Group Communication Memo Essay

The current management team has prepared this memo to assist you in your new position with the company. We understand that you have limited experience in group formation and communication, and these skills will prove vital in your new position. We would like to share some fundamental information on group learning and communication along with experiences we have encountered collectively. Combine this information with your own group learning experiences and you will increase your success with the organization. In our organization we work with others in teams to complete tasks and solve issues that might arise. On occasion it will be necessary to ask people to be part of the group or to form a new group to address topics and issues. This will help you in understanding how teams come together and work as one unit. When people are asked to form a group, the first stage they experience is the forming stage. In this stage people come together and expectations and the purpose of the group is clouded in uncertainty. No one is really considered the leader of the group at this point. Behavior is greatly observed between team members to determine what is acceptable. This stage will be relatively short because soon the group will begin to function and devise ideas and suggestion for attacking the problem or task. Storming is the next stage the team will experience. This stage does cause some conflict within the team because there is no real chosen leader. In this stage the members of the team will accept the group and start to function within the team. However, the members of the team will show some resistance because groups or teams limit individuality and require unity to work efficiently. Within a short period of time there will be a leadership established with in the group and the members of the team will follow the chosen spokesperson. The third subsequent step in the group development process is the norming stage when the group begins to solidify. At this point the group will have established some acceptable standards of behaviors or â€Å"norms†. Once the group has established these norms, certain barriers can be eliminated. Groups can now focus more on collectively carrying out goals and less on establishing parameters for the group. These norms will now establish expectations of group behavior. At this point in the process, group structure has been established and accepted, and the group may begin focusing on performing which is the fourth step in group development. This is the point of action where organizational goals are carried out and performance is evaluated. From personal group experience we agree that during this stage it is imperative that groups have the tools necessary to complete their tasks. If teams are not distracted by trivial conflicts that can be easily remedied, then they will be able to maintain creativity and focus. The fifth and final step in group development is the adjourning stage. Depending on the purpose of the group and time span of the group, this stage will vary. Some groups form for the purpose of completing short-term tasks, while others carry out long-term initiatives. Regardless of the time frame, groups should be commended on their areas of success and constructively identify areas that need improvement. It is our experience that different individuals can be grouped together on several different tasks. If the adjourning stage is handled properly, these individuals will carry a good attitude and level of camaraderie into their next group project. (Daynette’s part discussing barriers of communication insert here) As you can see there are many barriers that face group communication, however, there are always ways to overcome those barriers. One barrier that is easy to overcome is premature evaluation of ideas. We believe the best way of overcoming this is by using the nominal-group technique. This technique does not utilize verbal idea sharing but rather every group member brainstorms and writes down their ideas, then goes around and shares them. By proceeding this way it stops anyone from ridiculing an idea and lets everyone’s ideas be heard so no one feels like they had a dumb idea and stops sharing with the group. You want to create a climate of freedom, by having more ideas in the open, the better chance you have of getting the best conclusion. Another barrier previously mentioned was poor physical surrounding. The best way to overcome this is to find a meeting location that works well for everyone. Make sure it is quiet like in a library, not in an apartment with noisy roommates or younger brothers and sisters. Make sure there are lots of lights, comfy chairs, and plenty of table space to work on the project. If you are uncomfortable you will be thinking about that the whole time instead of focusing on the group problem at hand. A third barrier to group communication was there being too many people. By having too many people, this makes the group less creative by not having every group member able to share their ideas. This can also cause social loafing where some members sit back and let everyone else do the work while they still get the credit. A good way to overcome this is by splitting the larger group into smaller groups and by either giving them the same topic to see all the different ways each group comes up with or splitting the topics if there is a lot to get done. This works well because you can draw in group members who are less talkative or shy in large group settings, thus creating more ideas. Another barrier is always not having enough time. No matter how far ahead you plan on any project there never seems like there is enough time to complete it. It is known that it takes a group a lot longer to work on a project than it does an individual because you have to comply with the group norms and rules. Here the only real thing you can do is to make sure you get down to business and split up the group work as soon as possible so that each member can get started. Also, make sure to finish everything a few days ahead so that way if someone is running behind you all have time to go back and fix any issues or to make sure it is all complete on time. Lastly, â€Å"stinking thinking† should try to be avoided when evaluating ideas. Try not to jump on other people’s ideas when they come up with them and wait till they are all heard. Use positive enforcement like â€Å"great idea but let’s here all of the other ideas first then we can go back and look at each one.† With every barrier that comes up there is always a better way to overcome it so that it doesn’t offend another group member. Remember teams only work well if all participants are on the same page. We have provided you with these tools and experiences for you to draw from when needed. When starting a new team or group it may be beneficial for all team members to review this memo prior to starting a new project. This will allow the team to start to understand why conflicts may arise and where to start in resolving these conflicts. We have great confidence in your ability to be a great leader and look forward to the success that your team will provide for our company in the future.

Lessons learnt about one-on-one communication Essay

Another point to mention is that even though it is the group of critics that are to blame, the speaker is not always just a victim. It is the speaker’s fault is he or she does not prepare for what is to be said, how to say it and what tone and anecdotal examples to use, keeping in mind the audience at hand. Therefore, planning beforehand is very important in all meetings as is the equal level of participation and input from all members present in the meeting. Answer 2: Example of a meeting I would plan and conduct and how it actually differs from what actually happens Using the above example of the business entrepreneurs meeting, I would try and plan for the meeting in advance and inform the members of what is to be discussed in the meeting. Before every meeting, the members will get an agenda of what is to be discussed in the meeting and what is to be expected of them. Punctuality and preparedness will be emphasized and encouraged. If any one has an idea that they want to discuss in the meeting, they will be asked to prepare for how they are going to present it to the audience. All criticism will be within limits and focus on the idea, rather than the person. The meetings will be around forty five to fifty minutes and focus on the topic at hand and not divert to unrelated issues. If someone comes up with an idea during the meeting, he or she is advised to write it down and mention it in the next meeting. In actuality, none of this happens. People have low attention spans and often get distracted and distract others as well. Also, punctuality is rarely observed and people often show up late, sometimes at the end of the meeting. Absenteeism is also a problem. Moreover, there are some who prepare half heartedly for what they want to share in the meeting and yet others who do not prepare at all. Furthermore, criticism is often focused on the person as much as the idea and personal grudges fostered. Finally, the meetings do not remain within the limits of the allotted time and therefore, people tend to lose interest and focus from the issue at hand. References â€Å"Oral† Communication: More than Words. Unit 3: Essentials of Oral Communication in Business.

Planning Personal Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Planning Personal Finance - Essay Example anced understanding with respect to the manner through which personal financial decision-making is affected as well as the tactics and tools that can and should be integrated with at each and every stage of the financial planning cycle of the individual investor (Irving, 2012). Of all of the understandings that will be represented within this brief analysis, perhaps the most important is with respect to understanding the fact that the most relevant financial products that should be considered at every stage of life are neither uniform nor static. What is meant by this is that the changes in the overall financial outlook of the individual investor, the changes in career, the changes in wealth, the changes in savings, the focus upon different aspects of resources, and the manner through which all of these focuses evolve throughout the lifetime of the individual investor. The first and most obvious stage of the typical financial lifecycle of an individual is with regards to early childhood. Within this particular stage, few if any resources exist for the individual to promote their own financial independence and the future. However, within this particular stage, the individual is presented with an understanding of the value of money and needs to which it can be earned, state, and instruments such as interest can be engaged as a means of maximizing the overall amount of money that the individual has. Rather than merely glossing over this particular stage of financial lifecycle development, it is extraordinarily important that stakeholders within society seeks to engender a level of understanding within young people of this demographic that money has been innate and tacit value that must be understood and appreciated. Moreover, by choosing to make wise financial decisions, the value and overall utility that the money can bring to the individual is also a tool that can be understood and utilized within this particular period of life (O’Neill, 2011). Whereas many

Marlene Dietrich Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marlene Dietrich - Essay Example She was able to cultivate an image that people easily identify as her persona and, most importantly, an image that created a need based on the desires of the audience. Through the manner by which her image was carefully defined, scripted and invented, Dietrich was able to hold onto the material and spiritual power which allowed her image to exemplify â€Å"society producing the impasse into which it casts its members on the level of the libido as much as on the level of economics: the desire for what cannot be avoided without a radical rupture with the world that has formed us.† Consider how some critics point out that the success of The Blue Angel was not because of an excellent storyline or the genius of neither its director, Josef von Sternberg nor its sexual context. If one says that the film succeeded because of Lola’s legs, then those that featured the same theme with different actresses exploiting equally excellent thighs could have been as effective. But that is not the case. With the film, men were given an object of desire that is mostly according to what Dietrich had to give. Lola’s legs and her character did not merely become the foundation of the Dietrich image that movie audience carried in their heads. It was Dietrich’s acumen and sense of what she wanted and how she wanted to be seen and perceived that made the difference. As she made her films, Dietrich learned how to best represent herself, highlight her assets or make an aspect of persona prominent.... Lola’s legs and her character did not merely become the foundation of the Dietrich image that movie audience carried in their heads. It was Dietrich’s acumen and sense of what she wanted and how she wanted to be seen and perceived that made the difference. As she made her films, Dietrich learned how to best represent herself, highlight her assets or make an aspect of persona prominent. This is demonstrated, for instance, in the invention of the so-called â€Å"Dietrich face.† In the earlier photographs of Dietrich, her upturned nose is quite obvious. As a matter of fact, this minor flaw has earned her the moniker "Ducknose" because it is stuck up like those of the duck’s.3 Critics were particularly focused in this aspect during Dietrich early career that is why she learned how to work around it. Later photographs would no longer show this weakness prompting some sectors to say she underwent facial surgery. This, of course, was not true because it was Dietr ich herself who discovered how she could address the problem. Bach explained this in detail: She found it in an automatic photo booth in Berlin, the kind that prints out cheap photograph on strips. She stepped into one to pose, actively searching for a look, and discovered that with a single overhead lamp, her hair went light, she had cheekbones, her pale blue eyes went dark, the upturned nose became straight. There would be sophisticated refinements of makeup and technique, but now the difficulty was getting cameramen to light her her way.4 One can say that Dietrich became a technician in this way. She would go against directions if the lighting is against her wishes. This â€Å"stubbornness† actually paid off. Besides appearing more pleasing, the

Euthanasia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Euthanasia - Research Paper Example In addition, the practice would lessen the urgency to develop new medicines designed to prolong life. Those who oppose the practice on religious grounds argue that it is ‘playing God’ therefore sinful. Health care professionals cite the Hippocratic Oath which forbids them from carrying out this procedure. This paper will examine the moral and ethical concerns surrounding euthanasia, clarify the meaning of the term, present arguments for the practice and conclude with a recommendation to resolve the issue. Euthanasia describes a situation in which a terminally ill patient is administered a lethal dose of medication, is removed from a life-support system or is simply allowed to die without active participation such as by resuscitation. A doctor’s involvement in the procedure could be to either prescribe a lethal dose of drugs with the express intent of ending a life or by intravenously inserting a needle into the terminal patient who then activates a switch that adm inisters the fatal dose (Naji et al, 2005). Assisted suicide by physicians and non-physicians has been legal in Switzerland since WWII. In addition, three organizations within the country have been established to aid terminally ill patients. They provide patient counseling as well as the drugs for use in the procedure. Lethal injections, however, are not allowed. The unusual situation in Switzerland holds that assisted suicide is allowed as long as a physician is not a part of the process (Hurst & Mauron, 2003). Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002. Each case must be reviewed by two physicians before the procedure is carried out by either ingestion or injection. In The Netherlands, euthanasia has been legal for four years but has been tolerated for two decades. The guidelines for physicians handed down from the government include; â€Å"the patient must be suffering unbearably and have no hope of improvement, must ask to die and the patient must clearly understand the co ndition and prognosis (and) a second doctor must agree with the decision to help the patient die† (â€Å"The Fight†, 2004). Proponents of euthanasia are concerned with human suffering. Many diseases such as cancer cause a lingering and excruciatingly painful death. Watching a loved one as they wither away from the disease eating away at their organs is tough enough on family members, but to see them suffer even when drugs are administered is unbearable not to mention what the patient must endure. This emotionally and physically torturous situation is played out in every hospital, every day of the year but serves no purpose. To many, it is unimaginable to allow anyone, for example, a sweet old grandmother who has spent her life caring for others, to spend the last six months of their life enduring constant pain, unable to control bodily functions, convulsing, coughing, vomiting, etc. The psychological pain for both the family and patient is unimaginably horrific as well. If grandma were a dog, most all would agree that the only humane option would be to ‘put her to sleep.’ U.S. citizens are guaranteed certain rights but not the right to ‘die with dignity.’ This right is not prohibited by the Constitution but by religious zealots who evidently put the quality of life of a dog above grandma’s. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s may not suffer physical pain but endure a different type of pain

Real Estate business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Real Estate business - Essay Example The role of a registered chartered surveyor is crucial in any property transaction and resolving problems between landlord and tenant. Professional ethics and rational, analytical, and unbiased observations should be applied in all dealing. A registered surveyor should pay much attention to client requirements and deliver exact services they need. They should go through records related to the property, physical condition of the building and environment, any legal complications involved in the transaction and keep a record of each aspect concerning the property and produce a comprehensive report. First and foremost, as a responsible guide to prospective client, it is the responsibility of surveyor to identify client requirement and get abreast with basic information about the property. Client might have got information from word of mouth or from an estate agent, generally interested in his own ulterior motive, to extract profit. The first-hand information available with the client may not be factual and carry hidden agenda of the estate agent. As such, it is obligatory to ascertain source of information and get acquainted with the area. Primary to the enquiry is to identify problems prevalent in the area and local amenities. Prime requirement of every client is to have a calm, cordial, and cooperative environment conducive to their aspirations at the same time capable to return more benefits from their investment. It is the supreme responsibility of a property surveyor or manager to ascertain the above-mentioned pre-requisites.

Karl Marx, Estranged Labor in Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of Essay

Karl Marx, Estranged Labor in Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (pdf) - Essay Example The workers were surprised to be given their last pay slip and were told that their contracts or workloads for LEX media are over. There was no prior notice, no just basis or any just explanation of the dismissal. Apparently, LEX media did this already in 2005 where more than 80 workers under News Division were also dismissed. The works rights to livelihood and job security were trivialized and ignored. It is true that labor produces for the rich wonderful things – but for the worker it produces privation. It produces palaces – but for the worker, hovels. It produces beauty – but for the worker, deformity. It replaces labor by machines, but it throws one section of the workers back into barbarous types of labor and it turns the other section into a Machine. It produces intelligence – but for the worker, stupidity, cretinism. Platinum is a vital metal utilized in most industries. South Africa is the worlds leading supplier of Platinum. A massive platinum mining operation exists in the country where over 80,000 African mining workers. The miners earn $400 a month and works in the harshest working conditions hazard pay and meager health benefits. Unionists are massacred, threatened, jailed or illegally dismissed. The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces, the more his production increases in power and size. The worker becomes an ever cheaper commodity the more commodities he creates. Sreymonm is a 23 year old factory worker in Cambodia. Her daily shift starts from 7 AM to 4 PM, six days a week. With regular over time, she is only paid 50 cents per hour or over $85 per month. Workers are the backbone of and industry as they help build wealth and abundance. Ironically, they are twice poorer than the wealth they bring (Larson, 2014). Filipino workers from the Pentagon Steel Company produce steel pipes, roofing, wiring,

Summary11 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary11 - Essay Example The researchers try their best that there is no negative impact of their entry into their lives so they maintain the confidentiality and the privacy of the participants’ information. The threats to the confidentiality of the data are rare but occur often and therefore, the researchers take every possible precaution to protect the data. At the same time, they maintain agreements with the government agencies such as police, customs and tax agents to thwart any demand for the disclosure of information. Basically, the harm to the participant of the disclosing of the information is greater than the benefits to the society at large and therefore, poses an immense ethical issue for criminologists. Protection of the privacy of the personal information of the participant of the criminologists’ research poses another threat to the ethics of the society. The benefits to the society of the research must be weighed against the harms done by the disclosure of the information. At times, the researchers complain that the privacy law prevents them from the active beneficial research work. The disclosure of the personal information related to homicides, sexual abuses and frauds could jeopardize the safety of the respective participants. Therefore to ensure the safety of these people and the researchers, the reports and all other work related to research was anonymised. Informed consent is another issue that confronts the criminologists. The participants must be provided with the lucid understanding of the research objectives and the consent process so that they are aware of all the possible interactions as well as possible dangers to them. The interests and the freedom of the participants must be protected from the researchers and that informed consent must be taken. The criminologists have the probability and the potential to affect the wellbeing of the participants as well as their future economic interests. These researchers must try to minimize the harm to the

Analysis my journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis my journal - Assignment Example The study takes interest in Implicit Leadership Theories and compares them between participants from both countries. Jing, Avery and Bersteiner (2014, p. 5) on the other hand explores the factors of financial performance, customer satisfaction and staff satisfaction in retain pharmacies in Australia. The research majorly focused on small scale operation characteristics exhibited by a given pharmacy plus the value of trust in the business. In relation to research designs, Kono, et al. (2012, p. 12) utilizes the use of quantitative method of study in the research whereas Jing, Avery and Bersteiner (2014, p.8) utilize qualitative method of research in their study. It is evident that both employ the given mono-methods in their relations. performance in small professional firms through leader–follower trust. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, [e-journal] 52. Available at: [Accessed 20 November

Greek Mythology and Achilles Introduction Essay Example for Free

Greek Mythology and Achilles Introduction Essay Introduction Once upon a time, long ago there was a marvelous battle called the Trojan War, but before hand, there lived a Greek god named Peleus who extracted love for the Sea goddess Thetis. As time passed, they became one, so they thought why not form our love in to a child. When their child was born, Thetis dipped him into the river styx which was in the underworld (Achilles). Thus made him immortal and his name was Achilles. When Thetis dipped Achilles in to the underworld, she held him from his heel, this spot remained vulnerable, (Achilles). Meaning it was the only spot in his body that remained mortal. Achilles’ parents knew that he would become the greatest fighter ever lived, (Gill). So Achilles knew that he would end up fighting in the Trojan War. Personal Qualities Achilles was a great warrior who possessed many unique qualities; for one, he was immortal. He was a man who was known for his incredible strength, fighting ability and his intimidating armor. Some of his other main qualities were that he was part human, past super natural, (Achilles). He was very courageous, brave, and also strong. He used his strength and bravery to kill Hector, king of the Trojans, (Achilles 1). Achilles was also very well known for his helmet, which was gold with red horse tips above it. His armor would always be recognized in battle. Achilles had many weapons, but his two main battle pieces were his short sword and spere, (Gill). When fighting, Achilles showed no mercy. When he killed Hector, king of Troy, he tied Troy’s king to the back of his chariot and dragged his corpse around the city walls for twelve days, (Gill). Achilles is unique, and the qualities he possessed are too. Personal Struggles and Achievements Achilles was a great man, he seemed perfect, but every great fighter has a  weakness and for Achilles it was his heel, (Achilles 1). Although Achilles has weaknesses, that did not stop him from his many achievements that were successful. Prophecies said, â€Å"Troy would only win if Achilles was on his side†, (Gill). Achilles was sent to kill Hector in the Trojan Warm so he did and came out successful. Sadly, in the war an arrow that was shot from the brother of Hector, Paris, landed in Achilles’ heel. Being the only vulnerable spot in his body, he died at Troy while still a young man, (Gill). Conclusion Achilles was a great leader and always led in battle. He was born and became one of the best fighters ever lived, (Achilles). Achilles was and will be remembered as â€Å"A hero with a weakness†, (Achilles 1). He was an immortal man with a great fighting ability, also a leader who showed courage and left his footprint, literally. Works Cited â€Å"Achilles†. Myth Encyclopedia.J rank.Web. March 20, 2011 Gill, N.S. â€Å"Achilles- Trojan War Hero Achilles† About.com.2011.INT.Friday, 08 April 2011. â€Å"Achilles†.GreekMythology Edition.Search, 2011.web.7Mar.2011.

Management of Self-harm Patients in AE

Management of Self-harm Patients in AE The acute incident was a case of ‘deliberate self-harm’ (DSH), admitted to an A E unit. DSH incorporates deliberate non-habitual acts of self-harm that are not fatal, and may or may not involve attempted suicide (Repper, 1999). Emergency departments provide the main ‘entry point’ for such patients (NICE, 2004). The patient in this case had slashed his wrists in several places, severing a key artery. He was bleeding profusely, and in a semiconscious state on arrival. There was a history of psychopathology dating back several years. He was unmarried, lived alone, and had recently undergone treatment and observation at the forensic mental health unit of a local NHS Hospital Trust. Reppers (1999) review of the relevant literature on the management of self-harm patients in A E units highlights several key issues for nursing care. It is essential that the qualified nurse is cognisant of the relevant Codes of Professional Conduct specified by the Nursing Midwifer y Council (NMC, 2002), including ethical concerns such as respect, confidentiality, and trust. This is particularly crucial when dealing with self-harm patients because research suggests that emergency department nurses often hold negative attitudes towards this type of patient (McAllister et al, 2002). Furthermore, self-harm patients have reported dissatisfaction with the care provided by nurses and other health care staff. The empirical literature on the management of self-harm patients in A E highlights the value of problem-solving approaches to patient care (Repper, 1999). The basic problem-solving model incorporates five principles, outlined in Table 1. These tenets are consistent with protocols for effective decision-making, for both individuals and groups (Janis Mann, 1977). They are also consistent with NICE/DOH guidelines for caring for the mentally ill (NICE, 2004, Clinical Guideline 16). NICE guidelines recommend immediate assessment of risk, and mental, physical, emotional stability, once a patient arrives at A E. Staff are then required to account for underlying emotional factors that may have precipitated the self-harm episode, as well as evaluating the seriousness of the injury, before deciding the most appropriate treatment for the patient. Reesal et al (2001) highlight some of the key principles of management that are relevant to nurses working with mental health patients. These relat e to assessment, phases of treatment, psychiatric management, goals of treatment, psychotherapeutic management, the management of medication and self-harm/suicide, and medical-legal issues (also see DOH, 1999; NICE, 2004). Nurses need to conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, in full cognisance of the biological, psychological, and social context, and also precipitating and perpetuating factors. Mental health problems can often be long-term/chronic, rather than short/acute, and self-harm is no exception. An underlying condition like depression can be conceptualised in terms of three treatment phases – response, remission, and relapse. Principles of psychiatric management dictate that consent must be obtained prior to treatment. A good psychiatric-patient rapport is essential, and treatment must involve a multidisciplinary team, of which nurses are an essential part. Goal setting is paramount as it facilitates the development of a treatment plan and allows the patien ts progress to be evaluated more accurately. Psychotherapy can be based on any one of several models (e.g. cognitive-behavioural, interpersonal, dynamic). Recovery must be closely monitored – patients who have not recovered within 2 months may require a change in treatment modality. Some knowledge of pharmacology is essential for effective medication management, but it is usually up to a psychiatrist to prescribe the necessary medication. In managing suicide/self-harm cases, it is important for the nurse to establish whether the patient â€Å"feels desperate, hopeless, helpless, or is tired of struggling with life. Has the patient not wanted to go on living? Is there active suicide ideation? How strong are the thoughts? How frequent, persistent, and irresistible are they? Is there a plan? Do the means and opportunities exist? How impulsive is the patient?† (Reesal et al, 2001, p.25S). Since self-harm episodes are generally unpredictable, there are bound to occur irrespective of psychosocial assessments and psychiatric management. Salient issues for inpatient management (see Table 2) include safety, crisis intervention, di agnosis, patient response to treatment, level of depression, inability to live effectively at home, and the level of social support (i.e. friends, family). Medical-legal issues include confidentiality, risk assessment, information sharing, truth telling, and liability. Some of these are considered later in this essay. Overall, patients must believe they are receiving equity, justice, and consideration, and that clinical management is set up to facilitate good quality care. Ethical and legal issues in the management of mental health patients are outlined in the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s codes of conduct (NMC, 2002), the National Service Frameworks (NSF) Modern Standards and Service Models for mental health patients (DOH, 1999), and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2004). There is currently strong emphasis on evidence-based nursing practice (NICE, 2004). Clinical decisions, where possible, should be based on good quality empirical research. The NICE Clinical Guidelines No.16, for the care of self-harm patients, are rooted in scientific evidence. It is therefore incumbent on nurses to ensure that decisions about all aspects of patient care comply with these standards. Thus, for example, nursing staff are compelled to consider using an integrated physical and mental health triage scale, establish physical risk and mental state, and offer psychosocial assessment at triage. The problem here concerns the practical realities of guidelines adherence in a busy A E unit. Due to time constraints and hectic work routines, nurses may be unable to check adherence to standards. Senior nurses may rely more on their clinical experience in certain instances, whereas younger nurses finding it easier to consult colleagues for clarification, rather than locate and check practice standards. While guidelines will help ensure that this patient receives good quality health care, nurses and other health professionals will ultimately responsibility for clinical decisions. It is therefore essential that staff are adequately trained and resourced to make informed choices that are in the best interests of the patient. Decision theorists Janis and Mann (1977) propose that such informed decision making requires that a viable clinical solution is perceived to be available, to deal with the patients problem, and that there is adequate time in which to find it. If a nurses is uncertain what to do, perhaps due to inadequate training, lack of guideline information, or unfamiliarity with self-harm patients, then he or she may resort to ineffectual decision strategies, such as delaying treatment, looking for another nurse to take responsibility, or even discounting the severity of the patients condition. Time constraints can be a serious problem in emergency depart ments, where patients arrive with life-threatening injuries, and nurses are required to make multiple clinical decisions, in quick succession. Severe time limits may induce panic or frantic behaviour in clinical staff, leading to hasty clinical decisions that fail to account for all aspects of the patient’s clinical condition. In 2005 the Department of Health published its Patient Led NHS (DOH, 2005). Central to this discourse is the notion of empowerment – enabling patients to have more say in clinical decisions about their care, by providing them with the all relevant information, support, and guidance. This is consistent with the 1983 Mental Health Act which states that patients are provided with all necessary and correct information by an informed health care professional, for example on the nature, purpose and probable effects of treatments, and detention, renewal, and discharge. Thus, the patient in A E will have to be treated accordingly by nursing staff. The Department of Health has encouraged the faster emergence of best practice guidelines (DOH, 2005), as this is key to successful empowerment. Currently there are no commissioned best practice statements for the care of mentally ill, or specifically those who self-harm. Since the devolution of responsibility from health authorities to loca l primary and secondary care trusts (DOH, 2002a, 2002b), nurses have assumed greater responsibility implementing national guidelines on mental health. An important part of this empowerment is to liase or network with relevant multidisciplinary professionals, agencies, and local communities. Nurses working in mental health view networking as a major area of responsibility (Rask Hallberg, 2005). Thus, emergency department staff dealing with this particular will be required to contact social services, and the patients’ GP/PCT, friends, family, employment, and other relevant parties. Where necessary, partnerships can be set up, for example with local primary care or social service units, to arrange particular aspects of care, such as home visits, 24 hour access, and development of care plans. The NMC Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, 2002) states that nurses are to behave in a way that enhances trust and confidence in the patient. In other words it is incumbent on a nurse to be truthful and keep his or her patients’ confidence (Tschudin, 1992; Rumbold, 1999; Reesal et al, 2001). Yet in reality this may pose a very difficult ethical dilemma. During psychosocial assessment nurses often need to obtain personal information from the patient, information that the patient will not normally share with anyone. Patients may divulge information on the understanding that it would be kept in confidence. However, serious problems arise if a patient expresses an intention to reattempt self-harm, or even suicide. Is it ethical for the nurse to share this information with other staff and relevant authorities? The NMC (2002) Codes of Conduct are inherently contradictory, because on the one hand they require nurses and midwifes to â€Å"protect confidential information† (p.11 ), but on the other hand mandate that staff â€Å"must act to identify and minimise the risk to patients and clients† (p.11). Crow et al (2000) argue that effective handling of this dilemma requires an understanding of the patient’s own cultural background and general worldview. It is essential for a patient to sign release forms stating that he or she wishes to be present during information-sharing, and takes responsibility for the clinical consequences of such information. Nurses must take extra care when dealing with patients whose cultural backgrounds denotes different understandings of truth and presents linguistic barriers, â€Å"Frequently, when patients from other cultures are asked if they understand something, they nod yes and smile amicably. However, do they really understand what is being stated.., and does it make sense from their cultural perspective of truth?† (Crow et al, 2000). A break down of trust, through truth telling without consent, may aggravate the patients’ psychological state, precipitating the very outcomes the nurse is trying to prevent. And trust can be difficult to generate if nurses fail to develop a good rapport with patients. Long (1998) points out that nurses are often expected to apply nursing models, such as the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (Rask Hallberg, 2000), in developing and executing a care plan. Such frameworks of care seem at odds with experiences of someone who wishes to commit self-harm a nd possibly suicide. Normal daily activities would be anything but ‘normal’. Moreover, the application of academic models to such situations creates a sense of detachment from the patient, so that an â€Å"‘I-It’ relationship, takes priority over the person in need of care, and in need of developing a therapeutic ‘I-thou’ relationship† (p.5). RISK ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES NICE (2004) guidelines stipulate that self-harm patients undergo a comprehensive risk assessment. This must include an identification of the fundamental clinical and demographic factors that are implicated in the risk of further self-injury. According to Reesal et al (2001) these may include staff attitudes, the presence of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, persistent global insomnia, anhedonia and poor concentration, feelings of hopelessness/helplessness, substance abuse (alcohol, drugs), impulsivity, being male and aged between 20-30 years or over 50 years, or female aged between 40 and 60 years, being older, having a history of self-harm or suicide attempts, and/or a family history of self-harm, or suicide attempts. The NICE (2004) also require an identification of depressive symptomatology. Nurses carrying out risk assessments must always use a standardised risk assessment scale. Decisions about referral, discharge and admission are partly based on the outcome of risk evaluation s. Crowe and Carlyle (2003) argue that risk assessment in mental health care reflects a form of clinical governance, driven more by organisational, financial, political, and legal considerations, than by concern for patient welfare. For example, risk assessment forms part of professional standards for nurses, and failure to adhere to this requirement in patient care increases clinician liability if a patient (or their family) decides to sue for negligence (Samanta et al, 2003). The result is that the welfare of the patient may not be accorded the priority it deserves. QUALITY ASSURANCE Central to quality assurance is the notion of clinical governance (Ayres et al, 1999; NHS Executive, 1999; Hungtington et al, 2000). The purpose of clinical governance is to maintain the quality of service delivery. This is particularly crucial in A E units, where critical incidents, such as the mismanagement of a badly injured self-harm patient, can easily lead to death. As Huntington et al (2000) point out, this situation, combined with a proclivity for staff to protect their reputation, can engender a culture of blame, scapegoating, and secrecy, all of which may hinder improvements in the quality of patient care (NHS Executive, 1999). Governance typically entails organisational change, from a ‘blame culture’ to a ‘learning’ orientation. Of course such change is subject to the usual organisational restraining factors that Kurt Lewin (1951) refers to in his model of change. These include excessive staff workloads, a â€Å"not another cha nge† attitudes, and general reluctance to give up ‘tried and tested’ practices, time constraints, and patient inconvenience. The critical issue in an A E is whether staff consistently adhere to professional standards of care, as prescribed by NICE (2004), the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the National Service Framework for Mental Health (DOH, 1999). Nurse attending to a self-harm patient will need to ensure that they are familiar with these guidelines before attending to the patient, or at least have quick assess to relevant information, and/or are supervised by a more experienced colleague with better knowledge of professional standards. This is essential as failure to adhere to professional standards has major legal implications (Samanta et al, 2003; Wilson, 1999). Although clinical governance leaders within acute and community NHS trusts have a responsibility to ensure that nursing staff deliver good quality care, such governance can only be effective wi th adequate resourcing (Huntington et al, 2000). For example, there needs to be clarity from professional bodies about best practice (there are currently no best practice statements for the care of mentally ill/self-harm patients), as well as support from health authorities, and clinical governance leaders at regional office, professional, and local district levels. This essay considers nursing issues in the management of a self-harm patient admitted to an emergency department unit of an NHS Trust. Salient issues for the qualified nurse include ethical dilemmas, associated with conflicting codes of conduct, important management issues relating to assessment, diagnosis, psychological and medical treatment, in-patient care, and medical-legal considerations. Nurses now command greater empowerment in the modern NHS, and but must somehow adhere to strict professional standards, while simultaneously exercising good clinical judgement. Additionally, they must also manage to overcome the unique clinical and psychological circumstances of deliberate self-harm. Support from clinical governance leaders, and adequate training in management, decision making skills, and clinical practice, are essential, if nurses are to delivery high quality patient care References Ayres, I.L., Cooling, R. Maughan, H. (1999) Clinical governance in primary care  groups. Public Health Medicine. 2, pp.47-52. Crow, K., Matheson, L. Steed, A. (2000) Informed consent and truth-telling:  cultural directions for health care providers. Journal of Nursing  Administration. 30, pp.148-152. Crowe, M. Carlyle, D. (2003) Deconstructing risk assessment and management in  mental health nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 43, pp.19-27. DOH (1999) National Service Framework for Mental Health: Modern Standards   Service Models. London: Department of Health. DOH (2002a) National Service Framework: A Practical Aid to Implementation in  Primary Care. London: Department of Health. DOH (2002b) Improvement, Expansion Reform – the next 3 Years: Priorities and  Planning Framework 2003-2006. London: Department of Health. DOH (2005) Patient Led NHS. London: Department of Health. Horrocks, J., House, A. Owens, D. (2004) Establishing a clinical data base for  hospital attendances because of self-harm. Psychiatric Bulletin, 28, pp.137-139. Huntington, J., Gillam, S. Rosen, R. (2000) Clinical governance in primary care:  organisational development for clinical governance. British Medical Journal.  321, pp.679-682. Janis, I.L. Mann, L. (1977) Decision Making: A Psychological Analysis of Choice,  Commitment. New York: Free Press. Lewin, K. (1951) Field Theory in Social Science. New York: Harper Row.   Long, A., Long, A. Smyth, A. (1998) Suicide: a statement of suffering. Nursing  Ethics. 5, pp.3-15. McAllister, M., Creedy, D., Moyle, W. Farrugia, C. (2002) Nurses attitudes  towards clients who self-harm. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 40, pp.578-586. NICE (2004) Self-Harm: The Short-Term Physical and Psychological Management  and Secondary Prevention of Self-Harm in Primary and Secondary Care  Clinical Guideline 16. London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence.   NHS Executive (1999) Clinical Governance in the new NHS. London: NHS  Executive (HSC 1999/065). NMC (2002) Code of Professional Conduct. London: Nursing Midwifery Council. Rask, M. Hallberg, R. (2000) Forensic psychiatric nursing care – nurses  apprehension of their responsibility and work content: a Swedish survey.  Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 7, 163-177. Reesal, R.T., Lam, R.W. the CANMAT Depression Work Group (2001) Clinical  guidelines for the treatment of depressive disorders: Principles of Management  II. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 46 (Suppl 1), pp.21S-28S. Repper, J. (1999) A review of the literature on the prevention of suicide through  interventions in Accident and Emergency Departments. Journal of Clinical  Nursing. 8, pp.3-12. Rumbold, G. (1999) Ethics in Nursing Practice (3rd edition). London: Balliere Tindall. Samanta, A., Samanta, J. Gunn, M. (2003) Legal considerations of clinical  guidelines: will NICE make a difference? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 96, pp.133-138. Tschudin, V. (1992) Ethics in Nursing: The Caring Relationship (2nd Edition).  London: Heinemann. Wilson, J. (1999) Best practice guidelines. British Journal of Nursing. 8, pp.293-294.

Gilead: A Credible Society Essay -- Essays Papers

Gilead: A Credible Society In Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, a society whose purposes are functional and practical roles is depicted. In Atwood's eyes, a society like Gilead's was perfectly credible, and in many ways I agree with her. The purpose of writing about such a radical society is not for one to panic into thinking that this could happen any time, nor is it for one to completely discard the idea. Instead, it's purpose is solely to warn us of the dangers already present in our own society, such as the uncontrollable violence that is going on, apparent on crimes, wars, racism, etc. Offred, the narrator, tells us about a society which came into existence in the early 80's as a direct consequence of overlooking the many problems in its previous society. Before the first steps were being taken to actually destroy the society that few knew was already on the edge of becoming anarchical, there was foreshadowing of what would happen right beneath the eyes of everyone. Riots were going on all the time, people were vanishing, and later women lost their jobs and their money. All these things happened without people's objections, because they were simply ignoring it, possibly hoping that it could not get worst. As Offred later describes how they faced up to those problems, "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it" (74). This quote described what people did when they were fearsome of something, which they had already permitted to become the usual, bothered them. Ignoring what one fears makes that thing seem nor mal, and usually one becomes less afraid of things as they become normal. However, if things are ignored to an extreme and one does not care to draw the line, things can get out of hand when it is already too late. Offred regrets having been like the rest of the society that was banished, because looking back, what was happening then was in fact foreshadowing the future, Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it. There were stories in the newspapers, of course, corpses in ditches or the woods, bludgeoned to death or mutilated, . . . The newspaper stories were like dreams to us, bad dreams dreamt by others . . . they were awful without being believable. . . . they had a dimension that was no... ...illions of Americans crying out. Nor would it be possible that someone kill the president by simply entering his house. The problem is that these differences mean little when there are also many similarities. The purpose Atwood saw in her book is to warn us of our own dangers, not to compare them to a fictitious story and keep ignoring things. As I said before, I do not think we will ever have such an awful transformation in our lives, but I do not think something similar is impossible to occur. Because we are all being blind, like the other society was blind, and we ignore things like violence, we are building ourselves a path with no solid foundations. If we continue doing so, the tendency is for this path to fall apart. Even if this actually happened, it does not necessarily mean that we would have to give in to losing what is ours by all rights. Nevertheless, if we fall in a trend where everything is so casual that we ignore what is going on, something else could hap pen where we could forget to draw the limit and make it stop, as the society preceding Gilead did. WORKS CITED Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. 28th ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991. Gilead: A Credible Society Essay -- Essays Papers Gilead: A Credible Society In Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, a society whose purposes are functional and practical roles is depicted. In Atwood's eyes, a society like Gilead's was perfectly credible, and in many ways I agree with her. The purpose of writing about such a radical society is not for one to panic into thinking that this could happen any time, nor is it for one to completely discard the idea. Instead, it's purpose is solely to warn us of the dangers already present in our own society, such as the uncontrollable violence that is going on, apparent on crimes, wars, racism, etc. Offred, the narrator, tells us about a society which came into existence in the early 80's as a direct consequence of overlooking the many problems in its previous society. Before the first steps were being taken to actually destroy the society that few knew was already on the edge of becoming anarchical, there was foreshadowing of what would happen right beneath the eyes of everyone. Riots were going on all the time, people were vanishing, and later women lost their jobs and their money. All these things happened without people's objections, because they were simply ignoring it, possibly hoping that it could not get worst. As Offred later describes how they faced up to those problems, "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it" (74). This quote described what people did when they were fearsome of something, which they had already permitted to become the usual, bothered them. Ignoring what one fears makes that thing seem nor mal, and usually one becomes less afraid of things as they become normal. However, if things are ignored to an extreme and one does not care to draw the line, things can get out of hand when it is already too late. Offred regrets having been like the rest of the society that was banished, because looking back, what was happening then was in fact foreshadowing the future, Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it. There were stories in the newspapers, of course, corpses in ditches or the woods, bludgeoned to death or mutilated, . . . The newspaper stories were like dreams to us, bad dreams dreamt by others . . . they were awful without being believable. . . . they had a dimension that was no... ...illions of Americans crying out. Nor would it be possible that someone kill the president by simply entering his house. The problem is that these differences mean little when there are also many similarities. The purpose Atwood saw in her book is to warn us of our own dangers, not to compare them to a fictitious story and keep ignoring things. As I said before, I do not think we will ever have such an awful transformation in our lives, but I do not think something similar is impossible to occur. Because we are all being blind, like the other society was blind, and we ignore things like violence, we are building ourselves a path with no solid foundations. If we continue doing so, the tendency is for this path to fall apart. Even if this actually happened, it does not necessarily mean that we would have to give in to losing what is ours by all rights. Nevertheless, if we fall in a trend where everything is so casual that we ignore what is going on, something else could hap pen where we could forget to draw the limit and make it stop, as the society preceding Gilead did. WORKS CITED Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. 28th ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991.

Different and Similar friends :: social issues

Different and Similar friends Some people prefer to have friends who are different from them and some prefer to have friends who are similar to them. Which do you prefer? According to chemistry-students, second year, RUPP, many like to have friends for their studying. Some students prefer to make friends who are similar to them and some think that the friends who they like are different from them. There are many reasons that cause those people want to choose persons who they want to be friend. On the one hand, making friends is to think about the age sometimes. People can use the formal languages to communicate to each other without worry about obeying to each other. They easily call their name directly when they meet each other inside and outside the class. For example, Meng Thia and Monorom are friends and they like talking to each other very closely and tightly when they are in class even at along the road to RUPP. To be of the same age is a vital point for people who like making friends who are similar. Another thing to consider for discussion if people prefer friends who are similar, they think about the characteristic of those people. First, they can get along with each other for long times when the have similar attitude or feature. Second, they are normally satisfied with their behavior. For instance, Saveoun admires her friend, Chann Rith, because of Chann Rith’s attitude she show s in class. Characteristic help keeping friendship for many people, and offer many advantages. On the other hand, many students feel that it is a better way to associate with friends who are different to them. People’s knowledge is not equal, so it is shared to each other. Sometimes students share their experiences or help solving the problem when someone does not understand well about it. In addiction, we can learn knowledge or technique from friends to deal the problem with many ways. In face, Rithy and Soriya have different methods to explain the definition of chemical elements; Rithy learns from Soriya and also Soriya from Rithy. Sharing knowledge makes people increase their intelligence and become good friends with people whose knowledge are exchanged. One other reason is the strategy. First, some students work with their timetable very well, so others who think that they have different strategy want to create relationship as friends with those persons. Also, some students tell their strategy of managing times for their every day’s life to students who have weak abilities of management. Different and Similar friends :: social issues Different and Similar friends Some people prefer to have friends who are different from them and some prefer to have friends who are similar to them. Which do you prefer? According to chemistry-students, second year, RUPP, many like to have friends for their studying. Some students prefer to make friends who are similar to them and some think that the friends who they like are different from them. There are many reasons that cause those people want to choose persons who they want to be friend. On the one hand, making friends is to think about the age sometimes. People can use the formal languages to communicate to each other without worry about obeying to each other. They easily call their name directly when they meet each other inside and outside the class. For example, Meng Thia and Monorom are friends and they like talking to each other very closely and tightly when they are in class even at along the road to RUPP. To be of the same age is a vital point for people who like making friends who are similar. Another thing to consider for discussion if people prefer friends who are similar, they think about the characteristic of those people. First, they can get along with each other for long times when the have similar attitude or feature. Second, they are normally satisfied with their behavior. For instance, Saveoun admires her friend, Chann Rith, because of Chann Rith’s attitude she show s in class. Characteristic help keeping friendship for many people, and offer many advantages. On the other hand, many students feel that it is a better way to associate with friends who are different to them. People’s knowledge is not equal, so it is shared to each other. Sometimes students share their experiences or help solving the problem when someone does not understand well about it. In addiction, we can learn knowledge or technique from friends to deal the problem with many ways. In face, Rithy and Soriya have different methods to explain the definition of chemical elements; Rithy learns from Soriya and also Soriya from Rithy. Sharing knowledge makes people increase their intelligence and become good friends with people whose knowledge are exchanged. One other reason is the strategy. First, some students work with their timetable very well, so others who think that they have different strategy want to create relationship as friends with those persons. Also, some students tell their strategy of managing times for their every day’s life to students who have weak abilities of management.

Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time - Quator Pour Le Fin Du Temps Es

Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time - Quator Pour Le Fin Du Temps Technical and Interpretative Challenges Presented to Performers in Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) played a significant part in the evolution of twentieth-century music, influencing a number of other composers with his innovative compositional techniques. The Quartet for the End of Time, is not one of Messiaen’s typical works due to the circumstances in which it was composed (his main outputs were organ, orchestral and choral works), but it marks the start of the significant use of some of these techniques. In 1940, Messiaen was called up to serve in the army as a hospital orderly, but was soon captured by the Germans and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp. Here, suffering from food deprivation and extreme cold, he had the idea of composing a piece for the End of Time. There were four musicians on the camp – himself (a pianist), a violinist, a cellist and a clarinettist – and so he wrote a quartet. Performers of the work need to consider the circumstances under which the piece was composed and also the reaction it created at the first performance of it. This was in front of the entire prison camp in January 1941 where, says Messiaen, ‘never have I been listened to with such attention and understanding.’ Messiaen had no choice on what instruments the piece was written for, ‘the group of instruments†¦to large to allow the piano to express itself freely, yet too small to obtain†¦variety of timbre,’ and his way around this was to obtain ‘maximum variety of which they are capable.’ By exploiting each instrument in so many different ways to create different timbres, the technical challenges faced by the performers are endless. Musi... ...o performers), Quote 11: demonstrates the need to control the sound when there is a sudden change in articulation. Quote 12: demonstrates the need to be in control of the instrument when faced with an unusual and challenging technique – ‘col legno’ is to use the wooden side of the bow on the cello strings which is particularly difficult for control of intonation. Quote 13: demonstrates the need to be in control of intonation within the ensemble. This is the case in all sections of the Quatuor scored for two or more parts in octaves. Bibliography ed. Hill, Peter, â€Å"The Messiaen Companion† chapter entitled â€Å"The End of Time: a Biblical Theme in Messiaen’s Quatuor ,† (London: Faber and Faber 1995) Johnson, Robert Sherlaw, â€Å"Messiaen,† chapters entitled â€Å"Birdsong,† â€Å"Christianity and Symbolism† and â€Å"The Works of the War Years: Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps (1940-41),†

Organizational Structure of a Housekeeping Essay

The housekeeping department of a lodging property typically accounts for the business’ largest labor expense. Executive Level Most hotel housekeeping departments are led by an executive housekeeper. This employee is typically a member of the executive team. In smaller properties, he reports directly to the general manager. In larger properties, he may report to the rooms division manager. The executive housekeeper is responsible for managing housekeeping personnel, planning budgets, identifying cleaning needs, buying supplies and coordinating with other departments to ensure excellent guest service. Some properties also have an assistant executive housekeeper. The executive housekeeper is a manager who must sometimes be prepared to scrub toilets. SECTIONS: Guestroom Cleaning The major responsibility of a hotel housekeeping staff is cleaning guestrooms in an efficient manner to prepare rooms for guests checking into the property. Guestroom attendants are typically expected to clean a room in 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the room. Others in this department include house attendants who pick up linen bags and refill housekeeping carts and inspectors who inspect each room after it is cleaned to ensure it meets the property’s quality standards. Guestroom attendants ensure that every guestroom is spotless. Public Area Cleaning The housekeeping department is also responsible for the public areas of the hotel, both front-of-the-house and back-of-the house areas. They may also be responsible for cleaning dining room areas after they have closed, though food and beverage staff are usually responsible for the cleaning during the day. Public space cleaners make up the majority of this part of the housekeeping department. Public space cleaners are responsible for lobbies, offices, corridors and other non-guestroom areas of the property Laundry Properties that have in-house laundry services have a laundry manager who answers directly to the executive housekeeper. The laundry manager manages the work flow of the laundry and the laundry employees. Laundry employees include laundry attendants who operate the washers, dryers, presses and folders, and linen runners who fetch linen and put it away as it is completed. Some laundry departments also hire a seamstress to repair linens or repurpose damaged linens to other uses (such as making washcloths or cleaning cloths out of towels or food service aprons out of bedsheets). The laundry department processes all of the hotel’s linens. http://www.ehow.com/facts_7517164_organizational-structure-housekeeping-department.html

Chronology of Events in Pakistan from Historical Perspective

Pakistan-Table A – Chronology of Important Events Pakistan Index Period Description ANCIENT EMPIRES ca. 2500-1600 B. C. Indus Valley culture ca. 1500-500 B. C. Migrations of Indo-Aryan- speaking tribes; the Vedic Age. ca. 563-483 B. C. Life of Siddartha Gautama–the Buddha; founding of Buddhism. ca. 321-180 B. C. Mauryan Empire; reign of Ashoka (r. ca. 274-236 B. C. ); spread of Buddhism. ca. 180 B. C. -A. D. 150 Saka dynasties in Indus Valley. ca. A. D. 78-ca. 200 Kushan Empire; Gandharan art flourishes. ca. A. D. 319-ca. 600 Gupta Empire; classical age in northern India.COMING OF ISLAM 711 Muhammad bin Qasim, an Arab general, conquers Sindh and incorporates it into Umayyad Caliphate. 1001-1030 Mahmud of Ghazni raids Indian subcontinent from Afghanistan. 1192 Muhammad of Ghor defeats Rajputs. 1206-1526 Delhi Sultanate. 1398 Timur destroys Delhi. THE MUGHAL PERIOD 1526 Babur defeats last Lodhi sultan in first Battle of Panipat, thus laying foundation of Mughal Empire. 15 56 Akbar victorious in secondBattle of Panipat. 1556-1605 Reign of Akbar. 1605-27 Reign of Jahangir; in 1612 East India Company opens first trading post (factory). 1628-58 Reign of Shah Jahan, builder of Taj Mahal. 1658-1707 Reign of Aurangzeb, last great Mughal ruler. 1707-1858 Lesser emperors; decline of Mughal Empire. BRITISH PERIOD 1757 Battle of Plassey and British victory over Mughal forces in Bengal; conventional date for beginning of British rule in India. 799-1839 Sikh kingdom established in Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 1830s Institution of British education and other reform measures. 1838-42 First Anglo-Afghan War. 1843 British annex Sindh, Hyderabad, and Khairpur. 1845-49 Sikh Wars; British annex Punjab; Kashmir sold to Dogra Dynasty, to be ruled under British paramountcy. 1857-58 Uprising, variously known as Indian Mutiny, Sepoy Rebellion, and by Indian nationalists as First War of Independence. 858 East India Company dissolved; rule of India under British crown ( the British Raj) begins; marks formal end of Mughal Empire. 1878-80 Second Anglo-Afghan War. 1885 Indian National Congress formed. 1893 Durand Line established as boundary between Afghanistan and British India. 1905 Partition of Bengal. 1906 All-India Muslim League founded. 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms establish separate electorates for Muslims. 911 Partition of Bengal annulled. 1916 Congress-Muslim League Pact (often referred to as Lucknow Pact) signed. 1919 Montague-Chelmsford Reforms; Third Anglo-Afghan War. 1935 Government of India Act of 1935. 1940 Muslim League adopts â€Å"Pakistan Resolution† demanding separate nation for Muslims of India. â€Å"Two Nations Theory† articulated by Muslim League leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah and others. 1946 August Muslim League observes â€Å"Direct Action Day. Widespread communal rioting spreads to many parts of India. 1947 June Legislation introduced in British Parliament calling for independence and partition of India; communal ri oting and mass movements of population begin, resulting in next months in 250,000 deaths and up to 24 million refugees. INDEPENDENT PAKISTAN 1947 August Partition of British India; India achieves independence and incorporates West Bengal and Assam; Pakistan is created and incorporates East Bengal (East Wing, or East Pakistan) and territory in the northwest (West Wing, or West Pakistan);Jinnah becomes governor general of Pakistan; Liaquat Ali Khan becomes prime minister. October Start of first Indo-Pakistani War over sovereignty of Kashmir. 1948 September Jinnah dies; Khwaja Nazimuddin becomes governor general. 1949 January United Nations-arranged cease- fire between Pakistan and India takes effect. 1951 October Liaquat assassinated; Nazimuddin becomes prime minister; Ghulam Mohammad becomes governor general. 1955 August Ghulam Mohammad resigns; succeeded by Iskander Mirza.October One Unit Plan establishes the four provinces of West Pakistan as one administrative unit. 1956 March Con stitution adopted; Mirza becomes president. 1958 October Mirza abrogates constitution and declares martial law; Mirza sent into exile; Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) General Mohammad Ayub Khan assumes presidency. 1965 August Start of second Indo-Pakistani War over Kashmir. 1969 March Martial law declared; Ayub Khan resigns; CMLA General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan ssumes presidency. 1970 July One Unit Plan abolished; four provinces reestablished in West Pakistan. December First general elections; Awami League under Mujib secures absolute majority in new National Assembly; West Pakistan-dominated government declines to convene assembly. 1971 March East Pakistan attempts to secede, beginning civil war; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Mujib), imprisoned in West Pakistan, declared provisional president. April Formal declaration of independence of Bangladesh issued; Mujib named president.December Pakistan launches preemptive air strikes against India; India invades East Pakistan; India recog nizes Bangladesh; Pakistani military forces in East Pakistan surrender to Indian armed forces, marking Bangladeshi independence; Yahya Khan resigns; Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto becomes CMLA and president. 1972 July Bhutto and India's prime minister, Indira Gandhi, conclude Simla Agreement, adjusting 1949 cease-fire line between Pakistan and India and creating new line of control. 1973 August New constitution goes into effect; Bhutto becomes prime inister. 1976 February Pakistan and Bangladesh establish diplomatic relations. 1977 March General elections; massive victory by Bhutto's party evokes widespread rioting and protest. July Army chief of staff, General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, appoints himself CMLA and proclaims martial law. 1978 September Mohammad Zia ul-Haq becomes nation's sixth president, replacing Fazal Elahi Chaudhry. 1979 February Islamic penal code introduced. April Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hanged.November Mob storms and burns down United States Embassy in Islamabad, killing two Americ ans and two Pakistani employees; United States cultural centers in Rawalpindi and Lahore also torched; attacks in response to Iranian-inspired rumors that United States citizens responsible for November 20 attack on Grand Mosque in Mecca. December Large-scale movements of Soviet troops and military equipment into Afghanistan. 1980 January United States president Jimmy Carter pledges military assistance to help Pakistan defend itself against Soviet hreat; Carter offers US$400 million, rejected by Zia as â€Å"peanuts. † 1983 August President Zia ul-Haq announces that martial law will be lifted in 1985 but warns that army will retain key role in future governments. 1985 January Non-Islamic banking abolished. February General elections held for National Assembly. March Mohammad Khan Junejo invited by Zia to form civilian cabinet. July Economy declared to be in conformity with Islam. 1986 August Movement for the Restoration f Democracy (MRD) launches campaign against government, demanding new general elections; Benazir Bhutto arrested in Karachi. December New federal cabinet sworn into office by President Zia with Mohammad Khan Junejo continuing as prime minister. May Prime Minister Junejo expands federal government to include five new ministers and three new ministers of state; President Zia dismisses Junejo government, dissolves national and provincial assemblies, and orders new elections to be held within ninety days. August Zia, the United States mbassador to Pakistan, and top army officials killed in mysterious airplane crash near Bahawalpur in Punjab; Ghulam Ishaq Khan, chairman of Senate, sworn in as acting president; General Mirza Aslam Beg becomes chief of the army staff. October Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses, banned in Pakistan; joint United States- Pakistani investigatory committee concludes that Zia's death was caused by â€Å"criminal act of sabotage. † November Elections held for National Assembly; Pakistan People's Party ( PPP) wins ninety-three out of 207 seats contested.December Benazir Bhutto sworn in as first female prime minister of a Muslim nation; PPP and MQM parties sign â€Å"Karachi Declaration,† an accord to restore peace in Sindh; Pakistan and India sign accords at South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad, including agreement not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. June Combined Opposition Parties (COP), consisting of most opposition groups, formed in National Assembly, with Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi as leader. February Soviet Union completes withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.September Pakistan's largest ever military exercise, Zarb- e – Momin (Sword of the Faithful), commences. October Pakistan rejoins Commonwealth of Nations. December Ethnic riots in Sindh claim scores of lives. 1990 May-June Ethnic troubles mount in Sindh; rift develops between PPP and coalition partners. August President Ghulam Ishaq Khan di smisses Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, her cabinet, and National Assembly; orders new elections for October 24, 1990; Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi becomes caretaker prime inister. October United States president George Bush is unable to deliver annual certification that Pakistan does not possess nuclear weapons as condition of continued assistance and arms and technology transfers, leading to cutoff of most aid. National elections held; Bhutto's PPP loses to coalition of rightist parties. November Mian Nawaz Sharif elected prime minister. 1991 February Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif liberalizes economy, lifts controls on foreign currency entering country, and announces policies to encourage new investment; numerous pro-Iraq emonstrations and widespread public opposition to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's support of Desert Storm but pro-United Nations stance reiterated. May Shariat Bill is adopted by National Assembly. July Opposition members call upon president to dismiss government because of deteriorating law and o rder situation, particularly in Sindh. 1992 December Babri Mosque in Ayodya, India, destroyed by Hindu fundamentalists seeking to build Hindu temple on contested site; communal violence mounts over incident; Pakistan asks Indian government to protect Muslims in India. 993 April President Ishaq Khan dismisses government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, citing corruption. July President Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign under pressure from military; World Bank officer, Moeen Qureshi, named caretaker prime minister pending elections in October. October Benazir Bhutto's PPP wins slim margin in national elections and builds coalition government; Benazir appointed prime minister. November PPP stalwart, Farooq Leghari, defeats acting President Wassim Sajjad and becomes president. Data as of April 1994

Music on the Bamboo Radio Essay

â€Å"Music on the Bamboo Radio† is a historical novel, a fictional story full of adventure set during WWII. It begins on the day that Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese. Nicholas Holford, the protagonist, arrives home and finds his parents missing. Throughout the novel, Nicholas changes and grows; he becomes more mature, develops a new identity and as his life changes completely and he is forced to become brave. Nicholas becomes more mature throughout the novel. He helps a group of soldiers called the East River Column when the English army sends them a box, â€Å"but inside everything is in English writing† and the soldiers â€Å"cannot read it† and they want Nicholas â€Å"to come and help† them. Later in the novel, Nicholas joins the East River Column and helps them blow up a train and save hundreds of people’s lives. He grows by joining a group of soldiers and helping them. As Nicholas lost both of his parents during the war he runs away with his servants to another hamlet which is a small village there he meets a new family,Tang’s family. Over there he gets more mature and also he has developed respect for other people’s beliefs as he also does things he dislikes P.34, â€Å"The task that Nicholas hated was carrying of pig manure up to the fields to spread around the plants.In the hot sun, the dung smelt sickly sweet and revolting.†He found that really disgusting because no one really likes to carry buckets of pigs dung. Also on P.55,However he also goes with Tang’s Family to visit the Golden Pagodas. he also respects in other people’s belief and he does everything very maturely and is also very keen to gain more knowledge about the Chinese culture. In the novel,Nicolas’ life changes completely and it all begins with the Japanese Invading (on P.4) Hong Kong and him running away with his servants. As he is been forced to adapt to his new life and he is given a new name. â€Å"I give you Chinese name. You no more Nicholas. You Wing-ming.† He lives the life of a Chinese boy, because he needs to hide from the Japanese so he can stay alive, â€Å"Must do. You have Chinese boy haircut now. If Japanese soldier think you English, he kill you.† As time passes, Nicholas forgets his past life and his real parents. â€Å"I don’t really remember what it was like†¦before†¦What it was like to live with my parents.† Losing his parents has changed Nicholas because he realizes how important parents are. he needs to understands his new family and culture. Nicholas becomes more brave as he has to adapt to his dangerous situation.His environment is also is a very dangerous because the Japanese  are every where in HK. He risks a situation knowing that it is dangerous he still does it because the Japanese have scattered everywhere.The situation is going and getting the quinine for Tang because he is very sick of working.So Nichloas and Ah Mee set off to get the quinine. While they go to purchase the quinine the situation gets more dangerous as they come to face to face with the Japanese. When Ah Mee wanted to rest for a few moments and went towards a tea-shop where there were several chairs and tables and were arrayed under a spreading tree. As they just sat down the owner appeared and told them to â€Å"Place your order†. And the owner’s ear hair which was curled fowards, looking as if a bizzare fungus had taken on had taken root on the other side of his head. Nicholas kept on looking at the owner’s ear and Ah Mee said â€Å"You no look his ear. We no want him angry.†P.39. Ah Mee said that â€Å"I no want tea, I just want to sit.†. The owner said, â€Å"This no free seat, must buy tea.† because Nicholas was looking at the owner’s ear for a long time. So they bought tea and left.Nicholas also thinks that two bowls of tea cost might be the difference life and death of Tang on P.40. While going to purch ase the quinine on the way they see a man and two japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers were looking for the man’s identity papers which Ah Mee and Nicholas did not have with them. The soldiers were having cruel fun with the man by pointing a rifle buts around his throat and shoot him.While Nicholas lost his balance the Japanese saw him and if they shoot Ah Mee like the man was shot then he would have taken out.But instead one of the soldiers kissed Ah Mee on the lips on P.43. Ah Mee was in crying but silently and tears also came out silently. To get the quinine they had to meet Dr.Wu to get the quinine P.45. Dr.Wu could read Ah Mee’s and Nicholas’ eyes.Dr.Wu could tell what they wanted and on P.45 he tells that he will be getting the quinine from his office. This is how he risks this situation and in the end they were safe. What Nicholas did was very dangerous. This also shows how he cares for people who is in a very critical situation. Overall, Nicholas changes and grows throughout the novel and lives a completely new life filled with danger, while becoming more mature and brave. While he gets mature he understands how dangerous the situation has become.The invasion of the Japanese changes him because he learns how valuable and good his life is. Nicholas losing his parents makes him realize  that he is very lucky to even have parents because unlike other children who may have lost their parents during the Japanese Invasion. Knowing that Nicholas losing his parents he does not think of them since he has a new family but he does miss them. He also is trying to follow his father’s footsteps because his father is in the army.

Questions: Mobile Phone and Personal Navigation Devices Essay

Overview As TomTom, one of the largest producers of satellite navigation devices in the world, entered 2010 it faced stiff competition from its traditional rivals such as Garmin and from new competition from cell phones. Although its sales reached an all time high of â‚ ¬1.74 billion in 2007 by 2008 sales had slipped to â‚ ¬1.67 billion. That year the company posted a loss of â‚ ¬872 million. The decline in sales continued with 2009 sales slipping to â‚ ¬1.48 billion, although the company managed to post net income of â‚ ¬86 million that year. TomTom employed over 3,000 employees in 40 countries. Since its founding in 1991, the Netherlands-based company experienced steady growth. It offered an array of information services and devices aimed at the consumer and business markets. It led the navigation market in Europe, and was second to Garmin in the United States. In 2007, it outbid Garmin to acquire Tele Atlas in a vertical integration strategy to control the map creation process. TomTom paid â‚ ¬2.9 billion for Tele Atlas. As 2009 came to a close, Google announced it would offer turn-by-turn navigation within cell phones. Google said the product, initially limited to driving directions in the U.S. would be free to consumers. As the U.S. and European markets for navigation devices matured, TomTom was faced with decisions related to the relative emphasis it should place on its stand-alone navigation devices, built-in navigational units for automobiles and aviation, and business devices and services aimed at companies with large mobile workforces. Suggestions for Using the Case Students should find the TomTom case interesting since many of them probably own a GPS unit or use a smartphone- based GPS application. The Nintendo case is excellent for drilling students in applying the concepts and analytical tools covered in Chapters 4 and 5. The case provides sufficient information to allow students to fully examine the competitive forces at play in the personal navigation industry, consider the industry’s driving forces and key success factors, and examine TomTom’s internal situation. In addition, the case’s decision focus allows students to consider what TomTom must do to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. To give students  guidance in what to do and think about in preparing the TomTom case for class discussion, we strongly recommend providing class members with a set of study questions and insisting that they prepare good notes/answers to these questions in preparing for class discussion of the case. You may also find it beneficial to have your class read the Guide to Case Analysis that is posted in the student section of the Online Learning Center for the 18th edition at www.mhhe.com/thompson. Students will find the content of this Guide particularly helpful if this is their first experience with cases and they are unsure about the mechanics of how to prepare a case for class discussion, oral presentation, or written analysis. TomTom: New Competition Everywhere! *This teaching note was prepared by Professor Woody Richardson, Mississippi State University. We are most grateful for his insight, analysis and contributions to how the case can be taught successfully. * In our experience, it is quite difficult to have an insightful and constructive class discussion of an assigned case unless students have conscientiously have made use of pertinent core concepts and analytical tools in preparing substantive answers to a set of well-conceived study questions before they come to class. In our classes, we expect students to bring their notes to the study questions to use/refer to in responding to the questions that we pose. Moreover, students often find having a set of study questions is useful in helping them prepare oral team presentations and written case assignments—in addition to whatever directive questions you supply for these assignments. Hence, we urge that you insist students spend quality time preparing answers to study questions— either those we have provided or a set of your own questions. The case can be used effectively for a written assignment or oral presentation. Our recommended questions for written assignments are as follows: You have recently been hired by TomTom as a new market analyst and have been asked to assess the attractiveness of the personal navigation industry and determine TomTom’s competitive strength. Please prepare a 5-6 page report that evaluates competition in the industry, assesses industry driving forces, and lists industry key success factors. Your report should also include an assessment of TomTom’s internal  situation and makes specific strategy recommendations that will allow TomTom to improve its market and financial performance. Assignment Questions 1. What strategy is TomTom pursuing?  2. How well is the strategy working?  3. Does the satellite navigation industry offer attractive opportunities for growth? What kind of competitive forces are industry members facing and how do the forces influence the outlook for industry profitability? 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of TomTom? What are the threats and opportunities facing the company? 5. Do you think TomTom’s shift to value-added services and making Personal Navigation Devices a smaller portion of total revenue will be enough to sustain it in the near future? Is this strategy consistent with the needs of markets outside North America and Europe? 6. What recommendations would you make to TomTom management to improve its competitive position in the satellite navigation industry, take advantage of market opportunities, and defend against external threats? Teaching Outline and Analysis 1. What strategy is TomTom pursuing? For the most part, TomTom has followed product development and market development strategies with clear emphasis on differentiating its product. Its 2007 acquisition of Tele Atlas was clearly illustrative of vertical integration. Through the years its acquisitions and patent development display elements of an offensive basis of competitive attack based on pursuing continuous product innovation to draw sales and market share away from less innovative rivals. A good use of the history section of the case is to have students classify or label TomTom’s historical actions related to products and markets into product development or market development. The results might look like the following table. Time Action Described in Case Strategy Early 1990s Software development for handheld computers to commercial applications. Product Development & Market Development 1996 Announced first navigation software Market Development 2001 Entered Mobile car satellite navigation market Market Development 2006-2008 Acquired Datafactory AG to power TomTom Work Acquired Applied Generics for Mobility Solutions. Acquired Tele Atlas for map creation Product Development Product Development Vertical Integration 2009 TomTom for the iPhone released Market Development The TomTom Group consisted of TomTom (Business to Consumer), Tele Atlas (Business to Business), WORK (Commercial Fleets), and Automotive (Auto Manufacturers & Suppliers). In response to the economic downturn that began in 2007, increased competitive threats, and growth declines in the U.S. and Europe, the company shifted its business mix toward value-added services. The potential results of this attempt to make personal navigation devices (PNDs) a smaller proportion of total revenue were at best uncertain. 2. How well is the strategy working? The short answer is that up until the global economic downturn beginning in 2007 and continuing in 2008, TomTom’s strategy had produced outstanding results. However, as the losses in 2008 indicate, the strategy bears scrutiny. The downward pressure on prices due to competition and the slowing of discretionary expenditures due to the global recession produced a financial strain on TomTom. An examination of Case Exhibits 3 and 4 reveals the following trends from the first Quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009: ÃŽ ½ European Revenue Down 22% ÃŽ ½ North America Revenue Down 52% ÃŽ ½ Global PNDs sold Down 29%. At the same time, the selling price and overall operating margins had been decreasing since 2007. The gross profit margins from 2006-2009 were as  follows: 2009 2008 2007 2006 50.6% 53.3% 56.0% 57.6% This caused net income to drop much more precipitously than the decline in sales. Couple this information with a debt load over â‚ ¬1 billion due to the acquisition of Tele Atlas and the company appeared to be in a financial bind. For all of 2008, the company posted a loss of â‚ ¬872 million. 3. Does the satellite navigation industry offer attractive opportunities for growth? What kind of competitive forces are industry members facing and how do the forces influence the outlook for industry profitability? The outlook for industry profitability is not what it was 5 years ago. Students should be able to develop an outlook by using Porter’s Model of Industry Attractiveness as discussed in Chapter 3 of the text. Rivalry among Competing Sellers Rivalry will intensify as industry growth in US & Europe slows. Margins will continue to decline. Firms will fight to utilize capacity through further price cuts. Growth in China & India would mitigate the rivalry intensity. Buyers Big Box stores exert strong pressure on price, terms & delivery. Car makers also exert strong influence owing to their purchasing power. Suppliers Very limited influence as all key components are controlled through vertical integration. Threat from Substitute Products Major Threat – Cell phones for PNDs predicted to dominate by 2013. Less Threat – Fleet management & Automotive markets. Potential New Entrants Nokia’s acquisition of Navteq signals their intent to integrate phone and navigation services. Google’s announcement also signals its entry into the market. Up until recently the industry was much more attractive. Physical maps were not much of a threat as a substitute, but by 2009 the industry was undergoing a sea change regarding cell phones as substitutes. For the younger consumers who have never not known cell phones, the expectation that navigation be a common feature will be a strong force in the market just as many in this generation only wear watches as fashion ornaments because they are never without their cell phone. These tech-saavy consumers may eschew separate devices for navigation. 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of TomTom? What are the threats and opportunities facing the company? Strengths Weaknesses †¢ Brand Name Recognition †¢ Map creation capabilities †¢ Innovative features — Mapshare — Points of Interest — Traffic updates †¢ Automotive partnerships †¢ European market share †¢ Sales declines †¢ Shrinking margins †¢ Debt load since Tele Atlas acquisition †¢ Relative weak sales outside Europe & the United States †¢ Stand alone (separate) products Threats Opportunities †¢ PND unit sales decline †¢ Multifunctional devices (cell phones/smart phones) popularity is growing †¢ Strong Competition from Traditional competitors – Garmin & Magellan †¢ Strong Competition from new competitors – Nokia & Google †¢ Potential legislation to restrict/ban navigational devices from autos †¢ Aging satellites that support GPS †¢ Growth of India & China †¢ 65% of U.S. adults don’t own any kind of navigation device of any kind †¢ High fuel prices encourage better fleet management & fuel efficiency for consumers †¢ Environmental concerns encourage better fleet management & consumer behavior to be â€Å"green† 5. Do you think TomTom’s shift to value-added services and making Personal Navigation Devices a smaller portion of total revenue will be enough to sustain it in the near future? Is this strategy consistent with the needs of markets outside North America and Europe? This is a difficult question. Certainly the move to reduce the company’s reliance on PNDs, a product category with declining sales, prices, and margins seemed a prudent measure. The efficacy of this strategy will depend on at least two key questions. ÃŽ ½ How fast will the PND market continue to shift to cell phones? If the analysts are correct and the cell phones will dominate the delivery for personal navigation devices then TomTom may need to accelerate its plans to reduce its dependency on this category. Students should recognize that as the demand for stand-alone PNDs declines the price will drop even more precipitously. ÃŽ ½ How fast can TomTom grow its non-PND business lines? One bright potential bright spot for TomTom could be the demand for more partnerships with car makers. Car makers will likely offer navigational devices as standard features rather than luxury options. TomTom could be well positioned (if it chooses to do so) to garner a share of this market similar to its deal announced at the end of 2008 with Renault. Of course, the car makers would continue the downward price pressure, but would represent a sizable market opportunity. Of course, should legislation be introduced to ban navigational devices in automobiles this would have a profound effect on TomTom and its competitors. Some students will be quick to point out that the markets in China and India would be lagging the U.S.  and Europe and would therefore be ripe for market penetration without any significant outlay for new product development. However, better students will point out that China and India both have significant cell phone penetration and they may actually be more desirous of product integration and multi-bfunctionality. 6. What recommendations would you make to TomTom management to improve its competitive position in the satellite navigation industry, take advantage of market opportunities, and defend against external threats? First, there appears to be no â€Å"magic bullet† capable of taking a strong #2 player such as TomTom to number one in the industry unless Garmin were to make a major misstep. The diffi culty of making a recommendation is further exacerbated by the move to cell phones for PNDs. However, TomTom might consider some of the following actions. ÃŽ ½ Focus on information solutions, specifically the â€Å"Better Routing† & â€Å"Better Traffic† information goals mentioned in the case. Provide these solutions regardless of type of device. ÃŽ ½ Defend and Develop markets not dependent on cell phone devices (e.g. coast guard, maritime, aviation, and fleet management markets.) ÃŽ ½ Seek more automotive partnerships – use the Renault and Avis experiences to ramp up sales in this area. ÃŽ ½ Extend product life – attempt to recoup R&D efforts by seeking markets in developing countries where the disposable income may be reaching the threshold to adopt PNDs. ÃŽ ½ Aggressively market fleet management solutions. ÃŽ ½ Develop more applications/partnerships similar to the iPhone experience. Find a way to â€Å"ride the dragon.† Find a way to participate in the growth in multifunctional cell phones. Even a small portion of this huge market would be extremely lucrative. Epilogue Immediately following Google’s October 28, 2009 announcement mentioned at the end of the case, TomTom and Garmin offered Black Friday discounts of 25% up  to 40% on some units. In 2010, the company generated sales of â‚ ¬1.521 billion with a net income of â‚ ¬108 million. TomTom announced in a February 25, 2011 Reuters report by Roberta B. Cowan that it faces â€Å"such a rapid decline in its key market for personal navigation devices (PNDs) that its shift into new businesses may not be fast enough to compensate.† The company forecasted that the overall PND market would decline by 10 to 15 percent in 2011 and that its earnings would not grow.

Career of Advertising and Marketing Managers Research Paper

Career of Advertising and Marketing Managers - Research Paper Example All the components of marketing mix must be considered while making marketing decision B. Marketing manager 1. Role of marketing managers in product development 2. Marketing manager as the head of marketing department C. Knowledge, skills and abilities of a marketing manager 1. Required knowledge of a marketing manager 2. Skills required for one to become a marketing manager 3. Required abilities of a marketing manager D. Tasks and activities of a marketing manager 1. Occupational tasks of a marketing manager 2. General tasks of a marketing manager 3. Specific tasks of a marketing manager Conclusion To succeed in marketing, organizations have to employ the assistance of a qualified marketing manager. The manager, on the other hand, should be willing to apply the necessary knowledge and skills to market the ideology of the organization to potential customer. However, organizations have to be willing to provide the marketing manager with necessary resources to enable them execute their duties effectively. Introduction Eddie Robinson asserts that "The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence† (Eddie Robinson para 9). ... One of the myths about marketing is that an organization needs to understand marketing in order to succeed. On the contrary, business is all about people, and thus the organization needs to understand the people other than marketing itself. Another myth of marketing is that mass marketing is the best form of marketing. Conversely, there are other more effective marketing methods such as personal exposure, face-to-face marketing and direct marketing (Laidlaw para 8). These other forms requires proper planning, a role carried out by the marketing manager. Marketing has taken a very new dimension, leaving the old methods and adopting modern forms that yield better results. With the advancement in technology and the expansion of customer-product awareness, organizations are now reviewing their marketing strategies. This creates the need for acquisition of qualified workers to adapt to the changing world. According to the Direct Marketing Association, for instance, mobile direct marketing spending is expected to grow by 51% in 2011 and by 39% in the following year. As a result, the spending will reach $31.3 billion in 2011 and 35.4 billion the following year (Kaye para 1). Advertising agents and website designers are also aligning themselves to this new development. Nearly forty percent of companies in the United States use internet for marketing purposes, as indicated in the graph below (Kagan para 1). Graph 1: Online marketing statistics Source: Kagan 2011 Marketing as a career has a great potential for advancement and in return promoting high revenues to the organization. Over the last few years, marketing has taken a new dimension, with marketers embarking on online marketing and other contemporary forms of marketing. Myspace.com website, a