External Environment Analysis - 1774 Words

CHAPTER TWO EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS At the end of this chapter, the student should be able to: 1. Understand the processes for an environmentally conscious organization. 2. Know the importance of SWOT analysis in analyzing both external and internal environment. 3. Understand the different segments of the external environment known as the general environment. 4. To find out how the strength of the company’s competitive forces are congruent with the industry’s through the five-forces model of industry competition. 5. To understand the relevance of benchmarking in evaluating company’s performance as against competitors. INTRODUCTION: Companies must be responsive to the external business environment. Knowledge about the†¦show more content†¦5. Technological. Information technology, robotics, microelectronics, ergonomics, genetic engineering, computer-aided design, pollution, global warning, invention of smart gadgets are some of issues under this segment. 6. Global segment. This segment includes political events, peace agreements or negotiations, critical global markets, newly industrialized countries, trade agreements, and different cultural and institutional attributes. THE STRENGTH OF AN INDUSTRY’S COMPETITIVE FORCES Industry and competitive analysis should focus on the competitive dynamics of the industry. The five-forces model of competition is the most powerful and widely used tool for assessing the strength of the industry’s competitive forces. The Five Basic Competitive Forces 1. The threat of new entrants. Several factors determine whether the threat of new companies entering the marketplace presents a significant competitive pressure. As a rule, the bigger pool of entry candidates, the stronger the threat of potential entry. Dess, et.al. enumerated the six major sources of entry barriers. a. Economies of scale. Economies of scale refers to spreading the costs of production over the number of units produced. The cost of a product per unit declines as the absolute volume per period increases. b. Product differentiation. When existing competitors have strong brandShow MoreRelatedExternal Environment Analysis2283 Words   |  10 PagesExternal Environment Analysis JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) is a company that has focused on low-cost airline transportation service. It is also one of the top major airlines dominating the Domestic Airlines industry. To develop a better strategic business plan the company’s external business market and the effect it has on the business continuity plan must be analysis as well as the general, industry, and competitor environments. Another issue affecting companies is the role businessRead MoreExternal Environment Analysis1926 Words   |  8 PagesExternal Environment Analysis MGT/488 October 21, 2010 Patti Berlin External Environment Analysis Sam Walton began Wal-Mart in 1962 and opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas (History, 2010, p. 1). Walton was not new to the retail industry and had traveled the United States to learn as much as possible about the industry. Walton knew that customer needs were important to success and he wanted to know as much as possible about the industry to meet those demands. Sam Walton experienced strongRead MoreExternal Environment Analysis6715 Words   |  27 Pagesdefined the playing arena of Foster. Secondly, identify Foster’s missions, sales and revenues in the past. Thirdly, evaluate the external sales environment, including customer and competition analysis. Fourthly, forecasting the future external scenario. Fifth, analysing the existing sales operations, and evaluating it through gaps, key successful factors, and SWOT analysis. Finally, we gave Foster the recommendation on sales operation strategy for the next three years, and also evaluated the pros andRead MoreExternal a nd Internal Environment Analysis1565 Words   |  7 PagesExternal and Internal Environmental Analysis This environmental analysis will provide a complete external environmental scan designed to provide RoyalBlu Invites with the tools needed to identify the organizations strength and weaknesses. Furthermore, including an assessment of the company resources. This analysis will assess the organization competitive position and possibilities of growth. An explanation of how the external environment affects RoyalBlu Invites structure and organizational performanceRead MoreExternal and Internal Environment Analysis1429 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONEMNT External and Internal Environment Analysis Bharti Gupta University of Phoenix External and Internal Environment Analysis: Mayo Clinic The purpose of this paper is to analyze the External and Internal environmental factors of Mayo Clinic (MC). Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life (Mayo Clinic,  2011). Various types of external and internal factors affect theRead MoreInternal And External Environment Analysis Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesstrategies, organizations must thoroughly analyze both the internal and external environments in which they operate (Hill, Jones, Schilling, 2014, p. 11). This analysis will enable them to pinpoint those elements that threaten their current and future profitability as well as those elements that offer the potential to increase current and future profitability (Hill, et al., 2014, pp. 44-45). The external environment analysis specifically looks at the industry within which a business functions asRead MoreExternal And Internal Environment Analysis835 Words   |  4 Pagesextensive external and int ernal environment analysis. When conducting external environmental analysis, a company must consider six factors. These factors include competition, economic growth, political trends, legal issues, advances in technology, and sociocultural trends (Ferrell Hartline, 2014). I have a strong interest in technology and gadgets. With that being the case, I chose the iPhone as the product and will analyze the six external environmental factors using that. The first external factorRead MoreAnalysis of the External Environment of Business1608 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of the External Environment of Business The Technological Environment The external business environment consists of four elements, they are as follows: Political, Economic, Social and technological. It would be impossible to analyse the whole environment in one essay, I have therefore decided to focus my essay on the technological environment. I have chosen this area to focus on because as Palmer and Hartley point out, it is one area that is forcing immense change in the external businessRead MoreLufthansa External Environment Analysis893 Words   |  4 Pageswould be able to sustain the growth that it has achieved in the past and manage any such Crisis in future.? GENERAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS The general environment analysis will focus on trends in the four segments of General Environment. The following table shows the changes in the general environment that are affecting airline Business on an ongoing basis. B. Industry Analysis PORTER’S FORCES Threat of new Entrants and Barriers to Entry: Following are some of the threats to enter into aRead MoreExternal Analysis : Macro Environment999 Words   |  4 PagesExternal Analysis: Macro Environment Economic: Developed markets pose a risk to the luxury industry, however emerging markets such as China and India present opportunity for Coach as their middle class’s continue to grow. Socio-Cultural: Ever evolving views on sociocultural trends provide both opportunities and risks to this industry. Within developed markets, consumer preferences have shifted toward luxury accessories for both men and women. Criticism of companies that have outsourced much of

The Functional to Matrix Transition Free Essays

The Functional to Matrix Transition Karen R. J. White, PMP RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT WHICH INVOLVED MOVING A LARGE ITS ORGANIZATION from an old-style functional-department organization structure towards one more friendly to proj- Common Pitfalls ects. We will write a custom essay sample on The Functional to Matrix Transition or any similar topic only for you Order Now The project faced the sorts of challenges that are common when trying to realign organizational structure with the new realities of managing by projects. In addition, there were added cultural barriers because the company was in the financial services sector-a very traditional industry, known for conservatism in management approaches. Project management consultants were called in because, for the first time, the organization was undertaking a multi-year enterprise-wide development program that cut across multiple functional departments, instead of following their old pattern of doing projects within departments. Within the program, several major related projects were being carried out. Clearly, business as usual would not suffice. BASELINE: A FUNCTIONAL/WEAK MATRIX STRUCTURE A Functional/ (Weak) Matrix organizational structure, such as our client company had in place, works well when the focus is on quality and technical expertise. Under this structure, functional managers are responsible for products created within their areas of expertise. The downside: In the company on which this case study was based, it just wasn’t working. And their experience was not uncommon. The functional-based organization structure tends to undermine the authority and decision-making capability of project managers, making project success more difficult. The functional or weak matrix form of organization does have some advantages. In this case, first of all, it was the currently existing state in the client organization. Change is always traumatic in organizations and, to the extent that we could preserve existing processes and systems, the upheaval-and resistance to it-would be minimized. Functional â€Å"stovepipe† organizations take a beating in discussions of optimal organizational structure, but the fact is that they are familiar to people, and thus comfortable for them. In addition, within this structure, IT and IS departments are fully empowered to complete isolated projects within their own â€Å"stovepipes. The client organization already possessed well-established communications processes and authorities within the functional areas. From a purely logistical point of view, the staff work locations were already centralized around functional department assignments, making information sharing among team members more straightforward. There are also serious drawbacks to this organizational structure, however. For instance, communications and decision-making processes existed outside the p rogram structure, contributing to schedule and budget issues. For the same reason, true accountability rested outside the programs, somewhere in the traditional hierarchy of the corporation. For example, executive functional management, who were in fact somewhat removed from the actual conditions of the programs, made all the important decisions. Budget and contracting authority was reserved for the CIO level. Under this very traditional structure, only formal authority-something the project managers did not have-was recognized as a source of power. The client organization had made some strides in moving past a purely functional hierarchy, towards a matrix organization. A Project Management Office (PMO) had been implemented the year before my involvement began-a year after the program was launched. Unfortunately, this meant that proper attention had not been paid to project management issues during the initial planning stages of the program. Phone: 610. 853. 3679 n www. pmsolutions. com n Fax: 610. 853. 0527 EXPERT SERIES The Functional to Matrix Transition Page 2 of 4 Instead of creating a PMO to manage the program, the existing program was inserted into a PMO. However, since the PMO lacked authority for decisions and communications, accountability was problematic. As an example, program budgets and staffing decisions were made within functional organizations, not within the programs themselves and resources were not accountable to programs for deliverables. Programs were initiated by functional departments, making any kind of strategic alignment or project prioritization (portfolio management) problematic. And because project teams ithin programs were organized by functional department, not by deliverable, the physical and organizational barriers between project teams impeded communications. THE OTHER EXTREME The Project (Strong) Matrix organization, at the other end of the organization-structure spectrum, works well for crash efforts, where the focus is on cost and, especially, schedule. These types of project-based organizations are sometimes n icknamed â€Å"Skunkworks† after the Lockheed-Martin aerospace project that made this approach famous. The Strong Matrix is an organizational form beloved of project managers and organizational design theorists. To be sure, this model offers many advantages from the project management standpoint:  · It concentrates complete authority for decisions affecting a project or program within the project or program itself, which simplifies decision-making.  · Program budgets and staffing decisions are made within the programs.  · Staff members have a single manager to please and answer to.  · Resources are accountable to program for deliverables and performance.  · Clear communications paths exist. However, in the real world of our client organization, the Project/Strong Matrix model carried several disadvantages. Limited resources in certain key technical and business areas meant that there simply were not enough people to create dedicated program or project teams, and it was deemed too time-consuming to recruit and/or train additional staff. The existing staff was in dispersed geographical locations with staff not able to relocate. All in all, moving to this form was just too drastic a change for the organization. THE MIDDLE GROUND Thus, our choice in establishing a more project-friendly environment was the â€Å"Balanced Matrix† structure . This structure strives to hit all the bases. Cost, schedule and quality are considered of equal importance. The balance between these considerations is achieved through continuous negotiations and tradeoffs. Given the resource limitations existing within the client organization, we deemed it the best model as well as the most practicable, despite certain inherent disadvantages, such as the need for increased communications and resource negotiations between project managers and functional managers, the added complexity in status reporting and staff management activities, and the need for modified roles and responsibilities in IT and business functional departments. The most significant impact of the new model was the extent to which we revised Roles and Responsibilities. IT functional management now shared joint staff management with program management and had to coordinate with program management in the areas of standards and process implementation. Business functional management also shared joint staff management with program management. Phone: 610. 853. 3679 n www. pmsolutions. com n Fax: 610. 853. 0527 EXPERT SERIES The Functional to Matrix Transition Page 3 of 4 Program management staff had far more â€Å"hands-on† involvement in program activities, as well as increased accountability for staff performance and coordination of related issues with functional man agement. Program Team Members now had multiple managers with whom to coordinate absences. TRANSITION STEPS 1. Assign Project Managers. We introduced project managers from the PMO to replace functional man agers with project management responsibilities, except in those cases where we retained functional leads as part of matrix. We did this when the department managers or supervisors were the ideal choice for supervision project activities because they were the strongest technical person in that area. Once the project leaders were assigned we identified deliverables and associated accountabilities for each project team. 2. Re-define Roles and Responsibilities. We established a policy statement and matrix document that clearly identified the project manager and functional manager roles and responsibilities. 3. Revise Resource Staffing Processes. By involving functional management in project initiation activities-recognizing that functional managers often have the best insight into the skills and limitations of staff members-we made the process of assigning resources to roles more collaborative. We also instituted a formal requisition process for internal resources. 4. Revise Performance Management Processes. We implemented revised performance management processes. Project managers were added to the performance development process training classes and required to provide periodic performance-related information to functional managers. At the same time, functional managers now shared individual goals and objectives with project managers, seeking to align project assignments with objectives. Functional managers continued to administer performance development processes. 5. Establish a Communications Plan. We developed a comprehensive program communications plan identifying who reports what to whom, and when. We acknowledged the information needs of the functional management team by including them in the communications plan. Project websites were established to facilitate communications. 6. Obtain Senior Executive Support. Senior executive support for changes was secured. We instituted an active steering committee. In addition, we established clear support at the CIO level for the Program and Project Manager roles and their authorities. These steps ensured alignment of functional and program goals: functional managers support the programs, which in turn implement the business goals. LESSONS LEARNED The matrix organization will meet resistance; plan for it. Lesson #1 – Program Organization. Make deliberate decisions about program and project organization when chartering the program. Determine the important constraints for the program, know the different organizational structures available and deliberately select the one that best fits your situation. Consider geographical locations when forming teams; try to maintain team integrity within a single location. Lesson #2 – Roles Responsibilities. Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all vested parties, including functional managers providing resources to projects. Obtain agreement and sign-off on individual roles and responsibilities as part of each project chartering activity. Phone: 610. 853. 679 n www. pmsolutions. com n Fax: 610. 853. 0527 EXPERT SERIES The Functional to Matrix Transition Page 4 of 4 Lesson #3 – Communications Plan. Develop a comprehensive plan that considers communication needs both inside and outside the program. Consider horizontal communication flows in addition to vertical communication flows. Do not ignore the information needs of the organization as a whole. Les son #4 – Continuous assessment. Reinforce the transition by continually monitoring the processes and climate of the organization. This is an ongoing challenge, not a one-time event. When a crisis arises, the organization will tend to lapse back into functional management accountability, as opposed to staying within program structure. Pay close attention to the communications and collaboration aspects of the program; reinforce use of the agreed upon communications plan. Remain sensitive to the communication needs of multiple geographic sites, if any. You will need to provide continuous learning and reinforcement, since functional managers are still learning to include project managers in staffing decisions, while project managers are still learning to include functional managers in problem resolution activities. Don’t be afraid to change! Question how you are organized; make sure the status quo fits with the work that needs to be done. Maybe you won’t change everything, but little regular tweak at organizational structure will keep it vital. Every six months or so, ask â€Å"Does it make sense today? † Prepared for presentation at ProjectWorld, October 2001 Phone: 610. 853. 3679 n www. pmsolutions. com n Fax: 610. 853. 0527 How to cite The Functional to Matrix Transition, Papers

Orwell and Hsun

Literature should not exist for its own sake but should be a mirror through which the society looks at itself. It should therefore imitate the truth and portray it to the society for self-reflection. This is evident in George Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† and Lu Xun’s â€Å"The Real Story of Ah Q†. Shooting the Elephant is a real life reflection of the author’s experience as a police officer in India. It is about the shameless irony of imperialism spread by western governments, which subjects even its own to discrimination.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Orwell and Hsun specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Real Story of Ah Q is a satirical piece that shows the irony of revolutionary movements. Whereas these two stories have similarities, they also have marked differences in form, style, and aim. This paper endeavors to highlight some similarities and differences especial ly in the aims and the writing style of these two authors. The aim of these two pieces is to portray societies as notorious for curtailing the freedom of individuals. Not only do communities prescribe rules that must be followed by all but also have expectations on certain individuals that are out of touch with reality. The main characters in these two stories find themselves in odd positions where their individual freedoms are subordinated under those of the community. Orwell was made to shoot the elephant against his will, while Ah Q had no right over his sir name and was mistreated by the locals (Orwell para 7: Hsun para 3, 5). There is also a well-developed attempt to portray imperialism in its negative light (Orwell para 3; Hsun 2). The two authors also use irony to great extent. Ah Q thinks himself the enlightened one even thought the reader knows he is not, while Orwell agonizes under the realization of the irony of western imperialisms (Hsun para 16; Orwell para 3). However, these authors also portray certain differences in their works. Hsun uses satire more overtly to laugh at the societies ills than Orwell. Ah Q thinks that he is the â€Å"number one self-doubter† and when your remove â€Å"self-doubter† you are left with â€Å"number one.† So he is always number one (6). He also sees his failures as his victories (7). Orwell creates a sympathetic attitude on the main subject while Hsun’s has comic relief (Orwell para 1, 2; Hsun 8). The aim of Shooting an Elephant is to describe the plight of those who rebel against their own culture, and are unappreciated by those they make this sacrifice for (Orwell para 2). Hsun work criticizes satirically the failed Chinese revolution of 1911. The failure of this revolution is symbolized in the power of women who seduce men thus derailing them from their noble duty of revolutionizing the society. These women are demonized as the causes of the failed revolution (11).Advertising Loo king for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even though these two works were written years ago, they still find a lot of relevance in today’s society. They ironically mirror the struggles of modern societies and individuals against injustices, such as the denial of individual rights by societal norms and the failure of modern governments to meet the expectations of its citizens. Hsun’s use of comic effect and satire is as effective as Orwell’s employment of sympathy and sarcasm. Therefore, these two authors prove that it is effectively possible to employ different styles to highlight similar themes. Works Cited Hsun, Lu. â€Å"The True Story Of Ah Q.† 2002. Blackmask Online. Web. Orwell, George. â€Å"Shooting an Elephant.† 1950. 15 February, 2011. http://www.online-literature.com/ This essay on Orwell and Hsun was written and submitted by user Seth Wyatt to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Alliance for Childhood and Computers in Education

The Alliance for Childhood and Computers in Education The Alliance for Childhood is one of the most famous organizations, which aim at promoting children healthy development, their enjoyment of this life, and love to education. Nowadays, the vast majority of children cannot imagine their lives without computers: they may communicate being far from each other, play various games, listen to music, find more friends online, and get their education.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Alliance for Childhood and Computers in Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, as The Alliance for Childhood states, people’s faith in technology should not be higher than children’s needs. The representatives of this organization admit that â€Å"the renewal of education requires personal attention to students from good teachers and active parents, strongly supported by their communication.† (The Alliance for Childhood) Lots of parents think that the earlier their child will learn how to use computer, the better job will be waiting for him/her in future. The Alliance for Childhood cannot agree with such a point, neither do I. Parents are afraid that their children may be left behind, this is why they are eager to use all chances, which are presented to them. â€Å"Wiring and computerizing America’s schools is an urgent priority – not for children, but for high-tech companies that need to constantly expand their markets.† (The Alliance for Childhood) This is why it is crucially important to pay attention to ethical and social technological implications. The Alliance for Childhood focuses on the importance of physical, emotional, and social development of children. Computers pose certain hazards to child’s life, and the mission of parents and teachers is to protect future generation from destructions and health problems, caused by computers. Of course, there are certain benefits of computers and the abilities c hildren may get, however, it is necessary to remember about the limits and pay enough attention to active life, healthy food, and real communication – and all this is impossible to get sitting in front of the computer. Microsoft Word and Writing Poetries The Microsoft Word program turns out to be rather helpful for completing different kinds of assignment. Students get much more opportunities to demonstrate their creativeness, present quite interesting ideas in order to explain the topic under consideration, and represent their personal vision of the issue. The Microsoft Word program may be also used as a helpful tool to teach students of upper elementary schools on how to write poetry. Without any doubts, students may get lots of benefits using the Microsoft Word program. Microsoft Word may correct automatically students’ spelling mistakes and underline the sentences, which may cause some doubts. With the help of this program, students can easily find out several syno nyms to make the work more sound.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is quite possible to add a captivating picture or any other illustrative material in order to attract reader’s attention. However, it is necessary to remember that this program deprive students from the opportunity to correct all the mistakes and train him/herself to pay attention to each detail in the work. Students can just rely on the corrections, their computers should make. But still, Microsoft Word cannot be sure about the proper use of this or that word. When a student creates poetry, it is necessary to use soul and imagination. Of course, this program helps to represent the ideas in the best ways; but the works created by means of some computer programs may be usually deprived of soul and personal emotions, and such deprivation is not inherent to real pieces of art. Poetry is something that s hould come from the heart; the Microsoft Word program can help to present the ideas in a really attractive way, but still, students should not rely on this program only in order not to forget about emotions, which are not inherent to computers. Presentation for the Parents’ Open House Evening Parents’ open house evenings play a very important role in the life of school and each student. Students have a wonderful chance to demonstrate their abilities and underline the issues, which are crucially important for students. This is why it is very important to present captivating presentation and use of the reliable material to prove or disprove some fact. Within 15 minutes, it is quite possible to present the topic and explain its strong and weak points. However, certain steps have to be taken. First, it is necessary to choose the appropriate media for the presentation and for the display. Nowadays, a lot of things can be made with the help of computers. If yesterday, people spend much time to paint something or create the necessary exhibits, nowadays, the same people have a good chance to make a presentation within several minutes – all the necessary example can be created on computers and presented to the smart auditory. Of course, one of the most reliable and frequently used media is CD-R or even CD-RW disks in compatible format. It is crucially important to close the session, otherwise, the information on the disk will be impossible to read on the PCs. Second, it is better to make several copies of the disk and check whether the information on it is available.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Alliance for Childhood and Computers in Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To make the presentation really captivating, it is better to use big and not quite bright letters. This way, parents will not spend their time and efforts to view the information. It is also better not to use too complicated terminology, because not each parent can be aware about it. This is why it is better to find the way to speak to the point and use simple language. Interesting photos and real life facts – this is also what can make the presentation better. Computers Are Needed in Classes Without any doubts, the use of computers makes our lives easier. Students have a wonderful opportunity to prepare interesting tasks and do not pay much attention to their spelling, as they truly believe that certain computer programs will make all the necessary corrections. Teachers may spend less time to check each work, because computer programs may be rather helpful. Is it correct that computers turn out to be so crucially important in our lives? There are actually so many doubts according to this very answer. But, this time, we have another question to consider: whether computers are so important in schools. In fact, computers in education may be rather helpful. The Internet and e mails may easily stimulate the student to work â€Å"because they notice that they have audience.† (Ortega and Bravo, 2000) This is why it is better to use any means to attract student’s attention to study. However, it is also important to analyze what classrooms should be equipped with computers and students of what age should use them. To my mind, libraries and labs should have several computers in order to make the work of students easier and provide them with more time for researching. With the help of computers, students find the necessary material quicker and can concentrate on the assignment itself. At such classrooms where the lessons on literature, language, and history take place, computers are not necessary. However, where certain experiments take place or when students learn to programming or design, the computers should be obviously present. The students of 10-12 years do not pass such classes as programming or science; this is why the students of such age and early may study without computer support. As for the other students, to get proper education, they should have an access to computers and be involved into the work.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reference List Alliance for Childhood. (2000, September 12). Computers and Children: A Call for Action. Retrieved from http://drupal6.allianceforchildhood.org/computer_position_statement Cordes, C., and Miller, E. (Eds.) (2000). Fools Gold: A Critical Look at Computers in Childhood. Alliance for Childhood. Web. Ortega, M. and Bravo, J. (2000). Computers and Education in the 21 st Century. Springer.

Gay Celebrities in Interracial Marriages and Relationships

Gay Celebrities in Interracial Marriages and Relationships Interracial marriages occur more frequently among gay couples than they do among their heterosexual counterparts. Data from the 2010 census reveals that 20.6 percent of same-sex couples are interracial. That’s more than two percentage points higher than the amount of unmarried heterosexual couples (18.3 percent) in interracial relationships, and more than double the amount of married heterosexual couples (9.5 percent) in such relationships. Given the prevalence of cross-cultural relationships in the gay community, it’s no wonder that many of the celebrities who’ve come out as gay in recent years have partners of a different race. Learn more about the gay celebrities in interracial marriages and relationships with this list rundown. Robin Roberts and Amber Laign Robin Roberts came out as gay in a Facebook post in December 2013, making her arguably the most famous black lesbian in the country. The co-host of â€Å"Good Morning America† has fought breast cancer and a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome in recent years. One of the reasons she chose to finally come out is to recognize the support she’s received from her longtime girlfriend, Amber Laign, who is white. â€Å"At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude,† Roberts wrote. I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health. I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together. I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.† When Robert identified Laign as her girlfriend in a Facebook post, the couple had been involved for a decade, according to reports. Roberts and Laign live in an apartment together in New York, and their relationship was known to the ABC News staff. Roberts may have decided to go public with the relationship because she’s writing a memoir, to be released in April 2014, about the health problems she’s overcome. Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon After 20 years together, comedian Mario Cantone, an Italian American, and Jerry Dixon, an African American, wed in October 2011. He announced his nuptials to the musical theater director on ABC’s â€Å"The View,† the chat show where he frequently serves as guest co-host. â€Å"We’re older now. We’ve been together 20 years,† said Cantone on   the talk show. â€Å"After 20 years you’re like, ‘Thanks for the anti-climactic honeymoon, government!’† Cantone, of course, was taking aim at the government for preventing same-sex couples from marrying. On a more serious note, Cantone revealed that his family members attended the wedding and that Jay Bakker, the son of late evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, conducted the ceremony. Wanda and Alex Sykes Comedienne Wanda Sykes, who is African American, wed her white wife, Alex, in 2008. The couple has two children together. Before her marriage to Alex, Sykes was married to a man. Sykes remarked on â€Å"Oprah’s Next Chapter† that she didn’t come out to her mother until she was 40 years old. It took several years for her mother to accept Syke’s sexual orientation, the comedienne told Oprah Winfrey. Sykes also said that as a black woman and a lesbian she faces three different forms of discrimination. In addition, she finds objection to same-sex marriage to be peculiar. â€Å"I don’t understand why people really get upset about something that doesn’t affect them,† she said. â€Å"And I say, do you know how many people got married yesterday? Neither do I and I don’t care.† Alec Mapa and Jamison Hebert Actor Alec Mapa of â€Å"Half Half† and â€Å"Ugly Betty† fame married filmmaker Jamison Hebert in 2008. Mapa is Filipino and Hebert is white. The two have an adopted African-American son named Zion. Mapa has said that he still faces discrimination because of his relationship. He recalled the time he and his family entered the United States after a jaunt to Mexico and a customs agent behaved rudely toward them. â€Å"He was really brusque - he said, ‘You know we don’t recognize this federally, it’s the United States,’† Mapa recounted. After the customs agent spotted the couple’s young son, however, he relented. George and Brad Takei Actor George Takei of â€Å"Star Trek† fame married his husband, Brad, in 2008. Takei is Japanese-American and his husband is white. The couple had been together for 26 years before tying the knot. They married when the state of California finally allowed same-sex couples to wed. Takei’s husband, born Brad Altman, decided to take his last name, legally changing it after the marriage ceremony. â€Å"I argued with him on that,† Takei explained to â€Å"Access Hollywood Live.† â€Å"He wanted to become a Takei.†

PROGRESSING DEVELOPMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING Essay

PROGRESSING DEVELOPMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING - Essay Example In some situations the person may make a rigid determination not to eat. In some cases malnutrition might have taken place before such older people are admitted to the hospital. However, in some cases malnutrition may be a result of suboptimal gerontological care and management, medical or surgical interventions, the psychosocial effect of hospitalisation or a lack of proactive, therapeutic personcentred interventions purpose at promoting adequate food and nutrition.  An identified caused of malnutrition in older adult is the loss of f feeding abilityy which is a common problem for older adults (Kolodny & Malek 1991, Kayser-Jones 1992, Herne 1995, Kayser-Jones & Schell 1997a, Berry & Marcus 2000) especially those with dementia (Watson 2002, Manthorpe & Watson 2003); With cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, malnutrition is unavoidable. Such older adults do not have the cognitive ability to initiate or continue effective feeding strategies. I n contrast the older person with neuromotor disorders, such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease, may cognitively manage feeding but might not have the neuromotor skills to help chew or swallow effectively.  Moreover , the older people living in retirement and nursing homes need other support, including help with dressing, defecation and help with eating. The residents in the nursing homes need extensive nursing care and medical care as they may have diseases such as cancer, stroke sequelae or severe dementia (Hedin, 1993).   . Several studies show risk of malnutrition between 30% and 38% (Visvanathan et al. 2003); in older people (>65 years) who had recently moved to a residential home. However the problem of malnutrition still persists among older people living at home, who need help, as shown by the percentage of 3.5% reported by Thorslund et al (199). Alternatively 33–37% would be at risk of malnourished when they move home (Wikby et al. 2006).   Analysis   As we age, it is more important to look into our health and well being and the the prevention of malnutrition should be taken seriously among older people with dementia. It is much easier to prevent malnutrition among older people, rather than treating them after they have become ill from it, (Larsson et al. 1990, Payette 2005). Patients who receive information about the need for protein and energy intake and are active i have an increased intake (Pedersen 2005).   l. Malnutrition can have consequences both on the individuals affected and the carers by causing morbidity, hospital admission, delayed discharge and an increased dependence on social care and next of kin ( Van Nes et al. 2001 ).   Risk factors identified for malnutrition in earlier international studies are diseases (Beck et al. 1999, Payette 2005, Alberda et al. 2006, Chen et al. 2007), to much medications, low functional status (Payette 2005) symptoms of depression. Additionally, involuntary weight loss among older pe ople was associated with disease (Callen & Wells 2005, Payette 2005), inadequate nutrient intake and consequences for health (Payette 2005).  In 2001, a concept analysis of malnutrition in older people was first published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, in which the critical attributes of malnutrition in older people were identified to include insufficient dietary intake, muscle wasting, weight loss, poor appetite and downward trajectory.

Porters Five Forces Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Porters Five Forces - Essay Example Johnson Controls supplies the Ford franchise with car batteries, electronics, seats and interiors. TRW is ranked higher than other peers in the industry including Johnson Control and it is due to this reason that TRW Automotive received two Ford World Excellence Awards. (United States Security Exchange, 2014) 3) Who are the major buyer groups of the product provided by the industry; what are their characteristics ( i.e. size of group, demographics, income level, etc.); are there many or few in each buyer group; who has power over whom? 4) The golden generation (55 to 64 year olds) had higher vehicle purchases than other age groups according to a recent survey by Michigan University. In 2011 alone, Ford Motors sold 23% of all its models to this age group, which was higher than all other industry players combined. This age group is estimated to be around 76 million and has passed 35 to 44 year old age group as the consumer leaders. (United States Security Exchange, 2014) According to 2014 survey, the three main industry players are General Motors Company, Ford Motor and Toyota Motor. The total number of units sold by General Motors was 2.7 million; this represents 17.9% of the total market share. Ford Motors came second with 2.4 million units sold; representing 15.9% market share. Toyota came third with 2.2 million units sold in the US, representing 14.3% of the market share. (Business Monitor International, 2014) Ford’s F-Series remains to be the best selling model in the US. However, there are domestic and international brands that are growing in popularity each year. Chrysler’s Jeep Cherokee reported 9% increase in sales, 1% shy of the F-series. Subaru has also seen its sales rise after it switched focus from china to the US. Other popular brands include Mercedes Benz and BMW. (Business Monitor International,