Understanding the Uses and Limitations of Risk Assessment

Many organizations work under pressure because the working environment is full of uncertainty and risk. The uncertainty and risks might include aspects such as natural calamities, human act, environmental failures, and financial turmoil. For this reasons, scientists are carrying out research in various disciplines to unveil answers to such mysteries. International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) harmonization program has worked tirelessly to develop a consistent risk assessment that would easily be acceptable across the world. Risk assessment involves the estimation and prediction of results of a given entry of exotic disease agents which can affect the animal. In other words, risk assessment examines the effect of exotic disease agents on the living organisms. Although the administrators and managers have the responsibility of implementing the findings of the scientific research, they have the obligation of reviewing some of the alternative solutions.  Alternatively, the management should not concentrate on the positive impact the research would create, but also examine its social and economic consequences. World Health Organization (2004) states that, a decision maker should examine the scientific limitations while making judgments to avoid future risks. In other words, the management require scientific basis to synthesize the findings and the models applied to ascertain the meaning. Exposure assessment could be complex or simple depending on the expected outcome. The assessment is based on measurement, assumptions and models. Generally, the assessment focuses on the media, individual chemicals and sources. World Health Organization (2004) defines exposure assessment as the analysis of characterizing human behavior to chemicals presence in the environment.

Importance of Mathematical Models during Assessment

In the past, the assessment was done through advance analytical chemistry. Therefore, during the estimation of exposure of the population to chemical, it was important to make various hypothetical assumptions. However, Crump (2003) explains that with the emergent of improved technology such as lapel badges and mini-pumps, it has permitted accurate and easy measurement. As such, many scientific researches contain mathematical models as explanation for the connection between various events. Therefore, the decision makers should not dispute the fact that, the model makes it easy to interpret the findings. Research shows that, models combine assumptions and measurements to produce an estimate (Lawrence, 2007). For example, the rate of environmental agent intake in a given environment includes air, soil and animals. On the other hand, in a huge population, mathematical models assist in producing a precise and accurate result which applies to the past, present, and future alternative outcomes. Moreover, outcomes are easy to monitor thus facilitate quick decision making.

The Validity of Models Used In Exposure Assessment

Mathematical modeling has been used in many cases during the risk assessment processes to arrive at strategies to be employed in a given circumstances. Lawrence (2007) asserts that, a model has been a tool for evaluating and attaining answers for the alternative hypothesis. Although the model is used to assess risks and evaluate hypothesis, it is also used to carry exposure risk assessment for human health. For example, to determine the chemical concentration in a given environment, samples required receptor’s level of hazard and safe consumption rate of dietary items. To find the result, it is necessary if the variables are combined to make mathematical sense and facilitate the estimate. However, models could not be used in all aspects of assessment because some cases are critical to management’s decision making. For example, the model that was applied to address the phenomena about the shot ingestion among birds proved futile (Lawrence, 2007). This is because during the experiment, the underlying assumptions made were too weak to hold the explanation.

The model becomes useful if the parameters or variables and constraints are included. The constraint variables and constant factor would assume any barriers encountered during the data collection and error. For example, bad weather, inaccurate answers by he respondents, and lack of certain information about population. In the case of biological phenomena, the model should captures and identifies the biological health effect that agrees with the observable phenomenon on the ground. Otherwise, the conclusion and interpretation would not demonstrate the actual result of the case study. For instance, the model on toxicological effect of doses proved difficult because in most parts, it had not been translated to quantitative measures. Although it was a biological model, it did not incorporate detailed information on the reliable estimate of dose risk as well as biological mechanisms required. Crump (2003) found out that, in the field of PBPK (physiologically based pharmacokinetic) modeling has provided adequate measures that allows the dosage of targeted organs, exposure routine and dosage regimens. This reflects that in some cases, models could give accurate outcomes, which assist the medical practitioners to address a given disease within a population.

The Determination of Assumption Made About Population Exposure

Exposure is necessary because it specifies which people are exposed to what substance in a given physical boundaries. Although measuring one member of the population gives an accurate assumption, several questions concerning the whole population remains unanswered. That is, every organism or individuals differ from one another in many aspects. For example, susceptibility to diseases, resistance to diseases, and life expectancy. In order to determine if the assumption made about the population’s exposure is valid, it is essential to use a multiple LOEs. For instance the chemical measurement, toxicity data, bioaccumulation and biomagnifications data, and community structure assessment. Wharfe et al. (2007) explains that, the logical application of the LOEs is the basis of situ methods used to ascertain the validity of assumptions made about population. This process commences by screening the data used during the assessment. This is because the data collected in the field is insufficient to make statutory decision. On the other hand, the data may contain unlimited information for initial LOEs. Therefore, the LOEs assist in the reduction of uncertainty during the completion of WOE assessment.  Wharfe et al. (2007) asserts that, LOEs allow the integration and evaluation of multiple frameworks that assist in the decision making. As such, in the quest to ascertain the validity of the assumption the following procedure would be followed.

The selection of LOEs depends on the alternative assessment tools that are available. For example, in the risk assessment about stressors and receptors in a population, LOEs provide a strong linkage between the assumptions and the outcome. Thus, it becomes appropriate for this assessment. Therefore, the first stage for one to achieve the objective is the selection of LOEs. The second method of determining the validity of assumption is the examination of data quality. Data could be incompatible with each other because it involves collecting and maintaining information using different methods hence reducing the quality of hypothesis (Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 2002). As such, the data could lead the researcher to make the wrong assumption. Therefore, carrying out quality assurance would act as an integral part in the identification of the validity of exposure assumptions. Furthermore, data quality assessment would involve the review of model specification, oversight of measurement criteria, and auditing the result.

Conclusion

The development of programs such as IPCS has been critical in the facilitation and harmonization of universally accepted principles and methods for risk assessment. However, among the issues that challenges such program is the choice and applicability of mathematical model used in the measurement of population exposure. The management should utilize the information released by the scientific researchers to make decisions about issues affecting the citizens. For example, the information on the impact of air pollution could assist to prevent air pollution and ensure there is clean air to people. In other words, exposure assessments are important aspects of management and assessment; they assist many researchers to improve the model selection. On the other hand, the validity of assumption could be ascertained through the LOEs and the conducting the data quality assessment. However, this is possible if appropriate models are used to estimate the outcomes.

 

References

Crump, S. K. (2003). Quantitative risk assessment since the red book: where have we come and where should we be going? Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 9(5), 1105-1112.

Department of Health and Human Services (2002). Exposure assessment methods: research needs and priorities. Available at <www.cdc.gov/niosh.>

Lawrence, T. V. (2007). And so we model: the ineffective use of mathematical model in ecological risk assessments. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 4733(4), 473-475.

World Health Organization (2004). Principles of characterizing and applying human exposure models. Web. 14 Jan 2014. <http://www.who.int/ipcs/methods/harmonization/en/ipcs_exposure_modelling_peer_review_version.pdf>

Wharfe et al. (2007). In situ measures. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 3, 270-274.

The Perpetual Organization Used In the Adverts

The two advertisements that will be considered in this study are: Top ten: summer sandals by Lucia Tigri Brown on 3^rd January, 2014 (The New Zealand woman’s weekly magazine) and ‘the new shirt senses when you are sick’ on January 13, 2014 (The New Zealand Herald newspaper). Perceptual organization prefers to the process of configuring images into logical units in order to catch the attention of the targeted group.

The advertisement about the shirt has employed the principle of figure and ground to present the image of advertisement. According to Reinsenberg (2013), people tend to understand and interpret pictures and images by analyzing the nature of the background of such pictures (Reisberg, 2013). Through such unique presentations, the picture or image often becomes clearer in the minds of those who view the pictures. This is because people tend to differentiate definite and more defined stimulus in the image of focus compared to the fewer stimuli of the background surface.

Therefore, the figure and ground advertisement strategy usually employ bright colors that are easy to identify in the image while colors which are dull are often used to form the background (Reisberg, 2013). In the advertisement about the French fashion, the image has brighter colors compared to the background. In fact, the use of different bright colors such as blue, red, yellow makes the image of the guy in the advertisement to be very clear. On the other hand, the grey color that was used to develop the background is not likely to fade fast in the minds of those who view the advertisement.

The advertisement about the shoes selection for the summer period has employed the proximity principle to present their organizational perception. The advertisement has presents different forms and types of open shoes that would provide different levels of comfort under different situations during the hot summer period. Normally, consumers prefer purchasing a collection of different shoes to enhance their tastes and preferences as well as same time enable the consumers to have a flexible and diverse collection of shoes to choose from.

According to the proximity principle, people tend to view things which are grouped together as a common single group of disjointed parts (Reisberg, 2013). In other words, each individual element is often considered to provide some level of beauty to the ‘whole’ system (Reisberg, 2013). For instance, one would argue that the advertisement about the shoes may enable consumers to imagine how their shoe drawer would look like if they purchase different types of the open shoes which have been displayed in the advertisement. Such strategy is important since it may stimulate consumers to buy different variety of commodities simultaneously; thereby enhancing sales to a greater extent.

The Learning Theories Used In the Advertisements

The advertisement about the latest French fashions about shirts that have sickness detectors based their advertisement content on the instrumental theory of learning. The instrumental kind of learning occurs in cases where a given response is followed by a series of other events or interactions which then modifies the chances of the initial response (Domjan, Grau, and Krause, 2010). This is because the fashion technology is new in the market. As such, the business firms that manufacture French fashion shirts wanted the consumers to respond positively to the new fashion in the market by purchasing more of the fashion shirts in subsequent years. This is why the advertisement outlines how the shirt would detect health disorders, as well as how the shirt could be recharged. Because the sickness detection technology is new in the textile industry, the consumers will be interested to find out on how the shirts are recharged, and the effectiveness of such charges. Furthermore, consumers will be interested to know whether there is any health side effect or any other limitation associated with such shirts. Interestingly, the instrument learning theory states that such curiosity to learn more would entice people to purchase the clothes more.

On the other hand, the advertisement about the open shoes has relied on the cognitive learning theory to express their business skills. According to Conway and Ashman (2002), the cognitive theory believes that human beings often change their attitude and perception about a given issue through a sequence of processes which engaging the mind in constructive thinking in order to solve a given problem. For instance, the shoe manufacturing company was conversant with the fact that hot summers often require light open shoes which enhance aeration.

However, the company knew that various types of open shoes exist in the market. Therefore, the company had to emphasize how the shoes are suited to weather in order to attract the attention of consumers. Cognitive theory asserts that the actions of human beings result from a sequential process of thinking that positively engage the mind (Conway and Ashman, 2002). Because of such fact, the advertisement presented several models of the summer open shoes to stimulate the consumers to think intensively about the shoes.

How the Advertisements Will Affect the Consumers’ Behavior Based On the Attitude toward the Ad Model

The ‘attitude toward the ad’ refers to the tendency of consumers to respond either positively or negatively towards a given advertisement incentive during a given period when consumers interact with the advert (Hoyer and MacInnis, 2008). Basically, the adverts are likely to encourage and stimulate consumers to purchase the product brands that are advertised. Based on the affect transfer hypothesis, the advertisements are likely to improve the consumers’ attitude and image towards the product brands which have been advertised (Hoyer and MacInnis, 2008). For instance, consumers will view ability of the new French fashion shits to detect sickness as a special additional package that other shirt brands do not have.

Today, most people are conscious on issues that pertain to health and general well being. As such, any commodity that may help people to improve their health is likely to be accepted by consumers. Nonetheless, leisure is increasingly becoming popular among consumers. Therefore, consumers are likely to respond positively to the advertisements about the summer open shoes. The shoes are unique thereby making them be associated with leisure and great satisfaction during the summer.

The Age Sub Cultures That the Adverts Will Appeal to

The advert about the French fashion shirts would appeal to both young and older male consumers. The young people between the 18 and 45 years of age would purchase the products because of its “unique” attributes. This is because young men often value unique products that may enhance their self esteem and social statues in the society. On the other hand, older consumer between 45 and 70 years are likely to purchase the shirts because of their “medical’ value, that is, their ability to detect sickness. On the other hand, the open shoes will appeal to women of all ages. This is because most female consumers, regardless of their age sub cultures, value open shoes with unique beauty and attributes.

 

 

Key Differences between the Adverts With Relation To Gender

The main difference between the adverts lies in the fact that whereas the shoes depicts the beauty, the advert about the French fashion shirts puts more focus on the ability of the fashion brand to detect sickness. In other words, the French fashion advert does not focus much on the beauty and fashion aspects of the cloth. This implies that female consumers value fashion and beauty whereas male consumes value other product attributes apart from beauty.

References

Conway, R., & Ashman, A. (2002). An introduction to cognitive education: Theory and applications. New York: Routledge.

Domjan, M., Grau, J. W., & Krause, M. A. (2010). The principles of learning and behavior. Australia: Wadsworth Cenage Learning.

Hoyer, W. D., & MacInnis, D. J. (2008). Consumer behavior. Mason, OH: South-Western.

Reisberg, D. (2013). The Oxford handbook of cognitive psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tigri-Brown, L. (2014, January 3). Top 10: Summer sandals. New Zealand woman’s weekly, 1.

AFP. (2014, January 13). New shirt senses when you are sick. The New Zealand Herald, pp. 1A.

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Mark Wheeler Craftsman, Inc.

Executive Summary

In practical human resource economics, the desire to formulate an acceptable payroll, one that observes the interest of employees and appreciate the goals of the firm is becoming challenging. The primary reason is the inability of struggling firms to enroll their employees on mortgage programs. This paper will attempt provide a bail-out program for mortgage financing problems and as well provide a resounding income solidification plan on behalf of the firm. To achieve this, the paper borrows Mark Wheeler Craftsman, a struggling firm which cannot provide sufficient mortgage covers for its employees. The paper will be structured into three main parts. First, a close analysis of how employees should be paid, secondly, the paper will provide satellite bailout mechanism which can be applied by home loan borrowers as well as firm packages. Thirdly, the paper will attempt to analyze the relationship between falling values for houses and its effect on the overall payroll strategy.

How employees should be paid

Kimmel, Weygandt, & Kieso (2010, p. 624) argues that the magnitude of paying employees in a business depends on the health of the cash flow. The business should attempt to reconcile cash payments from financing, investing and operating before formulating upward changes in the payroll system. Modern day payroll systems should attempt to apply the hybrid payroll mechanism, one which attempts to observe advantages of time rate and price rate. This hybrid will attempt to look on the advantages associated with base pay. Base pay is pragmatic since it pays employees (executive and sales people not included) depending on the standard of living of a given area (Adelman & Marks, 2009). The logistics behind base pay is the ability to formulate internally equitable, externally competitive and affordable remuneration packages.

In relating to the hybrid system introduced in this discussion, the concept of merit pay cannot be ignored. Traditionally, merit pay (hybrid) has been applied inherently to administer base pay. This is the case with the importance of the individual to company (expertise plus workload), and the academic background. In a close analysis with the case alongside this document Mark being Mark Wheeler Craftsman, Inc; it is apparent the business is not BBB accredited. BBB accreditation looks largely on integrity and honesty concerns. So to it, Mark Wheeler Craftsman is not in a position to formulate increases in pay.  Therefore, formulating the payroll system grounding on Base Pay is sufficient to ensure aggregate contribution of all employees on aggregate (Adelman & Marks, 2009).

Credit and Payroll strategies alternatives during recession periods

A prime eminent challenge for emerging firms; for instance, Mark Wheeler Craftsman, Inc is employees committing their pay-slips in a mortgage contract. The derived challenge is the inability of the firm to unhook employees from the payroll during challenging times. Primarily, low income earners are subjected to the social fund or cash-limited fund where charges are astronomical (Adelman & Marks, 2009). To unhook these employees, Affordable credit and Seasonal employment contracts provide realistic methods to ensure that low income earners can be able to access loads, and the firms on the other hand are not affected by rapid changes in the credit market. Seasonal employment contracts will seek to salvage the firm from a redundant work force a common reflection of season products. However, while this will seek to salvage the firm from compelling financial challenges, it is prudent to establish that seasonal employment affects credit since low income earners will not be in a position to pay their loans.

Housing market panic instigates credit squeeze which will alter the general cost of doing business.  Companies will prefer to force layoffs therefore leading to higher house prices for consumers. In this analysis, there is a close interrelation between forces of demand and supply. Falling demand of houses due to unaffordable credit will inversely lead to falling supply of houses. Firms directly involved in making houses, will find cost of doing business high, and as a result, they will lay low their workers. Laid workers will become unemployed; therefore, with no significant source of income leading to a decline in aggregate demand. To manage this, firms should look on the possibilities of passing the mortgage burden to banks (Adelman & Marks, 2009). In this case, tools such as affordable credit should be applied by the federal system to ensure low income earners can get credit from the bank, and not through their pay-slips.

The relationship between dropping home values and payroll strategy

There is a significant relationship between house prices and the entire firm income; thus payroll. In America, house values are falling because millions of homeowners are defaulting to pay, and the only alternative option is selling the houses, a situation which took center stage in the year 2009. This has lead to an increase in supply of houses; therefore, dropping the market value of the houses. The resultant effect is the general standard of living of the employee will have dropped. Clark (2010, p. 158) argues that there is a necessity to ensure mortgage payments comes first; however, in a situation where an employee will not require to pay the mortgage, the excess revenue will naturally be retained on the employee salary. In the short-run, the payroll strategy will have less pressure on the employee real income.  Nonetheless, the employee will often find the employment dissatisfying. As a result, quite a significant number of employees may leave current occupation; this henceforth affecting the overall payroll strategy (Adelman & Marks, 2009). However, in the long-run the after recession and economic improvement, employees will heavily recommit their pays-slips on the mortgage contract this; therefore, appreciating the value of the houses. Conversely, dropping home values will often decline beyond the value left on home loan, in most cases, borrowers will have to solicit alternative options; for instance, government-sponsored bail out options..

Conclusion

This essay has been instrumental in examining the behavioral changes between the housing market and firms’ payroll strategy. The paper has examined has borrowed Mark Wheeler Craftsman, Inc case, justifying that most American firms are not in position to cater for their employees mortgage commitments. In response, the essay has borrowed Affordable credit and Seasonal employment as bailout plans to be applied by borrowers and firms in the goal of servicing loans while the firm manages their wage bill promptly. In encapsulation, the paper has attempted to inter-relate behavioral between home values drops and their impact on payroll strategy.

References

Adelman, P. J., & Marks, A. M. (2009). Entrepreneurial finance (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Clark, K. (2010). The Story Behind the Mortgage and Housing Meltdown: The Legacy of Greed.

New York: Author House.

Kimmel, P., Weygandt, J., & Kieso, D. (2010). Financial Accounting: Tools for Business

Decision Making. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

 

Anemia

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Post-Hemorrhagic Anemia

As far as the pathophysiological mechanisms for anemia are concerned, there are many possible adjustments. However, it is impossible to reduce oxygen requirement by tissues. There are three pathophysiologic mechanisms that are associated with post-hemorrhagic anemia;

• The survival of red blood cells is shortened slightly through unknown mechanisms in patients suffering from chronic granulomatous infections or cancer.
• There is impairment of the erythropoiesis due to decreased marrow sensitivity to EPO and EPO (erythropoietin) production (Allen, 2000).
• The intracellular iron metabolism is eventually impaired.

When an individual is suffering from iron deficiency anemia, there is an increase in the body’s oxidative metabolisms as a result of compensatory activities’ energy requirements. Increased extraction of oxygen from anemic blood by tissues leads to increased deoxyhemoglobin concentration in the RBC, which increases production of 2,3- DPG. This makes the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve to shift to the right, which makes it easy for the tissues to strip the electron-accepting cargo from hemoglobin (Allen, 2000).

Comparison

Whereas post-hemorrhagic anemia is as a result of severe bleeding, iron deficiency anemia results when the body has inadequate iron. Inadequate iron and severe bleeding may be as a result of a number of factors (Allen, 2000).

Potential Causes

            Post-Hemorrhagic anemia results after a person has experienced severe bleeding due to external factors such as child birth, traumatic injury, surgery, or an accident. In addition, there may be excessive bleeding due to internal factors such as hemorrhoids, gastritis, ulcers, internal ruptures, blood conditions, cancer, ruptured aneurysms, coagulation and bleeding conditions, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and circulatory system conditions. Iron deficiency anemia results when the body’s iron stores drop very low such that supporting ordinary red blood cell production becomes difficult (Allen, 2000). This may be caused by insufficient iron absorption, dietary iron intake, loss of iron through the urine, or bleeding.

Impact of Genetics, Gender, Ethnicity, Age, and Behavior on Anemic Disorders

Ethnicity: in the US, anemia is more prevalent among the Mexican-Americans and blacks as opposed to the whites. Age: there is a high prevalence of anemia during the 2^nd year of life as a result of increased needs of iron that is associated with rapid growth. Low birth weight and premature infants are also at risk while iron needs are less in old age. A person’s behavior in regard to consumption of iron rich foods and preventing exposure to malaria and parasitic infections plays a great role in curbing anemia. Adult women and adolescent girls require more iron than men. Pregnancy and heavy menstrual blood loss are linked to greater iron requirements. Inherited genetic defects also exposes people to anemia (Allen, 2000).

 

 

Reference

Allen, L. H. (2000). Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome. The American    journal of clinical nutrition, 71(5), 1280s-1284s.

 

A School’s Attendance Policy

In this term, I would like to evaluate a school’s attendance policy. In reality, attendance is a serious concept in most school. Most schools believe that that there is a direct relationship that exists between students’ success and their attendance. The more students attend classrooms, the more opportunities or chances they have to succeed in the academic credentials. Although there are many factors that make a student miss classes or arrive late, there are rules that govern such actions. This paper seeks to discuss a particular school policy. For specification, this research will compile facts and information of Green Hope High School’s attendance policy.

Green Hope High School is a notable school in North Carolina with over 2, 144 students. The school has a large number of students who attend universities such as UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, and NC State (Green Hope High School 1). In 2011, the school ranked the 206^th best high school in the United States. Typically, the school management works hard to ensure that students attend their classes. The school takes attendance very seriously as this determines the student’s success. When students are absent, the school requires them to bring a note from their guardian or doctor clearly listing the reason for absenteeism. Parents or guardians are also required to sign the note. Students leaving early or arriving late should are also required to present a note from their guardian/parent indicating the reason for that. The acceptable reasons for absenteeism include injury or illness, death of the family, medical appointment, educational opportunity, and religious observance.

Learning theories are paramount as they provide guidance of how students learn. For instance, constructivism theory outline that learning is a crucial and active process where learners construct new concepts and ides based upon their past/current interaction (Hallam and Lynne 22). Their attendance or motivation to do what is right affects their academic performance. Additionally, cognitivists assert that learners attain knowledge through retrieving, storing, and receiving information. Likewise, schools must design policies that promote effective learning process. An attendance policy is a perfect example of a policy that would promote a favorable learning environment. In essence, the attendance policies impact students in that they have a chance to attend classes and acquire knowledge. Parents benefit from this policy in that, they hold their children accountable of arriving early in schools. Lastly, schools also benefit from this policy in that they encourage students to participate in classes thus acquiring knowledge. As a result, this lays a strong ground for the school to perform well in academics (Constable 22).

Irrefutably, this policy relates to me because I personally believe that a student has to attend classes to perform well in academics. It is paramount to note that, a student who attends classes often is more likely to succeed in her/his academics that a student who misses his/her classes. On a personal level, I have witnessed how important it is to attend classes. Often, I perform well in academics if I have attended classes. Attending classes helps one to gather adequate facts and information assessed in exams. By attending classes, a student has chance to understand the subject in a more comprehensive way. Therefore, school attendance is a crucial policy that cannot be underestimated as it closely relates to better grades.

Works Cited

Constable, Robert T. School Social Work: Practice, Policy, and Research. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books, 2006. Print.

Green Hope High School. Attendance Policies. Retrieved from http://greenhopehigh.wcpss.net/attendance-policies/, 2011. Print

Hallam, Susan, and Lynne Rogers. Improving Behaviour and Attendance at School. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2008. Print.

 

Approach to Care for Cancer Patients

Cancer is a disease characterized by the growth of abnormal cells that invade healthy tissues and spread to other organs through blood vessels. Cancer cells come from normal cells whose DNA has been damaged. Instead of the cells dying or getting repaired, they produce other abnormal cells. Cancer can be diagnosed through various methods. One of the methods is biopsy, which involves taking a tissue sample from the area suspected to be cancerous through surgical excision or with a fine tipped needle. The tissue is then examined using a microscope to find out if it contains cancerous cells (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Another method is endoscopy. This is an imaging technique in which the suspected area is observed by doctors by inserting a flexible tube that is fitted with a camera on one end into the body cavities such as the colon (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Another method of diagnosing cancer is through sentinel node biopsy. This process involves the surgical excision and examination of the closest nodes to the area suspected to be affected (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Cancer can also be diagnosed through blood tests. Some cancerous tumors produce substances referred to as tumor markers and these can be detected through blood tests.

Pap tests can also be used to diagnose certain cancer types such as cervical cancer by examining cells from the cervix using a microscope (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Respiratory cancers such as lung cancer can be diagnosed through the analysis of bronchial secretions and sputum under a microscope. Bone marrow biopsy is used to test whether the bone marrow is affected by blood cancers. Various imaging techniques such as CT scans, X-rays, ultrasound and MRI scans can be used in the diagnosis of cancer in different areas of the body (National Cancer Institute, 2014). MRI and CT scans are use to create a clearer image of the cancer through computer images. X-rays enable doctors to take pictures of the body and identify abnormal areas. Computerized axial tomography creates clear computerized pictures of the body so that the affected areas can be identified. An ultrasound is used to determine whether the suspected lumps are fluid or solid.

Cancer staging refers to the process of determining the severity of an individual’s cancer on the basis of the size and reach of the initial tumor and if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (American Cancer Society, 2014). Staging is important in determining the patient’s prognosis and developing a treatment plan. The factors considered during staging include the location of the original tumor and cell type, the extent and size of the tumor, number of tumors, involvement of nearby lymph nodes, and the tumor grade. The tests used in cancer staging include imaging studies, physical exams, laboratory tests, surgical reports and pathology reports (American Cancer Society, 2014). Staging results in the grouping of cancer cases into categories such as in situ, localized, distant, regional and unknown. The in situ category means that abnormal cells are only located at the site where they developed. Localized category means that the cancer has not spread from the organ where it began. The regional category of cancer is used to describe a situation whereby the cancer has extended from the original site to nearby tissues, lymph nodes and organs. Distant category means that the cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes, organs or tissues. The unknown category refers to a situation where it is difficult to determine the stage of the cancer due to insufficient information.

The TNM system is very common in cancer staging. T refers to the tumor and it is used to describe its size and if it has spread to tissues nearby. N refers to node and is used to determine whether the cancer has extended to the lymph nodes nearby. M refers to metastasis and is used to determine if the cancer has extended to distant body parts (American Cancer Society, 2014). Each letter is assigned numbers and the higher the number the more severe is the cancer. For example, T1, T2, T3, describes the tumor size and the higher the number the bigger its size. Cancers range from stage 0 to stage IV.  Stage 0 refers to cancer that has not extended to nearby tissues and can be cured through removing the tumor. Stage I cancer is in the early stages and it has not invaded the lymph nodes and other body parts (American Cancer Society, 2014). Stage II and III cancer has deeply invaded other tissues and has extended to lymph nodes. Stage IV cancer is in advanced stages and has spread to other body parts.

Cancer patients may experience a number of complications as a result of the disease. Some of them include depression and anxiety, pain, metastasis and nausea and vomiting (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Many cancer patients develop depression and anxiety as a result of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. These emotional complications may become very serious and interfere with the patient’s ability to go through treatment. This may also lead to the patient committing suicide. These complications can be treated with antidepressant medication, support group therapy and psychotherapy to enable the patients to cope with the disease and lead normal lives. Pain is one of the physical complications that cancer patients go through as a result of the growth of the tumor (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Pain can either be somatic, visceral or neuropathic. It can be as a result of damaged tissues, central nervous system injury or pain affecting a certain area of the body. Cancer patients can manage pain through medications such as opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Metastasis is another cancer complication which refers to the spread of cancer cells to different body parts such as the liver, lungs, bones and the brain (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This mostly leads to death. Metastatic cancer is not easy to treat but some tumors can be removed through surgery. Nausea and vomiting is another complication occurring in many cancer patients, especially in the advanced stages of the disease (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This complication can be treated with atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone and olanzapine. Ondansetron can also be used if other medications fail to work.

Cancer treatment has several side effects on the patients. Procedures such as chemotherapy and radiation affect patients both physically and emotionally and their quality of life is adversely affected (Stein, Syrjala, & Andrykowski, 2008). Patients may experience hair loss, anemia, nausea, pain, appetite loss, skin reactions and fatigue as a result of cancer treatment (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2014). Receptors in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract coordinate nausea and vomiting. Specific receptor antagonists have been identified and this has facilitated the development of effective drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy. Nausea can be treated with anti-nausea drugs as well as avoiding environments with noxious stimuli, utilizing relaxation techniques and adopting a bland diet. Anemia resulting from chemotherapy can be treated through drugs such as Aranesp and Epogen. Most cancer patients experience fatigue when undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. Cancer patients may be unable to overcome fatigue even after resting because of the impairment of this restorative ability. Fatigue can be managed by doing lighter tasks, resting, doing exercise and taking a proper diet. They should undergo radiotherapy and other activities during times when they have high energy levels and schedule rest times when there is severe fatigue (Stein et al., 2008). They should also delegate most of their routine activities in order to reduce fatigue. After discontinuing radiotherapy, fatigue disappears.

Cancer patients also experience skin reactions such as redness, peeling, dryness and breakdown as a result of radiotherapy. These reactions may last for a short time but skincare interventions such as colloidal soap, vitamin E cream and aloe can be used to alleviate them. Hair loss can be managed by cutting off the hair prior to the treatment and covering the head with wigs and hats. Appetite loss can be managed through eating one’s favorite foods often, taking meals in a pleasant environment and making food more appealing with condiments and spices (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2014). Emotional side effects include depression, distress, fear and anxiety. Emotional side effects can be treated through counseling and medication (Stein et al., 2008).

 

References

American Cancer Society. (2014). Staging. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourdiagnosis/staging

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). (2014). Managing side effects. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from http://www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/treating-cancer/managing-side-effects

Mayo Clinic. (2014). Cancer: Complications. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/basics/complications/CON-20032378

National Cancer Institute. (2014). Screening and testing to detect cancer. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening

Stein, K. D., Syrjala, K. L., & Andrykowski, M. A. (2008). Physical and psychological long‐term and late effects of cancer. Cancer, 112(11), 2577-2592.

 

Advantages and Challenges of Globalization

Part A

This part will define international business and discuss the advantages and challenges of globalization. International business is defined as any situation where goods and services are produced and distributed across borders of a country (Aswathappa, 2010). In terms of production, a company can source goods and services easily from other countries. International business includes a wide range of cross-border exchanges of goods, services or resources between two or more nations. The exchanges involve international transfers of other resources such as people, intellectual property (copyrights, patents or trademarks) and various assets. Large multinational firms with thousands of employees and small one-person companies acting as an importer or exporter are among the entities involved in international business. International business may be done for profit border-crossing transactions or in form of transactions that are nonfinancial motivated (Corporate Social Responsibility or political favors).

Globalization has turned the world into a small village. It describes the nature of international trading dominating corporations as well as how these corporations are not limited to serve specific groups of consumers in one country. Globalization has brought about a series of benefits (Daniels, 2002). The first benefit is that it encourages competition among firms and this helps to serve the consumer needs by offering equal and better services. The levels of quality and low prices are maintained. The second benefit is that firms are not restricted by their geographical and economic bounders thus creating opportunities for people that may not have been possible otherwise. For example, technological growth offers more attractive wages to corporations thus growth in education and development of new skills. There is increased productivity since money, if allowed to circulate freely; it can go where it is most needed. Therefore, cooperation among richer countries is growing through coordination of their money policies. Machinery, expertise and cheaper products are easily transferred thus a high productivity. Consumers have a variety of products and services to choose. Employment is also increased because of economic growth as well as the need for specialized international services.

Globalization is also associated with various disadvantages. Absence of a regulatory framework to monitor business practices is evident (Zekos, 2004). Business practices are growing at a swift pace and the change that governs them is not well known. Often, public bodies do not regulate it effectively. Social power between institutions is unequal where the more powerful parties have stakes to maintain unequal relationships with the less powerful social institutions thus remain in control. This widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Established traditional norms and values are challenged through the introduction of foreign ones where people add more words to their languages and embrace new religions. People also lack interest in traditional products and prefer foreign ones (Abeles, 2001).

Part B

This part will bring out the advantages and disadvantages of international business. International business is highly advantageous in that products that do not sell in local markets may find greater demand abroad instead of dumping unsold inventory at deep discounts (Gereffi, 1999). Those products can be sold at higher prices as compared to their prices in the local markets. One can also find new products that they do not offer where they are based. Therefore, a much wider range of products can be marketed globally. Competition may be a threat locally. One can easily find international markets that have less competition and move quickly to capture the market share. This is highly beneficial since there is an access to high quality versions of products that are superior to versions in other countries. Even though the local competitors may also access such markets, one has little competition if they find an international market that has been buying products, which are inferior.

However, international businesses face challenges too. Cultural differences among countries reduce their economic exchange. The culture of people (their norms, values and beliefs) dictates their consumption. For example, Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s) are commonly accepted in North America and highly rejected in Western Europe. This cultural difference makes it possible to sell GMO’s in USA but impossible to sell in Germany. Economic distance is another challenge because counties are of different sizes as compared to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Economic distance has the greatest effect when; the nature or demand varies with income level, there is a limitation in the economic scale; there are different distribution systems, there are cost differences and so much more. In the case where there are different distribution systems, it means that international markets have a variety of suppliers to choose (Gereffi, 1999). A firm may find it challenging to form a strong market base and become a sole supplier of the products and services. Demand for products should match the income level in order to increase the purchasing power of people. If this is not the case, the supply of goods and services to international markets may be limited. Despite all these challenges, companies have to respond to their consumers’ needs, which highly recur.

 

References

Abeles, T.P. (2001) ‘The impact of Globalization’, On the Horizon, Vol. 9, No.2, pp. 1-4.

Aswathappa, K. (2010). International business. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Education.

Daniels, J. D., Radebaugh, L. H., & Sullivan, D. P. (2002). Globalization and business. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Gereffi, G. (1999) ‘International trade and industry upgrading in the apparel commodity chain’ Journal of International Economics, Vol.48, pp.37-70.

Zekos, G.I. (2004) ‘Ethics versus corruption in globalization’, Journal of Management Development, Vol. 23, No.7, pp.631-647.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bioethics in Nursing

In the healthcare profession, it is extremely important for nurses to practice confidentiality so as to gain the patients’ and family members’ trust. A breach of contract occurs when nurses disclose the patients’ private issues. Patients are supposed to enjoy a right to privacy as far as their health care matters are concerned and the health care professionals should keep this information a secret amongst themselves. Morally, ethically, and legally, nurses are prohibited from breaches of confidentiality.

This paper discusses breach of confidentiality and the relevant bioethics. It is based on an article, “Bioethics on NBC’s ER: Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When Is It Ok to Break Confidentiality?” the article discusses a case where nurse Carol Hathaway was faced by an ethical dilemma. There were two teenagers that were not ready to start their treatment but the nurse assured them that confidentiality would be a key component during their treatment. Andrea, a fourteen year old girl, was diagnosed with humanpapillomavirus and cervical cancer. According to the nurse, it is possible to treat the cervical cancer but the survival results are detrimental. Therefore, the nurse finds herself in a dilemma if or if not to inform Andrea’s parents about this diagnosis. The ER physician advises the nurse that it is vital to inform the school management and parents as Andrea does not deny that she participated in sex parties as well as involving with multiple sex partners. Hence, the school should be warned of these risks.

Ethical implications following a breach of contract

The cardinal point that underlies this discussion is that regardless of the fact that there is a need to maintain confidentiality in all patient-nurse interactions, some situations warrant protection of the greater good as a crucial priority. In this case, the nurse is supposed to share this information with the school management and parents (Yang et al., 2010). The parents will, therefore, be aware of what their daughter is suffering from. This is the foundation towards appropriate counseling and healthcare services. If the parents are not informed, Andrea’s medical conditions may progress to a critical point or there may be complications. On the same note, there is a need to inform the school management so as to ensure that proper prevention measures are laid, there are no more victims, and the affected are assisted accordingly (Yang et al., 2010).

However, a nurse is subject to several ethical implications following the breach of confidentiality. Breaching confidentiality indicates the autonomy of the patient is not being respected. The act is also a form of betrayal. Certain common laws and statute areas indicate that patients should enjoy a right to confidentiality. Not only are there ethical implications, there are legal implications as well. Following a breach of confidentiality, a nurse may be required to pursue her grievance via civil proceedings in which the patients benefits by being compensated, disciplinary, or criminal proceedings. In addition, a nurse may face court charges (Johnstone, 2011).

Ethical principles or theories to substantiate my position

There are several basic ethical principles that should be practiced during provision of medical care services, and in fact, patients expect them when seeking medical care. These cardinal principles are veracity, fidelity, respect for autonomy, justice, altruism, beneficence, and confidentiality. Regardless of the fact that these motions are implied, they are also mandated via the standards of care, professional organizations, and federal law. According to the nurses’ ANA Code, there is a need to esteem the innate worth as well as the people’s dignity of individuality and human existence (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009). This is an extremely important ethical principle. The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act was passed in 1996 to promote the protection of privacy of health-related information belonging to clients. In the case under discussion, regardless of the fact that the worth of confidentiality is well- established and principal in the healthcare profession, the situation preludes this tenet (Braveman & Bass-Haugen, 2009).

Consequentialism ethics substantiates my stand; if the nurse passes the information about Andrea’s conditions to the school management and parents, she will maximize the majority’s greatest good. Virtue ethics is another theory that is applicable whereby if the nurse’s character is good, she will do what is correct in order to uphold trustworthiness and honesty (Braveman & Bass-Haugen, 2009).  Principlism also applies since the school management, practitioners, parents, and patient will be able to reach a balance and rationale for making appropriate decisions after accessing the information.

A reasonable alternative for addressing the dilemma and the importance of using this framework

The nurse had promised to adhere to confidentiality before finding out what the patient was actually suffering from. Since the patient’s conditions are critical considering also the tender age, it would be worth to reason the impending results with her. The nurse should stress that informing the parents is important as it will promote good medical attention. In a nut shell, the nurse should seek consent from the patient before passing the information to those concerned (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009).

How an ethics committee may address this dilemma

            An ethics committee should gather all important details and facts first and find out whether the patient was going through an abusive situation. Based on these details and facts, the best options should be sought and a proper decision made. The patient’s situation should be considered keenly before making any decisions (Beauchamp & Childress, 2009).

 

References

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2009). Principles of biomedical ethics (6th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Braveman, B., & Bass-Haugen, J. D. (2009). Social justice and health disparities: An evolving discourse in occupational therapy research and intervention. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 7–12.

Johnstone, M. J. (2011). Bioethics: a nursing perspective. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Yang, W. P., Chen, C. H., Chao, C. S. C., & Lai, W. S. (2010). Bioethics education for practicing nurses in Taiwan: Confucian-western clash. Nursing Ethics, 17(4), 511-521.

 

 

Strategic Review

Assignment Module 1

Product development

Product development is important, because it helps many firms to position their products in the market that is highly changing as well as competitive. In addition, product development is a platform upon which organizations use to enhance the features of the product. However, on a lighter note, product development assists organizations to decrease production costs and enhance the volume of sales while maximizing the company’s image and profile. Nevertheless, with respect to Clipboard Tablet Company, the previous marketing Vice president Joe Schmoe, executed a poor strategy for X5, X6 and X7 products. Moreover, this strategy is not creative because he failed to conduct and R& D for the past 6 years. It is important to differentiate products based on their quality. In general, customers prefer decisive aspects are centered on the rather a few characteristics of the product. Therefore, marketers utilize a few quality characteristics as a basis on which they gain competitive edge. This means that attempting to differentiate on many features can be confusing to customers leading to weariness of product characteristics.  Aspects to do with quality features employed by organizations rely heavily on marketing and product positioning (London, 2012). In case the brand, categorization and customers are appropriately understood, marketing tools can be employed to assess customers’ requirements as well as their favorites. However, this is not the situation of products X5, X6 AND X7 to perform R &D to make sure that, customers requirements are met and keep up with the marketing strategies. Moreover, R & D is essential since it provides companies with opportunities to distinguish products from their competitors. Under certain conditions, especially when the goal is develop products that are completely different from previous ones, the marketing vice president’s strategy is not suitable to get the vital proof necessary in the improvement of X5, X6 and X7 products. With such cases, new approaches have been adopted that are easily understood by customers and disclose their requirements. Utilization of approaches like emphatic and ethnography to response to critics who have embraced customer-based decision processes are likely to blind-fold companies to fully understand the needs of customers.

Branding

Branding is important step as it helps in the identification of products across different organizations. In addition, branding is an essential aspect since it leads to prices increment contributing to competitive advantage, an aspect that the marketing vice president never considered by rejecting to change product prices as well as allocation of R&D.  Branding is also important because it helps firms in assessing effectiveness of a given marketing approach particularly those that related to promotion. On the contrary, branding contributes to increase in returns as it is basically economical to keep customers rather than attracting new ones. As such, branding helps firms to enhance their competitive edge in the industry; it comprises of name of the product, loyalty of the brand and its quality. Hence, with the element of maximizing ability of branding, it is surprising that attention is put on brand management, especially creating an attractive branding name.

There a wide range of branding techniques that organization can adopt to brand a single product or many products. With respect to a single product, firms have to give each product a unique identity just like what Clipboard Tablet Company has done (for example X5, X6 and X7). This form of branding reduces risks of failure. Furthermore, individual branding assists firms to compete in many market entries with same product line (Siddiqui, 2011). When creating new brands, whether new or old, firms must state clearly the brand or create a product whose features should be developed. The former approach is simple and cost effective in creating awareness and obtains customer feedback at the commencement; nevertheless it has the possibility of restricting flexibility to adapt to the changing market. In addition, the former approach is considered non-specific as well as dull since it is intricate to formulate and distinguish a brand identity. Nonetheless, the later technique the brand has a unique identity is most likely appropriate that non-specific approach in the modern competitive and changing market condition.

Corporate identity and branding helps a firm survive regardless of the high competition and give it a long-term benefit. With regards to corporate identity it comprises of elements such as personality, communication and image projected by a firm. It is assessed by the firm’s vision, mission, operational competency, product features, quality, and communication channels. Therefore, to determine positive, attractive and regular identity, Clipboard Tablet Company has formulated policies to help them in making sure that all business operations are communicated and demonstrate their unique values as well as competencies.  Such kinds of corporate identity provide firms with opportunity to develop synergies that enhances efficiency and effectiveness of the marketing strategies. By concentrating on a popular core of organizational values and competencies, images produced by each single product’ s branding and promotion can be useful in reinforcing the firm’s idea to its customers, shareholders and the society at large.

Packaging

Packaging entails many aims such as promote objectives, safety, enhance use, description among others (Shimp, 2008). Because of the increasing competition as well as the varying marketing conditions, presently packaging is regarded as extension and a technique for classifying and distinguishing products that increase customer loyalty and increase volume of sales. An aspect that the marketing vice president of Clipboard Tablet Company did not execute. In many instances, packaging increases easy use of a product. Additionally, packaging enhances customer safety when handling products.  At procurement centers, packaging presents a product with a higher marketing opportunity. Many potential customers are more likely to distinguish packaging compared to advertising initiatives. As such, many firms are attempting to create wide-ranging packaging patterns, hence develop a greater impact on customers. Because customers buy impulsively from shopping malls, packaging is specifically important for such kinds of products.

Managing Product Lines for Customer Appeal and Profit Performance

Based on the size of the product stripe, be it short or long, is largely anchored on the point of market segmentation and how the organisation intents to align itself. It is also dependant on the stage of product-market development. At the initial phases, a short product line is appropriate; this is owing to the complexities of managing a long line. Additionally, it is lucrative because of the economies of scale and abridges a given company inventories and associates.  Even though, a short product line is risk owing to competition that divides the market and manufacture quality merchandise to satisfy the conditions of these divisions.  Consequently, for short merchandise line to blossom and stay alive they should typically position themselves against their business competitors- this is to say, the company should maintain disparity benefits of the product line.  At the present, companies are pursuing product extension methods (Kabalarian 2011). This is partly because they aim to expand, diminish competition, meet the expectations of clients and enhance strong management of shelf space, hence making it complex for business competitors to grow its line. The challenge however, is that as the product line becomes bigger, it also becomes complex to position unique products to avoid cannibalization that lessens the scale effect realized by older items, hence heavily impact performance of the line.

 

References

London (2012) A sponsorship game, 2012. Available from:  <http:www.clarkstonconsulting.com/insight…> (accessed 14^th January, 2014)

Kabalarian Philosophy. (2011)  Choosing a successful business name. Available from:             <http://www.kabalarians.com/../kalex-intro.cfm> (accessed 14^th January, 2014)

Siddiqui, H. (2011) McDonald’s Marketing Strategy of Innovation and Trendsetting. Available   from: <hammadsiddiquiblog.com/follow-mcdon…> (accessed 14^th January, 2014

Shimp, T.A. (2008). Advertising, promotion, and other aspects of integrated marketing                             communications. Connecticut: Cengage Learning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignment Module 2 – SLP

R&D is important in the development of products, functionality, upgrading, quality and usability guarantees that client demands and competitive in the changing market. In addition, R&D is important for survival and responsible for continuous competitiveness. With respect to this recognition, it would be important for Clipboard Tablet Company to adequately invest in R&D.

Product prices

In 2012, product prices were increased to cover operation expenses. During this phase, retail prices are usually maintained so as to strengthen client base. In 2012 and 2013, the business was not good in terms of profitability, however in early 2014 the investments are likely to raise. Moreover, in 2013 the number of clients increased and retail prices would considerably increase.

Discontinuation of products

The choice to discontinue production of X7 product was centered on assumption that it was causing monetary losses for the company. For instance in 2011, the company used about USD 22 million. Consequently, this product at this period could not be terminated because it symbolizes the main company’s product with the ability to concurrently fulfill the terms for price accessibility and performance conditions. This implies that X7 product is Clipboard’s Tablet Company device suitable to create an effective account between cost as well as quality. In many instances, the account is searched by millions of buyers.

Furthermore, in early 2012, X7 product was able to develop this account at a theoretical stage, with practical results of the X7 in the market being unsuccessful and comprising the basis of termination. Nonetheless, with more allocation in R&D, Clipboard should be in position to enhance X7 tablet to increase its quality as well as the number of buyers.

Year by Year Decisions: Costing & R & D allotments
Item	Resolution	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
X5	Cost	$        273	$        273	$        260	$        260	$           –
	R&D %	33%	33%	25%	25%	0%
	Discontinue?	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES
X6	Price	$        420	$        420	$        420	$        415	$        415
	R&D %	34%	40%	35%	25%	25%
	Discontinue?	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
X7	Price	$        195	$        195	$        195	$        185	$        185
	R&D %	33%	27%	40%	50%	75%
	Discontinue?	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO

 

Year by Year Advisor Summary
2011	Clients’ pay higher for x6 products compared to X5 and X7 products
	In the product development of Clipboard company the sales of X6 is in the growth stages. This was possibly because many clients had not acquired the product.
	Performance of X5 competed positively with other products.
2012	X7 products were higher than other competing products.
	X5 product reached shakeout stage as the volume of sales was decreasing.
	The performance of X7 performance was way below X5 and X6 products.
2013	Clients paid same price for the company’s products just like other competing goods.
	X6 product reached shakeout stage because volume of sales from new clients was decreasing.
	Clients paid same price for the company’s products just like other competing goods
2014	Clients paid same price for the company’s products just like other competing goods.
	X7 product is in the development phase. There are several potential clients for the product.
	The performance of X5 is similar to other products.
2015	Clients will pay same price for the company’s products just like other competing goods.
	The volume of sales for X5 will be mature. As a result, the company will be selling replacements for X5.
	Clients will pay same price for the company’s products just like other competing goods.

 

Inconsistency in how Information flows

Information management is a significant issue across any corporate structure and Clipboard Tablet Company should consider putting in place a systems that ensure the efficacy of information management.  This would help innovative ideas flow down with easy and for the benefit of the organization. In the age of technological advances, Clipboard Tablet Company should progressively build on the internet and intranet infrastructures to ensure that information trickles down hitch free. According to research when workers understand the vision of the company, they tend to work passionately towards the realization of the same, especially when they are seen to be dream carriers or part of the bigger company. Clipboard Tablet Company should perfect the art of relaying the strategy perfectly to their workers, with respect where the companies see themselves relative to the markets they want to be in. Additionally Clipboard Tablet Company should set out the culture that enables attaining such goals.  Human resource at Clipboard Tablet Company should always be at the core of the honing tactic, because their reactions tell widely about how their approaches affect the market. This is to say, managers should acquire reports from their worker’s gathered reaction to the worker involvement review, and is anticipated to work with their team to highlight the outcomes.

Clipboard Tablet Company should operate a system for gathering information from workers and implementing proposals. They should also support a daily jumble where workers communicate face to face with managers and the senior administrators. This will ensure enhanced output as workers feel motivated under the guise of them being typical assets of the company. Clipboard Tablet Company should also have several communication platforms  that are critical in acquiring worker response, and also ensuring that clients’ responses are passed on to workers. This approach of relaying information across the corporate structure is geared toward enhancing performance among workers and also informed decision makings processes for purposes of innovation and creativity. However, with the economic crunch that has pitched camp on corporate entities, around the globe, resources to most organizations have been strained; this makes it composite for firms to attain futuristic aims hence stifling competition. This is so because worker engagement is about unlocking the potential of employees. Much as Clipboard Tablet Company will try hard to put in place conditions that augment workers to work proficiently.

Poor Corporate Structure

The organizational structure is one of the key areas that determine the success of an industry in meeting its goals and thus determining the goals of an organization, but this is not the case with Clipboard Tablet Company. This is to say, the firm’s structure should determine the communication process, the policy formulation, culture and thus the entire operation process in an organization.  Innovation as a process is thus dependent to a large degree on the organizational structure in its operational environment (Griffin & Pusrtay, 2004).  The structure of the organization needs to be one that is invention friendly, in the case the approach to management is a hierarchical approach where the organization is headed by a CEO and that various departments should have various technicians and a number of specialists depending on the main role of the department role.  Under this structure all communication to and from the departments should not go through a given department. This is as a result of the inherent nature of the innovation that requires one to keep in touch with the current development in related fields.  Therefore, in this case the success of the innovation process can be attribute to a good organizational culture as the interface between those responsible for the formulation of the policies and those that carryout the policies is very good.  The structure adopted should be one that places more emphasis on the implementation and smooth coordination of the entire process. An organization structure that supports the inclusion of marketing and invention is very important for in the case of Clipboard Tablet Company as an opportunity to combine science, invention, commercialization and marketing as a way of changing peoples lives.  Integration of various fields in innovation determines to a great extent the success of an organization and therefore organizational structure must complement integration.

Innovation is best achieved through good coordination and the implementation of a good organizational structure ensures exactly that. In the case, whenever one had a problem they would bring it to the resident experts who would cook up a number of promising batch products based on their experience an intuition.  The results would be a working model or one that would work with some little modification.  The case therefore shows clear coordination within the departments, teams are implemented as a group of researchers are well coordinated.  Therefore, coordination at team and organizational levels is important to the innovation process and therefore the organizational structure should be one that allows good coordination between all entities in the innovation process.

Skill and education are two interdependent aspects in invention (Balett & Ghoshal, 2009).  Clipboard Tablet Company success should be pegged on the organizational structure that is based on highly skilled and experienced employees.  Many of the Clipboard Tablet Company intellectual capital should pride themselves in years of experience; the departments are headed by vastly experienced and widely knowledgeable people.  The structure implements a mechanism where the inexperienced work directly with the inexperienced so that skills can be acquired by both (Friedman, 1999).  Therefore, as organizations seek innovation they should seek potential, skill and experience and create a structure that is suitable for the interaction of the various aspects.

Clipboard Table Company has failed to support both the firm level and the interconnection approach in order to reap from both while reduces associated with them.  The organizational culture should promote interdependence while still maintaining individual autonomy; invention as a process is very complex and any small changes or error that are common in group initiatives could lead to diversions, on the other hand the wealth of creativity associated with groups if well used could lead to a more successful innovation process (Daniels & Sulivan, 2001).

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Balett& Goshal (2009) Exam Prep for Transnational Management. 4th Ed. Paperback

Daniels, C.W. & Sulivan, K.W (2001). Globalisation and Business. NJ: Prentice Hall.

Evans, K. & Barsox, J. (2002). The Global Challenge: Framework for IHRM, Boston, McGraw-   Hill.

Friedman, E & Simon Johnson & Peter Boone & Alasdair Breach, 1999. “Corporate Governance in the   Asian Financial Crisis,” Rutgers University, Department     of Economics.

Griffin, K. M. & Pusrtay, M.B. (2004). International Business: A Managerial Perspective, NJ,                   Pearson Prentice Hall.

 

 

 

Module 3

Market Segmentation

Clipboard Tablet Company should focus on past customers to whom they had built confidence and also new customers.  This will be done easily since there is no competition still from other manufacturers, and there are other opportunities. Moreover, the new technology used to produce and the acceptable state of trade rules and regulations, Clipboard Tablet Company should be able to differentiate their products during design processes. Studies indicate that customers have the ability to go for the services offered using these products; therefore the company expects to sell a lot and make maximum profit.  All these are due to the customer confidence in the company’s products that when used, reveal only quality and satisfaction (Lyndon 2008).  For Clipboard Tablet Company to be able to reach the big number of customers, it has to make advertisements apart from the distributors they already have.                                    The differentiation strategy is best suited for marketing and would be a very appropriate strategy for Clipboard Tablet Company to maximize on profit.  Since the products are new and have brand names that are suggestive of the quality of service outcome when they are used, the products have an advantage in the market and can be easily advertised and quickly known to customers.                                                                                                                                        A suggestive combination brand name, and individual product brand names and the good qualities should be part of Clipboard Tablet Company marketing strategy.  Clipboard Tablet Company products are nicely packed and this is an aspect that attracts customers.  The manual indicating the procedures of products should also accompany the package box (Larry Lockshin, 2011).  Although Clipboard Tablet Company has intentions of getting control over other markets, it should therefore consider the price suitable for conquering the market.  The company should consider the low income earning group and accept different payment methods so that they can also get to use the products and appreciate the products’ quality.  In some case, Clipboard Tablet Company should use this strategy in the development of their products.

Adoption of Modern Technology in Product Design

To remain effective and make huge sales, maximize on profits and meet clientele needs, Clipboard Tablet Company should use modern technology in terms of Enterprise Management Systems. It should take the advantage of the new qualities to implement strategies of making sales.  Clipboard Tablet Company should also make sales through decentralized retail stores that act as one-stop centers housing various products.

Even though Clipboard Tablet Company experience problems making sales due to high costs of the new combination of materials used, the brand name chosen for the each product gives an advantage of marketing since it gives an idea of what features each product has and will attract the attention of customers.  The combined name of these products gives an idea to the customers of what quality the products are and for what reason are they out in the market (Fisher, 2012).

There is confidence in this strategy of selling the company’s products since the targeted customers are people who accept the changing world and embrace new products. Because business world is highly competitive, Clipboard Tablet Company should embrace new technology in product design such as nanotechnology in manufacturing products; this gives firms a competitive edge.   The competitors can have an advantage of the low income group of customers but organizations have ensured their products are well designed to ensure quality as well as uniqueness.  Because of globalization, firms enjoy a proportionate market share so there is need for a tough sales strategy like differentiation.  This is important because it gives a basis for different firms to sells quality products and customer confidence (Fisher, 2012).

Merger and acquisition

The words merger and acquisition are applied time and again, with the choice for the phrase merger since it is a less competitive phrase and indicates approval. Nonetheless, there are lawful, economical and visible. According to Burns, (2011) a merger can be described as the integration of two companies where investors involved with respect to each company agree to combine their value investment to constitute one new organization. Contract between investors includes the invoice of stocks in the merged organization in surrogate for stocks in the defunct firms at some reasonably quantified rates.  According to Sherman, (2011), merger can be defined as scenario where two or more organizations abandon their independence, whereas an acquisition is a scenario where one company forms an existing corporation. Daude & Fratzscher’ (2012) asserts that a merger implies that two organizations collapse into one to become a single organization.  The underlying principle beneath a probable merger can be substantiated by the following equation.

In this respect, Clipboard Tablet Company should merge with other companies in the same industry to enhance their capital base, concentrate on core activities and maximize on profits. Three levels of mergers and acquisitions exist namely; horizontal merger, in which two analogous companies collapse into one,  vertical mergers when two companies at different levels in the supply chain collapse into one entity  and diversification in which two firms that hardly share nothing in common integrate.

An essentially underlying factor that involves formulating a merger or acquisition procedure is that of complete advantages. Synergistic advantages are designed when there is a combination of players that will make a higher value jointly than could otherwise have been probable evaluating the companies operating independently. Moreover, it is essential before coming into such a procedure to do some research before engaging in a full scale merger and acquisition. Sherman,(2011), explain this review as a process  where firms on a merger’s/acquisition’s both aspects try to discover out if a possible procedure actually is befitting and can give rise to achievements.                                                                                                                  These objectives concentrate on taking abilities or sources in one company and using them in the other company to form scale; financial systems of scale into a competitive device. The second variety of goals and objectives indicates that Mergers & Acquisitions are a key procedure, by which supervisors cope with critical and continuing interdependencies with companies in their environment. Examples within this group of objectives can be discovered in continuous interdependencies between a merging company and its goals, a need for application of the other firm’s managerial prudence, availability of cooperation or perpendicular merger that reacts to continuous supply dependencies. The third group with objectives indicates that Mergers and Acquisitions are enhanced by supervisors who are sired to enhance their current product and market positions. Objectives within this group highlight the significance of improving a company’s market operations, supervisors are using Mergers and Acquisitions to advance their competence to serve clients within a given market and enhance the distributional competencies for available items (Carney, 2011).

The forth group of objectives recognized in the research Walter and Barney (1990) performed indicates that Mergers and Acquisitions present a way for supervisors to formulate a new business entity.  Objectives in this cluster factor in for example that the revenue stream mobilized through a purchase is employed to obtain useful or possibly useful sources.  Supposedly, these properties could be captured within an acquiring company’s present business or within another company.  In this group there is also an objective that highly indicates that these firms are inspired go beyond their present markets and items in merger and acquisition processes.

The last group in the research indicates that Mergers and Acquisitions are a method in which organizations optimize and make use of a company’s fiscal abilities. If the cooperation can generate improved economical performance there is an inspiration to do so. In addition, the process of productivity, particularly with regards to the development of economies of scale, whether it is a merger or an acquisition, are some aspects giving rewards for pursuing such techniques.

 

References

 

Burns, M. R. (2011). ’Predatory pricing and acquisitions costs of competitors’, Journal of                          Political Economy, 94, 266-296.

Carney, William J. (2011). Mergers and Acquisitions: Cases and Materials. 3rd. New York, NY                Foundation Press Thomson/West, 2011

Chin-Feng Lin, (2002). “Segmenting customer brand preference: demographic or psychographic”,             Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. 11 Iss: 4, pp.249 – 268.

Daude, Christian & Fratzscher, Marcel. (2012). “Cross-Border Mergers and acquisitions: Financial and     institutional forces,” . Working Paper Series 1018.

Fisher, Thomas (2012). “Design’s Invisible Century.” Places/Design Observer, April 23.    Web.   

Larry Lockshin, Eli Cohen, (2011). “Using product and retail choice attributes for cross-national               segmentation”, European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 45 Iss: 7/8, pp.1236 – 1252

Lyndon Simkin, (2008). “Achieving market segmentation from B2B sectorisation”, Journal of       Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 23 Iss: 7, pp.464 – 474

Sherman, A. J. (2012). Merger and acquisition from A to Z 2^nd  edition Kindle Edition.

 

Walter, G.A. & Barney, J. B. (1990). Management objectives in merger and acquisition.    Strategic management journal, Volume 11, Issue 1, 79-86. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Retail design, how does supermarket product placement attract people?

Placement of products in a supermarket is aimed to serve many purposes one of them is to attract customers (Auty & Lewis, 2002). The way the supermarket is designed and arranged plays a key role in terms of customer attraction. This paper contains a supermarket placement maps and provides an analysis on how placement of products in supermarket attracts customers.

The design of supermarket product placement may vary from one supermarket to another. My supermarket product design placement map is as follows. The supermarket is a four-storey building. The fourth floor is a store whereby products are stored before their display on the   shelves. The third floor is preserved for clothes, second floor is household wares and the first floor will contain products that are highly consumed by the customers such as food products, toilet papers, beverages among others. These products will be arranged in shelves arranged horizontally. The products will be well arranged on shelves and every product will have a price tag. The spaces between shelves will be enough to allow easier movement of customers. This strategy will make it easier for the customers to locate the products and as well have a positive feeling when shopping.

One of the ways of catching attention of the customers is through minor things such as arranging products (Auty & Lewis, 2002).  People are often attracted and even persuaded to purchase products just by the way they are arranged. Even though factors such as the price and the quality of the products do matters in the purchasing decisions, placement of products likewise plays significant role in attracting clients. People like order and through proper placement of products, it indicates organization that influences customers to make the decision to purchase the products.  Even if the products are not bought, it helps to draw their attention and to make them create a certain mind set in their mind about the supermarket. For instance, a person that lack money to purchase the product will easily be attracted by the products on the counter triggering them to visit a supermarket later to purchase the same products.

Product placement leaves a lasting impression in the minds of the customers and even making them to buy certain products. This is attested from a study where children were exposed to a movie that featured placements of Pepsi. When the children were given an option to select between Pepsi and coke after watching the movie, 67% of them selected Pepsi (Auty & Lewis, 2002).  This indicates that indeed the way products are placed plays a major role in attracting customers towards them.

Most of the customers try to reach their ideal self therefore in the quest to achieve this they give a lot of emphasis on the stories told through product placements. This therefore indicates how indeed product placement matters a lot when it comes to customer attraction. Therefore, as indicated, supermarkets have to invest more on the aspect of product placement for them to get the attention of their clients and even to persuade the clients to purchase their products.

There is power in the arrangement of the products as it shows commitment of the owners to their customers as well as their level of organization. These are silent messages that customers get from the arrangement of the products that play a major role in increasing the amount of sales of the supermarket. Therefore, this map is very practical and at the same time valuable in attracting customers because, customers wish to do their shopping in a place that provides them with gratification and comfort.

 

Entrance                              Cashiers   3 metres         The shelves have well displayed with food products and household products

Supermarket product placement map

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Reference

Auty, S., & Lewis, C. (2002). Exploring children’s choice: The reminder effect of product             placement, Psychology and Marketing 21 (9): 697–713.