Saturday, August 31, 2019

Differentiating Between Market Structures Essay

Coca-Cola is one of the world’s top selling soft drink companies. Coca-Cola has continuously progressed since it began 1886. A pharmacist in Atlanta named Dr. John S. Pemberton created a unique soft drink flavor that could be sold at soda fountains. The credit for the name and trade mark goes to Frank M. Robinson. Frank was Dr. Pemberton’s partner and bookkeeper. Today Coca-Cola is the manufacturer of over 500 brands of products sold in over 200 countries worldwide. The Coca-Cola Company operates in an oligopoly. An oligopoly is a market structure in which there are only a few firms and firms explicitly take from other firms’ likely response into account; there are often significant barriers to entry that prevent smaller firms from making an impact(Colander, 2013). There are several different reasons why Coca-Cola is an oligopoly. Only two firms dominate the majority of the market share, Coca-Cola and Pepsi. There are other smaller firms in the market, but their market share in the industry is very small when compared to these two major firms. Small companies do not have the financial capital to start a brand on a massive scale. For, small companies, the barriers to entering the industry are too high. The high operating cost of production in the soft drink industry prevents companies from entering the soft drink market. Comparisons Oligopoly has previously been defined as a market structure in which there are only a few firms and firms explicitly take from other firms’ likely response into account; there are often significant barriers to entry that prevent smaller firms from making an impact(Colander, 2013). A few firms mean the number of firms has to be significantly low, as in this case two Coca- Cola and Pepsi, for there to be acknowledgment that each firm aware that its future prospects depend on both its policies and the policies of its rival. Firms in oligopoly can use either high-price strategy or low-price strategy to maximize their profit. An industry is defined as a group of firms where the firm’s products are close substitutes for one another that have a high and positive cross elasticity of demand (WEI, 2012). Coca-Cola and Pepsi are in an oligopoly market. Both companies sell the same product, giving them power over pricing, both companies will take into consideration each otherâ€⠄¢s actions are changing the prices of their  products. Prices of their goods usually change according to the kinked demand curve. The kinked demand curve theory is an economic theory about oligopoly and monopolistic competition. If other firms ignored price increases and price decreases brought about lowering of prices by competitors, the firm will have a demand curve with the kink at the present market price of P*. Firms believe that a kinked demand curve is brought about from basic strategic considerations. Usually, low pricing strategy is used by both firms simultaneously to increase market profits. As the summer holidays approach, the firms will use harsh competition practices to buildup sales, and in turn increase profit. Game theory is applied to be a market share. A game theory is a pricing policy, and it helps a firm to enhance profit (WEI, 2012). The barriers are high to enter this market. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have signed a cartel contract. The two firms will become a cartel to avoid other firm from entering this market because it will decrease their economic profit. Cartel is a small number of firms acting together to limit cost, raise price, and increase profit. Neither Coca-Cola nor Pepsi exit from this market, another firm will become a monopoly. The soft drink price will become higher (WEI, 2012). Monopolistic competition is present when the market has multiple sellers marketing differentiated products. Retail trade can be used as an example. Oligopoly represents a steady market form where a few sellers dominate in the market and each firm has a certain amount of share of the market. Both firms are aware of their dependence on each other. Competitive Strategies Coca-Cola and Pepsi take part in non-price product differentiation. Product differentiation is the process of distinguishing a service or product from other products, to make it more appealing to a targeted market. On a rare occasion, will you see Pepsi try to challenge Coca-Cola in pricing. These two companies use creative advertisement instead. Another competitive strategy that, can be used by Coca-Cola is to produce their product globally. Coca-Cola will need to obtain contracts with restaurant chains to be their sole distributor of soft drinks. By partnering with major food chains, it guarantees that consumers on have the choice of purchasing their product. If you only have one choice, it is almost a guarantee your product will be purchased. Product packaging, which is also another form of product  differentiation. Coca-Cola cans and bottles are constantly changing to give consumers a new sense of worth. If Coca-Cola did not keep its packaging updated, Pepsi would gain market share from consumers who have become bored Coca-Cola customers. Recommendations Loyalty programs can be used to gain customer loyalty. Coca-Cola can offer discounts and free products to customers who buy large quantities of their product. Loyalty programs would provide an encouragement for customers to stay loyal to the Coca-Cola brand. Product line expansion, by expanding their product line Coca-Cola will be able to reach a wide variety of customers. With the growth of the global economy, Coca-Cola will need to target the tastes of certain customers. An example would be; people’s soft drink choices are different in Asia than they are in Africa. There will have to do an enormous amount of research and testing to find the right products for these markets. Although the investment will be costly, it will prove to be valuable in the long run. Summary Coca-Cola is in an oligopoly market for obvious reasons. Coca-Cola and Pepsi dominate the soft drink market. There are significant barriers to entry that prevent smaller firms from making an impact on the market. Because of their dominance, the two companies can compete in area like marketing and product expansion to maximize profit. Success is driven by product differentiation through product packaging and advertising. By putting into place loyalty programs and expanding the product line, Coca-Cola will continue to be the top selling soft drink company. Reference Lin, H. (2012). Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi: The Economics behind Coke’s Dominance. Retrieved from http://economicstudents.com/2012/10/coca-cola-vs-pepsi-the-economics-behind-cokes-dominance/ Wei, G. C. (2012). Oligopoly-Coca-Cola & Pepsi. Retrieved from http://economicsdicussion.blogspot.com/2012/11/oligopoly-coca-cola-pepsi.html Octotutor. (2014). The Market Structure of the Coca-Cola Company. Retrieved from http://octotutor.com/the-market-structure-of-the-coca-cola-company/

Friday, August 30, 2019

Solventless Claisen-Schmidt Condensation of Benzaldehydes

Backgrounds and Theory (A)Introduction of aldol condensation In an aldol condensation reaction, the ? -carbon of an aldehyde or ketone molecule reacts with another carbonyl carbon to form a ? -hydroxyl aldehyde or ? -hydroxyl ketone, followed by dehydration to give a conjugated enone if an ? -H is present. It is a very useful reaction for the synthesis of ? ,? -unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The aldehyde or ketone molecule is first converted to enol or enolate by acid or base catalyst respectively. In this experiment, the base-catalyzed method is used and the ? proton of the aldehyde or ketone molecule is removed by a strong base like hydroxides and alkoxides to form an enolate ion: Although hydroxide ion is not strong enough to convert all of the aldehyde or keton molecules to the corresponding enolates for both aldehydes and ketones (i. e. the equilibrium lies well to the left), there are usually enough enolate ions for the reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. The enolate ion will then react with the carbonyl compound to form an intermediate anion, which is quickly protonated by water. When the ? hydroxyl aldehyde or ? -hydroxyl ketone is formed, it will be sometimes spontaneously dehydrated to give an ? ,? -unsaturated carbonyl compound since a C=C bond can be formed by this process and it is very stable due to the conjugation with the carbonyl group. Therefore if the dehydration is not spontaneous, it can also be easily induced by gentle heating. However, self condensation will occur, especially if both of the reactants are ketones, and a mixture of products will be formed. This is mainly due to the similar electrophilicity of the reactants.For example, when 3-pentanone is reacted with cyclopentanone: A mixture of products will be formed as both the reactants can become enolate ion and react with itself or another reactant. Also, more kinds of products will be formed after dehydration as different kinds of ? -proton is available. If the reactants are unsymmetrical, the reaction will become more regioselective. For example, if 2-methylpentan-3-one is reacted with reacted with cyclopentanone: The upper one will be the major product since ? -proton is available for the formation of conjugated double bond by dehydration.The extra stability of the product shifts the equilibrium to its side. (B)Claisen-Schmidt Condensation – a Branch of Aldol Condensation Clasisen-Schmidt condensation is a branch of aldol condensation which eliminates most of the regioselectivity problems. In the reaction, an aromatic aldehyde is condensed with a ketone to form an ? ,? -unsaturated ketone. For example: Since an extra alkyl group (EDG) is present in ketone, it is less electrophilic than the aldehyde. Therefore only the ? -carbon of the ketone will attack the aldehyde, but not the other way round.Also, there will not be any self condensation as only aldehyde will be attacked. The dehydration process of the above reaction is also regioselective as there is only one kind of ? -proton present in the compound. Therefore only one kind of product will be formed. In this experiment, the Clasisen-Schmidt condensation of benzaldehyde and p-methylacetophenone will be studied. (C)Traditional Method vs Solventless Method (Green Chemistry) Organic reactions usually require organic solvents as to provide a medium for the interactions of reactants and to moderate the temperature and reaction rate.Nevertheless, the use of organic solvent needs a significant cost on materials required and also increases the burden to chemical waste treatment and the environment. Green Chemistry is therefore developed in order to reduce material consumption and increase the efficiency of chemical production by minimizing the use of solvents. The Claisen-Schmidt condensation of benzaldehyde and acetophenone would have a very high atom economy (> 92%) with the reaction solvent eliminated. In this experiment, the efficiencies of the traditional and solventless methods will be compared.

Cause and Effect Essay (Smoking Cigarettes) Essay

â€Å"Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and another 8.6 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking†(Mehta). One of the most common problems today that are killing people, all over the world, is smoking. Many people start this horrible habit because of stress, personal issues and high blood pressure. Some people began showing off or some people wanted to enjoy it . One cigarette can result in smoking others, which can lead to major addiction. When someone smokes a cigarette they are not only hurting themselves, but are also hurting others around them. Smoking affects the body by turning the skin color yellow, producing an odor, and making the skin age faster. â€Å"Smoking also causes diseases such as coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer†(Mehta). Not long ago smoking was considered a casual past time with people smoking in restaurants and around childre n but now we know the consequences can now be dire to the environment, your health, and the others around you. The smoking addiction is quite the costly habit. In many cities, a pack of cigarettes costs close to $10. For the two pack per day smoker, this averages more than $500 per month. This sort of expense can be eliminated from one’s life thus causing one to have a much more flexible budget. The costs of smoking, however, is not limited only to one’s bank account. The costs of smoking has a great impact on one’s health also. When people are addicted, they have a compulsive need to seek out and use a substance, even when they understand the harm it can cause. â€Å"Someone who is addicted to cigarette smoking smokes two or more packs per day, anywhere and for more than a few years† (Lee). It is actually the nicotine in tobacco that is addictive. â€Å"Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette†( Mehta). Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to create an addiction. Nicotine is only one of more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous, found in the smoke from tobacco products. Cigarettes poison the body both physically and mentally and also have social effects. Smoking can lead to social problems because it causes bad breath, and odorous smell and often isolation. Every time the smoker speaks, a pungent smell emanates from the mouth and towards the listener. Smoking also causes a pungent smell to linger on the body and clothes of the smoker. The smoking smell is very strong and it affects the listener. The smoke attaches to the body of the smoker. Smoking is not only dangerous to your well being but also the health of others and the environment. When you breathe in smoke that comes from the end of a lit cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is exhaled by a smoker, you’re inhaling almost the same amount of chemicals as the smoker breathes in. â€Å"Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemical compounds, more than 50 of which are known to cause cancer† (Shields ). These are just a few of the chemicals that float into your lungs when you are exposed to secondhand smoke Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. Some of these harmful effects are immediate. Nicotine addiction is hard to beat because it changes your brain. The brain develops extra nicotine receptors to accommodate the large doses of nicotine from tobacco. When the brain stops getting the nicotine it’s used to, the result is nicotine withdrawal. A person may feel anxious, irritable, and have strong cravings for nicotine. Smoking takes a toll on one’s mouth. Smokers have more oral health problems than non-smokers, such as mouth sores, ulcers and gum disease. Smokers are also more likely to get cancers of the mouth and throat. Smoking can cause the skin to be dry and lose elasticity, leading to wrinkles and stretch marks. The skin tone may become dull and grayish. By one’s early 30s, wrinkles can begin to appear around the mouth and eyes, causing drastic aging. Smoking raises your blood pressure and puts stress on your heart. Over time, stress on the heart can wea ken it, making it less able to pump blood to other parts of the body. Carbon monoxide from inhaled cigarette smoke also contributes to a lack of oxygen, making the heart work even harder. This increases the risk of heart disease, including heart attacks. Smoking effects the body by turning the skin color yellow, producing an odor, and making the skin age more. Smoking is considered as one of the most dangerous habits of an individual. â€Å"20% of persons living in the United States still smoke, and smoking remains the number one cause of preventable mortality† (Tolstrup). There are numerous harmful as well as dangerous effects related to smoking. Carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke has been related to several adverse impacts on the lungs and heart. Smoking causes damage to the internal body, causing alterations to the quality of internal organs. For example, smoking affects the lung by damaging the air sac. Damaging the air sac limits the passageway of air, and progressively leads to emphysema. Smoking also leads to the increased probability of cancer, such as lung cancer and heart failure. Ultimately, reliance on smoking damages the human body, causing more susceptibility to diseases. â€Å"Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease.†(Shields). Carbon monoxide and nicotine both put a strain on the heart by making it work faster. They also increase your risk of blood clots. Other chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lining of your coronary arteries, leading to furring of the arteries. If you smoke, you increase your risk of developing heart disease. â€Å"Smoking cigarettes is harmful to health†(Lee), that is a warming sentence which shown on pack of cigarettes. Therefore, the effects of smoking cigarettes on human’s life are serious. Smoking has become a trend in today’s world, even though people know how harmful it is. Smoking causes are obvious it will ruin your health and give you series of health issues. Smoking affects not only you but other around you. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who choose to smoke and the others around them are affected the most by this life threatening activity. Smoking is a habit which individuals find difficult to quit. Both the causes and effects of smoking has hazardous outcomes that are preventable. The thorough understanding of the chemical as well as smoking internal and external effects of the body are important in order to to battle the issue facing the entire nation. Works Cited Lee, Joann, and Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher. â€Å"What Does It Take To Be A Smoker? Adolescents’ Characterization Of Different Smoker Types.† Nicotine & Tobacco Research 13.11 (2011): 1106-1113. Consumer Health Complete – EBSCOhost. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. Mehta, Neil, and Samuel Preston. â€Å"Continued Increases In The Relative Risk Of Death From Smoking.† American Journal Of Public Health 102.11 (2012): 2181-2186. Business Source Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. Shields, Margot, and Kathryn Wilkins. â€Å"Smoking, Smoking CessationSmoking Cessation And Heart Disease Risk: A 16-Year Follow-Up Study.† Health Reports 24.2 (2013): 12-22. Consumer Health CompleteComplete – EBSCOhost. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. Tolstrup, Janne S., et al. â€Å"Smoking And Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease In Younger, Middle-Aged, And Older Adults.† American Journal Of Public Health 104.1 (2014): 96-102. Business Source Complete. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Ansel Adams Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ansel Adams - Term Paper Example At the same time, he provided ample importance to experimentation in the field of photography. Thesis statement: Ansel Easton Adams’ contributions to the context of photography prove that he made use of the same as a medium to communicate with the viewers and to express his views on nature, and his works are symbolic of the amalgamation of photography, environmental awareness, and music under a single roof. Biographical information Adams was born in the year 1902, in California. Adams’ father (Charles Hitchcock Adams) was a businessman (say, lumber business), who worked with his father (Adams’s grandfather). But Charles Hitchcock Adams was not interested in business because he was interested in Astronomy. In addition, Adams’ father was deeply influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s naturalism. His mother, Olive Bray Adams was a homemaker. During his childhood, Adams was hyperactive and it prevented him from being the part of traditional schooling. So, A dams completed his school education by private tuitions. Besides, this de-schooling deeply influenced his later life as a nature photographer. Later, he joined Mrs. Kate M. Wilkins Private School to complete his education. One can see that Adams’ photographs represent his deep relationship with nature which was deeply indebted to his father’s influence upon him. ... Gradually, Adams began to participate in art exhibitions and exhibited his works. In the year 1928, he married a young lady named as Virginia Best, who later became the owner of Best's Studio. One can see that his career as a photographer is deeply influenced by music. Besides, Adams was interested in experimental photography. In the year 1933, he was able to open a gallery, specially prepared to exhibit his creative works in photography. This initiative was helpful to establish himself as a professional photographer. Adams passed away in the year 1984. Important works Some of the important works by Ansel Adams, like Rose and Driftwood, Clearing Winter Storm, Moonrise, and The Tetons and the Snake River are discussed here. As pointed out, Adams’ works are renowned for the close relationship with nature. He tried his level best to portray the secrets of nature, through the eyes of a naturalist. The photograph named as Rose and Driftwood (see appendix-1), 1932, which was capture d by him in San Francisco is the rare combination of animate and inanimate objects in nature. For instance, the rose represents the animate objects and the rosewood represents the inanimate objects in nature. Besides, this photograph is symbolic of his decision to give up his career as a musician. At the same time, this photograph reveals Adams’ awareness on the wise usage of natural light in photography. In addition, the similarity between the petals of the rose flower and the pattern on the driftwood is noteworthy. The photograph named as Clearing Winter Storm (see appendix-2) was captured by Adams in the year 1940. One can see that this photograph was taken at Yosemite National Park. Adams waited for a long time to capture this photograph because and

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Other Side of Homeschooling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Other Side of Homeschooling - Research Paper Example This essay declares that homeschooling has been tagged as an offspring of older pedagogical movements which value individualism, non-conformity and empowerment, which most schools do not encourage. Proponents of homeschooling were former supporters of ‘free schools’ which were considered left-wing and detest conformity and ‘rat-race’ status-seeking that is usually associated with schools. Since homeschooled children are isolated from school and are expected to be educated from home, they are likewise not conforming to any norm dictated by the school environment. Being so, they are thought of as being deprived of social contact with their peers and other adults. Tis discussion declares that home-schooled children may excel academically, and even outstrip their peers in academic tests. Socially, they are deprived of experiencing normal peer interactions that bring about challenging situations that make them stronger as individuals. The social adjustment that goes with being with other young people or situations that make them struggle to survive on their own build character and develop coping skills they would need as grown-ups in the real world. Being shielded from differing personalities of people leaves them unable to interact appropriately especially with those with difficult temperaments. Teachers who encourage an â€Å"open classroom climate†, push their students to air divergent viewpoints to stimulate their thinking and test their faithfulness to their long-held beliefs. When students hear different perspectives, it helps them understand an issue better and become less likely to feel

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Leadership and Organizational Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Leadership and Organizational Culture - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that there are totally four CEO’s whose leadership style is different. The leadership style of an individual highly depends upon the individual behaviour of the person and set of attitude and beliefs molded in his mind. Some believe firmly that autocratic leadership style will bring out more productivity. Some believe that participative leadership is best and some others feel that free reign is best. The behaviour and the set of attitude possessed by the person is what make the person implement such leadership strategy within the organization. This study outlines that leading can be done in many ways depending upon the individual parameters. Leadership issues are mostly found in organizations and it is highly oriented towards the top level management within the organization. The overall effectiveness of the organization is depended upon the capability of the leader to manage the resources effectively and efficiently to achieve the organizational goals and objectives with an increase in the overall productivity. It is not only the responsibility of the leader to clearly identify and define the goals and objectives of the business, but also involves designing and framing useful methods by which those goals and objectives can be accomplished. â€Å"In organizations, leadership is about influencing employees to buy into the vision of the leader, motivating them to deploy all resources available at their disposal to achieve objectives set by the leader†.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Product or Service Design Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Product or Service Design - Research Paper Example However, I shall be using the example of two very famous products and services around us. Firstly, I shall be describing the iPhone. This smart gadget, manufactured by Apple Inc, is more than just a phone and has revolutionized the communication and entertainment world around us. Secondly, I shall describe about a famous service that most people are addicted to. This is Facebook, the social networking website that has become one of the most popular websites of all times with millions of members from around the world. Competitive advantage refers to the advantages a product or a service enjoys over its competitors. In the context of iPhones, the product has a great competitive edge on its competitors. Firstly, when the product was launched, the iPods (another entertainment product by Apple Inc) had already captured the market. Hence, when Apple combined all those features into a phone, the product itself developed a competitive edge and became unique. Moreover, Apple provided the option to the users to install applications of their own choice. This option was never provided before in any phone, hence this also made the iPhone a unique product. Besides this, the sleek design and the touch interface also made apple acquire a competitive edge in the market. iPhone faced its biggest competition with well established brands in the communication market such as Motorolla and Nokia. Both these companies have launched their products in competition to the iPhone introducing almost the same features. Facebook, in order to get a competitive advantage, targeted the service only for college students initially. They allowed college students within a network to interact with each other. This created their demand amongst the social networking websites. Besides, Facebook also allowed users to use applications of their choice. When Facebook entered the social networking market, it faced its greatest competition from Myspace and Orkut. Both these websites had

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Social Networking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Networking - Research Paper Example There is a long list of things one can delve on social networking sites; for example, keeping in touch with family and friends, being "nosey", expressing personal opinions and views, meeting people with similar interests, and also for specific and distinct reasons like documenting trips, availing of opportunities to date, and sharing photographs, music, video clips, and other endeavors. In this regard, the essay aims to find out everything there is to know about social networking and the ethical issues that relate to it. The discourse would initially trace its origin, define social networking, identify the pros and cons of being involved in these sites, and determine the ethical issues pervading social networking sites (SNSs). Finally, policy recommendation pertinent to major ethical principles seen to be applicable in social networking sites would be proffered. Social Networking: Ethical Issues Reviewed Contemporary generation has joined the bandwagon of active participants in socia l networking sites (SNSs) that one wonders if all users really know its origin and the intricate details that envelope its existence. For sure, today’s social network patronizers could not even imagine a world without SNSs. Just like any organizational structure, SNSs are bound by ethical standards and codes of moral conduct and discipline that participants are expected to adhere to and that SNSs themselves, are obliged to comply. The current research aims to find out everything there is to know about social networking and the ethical issues that relate to it. The discourse would initially trace its origin, define social networking, identify the pros and cons of being involved in these sites, and determine the ethical issues pervading social networking sites (SNSs). Finally, policy recommendation pertinent to major ethical principles seen to be applicable in social networking sites would be proffered. Historical Background In a study conducted by Boyd and Ellison (2007), the origin of SNS, first recognizable, was traced in 1997, through the efforts and creative design of SixDegrees.com. As averred, â€Å"SixDegrees.com allowed users to create profiles, list their Friends and, beginning in 1998, surf the Friends lists† (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, par. 15). On the other hand, Davies (2010) presented an even earlier discovery of SNSs historical beginnings with a social media site reported to be created by Randy Conrad, Classmates.com, where the website’s aim was to help â€Å"helps members find, connect and keep in touch with friends and acquaintances from school life. Classmates has more than 40 million active members in the US and Canada. In early 2008, Nielson Online ranked Classmates as number 3 in unique monthly visitors among social networking sites† (Davies, 2011, par. 2). The figure below illustrates historical date lines of major SNSs as presented by Boyd and Ellison (2007, par. 19): Source: Boyd and Ellison (2007) After 2006, Davi es’ timeline indicate that the newest addition to the SNSs was Google.com/buzz, which as reportedly designed â€Å"to integrate the googles web-based program, G-mail. Shared links and messages show up in the user’s inbox. Buzz focuses on  integrating  photos, videos and links as part of the â€Å"conversations† aspects of G-mail like conversation threading† (Davies, 2011, par. 10). Definitions of SNSs Boyd and Ellison (2007) defined SNSs as â€Å"web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Continental Airlines, Inc and McDonnell Douglas Corporation Article

Continental Airlines, Inc and McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Article Example The case was submitted to the jury. On the basis of Continental’s theories of fraud, it was taken as evidence by the jury. Supreme Court ruling Hauter v. Zogarts (1975), it was held that the promises of safety were not statements of â€Å"opinion† or just â€Å"puffing† but representations of facts. Thus, the four representations of the brochure were not opinions but statements of facts. Further, the statements made by McDonnell Douglas were material. There is substantial evidence that Douglass statements regarding Landing Gear Breakaway were material and that Continental rightly trusted them in deciding to clinch the DC-10 deal. The court viewed the evidence in the light most well disposed to the judgment, taking all reasonable inferences and not taking conflicting evidence. There was evidence as quoted in section F that the landing gear was designed to break away from the wing without rupturing the wing fuel tank, which was material and rightfully trusted by Co ntinental. It is further proved by Douglass argument that Continental must prove that a clean landing gear breakaway was a condition of its decision to purchase the DC-10, rather than the L-1011, proving that Continental trusted the statements of McDonnell Douglas. California law is quite clear about whether it constitutes fraud making reckless false representations without any consideration to the truth. It states that â€Å"[s]ince direct proof of fraudulent intent is often impossible, the intent may be established by [in]ference [216 Cal.App.3d 412] from acts of the parties.' [Citation]† Another established law is that if evidence is applicable for any purpose it must be taken into consideration, even if it may not be proper for another purpose.   California law is quite clear

Friday, August 23, 2019

Implications of Outsourcing to China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Implications of Outsourcing to China - Essay Example 2005). The business culture of china is totally different from that of the western countries. However due to the recent developments the business culture is coming in terms with the traditional practices. Most of the Chinese business contacts are referrals. Normally a business relationship develops on the basis of recommendations. Best prices and deals come from strong recommendations. However due to the advancement of technology, now internet, cold calls and direct contacts also influence the business culture of China. All business relationships in china which has an individual nature gradually develop into a social one very shortly unlike in the case of western culture where the relationship is truly professional. The concept of seniority is of very much importance in China especially when it comes to dealing with state run enterprises. High respect and rank is given to seniority (Understanding Chinese business culture and etiquette.2011). In the organizational culture front, there is fierce competition that is prevailing in China particularly in the technology industry like outsourcing. Constant innovations are a book mark for sustainability. Leveraging of intellectual capital and strong linkage between human resource management practices and knowledge related outcomes are other features (Chow.& Liu.2007). China is rapidly moving towards a fully established market economy. It is slowly emerging as a leader in outsourcing business. But still the state is responsible for monitoring this transition. For outsiders, the economic decision making looks confusing because of the related patchwork of competing geographical and sectarian authorities operate in the country. There is imposition of taxes, rents as well as regulations all done by the authorities before the project is undertaken and during its lifetime. The economic decision making is made at the central level as well as the state level. Now there is a growing willingness from the part of the authorities to devolve the executive powers to local authorities for the smooth decision making (Political environment. 1986). The economic environment of china with regard to outsourcing in particular is some what encouraging now. With deflationary pressures not in the anvil since 2003, the only worrying factor is the inflationary rate which the Chinese government claims to keep within three percent this year. Moreover entering the WTO as well as economic development coupled with rich economic resources provide bright future for the country (The economic environment in China. 2004). Overall the monetary environment in China looks favorable. China has taken giant leaps to improve the environmental and labor conditions in the outsourcing business area. This has made to bring down costs to a considerable extent. But since 2008, the outsourcing in china is not that cheap when compared with previous years. There was an increase of around 20% in costs in the outsourcing industry over the years. The co ncept of low cost manufacturing is fast disappearing in China. It is becoming an expensive place to do business. This is because of the strict environmental and labor laws enacted by the Chinese government (Maltby.E. 2008). The legal environment in China is strictly regulated. All business entering Chinese market is required to establish a legal entity under the Chinese law. In some areas

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management Essay

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management - Essay Example Other cultures seek a more sensitive leader with empathetic and charismatic personalities and strategies. Not just related to cultural dynamics, I must understand the state of employees (as well as myself) if I am go build trust and confidence in my decision-making processes. This is why I felt to discuss my strength as a leader in relation to cultural sensitivity and awareness. I understand that most organizations have diverse populations of workers that hail from different ethnic, regional and just general lifestyle cultures. All of these individuals have differing beliefs, values and attitudes that must somehow find harmony when working with others in group settings. Fairholm (2009) describes the transformational leadership model, one in which a shared vision and mission must be established, where the leader role models desired behaviours, and also opens effective lines of communication. In order to provide any meaningful feedback or direction, others have to trust in my judgment. As a transformational leader, I must get the whole organisation on board with a singular vision. Having an understanding of the foundational concepts of long-term orientation, individualism, collectivism, and other important characteristics of diverse employees is highly valuable in understanding how to approach certain cultures. In a collectivist organisation, which is the goal of the transformational leadership model, people appreciate and find personal identity through group membership and social belonging (Hofstede, Hofstede and Minkov 2010; Hofstede and Hofstede 2005; Hofstede 2001). I realise it will be necessary for this type of culture to focus on group rewards, establishing collective rewards, and also promoting better socialisation among tacit and explicit knowledge holders. Understanding both the emotional states of others and their cultural values will assist in develop cohesive vision direction and promoting better work group outcomes. Whilst also providing strengths, I must be critical of my weaknesses. One of these is an inherent ethnocentrism, a belief in the superiority of my own cultural values. Even though I understand the needs of others, I am sometimes frustrated when what I view as over inter-dependency occurs between organisational members. I do not personally have much of a need for the social condition and belonging within the organisation since I trust in my own competencies and maintain very positive self-esteem. I have reached the self-actualisation stage of development, one that is highly motivated to succeed and do not require the affiliation nearly as strongly as others. Now, achievement is considered a significant strength in leadership. An achievement-minded leader gets intrinsic self-satisfaction from excellence in a task and reaching a standard of excellence (Kirkpatrick and Locke 1991). However, this over-confidence in my own abilities sometimes translates into frustration or disappointment for those who have not yet achiev ed the type of confidence that I have earned through experience. This is apparent in my body language, if not my words. It is something I must work on: finding balance between ethnocentrism, self-confidence and finding empathy for others that require more social approvals to build their self-esteem. A quality-focused leader must appeal to the needs of employees by first motivating and then inspiring followers (Kotter 2001). I have another strength which is excellent communication skills,

Final global business plan Essay Example for Free

Final global business plan Essay The ASEAN was founded in 1967 to promote the alliances of the countries in Southeast Asia. The current members of the ASEAN are the Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam (ASEAN, 2010) Physical Environment The physical environment of Southeast Asia is primarily a warm climate other than the high elevation areas (Andaya, 2009). The physical environment also differs from the ocean and jungle geographical areas. A primary concern within the physical environment is the availability of safe drinking water in many areas of Southeast Asia and the air quality. Political Stability The political stability within Southwest Asia is very questionable in many areas of the region due to the terrorist activities; however with the support of the U.S. and other countries the threat is reduced just not eliminated. A scoring system was used to evaluate the region based on data that was provided by AMB Country Risk Reports. The rating system is; One Very Low Risk, two Low Risk, three Moderate Risk, four High Risk, and five -Very High Risk. The country leads the region with are risk score of one is Singapore followed by Indonesia two, Malaysia and Thailand three, Philippines and Viet Nam 4. The Philippines and Viet Nam have significant political risks that need to be taken into consideration (A.M. Best, 2010). Economic Conditions The economic risks within major countries of Southeast Asia are moderate at best. In the recent economic downward trend Southeast Asia is seeing the effects the slowing economic trend with their major trading partners the United States and Europe. The demands for exports are decreasing and forecasts for 2009-2010 expect this trend to continue (A.M. Best, 2010). A scoring system was used to evaluate the region based on data that was provided by AMB Country Risk Reports the rating system is; One Very Low Risk, two Low Risk, three Moderate Risk, four High Risk, and five -Very High Risk.† The country leads the region with are risk score of one is Singapore, followed by Indonesia two, Malaysia and Thailand three, Philippines and Viet Nam four. The Philippines and Viet Nam have significant economic risks that need to be taken into consideration (A.M. Best, 2010). Financial Options and Risks The financial system within the Southeast Asia region indicates a moderate to high risk on average other than the country of Singapore. As the global economy tightens credit requirements, this can have a significant impact on the financial stability in the region (Country Risk, 2010). A scoring system was used to evaluate the region based on data that was provided by AMB Country Risk Reports. The rating system is; One Very Low Risk, two Low Risk, three Moderate Risk, four High Risk, and five -Very High Risk. The country leads the region with are risk score of one is Singapore, followed by, Malaysia and Thailand three, Philippines and Indonesia four, and Viet Nam- five. The Philippines, Indonesia, and Viet Nam have significant financial risks that need to be taken into consideration (A.M. Best, 2010). Political stability There is a constant threat of terrorism according to the U.S. Department of State diplomacy in action website: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm, but the political stability is stable because of the continued efforts of the U.S. and other international entities such as the International Monitoring team. Economic conditions The economic conditions are stable; the Philippine government has been working over the past few years to reduce its deficits down to 0.2% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and is continuously working to balance its budget. Finance options available According to an article Philippines: Types of Business Organizations that Foreign Investors may Establish in the Philippines there are several financial options available that are: These include the establishment by a foreign corporation of a (i) local subsidiary through a domestic corporation, (ii) a branch office, (iii) a representative office, (iv) a regional or area headquarters, or (v) a regional operating headquarters. Entry into the Philippines can also be achieved through joint ventures with other domestic corporations (Manalastas, and Guinto, 2000). Physical environment and its affect on trade The locality of the Philippines creates some environmental issues that needs to be taken into consideration there are three main issues the first two are seasonal; the typhoon season from June through November, the monsoon rain season from July through December. The third issue that is unpredictable is the volcanic eruptions that can happen at any time (The Philippines, 2010). Social, health, and environmental conditions The majority of the Philippine people do live in poverty and the mortality rate for babies is high; however the health care is improving the Philippines have been recognized for eliminating Polio (The Philippines, 2010). Although there is a pollution problem, the government of the Philippines is stepping in to help reduce pollution by enacting and enforcing laws that actually is helping clean up their environment. Cultural considerations When doing business in the Philippines there is a couple of cultural consideration to keep in mind such as it is unacceptable behavior to correct a person in public, to cause a person to lose face by refusing or saying no to a person, and do not accept an invitation to a family meal when first asked, if the invitation is asked a second time then it is all right to accept (The Philippines, 2010). Organizational Description Apple Computer, Inc. is headquartered in Cupertino, California. The company is a worldwide producer, designs, markets, manufactures computers, digital music and video players. Founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ron Wayne, apple sells to all consumers small, mid-sized, and large businesses. The company sells its products through retail stores, online stores, and also third party wholesalers. The increase in awareness of value of the internet, and convenience it gives to its users will soon bring more to the table for the Philippines. Since the internet has been a big expansion for many markets many businesses have found use to this to expand their business overseas. Since 2000 to 2009 the internet usage has gone up from 2,000,000 (2.6%) to 24,000,000 (24.5%) in the Philippines. Apple’s line of digital music players has taken advantage by providing iPod users to download digital music files to their iPods. Apple Inc., sales a line of iPod digital music and video players to both the Windows and Mac users that also provides online services that can, as described in this article Reuters Profile: Apple INC. (AAPL.O) which states; â€Å"distribute third-party music, audio books, music videos, television shows, movies, podcasts, and applications† (Reuters, 2010), through the iTunes Store. ITunes is a digital music application for downloading and playing digital audio and video files. Since Philippines have about 24,000,000 internet users as of June 2009 which is about 24.5% of the population in the Philippines there is potential growth for this market to grow. With new information about Netflix possibly signing an agreement with Apple Inc. sales can possibly increase since there will be more possibilities for iPod users to download through Netflix servers. Risk Analysis Week 3 The purpose of this document is to analyze the risks that are involved in establishing a global business operation in a foreign country of the Philippines. The document will detail the risks of introducing Apple Incorporated and the iPod to the Philippines. The risks that will be covered include political risks, legal risks, exchange rate financial risks, and taxation risks. The document will also detail a variety of additional risks, specific marketing strategies and performance measurement that will impact the overall success of Apple Incorporated within the country of the Philippines. Political/Legal/Regulatory risks The Philippines is a bureaucratic country. It has a complex network of regulations, permissions, procedures, and authorities with approval procedures. Many of these restrictions are designed to bar off newcomers entering the country’s existing industries. This will not be the case for Apple Inc. The political, legal, and regulatory risks of opening an Apple store in the Philippines vary. Apple’s plan is to acquire an existing retail store and moving under the Apple brand. Even though the political risk is high Apple Inc. is in no way threatening to the political climate in the Philippines. The Philippines has been working in developing relationships with neighboring countries, â€Å"build close ties with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)† (A.M. Best Company, Inc, 2009).Legally, the risk associated with opening the store could be great, and the company must make sure it is in compliance with rules and regulations regarding the opening and operation of the store. The most immediate regulatory risk to business is because of mandated price agreements used by the government to combat inflation. Apple Inc. sees Philippines as a country poised for a great economic turn-around in the Internet and electronics market. Indicators such as World Stats forecast that the country is on a steady uphill swing. Exchange/ Repatriation of Funds Risks Exchange rates and repatriation of funds needs to be considered with Apple opening a store in the Philippines. Philippines are very open to foreign investors as a way to grow the local economy. However on January 2007, in an ongoing effort to promote two key goals, â€Å"the Philippine government has issued the Seventh Regular Foreign Investment Negative List† (Baleva, 2007), protecting domestic industries and encouraging foreign investors to participate in certain areas of enterprise. Pricing will also be a factor if the company bases there pricing by US standards. Exchange rate on US dollars to Pesos needs to factor in. Competitive Risk Assessment Apple’s key competitors are already doing business in the Philippines and creating a strong and profitable presence. Competitors such as Sony, Samsung, and Sansa have been doing business in the Philippines for many years. Apple’s target entrance into the market will give consumers more options and encourage more competition within the market. Taxation/Double Taxation Risks The agreement of double taxation outlines what taxes are covered, defines who the parties are and the context of the agreement and itemizes what is covered under the agreement. Underlining the rules under which a business’ profits are taxed and when double taxation comes into action. The double taxation agreement defines the establishment of permanent residence, which Apple Inc. would seek to have by opening a store in the country on a permanent basis. HM revenue customs defines permanent establishment as, â€Å"a fixed place of business in which the business of the enterprise is wholly or partly carried on† (HM Revenue Customs, n.d.). Based on the information contained in the agreement it is possible that Apple will be possibly doubled taxed. Market risks (four Ps price, place, promotion, and product) One of the risks that every business needs to address when selling their product in a foreign country is pricing the product to high that only a small portion of customers can afford to buy the product. According to the article Manila’s living costs, wages among the lowest it states; â€Å"To illustrate, workers in Zurich are paid $22.60 per hour ($30.30 gross), while workers in Geneva are paid $20.40 per hour ($29.20 gross)—a far cry from what average workers in Manila are paid: $1.40 per hour ($1.60 gross)† (Victoria, 2009). One of the ways to address this issue is to buy in large quantity, so that cost can be driven down. Currently the Philippines is experiencing a power crisis, which is a risk within itself in the article Philippines power at crisis point of the Asian Times it states; â€Å"Recent electricity outages in the Philippines has sparked concern that the country is on its way to its second power crisis in 20 years† (Rubrico, 2010). If there is no electricity, it will be hard to sell iPods to customers especially in the dark. Our company can purchase generators that can be used during the power outages. The Ipods are very popular and expensive in the Philippines, which has created a market of iPod thieves. According to Davao Today article iPod Thieves on the Rise in RP that states; â€Å"iPods may now be joining wallets and mobile phones as attractive targets for thieves and pickpockets† (No author mentioned, 2010). Train both employees and customers how to avoid being a victim, this will show the customers we just don’t think of them as a sale but as a person. Marketing Research Approach The marketing research approach for the Apple Store is a five step process that includes defining potential problems, developing a research plan, collecting relevant information by specifying data, developing findings, and taking marketing actions based on the analysis of data findings (Marketing Research, 2006). The research objectives will be to determine if there is a demand for the products offered by the Apple Store. The research plan will consist of surveying a minimum of 1,000 to 2,000 consumers in the target region of the Philippines. Contact information will be gathered to later obtain positive or negative feedback on the products that are offered by the Apple Store. An online survey will also be conducted through the Apple Store via the internet. This will assist in later developing marketing strategies applicable to the products offer by the Apple Store that are in demand in the target region. Some types of questions that will be asked during the Apple Store survey are as follows: 1) What is your age? 2) What is your gender? 3) Would you purchase the products offered by the Apple Store? 4) What did you like about the product? 5) What did you dislike about the product? 6.) Was the product easy to use? 7.) What would you change about the product, if anything? 8.) Will you continue to use the product? 9.) Would you recommend the product to a friend? 10.) What would you consider a fair price for the product? Apple Store Marketing Mix The marketing mix of product, price, place, and promotion is a crucial part of the introduction of the products being offered at the proposed Apple Store. A strong strategic marketing plan developed by the marketing team will assist the Apple Store in getting of to a positive start. The products offered by the Apple Store will include all items that a consumer can purchase through the on-line Apple Store web address http://store.apple.com/ph. The products include the wide variety of iPod products, iPhones, and Mac products. The physical location of the Apple Store needs to be in a high traffic public area that will attract many customers. The pricing strategy of the products offered at the Apple Store in the Philippines will targeted to under cut the competition in the region during the first 6 months of operation while still maintaining reasonable profit margins on the Apple Store products. This strategy will help in initially establishing the presence of the Apple Store in the target region. Apple Store executives will consistently monitor the progress of the Apple Store in the Philippines during the first 6 months of operations and recommend solutions to any potential risks that come up during this time period. After the first 6 months of operation in the region the product pricing strategy will be revisited. The location of the Apple Store will be critical to the overall financial success of the business. The attributes that are desirable for the physical location of the Apple Store include a highly visible location with heavy consumer traffic. An additional attribute is needs to be considered is the location of the store will be easily accessible for ease of the distribution channels to replenish inventory needs with minimal risk. In selecting a location with these attributes the Apple Store will have a higher probability of meeting or exceeding business goals and objectives. The strategic marketing plan will identify specific dates that will provide the best dates for a promotional sale grand opening of the Apple Store in the Philippines. To start the promotional period the marketing team will start advertising the grand opening of the Apple store several weeks prior to the grand opening. Apple Store products will be advertised by using magazine ads, internet and television spots, and any other means of promotion detailed as a strong promotional tactic in the region. The marketing team will need to pay close attention to see how quickly the product inventory will move from the shelves during the first few weeks of operation if the Apple Store is approved for implementation in the Philippines. The marketing strategy also needs to verify that there is sufficient demand for the Apple Store products. Distribution and supply chain risks There are a few items that make distribution and supply risky in the Philippines, as stated in the Spend Matters article Apple’s Risky iPod Supply Chain; What types of risk? Well, try an active volcano located less than 20 miles away, proximity within an earthquake zone (which makes San Francisco’s seismic activity look tame), and the very real threat of tropic storms and typhoons. And thats not even considering that the area around the plants is subject to regular flooding from storm water, blocking ingress of people and egress of goods [the factories] even sends people home early when a serious storm is forecast, because of the risk that the roads will be impassable.† (Busch, J. 2006) No one can prevent Mother Nature from happening, but we can be prepared by staying updated on the weather reports and staying alert to nature’s surroundings. By staying prepared and knowing what to do in the event of a natural disaster, will prevent personal injuries to emp loyees and customers as well as minimizing damages to our product. Distribution Channel Management The marketing team will perform extensive research before the introduction of the Apple Store begins business operations in the Philippines. Determining a reliable distribution channel in a global business operation is an important formula for success. The main distribution channel will start in the United States and products will be distributed to the Philippines based on inventory needs transmitted through an electronic data base. The distribution of the Apple Store products from shipping destination within the Philippines to the Apple store location is an addition characteristic that needs to be considered because of the threat of theft that exists within the target country. Once the store headquarters has been established then logistics such as shipping, receiving, and storage in smaller warehouses will be considered based on distribution risk factors have been evaluated. One prime objective of the Apple Store in the Philippines is to meet or exceed our customers’ needs. Physical and environmental challenges to entering and operating in a target market There are several physical and environmental challenges when operating a business in the Philippines, some of the physical challenges include political unrest, corruption, terrorism, and extortion these are just a few that needs to be address. The environmental challenges include pollution (water and air), natural disasters (volcano eruptions and flooding), unemployment according to Index munbdi: Philippines unemployment rate that shows for 2010 to be an estimated 7.5% (No author mentioned, 2010). Staying informed is key to handling these types of risks, some things can be handled by local authorities and others will have to be dealt with the best way possible depending on the situation. Social and cultural risks In the social and cultural circle, the risk of misunderstanding in many categories is very easily done such as those listed in the article Centre for intercultural learning: Cultural Information Philippines that are: â€Å"Conversation, Communications Styles, Display of Emotions, Dress, Punctuality, Formality, and Decision Making† (No author mentioned, 2009). Not knowing how to address each of these items can lead to offending the Filipino people, which will cause problems in doing business in the community. Common sense and proper communications will just about handle each of these risk, also by participating in community events and helping the community during a time of crisis will promote unity between the company and the local people. Cyber or Technology Stealing technology and cyber attacks are a big risks, the government of the Philippines still needs to catch up the laws concerning today’s technology. In the article, Experts Call for Stringent Laws against Cyber Crime in Philippines states that; â€Å"The security researchers states that these kinds of e-mail attacks occur more commonly across the Philippines since there arent any cyber crime laws in the country to catch and prosecute Internet criminals, particularly e-mail fraudsters† (No author mentioned, 2010). Common sense applies to these risks as well, making sure that our computer systems maintain the most recent updates on security programs and training the employees to never give out passwords and shut down the computer every night before going home are just some suggestions that will prevent problems down the road. Define and clarify mission and objectives The Mission Statement of Apple Incorporated will remain the same as researches through multiple sources according to Investor Relation of Apple (located on the FAQ page) it states that; Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone (Apple-History, 2010 6). Philippines Internet use has grown remarkably throughout the years. Internet World Stats estimated as of March 2009, there are 20.6 million Internet users coming to about 21.5% of the entire population in the Philippines. Apple Inc. has selected the Philippines to begin expansion providing stores and Internet downloading over the web for users to download digital audio, video, and podcast files. The primary business objective is to establish a 15% profit margin in the first year of operation within the Philippines. In each subsequent year after the first a 5% increase to the profit margin has been established as a goal until the profit margin reaches a 30%. Additional objectives include obtaining a 10% market share of the products offered by Apple Incorporated and a 4% increase per year over the next 3 years. Customer satisfaction has also been established at a target percentage of 97%. SWOTT Analysis SWOTT analysis is a useful tool to determine the strengths, weaknesses. Opportunities and threats that exist within a global business entity or region are being evaluated for risk factors. The team has developed a SWOTT analysis for the target region to identify these factors prior to engaging in any business operation within the Philippines. This will assist the team in identifying key characteristics in the structure and development of Apple Incorporated within the Philippines. Current Competitors Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape for Apple Store are the following companies that have a strong hold on a large portion of the population that Apple Store will have to compete with in the global market place. These companies manufacture similar technology devices that Apple Store is competing for to increase global market share. Their products are known throughout the global technology market where competition is extremely competitive. Competitors’ of the Apple Store include Dell Incorporated, Hewlett Packard, and Gateway. The engineering development of new improved technology will assist the Apple Store in gaining competitive advantage over the competitors. Customer satisfaction is a primary objective at the Apple Store. A recent survey conducted in 2008 by the University of Michigan named the American Customer Satisfaction Index ACSI indicated that Apple had a ten point advantage over its closest competitor (Computerworld, 2010). The Apple Store that is being considered in the Philippines will have the same target goal in reference to customer satisfaction in the target region. Strategy Selection The strategy selection of Apple Incorporated is to establish a base store that strategically reports back sales results and inventory needs to a home base location within the United States electronically. The strategy of the company will be to promote the iPod through lower price cost structures than existing competitors. The company will also launch a marketing campaign to promote this strategy through established marketing structures that exist within the Philippenes. This will assist Apple Incorporated in notifying consumers of company existence in the region while promoting our lower priced product. The mode of entry to develop Apple Incorporated to enter the Phillipenes will be the direct investment mode. Apple Incorporated will be establishing a location within the country and then based on all business results will determine if additional locations within the country are needed to meet customer demand. Advantages of this mode of entry include high sales potential, low political risk, and the company could be viwed as an insider (Quick MBA, 2010). Because of some of the high risk elements that exist within the Philippenes Apple Incorporated will need to be cautious by limiting the amount capital that the company will spend in the direct investment mode. Control and Evaluation Specific measures will be monitored on a weekly basis to track the progress and continous improvement opportunities that exist to set up operations within the Phillipenes. The key characteristics that impact overall business results will be evaltated to establish a proactive approach to issues that will have an impact these results. The key characteristics will include sales, inventory, taxes, and process limitations. This will assist Apple Incorporated in providing a quick responsive action to any underlying problems that need to be resolved. Sales goals and profit margins will also be evaluated to determine the overall success within the Phillipenes. Contigency Plan Apple Incorporated will need a contigency plan to account for risk factors that have some probability of resulting in business profitability not reaching overall expectations. The contigency plan that Apple Incorporated has in place consists of closing the existing store if business objectives are not achieved with leaving options open for changing the mode of entry into the Phillipenes to exporting the product through established distribution channels. This contigency plan still allows the company to establish sales within the Phillipenes while reducing investment risk. Financial Overview Apple has the possibility for a strong financial investment in the expansion into the Philippines. The risks associated with the investment into the Philippines do not outweigh the benefits that can realistically be achieved. After thoroughly researching the Pilipino market, the Ayala Group, one of the largest firms in the Philippines is supposedly involved in a project to put up an official Apple store in the Philippines (Technograph, 2009). This is beneficial because less money will have to be invested in research and development, as well as marketing and advertising since the organization is already known throughout the Philippines. The economy in the Philippines has not shown extreme changes or any sudden implications that the economy is getting stronger. The Philippine GDP for the year 2009 has barely risen 1% but has, â€Å"weathered the 2008-09 global recessions better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to securities issued by troubled global financial institutions† (index mundi, 2008). Operating Expenses As projected for expenses for one apple store, the budget chart shows total operating expenses at $5, 482 and operating income at $11,740 and other income and expenses at $326. There are many providers that impact operating expenses such as utilities, taxes, and advertisement. Apple has projected a total operating expense at $5,482 for one apple store. When assembling a budget chart, it is essential to take into account all factors to properly manage a business. It is important to trust that focused investments in Research and Development (RD) are significant to a company’s future competitive and expansion position in a foreign market and are directed towards the development of new and improved products that are central to the company’s core business strategy. As such, Apple expects to make further investments in RD to expand and remain competitive in the Filipino market. Other factors of influence that can help expand Apple into the foreign market, is the company’s persistent expansion of its retail division in both international and domestic markets, top stock-based return expenses and higher spending on marketing and advertising (Apple Investor 2010). The chart below shows the estimated monthly general budget of the operation of one store in the Philippines, providing that the decision is made to proceed with the plans to set up and begin operations. This is a rough estimate, because of the many factors that may and will fluctuate either in a positive or negative way can cause a change on the expense side, however the further we proceed the more accurate our budget will become. Financial Overview General Budget Foreign Exchange Risk Studies have found that many Asian-Pacific businesses are exposed to one or more of the world’s major currencies: the Euro, the US dollar, the British pound, and the Japanese Yen. Some of the greatest dangers were produce by fluctuations in the US dollar. This impacted 58 percent in the Philippines, â€Å"currency fluctuations affected the profitability of companies whose financial assets and liabilities (most notably debt) were held in foreign currencies† (Vanderbilt, 2007). When choosing to invest in the Philippines, the foreign exchange risks associated with business ventures are significant because of an Asian financial crisis during (1996-1998), â€Å"more than half of the studied companies in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, and about a third of those in Japan and Singapore, were exposed to the dollar, and about a quarter of the firms in Singapore were exposed to the yen† (Vanderbilt, 2007). Risk Management Transaction risk refers to the fact that the cash flow value of foreign currency contracts may change due to exchange rate fluctuations. Additionally, since the organization will be buying and selling goods in foreign currency to a certain extent, the foreign exchange risk increases. The potential negative aspects associated with doing business in the Philippines are significant since the business will be using Filipino Pesos, which has an inflation rate of 4.4 percent. As a result, there is a risk that the exchange rate as with any currency may change unfavorably before the currency is actually exchanged. However, these risks can be counteracted by utilizing forward hedging, which is a way to lock in an exchange rate on an agreed future date. This will allow the organization to be completely aware of future cash inflows and outflows, as well as the value of the organization’s profits in US currency since the exchange rate will not change due to the purchase of forward hedging. Financing Given the current international economic instability, the choice of choosing from domestic or international financing is tough because there are significant risks associated with each. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has offered financing opportunities to the Philippines; currently the EIB has one billion euro allocations in 18 Asian countries including the Philippines. If the company chooses to move forward with the international venture, the company would choose to finance through the EIB. The EIB, â€Å"has provided over 600 million euros in funding for multiple projects in the country coursed through the government and private sector† (European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, 2009). Centralized versus Decentral ized The parent company and its iPod department within the parent company, both works as a centralized organization because having an effective control is essential to the everyday operations for both the domestic and global sectors. It would be essential for the parent company to make the final decisions regarding all aspects of the company’s operation, because every unit and sub-unit such as manufacturing plant located in Mexico and the shipping department located in the U.S. of the company has to report all information of their daily operations to the parent company allowing the parent company to know what the left and right hand is doing basically at the same time and can make an informative decision for whatever situation may arise. Both the domestic and global units and sub-units operate as a decentralize company, because certain situations such as environmental changes, customer needs, or political unrest will cause problems and disrupt a part of the company operations or even all parts of the company operations these problems to be addressed immediately and cannot wait for the parent company on the other side of the world to make an informed decision, even if the problem had happened before at a different location because what may work domestically may not work globally and vice versa. When making an informed decision whether at the unit, sub-unit, or the parent company level there is a need for a communication chain of command, starting with the employee who is out in the field working upwards to the parent company which may be the CEO (chief executive officer) who usually has the authority to make final decisions that will affect the company or the owner if there is no CEO available. The line of communications should always remain open, in the event of a minor glitch or a major emergency. Regardless of the value of the information, if the line is broken then a decision cannot be made in a timely manner or may not be made at all causing a problem to grow bigger or missing a profitable opportunity. The communication chart below shows the chain of command from the field representative to the parent company, not all information will reach the top because some decisions can be made at lower levels, for example; the parent company should not be bothered with whether a field representative needs office supplies. Exit Strategies The future is unknown, even if there is a planned exit strategy years from now does not guarantee it will happen as planned. Depending on the situation that is either planned, forced or requires our business in the Philippines to implement its exit strategy would determine the best strategy to use. In the event of a political uprising or civil unrest that results in raising the level of possible war, then the shutting down procedure would be best since it involve very little (if any) paper work and is the fastest way for U.S. employees and their families to get out of the country. If there is no time at all complete abandonment might be forced, either course of action will involve a monetary loss. If time allows and there is no rush in exiting the Philippines, handing the business over to our joint venture partner would be the best, this exit does involve legal paper work and would minimize loss (if any), it would also leave the path open for possible future ventures back into the co untry based on a friendly and healthy transfer of the business. Recommendation The Philippine iPod risk analysis team recommends proceeding with entering the Philippines market. After the exhausting task of finding the risks of entering the country, we had found that the benefits (profits) do exceed the risks (costs) even during the economic troubles that the U.S. is currently experiencing. Although we are not the first iPod and iPhone Company to enter the Philippines market, we still can become a major player and take a large percentage of the market. With the Apple Company creating a direct store that basically eliminates the middle man and develops a presence in the area that shows the potential customer that they will get the original iPhone without the worry of receiving a fake and less dependable copycat, which is a major problem in this region. Having direct shipping, of iPhones and iPods from the parent company will help with the recovery costs and to make a profit quicker. The company will gain additional profits once the store becomes fully operational and service contracts are purchased by new customers. Finally with the current economic stability of the Philippines, this is a good time for Apple to enter into this market because like our domestic customers love to have the latest technology, the Filipinos consumers also love to have the latest technology too. Because no other local company can offer the security or the guarantee of authenticity of the iPhone products, this gives our company a very unique position in the Philippine market. The company will be experiencing and dealing with many issues brought up by our customer base, because of the one on one contact with the customers this will help our operation on a global level allowing our technical department to learn from these new problems and coming up with new solutions this will make our product better and easier to sale globally. Conclusion In analyzing the risks invoved with Apple Incorporated conducting business within the Philippines the company will be in a better position to achieve the financial success. The process of risk assessment provides a clearer picture of the obstacles that need to be overcome within the Philipines. Strategic marketing plans can assist the company in establishing positive sales results in the target country. Electronic communication to proactively respond to business needs and issues will lead to satisfied customers. The initial mode of entry and an alternate mode of entry detailed in the contingency plan also indicate the company’s preparation. Establishing key business characteristcs to monitor on a regular basis will identify continous improvement opportunities for the company in conjuction with items identified in the SWOTT analysis. The combination of these critical factors will guide Apple Incorporated to make a more informative decision based on all the factual information c ollected. References Andaya, Barbara, 2009. Introduction to Southeast Asia. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www.asiasociety.org/countries-history/traditions/introduction-southeast-asia A.M. Best Company. Ratings and Analysis Center: Country Risk, Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www3.ambest.com/ratings/cr/crisk.aspx ASEAN, 2009. ASEAN Member States. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www.aseansec.org/18619.htm Manalastas, J. M. and Guinto, B. L. 2000, Philippines: Types of Business Organizations that Foreign Investors may Establish in the Philippines. Retrieved April 3, 2010, from website: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=9340login=truenogo=1 No Author Mentioned, 2009, TDS: Philippines Asia, Economy. Retrieved April 3, 2010, from website: http://www.traveldocs.com/ph/economy.htm No Author Mentioned, 2010, The Philippines. Retrieved April 3, 2010, from website: http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html Internet World Stats. (2010). Asia Marketing Research, Internet Usage, Population Statistics and Information. Retrieved from http://www.internetworldstats.com/asia.htm#ph Thomas Reuters. (2010). Apple Inc. (AAPL.O). Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66symbol=AAPL.O Internet World Stats. (2009). Internet Usage Stats and Marketing Report. Retrieved from http://www.internetworldstats.com/asia/ph.htm Kian, C.C. (2004). Internet market in the Philippines shows full potential for growth. IDC. Retrieved from http://www.idc.com.my/philippines/press/IDC%20Philippines%20-%20Internet.asp A.M. Best Company, Inc. (2009). AMB Country Risk Report. Retrieved from http://www3.ambest.com/ratings/cr/reports/Philippines.pdf Baleva, M. (2007). Philippines Issues Foreign Investment List for 2007-2009. ALBLegalNews. Retrieved from http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/law-firms/philippines-issues-foreign-investment-list-for-2007-2009/1076/23599 Busch, J. (2006), Apple’s Risky iPod Supply Chain. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://www.spendmatters.com/index.cfm/2006/11/3/Apples-Risky-iPod-Supply-Chain Hicks, R. (2009). Philippines launches study on internet use. futureGOV. Retrieved from http://www.futuregov.net/articles/2009/jul/27/philippines-launches-study-internet-use/ HM Revenue Customs. (n.d.). DT15354 DT: Philippines: double taxation agreement, Article 5: Permanent Establishment. Retrieved from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dtmanual/DT15354.htm Rubrico, J.G.U. (2010), Philippines power at crisis point. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LD10Ae01.html Toby C. Monsod, (2009). The Philippine Bureaucracy: Incentive structures and implications for performance (4th ed.). Quezon City, Diliman: Human Development Network. Victoria, E. (2009), Manila’s living costs, wages among the lowest. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-philippines/headlines/2767-manilas-living- costs- wages-among-the-lowest-.html No author mentioned (2009), Centre for intercultural learning: Cultural Information – Philippine. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://www.intercultures.ca/cil-cai/ci-ic-eng.asp?iso=ph No author mentioned (2010), Experts Call for Stringent Laws against Cyber Crime in Philippines. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://www.spamfighter.com/News-13688- Experts-Call-for-Stringent-Laws-Against-Cyber-Crime-in-Philippines.htm No author mentioned (2010), Index Munbdi: Philippines unemployment rate. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://www.indexmundi.com/philippines/unemployment_rate.html No author mentioned, Foreign Market Entry Modes, Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/global/marketentry/ No author mentioned (2010) What is Apple’s Mission Statement. Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.apple-history.com/?page=faq#1500 Index mundi. (2008). Philippines Economy Profile 2010. Retrieved from http://www.indexmundi.com/philippines/economy_profile.html Technograph. (2009). Official Apple Store to Supposedly Open in the Philippines. Retrieved from http://technogra.ph/2009/05/05/official-apple-store-to-supposedly-open-in-the-philippines/ Apple Investor Relations Annual Reports. (2010). Investor Relations. Retrieved from http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=107357p=irol-reports Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (2005). Philippines-Central Bank of Philippines. Retrieved from http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ Vanderbilt. (2007). Foreign Exchange Risk of Firms in Asia-Pacific. Retrieved from http://mba.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt/About/faculty-research/featured-research

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Issues of Nurse Prescribing in the UK

Issues of Nurse Prescribing in the UK Introduction The changing face of the NHS is a topic of controversy and debate from the perspectives of professionals and policy makers. The last three decades have seen a transformation in nursing in the United Kingdom, and in the ways that nurses envisage themselves (McCartney et al, 1999). This transformation is only one symptom of a raft of policy changes which have affected the NHS. Evolution of nursing as a profession has seen them moving from being a group labelled the doctors’ handmaidens to a professional group with its own staunchly defended identity (McCartney et al, 1999). This new professionalism has also led to diverse developments and advancements in the role and functions of nurses, with increased autonomy and extended roles which could be viewed as encroachment on medical roles or as ideal management of an already skilled and knowledgeable workforce. As far back as 1986, the Cumberledge report raised the possibility of allowing community nurses to prescribe independently, and several years later the necessary legislation was initiated (McCartney et a, 1999). In 1997, the government established a review of prescribing, supply and administration of medicines, chaired by Dr June Crown (Stephenson, 2000). This became known as the crown report (DH, 1998). It was chiefly concerned with the supply and administration of medicines by group protocols (S tephenson, 2000). A group protocol could be described as a specific written instruction, drawn up locally by doctors and pharmacists, for the supply or administration of named medicines by other health professionals in an identified clinical situation (Stephenson, 2000). A number of authors supported this move and in particular, the ability for nurses to be able to prescribe medications for clients in certain circumstances. However, the implementation of this policy change has been neither uniform or timely. This paper will explore the policy context of the implementation of nurse prescribing, utilising a theoretical framework to examine the laggard nature of the change and the reasons why nurse prescribing remains unfinished business in the professional and policy arena. The theoretical framework used will be the Diffusion of Innovation theory, as defined by Rogers (1962, 1976). Diffusion of Innovation Rogers (1962, 1976) defines the diffusion process as the spread of a new idea from its source of invention or creation to its ultimate users or adopters. This could be considered the macro level of change assimilation or even awareness. However, the notion of diffusion of innovation is more than a macro concept, and Rogers (1962, 1976) further differentiates what he describes as the adoption process from the diffusion process in that the diffusion process occurs within society, as a group process; whereas, the adoption process is individual. In Rogers’ (1962, 1976) opinion, the adoption process is the mental process through which an individual passes from first hearing about an innovation to final adoption. The theoretical construct of chief concern here is that of macro level diffusion of a professional innovation. There are five stages in the Innovation-Decision Process as described by Rogers (1962, 1976) and these will be mapped against the literature below. First knowledge of innovation (Rogers, 1962, 1976). First knowledge of innovation could be pinpointed to the Cumberledge report in 1986, which was a report into community nursing, after which the issue was debated and discussed and entered into the theoretical arena in the healthcare professions and healthcare policy and governance in general. However, Jones (2004) cites the case of nurses who began to make a case for prescriptive authority in 1978. There is varying evidence of how diffuse this knowledge became at a societal and policy level and there is some evidence of widespread resistance in the medical and pharmaceutical professions (Jones, 2004). It is important to remember that for some critics, nurse prescribing does not necessarily constitute something entirely innovative. Nurses already perform a number of roles which require full knowledge of medications, but there may be issues about education and skill levels across nurses educated in different places (King, 2004). If there are questions already about nurses’ knowledge and ability around medications, then the preliminary debate about this issue (which extended over two decades) is understandable. Forming an attitude toward the innovation (Rogers, 1962, 1976) A number of attitudes towards this innovation are apparent in the literature. For example, Jones (2004) suggests that implementation of this innovation would be characterized by political machination, the need to construct an effective case, and deft manoeuvring within the corridors of power. This raises issues to do with the context within which the innovation takes place, as already discussed. Jones (2004) also alludes to the district nurses who presented a case in the 1970s, and the RCN who continued to press that case further. This also relates to Rogers’ (1962, 1976) description of some of the factors or prior conditions that affect the innovation-decision process, such as previous practice (which may influence the decision makers in a positive or a negative way), and the norms of the social systems in which the innovation is taking place. The firmly entrenched hierarchical norms of the NHS and healthcare systems in general could be viewed as the biggest hindrance to nurs e prescribing, and so forming an attitude towards the innovation, for all the key players within the system. A decision to adopt or reject (Rogers, 1962, 1976) The decision to adopt the innovation occurred piecemeal and somewhat sequentially in time. Jones (2004) states that it was after much initial scepticism and a good deal of negotiation that a tacit agreement between nursing, medicine and pharmacy was reached in 1988. Subsequently, the RCN wree able to cause the government to initiate the Crown report in 1989. However, there were limitations to this decision, in that it was restricted to health visitors and district nurses who would be able to prescribe by virtue of them having post registration qualifications that marked them as competent in this advanced field (Jones, 2004). Implementation of the new idea (Rogers, 1962, 1976). It is this stage which is the most problematic in relation to nurse prescribing, perhaps due to the nature of adoption across the wider NHS context. Nurse prescribing is sanctioned, but remains a locally differentiated policy with apparent piecemeal implementation. This could raise issues of quality and also the ability to evaluate the effects and impact of nurse prescribing at the macro level. Despite the adoption of the principle, there was a distinct lack of action in moving the agenda forward, and it was some time before the bill was passed through Parliament in 1992 (Jones, 2004). The literature shows that the legislation passed in 1992, and in 1994 nurse prescribing began in eight demonstration sites (Bates, 2002). Following this pilot, a national roll out of nurse prescribing began in 1998 (Bates, 2002). This, however, applied only to nurses with district nurse of health visitor qualifications working in the community and employed by an NHS Trust or GP (Bates, 2002). Confirmation of the decision. Confirmation of the decision can also be seen within the literature, in that in 1999 there was a review of prescribing, which then recommended that prescribing rights be extended to include other groups of nurses and other health professionals (Bates, 2002). Subsequent to this, the NHS Plan (2002) clearly supported the recommendations and it was posited that by 2004, nurses should be able to prescribe independently, or supply medicines in Patient Group directions in four areas: minor illness, minor injury, health promotion and palliative care, within the aegis of a Nurse Prescribing formulary (Bates, 2004). Bates (2004) stated that there were approximately 22000 nurse prescribers in the UK, 3000 of which were in Scotland (at the time of her article). This suggests that there is widespread confirmation of the decision through demonstrable changes in practice. It is also notable that nurse prescribing has further progressed towards supplementary nurse prescribing, which allows nurses a nd other health professionals to prescribe for a patient who has been through an initial assessment by a doctor, in accordance with a clinical management plan (NHS Scotland, 2002). It should be noted that prior conditions affect the innovation-decision process. Prior conditions include previous practice, felt needs/problems, innovativeness, and norms of the social systems (Rogers, 1962, 1976). Consequences of Innovations (Rogers, 1962, 1976). Any discussion of the innovation-decision process, must also consider the consequences or changes that can occur to a social system as a result of the adoption of an innovation. Rogers (1962, 1976) identifies three consequences or changes. Desirable versus undesirable consequences The primary purpose of nurse prescribing is to give maximum benefit to patients and the NHS, whilst also supporting quicker and more efficient access to healthcare while promoting a more flexible use of the skills of the existing workforce (Bates, 2002). This however could be a somewhat idealistic view of general nurse prescribing. While for many nurses it may enhance their ability to provide care, others may consider that it simply adds to their already onerous workload. There may also be ethical issues, perhaps through conflicts between personal, official and legal senses of duty for nurses, which could result in cognitive dissonance between their conceptual model of their nursing role and the new directives to extend this role in to a traditionally medical area of responsibility. Nolan et al (2001) in a study of mental health nurses’ perceptions of nurse prescribing found that most of their respondents felt that this would significantly improve clients’ access to medication, improve compliance, prevent relapse, and prove cost effective. However, the same respondents also felt that they may not have sufficient knowledge and skills to assume responsibility for prescribing (Nolan et al, 2001). In this case, as elsewhere, nurse prescribing is a double-edged sword, but it seem from this research that the nurses felt that the benefits outweighed their concerns, and their concerns were, after all, possible to overcome through additional training. Direct versus indirect consequences. Some of the indirect consequences may be easier to appreciate than the direct consequences, while some of the direct consequences may be less popular, in a sense, because they benefit members of the institutional system in ways less acceptable to some of the professionally defined or client-defined groups within the system. For example, if the direct consequence of nurse prescribing is a reduction in doctors’ workloads, this will benefit doctors, and may indirectly benefit patients by providing more or better quality doctor-patient contact, and patient outcomes. But there is no evidence so suggest that this rather optimistic viewpoint could be true. A reduction in doctors’ workloads may demonstrate no improvement in patient care, but an increase in nurses’ workloads could be viewed as having more potential indirect consequences for the patient experience. Deontological debates also raise this issue, and the question is where does the duty of the nurse truly lie? Another indirect consequence of the innovation might be the burden placed on nurses to conform to this professional development and to adhere to the directive. Nurses who do not wish this level of responsibility and autonomy may suffer personally and professionally, finding themselves non-conformists through no fault of their own. However, if another consequence is an enhancement in the status (and pay) of nurses, nurses who prefer not to prescribe could be viewed as holding the profession back. Anticipated versus unanticipated consequences. It is difficult to evaluate the anticipated consequences against the unanticipated ones, given that there is little literature discussing these. Some anticipated consequences might relate to improvements in medication education by nurses (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2000), whereby the nurses will be more knowledgeable, competent and perhaps confident in this activity. This is an important issue in the modern healthcare service where consumerism has become one of the most powerful driving and defining forces (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2001). It is this kind of consumer power which contributes to future policy direction, after all, although the current rhetoric, with its implicit assumption that greater consumer involvement in health care is both desirable and beneficial (Rycroft-Malone, 2001), could be challenged by those who believe that the conferred authority of medicine (and nursing) should take the lead. This author can only project certain consequences, some of which may relate to consume r power and the negotiation of power dynamics between different groups. However, it is debateable if these could be considered anticipated or foreseeable consequences. Another anticipated consequence of this innovation is the close evaluation of the innovation, with inevitable close scrutiny of the nursing profession and its actions in response to the new powers and responsibilities. Latter and Courtenay (2004) in a review of evaluations of nurse prescribing found that the initiative had been largely successful. However, they also identify areas for much further scrutiny and consideration, such as gaps in the knowledge base about prescribing, the nature of the evidence about nurse prescribing, and the need to evaluate the extension of prescribing powers to nurses working outside the initially defined settings (Latter and Courtenay, 2004). It would appear that the nurse-patient relationship may be a positive dimension of patients’ perceptions of nurse prescribing, but there is a need to further evaluate the more intermittent contacts that patients may experience with nurses in certain settings (Latter and Courtenay, 2004). McKenna and Keeney (2004) found that there is still a lack of understanding of the roles of, in particular, community and specialist nurses, but that there is public support for nurse prescribing. Questions still remain about nurses’ ability to be effective in working outside their standard professional area (McKenna and Keeney, 2004). This raises questions about the consequences for nurses in how they interact with their clients, and suggests that nurse prescribing may contribute to changing the professional ‘face’ of nursing. Conclusion The modernisation of the NHS, with its emphasis on timely and effective delivery of services, has been a key factor in the implementation of nurse prescribing and its development into independent prescribing, even into the hospital setting (Clegg et al, 2006). The history of nurse prescribing demonstrates the drive for professional growth in certain areas, sanctioned by changes in the context of service delivery, but hampered by traditional roles and concepts of professional domain. Debates also consider the challenges of training, legal issues, professional issues, budgetary and practical issues surrounding nurse prescribing (Clegg et al, 2004). What is most apparent from this examination of the literature, however, is that while the embryonic stage of nurse prescribing is long gone, the innovation is still undergoing a process of growth and maturation, which is persistently emergent and therefore leaving the status of the profession in relation to this issue largely unformed. This examination of nurse prescribing has shown that change spreads by a process of diffusion, which could be viewed in retrospect as a piecemeal process driven from different directions and according to the perhaps hidden agendas of different agencies, such as nurses, the government, and the consumer. More research is required to examine the ongoing growth and consequences of this innovation, for the professions and the clients, now that it has become an established part of healthcare practice in the UK. 2,500 Words References Bates, C. (2002) Independent nurse prescribing. RCM Midwives Journal 5 (2) 63. Berry, D., Courtenay, M. and Versellini, E. (2006) Attitudes towards, and information needs in relation to, supplementary nurse prescribing in the UK: an empirical study. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 15 22-28. Crown, J. (2003) Bringing practice up to date: progress with nurse prescribing. Nurse Prescribing 1 (2) 56-58. Gooch, S. and Bennett, G. (1999) Extending prescribing: nurse prescribing and the Crown Review. Hospital Medicine 60 (10) 718-721. Jones, M. (2004) Case Report. Nurse prescribing: a case study in policy influence. Journal of Nursing Management 12 266-272. King, R.L. (2004) Nurses’ perceptions of their pharmacology educational needs. Journal of Advanced Nursing 45 (4) 392-400. Laresen, D. (2004) Issues affecting the growth of independent prescribing. Nursing Standard 22 (19) 33-39. Latter, S. and Courtenay, M. (2004) Effectiveness of nurse prescribing: a review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing 13 26-32. McCartney, W., Tyrer, S., Bracier, M. and Prayle, D. (1999) Nurse prescribing: radicalism or tokenism? Journal of Advanced Nursing 29 (2) 348-354. McKenna, H. and Keeney, S. (2004) Community nursing: health professional and public perceptions. Journal of Advanced Nursing 48 (1) 17-25. NHS Scotland (2002) Extending Independent Nurse Prescribing within NHS Scotland http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/09/15042/8426. Nolan, P., Hage, S., Badger, F. et al (2001) Mental health nurses’ perceptions of nurse prescribing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 36 (4) 527-534. Rogers, E. M. New Product Adoption and Diffusion. Journal of Consumer Research. Volume 2 March 1976 pp. 290 -301. Rogers, E. M. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations. The Free Press. New York. Rycroft-Malone, J., Latter, S., Yerrell, P. and Shaw, D. (2001) Consumerism in health care: thecase of medication education. Journal of Nursing Management. 9 2221-230. Rycroft-Malone, J., Latter, S., Yerrell, P. and Shaw, D. (2000) Nursing and medication education. Nursing Standard 35-39. Stephenson, T. (2000) Implications of the Crown Report and nurse prescribing. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 83 (3) 199-202.