Author: chris

The Proper Self

The perception of women in the United States has gone through several changes. Despite their social class, education or religion, feminism has taken a new dimension. From 15^th to 18^th centuries, women received in little attention in the society. Women were only charged with raising children, maintaining houses and comforting their husbands. However, in this century feminism has taken a new dimension owing to the growth of the media industry (Jhally’s, 2008). In the Dream World 3, women are simply, sex thirsty creatures who want any man any time. Women are portrayed as sexual tools, whose duty is to satisfy men’s desire.  Videos and music is always created in a pornographic manner to meet men’s description of feminism. To achieve this effectively, women are depicted seminude in baths, showers, garages, and in luxury cars. The role of women in the society has drastically changed from household chores to purely serving men’s interest in exotic places. Women are portrayed as bartenders, dancers, cheerleaders, and flight attendants(Jhally’s, 2008).

Since sex sells, all production components revolve around sex. Selling albums or videos usually contain element of sex. Women, however, are the focus of sex in either video or music. Artistic too is dying; most artists are forced to conform to the current demands. Artistic work is cannot sell unless is tuned to the market demand of sex music and videos. Rappers, for example usually, matches only when their moves, lyrics or dressing appeals sexually. In such videos, women are portraying half-naked, shaking their buttocks and moves of sexual thirst. While this is what defines happiness, on the other hand, the same women are deprived of their self-esteem, they are branded immoral and mocked upon when not performing (Jhally’s, 2005). Usually, the women are believed to be failure in good professional careers, sports and academics.

Sex focus in videos, not only affect women but men too. The perception of men on choice of women, how they should be treated and how women should dress is constantly changed by media influence. Usually, this leads to domestic violence. For example, in one of his videos, Snoop Dogg is seen slapping woman buttocks. This to the viewer has, comes out to be the best approach of handling. In fact, some men carried out with the fantasies practically try slapping women button even in public places. Media has portrayed women as a man’s sexual object. In the fantasies, men should lust for women and women, as well, should be ready to advances of any man. In the wider scale, these fantasies have created gender conflict, unprecedented confusion among human right organizations and in the constitutions. At the same time, women who will be stop men advances will be at risk of violence or sexual harassment (Jhally’s, 2008).

Media is breaking the societal norms, than the way human heritage is being preserved. Evidently, single families, divorce, marital conflicts and heterosexual behaviors are increasing due to the influence of media. Both men and women are adopting even to chemical therapies to acquire ideal shapes shown in the videos (Jhally’s, 2005). The worrying trend is the constant innovation in the media industry and the way the society is accepting the new culture. In essence, women are the one put in front of staging fantasies that conflict to their own values. The growing culture present unending uphill battle for feminism.

References

Jhally’s, Sut. (2008). Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex & Power in Music Video. Youtube.

Jhally’s, Sut. (2005). Advertising & the End of The World.PDF

  

The Proper Self

 

I am a male child brought up in a cultural, social and political environment but the teaching I learnt in early age may change in future. This will depend on the environment I will be in, the associates I will encounter and what I directly feed my body or mind.

According to Katz and Jhally 2000, wrestling is said to have behavioural consequence on children because of imitating violence in day to day life. In these wrestling children learn taunting, ridiculing, and harassing. For long time violence in many entertainment shows is acknowledged as usual way of solving some life problems. These pro wrestling programs insinuate coercion, humiliation, being in command and verbal violence as the only way real men prove themselves. In most cases men use vigour or threat especially in their associations with women.  In essence, the themes of most movie or games are evaluating who emerges as the best bully. This lesson manifest in schools very audibly. Katz and Jhally 2000, highlights that in America about 6000 pupils from grade four to about grade six, one child in every ten children complains of undergoing molestation more than one time in every week. Out of these children in a group of about five, one child declares himself a real bully.

In addition, most male wrestlers are always accompanied by ladies to cheer and fulfil their ego. Girls have also developed passion for fights and as a result they engage in female wrestles whereby a contester is defeated if her dress is torn or stripped from her body. Katz and Jhally 2000, further argue that the impact wrestling has on our social life should not be overlooked. Culture, social and political issues gives the direction of our future generation.

According to Katz 2002, some incidents are being copied from college to high schools because some of the students joining colleges may have been sexually assaulted. Some middle school girls give high school boys oral sex tutoring. Katz 2002 admonishes that these might have great effect on future affairs. Some women regard themselves as sex objects. This might be a major hindrance to women in future in trying to advocate for equality. When colleges are disseminating views and ideas on sexual assault then preventive measures to counter these vices should be put in place. One of the prevention measures is educating male children not to be violent against women because a muscle is not for fighting only.

Katz 1999 says that strength should not be used for performance purposes. The kind of performance advocated for in this case is violence. For the past decade hit and hip-hop music songs has become the culture of most young people culture. This is because it is readily available in MTV and other social mediums. White suburban gentlemen have copied the violent black harsh man style depicted in these shows. This behaviour is emulated by all including white and African American kids irrespective of their class or racial (Katz 1999).   At a very tender age young boys are introduced to the rules in the macho game whereby it is insinuated that a real man does not only exist but the consequences of not being one is next to impossibility. Young boys think this real man whom they have no choice of becoming is always rough, physically powerful and uncontrollable. What our children learn watch or do today has a lot of impact on their future (Andersen & Strate 2000).

 

References

Andersen, R and Strate  L, 2000 Advertising at the Edge of the Apocalypse, Critical studies in media commercialism, New York.

Katz, J 1999 Tough Guise: Men Violence and the Crisis in Masculinity (Video)

Katz, J 2002 Wrestling with manhood: Boys, Bullying & Battering New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Katz. J & Jhally. S. 2000. Manhood in the Mat: The Problem is Not That Wrestling Makes Boys Violent,The Real lesson of the Wildly Popular Pseudo Sport is more insidious :Boston: Globe.z

The relevance of culture and behaviours in a MOCA strategy’s implementation

How culture in a Coop supports behaviors appropriate for MOCA strategy

Marketing for co-operative advantage can be supported by existing cultures in a cooperative business. One of the ways in which a coop culture can support behaviors appropriate for a MOCA strategy is through marketing itself and educating its customers on ways of doing the marketing(Whyatt, n.d.). Marketing and educating are inseparable and this can be achieved if a coop’s culture copies the marketing and merchandising techniques of investor owned competitors. A culture should be wary of what it does and how it does it (Belz & Peattie, 2012).

A coop culture which gives room for customer and member feedback is also appropriate for supporting MOCA strategy behaviors (Belz & Peattie, 2012). This information can be used in the advantage of the coop to meet customer needs. Since one of the main aims of a coop culture is to meet human needs, a careful approach on customer/ member concerns and complaints can be a successful way to support MOCA behavioral strategies. Engaging with market messages and events can also be combined with giving room to feedback as a culture characteristic of promoting MOCA in a coop.

A coop culture can support successful MOCA behaviors if it includes recruiting the right staff with the right attitudes and value sets (Whyatt, n.d.). This means that even if a coop’s staff is not aligned to some form of specialized job, a right frame of mind and attitude can be successful in turning them around implementing successful MOCA strategies. A coop should also give its staff the right to have a say in MOCA related decisions and their values, principles and identity (Whyatt, n.d.). This will increase the competence of a culture in strengthening MOCA

In an overview, a culture should incorporate a full understanding of MOCA strategies including allocating resources aimed at MOCA, committing itself to value related policies and decisions, controlling internal information flows and explaining how decisions are attributed to MOCA. Such a culture, if in existence in a coop will be automatically viewed as supporting MOCA strategy behaviors (Whyatt, n.d.).

How culture in a Coop can adversely affect a successful MOCA strategy

A fully effective MOCA strategy includes engaging each and every aspect of the cooperative in creating a difference and communicating the difference (Dobni, 2003). However, such a successful strategy can be derailed in its functioning if a culture changes and or starts to respond slowly to MOCA. If communication is not managed well in a coop, then a successful MOCA strategy will begin its road to extinction. Poor communication can lead to lack of trust and this will seek to undermine a successful strategy.

If a coop adopts a culture that does not prioritize customer value, a MOCA strategy will begin to shake. This is because successful firms base their MOCA strategies on customer value and if the value begins to fade, MOCA strategies will be affected. A culture should also connect its employees to the visions and values of an organization (Dobni, 2003). Employees less connected to a coop’s vision and values will begin to value a MOCA strategy less and less and this can be a sure way of culture affecting a successful MOCA strategy.

The values of openness, trust, promise-keeping and collaboration need to be upheld at all times by all coop cultures (Dobni, 2003). However, if this is not observed or begins to lose value, a crisis in a successful MOCA strategy will be looming. This is because the culture will be seen as less caring and more self-interested thus the crisis. Thus, cultures are advised to stick by their values and competencies so as to avoid MOCA strategies downfalls.

 

 

References

Belz, F & Peattie, K, (2012). ‘Susteinability Marketing Transformations’. In: e.g. Tolkien, J.R.R.

(ed), Susteinability Marketing: A Global Perspective. 2nd ed. UK: TJ International. pp.(277-297).

Dobni, B, (2003). Creating a strategy implementation environment. Canada: Business Horizons.

Lecture Notes

Whyatt, G, (n.d.). Marketing our Cooperative Advantage: MOCA Implementation, The

            Organizational Challenges.. 1st ed. Canada: .

 

 

 

 

Airline Industry Analysis

Introduction

The aerospace industry is probably one of the most established and dynamic industry in the world. Although the industry has been characterized by two main players (Boeing and Airbus) for a long time, pressure has been increasing on the “Big Two” from Small Business and Private Aircraft segment. This work analyzes the strategic position of two airline manufacturers; Boeing and Textron. Given that the two companies come from two segments, main airliners and Small Business and private Aircraft respectively, this essay shall focus on sustainability of the companies’ business models. The essay shall also delve into the industry dynamics from which the two companies operate.

Sustainability

Boeing Company is a global designer and manufacturer of commercial jetliners and other aircraft products. Due to increasing competition from its peer –Airbus- and other Small Business airliners, Boeing must utilize its internal strengths to wade through the murky industry.

Sustainability factors

Boeing is currently the world’s largest aerospace company and commands a credible market share. Therefore, the ability of the company to maintain the existing market and expand into new markets will determine whether it will sustain its profitable operations in the next five years.

The second factor that will determine the company’s sustained growth and development is its financial muscle (boeing.com). Boeing is well-endowed with finances due to its industry dominance and efficient operating model. Despite the many downturns that the commercial aviation industry has experienced over the past decade, Boeing has managed to stay atop its peers. With a long-term demand forecast of 35,280 new airplanes with a net value of $4.8 trillion, the financial strength of the company is expected to be sustained over the next five years (boeing.com).

Textron Inc. is a global aircraft, aircraft, industrial and finance services provider based in the US. The company manufactures defense and Business and Small Passenger (Cessna) aircrafts among other defense and security equipment (Borenstein and Rose 11). Just like the Boeing, Textron also has a strong financial muscle relative to its operating industry. This is a factor that has enable the company to continue innovating in its product and thus avail newer technologies at a lower price to her customers (Hsu and Liou 42). However, the manner in which the company markets its innovative technologies to new market segments will affect its success in the next five years.

Textron has experienced strong inorganic growth over the past few years especially in its production of Cessna crafts. Currently, Cessna represents over 42% of the company’s total revenues and the tremendous growth of this segment is expected to increase the revenue to over one half in the next three years (Dillow 1). Although the company is operating in the Business and Personal Aircraft segment, it has increased the production of highly diversified aircraft that attracts market from small passenger carriers. This is expected to increase the market share of the company and even offer stiffer competition to giants like Boeing.

 

Industry Dynamics

The Airline industry is expected to grow at an average rate of 5% per annum in the next 20 years (Borenstein and Rose 7). Although the industry has adversely been affected by high oil prices, security issues, instability in the Middle East and the financial crisis, the long-term prognosis is strong especially in passenger traffic growth. The increased air traffic pronounces demand for passenger aircraft and thus a boom for manufacturers.

The increasing demand for low-cost regional airlines will detect the profitability of the industry in the next few years (Borenstein and Rose 7). Recently, airlines have increased their low-budget passenger and cargo flights, which has increased pressure for larger airlines airplanes from companies such as Boeing. However, this has been a blessing for Business and Passenger plane manufacturers such as Textron Inc. However, Boeing 747 has also been on diminishing demand as attention is being shifted towards budget airlines such as Ryanair and Southwest airlines (Hsu and Liou 42). This means that the industry is warming for fuel-efficient airlines that demand lower maintenance costs, while moving away from premium services such as the 747 and Dreamliner. This implies that Boeing has to reconsider its strategy and focus in meeting the needs of the market or else risk being locked out of it.

In the recent past, militaries around the globe have been shifting from high-tech sophisticated defense crafts towards more economic yet effective combat jets (Dillow 1). However, the US Defense budget spending remains the highest in the world. The country’s military boasts of sophisticated and supersonic fighters like that F-22 Raptor which is crucial for penetrating enemy airspace (Dillow 1). However, these crafts are associated with high purchase and maintenance costs, which cannot be an alternative for military in middle-and-low-income nations. This opens market opportunities for defense aircraft and associated products. The emphasis on economy jet aircrafts for military will tilt the scale in favor of players such as Cessna. Cessna has focused on the immediate needs of air forces around the world and thus has been involved in the manufacture of less expensive jet aircraft for cash-strapped militaries.

Economic Performance of the Industry

The report by IATA (2013) indicated that the airline industry generated an average of 4.1% Return on Invested capital over the 2004 – 2011 business cycle (centerforaviation.com). According to the report, this was the lowest levels of Returns on Invested Capital compared to any other industry since the ROIC was less than the Weighted Average Cost of Capital. Since the organization (IATA) computes the economic profit as the amount of profit earned by the industry over and above the needed to pay weighted average cost of capital (WACC), the entire aviation supply chain made economic losses in excess of USD 18 billion every year for the 2004 – 2011 period (centerforaviation.com). This implies that the aviation industry made more than USD 18 billion less profit than investors required to adequately reward them for their capital.

Work Cited

Borenstein, Severin, and Nancy L. Rose. “How airline markets work… or do they? Regulatory reform in the airline industry.” Economic Regulation and Its Reform: What Have We Learned? University of Chicago Press, 2013. 1-92. Print.

CAPA, “Airline profitability: airlines can no longer afford to be the poor relations of aviation” Center for Aviation. 2013. Web. http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/airline-profitability-airlines-can-no-longer-afford-to-be-the-poor-relations-of-aviation-117521

Dillow, Clay, Textron is working on a tactical light attack aircraft for budget-conscious militaries.” 2013. Web. http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/tag/cessna/

Hsu, Chao-Che, and James JH Liou. “An outsourcing provider decision model for the airline industry.” Journal of Air Transport Management, (2013). 40-46. Print.

www.boeing .com “Long Term Market: Current Market Outlook”. Web. http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/cmo/

 

Assignment 2

Integrating Culture and Diversity in Decision Making:

The CEO and Organizational Culture Profile

Hewlett-Package (HP)

 

Integrating Culture and Diversity in Decision Making: The CEO and Organizational Culture Profile

Hewlett-Package (HP)

HP is a multinational organization based in the United States; HP is a public company that deals with information technology products and services with the headquarters being based in Palo Alto, California. HP offers financing, computer software, computer hardware, Information Technology (IT) Services and consulting to target customers. HP was founded in 1939 as a one car garage by Dave Packard and William ‘Bill’ Redington Hewlett (House & Price, 2009). HP is the global leader in the production of personal computers among other products. HP is listed at the New York Security Exchange (NYSE). HP’s key people are Ralph Whitworth as the interim chairman and Meg Whitman as the Chief Executive Officer and president. Revenues as at 2012 were US$120.4 billions with an employee base of over three hundred persons. This paper reflects at the organizational culture of HP.

Organizational culture has been critical reflecting on the existence of HP, since an organizational culture contributes to the overall behaviors of the human beings working in the organization, who are part and parcel of the organization (Packard, 2006). Organizational culture is HP is influenced by the vision, values, working language, norms, symbols and systems; it has been noted that habits and beliefs has been critical in shaping the organizational culture of HP (House & Price, 2009). Organizational culture is passed over from existing employees to new employees through assumptions and behaviors in ways of thinking, perceiving and feeling. Organizational culture at HP has influenced the way human capital interact with stakeholders and clients, which has enabled building a competitive edge in the target market.

Organizational culture at HP focuses at risk taking, innovation, attention to details, orientation to outcomes, orientation to people, orientation to teams, aggressiveness and stability (Malone, 2007). Founders of HP established a management style which engaged a corporate culture, the model was effective in the large organization to an extent that it was later named the ‘the HP way’; which is a proof that an all inclusive organizational culture existed in the organization (Packard, 2006). The model was emulated in a number of large organizations in the United States and in the globe.

HP never supported the hire and fire mentality of engaging employees, HP offered job security to the human capital within the system. Reflecting in 1974 when the economy was facing hard times in the United States, HP managed to stand strong at the time of the crisis. HP never lay off its employees due to the supportive organizational culture. Founders of HP motivated employees and they went to an extent of assuming the employees as part of their family (House & Price, 2009). The big ‘family’ in HP was known by the concept of Bill and Dave family, which was a reflection of the organizational culture within HP (Packard, 2006).

HP empowered its employees through benefits, premiums and stock options which are known as profit sharing today. Employees felt part of the organization; HP went to an extent of financing scholarships for the children of the employees. in 1950s, HP introduced a teamwork approach in the decision making processes; which addressed issues on day to day operations, profit, growth, fields of interest, customers, citizenship, its people and on general management. The system of management has since evolved to ‘management by objectives’, ‘Total Quality Control’ and ‘Management by Wandering Around’ (Packard, 2006).  Organizational culture at HP is a role model mainly reflecting at the corporate culture. ‘The HP way’ supports the slogan ‘do not be evil’ (Malone, 2007). Merger of HP and Compaq meant that the dominant organization, which was HP, maintained ‘the HP way’ corporate culture (Packard, 2006).

The best leadership style at HP is transformative leadership style. Transformational leaders are characterized with inspiration, where the leaders have high expectations that each and every employee within the teams and the organization will perform their duties diligently with minimal supervision. Transformative leadership encourages high engagement and productivity among the teams. Transformative leaders in many ways empower employees in their places of work. The same concept was noted with Bill and Dave, the two entrepreneurs considered human capital within the organization as one of the most important resource.

It is useful buying in some concepts of transactional leadership style in transformational leadership style. Managers at organizations are reflected as the transactional leaders in making sure that routine work is done in the right way and in a reliable way. Transformational leadership in most cases focuses at the initiatives that have the capability of adding value and at the same time building a competitive edge for the organization. It is worth noting that different leadership styles are needed in different situations in decision making processes.

Assuming a decline in sales in the products and services offered by HP, a change in culture would be needed in addressing the shift in the target market. Decline in sales could be contributed by the changing needs and preferences of the target customers. The new organizational culture would focus at the uniqueness of the HP products and services and alignment in meeting the needs of the target market. This is critical in proving the reasons attributing to customers purchasing the products and services. It is worth focusing on the target market, researching on the market in reflection to demographics, publications and potential customers. Organizational culture must incorporate changes in the business environment in meeting the exact needs of the target market, which will improve the sales and build a competitive edge (House & Price, 2009).

 

 

 

References

House, C. & Price, R. (2009). The HP Phenomenon: Innovation and Business Transformation. Palo Alto, California: Stanford University Press.

Malone, M. S. (2007). Bill & Dave: How Hewlett and Packard Built the World’s Greatest Company. New York: Portfolio Hardcover.

Packard, D. (2006). The HP Way: How Bill Hewlett and I Built Our Company. New York: HarperBusiness.

 

 

Business Law

 

Hypothesis

Over the years, the demand for consumer protection has tremendously increased.  This has been prompted by massive businesses malpractices that are abusive and unfair to the consumers.  Customers form the most important component of a business entity as they determine its immediate profitability and direct sustainability.  Arguably, they form the final component of a business entity making of great essence to ensure stronger interlink and a complete cycle necessary for holistic feedback and effective operations.  This has been the case with the Australian businesses practices that have prompted issue of new consumer protection directives[1].  The new obligations have been established amid the current unstable global economies that require careful consideration and effective balance of all production and consumption business pillars. This essay gives a critical evaluation of new obligations in the businesses that are directed at ensuring higher levels of consumer protection in Australia.  The analysis is based on a real life case involving Sarah vs Retailer. Comparing the new directives with the previous ones, the essay examines implications to the business community and the consumers with regard to the current global economic status.  Arguably, the paper provides a holistic consideration of the fairness derived from the new coterminous directives in the business world.

Discussion

In business, two parties make an agreement, yet each side anticipates something. This something or commonly known as quidpro quo is the consideration for the promise or act. In several contacts, consideration is composed of actual promise to provide good and services for the other party to make payment for such good and services. Before a party considers the principles upon which to estimate losses, it is important to decide the type of losses for compensation. A right description of the damage that Retailer is responsible should precede any form of concern. In this regard, it is better to start at the beginning and reflect on the best action to take. [2]Generally, is not adequate to simply believe that Sarah owed the Retailer duty of care. But, it is important to assess the degree of damage from which Retailer must perform to protect the lives of patients from any chemical damages (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).

The question surrounding this case is the type of damage with regard to duty owed.  This is a private wrong; therefore the remedy is monetary benefit that should be compensated to patients. Basically, and an omission can be a crime as well as a tort. A crime with victim is also a tort like in this case. Even though, an action or omission is a tort, the proceedings are totally different. A party that causes damages carelessly is liable to prosecution in a court of law (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).  According to Australian law, there are six elements in the formation of a contract. These elements are intention to create legal relations; legality; genuine consent; consideration; capacity and offer and acceptance[3]. Nevertheless, there are three fundamental elements in the formation of legal contracts including;                                                                       Offer and acceptance: Existence of legal contracts largely relies on offer and acceptance. In this case, one party makes an offer and the other party accepts in writing, by conduct or verbally. Additionally, the party that accepts the offer is obligated to communicate with the party making the offer to agree.                                                                                                       Consideration: When two parties make an agreement, each side anticipates something. This something or commonly known as quidpro quo is the consideration for the promise or act. In several contacts, consideration is composed of actual promise to provide services for the other party to make payment for such services.

Intention to create legal relations; In contract formation, intention to create legal relations purposes at sorting out cases that fail to meet the requirements for courts to take action. [4]This is due to the fact that not all contracts are binding and that could be endorsed by courts. For instance, one party agrees to meet another party at the shopping mall.  It is a moral duty for the parties to honor this agreement though it is not a legal obligation to act so (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).                                                                                                                       Indeed there was misrepresentation that was fashioned by the seller. Before purchasing the television, the various special features of the television were explained to Sarah, which convinced her to purchase that particular brand of TV. This is to say, Sarah had the right to the right information, as is the case for consumer law. [5]So the Retailer in this scenario acted malicious and fraudulent at best. To begin with, contract misrepresentation Act safeguards buyers against deceptive claims that induce you into buying something or entering a contract while grants you the leeway to claim recompense in the event of fraudulent misrepresentation.  However, Retailers legal means to redress this anomaly is pegged on that fact that the false statement was made deceitfully and or negligently. But since Sarah was innocent and went ahead to believe the Retailer by relying on that statement leading to the purchase of the television worth $1000, is therefore warranted for recompense. In other words, because Sarah entered a binding contract based on fraudulent misrepresentation, then he is under obligation to cancel the contract and claim damages (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).                          In law, a fraudulent claim is based on a misrepresentation of tangible fact, yet pure expressions of judgment or future forecast are not actionable. And yet, assertions made by Retailer qualify to be actionable because it has the foreknowledge of what is likely to happen in future. In addition, Retailer is liable for prosecution because the judgement was best on past facts hence maintaining the fraud.  [6]While protecting and guiding the consumer on the best contracts to use in order to avoid major hiccups in their operations, it also acts to promote their participation in the transaction between them and the traders.  This is affected through their consideration and consultations in case of minor or major alterations in the products they had ordered.  To add to that, the directive also gave a ‘grey list’ which contains contracts terms that are considered as harmful unless the trader can prove other wise.  Besides, the traders are required to consider consumers input by fully informing and giving them time to respond.  Unfair contract terms directives have strongly assisted the consumers to identify the traders who are out to exploit them and therefore avoid their products and services.  This is a reasonable consideration as traders are given the methods to avoid with a view to winning customer loyalty (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).

Unfair contract terms: Due to strong pressure to ensure businesses are running at a profit, traders have previously been tempted to alter different information on the contracts without the consumer’s knowledge.  As a result, the directive seeks to check this malpractice by creating a new ‘black list’ which contains which contains various contract terms that are prohibited through out the European Market.  This is of great importance as it prevents the traders from altering different.                                                                                                                                       Pre-contractual information: According to Australian law, it is the responsibility of the trader or retailer in this case to present the consumer with all the information that is necessary for the consumer to make the correct choices.  Though the previous rules on unfair contract terms increased the ability to ensure enough information for the consumers, it had major omissions that made it easy for the traders to misguide consumers on important information.  The ability of traders to build the correct goodwill for their products from the customers is guaranteed by the quality of the products they offer to them.  [7]Australian statutes governing the consumerism demands the revelation of full characteristics regarding different products and services offered to the consumers by the trader.  Therefore, this is a major platform for ensuring effective ability to consider the best quality regarding different goods and services offered to the consumers. According to law of contract, deceitful information regarding products sold is a criminal offence and the Retailer in this scenario has tow options, to recompense the client of face prosecution, for providing wrong information that led to wrong choices by the consumers (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).                                                                               Australian Consumer law warrants for the disclosure of the right information to minimize  the confusion and unfairness to the consumers during or after delivery of the goods, the traders are required to clearly state all the accruing costs related to freight and postal charges.  Failure to give the right information resulting into uncalled for damages amounts to breach of contract. Much as the consumer has the right to know and compare things to do with prices, and be able to make an informed choice about a given product on the basis of their ability and will, the consumers are able to adequately plan and manage their finances with ease.

Delivery rules and passing of risks to the consumers: To gather more consumer confidence in the business world, the new directives require the traders to ensure better terms of services and products delivery to the consumers.  Previously, the rules never gave specific guidelines for delivery thereby making the consumers to be prone to subsequent deterioration of the products quality during the same period.  Besides, it was extremely oppressive as damages and other incumbent costs were forwarded to the consumers raising the initially stated costs of the commodities.  Under the Australian consumer law, the trader is supposed to ensure delivery is affected within 30 days from the date of signing the contract with the consumer.  Strongly considering the necessity of goods utility, the consumers have the right to refuse the goods and get the refunds within 7 days from the date of delivery (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).

To add to that, the traders are currently expected to bear the risks and costs of quality deterioration for the goods during transit.  Arguably, it is considered to be unethical to make the consumers bear the risk of goods they had not even received.  [8]Over the last decade, global consumers have become more cautious on different systems of delivery which has been contributing to vast dynamism in the delivery systems especially in Australian and New Zealand. [9]About 30% of consumers prefer to do their shopping from different traders after initial mistrust for the initial trader.  However, this trend has been difficult to realize due to the ever rising demand and replacement with new customers.  This operation is however highly unsustainable for these businesses as they may lose all consumers with time (Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B, 2003).

Whereas traders have strongly indicated their dissatisfaction with this directive, it is clear that their claims have a paucity of good motives towards the consumers.  [10]Referring to their demands as part of the major misdemeanors towards the business fraternity, human rights and individual governments in the region insists that traders must reduce their hypocritical shenanigans which are negatively tainting the region.  This is a relatively fair demand for the traders in that they are free to adjust the prices to cove all the possible expenses provided they adequately inform the consumers before the contract are signed.  [11]Similarly, the consumer is strongly protected from unnecessary exploitation while enlarging his realm of choices for the services and products from the traders.

In conclusion, the demand for consumer protection over the years has increased with the overall understanding that traders cannot operate effectively in the presence of highly abused consumers.  Considering that the previous guidelines and rules had partially failed to secure a harmonic operation of on-line business, the directives will assist in restoring sanctity in the fast dynamic field.

Cognizant of customer importance in any business operation, it is clear that their satisfaction is of great essence.  Total disclosure of information regarding the trader and the products being transacted is important for better decision making by the consumer as the final determinant of the performance of the business. Understanding the fact that it is the consumers who are mostly abused in business operations as they have limited choices of altering the concealed contracts, the new contract terms will surface the unscrupulous dealers whose main aim is to harm the consumers.

It is clear that the main aim of these directives is to empower the consumer by recognizing his rights while trying to enhance the value of their payment.  It is therefore rightful to allow and legalize their denial of faulty products or provision of the wrong products contrary to what they had ordered.

 

 

References

 

 

 

ARMSTRONG Mark, VICKERS John. (2012). ”Consumer protection and contingent charges” in                        Journal of economic literature, v. 50, n. 2, June 2012, p. 477-493.

BALDWIN Robert et al. (2012).Understanding regulation: theory, strategy, and practice.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bar-Gill, Oren and Ben-Shahar, Omri (2010) Regulatory Techniques in Consumer Protection: A                Critique of Australian Consumer Contract Law Common Market Law Review, Vol. 50,                       p. 109

Best, Arthur, and David W. Barnes. 2003. Basic Tort Law: Cases, Statutes, and Problems. New   York: Aspen.

Deakin S, Johnston. A and Markesinis. B (2003) Tort Law; 5th Ed. Oxford University Press

Geraint G. Howells, Stephen Weatherill (2005) consumer protection law. Ashgate Publishing,                   Ltd.

HODGES Christopher et al. (2012). . ”Consumer-to-business dispute resolution: the power of                   CADR” in ERA-Forum: scripta iuris europaei, v. 13, n. 2, August 2012, p. 199-225.

 

INDERST Roman, OTTAVIANI Marco. (2012)”Financial advice” in Journal of economic                        literature, v. 50, n. 2, p. 494-512

Peter A. Alces (2011). A Theory of Contract Law: Empirical Insights and Moral Psychology                      Published to Oxford Scholarship Online.

Shapo, Marshall S. 2003. Principles of Tort Law. 2d ed. St. Paul, Minn.: West.

 

[1] J Deakin and B, Markesinis. Tort Law: 5th Ed. Oxford University Press. 2003

 

[2] J Deakin and B, Markesinis. Tort Law: 5th Ed. Oxford University Press. 2003

[3] A, Best and B, David. Basic Tort Law: Cases, Statutes and Problems. New York. Aspen 2003

 

[4] M, Shapo. Principles of Tort Law. 2d ed. St. Paul, Minn: West 2003

[5] O, Bar-Gill and O Ben-Shahar. Regulatory Techniques in Consumer Protection: A Critique of Australian Consumer Contract Law Common Market Law Review, Vol. 50,          p. 109. 2010

 

[6] A, Peter. A. Theory of Contract Law: Empirical Insights and Moral Psychology  Published to Oxford Scholarship Online. 2011

[7] H, Geraint, W Stephen. Consumer Protection Law. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. 2005

[8] M, Armstrong and J Vickers. ”Consumer protection and contingent charges” in   Journal of economic literature, v. 50, n. 2, June 2012

[9] B. Robert et al. Understanding regulation: theory, strategy, and practice.Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2012

 

[10] H, Christopher et al.”Consumer-to-business dispute resolution: the power of     CADR” in ERA-Forum: scripta iuris europaei, v. 13, n. 2, August 2012

 

[11] R, Inderst and M, Ottaviani. ”Financial advice” in Journal of economic literature, v. 50, n. 2, p. 494-512. 2012

 

 

National Security versus Civil Liberty

 

The Constitutionality of the Use of Racial Profiling, Seizure, and Detainment in the War on Terrorism

Facts of Padilla v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 426

Jose Padilla, an American citizen, was subjected to detention at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport following his trip from Pakistan. The detention was on claims that Padilla was a material witness for an investigation by the government and a case concerning an al Qaeda terrorist unit. Due to his alleged engagement, the Department of Defense declared him an enemy combatant. Consequently, he was detained indefinitely, with a suspension of the habeas corpus. Padilla’s counsel filed a suit on his behalf for habeas corpus while under detention as a material witness – he was not allowed a counsel while held as an enemy combatant. Even though the U.S. District Court for New York’s Southern District held that Padilla’s counsel would file a petition on his behalf, the Court ruled that the Department of Defense was empowered to detain Padilla indefinitely under the Congress’s Authorization for Use of Military Force and other statutory authorizations. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the President had sufficient authorization to detain Padilla as an enemy combatant.

Facts of Ex Parte Quirin, United States Supreme Court 317 U.S. 1(1942)

During the Second World War, a unit of soldiers from Hitler’s camp tried to sabotage the US government by taking their submarines to the shores of America secretly. They took off their attires and took with them other military regalia. Their government had given them strict orders to demolish industries that manufactured war related products and also all military facilities in America. On the contrary, they were captured and detained. A Presidential Order in the year 1942 led to the appointment of a commission that tried them for violation of the law of war and Congressional Article of War. Petitioners petitioned for habeas corpus supreme court of America.

Facts of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507

Yaser Hamdi was detained by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. The grounds for his arrest were that he had fought for the Taliban against the United States. The military declared him an enemy combatant and transported him to Guantanamo Bay, and afterwards to the U.S. following the discovery that he was an American citizen. Hamdi’s counsel petitioned for a writ of certiorari, initially on his own and later for his father, in the bid to have his detention declared unconstitutional. The counsel claimed that the detention was in violation of the right to Due Process under the Fifth Amendment. The government argued that it had power, during war, to declare individuals fighting against the U.S. enemy combatants as well as restrain their access to court. The district court held in favor of Hamdi, and consequently ordered the government to acquit him. This ruling was overturned by the appeal, on grounds that the separation of powers expected the judicial branch to exercise restraint during wartime.

Assessment of Quirin’s justification of the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay

The U.S. government seeks to justify its treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Their justification is based on the Quirin case which is based on WW2 circumstances. These were the times before the development of the Humanitarian law. A man by the name Churchill proposed the killing of Nazi leaders as soon as they would be caught, but another suggestion by Stalin convinced President Roosevelt to try them in a trial he thought was not very judicial (Butler, 2007).

The situation in which the Nazi soldiers captured were is quite different from that of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Today, no war has been authorized by the congress. Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have been prosecuted for committing crimes that were never considered crimes related to war (Darmer, Baird & Rosenbaum, 2004).

Today, prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are denied personal consultation to their lawyers, accesing important evidence and judicial review. They also don’t have the right to legally protest their detention. This is unlike with the Nazis-they were given all these privileges. This treatment is blind to the fact that the Nazis were alien enemies while the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are not. They are not a uniform group because they came from different battlefields-from Afghanistan and other places. The Quirin case does not support the happenings at Guantanamo Bay. Many scholars of law in the US have discredited the Quirin Case as being a bad precedent. Accordingly, it is an insult to the progress made in humanitarian law over a period of more than fifty years (Darmer, Baird & Rosenbaum, 2004).

Additional rights being denied detainees at Guantanamo Bay according to the Padilla case

Detainees were denied the right to be free from torture and abuse. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Padilla had been subjected to sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, and painful stress positions which caused him psychological and physical trauma. These are termed as psychological and physical abuse and torture (Elsea, 2013). In addition, Padilla was denied contact with his family or lawyers while he was being interrogated. Moreover, he was denied freedom of practicing his Islamic religion, and his Quran was later confiscated. This resulted in severe deterioration of his mental state which made him refuse to meet with his family or lawyers, at the fear that it would cause him to go back to military custody (Elsea, 2013).
Additional rights given to detainees in the Hamdi case

The additional right given to detainees in the Hamdi case involves the opportunity to challenge their detention before an impartial court. This is different from earlier cases where American citizens inside the United States would be detained indefinitely without a chance to challenge their detention (Elsea, 2013).
  

References

Butler, C. (2007). Guantanamo Bay and the Judicial-moral Treatment of the Other. Purdue University Press.

Darmer, K., Baird, R., & Rosenbaum, S. (2004). Civil Liberties vs. National Security in a Post 9/11 World. Amherst: Prometheus Books.

Elsea, J.K. (2013). Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents. Congressional Research Service.

Ex Parte Quirin, United States Supreme Court 317 U.S. 1(1942).

Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507.

Padilla v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 426.

 

 

 

External and Internal Environments

Coca-Cola Company (Beverage Industry)

Organizations operate under the influence of internal business environment and external business environment. Internal business environment identifies with factors which influence internal operations of the organization, and in most cases an organization has control over the factors. External environment identifies with factors outside the organization and the organization has no control over the factors. Success of an organization depends on the managing the strengths, spotting opportunities, dealing with threats and addressing the weak points. Earlier research focused on Citigroup Inc. which is under the Banking and Financial Services industry, this report focus at the Coca-Cola Company which is under the Beverage industry.

The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is a public company listed at the New York Security Exchange (NYSE) trading as S&P 500 Component, Dow Jones Industrial and Average Component. It s a multinational organization headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia. Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by John Stith Pemberton who was a pharmacist; in 1889, Coca-Cola brand and formula was purchased by Assa Griggs Candler who went ahead in incorporating the Coca-Cola Company back in 1892 (Pendergrast, 2013). The company offers more than five hundred brands in the target market of more than two hundred nations in the world. Coca-Cola Company is a public company. Key person in Coca-Cola Company identifies with Muhtar Kent as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Coca-Cola Company specializes as a marketer, manufacturer and retailer of beverage syrups and concentrates that are nonalcoholic (Allen, 2005).

 

 

Internal and external environments

Internal and external environments affect the operations of Coca-Cola Company in one way or another. It has been noted that the internal environment at Coca-Cola Company is characterized with extensive layout and design of the bottling centers and warehouses. Effective management of internal environments has enhanced efficiency of the organization. Layout technology has influenced the overall workflow design. Coca-Cola brand is recognized by target market, a model that has encouraged brand loyalty (Pendergrast, 2013).

Research and design within the organization has enabled the organization in meeting the exact needs of the customers, and providing excellent services to the customers and suppliers. Beverages are part of luxury products, an indication that if it goes tough, then the luxuries are the first products to be withdrawn from the budgets of the customers. Coca-Cola Company has been sensitive in making sure that they meet the standards and needs of the customers. Coca-Cola Company has been in the forefront in the provision of freshwater in nations of operations, as it is one of the key ingredients. Internal environment in Coca-Cola Company is managed by internal administration identifying with information Technology, Human Resources and Accounting Departments among others.

External environment has been one of the challenges in Coca-Cola Company, since the organization has no control over the external environment. External environment influencing the operations of Coca-Cola Company identifies with Political factors, economic factors, technological factors and social factors among others. Porter’s five force analysis will be engaged in understanding the external factors in the environment that shape the operations of Coca-Cola Company (Isdell & Beasley, 2011).  Adapting to the external environment has been influential in creating a competitive edge. External environment ranks high than internal environment in meeting the needs of the target market, in the sense that internal environment is controlled by the existing organizational culture.

Porter’s five forces of competition

Porter’s five forces of competition are critical in Coca-Cola Company. It has been noted that in the industry analysis, the five threats are: new entrant’s threat, bargaining power of buyer’s threat, bargaining power of supplier’s threat, substitute products and services threat and the threat of the competitive rivalry in the existing business organizations. The two most influential sources of competition identify with threats of substitute products and rivalry among the existing business organizations.

It has been noted that in the nations of operations, there has cropped up small business organizations offering substitute products that are competing with the Coca-Cola products in distinct jurisdictions (Blanding, 2010). The threat is rated as medium to high pressure, since the diverse sodas, energy drinks and juice products in the target market are eating away the market share of the Coca-Cola Company. Pepsi has been the major competing and substitute product in the beverage industry; Pepsi almost have the same taste with Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Company has heavily invested in research and design in making sure that the products are meeting the changing preferences and needs of the target market.

Rivalry among the existing businesses organizations in the beverage industry is rated as a high pressure. Surveys have indicated that Pepsi is the major competitor in the United States and beyond the borders. Pepsi has diversified beverage products with the recognized brand. Pepsi and Coca-Cola compete in diverse platforms in outdoor activities and events. The market has also embarked a number of soda brands identifying with Dr. Pepper, Unilever, Nestle S. A., Kraft Foods Inc. and Groupe Danone among others in the target market in the United States and beyond the borders (Pendergrast, 2013).

The Coca-Cola Company has managed to be the well known beverage brand in the globe; this is an indication that The Coca-Cola Company has been sensitive in meeting the needs of the target market. Threats of substitute products and threat of rivalry among existing firms has been overcome through research and design and globalization in more than two hundred nations. Globalization has enabled The Coca-Cola Company to tap into new markets that are developing. The extensive numbers of suppliers to more than eighty four thousand, hence a building a distribution network that has encouraged efficiency within The Coca-Cola Company.

The Coca-Cola Company has remained true to the target market, in making sure that it delivers refreshing, quality and products that are satisfying, in so doing the organization has build a competitive edge hence overcoming the threats associated with substitute products and rivalry of the exiting firms (Blanding, 2010). Each product made by the Coca-Cola Company has the same taste; beverage recipe has been kept as a big secret and controlled tightly at the facilities used in manufacturing the recipe. The sight of a Coca-Cola brand indicates the best company offering beverages in the globe.

Coca-Cola Company has been sensitive and has invested heavily in marketing the brand, marketing has been critical in managing a number of threats in the external environment. Global marketing strategies of Coca-Cola Company have enabled the organization to brand its products effectively. Coca-Cola Company has developed catchy jingles and slogans that go deep into the minds and hearts of the people in the target market. naming a number of influential advertising slogans includes ‘enjoy’, ‘drink Coca-Cola’, ‘life tastes good’, ‘things go better with Coke’, ‘always Coca-Cola’, ‘it’s the real thing’ and ‘good ‘til the last drop’ among others (Isdell & Beasley, 2011).

The marketing slogans have been influential in making the consumers remember the Coca-Cola product at all times. An example of one of the most influential marketing slogan is the ‘I want to buy the world a coke’ developed by Billy Davis in 1971. The commercial advertisement indicated a world full of love and hope as multicultural teenagers were ascending a hill. The commercial advertisement was very strong at that time, that it won a number of awards. Coca-Cola Company has supported Olympic Games among other activities in sports identifying with National Hockey League (NHL), International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Major League Baseball (MLB), Cricket World Cup, NASCAR and National Basketball Association (NBA) among others. Giving back to the community has enabled Coca-Cola Company to build product differentiation in the areas of operations (Allen, 2005).

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis in Coca-Cola Company reflects at the areas of strengths, areas of weaknesses, areas of opportunities and areas of threats. The strengths in Coca-Cola Company identifies with the fact that Coca-Cola brand is the best in the globe with an estimated value of more than seventy seven thousand Unites States billions. Coca-Cola brand has the widest market share in the globe in the beverage industry, Coca-Cola brand has gained loyalty among the consumers, Coca-Cola Company has heavily invested in CRS (Corporate Social Responsibility), Coca-Cola Company has control over the bargaining powers emanating from the suppliers, Coca-Cola Company has developed a complex and an efficient distribution channels in the globe and that Coca-Cola Company has a strong advertising and marketing (Blanding, 2010).

Weakness of Coca-Cola Company identify with over-reliant in carbonated drinks, the product portfolio of Coca-Cola Company is undiversified, the organizations has elevated debt levels which has been accelerated by acquisitions, Coca-Cola in the recent past has received negative publicity basing on health concerns and that a number of brands within Coca-Cola Company has failed to capture the target market (Pendergrast, 2013).

Opportunities within Coca-Cola Company identifies with new emerging markets in bottled water, the globe has an increased demand for beverages and healthy foods, Coca-Cola Company has high growth opportunities through acquisitions and that consumption market for the beverages has been on the rise with global warning and emerging markets in developing and in least developed nations.

Threats facing Coca-Cola Company are constant changes in the needs and preferences of the consumers, the world is facing scarcity of fresh water, the United States dollar has been strong over the years, push by the legal environment in disclosing the side effects of the Coca-Cola products, high levels of competition especially from Pepsi, decreasing margins in net profit and gross profit and saturated market with drinks that are carbonated (Isdell & Beasley, 2011).

The most serious threat facing Coca-Cola Company is saturated market with drinks that are carbonated and the greatest opportunity is emerging markets in the developing and in least developed nations. In diversifying the greatest opportunity and in overcoming the serious threat, Coca-Cola Company has concentrated on globalization plans and extensive advertising and marketing as the organizations introduces new brands like Dasani water (Blanding, 2010).

Surveys have indicated that most of the sales in Coca-Cola Company originate from markets outside United States; this is an indication that the markets within United States are highly exploited. Coca-Cola Company is penetrating to the developing and in least developed nations as a way of building brand loyalty and competitive edge in the markets that are least exploited.

Coca-Cola Company has been sensitive in product differentiation, which has facilitated globalization of the organization. The vision of product differentiation is to enhance customization of Coca-Cola products in meeting the wants and needs of the individual markets. Coca-Cola has tailored its products in meeting the demands in particular market. Young consumers prefer flavored coke products and powerade products examples being Vanilla Coke and Cherry Coke among others. Health conscious consumers and the older generations prefer Vitamin Water, Diet Coke and Odwalla products among others.

Coca-Cola Company has heavily invested in understanding and researching on different markets in regards to age, lifestyle, income bracket, culture and other factors in making sure that the Coca-Cola develop accurate products depending on the demand (Pendergrast, 2013). It has taken time and money in comprehending the target market and in responding appropriately to the demand. Coca-Cola Company has engaged packaging differentiating depending on the target market, as the Coca-Cola products are adjusted in different market segments.

Functional packaging has made sure that the Coca-Cola products are available to the consumers in different forms and sizes; including fountain drink dispensers, glass bottles, aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Coca-Cola Company has been sensitive on diverse sizes and shapes of cans and bottles in making sure that the product is easily stacked and also encouraging vending machine dispensing among others (Allen, 2005). Coca-Cola Company has been committed in sustaining environment, by developing recyclable packaging materials.

The greatest strengths of Coca-Cola Company are associated with the strength of Coca-Cola brand and the most significant weakness is on overreliance in drinks that are carbonated. It is fascinating noting that Coca-Cola Company has managed convincing customers to buy its products for more one hundred years. This has been possible by addressing the week points and at the same time building a competitive edge that is aligned to the tastes and preferences of the target customers. Coca-Cola Company is among the Fortune 100, having existed for more than a century, and it brand has earned a global reputation in the beverage industry (Isdell & Beasley, 2011).

In the recent past, Coca-Cola Company is embracing technology as one of the strongest marketing tool. It has been noted that the Coca-Cola Company fan page has more than fifty five million likes, an indication that the company gets noticed even before working on the marketing plan, but the company does not take it for granted, it allocates time and resources in building a competitive edge and remaining on top of the competitors. Internet marketing in Coca-Cola Company is engaged in extending the brand awareness among the young people in the target market (Blanding, 2010). Coca-Cola Company has developed products for all age groups, an indication that the target customers have a variety of choice, which has enabled the brand image to remain very strong in consecutive decades. The significant weakness has been greatly reduced by the extensive and aggressive marketing; this is through the traditional advertising campaigns and through the modern advertising campaigns. Coca-Cola Company has managed to develop slogans that identify with the target market, which makes customers feel that Coca-Cola is part of them, and that the customers have the responsibility of supporting the brand.

Campaign resources, Capabilities and Core competencies

Coca-Cola Company campaigns have been characterized with open happiness, which is characterized with positive emotions felt by individuals when they are contented or feel joyous. According to Coca-Cola Company, open happiness is simply anything that is experienced by the human beings, and at the end of the day contributes to the joy of the individuals (Isdell & Beasley, 2011). Coca-Cola Company is in business to spread open happiness and smiles in the globe. True happiness in this context is associated with the Coca-Cola brand, such that whenever someone is happy, he/she feels like taking Coca-Cola products as a way of driving away the quest. Open happiness is facilitated by choice and decision, in which Coca-Cola products facilitates. Through the happiness campaigns, Coca-Cola Company has proved its capabilities in tuning the target customers towards supporting the brand, which has made the brand the number one in the world.

The core competencies of Coca-Cola Company is the strong brand name and the extensive distribution channel of the distributors and bottlers, the brand name has enabled Coca-Cola Company to have a deal of bargaining leverage and power (Pendergrast, 2013). Another core competence is related to the symbiotic interdependencies between the bottlers, Coca-Cola Company and the distributors; Coca-Cola Company has remained in full control of the processes.

Value Chain

Coca-Cola Company has managed to develop an effective value, since it has been in control of all the stakeholders in the world. The organization has managed to build product differentiation which is part of the business level strategies that has been influential. Coca-Cola Company has been innovative for decades, and it remains to be innovative, the target customers knows that the organization is always on the move of improving the products, a move that has protected the brand name and the domains from competitor attacks (Isdell & Beasley, 2011). Coca-Cola Company has improved the value chain by opening local offices in nations of operations; this has enabled the organization to offer extensive market research in developing new models of addressing the needs and preferences of the target customers.

 

References

Allen, F. (2005). Secret Formula: How Brilliant Marketing and Relentless Salesmanship Made Coca-Cola the Best-Known Product in the World. New York: Harper Paperbacks.

Blanding, M. (2010). The Coke Machine: The Dirty Truth behind the World’s Favorite Soft Drink. London: Avery Press.

Isdell, N. & Beasley, D. (2011). Inside Coca-Cola: A CEO’s Life Story of Building the World’s Most Popular Brand. London: Pan Macmillan-St. Martin’s Press.

Pendergrast, M. (2013). For God, Country, and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It. New York: Basic Books.

 

 

 

Addressing Spiritual needs of Various Groups in Provision of Care

Delivering spiritual care implies that nurses have to attend to the spiritual needs of various groups within the healthcare setting. Such care requires nurses to develop their competencies since they provide care to patients whose spiritual beliefs are widespread.  Subsequently, this paper discusses approaches a health care provider can use in health situations to address spirituality in respect to oneself, one’s patient, patient’s family, and one’s colleagues.

In addressing one’s spirituality with respect to a health situation, a nurse should develop his or her spiritual self-awareness to identify his or her values about life and health. By identifying one’s values, a nurse is able to become more sensitive to the spiritual needs of a patient (Baldacchino, 2006). Being more aware of one’s spiritual beliefs requires a reflection on one’s life and experiences to identify the meaning and purpose of one’s life. This requires the nurse to set aside time to practice his or her beliefs. Such a reflective exercise can, for example, help one to appreciate one’s limitations (Baldacchino, 2006), thus avoid developing compassion fatigue or burnout when one’s patients do not respond to treatment.

Awareness of a patient’s spiritual needs would also help the nurse to provide relevant care to the patient. Such awareness comes first by recognizing that spirituality differs from religiosity (Milligan, 2011). This allows the nurse to avoid imposing his or her spiritual perspective on the patient. Preparing to address a patient’s spiritual needs requires the nurse to establish effective communication (e.g. attentive listening, non-verbal communication) and interpersonal relationship with the patient (Milligan, 2011). This allows the patient to be comfortable sharing with the nurse about his or her spiritual needs, such as fears he or she could have due to uncertainty about death. Maintaining such a presence with the patient also enables the nurse to evaluate when to refer the patient to a specialist such as a chaplain and how conduct such a referral (e.g. by accompanying the patient when he or she goes to see the chaplain).

Concerning the patient’s family, awareness of their spiritual needs helps the nurse to encourage supportive patient-family relationships. Preparation to address the spiritual needs of the patient’s family may be achieved by being present during visitation and talking to family members to encourage their involvement in patient’s care (Baldacchino, 2006). For instance, such presence would help the nurse gain an appreciation of the fears that the patient may have concerning the uncertainty of his or her life. This would help the nurse to be aware on approaches he or she can use to encourage and comfort the patient and the family members.

Realizing that care provision is a team endeavor, being aware of colleagues’ spiritual needs would facilitate providing consistent quality care to the patient irrespective of the nurse on shift. As Baldacchino (2006) observes, failure to recognize patient’s spiritual needs as a role that involves all members in interdisciplinary team leads to the relegation of such needs in favor of performing medical and physical care activities. To address colleagues’ spirituality in health situations, it would thus be important to encourage improved communication and coordination of care. In addition, having education forums, which cover aspects of spirituality, where nurses learn of diverse spiritual beliefs, would help each nurse to avoid attaching a patient’s spirituality to religious affiliation thus enhance the consistency of care provided.

Appreciating spiritual needs of various groups in the healthcare setting can help to enhance capability to provide holistic care. Such needs start with self-awareness that allows one to identify values and beliefs that help one to appreciate one’s role in care provision. In addition, by enhancing awareness of patients’, patents families’ and colleague’s spirituality, one can facilitate development of collaborative relationships that help to foster healing.

References

Baldacchino, D. R. (2006). Nursing competencies for spiritual care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15(7), 885-896. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01643.x

Milligan, S. (2011). Addressing the spiritual care needs of people near the end of life. Nursing Standard, 26(4), 47-56.

 

 

Actions to Promote Peace in a Personal Crisis

Ability to attain peace of mind during a personal crisis helps a nurse to offer better care to his or her patients. To be able to remain calm even in the face of devastating events, one needs to have effective coping strategies. Skills that have helped me remain calm in devastating times include meditation and reflection on positive aspects of various challenges I face and listening to relaxing music whenever I have time.

In respect to meditation, I practice mindful meditation often since I have learned of various approaches to meditation such as body scan, sitting meditation, and Hatha yoga, which I can fit to my schedule. Meditation helps me to be at peace with devastating events since it enables me to recognize thoughts that prevail at such times, encouraging me to respond to the situations that I face instead of focusing on why such events happen to me (Davies, 2008). This also helps me to focus on positive aspects of the challenges that I face, thus avoiding unnecessary stre I am willing to engage in meditation often, but, at times, it becomes difficult to concentrate in my meditation effort due to interruptions that arise in busy environments. As such, having a separate room where one can retreat to meditate, such as during breaks, in the healthcare settings would help me to use this skill more often.

Listening to relaxing music also enables me to avoid focusing on distressful thoughts. Lombardo and Eyre (2011) identify the importance of such a practice by encouraging healthcare providers to set up a room that offers a relaxing environment to nurses with such features as “… a CD player, and/or a collection of relaxation CDs that can provide comforting stress  relief” (n.p.). In my case, listening to such music allows me to avoid focusing on negative thoughts and gives me hope that things will turn out okay. This enables me to face devastating events with a positive mind frame, thus avoiding such events from occasioning my depression. I listen to music often even on my way to work, but the work setting and activities does not allow for such an event. As Lombardo and Eyre (2011) observe, having access to a place where I can relax while listening to music during allowed breaks would help me to practice such self-care activity more often

Having the ability to remain calm in the face of devastating events requires effective coping strategies. In my case, such strategies have been to engage in mindful meditation and listen to relaxing music. These activities help me to avoid focusing on negative thoughts and thus allow me to avoid stress. Accessibility to a relaxation environment within the healthcare setting would help me to practice these activities more often.

 

References

Davies, W. R. (2008). Mindful meditation: Healing burnout in critical care nursing. Holistic Nursing Practice, 22(1), 32-36. doi: 10.1097/01.HNP.0000306326.56955.14

Lombardo, B., & Eyre, C. (2011). Compassion fatigue: A nurse’s primer. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(1). Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-16-2011/No1-Jan-2011/Compassion-Fatigue-A-Nurses-Primer.html?css=print