Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Impact of Financial Crisis on Honda Research Paper

The Impact of Financial Crisis on Honda - Research Paper Example The descriptive method of research is adopted. Accordingly, Creswell (1994) stated that the descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition. The emphasis is on describing rather than on judging or interpreting. The aim of descriptive research is to verify formulated hypotheses that refer to the present situation in order to elucidate it. For this study, the descriptive research method was employed in order to identify the impact of competence and sustainability in the automotive industry of Honda. This study looks at the success that Honda Corporation has had in managing social capital in its supply chain. Using self-report surveys from 120 participants at a Honda-sponsored supplier competition, researchers find that those people who participate in the quality-teams report that they are more satisfied with their work, feel that they improved the effectiveness of their company, and continue to offer suggestions to improve their supplier's o perations. Resources that are valuable especially human resources, rare, and can be exploited by the organization can produce sustained competitive advantage and earn above-average economic performance (Barney, 2001). A lot has been written about the value of people in organizations. Huselid and Becker (1997) found that a one standard deviation improvement in an organization's human resources system could increase shareholder wealth by as much as $41,000 per employee. Barney (2001) contends that successfully managing relationships can be a source of resource-based competitive advantage. But the financial crisis has crept into the auto companies and many of the giants like Honda and Toyota are facing the crisis with severe cuts in production, sales etc. Honda declared its shock withdrawal from Formula One of the global financial crisis, terminating an association which began in the 1960s. This has led to raising further fears over the sport's future (Source: http://www.asiaone.com). Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui made the announcement at an emotional press conference, repeatedly apologizing to fans, staff, drivers and F1 authorities. He said 2008 is Honda's last season. The Japanese carmaker will not provide its engines to any other teams (Source: http://www.asiaone.com). "This is a complete withdrawal. The future is a blank sheet," he said. "Five years from now, I think history will show we made the right decision" (Source: http://www.asiaone.com). Â  

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - Essay Example Harry’s argument easily wins him over and he is totally changed person after the meeting. â€Å"The few words that Basils friend had said to him--words spoken by chance, no doubt, and with willful paradox in them--had touched some secret chord that had never been touched before, but that he felt was now vibrating and throbbing to curious pulses.† But the worldly and satanic wisdom of his mentor makes him break the heart of the innocent soul. He feels remorse at first but again justifies himself in the light of Machiavellian morality of Lord Henry. Lord Henry is the evil angel of the story .Every moment the hero is close to repentance, he appears from nowhere and through his devilish speech changes the mind of Dorian. One is wonderstruck at the callousness of both Henry and Dorian they show at the death of Sibyl. â€Å"What is done is done. What is past is past." The yellow book is another diversion provided to him by Lord Henry. This book further goads him to indulge in â€Å"all the passions and modes of thought that belonged to every century except his own.† Now Evil in him is in its true attire. Under his influence, the friends meet destruction. He murders his once beloved Basil as he exposed the ugliness of Dorian’s soul .The portrait is a surrogate of soul, so when he sins his soul is changed . Even in the end to avoid the pangs of consciousness, he resorts to opium. He seems to be following Henry’s philosophy â€Å"To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.† When Dorian has ominous hallucinations about his possible end, all his fears are dispelled by Lord Henry who declares that destiny is too wise or cruel to send us omens. The bad influence of Lord Henry even subdues the feelings of guilt created in Dorian’s heart. His resolve to reform himself is diverted to some other thoughts. The damnation is complete .The inherent evil in the

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Nestle International Mergers And Acquisitions Management Essay

Nestle International Mergers And Acquisitions Management Essay Nestle` is one of the largest Nutrition, health and wellness company and committed to provide the best Nutritional food and products around the Globe. Company was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlà © in VeVey (Switzerland). Nestle is a flat organisation with few levels of management and span of control. Moreover, currently company is operating in 84 different countries with 456 factories. Furthermore, In order to ensure the company long term sustainable growth and better understand of customers needs, Company constantly reviews its product portfolio and focuses on its efforts to conduct research. Consequencely, success of Nestle is a reflection of clear define responsibilities, reflection of professionalism, responsible attitude of management, well defined objective as well as significant global leadership position (www.nestle.com) Nestle Brands: (www.nestle.com) The Nestlà © brand portfolio such as milk and dairy products, nutritions, weight management, performance and healthcare, breakfast cereals, ice cream, coffee and culinary products (prepared dishes, cooking aids, sauces) pet care, bottled water etc. practically cover all food and beverage categories. Many of the brands have leadership with in the local and global market and existed for several years, for instance S.Pellegrino the mineral water from Italy, and Nestlà © Moà §a in Brazil, are over 100 years old. The best-known global brands include Nescafà ©, Nestea, Maggi, Buitoni, Purina and Nestlà © itself. Furthermore other brands for instance Milo, Nespresso, Nesquik, Kit Kat, Smarties, Polo, Friskies, Perrier and Vittel sells in many countries. It is considered that total number of brands including local and international reaches into the several thousands. NESTLE INTERNATIONAL MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS. Key Dates 1866 Company Founded 1905 Nestle Merger with Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company 1929 Nestle Merger with Peter, Cailler, and Kohler Chocolates Suisses S.A. 1947 Nestle Merger with Alimentana S.A. (Maggi) 1971 Nestle Merge with Merger with Ursina-Franck1974LOrà ©al (equity interest) 1977 Nestle Acquire Alcon (2002: partial IPO) 1985 Nestle Acquire Carnation 1988 Nestle Acquire Buitoni-Perugina 1988 Nestle Acquire Rowntree 1992 Nestle Acquire Perrier 1998 Nestle Acquire San Pellegrino and Spillers Pet foods 2000 Nestle Acquire Power Bar 2001 Nestle Acquire Ralston Purina 2002 Nestle Acquire Schà ¶ller and Chef America 2003 Nestle Acquire of Mà ¶venpick, Powwow and Dreyers 2004 Nestle Acquire Valio (ice cream) 2005 Nestle Acquire Wagner, Protà ©ika, Musashi 2007    Novartis Medical Nutrition, Gerber and Henniez 2009    Vitality Beverage business 2010    Nestle Acquire Kraft Pizza JOINT VENTURES Key Dates 1974 LOrà ©al 1981 Galderma (joint venture with LOrà ©al) 1990 Nestle Joint Venture with General Mills (Cereal Partners world wide) 1991 Nestle Joint Venture with Coca Cola (formerly CCNR) Beverage Partners Worldwide 2002 Nestle Joint Venture with Fonterra (Dairy Partners Americas) Competitiveness (www.nestle.com) Nestle, competitive advantages among the competitors are based on four points, For instance, Nestle product and brand portfolio such as Nestle Group is the manufacturer of billions of different products and operates in thousands of value added brand around the world. Furthermore, Nestle unmatched Geographically presence, for instance Nestle spend approx CHF 35 billions in emerging market in every year which is higher than a average growth and profitability, Moreover, Nestle leading RD capabilities, for Instance Company spend approx CHF 2.0 billions on RD for innovations and renovation to increased awareness in local taste and preference. In addition, company international business strategy such as to respect and follows all applicable local, laws, legislation, religious practices and culture aspect. International Business Strategy Nestlà ©s international business strategies are associated with direct foreign investment in food or other dairy business. For instance, operating in the advanced market, Nestlà © policy is to invest direct with the big companies to achieve the economical scale, or, establish strategic alliance with large companies and sights the new markets for business growth. Moreover in less developed market Nestle grow by processing technology or employ the local brand or acquire the local company. For its significant growth in future, Nestle is actively focused on the Developing and Emerging Market (DE) for instance India and China. It is considered that the populations of DE economies will increase by 3300 million by the end of 2050. The Sales in DE economies market is accounted CHF 35,000 millions in percentage 30% of the total sale which has been increased 15.4% over 2007 and company expects to double in the next ten years Nestlà © Corporate Governance The company governance bodies are Board of Directors (Board) Chairman and Corporate Governance Committee (CCGC) Compensation Committee (CC) Nomination committee (NC) Audit Committee (AC) Chairman of the Board Chief Executives Officer (CEO) Executive Board (EB) Board of Directors (Board) According to the company Article of Associations 2009 Article 14 15, Number of Directors and term of office, The Board of Directors shall consist of at least seven members also board shall be elected for three years by the General Meeting. Furthermore each year board will renew by rotation and will establish new order of rotation in the case of increase or decrease of board of director. The board Members are: Chairman Two Voice Chairmen Chief Executive officer (CEO) Members of the Committee Role of the Board and its Committees According to the company Article of Associations 2009 (NO 16), board is responsible for the selection of chairman and voice Chairmen, and its assignment of responsibilities. Furthermore According to the company Article of Associations 2009 (No17 18), article defines the general power of board such as board can conduct business to the extent that is not within the board regulation or general meeting. Moreover board is responsible for, For instance, Management and supervision of the business The appointment and removal of the chairman and Voice chairmen The appointment and removal of committee members The appointment of CEO and members of Executive board (EU) Preparation of Management report also preparation of General Meetings including agenda and proposal. The company long term Strategy Financial operation Establish or close branch office The Chairman and Corporate Governance Committee (CCGC) This committee consists of Chairmen, Two voice chairmen, Chief executive officer and elected member of the board. Furthermore, committee liaises between board and chairman. The board approved power and duties for (CCGC) and particularly (CCGC) acts as a consoler and solve the management issue between chairman and chief executive officer. The Compensation Committee (CC) The Compensation committee is consists of minimum two non executive members of the board and chief executive officer; furthermore CC recommends compensation policy to the board and also proposes the remuneration system and principals for approvals. The Nomination Committee (NC) The Nomination committee is consists of independent and non executive members of the board preferably not the member of (CCGC) committee, furthermore this committee establish principal to select candidate for board of director also prepare proposal for board decision. The Audit Committee (AC) The Audit committee is consists of minimum two non executive members of the board and voice chairmen who control the committee, furthermore majority of the members are independent and at least one member have financial expertise. Moreover the responsibly of AC is to assists the Board to fulfill its responsibilities with respect to financial and accounting reporting process also overview of risk management as well as internal and external audit process also unrestricted approach to the companys record . Chairman of the Board The chairman is responsible to supervise the board (subject to the power of board) and management of the company governance. Chairman responsibilities are, For instance Leads the Board Overall responsibilities for the development of strategies (together with CEO) Appointment and removal of proposal shareholder and executive management To ensure the alignment of boards strategies and board committee To ensure the proper flow of information In coordination with CEO, Responsible to organise and chair the board meeting Responsible to organise and chair the General Meeting Work close to nomination committee (assessment of board of director nomination) Takes a leading role to design the group corporate governance The Chief executive officer The chief executive officer is considered the supreme executive authority for the company and the Groups (subject to the power reserved to the board) the committee and the chairman, furthermore, CEO has following duties and powers, For instance Organise, manage and monitor the business affairs To approve, acquisitions, participations, investment and divestitures In coordination with chairman, submit proposal to the board for the nomination or dismissal To call and chair the meetings of Executive board Report to chairman The vice Chairmen The board shall appoint two independent directors as vice chairmen, responsibilities of vice chairmen are to work close to the chairmen and discuss industrial, strategic marketing, internal control as well as financial issue. Furthermore, one of them should be have financial expertise to ensure the good internal financial control and second should have industrial experience on the global level Code of Business Conduct The Nestlà © Code of Business Conduct are designed to provide a frame of reference against all possible situations that may occur and helps the continued implementation of the Corporate Business Principles Moreover the purpose of the code is to employees should seek guidance when they are in doubt situation, and avoid all those conduct which may damage Nestle reputation. The main points of code of business conduct, For instance Compliance with laws, rules and regulations Conflicts of Interest Outside directorships and other outside activities Families and Relatives Corporate opportunities Insider trading Antitrust and fair dealing Confidential information Fraud, protection of company assets, accounting Bribery and corruption Gifts, meals, entertainment Discrimination and harassment Failure to comply Reporting illegal or non-compliant conduct STRATEGIC APPROCHES FOR REDUCE POLITICAL, OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE VULNERABILITIES Corporate Business Principles (International) Nestle business objective is to market and manufacture the products such a way to create long term value for business partner, shareholders, consumers, and employees, and also to ensure the highest standard of organisation. Moreover nestle is committed to create the value for all those communities around the world where Nestle market there products. Nestle corporate business principles are based on, for instance, fairness, honesty and sound human values such as, consumer communication principal, human right principal, child labor and environment protection principal, and translated into 40 different languages Therefore, company respect and follows all applicable local, laws and legislation, religious practices and culture aspect. In additions, Nestlà © Management is committed to follow the Business Principles to avoid the administrative and operational Vulnerabilities; therefore management is responsible for, For instance, Manage professional skills, Curiosity and open-mindedness High level of interest in other cultures, Commitment to continuous learning, improving, and sharing knowledge Motivate staff in order to contribute wider group performance Involvement of each employee at all levels (concerned with continuously adding value to company). Consequencely, success of Nestle is a reflection of clear defines responsibilities, reflection of professionalism, responsible attitude of management, well defined objective as well as significant global leadership position. Company Performance (www.nestle.com) 15-Apr-2010 Strong support for Board proposals at Nestlà © AGM Mar-2010 Nestlà © Bets on Mexican Coffee 02-Mar-2010 Nestlà © completes acquisition of Kraft Foods frozen pizza business 05-Jan-2010 Nestlà © to acquire Kraft Foods frozen pizza business 05-Jan-2010 Nestlà © opens global RD Centre 04-Jan-2010 Nestlà © to sell remaining Alcon shares to Novartis. Annual General Meeting On 15-April-2010 The Nestle Annual General Meeting was held in VeVey (Switzerland), the main points of the meeting for instance, the meeting has approved the annual reports and re-elected the Peter Brabeck-Letmathe (chairman), for three year, also other board member such as Steven G. Hoch (Founder and senior partner) and Andrà © Kudelski (Chairman and CEO Kudelski group) and two new board members, Ms Titia de Lange and Mr. Jean-Pierre Roth selected for three years. Furthermore 2,640 shareholders have approved the proposal for increase the dividend to CHF 1.60 per share. Moreover chairman has point out the issue regarding deforestation of rainforest to shareholders and explained Nestle is working towards to the end of deforestation of rainforest. Acquisition of Kraft Foods frozen pizza business On 05-January 2010 Nestle has showed the interest to acquire the Kraft food frozen business in the USA and Canadian market with including brands are such as California Pizza, DiGiorno, Tombstone, Jacks and Delissio for USD 3.7 billion in cash. Furthermore it is considered that USA is the largest pizza market in the world and it generate about USD 37 billion, therefore Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestlà © said, This acquisition will bring the selection of great US and Canadian brands and also it will enhances Nestlà ©s frozen food activities in North America where Nestlà © only had a minor presence until now. In addition, this acquisition will provide a strong strategic pillar in the US and Canadian Market where company already established a leadership in dishes and hand held products, such as Lean Cuisine, Buitoni, Lean Pockets, Stouffers and Hot Pockets. Consequently, on 01 March 2010 after completion of closing conditions Nestlà © has concluded the acquisition of Kraft Foods frozen pizza. Nestlà © Bets on Mexican Coffee Nestlà © has announced the plans to invest US$ 390 million in Mexican production and infrastructure facilities. The investment will be directed Nescafe instant coffee processing plant to expand the capacity by 40%, which will make it the worlds largest coffee processing plant. Due to the low production cost and vast network of trade, Nestle is planning to build Mexico as a regional export hub in the American zone. Nestlà © opens global RD Centre On 05-Jan-2010 Nestlà © has open a Global RD center in Santiago de Chile. The New RD Center will include the bioactive ingredients to reduce the sugar and fat level in the biscuits without compromising the biscuit quality. Sell of remaining Alcon shares to Novartis On 04 Jan 2010 Nestlà © S.A. has transferred the Alcon remaining 156,076,263 shares representing around 52% of the companys issued and outstanding share to Novartis, accordance with the contract agreed on 6 April 2008. Moreover, the reason for transfer the control are gradually based on three issues for instance, The divestment of Alcon, The initial IPO of 23.25% in 2002 The sale of 24.8% in 2008 And the exercise of the call option by Novartis. Alcon was acquired by Nestlà © in 1977 for USD 280 million Nestle share buy back Programme. Nestle boards of Directors Continues to believe that significant share buy back Programme should help to drive the performance of food and beverage business and enhance the shareholder value, Therefore Nestle Board has announced share buy back Programme on 15 August 2007 for over the next three year subject to market conditions. The objective of this Programme was to improve capital efficiency and future prospects of food and beverage business. The Programme has been divided into two steps such as one of CHF 15 billion and one of CHF 10 billion. Furthermore, due to acquisition of Novartis medical nutrition and Gerber, which has created a critical Mass in Nutrition sales approx CHF 10 Billion? On the contrary the total value of repurchased share from August 2007 to December 2009 is CHF20.1 As a consequence, in 2009 the group has brought back CHF 7 billion which is equal worth of its own shares and the remaining CHF 5 billion in share will be brought back in the course of 2010. After completation of this Programme further group will launch a new CHF 10 billon share back Programme with intent to buy additional CHF 5 billion share before the end of the year. NOTABLE FACTS The worlds largest food and beverage company has been internationally criticized for purchasing and using the palm oil, water bottling issue in USA, child labor problems in cocoa-growing nations and its aggressive marketing of baby food product all over the world. Greenpeace Campaign. (www.greenpeace.org.uk) Greenpeace organisation has started a campaign against Nestle over its purchase of palm oil by an Indonesian company called Sinar Mas.  Greenpeace claims that Sinar Mas getting the palm oil by destroying the rainforest and use in it for candy bars and other products. Considerably, rainforests contributes about 20% of greenhouses gases also support transport sector. Therefore, deforestation of rainforests and the excessive use of bio-fuels are serious environmental issues on the global level. Bottle Water issue (Steel, Emily. 2010, Journal) Nestle is a top water bottling company and selling water under 70 different brands name in the world. Nestle controlled one third bottled water market in America. However, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and coalition of many others environmental and social justice organizations has launched a campaign against Nestle in North America to prevent the new bottle water facility in Cascade Locks Oregon. The reason for this campaign is bottled water facility would lead to the commodification of Oregons and it contributes to the plastic waste problem also it is the waste of prime resources and potential way to destroy the local wildlife. Baby Milk Scandal (www.babymilkaction.org) Nestle has been targeted and criticized by the International baby food action network (IBFAN) for the violation of international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes and also aggressive baby food marketing strategies for selling artificial infant feeding which has the cause of unnecessary death of children. SWOT ANALYSIS (2010. DATAMONITOR) Nestle is the world largest company by sales and strong brand portfolio with manufacturing and marketing the branded food product around the world. Strengths -Strong brand name According to the Inter brand management company, Nestlà © is one of the best-known companies in the world and ranked 63rd best global brands in 2008 and its top 30 brands earn over CHF 1,000 million which is 70% of its sales. Furthermore, For instance Customise products to the local market conditions Strong global operations RD Capabilities Weaknesses -Increasing product recalls history In November 2008, Nestlà © USA recalled the product called Nesquik Strawberry Powder, due to the fearing of small fragments of aluminum. Furthermore, Nestlà © Prepared Foods Co has recalled 900,000 pounds worth of meals the Lean Cuisine brand frozen chicken due to small chunks of blue plastic. Moreover in September 2008, in Hong Kong Company recalled UHT milk due to contain melamine chemical. Opportunities The Nestle is utilising the RD capabilities to achieve the competitiveness in the health and wellness market. For instance, Nestlà © is focusing on nutrition combining taste to reduce the fatty acids, salt and sugar and increase the micro nutrients such as minerals and vitamin for consumer better health and to ensure for the profitable growth. Furthermore, Nestle is working on, Scientific innovations to address obesity and diabetes On developing economies Focus on external Market Currently company generate 50% of food and beverage in North America, India, China, Russia, Brazil and company is expected double of the sale in next ten years. Threats -Issues The company has been internationally criticized for issues and fines for instance Purchase and use of palm oil Water bottling issue in USA, Child labor problems (in cocoa-growing nations) Aggressive marketing of baby food product all over the world -Fines In February 2009 Nestle and Coca Cola Company has been fine in US$ 650,000 against Enviga-Brand green tea beverage products. In February 2010 Nestle has been fine E30 million by Greeces competition watchdog for abusing against its dominant position in the coffee market. -Political and Economical Factor Nestle company is operating in 84 countries in the world with having entire different cultural, political and economical back ground. The concerning issues regarding these countries are, the political stability, the infra structure, the local regulation, the foreign trade which might be potentially affect on Nestle ability to do business with in these countries. Nestle Group sales, profitability and financial position (http://www.nestle.com) Nestlà © Groups sale in 2009 was in at CHF 107.6 billion, with organic growth of 4.1%. Operating profit was in at CHF15.7 billion, and net profit was CHF10.43 billion with organic growth of 4.1 percent. Underlying earnings per share rose from CHF 2.82 to CHF 3.09, which is equal to 9.6% , Food and Beverages sales was in CHF 99.8 billion, with organic growth of 3.9%,, Marketing and administrative expenses rose 33.7% of total sales. Nestle Expand RD capabilities in 10 basis points in developing countries. Reported EBIT margin was 30 basis or 14.6%, with an EBIT of CHF 15.7 billion. The Groups operating cash flow reached by 10.7billion or 67 %, the groups return on invested capital (ROIC) increased 15.6% (including goodwill) and 35.1% (excluding goodwill) and net debt reached CHF 18.1 billion. In 2009 consolidated In millions of CHF As % of Total Sale Sale 107,618 Net profit (b) 10,428 9.7% Operating cash flow 17,934 Capital Expenditure 4,641 4.3% Market capitalisation 174,294 Net Debit 18,085 EBIT (A) Group 15,699 14.6% Free cash flow (c) 12,369 EBIT (a) Food Beverage 13,083 13.1% Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent 48,915 Ratio of the debt to equity (gearing) 37.0% Over all cost of goods sold decreased by 110 basis points Distribution costs fell by 40 basis points Marketing and expenses rose by 110 basis points (equal 33.7% of total sale) Zone Americas: Total Sales was CHF 23.4 billion, with 6.4% organic growth and 2.3% real internal growth. In North America, internal growth accelerated in the, ice cream, pet care, soluble coffee and chocolate in the and slow down in frozen food, Moreover Brazil build the positive momentum and mainly to growth in dairy category also rest of the region has showed the positive improvement in the third quarter. Zone Europe: Total Sales was CHF 16.5 billion, with 0% organic and -1.5% real internal growth, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the Iberian region has rise internal growth. The Great Britain region delivered the strong performance, Eastern Europe presented a weaker real internal growth in Czech and Slovak Republics and Russia, positive in e Poland and the Ukraine Zone Africa, Asia and Oceania: Total Sales was CHF 11.7 billion with 3.0 real internal growth and 5.8% organic growth the organic growth was unchanged in Oceania and Japan and the rest of all emerging regions were improved in volumes, although real internal growth in Oceania and Japan was unchanged. Furthermore, China, Philippines, South Asia and Africa has shows the strong real internal growth. Appendices Appendix No 1: Appendix 3 Sale forecast Sale and EBIT Margin by operating segments Sales and EBIT Margin by Products.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Cults in our Midst :: Essays Papers

Cults in our Midst The book "Cults in our Midst", tells all about the problems of cults and what you should look for when trying to notice if someone is getting involved in a cult. It has many different ideas on what makes a cult and the problems that they put on our society. The interesting part of this book to our group was how it explained how cults use mind manipulation on people to get them to join a cult. It explains in a very efficient format how a cult goes about recruiting its members. The methods that cults use are not very ethical but the author does not approach the subject by choosing a side but instead lets the reader decide if what cults do is good or bad. I think that this was a good way to approach the reader because often times the author can sway his or her audience very easily by only stating the negative or positive side of a subject. I feel that the author had a very good hold on the subject and did a good job at bringing the information across a not a lot of opinions. I also got a lot of my information from a website. The website's address is www.factnet.org. It contained a lot of information on the use of mind control and cults. It had a lot of different ideas about approaches that cults took to entice members to join them. They had many useful links and information was put on the website in a manner that made it easy for you to find information on any area that you were interested in. They have a couple of paragraphs on each section that gives you a quick overview of the subject. If you would like to get more information on that subject matter they give you references and also links to other sites that would help you in your research.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Clinical decisions Essay

Support Tools Worksheet Read the following patient scenarios. Use the tables to identify and explain at least one to two clinical decision support tools that could be used in each scenario. Your explanations should be 50 to 150 words each. Example Scenario and Response A physician is asking that a new drug, DRUGx, be added to the formulary. This drug interacts with the drug INTERAx, causing severe convulsions or seizures and even death. Describe how the electronic system might be set up to protect patients from receiving DRUGx if they are already taking INTERAx. Consider the CPOE process you have read about in class. Scenario 1 A patient has a known allergy to penicillin. Describe how the electronic system might be set up to prevent this particular patient from getting penicillin. Consider the CPOE process you have read about in class. Clinical decision support tools and explanation I would choose the CPOE process because of the built in clinical decision support. Alerts will appear when orders are entered for medications that may contain pencillin. If the patient were to be prescribed a mediciation that  may cause a reaction that could result in the patients death. Scenario 2 Sepsis is a serious medical condition that many times sneaks up on clinicians because the vitals are not easily monitored. To recognize this condition, a trend of vital signs is needed so if the patient is deteriorating, the clinical team is able to recognize the need to intervene rapidly. If the vital signs are captured electronically, how could the system be leveraged to assist the clinical team in knowing they need to immediately help the patient? Consider trending of results, alerting, and communication devices. Clinical decision support tools and explanation When the vital signs are entered for each visit when a pattern in the vital signs are detected and alert will go off in the system. The doctors will be notified by built-in alerts that vital signs are following a certain pattern that may mean there is something serious going on. Scenario 3 A patient has Cochlear implants in both ears. She is not able to have any radiology exams done to her that use a magnet, as the implants could get pulled out of her ears. (They are surgically inserted.) How might the system help to notify the physician when he or she is ordering radiology exams on this type of patient? Additionally, is there any way to leverage the radiology system to let the radiology technician know of the potential issue with the implants? Clinical decision support tools and explanation Medical professionals are able to input information about patients. Therefore that information will be updated in CPOE which will prompt alerts if another physician inputs an order to have radiology exam an alert will pop up. Scenario 4 HIV is a serious infectious disease that must be reported to the state as soon as it is identified to prevent exposure and understand the incidence of the disease. How might the EHR help to communicate this to the government more rapidly? Consider how the system might share ranges of values across institutions. Clinical decision support tools and explanation I would choose to use a Drug/Drug Interaction tool, so we would be aware when there could be a severe reaction when a patient is prescribed both DRUGx and INTERAx. This tool would notify the appropriate individuals when someone wanted to prescribe both of these medications to a patient. I would have it alert the physician as soon as he or she entered the order in CPOE so they could have an opportunity to select another drug that would be appropriate for the patient.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Feminism in Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre was written in a time where the Bildungsroman was a common form of literature. The importance was that the mid-nineteenth century was, â€Å"the age in which women were, for the first time, ranked equally with men as writers within a major genre† (Sussman 1). In many of these novels, the themes were the same; the protagonist dealt with the same issues, â€Å"search for autonomy and selfhood in opposition to the social constraints placed upon the female, including the demand for marriage† (Sussman). Jane Eyre fits this mould perfectly. Throughout the novel, the reader follows Jane Eyre on a journey of development from adolescence to maturity to show that a desire for freedom and change motivates people to search for their own identity. Jane begins to form her identity with the aid of many characters she encounters at Lowood, Thornfield, and Marsh End. Miss Maria Temple, who was Jane's first significant female encounter at Lowood, functions as a role model and an influence for Jane. Miss Temple's character displays the breakdown of the Great Chain of Being, but in a more gentle way than Rochester or Jane herself. She defies Mr. Brocklehurst and his hypocritical ways only as far as she will still retain shelter and her place as a teacher. To Jane, Miss Temple embodies all of the qualities that a woman should. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar write, â€Å"Miss Temple, for instance, with her marble pallor, is a shrine of ladylike virtues: magnanimity, cultivation, courtesy – and repression† (Gilbert 344). While Miss Temple seems to show Jane what she should become, she also introduces her to control over her emotions. Unlike Jane, whose self-assertiveness permits her to give in to passionate confrontations, Miss Temple would â€Å"never allow `something' to speak through her, no wings will rush in her head, no fantasies of fiery heath disturb her equanimity, but she will feel sympathetic anger† (Gilbert 345). Her influence in Jane's adolescence and early adulthood teach her to have harmonious thoughts, and to give â€Å"allegiance to duty and order† (Gilbert 347). Here, Miss Temple teaches Jane to suppress her wild emotions and become compliant under the â€Å"superior† male, but still maintain an inward anger that can never be expressed. Jane, however, cannot conform to the lesson being taught to her; through Miss Temple, she learns that her journey into maturity and freedom requires her to be more independent and passionate than Miss Temple instructs. Miss Temple is not only like a mother figure to Jane, but she is also â€Å"encouraging of intellectual growth† (Rich 466). Temple's impact on Jane's education allows her to become stronger in character, which will eventually bring her to complete independence. Kathleen Tillotson finds in Miss Temple a sign of hope for Jane: â€Å"the warm fire and the cake from the cupboard in Miss Temple's room are assertions of individual loving-kindness, though also of it's limited power† (Tillotson 60) In spite of this, Tillotson writes that Jane at Thornfield is â€Å"submitting to virtue in lovable form, as she had once submitted to Miss Temple† (Tillotson 60). In other words, Tillotson argues that although Miss Temple may have positively influenced Jane in certain ways, ultimately her call for repression and submission instigates Jane's realization that she must discover her own place in life, and no one can dictate it for her. While Jane attends Lowood, she encounters another character that will help her to shape her identity. When Helen Burns is introduced to the novel, she brings with her a kind of warmth and spiritual light that touches Jane and Helen aids her in developing into the woman that she will soon become. She has a devout faith in Christ, and using this, Helen is able to function as Jane's main guide in building a strong character who is filled with forgiveness, hope and a strong sense of self. Helen allows Jane to peer into a world where â€Å"the values of endurance and obedience† (Singleton, 70) are visible. Jane often relies on Helen because she â€Å"is strong of will, awkward and blundering in the practical world yet intellectually and spiritually mature beyond her years . . . ithout pettiness, hysteria, or self-repudiation† (Rich 466). These qualities will help Helen in leading Jane down a path that will indefinitely make her shine amongst those who surround her. A sympathetic Helen Burns is seen lavishing emotions upon Jane that she has never felt before, let alone imagined. Helen assists Jane by being a mentor and a friend, a companion that Jane can confide in. â€Å"Helen and Miss Temple together represent two key facets of the feminist community: the need for companionship and mentors. These necessities are what the Reeds denied Jane† (Singleton 66). By showing Jane love and encouragement she teaches Jane that â€Å"primary importance is taming her rage and learning to forgive . . . that this is the model that Christ has set forth in the New Testament — to love one's enemies† (Singleton 73). As Helen encourages Jane to strive to be her best, she acts a â€Å"moral and ethical force† (Rich 467), she provides Jane with â€Å"a sense of her own worth and of ethical choice† (Rich 467). Bronte introduces Helen Buns into the novel to aid Jane and to be a guiding light in the ethical and moral world by showing Helen to be a character who is strong and true to herself, even until the end of her life; by using Helen as an example, when Jane leaves Lowood, she finds herself and she is ready to face to world with her head held high, face shining in the light. Another representation of religion, and also a strong male influence in Jane's life is that of St. John Rivers. The character of St. John is one of the final obstacles to Jane's maturation and understanding of her role as an independent and free woman. St. John represents, like the character of Brocklehurst before him, the hypocrisy and unwavering patriarchy of organized religion and its many hypocritical keepers, but unlike Brocklehurst, St. John's piety is more real and his misogyny somewhat more subtle, and, following his proposal, Jane comes to a better understanding of who she is and where her life is headed. St. John asks for Jane's hand in marriage, but not out of love; rather, he intends Jane to be a missionary wife, someone who will be of use to him in the service of God. According to Adrienne Rich, there is a certain virtue in this kind of offer, especially for Jane: â€Å"What St. John offers Jane is perhaps the deepest lure for a spiritual woman, that of adopting a man's cause or career and making it her own† (Rich 473). In this proposed marriage, there is the attraction of some of the things she has been searching for, namely a life of service and principle, and a way of overcoming the obstacles of patriarchy she has struggled with her entire life, by adopting a life in service to â€Å"male† cause. Therein lies a part of the problem, however, as service and principle are only part of what she desires in life, and, as she ultimately discovers, even beyond the attraction of taking on a more male role, that this will not fulfill her need for a life that is more complete. In the essay by Gilbert and Gubar, they explain, â€Å"In fact, as St. John's wife †¦ she will be entering into a union even more unequal than that proposed by Rochester, a marriage reflecting, once again, her absolute exclusion from the life of wholeness toward which her pilgrimage has been directed† (Gilbert 366). With St. John's proposal of marriage, Jane begins to comprehend more about herself and where her life is headed. She discovers that she cannot devote her energy and ambition towards fulfilling just a part of her life, such as the desire for service, but rather, she discovers that her life needs to be a life of â€Å"wholeness,† something that a marriage to St. John could never provide, because St. John, like Brocklehurst, is a â€Å"pillar of patriarchy† (Gilbert 366), a misogynist who is bent, consciously or unconsciously, on restraining Jane spiritually and emotionally. Rich points out in her essay that St.  John's offer of marriage is a means in which â€Å"he will use her† (Rich 473), and fortunately, Jane sees through the superficial benefits of a union with the patriarchal St. John, and that her for her to be content, she needs a life of wholeness. Armed with these realizations, Jane is now able to return to her true love, Rochester, on her own terms. The character of Mr. Edward Rochester influences the spiritual and personal growth of Jane through his relationship with her as the master at Thornfield and later, as her husband. His self-proclamation as being equal to Jane shows the breakdown of the Great Chain of Being. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar write that while in â€Å"one sense Jane and Rochester begin their relationship as master and servant, prince and Cinderella, Mr. B and Pamela, in another they begin as spiritual equals† (Gilbert 352). In his allowance of Jane to be his equal, he encourages her progression to a strong sense of her own identity and independence. In a more sexual light, Rochester is the one who will eventually awaken Jane to her own sexuality. This occasion exhibits Jane's journey into adult maturation: â€Å"it is he who will initiate her into the mysteries of the flesh† (Gilbert 355). Adrienne Rich states that the episodes at Thornfield encompass three defining aspects: the house, Rochester, and Bertha. Rich writes, â€Å"Jane comes to womanhood and to certain definitive choices about what it means to be a woman† (Rich 468). In other words, during her stay at Thornfield and due to her interactions with its inhabitants, namely Rochester, Jane realizes what being a woman suggests. The break down of the Great Chain of Being is shown through Rochester even further, when Jane finds that he is married to another woman. As she leaves him because of her strength and of her own free will, Jane's independence is reinforced. Critic Elaine Baruch contrasts this action to Romanticism, and states, â€Å"Unlike the lady of the chivalric romance who had merely to sit still in order to find a destiny in the form of some passing knight, modern woman must seek her own hero† (Baruch 157). Here, Baruch is commenting on how Rochester's dark and haunting past results in a positive outcome for Jane, in that it strengthens her independence and desire for freedom and identity. Instead of deliberately wasting time waiting for destiny to find her, Jane seeks out the right destiny for herself. The various characters in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre provide the heroine with both role models and obstacles to her maturation into adulthood, and more importantly, womanhood. Jane's experiences with these characters, and what she takes from each, show the importance of determining for oneself his or her own morals, ethics, goals, and by not allowing others to dictate how one lives his or her life, love, wealth, and ultimately happiness can be achieved. All people have their own unique set of traits, from their morality to their spirituality, their speech, and their faults. To be a person who is happy and truly successful on spiritual, emotional, and physical levels, one must draw from the good and decent people he or she meets that which will be ultimately beneficent; for example, emulating and learning from the spirituality of a person who is truly and passionately spiritual. Unfortunately, not all the people a person meets in his or her life will have qualities which a person will want to emulate; in a way, these people become obstacles to a person's pilgrimage towards self-understanding and happiness. These people, the barriers to a person's self-development, are just as important as the people who function as positive role models. Those who are consciously or unconsciously determined to stop those on the path to happiness and self-discovery can be destructive, but they can also be unintentionally helpful. All too often, these figures are successful in breaking other another person's will and forcing their principles upon him, but when people like this, the hypocrites, the self-righteous, the misogynists, the arrogant aristocrats, and the like, fail, that previously oppressed person becomes significantly stronger by overcoming these barriers. Ultimately, nearly everyone has a life-long struggle with self-identity, and nearly everyone has encountered these influential people in his life, the role models and the obstacles. Unfortunately many become victims to the authority of those people who would force their will upon others, and ultimately, most people never complete their journey to independence; all too often they give up, and allow themselves to bent to the will of others. It is evident that this pilgrimage is a long and arduous one, a journey that few complete, and the author suggests that on top of the inherent difficulty of this journey, women have an even greater challenge before them. Because of the insidious and ubiquitous influence of patriarchy in the author's society, the journey towards independence and self-understanding becomes significantly more difficult for women; it is a truly joyous occasion when a woman does succeed in breaking free from the chains of male dominated society, becoming independent, self-aware, and, hopefully, happy.