Circulatory System Essay

The heart and blood are the transport system in the body. This assignment looks at the structure and function of the circulatory system and also includes a diagram of the circulatory system. The heart is a hollow muscular organ which acts as a pump, located in the chest and lies left behind the sternum.’ Blood vessels also transport blood throughout the body’ (Wikipedia). There are 3 major types of vessels which will be discussed later in the assignment. The blood is a main component of the body. It is used to transport materials, act as a defence against disease, helps regulates temperature of the body and helps with blood clotting. The blood is made up of 4 elements: Plasma, Red blood cells-erythrocytes, White blood cells-Leucocytes and Platelets. Plasma makes up the main composition of blood with 55% volume. It contains 90-92% water and is slightly thick and is straw coloured fluid. Red blood cells-erythrocytes are made in the bone marrow of the ribs and sternum and are broken down in the spleen and liver. The main function is to carry oxygen. White blood cells-Leucocytes are larger than red blood cells. Their main function is to protect the body from certain infections. Platelets are formed in the red bone marrow. It has an important function in blood clotting. Blood vessels are comprised of 3 main units, arteries, veins and capillaries. Arteries carry blood away from the heart. Their structure is made up of a thick, stretchy muscular wall, they have a narrow central tube and they contain no valves. Arteries branch into smaller tubes called arterioles and then into capillaries. Their main function is to carry oxygenated blood. Veins carry blood towards the heart. Its structure is made up of thin walls with little muscle, they have a wide central tube and they also contain valves. Veins branch into venules and then into capillaries. Veins main function is to carry deoxygenated blood. Capillaries carry blood between arteries and veins. Their structure is of a thin wall with only one cell thick and a very natural central tube. Substances can only leave or enter the bloodstream through the capillaries. ‘They are mainly responsible for bringing necessary substances to the cells and draining waste materials away’ (Encyclopedia Britanica). There are 4 chambers, or open spaces inside the heart that fill with blood. Two of these are called the atria; the other two are called the ventricles. ‘The left ventricle contracts most forcefully, so you can best feel your heart pumping on the left side of your chest’ (www.fi.edu). The pathway of blood through the human heart consists of a pulmonary circuit and a systemic circuit. Deoxygenated blood flows through the heart in one direction, entering through what is known as a superior vena cava and then into the right atrium which is then pumped through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle before being pumped out through the pulmonary valve to the pulmonary arteries into the lungs. It then returns from the lungs via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium where it is pumped through the mitral valve into the left ventricle before leaving through the aortic valve to the aorta. In conclusion this assignment has looked at the functions and structure of the circulatory system. It has also identified the diagram of the circulatory system.

Linguistics writing Essay

Literacy is the ability to read and write[1]. The inability to do so is called illiteracy or analphabetism. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand visual forms of communication such as body language,[2] pictures, maps, and video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need, demand and education. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds (phonology), spelling patterns (orthography), word meaning (semantics), grammar (syntax) and patterns of word formation (morphology), all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Once these skills are acquired the reader can attain full language literacy, which includes the abilities to approach printed material with critical analysis, inference and synthesis; to write with accuracy and coherence; and to use information and insights from text as the basis for informed decisions and creative thought. [3] The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the â€Å"ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society. â€Å"[4]Literacy is the ability to read and write[1]. The inability to do so is called illiteracy or analphabetism. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand visual forms of communication such as body language,[2] pictures, maps, and video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need, demand and education. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds (phonology), spelling patterns (orthography), word meaning (semantics), grammar (syntax) and patterns of word formation (morphology), all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Once these skills are acquired the reader can attain full language literacy, which includes the abilities to approach printed material with critical analysis, inference and synthesis; to write with accuracy and coherence; and to use information and insights from text as the basis for informed decisions and creative thought. [3] The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the â€Å"ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society. â€Å"[4] Literacy is the ability to read and write[1]. The inability to do so is called illiteracy or analphabetism. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand visual forms of communication such as body language,[2] pictures, maps, and video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need, demand and education. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds (phonology), spelling patterns (orthography), word meaning (semantics), grammar (syntax) and patterns of word formation (morphology), all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Once these skills are acquired the reader can attain full language literacy, which includes the abilities to approach printed material with critical analysis, inference and synthesis; to write with accuracy and coherence; and to use information and insights from text as the basis for informed decisions and creative thought. [3] The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the â€Å"ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society. â€Å"[4] Literacy is the ability to read and write[1]. The inability to do so is called illiteracy or analphabetism. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand visual forms of communication such as body language,[2] pictures, maps, and video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need, demand and education. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds (phonology), spelling patterns (orthography), word meaning (semantics), grammar (syntax) and patterns of word formation (morphology), all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Once these skills are acquired the reader can attain full language literacy, which includes the abilities to approach printed material with critical analysis, inference and synthesis; to write with accuracy and coherence; and to use information and insights from text as the basis for informed decisions and creative thought. [3] The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the â€Å"ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society. â€Å"[4]

Law Brief

Law Brief Assignment Case: Fans v. New York Highlanders Inc. Facts: The New York Highlanders are building a new stadium, offered a first come first serve season ticket special. In order to be eligible, buyers would have to pay a $10,000 licensing fee which would guarantee a specific seat as identified in a stadium seating diagram. About 10,000 fans signed up and sent in their seating choices at the 50 yard line (the most desired seats) and received confirmation from the Highlanders that their seats were reserved.Unfortunately, after the licenses were sold to the 10,000 fans, the stadiums dimensions were reduced and only had 5,000 available seats on the 50 yard line. The Highlanders announced that 5,000 of the 10,000 would get the preferred seating based on a lottery, and the remaining 5,000 would be given other seats. Issue: The plaintiffs are suing the defendant to reimburse a $10,000 fee which guaranteed a specific seat in the new stadium. Due to reduced dimensions, the New York Hi ghlanders Inc. would give the plaintiffs different seats Application: Referring to the case of Yocca v. Pittsburg Steelers Sports Inc. Yocca was sent a brochure granting the right to buy annual season tickets to games thru stadium building licenses. Yocca applied for the stadium building license and listed his seating preference. The Steelers sent him a letter notifying him of the section in which his seat was located. A diagram was included with detailed parameters of the section, but it differed from the original brochures diagram. The Steelers also sent Yocca documents including a clause that read,† This agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. † Yocca signed the documents, and the Steelers told him the specific location of the seats.When he arrived to the stadium, the seat was not where he expected it to be. Yocca filed a suit against the Steelers, the defendants appealed to the state supreme court. Since the parties, without any fraud or mistake, have purposely put their arrangements in writing, the law states the writing to be the only evidence of their agreement. All previous negotiations, conversations and verbal agreements can not be combined or added to evidence. â€Å"Once a writing is determined to be the parties entire contract, the parol evidence rule applies and evidence of any previous written negations or agreements nvolving the same subject matter as the contract is almost always inadmissible to explain or vary the terms of the contract. Because the plaintiffs based their complaint on the claim that the defendants violated the terms of the brochure, and the court held the brochure as not part of the contract, the case was dismissed. The Yocca v. Pittsburg Steelers Sports Inc case is similar to the Fans v. New York Highlanders Inc, in which the fan(s) paid for specific seats that they were guaranteed to have.The fans signed up for their seat choices and received confirmation that the seats were reserved, same as Yoc ca’s agreement with the Steelers. A few differences between these two cases are that Yocca signs a clause that reads, â€Å"This agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. † But this clause was signed AFTER he applied for the SBL documents. With the Highlanders case, we are not giving enough information as to what the fans signed off to, but we can make an assumption that the fans signed off to a similar clause because they both are applying for stadium building license.Also, in Yocca’s case the stadium was not reducing its dimensions. Both cases had plaintiffs purchasing â€Å"specific† seats in which they were guaranteed and resulting in having a different seat or wanting reimbursement. With the fans v. Highlanders, there was no brochure or previous negations; the plaintiff’s signed off on the SBL which is the only evidence of their agreement. Seeing as to the defendant violating the agreement, the plaintiff’s are subject to a reimbursement. Decision: In a court of law, the parties’ entire contract (the Stadium Building License Document) is the only evidence of their agreement.All negations, conversations, and brochures cannot be added to parol evidence. Because the plaintiff’s based their case complaint that the defendant violated the terms of the Stadium Building License, the defendants owe the fans a reimbursement of $10,000. Citations: 1. Clarkson, Miller. Business Law. 11. Yocca v. Pittsburg Steeler Sports, Inc. , Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2004 578 Pa. , 854 A. 2D, 425: Pages 313-314. 2. http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/23473/how_to_write_a_legal_brief_pg2 Law Brief Law Brief Assignment Case: Fans v. New York Highlanders Inc. Facts: The New York Highlanders are building a new stadium, offered a first come first serve season ticket special. In order to be eligible, buyers would have to pay a $10,000 licensing fee which would guarantee a specific seat as identified in a stadium seating diagram. About 10,000 fans signed up and sent in their seating choices at the 50 yard line (the most desired seats) and received confirmation from the Highlanders that their seats were reserved.Unfortunately, after the licenses were sold to the 10,000 fans, the stadiums dimensions were reduced and only had 5,000 available seats on the 50 yard line. The Highlanders announced that 5,000 of the 10,000 would get the preferred seating based on a lottery, and the remaining 5,000 would be given other seats. Issue: The plaintiffs are suing the defendant to reimburse a $10,000 fee which guaranteed a specific seat in the new stadium. Due to reduced dimensions, the New York Hi ghlanders Inc. would give the plaintiffs different seats Application: Referring to the case of Yocca v. Pittsburg Steelers Sports Inc. Yocca was sent a brochure granting the right to buy annual season tickets to games thru stadium building licenses. Yocca applied for the stadium building license and listed his seating preference. The Steelers sent him a letter notifying him of the section in which his seat was located. A diagram was included with detailed parameters of the section, but it differed from the original brochures diagram. The Steelers also sent Yocca documents including a clause that read,† This agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. † Yocca signed the documents, and the Steelers told him the specific location of the seats.When he arrived to the stadium, the seat was not where he expected it to be. Yocca filed a suit against the Steelers, the defendants appealed to the state supreme court. Since the parties, without any fraud or mistake, have purposely put their arrangements in writing, the law states the writing to be the only evidence of their agreement. All previous negotiations, conversations and verbal agreements can not be combined or added to evidence. â€Å"Once a writing is determined to be the parties entire contract, the parol evidence rule applies and evidence of any previous written negations or agreements nvolving the same subject matter as the contract is almost always inadmissible to explain or vary the terms of the contract. Because the plaintiffs based their complaint on the claim that the defendants violated the terms of the brochure, and the court held the brochure as not part of the contract, the case was dismissed. The Yocca v. Pittsburg Steelers Sports Inc case is similar to the Fans v. New York Highlanders Inc, in which the fan(s) paid for specific seats that they were guaranteed to have.The fans signed up for their seat choices and received confirmation that the seats were reserved, same as Yoc ca’s agreement with the Steelers. A few differences between these two cases are that Yocca signs a clause that reads, â€Å"This agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. † But this clause was signed AFTER he applied for the SBL documents. With the Highlanders case, we are not giving enough information as to what the fans signed off to, but we can make an assumption that the fans signed off to a similar clause because they both are applying for stadium building license.Also, in Yocca’s case the stadium was not reducing its dimensions. Both cases had plaintiffs purchasing â€Å"specific† seats in which they were guaranteed and resulting in having a different seat or wanting reimbursement. With the fans v. Highlanders, there was no brochure or previous negations; the plaintiff’s signed off on the SBL which is the only evidence of their agreement. Seeing as to the defendant violating the agreement, the plaintiff’s are subject to a reimbursement. Decision: In a court of law, the parties’ entire contract (the Stadium Building License Document) is the only evidence of their agreement.All negations, conversations, and brochures cannot be added to parol evidence. Because the plaintiff’s based their case complaint that the defendant violated the terms of the Stadium Building License, the defendants owe the fans a reimbursement of $10,000. Citations: 1. Clarkson, Miller. Business Law. 11. Yocca v. Pittsburg Steeler Sports, Inc. , Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2004 578 Pa. , 854 A. 2D, 425: Pages 313-314. 2. http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/23473/how_to_write_a_legal_brief_pg2

Quality and Reliability Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Quality and Reliability Management - Assignment Example This essay discusses that the Six Sigma method functions very well within health care processes. Six Sigma ventures within health care industry concentrate on delivery of direct care, managerial sustenance and monetary supervision. Six Sigma ventures can be carried out within the following health care procedures. †¢ Raising competence in X-ray room †¢ Decreasing turnaround period in arranging medicinal information †¢ Recuperating patient approval on ER †¢ Dropping bottle necks in emergency unit †¢ Dropping cycle time within a number of in-patient as well as out-patient investigative divisions †¢ Decreasing the amount of medicinal inaccuracies and for this reason improving patient security †¢ Boosting the precision of lab results †¢ Raising the precision of billing procedures and, as a result, decreasing the quantity of billing blunders †¢ Enhancing bed accessibility across a number of divisions within hospitals †¢ Decreasing the amount of post-operative injury issues as well as associated injuries †¢ Enhancing surgical competence †¢ Decreasing duration of stay in ER †¢ Decreasing inventory levels †¢ Enhancing patient list precision Critical success factors have a vital part in the execution of Six Sigma ventures in the health care industry. The heads in health care industry must think about the use of Six Sigma from the perception of recuperating the value as well as potential of existing procedures as well as the capacity of procedures to carry patient care along with security (Frings & Grant, 2005, p. 315). Using Six Sigma within a health care division is not simple, and if top executives are not involved, it is â€Å"almost certainly a formula for failure† (Anthony, 1995, p. 240). The use of Six Sigma must start with a broad outline of Six Sigma company policy for the top executive group, guaranteeing buy-in as well as dedication for the execution. Six Sigma venture supporters in charge for recognizing and controlling ventures should be cautiously selected. The choice of correct individuals is significant for the implementation of Six Sigma ventures. Once the Six Sigma infrastructure is classified with the assistance of a Six Sigma specialist with sufficient knowledge from service sector, guidance may start. The venture supporters should collect a fine summary of Six Sigma basics in addition to the abilities necessary for venture selection, project prioritisation, and venture scoping as well as project implementation. Possible Six Sigma ventures in a healthcare setting may link to functional procedures for instance, billing or workflow or they may entail medical process such as prescription management (Taner et al, 1988, p. 331). There are quite a lot of obstacles occurring in the way of health care sector for concern before the execution and exploitation of Six Sigma

Human Biology - Regulation and Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Biology - Regulation and Control - Essay Example Noble et al (1964) denotes that males respond faster to responses than females (p. 945). In addition, Luchies et al. (2002) asserts that response is always high among the young individuals till the late twenties and reduces as the individual approaches fifty years to sixty years (p. 142). Through the experiment, we will identify the differences in the responses among different genders and age. Methodology and Procedure We will consider the responses of different individuals in order to come up with a typology that addresses the distinctions on how people respond to reactions. The experiment will involve the use of a sharp object that will be used to trigger a reaction on each individual. In reference to Kosinski (2010), an external body that comes into contact with the human skin causes an impulse in the nervous system and triggers a reaction. This experiment is aimed at showing how fast the individuals will react. Each of these individuals will be exposed to one prick at a time whil e holding a ruler on the other side. This is to allow the body nervous system to send only one impulse at a time. Kosinski (2010) asserts that this allows the body to react effectively. Exposure to several pricks will lead to a triggering of many responses and may take longer for the body to determine which response to carry out. The individual exposed to the prick is expected to drop the ruler once he senses the pain. The time differences on how each of the individual responds to the stimuli will be measured and recorded in a table. The time difference and the speed at which each individual releases the ruler will be calculated using the s  =  so  +  vot  +  ?at2 formulae. The time difference at which each individual releases the ruler will be recorded in the table below. The experiment will employ univariate analysis of descriptive statistics to test the hypothesis about the relationships or the differences in the population grounded on the measurements of the samples. Time by Student Time by Teacher Male Female Male Female The Sample The sample, as indicated in the objective of the experiment, will involve two factors that affect reaction times in individuals. According to Welford (1980), various factors affect an individual’s response to stimuli (p. 13). Sanders (1998, p. 23) assert that individuals respond differently to stimuli according to their age and gender. The experiment will use four students, both male and female, and four teachers, male and female. The Results After the experiment, the students showed a higher response than the teachers while male students and teachers had a higher response than the female teachers and students. Response Time by Student (seconds) Response Time by Teacher (Seconds) Male Female Male Female 0.12s 0.18s 0.18s 0.22s 0.16s 0.19s 0.185s 0.21s The Means are 0.14, 0.185, 0.1825, 0.215 seconds for male students, female students, male teachers and female teachers respectively. From the experiment, we can deduce that males have a lower reaction time than female, and as according to Rose et al (2002, p. 27), reaction time increases with an increase in ages. Though the experiment did not use a large sample, it gave us an idea on the factors that affect response to stimuli of individuals. However, the empirical assessment of individual response to stimuli obtained from this typology may require future additions. There is room for future research just like Whelan (2008,

Meteorological Satellites Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Meteorological Satellites Systems - Essay Example These characteristics formed the basis on which most of the theoreticians worked on to provide information about the atmosphere. However, these characteristics ware not enough to provide more precise information about the atmosphere yet such information was of great significance in predicting meteorological parameters and conditions. The introduction of computers and mathematical models resulted in an increased demand for observational data that was adequately sampled and reliable both in time and space. This was due to the fact that the atmosphere forecast models depended strongly on the initial atmosphere state that had been reached at through assumptions. Better data was needed as even after this initial information, there were still many areas that were left without atmospheric soundings that were conventional. Before the discovery of weather satellites, the weathermen work was almost impossible as they were handicapped with very limited information before them about the atmosphe res state at any time (Kidder and VonderHarr, 1995). Even after the world war period when observational networks were expanded by most of the meteorological services from different nations, the global vast land areas that were sparsely populated as well as the large areas covered by oceans remained virtually blank with regards to conventional meteorological observations. The introduction of metrological satellites was a major step towards overcoming all these deficiencies. Satellite imagery has since its discovery proved to be a vital information source in forecasting operations. The images serve various important functions in the metrological field including; a tool used for analysis mostly when dealing with data from the tropics, a vital aid during forecast conducted in short periods before rainfall, cloud, and floods, serves as an input to weather prediction  models mostly dealing with numbers so as to define initial conditions, and used to monitor forecast models.

Arts in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arts in Education - Essay Example These experiences evolve from the partnership between teachers, artists, educationists and students. This results in a lively and intense educational process of learning through doing. Arts-integrated schools are highly productive and very suitable to low-income struggling students as well. Their results are better. Their students are more attentive, creative and self-critical. Hence, it would be better if the current budgetary allocation for arts-integrated schools is increased according to requirement. This is an abstract of a summary of an article "Arts in Education" written by Nick Rabkin and Robin Redmond in 2006 in the journal Educational Leadership. This article states that arts is proving to be a very effective instrument of education and shaping up of human mind in modern arts-integrated schools. Recent developments in science have shown this through standardized tests, observation and generalization based on objective data. The standardized test scores of low-income struggling students in 23 arts integrated schools in Chicago rose as much as two times faster than scores of youth in traditional schools (Rabkin and Redmond, 2006). It seems, paring of subjects and syllabi with arts such as writing with sketching and painting while reading with looking at arts is working its wonders. Interestingly, pairing between music and maths is also there. It involves listening to a melody, following the notes on a musical staff, counting the number of times each musical note occurs and then putting the results in a graph. Students in arts integrated schools are, therefore, generally focused, attentive and full of excitement for their studies. Their classrooms buzz with intensity. Scientists have found that this is happening because human mind and body form one single cognitive and fully integrated system. Human mind and body represent the abstract thought through metaphors that human beings associate with experience and emotions. Thoughts, as such, occur well below the level of conscious control and awareness. Even logical thinking emerges quietly from this thought process. This is the power of arts - moving from conscious experiments to inner depths of human mind. The scientifically proven power of arts is generally missing in traditional schools. There is little evidence of learning intensity when these schools are observed. Their hallways are replete with posters and notices anent rules of the school. Dominant education policy is evident in the corridors and classrooms. These schools assume that high standards and grades are possible through strict academic regimentation only. Students in traditional schools also appear persistently drooping in their seats with utter boredom towards their studies. They always feel like running away from the school premises. Arts integrated schools are also drawing their strength from involving wider participation of civil society and artists, especially, since the launching of such institutions in United States in 1990. Significant relationship is developed between teachers, artists in different areas of arts,

Philosophy of Economics Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy of Economics Assignment - Essay Example spect Theory is the value function which is "normally concave for gains, commonly convex for losses, and is generally steeper for losses than for gains (p. 263)† (Kahneman, 2002). According to Prospect theory, decision weights sometimes systematically differ from actual probabilities (Kahneman, 2002). For instance, there is always overweighing of very low probabilities thereby gambling on a rather unlikely event may become an attractive option. Prospect Theory uses empirical data to prove its argument (Kahneman, 2002). In trying to make the predictions, Kahneman and Tversky undertook a survey. They presented the data where a clear majority-taking consideration of two choices between two hypothetical prospects-preferred a predicted alternative even in times when strict economic rationality would clear favor the other (Kahneman, 2002). For instance, the two proponents of Prospects Theory asked their subjects to between these two economic choices. The neoclassical economics generally focuses on the choices that individuals make for purposes of consumption of goods and services (Kleinaltenkamp, & Ehret, 2006). Neoclassical focuses on the individual choices, preferences, and beliefs as well as the allocation that individual place on alternative choices (Kahneman, 2002). Through demand and supply, neoclassical economics have a standard approach to individual’s rationality in his or her ability to maximize utility or/and profit. The basis of neoclassical economics approaches are guided by three assumptions: As much as neoclassical and Prospects Theory are both economic theory and concepts, they have some different arguments (Kahneman, 2002). Neoclassical economics argues that preferences between two commodities do not depend on the consumer’s current entitlements. This behavioral concept forms the difference between these two theories (Kahneman, 2002). The neoclassic argue that Individuals maximize utility of the goods and services they consume while firms on the

Industrial Relations Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Industrial Relations Law - Essay Example A central problem in attempts to test empirically generalized models of an industrial relations system mirrors those encountered in the application of generalized theories of the capitalist state. The process of particularization sustains structural mechanisms within an industrial relations system that reproduce limitations in the institutional structure of a particular state. Hence, patterns of regulation legitimize the centralized power of the capitalist class yet are likely to operate in potentially contradictory manner. Partial access to the state through a voluntary system of industrial relations has, in the UK, sustained the historically embedded yet short-term interest of many employers. However, collective laissez-faire and voluntarism have positioned trade unions and collective bargaining as easy targets in proximate explanations of poor post-war economic performance. Collective laissez-faire appeared functional – it helped secured post-war recovery - yet contradictor y; in the context of full employment, it appeared inflationary. More significantly, collective laissez-faire is functional because it is an institutional an embodiment of the process of particularization in the UK state.The extent of industrial action: In the UK, official statistics on the use of industrial sanctions relate only to strikes. They measure three dimension of strike activity – their number (how frequent they are), their size (number of workers involved) and their duration (the number of working days lost). ... state. Hence, patterns of regulation legitimize the centralized power of the capitalist class yet are likely to operate in potentially contradictory manner. Partial access to the state through a voluntary system of industrial relations has, in the UK, sustained the historically embedded yet short-term interest of many employers. However, collective laissez faire and voluntarism has positioned trade unions and collective bargaining as easy targets in proximate explanations of poor post-war economic performance. Collective laissez faire appeared functional - it helped secured post-war recovery - yet contradictory; in the context of full employment it appeared inflationary. More significantly, collective laissez faire is functional because it is an institutional embodiment of the process of particularization in the UK state. The extent of industrial action: In the UK, official statistics on the use of industrial sanctions relate only to strikes. They measure three dimension of strike activity - their number (how frequent they are), their size (number of workers involved) and their duration (the number of working days lost). This last measure is often distorted by a few big strikes. For example, in 1979 an engineering industry- wide strike accounted for 55 percent of the 29.5 million working days lost in that year. In 2000 the number of working days lost in the UK was 499,00. However, disputes still happen - for example, the series of one day stoppages in 2002 on the railways over the widening of pay differentials between drivers, who were in short supply, and other railway employees. The dearth of drivers meant that the

Evocative Production about Aging Care Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evocative Production about Aging Care - Article Example Gaugler et al. observed that the test for civilization in any society is the manner in which it takes care of its frail members. The policy for the aged in Australia safeguards old people in the society from fearing the young as well as feeling misplaced. If the aged are offered the necessary attention and care, their life is prolonged and opportunistic ailments in old age may be avoided thereby reducing the cost of care as well as the workload of the caregivers. It is important to teach children and the youth that the aging was young just like them and that they too are headed for old age. Sometimes the old might be perceived as having little contribution to the society’s advancement in terms of wealth creation and social development. Nevertheless, the young need to appreciate the efforts of those who came before them in the maintenance of an enabling environment for them to act. For example, if the aged polluted the environment and caused the depletion of natural resources available at this particular time, the youth could not enjoy living on earth as they do. Naturally, an old person who is ill-treated in the society visualizes it as the young population taking advantage of the weak. Baxter cautioned that the society should not let their aging population regret their own existence. Rather, they should be made to feel loved and useful in community affairs. Furthermore, their experience is critical in molding and instilling good morals to the young. The natural wisdom they possess as a result of having interacted and worked with diverse people for a long time may have a significant impact on the conduct of future generations. Stigmatization of the aged may result in the loss of a resourceful component of the society since their capacity to actively participate in communal activities.

Media and war on Terror Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Media and war on Terror - Essay Example The government on the other hand used the media to counter the information and claims distributed by terrorists. Through the media, governments also wages a war of winning the hearts and minds of the people by letting the public know how terrorist organizations are causing havoc in our society. In so doing, they erode public sympathy from the terrorist potential supported. Having said this, media inadvertently becomes an instrument of the tugging parties on the war on terror. Media and terrorism will always have a symbiotic relationship because media will feed on the news created by terrorists. The â€Å"juicy† news that terrorists will provide increases the news agency’s rating while terrorist organization gained media exposure to win public sympathy and support. This kind of set-up inadvertently forms a symbiotic relationship whereby each entity thrives on the existence of the other. Media benefits in either way. When terrorists organization issues a threat, media increases its ratings by sensationalizing it and when government counters to continue our way of life so as to deprive the terrorist of their victory, the media again has something â€Å"juicy† to report to increase its

Developing Supply Chain to Deliver WOW Essay Example for Free

Developing Supply Chain to Deliver WOW Essay Zappos.com is a privately held online retailer with an extensive product category mainly including apparel, footwear, handbags, and watches. Headquartered in Nevada, it primarily operates in the US with about 1,300 employees and revenues mounting to $635M in 2008. Thanks to its strength in offering an outstanding customer shopping experience and strong corporate cultures and values related to customer service, it was the largest online shoe retailer in 2008, with a positive growth outlook. However, in the face of possible economic downturn, its underlying insufficiencies in supply chain management and operations may pose a threat to the company’s long term profitability. Nevertheless, the opportunity of possible international expansion may well be exploited to improve sales and expand the business, but such decision still needs critical evaluation and feasibility assessment in whether Zappos can sustain its focus on outstanding customer service levels in such scenario. The online-retail industry in which Zappos operates is one in which the rivalry among existing competitors is high, as it is competing with both click-n-brick stores like Amazon, as well as traditional retail stores such as Footwear Inc which also have a strong focus on the shoe segment. However, the threat of new entrants is very low as a result of the high initial capitalization required for the start of business. There are a large number of buyers in the market. However, high price sensitivity and low switching cost strengthen the buyer`s position; continuing to attract such customers becomes one of the main challenges for Zappos during a likely scenario of economic downturn. Zappos will need to adopt strategies such as importing directly from foreign suppliers, committing to 5 day delivery through ground shipping as opposed to next-day air shipping, offering its own private label, and expanding its Powered by Zappos initiative. Company Value Chain: Problem Analysis External Analysis Porter’s 5 Forces The following is an evaluation of the external forces acting upon Zappos’ operations and their possible impact in the immediate and future performance of the company: Degree of Rivalry HIGH: While Zappos is a pioneer player in the online retail segment, in practice it is not only competing with other online retailers, but with brick-and-mortar stores in the traditional retail sector which have substantial experience in the market. Many other players offer similar products to those carried by Zappos’. Bargaining Power of Buyers MODERATE to HIGH: Given the many alternatives in the market, the switching cost for a customer to other retailers is very low. Consumers are becoming increasingly price-conscious, and with the small potential for differentiation in the non-fashion elite segment, the customer can easily find other similar product options, forcing retailers to offer lower pricing to remain competitive. Threat of New Entrants MODERATE TO LOW: The barriers to entry in the industry are extremely high, based on the large capital investment required. However the online retail business is still on its growth stages, which may attract new players and investors looking to capture potential markets. Bargaining Power of Suppliers LOW: Competition for both wholesaler / importer suppliers and direct manufacturers is intense and well established; therefore, the market itself drives the power of the many suppliers down. As discussed, there are many alternatives in the market such that no single supplier is dominant. Threat of Substitutes LOW: There are no substitute products available for most of the products which Zappos may offer to the public, so such threat is unlikely. SWOT Analysis Strengths Customer-Oriented Culture and Services Zappos has strong company culture and values, which have a large influence on all aspects of the business, including the supply chain. Zappos is always looking for new ways to WOW every customer and always treat every employee like family. The employees consider Zappos a fun place to work. In addition, Zappos` commitment to customer service satisfaction is clearly demonstrated by their value propositions and represents their core differentiation strategy. These are free shipping, guaranteed 5 day delivery (WOWing the customer, where 49% of customers will receive their product within 2 days), a 365 day return policy and 24/7 customer service. Unique Products and Innovation The core products that Zappos offers are designed to be distinctly different from the traditional shoes available in brick-and mortar stores. Zappos provides customizable product models and extensive product information to customers. For example, Zappos` site has a detailed d iscussion of gait that helps customers to determine which type of shoe is appropriate for them. Weaknesses Presence Limited to Online Market Although there are many online shoppers today and the number is still growing, Zappos is unable to reach the majority of retail shoppers by only having the online outlet channel. Relatively Low Profit Margin The revenue of Zappos in 2008 is $635 million, but the company policy on product returns makes up 35% of gross sales. This is definitely crippling Zappos profits. High Dependency on UPS Until 2008, Zappos has only one call center in Las Vegas and one distribution center in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The distribution center is less than 30 minutes from the UPS hub in Louisville. This will make Zappos delivery highly dependent on UPS. Opportunities Rapid Growth of Online Shopping – Online purchasing has grown consistently year after year; the opportunity lies in capturing new online customers and retaining them. Technology Innovation In 2008, Zappos added more automation to its warehouse operations by installing a robotic system in which robots picked up shelves that contained the items to be picked, and brought the shelves to the workers. These new robots allow Zappos to ship a pair of shoes in as little as eight minutes. Technology advances will allow Zappos to increase the capacity and efficiency of its distribution centers, without having to build new centers. Build Strategic Alliances with Complementary Retailers Zappos could build synergies with similar-size online retailers which offer complementary products in an effort to broaden its customer base and target audience. Threats Economic Downturn Customers will become more price-conscious in difficult economic times, which will ultimately drive Zappos strategy in order to remain competitive in such scenario. Competitive Rivalry While Zappos is one of the pioneer players specialized in shoe-retailing, the trend is for established brick-and-mortar companies to start offering their products online, which may generate additional competitive pressures. Possible Security Breach for Online Retailer Zappos must address possible security breaches to its servers. Problem Statement Based upon the previous analysis, Zappos faces two major problems which may be detrimental to the company’s long-term success. Our aim here is to synthesize them in order to formulate a series of recommendations that the company could implement to solve the mentioned problems. Problem 1: Supply Chain Management The first problem that the company faces within its organization is related to supply chain management. We have identified three different sub-issues within this topic in which Zappos has room for improvement: Imports from wholesalers as an intermediary between Zappos and the manufacturers Due to the highly uncertain demand in the sector, having a wholesaler between Zappos and the brands that manufactures the product is a strategic problem for the company. When Zappos places an order, it is relying on the inventory that the wholesaler keeps in order to fulfill its need of supply. Furthermore, Zappos may find it difficult to secure its supply as the company grows, having no control over wholesaler import decisions. This is especially critical in a sector with unstable demand faced with global economic uncertainty. Zappos must devise supply chain-related strategies which provide the company with more flexibility in terms of profit margins in order to deal with more price-conscious customers in the future. Delivery to Zappos’ distribution centers from suppliers The company faces a problem in relation to inefficiency of partially loaded trucks arriving to unload to Zappos’ inventory facilities. As the case highlights, significant numbers of partially loaded trucks (LTL) arrive to unload products generating unnecessary traffic in the distribution center, subsequently slowing down the unloading process. There’s a need for Zappos to address this issue, ultimately affecting its whole operation’s efficiency. Inventory Management At this point, the company uses manual scanners to register incoming and outgoing stock from its distribution center. This may lead to inventory inaccuracies due to the high probability of human error to occur in the handling of the incoming and outgoing merchandise. It is of the utmost importance for Zappos to have accurate inventory information, not only in terms of its supply chain management, but also in maintaining customer service levels because of the potential of having inaccurate information on the website such that a customer may order a product which is actually out of stock. Problem 2: Growing the business Throughout the case it is been said that the company plans to expand. It is possible to grow the business in a national scale as well as internationally. The following issues need to be addressed by Zappos when evaluating company expansion: determining strategic locations for new facilities to store its inventory and achieve a good balance between supplier lead times and delivery times to the final customer. In addition, the company faces the decision of whether to continue having its distribution centralized in Kentucky. Moreover, Zappos needs to evaluate whether or not it is still feasible to use UPS ground shipping in the long-term. The company would also face a problem not only when trying to maintain its customer service levels and an efficient delivery, but also when trying to get new employees to share its corporate culture. Recommendations: Start Importing Directly from Foreign Manufacturers: Zappos should begin developing direct relationships with foreign manufacturers, especially with Chinese suppliers, starting by importing some products directly, instead of buying from North American wholesalers. This strategy has the following benefits: * Cost savings from purchasing the same products at lower prices, providing the company with more pricing flexibility at dealing with cost-conscious consumers in a difficult economy. * Distribution channel efficiency is increased by eliminating middlemen in the supply chain. In this sense, there is no need for products to be shipped from foreign suppliers to a wholesale distributor and from there to Zappos; Zappos can receive the product directly at their distribution center, reducing freight costs across the value chain as well as lead times. * A closer relationship with manufacturers might enable Zappos to obtain information regarding inventory levels, product availability, and or der status and timing. It is worth noting that even in cases where Zappos is still purchasing from a wholesaler (who in-turn imports from the manufacturer), the wholesaler can request the manufacturer to deliver directly to the Zappos distribution center, earning the lead time and cost benefits. Opt for Ground Shipping as Opposed to Next Day Air Shipping: Given the risk of failing to meet the next day delivery standards because of external factors, Zappos should only guarantee 5-day delivery. In this manner, the company will consistently overdeliver, with 99% of customers receiving their orders within 4 days. This strategy not only makes sense from a cost perspective, but it also goes hand-in-hand with Zappos’ culture of outstanding customer service. However, the option of next day air delivery should be made available to the customer for a premium rate. Sign a Contract with a Selected Trucking Company Specialized in Consolidation: In order to minimize LTL shipments to its distribution centers and mitigate the economic inefficiencies that LTL implies, Zappos should sign a contract with a major transportation and logistics company specialized in consolidation in order to handle Zappos order pick-ups from some of its remaining local suppliers, optimizing cargo capacity and delivering such products to the distribution center. This contract strategy would only be possible to implement in areas with high supplier concentration such as Southern California and Ontario. It is granted that such a strategy would require a long and difficult negotiation process between suppliers, the logistics company and Zappos; however, economies of scale benefits could be obtained from the large volumes to be handled and the cost savings distributed across the industry value chain. Search for Additional Partners and Expand â€Å"Powered by Zappos†: Powered by Zappos partners act as distributors of the products carried by Zappos. In this sense, finding new partners will generate additional revenues from both the fees of developing and running distributor websites and operations and from an expanded market base deriving from multiple websites offering Zappos products. Offer its own Zappos Private Label: Zappos could expand the business by offering its own private label; private labels offer the advantage of not purchasing from a third-party wholesaler which in itself is making a profit from the merchandise, allowing for more flexibility in terms of pricing and profit margins. Overall, by commercializing its own brand, Zappos can offer its private label merchandise at lower prices than the industry standards, while maintaining its profit margin. This strategy would be effective at dealing with price elastic customers in uncertain economic times. It must be noted that to achieve this, however, the company would need to develop internal design capabilities and source its private label through selected manufactures which meet their needs. In order to achieve the lowest supplier prices, supplier relationships would need to be developed through established contracts which may include exclusivity agreements. Based on the large volumes that Zappos handles through its established customer base, the strategy could also earn benefits from economies of scale and increased brand awareness. Do not Expand Internationally in the Short-Term: The huge capital investment required and the risk of affecting customer service levels makes international expansion undesirable in the short run. The company’s financial base must be strengthened further before pursuing such expansion, maintaining the focus on customer service that the company has been known for. Customer service is core to company values and culture and therefore cannot be compromised by any strategic decision. International expansion must be accompanied by the same training standards, staffing levels and passion for customer service at company call centers and order delivery must meet Zappos promise. This last factor could pose a special challenge, given that Zappos would be relying on couriers operating in different countries which may introduce a factor of uncertainty beyond Zappos control as to what levels of delivery performance can be met. Invest in an Automatic Scanning System for Inventory Control: In an environment where such accurate inventory information is required, the current manual scanning of goods entering and leaving the distribution center is inadequate. Errors in inventory control will inevitably have a negative effect on customer satisfaction in that the system may allow a customer to purchase a product that is in fact out of stock. A system which automatically scans incoming and exiting products (magnetic doorways or similar) guarantees inventory accuracy and goes hand-in hand with the core values of the company, making it a worthwhile and even necessary investment. Limitations * The capacity of the existing distribution center in Kentucky is unknown; therefore we are assuming that the current infrastructure will be enough to sustain the operations of the company to meet an increasing demand and market share in the short-term. * Suppliers which have their own fleet might be reluctant to agree to let Zappos do order pick-ups and deliver their products; however, our recommendation assumes that the suppliers are flexible in this sense. * A break-up of the company`s operational costs would be required in order to make better-informed strategy recommendations. The performed analysis is based on purely qualitative information. [ 1 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 276 [ 2 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 296 [ 3 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 273 [ 4 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 280 [ 5 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 276

Primary Health Care And Improving Polypharmacy Nursing Essay

Primary Health Care And Improving Polypharmacy Nursing Essay Polypharmacy is common in older people around 20% of people over 70 take five or more drugs (Milton, J et al. Prescribing for older people. BMJ 2008; 336: 606-9) With reference to both literature and your CBM experience discuss how the Primary Health Care team can work together to improve both compliance and concordance in relation to medication in patients. Polypharmacy is defined as: the use of a number of different drugs possibly prescribed by different doctors and filled in different pharmacies, by a patient who may have one or several health problems [1]. The World Health Organisation estimates that only 50% of patients who suffer chronic diseases comply with treatment recommendations [2]. During day four entitled A Pill for Every Ill? at our GP practise we discussed and learnt about the issue of polypharmacy and how it effects compliance (The extent to which the patients behaviour matches the prescribers recommendations [3] ) and concordance (a concept in which doctor and patient agree therapeutic decisions that incorporate their respective views [3] ) in patients. I also got the opportunity to interview patients about their medication use. From interviewing two patients I found that they all took a number of different drugs for several health problems not simply for one. All of the patients were over the age of sixty and had initially presented with one health problem. Later, further health complications arose that led to more health conditions/problems and consequently increased polypharmacy. The first patient I interviewed took eleven different tablets and had two inhalers. He had had asthma since his childhood and carried an inhaler with him. He initially presented with type two diabetes mellitus twenty years ago and was prescribed medication to help control his diabetes. However, he had a heart attack ten years ago but was unfortunately not prescribed certain preventative heart medications for nine years and consequently only began to take his full course of heart medications a year ago. He has now been prescribed with GTN spray and eight tablets including beta blockers, statins, aspirin and GTN spray. He takes five of these tablets in the morning and three at night. He is on repeat prescription for all his medications and he picks up a blister pack/ dosette box from the pharmacy every month with his medication in, so that he can remember what to take and when to take it. When asked he said he was very happy with how clearly the tablets, inhalers and the side effects o f both had been explained to him. He does not pay for his medications because he is an old age pensioner. He does not feel he suffers any side effects from the medications. He has regular appointments to have blood taken so that he can be monitored so that if necessary, changes in his medication can be made. The second patient I interviewed took nineteen different tablets. She had presented with angina and was prescribed heart medications (beta blockers, statins, aspirin and GTN spray). She later became hospitalised due to an infection in her leg for which she was prescribed antibiotics which she was still taking at the time. Two years ago she began to suffer from severe pain up her back, at the side of her face and at the back of her head. She consulted because of this pain and after a number of follow ups with a specialist at hospital; it was found that the pain on the side of her face and back of her head, was being caused by a large vein lying on a nerve in her face causing painful muscle spasms. Due to the pain in her back, she found it hard to climb the stairs. She was prescribed codeine for the pain by sticking patches on to her skin (to change every day) to give her a continuous dose over a longer period of time than tablets would. The codeine tablets were prescribed for instance s when the pain became too severe that the dose being administered by the patches wasnt enough. The lady explained that she did not suffer any side effects from the medications she took. She is on repeat prescription for all her medications which she takes daily at different dosages for each medication, apart from the antibiotics for which she is on the last course. She does not have to pay due to her being an old age pensioner. To remember to take her medications, she keeps them all in a box by her bed. She has never been in a situation where she completely ran out of medicine because she has the help of her family who go to the pharmacy to pick up her medicines for her. I found the interviews I conducted very interesting and helpful in understanding the important issues of compliance and concordance with patients that arose from polypharmacy. In relation to compliance and concordance, both patients gave a lot of importance to the fact that every time they were prescribed a medicine, the GP would take time to explain why they were prescribing the drug, explaining the way the drug worked, the dosage required and answering any questions they had about the medicine. Whilst studying literature on the topic, I came across an article about a randomised control trial in patients with heart failure and how the intervention of a pharmacist may possibly increase compliance with the patients [4]. It is a fact that patients with heart failure have several prescriptions and for that reason sometimes have problems being compliant and taking full courses of their medication at prescribed times. The trials objective was specifically to see if pharmacist intervention improves medication adherence and health outcomes compared with usual care for low-income patients with heart failure [4]. 39% of the 314 patients with low income were assigned intervention while the remaining 61% remained with usual care. Both groups were followed for 12 months. The group subject to intervention underwent 9 months of multilevel intervention by the pharmacist with a 3 month follow up period. The intervention was designed by an interdisciplinary healthcare team who helped patients with low health understanding and inadequate resources to manage their medication. The results of this trial showed that during the 9 months of intervention, compliance to take medication in the group with normal care was 67.9% whilst in the intervention group it was 78.8%. This difference of 10.9% was found to be statistically significant; therefore these results prove that intervention by a pharmacist does increase compliance in patients. However, in the 3 month follow up these results dissipated. The rate of compliance reduced to 66.7% in the group with normal care and 70.6% in the group with intervention. The difference of 3.9% between the two groups was found not to be statistically significant meaning there was no lasting effect on compliance. Medication was taken at the correct time 47.2% of the time by the normal care group and 53.1% of the time by the intervention group. This soon lowered to 48.9% and 48.6% in the normal care and intervention group respectively in the 3 mo nth follow up [4]. For there to be a lasting effect on increasing compliance and as a subset, taking the medication at the correct times, it was necessary to continue intervention. This study was useful in helping find a method of increasing compliance; however, it was not clear exactly how this intervention worked. I understood it involved helping patients manage their medication better but not how exactly and also involved educating them better about the drugs. In relation to this essay, this study has these limitations but at the same time it reveals useful methods to increase compliance which I can not ignore. There are proven reasons other than the ones explained above, for non-compliance. These include being male, being a new patient, having a shorter disease period and work and travel pressures [5]. Non-compliance entails the disadvantage of patients not following a strict routine of taking medication which consequently causes further ill health and possible bacterial resistance in the long term. Once these issues have been recognised through discussion between a patient and a practitioner; there are two interventions proven to significantly increase compliance. These methods were proven useful in a study conducted to look at ways in which compliance could be increased in patients with ulcerative colitis [5]. In both instances it is necessary for there to be a good relationship between the patient and practitioner where the patient feels comfortable to talk openly about their problems. Educational intervention can be provided [5]. This is comprised of verbal explanation of the dosage re gime and how the drug itself works. Written information on the drug is also provided to educate the patient further. Once the patient feels they are sufficiently equipped with knowledge on the drug and have agreed to take it, the practitioner and patient draw up a self-management programme collaboratively. However, this method of intervention has its drawbacks due to time constraints many doctors are under. They can not find the time to go through this lengthy process with every patient. This problem could be overcome by having another member of the primary healthcare team take care of this process such as a pharmacist who is qualified to answer questions on medications. The second intervention is based on the patients behaviour [5]. It involves making it easier and more memorable to take their medication. This is done with the use of calendar/blister packs which are made/provided at the pharmacy. The blister packs serve as reminders or cues. They have the day and time at which each tablet should be taken on the back so it becomes harder to get confused and to miss tablets, therefore improving compliance. This is a cheap and cost-effective method which has been proven to improve compliance. The interventions together optimised compliance when they were adapted to individual patient needs in the study involving ulcerative colitis patients. To investigate methods to improve compliance I first need to make clear some of the reasons for poor compliance. For this I will use a study based on the causes of non-compliance to statin therapy as a major challenge in cardiology, as my evidence [6]. This study found that there were a variety of factors that caused non-compliance. These include patient, practitioner and system factors [6]. Patient factors include comorbidities (two or more coexisting medical conditions or disease processes that are additional to an initial diagnosis [7]) which increase polypharmacy which decreases compliance and also financial constraints in being unable to buy prescribed medication. Practitioner factors include poor communication skills, time constraints and poor doctor-patient collaboration. System factors include medication costs, lack of clinical monitoring and drug side effects [6]. These valid points presented by the study highlight where the changes need to be made in the Primary Healthcare team to improve compliance in patients. Some of the causes of decreased compliance above have apparent solutions. Financial constraints on patients could lead to a means tested system where patients that earn less than a certain amount receive medications free. This would eliminate the problem of patients not being able to obtain their medications. Practitioners could be sent on courses to improve their communication skills so that patients feel they are being listened to more and so they feel they understand the drugs and side effects so they feel comfortable being compliant. The idea of communication courses for doctors will also have a good impact on doctor-patient collaboration thereby increasing compliance. Medication costs could only be decreased when patents on specific drugs run out and other drugs companies compete for business thereby decreasing costs. Drug side effects are simply a limitation of the technology companies have at the moment, to formulate drugs. When technology advances, so will mans ability to dec rease the number and severity of side effects. However, doctors can also regularly review medication to reduce side effects by switching a patients medication to another drug with similar effects but fewer side effects. This will increase compliance because drugs will increasingly only have the desired effects and little or no side effects. Many of the system factors that lead to decreased compliance are in fact not in the control of the primary healthcare team, such as controlling the medication costs which are set by the drugs companies and drug side effects. The patient factors leading to decreased compliance are very personal and individual to the patient. However, the primary healthcare team can be useful in helping these problems to be overcome by, for example, sorting medicines into a dosette box for a patient who is very forgetful. The practitioner factors that lead to decreased compliance are indeed the same reasons that cause decreased concordance as well as other reasons. Improving concordance is linked to improving compliance. In fact improved compliance in certain cases is a direct consequence of improving concordance. For this reason tackling the problem of decreased concordance is a key issue in the primary healthcare team. Decreased concordance is a result of intentional non-compliance by patients [8] due to time constraints a doctor is under, poor doctor-patient relationship, poor communication skills of the doctor including poor explanation of the patients conditions [9] and the drugs they are taking and poor appearance/professionalism. Time constraints are a problem because GPs feel pressured to rush everything necessary leaving the patient feeling ill prepared. Government initiatives to set a minimum time limit on how long any consultation should last, could be a possible answer to this problem. This would give doctors more of an opportunity to ask more open questions and more probing questions into how the patients life is affecting their health/compliance. Patients are given the choice of asking to have appointments with doctors they believe they have better relationships with, however, if it is noticed that a pattern is emerging when a certain doctor is consistently not asked for, then a review can take place to investigate why the care given by a particular doctor is not good enough. The doctor can be sent on courses in improving care and be sanctioned if deemed necessary by the General Medical Council through fitness to practise measures. If the NHS makes sure that the doctors are provided with more than enough information to educate them on the drugs they prescribe, the likelihood of poor explanations by doctors to patients on their medications is more unlikely. Doctors should also avoid the use of medical jargon and use simpler language that the patient is likely to understand to improve concordance [9]. If this is the reason for poor communication of doctors then poor concordance is also solved. However, poor communication on the part of the doctor can be due to number of different non-intentional problems including family problems. If this is the case then support services can be made available to the doctor to improve his condition/practise. This has the wider effect of improving appearance/professionalism if this is also suffering. Compliance and concordance are of great importance because a decline in either can lead to an exacerbation of the underlying illness or in many cases of polypharmacy, an exacerbation of comorbidities. In conclusion, there are many simple methods in improving compliance, in certain cases as a result of improving concordance. The doctor-patient relationship is key in improving compliance as it involves a mutual understanding and importantly lends help in listening to complaints of patients and finding methods for them to remain compliant. The simplest methods such as the use of dosette boxes, having doctors that are knowledgeable about the drugs they prescribe and taking the time to explain them to patients, are the most useful methods of improving compliance and concordance.

Challenges For Human Rights In The 21st Century Philosophy Essay

Challenges For Human Rights In The 21st Century Philosophy Essay It, perhaps shall not form an overstatement that of all the grand-narratives that tend to empower the common people (of the world), the human rights vernacular appears to be the most dominant. The expansion of democratic norms in the last decades of the 20th century essentially intensified the international legitimacy of human rights language. Many of the jurisdictions of both the hemispheres adopted more liberal and rights-oriented constitutions. This legacy is much more excelled by multidimensional effects of globalization on peoples and polities of the world. In this century we are observing a shift in human consciousness. The popular movements in the conservative Mid-west fueled and accelerated by electronic media and internet, foreshadows a significant shift in the history of human rights. This implies a message, perhaps a clear statement with which many of us would certainly agree that, the means of oppressing human dignity, the mantras for justifying absolutism and the machines for employing the Minotaur against the mass people, have been ended. This rise of the popular consciousness for sack of liberty, rights and human dignity is a great achievement in the international human rights movement. Thanks to the contribution of IT-based social networks that they not only connect the people but also unite and empower them to challenge the hegemones and their ideas. This picture tends to release a sense of optimism on the effects of human rights language that is least, they inspire people to struggle for legitimate demands. However, international political theatre is a very complex area of multilateral powerful actors. It is empirical that political power interplays in diverse ways in different contexts, hence this may be consistent to submit that such an interaction shall not be able to reproduce the same result with mathematical exactitude. To put in simple words, it means any political initiative may produce many different results in different contexts varying both in degree and in kind. The truth of this statement is admissible, but ethically this may not make us happy when it tends to justify actions that many of us would rather believe to be unjust. More to the point, after 9/11 the US campaign for war against terrorism, rise of religious fanaticism in different jurisdictions and impacts of climate change inject some completely new but strategically very important elements as points for policy reflections. The war against terrorism poses itself as a significantly different warfare since it involves no regular armed conflict from objective level of perceptions. If state enterprises can be considered as one side of the conflict, the other side the terrorists usually remains less than tangible. There is, I may imagine, a no mans land in between the two frontiers and here stays the common people, open to be the subjects of attack from both sides. It is evident that unlike the conventional warfare, the conflict of both sides occurs sporadically. Hence, none of us possibly can say for sure whether we at present are at peace or, at war of some kind. No one knows exactly when and how one may become the subject of terrorism. But perhaps every one may assume that at present many of the important human rights (like, right to life, speech, religion, movement, and fair trial) have been significantly curtailed. Understandably a reason for that is very often collective security is given more priority than individual. Even if we accept that it is necessary to protect the security of the society at large at the cost of some rights of a few, we have to admit that there is no explicit threshold or margin of appreciation for it. It appears that right to collective security trumps many fundamental human rights. Therefore, it seems important for us to ensure a minimum threshold or, margin of appreciation to protect the rights of those human beings who are at risk of deprivation. Many of my students even raise questions regarding the legitimacy of Drone attacks on suspected targets. We would plausibly accept that the rules of humanitarian law and human rights law frequently differ; but I imagine debates may be offered by different parties as to the question of priority if there is a conflict between the two. This may be submitted that there is an absence of norm or, significantly uniformed state practice to guide us on a legitimate border line between the two laws. This is not a well defined area in the sense that we do not know when to apply one or, cease the other, or, even when one may suspend the other. So, applying humanitarian law on probable suspects means opening the door to targeted killings and stripping of them of due process of law or any human rights whatsoever. Think of the state-sponsored extra-ordinary renditions that took place in many counties of the EU especially after the 9/11 incidents. Or, even the killing of suspect terrorists abroad. I assume many in the law community do not understand, what exactly makes these people (i.e. the terrorists) competent for deprivation of a due process of law? What doctrinal basis in international law exactly supports such intervention made against the sovereignty of a foreign state? Moreover, do we have an exceptional rule that justifies punishing someone without offering her the opportunity of defending herself in the court? All these questions become more significant when human rights language provides the sole premise of legitimacy and response to such actions. All these statements reveal another pertinent dimension that is the question state sovereignty or, supremacy of state. The hegemony and counter hegemonic struggle between and among different actors pose a serious question before us: i.e. do we still live in a world of sovereign states? Does the sovereignty of powerful states vary (both in degree and in kind) to that of the weak states? If variation among sovereigns is a fact then, what legal doctrine provides its legitimacy? We know that most of the human rights instruments make the state responsible to protect the rights of its people. It is consistent to think that such a burden was supported conceptually by the principle of state sovereignty. As states possess the ultimate authority over both imperium and dominium, it is logical that the onus to protect human rights should be on the state. State-practices often make this paradoxical as empirically states themselves violate human rights. However, it is more threatening to imagine that many states become helpless to protect its citizens rights from foreign surveillance and (aerial) attack. It is sufficient at this point for me to offer you to think of a question, which I would, emphasis a significant one is that: What role do human rights play in this incessant wrestle of power politics? Or, I imagine those in the world of realpolitik might choose a more precise but sharp question: Does human rights at all play any significant role in the world? The answer, for me, I will never say no. But, if you ask me about the locus of human rights in the political decision making, central or, peripheral, possibly I will say I do not know. I think thats the tragedy of it. One, perhaps the strongest (and many might say the weakest) point of international law is that it changes rapidly: Uniformed practices of the states and their consent to a particular action may produce a stronger law than positive laws. Even, state practices may by-pass any statement of an international legal instrument. Notably, the statement on non-intervention by the UN in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state in Article 2 (7) of the UN charter is a good example. The Article appears to respect the question of state sovereignty by the UN in matters of domestic jurisdiction of a state. Understandably, in the mid 1940s when the charter was drafted states were concerned about their sovereignty and wanted to protect it from outside intervention. But, the recent state practises show a change in this approach that is in case of Human Rights violations intervention of/ through the UN is a strong possibility. The basic apologia behind this new practice is comprehensible. Serious human rights violation may create sufficient reason for an exception. But, this exception if occurs persistently and with substantive number of states consenting, it releases a possibility to create a new norm of international law. Such a norm may provide legitimacy to, which many of us would agree, neo-colonial enterprises. The dominance and oppression of the Western metropolitan states over their Eastern counterparts. For centuries, it has been the West that manifests itself as the ethical master of the East. Do we accept human rights to add more legitimacy to that mastery? I can imagine many of us might suggest that empowering or, campaigning for human rights must not empower the dominant states, it must not provide legitimacy to their interest-oriented (or, purposefully discriminated) military interventions. At this level, I would suggest to consider the domestic dimension of human rights. For this, it is helpful if we accept the reality that after fifty years of decolonization, the oriental states are more or less successful in developing their domestic capital. In some jurisdictions, the native business enterprises or, the MNCs are becoming so powerful that at any point they tend to become equivalent to that of the state or, least they can challenge or alter any state initiative if by any chance they disagree. Even if we disregard the overall economic situation of a former colony which is now independent, I am sure that, this would not be exaggeration to state that some states make significant advancement in developing their private capital, alongside foreign capital. This indicates that in those states, states are not the sole players in political fields. Capital is often a co-ruler or, least manipulator of politico-economical decisions along with the state. This is acceptable to the extent that it signals the development or, strength of domestic capital vis-Ã  -vis the state. But, the same paradigm may offer different shocking results if we add a human rights element to it. Lets imagine that on a human rights question an MNC is involved as one party against an individual. This may entail several results of which let me choose a few; the first probability is that since the MNC is structurally and financially more able and comprehensive than the individual, it will have the superior capacity to convince or, manage the states regulatory oversight. The MNC shall win, irrespective of the fact that it denies the individual a legitimate right. Secondly, if the individual goes to the court, it is more likely that she may find her self in a difficult situation as the legal knowledge and expertise may be unwilling to make capital its enemy. Then, how does human rights empower? Or, do they empower at all? If you stand before a superior power, you may find adding human rights to you shoulder does not significantly change your status. This is somewhat a statement that says that human rights themselves require empowerment before they may empower us. But, how to empower the rights? Lenin, the prominent Marxist prophet maintained that the state, law and the pre-eminent capitalists always retain a symmetrical relation, in which the former two work as tool of oppression and legitimacy of the latter. Many of us may not support this contention. But even if we disregard Lenin, we would possibly find that it is in fact difficult a task to disintegrate the state from this chain of connection. I suggest that the state should be more pro-poor in its socio-political actions or, least we must neutralize the state. We already have these thoughts, but what is lacking is a comprehensive design and practical initiative for the purpose. From the perspective of environmental rights, things are getting more complex. We the conscious, literate people, are already aware of the international campaigns on global warming and climate change. But the point of consideration is how much practical connection do we have with the environment? We consider the nature as space, in which we live, breathe, we love to see natural beauty, the hills, the stars, the night sky, the ocean; we cherish a moonlight night, we love to see the pea-cocks, whales, sharks, tigers, elephants; we are happy to visit the forests, lakesides and thats all. All we do is living and entertaining. We, possibly never interacted with the nature the way a farmer or, a fisherman does or, feels. We live on the nature and they make it living. Now, think for a minute how much these people are aware of environmental rights, or protection? The answer, I think we all know; they know almost nothing. Then, if these people are not aware of their rights, who and how to pro tect the environment? I understand that many would suggest that environmental damage is caused more by the educated people than the farmers and fisherman. This is true, and therefore, besides the literate and conscious people we must have to think to add and aware the maximum number of earthlings who live on earth. It is basically, their art and heritage to make the earth living. The international instruments on environmental rights, like human rights instruments, impose the key responsibility on the shoulder of the state. If, for this purpose we deconstruct the term state, we would find, most possibly no farmer, no fisherman or, suchlike, but, the pre-eminent members of the society. If we consider the positive relation between the commercial enterprises and the state for this purpose, we may see that the present type of environmental protection supports this joint venture. That is, the emphasis is given more on development than environment protection. I must make it clear that I support the right to deve lopment, but, it must be environmentally sustainable. What I am trying to say is that when you emphasize on development it appears that you (intentionally/ unintentionally) support the key contention of the industrialists and not of the poor farmers. In this language, development has a specific meaning; it never meant for the poor. Development always principally has a commercial connotation. So, there is always a question, as no one knows, to what extent we have to sacrifice our environment for the sake of development.

Saddam Hussein :: Iraq Rulers War Society Saddam Hussein Essays

  Throughout the last thirty years, many of the people of Iraq have been tortured, forced to relocate their families numerous times, arrested and murdered. Those who stood against Saddam Hussein were punished, in most cases by death. All of this happened under the control of Suddam and we have neither found, nor has he offered a sound explanation for his actions. By the early 80’s, hundreds of thousands of citizens were deported to Iran. And even now people are still being repressed, persecuted and denied their human rights. He does not deserve to live so luxuriously, while his people are dying from malnutrition and lack of medical attention. He does not deserve the political power that he has aquired by having people killed and forcing others to resign their authority to him. What he does deserve is a fair trial for the many war crimes he has committed and for being responsible for an unknown, yet large number of assacinations of innocent people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a result of the Gulf War in 1991, the United Nations has enforced sanctions on Iraq to limit their ability to make more weapons of mass destruction (WMD). These sanctions are based on an oil-for-food system. Iraq can export limited amounts of oil to buy food and medical supplies only. Hussein is using less than the prescribed amount of money available for humanitarian purposes for buying the much needed medical supplies. Instead, he has used it to buy extremely expensive medical equipment that is rarely used. And as if he is not wealthy enough, every month he smuggles oil out of Iraq that is worth millions of dollars, which goes straight toward his personal spending pleasures. He has built monuments and palaces for himself instead of meeting the necessary health and sanitary needs of his people. It is bad enough that he has terrorized his own people, but he goes crawling to the press saying that the U.N. needs to lift its sanctions because his people are in suc h a desperate need of help. He acts (for the cameras) as if he actually is doing everything in his power to help the people that he so deeply cares about. Fortunately, the little games that he has played with the media have not fooled too many people. The truth about his past and current crimes is available to any person who that has access to the internet.

Urban Vs. Rural Education :: essays research papers

After reading Hallway Hangers, a sense of the complex relationship between poverty and education is gained: it a dualistic one. In some views, education is a means out of poverty, yet those who grow up poor often have different opportunities, hopes, and experiences in their school years. During my time thus far at Colgate, I have participated and watched many sporting events on campus, and found that local families attend and cheer with as much enthusiasm as the students. Similarly, on National Athletes appreciation Day last year the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) ran a program at both the elementary and high schools in Hamilton, providing question and answer periods for the students and giving them skills clinics. The tremendous respect that I felt that the students gave me was overwhelming, not because I was just an athlete, but because I attended Colgate University. While observing the sporting events and the community outreach programs I realized then that Colgate is a virtual mecca for this area. So a double standard is evident: the presence of a relatively prestigious college is no doubt an inspiration to local students; but the reality of the matter is - how many of these youths could, and would, achieve a college diploma?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And so for the research paper, my selected topic would explore the relationship between the rural poor and education. But more specifically, having read the Hallway Hangers, how do poor, rural youths differ in their educational goals and achievements than poor, urban youths? It is evident that rural poor are at a disadvantage educationally, socially, and economically compared to the urban poor. Rural youths’ chances of employment (whether in agriculture or in other areas), are weaker than their urban counterparts. The paper would set out to provide hard facts exploring this contrast, and the reasons and trends behind it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I started out researching for the paper, I realized that most importantly, data would need to be collected comparing the educational opportunities and achievement of the rural youth and those of urban youth. For instance, high school grades and SAT scores could be compared, as well as college applications and attendance. Beyond this, the actual school systems of rural and urban areas would be compared - the differences in funding, ideology, resources, etc., would grant insight into the students’ experiences and goals there.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The collection of scholarly essays, Rural Education and Training in the New Economy: the Myth of the Rural Skills Gap, was the single most useful and relevant resource I came upon.

The Minimum Wage Must Be Increased Essay -- Argumentative Essay, Mini

â€Å"Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. †¦ And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.† –President Obama, State of the Union address, Jan. 20, 2014 In the 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour, and soon after signed an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for the individuals working on new federal service contracts. An increase in the minimum wage has been a topic of discussion for many years now, and it looks like this year will finally see the first increase of minimum wage in 10 years. Not everyone agrees that there should be an increase, but many states have already raised their minimum wage rates because of the federal government’s inaction. Iowa raised the state’s wage, and it will rise again in 2016. Clearly there are benefits to a higher minimum wage; the current minimum wage in the United States should be raised because it helps the economy by increasing employment, and it is now at the lowest value it has been in more than 50 years, causing hardship for earners of minimum wage. Many critics claim that that raising minimum wage increases unemployment, especially for unskilled workers, and harms small businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants. The argument declares that companies such as these rely mostly on unskilled workers for labor, and if the minimum wage increases, then their profits and, therefore, hiring would decline, creating a... ...depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country...† -- President Franklin Roosevelt Works Cited Batra, Ravi.  Greenspan's Fraud: How Two Decades of His Policies Have Undermined the Global Economy.  New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan,  2005.   Bernstein, Jared. â€Å"Would Raising the Minimum Wage Harm the Economy?† The CQ Researcher 16 Dec. 2005:1069. Chasanov, Amy. â€Å"No Longer Getting By.† 11 May 2004. Economic Policy Institute. 6 May 2007. . Ehrenreich, Barbara.  Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America.  New York, NY: Metropolitan Books,  2001.   Katel, Peter. â€Å"Minimum Wage.† The CQ Researcher 16 Dec. 2005: 1055-1072. The Value of the Minimum Wage. Economic Policy Institute.6 May 2007. .

Panera Bread Case

These locations enable them to service both the shopping customer base, but also the equines base co-located In these high traffic areas. Their vision is one that their customers will love freshness of their products and the tastiness of their offerings to the degree that they will be driven to visit their stores repeatedly and often. Pander believes that the values they provide their customers are: creating wholesome healthy foods, maintaining affordable prices, to always innovate, and respect for both customers and employees.Bread is a staple of life and Pander believes that by them enhancing the flavors menu offerings around bread, then they will increase their ease market for baked goods served by Pander outlets and franchises. As a customer of Pander, I can tell you that their product offerings are so flavors that they are a strength to their business. There are two areas where the slogan or vision appear to deviate from the text; 1) overly broad language; and 2) rather generic. That said, we are talking about bread; and bread is the single most important staple for human life, next to rice.It works. One of Pander's strategic objectives is to expand their product line, creating further distance between them and their rivals, and to increase heir sales In foreign markets. They will achieve that strategic objective as a result of continued Investment and focus In five key business areas: 1) the quality of their food, 2) their increased marketing expenditures, 3) the roller of their Napery loyalty program, 4) the growth of their catering business, and 5) the quality of their operations and their people.We believe that success in these five areas will place Pander at the top of the list of the very best companies in our industry; and are a direct result of continued Investment in the quality of our customers' experience to alp drive product differentiation and thus provide Pander a completive advantage among Its peers. The Investments that were made over the l ast three years have driven Pander's results in 2011 and they believe the investments that were made in 2011 position them well for the future. Item 2: The company financial objective is to have long-term operating earnings growth target of 12-17% per year.In 2011, Pander had a very good year. Their Earnings per Share (PEPS) grew 28%. This was their fourth consecutive year that their PEPS has rowan 24% or greater; which Is above the upper end of their long-term earnings growth target. Their performance in 2011 was driven both by their strong operating performance as well as their ability to generate PEPS growth through deployment of their excess capital. Earnings growth of approximately 20% was driven by core operations, which was above their long-term operating earnings growth target of 12-17%.Additionally, an Incremental 8% earnings growth was driven by the more their ability to grow their bakery-cafe sales. In 2011, their Company-owned bakery- cafe sales increased 4. % vs.. 2010, and rose to 12. 4% on a two-year basis. They also celebrated the opening of their 1,50th store, nationwide. This, coupled with their debt free position, they believe these results will put them among the very best in their industry and are a direct result of continued investment in the quality of their customers' experience to drive product differentiation and competitive advantage.The investments that they have made over the last few years drove their results in 2011 and they believe the investments that they made in 2011 position them well for the future. Item 3 & 4 NOT SHOWN Item 5: This is a good example of sales, earnings and balance sheet analysis. It is missing the same store analysis and franchise versus owned stores analysis The net income for Pander Bread has increased from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2012 by 22% or $36. MM. The Administration expense is up $MM. This is something we will continue to manage along with their asset growth.Total assets a re up by $MM in 2011. Return on Equity was 20%, which is 3% above the high end of their range of 12-17%. The Return on Invested Capital (ROCCO) is 5. % which is up from 4. 8% from the previous year. Inventory turnover when compared to the industry is really tremendous. Their inventory turnover ratio was 95. 5 as compared to the industry 6. 5. The sales growth has grown from 2010 being 6. 29% quarterly to 15. 79% quarterly in 2012. This shows a very strong growth in sales year over year and ties well to their strategy of growing sales within their market areas. It shows a strong demand for their product.The balance sheet for Pander is solid, in that they have 1,027,322 in total assets and only 372,246 million in total liabilities. They are basically debt free. They are showing year over year improvement in assets, liabilities, stockholder equity, revenues, and both company operated and franchise stores as well as the number of company owned and franchised Pander's opening every year. Earnings per share have risen from 0. 98 to 1. 25 over the last 12 months. Although system statewide revenue has increased every year since 2002 their sales growth has been erratic. For 2006-2007 there was an 18. 17% growth in sales revenue.From 2007-2008 revenue slowed to 16. 34% growth, before falling all the way to 5. 45%. It should be noted between 2009-2010 sales growth picked up to 1 1. 8%, indicating a possible upward trajectory after faltering during the recession. This is evidence off well-run, well-managed company. From all indications, their strategy appears to be working in quarter over quarter sales improvements. Items 6 and 7: Pander Bread's Value Chain consists of Inbound Logistics – Pander Dough Supplier, Other Supplier Management, Manufacturing – Franchise and Store-owned Cafes, Catering, R&D – Product Research and Development and Marketing.Each franchisee purchases dough directly from Pander Bread. Pander has an interest in each of the franchi sed stores succeeding because the company received 4%-5% royalties from sales continually. This means that Pander, as the supplier, has an interest to keep prices of dough as low as possible to maintain viable franchise operations. Outbound logistics – each franchisee purchases dough directly from The fresh dough is sold to both company-owned and franchised bakery-cafes at a delivered cost not to exceed 27% of the retail value of the product.These costs margins are achieved by producing the dough at central locations while employing economies of scale. Pander provides comprehensive house training, market analysis, and bakery-cafe certification. This corporate level tactic impacts the company's franchised and company owned stores by enabling Pander to develop systems used by all the cafes thus applying operational economies of scale. Since each cafe-bakery does not have to develop its own operations structure this reduces costs for each store. All the cafes offered an assortme nt of 20-plus varieties of bread baked daily and as of 2006 at least 22 types of sandwiches.Each of these breads and indices were regularly reviewed by the Marketing group to determine whether the products matched regular customer needs, new consumer trends, and seasonal relevance. The complexity of the product line enables Pander to match menu items with a variety of customer needs. This process ensured that weak selling items would be removed thus limiting excess inventory. Pander's Marketing is using focus groups to determine customer food and drink preferences, and price points. This work is done by only a few individuals at the corporate level and scaled to the rest of he cafes.The existing company and franchise owned cafes would be able to take advantage of this market information and subsequently reduce costs associated with sales and marketing information. Involving Pander's research and development new menu items were rolled out in limited cafes and developed in test kitche ns prior to nationwide release. This process addressed two cost drivers. First, by employing economies of scale, individual cafes will not have to spend resources and capital investing in the development of new menu items.Second, through the expertise of he advanced research and development department Pander ensures both quality of product and process. This will result in less product waste and increased customer satisfaction and in turn lowered costs. Pander Bread utilizes both structural and execution cost drivers to lower costs on the value chain particularly in inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, sales and marketing, and research and development. Their cost reduction across their value chain gives Pander a strong competitive advantage. Pander pursues continuous quality improvements in separate ways.They are well known for their after sale service. They are known for contacting customers who leave complaints offering them anything from coupons to free meals when th eir service is not up to par. Their high customer retention rate lends one to believe that they are also making improvements based on customer reviews. Their emphasis on marketing allows them to introduce new products that succeed because they are attached to the brand. An example of this would be their recent success with parfaits. They have also redesigned their stores over the years to make them more aesthetically pleasing, further building their own brand.