TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR Term Paper

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR - Term Paper Example Therefore, cultural competency simply entails peoples abilities of understanding the differences between group contexts like in work environments. Thus, organizations are increasingly implementing cultural competency plans with an aim of encouraging a cultural tolerance culture. In particular, this piece of work strives to outline the best way through which an organization can implement cultural competency plan with a deeper search for the different definitions of the concept. There are different definitions of cultural competency, but all of them point to the tolerance of diversity within a group. Kirmayer (2012) defines cultural competency as a group of harmonious behaviors, policies, and attitudes that integrates into an organization, among professionals or agencies and allows for efficient functioning in cross-cultural situations. A deeper definition of cultural competency posits that the concept involves transformation and integration of knowledge about individuals or groups into explicit standards, practices, attitudes, and policies within the appropriate cultural settings (Lie et al., 2011). The transformation and integration increases service quality thus leading to greater organizational performance. A culturally competent individual considers his or her perception of the world and compares it to others. The perception is also important in organizational situations and executives should understand that that different cultural background is what constitutes the universe. On the other hand, cultural competence refers to the act of obtaining particular cultural information and applying the knowledge in the right manner (Lie et al., 2011). Therefore, cultural competency enables all people in the organization to see the real picture about other employees and helps in improving quality of services and business operations. However, acquiring different cultural perspectives and practicing them compels individuals to be

Barriers and Disparities in Health Care Research Paper

Barriers and Disparities in Health Care - Research Paper Example The paper â€Å"Barriers and Disparities in Health Care† investigates the numerous barriers to achieving satisfactory health care, which in turn lead to disparities and eventually result into poor healthcare. Some of the barriers currently existing in the health care provision include geographic barriers, socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Geographical barriers refer to people living in the rural parts who cannot get quality health care because of insufficient facilities in those regions. Health care facilities in the rural regions are normally understaffed because there is challenge of recruiting the health care providers to work in the rural regions. Rural populations are exposed to numerous geographic and climatic barriers which at times makes the hospitals to be located in rugged terrain which are not easily accessible. Moreover, there are lacks public transportation in the rural areas which hinders populace from receiving health care. There is also widespread poverty in rural areas than in the urban settlements. Socioeconomic factors also largely deters adequate provision of quality health care since low income households cannot afford health insurance cover and access the high cost of health care delivery. The less income families may not be able to pay for essential out of pocket charges such as deductibles and medicines even if they may afford insurance cover. Socioeconomic factors are therefore very significant in preventing adequate access to health care facilities.... Cultural beliefs about diseases and health care differ amongst different communities around the world across the world. For instance, the Western attribute of healthcare may differ from other countries health belief systems. Other people especially from Asia are always comfortable with traditional mode of treatment than the modern strong and improved medicines. Sensitivity about culture is therefore very important because any disregard of culture by a healthcare practitioner may prevent an individual from vulnerable populace from receiving quality healthcare. There is disparity in health literacy and therefore health care providers must ensure that they consider cultural considerations before for successful health care delivery (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2013). Health Care Disparity Better health outcome requires that the entire population should receive equally superior health care but this has not been the case due to numerous disparities that persist. Disparities however differ in almost every population depending on various factors. Ethnicity, culture and race are amongst the parameters that contribute to disparities in healthcare provision. Generally, these disparities can be classified into communication failure, provider discrimination and lack of preventive care (Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee, 2006). Communication between health care providers and the patients is vital in ensuring adequate provision of health care. Failure to properly communicate may result into inappropriate diagnosis and improper admission of medicines. There are some patients who cannot speak similar language as the health providers hence there may be a need of

Largest global foodservice retailer

Largest global foodservice retailer 1.0 Executive Summary The report is to review on how the largest global foodservice retailer, McDonalds grew in Malaysia within the past 30 years. Since the year 1980, McDonalds USA (United State of America) has given the licensing to the Malaysia organisation. The franchising business started from Klang Valley and had expanded to the whole of Malaysia. Using the SWOT analysis, Michael Porters Value Chain and the PEST analysis, this report examine the reasons why McDonalds appears to be losing market share in Malaysia. Besides discussing the expansion of McDonalds franchise in Malaysia, the report also highlight the relationship between McDonalds and the local community and also how it benefits the local people who are behind expanding the business. 2.0 Organization Overview 2.1 The Backgrounds of McDonalds McDonalds had started by the name of Mc Bar-B-Que restaurant by two brothers, Dick and Mac McDonald in 1940. Mac Bar-B-Que had the drive-in concept, which features a large menu and car hop service. In 1948, the restaurant had shut down for three months to do a modification and subsequently, reopened in December with a new concept as a self-service drive-in restaurant. The new concept that McDonalds had applied was to guarantee that fresh food will be served in 60 seconds. Thus, this marks the beginning point of defined McDonalds as fast food restaurant in the future. The menu has been reduced to nine items as the hamburger is the core product. The success of the new business had attracted a multimixer salesman, Ray Kroc to visit the restaurant in 1954. At that time, it was a perfect opportunity for McDonalds because the brothers were looking for a nationwide franchising agent. Ray Kroc had learned the tricks of the trade and operations from Dick and Mac McDonald. Hence, this had led to the opening of the first Mc Donalds restaurant by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois on 15 April 1955. The distinctive feature of the restaurant was the red and white tiled building with gold arches. Ray Kroc began the McDonalds global empire by expanding the restaurant to 100 branches within 4 years and had the number reached 500 restaurants in 1963. Besides that, McDonalds had captured the market in different ways. This include, by featuring the indoor seating in restaurants and also by including its own mascot, Ronald McDonald on television commercials and developing new products from time to time. 2.2 The McDonalds in Malaysia The McDonalds had decided to expand its business outside the USA in 1967, by opening the first international restaurant in Canada and Puerto Rico. The franchising business of McDonalds grew very fast globally and McDonalds had become the largest restaurant organisation in the world. When McDonalds was first introduced to Malaysia in 1980, McDonalds Corporation, and USA had granted the license to a local organisation, Golden Arches Restaurant Sdn Bhd to operate the McDonalds restaurant in Malaysia. Malaysians had gotten the first taste of McDonalds when McDonalds Malaysia opened its first restaurant in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur on 29 April 1982. McDonalds Malaysia is expanding the business equally and currently, there are 185 McDonalds chains located nationwide. McDonalds Malaysia continues the expansion of the chain by about ten to fifteen restaurants yearly. Therefore, McDonalds Malaysia has created many job opportunities for the local people. There are over 7000 staffs in McDonalds and 120 support staff at the headquarters managing the day-to-day operations of McDonalds business. 3.0 SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym for the internal Strength and Weakness of a firm and the environmental Opportunities and Threats facing that firm. SWOT analysis is a widely used technique through which managers create a quick overview of a companys strategic situation. It is based on the assumption that an effective strategy derives from a sound fit between a firms internal sources (strengths and weakness) and its external situation (opportunities and threats). A good fit maximizes a firms strengths and opportunities but minimizes its weakness and threats. This simple assumption has powerful implications for the design of a successful strategy with accurately applied. 3.1 Impact of Internal Influences 3.1.1 Strength Strength is a resource advantage relative to competitors and the needs of the marketers a firm serves or expects to serve. It is a distinctive competence when it gives the firm a comparative advantage in the market place. Strength arises from the resources and competencies available to firm. 3.1.1.1 Convenience McDonalds is regarded as a convenience food because of the fast speed of serving food. With todays hectic lifestyle, it is the perfect food for anybody whos on the go, be it office workers or students. As it takes less than 5 minutes to get served, McDonalds is the preferred food for everybody. In addition, if the consumer does not want to drop by to the restaurant, McDonalds has its own delivery service, which is known as the McDelivery. Just a quick telephone call and the nearest McDonalds restaurant will deliver the food with a charge of RM (Ringgit Malaysia) 3. This saves the customers time and also the hassle of traffic jams. It also benefits working parents, as they do not worry about the hassle of preparing food for their children. 3.1.1.2 Quality Services The McDonalds in Malaysia provide the drive-thru service to ease the customers convenience as the location of McDonalds restaurant is busy and the parking lots are very limited. One of the reason people come for the fast food is because of speed. Thus, the drive-thru service is very popular, as they do not need to queue up for service. In addition, it is a norm for Malaysians to have supper at night. Before McDonald had introduced the twenty four hours operating restaurant, the only restaurant that operates a 24-hour service is the mamak stall (Indian-Muslim operating hawker stall which opens for twenty four hours). Hence, McDonalds had provide the twenty four hours service restaurant in order to satisfy Malaysian demand for supper. This is a value service that McDonalds had provide to provide to complement the Malaysians lifestyle. 3.1.2 Weakness A weakness is a limitation or deficiency in one or more resources or competencies relative to competitors that impedes a firms effective performance. 3.1.2.1 Quality of Product McDonalds had implemented a standard guideline of requirement for franchises in other parts of the world to follow, and McDonalds Malaysia is not excluded. McDonalds has strict rules, including how franchisee should operate a restaurant from controlling over the menu, cooking methods, staffing policies, design and location of the restaurant. This is one of the weaknesses of McDonalds since not every restaurant will provide the same quality of product. There are some feedbacks from consumers in the inconsistency of the taste of the food, such as the fries in certain McDonalds restaurants are too salty or tasteless. The most significant is the different taste of beef burgers served in the East and West Malaysia. This is due to the beef used in the burgers sold in sell at west Malaysian were imported. Furthermore, the East Malaysia government had discouraged the use of imported beef in restaurants. The texture between the local and imported beef is different as the imported beef is chew ier than the local beef. 3.1.2.2 Lack of Initiative on Product Development The menu in McDonalds Malaysia had remained the same in all these years. The development of product is poor and the new products were not introduced to the menu. Consumers have limited choices because there are only twelve types of main food in the menu. Eventually, customers would feel bored of the McDonalds menu. The McDonalds Malaysia used to have the Prosperity burger, but it only sold for a limited time, which is during the month of Chinese New Year. In addition, this is the only product that is promoted every year. 3.2 Michael Porters Value Chain Porter defines value as the amount buyers are willing to pay for what a firm provides. The value chain was therefore designed to display total value and consisted of the firms Value activities (defined below) and it margins. Therefore, the generic value chain for a single firm comprises three main elements which are primary activities, support activities and the margin. Primary activities are those involved in the creation of the product, its sale and transfer to the buyer as well as after-sales service. Support activities are those which support primary activities and each other. Three of these procurement, technology development and human resource management can be associated with specific primary activities while the fourth, firm infrastructure, supports the entire chain. 3.2.1 Primary Activities of value chain The goal of these activities is to create value that exceeds the cost of providing the product or service, thus generating a profit margin. This is the description of the activities that involve in primary value chain. Inbound Logistics includes warehousing, materials handling, inventory control, etc. Operations are the activities that transform inputs into finished products (eg machining, testing, packaging, equipment maintenance, etc). Outbound Logistics includes the activities that store and distribute products to buyers (eg warehousing, delivery vehicle operations, order processing, etc). Marketing and Sales are the activities that provide the means for the buyer to purchase (eg advertising, sales force operations, selection and management of distribution channels, etc). Service includes activities which enhance or maintain the value such as installation, repair, parts supply, etc). 3.2.1.1 Inbound Logistics As it is a fast food restaurant, McDonalds Malaysia tries to eliminate its cost of raw materials, namely meat, vegetables, raw foods and oil. As McDonalds Malaysia widely known, they will only choose the reputable supplier to provide raw foods to them. As McDonalds Malaysia is a huge conglomerate in Malaysia, it has no problem in attaining the raw materials as suppliers would be willingly to supply the materials to them. Compared to other restaurant operators, they are able to obtain a discount as their orders come in bulk. Furthermore, once they have acquired the raw materials, they will store the end products (meat, french fries) in the cold storage rooms at their respective warehouses in Malaysia. 3.2.1.2 Operations McDonalds Malaysia would have to convert the raw materials into end products, such as burgers and fries. As they are an internationally recognized company, McDonalds can afford to hire production and factory workers at a lower wage as the supply of factory workers are abundant. Quality control is also ensured as their machinery is checked to see whether there are any defects. Furthermore, the hygiene of factory workers are also strictly controlled as McDonalds cannot afford to allow any food poisoning or toxicity in their products. If there is any foreign element in the food products, this would cause customers to be ill and thereafter, affect the image of McDonalds Malaysia as a fast food restaurant. 3.2.1.3 Outbound logistics As it supplies their end product to the nationwide restaurants, McDonalds Malaysia would have to incur costs in transportation, namely the Lorries. The vehicles would be bought in at a discounted price, as McDonalds would need more vehicles to transport their end products to the whole of Malaysia. Gas and also servicing of the vehicles would also incur additional costs to McDonalds Malaysia. McDonalds Malaysia would find reputable car workshops to service their vehicles to ensure that they are of working condition. It is detrimental to the company if their vehicles are not in good condition as they need to deliver the end products (burgers) to the respective chain of restaurants. 3.2.1.4 Marketing and Sales McDonalds Malaysia would need to incur costs for their marketing and sales. Promotion would come in the form of leaflets that are inserted in newspaper as well as door to door. McDonalds would liaise with respective newspaper agent to promote their products. As newspaper is a wide form of media, the promotion would work as it will attract the attention of consumers. During the economic meltdown, consumers were very frugal.Realizing this, McDonalds Malaysia had publicized their Value Meal through newspaper advertisements and television commercials. It proved to be a huge success as customers had realized that it would not cost much to buy a meal in McDonalds Malaysia. Promotion in the forms of coupons are given out online and also in the forms ofleaflets. In order to increase revenue, McDonalds Malaysia had encouraged consumers to buy more by giving out discount coupons. As a result McDonalds would also have to budget for their promotional efforts for the local media sources. 3.2.1.5 Service As McDonalds strive to serve customers better, they provide value added service in the form of McDelivery. Customer service and deliver staff also play an important role in this value added service. Customer service representatives handle the customers orders, enquiries and also promote the products in McDonalds Malaysia. The delivery person has a role in delivering the food to customers and ensuring that they arrive on time. McDonalds Malaysia must also take into account the cost of the motorcycles, used by the delivery person. Regular servicing of motorcycles is needed to ensure that the vehicle is in working condition. 3.3 Impact of External Influences 3.3.1 Opportunities An opportunity is a major favourable situation in a firms environment. Key trends are one source of opportunities. Identification of a previously overlooked market segment, changes in competitive or regulatory circumstances, technological changes, and improved buyer or supplier relationships could represent opportunities for the firm. 3.3.1.1 Value Meal The economy crisis had impacted the purchasing power of consumers in Malaysia. However, McDonalds Malaysia had overcome this problem by reducing the price of the product. McDonalds Malaysia had introduced a special promotion, which is the Mc Value set. For RM (ringgit Malaysia) 5.95, the set consisted of a burger, medium sized of fries and soft drink. This had attracted a lot of customers as the price of RM5.95 is nearly equal to the price of a bowl of noodle and a beverage in most hawker stalls. Hence, many people would prefer to dine at McDonalds restaurants because of the good dining environment. During the launch of the promotion, there is only one choice in the menu on weekdays, from twelve to three oclock in the afternoon. When the response for the promotion is overwhelming, McDonalds had expanded their promotional items. Instead of one choice, the menu consisted of five choices, and the promotion is not only entitled on weekday but is available every day. This strategy was use d by McDonalds to maintain its sales during recession. 3.3.1.2 Growth and Expanding The McDonalds Malaysia chains were located mostly in the major cities. There are 185 restaurants around Malaysia and most of the restaurants are located in shopping malls and in the Klang Valley because the purchasing power in the city is regarded to be better. However, as the purchasing power in town had increased, more organisations would like to build more factories out of the city since the modal is much cheaper if compared to the city. Thus, the purchasing power will increase from time to time. 3.3.2 Threats A threat is a major unfavourable situation in a firms environment. Threats are key impediments to the firms current or desired position. The entrance of new competitors, slow market growth, increased bargaining power of key buyers or suppliers, technological changes, and new or revised regulations could represent threats to a firms success. 3.3.2.1 Competitor The major competitors for McDonalds Malaysia is KFC Malaysia (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Burger King. Both of the brands have increased in terms of volume of the restaurant in Malaysia. Moreover, KFC have a good market share in Malaysia. Even though KFC is famous with the fried chicken, but they have different strategies in developing their product, such as developing different types of flavour of fried chicken. KFC Malaysia had localised their product to suit local taste buds, by introducing the chicken rice. This had gotten a good response as not many people had favoured fried chicken. They can either go for other KFC products such as grilled chicken, snack wrap, burger or salad. However, the slogan of KFC Malaysia, good things for all with KFC, as they are targeting different market segments, as compared to McDonalds Malaysia who only focuses on the youth market. Furthermore, Malaysia is famous with its home brand burger, which is the RAMLI burger (the burger hawker stall which is operated by Malays individually). This posed as a threat for McDonalds because RAMLI is cheaper and famous from those days before McDonalds had entered into Malaysia. 3.3.2.2 Customer Perception Nowadays, people are concerned of their health and wish to maintain a healthy life. However, McDonalds Malaysia is not alert on the above matters and still maintains the same menu without bothering about the health conscious consumers. On the other hand, Pizza Hutz and KFC are getting popular in Malaysia because Pizza Hutz had developed a new flavour, vegetable pizza while KFC have added the garden salads to the menu. Unlike McDonalds Malaysia, McDonalds USA does care about the customer needs. Salads and yoghurt have been added to the main menu. This showed that the McDonalds USA does care about the customer needs. It is dangerous for a company when it does not meet the expectations. Therefore, Mc Donalds Malaysia has to be aware about this matter or risk losing their market share. 3.4 PEST Analaysis PEST is an acronym for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological, which are used to assess the market for a business or organizational unit. The PEST analysis headings are a framework for reviewing a situation and can also be used to review a strategy or position, direction of a company, a marketing proposition, or idea. By understanding the environment in which the companies operate (external to the company and department), the advantage of opportunities can be taken and the threats can be minimized. Political The political arena has a huge influence upon the regulation of businesses, and the spending power of consumers and other businesses. Economy Marketers need to consider the state of a trading economy in the short and long-terms. This is especially true when planning for international marketing. Socio-Cultural The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. Technology Technology is vital for competitive advantage, and is a major driver of globalization. 3.4.1 Political Factors Malaysias population comprises of many ethnic group, which includes the main three races, Malays, Chinese, Indian and other indigenous groups in East Malaysia. Therefore, Malaysians live in harmony under the slogan of One Malaysia. Thus, the stability of politics in Malaysia would attract more investors to open or expand the business in Malaysia and create more job opportunities, which in turn increase the purchasing power. 3.4.2 Economy Factors The global recession had hit the whole world at the end of 2007. This had resulted in a sharp drop in international trade and unemployment. Malaysia was not deeply affected compared to Singapore because Malaysia had learnt its lesson from the economic crisis in 1997. McDonalds Malaysia had counteract this problem by reducing the price of the product, which are the value meals mention on 3.3.1.1 and the sales is maintained well if compared to other fast restaurant who still maintain the product in the normal price. 3.4.3 Socio-Cultural Factors Malaysia is a multi-religion society and Islam is the official religion as more than half of the Malaysian population practice Islam. The people who practice Islam are known as Muslim and Muslim does not take pork. Thus, McDonalds Malaysia does not serve the pork as a respect to the religion as the majority of Malaysians are Muslim. The Muslims are the major consumers of beef, and therefore, the best selling product in McDonalds Malaysia is the Big Mac. 3.4.4 Technology Factors McDonalds Malaysia recognized the advantage of the Internet and therefore, it had notified the public about the corporate information, promotions and events. However, the McDonalds Malaysia still maintain the McDelivery order by telephone calls. This is the disadvantage for the organisation since the advancement of technology had caused the difference in consumer behaviour. Consumer would prefer to place the order online instead of calling because it would be more accurate. 3.5 Ecological Factors The ecological factors are important in a business due to the factors affect consumer behaviour. The ecological factors in McDonalds business can view by two ways which is the eco-environmental issue and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 3.5.1 Eco- environmental McDonalds Malaysia has followed the global McDonalds which examine ways of reducing material used in the production and packaging, as well as diverting as much as waste as possible from the solid waste stream. 3.5.1.1 Reduce, Reuse and Recycle In doing so, McDonalds had set the three courses of action which involved with the follow three courses of action: reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce McDonalds will take the steps to reduce the weight and volume of packaging when serving the food. This may mean eliminating packaging, adopting thinner and lighter packaging, changing manufacturing and distribution systems, adopting new technologies or using alternative materials. On the other hand, McDonalds do continually search for materials that are environmentally preferable. Reuse McDonalds do implement reusable materials whenever feasible within the operation and distribution systems as long as that is not compromising the safety and sanitation standards, moreover the customer services and expectations which also not offset by other environmental or safety concerns. Recycle McDonalds are committed to maximum use of recycled materials in the construction, equipping and operations of restaurants. McDonalds are proud to say that they are the largest user of recycled paper in the fast food industry, applying it to such the items as Happy Meal boxes, carry out bags, carryout trays and napkins. 3.5.2 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) McDonalds Malaysia has invested a lot in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and it does make a good business sense as the companies do not operate in a vacuum. A business does maintain a constant, interdependent relationship with the world in which or where the organization operate. 3.5.2.1 Good Works : Gift of smiles In Malaysia alone, 1 out of 600 babies is born with a cleft lip and palate. Out of the 570,000 babies born in this country, about 950 new cases are found each year. To date, there are almost 12,000 babies born with this defect and have yet to undergo corrective surgery. This is mainly due to financial constraints, parental ignorance of the available cure and in some instances, societal beliefs. McDonalds Malaysia has set a goal to instil public awareness and enable parents of these children to come forward and seek medical aid. Thus, McDonalds together with the partners, ING Insurance Berhad and Pantai Hospitals Sdn. Bhd. understand that financial constraints are a huge obstacle for many parents.. McDonalds understands the plight of these parents and would like to help by reducing their burdens. The partnership will see Pantai Hospitals Sdn Bhd undertaking corrective surgery for these children, through fundraising projects initiated by RMCC and cash contribution from ING Insurance Berhad under the Gift of Smile Programme. Together, lets give them the Gift of Smile 3.5.2.2 Sponsorship McDonalds Malaysia believes the organization would have the responsibility to give back as much as they can to the local communities. The idea of giving back is an integral part of everything the organisation doing. The McDonalds Malaysia works in the wider community to provide support and encouragement to the people who need it. All the McDonalds restaurants contribute to their local community and every year the organisation help to set up and support thousands of educational, sporting and charity programs designed to help a wide range of people and community. Consequently, McDonalds has a proactive move towards to sponsorships. McDonalds Malaysia believes the sponsorships help inspire and support Malaysians, especially for those the underprivileged to live a better life. The organisation has keen to delivering great experiences through sponsorships. 4.0 Recommendation McDonalds Malaysia is the second largest fast food franchisor in Malaysia but the business had sustained slowly in these few years. The main reason that McDonalds Malaysia gets stuck in between is because of the failure in achieving customer perception. As compared to Ramli Burger, the local burger had implements research to develop its burgers from time to time. For that reason, McDonalds Malaysia should expand the products line and focus on the youth markets as well as other age segments. By following the competitors footsteps, McDonalds should rebrand their position in the Malaysian fast food market, by not only catering for the youth but also cater to families who are health conscious and seeking value for their money. As a result, product development should be highlighted since the adults and the elderly people have much concern on their health. Moreover, fried food is hard to digest especially for older customers and infants. McDonalds can refer to what the competitors did and develop more healthy menus. It is recommended to have salad in the menu and more juices as the beverage. In addition, McDonalds can replace the vanilla ice cream with yogurt ice cream, which is very popular in the market nowadays. McDonalds Malaysia had to be more initiative in product development for achieving the consumer perception and prevent to lose the market share, as there are many competitors entering into the fast food market from time to time. 5.0 Conclusion The competitors are taking advantages with what McDonalds Malaysia missed in its business strategy. Even though McDonalds is a well known brand but improvisation is needed especially in the competitive market now. The downfall of Lehman Brothers had shown that the super brand have the possibility to fail if the business is not well managed. Hence, as consumers translates into figures in sales, all companies, regardless of any industries, should comply with their consumers expectations. A successful company is a company which can adapt to different type of environments to satisfy different type of consumers. As the saying goes, in Roman, do what the Romans do, companies should adapt to different types of culture to capture the market share in that specific country. REFERENCE LIST Daniels, D.D., Radebaugh, L.H. Sullivan, D.P. 2007, International Business Environment and Operation, 11th Edition, Pearson Education Australia Fisher, G., Hughes, R., Griffin, R.W. Pustay, M.W. 2006, International Business : managing in the Asia-Pacific, 3rd Edition, Pearson Education Australia Pearce II, J.R. Robinson R.B. 2000, Strategic Management : Formulation, Implementation, and Control, 7th Edition, McGraw-Hill United States Hill, C.W.L. 2005, International Business : competing in the global marketplace, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill New York Stacey, R.D. 2007, Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics The challenge of complexity to ways of thinking about organisations, 5th Edition, Pearson Education Great Britain Thompson, J.L. 2001, Understanding Corporate Strategy, Thompson Learning London Rosen, R. 1995, Strategic Management An Introduction, Pitman Publishing London Robson, W. 1994, Strategic Management Information Systems, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education Great Britain Thompson, A.A. Strickland III, A.J. 2004, Strategic Management : Concepts and Cases , 13th Edition, McGraw-Hill New York Perry, C. 2005, McDonalds in healthy hands, Marketing Week, September 8, pp. 24-5 Rooney, J. 2005, Defining moment, Sales Marketing Management, August, pp. 30-3 Nwogugu, M. 2004, Corporate governance, strategy and corporations law.The case of Jack-in-the-Box Inc., Managerial Auditing Journal, vol. 19 no.1, pp. 29-67 Arndt, M. 2007, McDonalds 24/7, Business Week, Nos 05/02, (Issue no. 4020), pp 65-71 Clark, N. 2007, McDonalds asking for trouble, Marketing, April 2005, p.21 Pomeroy, A. 2007, Shes lovin it (diversity at McDonalds), HR Magazine, vol. 51 No. 12, pp. 58-61 Blackhurst, C. 2005, Peter Beresford (interview), Management Today, January, pp. 28-31 Royle, T. 2005, Realism or Idealism? Corporate social responsibility and the employee stakeholder in global fast-food industry, Business Ethics : A European Review, vol. 14 no. 1, pp. 42-53 Royle, T. 2005, The union recognition dispute at McDonalds Moscow food-processing factory, Industrial Relations Journal, vol. 4 no. 4, pp318-326 http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/content/mcd/our_company/mcd_history.html viewed on 13th September 2009 http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/index.asp viewed on 17th September 2009 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/McVictory-200706 viewed on 1st October 2009 http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/abtus/corpinfo/history_msia.asp viewed on 1st October 2009 http://businessmanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_value_chain viewed on 8th October 2009 http://www1.ximb.ac.in/users/fac/dpdash/dpdash.nsf/pages/BP_Value_Chain viewed on 8th October 2009 http://crmcdonalds.com/publish/csr/home/report/sustainable_supply_chain/resource_conservation/Global_Environmental_Commitment.html viewed on 8th October 2009

Upon the Edge of My Endeavor : Understanding How to Learn. :: Free Essays Online

Upon the Edge of My Endeavor : Understanding How to Learn. I stand awake and alert. A first year college student with my sights fixed firmly ahead and my goals just within reach. A positive light is cast upon my future endeavors. Yet, as I reflect upon my educational experiences, I find myself drawing parallels between the direction in which my life is headed now and the similar paths I have traveled along before. I am forced to ask myself if I am truly prepared for what lies ahead. I have asked myself the same thing many times. I was once in a similar position. A fledgling student wavering just between the lines of hesitancy and motivation. I was beginning my freshman year at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. Ashburnham Massachusetts is the stereotypical image of the small New England town. Its boundaries are drawn not by geographic limitations but by the unspoken societal messages that all students are exposed to at some point during their educational experience. "Dress a certain way, don't ask too many questions, don't ask the wrong questions, always follow the directions, etc†¦" Most of the incoming freshman had been born there and had experienced similar opportunities from the day they all learned to tie their shoelaces to the day they received their high school diploma and shook hands with the superintendent. I was the exception to the rule in some respects for I had moved to Massachusetts from the Philadelphia area at the end of elementary school. I had not had the same experience as my peers. Not to say that my previous education was in any way superior to the one I was about to receive. However, I did encounter a bit of a culture shock upon my arrival. Freshman year of high school careened past my very eyes before I had the maturity to fully comprehend the knowledge and life experience that was being imparted to my young impressionable intellect. The somewhat nebulous idea of high school loomed before me, acting as both a mirage and a reality. The atmosphere itself was cramped. Every detail about the school was small, building size, classrooms, the student population. Yet in a broader sense I was overwhelmed by the enormousness of the task that lay before me. I was more concerned with surviving the first year than with anything else. Quite obviously I did survive, but not entirely because of the welcoming and nurturing environment that public school systems are expected to adopt. Upon the Edge of My Endeavor : Understanding How to Learn. :: Free Essays Online Upon the Edge of My Endeavor : Understanding How to Learn. I stand awake and alert. A first year college student with my sights fixed firmly ahead and my goals just within reach. A positive light is cast upon my future endeavors. Yet, as I reflect upon my educational experiences, I find myself drawing parallels between the direction in which my life is headed now and the similar paths I have traveled along before. I am forced to ask myself if I am truly prepared for what lies ahead. I have asked myself the same thing many times. I was once in a similar position. A fledgling student wavering just between the lines of hesitancy and motivation. I was beginning my freshman year at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. Ashburnham Massachusetts is the stereotypical image of the small New England town. Its boundaries are drawn not by geographic limitations but by the unspoken societal messages that all students are exposed to at some point during their educational experience. "Dress a certain way, don't ask too many questions, don't ask the wrong questions, always follow the directions, etc†¦" Most of the incoming freshman had been born there and had experienced similar opportunities from the day they all learned to tie their shoelaces to the day they received their high school diploma and shook hands with the superintendent. I was the exception to the rule in some respects for I had moved to Massachusetts from the Philadelphia area at the end of elementary school. I had not had the same experience as my peers. Not to say that my previous education was in any way superior to the one I was about to receive. However, I did encounter a bit of a culture shock upon my arrival. Freshman year of high school careened past my very eyes before I had the maturity to fully comprehend the knowledge and life experience that was being imparted to my young impressionable intellect. The somewhat nebulous idea of high school loomed before me, acting as both a mirage and a reality. The atmosphere itself was cramped. Every detail about the school was small, building size, classrooms, the student population. Yet in a broader sense I was overwhelmed by the enormousness of the task that lay before me. I was more concerned with surviving the first year than with anything else. Quite obviously I did survive, but not entirely because of the welcoming and nurturing environment that public school systems are expected to adopt.

Conventional cars to electric cars

IntroductionIf we count the autos on the whole planet we will make a figure bigger than 500 million. These autos give us great freedom, but they bring some jobs excessively. They burn fossil fuels like oil so they pollute our planet and they do a major part to the planetary heating. In U.S 33 % of entire C dioxide emanations comes from the autos with internal burning engines. Most people want to hold electric autos that are fuel, efficient and cleaner than the gas guzzlers they drive today. However, these yearss, there are some jobs which are waiting for solutions like battery capacity, bear downing Stationss, new grid systems and paying systems. In this work we will analyze how can we go through from conventional autos to electric autos? hypertext transfer protocol: //www.explainthatstuff.com/electriccars.html hypertext transfer protocol: //ecobridge.org/content/g_cse.htmEnvironmental Friendly Technologies and Their NecessityEnvironmental engineerings or green engineerings assist straight with energy preservation and they help the environment by cut downing the sum of waste produced by human activities. These engineerings besides conserve natural environment and resources. Today, the universe is in danger. Everyone must confront to have an consequence on Earth. We must cognize the effects of our life manners and we should rearrange our lives harmonizing to it. The best solution is the use of environmental engineerings in our day-to-day life. In this perspective environmental footfalls divide into two classs ; as a authorities and as a individual. Governments can modulate the policies and give more importance to renewable energy. However, most of import portion is personal actions. Human history shows that ordinary people have adequate power to alter the systems like authoritiess and governments. Why ca n't we change earth ‘s fate? By safeguards that we will take, we can salvage our natural resources. For illustration ; we should give importance to recycling that we bring the use of clean energy to our lives. By utilizing solar energy and alternate fuel vehicles, including plug-in intercrossed and pure electric autos can salvage our kids ‘s hereafter. hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_technologyElectric Car IdeaElectric autos are fundamentally alternate fuel cars which use electric motor and electric power to travel. Although electric auto thought shows so fresh, electricity is one of the oldest auto propulsion methods. Yet late, they have gained more importance with planetary clime treatments. â€Å" Electric auto † by and large used for cars powered by electricity. There are some types of electric autos but they have different names such as, electric autos powered by sunshine are solar autos, and electric autos powered by gas generator are intercrossed autos. Hybrid autos with batteries that can be recharged by linking a stopper to an external electric power beginning is a plug-in intercrossed vehicle ( PHEV ) . An electric auto that obtains its power from an interior battery battalion is called a battery electric vehicle ( BEV ) . Although electric autos save natural resources and the clime, electricity as a propulsion method could non be achieved gasoline autos ‘ comfort and easiness of operation. ICE engineering has some advantages ; gasolene autos have greater scope and small refueling times and there is a immense gasolene distribution substructure to supply gasolene for autos. Besides that a gasolene auto ‘s monetary value is much cheaper than an electric auto. There are non merely electric autos ‘ disadvantages. They are more environmental, friendly and their maintaining and running costs are cheaper than ICE autos ‘ . By indispensable policy alterations and electric distribution substructure investings, in short clip ICE autos may replace with electric autos. Today, intercrossed electric autos have become the most popular signifier of electric auto, we can easy purchase a intercrossed auto with an low-cost monetary value. For case, Toyota Prius or Chevrolet Volt. Besides we can purchase a plug-in loanblend or a pure electric auto such as Tesla Roadster or Th! nk City. hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car

History Of The Amputation Procedure Health And Social Care Essay

Harmonizing to WebMD â€Å" an amputation is the remotion of portion or all of a organic structure portion enclosed by tegument. Amputations are performed to take morbid tissue or to alleviate hurting † . The first amputations were performed in the Neolithic times, the first recorded instance of an amputation and prosthetic replacing surgery appears in the book of the Vedas. Most of the first amputations occurred during times of war, where injury to the appendages was really common. During the American Civil War if you were shot in the trunk there was a great opportunity that you would decease, but if you were shot in an appendage, quickest and most common option was amputation. When available the civil war sawboness put Chloroform on a fabric, so the fabric was held over the victim ‘s oral cavity and nose until the individual became unconscious. Because of the big figure of hurt soldiers the sawboness became experts with amputations, most of the clip the amputations could be performed in approximately 10 proceedingss. The sawboness were non healthful, because there was a deficit of H2O therefore they made no effort to rinse custodies or instruments between surgeries, despite all of this the survival rate of the amputees was at about 75 % . The bulk of the Civil War sawboness learned this process from this book â€Å" The Practice of Surgery † , by Samuel Cooper. This book was the â€Å" How To † book of executing amputations for the sawbones s. This book discusses the measure by measure ways to cut off the leg, below the articulatio genus, the arm, and the fingers and toes. Some of the instruments that the Civil War sawboness used were the compression bandage, scalpels, bone proverb, and bone childs. The compression bandage was used to curtail the flow of blood during an amputation process. The scalpel was used to do scratchs in the tegument. The bone proverb were used to cut straight through bone, and musculus. The bone childs were used to take matchwoods from the bone that the bone proverb could hold caused. Today there are many different types of amputations ; they are first categorized under upper limb amputations, and lower limb amputations. The upper limb amputations include: amputation of single figures, multiple digit amputation, metacarpal amputation, wrist disarticulation, forearm ( trans-radial ) amputation, elbow disarticulation, above-elbow ( trans-humeral ) amputation, shoulder disarticulation, and forequarter amputation. Amputation of single figures is the remotion of a finger ; this will do the patient problem hold oning objects. Multiple digit amputation is the remotion of two or more fingers, hold oning ability may be aided if the sawbones is able reconstruct the musculus. Metacarpal amputation is the complete remotion of the manus, with the carpus still integral ; with this type of amputation there is no ability to hold on. Wrist disarticulation is the remotion of the full manus up to the degree of the carpus articulation. Forearm ( trans-radial ) amputation this is the remotion radius, it is classified by the size of the staying stump ; as the stump length decreases so does the ability for the patient to revolve their forearm. Elbow disarticulation is the remotion of the full forearm up to the cubitus ; the patient still has the ability of keeping weight. Above-elbow ( trans-humeral ) amputation is the remotion of the humourous anyplace above the cubitus and below the shoulder ; prosthetic device could be used if there is some length left on the humourous. Shoulder disarticulation is the remotion the of the full arm, the shoulder blade still remains and the collar bone may or may non be removed. Forequarter amputation is the remotion of the full arm, shoulder blade, and collar bone, normally some bone is left in order to attach a prosthetic devices. The lower limb amputations include: foot amputations, ankle disarticulation ( Syme amputation ) , below-knee ( trans-tibial ) amputation, knee-bearing amputation, above-knee ( trans-femoral ) amputatio n, and hip disarticulation. Foot amputations are the remotion of any portion or part of the pes including toes, and mid-tarsal ; this type of amputation may impact balance and walking. Ankle disarticulation ( Syme amputation ) is the remotion of the full mortise joint ; with this type of amputation the victim can still mobilise without a prosthetic devices. Below-knee ( trans-tibial ) amputation is the remotion of the shinbone above the mortise joint, but below the articulatio genus ; victims keep the usage of the articulatio genus, but have problem seting weight on the stump. Knee-bearing amputation is the complete remotion of the lower leg ; it is normally more hard to make a prosthetic device for this type of amputation. Above-knee ( trans-femoral ) amputation is the remotion of the thighbone up to the degree of the thigh ; the victim can still sit with this type of amputation. Hip disarticulation is the remotion of the full leg ; sawboness try to go forth every bit much of the t highbone as possible in order to attach a prosthetic device. With all the amputations, upper and lower appendages, the sawbones will seek to go forth every bit much bone as possible in order to attach a prosthetic device. In the United States entirely there are over 350,000 amputees, and over 135,000 amputations happening each twelvemonth. In the United States the taking cause for amputations is disease ( 70 % ) , the 2nd leading cause is trauma ( 22 % ) , inborn or birth defects ( 4 % ) , and tumours ( 4 % ) . The most common diseases and conditions that can do an amputation are peripheral artery disease, arterial intercalation, impaired circulation as a complication of diabetes mellitus, sphacelus, terrible cryopathy, Raynaud ‘s disease, and Buerger ‘s disease. More than 90 % of all disease doing amputations are due to circulative complications of diabetes. 60-80 % of all of these amputations involve the lower appendages. Peripheral arteria disease causes amputations by the blood vass indurating that causes the blood to be blocked from making tissues in the organic structure ‘s appendages ; because of this these tissues finally die, which causes the demand for an amputation. Arteri al intercalation causes a blood coagulum to organize which blocks the flow of blood and so causes the tissue to decease and necessitate to be amputated. Diabetess mellitus is a disease where non adequate insulin is produced by the organic structure and hapless circulation occurs as a consequence of the diabetes, the hapless circulation can do tissue to decease, which would so necessitate to be amputated. Gangrene is the decease and decay of one time living tissue, the dead tissue is removed through an amputation. Frostbite is when tissue on the organic structure freezes, ensuing in hoar bite, in terrible instances the tissue dies and so would hold to be removed through an amputation. Raynaud ‘s disease is a disease largely found in immature adult females, it causes reduced blood flow to the appendages ; this could so do the tissue in the appendages to decease. Buerger ‘s disease is a episodic disease that causes redness and obstruction of the venas and arterias of the ap pendages, normally merely occurs in work forces under age 40, who smoke, this disease may necessitate amputation of the custodies or pess. The 2nd prima cause of an amputation is trauma. Harmonizing to Merriam-Webster injury is an hurt ( as a lesion ) to populating tissue caused by an extrinsic agent. There are many different possible injury, they can happen with but are non limited to auto accidents, terrible Burnss and gunshot lesions. During a traumatic hurt, blood vass and other organic structure tissue constituents are ripped or torn beyond fix by these types of hurts, go forthing no other option but amputation. Another cause of an amputation is a congenital or birth defect amputation. Congenital amputations occur in the uterus while the babe is still developing ; blood flow to a limb can go restricted because of other tissue. As a consequence the limb could be lost and the babe is born with a inborn amputation. The other cause of amputations are by tumours. Peoples with malign ant neoplastic disease that have malignant tumours, need to cut off the country in which the tumour is, in order to forestall the malignant neoplastic disease to further spread to other parts of the organic structure. Undergoing an amputation has many effects on the organic structure, both psychological and physical. These effects are happening before and after the surgery. Many new amputees have a hard clip with covering with the loss of a limb which has been with them since birth, merely the idea of holding to work without something that you have had entree to your whole life is a traumatic event in of its ego. When people are told that they are traveling to necessitate an amputation the most common reaction is shock. Many of the victims go through a period of denial, the people think â€Å" this ca n't go on to me † or â€Å" I wo n't allow you make this to me. † Many amputees may besides develop choler towards themselves, loved 1s and God. Amputees think to themselves â€Å" why me? † Many of the new amputees face being worried about the hurting during surgery and during the recovery period. Before the surgery the patients try to â€Å" dicker † with God, the sawbon es, or both to halt the demand for the amputation. After this does n't work many times the patient begins to hold symptoms of depression. Most people in the terminal learn to get by with the loss of their limb and accept what has happened. The amputation will hold a important impact on the patient ‘s self image, which could be positive or negative. Some of the amputees may experience a greater feeling of strength developed in the attempt to get the better of the losingss which have occurred late in their life. A good thing for amputees is run intoing with other amputees to assist each other header. However this new ego imagine of themselves could besides be negative if the amputee is concerned about how people will comprehend them, because they feel that they need to affect. Many are besides concerned because they feel that they wo n't be respected because they are crippled. Just like people need clip to retrieve psychologically and emotionally, the amputees need to retrieve p hysically. After the process, the patient will necessitate to be prescribed pain medical specialty, and antibiotics in order to forestall an infection from happening. The amputated part demands to be moved in order to make good circulation. The patient normally will get down physical therapy within 48 hours after surgery, to advance a speedy and effectual recovery. Depending on the gravitation of the amputation, depends on the clip that the patient will pass in the infirmary, it normally varies from several yearss to two hebdomads. Rehabilitation is a long procedure for amputees. Patients with an upper appendage amputation will most likely work with an Occupational Therapist. Patients with a lower appendage amputation will most likely work with a Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist. The clip that a recovery takes depends on assorted factors such as: physical form before the amputation, age, other medical jobs, ability to larn how to utilize a prosthetic device, how good you follow wa ies, motive to retrieve, and your psychological province. As with any major surgical process, amputations have major hazards with undergoing with this process. Hazards with the anaesthesia exists, every bit good as the possibility of heavy blood loss, and the possibility of blood coagulums organizing. Another major hazard of the process is infection to the amputated part. The rate of infection is at approximately 15 % , if the stump were to go septic the prosthetic device would hold to be removed and perchance a 2nd amputation higher up the appendage. Another major hazard is the stump neglecting to mend. This normally happens when there is a deficiency of blood to the amputated limb. Another hazard is phantom limb hurting, which is hurting that feels like it ‘s coming from a organic structure portion that ‘s no longer at that place. The intervention to phantom limb is hard, but it is possible. New amputees will sooner or subsequently have to confront that it will be harder to make the mundane undertakings that they used to finish. Although most of these undertakings are more hard, they are n't impossible, because of prosthetics. From the clip that amputations started, there were prosthetic device for the losing limbs. The prosthetic device were every bit simple as a wooden leg in the clip of early prosthetics. Today as engineering has advanced from the clip of early prosthetics, so has the prosthetic device made for amputees. Today there are prosthetic device that can pick up urges from the nervus that are amplified into a motor that make the elbow crook or unbend out, or the fingers open and near. For above the articulatio genus patients there are new prosthetic device which use motion-tracking detectors, vacuity suction engineering to supply improved tantrum, comfort and control. Since the recent promotions of these new prosthetic device people can populate similar to th e life that they used to populate. Amputations are a minor reverse for some unbelievable people who have gotten through their calamity, and have become noteworthy people in the universe of amputees. Heather Mills was the former married woman of Beatle Paul McCartney ; she was besides an English militant and a former glamor theoretical account. In August of 1993, Mills was hit by a constabulary bike while traversing the route, her hurts included crushed ribs, a pierced lung, and terrible hurt to her left leg. She needed a metal home base put into her pelvic girdle and the amputation of her leg below the articulatio genus. Bethany Hamilton is an American surfboarder who survived a shark onslaught in where she lost her left arm ; she overcame the serious and debilitating hurt and returned to surfing. Her narrative was so inspiring that there is a film that was late released about her called â€Å" Soul Surfer † . Daniel Inouye President pro tempore of the United States Senate is another noteworthy amputee. Daniel Inouye lost his right arm in the war, he remained in the armed forces until 1947, and he was uprightly discharged with the rank of captain. Inouye had programs to go a sawbones, but because of the loss of his arm, he abandoned his dream and returned to college to analyze political scientific discipline on the GI Bill.