Maple Lodge Farms

Studying the Relevance of Larry Greiner’s Developmental Phases to the Future Stability of Maple Lodge Farms Maple Lodge Farms, a family-owned business awarded the prestige of being one of Canada’s 50 best managed companies, has attained success by employing a number of strategic organizational practices. Since the inception of Maple Lodge Farms, the founders’ commitment to providing various Canadian households with the highest quality chicken products has allowed it to become one of Canada’s leading poultry companies.Initially, the business owners’ main priority was to launch Maple Lodge Farms as a highly recognizable brand capable of sustaining a loyal customer base. This goal was largely achieved through a variety of measures the founders implemented throughout the organization’s existence. Recently, a few of the methods used to promote Maple Lodge Farms consist of using an integrated organizational structure, ensuring the safety of the pro ducts through technological innovations and limiting the company’s environmental imprint on society.In this research paper, I intend to analyze the current transitional stage of Maple Lodge Farms in Larry Greiner’s terms, evaluate the success of the organization’s human resources strategy – relating it to Larry Greiner’s developmental phases – and offer potential suggestions to boost its future growth. For the purpose of this analysis, a discussion of Larry Greiner’s article, Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow: A company’s past has clues for management, is necessary to provide insight into the growth phase Maple Lodge Farms is now in.Larry Greiner, a professor at the Harvard Business School, believes the natural progression of a company from its initial stages to a more sophisticated business model is a consequence of its organizational structure. In other words, an organization’s current managerial framework influences its upcoming management decisions – hence the title of Greiner’s paper. He states that the future health of a business is dependent upon the way it is managed – i. e. its management style – in addition to how it reacts to challenges presented to the established managerial setup. Companies fail to see that many clues to their future success lie within their own organizations and their evolving states of development. Moreover, the inability of management to understand its organization development problems can result in a company becoming â€Å"frozen† in its present stage of evolution or, ultimately, in failure, regardless of market opportunities† (Greiner, 1998). Moreover, Greiner contends that a business undergoes five known developmental phases – each characterized by both an evolutionary and revolutionary stage. â€Å"1.The term evolution is used to describe prolonged periods of growth where no major upheaval occurs in o rganization practices. 2. The term revolution is used to describe those periods of substantial turmoil in organization life. As a company progresses through developmental phases, each evolutionary period creates its own revolution† (Greiner, 1998). Therefore, a specific growth period is defined by a particular management style and a management crisis which results directly from it – i. e. the evolutionary and revolutionary aspects of each transitional phase respectively.Furthermore, the age and size of the organization, in addition to the growth rate of the industry, all play roles in the construction of a progression model that accurately describes a business. Greiner’s assumptions are relevant to Maple Lodge Farms because not only do they enable an understanding of the organization’s present state of development, but they also offer implications for the future stability of the business – essentially by indicating which management style a company s hould adopt as it grows and changes.Before I investigate the effectiveness of Maple Lodge Farms’ business plan – specifically its human resources approach – and forecast its growth capabilities, I must first identify the organization’s present developmental state. According to Greiner’s descriptions of the various stages a company undergoes, the history of Maple Lodge Farms shows that it is currently in the third phase of growth – specifically, the evolutionary part known as the delegation stage. The next era of growth evolves from the successful application of a decentralized organization structure. It exhibits these primary characteristics: 1. Much greater responsibility is given to the managers of plants and market territories. 2. Management often concentrates on making new acquisitions which can be lined up beside other decentralized units. 3. Communication from the top is infrequent, usually by correspondence, telephone, or brief visits to field locations† (Greiner, 1998).The owners’ dedication to providing superior customer service has guided every facet of the way their business has been managed. In pursuit of this goal, the company has successfully implemented a decentralized management structure. â€Å"We are there every step of the way – we have established a unique integrated development team that includes senior representation from Sales, Marketing, Research and Development, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain to ensure superior quality and customer-focused service† (â€Å"Maple lodge farms†, 2011).This structural framework reflects Greiner’s organizational aspect of the delegation stage, as it offers managers greater responsibility in supervising the operations of their plants – fundamentally affording them the freedom to manage these plants as they see fit, with limited corporate intervention. The other traits Greiner prescribes to the delegation stage †“ besides the organizational arrangement –, confirms the notion that Maple Lodge Farms is in fact in this transitional phase. The delegation stage proves useful for gaining expansion through heightened motivation at lower levels. Decentralized managers with greater authority and incentive are able to penetrate larger markets, respond faster to customers, and develop new products† (Greiner, 1998). The organization’s foray into Halal poultry – especially with the prosperous Zabiha Halal line – not only demonstrates the effectiveness of the company’s branding system, but also that Maple Lodge Farms wants to breach the substantial Muslim market and thus attract a more ethnically diverse consumer base.Moreover, the organization’s successful promotions of its newer items – such as the pre-cooked refrigerated foods, the chicken bacon and other innovative manufactured products –, suggests that Maple Lodge Farms is attempting to cater to different preferences; the firm does this to capture a larger market segment, beyond what they have attained so far. Furthermore, the company’s latest acquisition of plants in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in addition to Ontario, is testament to their desire to infiltrate a broader market across provincial lines.This action implies that Maple Lodge Farms is not only expanding its product lines to suit differentiated customer tastes, but also enlarging the organization nationwide – a claim supported by its recent obtainment of plants in New Brunswick, as well as Ontario, and its intention of partnering with Nova Scotia and P. E. I. growers to build primary operations in Berwick, Nova Scotia (â€Å"Grand river foods,† 2011). Since the characteristics that Maple Lodge Farms possesses are outlined in Greiner’s delegation stage, it thereby affirms that the organization is currently in this part of its evolution.Although Maple Lodge Farms appears to be doing well in the delegation stage of Greiner’s model, I believe that the organization may be on the verge of entering the revolutionary component of the third growth phase – referred to as the control crisis. Essentially, this situation arises as a product of the management style introduced in the delegation stage – involving market expansion, decentralized organizational structure, delegative managerial style and so on.Moreover, the control crisis occurs when â€Å"top executives sense that they are losing control over a highly diversified field operation. Autonomous field managers prefer to run their own shows without coordinating plans, money, technology, and manpower with the rest of the organization† (Greiner, 1998). Though this scenario may not be representative of the company quite yet, Greiner insinuates that at the end of an evolutionary period, all companies must enter a revolutionary period; it is merely the path that all organizations must follow in their progression models.Therefore, it is more than likely that Maple Lodge Farms may soon be in a crisis control situation, as its lengthy evolutionary stage is poised to end. The firm should understand the pending reality of a control crisis and be willing to make changes regarding the managerial framework, so as to preserve the health of the company. In 2010, Maple Lodge Farms was given the honor of being named one of fifty organizations in Canada that earned the Best Managed Company award. The CEO of Maple Lodge Farms, Michael Burrows, attributes this success to the customer-oriented method the company whole-heartedly embraces. At Maple Lodge Farms, we speak with our customers on an ongoing basis to gain their insights and to identify the most significant opportunities that move us closer to realizing their success†¦Our sales team is actively engaged with our customers and in the marketplace as often as possible in order to remain abreast of new opportunities and challenges†Ã‚  (â€Å"Maple lodge farms,† 2011). Maple Lodge Farms has nurtured this customer service focus through the use of effective human resources management, which prioritizes the recruitment and training of individuals able to meet inflexible customer demands.Consider the organization’s venture into the untapped Halal foods market. The company’s interest in realizing potential gains from Muslim buyers compelled Maple Lodge Farms to first launch its Halal product line in the 1990s – which has since been perfected over the organization’s existence. In adherence with strict Islamic procedures, the company employs several Muslim individuals to handle the slaughter of its chickens. â€Å"We have a team of several Muslim Blessers and a dedicated Muslim Product Manager†¦under oath to perform the duties assigned to them with honesty and integrity.ISNA’s Halal auditor visits our plant on daily basis to ensure the Halal process is followed with consistency† (â€Å"Maple lodge farms†). Consequently, in order to meet the stringent requirements of the Muslim community, Maple Lodge Farms has recruited and/or trained personnel in a highly specified manner, so as to satisfy their particular consumer needs. Additionally, the human resources department of Maple Lodge Farms encourages management leaders to continuously undergo training programs in order to keep abreast of new managerial techniques.This increases the efficiency of how all the plants of the firm are run. Moreover, the company has regular employee performance appraisals in order to ensure the quality of services offered to consumers. Therefore, the organization’s emphasis on fostering an organizational culture premised upon customer satisfaction – achieved partly through human resources policies concerning recruitment and training – has allowed the company to achieve recognition for its entrepreneurial strides.The workp lace diversity amongst employees of Maple Lodge Farms – ensuing from the diversification of the firm’s product lines to accommodate Halal consumers – necessitates a form of diversity management and the implementation of employee diversity programs by the human resources department. Diversity management’s initiative is not simply to advocate tolerance; more significantly, its purpose is to combine the different perspectives of a multicultural organization’s staff and use them to improve the firm’s performance.My research indicates that while Maple Lodge Farms may have a rudimentary diversity management system in place, its human resources team should consider taking full advantage of the company’s diverse employee population. This involves: top management commitment, diversity training programs, inclusive/representative communications, activities celebrating diversity, support groups/mentor programs, diversity audits and management acc ountability.I believe establishing a comprehensive diversity management system will allow Maple Lodge Farms to become not only an inclusive firm but one that is more effective from a business standpoint. My analysis of Maple Lodge Farms shows that it has tremendous potential to grow as an organization. Firstly, the managerial team should consider altering its delegative style of management to one that involves coordination techniques. Since Maple Lodge Farms seems to be on the outset of a revolutionary period in Greiner’s growth model, a change in how the company manages itself is necessary. Those companies that move ahead find a new solution in the use of special coordination techniques† (Greiner, 1998). Establishing these modifications in the organizational structure and in the general way the firm is managed, will enable Maple Lodge Farms to progress into the coordination stage – the next phase of Greiner’s growth model – and maintain the company ’s steady evolution. â€Å"All of these new coordination systems prove useful in achieving growth through more efficient allocation of a company’s limited resources.They prompt field managers to look beyond the needs of their local units†¦they learn to justify their actions more carefully to a â€Å"watchdog† audience at headquarters† (Greiner, 1998). Furthermore, the aforementioned diversity management system is another change Maple Lodge Farms should make, as it will move the organization in a new direction – wherein the marketing strategy will be more wide-ranging and cognizant of the immense diversity in customer tastes.From a human resources perspective, Maple Lodge Farms has succeeded in aspects other companies have failed in; they have created an organizational culture that whole-heartedly advocates superior customer service policies. This is evidenced by the human resources policies emphasizing the recruitment and training of qualified individuals, who are able to meet the organization’s standards of customer service. The distinction of being one of Canada’s fifty best managed companies validates the human resources measures Maple Lodge Farms has undertaken to provide first-class products and the best customer service.If the firm were to establish a strategic plan to implement a coordination management style and a diversity management system, then Maple Lodge Farms would experience no difficulties in continuing its success as a company in the future. Works Cited 1. Grand river foods fresh poultry processing division sold to maple lodge farms. (2011, November 21). Canadian Poultry Magazine, Retrieved from http://www. canadianpoultrymag. com 2. Greiner, L.E. (1998). Evolution and revolution as organizations grow. Harvard Business Review, (Reprint 98308), 4-11. Retrieved from http://www. gertjanschop. com 3. Maple lodge farms amongst best managed companies. (2011, February 23). Brampton Guardian. Retri eved from http://www. bramptonguardian. com 4. Maple lodge farms ltd. : Zabiha halal. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. zabihahalal. com

From Jack Kevorkian to Terry Schiavo

From Jack Kevorkian to Terry Schiavo, much media attention has been given in recent years to the question of the right to die. Most American states have laws against taking one’s own life and many also have specific laws against assisted suicide. Many others charge those who would assist with suicide with manslaughter or attempted murder. Opponents of euthanasia say that there is no provision in American law for the right to die. Many specific rights are spelled out in the Bill of Rights and others have been granted through the Constitution and its amendments, but nowhere has the law granted a person the right to die.Proponents claim the right is inherent, God-given and a matter of free will. The truth lies somewhere in between. Americans should have the right to determine when their lives should end. That right is granted them by the Declaration of Independence. Americans have the right to die, as it is included in the right to life, the right of self-determination and the pu rsuit of happiness. The first legal standard allowing Americans to choose to die should be the words of founding father Thomas Jefferson.In writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson said that people should have the right to â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. † By simple logic, death is an inherent part of life and therefore should be protected by Jefferson’s words. As death is the ending of life and the right to life is guaranteed by the Declaration, it is clear that citizens should be afford the right to die as they choose. By guaranteeing people the right to life and liberty, Jefferson may have been simply spouting the philosophies of John Locke and others, but he inadvertently guaranteed people the liberty to choose their own death.Clearly, in 1776, the concept of keeping people alive through the use of machines was not a consideration. However, Jefferson makes it clear that self-determination is a right of the people. It is that very self-de termination that gave the American colonies the right to revolt against England and form their own country. That same right of self-determination should also apply to the average citizen. Nothing is more a matter of personal freedom than the right to die. Other cultures have long practiced this form of self-determination.In many cultures, the sick, infirmed or elderly would leave their society to die when they decided it was time. The concept that society has become more civilized should not prevent people from making this choice if they desire. The reality is that modern medicine has allowed many people to live beyond what would once have been a normal life expectancy. Many of those people regret their longevity as they feel isolated, due to the deaths of contemporaries, and feel the guilt of being a financial or emotional burden on their families.Others do not want to face the pain of chronic disease. These people have earned the right to do as they please and by the theory of sel f-determination, they should be granted that right. Finally, the Declaration grants people the right to â€Å"the pursuit of happiness. † Again, despite the advances of modern medicine, there is no guarantee that simply lengthening a person’s life grants them additional happiness. In fact, some elderly persons are simply lonely and in pain. The pursuit of happiness for them might include an end to their suffering and as such, the right to die.The simple matter is that by guaranteeing people the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and by predicating our society on the right of self-determination, America has already made it clear that the right to die is inherent in our beliefs. It should be as clear as the right to freedom of the press or the right to bear arms. Unfortunately, though we preach a separation of church and state, America is also a religious country and the right to die will not be acknowledged until the fear of the moral repercussions is o vercome.

Artificial intelligence in home automation

Artificial intelligence in home automation Abstract-Home automation is on horizon. It is an emerging technology and also a need of today. From the last decade a number of standards have been defined for home appliances. The main objectives of home automation are controlling, management and co-ordination of home appliances in a comfortable, effective and secure way. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence is evolving as a technology for developing automatic systems that can perceive the environment, learn from environment, and can make decision using case-based reasoning. Using Vision capability, knowledge-based, learn ability, decision making and reasoning the AI provides a better solution for almost all automatic systems. In this paper we will see the types of home automation systems and then see how these system can utilize the AI tools so as to increase the effectiveness, powerfulness etc. Index TermsHome automation, artificial intelligence, knowledge base systems, secure home. INTRODUCTION One definition of an automated and networked home is An automated and networked home is one in which every appliance can be remotely managed from anywhere on the Internet with a simple Web browser The general goal of the automatic-home movement is to use networking technology to integrate the devices, appliances and services found in homes so that the entire domestic living space can be controlled centrally or remotely [6]. Home wiring, the advance home developers are installing, typically adds several thousand dollars to the cost of a new home, and it is usually Ethernet or coaxial cable or some combination of both with other technologies in the mix. The network is being designed to make possible remote operation of appliances connected to the network. A. Services Provided by the Home Automation System Comfortable A home automation system provides a large number of services which can broadly classified into following four categories: 1) le management of appliances 2) Remote controlling of appliances 3) Efficient utilization of home resources 4) Enhancing home security Comfortable management includes automatic adjustment of AC(air conditioning) setting, fan regulation setting etc. Remote controlling services include accessing devices from remote location and setting them ON/OFF. Efficient utilization includes running the home appliances at their optimal setting (setting at which we get the required output at minimum cost). Last category of service includes all those services which are used for securing the home environment. In this paper we will see the implementation of all these categories of services one by one and will see the application of AI techniques in implementation. In Section-II we will see AI techniques Knowledge-based system very briefly. Section-III covers the issues concerned with home automation. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS (KBS) AI is the collection of powerful and rigorous programming techniques studying the nature of intelligence by building computer systems, and the application of these concepts in solving real-world problems. The growth in the areas of AI has been increased significantly from the last decade. There exist a number of AI tools that make an automation system more sophisticated but here we will discuss the knowledge-based systems only as it is used frequently. Knowledge Based System: A knowledge-based system (KBS) is an AI based system that contains a significant amount of knowledge in an explicit, declarative form. The area of KBS development has matured over the past two decades. It started with first-generation expert systems with a single flat knowledge base and a general reasoning engine, typically built in a rapid-prototyping fashion. This has now been replaced by methodological approaches that have many similarities with general software engineering practice. KBS development is best s een as software engineering for a particular class of application problems. These applications problems typically require some form of reasoning to produce the required results. In current business practice there is an increasing need for such systems, due to progression of information technology in our daily work. For home automation, knowledge-based systems can provide the base to store the user preferences and managing the home appliances accordingly. PRELIMINARIES If we talk home automation, there are following three main issues: 1) How to connect home appliances and apparatus 2) How to make two home appliances to communicate to each other 3) How to control and manage home appliances As far as first issue is concerned, a number of standards have been developed for interconnecting the home devices and apparatus in a network so as to make their management much easier and comfortable. Summarized from a following are the main networking technologies used for connecting devices in home environment: 1) Direct cable connection 2) Bluetooth Connection 3) Phone Line 4) Ethernet 5) Radio (Free) Network 6) AC Network So we can connect the entire home devices by selecting any of the above-mentioned network technologies. Apart from connecting devices, the second issue regarding the home automation is how to make two devices communicate to each other. For handling this issue a number of standards have been developed. Summarized from there are following leading communication technologies in home environment: 1) UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) devices 2) X-10 based devices 3) Infrared devices 4) Bluetooth Devices 5) IP based devices All these technologies are well matured and have well settled standards. But, in this paper we will skip it as this is not of our concern. Now we move toward third issue i.e. how to manage and control the home appliances which is the issue we are concerned with. This issue can be handles in two ways. First, by using traditional digital and microprocessor-based systems like discussed in Second method for this is by using the sophisticated processing of artificially intelligent agents. If we consider the first choice, then it is somewhat more common but at the cost of time efficiency as well as feature limitations. On the other hand AI based technique provides more efficient and featured services like easy video and audio processing, easy reasoning etc. In this paper we will concentrate on the third issued of home automation i.e. management of home appliances and particularly, AI based home appliance controlling and management. MANAGING HOME APPLIANCES FOR COMFORTABILITY As discussed in Section-I, the first service that a user expect from the home automation system is the comfortable management of devices. e.g. the regulator setting of AC depends upon the temperature of the room. As the temperature increases the AC regulation rating (hence cooling rate) also need to be increased. Some features of such systems are: 1) These are closed loop systems 2) Sensors are transducers and other mechanisms for sensing the current proximity condition e.g. sensing the room temperature 3) Actuators are simply the mechanism to change the environment according to the control signals received from the knowledge base. 4) Knowledgebase (KB) is the centralized part of the system and is the main part to discuss here. This KB system can be implemented by using simple digital circuitry as discussed in [17] or using microprocessor systems as discussed in [11] but both suffer from the problem of manual setting. In both the system user has to decide and change the threshold setting whenever there is a change in the environment. E.g. in summer AC is used to down the temperature while in winter the same are used to up the temperature. So, user has to change the setting when season changes because the system cant learn from its experience. But using the KB system having learning capability, system can adjust the threshold setting as it gets the experience in its environment. For this system we need a KB system that can learn from the experience that what is comfortable temperature for the home users and can adjust the setting of AC and fan regulator accordingly. CONTROLLING HOME APPLIANCES FROM REMOTE LOCATION The second feature provided by the home automation system is the remote access to devices and their management. E.g. suppose you are going back to your home and it will take 20 minutes to reach your home. Now, you want to on you find your home with comfortable temperature. In such a scenario you need to access your home appliances and also to control them from remote location. Following are main points to consider about this class of systems: 1) Authorizer and Receiver is an electronic system capable to receive the control signal. As discussed in Section-II there exist a number of such systems any of them can be used for this purpose. One important thing about this system is that it requires some authorization mechanism to ensure that the request is authorized one. For this purpose we can use some cryptographic techniques to encode and decode the request so that only authorized user can access the network. 2) The decision maker system is an AI based agent that can decide what action should be taken in response to received query. E.g. suppose user just put the query that the room temperature should be x0 c. Now, this is the Decision Maker that will identify from its experience that the AC will maintain this temperature. And then it will determine setting of AC regulator corresponding to this particular temperature. Of course, the same system can be implemented by some electronic circuitry but that will be more complex, less flexible and less featured as compared to this learning based (case based) AI agent system. 3) The third component of this system i.e. Actuator is similar to the action implementer in the previous system. So, we will not discuss anything about this here. EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF HOME APPLIANCES This application of home automation system is not as common as discussed two applications. But, on the other hand if the automation system is applied in the industrial environment then it becomes the more prominent and beneficial feature of the automation system E.g. Suppose the AC of your office (or room) is ON but you are not in your room from last three hours. Then why the AC is still ON? This is just wastage of power. As said already, this power wastage is not much in case of home appliances but in industries power saving is one of the major cost-cutting factor. So, for implementing this we need a system that can OFF the AC if it found that there is no person from the last significant time. We said here the word significant as the exact time cant be determined and depends upon the scenario (like for bedroom the AC should down OFF if there is no person for one hour while in waiting room the AC should go down when there is no person from last two hours). In such a scenario, we are supposed to have some automation system that can continuously pole the environment and can decide the appropriate action whenever needed. These systems should fast enough for responsiveness and effectiveness. The working of the components of the system is as follows: 1) The status poller continuously senses the environment conditions and forwards the sensed condition-factors to analyzer and knowledge-based database. 2) The Analyzer receives the current environmental condition from poller and with the help of the knowledge base database, it analyses the variation in the environment. Now, depending upon the variation Analyzer gives the instruction to Actuator. 3) Again here the actuator is similar to the actuator discussed in previous sections. The major differentiating factor of this system from previously discussed systems is that this is sequential while previous one was atomic, because, in this system the action to be taken depends upon the present and previous environmental conditions. SECURE HOMES The last major application provided by the home automation system is to provide the home security. This is the most complex home automation system. The description of how system works is as follows: 1) Security sensors sense the environment for security threat. 2) The analyzer and synthesizer analyses the data received from the sensors and filter out any security threat. If it found any security threat, then it sends the sufficient information to reasoning system. 3) The Reasoning system apply the reasoning for detecting whether the security threat is really a threat, if yes then it fires the security alert system for alerting the user about this security threat by analyzer. 4) This analyzer is same as used at the second stage but opposite in nature. The previous converts the physical information into digital form while later one converts the digital information back to physical form to alert the user. APPLICATION OF AI IN HOME AUTOMATION Now, in this Section we will concentrate on the application of AI in all the four forms of home automation system one by one. A. Use of AI in Comfortable Systems In these systems the application of AI is limited as most of the part can be easily implemented using some electronic circuitry. Here the only part where the AI is effective is the knowledge-based database which should be learnable (as discussed previously) for system to be truly comfortable. Since AI tools are little bit costly it will increase the cost of the system but will make the system more comfortable, flexible, easy updatable etc. B. Use of AI in Remote Controlling Systems In these systems AI can be applied in the authorizer as well decision maker stage. Applying AI at the authorizer will increase the responsiveness and security and is more applicable when the environment under consideration is an industry where security is a major concern (e.g. Banks). On the other hand, Decision making part can utilize the case ba sed reasoning of AI for effective and efficient management as it has to decide that which of the target device is corresponding to this particular instruction.C. Use of AI in Optimizing the Resource Performance In this system AI can used to implement knowledge base as discuss for previous systems and for Analyzer as it makes it more efficient in deciding the particular action. Moreover, if analyzer is learnable from its experience then it will make the system more optimized.D. Use of AI in Secure Systems The biggest use of AI is in these systems. Here we can apply following tools of AI for various applications: 1) Video Processing for security threat analysis 2) Image Processing for security threat analysis 3) Audio processing for security threat analysis 4) Knowledge base system for Security system database 5) Case-based reasoning for analyzer and synthesizer 6) Decision Making in Security Checking and Decision making So these systems use the AI exhaustibly. Presently, even though, different technologies are used for implementing these systems but in the near future AI will be the only implementation technique behind these systems as it is proved to be more sophisticated and effective tool for listed applications. CONCLUSION In this paper we started our discussion with home automation system by defining four major applications of these systems which are comfortability, remote control, optimal resource utilization and security. After that we see the detailed structure of home automation for implementing these services one by one explaining the working of each system and use of heuristic-based tools in these systems. At the last we discuss about the applications of AI tools in all four types of home automation systems. From this discussion it is clear that AI is emerging as a very useful and applicable technology for Home automation. On the other hand, home automation systems provide AI a vast range of Application.

Fate And Government Belief Concepts In Ancient Greece Essay

Fate And Government Belief Concepts In Ancient Greece - Essay Example This paper has addressed the Greek concepts of hubris, ananke, Eunomia, kalokagathia and demos through works of ancient literature and architecture. To bring together these aspects of Greek culture I will tie in the findings of each work: In Persians, Xerxes, by embracing the state of hubris, displayed runaway pride and ambition which cemented his confrontation with disaster; Homer’s The Iliad shows how the concept of ananke is so much a part of the fabric of Ancient Greece; Plato’s The Republic is an example of how the concept of Eunomia is so intertwined with the principle of justice; the concept of kalokagathia can be found in the structure and intent of The Parthenon. Ancient Greek culture was focused on the controls of destiny and judged this acceptance as heroic; in fact, those who fought the will of fate were considered cowardly fools. In conclusion, the examination of these concepts is an important point of study if one is to understand Greek society and how its members viewed the world around them. In order to view a culture appropriately and therefore its people, it is vital that the language and beliefs be the focus of any examination. The words they use will give the viewer and scholar insight into what they find important and what they fear. The thesis of this paper supports the study of Greek concepts as they relate to literature and architecture, allowing the reader a chance to peek back in time and better understand the thought-processes and belief systems of that ancient time.

Quantum Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quantum Technology - Essay Example Classical mechanics preceded quantum mechanics which is entirely the basis of quantum technology. â€Å"A team of researchers, including members of the University of Chicago’s Institute for Molecular Engineering, highlight the power of emerging quantum technologies...† (Koppes 2013). The emerging quantum technologies were realized after scientists drew more focus on microscopic objects from the macros in classical mechanics. The realm of quantum technology aims at changing the way scientists view technology in attempts to better living standard across all spheres of life. â€Å"The first quantum technology that harnesses quantum mechanical effects for its core operation has arrived in the form of commercially available quantum key distribution systems’’ (O’brien et. al. 2009). In the field of quantum computing, the technology promises to develop a secured information system that will challenge snoopers, hackers and prevent cyber-attacks. This will be realized by subjecting quantum cryptography as elaborated in an article by National University of Singapore (2014). In the very article Stephanie Wehner affirms that "quantum technologies will gradually become integrated with existing devices such as smart phones, allowing us to do things like identify ourselves securely or generate encryption keys". In the future wheel of quantum technology, one of the core primary effects lies in its ability to drive the next generation computing technology.

Genocide in Rwanda and Burondi Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Genocide in Rwanda and Burondi - Assignment Example What is genocide? The term Genocide according to history books was unknown prior to 1994. It is a word formed by a Polish-Jewish lawyer describing the Nazi policies of systematic murder and the destruction of European Jews. It comes from the Greek word geno that means a race or tribe, and cide, a Latin word that means to kill. Accordingly, in coming up with this word, he thought of â€Å"a coordinated plan or action to destruct the foundations of the life of a national group, or annihilating the groups themselves†. He appealed this to the United Nations; thereafter, the United Nations considered â€Å"genocide† as an international crime. It is then defined by the UN as† â€Å"referring to violent crimes committed against groups with the intent to destroy the existence of the group. (US Holocaust Memorial Museum Updated 11 May 2012). Genocide, as an international crime includes any of the following action: acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part , a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. The crime of Genocide in Rwanda Politics and ambition started it all. The first conviction of Genocide was given in 1988 by the International Criminal Court for Rwanda to Jean-Paul Akayesu, a local President of Democratic Republican Movement. He was found guilty of charges against humanity for acts he made while being a mayor. Akayesu was sentenced to a life imprisonment. On this date too rape became an addendum to the list of genocide crimes. (US Holocaust Memorial Museum) Akayesu was the town Mayor of Taba from 1993 to 1994. Initially, he led the town peacefully, fostering the local economy, had control of the police, and a well respected man until a group of oppositionists started the turmoil. At first he was hesitant to join but was compelled to because he was afraid of opposition, and was also scared to lose his position. Since then, he was one among those who instigated violence, incited the people to join mass killings and turned the former quiet place into a scene of violence, rape, torture, and murder (US Holocaust Memorial Museum). Rwanda in 1994 has a population of seven million composed of three ethnic groups: the Hutus (85%), Tutsi, (14%) and Twa (1%). The United Human Rights Council reported that the Hutus extremists’ political group kept on blaming the Tutsi group for various reasons including: â€Å"the country’s increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Tutsi civilians were also accused of supporting a Tutsi-dominated rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Through the use of propaganda and constant political maneuvering, Habyarimana, who was the president at the time, and his group increased divisions between Hutu and Tutsi by the end of 1992. The Hutu remembered past years of oppressive Tutsi rule, and many of them not only resented but also feared the minority.† But why should the Hutus have resentments to a minority group like Tutsi? First let us begin with the description of the past of the two warring tribes. Roseber, Jennifer,

Learning to look Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Learning to look - Essay Example The advertisement’s visuals also lead to an immediate and powerful response emotionally, particularly because of the picture of a vintage car with nothing else in the background. This pulls the attention of the viewer, especially those who were children during the generation when the car was released. Anyone who loves the VW van has an immediate feeling of remembrance and nostalgia, especially for people whose parents were owners of the VW van. It is possible to see the number of seats in the car, which gives a feeling of spaciousness. The caption below the advert that states that it is unusual to drive the car you were conceived in is written in bold, pulling the consumer’s attention and seeks to add on to the vintage feel of the car, as well as its nostalgia. Finally, the ad allows the viewer to see its interior, which could evoke memories of childhood with one’s brothers and sisters playing in the backseat. While this advertisement acts as a fine example of how advertising can be effective, it is somewhat reliant on the viewer and the knowledge that he/she has of the car. The particular car in the advert, the VW van, was and still is a symbol for those living in the 60s. During this period, people preferred to paint and color their cars with flowers and psychedelic colors. It was also during this period, in the aftermath of WWII, that most people meant for their cars to represent love and harmony. This message, however, also translated into the sexual liberation movement, which can be seen with the caption below the ad that alludes to this sexual revolution. The VW van captures an iconic brand from a nostalgic period, which, it seems, VW was keen to utilize in that particular form in the advert in order to make sure that a specific pop culture aspect was able to stand time’s test. The advertisement is minimalistic,

BMW's New Oxford Way Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BMW's New Oxford Way - Case Study Example The management allowed the workers in each shift to give a 'team talk' for 45 minutes in a fortnightly manner. Previously the workers were reluctant to join such activities during work, but now they want to air their ideas which worked for the betterment of the company. The team members were also allowed to air their ideas and suggest any change required. This resulted in savings to the tune of 6.3 million pounds. The management and directors also worked closely with the workers on the ground floor. This had led to the better understanding of the working personnel and the employer. The gulf between management and employee was reduced. As a result of the motivated management decisions, the workers were enthusiastic, positive, better informed and more open, which benefited the company a lot. c Benefit of team working at BMW for: I. Employees: 1. The employees were developed as a team and they were empowered to tackle the production related problems themselves. Whereas earlier they had to take help from other departments. 2. The tasks were rotated within members of groups so that they do not get bored by the daily repetitive work. 3. The rules and regulations were not forwarded by the management; it was purely based on the employee's own initiative and self management. 4. The team work also led to the development of the team-work culture which is beneficial for individual and team. 5. The team members could air their ideas and suggest any change in the process. 6. The team members were better informed due to job rotation and multiskilling. 7. They were more enthusiastic. 8. They possessed more positive attitude. 9. They were more open. II. Business: 1. Production problems... The workers were rejuvenated with the own initiative and self management which had broken the traditional hierarchical system of management. The daily duties of each team member were reduced so that he can think about his team members and can suggest any change for the team's work culture. The workers were given external training and coaching so that they can work as a team member. These endeavours from the company thus satisfied the purpose of job enrichment. Heike Schneeweis, HR director at BMW told, "The implementation of Wings concept turnaround the working practice and behaviour". She emphasized that "teamwork diminished the power of traditional hierarchical management model and inculcated responsibility among working teams". The management allowed the workers in each shift to give a 'team talk' for 45 minutes in a fortnightly manner. Previously the workers were reluctant to join such activities during work, but now they want to air their ideas which worked for the betterment of the company. The management and directors also worked closely with the workers on the ground floor. This had led to the better understanding of the working personnel and the employer. The gulf between management and employee was reduced. The success of the Wings system or in that sense, the New Oxford Way solely depends on the empowerment of the workers.

The Significance Of The Landlord And Tenant Act 1954 Essay

The Significance Of The Landlord And Tenant Act 1954 - Essay Example Such a change was the outcome of rebalancing the rights that existed between the tenant and the landlord as documented in 1988 as well as 1996 Housing Acts. From this time henceforth, investment returns became economically viable once more and this encouraged property owners, investors, and small landlords to penetrate the lettings market. The alterations in the laws of England and Wales accompanied changes in the demographics of the populace meaning that the contemporary lifestyle started favoring renting due to its elasticity. All land in England today is the property of the state, although it remains in Freehold before going back to the state when there are no rightful heirs anymore. A freeholder refers to the lifetime owner of a property. Based on the Law of Property Act 1925, the claim to land ends when a person dies without leaving behind any legitimate heirs. The focus of the Law of Landlord and Tenant concentrates on the contract agreements that allow the tenants to take occu pancy of a piece of property for a length of time in return for periodic payments of rent. Modern property law has a dual nature and is quite complicated. First, its basis is the common law of contract that has changed in the course of the past few centuries. Nevertheless, the legislature has the power to modify or override the common law by passing statutory regulations and codes. Contemporary property laws, as well as legal systems, vary throughout the Western world despite the fact that the fundamental legal doctrines are similar.

Securitization, Regulation and Factors Contributing to Financial Essay

Securitization, Regulation and Factors Contributing to Financial Crisis - Essay Example This paper reviews the current financial crisis with focus on securitization, causes of the crisis, current regulatory framework and the scope of Basel Committee and proposes possible measures regulating the financial sector. The process of securitization and its significance Securitization refers to the transfer of assets from an entity, the originator, to another entity that is set for such purchases with the aim of increasing the generator’s liquidity level. The generator, a financial institution, sells its debt assets to the third party who in turn, provides agreed amount of cash in exchange. The process of securitization incorporates a number of stakeholders. It begins with the financial institution that wishes to securitize its assets. The originator offers its assets to an issuer that must be an established entity for such a purpose and the issuer obtains rights over the assets. The issuer is further a native organization and acquires rights of the assets. Fundamental t o the securitization process is the special purpose vehicle concept that transfers possession of the subject properties from the originator to the issuer and safeguards the issuer’s right over the property should the originator be declared bankrupt. The process also involves the concept of â€Å"credit enhancement† where a ‘non-privity’ party guarantees quality of the involved credit that is then rated before securities are offered. Issue of notes that are structured before they can be offered in the market (Choudhry, 331, 332) accompanies the security offers. The process of securitization identifies diversified benefits to both originators and investors. The process facilitates the originator’s liquidity level by through funding that is derived from owned assets. It therefore allows the financial institutions

Relationships and Human Behavior Perspectives Essay Example for Free

Relationships and Human Behavior Perspectives Essay Reviewing human behaviors from different perspectives, including the five main perspectives of biological, learning, social and cultural, cognitive, and psychodynamic influences, can sometimes shed light on why humans act the way they do. Using these perspectives to review how relationships begin, develop, and are maintained can provide a deeper understanding and context of this phenomenon. Framing love relationships with these different perspectives also helps to show how the perspectives themselves differ or are similar in relation to how they consider relationships as being formed and maintained. The biological perspective contends that innate causes drive human behavior. Specifically, this perspective states that the actions of the nervous system and genetic heredity lead to different types of behavior (McLeod, 2007). From this perspective, hormonal reactions and feelings of reinforcement in the brain that are associated with a particular individual lead people to start relationships (McLeod, 2007). Additionally, the relationship is maintained because humans have an innate desire to reproduce and pass their own genetic material on to their offspring, and in order to drive this urge, the brain continues to trigger feelings of pleasure and hormonal releases to strengthen the association between a given person and good feelings (McLeod, 2007). This perspective is somewhat unique from the other ones in how it views relationships, because it claims that advanced cognitive processes are not even necessary for a relationship to last; instead, only biochemical processes are required . The next type of perspective, the learning perspective, claims that learning through association leads to specific behaviors, and that individuals will generally learn to enact behaviors that they see are rewarded (Mikkelson Pauley, 2013). From this perspective, humans form relationships because they see other relationships, such as those of their parents, externally rewarded, and come to associate the notion of â€Å"love† with reward. The rewards that one receives from a relationship, such as attention, compassion, or even financial security, are associated with â€Å"love† over time, which strengthens the relationship and makes people more likely to  maintain a relationship after they have been involved in it for some time (Mikkelson Pauley, 2013). Like the biological perspective, the learning perspective deems relationship behavior as something beyond humans conscious control and does not necessarily require conscious thought, although the learning perspective does not claim to know the internal processes that drive it, and it does require that humans have at least the ability to learn in order for them to be involved in relationships (Mikkelson Pauley, 2013). Social and cultural perspectives claim that humans are ingrained with what constitutes â€Å"right† behavior through socialization. Because people grow up, in many cases, in households with married parents, or at least where the parents date other individuals, children learn early on that relationships are not only acceptable, but actually desirable (McLeod, 2007). This notion is further reinforced through messages given to the child through the media, their friends and other family members, and most people they come in contact with, all of whom deem â€Å"love† to be one of the highest goals a person can achieve. Individuals therefore seek out relationships in their teen years because they have been told that it is a positive objective to strive toward, and they are further reinforced in their views by their partner and others who know them after dating or getting married, which leads the person to continue their relationship (McLeod, 2007). This perspective is unlike the learning and biological perspectives in that it does not rely on reflexes or innate drives, but instead requires complex thought, and, moreover, socialization; a person living outside of society would likely have no desire to be in a relationship, according to this perspective. The cognitive perspective claims that human thought is what drives all behavior. In this sense, then, humans enter relationships because they see relationships as something that they desire, and which will provide them with some type of enjoyment or reward for seeking out (Mikkelson Pauley, 2013). If they find that they do receive some type of benefit from dating a person, they will make the decision to develop the relationship further, learning more about the person and perhaps even getting married, if they believe that they are sufficiently compatible with the other person for the  relationship to last and continue to be rewarding (Mikkelson Pauley, 2013). This perspective, like the social and cultural perspective, is very reliant on human thought as a driver of relationships, but the cognitive perspective deems relationships an individual choice rather than a result of societal pressure. Lastly, the psychodynamic perspective contends that behavior is due to interactions between the conscious and the subconscious mind. A relationship might begin because a member of the opposite sex might remind an individual of the loving relationship they had with their parents, but in order to sublimate the inappropriate desire for ones parents, the individual seeks out a relationship with a person outside of their family. The relationship is maintained because it provides the person with ego fulfillment (McLeod, 2007). Like the cognitive and social perspectives, the psychodynamic perspective describes relationships in terms of human thought and cognitive activity, but unlike those other perspectives, the psychodynamic outlook believes that humans are essentially bound to enter into relationships, because it ascribes the behavior to innate drives. In this sense, the psychodynamic perspective is somewhat like the biological perspective. All of these different perspectives, then, can provide different types of insight into human relationships. References McLeod, S. (2007). Psychology Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/ Mikkelson, A. C., Pauley, P. M. (2013). Maximizing Relationship Possibilities: Relational Maximization in Romantic Relationships. Journal Of Social Psychology, 153(4), 467-485. doi:10.1080/00224545.2013.767776

Two Cheers for Materialism Essay Example for Free

Two Cheers for Materialism Essay Regardless of where we live, where we grew up, and where we are going, its influence has played an important role in our lives. Whether we know it or not, materialism is one of the most influential forces we interact with. In his essay â€Å"Two Cheers for Materialism† James Twitchell discusses the history, location, and impact materialism has had on society. With the use of the view points from many academics and historical figures, Twitchell offers insight into materialism’s effect on how we function in today’s world. He concludes all of this with the idea that materialism is not just the desire to collect commodities, but it’s a force that truly shows the advancement of society. From the days of horses and buggies, to modern day status quo of Hondas and Toyotas, the value of the commodity, both economically and personally, as drastically changed. The economic changing of materialism is obviously seen in the inflation of everything we buy (cloths, foods, cars, ect. ) whereas the value these items have to our identities is not as obvious. In the essay, Twitchell makes his major point by saying that over time materialism has morphed from what we have, to what we are—that is, materialism is our identity. Twitchell focuses a good portion of the essay on the development of materialism, and how it has become part of our identity. An important part of this idea, and how Twitchell views it, is that unlike how many academics view it, materialism is not this horrid idea that breaks us down into little soul-less robots, as depicted in The Great Gatsby. Twitchell argues that materialism is what makes us different then our pre-20th century selves. As Twitchell says â€Å"The outcome of material life is no longer preordained by coat of arms, pew seat, or trust fund. †(289) by this he means that materialism is now a choice. We can use it to decide who we are, by what we buy. No longer are we born into ‘what’ we are. This allows us â€Å"to be cool, hip, with it, with the ‘in’ crowd. † (289). I agree with Twitchell’s theory on this, and moreover can add that this change overtime of materialism’s role has led to groups such as â€Å"yuppies,† â€Å"indies,† and â€Å"preps. Without materialism, then we couldn’t purchase certain items that make us into the groups we want to be in. Materialism gets rid of the disadvantages we are born with, as anyone can fork over some money for knock off goods, or even splurge for the real version. Because of this, materialism has become our identity, and the beauty of it is, unlike genetics, we can change the hand we’re dealt. Twitchell says it best in this passage—â€Å"We live through our things. We create ourselves through things. And we change ourselves by changing our things. (282). Materialism is us. We are materialism. Along with suggesting this major role materialism plays in our lives, Twitchell makes various points on the academics that have critiqued materialism over the years. He scorns those who look down upon the materialistic world, while using their critiques to make points about it. I believe this condescension of academia goes hand in hand with his praise of materialism, as he points out, the academic world looks at themselves with such a high regard, they don’t see the hypocracy in their statements. Twitchell gives the example of the Volvo driving critic who will spend hours criticizing the bourgeois fascination with materials, but neglects the decals on his car, which prove to be just as materialistic. Along with scorning these critics, Twitchell praises many in their contributions to his essay. He uses an academic, Stanley Lebergott, to show the outcome of materialism’s effect on us. As Lebergott says, â€Å"most Americans have ‘spent their way to happiness’. This goes very far in enforcing the positives of materialism, and further scorns those who are against it. Twitchell’s use of other writers is very prominent in this essay, and very important in evaluating the essay as a hole. From history changing men like Karl Marx, to circle-known French sociologists Pierre Bourdieu and Jean Baudrillard, Twitchell while reading this essay, it feels like Twitchell quotes anyone who ever wrote the word materialism on a published document before. This strategy makes me very skeptical of Twitchell’s knowledge. While I agree with most of the points Twitchell makes, I think he relies too heavily on the thoughts of others, which overall ends in a weak backing of his main point. Twitchell gets stuck between †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. All in all, Twitchell makes a very important point about materialism that to me saves its reputation in American culture. Regardless of what we think about materials, materials show how far we’ve come. No longer are we born into a role, materials make it possible to become who we want to be become.

Impact of Poor Services on Healthcare Organization

Impact of Poor Services on Healthcare Organization Assessment 4 Issue 1: Effect of Poor services On Reputation of Kindly Residential Care Rest Home Generally, the reputation of an institution, particularly elderly care facilities, is very essential in order to make known to concerned clients and their families how firm the institution is in offering quality health care services. In order for an institution live up to their reputation or even exceed the expectation of the clients and be more competent than other neighboring competitors, series of quality improvement measures are then conducted all year round. The first step or approach in quality improvement is to be able to identify certain factors that have a potential or a likelihood of contributing to the rise and fall of an institution’s reputation. Patient safety Safety for the client is always considered the highest priority and is the topmost factor to consider. Issues such as shortfalls, injury, elderly abuse and the like are indicators that help measure the quality of service rendered by the institution. If and when complaints in relation to these issues start skyrocketing, that is when measures for legislative amendments are called for. When the safety of a resident is at risk in an institution that is reputed to have substandard services and management, the said institution will be subjected to disciplinary action set by the Ministry of Health. Management The essential component of a healthy institution is quality satisfaction derived from both the staff and, most importantly, the customer or client. And the driving force of an institution is the operational team or the management. Any quality of service rendered by the staff and level of client satisfaction would greatly reflect on the management’s performance. Poor management over staff, facility and its services would lose the trust of its staff as well as its clients. Quality assurance The quest for an institution’s outstanding reputation doesn’t happen only once. Over periods of time, a series of audits, surveys, investigations, studies and statistics are continuously conducted to ensure that an institution lives up to its reputation. Quality assurance is there to make sure that the institution still served its purpose. At some point, certain issues within the institution have been overlooked and what has been known to be reported to responsible parties doesn’t seem to reflect the raw evidence that may arise from poor quality assurance. This would then lead people to think otherwise about entrusting themselves with the institution. On Accountability of Private Sectors and Public Sectors Private sectors are at an advantage when it comes to accountability. The public sector accounts more than the private sector, since most legislations and policies governing private institutions are stipulated by the public sector. When poor services are noted from the public sector, consumers or clients tend to rely more on the private sectors due to their extensive services and features. Because the government has minimal or little involvement over private sectors over quality improvement measures, the private sector may have the opportunity to expand the boundaries of their services in order to improve better client outcomes. There is no formal organizational structure compared to the public sector. Therefore, in the event that poor services may arise from Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, it may turn to be more of a challenge in order to gain competency in the health care industry. Stakeholders They are the persons who have a â€Å"stake ‘’ in any organization. They may be called: Internal Stakeholders in the Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, the Internal Stakeholders are the Owners or the Healthcare Providers, the carers, the nurses, and all who work for the well- being of the elderly especially those persons with dementia. The External Stakeholders include the Government and Non- government organizations which contribute their time, treasure and talent to help the Residential Care Rest Homes deliver quality service. â€Å"Quality of Care’’ is a difficult concept to measure particularly within the context of residential aged care, which involves lifestyle issues as much as health issues. One example is the Australian Accreditation Standards having been credited with contributing to improve care. Though they represent only minimum standards of quality, they do not focus on clinical outcomes. Individual facilities might only be assessed against these standards every 3 years; and within these years, much scope for quality variations may go unnoticed. Hence, collecting and analyzing comprehensive clinical data from aged care facility residents constitutes an essential step in the process of monitoring quality environment. Ways to Improve The USA has introduced and continued to refine, a compulsory technioque of assessment within its nursing homes aimed at monitoring quality of care and clinical outcomes. There is a Minimum Data Set/ Resident Assessment Instrument which is a system of forms to be completed at certain intervals to meet a number of purposes such as care planning, case mix funding and quality monitoring. This uses Quality Indicators as a means of implementing quality assurance and improvement within residential aged care. Residential facilities had been subsidized by the Commonwealth Government since 1962, but funding was not regulated. Initiatives relevant to residential care have included a standardized system of assessment (Resident Classification Scales) to determine resident care needs and a formal system of Accreditation to ensure quality service delivery. Because quality of care is a multi – dimensional concept, no single area of assessment can provide an accurate indication of quality. Thus, an effective assessment should contain as many items considered relevant to quality care. Hughes et. al suggested that quality measures should be integrated into routine clinical practice. The Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine described the Residential Classifications Scales as the â€Å"antithesis of a funding system that generates incentives for quality health outcomes.’’ Government –appointed bodies responsible for assessing residential care facilities compliance with standards improved quality of care within residential care facilities. Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency was introduced in 1998 that compels residential aged care facilities to seek accreditation for funding. Clark and Bowling (32) suggested that quality of life in residential care could be ascertained by looking at measurable indicators such as general health, functional status, mental health, comfort, emotional wellbeing, privacy, choice and autonomy. When considering quality assessment for residential aged care facilities, indicators of quality should encompass areas of clinical care directly related to residents’ physical health, as well as quality of life and lifestyle-related issues such as activities and family involvement. Issue 2: Quality Management Theories Pareto Analysis This is a simple methodology by which prioritization of potential changes through determining the problems that can be addressed and resolved through making necessary changes. Through this technique, the organization can make prioritization according to the individual alteration that could improve the scenario. This quality management tool utilizes the Pareto Principle or the 80:20 rules. This rule utilizes the concept of 20 percent cause that could produce to 80 percent outcome. The Kindly Residential Care Rest Home will use the following approach while taking into consideration the principles of Pareto Analysis to achieve the best practice in healthcare services of the said organization. Problem Identification and List it First, the problems and potential threats are listed down. In this step, possible inputs from clients and members of the Kindly Residential Care Rest Home (KRCRH), and conduct surveys to identify the existing problems in the organization. The root cause of problems are identified In this stage, methods are utilized that warrants the team to identify the root causes of threats and problems. Score Problems In the third step, the organization prioritizes the problems according to its severity or effect on the healthcare practices of KRCRH. Problems are grouped according to their root cause. The identified problems are put in to a group according to their root causes. Add up Scores In this step, scores are added up and identify which of the group has the highest and lowest score. Through this, prioritization is according to scores are done. Take Action In the final step, KRCRH will take actions in addressing the highest priority according to the group or problem that got the highest score. William Edwards Deming Dr. William Edwards Deming proposed the plan-do-check-act, also known as PDCA. It is a four step methodology by which used by the organization to control and improve the services and product of an organization. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home will also make use of this kind strategy to improve the healthcare services of the healthcare organization. The end result of this would be a high quality of services by the facility to the residents and staff of the organization. The following are the Steps of PDCA that the facility will make use: PLAN Objectives and processes are established which are necessary to deliver the outcome in to the expected results. The KRCRH will have a clear view of their target and their goals in achieving their proposed target in this initial phase. DO The plans from the initial phase are implemented in the second step. Data collection is also vital in this phase because the data collected will be used in the later stage of the process. CHECK The KRCRH will do evaluation of the data gathered during the DO stage. These will be charted and analyzed by the facility to identify which needs to improved and which are well in the health care services of the KRCRH facility. ACT Corrective actions are done in phase. The differences between the actual and planned results are analyzed and the root causes are determined. The corrective actions are implemented to achieve the planned outcome of the KRCRH. Issue 3: Quality Management Tools Total Quality Management Behind success of Kindly Residential Care Rest Home are the people who are hand in hand managing an organization, determined to make change for rendering the best of its healthcare services. Through years that Kindly Residential Care Rest Home offers quality of care to its residents and proves its Excellency by garnering prestigious awards, positive feedback and unending trust from stakeholders, family and community its success does not end instead continuity of more complete, comprehensive and structural way of management by enhancement of strategies to improve the quality of services is their big secret towards success or the so called â€Å"total quality management†. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home utilizes total quality management to ensure that giving the quality of care for their residents will not be compromised which can lead to poor health outcomes and downfall of the organization due to improper management. Using the total quality management Kindly Residential Care Rest Home first identify the problem and plan what to do. Second is to implement the solution then evaluate or check if it resolves the problem. And lastly integrate the solution if it works upon further evaluation. As a result Kindly Residential Care Rest Home identified the following problems and able to resolve and improve its quality of service. Falls Risk – most of the common problem that arises among the elderly due to physical restriction like inability to walk or unsteady gait, mental incapacity, side effect of a drug, and in relation to disease condition like poor vision, etc. To prevent this happen solutions are the following: use of sensor mat, call bell, mattress, assistive devices (walker and gutter) , side rails (as necessary and with GP`s order) UTI outbreak – another problem that is commonly and easily acquired by elderly due to low intake of water and poor hygiene. To address this problem the following should be implemented like hand washing, proper hygiene, use of PPE, hand sanitizer to each room and even corridor, health education or information dissemination (mass production of pamphlets regarding UTI prevention), infection control, and proper waste disposal. Patient satisfaction – one of the most important thing to be prioritize because patients are the ones who receives care and they should be satisfied or even exceed the expectation of the services being rendered to them. To be able to improve the quality of care makes the patient satisfied and happy the following are being implemented to have quarterly auditing of services rendered, quality assurance, suggestion box or feedback forms. Incompetent staff – to give a quality of care means to have enough knowledge and skills to handle the patients and assist them according to their needs. Incompetent staff is another problem identified that contribute in poor healthcare delivery service and patient`s injury. For example clinical error, and negative feedback. To address this problem the following are being implemented like comprehensive recruitment and selection, trainings and seminars, disciplinary action, continuous evaluation and staff appraisal. Lean Management Lean Management is all about encouraging everyone in the facilities from the top management down to the staff to be involved in helping to participate in the improvement of quality care, and reducing errors. First, you have to identify the problem and acknowledge that the problem exists and why it is a problem, willingness to change and you can now find ways on how to solve that problem. In Kindly Residential Rest home we value our residents, respect our residents and continue to provide quality of care. We have to understand the voice of our clients, where they coming from, and made sure to meet their needs and put into action. The most important thing in lean for healthcare organization is that the errors and mistakes are being corrected nor improve, the amount of time taken is being valued, productivity increases, and so it is easy for the staff to work easier by eliminating those waste that can provide good quality of care and productivity of the staff. Here are some of the common Errors: Clinical Communication – In electronic patient record, if there is any laboratory test results needed instead of waiting for a week wherein referral needed from the attending physician of the patient and then sending back the result from the physician, the system is being made to remove any unnecessary stages instead laboratory people sends electronic results so he can access right away and evaluate the result. So, it saves time and effort of the patient from travelling. Waiting time/ Getting Appointment – Appointment System is an agreement to meet with the physician at a specific time and day and it is used also to control the demand and the problem is on the mismatch on the capacity of the patients and the physician. In order to avoid this problem the system must be monitored or may provide different type of consultation to accommodate everyone. In result, the patient is being examined on the day she wanted to be seen, less stressed for the staff. Overproducing – spending so much time on something that is not important for the patient Defects – wasted time and effort for the inspection of something that has been already done or inspected In KRRH we value our residents the most, we have to eliminate those wastes and focus to what is important to our client and be able to maintain the quality of work and our commitment to our profession and to the residents as well. Issue 4: Continuous Improvement System It is important to maintain a continuous improvement system for delivery of service to geriatrics. Quality management is one way to improve the system and it is composed of costumer focused organization, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. In order to perform quality improvement an organization must consists of team that has a deep understanding of an area that requires enhancement. Organization like the Kindly Residential Rest Home is determined to continue finding solutions for the present problems as well in the future that may arise. By continuous improvement of the system there will be a positive result that will lead to a better healthcare service it will ensure the high standard of care that is cost effective and accessible to all. Organization must be sensitive to the needs of the patients and therefore must understand and ensure that there will be a plan of action to meet those needs. This is the result when an organization is costumer focused. Secondly is the Leadership, this is the action of leading a group of people and the leader should know how to unite people that will be involved in achieving the organization’s goals. Thirdly, is the involvement of the people in the organization at any level must do their part in their full capabilities in order to have a successful outcome that can be used for the benefit of the organization. Continuous improvement is necessary because there is no permanent in this world, even the facility in some point changes. Given an example is the technology; people depend on computers and this help in many ways like documentation, auditing and research. Many facilities depend on computer and internet because they make the job easier and efficient. Trainings and seminars a re also another way of improving the system. Developing and enhancing the skills of employees will lead to better healthcare delivery. A well knowledgeable and trained staffs has so much to offer that will benefit not only the clients but also the organization. They will be more confident as well as an important member of the facility. The residents will be satisfied with the care that they are getting from the healthcare providers and as the result they intend to stay longer. The facility will gain a good reputation and the business will be successful. This will attract more people to invest in the health care industry. By frequent assessment and analysis of the problem or changes there will be an ideal plan of action. Continuous improvement in an organization is part of duties and responsibilities of management. To achieve highest performance and success adapting to changes is essential. There is no such thing as constant especially when it comes in dealing with lives of people. Different approaches must be applied depending on the person’s character, behaviour or needs.

The Symbolic Function of the Sambo Doll in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Ma

In 1952, Ralph Ellison published the only novel of his career: Invisible Man; telling the story of an unnamed â€Å"invisible† narrator. Early on, the narrator delineates his invisibility to â€Å"people refus[ing] to see [him];† society neglects to see him as a result of his black lineage (Ellison 3). Ellison incorporates several objects, frequently appearing and reappearing throughout the novel, to expose social and intellectual issues imposed on the black community. Amid the â€Å"procession of tangible, material objects† moving â€Å"in and out of the text† is the dancing Sambo doll whose purpose is to symbolically represent cruel stereotypes and the destructive power of injustice that blacks fall victim to (Lucas 172). Ellison’s rendering of the small paper dolls, representing obedient black slaves, â€Å"unveils an astonishing correspondence between the past and the present† and functions as a force to the narrator’s most essent ial consciousness of his environment and identity (Lucas 173). The Sambo, whose sole purpose was to entertain the white community, further functions to symbolize, through its stereotype, the power whites have to control the movements of African Americans. Ellison immediately introduces readers to the Sambo stereotype at the beginning of the novel when the invisible man becomes the source of entertainment for the white man at the battle royal, engaging in a fighting match with other black men. Out of pure desperation to be accepted by these men, the narrator; like the obedient Sambo, moves in accordance to what he hears the crowd instructing him to do because â€Å"only these men [can] judge [his] ability† (Ellison 22). To further validate the narrator’s Sambo-like behavior, following the match, a blond man winks at the narrator... ...pulls its strings. For the narrator and the black community, the Sambo dolls are a constant reminder that they are unable to neither form their own identity nor control their very movements. Ellison’s incorporation of the Sambo dolls educates us on an important lesson in life, that it is important to be ourselves and choreograph our own choices and movements in life. We must not allow others to hold reign of our strings and steer us in the direction they feel is right. â€Å"Life is to be lived, not controlled;† our full potential in life lies within our ability to control our movements and decisions in life (Ellison 577). Works Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Ebook Reader. Morel, Lucas E. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to Invisible Man. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004. Print. The Symbolic Function of the Sambo Doll in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Ma In 1952, Ralph Ellison published the only novel of his career: Invisible Man; telling the story of an unnamed â€Å"invisible† narrator. Early on, the narrator delineates his invisibility to â€Å"people refus[ing] to see [him];† society neglects to see him as a result of his black lineage (Ellison 3). Ellison incorporates several objects, frequently appearing and reappearing throughout the novel, to expose social and intellectual issues imposed on the black community. Amid the â€Å"procession of tangible, material objects† moving â€Å"in and out of the text† is the dancing Sambo doll whose purpose is to symbolically represent cruel stereotypes and the destructive power of injustice that blacks fall victim to (Lucas 172). Ellison’s rendering of the small paper dolls, representing obedient black slaves, â€Å"unveils an astonishing correspondence between the past and the present† and functions as a force to the narrator’s most essent ial consciousness of his environment and identity (Lucas 173). The Sambo, whose sole purpose was to entertain the white community, further functions to symbolize, through its stereotype, the power whites have to control the movements of African Americans. Ellison immediately introduces readers to the Sambo stereotype at the beginning of the novel when the invisible man becomes the source of entertainment for the white man at the battle royal, engaging in a fighting match with other black men. Out of pure desperation to be accepted by these men, the narrator; like the obedient Sambo, moves in accordance to what he hears the crowd instructing him to do because â€Å"only these men [can] judge [his] ability† (Ellison 22). To further validate the narrator’s Sambo-like behavior, following the match, a blond man winks at the narrator... ...pulls its strings. For the narrator and the black community, the Sambo dolls are a constant reminder that they are unable to neither form their own identity nor control their very movements. Ellison’s incorporation of the Sambo dolls educates us on an important lesson in life, that it is important to be ourselves and choreograph our own choices and movements in life. We must not allow others to hold reign of our strings and steer us in the direction they feel is right. â€Å"Life is to be lived, not controlled;† our full potential in life lies within our ability to control our movements and decisions in life (Ellison 577). Works Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Ebook Reader. Morel, Lucas E. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to Invisible Man. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004. Print.

Shakespeares Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch Essay -- Papers

Shakespeare's Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch In this essay I intend to show that Shakespeare portrays Henry as the Classic Sovereign as he is patriotic, brave, cunning, religious, natural leader & in touch with the lower class of the country. I will use quotes and remarks in the play to show this and present it. I shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what it contains, and then give a detailed analysis, which will give a more detailed view of particular scenes to show how Shakespeare shows Henry's character and finally I shall make a conclusion to present my evidence, to show that Henry is presented as a model monarch. The play is based around Henry V's later life after he has become monarch. He is shown in the plays forerunner Henry IV were he is a young prince he is shown as an insurgent young future king. He Drinks with a group of lowlifes from the criminal underworld of London and visits Brothels with them. However he is shown to have fitted into the role of King perfectly, and the play Henry V shows the most successful years of his life, in his campaign to gain France. The Chorus asks the audience to excuse the limitations of the theatre and to use their imaginations to conjure up the great events, which are to be presented in the play. ACT I. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely are anxious about a proposed bill, which would transfer a vast deal of the Church's property to the King. The Archbishop hopes that he may have averted this by the offer of a sizeable amount of money. We hear that the Kings disposition has significantly enhanced since he has come to the thron... ... military commander and avoids useless loss of life such as at Harfleur. In matters of state Henry is firm and decisive. His reply to the Dauphins "tennis balls"insult is angery but restrained and he listens to the advice of others. He dispences justice in a fair and impartial manner. The three traitors are condemned to death because they have threatened the safety of the kingdom and does not seek personal revenge & also has qualities which encoiurage us to believe in him as a human being, not just a paragon of kingly virtues. He has a sense of humour and is awkward and blunt when speaking to Katherine. I have done an Introduction, General summery, Detailed analyasis and a Conclusion and have put forward all my views and fulfilled the question criteria and have proven that Henry V is portrayed as a model monarch.

Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels Essay -- Health Nutrition Di

Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins’ diet has been sweeping the nation as more and more Americans struggle to lose weight. Opposed to other diets which require less fatty foods and more fruits and vegetables, Atkins’ takes a different approach. The Atkins’ diet suggests that removal of carbohydrates alone will lead to a thinner and healthier body. Atkins’ encourages intake of low-carb and high protein foods such as meat, and discourages consumption of foods high in carbohydrates such as bread. Divergent from proteins, carboyhdrates store sugars for a longer period of time and eventually turn into fat. To accommodate the diet, Atkins came out with the low carb Atkins Advantage energy bar. But losing carbs isn’t the only path to weight loss as other bars with this macronutrient also affect glycemic levels (liquid derived from fats). Such bars, including the Balance Bar and Power Bar, substitute low-glycemic carbs for higher glycemic carbs as the former have been associated with weight gain and increased blood cholesterol. A study went underway to determine just how successful the energy bars are in affecting glycemic levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A study took place to see just how effective energy bars are with glycemic levels. The Atkins Advantage, which in nearly free of carbs, the Balance Bar, which provides its energy from 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat, and the Power Bar, that’s high in carbs, all were scientifically studied to see how well they live up to their names. The bars were abbreviated LC for low in carbs (Atkins), MC for moderate, (Balance) and HC for high (Power). The goal of this study was to compare the different glycemic responses of each bar to wh... ... leading to faster processing of fat and muscle gain versus weight gain. The Power bar on the other hand, which contains more carbs than the average carb substance such as white bread, is affective when eaten after exercise as it replenishes loss of glycogen in the muscles. So, each bar under this study affectively alters glucose levels, but with different results. The Atkins Advantage, or LC, contains drastically lower carbs leading to weight loss. The Balance Bar assists in weight loss to a smaller degree (with have the carbs of bread) but what it lacks in pound shedding makes up for with energy (from the protein and fats). And finally the high carb Power bar, with an additional amount of carbs, provides the energy and muscle aid which in turn can lead to weight loss. In sum, each bar is functional in their different dietary functions.

Used Cooking Oil as Candle

Used Cooking Oil as an Additive Component of Candle Abstract The study aims to produce a low-priced, high-quality candle by using used cooking oil as a major component. The following candle compositions were used: 100 percent paraffin wax; 90 percent paraffin and 10 percent oil; 80 percent paraffin and 20 percent oil; 70 percent paraffin and 30 percent oil; 60 percent paraffin and 40 percent oil; 50 percent paraffin and 50 percent oil. The firmness, texture, and light intensity of the candles were tested and compared. Results of the tests showed that the candle made from 100 percent paraffin wax had the lowest melting rate, lowest amount of melted candle, and a light intensity of 100 candelas (cd). The 90:10 preparation had the next lowest melting rate and amount of melted candle. The other preparations ranked according to the proportion of used cooking oil in the candle, with the 50:50 preparation performing least comparably with the 100 percent paraffin wax candle. Introduction Today, candles are made not only for lighting purposes but for many other uses such as home decor, novelty collections, as fixtures for big occasions (weddings, baptismals, etc. ), and as scented varieties for aromatherapy. Candles are made from different types of waxes and oils. Cooking oil is a major kitchen item in Filipino households. It is also used substantially in fast-food outlets, where it is used in different stages of food preparations. Ordinarily, used cooking oil is discarded. This waste oil pollutes and clogs canals and sewerage systems

Marketing Sample Essay

T equal to(p) of Contents executive compact 2 Introduction . 2 securities industry invention and Auditing 4 b angiotensin-converting enzyme up epitome . 5 Strengths 5 Weaknesses 5 Opportwholeies . 6 Threats 6 grocery store ramble place Conditions .. 7 The 4Ps of trade .. 8 Price 8 Products 10Place .. 10 Promotion .. 10 Recommendations . 10 cobblers last . 12 Works Cited .. 13 Audi Executive Summary Audi is a bulls eye of vehicle that is manufactured by a German automobile corporation, ranging from super-mini to cross over SUVs, attach to by various eubstance styles as closely as diametric ranges of grocery store expenditure. Audi is leveled on the same brand as the Volkswagen convocation (Oneighturbo). Audi is named after its founder- August Horch.Horch instrument to listen in German and on translation it means Audi in Latin. though the Audi headquarter is in Ingolstadt, Germany, the brand is tradeed and cognise world great. This groundup volition give mai n trouble on merchandising the brand Audi, in regard to the extend, securities industry segmentation, the size and the development Audi food food market, market psychodepth psychology regarding strengths and weaknesses as s come up as fronting recommendations. The trade st regularizegy of Audi is to underscore the ability of the simple machine to beat separate automobile manufacturers in the global market. Audi is a global brand and is astrayly embraced furthermost and aside from the association headquarters inGermany. The management of the Audi smart range has been at the forefront of better and evolving into peeled models since its inception. The machine status has to be improved by all standards in methodicalness to avoid being over shown by opposite naked car ventures in the war-ridden market. Introduction August Horch (1868-1951) realised an automobile follow in 1899 prototypal as A. Horch & Cie. in Cologne Germany. However, due to the dispute bet ween him and the advisory board, he quit the guild. Later on, in 1909, Horch conventional a nonher automobile partnership kn procl bet as Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH (Baldwin and Laban).In 1910, the initial Audi automobile event A 10/22 (16 KW) Sport-Phaeton in Zwickau (audiusa). Horsh continued to face tribulations and was evicted unwrap of the company he had played an grand procedure at creating (Audi Website). He proceeded to start a youthful company in Zwickau. The Audi car first went to the market with an inclined- quadruple engine, a 2612 cc model, thereafter a 3564 cc, and wherefore 4680 as headspring as 5720 cc models came into the market (Baldwin and Laban). Volkswagen is the largest sh beh centenarianer of Audi. It owns over 99 take of the boilersuit shargon capital.Furthermore, Volkswagen, in its own financial statements, owns the consolidated accounts of Audi. Audi however was at the helm of the heading the Audi Brand assort which is a subdivision of the Volks wagen group, consisting of SEAT and Lamborgini, that more often than not focused on sports car (Volkswagen Group). The Audi has quadruplet rings as its badge, which is considered to be peerless of the oldest emblems of automobile manufacturing company in Germany. The four badges symbolyze the merger of four automobile manufacturing companies videlicet the Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. These companies form the connerstone of the menses AUDI AG (Volkswagen Group).The symbol below shows how the badge looks like The old logo used by Audi until 2009, manners of the Audi Website. The Audi Company today is on-line(prenominal)ly having a write up of exalted woodland, immutable issue of cars. Their slogan, Vorsprung durch Technik, importantly implies Progress by dint of with(predicate) engine room (Volkswagen Group). railcar users abide been yearning for utmost- gauge, durable and efficient cars, and apparently, this is what the company has been giving its clients. It is deserving noting that the automobile market is very competitive and the company annot downplay this notion, if it wants to hold off the current status or change magnituded barters in the global market. mart plan and Auditing It is signifi dissolvetly imperative for any cable to commit a plan for the future day in an effective manner so that it may be successful. It is equally consequential for any product line to have a well formal and startlined selling plan in decree to well sell its harvest-times. These are precautions that are carried fall out by every firm. In this regard, Audi, a global firm, is not left rear end starting from the moment it was established up to today. Audi has been effectively doing this by means of and by selling its model.Through marketing the Audi model, the company sets down easy to get through objectives. The firm does the current position auditing as well as having policies of developing and implementing the current achievable ob jectives. Audi can achieve these through the following * set corporate objectives much(prenominal) as dinero and product * meeting information through market interrogation * Assessing the current situation, referred to as the market analysis * Production of fig out analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) * Setting objectives of the market, such as market share, tax income among others * Implementing market plan Using reviews through market research SWOT outline for Audi The SWOT analysis gives a partition of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that an organic law is faced with (USDA, 2009). The strengths and weaknesses base their analysis on the internal factors that affect the organization while the opportunities and threats focus on the impertinent factors. Strengths One of the main strength the company relies on is the well reputation that it boasts of in the worldwide arena. The Audi Company has the capacity of producing a car of hi gh quality as well as using insurance premium price.The sp final result power is large since they have built the brand over a long period of time, and as a global company, have been pull inable in the market during the past period. The company is able to produce quality cars and has a huge marketing budget, through promotional material of its brands, through addition of luxurious features, and so having benefit in the otherwise competitive market. In addition, the company relies on the success and the good reputation of the previous models, which included the A6, as well as the quality of the cars, which curl up higher prices, in turn ending up building the overall company reputation.Weaknesses The company has a challenge of having to delegacy exorbitant prices for its cars, including A6 to summit the be, with the eventual aspirations that strength clients depart cater for these costs. The company, in battle array to effectively fight other competitors, has to mark off that they manufacture naked as a jaybird models through technology and innovation, which during many occasions prove to be quite expensive. This pull up stakes ultimately overhaul to high set in order to cover the costs of takings, transportation and costs of promotion. OpportunitiesAudi has in the most recent times released market price for its cars that none of its major(ip) competitors in the market have had an hazard of meeting, thus lucreing an ample part of the market. The Audi, which has been in the market for many years, has tremendously been growing, though other competitors have had to pull out of the market. The good economic environment is an hazard for Audi to venture into the global market. Threats Audi is faced by the threat of its other main competitors let go new models of cars immediately after it releases its own, thus attracting new potential clients away.Other highly regarded competitors in the automobile industry such as the Mercedes and the BMW have been having a good reputation, and Audi have to fit that this threat is contained. One of the models, A6 has been having an waxy product and the price fluctuation may result in revenue loss. Consequently, the SWOT analysis enables the Audi Company to embrace one of the following methods * Matching Audi Company may have to build on its strengths and take the advantages imposed by the opportunities, or * conversion the company may resort to reating new and innovative strategies that pull up stakes overturn the weaknesses into strengths and finally into opportunities. Market Conditions Besides using the SWOT analysis, Audi Company go away employ the testing of the current market conditions prior to producing a good marketing strategy. Market examination can be done through carrying out research in telling to the opinions of the potential customers. The following are the major issues to be cross-examined a) Market size this implies that Audi go out have to look at the ov erall size of the market, through measuring the market in depots of volume or set (price x volume).In this regard, it is equally important to ascertain that Audi owns a large market. b) Market share this is the total sales destiny that a particular brand/product has as compared to the total market. In 2003, Audi boasted of 2. 7% of the total market share in the United Kingdom. From the initial perspective, this can pct of market share can be deemed to be small, but when several factors are put into consideration, say, the number of automobile companies in the market, as well as the market share that Audi has in Germany, which is depicted to be three times the market share it had in the United Kingdom (Niedermeyer). ) Market proceeds this refers to the actual rate of increase in the size of the market. Audi has been experiencing tremendous growth in market size. For congresswoman, in the 2002, 2003 period, Audi had significantly increased the sales of its brand in the United Kin gdom by 6. 9%. however, this only portrayed the rise in market share by 0. 6%. this therefore means that the Audi market is experiencing recommendable growth at a faster rate (Niedermeyer). d) Market segmentation this is the appeal do by a brand to distinct move of the market, generally in unlike ways by transfrming the market mix.For instance, Audi Company has been on the forefront of changing the features of the Audi car so that it appeals to different individuals, such as women, youth, sporty individuals among others, through re-inventing different body size and engine size. The 4ps of market The 4ps of marketing is a marketing tool that looks at how the business is positioned to line the benefits of marketing. The 4ps are the price, product, place and promotion (Ehmke, Fulton, & Lusk, 2009). The graph below is a federal agency of the benefits of using the 4ps of marketing (Ehmke, Fulton, & Lusk, 2009).Price The price of a product is a big(a) determinant of how the market responds to the product. Factors that affect the set of Audi car include costs the company exit be obliged to cover the costs in order to make profits. For instance, making and testing Audi car is quite expensive, thus its high set (Huber). Pricing of Audi is also affected by the price elasticity of demand this implies the sensibility of the product to change the price. Therefore, if the price is sensitive, minacious of a products price willing lead to turnover increase.Audi does not experience price elasticity, hence the high set. High pricing is directly conjugated to heavy branding, limited competitors (lack of new automobiles in the A6 class), having a selling point that is unique, high unit cost since constructing prototypes,testing the product as well as the overall production of the product is quite expensive quality design, and having limited distribution ( Audi is mainly interchange in the showrooms and via the internet) may, among others also increase the pricin g.There are quite a number of pricing methodologies that Audi may embrace, including Price skimming-this is the dish out of ambit the initial price high so as to achieve maximum profit that is short-lived,-penetration pricing- in this case, Audi may set lower prices in order to gain the market share. When the market share is gained, the prices will eventually be hiked, competitor ground pricing-Audi may resort to move the same prices as its competitors, demand ground pricing- when the demand is high, the prices are hiked. The company approximates the expenditure of consumers on its products.In this regard, the company will use the history of the previous sale of A6, cost plus pricing- a firm may decide to increase a certain amount to the unit cost, a simple and a best-selling(predicate) method. Audi may resort to use thi method so that it ensures that cars are not change at a loss, predatory pricing- this is the process of setting prices at a lower level with the main aim of driving away other competitors, eventually change magnitude the price when the competitors are out of the market, price discrimination- this method ensures that different prices are charged for different segments of the market, for instance diplomatic personnel, overnment personnel, civil servants, and finally, psychological pricing- this is whereby the consumers perception of the the pricing is given attention. Consumers would discover that they are not getting value for their money when the price is set high, and on the other hand, when the price is too low, they would thik that the product is of poor quality. Product The product is what the customer buys, and therefore it inevitably to be mark well, have an attractive cover and match the expectations of the customer (Volker). The product moldiness be of high quality.Audi has a good performance, has example features such as air conditioning, CD player, cruise control as well as good reliability. Place The place refers to the location of the business, and how reachable it is to the customers (Londre), or the contribute of distribution. Audi is a company that is well established in the global market, thus needs no big expansion into new markets. Promotion Promotion refers to the communication regarding a product so that customers are advised about it. It is the creation of awareness (Londre).Audi is mostly promoted through advertisements through the T. V, automobile magazines and billboards. This will eventually increase the sales since the customers will have been informed about its features and price. Recommendations Audi is a brand that is recognized world wide and as such should endeavor to retain its current status, as well as bringing innovative technological cars in the market. This therefore means that the company should sweep new marketing strategies that many a times are used by various other companies in marketing their goods and services.For instance, different marketing strategies should be adopt for different Audi models such A6s marketing strategy ought to be different from the instead cheaper, though well established A3 model. even off though, as mentioned in the preceding parts of this paper, Audi has a wide global market and therefore should not endeavor in expanding its market place, the product should strive to pass through the alert market. It is imperative to increase the market share for Audi through venturing and penetrating the active market, through changing marketing mix.This can easily be achieved through new product development and diversification of the existing market. Audi should also resort to developing a new car/product for the already existing markets. However, Audi has been endearing to achieve this culture through manufacturing of the new A6 model, though undefendable to the already competitive car market. The process of new Product development starts with both(prenominal) internal and external generation of ideas. sexual process i nvolves research and development, while, on the other hand, external processes involve investors, consumers and competition.Audi Company should then put these ideas into analysis in order to ascertain their feasibility, therefore developing them through methods of prototypes, before testing for quality and golosh of the products. Since Audi is competing in the massive world wide market, it is imperative for the company to maximize on the promotion of its products. In this regard, the A6 will be accorded several advantages over its main competitors, since the buyers will be fully aware of the offers that Audi has. The all-embracing promotion should be done by maintaining the already reputable brand name, hence improving sales.Furthermore, if the Audi brand name is well-kept through A6, then the model will have a bright future. It is recommended that Audi strives in investing in maintaining the current market for its A6 product. This will eventually lead to increase the market shar e as well as achieving long term profit margins and the gaining the set internal and external targets. In order to achieve this, investment in the long term must be carried out so that short term profit is reduced. Competitive pricing must well be established in the already competitive market, so that the potential buyers are not scared away by the exorbitant prices.The company should ensure that they minimize the costs, so that the innocent consumer is not made to pay for it. Conclusion Audi is a company that manufactures durable and high quality cars for a long period of time, and this reputation should be withheld by the management. When the mentioned recommendations are followed to the letter, then the already reputable Audi Company will increase its market share, eventually increasing its sales. The management should ensure that the current market share is increased through new innovations, thus not giving fair to middling space to its competitors. Works Cited Audi website htt p//www. udiusa. com/us/brand/en/about/main/history. hypertext markup language Baldwin, Nick and Brian Laban. The World Guide to Automobile Manufacturers. Facts on File (1987) 43-44. Brand family tree. audiusa com. Retrieved 21 September 2011. Ehmke, C. , Fulton, J. , & Lusk, J. Marketings iv Ps First locomote for New Entrepreneurs (Revised ed. ). Warren, Michigan, USA SAGE Publishers, 2009. Huber, Peter. Manufacturing the Audi Scare. Manhattan make for for Policy Research, 1990. Londre, L. S. Marketing, IMC, Advertising, Promotion, Media and More (Revised ed. ). Perth, Australia Wiley & Sons, 2009. Niedermeyer, Paul. The Audi 5000 Intended inadvertent Acceleration Debacle. The Truth About Cars ,2010. Oneighturbo. Oneighturbo. 10 December 2009. Oneighturbo. com. 21 September 2011 . felo-de-se Prevention Resource Center. Instructions for Conducting a SWOT Analysis (Revised ed. ). Newton, MA, USA genteelness Development Center, 2009. USDA.. SWOT Analysis A tool for making bett er business decisions (Revised ed. ). Perth, Australia Routledge, 2009. Volker, M. 4 Ps f MARKETING. Ed. Illustrated. Southfields, Michigan SAGE, 2010. Volkswagen Group Business lines and markets. Volkswagenag. com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.