and motivating them to accept the change in a positive manner has to be critically dealt by the manager. The employees need to be shown the positive side of the change in organizational structure so that they realize the advantages of this structure and hence except the change. In the transition stage of the change in organizational structure, there will be resistance faced from the employees in adapting the new structure and the new reporting lines of the hierarchy. Also if managers reduce the span of control under each division then also the work processes of the organisation can be controlled in an efficient manner (Robbins and Judge 2007). The change needs to be taken calmly by the manager and the manager needs to assure the employees that the change is being done for the betterment of the organisation. Kurt Lewin’s change theory needs to be applied that states the first stage is Unfreeze that is inform the employees about the change, then implement the change, and then finally refreeze the employees at that stage (Thompson and Strickland 2003). The external business environment may cause complications for the business at start as the business would be under the process of experiencing organizational structure change. Nevertheless, the manager needs to speed up the process, adapt in a fast manner to the external business conditions and delegate the appropriate authorities to the subordinates

Art history research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art history - Research Paper Example Various artworks came up as a result of colonization, particularly right about the time when Europe took interest in colonization. One particular artwork that peaked my interest is that of ‘The Women of Algiers in their Apartment’ by a French artist called Eugene Delacroix. Laurel Ma wrote an article about this painting. Eugene Delacroix was a popular French artist whose artwork was hailed all over Europe. Therefore it didn’t come as a surprise when the state of France decided to tag him along on a diplomatic mission to North Africa just two years since Algiers was invaded. This was around the time Delacroix drew the painting of The Women of Algiers in their Apartment in 1834. The timing that the painting came out, which is also the time the French went to Algiers, is suspicious and rightfully so. It tends to shed some light on the imperialist intentions that the French had towards Algiers. Most paintings by the Orientalists were prejudiced against the Orients in such a way as to incite the Westerners to colonize them in the name of doing them a favor. Most of it revolved around sex in particular. The Orientalists would draw paintings with naked women in them as if waiting for the European men to come and save them from the supposed tyranny of their husbands. Of course, a great deal of this work was more of imagination than reality. All the more reason why Delacroix’s work received major applause as it was seen to be more authentic and the fact that it contains aspects that make it seem both imaginative and real caught a lot of people’s attention. The Women of Algiers in their Apartment clearly shows the lifestyle of the people of North Africa. The women often stayed in their harem, which is a sacred place restricted only to the women and their husband. No other person other than the servants was allowed in the harem. Delacroix draws a harem with three women in it along with one black servant woman holding the curtain. Contrary to popular belief as depicted by the works of other Orientalists, the women in this painting do not in any way suggest any sexual intentions. This came as a confusion to many as people were used to paintings with naked women obviously arousing and inviting the sexual desires off those who saw it. In other words, the regular paintings were demeaning to the cultures and values of the people in the East. In Delacroix’s painting the women are fully clothed, almost in a way to suggest that they are overdressed. This could be seen as the painter’s way of proving a point, trying to atone for the mistakes off his fellow artists by clearly stating that the women in the Orients were respectable and were not to e objectified sexually. The painting doesn’t show women yearning or the presence of a man, rather they are comfortable and content with the current situation where they have time to themselves. The room in the painting is lavished with oriental objects such as glas s vases and various patterns on the furniture that relate to the style associated with Orients. There is a servant drawing a curtain. This is to depict the dramatic way in which the harem is unveiled for the authorized Muslim male but now in the painting, the colonizer gets a glance of what he shouldn’t see. The women in the painting are covered in blankets to confirm the stereotype that suggests

Geographical information system and agriculture Research Paper

Geographical information system and agriculture - Research Paper Example In the long run, commonly referenced data can be superimposed to determine relationships between data components. Geographic information system (GIS) software applies relational database management technologies to consign a series of attributes to every spatial characteristic (Longley et al 86). Ordinary aspect identification keys are used to associate the spatial and attribute data among tables. For example, a soil polygon can be associated to a chain of database tables that explains chemical composition, its mineral, crop yield, slope, land use suitability, and other features. Another aspect of Geographic information system (GIS) is that it provides the capability to coalesce series of data into a multiple data layer that may later be a base layer in the database. For instance, demography, slope, wetlands, hydrography, soils and land use can be merged to develop a solitary layer of proper hazardous waste storage sites (Longley et al 140). These data, in turn, may be integrated into the listing database of local government and applied for regulatory and planning evaluations.GIS software normally allows for two kinds of data. Some use raster data i.e. satellite imagery while others use vectors to represent features on the surface of the earth. Most systems allow for complete integration of both types of data (Pierce and David, 11). A GIS can be used to explain basic locational questions such as what is positioned at a given level on the earth surface; or where is the exact element located? At the same time, soils data across the entire watershed can be asked to determine the distribution of regions with hydric soils of huge than 100 acres and are linked to key river system (Pierce and David, 15). Geographic information system (GIS) is becoming the dais of choice for mixing and analyzing enormous range of data in the field of agriculture due to the ability to analyze those data flow and display

Social capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social capital - Essay Example 42) and intricacy and complexity associated with the word has not been reduced since then. But William Sewell (2008, p. 42) goes on to explain that culture is that part of the social life that needs to be separated from the actual human existence constituting economics, biology or politics. The concept culture has itself intrigued our lives and is the most crucial component of human existence yet its constituting elements are different for the people living in the different areas of the world. We are all identified and recognized by our culture we have adopted while living in our own family, society and even our country. Mathew Arnold, the nineteenth century poet and essayist, used the term culture to speak about as model of individual human refinement as he opined that culture means, â€Å"the best that has been thought and said in the world† (1999, p. 190). This conceptual analysis of this culture is quite similar to the German concept of the term bildung (Arnold 1999, p. 19 0). In other words it is an attempt to achieve total precision and a way of knowing others on the matters which are of deep concern to us. Yet the word itself is shrouded in the most debacle position as different propounders, anthropologists and even socialists are explaining the term in different contexts. They go on to the extent of explaining culture as a part of a science as it is associated with the human evolution, while others suggest that it germinates in the minds of the individuals who are more and more linked to their ancestral roots. Cultural socialists felt the necessity to show that culture has an impact on the upbringing of the children and to gain their identity and recognition in the society. This allowed many to formulate the culture as assortment of different items whose impact on the behavior can be scrupulously compared to that of standard sociological variables like class, gender, ethnicity, economic interest and level of education (Sewell 2008, p. 45). It was thus assumed that culture as a system of symbols and meanings defined by Weberian, Parsonian and Durkheimian as ambiguous rather metaphorically it’s a collection of tools understood as a way of carrying out combined activities in the society (Sewell 2008, p. 45). In the United Kingdom, Stuart Hall, Raymond Williams and other scholars as well as sociologists greatly influenced by Marxism formed cultural studies, and connected the culture with consumer goods and services and leisure activities like music, film, art, food, sports etc. It is the various means of production that determine the class relations and how the goods and services are consumed by the large number of people. The term â€Å"cultural studies† was first coined in 1964 by Richard Hoggart when Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies was founded by him in Birmingham. Since then it has been associated with Stuart Hall as he became the next director after Hoggart (Munt 2000, p.4). In United States of Americ a, the terms culture and cultural studies connote the study of the popular culture (Munt 2000, p. 6), in other words, it is the way people feel themselves associated and share voices and ideas and about the things we make use of in the daily life. Today what constitutes culture is the way we live, eat, wear, behave in the

Portfolio, this is for ELS program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Portfolio, this is for ELS program - Essay Example My portfolio, as stated earlier is organized topic wise. These are the particular topics that have been covered in English Language studies. A table of contents that show the specific and their particular page numbers. Coupled up with their individual sub topics, this table of contents will act as a guide to where to find the specific information that needs to be evaluated. Folders have also been used to separate the sections of my work. This folders help to give a systematic arrangement of the samples that have been attached in this portfolio. Pictures of the specific assignments and tasks have also been attached in order to give a first hand recount of what the course was all about and the individual tasks that have been given and discussed. English Language studies is an advanced writing course that teaches sentences and multi paragraph essay writing. It also offers practiced of the specific topics of interest in the course. The course is a practical one that tends to involve the learners in every activity done. The activities are in terms of home works, assignments, timed writing, in class activities, peer evaluation and also writing assignments which all help to improve learners writing skills in English. The course focused on various topics that have been sampled in this portfolio. It helped to develop abilities on; Here we were able to learn more about noun phrases. Also the structure of these types of phrases was also focused on. We were given examples and samples of the phrases to help improve our understanding of Noun phrases. Apart from the structure, we also learnt on what the noun phrase are made up of; the head and the tail. The head is what determines the shape and use of the particular noun phrase. The position of noun phrases in sentences was also focused on. The position of these noun phrases helps to determine the

Arabic Knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Arabic Knowledge - Essay Example The knowledge of the Greeks, which was passed down to the Romans, would have been doomed to oblivion. However, due to the Arabs’ study of Greek knowledge and their distance from the effects of Rome’s downfall, many of the Greek studies in the humanities, sciences and mathematics were saved. In the study of humanities, the Arabs were able keep texts of philosophy in reference to renowned Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. Arab scholars such as Ibn-Sina or Avicenna and Ibn Rushd or Averroes were able to preserve the philosophical teachings of Aristotle and Plato with their own understanding and interpretation of their philosophical concepts. This led to the development on Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism, which later on was adopted by Christian monk-philosophers like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas of Aquinas. Western philosophy was possible due to the Arab preservation of Greek classical philosophy as the Roman Empire dissolved by the barbarian invasions and

Lessons Form the Classroom Essay Example for Free

Lessons Form the Classroom Essay A. I think my main strength is that I like interacting with people. In my career thus far I have worked in multi-disciplinary teams, made daily presentations and managed teams so working with people is natural and comfortable for me. I’m friendly, inclusive and approachable. I think this is an asset that will carry me far as a teacher. I have experienced teachers who were intimidating and I found it detrimental to my learning. I want my students to feel comfortable to ask me anything, repeat anything, or explain anything. I think that as time progresses in the classroom I’ll be able to develop good relationships with the students where they feel safe and uninhibited. I am naturally and therefore normally well organised and prepared which I think is a key skill in ELT. At my university induction lecture the speaker said ‘fail to plan, and plan to fail’ which I think was valuable advice and which has stuck with me. Planning my lessons appropriately helps me to better understand what I’m teaching, embeds it in my mind so I’m more confident in delivering it and helps me to predict possible problems and their solutions. I think that as my confidence and skills grow I will be able to compose highly detailed lesson plans that will deliver my objectives. I am a creative person and like devising innovative approaches to problems. I like to challenge the standard to create new ways of doing things. The results have engaged and generated new perspectives. I hope this will translate well into the classroom where I can devise games and exercises that will appeal to the students and accelerate their learning. As my confidence, knowledge and skills develop I plan to combine my own methods into my teaching. My main weakness is my inability to express grammar rules and understand grammatical terminology such as ‘present continuous’. Although my primary school was strict with grammar, punctuation and spelling, we were not taught the labels of grammar terms beyond the basics of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. So whilst I can speak and write sentences that are clear and grammatically correct I am finding the terminology challenging. As an English language teacher this is obviously something that I need to remedy as soon as possible! I am studying several grammar reference books from the suggested reading list and using mind mapping to help me understand and learn the rules. I remind myself that I already know the grammar rules I just don’t know that I know them! I have never used an interactive white board (IWB) before and have historically been reluctant to embrace new technology so I have not made full use of it as yet. As the teachers have used the IWB extensively in classes I have seen how convenient and flexible it is. I am keen to address this challenge as I believe it will be enormously beneficial to me in the classroom and therefore improve and accelerate my learners’ experiences. I am going to take advantage of break times to practise using it to build my confidence and then set myself a deadline to incorporate it into a lesson. I am sure that after using it in a few lessons I will feel more composed and will easily integrate it into classes. I would like to improve my ability to communicate with the students in a more concise and succinct way. I have found that my instructions have been too complicated and lengthy and thus caused confusion. As well as cultivating this skill I’m going to try to integrate more gestures, demonstrations and pictures to resolve the issue. My research has produced a checklist for communication, (concise, concrete, clear, correct, coherent, complete), which I will use to test my instructions going forward. B. I have been impressed with the eliciting skills of the Celta teachers. In particular James Johnson has been demonstrating how to proficiently organise materials and structure questions to draw out desired responses. He is adept at posing questions that produce the target language or lexis. His seamless ability has demonstrated how effective this technique is in encouraging the students to think for themselves rather than simply giving them the answer, keeping them alert and assessing their language level as well as understanding of the concept being taught. In this way he truly engages with the students and thus his lessons are memorable. This is a very unnatural communication for me so to be able to smoothly incorporate this skill into my teaching would be a triumph for me. All of the teachers have a very calm, confident and charming disposition, which pervades the classroom. They are clearly highly skilled and experienced, which generates trust. I think these qualities are fundamental for effective learning. These qualities seem to be intrinsic to the instructors but I’m hoping that over time I will ripen or at least acquire the ability to convey a fraction of this demeanour. C. When I have completed my Celta training I will be just at the beginning of my career so continuing professional development will be paramount to consolidate what I’ve learned so far, keep my skills up to date, learn new and different techniques from other teachers and experts, and keep abreast of industry trends. I love learning and developing myself and regularly take classes, workshops and courses for fun and personal development as well as career development, so I am highly motivated to continue my ELT development. My research has made me aware of various online communities, which could be a great way to exchange ideas. I also intend to stay in touch with my peers on the course so we can continue to learn together, share experiences, ideas, problems and solutions.

Planning principles involved in developing a marketing strategy

Planning principles involved in developing a marketing strategy Yum! Brands Introduction Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., is the worlds largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with more than 37,000 restaurants in over 110 countries and territories and more than 1 million associates. Yum! is ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with nearly $11 billion in revenue in 2009. Four of our restaurant brands KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silvers are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, and Mexican style food and quick-service seafood categories. The Yum! system including 3 operating segments which are: U.S. market, Yum! Restaurants International, and China Division. In 2009, the Yum! expanded more than 4 new restaurants each day of the year outside of US, making it a leader in international retail development. Results for 2009 once again affirmed Yum! consistent record of success with 13% Earnings Per Share (EPS) growth, which marks the eighth straight year we delivered at least 13% growth and exceeded our 10% EPS growth target. Within 2009, the company opened more than 1,400 new restaurants outside the U.S. Moreover, Yum! brand maintained their Return on Investment Capital (ROIC) of 20% and continued to be an industry leader. YUM! Products KFC KFC is the leader in the chicken segment in the Singapore Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry. This is possible because rooted to its cores are simple but real values that allow KFC to offer only the best its customers. Captivating aroma that triggers your senses. A satisfying feast of hearty, mouth watering food specially prepared with the Colonels secret recipe. Generous portions of fresh, succulent side dishes. Salads to balance your diet. At KFC, the restaurant offer high quality and great tasting food in a popular array of complete meals such as Daily Savers Meals, WOW! Meal s and Family Feast, that enable the whole family to share a fun and satisfying experience with all affordability and convenience of Quick Service Restaurant. Pizza Hut Pizza hut operates in 84 countries and territories throughout the world under the name Pizza Hut and features a variety of pizza with different topping as well as pasta, salads, sandwiches and other food items and beverages. The distinctive decor features a bright red roof. Pizza Hut has been named the number one national pizza chain in America according to Restaurant Institution 2001 Choice in Chains survey. Pizza Hut is the recognized leader of $ 25 billion pizza category and has been since 1987. Building the leading pizza company has required innovation, a commitment to quality, and a dedication to service and value. But perhaps as much as anything, it has taken the qualities of entrepreneurship, growth and leadership, which have characterized its business through more than four decades of success. Taco Bell Taco Bell is an American restaurant chain based in Irvine, California. It specializes in Mexican-style food and quick service. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, other specialty items and a variety of Value Menu item. Recently, Taco Bell serves more than 2 billion consumers each year in more than 5,800 restaurants in the U.S., of which more than 80% are owned and operated by independent franchisees. Long John Silvers Long John Silvers, Inc. is a United States-base fast-food restaurant that specializes in seafood. The name and concept were by Robert Louis Stevensons book Treasure Island. Its headquarters are in Louisville, Kentucky. A W Restaurant A W Restaurants, Inc. is a chain of fast-food restaurants, distinguished by its draft root beer and root beer floats. AW was arguably the first successful food franchise company, starting franchise in 1921. Today it has franchise locations throughout the world, serving a typical fast food menu of hamburgers and fries, as well as hot dogs. A number of its outlets are drive-in restaurants with carhops. The company name was taken from the last name initials of partners Roy Allen and Frank Wright. The chain is currently owned by Yum! Brands. Yum! Vision Strategy Yum! brands are committed to continuing the success realized during our first ten years. Our success has only just begun as we look forward to the future, one which promises a long runway for growth, especially on an international level. Yum! is building a vibrant global business by focusing on four key growth strategies. Build leading brands across china in every significant category Our experienced and tremendous local team led by our Vice Chairman of Yum! Brands and President of China, Sam Su, grew our profits a whopping 25% in 2009 on top of 28% in 2008. You dont need to be a math major (and Im not!) to easily calculate thats over 50% growth in two years. The good news is that we achieved these results even though our same store sales were slightly negative as the consumer generally lagged Chinas relatively strong economic growth. We added a record 509 new units in Mainland China and now have nearly 3,500 restaurants that generated near record restaurant margins of 20% in 2009. In spite of this robust profit growth, some investors have asked: Is Yum!s recent relatively weak same store sales performance in Mainland China an early indicator that something is wrong with the business or Yum! is growing too fast? We believe the answer is definitively NO! Drive aggressive international expansion and build strong brands everywhere. Yum! Restaurants International, which operates in over 110 countries and territories outside the US and China, continues to deliver on this strategy as it delivered 5% system sales and profit growth both excluding foreign currency translation which negatively impacted our reported profits by 11 percentage points in 2009. We treasure this divisions high return franchising model with over 90% of our new restaurants built by franchisees that generate over $650 million in franchise fees, requiring minimal capital on our part. Driven by this franchisee development machine, we opened nearly 900 new restaurants in over 75 countries. Thats the tenth straight year we have opened more than 700 new units and our pipeline remains strong as we go into 2010. Dramatically Improve U.S. Brand Positions, Consistency and Returns. Theres no question 2009 was a very disappointing year for our US business. Overall our same store sales declined 5% as we grew profits only 1%, led primarily by a restructuring initiative we took the prior year which yielded a $65 million decrease in our general and administrative expenses. Nevertheless, we remain confident were taking the right steps to deliver stronger brand positioning, higher returns and consistent growth performance to tap the inherent sales opportunity and ultimate value in our 18,000 restaurants. And the good news is we have the marketing strength to do so with category leading brands along with outstanding unit economics on a stand-alone basis. We also have a system that generates a steady earnings stream of over $700 million in franchise and licensing fees. As we go forward, our strategy is to better leverage our large US restaurant asset base and all our restaurants around the world with what we have coined incremental sales layers in these 5 areas: 1) More options for consumers across our menu. 2) More contemporary beverage options unique desserts. 3) Expanded day parts, especially breakfast. 4) Broader protein offerings. 5) Contemporary assets. Drive Industry-leading Long-term Shareholder and Franchisee Value Extremely proud and continue to be a leader among consumer companies with return on invested capital at 20%. The companies defined a global cash machine, with each of our divisions generating free cash flow or effectively funding their own capital investments. As this capital is deployed to high growth opportunities. Planning principles Marketing planning is the process that leads to the creation of a marketing plan. The marketing plan is a systematic design for achieving the objectives of creating value for customers and competitive advantage, growth, and profitability for the organization. Steps of the planning principle can be described as following: Strategy Before Tactics Develop the strategic marketing plan first. This entails emphasis on scanning the external environment, identifying early forces emanating from it, and developing appropriate strategic responses. Involve all levels of management in the process. A strategic plan covers a period of three to five years. Only when this plan has been developed and agreed upon is a one-year operational marketing plan developed. Never write the one-plan first and extrapolate it. Situate Marketing Within Operations For the purpose of marketing planning, put marketing a close as possible to the customer. When practical, have both marketing and sales report to the same person, who is not the chief executive officer. Shared Values About Marketing Marketing is a management process whereby the resources of the entire organization are use to satisfy the needs of selected customer groups to achieve the objectives of both parties. Marketing is an attitude of mind rather than a series of functional activities. Structure Around Markets Organize company activities around customer group if possible rather than around functional activities, and conduct marketing planning done in these strategic business units. Without excellent marketing planning in strategic business units, corporate marketing planning is of limited value. Scan The Environment Thoroughly The following are requirements for an effective marketing audit: Checklists of questions customized according to level in the organization are prepared. The checklists form the basis of the organizations Marketing Information System (MIS). The marketing audit is required activity. Managers a not allowed to hide behind vague term, such as poor economic conditions. Managers are encouraged to incorporate the tools of marketing in their audits, such as product life cycles and portfolios. Summarize Information In SWOT Analyses Information is the foundation on which a marketing plan is built. From information (internal and external) comes intelligence. A SWOT analysis does the following: Focuses on each specific segment of crucial importance to the organizations future Is a summary emanating from the marketing audit. Is brief, interesting, and concise. Focuses on key factors only. Lists key external opportunities and threats only. Identifies the real issues, is not a list of unrelated points. Is clear enough for reader to grasp instantly the main thrust of the business, even to the point of being able to write marketing objectives. Answers the implied question which mean that..? to get the real implications. Does not leave out important fact, questions, and issues. Skills and Knowledge Ensure that all those responsible for marketing have necessary marketing knowledge and skills for the job. In particular, ensure that they understand and know how to sue the tools of marketing, such as the following: Information and scanning. Positioning. Market segmentation. Targeting. Product life cycle analysis. Portfolio management. Gap analysis. Boston Consulting Group matrix. Directional policy matrix. Four Ps of management-product, price, place, promotion. Marketing personnel also need communication and interpersonal skills. Systematize The Process It is essential to have a set of written procedures and a well-argues common format for marketing planning. The purposes of such a system are as follows: To ensure that all key issues are systematically considered To pull together the essential elements of the strategic plan in a consistent manner In a multi business enterprise, to help corporate management to compare diverse businesses and to understand the overall condition of and prospects for the organization. Sequence Objectives Ensure that all objectives are prioritized according to their impact on the organization and their urgency and that resource are allocated accordingly Style and Culture Marketing planning is not effective without the active support and participation of top management. But even with this support, the type of marketing planning has to be appropriate for phase of the organizational lifeline. This phase is measured before an attempt is made to introduce marketing planning. Accurately describe and critically evaluate a range of tools and techniques use to produce a strategic marketing plan Marketing Audit Marketing audit can be easily identified as an essential part of an efficient marketing planning process. It is a very important process that is not only carried out at the begging but also at regular intervals during the actual marketing planning process. A marketing audit has a lot of influence upon the marketing planning process through the various external and internal factors. There are a number of tools and techniques that are used during a marketing audit. Some of the tools are: SWOT Analysis: One of the most important tools of marketing audit is the SWOT or Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats analysis. This tool is of a lot of help to the marketers and is used at the beginning of the marketing audit process. The SWOT analysis comes along with a lot of advantages but it has some drawbacks as well. Some of the drawbacks of SWOT analysis are that it is very subjective and cannot be relied upon too much. Thus, it has always been recommended that the SWOT analysis be used as a guide in the marketing planning process and not as a prescription to the various problems. PEST Analysis: This is the analysis of the various factors that have an effect upon the marketing process. The organization undergoing a marketing analysis should be taking into consideration all the environmental factors and give it a thorough analysis. These environmental factors may be internal or external. The internal factors compromise of the staff and queries related to them. The external would be the external customers and the various distributors connected to the concern and the political and economic factors are also taken into consideration. Porter Five Force Analysis: This is an analysis that enables the marketer to have a clear picture of the competition outside in the market. This type of analysis has some similarities with the PEST analysis and is different in the sense that it focuses its attention upon a single business or a single concern. In this analysis the marketer basically goes through five basic areas of concern. These areas can be classified as the areas of treat of entry, the suppliers power the power of the buyers and also the threats revealed by the competitors and the rivals. Some of the advantages associated with this analysis are that it leads to economies of large scale with the help of mass purchase and sales. The various distribution channels can also be easily accessed and also finds out if the cost of switching over to some other supplier is low or not. Yum! Brands, Inc. SWOT Analysis The Yum! Brands, Inc. SWOT Analysis examines the companys key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. Strengths The Companys continuous expansion into Asia and other regions. Well-developed restaurant brands and exceptionally efficient and ever-improving restaurant operations. The idea of multi-branding which causes one establishment to appeal to varying customers. Strong advertising campaigns. Constant updating of menus and specials to appeal to current trends and fads. Weaknesses Some brands (concepts) may weigh down profits of top performing ones. Sensitivity to market fluctuations. Opportunities International expansion and growth. In domestic markets, turning one-brand units into multi-brand units to appeal to more customers, which will cut into competitors revenues. Improvement of operations. Threats The highly competitive nature of the restaurant industry. Entry of competitors into foreign markets first. Menu appeal. Yum! Brands (Yum Brands) operates franchises and licenses a chain of restaurant brands including Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers (LJS) and All America Food (AW). The company operates in over 110 countries around the globe. It is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and employs about 336,000 people. The company recorded revenues of $11,279 million during fiscal year ending December 2008 (FY2008), an increase of 8.3% over FY2007. The operating profit of the company was $1,506 million during FY2008, an increase of 11% over FY2007. The net profit was $964 million in FY2008, an increase of 6.1% over FY2007. Task 2 Examine A Range of Marketing Strategy Options Explain with clarity a range of marketing strategy options available and evaluate their benefits and limitations, using supporting examples. 4.1. The Porter Generic Strategy Model If the primary determinant of a firms profitability is the attractiveness of the industry in which it operates, an important secondary determinant is its position within that industry. Even though an industry may have below-average profitability, a firm that is optimally positioned can generate superior returns. A firm positions itself by leveraging its strengths. Michael Porter has argued that a firms strengths ultimately fall into one of two headings: cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths in either a broad or narrow scope, three generic strategies result: cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. These strategies are applied at the business unit level. They are called generic strategies because they are not firm or industry dependent. The following table illustrates Porters generic strategies: Target Scope Advantage Low Cost Product Uniqueness Broad (Industry Wide) Cost Leadership Strategy Differentiation Strategy Narrow (Market Segment) Focus Strategy (low cost) Focus Strategy (differentiation) Cost Leadership Strategy This generic strategy calls for being the low cost producer in an industry for a given level of quality. The firm sells its products either at average industry prices to earn a profit higher than that of rivals, or below the average industry prices to gain market share. In the event of a price war, the firm can maintain some profitability while the competition suffers losses. Even without a price war, as the industry matures and prices decline, the firms that can produce more cheaply will remain profitable for a longer period of time. The cost leadership strategy usually targets a broad market. Some of the ways that firms acquire cost advantages are by improving process efficiencies, gaining unique access to a large source of lower cost materials, making optimal outsourcing and vertical integration decisions, or avoiding some costs altogether. If competing firms are unable to lower their costs by a similar amount, the firm may be able to sustain a competitive advantage based on cost leadership. Firms that succeed in cost leadership often have the following internal strengths: Access to the capital required making a significant investment in production assets; this investment represents a barrier to entry that many firms may not overcome. Skill in designing products for efficient manufacturing, for example, having a small component count to shorten the assembly process. High level of expertise in manufacturing process engineering. Efficient distribution channels. Each generic strategy has its risks, including the low-cost strategy. For example, other firms may be able to lower their costs as well. As technology improves, the competition may be able to leapfrog the production capabilities, thus eliminating the competitive advantage. Additionally, several firms following a focus strategy and targeting various narrow markets may be able to achieve an even lower cost within their segments and as a group gain significant market share. Differentiation Strategy A differentiation strategy calls for the development of a product or service that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that customers perceive to be better than or different from the products of the competition. The value added by the uniqueness of the product may allow the firm to charge a premium price for it. The firm hopes that the higher price will more than cover the extra costs incurred in offering the unique product. Because of the products unique attributes, if suppliers increase their prices the firm may be able to pass along the costs to its customers who cannot find substitute products easily. Firms that succeed in a differentiation strategy often have the following internal strengths: Access to leading scientific research. Highly skilled and creative product development team. Strong sales team with the ability to successfully communicate the perceived strengths of the product. Corporate reputation for quality and innovation. The risks associated with a differentiation strategy include imitation by competitors and changes in customer tastes. Additionally, various firms pursuing focus strategies may be able to achieve even greater differentiation in their market segments. Focus Strategy The focus strategy concentrates on a narrow segment and within that segment attempts to achieve either a cost advantage or differentiation. The premise is that the needs of the group can be better serviced by focusing entirely on it. A firm using a focus strategy often enjoys a high degree of customer loyalty, and this entrenched loyalty discourages other firms from competing directly. Because of their narrow market focus, firms pursuing a focus strategy have lower volumes and therefore less bargaining power with their suppliers. However, firms pursuing a differentiation-focused strategy may be able to pass higher costs on to customers since close substitute products do not exist. Firms that succeed in a focus strategy are able to tailor a broad range of product development strengths to a relatively narrow market segment that they know very well. Some risks of focus strategies include imitation and changes in the target segments. Furthermore, it may be fairly easy for a broad-market cost leader to adapt its product in order to compete directly. Finally, other focusers may be able to carve out sub-segments that they can serve even better. A Combination of Generic Strategies Stuck in the Middle? These generic strategies are not necessarily compatible with one another. If a firm attempts to achieve an advantage on all fronts, in this attempt it may achieve no advantage at all. For example, if a firm differentiates itself by supplying very high quality products, it risks undermining that quality if it seeks to become a cost leader. Even if the quality did not suffer, the firm would risk projecting a confusing image. For this reason, Michael Porter argued that to be successful over the long-term, a firm must select only one of these three generic strategies. Otherwise, with more than one single generic strategy the firm will be stuck in the middle and will not achieve a competitive advantage. Porter argued that firms that are able to succeed at multiple strategies often do so by creating separate business units for each strategy. By separating the strategies into different units having different policies and even different cultures, a corporation is less likely to become stuck in the middle. However, there exists a viewpoint that a single generic strategy is not always best because within the same product customers often seek multi-dimensional satisfactions such as a combination of quality, style, convenience, and price. There have been cases in which high quality producers faithfully followed a single strategy and then suffered greatly when another firm entered the market with a lower-quality product that better met the overall needs of the customers. Generic Strategies and Industry Forces These generic strategies each have attributes that can serve to defend against competitive forces. The following table compares some characteristics of the generic strategies in the context of the Porters five forces. Generic Strategies and Industry Forces Industry Force Generic Strategies Cost Leadership Differentiation Focus Entry Barriers Ability to cut price in retaliation deters potential entrants. Customer loyalty can discourage potential entrants. Focusing develops core competencies that can act as an entry barrier. Buyer Power Ability to offer lower price to powerful buyers. Large buyers have less power to negotiate because of few close alternatives. Large buyers have less power to negotiate because of few alternatives. Supplier Power Better insulated from powerful suppliers. Better able to pass on supplier price increases to customers. Suppliers have power because of low volumes, but a differentiation-focused firm is better able to pass on supplier price increases. Threat of Substitutes Can use low price to defend against substitutes. Customers become attached to differentiating attributes, reducing threat of substitutes. Specialized products core competency protect against substitutes. Rivalry Better able to compete on price. Brand loyalty to keep customers from rivals. Rivals cannot meet differentiation-focused customer needs. Sources: Task 3 Explore the implications of changes in the marketing environment of organizations Assess the current changes in the marketing environment for an organization Changing Marketing Environment Professional marketing has become more important as advanced countries have shifted from a supply to a demand environment. For most of history the world has been characterised by insufficient supply: not enough food and material goods to meet human requirements. The key priority in the past has been improving production, purchasing and finance of trade. Today this has all changed. Now, the advanced countries are characterised by excessive supply. The central problem is attracting demand, not meeting it. Faced with an array of alternatives, the customer is spoiled for choice. The priority in management is how to identify and develop goods and services that are more attractive to customers than those of competitors. As the market environment changes, managers have to adapt their strategies and organization. Unless these changes are made obsolete by changes in customer wants, new technologies and new competitors that have adapted more effectively. Fashionisation: In the past fashion was identified with womens clothing. But today more and more markets watches, motorcycles, beer, cars, pharmaceuticals, cinema music, electronics goods, even management courses are characterised by annual model changes, rapid obsolescence and an unpredictable and fickle demand. Companies that cannot handle novelty, rapid model replacement, fashion and style see their market shares slipping and their profit margins. Without novelty and continual feature enhancement, the company will see its prices and market share relentlessly chiselled away. The original iPod was launched in 2001 and updated twice within the next year. By mid -2005 the range had grown to four basic models all targeted at different uses and users and positioned as the music fashion accessory. Micro-markets: The old textbooks to postulate that a company could between a differentiated and an undifferentiated strategy. An undifferentiated strategy is where a company makes a single product for the whole market. The usual example was Coca-Cola, which, it was said, offered one product, in one bottle size, at one price and with one advertising message to all customers, everywhere in the world. No longer. Even Coca-Cola is today offered in an increasing and bewildering variety of forms-new Coke, classic and cherry, with or without caffeine, diet Coke, in cans or in numerous bottle sizes, all advertised in various style and formats. Todays customers expect the manufacture to customise the product and service to their specific needs. Technology has made this variety expansion economically viable for companies. New flexible systems, such as computer-aided design and manufacturing and customised software, permit ever-finer market segmentation and product range expansion. Finally, the new communications technology makes it possible to deliver individual messages. Rising expectation: Changing environment Marketing strategy Organization for marketing Fashionisation Speed Breaking Hierarchies Micro-Markets Customisation Small Business Units Rising Expectations Quality Selt-Managing Teams Technology Information Networks Re-Engineering Competition Core Competences Strategic Alliances Globalisation Think Global Transnational Organisation Service Software Augmentation Learning Organisation Commoditisation Partnerships Account Management Erosion Of Brands Innovation Expeditionary Marketing New Constraints Stakeholders Role of the Broad The changing marketing environment and its implication 3.2: Analyse how an organization could respond to the changes Changing Organization for Marketing: The rapidly changing business environment makes existing products and marketing strategic obsolete. Companies have to become faster, more flexible, more innovative and capable of forging new partnerships with customer and suppliers. To put in place such strategies, however, requires sweeping organizational changes. Yesterdays giant organizations such as Marks Spencer, General Motors, ICI, Midland Bank, Sears an

Life Changing Experience Essay

Life Changing Experience Essay As we entered my grandmothers house one evening, usually greeted by a joyous hello from my grandmother, that evening we were greeted only by an Erie silence. As we cautiously proceeded to venture deeper into the abnormally quiet house, searching every room eagerly for my grandmother our innocent curiously was abruptly and violently shuttered by a horrifying shriek from my grandmother, as she fail to her knees gasping for air, clawing franticly at her chest, fighting to survive a merciless heart attack. Even though that moment occurred more than ten years ago still my mind is troubled by the terror of that day. None the less it was a moment that would forever change my life. As we slowly moved into the living room, a distressing sight met our eyes. Lying face down on a couch, my grandma lied red-faced and shaken. Suddenly, she was gulping for air. First, she grabbed a trash can, plunged her face into it and vomited with such violence that I was enveloped in a cold dark fear, feeling far to cruel for any child to face. Still at seven years old, I faced the terror of a heart attack in my house, and I experienced, for the first time, the reality that I could loose the person closest to me. After a while she looked at me from the corner of her eye as she raised her head from the trash can and forced out a feeble, Hi, only to vomit again while missing the trash can. My uncle looked at me in my watery eyes, put his hand on my back, and said, Let your grandma rest; she has been fighting bold and tough. My grandma, the love of my life, was now fighting to survive, everyday of her life. After the doctors said that she only has few weeks to live. I began to worry, the thought of growing up without a grandmother began to press down on my shoulder and loneliness began to over take me. I always felt disassociated from my peers. In elementary and middle school I was quiet, shy, and lonesome. I dread all human affection so much that I could not even look in the eyes of people who spoke to me. All the kids in school called me a bum, and I became an easy target for bullying. Soon after the bullying and depression started my grades began to diminish, and as my grade diminished so did my confidence, but it also made me feel that I had disappointed my grandmother, who cared so much about academics when she was healthy. I was humbled with every report card I showed her, knowing that she is disappointed. One day, I decided that I am going to change my life. Listening to other students stories of how well they do in school, I recalled my uncles words: Let your grandma rest; she has been fighting bold and tough. I then realized that the example of how to change my life had been ahead of me the entire time. My grandma had fought and struggled to survive her heart attack. By fighting it and surviving to live another day with her family, she had taught me in a clear way that I should never give up and that I could pass any barriers, so that I could create a better life for myself. I shaped my mind so that I would face the world bold and tough, and I would put off the tension, which had constrained my personality. I decided to shine as a student, and to improve my grades, and my talent with a moving passion. I decided to have no more delays, no more fear, and most importantly, I have decided that not to give up. More than any other turning point I have approached, I am proud of my success in knocking over my shyness. In ninth grade, I made the decision to join ESL, which would urge me to talk frequently with my classmates. I knew that my role as a student and class leader would teach me to speak confidently. My participation in this program worked and improved my character in a way I never thought possible. I now feel at ease among my peers. Last month I even hosted an event for the church, speaking comfortably in front of a large group. I am satisfied with the things I have changed in my life, and I owe the entire honor to my grandmother who has been by my side. Even as a bedridden heart patient, jolted by therapies, her example taught me to face challenges and to override them; no matter the nature of the challenge. Her struggle with heart attack became an example for me to improve myself. Even now, I continue to battle, swept with college exams. Despite the challenge, I continue unaffecte d, knowing that the best of my ability is my backbone to live bravely like my grandma and to overcome the challenges of life. I can never thank my grandma enough for what she has given me. My grandmother has become my role model. I hope that one day, many years from now she will say to me, I am proud of you my grandson; you have been fighting bold and tough.

Hippocrates, The Father Of Medicine :: essays research papers

Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hippocrates, greatest physician of antiquity, is regarded as the father of medicine. Born on the island of Kos, Greece in the year 460 b.c., says the earliest biography written by Soranus of Ephesus in the a third century a.d. Although a native of Kos he was forced to leave the island as the result of a fire for which he was blamed. He traveled to many other islands to practice medicine. Most of the cases in the two books of Epidemics considered to be genuine are located at Thasos, a small island in the North Aegean Sea, and at Abdera, a town on the adjacent mainland; but there are also references to Cyzicus, on the south coast of the Sea of Marmara, and to Larisa and Meliboea in Thessaly. He died, according to tradition, in Larissa, Greece; little else is known about him. His name is associated wioth the Hippocratic Oath, though he probably is not the author of the document. In fact, of the approximately 70 works ascribed to him in the Hippocratic Collection, Hippocrates may actually have written about six of them. The Hippocratic Collection probably is the remnant of the medical library of the famous Kos school of medicine. His teachings, sense of detachment, and ability to make direct, clinical observations probably influenced the other authors of these works and had much to do with freeing ancient medicine from superstition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Among the more significant works of the Hippocratic Collection is Airs, Waters, and Places, which, instead of ascribing diseases to divine origin, disusses their environmental causes. It proposes that considerations such as a town's weather drinking water, and site along the paths of favorable winds can help a physician ascertain the general health of citizens. Three other works- Prognostic, Coan Prognosis, and Aphorisms -advanced the then- revbolutionary idea that, by observing enough cases, a physician can predict the course of a disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea of preventative medicine, first concieved in Regimen and Regimen in Acute Diseases, sterss not only diet but also the patient's general

Is the World Developing a Homogenous Culture? Essay -- Globalization

In response to globalization, many critics have become concerned with its effects on other cultures. Globalization is not merely the sharing of goods and people, but also the spread of ideology and values. So, what happens when the ideologies of different nations conflict? For those who support the cultural imperialism theory, the answer is simple? The more powerful countries’ ideas prevail, forcing the people of the less powerful country to quickly abandon their former ideas and adapt to the new ones. The result is that authentic cultures are ruined which will lead to a global homogeneous culture. However, those who oppose this theory contend that cultures are not ruined but expanded and enhanced to create more complex and diverse societies. In my paper I examined both arguments as well as the way in which American popular culture is spread. In particular, I will focus on the impact of American influence in Japan and Korea, both of which have been receptive to Americ an culture, and France. Most often, scholars cite media and business as the main form of cultural imperialism, but what is the true effect of watching American television and movies, listening to music, or eating a Big Mac? I don’t believe that there is a significant impact because while people from other cultures may emulate common American images and ideas, they also find different ways to adapt these new ideas into their traditional culture. These different methods of adaptation will lead to an even more complex global culture instead of a homogeneous one, while concepts of ethnocentrism will maintain diversity. Theories First, what is culture? Furthermore, is it destructible? Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, the authors of Cultural Anthropology, r... ...cohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=16&hid=107&sid=c517a5a1-cad3-4e0a- 8850-8b75290ad3cc@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ== Rauth, R. (1988). The myth of cultural imperialism. The Freeman, 38(11), Retrieved from http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/the-myth-of-cultural-imperialism/ Rinaman, K. (n.d.). French film quotas and cultural protectionism . Retrieved from http://www1.american.edu/ted/frenchtv.htm Rothkopf, D. (1997). In praise of cultural imperialism?. Foreign Policy, (107), Retrieved from http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/protected/rothkopf.html Top 10 ways kfc in japan is different from kfc in the us . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.facingtherisingsun.com/japan-travel-tips-eating/japan-kfc-different U.S. Department of State. (2012, March 5). U.s. department of state. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4142.htm Is the World Developing a Homogenous Culture? Essay -- Globalization In response to globalization, many critics have become concerned with its effects on other cultures. Globalization is not merely the sharing of goods and people, but also the spread of ideology and values. So, what happens when the ideologies of different nations conflict? For those who support the cultural imperialism theory, the answer is simple? The more powerful countries’ ideas prevail, forcing the people of the less powerful country to quickly abandon their former ideas and adapt to the new ones. The result is that authentic cultures are ruined which will lead to a global homogeneous culture. However, those who oppose this theory contend that cultures are not ruined but expanded and enhanced to create more complex and diverse societies. In my paper I examined both arguments as well as the way in which American popular culture is spread. In particular, I will focus on the impact of American influence in Japan and Korea, both of which have been receptive to Americ an culture, and France. Most often, scholars cite media and business as the main form of cultural imperialism, but what is the true effect of watching American television and movies, listening to music, or eating a Big Mac? I don’t believe that there is a significant impact because while people from other cultures may emulate common American images and ideas, they also find different ways to adapt these new ideas into their traditional culture. These different methods of adaptation will lead to an even more complex global culture instead of a homogeneous one, while concepts of ethnocentrism will maintain diversity. Theories First, what is culture? Furthermore, is it destructible? Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, the authors of Cultural Anthropology, r... ...cohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=16&hid=107&sid=c517a5a1-cad3-4e0a- 8850-8b75290ad3cc@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ== Rauth, R. (1988). The myth of cultural imperialism. The Freeman, 38(11), Retrieved from http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/the-myth-of-cultural-imperialism/ Rinaman, K. (n.d.). French film quotas and cultural protectionism . Retrieved from http://www1.american.edu/ted/frenchtv.htm Rothkopf, D. (1997). In praise of cultural imperialism?. Foreign Policy, (107), Retrieved from http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/protected/rothkopf.html Top 10 ways kfc in japan is different from kfc in the us . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.facingtherisingsun.com/japan-travel-tips-eating/japan-kfc-different U.S. Department of State. (2012, March 5). U.s. department of state. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4142.htm

Free Essays On Shakespeares Sonnet 5 :: Sonnet essays

Analysis of Sonnet 5 Those hours that with gentle work did frame The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell Will play the tyrants to the very same, And that unfair which fairly doth excel: For never-resting time leads summer on To hideous winter and confounds him there, Sap check'd with frost, and lusty leaves quite gone, Beauty o'ersnow'd and bareness everywhere: Then were not summer's distillation left A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass, Beauty's effect with beauty were bereft, Nor ir nor no remembrance what it was. But flowers distill'd, though they with winter meet, Leese but their show: their substance still lives sweet. This sonnet is fairly easy to read and understand, but there are a few subtle ways Shakespeare makes it more interesting. First, the "which" in line 4 seems to mean "that", but a pun arises when read aloud allowing "witch" to be replaced. This is definitley an option when referring to "Those hours," significant of time, as seeing time as a witch. Shakespeare does not hold time in such high regard, and therefore we get a slightly altered reading of line 4: 'and that unfair witch hastens your increasing age by fair means'. In this reading, time is both fair and unfair, much recieved as a child getting his deserved punishment. 5-6: '"Never-resting time" always forces summer into winter, where summer is unhappily detained'; 7-8: 'Where,the sap is encroached with frost, and the leaves of the tree have vanished, beauty being overly-covered and barren everywhere:'. 9-12: 'At that time summer was remembered through perfumes, (but) beauty's effect [the scent] was subsided through the perfumes [the scent is there, but the aesthetics are gone], and there was no remembrance what it really was'.

Eating Disorders

A Mental Health diagnosis that I would like to focus on for this paper is the eating disorder of Anorexia Nervosa. Eating Disorders became a recognized topic of subject due to health difficulties that later caused many people to die in America. According to Ekern (2017) Eating disorder is an illness that is characterized by irregular eating habits and serve distress or concern about body, weight or shape (Ekern,2017). When dealing with an eating disorder, it can involve lacking or having very small food intake which can eventually harm a person's health. The most well-known types of dietary issues incorporate Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and binging. The topic of discussion for this paper is Anorexia nervosa (also known as Anorexia). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa has been recognized for centuries. Sir William Gull coined the term anorexia nervosa in 1873, but Richard Morton likely offered the first medical description of the condition in 1689. Despite its long-standing recognition, remarkably little is known about the etiology of, and effective treatment for, anorexia nervosa. Prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa are generally described as ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% among females, with males being affected about one-tenth as frequently (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to the site National Eating Disorders (2018), Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat (National Eating Disorders, 2018).I believe that when a person is heavily bothered by making sure he or she meets their specific ideal weight, he or she will do whatever it takes to have that ideal weight for whatever desires they may want to have it for. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa commonly begins during middle to late adolescence, although onsets in both prepubertal children and older adults have been described. Anorexia nervosa has a mortality rate as high as that seen in any psychiatric illness and is associated with physiological alterations in virtually every organ system, although routine laboratory test results are often normal and physical examination may reveal only marked thinness (Attia ; Walsh, 2007). I've even seen people who would not even appear as though they are fat and will end up suffering from Anorexia nervosa. This is one of the reasons why a person should not judge someone even if he or she may be thin. If a person believes that they are truly fat, then that individual may have a higher risk of suffering from this Mental Health diagnosis. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), DSM-IV describes two subtypes of anorexia nervosa—the restricting subtype, consisting of those individuals whose eating behavior is characterized by restriction of type and quantity of food without binge eating or purging behaviors, and the binge-purge subtype, consisting of those who also exhibit binge eating and/or purging behaviors, such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Having a loved one, patient, or client who is battling with this eating disorder must know that eventually that person will need to seek help in the future. There are many cases where there is a friend, family, or counselor whom is concerned about someone's well-being. This is where they will have to have an intervention and/or treatment group for that person. There are many behavioral counseling and therapy sessions such as support groups, psychoeducation therapy, cognitive therapy, and education on nutrition for clients whom are battling with Anorexia nervosa. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), The course of anorexia nervosa is highly variable, with individual outcomes ranging from full recovery to a chronic and severe psychosocial disability accompanied by physical complications and death. Intervention early in the course of illness and full weight restoration appear to be associated with the best outcomes (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Adolescent patients have a better prognosis than do adults. One-year relapse rates after initial weight restoration approach 50%. Intermediate and long-term follow-up studies examining clinical samples find that while a significant fraction of patients achieve full psychological and physical recovery, at least 20% continue to meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa on follow-up assessment, with many others reporting significant residual eating disorder symptoms, even if they do not meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Treatment for Anorexia NervosaIndividuals who suffer from Anorexia nervosa often need guidance, treatment and support from others to get through their mental illness. However, some individuals may feel as though there is no one there to help them during their time of need. A person suffering from this disorder may often hide what he or she may experience on a daily basis from fear of embarrassment or judgement from others. According to Knapp (2017) Eating disorders are multidimensional disorders that impact physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. As a result, people often require several types of interventions in order to recover (Knapp, 2017). This section will explore how a social worker will form a treatment group with someone who may suffer from Anorexia nervosa. According to Sequential Stage Theory, the social worker will use 5 different stages known as the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning. These stages move group members from an immature state to a more mature state.This will be a Closed- Group due to the hypersensitive diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa meaning that this is a group not meant for just anyone to come into. In the first stage, the social worker will work on Forming the Treatment Group. The social worker will work on setting the structure of the group i.e. what to keep inside the group. The social worker will understand that she is working with someone who suffers from a Mental Health Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, so this means that rules will be discussed in this stage. Acceptance of the group members is being built in this stage. Each group member will introduce themselves and begin to build relationships.The second stage is known as the Storming stage. This stage is also known as the testing stage in which the group members are getting a feel of what to expect. Some members will be dominating and/or controlling where as other members may not be as talkative. As learned from documents in the class, the group members will have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group.The third stage is called the Norming stage. As learned from documents presented in this class, in order to move to the next stage, the group members will have to change their mentality from a testing mentality into a problem-solving mentality for treatment. The group members will begin to understand the norms of the group and will actually begin to work on ways to reach their goals. The group members must now understand in this stage that treatment will be needed to reach their goal of not suffering from Anorexia nervosa any longer. They must be willing to accept that they will no longer suffer from thoughts of worthlessness, anxiety or depression.The fourth stage is called the Performing stage. This is the stage that the group members will focus majorly on obtaining treatment that will aid them in reaching their overall goal. Evidence- Based Treatments for Eating Disorders, in general, include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Psychopharmacology (Medicine). Even though Anorexia nervosa is known as a serious illness, Therapy is a treatment that can help an individual through Anorexia nervosa. According to Knapp (2017), a clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect you to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention (Knapp, 2017). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Effective treatments generally assess outcome by weight and behavioral change. Nonspecific support needs to be paired with expectation of progress in measurable medical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Weight restoration is generally associated with improvement in a variety of psychological areas, including mood and anxiety symptoms (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), In contrast, psychological improvement without accompanying changes in weight and eating behavior is of limited value. Patients and families should be informed about the physiology of weight gain, including the substantial number of calories required daily (Attia and Walsh, 2007).According to Attia and Walsh (2007), A family-based outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa, also called the â€Å"Maudsley method,† may be helpful for younger patients. This approach empowers the parents of a patient with anorexia nervosa to refeed their child, renegotiate the relationship between child and parents to involve issues other than food, and help their child resume normal adolescent development without an eating disorder. Several preliminary studies have shown promising results for family therapy with adolescent patients (Attia and Walsh, 2007). There are multiple options of Outpatient Services when it comes to an individual understanding what may work for them to obtain the best treatment plan as a way to get better. According to Knapp (2017), Psychotherapy can be in an individual, couples, family, and/or group format. Many individuals who are seen as an outpatient may require more than one kind of therapy (Knapp, 2017). Knapp used an example of a student who is in college who is away from home who may attend an individual/ group Psychotherapy session weekly and then also need to have a family Psychotherapy session intermittently. The social worker also may make a referral for the client to see their primary physician or a referred doctor may evaluate his or her health status and provide treatments, in which they can often provide medical evaluation and follow-up care. A social worker can also make a referral to a registered dietician who can provide nutrition assessment and counseling. This is extremely essential if the person needs help learning or remembering what normal eating is. Furthermore, if necessary, a social worker can make a referral for the client to have Psychiatric evaluation/follow-up. It is necessary for some individuals with eating disorders, especially for those who also struggle with depression and anxiety. Antidepressant medications, especially SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), are often prescribed to treat depression and possibly to reduce cravings. If the social worker may find it fitting for their client to be a part of Psychoeducational activities which include specific skills training, such as relaxation or assertiveness training, then the social worker can make a referral for his or her client. They can also include recommended readings about eating disorders and recovery. A social worker may also feel that it is beneficial for their client to attend Self-Help Groups. Self- Help Groups, for example, 12 Stage programs can offer help and a theory of recuperation. A social worker may find it beneficial to refer their client to Intensive outpatient programs (likewise some of the time called incomplete hospitalization) are typically entire day or night programs that incorporate eating suppers with different residents alongside psychotherapy. If the client is at a stage to where he/she may get medically worse from their sickness, then the social worker should make a referral for the client to go to a Hospital facility which can incorporate inpatient or potentially/private care specialized in eating disorders. Furthermore, Hospitalization is vital for the client if he/she is: At the point when a dietary issue has gotten to a state of causing a restoratively perilous condition, when it is related with genuine mental issues, for example, suicidal ideation, when it has prompted genuine self-damage, or when the power of the confusion does not react to outpatient treatment alone. It is important to be persistent in seeking treatment for an eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa. Factors such as general stress level, other emotional issues, the intensity of the treatment chosen, and readiness for recovery can make a difference in whether a particular course of treatment is successful. There is also a National Helpline sponsored through the National Eating Disorders Association for clients to talk with someone if need be and the hotline number is 1(800)931-2237. On the website for National Eating Disorders Association, there is also a list of other support resources for the client and/ or his or her family.The final stage is known as the Adjourning stage. This stage is also known as the termination stage. This stage is looked at as being the stage that the group members feel a sense of accomplishment and treatment has given. During the final stage, group members will learn to say good bye to one another as a form of ending their relationship. This may also induce feelings of stress and/or anxiety. During this stage, the social worker will also discuss with the group member his or her progression. The social worker should encourage the group member to continue with the progress he or she has made. If needed, the social worker should refer the group member to additional services that may be beneficial to other issues that he or she may face following termination. It is vital for the social worker to follow-up with the group member once services are terminated. Follow-up can help the group member from relapsing or even coming back for services. However, the social worker should give the group member the phone number to the agency in case services may be needed again.Conclusively, there are more people than we will ever know who may suffer from the Eating Disorder of Anoerxia Nervosa. As a social worker working with this population, it is important to understand exactly the signs of someone who suffers from it and ways to treat this particular population in focus. A social worker who conducts a Treatment Group should us the Sequential Stage Theory which is using the five different stages of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning in order to treat the client. Eating Disorders A Mental Health diagnosis that I would like to focus on for this paper is the eating disorder of Anorexia Nervosa. Eating Disorders became a recognized topic of subject due to health difficulties that later caused many people to die in America. According to Ekern (2017) Eating disorder is an illness that is characterized by irregular eating habits and serve distress or concern about body, weight or shape (Ekern,2017). When dealing with an eating disorder, it can involve lacking or having very small food intake which can eventually harm a person's health. The most well-known types of dietary issues incorporate Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and binging. The topic of discussion for this paper is Anorexia nervosa (also known as Anorexia). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa has been recognized for centuries. Sir William Gull coined the term anorexia nervosa in 1873, but Richard Morton likely offered the first medical description of the condition in 1689. Despite its long-standing recognition, remarkably little is known about the etiology of, and effective treatment for, anorexia nervosa. Prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa are generally described as ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% among females, with males being affected about one-tenth as frequently (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to the site National Eating Disorders (2018), Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat (National Eating Disorders, 2018).I believe that when a person is heavily bothered by making sure he or she meets their specific ideal weight, he or she will do whatever it takes to have that ideal weight for whatever desires they may want to have it for. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa commonly begins during middle to late adolescence, although onsets in both prepubertal children and older adults have been described. Anorexia nervosa has a mortality rate as high as that seen in any psychiatric illness and is associated with physiological alterations in virtually every organ system, although routine laboratory test results are often normal and physical examination may reveal only marked thinness (Attia ; Walsh, 2007). I've even seen people who would not even appear as though they are fat and will end up suffering from Anorexia nervosa. This is one of the reasons why a person should not judge someone even if he or she may be thin. If a person believes that they are truly fat, then that individual may have a higher risk of suffering from this Mental Health diagnosis. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), DSM-IV describes two subtypes of anorexia nervosa—the restricting subtype, consisting of those individuals whose eating behavior is characterized by restriction of type and quantity of food without binge eating or purging behaviors, and the binge-purge subtype, consisting of those who also exhibit binge eating and/or purging behaviors, such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Having a loved one, patient, or client who is battling with this eating disorder must know that eventually that person will need to seek help in the future. There are many cases where there is a friend, family, or counselor whom is concerned about someone's well-being. This is where they will have to have an intervention and/or treatment group for that person. There are many behavioral counseling and therapy sessions such as support groups, psychoeducation therapy, cognitive therapy, and education on nutrition for clients whom are battling with Anorexia nervosa. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), The course of anorexia nervosa is highly variable, with individual outcomes ranging from full recovery to a chronic and severe psychosocial disability accompanied by physical complications and death. Intervention early in the course of illness and full weight restoration appear to be associated with the best outcomes (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Adolescent patients have a better prognosis than do adults. One-year relapse rates after initial weight restoration approach 50%. Intermediate and long-term follow-up studies examining clinical samples find that while a significant fraction of patients achieve full psychological and physical recovery, at least 20% continue to meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa on follow-up assessment, with many others reporting significant residual eating disorder symptoms, even if they do not meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Treatment for Anorexia NervosaIndividuals who suffer from Anorexia nervosa often need guidance, treatment and support from others to get through their mental illness. However, some individuals may feel as though there is no one there to help them during their time of need. A person suffering from this disorder may often hide what he or she may experience on a daily basis from fear of embarrassment or judgement from others. According to Knapp (2017) Eating disorders are multidimensional disorders that impact physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. As a result, people often require several types of interventions in order to recover (Knapp, 2017). This section will explore how a social worker will form a treatment group with someone who may suffer from Anorexia nervosa. According to Sequential Stage Theory, the social worker will use 5 different stages known as the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning. These stages move group members from an immature state to a more mature state.This will be a Closed- Group due to the hypersensitive diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa meaning that this is a group not meant for just anyone to come into. In the first stage, the social worker will work on Forming the Treatment Group. The social worker will work on setting the structure of the group i.e. what to keep inside the group. The social worker will understand that she is working with someone who suffers from a Mental Health Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, so this means that rules will be discussed in this stage. Acceptance of the group members is being built in this stage. Each group member will introduce themselves and begin to build relationships.The second stage is known as the Storming stage. This stage is also known as the testing stage in which the group members are getting a feel of what to expect. Some members will be dominating and/or controlling where as other members may not be as talkative. As learned from documents in the class, the group members will have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group.The third stage is called the Norming stage. As learned from documents presented in this class, in order to move to the next stage, the group members will have to change their mentality from a testing mentality into a problem-solving mentality for treatment. The group members will begin to understand the norms of the group and will actually begin to work on ways to reach their goals. The group members must now understand in this stage that treatment will be needed to reach their goal of not suffering from Anorexia nervosa any longer. They must be willing to accept that they will no longer suffer from thoughts of worthlessness, anxiety or depression.The fourth stage is called the Performing stage. This is the stage that the group members will focus majorly on obtaining treatment that will aid them in reaching their overall goal. Evidence- Based Treatments for Eating Disorders, in general, include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Psychopharmacology (Medicine). Even though Anorexia nervosa is known as a serious illness, Therapy is a treatment that can help an individual through Anorexia nervosa. According to Knapp (2017), a clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect you to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention (Knapp, 2017). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Effective treatments generally assess outcome by weight and behavioral change. Nonspecific support needs to be paired with expectation of progress in measurable medical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Weight restoration is generally associated with improvement in a variety of psychological areas, including mood and anxiety symptoms (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), In contrast, psychological improvement without accompanying changes in weight and eating behavior is of limited value. Patients and families should be informed about the physiology of weight gain, including the substantial number of calories required daily (Attia and Walsh, 2007).According to Attia and Walsh (2007), A family-based outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa, also called the â€Å"Maudsley method,† may be helpful for younger patients. This approach empowers the parents of a patient with anorexia nervosa to refeed their child, renegotiate the relationship between child and parents to involve issues other than food, and help their child resume normal adolescent development without an eating disorder. Several preliminary studies have shown promising results for family therapy with adolescent patients (Attia and Walsh, 2007). There are multiple options of Outpatient Services when it comes to an individual understanding what may work for them to obtain the best treatment plan as a way to get better. According to Knapp (2017), Psychotherapy can be in an individual, couples, family, and/or group format. Many individuals who are seen as an outpatient may require more than one kind of therapy (Knapp, 2017). Knapp used an example of a student who is in college who is away from home who may attend an individual/ group Psychotherapy session weekly and then also need to have a family Psychotherapy session intermittently. The social worker also may make a referral for the client to see their primary physician or a referred doctor may evaluate his or her health status and provide treatments, in which they can often provide medical evaluation and follow-up care. A social worker can also make a referral to a registered dietician who can provide nutrition assessment and counseling. This is extremely essential if the person needs help learning or remembering what normal eating is. Furthermore, if necessary, a social worker can make a referral for the client to have Psychiatric evaluation/follow-up. It is necessary for some individuals with eating disorders, especially for those who also struggle with depression and anxiety. Antidepressant medications, especially SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), are often prescribed to treat depression and possibly to reduce cravings. If the social worker may find it fitting for their client to be a part of Psychoeducational activities which include specific skills training, such as relaxation or assertiveness training, then the social worker can make a referral for his or her client. They can also include recommended readings about eating disorders and recovery. A social worker may also feel that it is beneficial for their client to attend Self-Help Groups. Self- Help Groups, for example, 12 Stage programs can offer help and a theory of recuperation. A social worker may find it beneficial to refer their client to Intensive outpatient programs (likewise some of the time called incomplete hospitalization) are typically entire day or night programs that incorporate eating suppers with different residents alongside psychotherapy. If the client is at a stage to where he/she may get medically worse from their sickness, then the social worker should make a referral for the client to go to a Hospital facility which can incorporate inpatient or potentially/private care specialized in eating disorders. Furthermore, Hospitalization is vital for the client if he/she is: At the point when a dietary issue has gotten to a state of causing a restoratively perilous condition, when it is related with genuine mental issues, for example, suicidal ideation, when it has prompted genuine self-damage, or when the power of the confusion does not react to outpatient treatment alone. It is important to be persistent in seeking treatment for an eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa. Factors such as general stress level, other emotional issues, the intensity of the treatment chosen, and readiness for recovery can make a difference in whether a particular course of treatment is successful. There is also a National Helpline sponsored through the National Eating Disorders Association for clients to talk with someone if need be and the hotline number is 1(800)931-2237. On the website for National Eating Disorders Association, there is also a list of other support resources for the client and/ or his or her family.The final stage is known as the Adjourning stage. This stage is also known as the termination stage. This stage is looked at as being the stage that the group members feel a sense of accomplishment and treatment has given. During the final stage, group members will learn to say good bye to one another as a form of ending their relationship. This may also induce feelings of stress and/or anxiety. During this stage, the social worker will also discuss with the group member his or her progression. The social worker should encourage the group member to continue with the progress he or she has made. If needed, the social worker should refer the group member to additional services that may be beneficial to other issues that he or she may face following termination. It is vital for the social worker to follow-up with the group member once services are terminated. Follow-up can help the group member from relapsing or even coming back for services. However, the social worker should give the group member the phone number to the agency in case services may be needed again.Conclusively, there are more people than we will ever know who may suffer from the Eating Disorder of Anoerxia Nervosa. As a social worker working with this population, it is important to understand exactly the signs of someone who suffers from it and ways to treat this particular population in focus. A social worker who conducts a Treatment Group should us the Sequential Stage Theory which is using the five different stages of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning in order to treat the client.