One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest †The Movie :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest †The Movie  â â â â â â â â â â The film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, recounts to the account of McMurphy, a convict, who is sent to a psychological organization since he accepts he is insane.â In fact McMurphy, is normal when he goes to the psychological ward, he just needs to escape the work that prison time entails.â It is accepted that his stay in the psychological ward is the thing that drives the man insane.â While in the psychological ward, he communicates with the patients of his ward and winds up changing their universes completely.â When two unique social orders are joined, they without a doubt will transform one another.â This is the situation when McMurphy originating from the "real" world, a general public where an individual can do what he satisfies, is related with the psychological ward patients, whose lives are totally constrained by their medical attendants and their routines.â McMurphy and the patients significantly affect one another.  â â â â â â â â â â The psychological ward and the world that McMurphy originates from are totally different.â The psychological ward is totally founded on rules.â The patients' lives depend on the standard that their medical attendant, Nurse Ratched, has built up for them.â Nurse Ratched accepts that the principles she sets for the patients are to their greatest advantage or getting better.â The medical caretakers have whole authority over the patients.â They are secured in their beds each night, get up simultaneously, they eat simultaneously, and they sit in front of the television simultaneously every day.â The patients adhere to Nurse Ratched's standard while never addressing them.â Basically, they have no brains of their own.â McMurphy originates from a general public practically inverse of the psychological ward.â He has carried on with as long as he can remember doing what he wants.â He has never had an attendant drifting over him mentioning t o him what he needs to do at all time.â Being in jail shows that McMurphy makes some hard memories living by the rules.â So living by severe guidelines of the psychological ward will be much harder for him.  â â â â â â â â â â Living in the psychological ward is hard for McMurphy at first.â The patients and McMurphy can't comprehend each other so associating with them is hard for him.â When he starts to communicate with them, he profoundly affects the patients of the psychological ward.

Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Social Responsibility - Essay Example Social obligation attempts to the wellbeing of the general public. At the end of the day, social duty looks to elevate social government assistance subject to the choices and activities taken by business undertakings. The hidden government assistance is characterized as far as social effects that outcome from the every day business exercises of numerous and various undertakings. The business organization is relied upon to play a good and moral job in building up the general public as they progress with their day by day exercises. This infers some portion of their prosperity and advantage ought to be diverted to the general public. Basically, the three essential factors that social duty represents incorporate the economy, condition and society (Allen, 2011). The development, improvement, and maintainability of these three elements envelop the job of social duty. Any endeavor working in the cultural setting needs to consider the financial, ecological, and social ramifications of its exercises. A definitive target of social obligation is to guarantee that ventures don't unfavorably influence the general public. On a similar note, the new pursuit is considered in the process to guarantee that social obligation is figured it out. The new pursuit, in this way, drives social

Service Marketing and Management Research Paper - 3575 Words

Service Marketing and Management (Research Paper Sample) Content: Service Marketing and ManagementName:Institution:Course:Tutor:Date:ABSTRACT/SUMMARYThis paper is a service marketing and management essay which analyzes in detail the food and beverage industry. The company in the food and beverage industry used as a case study is the Swiss multinational food and beverage company, NestlÃÆ'. After a brief introduction of the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates, this offers a thorough business analysis of the industry. The most salient issues assessed in the business analysis section include the services and basics offered by NestlÃÆ', the service delivery process, a service flow chart and the different customer encounter points at NestlÃÆ'. The next section of the paper is devoted to carrying out a problem analysis of NestlÃÆ'. Important issues analyzed in this section include the identified problems, research on how to solve the problems, actual solutions to the problem, analysis and justification of the problem s and the assessment of a potential situation in which the solutions become abortive. This paper also offers recommendations on how o enhance business at NestlÃÆ'. At the end of this paper is a conclusive summary of the entire discussion followed by an alphabetical list of the references cited herein.Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u INTRODUCTION OF THE INDUSTRY PAGEREF _Toc392763996 \h 3BUSINESS ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRY PAGEREF _Toc392763997 \h 5Services and basics by NestlÃÆ' PAGEREF _Toc392763998 \h 5Service delivery process PAGEREF _Toc392763999 \h 7Service flow chart PAGEREF _Toc392764000 \h 8Customer encounter points PAGEREF _Toc392764001 \h 8PROBLEM ANALYSIS PAGEREF _Toc392764002 \h 9Identified Problems PAGEREF _Toc392764003 \h 9Research Solutions to the problem PAGEREF _Toc392764004 \h 11Solution analysis and justification PAGEREF _Toc392764005 \h 11If the solution does not work PAGEREF _Toc392764006 \h 11RECOMMENDATION(S) PAGEREF _Toc392764007 \h 12CONCLUSION PAGER EF _Toc392764008 \h 12REFERENCES PAGEREF _Toc392764009 \h 13INTRODUCTION OF THE INDUSTRYThe food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates is one of the largest industries globally. NestlÃÆ' is a Swiss global food and beverage firm which was founded in the year 1866 by Henri NestlÃÆ', George Page and Charles Page (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2008, p. 261). NestlÃÆ' has headquarters at Vevey, Canton of Vaud and its current chief executive officer is Paul Bulcke. NestlÃÆ' is the largest food and beverage company in the world and therefore the market leader in the food and beverage global industry. Currently, NestlÃÆ' has more than 29 different brands (for instance Vittel, Nesquik, Nepresso, Nescafe, Maggi and Kit Kat) which autonomously make revenues of approximately a billion Swiss Francs annually. NestlÃÆ' products include ice cream, baby food, coffee and tea, bottled water, dairy products, pet food, snacks, breakfast cereals, confectionary and frozen foods (The Telegrap h, 2012).With over 447 factories globally and business operations in an estimated 194 countries, NestlÃÆ' has more than 333,000 workers (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2008). The main competitors for NestlÃÆ' are Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Mars Incorporated and Unilever (The Telegraph, 2012). NestlÃÆ' operates in the food and beverage industry and is thus involved in the production of finished food products from raw agricultural ingredients as well as increasing the shelf life of products in adherence to the rules of hygiene and health set by relevant regulatory agencies (Bauer, 2014). Business firms operating in the food and beverage industry are also commonly engaged in the packaging of food and processing of meat. The processed and packaged food products may then be purchased by wholesalers and retailers for distributions to end consumers. It is noteworthy that the food and beverage industry is characterized by high degrees of competition by rival firms.The commercial firms operating in the food and beverage industry must come up with strategies to allow them sustainable competitive advantage over their rivals. NestlÃÆ', for example is able to report a consistently good performance through placing an emphasis on efficiency of processing and distribution business activities. Additionally, companies operating in the food and beverage industry, for instance NestlÃÆ', Mars and Kraft, formulate and execute diversification strategies as a form of competitive advantage. The diversification strategy may be characterized by addition of related products to the current portfolio or spreading out to unrelated businesses (Bauer, 2014).In similar manner to other industries of the world, the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates has been impacted by the economic downturn that has occurred globally since the Global Financial Crisis of the year 2008. Despite this, however, the impacts of the global financial meltdown have not been as impactful in the food and b everage industry as in other business sectors (The Telegraph, 2012). The main reason for this state of affairs is the fact that the twenty first century is characterized by an increased demand for ready to serve and convenient food products. Amongst the major challenges in the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates is increased prices of raw materials such as corn and diary products that are required for the production of different types of food products and beverages (DuBois, 2011). The greatest opportunity that currently exists for the food and beverage industry is the increased demand by consumers for health products and organic foods and beverages.BUSINESS ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRYServices and basics by NestlÃÆ'As the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s largest company in the food and beverage industry, it is not surprising that NestlÃÆ' presents its customers with a variety of goods and services (The Telegraph, 2012). As customers engage in the purchase of the different NestlÃƒÆ ' goods and services, they have needs, wishes and aspirations that they expect NestlÃÆ' to meet. * ServicesWebb (2010) asserts that the global food and beverage industry has grown considerably over the years and is currently "serving more than 100 million meals per day" (p. 2). The services by the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' is a market leader have spread to different areas of life, for instance, hotels, airways, industrial canteens, food trucks, restaurants and hospital canteens. As a service provider, NestlÃÆ' is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that it serves customers with food and beverages that are effective in successfully satisfying the different types of needs that customers wish to fulfill.As indicated by Webb (2010), the services offered by NestlÃÆ' are aimed at fulfilling five types of customer needs. These are: Physiological, economic, social, psychological and convenience needs. While physiological needs describe the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s desire for particular food and beverage items, economic needs refer to the desire by customers to get value for their money which they use to make purchases (DuBois, 2011). Social needs describe the need by customers to be served in an atmosphere characterized by frankness and friendliness. Psychological and convenience needs, refer to the aspiration by customers to have their self esteem enhanced, and someone to do their work for them, respectively (Webb, 2010). * Basics/GoodsThe goods provided by NestlÃÆ' in the industry are categorized into seven main product categories. These are: Beverages, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, confectionary, water, pet care, dairy products and cooked foods and cooking aids (DuBois, 2011). Figure one below depicts the highest sources of revenue for NestlÃÆ' based on the product categorizations.Figure 1The largest sources of revenue for NestlÃÆ' are obviously the beverage and dairy product segments which accounts for 26% each, of the total sales by NestlÃÆ'. The beverage product segment in NestlÃÆ' is comprised of both powdered and liquid beverages. The most popular beverages offered by NestlÃÆ' include Milo, Nesquik, Nescafe, Nestea and Perrier. The diary product category at NestlÃÆ' is comprised of ice cream and milk products such as Carnation, Nido, Coffee-mate and laLaitiere. There are different types of ice creams offered by NestlÃÆ' (The Telegraph, 2012). The most popular include Dreyers, Extreme, Hoogen-Dars, Movenpick and Ice Cream Nestle (DuBois, 2011). After beverages and dairy products, the product category that brings in the most sales for NestlÃÆ' is the cooked food and cooking aids product category which brings in an estimated 18% of NestlÃÆ'à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s total sales. Foodstuff in this group of NestlÃÆ' products includes Chef-Mate, Santa Rica, Minorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s, Davigel, Chef Michaels, Maggi and lean cuisine (DuBois, 2011). Refrigerated products include Katieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Pizza, Buitoni, NestlÃÆ' and Toll House.The pet care and confectionary product categories in NestlÃÆ' each make up 16% of NestlÃÆ' total sales. The pet care products at NestlÃÆ', which mostly target dogs and cats, include Alpo, Chef Michaels, Beneful, Bakers, Cat Chow, dog, Chow and Fancy Feast (The Telegraph, 2012). Chocolate, confectionary and baked goods group is comprised of products such as 100 Grand Bar, Abuelita, Aero, Baby Ruth and Butter Finger. NestlÃÆ' also offers health and pharmaceutical products such as Boost, Optifast Nutren, Resource and Peptamen (DuBois, 2011).Service delivery processIt is noteworthy that the different needs that customers have play a very significant role in determining the different service methods that will be us... Service Marketing and Management Research Paper - 3575 Words Service Marketing and Management (Research Paper Sample) Content: Service Marketing and ManagementName:Institution:Course:Tutor:Date:ABSTRACT/SUMMARYThis paper is a service marketing and management essay which analyzes in detail the food and beverage industry. The company in the food and beverage industry used as a case study is the Swiss multinational food and beverage company, NestlÃÆ'. After a brief introduction of the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates, this offers a thorough business analysis of the industry. The most salient issues assessed in the business analysis section include the services and basics offered by NestlÃÆ', the service delivery process, a service flow chart and the different customer encounter points at NestlÃÆ'. The next section of the paper is devoted to carrying out a problem analysis of NestlÃÆ'. Important issues analyzed in this section include the identified problems, research on how to solve the problems, actual solutions to the problem, analysis and justification of the problem s and the assessment of a potential situation in which the solutions become abortive. This paper also offers recommendations on how o enhance business at NestlÃÆ'. At the end of this paper is a conclusive summary of the entire discussion followed by an alphabetical list of the references cited herein.Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u INTRODUCTION OF THE INDUSTRY PAGEREF _Toc392763996 \h 3BUSINESS ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRY PAGEREF _Toc392763997 \h 5Services and basics by NestlÃÆ' PAGEREF _Toc392763998 \h 5Service delivery process PAGEREF _Toc392763999 \h 7Service flow chart PAGEREF _Toc392764000 \h 8Customer encounter points PAGEREF _Toc392764001 \h 8PROBLEM ANALYSIS PAGEREF _Toc392764002 \h 9Identified Problems PAGEREF _Toc392764003 \h 9Research Solutions to the problem PAGEREF _Toc392764004 \h 11Solution analysis and justification PAGEREF _Toc392764005 \h 11If the solution does not work PAGEREF _Toc392764006 \h 11RECOMMENDATION(S) PAGEREF _Toc392764007 \h 12CONCLUSION PAGER EF _Toc392764008 \h 12REFERENCES PAGEREF _Toc392764009 \h 13INTRODUCTION OF THE INDUSTRYThe food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates is one of the largest industries globally. NestlÃÆ' is a Swiss global food and beverage firm which was founded in the year 1866 by Henri NestlÃÆ', George Page and Charles Page (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2008, p. 261). NestlÃÆ' has headquarters at Vevey, Canton of Vaud and its current chief executive officer is Paul Bulcke. NestlÃÆ' is the largest food and beverage company in the world and therefore the market leader in the food and beverage global industry. Currently, NestlÃÆ' has more than 29 different brands (for instance Vittel, Nesquik, Nepresso, Nescafe, Maggi and Kit Kat) which autonomously make revenues of approximately a billion Swiss Francs annually. NestlÃÆ' products include ice cream, baby food, coffee and tea, bottled water, dairy products, pet food, snacks, breakfast cereals, confectionary and frozen foods (The Telegrap h, 2012).With over 447 factories globally and business operations in an estimated 194 countries, NestlÃÆ' has more than 333,000 workers (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2008). The main competitors for NestlÃÆ' are Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Mars Incorporated and Unilever (The Telegraph, 2012). NestlÃÆ' operates in the food and beverage industry and is thus involved in the production of finished food products from raw agricultural ingredients as well as increasing the shelf life of products in adherence to the rules of hygiene and health set by relevant regulatory agencies (Bauer, 2014). Business firms operating in the food and beverage industry are also commonly engaged in the packaging of food and processing of meat. The processed and packaged food products may then be purchased by wholesalers and retailers for distributions to end consumers. It is noteworthy that the food and beverage industry is characterized by high degrees of competition by rival firms.The commercial firms operating in the food and beverage industry must come up with strategies to allow them sustainable competitive advantage over their rivals. NestlÃÆ', for example is able to report a consistently good performance through placing an emphasis on efficiency of processing and distribution business activities. Additionally, companies operating in the food and beverage industry, for instance NestlÃÆ', Mars and Kraft, formulate and execute diversification strategies as a form of competitive advantage. The diversification strategy may be characterized by addition of related products to the current portfolio or spreading out to unrelated businesses (Bauer, 2014).In similar manner to other industries of the world, the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates has been impacted by the economic downturn that has occurred globally since the Global Financial Crisis of the year 2008. Despite this, however, the impacts of the global financial meltdown have not been as impactful in the food and b everage industry as in other business sectors (The Telegraph, 2012). The main reason for this state of affairs is the fact that the twenty first century is characterized by an increased demand for ready to serve and convenient food products. Amongst the major challenges in the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' operates is increased prices of raw materials such as corn and diary products that are required for the production of different types of food products and beverages (DuBois, 2011). The greatest opportunity that currently exists for the food and beverage industry is the increased demand by consumers for health products and organic foods and beverages.BUSINESS ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRYServices and basics by NestlÃÆ'As the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s largest company in the food and beverage industry, it is not surprising that NestlÃÆ' presents its customers with a variety of goods and services (The Telegraph, 2012). As customers engage in the purchase of the different NestlÃƒÆ ' goods and services, they have needs, wishes and aspirations that they expect NestlÃÆ' to meet. * ServicesWebb (2010) asserts that the global food and beverage industry has grown considerably over the years and is currently "serving more than 100 million meals per day" (p. 2). The services by the food and beverage industry in which NestlÃÆ' is a market leader have spread to different areas of life, for instance, hotels, airways, industrial canteens, food trucks, restaurants and hospital canteens. As a service provider, NestlÃÆ' is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that it serves customers with food and beverages that are effective in successfully satisfying the different types of needs that customers wish to fulfill.As indicated by Webb (2010), the services offered by NestlÃÆ' are aimed at fulfilling five types of customer needs. These are: Physiological, economic, social, psychological and convenience needs. While physiological needs describe the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s desire for particular food and beverage items, economic needs refer to the desire by customers to get value for their money which they use to make purchases (DuBois, 2011). Social needs describe the need by customers to be served in an atmosphere characterized by frankness and friendliness. Psychological and convenience needs, refer to the aspiration by customers to have their self esteem enhanced, and someone to do their work for them, respectively (Webb, 2010). * Basics/GoodsThe goods provided by NestlÃÆ' in the industry are categorized into seven main product categories. These are: Beverages, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, confectionary, water, pet care, dairy products and cooked foods and cooking aids (DuBois, 2011). Figure one below depicts the highest sources of revenue for NestlÃÆ' based on the product categorizations.Figure 1The largest sources of revenue for NestlÃÆ' are obviously the beverage and dairy product segments which accounts for 26% each, of the total sales by NestlÃÆ'. The beverage product segment in NestlÃÆ' is comprised of both powdered and liquid beverages. The most popular beverages offered by NestlÃÆ' include Milo, Nesquik, Nescafe, Nestea and Perrier. The diary product category at NestlÃÆ' is comprised of ice cream and milk products such as Carnation, Nido, Coffee-mate and laLaitiere. There are different types of ice creams offered by NestlÃÆ' (The Telegraph, 2012). The most popular include Dreyers, Extreme, Hoogen-Dars, Movenpick and Ice Cream Nestle (DuBois, 2011). After beverages and dairy products, the product category that brings in the most sales for NestlÃÆ' is the cooked food and cooking aids product category which brings in an estimated 18% of NestlÃÆ'à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s total sales. Foodstuff in this group of NestlÃÆ' products includes Chef-Mate, Santa Rica, Minorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s, Davigel, Chef Michaels, Maggi and lean cuisine (DuBois, 2011). Refrigerated products include Katieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Pizza, Buitoni, NestlÃÆ' and Toll House.The pet care and confectionary product categories in NestlÃÆ' each make up 16% of NestlÃÆ' total sales. The pet care products at NestlÃÆ', which mostly target dogs and cats, include Alpo, Chef Michaels, Beneful, Bakers, Cat Chow, dog, Chow and Fancy Feast (The Telegraph, 2012). Chocolate, confectionary and baked goods group is comprised of products such as 100 Grand Bar, Abuelita, Aero, Baby Ruth and Butter Finger. NestlÃÆ' also offers health and pharmaceutical products such as Boost, Optifast Nutren, Resource and Peptamen (DuBois, 2011).Service delivery processIt is noteworthy that the different needs that customers have play a very significant role in determining the different service methods that will be us...

Gatekeepers Pros and Cons Essay - 1329 Words

A gatekeeper is a primary care provider who acts as an agent for patients. They coordinate medical care so that patient receives appropriate services and also provide referrals to specialists. Typically, primary care physicians include family practitioner, generalist physician and pediatrician. Ideally, gatekeepers are much like family doctors, they focus on the health of the person as a whole instead of a single organ. They help emphasize prevention care and establish appropriate health screening based on the patient. On the hand, there are concerns that the system of gatekeeping makes urgent care inconvenient. The pros and cons surrounding the system of gatekeeping really question its effectiveness. On the other hand, no system is†¦show more content†¦Having a primary care provider not only gives you a personal health care organizer but it also reduces your health care cost. According to a research at the University of Missouri, 90 percent of patient’s medical needs can be met by primary care providers in an outpatient setting. Going to a specialist with an issue that you might be uncertain of can be expensive. First of all, the specialist might not have your medical record. The specialist may have no idea about your past medical history, physical examination report and social and family report. This increases your chance of doing screenings that you’ve done in the past which results in unnecessary cost. Instead of blindly going to a specialist, your PCP can make initial diagnoses and decide whether he/she can take care of you at their office or need to refer you to a specialist. PCPs also obtains most of your medical record, they are aware of your circumstances and can help you prevent an illness before it happens. According to doctor McDoniel from Palos Medical Group, â€Å"The time, money and amount of medicine needed to treat high blood pressure are a lot less than it is to treat a heart attack.† Having an organized health ca re plan can eliminate unnecessary costs and increase preventive treatments. Ideally, primary care providers are supposed to look out for your best interest and arrange all your health care needs. In reality, you might be unsatisfied with your PCP, and want toShow MoreRelatedPro Con Universal Health Care Essay602 Words   |  3 PagesI didn’t bulk this into a PRO and CON section per say. I felt like it would flow better and make more sense if I could play pro/con on each system. Should the US have some form of universal health care? I must say prior to watching this video I was very uneducated yet very judgmental on the issue of universal health care President Obama is trying to push right now. I remember reading not too long ago in the paper that by 2016 if a US citizen doesn’t carry insurance they will be penalized on theirRead MoreCommon Disorders Commonly Occur And Rare Ones Rarely Happen Essay1481 Words   |  6 Pagesapproach the case. 2. Discuss the pros and cons of requiring everyone to enter the health care system through a â€Å"gatekeeper† health care provider (generalist physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). Depending on your insurance policy and what it entails, you can either see your PCP to get a referral for a specialist, or make an appointment for the specialist on your own- this is known as HMO vs. PPO. Like all things in life, there are pros and cons of requiring everyone to enter theRead Morehealth insurance matrix HCS/235 Essay637 Words   |  3 Pageswas the model first used? What kind of payment system is used, such as prospective, retrospective, or concurrent? Who pays for care? What is the access structure, such as gatekeeper, open-access, and so forth? How does the model affect patients? Include pros and cons. How does the model affect providers? Include pros and cons. Health maintenance organization (HMO) Example: HMOs first emerged in the 1940s with Kaiser Permanente in California and the Health Insurance Plan in New York. However,Read MoreMarketing 301 essay942 Words   |  4 Pagesproduct. They influence the buying decisions because ultimately they will be the ones using the product. The second role are the gatekeepers. These personnel are the ones that give product data. They control what information the members of the buying center will review. The third role are the influencers. They are usually specialized staff that break down what the â€Å"pros† and â€Å"cons† are for a product. The fourth role are the deciders. These aren’t necessarily the ones that have the formal authority aboutRead More HCS 235 Week 2 Completed Health insurance matrix1163 Words   |  5 PagesWhen was the model first used? What kind of payment system is used, such as prospective, retrospective, or concurrent? Who pays for care? What is the access structure, such as gatekeeper, open-access, and so forth? How does the model affect patients? Include pros and cons. How does the model affect providers? Include pros and cons. Health maintenance organization (HMO) HMO’s were first introduced in the 1940’s. In the time that has passed they have since evolved. This came with help from the HealthRead MoreThe Impact Of Internet On Public Opinion On Society1217 Words   |  5 Pagesthe restrains from the gatekeepers, they will influence users’ opinions. Media gatekeepers regulate information from the public (Beam 61). Furthermore, Bozdag considered that search engines frequently claim human bias does not exist in their systems and operations are completely automated by machine, but this is false. He believes, â€Å"Humans in online services also make editorial judgments about what data to collect delete or disregard† (Bozdag 217). No matter what, gatekeepers will influence the public’sRead MoreGroup Communication In 12 Angry Men935 Words   |  4 Pagestraffic from outside the courthouse, and uncomfortable wooden chairs. Internal noise included prejudicial views, anger, frustration, and heavy sweating. The pr os include sharing of opinions, democratic voting, and sharing of feedback. Cons include a jury that was too homogenous in race and gender, a physically uncomfortable room, and noise. The cons may have been improved upon with different jury members and a comfortable jury room. The forming group development stage began when the jurors made politeRead MoreAqualisa Quartz: Simply a Better Shower 21340 Words   |  6 Pages Specific of the market is that a lot of showers are sold via plumbers; because most customers don’t know any brands, they don’t bother with selecting the exact shower and they trust this task to the plumber. That fact makes plumbers important gatekeepers. 2. Quartz shower value proposition to consumers * quick and uncomplicated installation; no need for excavating the bathroom, plumber is finished in less than one day (even apprentices could do it), therefore even costs of installation areRead MoreHealth Insurance Matrix Essay2138 Words   |  9 Pageswas the model first used? What kind of payment system is used, such as prospective, retrospective, or concurrent? Who pays for care? What is the access structure, such as gatekeeper, open-access, and so forth? How does the model affect patients? Include pros and cons. How does the model affect providers? Include pros and cons. Indemnity In 1932 the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a strong position against prepaid group practices, favoring instead indemnity-type insurance that protectsRead MoreHealthcare is a complicated and often controversial aspect of policymaking. Healthcare systems can2000 Words   |  8 Pagesregardless of whether or not they provide services to the patient. GPs provide basic healthcare to their patients, such as checkups, prescribing medication, and overseeing minor health concerns. GPs also serve an important purpose as â€Å"gatekeepers†. As a gatekeeper, GPs refer patients to hospitals or specialists for further services that they cannot provide themselves. The purpose of GPs is to reduce costs to the NHS for excessive expenditures. Patients cannot see a specialist or receive treatment

Othello - Change Of Character Essay - 964 Words

Othellos character in the duration of quot;The Tragedy of Othelloquot;, by the worlds greatest writer, William Shakespeare, is first shown as a hero of war and a man of great pride and courage. The other main characters in the play all form their own opinions of him and, as the play continues, his character begins to deteriorate and become less noble. Othellos character changes from a flawless military leader, to become a barbaric murderer. amp;#9;Throughout the first act of the play, Othello is shown as many different characters depending on who is speaking. Iago complains of Othellos pride and quot;bombast circumstancequot; and is angered by the appointment of Cassio, an educated military theoretician of Florence to†¦show more content†¦These answers to Iagos persistence show that he is still a character of calmness and dignity, and he still has the self-assurance suitable to command armies of men. amp;#9;When Cassio finds Othello, he seems to be relieved because he does not like personal conflict, which would have occurred if Brabantio had found him instead. After he is found, Othello is taken to Brabantio where he is interrogated on how he possessed Desdemona enough in order to make her run off with him. Brabantio damns Othello and calls him an enchanter, saying that the quot;tender, fair, and happyquot; Desdemona was too shy of marriage, which is why she shunned all of the suitors sent to her. This entire scene helps to establish Othello as an alert and composed leader. Later in this act, Othello offers to explain how he won Desdemona. He chooses not to contradict or deny that he has used quot;magicquot; but when the true meaning of the quot;magicquot; comes to light, it is shown that he used the magic of love and not a conjured magic. amp;#9;Iago also suspects Othello of having some kind of relationship with his own wife, although he does not know or even seem to care whether or not his suspicions have any foundation at all. Again, according to Iago, Othello is an quot;assquot; because he has a quot;free and open nature.quot; This act works as an introduction to the Othello character and shows how other characters react to his presence. amp;#9;The remaining acts of the playShow MoreRelatedThe Two Settings of Othello1184 Words   |  5 PagesEnvironment in Othello In The Tragedy of Othello, an epic tale of love and revenge, Shakespeare introduces major themes of jealousy and self-preservation. Shakespeare uses sharp contrast of settings to convey and amplify feelings brought on by the characters’ actions. The civilized city of Venice and the cut off island of Cyprus bring out the differences in personalities among the main characters, leading them to act as different as the two settings. Venice keeps these characters more dignifiedRead MoreA Play of Love Turned Bad: Shakespeares Othello Essay1524 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s famous play Othello is a play of love that has turned bad by the unfounded jealousy of the protagonist character Othello. Arguably the contribution of Othello’s susceptibility to manipulation, his weaknesses and the manipulation of other characters tactics such as Iago each contribute to the downfall of Othello. However, to the extent of which each is more significant varies and this is what wi ll be analysed in this essay. Like many of Shakespeare’s tragic plays each has to have aRead MoreRainbows End + Related Text1699 Words   |  7 Pagesperception to change and in-turn, form different attitudes towards people as we see through the characters in Rainbows End by Jane Harrison and Othello by William Shakespeare. An individual’s choices and the attitude of others plays an important role in shaping the way that characters perceive their sense of belonging, in both negative and positive ways in â€Å"Rainbows End† through the Koori women, Nan Dear and Gladys and in â€Å"Othello† through Iago and Othello. Through the notion of time, the characters in RainbowsRead MoreOthello Feminist Analysis1611 Words   |  7 PagesOthello, by William Shakespeare is well known for its richness in literary content and elements pertinent to societal ideas. Moreover, women are portrayed in Othello in ways that confirm, but also contradict their treatment in Shakespeare’s time. Both fe male action and language represent these ideas such as expectations for a wife and expectations for how a woman is to act. That said, there are many other lines spoken by these characters that defy the expectations placed on women at time. OverallRead MoreOthello: Good vs Evil1525 Words   |  7 PagesMain Characters William Shakespeare’s Othello is a classic depiction of a struggle between good and evil. In the play,, the characters are faced with the choice to either conquer or succumb to the overpowering force of evil. Shakespeare places his characters on a sort of spectrum in which a character’s amount of god or evil can be represented by a shade of color: black representing pure evil, white representing absolute goodness, and a shade of grey exemplifying the nature of all characters thatRead MoreEssay on Comparing Othello and The Great Gatsby987 Words   |  4 Pagestragedies eventually end in chaos; however, Othello and The Great Gatsby both begin with innocent characters thinking little about the possibility of disarray. During the climax of both works it becomes evident that the idea of order is doomed, inevitably leading to a bounding spiral of problems. The Great Gatsby and Othello both end in chaos because the protagonists, Othello and Gatsby are outsiders entering an o rdered society. The actions of many characters cause confusion in the storyline, and theRead MoreHis Moorships Ancient: Iago as the Protagonist of Othello1658 Words   |  7 PagesMacbeth is a murderous traitor to his king and country. These unfavorable and evil attributes serve Shakespeares main characters by presenting them as realistically written men, and there always seems a degree, however small, of sympathy associated with their respective downfalls and tragedies. Othello, however, is an anomaly. While he is flawed by his paranoia and pride, Othello is only unstable and destructive after intricate deception. Indeed, he seems maddeningly perfect to his adversaries. EvenRead MoreTheme Of Jealousy In Othello1511 Words   |  7 PagesJealousy is not confined to Othello because there are multiple examples in the play that show other characters that portray characteristics of jealousy such as Iago and Roderigo. It is clear that jealousy is not confined to Othello as he is not the only character in the play that shows jealousy in different ways. In the play, ‘Othello’ written by William Shakespeare in 1603 and set in a Venetian society, even though Othello did kill his wife and himself Shakespeares jealousy overcame him mentallyRead MoreThe Role of Soliloquys in Othello1128 Words   |  5 PagesThe two male leads in Othello, Iago and Othello, both speak directly to the audience sharing their innermost thoughts through their soliloquies. The protagonist of the play, the tragic Othello, uses soliloquies to show his emotions about what he is told by deceitful Iago regarding his wife’s unfaithfulness. Othello’s soliloquies tend to be emotionally driven and as the play progresses they tend to be become more infected as he descends into rage and jealousy. Iago’s soliloquies however reveal hisRead MoreTreachery and Betrayal in Othello1408 Words   |  6 Pages In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, acts of treachery and betrayal have great dramatic significance. They greatly contribute to the theme that appearance does not always portray reality, and reality is not what one sees but more often what one does not see. The acts of treachery and betrayal in Othello help to develop this theme through character development. Such acts include: how Iago deceives Othello by being his friend and enemy at the same time. Othello betraying his wife’s love and trust

Compare My Grandmother and Long Distance Essay Example For Students

Compare My Grandmother and Long Distance Essay How are the themes of Family and Death treated differently or similarly in Harrisons poem Long Distance and Jennings poem My Grandmother?  Long Distance is an elegy written by Tony Harrison. The poem begins with Harrison explaining to the readers how his father reacted to his mothers death, and then he goes on to explain how he himself came to terms with the death of both his parents. My Grandmother by Elizabeth Jennings, also an elegy, is a narrative in which she describes her personal relationship with her grandmother, and the effect it had on her after her grandmothers death. Both poems are similar because their main themes are family and death, which are portrayed in different ways. We are introduced to the theme of death in the first line of Long Distance. Harrison begins by telling us his mother was already two years dead; however his father still felt affection for her. This is evident because his father still went to renew her transport pass. The use of pass in this sentence also shows the northern dialect in which Harrison came from as he rhymed the word gas. This also shows that the father was in denial over the death, even though her death was two years ago. My Grandmother begins with Jennings telling us her grandmother kept an antique shop -or it kept her, which showed her grandmother was lonely, and she was reliant on the antique shop to keep her occupied and feel wanted, while the antique shop was also reliant on her to ensure that polish was all, also signifying that she kept the shop clean and tidy. The lack of family for Jennings grandmother led to her obsession with the antique shop. She would watch her own reflection in the brass which shows that she was used to keeping the shop clean, and most of her time was spent looking after the shop. The quote also expresses that there was a weak bond between Jennings and her grandmother because she wouldnt see any reflection of her family or her granddaughter, because she was a lonely person. Harrisons father shows obsession because his father still put hot water bottles her side of the bed showing his obsessive nature, and that he still has not forgotten about her. The use of death and family are both factors to the theme of obsession in these quotes and they both share the feeling of attachment to important things in their life, which is another similar characteristic in the family of the poets. The relationship between Jennings and her grandmother is clearly weak. This is evident as she refused to go out with her because she was afraid to go out with her, as she feared her grandmother would treat her the same way she treated antique objects. This also indicates that the bond between them was not strong because she bluntly refused to go out with her, showing her decisiveness. The same distance between the author and family can be seen in Long Distance as Harrison manages to avoid the same emotional trap his father fell into, and only calls the disconnected number which shows the Long Distance between him and his parents. It is also ironic because he fell into the same predicament as his father, almost in denial that his parents were gone. Although Harrison keeps his distance from his parents, he still is connected with his father and has a good relationship; however, no sign of a relationship is apparent with Jennings and her grandmother. .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .postImageUrl , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:hover , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:visited , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:active { border:0!important; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:active , .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307 .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3d3699b3b7a5c04255961ff659ca1307:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Commentary on the short story EssayIn addition, Jennings also uses words such as long narrow room to create a negative imagery of death. This quote has an ambiguous meaning to it, one being the room in which her grandmother put All her best things in. The quote could also refer to a coffin, and it also tells the reader that the grandmothers death is soon to follow. The use of imagery is quite opposite in the first stanza of Harrisons poem when he first mentions death. While referring to his fathers obsession, he uses words such as warming and hot water bottle so that the reader is not too affected by the negative use of death, while giving the poem a story and a feeling th at makes the reader want to carry on reading. This creates a positive atmosphere to lighten the situation. However, by the time we reach the end of the poem, Harrison changes the mood and it becomes sad and depressing with the use of words such as alone and rusted lock to show that not only was Harrisons father lonely, but he had not left his house after the death of the mother because his father felt that he knew shed just popped out to get the tea. The use of italics on knew shows his fathers absolute certainty of the fact but in reality, it only showed that he was in a state of denial and desperation for the mother. Harrison also creates a depressing atmosphere by describing his new phone book black, the colour to signify death.

The Letters That Seemed To Heal Essays - Joey Tribbiani, Fiction

The Letters That Seemed To Heal A letter that seemed to heal I stared into Joey's tear-filled eyes. We sat on the cold cement of my driveway and a soft wind blew my long hair across my emotionless face. The love of my life had cheated on me. I was so hurt, but would not let Joey know. As he poured his heart out to me, my facial expressions remained cold. I could not believe that the one who I trusted more than anything in the world had betrayed me in a state of drunken disillusionment. After Joey confessed his betrayal to me, he wrote me two letters begging for forgiveness. These letters have affected me in so many ways. I have read them at least a thousand times. The letters did not make Joey's actions right but they did make me feel better about myself. The letters also helped us overcome this obstacle in our relationship and grow stronger in our love and our trust. It was just like any other day. I went to school, then met my two friends at a coffee shop. They told me that they had to tell me something and that it was the hardest thing that they had ever had to tell someone. They told me that Joey had been with his ex-girlfriend this weekend while I was out of town. I was shocked and in a state of disbelief. My cheeks burned and turned crimson. Slowly tears began to roll out of my eyes. My friends tried to comfort me, but at the time it seemed impossible. I left the coffee shop and drove to Joey's house. I wanted to hear the truth from his lips. Someone must have called Joey and told him that I was on my way to his house, because as I pulled in the muddy driveway, I saw him. He was sitting on a chair on his porch with his head sunk deep in his hands. I told myself that I would not cry in front of him. I took a deep breath and stepped out of my car. As soon as he saw my face, he burst into tears and I knew it was all true. I know this sounds weird but it was the hardest thing in the world for me not to hold him and tell him that everything was going to be okay. He began to tell me the whole story. I'm not going to elaborate on all the details of his story because they literally make me sick to my stomach. I told Joey that we were going to have to take some time off. He was devastated and was determined to change my mind. In his eyes we had to compromise and work things out. No matter how much I wanted to just forget the whole thing, I could not. It would always be there in the back of my mind and I would never be able to trust him again. The next couple of days were the hardest days that I have ever been through. I woke up the next morning with puffy eyes and an aching headache. The last thing I wanted to do was go to school, but my mom thought that it would take my mind off of everything. The day outside was absolutely beautiful, which made me feel even worse. I though about Joey throughout the day and I couldn't stop thinking about when we would be able to be together again. No, This wasn't right. I shouldn't be thinking about when we will be back together, I should be thinking about how much he hurt me. When what seemed like the longest day of my life came to an end, I walked outside to my car. Tears immediately came to my eyes at the sight of the long stemmed red rose and the two tightly folded letters tucked underneath the windshield wiper of my car. The first thought that came to my mind when I smelled the beautiful rose was I loved this boy with all my heart. I sunk into the gray cloth seats of my car staring at the two letters almost afraid of opening them.

Essay on World War I and Load Bearing Work

Essay on World War I and Load Bearing Work Essay on World War I and Load Bearing Work Flamethrower: Early in the war, German introduced a new kind of flamethrower that consisted of a gas canister strapped in the back of a soldier. Attached to the canister was a nozzle that was lit on fire and that sprayed burning fuel on its victims. It was undeniably useful when used at short-range, but were of limited under effectieness. The Germans used this weapons to clear the area of enemy soldiers before the main army advanced. It was put initial wartime use against the French in the south-eastern sector of the Western Front. Poison Gas: It was first used by the German army at the Battle of Ypres in 1995. The gas caused a burning sensation in throat and chest pains. There were many different kind of poison gases that both sides experienced by the end of the war. To use the gas, the weather must be right, especially the wind. Both sides used this weapon to weaken the other side's army without using violence or violent explosion. It was easy to fire into trenches in shells and took a period of time to cause the effect. Tank: It was used by firs time at the Battle of the Somme. Its maximum speed was 3mph but could not vross the trenches but by the end of the war, it could cross and carry 10 men, reaching the speed of 4mph. The British's adavantages from using the weapon first was the tank's protective metal kept the men inside from falling victim to the onslaught of enemy machine guns. The heavy tank crushed everything in sight, including the dangerous barbed wire guarding the trenches. Grenades: The Germans were the first ones to use this weapon but both sides eventually used it. It has numerous models, easy to carry into the war. It was a small bomb that can be thrown by hand. The grenadiers raced down the trenches and threw grenades into each dugout they passed. Even though it did not create a big explosion but it was enough to injure many soldiers within areas or caused deaths. Both sides saw the advantages of this weapon, they designed explosive grenades to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time. Mortars: It was an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as (mortar) bombs at low velocities, short ranges and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It was portable and could fire unexposed from the bottom of a trench, droppping their shells into the enemy trenches. It was essentially hollow tubes angled greater than 45 degrees. It was used by the British to help transmit the forces/loads through the bricks evenly so is a great advantage in load bearing work. Mortar is relatively stable in all weathers providing wind and weather protection to the wall. During the trench warfare, many weapons were introduced from both sides Allie and Central Powers. The effectiveness increased faster when many deaths were caused, over 8.5 million

Action Potentials in Squid Axons

Action Potentials in Squid Axons In 1952, Hodgkin and Huxley published a series of four papers in the Journal of Physiology (London) reporting their experiments to investigate the underlying events of the action potential. In their final paper, they derived a series of equations that describe the relationship between sodium conductance (gNa+), potassium conductance (gK+) and the membrane potential in a squid axon following electrical stimulation. Hodgkin and Huxley were awarded the Nobel Prize for this work. In this practical, you will use a computer program based on the Hodgkin and Huxley equations to show what is happening to the membrane potential, gNa+ and gK+ during and after electrical stimulation. An example of the output from the program is illustrated in figure 1. It can be seen that the electrical stimulation depolarises the membrane. Once a depolarisation of 30mV has occurred, the conductance to sodium ions increases rapidly and the membrane potential rises to +20mV. The rise in gK+ is slower in onset an d lasts for longer than the increase in gNa+. The fall in gNa+ and the associated rise in gK+ returns the membrane potential towards the resting value. Methods and Results    Q1 and 2. Investigate the effects of varying stimulus amplitude and duration by running all the simulations shown in the matrix below in Table 1: Enter a ‘X’ in the Table 1 matrix for experiments that produce an action potential, and record the peak height, amplitude, latency and threshold of any action potentials in Table 2 overleaf. For experiments that fail to elicit an action potential, enter a ‘O’ in the matrix below, and record a value of à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¥ (infinity) for the latency and ‘-‘ for the other parameters in the table overleaf.    Q3. Plot two graphs to show the relationship between: (i) Stimulus strength and latency and (ii) Stimulus duration and latency. How these graphs should be plotted is not immediately obvious, and information on how to complete thi s task will not be explicitly given! The optimal solution to the problem is for you to find, but the following points are provided for guidance: It is not legitimate to plot infinity on graphs It is not appropriate to extrapolate beyond data points It is not legitimate to plot average latencies. The graphs must be plotted so that every value of latency (except à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¥) is represented. Use the blank sheet on the proforma, there is no need to use graph paper. Graph 1 : Stimulus strength and latency Remember you need to distinguish different stim durations in this graph Stimulus Duration (ms) Graph 2: Stimulus Duration and Latency Make sure you distinguish different strengths as well Stimulus Strength (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­A/cm2) These can be plotted accurately using excel for your submitted report. Experiments with dual stimuli Q4. Run a simulation with the following parameters to demonstrate the absolute refractory period:    Briefly describe the responses obtained in simulations A and B in the space below: For simulation A and B in stimulus 1 they had peak heights of +17mv therefore producing an action potential. In stimulus 2, there is very little depolarisation in simulation A as peak height is -92mv. This is lower than the resting potential, therefore showing that the neuron did not fully recover from stimulus1.

ENaC and Hypertension Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ENaC and Hypertension - Essay Example However, for individuals past the age of 45, the incidences of hypertension rise and affect more women than men [1]. In the U.S. 25% of Americans suffer from hypertension. High blood pressure varies amongst ethnic groups where African Americans have the highest risk for hypertension among Americans. Forty percent of African Americans have hypertension and it is more likely to be manifested at an earlier age than Caucasians. Hypertension is the primary cause of 25% of deaths in America today. Additionally, 47% of individuals with hypertension have blood pressure that is not under control. Most of hypertensives are resistant to common medications. They have to take more than one medication to render their blood pressure stable[3]. The pathogenesis of hypertension remains unknown. Blood pressure must be regulated to prevent damaging of vital organs. From this point, studying the molecular basis and human protein level of this disease is needed for early detection and for distinguish ing markers and designing targeting therapy. The kidneys play a major role in hypertension mainly in the maintenance of sodium balance within the body. They also maintain the balance of the volume of extracellular fluid that leads to the long term control of blood pressure. Therefore, any imbalance in sodium entry expands the blood volume leading to hormonal and vascular change in the kidneys and increasing blood pressure [2]. In relation to the various mechanisms involved in hypertension’s inheritance, two major categories exist. These are Mendelian hypertension and essential hypertension. The Mendelian form of hypertension occurs because of a single or small number of genes which are defective. These can also be either dominant or recessive [4]. In contrast, essential hypertension, which is a heterogeneous disorder of hypertension, is more complex and does not follow the kind of inheritance

Business Strategies of Marks and Spencer towards Their Business Essay

Business Strategies of Marks and Spencer towards Their Business Expansion into China - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Marks and Spencer were established in the year 1884 by Michael Marks and since then has grown rapidly to about 600 stores in the UK alone employing about 75000 individuals across the globe in diverse markets. However, the aspect of international expansion must be handled with caution as one of the most important mistakes made by multinational firms involves undermining the aspect of local sentiments and beliefs that can lead to disastrous consequences in terms of positioning of the brand in the new foreign markets. The company has a dedicated presence in about 40 nations across the globe. China holds considerable promise for Marks and Spencer for expanding its business as the nation holds a good position with regards to ease of doing business. According to a report published by the World Bank China ranks 79 among all the nations with regards to ease of doing business preceded only by India, Brazil, and Russia among the emerging markets. In addition, China is also the highest populated country in the world and its recent strides in economic growth have led to making it one of the major markets for retailers across the globe. Cities like Shanghai and Beijing score high on the list of international companies trying to expand internationally due to good market potential.A research study conducted to analyze the consumer behavior states certain key trends of the Chinese consumers that include a good growth in consumption patterns, greater sophistication of the consumers, a reduced trade up of products and brands, shift towards brand value and brand image and finally display of greater smarter purchasing trends among the consumers. In addition to this, the Chinese consumers have also become more inclined towards better service and are also influenced to some extent by Western brands.

Computer Access :: Technology Personal Narrative Teacher

Computer Access My current situation finds me teaching 7th grade block (language arts and geography) at Beach Middle School in Chelsea, Michigan. Chelsea, as a community, is fairly well-off financially. Technology is a priority for its citizens and for its schools. I am currently typing this on my school-issued laptop that is less than a year old. I am sitting on my couch and my cat is sleeping on my left arm. My classroom contains a brand new PC for my students to use and a new HP DeskJet color printer. There are two different labs of brand new laptops at my disposal. I am one of Moran’s â€Å"haves.† Being one of the â€Å"haves† doesn’t mean that my students can use computers everyday, nor would I sign up for that. We have debated and argued and complained and reasoned our way into a sign-up system that works most of the time. For the walk-in lab of twenty-eight laptops, the sign-up sheet is posted one week in advance and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The sign-up sheet is posted in the lab itself. It is posted by the Media Center clerk, and she has her favorites. The rest of us are routinely confounded by the apparent speed with which some teachers are able to access the sign-up sheet. For those of us who are not quite quick enough, there are two laptop carts. Each cart has fourteen laptops and a printer. All of the laptops are wireless. We can sign up for one or both laptops at a time. The sign-up sheet is in the Media Center, and the sign-up sheet is available for the entire school year. In September, I can sign up for June. I have done already this year. We have two different sign-up procedures because of the different planning styles of our teaching staff. We in the language arts and social studies departments tend to do our planning months in advance. For at least the last two years, the 7th grade block staff has met in the summer and plotted the course of the year. Computer Access :: Technology Personal Narrative Teacher Computer Access My current situation finds me teaching 7th grade block (language arts and geography) at Beach Middle School in Chelsea, Michigan. Chelsea, as a community, is fairly well-off financially. Technology is a priority for its citizens and for its schools. I am currently typing this on my school-issued laptop that is less than a year old. I am sitting on my couch and my cat is sleeping on my left arm. My classroom contains a brand new PC for my students to use and a new HP DeskJet color printer. There are two different labs of brand new laptops at my disposal. I am one of Moran’s â€Å"haves.† Being one of the â€Å"haves† doesn’t mean that my students can use computers everyday, nor would I sign up for that. We have debated and argued and complained and reasoned our way into a sign-up system that works most of the time. For the walk-in lab of twenty-eight laptops, the sign-up sheet is posted one week in advance and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The sign-up sheet is posted in the lab itself. It is posted by the Media Center clerk, and she has her favorites. The rest of us are routinely confounded by the apparent speed with which some teachers are able to access the sign-up sheet. For those of us who are not quite quick enough, there are two laptop carts. Each cart has fourteen laptops and a printer. All of the laptops are wireless. We can sign up for one or both laptops at a time. The sign-up sheet is in the Media Center, and the sign-up sheet is available for the entire school year. In September, I can sign up for June. I have done already this year. We have two different sign-up procedures because of the different planning styles of our teaching staff. We in the language arts and social studies departments tend to do our planning months in advance. For at least the last two years, the 7th grade block staff has met in the summer and plotted the course of the year.

Zara Fast Fashion

1. Features of Zara’s business model that affect its operating economics: †¢Zara owns much of its production and most of its stores, while competitors Gap and H&M own all of their stores but outsource all of their production. Benetton, on the other hand, owns all of its production but goes to market through licensing agreements. †¢Zara places more emphasis on backward vertical integration. Production runs are short and inventory is strictly controlled. This is in contrast to industry trends of high volume production. Zara's product cycle time from the design phase to the manufacturing phase is 4 to 5 weeks while the industry average is 6 to 9 months. The short cycle time enables Zara to commit to a bulk of its product much later than its competitors. 85% of Zara's in-house production occurs after the season has started in contrast to 20% in-house production of traditional retailers. †¢Zara's pricing is lower than its competitors, but profit margins are higher du e to direct efficiencies gained from a shortened, vertically integrated, supply chain. At Zara, a high inventory turnover rate results in minimal obsolescence costs, clearance sales or mark downs. Zara estimated 15%-20% of total sales as markdowns/close-outs vs. 30% to 40% for its competitors. This helps to preserve a strong profit margin and bolster market image as a â€Å"must buy now† destination. †¢Zara's advertising expenses are minimal (avg. 0. 3% of revenue) compared with 3% to 4% for other specialty retailers. These helps lower expenses and preserve strong profit margins. Zara, in turn, invests more money in renovating its storefronts and buying prime real estate for store locations. At Zara, 75% of display merchandise is turned every 3 to 4 weeks which corresponds to the average time between customer visits. The average Zara shopper visits the chain 17 times a year. In contrast, the competition records an average of 3 to 4 customer visits per year. Zara's image creates a â€Å"sense of urgency† and forces loyal customers to check in frequent ly for the latest fashions. 2. Zara’s Quick Response Capabilities – Upstream and Downstream activities: †¢Zara's quick-response capability is based on improving coordination between retail stores and product manufacturers. This coordination allows Zara to respond faster to fashion trends, thus creating a competitive advantage for Zara. Effectively utilizing information technology and vertically-integrated manufacturing facilitates Zara's quick response capability. Upstream Activities: †¢Design Teams continuously track customer preferences via data sent electronically from individual storefronts. Additionally, sales data is sent upstream from the stores to give instant feedback on Zara's new product lines generating replenishment orders for sold product. This instant upstream feedback, coupled with Zara's rapid product development gives Zara a compelling market advantage. †¢Zara sources fabric and finished products from external suppliers using purchasing offices in Europe and Hong Kong. 50% of the fabric remains undyed to facilitate in-season updating via Comditel, a subsidiary of Inditex that manages the dyeing and patterning of unfinished fabric. Delaying production of unfinished fabric allows information flowing upstream to influence Zara's production. 40% of all garments are manufactured internally or by subcontractors located near Zara's headquarters. This 40% represents the most fashionable, time-sensitive garments that Zara considers risky. Zara's local production network facilitates flexibility and risk-taking on fashion trends. Downstream Activities: †¢Zara owns its own distribution center in Arteixo. All merchandise from both internal and external suppliers passes through this distribution center. Shipments occur twice a week to each store. Items move through the center very quickly. For example, a vast majority of items are at the center only a few hours and no item stays at the center for more than three days. †¢On average, Zara spends 0. 3% of its revenue on media advertising, which is focused on opening season and end of season sales. †¢Product cycles through the stores rapidly, with new designs arriving every three weeks. This fast turnover results in a significant reduction of discounted merchandise. †¢Display shelves are sparsely stocked creating a sense of urgency (â€Å"buy now†) in the minds of shoppers, resulting in immediate sales. Location is critical for Zara to attract repeat customers. Stores are occasionally relocated in response to ever-shifting popularity of shopping districts and traffic patterns. 3. Why might Zara fail? Zara could fail due to falling into what is known as the â€Å"growth trap. † In the beginning, Zara established itself as selling medium-quality fashion clothing at affordable prices. Zara went on to gain a competitive advantage in the industry by developing a quick response capability while at the same time maintaining low customer pricing. As Zara begins to expand internationally, the potential to lose their competitive advantage increases. For example, in South America, Zara had to present a high-end rather than a mid-market image. This goes against the image of medium quality fashion at affordable prices that Zara had built and maintained since their inception. As Zara continues to grow, their stores may eventually be found on every street corner around the world. As a result, Zara runs the risk that their products may become less unique in the eyes of the consumer. According to the â€Å"growth trap,† efforts to grow can blur uniqueness, create compromises, reduce fit, and ultimately undermine competitive advantage. In the end, Zara runs the risk of becoming an ordinary retail chain as they lose sight of their competitive advantage and become more like every other retail player. In order to maintain their market share, Zara should remember their roots and focus on the excellence of their existing chain with very minimal increases in selling space. Zara Fast Fashion Inditex – Zara: Fast fashion Case analysis Company Structure and Goals Overview Zara’s vision on growth and global strategy -Building up fixed assets -Vertical integration -No advertising, creating premium stores -Fashion follower – QR to fashion trends -Strongly customer oriented -Stable growth -Markdowns half the average (15% as supposed to 30% ) -Pricing market based Business model: -Vertical operations and downstream activities -Multi-chain concept -Creative design team -Competitive advantage – Sustainable growth As attachment: Porter’s Five forces; Company structure; Financials) Problem Statement Growth challenge – 20% per annum expected, 76% of equity value implicit on Inditex’s stock price was based on expectations on future growth. Failure to deliver expected growth results might cause a serious offset in company’s market capitalization. Room for non-local growth – in average a retailer was present in 10 countries while e. g. a pharmaceutical company averaged operations in 125 countries. Problem statement is: In what geographical area(s) should further Zara expansion follow? Should there be another logistics-distribution centre created as increase of operations might cause dis-economies of scale? Should it acquire additional chains given the complexity of managing those and the risk of own-product-replacements? Preserve the margins; (visible threat to the sustainability of Index’s competitive advantage) Evaluation of the alternative solutions 1. Growth challenge: Notes: not much potential on the local market; -different markets require different positioning -though costs grow as distance grows, prices also change (margins are kept) -50% of all export is to developing countries -Zara shopper visits the store 17 times a year, average is 2-4 times -Creating a climate of scarcity and opportunity in stores Evaluate growth options in different markets: Spain Europe str4 – production in North Africa, turkey and East Europe. US – production in Mexico and the Caribbean subjected to retailing oercapacity, less fashion-forward than Europe, demands larger sizes and exhibits considerable internal variations Japan – no quotas to restrict imports, produced in China. – teenage market segment considered as the trendiest in the world Italy – fashionable, visit stores frequently and spend more on clothing 2. Change in marketing strategy Current: Three types of entering a market: company owned stores, joint ventures, franchising Strategy is standard across the countries -No adv -One big shop central city (capital) Followed by smaller ones (spreading around the country) -Shop windows used excessively -Products do not differ much from country to country -Model is downstream -No knowledge is shared -From design to stores within 4-5 weeks , industry average 9 months -Due to product testing, failure rate only 1% compared to industry average of 10% 3. Change in pricing strategy Current: Prices vary on the different markets, due to transport costs (all supplied from the base in Galicia) – this changes positioning Lower mark-down than industry average Zara: Fast Fashion The Spanish retail chain Zara has unique supply chain management practices that enable it to gain a competitive advantage over other fashion retailers in the industry. Zara’s rapid response time enables the firm to quickly respond to changing fashions while deliberately under producing products. This strategy, which is supported by competencies in logistic management, design and information systems, allows the company to maintain less inventory and higher profit margins and is a key factor to Zara’s success. The firm should continue to add value by seeking new opportunities to expand in the retail market and maintain their sustainable growth. Financial Analysis Being aware of a company’s financial health and profitability of its competitors is highly essential for everyone interested in engaging in business with Inditex. In this part of the paper, through analysis of 4 key ratios and return on invested capital, we are going to discover some of the company’s drivers of sustained competitive advantage. The 4 key ratios will focus mainly on company’s liquidity, activity, solvency and profitability, while ROIC will show how well the company manages the capital invested in operations of the business. In order to measure ability of Inditex to meet its short term obligations and to assess liquidity, it is important to calculate current ratio. As shown in exhibits section below, in 2001, Inditedx had 1. 02 million in current assets, while Gap and H&M had 1. 48 and 3. 4 million Euros in current assets for every Euro in short-term debt. This indicates that Inditex’s main competitors demonstrate greater ability to meet current payments of debt; therefore liquidity is not one of the company’s success drivers. When it comes to comparing company’s sales to various assets categories it is significant to take a look at the total assets turnover. This ratio indicates how efficiently assets are being used to support sale. From 1999-2001, this ratio increased by 1. 2%; however it was still below industry performance. Currently Inditex is industry leader with total assets turnover of 1. 8. This shows that company’s recourses are being well managed and that company is able to realize high level of sales from its investments in property, plant and equipment such as manufacturing facilities. Debt to equity ratio is used for solvency evaluation. The main purpose of this ratio is to show company’s ability to repay long-term creditors. As shown in exhibits section, this ratio decreased from 1999-2001, however, when compared to its rivals, Inditex confirmed to have the best leverage among them. When it comes to company’s financial flexibility and profitability it is highly essential to calculate Net Profit Margin ratio. This ratio measures how successful a company has been at the business of making profit for each euro earned. As presented in the exhibits section, Inditex was and still is an industry leader with Net Profit Margin ratio of 10. 6% in 2001 and 13. 10% in 2010 which means that company has currently â‚ ¬. 3 of net income for every dollar sale. In addition, according to Inditex’s income statement, we could see that company is delivering higher net income due to its ability to keep operating expenses and COGS much lower than competitors. Furthermore, the company is able to gain sustained competitive advantage by making its own products, efficiently covering lower advertising expenses and maintaining cost-effective number of employees per store. In order for Inditex to maintain continuous growth it is important to keep its profit margins at the high level. Last but not least ROIC (Return on Invested Capital) gives a good judgment on how well a company is using its money to generate returns. Inditex ROIC varied through past couple of years but is currently able to earn around 7% on each euro invested. From the exhibit table below, we could conclude that the company is making wiser investment decisions than its competitors. SCP Analysis Zara competes in a monopolistically competitive industry due to the number of players. No business in this type of industry has total control over the market price and there are no barriers to entry and exit. Because of its monopolistically competitive playing grounds, Zara’s conduct is to increase its market power by producing demand for its heterogeneous products. Through differentiation and cost leadership, Zara attempts to increase market demand by offering new items weekly while keeping a low inventory, thus making its products unique and attractive to consumers. Because of its backward vertical integration model, Zara creates a strong synergy throughout its production process. Zara has sustained a competitive advantage globally by expanding into new markets and becoming more efficient. In a onopolistically competitive industry, Zara is expected to make profits in the short run but will break even in the long run because demand will decrease as average total costs increase. This means in the long run, a monopolistically competitive firm, such as Zara, will make zero economic profit (AmosWEB, 2001). Porters Five Forces Barriers to Entry: Due to the recent recession and weak economic market, many new players have avoided entering the retail industry. Zara has taken advantage of this opportunity to be the first to enter into many markets across the world before its competitors. With the economic future improving, Zara will be facing more and more competition especially in the United States. Rather than implementing new strategies on how to differentiate itself even more, Zara will need to focus more on creating brand awareness and staying on top in the game. Zara has been the odd ball in the industry with its creative business model but with more and more retailers quickly catching on and critiquing their business model to match the economy changes, Zara faces intense competition. Unlike other retailers, for example Gap and H&M, Zara needs to fight threats around the globe. In the states, Zara competition is intensified with American retailers because many customers still do not know who Zara is or what it offers. In Europe, Zara is like a Macys for us in the states so the brand awareness is there but competition is still also high. Many retailers in Europe offer the same products as Zara, at the same or similar prices; therefore Zara needs to find ways to keep ahead of competition. Bargaining Power of Buyers: Zara is famous for its business model of just in time inventory. No other retailer can produce a garment from scratch and have it hanging in the stores within weeks than Zara. Zara also distributes large number of shipments to its stores around the world twice a week. All merchandise is shipped from Spain and all stores receive shipment on the same days, Monday and Thursday. Zara produces nearly 16,000 new designs a year which is much more than leading competitors. With the constant changing apparel Zara keeps its inventory levels extremely low. Zara customers know that if they see something in the store to buy it right then and there because tomorrow that garment will not be there. US customers are still adapting to this quick turnaround time. With their advanced technology, Zara knows what its customers want and will deliver that to them within 2 weeks’ time. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Zara manufactures all its clothing in house. This way it has control of the entire process and can make changes more quickly and efficiently when needed. After the garments are cut and ready for assembly, Zara sends out the fabric to different sewing companies to assemble the pieces. There are many competitors that Zara can choose from when deciding where they want its clothes put together which makes the bargaining power weak. Zara also took control of this process by taking over Comditel. Comditel is in charge of nearly the entire garment process. Once the garments are ready and fully assembled they are then stored in Zara's own distribution centers. From the distribution centers they are then shipped around the globe to the thousands of Zara stores. Like many other aspects of Zara's business model, the distribution center moves even more quickly. Once the garments are in the distribution centers, they only stay there for a maximum of 3 days before be sent out to the appropriate destination. Substitutes: Some may describe Zara as a higher end replica of fashion forward items. The items featured on Prada, Chanel, and St. John runways will be replicated in 2 weeks in Zara stores at a much more affordable price but poorer quality. Therefore, there are not many substitutes that customers can use because a majority of the products are out of the price range of many customers. This is a huge benefit for Zara because its customers are willing to pay a much less price for a lesser quality replica. Competition: Zara's direct competitors include H&M, Gap, and Benetton. H&M offers nearly the same products as Zara to its customers, but a much lower quality and price. For those customers who are price sensitive, H&M would be their choice of retailer. The Gap possesses more competition in the states because it has been around longer and has its loyal customer base which is hesitant to shop elsewhere. Even though these retailers give Zara a run for its money, none of them can keep up with Zara’s business model. Other retailers do not have in house production like Zara and ship their production to other countries for the cheap labor costs. This does save money but it increases time. Time is money so while others are still in production stage, Zara is already selling out of the garment. VRIO Analysis We can use the VRIO framework to determine the competitive potential of Zara’s resources and capabilities. As we analyze Zara’s resources and capabilities, it is evident that Zara has built a highly effective, self-reinforcing business system. Three elements in particular – (1) extensive vertical integration, (2) the company’s flat management structure, and (3) exceptional communication and coordination throughout the business system – allow Zara to successfully execute its â€Å"Very Quick Fashion Follower† business model. Each of the three make the grade of being Valuable, Rare, costly for competitors to Imitate, and for which the company has Organized to take advantage. Extensive Vertical Integration: Zara prides itself in its vertical integration, with near full control over its value chain through to the end-user. The company owns or closely controls its manufacturing and distribution facilities, manages its own logistics and transportation, and wherever possible owns its own stores (except for in markets with high risk or barriers to entry). This integration brings value primarily through speed-to-market, as Zara has achieved significantly shorter cycle times than its peers. Full vertical integration is rare in the apparel industry, which typically sees companies foregoing direct involvement in elements of the value chain (e. g. , H&M outsourced all of its production, and Benetton sold the bulk of its production through licensees). It would be extremely costly for a competitor to imitate Zara’s vertical integration, and even if they were able to do so it is unclear how much or how soon they would profit from it, as much of Zara’s advantage comes from the degree to which it has developed its integrated organization over many years. Flat Management Structure: While the drive, insight, and guidance provided by founder Amancio Ortega and other top executives have obviously been crucial to the success of Inditex, it is the structure and incentives they have put in place that truly drive Zara’s exceptionality. Zara’s management structure is very flat, with autonomy and significant incentive-based compensation for store managers, thus closely aligning their interest with that of the company. This structure adds value to the company through diligent hands-on management at the local level, something so rare that Zara’s CEO noted that the availability of store managers capable of handling these responsibilities was â€Å"the single most important constraint on the rate of store additions. † The structure would be highly difficult for ompetitors to imitate, as it has been built into the culture and processes of the company over several decades. Zara has certainly proven that it is able to organize around the flat structure model – in fact many of the company’s business processes depend on the communication and input of enabled employees at the edges of the business system. Exceptional Communication and Coordination: From early on, Zara developed a focus on com municating and coordinating activities up and down the value chain and across functions. This capability focused on speeding important information on customer preferences and trends to the store network, and feedback on successful and unsuccessful products back up the line to headquarters. Exceptional communication and coordination are crucial to maximizing the value derived from Zara’s vertical integration and flat management structure. A look at the more disjointed businesses systems of peers such as The Gap and Benetton demonstrates how rare it is for all of a company’s capabilities to simultaneously reinforce each other, and how difficult it would be for them to imitate Zara. Zara has successfully organized to coordinate its activities around the fast communication of accurate information – about designs, customers, competitors, and micro- and macroeconomic factors – both up the line to top management and to the edges of the network where store managers and employees interact with its customers. Each of these three capabilities passes the VRIO test, indicating that they are indeed key competencies for Zara. Four Actions Framework In order to understand how Zara created a new value for both the buyer and the company, we utilize the Blue Ocean 4 Forces Analysis. Starting with what factors Zara raised above standard, we see what is also Zara’s key resource, the company’s application of vertical integration. While Zara is involved in both backward and forward integration, what sets it apart is precisely its backward integration into manufacturing. For instance, its competitors Gap and H&M are both practicing forward integration and unlike Zara, outsourcing their production. Zara is also constantly in communication with employees at the edges of its business system such as store managers in order to better identify and track customer preferences and trends. The company encourages increased frequency of customer visits with its short cycle times; customers flock to the stores in order to catch the current fashion trends and product lines. In addition, the company also raised responsibility and accountability for store managers by hiring experienced employees promoted within which the CEO believed was a necessary judgment especially for store additions. Zara increased market saturation leading to better economies of scale thus significantly cutting costs and raising higher awareness and increasing sales. On the other hand, Zara reduced several factors well below the industry standard in order to cut costs and increase customers’ willingness to pay. For instance, the company decreased the failure rate for new products with its intensified product testing program which included store-level personnel in the process. Zara also reduced its cycle time for design which enabled the company to offer the customer new designs in four to five weeks and existing products in two weeks; the industry standard for this process was six months for design and three months for manufacturing. A pioneer in its industry, Zara proudly enjoyed engendering revenues at full price with only 10%-15% of its sales generated at discount prices compared to its European industry at 30%-40%. Lastly, Zara reduced its ad spending below industry standard at 0. 3% of its revenue while its competitors advertised 3%-4%. Although it is relatively unlikely for an apparel company to create factors that its industry has never offered, Zara formed a distinct vision among its competitors. The company was the first within its main rivals to saturate international markets as fast as it did. Zara is a global apparel retailer with a truly international scope. While from 1980’s to 2011 H&M added eight countries to its international expansion, and Gap five, while Zara was at thirty two countries. In the competitive apparel industry, Zara managed to eliminate what its competitors continuously took for granted. The company focused on a flat management system which allowed capturing trend preferences directly from the customer and applying to mass markets. Eliminating the separation between merchandising and manufacturing was especially beneficial to a fast and productive design team. Strategic Vision Based on our analysis, Inditex has proven to be financially stable and can successfully manage its capital invested in its operations. Therefore, to maintain their sustainable growth and continue to add value, Inditex should use their commercial team’s micro/macro evaluations to seek new country market opportunities. They should to continue to use one of the three modes of entry; company-owned stores, joint ventures, and franchises, to open additional stores in European countries that have high apparel markets. Italy, Germany and United Kingdom are markets that show promise, especially Italy because of its high per capita spending on apparel. As discussed in our analysis, one of Zara’s core competencies is its extensive vertical integration, and because the case mentioned a second distribution hub already being built in Zaragoza, Spain, it can support additional European stores without being subject to diseconomies of scale. Increasing the density of Zara’s store locations in Europe will achieve logistic efficiencies. Zara keeps transportation costs low on the supply side, since most of the production takes place in Spain. Efficient distribution and inventory systems help Zara minimize costs. Demand based production means there is very little inventory in Zara’s supply chain, which results in lower working capital requirements and lower supplier opportunity costs. Another market that has potential is the United States. With changing consumer behaviors as a result of globalization, there are growth options available for specialty retailers like Zara. For example, Gap’s current ratio of 2. 18 is higher than Zara’s 1. 71; however Zara’s 13. 10% net profit margin is preferred over Gap’s 8. 21% (as illustrated in Exhibit A-1). Therefore, as long as Zara can maintain its low production and overhead costs, which are high for its competitors, they should be able to compete in the US market. Inditex should invest in prime locations in major cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to maintain its positioning strategy. Zara should most likely develop a second central distribution center in America. Zara can strategically locate its central distribution center in or near countries where manufacturing can be done with cheap labor cost, such as Mexico. The close proximity of the distribution center to the American market will decrease logistics and help maintain Zara’s model of fast fashion and economies of scale. Internet retailing is another market opportunity that Inditex should consider. Zara can reach consumers faster and easier in the countries they are trying to expand into. This method can also help gauge consumer preferences from country to country. The internet retailing market will increase sales revenues and has a very low business risk considering the products are already being produced for the retail stores. Zara’s online shop would complement its stores, adding an extra level of service for its customers. It would also expand its customer base to reach areas where stores are not located. Patrons can shop from anywhere in the world and at any time of day or night. This essentially means more shoppers and more sales for the business. Based on our analysis, the monopolistically competitive industry structure is not the key factor driving Zara’s significant performance. Zara has leveraged its key resources to combine low price with product differentiation to create value and succeed in this industry structure. Zara has been able to increase the customer’s willingness to pay by constantly rotating its merchandise and creating a climate of scarcity and opportunity for customers. In conclusion, Zara has the potential for sustainable growth due to its competitive advantage and its ability to increase customer’s willingness to pay while decreasing its opportunity cost. The company keeps its operating income high, has a solid business model with unrivaled synergy and has various opportunities for expansion in the retail industry. Zara must continue to re-invent their image in order to stay fresh in the apparel industry and as long as they maintain their core competencies, they will continue to succeed. Zara Fast Fashion Inditex – Zara: Fast fashion Case analysis Company Structure and Goals Overview Zara’s vision on growth and global strategy -Building up fixed assets -Vertical integration -No advertising, creating premium stores -Fashion follower – QR to fashion trends -Strongly customer oriented -Stable growth -Markdowns half the average (15% as supposed to 30% ) -Pricing market based Business model: -Vertical operations and downstream activities -Multi-chain concept -Creative design team -Competitive advantage – Sustainable growth As attachment: Porter’s Five forces; Company structure; Financials) Problem Statement Growth challenge – 20% per annum expected, 76% of equity value implicit on Inditex’s stock price was based on expectations on future growth. Failure to deliver expected growth results might cause a serious offset in company’s market capitalization. Room for non-local growth – in average a retailer was present in 10 countries while e. g. a pharmaceutical company averaged operations in 125 countries. Problem statement is: In what geographical area(s) should further Zara expansion follow? Should there be another logistics-distribution centre created as increase of operations might cause dis-economies of scale? Should it acquire additional chains given the complexity of managing those and the risk of own-product-replacements? Preserve the margins; (visible threat to the sustainability of Index’s competitive advantage) Evaluation of the alternative solutions 1. Growth challenge: Notes: not much potential on the local market; -different markets require different positioning -though costs grow as distance grows, prices also change (margins are kept) -50% of all export is to developing countries -Zara shopper visits the store 17 times a year, average is 2-4 times -Creating a climate of scarcity and opportunity in stores Evaluate growth options in different markets: Spain Europe str4 – production in North Africa, turkey and East Europe. US – production in Mexico and the Caribbean subjected to retailing oercapacity, less fashion-forward than Europe, demands larger sizes and exhibits considerable internal variations Japan – no quotas to restrict imports, produced in China. – teenage market segment considered as the trendiest in the world Italy – fashionable, visit stores frequently and spend more on clothing 2. Change in marketing strategy Current: Three types of entering a market: company owned stores, joint ventures, franchising Strategy is standard across the countries -No adv -One big shop central city (capital) Followed by smaller ones (spreading around the country) -Shop windows used excessively -Products do not differ much from country to country -Model is downstream -No knowledge is shared -From design to stores within 4-5 weeks , industry average 9 months -Due to product testing, failure rate only 1% compared to industry average of 10% 3. Change in pricing strategy Current: Prices vary on the different markets, due to transport costs (all supplied from the base in Galicia) – this changes positioning Lower mark-down than industry average

Critical Thinking on Values and Beliefs

Bipolar depression or in other words known as maniac depression disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis which categorically describes mood disorder defined by presence of episodes of abnormality elevated energy levels , mood, and cognition with or without depression episodes. Moods which are elevated are referred to as mania from a clinical point of view and as hypomania if it is milder. Commonly individuals who go through maniac episodes experience depression episodes, or mixed episodes or symptoms, whereby features of both depressions and mania are present at the same time. Periods of ‘normal’ mood separate these episodes though in some individuals, mania and depression may change rapidly, a situation known as rapid cycling. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucination and delusion are sometimes observed as a result of extreme episodes of maniac. Onset of full symptoms occurs late in young adulthood or adolescent stage.(Bendelow 2005) Abnormality episodes are associated with disruption and distress and a high risk of suicide, especially in times of depressive episodes. In some cases it has been associated with goal, creativity, positive achievement and striving while in others it can be a devastating long term disorder. Genetic and environmental factors have contributed substantially to the development of bipolar depression. Mood stabilizing medications is used in the treatment of mood episodes and psychiatric drugs are also employed in the management of maniac depression. (Borde2000). Involuntary commitment may be employed in serious cases where there is a risk of hating oneself or others. Widespread problems such as stereotypes, prejudice and social stigma exist against individual diagnosis, for example bipolar disorder. Signs and symptoms of mania episode patients Mania is the primary characteristic of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by distinct periods of high degrees of mood, which can take euphoria form. The patient commonly experienced increased energy levels and decreased desire to sleep. Patient’s speech was pressured and experienced racing thoughts. He was easily distracted and attention span was low. Judgment was impaired and engaged in behavior that is quite abnormal. The patient was found to indulge himself in substance abuse, particularly alcohol and other depressants such as cocaine or other stimulants or other sleeping pills. Patient’s behavior was intrusive, intolerant, and aggressive. He was feeling out of control or unstoppable as if he has been chosen on a special mission. Experienced increased sex drive. He had almost broken up with reality, which is his thinking was affected along with moods. Experienced severe anxiety and he was very irritable.(Dale2005) Causes Causes of these disorder vary from one individual to another .Studies have shown a substantial genetic contribution and influence from environmental factors. Genetic factors of chromosomal region and candidate genes were found to contribute to the mania affecting the patient, though the results were not consistent. Genetic linkage studies followed by fine mapping to search for the phenomenon of disequilibrium linkage with a single gene, then DNA sequencing were observed for the genes P2RXY and TPNI. Meta-analyses linkage studies detected significant genome-wide findings on chromosome 6q and on 8q .DGKN, a locus in a region rich of genes of high linkage disequilibrium on chromosomes 16p12 and also a single nucleotide polymorphism in MYO5B. (Busfield2002)Comparing these studies with new ones suggested an association of ANK3 and CACNAIC, believed to have relations to calcium and sodium voltage-gated ion channel. The patient’s advanced age paternally was linked to his disorder. Melatonin activity Studies carried out on the patient indicated a hypersensitivity of melatonin receptors in the eyes; which was a reliable indicator of the bipolar disorder, Melatonin receptor hypersensitivity to light during sleep, which was resulting to rapid drop in sleep time levels of melatonin compared to controls. Valporic acid which is a mood stabilizer was found to increase transcription of melatonin receptors and lower eye melatonin receptor sensitivity.(Davidson 2008) Psychological processes Findings indicated that period leading up to mania was characterized by anxiety and depression at first, isolated sub-clinical symptoms of mania including racing thought and increased energy levels were observed. The patient was found to hold certain beliefs about himself, his internal state, and his social world which made him vulnerable during changing mood states in the face of relevant life event. Sub cuticle difficulties and subtle frontal-tempered difficulties related to planning, attention control and emotional regulation were found to play a significant role in the cause of the patient’s disorder. (Bickeribach 1999) Overall increase in impulses and levels of activation was also observed in the patient. Management A number of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological techniques can be employed in the treatment of bipolar disorder. For instance mania episodes present in the treatment of bipolar 1 may require hospitalization .Long term impatient stay are now less common due to deinstitutionalization hospital admission accompanied by support services which include visits from community members belonging to a mental health team of Assertive Community Treatment team, intensive outpatient programs and patient-led support group, and supports that its employment can help; which may also be referred to as partial- impatient program.(Bordo 2000) Psychosocial Psychotherapy which is aimed at alleviating core symptoms ,recognition of episode trigger, reduction of negative expressed emotion in relationship, recognition of personal symptoms before full-blown recurrence and practice of the factor that lead to maintenance of remission cognitive behavior therapy appeared to be more effective in regard to the residual depression symptoms. Medication Mood stabilizer medication such as lamotrigine or lithium carbonate is the mainstay of treatment. (Davidson 2008)Lamotrigine has been found to be good in depression prevention, while lithium is the only drug proven to reduce suicide in bipolar patient. Lithium and lamotrigine comprises a variety of unrelated compounds which have indicated positive result in the prevention of relapses of manic or depressive episode. Lithium, which is as widely used as vodium valporate is also used as an anticonvulsant. Treatment in an acute mania episode requires the use of antipsychotic medication such as a typical antipsychotic quietapine and olanzapine and the chlorpromazine use of antidepressants in treatment of bipolar depression has been debated, with some studies reporting a worse outcome with their use triggering manic, mixed episodes or hypomania especially where no mood stabilizer is employed.(Dale 2005) However, most of the mood stabilizers have a limited effectiveness in episodes of depres sion .Rapid cycling is made worse by antidepressants unless there is adjunctive treatment with mood stabilizers. Prognosis For a patient of bipolar disorder, prognosis results from good treatments which in turn result from accurate diagnosis. The patient affected with bipolar disorder was having periods of normal or near normal functioning in between episodes. Prognosis entirely depends on many factors such as the right medicine with the right dose of each other; positive relationship with a competent therapist and medical doctors; comprehensive knowledge of the disease and its effect and good physical health which includes nutrition exercise and regulation of stress level. (Birke 2002) Values and beliefs relating to the practice on patients and families/ or carers Positive relationship-a well coordinated and organized relationship which practices openness and transparency is of greater importance to the patient. Family members and loved ones belonging to the patient affected by bipolar disorder, have issue that results to finding a way to maintain a loving relationship through the long process of having effective treatment and achievement of greater stability .Sustaining such a relationship is made difficult by financial insecurity, alcoholism, infidelity, addiction, abusiveness, criminal activity and other factors that may be related to the illness. To understand and untangle these complex array and emotions that surround the patient, in the context of a loving relationship is difficult and takes much effort and time.(Busfield 2002) Both parties in the relationship should acquire insight, make difficult changes and develop coping strategies though sometimes separation or divorce is considered when stresses are too great. ‘Significant other’, a group that includes a spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, parent, partner, sibling child or other near loved ones of the patient is involved. The member belonging to the ‘significant other’ should not be diagnosed with the disorder. ‘What is the nature of identity’ and ‘are certain values systems (cultural, religious and institution) healthier than others?’(Davidson 2008)The patient’s we are discussing attends a fairly strict church and believe strongly that he is a sinner by nature. These view of self-as- sinner is actually in sharp contrast to the view of human nature and the identity of the patient. Peopler are believed to develop psychological maladies and starts acting badly on losing contact with their good inner nature after constant bombardment by family cultural ideas and commandments. ’Organisimic Self-Valuing’, an idea that people vary from one another in terms of what they like, what is better for them at the level of organism and their core-being. If only left to themselves to choose, people would only choose what they preferred. How values and beliefs underpin the practice Religion- research was found to have quite supporting role in the management of the disorder. Patient were found to be willing to share their spiritual belief, but only if they had the believe that physicians would respect their values. An important and understudied area is the degree to which physicians can believe in prayers. Findings have suggested that patients and physicians have a shared belief concerning the roles of spirituality, religion, ad prayer in illness, and health studies have indicated that often involvement in religious activities is associated with reduced risk of depression. Two dimensions of religion, participating in a religious community and personal devotion are correlated with reduction of depression.(Dale 2002). Rates of drug abuse and alcohol are generally lower in groups that follow organized religious activities. Feeling of deep personal devotion and conservation Christian values correlate with relatively reduced risk of alcohol or substance abuse and dependence. Deadly anxiety is less among individuals who practice a spiritual activity in which belief is an after life plays a central role in the reduction of stress. In conclusion positive practice of values and beliefs has been found to play a significant role in the reduction of depression. Patients participating in religious activities show significant reduction of depression compared to non-religious. Positive relationship between members of the family also helps a great deal. REFERENCES Bendelow, G. (Ed.) (2002). Women, Health and Healing: The Public/Private Divide. London: Routledge. Birke, L. (2002). Anchoring the head: The disappearing (biological) body. In Gillian Bendelow (Ed.) (2002). Women, Health and Healing: The Public/Private Divide. London: Routledge. Bickenbach, J. (1999). Minority rights or universal participation: The politics of disablement. In Jones, Melinda, and Basser Marks, Lee Ann. Disability, divers-ability, and legal change.   The Hague; Boston; London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 101-115. Busfield, J. (2002). The Archaeology of psychiatric disorder: Gender disorders of thought, emotion, and behaviour. In Gillian Bendelow (Ed.). Women, Health and Healing: The Public/Private Divide. London: Routledge. pp. 144-162. Bordo, S. (2000). Feminist skepticism and the â€Å"Maleness† of philosophy. In Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Sharlene, Christina Gilmartin, and Robin Lydenberg, Robin (Eds.).   Feminist Approaches to theory and methodology: An interdisciplinary reader. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp. 29-44. Dale Stone, S. (2005). Resisting an Illness Label: Disability, impairment and illness. In Moss, Pamela and Teghtsoonian, Kathy (Eds.) Countering Illness: Processes and practices. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 201-217. Davidson, J. (2008). More labels than a jam jar. In Moss, Pamela and Teghtsoonian, Kathy (Eds.) Contesting Illness: Processes and Practices. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp 239-258