PetSmart, Inc Essay

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets with more than 885 pet stores in the United States and Canada. It supplies a broad range of pet food and pet supplies that are competitively priced. Many of its stores have in-store cat and dog boarding facilities called as pet hotels. PetSmart provides online pet supplies and pet care information, pet training, pet grooming and pet adoption services. The web site of PetSmart is fairly well developed and communicates a good amount of online information to its visitor with links to specific pets like dogs, cats, fish etc. It also provides a link that will help the visitor to locate the store closest to him. The website has an excellent link called petsmartcharities through which PetSmart is able to clearly communicate its social initiatives of saving and providing a lifelong loving home for every homeless pet. It is also very successful in communicating how the visitor can participate in their social initiatives through the purchase of flowers, collectible dog or cat ornaments and wrapping paper and also silver logo charms as gift for pet-loving friends or family members. The mission or the very purpose of the existence of the company that is ‘providing a lifelong loving home for every pet’ is not clearly communicated to the website visitor and can be identified only if the visitor is looking for it. The website is also ineffective in delivering the message with respect to the ethical values and practices of the company in conducting its business. This is a very critical message in today’s business environment for all the stakeholders of the company, specially the informed investors and the customers. A company’s website is a powerful tool for communicating vital information to the concerned. The company should include a clear mission and vision statement at the very beginning on the webpage ‘about us’. A separate link communicating about its core business values, ethical practices and an ethical code of conduct as followed by the company should also be provided.

Case Study Sickle Cell Disease

1. Sickle cell disease is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape. SCD affects millions of people worldwide, particularly those with African, Spanish, Mediterranean, and Indian ancestry.Some 120,000 infants are born with SCD every year worldwide. In the United States, approximately 1 in 500 African-Americans and 1 in 1,200 Hispanic Americans are born with SCD. Some 2 million Americans including about 10 percent of the African-American population carry one gene for SCD, the â€Å"sickle cell trait.† 2. People without a spleen or those who have a spleen that is nonfunctioning are at an increased risk for developing infections, these infections can be fatal if not treated immediately.3. Anemia resulting from a failure in blood cellAnemia associa ted with an excessive destruction of red cells4. SCD can be very painful and to help control the pain the physican would need to know how much pain the client is in and if he is in pain did he want something to help control the pain.5. Yes V.M. is be adequately oxygenated.6. V.M. low Hgb could be causing the S.O.B. usually shortness of breath with anemia is caused upon exertion so I think there are some other underlying conditions causing his SOB.7. Increased pulse, crackles in the lungs, increased B/P, increased respirations/respiration pattern.8. I would expect the MD to do a chest xray, place client on strict I&O, give him lasix, admit for observation, order teds, place on low sodium diet.9. Normal NA 137 K 4.9 WBC 4.3 Platelets 208High Bun 27Creatinine 2.7- problem with the kidneys or kidney function Phospate 4.7- controlled by kidneys, evidence of a kidney problem Cl 110- can be caused by certain kidney diseaseLowCO2 16 Changes in your CO2 level may suggest that you are losing or retaining fluid, which causes an imbalance in your body's electrolytes.CO2 levels in the blood are influenced by kidney and lung function. The kidneys are mainly responsible for maintaining the normal bicarbonate levels. Ca 8.2- kidney decease can cause a decrease in CaHBG 7.8 can be caused by Kidney problems, SCA, bleeding etc Hct 20.9 can be cause by anemia, destruction of red blood cells and over hydration10. Furosemide – Furosemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine. Furosemide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Methylprednisolone – is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, severe allergic reactions, certain cancers, eye conditions, skin/kidney/intestinal/lung diseas es, and immune system disorders. It decreases your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling, pain, and allergic-type reactions. This medication is a corticosteroid hormone.Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. This  medication is known as a cephalosporin antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. 11. Sickle Cell Disease clients often receive blood transfusions on an ongoing basis, making it more important for the them to receive the best match for their bodies. When they receive blood that is not the best match, their bodies may begin to slowly reject the blood.If they cannot receive blood safely, they may die. It is important that the labs knows it is a sickle cell patient, follow all facility protocols ( monitoring Bp, temp, pulse, as recommended), monitor the patient closely for signs and symptoms of rejection. 12. Often SCD patients are looked at as drug seekers and are not provi ded with the pain relief that they need. It’s important to remember not to stereotype patients and believe what they tell you their pain level is.13. Have him follow up with a cardiologist about his heart murmur, incourge hime to work on his B/P control with diet and exercises. Education on what can trigger Sickle cell crisis temp, smoking etc. Encourage a low sodium diet, weigh daily if more than a 2 lbs gain in a day notify his physician, Teach causes of fluid volume excess and/or excess intake to patient or caregiver. Provide information as needed regarding the individual's medical diagnosis (e.g., congestive heart failure [CHF], renal failure). Explain or reinforce rationale and intended effect of treatment program. Identify signs and symptoms of fluid volume excess. Explain importance of maintaining proper nutrition and hydration, and diet modifications. Identify symptoms to be reported.

Australian Indigenous People

The argument of Peter Sutton (2001, 13) that the problem of the Aboriginal People arises from a mix of complex factors that are ancient cultural and social and various external forces has been rightly argued. If we observe the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander there disadvantage began with them being disposed of their land and then being displaced. The losses of their autonomy, racial discrimination, and poverty’s intergenerational effects have further fuelled their disadvantages (Aboriginal economy & society: Australia at the threshold of colonisation, 2005). There are more often than not various prejudices that have been faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when they try to rent the home, get services in banks and shops, find a job and do the most common things which every other Australian takes for granted. There are casual relationships that exist with each disadvantage that interrelates to another disadvantage. For example, without their being adequate facilities for studying at home, even with the encouragement from parents, learning would not be an easy task. Education similarly would be difficult for children who are suffering from middle ear troubles or a hearing loss or are malnourished (Macoun, 2011). Health is affected due to there being poor sanitation and housing that is not appropriate. There is often tertiary education which is required for progression to middles and senior positions. Being unemployed and poor lower statistically the self-esteem and increases death, illness and the likelihood of their being imprisonment and arrest, just as poor health effects employability and limits achievement in education.   There has been great suffering that the indigenous people have suffered in the past. It can well be stated that the problems that are faced by the Australian Indigenous people arise today from a complex combination together of the current which, which the time post-conquest, and external impact from factors that are historical, with there being a relevant number of pre-existing ancient, cultural and social factors (Austlii.edu.au, 2016). In Peter Sutton's article, the focus has in general been laid upon only violent conflicts however, these factors do trickle down to various disadvantages that are being faced by the indigenous people today (Sutton, 2001). There are various people for whom the proposition that the disadvantages to the Indigenous people have been caused by factors that are external only, such as colonization, is a fiction that continues to sustain. The defense for this sustaining fiction is that it is not possible for the masses to understand the subtlety that is there behind the truth and it is towards simplistic that they are more inclined towards (Austlii.edu.au, 2016). There has been on the contrary a silence relatively on the complexity of the casual factor, and there has been no acknowledgment of the same. In his 2001 academic paper Peter Sutton’s argument that the violence level and depravity require examining together the various complex factors as mentioned above. His argument is ended with shifts that are significant in the economy and culture of the Aboriginal people. Paul Toohey in his article Peter Sutton has been openly quoted and the differential treatment of the Aboriginal communities and the Aboriginal liberation politics wisdom (Ryan, 2010). The Aboriginal people in the 1960s asserted their right to freedom to vote, movement, accessing of social security at least the minimum level, consumption of alcohol and various other such freedoms. The achievement that resulted has helped close the gap that exists between the status of the Aboriginal as determined by the administrative and legislative action at both State and Commonwealth level on the one hand and citizenship rights on the other hand. This translated into practice as the discriminatory practices' removal by whic h the participation of the Aboriginal people were restricted in the white Australian's civic life (The Politics of Suffering: Indigenous Australia and the end of the liberal consensus, 2010). To take up on the point of Sutton on coming together of various factors that are cultural, there was no or little deep-seated recognition of a difference of values or culture during the liberation politics' mobilization. The distinct cultures and value of the Aboriginal Australia may be marketed by the white Australia in pursuit of national symbolism and gains economically, however, with respect to administrative and political policies, the values of the Aboriginal are considered to be common with that of all the Australians. The gains of the Aboriginal from politics of liberation include them being able to access the white citizenship, internal and institutional assimilationist of practices and policies, incorporatist models. In short being the opportunity to be in the white Australian's lifestyle. Aboriginal economy & society: Australia at the threshold of colonisation. (2005).  Choice Reviews Online, 42(05), pp.42-2891-42-2891. Austlii.edu.au. (2016).  Overcoming Disadvantage. [online] Available at: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/orgs/car/overcoming_disadvantage/pg3.htm [Accessed 4 Aug. 2016]. Macoun, A. (2011). Aboriginality and the Northern Territory Intervention.  Australian Journal of Political Science, 46(3), pp.519-534. Ryan, L. (2010). Rewriting Aboriginal history.  History Australia, 7(3), pp.70.1-70.2. Sutton, P. (2001). The politics of suffering: Indigenous policy in Australia since the 1970s.Anthropological Forum, 11(2), pp.125-173. The Politics of Suffering: Indigenous Australia and the end of the liberal consensus. (2010).  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 34(5), pp.535-536.

Visual media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Visual media - Assignment Example The people should stop living in ignorance but get the facts about the HIV which include how the virus is transmitted, care and treatment and nutrition to those who are infected so that they may live long. People must stay protected from the disease. This image impacts the viewer in a significant way. It encourages him/her to be vigilant. This ensures that the viewers are tested to know their status. This will enable them to live life fully with the knowledge of the HIV. The image also acts as a reminder of the existence of the disease that has no cure. The health providers are behind this image and to be specific the Health organization. The firm is encouraging people to be tested for the HIV virus. It is important to note that all people are vulnerable to the disease with equity whether one is living a prestigious life or in abject poverty. Therefore, individuals should always stay protected to avoid

Communication and Learning Skills in Computer Science Essay

Communication and Learning Skills in Computer Science - Essay Example The digital mode of communication has facilitated creation and development of websites and software programs that have to better and eased how people communicate. Social networking is another name for interconnectivity of social sites like face books and twitters among others. Social networking and its complementary social sites have had serious and substantial impacts on how people communicate within their respective environments. Social networking has had both negative and positive impacts on the manner in which people communicate in various societies. Positive Impacts of Social Networking on How People Communicate Social networking has worked to enhance the manner and speed of communication within our various societies. To communicate through social network, one requires having special skills to read, write and interpret the abbreviations used in communicating. Due to the ease of writing these abbreviations, social networking makes it very easy for people to exchange and share inf ormation. Moreover, social networking has worked positively towards improving communication skills and efficiency of shy people who fear communicating on face to face setting (Tyson 2010, p. 9). Since communication only requires participants to write their thoughts, shy people registered in social networks have no reason to restrain from communication. In precise, social networking has enhanced confidence and courage required of people during communication (Mcnamara 2010, p. 13). The use of social networks in business organizations has significantly changed the manner in which institutional management coordinate operations. Instead of writing paper memos for events, managers can nowadays write soft memos and post them on the face book or twitter account of the organization for all friend workers to access. Negative Impacts of Social Networking on How People Communicate Social networking via sites such as Facebook, twitter, Google, and MySpace among others has greatly compromised wri ting skills and the art of communication as a whole (Jung 2012). Though communications conducted through social networking entails writing, the process is usually in the form of short message services (SMS). Real SMSs involve construction and writing of messages and sentences in their short forms that may be difficult for some people to understand. For example, instead of writing the â€Å"goodbye,† a person using SMS while communicating via social networking will write â€Å"gudby† or â€Å"gdby.† Such kinds of communication and very influential and people easily adapt to them, despite their unofficial nature that makes them inappropriate for business communications (Goodall, Goodall and Schiefelbein 2010, p.17). The confidence people tend to have while communicating via social networks has negatively worked to increase cyber-bullying. This has been possible especially in sites like face book where making friends only requires one to send a request and receive confirmation even from anonymous people. The anonymous friend understanding the level of anonymity to the other friend may be tempted to start sending inflammatory messages that translate into bullying. Bullying is usually difficult on a face to face basis of communication as perpetrators fear of their identity to the victim, which may ease accusation and prosecution on the basis of threatening

Quality Management and Accountability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quality Management and Accountability - Essay Example Key to the success of the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) programs are seven characteristics namely, the amount of influence exerted by the change agents, their responsibility and autonomy in specific areas of assignments, space for innovative ideas, adaptability to change, satisfaction, teamwork and shared vision coupled with a benchmarking criterion towards the objectives (Weeks, Helms & Ettkin, 1995). These characteristics rest upon a common a propellant perception of agents concerning the needed change. The new millennium heralded a phase of new challenges in many sectors, and so healthcare organizations haven’t been spared either. With the expectation of taming escalating costs, pressures to modernize, harmonize and reconcile quality with the former have force their way to accreditation boards, the media and concerned agencies. Embracing partnerships becomes unavoidable under these circumstances. Quality improvement, therefore, becomes more of a â€Å"te am sport† that engages individual centered processes into a comprised common vision. Precisely, teams are collaborative integral components of quality improvement efforts involving persons operating either from the same or different disciplines but with a shared vision of optimizing patient-service outcomes (Ovretveit, 1999). Notably, success within healthcare organizations operates more or less like powerful sport cars whose quick movements depends on the engine inexistence and the control mechanics applied. Employee engagement is the hallmark of connectivity within any organization. An engaged personnel gives an organization the power it so requires to make tangible moves towards its mission with an accelerated propensity in compared to those of the competitors. From the top management down the apex of leadership role, a synergetic approach with results concerning the work load only comes with prior and proper understanding and agreement on the course taken (Weeks, Helms & E ttkin, 1995). Accordingly, success comes with assured, climatic readiness for change. The relationship between physicians directly responsible for matters of healthcare and hospital executives charged with administrative responsibilities spanning from regulatory obligations to resource control is critical to any aspect of quality improvement process. The real enemy to the process of change lies in a dysfunctional healthcare system (Fawcett, et al., 1995). As mentioned above, there needs to be commonality in values and concerns share by both physicians and healthcare executives as the basic framework for successful communication bridging the hierarchical gap towards a collaborative, as opposed to confrontational/competitive relationship (Bero, et al., 1998). A functional workforce-engagement criterion holds the key to clinical priorities with regards to useful new technologies required as well as essentiality of scientific methodologies in tandem with evidence-based decision making. Further, understanding and agreement are important planning, implementation, and assessment tools. According to the case study done by Weeks, Helms, and Ettkin (1995), the degree of understanding and agreement of the course taken by healthcare entities lacks uniformity with wide discrepancies over perceptive responses touching on matters of change. Whereas the need for change is plausible in the responses from the executive wing

The influence of technology or media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The influence of technology or media - Essay Example I have seen people doing their best to make sure that they have remained one step ahead of the technological advancements and adopted them so that they can be deemed as socially acceptable. This is the basis of my understanding as far as technology and its different tools are concerned in this day and age. This paper takes a keen look at some of the similar subjects and aspects related with technology, and highlighted where my domains have been strengthened over the years. I have seen technology to have grown by leaps and bounds in the recent past since it has touched chords with how people have incorporated it within their lives. I have seen technology to have made its mark even within the most conventional of systems. It has made me feel at ease with how revolution has come in and allowed me to comprehend the nuances of life and science in particular. I have seen my family members and friends learning quite a few new aspects related with technology. I have witnessed them being interested in the technological advancements and taking keen enthusiasm under the aegis of new gadgets, features and tools. I opine that this is an advancement of sorts which has come out as a progression in these times. I have noticed that people feel strongly about technology and are generally unhappy if they miss out on any new technological innovation that comes to the fore. Similarly, the teenagers have the most pivotal connection with technology because they are always r elated with new gadgets and tools, and are on the lookout for changes, advancements and updates as and when these arrive. This is the reason why success has been related with technology for just about everyone. Some of the stories that I can tell regarding the usage of technology have basically been limited to my exposures. The role of technology has also been apparent within the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, different

Sap (Enterprise resource planning) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Sap (Enterprise resource planning) - Essay Example The ERP system enables the company to communicate with its customers, suppliers and business partners easily through the system. There is standardization of every procedure and employees throughout the organization can easily communicate with each other. Also, because of standardization the processes become simpler and easier to understand. Every vendor had its own practice of implementing an ERP system. The software developers have introduced some practices, through their experience that are the best. These are then known as the best practices. These best practices maximize efficiency and help the ERP Company carry out a transaction in the best possible manner. These best practices are mainly beneficial for the larger organizations or when the process is a commodity or also when there are compliance requirements. The best practice modification is one of the options that are given to the customer when he installs the system. After the Enterprise Resource Planning system has been implemented, the organizations usually have four functional departments, mainly, advertising and sales, human resources, accounting and finance and supply chain management. These are the four basic functional areas of the ERP system. Within a company, the ERP system is mainly utilized by these four departments. These four departments are vertically and horizontally integrated because of the ERP system. 8. What is management's role regarding ERP systems The management's role in the ERP system is to comply with the process and to be willing to share information. The management should not regard this as a threat. They should lead their employees to adopt the system as soon as possible and integrate it into their everyday use. As the ERP system is useful for the company and a move towards the future, the management in no way should hinder the process. The managers should take a horizontal view of the company this would help them be comfortable with the integration achieved from the system. 9. Why do some companies have more success with ERP than others Some companies are more successful at implementing the system because they are motivated from the beginning. These companies want to improve efficiency and maintain a competitive advantage. The companies which fail in implementing the system do so because, the employees don't see the need for the new system and are comfortable with the system that is currently being used. Sometimes companies have very high expectations and when the ERP system does not fulfill these they are disappointed. Lack of training and knowledge hinders them to accept the system. There may also be technical difficulties and the basic data input into the system may be inaccurate. L2

German Bundestang Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

German Bundestang - Essay Example It has been argued that the use of mobile phones during the driving is not safe and can cause serious safety issues for the drivers therefore German Government should be implementing regulations such that they teach and educate the drivers to avoid using the mobile phones during the driving. This education should emphasis on the possible consequences of the use of mobile phones during driving on the lives of the drivers and others who can fall victim of reckless driving because of this fact. Further through the implementation of this new regulation, drivers, using the mobile phones during driving, should be penalized for not only breaking the law but putting at risk the lives of others besides and themselves. This report intended to pursue the government to not only sanction funds for the public awareness but also for the creation of proper regulations in the country so that the use of cell phones during driving can be avoided. Technology has made our lives easier and efficient as technology has been the most important variables which have virtually revolutionized our daily lives. However, its use can be harmful if technology is not used properly. The use of mobile phones during driving is one such example which is causing many deaths as drivers of the cars sometimes lose concentration and resultantly causes accidents to them. Though its use during the driving is prohibited in many countries however still many motorists tend to ignore the restrictions and use the cell phones during their driving. A survey by AA Trust reported that motorists across the Europe know about the restrictions on the use of cell phones during the driving however the fines and penalties imposed by various governments are different in each country. (IMA, 2008). However it must be noted that drivers are partially aware of the use of the cell phones during the driving is limited too as many considered that they can use the mobile phon es during the driving whereas many believe that the use of hands free during the driving is permitted and hand-held sets are not. The issue is not whether the drivers are aware of the same or not, what is most important is the fact that governments need to take proactive measures in order to ensure that drivers during driving take care of the fact that their lives may be in danger if they continue to talk on cell phones during their driving period. This report will pursue a case to the German government- German Bundestag needs to take proactive

HCS 483 Clinician Provider Order Entry Implementation Essay Example for Free

HCS 483 Clinician Provider Order Entry Implementation Essay Clinician Provider Order Entry Implementation Health Care Information Systems HCS 483 September 02, 2013 Clinician Provider Order Entry Implementation Implementation Process Health care organizations look forward when starting the implementation process for information system implementation. Adding or upgrading health care systems is met with excitement and opposition from the employees who must use the system and adapt their current practice processes. Constructing a rollout period for the employees to train and get specific training for their job requirements is imperative to the success of the health system implementation. Employees knowledge of how to use the system is equally important to the implementation process as choosing and designing the program that is best for the organization. Roles and responsibilities The project or system champion is someone in the organization who is vested in the completion of the project. The champion’s role is to help obtain the buy-in of other physicians into the use of the new system and makes sure the physicians who will be using the system have adequate input in the selection process of how the new system will be used. The board of directors is the governing entity for the health care organization that approves the acquisition and implementation of a new system. The board of director’s role is to have a voice for the organization. Going forward the board needs to be involved in how the new system will affect the processes of the primary users and help curtail the expenses that develop as the project evolves. The Project manager is the person accountable for the successful implementation of the new information system. â€Å"He or she is the person who provides the day-to-day direction setting, conflict resolution, and communication needed by the project team†(Wager, Lee, Glaser, Burns, 2009, Chapter 7). The project manager is responsible for the team of engineers  installing and testing the information system. The project manager is responsible for relaying the progress of the project back to the board of directors. This includes the good, and the bad as outlined in the case study of Memorial Health System in which Dr. Melvin Sparks yelled at Sally Martin over substantial increases in work force, cost, and time increases. Sally Martin resolved not to share any bad news or setbacks with Dr. Sparks again creating a false sense of understanding of where the project was in the stages of completion. The original action of Dr. Sparks started a domino effect toward the failure of the project. Fundamental Activities Information Technology (IT) is responsible for the long and tedious process of installing, changing, removing, testing, and correcting the chosen information system for the health care organization. IT must have a strong plan in place for the scope of the projected project. Organizing, identifying the project champion, determining the project’s size and expectations, and establishing and implementing the project plan are the steps in the IT implementation process. Creating detailed project guidelines for cost, number of employees needed to complete the implementation and project completion dates of the different phases to help complete the goals set forth by the health care organization. Fundamental activities that led to the project failure were lack of organization, system analysis, and employee workflow. The project was set to a rushed timeline that did not permit for proper organization for the intricate details of implementing a new information system. Doing the system analysis in six months and making a choice without direct input from the employees who would be using the system on a daily basis was part of the project failure. Employee workflow is a vital portion of the selection process of a new system in a health care organization. â€Å"One of the first activities necessary in implementing any new system is to review and evaluate the existing workflow or business processes†(Wager, Lee, Glaser, Burns, 2009, Chapter 7). If the process is too complicated or cumbersome, the workforce will fight back and reject the new system. In the case study of Memorial Health System although intentions were good for the implementation of a clinician provider order entry (CPOE) system by Fred Dryer and Joe Roberts the process was rushed and not properly laid out with realistic goals in place. IT was  not given adequate time to organize, plan, or determine the scope for the steps they would need to make to implement the new CPOE. Commun ication Dr. Melvin Sparks was a fundamental player in the project failure at Memorial Health System. Probably without direct knowledge of his actions, Dr. Sparks started a domino effect that ultimately led to many of the project failures with implementing the CPOE system. The initial communication between Dr. Sparks and his appointed project manager, Sally Martin, set the communication barrier of relaying time delays, lack of workforce, and budget increases that snowballed into the failure of the CPOE implementation. Project Failure Project failure in the Memorial Health System case study was evident from the beginning of the project. The idea was solid, but the planning was not thorough. Five indicators that the project would fail are lack of clarity of purpose that happens when the objectives of the project are unclear. Lack of belief in the project happens when the key users are not convinced the system will ease their workload. Insufficient leadership support happens when the lack of commitment shows through the lack of involvement by the leaders spearheading the implementation process. Organizational inertia happens when project work is added on top of the daily workload adding stress to the employees. Project complexity is multifold and is a direct effect of when the people working on the project do not have an understanding of the scope of the project. Minimize Project Failure Memorial Health Systems could have taken different steps to eliminate or minimize the effects of the project failure on the new CPOE system. This Student would have acted differently to minimize the effects for a different outcome on the implementation process for the new CPOE system. Lack of clarity of purpose This student would have communicated that the implementation of the new system will make the daily process of patient care is necessary so the providers and supporting staff understand that it will prepare for a better patient health record and reduce errors in orders. Lack of belief in the project This student would have communicated an understanding that the new CPOE system will create an efficient and useful electronic medical record. Therefore, easing the workload and minimizing errors in patient orders. This student would have made continual updates and newsletters updating the providers and staff about improvements that they would be making in his or her patient’s care. Insufficient leadership support This student would have created a more visible and involved leadership team. This student would have created meetings and training involving both the leadership team and the providers to create a better understanding of how the implementation of the CPOE will help the quality of care given by the providers at Memorial Health System. Organizational inertia This student would have organized the workforce to help drastically reduce the amount of daily workloads to free up dedicated time for the CPOE implementation project. Working in stressful environments can create lack of forward motion on a project because of the added work. Increasing the workforce to distribute the workload will help in the project continuing to move forward. Project complexity This student would have had a frank conversation with the contributing departments and stakeholders about the complexity and scope of the CPOE project. Communication would have included that additions to the project would increase the timeframe and cost of the project. When all entities understand the complexity of the project and that, there will be delays or setbacks in the implementation process this will help ease doubt during transitional times. Conclusion Having a strong implementation plan and goals are imperative when beginning the process of adding or changing an information system. Health care is changing rapidly and implementing system changes takes time, extensive planning, and support. Ensuring that a strong foundation and understanding of the project is in place before implementing a systems change will help in the success of the project. References Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., Glaser, J. P., Burns, L. R. (2009). Health Care Information Systems. A Practical Approach for Health Care Management, Second Edition. [University Of Phoenix]. http://dx.doi.org/ 9780470387801

Fundamental Assumptions Of The Human Nature Politics Essay

Fundamental Assumptions Of The Human Nature Politics Essay The fundamental assumptions about human nature have played a major role in determining the philosophy of life for many people. In fact, the manner in which various societies are organized politically, socially as well as economically has a great dependence on basic assumptions on human nature. There are diverse theories on how societies are organized based on assumptions towards human nature. Actually, all these theories are composed of assumptions on the preferences of human beings. There are various complex problems facing the modern world and whose solutions solely reside in the assumptions that are made by policy makers concerning human nature. The assumptions on human nature have elicited diverse reactions and views from different people (Rifkin 2009). As such, people have had varied preferences on the best and acceptable form of governance for their societies. The world leaders apply different forms of governance depending on the assumptions they hold towards human nature. Governance based on human nature assumptions is an ancient principle spanning over 200 years ago. As a matter of fact, assumptions on human behavior can be traced to the enlightenment period (Turner 2006). This is the time when the concept of modern market was born and also the emergence of a state era nation. During the period of enlightenment, various thinkers such as the John Locke, Marquis de Condorcet, Adam Smith and other philosophers had their indignation on the views expressed by the Christian faith of the medieval period that human nature was depraved and fallen. Similarly, the same faith viewed humans as seeking the grace of God for salvation in the world to come. Consequently, these philosophers sought to believe that human nature contained autonomy, rationality, as well as utilitarianism. Moreover, they proposed that human nature obtained salvation in the material acquisition obtained during their lifetime. The enlightenment thought pattern has had immense impacts on peoples perception of human nature and their preferred nation-state. The main focus of the nation state is the protection of property as well as the maintenance of citizen interests in all endeavors. Based on assumptions on the autonomy of human beings, nation states have been created. Thus the need for material acquisition and attainment of salvation to human nature has brought about the perpetuation of economic activities (Rifkin 2009). For instance, most of the modern nations embrace the view of human autonomy and search for individual growth. On the other hand, assumptions that human nature is dependent on the supernatural beings may bring about a form of governance that vests powers and privileges on a chosen intermediary. Such governments include the all-powerful monarchies which represent the divine will in governance. Positive assumptions on human nature can promote effective governance. The modern society regards individual success and advancement with high esteem. Such assumptions make it justifiable for self governance (Turner 2006). The government is therefore justified to maintain the rules and regulations aimed at maintaining the agreed order. In spite of the shortcomings found in any form of governance, remarkable improvements can be done by embracing proper and correct assumptions on human nature. Additionally, immense success in governance can be attained through the embrace of new generation style of leadership. For instance, with the increased internal interrelationships, it is imperative for the government to take into account the biosphere politics which is a collaborative functioning of nations, regions as well as localities all embedded by similar governance and demands. Essay no.3 The federal government has the overall power and authority over all agencies. In fact, the federal government mandates the state offices to perform specific tasks in accordance to the requirements of their formation and governance. On their own, the federal agencies may not perform effectively. They derive all authority and power from the constitutional Acts that led to their formation and governance. Most importantly, there are essential requirements for the operation of the state agencies within such Acts (Ducat 2008). Therefore, the extent to which the federal agencies act and make rules and regulations is dependent upon the legality of the mandate by the federal government. The Supreme Court is mandated by the constitution to oversee all the legal activities of the federal government alongside the different federal agencies. As such, the regulations and rules applied by the agencies need to obtain approval of the Supreme Court. Moreover, there cannot be rules and regulations on h ow Federal agencies are to be rum without a nod from the Supreme Court (Ducat 2008). The entire process is supposed to be carried out through consultation with the federal constitutional requirements. The federal agencies are regarded as being independent regulatory offices. The functioning of the various Federal agencies and offices is facilitated by the congressional financial appropriation towards such agencies. Consequently, the relevance of the rules and regulations made by these agencies has to be determined by the congressional as well as constitutional requirements. The enforcement of the rules and regulations made by the Federal agencies in the Courts as laws has to dependent solely on the requirements of the Constitution (United States Office of Education 2010). For instance, an agency such as the Federal Communications Commission was formed by the Communications Act of 1934 and it enjoys its independence based on the Federal constitutional requirements. Moreover, the agency boasts of immense power and authority to make rules and regulations within its constitutional requirements. The powers and responsibilities of the commissioners mandated to govern these Agencies are clearly enumerated in the Acts. For example in the case of the FCC, there are various titles of the 1934 Act on its formation that enlist different requirements of the agency. In fact, the first Title gives the description of the administration, formation as well as powers of the FCC. The Act also clarifies the process of selection and hiring of the commissioners charged with the responsibility of manning the Commission (United States Office of Education 2010). The applicability and constitutionality of the rules and regulations made by Federal agencies and offices into laws in the courts depends on the Act on their formation. For example, the Acts tend to give a general functioning of the Agencies and their formation. However, there are specific issues that are left for the agencies to accomplish. Therefore, when the agencies narrow down the requirements of their formation, they are required to come up with rules and regulations on their functioning (Ducat 2008). Such rules and regulations need to be recognized by the courts. Nevertheless, the courts may fail to recognize such rules and regulations as laws under some conditions such as violation of certain federal laws or when the agencies act beyond their constitutional requirements. Section B: essay no. 1 The debate on human nature and governance has had diverse discussions and propositions from several philosophers. For instance, philosophers such as John Locke and Friedrich Nietzsche have had diverse ideas and focus towards human nature (Andrew 1999). The two philosophers have delved in various areas of interest depending on the circumstances during their time and the preferences of their studies. Nevertheless, there are pertinent issues that tend to classify their works based on human nature. Moreover, these philosophers were interested in understanding the working of the society with man as the main center of focus. From the perspective presented by John Locke, there are various factors that make human beings equal irrespective of the circumstances that entangle them. According to John Locke, there are various factors that bring about differences in views on religion and other issues in life. However, it is crucial that the differences are addressed in such a way as to promote better and harmonious relations among all men (Rifkin 2009). Furthermore, John Locke admits the existence of diversified views about religion and ways of life with each type claiming originality and superiority of beliefs. However, John Locke defends the importance of embracing tolerance towards the diversified views. Similarly, Locke proposed the importance of shunning the transmission of personal views and beliefs by elected representatives and embracing independence. Thus for him, human equity need to be the guiding principle for the maintenance of a civil society that enables human beings to thrive on individual basis. On the contrary, Friedrich Nietzsches perception of human beings on inequality is based on his immediate circumstances and beliefs. In fact, the views presented by Nietzsche about human beings leaves a lot to be desired. For instance, the claim that illusion tend to satisfy human intellect in most of the time shows how diabolical his views are. Similarly, Nietzsche dismisses the existence of rationality among men as the guide into truth (Andrew 1999). Surprisingly, he makes a proposition that deception forms the basis of human beliefs. The harsh presentation of human nature by Nietzsche does not reveal the true nature of man. For instance, the claims in Nietzsches perspective seem distorted and presenting a negative view on life in general and human beings in particular. On the other hand, Lockes views tend to place major importance on human capability and potential of self-determination. Lockes perspective presents a true account of man and his pursuit of better end.

Sexist Views in The Bacchae :: Bacchae Essays

Sexist Views in The Bacchae Throughout my life, I've heard the phrases, "Women shouldn't serve in the Armed Forces; no, I wouldn't want a female president; a woman's place is in the home." Even though our society is drifting from these extremely sexist views, opinions like these are still widely held. Women were mistreated much the same in the ancient Greek civilizations. The views of our society, regarding the social and sexual roles of women, are mirrored in the ancient Greek tragedy, The Bacchae. The idea that a woman's place is in the home is all too common in our culture, just take into consideration the Southern Baptist Convention's declaration stating wives must be submissive to their husbands. This belief was held strongly in the Greek civilization as well. A woman's function was to bear and raise children, cook, clean and care for any other needs the family may have. They weren't entitled to the basic freedoms they deserved. This intolerant view was illustrated in The Bacchae when Pentheus, in a rage, was ranting on about how all the women have deserted their homes to run wild through the dark woods on the mountain (pg 19, ln 17). The imagery associated with the woods is black and evil, yet when Pentheus speaks of the home, he claims the women have "deserted," as if they were wrongfully leaving their duty. Obviously, he believes the home is the proper place for a woman. Another very common misconception about women is that they were created for the pleasure of man. The idea that a woman's body was not her own, merely a possession to be dominated by her master as he wished, is also present in The Bacchae. The instances where the Maenads drank themselves into insensibility then crawled into the bushes to lie down before lusting men shows what lack of control these women had over their bodies. They were continuously dominated by the male god, Dionysus, and the fact that noone spoke against this behavior as being morally wrong only supports the idea that women are objects. It's absurd viewpoints like these that lead to modern day rape and sexual abuse. Yes, the sexist views demonstrated in The Bacchae belittle the social and sexual roles of woman, and yes, they may be reflected in our society today, but I do believe we're progressing above those close-minded, ignorant ways of thinking.

Paths of Glory, by Stanley Kubrick Essay -- Papers Film Cinematography

Paths of Glory, by Stanley Kubrick The movie Paths of Glory, directed by Stanley Kubrick, dealt with the harsh conditions in the trenches during WWI. In the movie several fighters were persecuted for pulling back during an impossible attack. The movie tactfully questioned the authority of superior officers. The way the hierarchy in the army is depicted in the film made me question the integrity of the unit. I was perplexed by the concept that one person could have so much power over another. The movie diplomatically handled the plot by showing different aspects of an officer’s life. One of the aspects of the movie which brought to life the emotional trauma of the war was the use of music and instruments. The very beginning of the movie was filled with the use of drums. This symbolized the terror and complexity of the subject matter. It did this through the deep and vibrant sounds; the deep sounds depicted the feelings of the soldiers as they were confused as to what to do in the situation they faced. They had to move b...

Various Art Critiques :: Essays Papers

Various Art Critiques The Doll Man, Doug Safranak, oil painting As I enter the Gioconda and Joseph King Gallery at the Norton Museum of Art the first thing that Caught my attention was a painting measuring approximately at 4 ft. by 10 ft. on the side wall in a well- light area. As I further examine the painting the first thing I notice is that it has super realism. It also has color, texture, implied space, stopped time, and that it is a representational piece. The foreign man sitting on the chair next to a bed has a disturbed look on his face and is deep into his own thoughts. It’s as if someone he loved dearly just experienced a tragic and untimely death. He is in early depression. I could feel the pain depicted in his eyes. A book titled The Unquiet Grave lying open on the floor by the unmade bed suggesting something is left unresolved. The scattered photos and papers by the bedside cause redintegration. The picture of Medusa’s head screaming on the headboard is a silent scream filled with anger and pain, yet it cannot be heard. I feel as if I am in the one sitting in the chair and I can feel the anger, and regret. Self Portrait with Gorilla and Wolf, Joan Brown, enamel on masonite panel As I turned away from The Doll Man I immediately was taken in by this self -portrait. Although, the lighting was not very well. It was placed between the tow entrances into the Gioconda and Joseph King Gallery. The painting measured approximately at 4 ft. by 10 ft. The painting is representational and depicts animals and human. The bright red colors and dark features in the background made it stand out. Stopped time, implied space, and texture were also important elements of this painting. As the girl is sitting on the chair with a gaze in her eyes, the gorilla standing behind the chair with a look of concern and uncertainty in its eyes. It doesn’t want to step up in front of the chair and show it’s self completely. There is something to hide. It represents what is actually felt, the truth. Whatever it is, it is not to be revealed. The wolf standing by the girl’s feet has a particular look and is a loner; doesn’t want anyone to get too close. The wolf is there to ensure the hidden, the gorilla, doesn’t show it’s self.

Memorandum of Law and Letter Sample

Memorandum of Law To: Al Smith, Senior Partner From: Research Associate RE: State and Federal Court System for California: Bob v. Al, Kathy, Dan Date: January 3rd, 2012 Questions Presented I. Overview of the State and Federal Courts in California. II. Which California court or courts hold jurisdiction for the amount in controversy in the three lawsuits that Bob wants to file? III. Why should Bob file his lawsuits in a particular court or courts? IV. Which case Bob must represent himself? Statement of FactsOur client Bob resides in Los Angeles, California and has asked for our advice in three separate cases in which he has loaned people money. In the first case, Bob loaned $500 to Al. Al signed a promissory note which says that Al will repay the loan in one month. Al has not paid anything. In the second case, Bob loaned $7,000. 00 to Cathy 14 months ago. Cathy signed a promissory note which states that she would pay the note in full in 12 months. She has not paid. In the third case, B ob loaned $55,000 to Dan 24 months ago. Dan signed a promissory note stating he would repay the loan in 18 months. Dan has paid nothing.Al, Cathy, and Dan all reside in Los Angeles, California. California Statutes of Limitation Written agreements (promissory note): 4 years, calculated from the date of breach. Oral agreements: 2 years. The statute of limitation is stopped only if the debtor makes a payment on the account after the expiration of the applicable limitations period. Brief Answers I. Superior courts now have trial jurisdiction over all civil cases including family law, probate, juvenile, and general civil matters. For monetary issues under $10,000 a person in pro-per living in Los Angeles could file a complaint in small claims court.All filings over $10,000 would have to be made in Los Angeles County Superior Court Civil Division. If we were to receive an unfavorable ruling above in a court other than small claims court we would file an appeal to the 2nd District Court of Appeal also located in Los Angeles, California. If that ruling was not in our favor we could than appeal to the California Supreme Court if necessary. Federal courts are similar in structure to State courts in California. The Supreme Court is the highest court in our country’s judiciary. There are two levels of Federal courts under the Supreme Court, they are The U.S. District Courts (the Trial Courts), and The U. S. Courts of Appeals (the Appellate Courts). II. The three lawsuits could be fled in Los Angeles County Superior Court. To save himself some time and money Bob could file the cases against Al ($500) and Cathy ($7,000) in small claims court. However, we would not be able to make appearances for Bob in those two cases since they are in small claims court, we could advise and prepare him on what he needs to say while he is in court. If Bob wants us to make the appearances for him we could file all three cases in Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Division.If Bob elects to handle the first two cases on his own in small claims court we could represent him on the third case against Dan ($55,000) in Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Division. Bob does have the option of filing against Dan in small claims court but he would only be able to receive $10,000 and would forfeit the remainder of the loan forever. Bob should also know that any of our fees would not be recoverable in small claims court except in rare cases. III. Bob should file the two smaller cases in small claims court to save him time and money in getting a judgment that can be enforced.Our firm can represent him in the third case against Dan and we should be able to recover attorney fees and cost for him when we win a judgment for him. After a judgment is made we can assist Bob in filing the appropriate liens in his case to make sure he has a way of recouping his losses from the defendants. IV. Bob must definitely represent himself in the first case with AL in small claims court. Since it i s such a low sum of money it would not be worth it for him to use our firm for anything other than legal advice in what documents he needs to file and things he needs to say while in court.If Bob feels comfortable after he does the first case he should have no problem proceeding on his own in the second case in small claims court. Discussion I. The State of California Supreme Court gains authority and jurisdiction through the Constitution of California, Article 6 Section 1. The authority of dividing the state into division creating the Court of Appeals jurisdictions is giving to the legislature through the Constitution of California, Article 6, Section 3. The legislature has set up six districts for the Court of Appeals based on geography. Within the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals are the Superior Courts of California.The Superior Courts have been created by the authority of the Constitution of California, Article 6, Section 4. The authority of the Supreme Court is given via t he 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution and is subdivided into the different circuits and districts by authority of the United States Code Title 28, Part 1. In this Code are the needed statutes giving power and jurisdiction to the various federal courts. The court of appeals are comprised of thirteen separate judicial circuits as stated in United States Code Title 28, Part 1, Chapter 3,  § 41.This same statute covers the area of California, placing California into the Ninth Circuit Jurisdiction. United States Code Title 28, Part 1, Chapter 5,  § 84, (C), Section (1) divides the Central District into Divisions placing Los Angeles into the Central District Courts and the Eastern Division. This division comprises the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino. Court for the Eastern Division shall be held at a suitable site in the city of Riverside, the city of San Bernardino, or not more than 5 miles from the boundary of either such city. II. Bob is requesting information on three different cases that have similar fact patterns.Bob’s case Vs. Al will need to be filed within California Superior Court, Small Claims Court Title Three based on Civil Rules 3. 1 – 3. 2120. This division will hear Bob’s claim for the amounts under $10,000 SB221. A plaintiff may not file a claim exceeding $2500. 00 more than twice per year, so this should be kept into consideration should Bob have subsequent claims in the near future. Bob’s claim against Cathy based on the $7,000. 00 promissory note should be filed as an action as a Small Claims Case to be tried within the Superior Court Small Claims Division, of Los Angeles.Both cases against Cathy and Al can be handled similarly since the only difference is the dollar amounts. Bob can see how comfortable he feels after the first case is completed and then decide if he wants to handle it in small claims court or if he would like our firm to represent him in Superior Court Civil Division. In Danà ¢â‚¬â„¢s case if Bob didn’t think he would ever recover more than $10,000 he could handle this case in small claims court and save himself time and money although he would be taking a major loss.If Dan has the assets and ability for Bob to get his money back than our firm should represent him in the civil division of Los Angeles Superior Court and Bob with a judgment Bob would be able to recover attorney’s fees. III. By filing the first two cases in small claims court Bob will save money and time and be able to enforce a judgment he receives sooner instead of the two cases being tied up in court. Obtaining a Lien after judgment under CALIFORNIA CODES CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 697. 310-697. 410 would be the only way to make sure our client can recoup his claims.The case with Dan should be filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Division so Bob has a chance at recouping all of the money he has loaned. IV. Bob must represent himself in any case he wants to file in small claims court pursuant to California Civil Code, Section 116. 540 stating that except in circumstances that will not relate to this inquire about attorney representation, and â€Å"no individual other than the plaintiff and the defendant may take part in the conduct or defense of a small claims action. __________________________ Research Associate Client Letter Dear Bob, You have asked me to do some legal research regarding the overview of the State and Federal Courts in California and where to begin the recovery of three loans you made at different times to three different people in Los Angeles, California using promissory notes. For monetary issues under $10,000 a person living in Los Angeles could file a complaint in small claims court. All filings over $10,000 would have to be made in Los Angeles County Superior Court Civil Division.If we were to receive an unfavorable ruling above in a court other than small claims court we would file an appeal to the 2nd District Court of Appeal also located in Los Angeles, California. If that ruling was not in our favor we could than appeal to the California Supreme Court if necessary. Federal courts are similar in structure to State courts in California. The Supreme Court is the highest court in our country’s judiciary. There are two levels of Federal courts under the Supreme Court, they are The U. S. District Courts (the Trial Courts), and The U. S. Courts of Appeals (the Appellate Courts).It is my understanding that Al, Cathy and Dan are refusing to repay the generous loans that you made to them. Under California Statue of Limitations you have 4 years to file a claim for breach of a promissory note and you are well within your rights to do so as long as you don’t wait longer than four years from the date that the breach occurred. In order for you to start your two cases against Al and Cathy you will need to file a claim in Los Angeles County small claims court as the amounts of $500 and $7,000 i s well below the small claims court allowable limit of $10,000. I would be happy to ssist you in filing your claim and can also assist in preparing you for your court date but small claims court rules do not allow you to be represented by an attorney at court. By filing this case in small claims court and then obtaining a judgment this would be the cheapest and fastest way in helping you to recover your money in this case. The third case against Dan would have to be filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Division. In this case you could also file for reasonable attorney’s fees and cost as well as the $55,000 loan. Please let me know whether there is anything else I can do for you. Respectfully, Al Smith

Pizza Hut strategic plan Essay

Executive Summary This proposal describes Pizza Hut and the introduction of a new product called â€Å"The Extreme.† A brief history of Pizza Hut is provided at the beginning of this proposal along with an analysis of the fast food industry. Current trends in demographics and eating habits are included. A SWOT analysis has been done to identify Pizza Hut’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats so that these factors can be taken into consideration in deciding whether or not to launch the new â€Å"Extreme Pizza.† Some of the key elements of our marketing plan first describe the â€Å"Extreme Pizza.† It will be the largest pizza on the market, with double the cheese and double the toppings. We will target the X and Y Generations, which is the fastest growing segment in America. This segment has been successfully targeted before using the â€Å"extreme† angle. This segment is has been a segment that hasn’t been targeted to the level that they should in this industry and we plan on changing that. We have used past financial data to establish reasonable goals for the product and have set limits on promotional spending. We will be using a high/low pricing strategy, pricing this new pizza at $9.99. Our main sales promotions will be offering the Extreme Pizza bundled with Mountain Dew to target Generation X and Generation Y. We will be using direct channel distribution as well. This pizza will be available through dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and ordering on the Internet. 1)Introduction Pizza Hut was started in 1958, by two brothers in Wichita, Kansas. Frank and Dan Carney had the idea to open a pizza parlor. They borrowed $600 from their mother, and opened the very first Pizza Hut. In 1959, the first franchise unit opened in Topeka, Kansas. Almost ten years later, Pizza Hut would be serving one million customers a week in their 310 locations. In 1970, Pizza Hut was put on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PIZ. In 1986, Pizza Hut introduced delivery service, something no other restaurant was doing. By the 1990’s Pizza Hut sales had reached $4 billion worldwide. In 1998, Pizza Hut celebrated their 40th anniversary, and launched their famous campaign â€Å"The Best Pizzas Under One Roof.† In 1996, Pizza Hut sales in the United States were over $5 million. Out of all the existing pizza chains, Pizza Hut had the largest market share, 46.4%. However, Pizza Hut’s market share has slowly eroded because of intense competition from their rivals Domino’s, Little Caesar’s and newcomer Papa John’s. Home delivery was a driving force for success, especially for Pizza Hut and Domino’s. However, this forced competitors to look for new methods of increasing their customer bases. Many pizza chains decided to diversify and offer new non-pizza items such as buffalo wings, and Italian cheese bread. The current trend in pizza chains today is the same. They all try to come up with some newer, bigger, better, pizza for a low price. Offering special promotions, and new pizza variations are popular today as well. For example, chicken is now a common topping found on pizzas. In the past, Pizza Hut has always had the first mover advantage. Their marketing strategy in the past has always been to be first. One of their main strategies, that they still follow today is the diversification of the products they offer. Pizza Hut is always adding something new to their menu, trying to reach new markets. For example, in 1992 the famous buffet was launched in Pizza Hut restaurants worldwide. They were trying to offer many different food items for customers who didn’t necessarily want pizza. Another strategy they used in the past and are still using is the diversification of their pizzas. Pizza Hut is always trying to come up with some innovative way to make a pizza into something slightly different – different enough that customers will think its a whole new product. For example, let’s look at some of the pizzas Pizza Hut has marketed in the past. In 1983, Pizza Hut introduced their Pan Pizza, which had a guarantee of being ready to eat in 5 minutes when dining at Pizza Hut restaurants. In 1993, they introduced the â€Å"BigFoot,† which was two square feet of into 21 slices. In 1995, they introduced â€Å"Stuffed Crust Pizza,† where the crust would be filled with cheese. In 1997, they marketed â€Å"The Edge,† which had cheese and toppings all the way to the edge of the pizza. Currently, they are marketing â€Å"The Big NewYorker,† trying to bring the famous New York style pizza to the whole country. Lastly, Pizza Hut has always valued customer service and satisfaction. In 1995, Pizza Hut began two customer satisfaction programs: a 1-800 number customer hotline, and a customer call-back program. These were implemented to make sure their customers were happy, and always wanted to return. In our plan, we will first give a situation analysis of current and relevant environmental conditions that affect our plan. Next, we will give a brief analysis of the current fast food industry, and any trends or changes that might occur in the future. Also, a SWOT analysis of Pizza Hut will be included. Identification of current and potential competitors will be discussed in the SWOT analysis as well. Next, we will list our marketing objectives for this plan and our rationale for the selection of these objectives. 2) Situational Analysis A number of demographic and societal trends in the United States contributed to increased demand for food prepared outside the home. The divorce rate is almost 50%, and there is a growing trend showing that people are choosing to get married later in life. Because of these factors and many others, the single-person household represented about 25% of all U.S. households in 1998, up from 16% in the 1970’s. There has also been a trend in the 1990’s showing that individuals are choosing to eat out more often than eat at home. Another factor to consider is the increased number of women working outside the home. In 1998, 59% of all married women had careers. As a result of more women in the workforce, household incomes are now combined and are much higher than previously. According to Restaurants and Institutions magazine, more than one-third of all households had incomes of over $50,000 in 1996. The combination of higher incomes and dual-career families result  in less time! in the home, therefore less time to cook food at home. Also due to higher incomes, consumers have more disposable income, allowing them to eat out more often. However, in the early 1990’s, the growth of traditional fast food restaurants slowed down because the U.S. market had become saturated. The slowdown in growth intensified competition for market share and lead to consolidation. Many chains found that their market share could be increased by buying an existing company rather than building new units. Mergers and acquisitions had a powerful effect on the fast food industry. The top ten fast food restaurant chains controlled over 60% of fast food sales in the U.S. 3)Industry Analysis’ According to the National Restaurant Association, food service sales were $320 billion for the 500,000 restaurants in the U.S. in 1997. The U.S. restaurant industry grew 5.2 percent in 1997. Six major segments make up the fast food segment of the food service industry. Sandwich chains, like McDonald’s and Wendy’s are the number one segment, followed by dinner houses, such as Applebee’s and Red Lobster. Pizza chains are ranked third. Out of all the pizza chains, Pizza Hut has the largest market share, 46%, followed by Domino’s with 21.7%. International sales have become more and more important to the fast food industry. In 1998, Pizza Hut was the number one global chain with units in 88 different countries. In 1990, Pizza Hut opened two restaurants in Moscow where 20,000 customers were served a week, about the amount serviced by 10 American Pizza Huts. As profitable as the fast food industry is, there has always been one problem that many fast food companies cannot seem to overcome. Because of America’s large aging population, greater awareness and interest in health issues have resulted. Nutritional value of fast food is a huge problem. For many people, fast food automatically means low nutritional value. As a result of this, many chains have introduced items that are â€Å"low calorie† and â€Å"low fat.† Despite their efforts, many critics and consumers feel that their efforts were not satisfactory in providing a healthy meal. 4)SWOT Analysis Pizza Hut has many different strengths. Name recognition is an obvious strength for Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut has been around for a long time, and consumers know the name well. Another big strength and even a competitive advantage is the fact that they have a full service restaurant as well as delivery services. Most of Pizza Hut’s competitors do not have restaurants. Because of the restaurant, Pizza Hut can market to many different segments that other pizza chains cannot. For example, Pizza Hut can market to families much easier than Domino’s or Little Caesar’s. Pizza Hut offers a sit-down, conversational type restaurant where families can take their children for birthday parties for example. Pizza Hut’s broad selection of products also makes it easier for them to market to different market segments. However, the fact that Pizza Hut does have a restaurant to run is also a weakness. Pizza Hut has higher overhead costs, due to the restaurant that other competitors don’t have to deal with. Another result of higher overhead costs is higher prices Pizza Hut must charge. Obviously, Pizza Hut is not the low cost producer. They rely on their quality pizza and good service to account for their higher prices. An indirect weakness that Pizza Hut has is that they have lost a lot of their customers and market share due to such intense competition with competitors. Pizza Hut’s opportunities are almost endless. They can increase revenue with their new innovative pizzas, and increase brand loyalty with good customer service. Another opportunity that Pizza Hut has is their new ordering online system. Anyone with Internet access can order whatever they wish and get it delivered to their house without even speaking to someone. This program has just been started, so we do not have any numbers to support whether or not it will be a success. Pizza Hut’s number one threats are from their competitors. Currently, their closest competitor is Domino’s Pizza. Domino’s main competitive advantage  over Pizza Hut is their price. It is generally lower than Pizza Hut. Also, Domino’s was very profitable when they ran the promotional deal of delivering a pizza within 30 minutes. However, many lawsuits have been filed against Domino’s in the past for reckless driving by their drivers, so Domino’s withdrew the promotion. Little Caesar’s is another one of Pizza Hut’s competitors, right behind Domino’s in market share. Little Caesar’s is famous for offering large quantities of pizza for less money. Other competitors include Papa John’s, Sbarro, and Pizza Inn. A problem facing all of the pizza chains is that each of their individual competitive advantages are pretty much everyone’s competitive advantages. Most if not all the top pizza chains offer free delivery, and always have some sort of promotional deal offering large ! pizzas at reduced prices. Other competitors to take into consideration are frozen pizzas and make-it-yourself pizzas that are purchased in grocery stores. Some examples of these are Tombstone Pizzas, Boboli, and Di’Gornio pizzas. 5)Marketing Objectives Being that Pizza Hut holds the most market share in the pizza industry, the perceived quality and service of the company will help to ensure a better than average chance at a successful introduction of a new product. The pizza industry firms are famous for introducing new products to spark short-term sales. Pizza Hut as stated earlier has been very successful at accomplishing this. The introduction of a product that keeps with today’s trends is also important to reduce the risk of failure. In recent years there has been an increase in the marketing of products with an extreme twist to them. Mountain Dew, which is a brand name owned by Pizza Huts parent company, Pepsico, has been very successful at repositioning itself to this segment of the market, which has sparked new interest in the soft drink. Many other imitators have followed in there footsteps and have been successful as well. Pizza Hut has the resources available to research and implement a new product with great succe ss. Pizza Hut is the leader in innovative products and this new product that we  are proposing will surely be a success, given Pizza Huts track record. With high competition from the other top firms in the industry, the introduction of a new product is necessary to keep one step ahead of the competition. We propose that Pizza Hut introduce the Extreme Pizza. This pizza will be larger than the competitors at twenty-inches and have twice the toppings that the competitors have. Pizza Hut will market this product along side other extreme products such as Mountain Dew, to help Pizza Hut capture part of this new segment of the market. The selection of pizza’s offered by the competition have been significantly less creative than that of Pizza Hut in the past and Pizza Huts reputation of offering high quality, new products will allow this new product to move into the market as other new offerings have in the past. With the introduction of a new product, one of our main objectives is to create recognition for our product. Our goal is to reach 85% recognition of the new product in our target market. As with all businesses, the most important goal of a company is to increase revenue and profits. With the introduction of this new product we hope to increase the overall sales of the company by 7%. If we can in fact reach our goal of 85% recognition of the product, through a successful promotions mix, then the increase in sales should be easily acquired. 6)Target Markets With the introduction of the Extreme Pizza from Pizza Hut, the name itself is an indication of the target market sought. In today’s world of adrenaline junkies and extreme sports, a products affiliation with the world of the extreme has grabbed the attention of the younger generations. These generations range from the age of 12 to 30. These generations are affectionately referred to as the Y and X generations. For many years marketers ignored this segment and simply stereotyped them as slackers or losers. However, this has not been the case in recent years. With extreme sports making an entrance into pop culture in the early 90’s, many companies have realized the potential for high returns by targeting this highly diverse segment of the market. In America today, there are 71 million Americans that fall between the ages of 12 and 30, making generations X and  Y the two fastest growing segments of society. The overall spending power of this segment is 300 billion dollars a year, with a large percentage of that money spent on non-essential items. The reason for the high amount of spending in this segment has been associated to the times that they have grown up in. Unlike the baby-boomers, there has been no times of risk or economic depression in their lives. This is a generation with a â€Å"spend now, pay later† attitude, which has made for high spending averages on a per person basis. In 1997, The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, found that the median amount of cash that children receive from their parents for auxiliary spending is $50 dollars a week. This kind of spending money that children are given is what Pizza Hut wants to target with the Extreme Pizza. However, children living at home are not the only o! nes to have extra money to burn. A study on the spending habits of college freshmen also indicates a high percentage of money being spent on non-essential items. The results showed that an average of $56 is spent monthly on eating out. This information on this segment of the market, gives Pizza Hut a window to offer a product that will attract these customers who not only have the money to spend on such things as pizza, but who have done so in the past. In the past Pizza Hut has not specifically targeted the younger generations with products. They have created a more generic marketing plan, to attract a wide variety of customers. In order for this marketing strategy to work, Pizza Hut needs to target this one segment of the market. The advertising and promotion needs to be very specific to their needs, in order for the money spent on advertising to be worthwhile. Many products have failed in this segment because they have tried to treat the segment as one group. This segment is made up of many groups and many individuals. This is part of the reason for society labeling generation X and Y members as loser’s and slackers. So with this in mind our advertising campaign must follow the same ideas by realizing that even within this segment there are many other segments. One characteristic of these two generations, that makes them a prime target for our new Extreme pizza, is the amount of time that these age groups spend with friends in groups. With the lack of responsibilities that teenagers have, and the lack of home cooked meals while away at college, pizza is a  quick alternative for dinner, and a fun way for friends to eat together. Pizza has long been targeted to families, because of the convenience that is present when serving pizza to a group. Teenagers and young adults spend quite a bit of time with friends in groups, whether it be in a dorm room or at parties. This gives Pizza Hut an outlet to sell a pizza that will fulfill the needs of this younger generation with a product that is designed just for them. With the total number of Generation X and Y members being so high and the money they spend on non-essential items being as much as it is, this segment could make this product a huge success. However, this is a hard market to target since everyone is so different, but they all have one thing in common, there love for pizza. The most important factor in making this a success will be to design advertising that is able to attract all of the individual segments of these generations. 7)Marketing Mix A)Product Pizza Hut should offer a new product called â€Å"The Extreme† pizza. â€Å"The Extreme† is a twenty-inch pizza with twice as much cheese and toppings as Pizza Hut’s other pizzas. This new pizza will have many different competitive advantages. The first competitive advantage of â€Å"The Extreme† is that it is the largest pizza on the market. No other pizza restaurant offers a twenty-inch pizza. The second competitive advantage is that it has more cheese and toppings than any other pizza on the market. Another competitive advantage is the Pizza Hut brand name. Pizza Hut has built a brand name that means quality products and services. Since Pizza Hut will be introducing â€Å"The Extreme,† customers will automatically think this is a high quality product. The final competitive advantage is that this product will be the first pizza to target America’s youth. â€Å"The Extreme† pizza will target Generation X and Generation Y or people between the ages of 12 and 30. This market purchases a lot of pizza each year, but very few pizza restaurants actually target them. â€Å"The Extreme† will be introduced on Super Bowl Sunday, 2001. During the introduction stage of the product life cycle, Pizza Hut will try to establish a market for the product and persuade early adopters to buy. During the growth stage, Pizza Hut will try to build sales and develop a preference for the product. Pizza Hut will try to seek  differentiation during the maturity stage. â€Å"The Extreme† is expected to begin to decline after one year on the market. B)Price In the past, Pizza Hut has successfully used the high/low pricing strategy when setting the retail price of its products. The high/low retail pricing strategy allows Pizza Hut to charge a price that is above the competition, but also promote frequent sales to lower the price below them. The retail price of â€Å"The Extreme† pizza should be set at $9.99, which is higher than Pizza Hut’s competitors. Several sales promotions and coupons will be used to lower the price below those competitors. Since both Pizza Hut and the beverage Mountain Dew are Pepsi subsidiaries, bundle pricing will be used. Customers can purchase â€Å"The Extreme† for $9.99 and receive a two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew for free. Pizza Hut will be able to sell two products together at a single price to suggest a good value. The high/low pricing strategy has several advantages. First, this pricing strategy will help segment the market. Different groups of customers are willing to pay different prices for the same product. Pizza Hut can sell â€Å"The Extreme† to the customers who will pay the higher price to be the first to buy and also to the bargain hunters. The high/low pricing strategy will also create excitement. Customers will be able to try something new when they purchase â€Å"The Extreme† and this exciting experience may bring those customers back to purchase other products. Finally, this strategy will emphasize product and service quality. Pizza Hut sets a high initial price for its products to send a signal to customers that its products are quality and the service is excellent. C)Promotion The main theme that will be used to promote â€Å"The Extreme† is youth. Fun, excitement, danger, and even the term â€Å"extreme† all appeal to our target market. Mountain Dew, which has already successfully appealed to this target market, will be included in â€Å"The Extreme† promotions. The main promotion will be a coupon to purchase â€Å"The Extreme† for $9.99 and receive a free two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew. The objectives of this promotion are to introduce a new product, stimulate demand, change the short-term behavior of the customers, and encourage repeat or greater usage by current customers. This promotion will be distributed mainly by mail, but also by  fliers on college campuses around the country in order to reach the target market. â€Å"The Extreme† will be introduced on Super Bowl Sunday, 2001, in a television commercial. Although Super Bowl television ads are expensive, Pizza Hut has enough financial resources for one. This commercial will be similar to the current Mountain Dew advertising campaign. Several young people will be performing exciting, high-risk activities such as snowboarding, rock climbing, and bungee jumping. The young people will then eat â€Å"The Extreme† and drink Mountain Dew. There will also be similar ads in magazines that are popular with the target market such as Surfer, Snowboarding, YM, and Maxim. This advertising campaign will create awareness of the new product in our target markets. D)Distribution The type of distribution channel used by Pizza Hut is the direct channel. The direct channel is successful when there is an extremely large market that is geographically dispersed. The direct channel is also useful when there are a large number of buyers, but a small amount purchased by each. Pizza Hut uses three different methods of selling its products directly to the market. The first method of distribution used by Pizza Hut is delivery. Customers can call Pizza Hut ahead of time, place an order, and the order is delivered to the customer’s home. Another method of distribution is for customers to dine-in. Customers can go to the nearest Pizza Hut, place an order, and either leave with the order or eat at the restaurant. One of Pizza Hut’s largest competitive advantages is its restaurant style facility. Pizza Hut offers a clean place to sit down and enjoy the variety of pizzas, salads, and sandwiches in a fun, family atmosphere. The third method of dist ribution is! online ordering. Customers can now go on the Internet and place an order. This method is useful because it allows customers to view the entire menu, download any special coupons, and order without having to disclose any credit card numbers. The market coverage for â€Å"The Extreme† will be nationwide. Customers all over the country will be able to order â€Å"The Extreme† by one of the three distribution methods. 8)Control Stage First, we will address who will be responsible for the control measures we plan to take. The Marketing Vice President in the Corporate Headquarters, the local/regional Marketing Vice Presidents and the Pizza Hut restaurant managers will all play a role in being responsible for the control. Our success or failure will be determined in a couple of ways. One main way is to compare results to our objectives. If our objectives are not met, steps to meet them will be taken in the future. We will also look at profits, sales revenue, unit volume of the â€Å"Extreme Pizza† promotions used. If our budget allows, perhaps we could give a survey to our customers and get some direct feedback about our new pizza. Ongoing research is essential for our success. Since our plan is for one year, we feel that every 3 months we should do some type of evaluation and control to see how we are doing. Also, during the maturity state of the product life cycle, we will improve the quality and distinguis h ourselves well from competitors. Hopefully, this process of control will be monitored on a monthly basis. 9)Summary and Conclusion Pizza Hut has a successful history of introducing new products to increase sales and reach new customers. This introduction of new products to the market on a regular basis is what makes Pizza Hut the leader in their industry. The level of success that the â€Å"Extreme Pizza† will bring Pizza Hut depends heavily on the correct promotions mix. As we had stated earlier, the segment of the market that we have targeted is a very diverse group. This means that the promotion of the product must be done in a diverse fashion. This will result in a more expensive advertising campaign than in past campaigns, but the potential for a successful product will cover the costs and bring in substantial profit. The advertising campaign is going to be budgeted to use 8% of projected sales. We are forecasting that the introduction of the Extreme Pizza will increase sales by 7%. This forecast is based upon other new products that Pizza Hut has introduced and the impact that they have had on Pizza Huts revenues. A 7% increase in sales for Pizza Hut will bring a total of $547 million dollars in revenue, making the advertising budget $43.76 million.  This kind of advertising budget will allow for a mass media blitz of promotions featuring our new â€Å"Extreme Pizza†. Our target market spends many hours a day in front of the TV and computer, so the constant messages being played will allow our product to generate a high level of awareness. The advertising of the product is very important but the promotion of this product along side Mountain Dew will help to put our product in a more specific category. Mountain Dew has targeted our target market for several years and is by far one of the leaders in this market. With this in mind promotions with Mountain Dew will be crucial to the success of the â€Å"Extreme Pizza†. With competition being so strong in this industry the threat of imitation products will surely be a problem to be dealt with. Pizza Hut will however have the first mover advantage with this product. With the entry of imitation products into the market, Pizza Hut will have to adjust its mixes to accommodate change. The promotions may have to be bigger and better than the competition, or the product may need to be altered to give it that little bit of an edge over the competition. For example stuffing the crust with cheese or giving a free topping with the purchase would help give Pizza Hut an edge over the competition. Basically, Pizza Hut will need to remain flexible in the maturity stages of the product life cycle in an attempt to continue to be the market leader. Overall, this is a product that is not much unlike any of the other new pizza’s that Pizza Hut has introduced. What makes this new product so exciting is the marketing plan that is directing the product at a new segment. We are taking a large pizza with a lot of toppings and marketing it as an â€Å"Extreme Pizza† to a generation of younger adults that are consumed by this marketing tool. This is what will make this a success. The mix of promotion and advertising we will be using will target a very profitable, sometimes overlooked market segment known as generations X and Y.

Program Design Essay

Your final project will be to analyze, design, and document a simple program that utilizes a good design process and incorporates sequential, selection and repetitive programming statements as well as at least one function call and the use of at least one array. The specific problem you need to solve for the final project is: Design a program that will allow a user to Input a list of your family members along with their age and state where they reside. Determine and print the average age of your family and print the names of anyone who live in Texas. 1. Problem definition: Design a program that will allow a user to Input a list of your family members along with their age and state where they reside. Determine and print the average age of your family and print the names of anyone who live in Texas. Note: Your pseudcode, flow-chart and test cases will be submitted next week. 1 a) Write the problem statements as of what is needed to solve this problem. Ans  1a)First, I must create a program that will allow the user to input a list of their family members that will include their age and state of residence. The program will also compute and print out the average age of the family as well as print out the names of every family member that resides in the state of Texas. 1 b) Write your analysis of the problem and the design approaches that you will take to solve this problem. Ans 1b)  To begin with, I must first identify the input information. From the problem definition, I gathered that I will have 3 types of input data and they are: Family Members Names, Age, and State of Residence. The output data will consist of the average age of all the members of the family. Also I need an output printout of each family member that reside in Texas. Therefore, in my program I must be able to allow the user to input the information needed to calculate the average age of the family. To compute the output, I need  to create a formula that will give us the correct output information. The following formula can be used to achieve the desired output: Average Age of Family equals the total of family members ages divided by the number of family members Family that lives in Texas = Show the names of all family members IF they live in Texas To begin my design, I need to establish the variables that will control both our input information and output data. For my input data, I will use Name to identify the family members name. Name will be set as String Array data. I will use StateRes to identify the state of residence for each family member. StateRes will also be set as String Array type data. I will use AgeOfMem to recognize the family members age and it will be set as an Integer Array data type. To get all of this information in a table format, I will have to create an array in order to display the inputs and outputs properly. My output variables, they will be AvegAgeFam to identify the Average age of the Family. This data will be set as Float due to the fact that an average number could quite possibly be a decimal value. So to represent the output of showing all family that live in Texas, I will use ResOfTexas as a String data type. Now to answer meet the requirements of this assignment, I must create a function. Iâ⠂¬â„¢m going to create a function that will output the Average age of the Family. I’m going to utilize the Count function so we can also total and display how many family members live in Texas. Included will be the names of the function. The following formula will represent our Count function: Function AveAge (Age, Total, Count) As Float Set AveAge = Total / Count We must include loops in this program. The loops are going to be used to prompt the user to enter the information until the user is done. The Count function will be used to help calculate the Average Family Age. There will also be an IF element added to help the program figure out the family members that live in Texas. 1 c) Write the assumptions and limitations and how they will be handled in your project. Ans 1c)  In my project, there are numerous assumptions and limitations that are being handled in the pseudo code. First of all, this program is only designed to calculate the average age of all the family members that the user will input. There is no other calculation that the program has been designed to do. Secondly, the program does not give the user any option or chance to return to inputting more family members if they forgot to do so at the beginning. This program was not designed to have a set limit to how many inputs the user could enter. This list could keep going on and on. This program is created to calculate and display both the Average age of family Members and the residents who live in Texas. If the user wanted to display just one of the results, the user would have to do the whole program just to get one of the results. This is being handled by the pseudo code only being able to handle the calculations that are set. The user does not have the ability to let the progr am know how many family members will be entered before the user begins. To handle that, the Count function is being used in the psuedocode to obtain the correct output. 1 d) Provide an alternative analysis and design approach showing a different way to solve the same problem definition of family member in Texas. As you have learned, a single problem can be solved in more than one way by using different programming construct, by choosing different logics etc. Tell us a different way of solving the same problem. Ans 1d)   Now I must come up with an alternate design. I will have to make sure that my even though my design will change, the output of the original problem must remain the same. I will also have to keep the same user inputs as well. Taking a different approach in my pseudocode will make these changes possible. So for my 2nd analysis, the user inputs will remain the same from the original problem. The Family members Age, State, and Name will still be  used. However, this time we will build modules to be able to call up data when needed. We will have to call out subprograms in order to obtain the results we desire.. To begin with, we need to start with a Main module. This module is where the entire program is operated out of. It’s also where the user input is entered in. The main module is the head of all of the modules that will be discussed next. I will also create call modules under the main module that will be set up to calculate the average age of the family members and to print out the names of those living in Texas. Next I will create the second module which is the Call Module. This module will hold the calculations to compute the average age of all the family members that the user enters. Finally, I will need to build a results module. In this module, the user-entered family names will be used as input data. On the other hand, the output will only be those names of the family who live in Texas. This process will be conducted when we put an a IF statement within the module. Now I will construct my new design. So, just like the design before, I need to declare my variables. The variables will and should be the same due to the fact that the desired output has not changed. Therefore my declared variables will consist of the following: Declare Name As String Array, Declare StateRes As StringArray, Declare AgeOfMem As Integer Array, Declare AveAgeFam As Float, Declare ResOfTexas As String, and Declare Count As Integer. Calculations Module In this module, will use the formula that was used earlier in the first design. It is this formula that will compute the average age of the family. The average age will be determined by the sum of all the family members’ ages divided by the number of family member. Therefore if Count was equal to 2 and AgeOfMem [0] was equal to 16, and Age [1] = 20. So the AveAgeFam was equal to AgeOfMem[0] + Age[1] divided by Count This would be a total of 16 + 20 / 2 = 18. Finally, I would need to come up with a way for the names of members who live in Texas to be printed out. The psuedocode would use the StateRes array  data type to search for the user input of â€Å"Texas†. Then, it would display the names associated with that particular element. So if State[1] was equal to Texas, then any name such as: Name[1]=James inside the name array would be printed. Therefore, the output would look like this: â€Å"James†. This modular design would be an alternate way to complete the same results and output as originally described in the first example. The major pieces of this design consists of the arrays, modules, functions, and the loops. This will provide us with the outputs that are required from the initial questions asked.