It Use to Be Green Once free essay sample

It use to be green once. Patricia grace Short story Explain why you learned something from this relationship in the text(s) In the Short story It Use To Be Green Once by Patricia Grace is a short story that I enjoyed toughly not just because it was a story I could relate to , but impractically because of the mother in the short story. I enjoyed reading about the way she handled her whanu (family) , the way she acts towards others, her positive attitude , the way she showed love towards others and finally because of the fact she never changed despite winning the lottery. I enjoyed reading It Use To Be Green Once because the mother had a strong relationship with her whanu (family) , but also with her community as well . For example when ever mum would go shopping she would not only buy her family’s groceries , but she would drive the street and people would call out there list of the food supply’s they needed. We will write a custom essay sample on It Use to Be Green Once or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mum would memorise it and so there shopping too. â€Å" A sac of spuds† one would call and mum would toot the horn to show that she understood. Secondly I enjoyed reading about the way mum treated others. The relationship she had with her community was a close and tight relationship. â€Å"Everybody knew mums car and knew to move to the side when they saw it come down the roadâ€Å". Mum let anyone in her car ,She would honk the horn and shout â€Å"your gonna have to run then jump in†. This was because her brakes weren’t working. This was enjoyable to read about as it told the reader what type of women she was. Thirdly I enjoyed reading about the mums positive attitude that she had with others. â€Å"When I was your age I use to go swimming in the nude†. Although Mum knew she wasn’t rich she still tried her best to keep the family positive , although the children were embarrassed by her actions and by what she made them wear. Mum tried to always have a positive attitude . Mums attitude to show her kids that money isn’t everything. Mums attitude towards her kids tell the reader that mum is the type who makes do of what she has and never lets materialistic things get to her. Fourthly I enjoyed reading about mum and the relationship she shared because of the love she showed others. When they had won the lottery mum would pick up other people who wanted to do their shopping to in her brand new car and take them with her. This painted a picture in the readers head that mum is a loving person and now that she has the money she is able to do more to show love towards her community. The relationship between mum and the community was a relationship valued by her community and herself. Finally, the fact that Mum never changed despite her family winning the lottery . Mum never changed so did dad†, although winning the lottery meant that they would be able to enhance their relationship with the community as they would be able to offer more. Mum not changing implied to the reader that she was true to who she was. The most important thing I have learnt from this short story , mainly the relationship mum had with everyone, was to stay true to who I am and that money and materialistic things are not important. The greatest message I took from this short story is that materialistic things do not change a person but the person that changes itself .

Bachelor of Nursing for Communities and Corresponding Groups

Question: Discuss about theBachelor of Nursing for Communities and Corresponding Groups. Answer: In broader terms nursing is referred to as a profession of noble virtues concerning the healthcare sector whereby professionally trained and qualified personnel pledges to take care of persons of diverse age groups, ethnicity, socio-economic backgrounds in conjunction with their families, communities and corresponding groups for the sake of facilitating good health and wellbeing. Ensuring promotion of good health alongside abatement of disease and illness is the primary objective of the nursing professionals who resort to relentless initiatives for rendering the most appropriate care for the ill, disabled or dying persons as the situation might have arose in liaison with the established codes of practices (Kearney-Nunnery, 2015). The nurses always try and bring forth the optimal outcomes for the patient and ensure holistic development of them through the avenue of advocacy and nursing education (Yi Keogh, 2016). The various concepts and pertinent foundational theory and documents wi ll be thoroughly discussed in course of the assignment. In matters related to the healthcare industry nursing has been reckoned as a crucial component, in which the designated healthcare professionals strive to achieve excellence in terms of providing the desirable helathcare4 facilities to the distressed patients so that health may be fostered and diseases or illness may be largely kept at bay. The nursing interventions are applicable to wide setting of patients who belong to diverse age and ethnic backgrounds. The definition proposed by International Council for Nurses, nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of persons belonging to diverse age and community within the healthcare set up. The principal concerns of the nursing professionals is streamlined to the facilitation of good health alongside prevention of illness apart from applying care services meant for the ill, disabled an dying people in an effort to harbor positive outcomes. Besides these necessities, the nurses are entitled to offer optimal care services throu gh promotion of a safe health environment conducive for health improvement of the sick individual. Advocacy for healthcare improvement through conducting extensive research and taking active part for chalking out of health policy through careful management of patient and health systems through empowerment by means of education is also carried forward by the nurses (Icn.ch, 2017). The basic requirements for becoming a nurse are only fulfilled when the aspirant enrolls for the nursing education course and successfully completes it. Further, top be eligible for practice in the respective nation, the course needs to be approved and affiliated under suitable regulatory authority. The foundation to basic nursing course and behavioral sciences is offered within the scope of the formally identified curriculum that has to be judiciously completed by the nursing enthusiast. Continuous learning is a defining feature of the nursing profession whereby persistent and relentless initiatives are us urped by the concerned nurses to achieve the optimal outcomes of providing quality care to the patients (Ironside, McNelis Ebright, 2014). Hence, I feel these healthcare professionals unlike any other healthcare personnel, due to their closer association with the patients act as the frontline workforce who serve the healthcare industry and are likely to acquire considerable experiences through varied situations and circumstances. Their contribution to the creation of a healthy environment, fitter lifestyle and healthier communities is indispensable that in turn indicate towards the promotion of sustainable future through approaches that are conducive. The acquisition of the desirable skills and working in conformity with the established guidelines according to me is of focal interest in nursing as it is directly associated with the outcomes of the patient. Explanation of the various phenomena concerning the healthcare domain is usually provided by virtue o several nursing theories that have been postulated by renowned theorist who endeavored to elucidate them in considerable details. The usability of these theories in real life settings have been referred to through empirical findings those talks in favor of their application to generate practices and positive outcomes that are in line with the patient conditions. The postulates of the nursing theories have stood the test of time and therefore are widely used in the context of diverse clinical settings to provide optimal care for the patients. Conventionally, the nursing metaparadigm is shrouded with four integral constituents that encompass person, health, environment and nursing. The common factor out of these components is found out to be that of patient and therefore more emphasis is laid on this. Many theories have come into force till now accompanied by relevant descriptions, def initions and explanations and stated by renowned theorist which paved the way for explaining the nursing practice under a rational and constructive framework (Fitzpatrick McCarthy, 2014). I make it a point not to refute any of the principles and values that circumscribe the vocation of nursing so that maximum comfort and valid outcomes for the patient may be elicited. Distinguished theorists have put forward certain pertinent theories that are capable of explaining the situations as applicable to the patient situation in a satisfactory way (Alligood, 2014). Out of the theories that are in vogue, I specifically rely more on the Orlandos Deliberative Nursing Process Theory as I find it to be befitting to any patient situation and therefore has the potential to drive positive responses. The theory shows significant support for the interaction among the nurse and the patient. Besides these emphasis is laid on proper applicability of the nursing processes through perception validation t hereby accounting for holistic improvement of the patient condition. The theory aims to discuss the interrelated concepts which include patients presenting behavior, professional nursing function, immediate reaction, deliberative nursing process and subsequently emancipation of the present condition. Both in professional as well as administrative discourse this theory is of paramount importance because of its clearly narrated proceedings, conciseness and applicability to diverse range of clinical setting. The mutual associations between the nurses and patients present opportunities for in depth analysis and probe into matter of patient through the prudent application of critical reflection (May, 2013). Therefore, I hold a very high esteem of this theory as in contemporary nursing, critical reflection is recognized as an essential characteristic to pursue clinical assessment of the patient in an appropriate manner. Conformance to the existing legislations and guidelines is a vital aspect of nursing as it ensures the provision of optimal healthcare facilities to the patients allaying the risk of harms that do not account for threat to their lives. Ethical decision making is yet another major focus area for nursing similar to any healthcare set up for safeguarding the interests of the patient by aligning to the specified set of duties and circumstances that are recognized as sufficient for harboring positive outcomes for the patient. The participation and opinions as exerted by the patients, their families and friends is vital to the decision making process as they are considered as integral and interrelated components of the healthcare system. Various situations might pose challenges to the nursing professionals in maintaining the autonomy of the patients without any risk of hazard and nurses must be proficient enough to carry out their assigned duties diligently under such situations. Safekeepi ng of the recorded data and maintaining their confidentiality is another vital feature that needs to be kept in mind so that no breach of conduct occurs from the nurses ends in abiding by the legal and ethical guidelines as presented by the concerned authority (Grace, 2017). Relevant to this context, I would like to acknowledge the code of ethics put forward by the New Zealand Nurse Organisation that might aid in exploring the details of the nursing practice within the given framework. The code include the composition of certain virtues and principles which encompass beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, confidentiality, justice, fidelity, veracity, guardianship of the near environment alongside its resources as well as being professional. As far as these principles is concerned, I feel Being Professional is the most significant out of them all as it is intimately associated with achieving desired level of professional competency. The demonstration of suitable actions, commitment and accountability by the nurses is vital to tackle the situation of the distressed patients in a satisfactory manner (Nzno.org.nz, 2017). The Nursing Council of New Zealand has taken measures to present certain well defined domains and competencies that the Registered Nurses and other nursing personnel are expected to follow to maintain the professional competency. In the scope of practice for the Registered Nurse, four domains of competencies have been recommended. Accomplishment of nursing competencies within the set domains is of significance as it ensures the safe practice for rendering healthcare service. The respective domains of 1, 2, 3 and 4 contribute to responsibility in the professional contexts, nursing care management, building of interpersonal relationships alongside improvement off quality and inter-professional healthcare. The needs of the clients are heeded to through assessment and management of service recipient care that relate to domain 2 competencies. Nursing knowledge and evidence-based care are vital to the accomplishment of the competencies related to Domain 2. Classification of Domain 2 into n ine other competencies include planned care for rendering optimal outcomes, conduct of prudent and comprehensive nursing evaluation for patients in diverse settings, safeguarding the interests of the patients by maintaining the confidentiality of data and providing most accurate, transparent and specific information about the potential effects of the interventions applied alongside through outcomes and offering of proposed treatment alternatives. It is also held crucial to maintain appropriate action in times of crisis at personal and professional level. Other competencies entrenched in this domain caters to the assessment of the patients progress alongside maintenance of desired level of service proficiency (Nursingcouncil.org.nz, 2017). Abidance and acting in line with these competencies is thus vital to the maintenance of quality, safe and effective modality of treatment intervention. Few historical incidents that took place in New Zealand have shaped the state of the nursing profession in the country. Treaty of Waitangi is one such happening that may be considered important and relevant in this context. An agreement was made between the representatives of the British Crown and M?ori inhabitants that agreed upon approving both the parties to live together in the domicile of New Zealand governed by a common set of laws. Principles that constitute the treaty has been deeply scrutinized and put under the radar of rigorous investigation to get an insight about its utilization in the context of modern times where considerable development for a sustainable future may be effectively achieved. According to the decision and agreement made in this treaty, strengthening of the vital aspects concerning partnership, participation and protection was ensured that in turn accounted for the coalition between the Government and M?ori inhabitants (Ludbrook, 2014). The principle of p rotection as per my opinion is of greater significance as it entitles the M?ori people to enjoy equal benefits in terms of healthcare facilities at par with other indigenous population of New Zealand thereby allaying the possibility of inequality in healthcare by equal opportunities for healthcare facilities through conduct of Governmental initiatives and programs. Moreover, the cultural practices and beliefs specific to the M?ori community are also safeguarded by means of this principle thereby ensuring facilitation and adoption of culturally safe healthcare facilities (Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). Thus, this principle has got significance in nursing profession as well for the purpose of rendering quality health opportunities to the people belonging to the specific community. Consideration of the various aspects of nursing, I am now able to articulate my opinion and perspective regarding the vocation. As per my opinion, I see nursing as a profession brewing with lots of challenges and opportunities that go hand in hand and offer the dynamism to the domain of practice unlike any other profession may sought. Critical reflection forms the governing component of nursing whereby the nurses apply prudent and pragmatic knowledge so that the patients may undergo speedy recovery without incurring any harm to their health. Evaluation of the patient situation and undertaking suitable interventions in line with the ethical and legal dictums as laid out by concerned authorities is usually achieved by these professionals. Further I believe that working in conformity with the codes of practice, established protocols and exhibition of competence towards the job is of paramount importance in nursing. References Alligood, M. R. (2014).Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier Health Sciences. Fitzpatrick, J. J., McCarthy, G. (Eds.). (2014).Theories Guiding Nursing Research and Practice: Making Nursing Knowledge Development Explicit. Springer Publishing Company. Grace, P. J. (2017).Nursing ethics and professional responsibility in advanced practice. Jones Bartlett Learning. Icn.ch. (2017).Definition of Nursing.Icn.ch. Retrieved 22 August 2017, from https://www.icn.ch/who-we-are/icn-definition-of-nursing/ Ironside, P. M., McNelis, A. M., Ebright, P. (2014). Clinical education in nursing: Rethinking learning in practice settings.Nursing Outlook,62(3), 185-191. Kearney-Nunnery, R. (2015).Advancing Your Career Concepts in Professional Nursing. FA Davis. Ludbrook, J. (2014). The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi: Their Nature, Their Limits and Their Future.Browser Download This Paper. May, B. A. (2013). Orlandos Nursing Process Theory in Nursing Practice.Nursing Theory-E-Book: Utilization Application, 285. Ministry of Health NZ. (2017).Treaty of Waitangi principles.Ministry of Health NZ. Retrieved 22 August 2017, from https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/he-korowai-oranga/strengthening-he-korowai-oranga/treaty-waitangi-principles Nursingcouncil.org.nz. (2017).Registered nurse / Scopes of practice / Nurses / Home - Nursing Council of New Zealand.Nursingcouncil.org.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2017, from https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Scopes-of-practice/Registered-nurse Nzno.org.nz. (2017).Code of Ethics.Nzno.org.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2017, from https://www.nzno.org.nz/Portals/0/publications/Guideline%20-%20Code%20of%20Ethics%20(2010%202013).pdf Yi, M., Keogh, B. (2016). What motivates men to choose nursing as a profession? A systematic review of qualitative studies.Contemporary nurse,52(1), 95-105.

Shoplifting and Its Effect on Society free essay sample

Shoplifting affects not only me but my family as well. I feel embarrassed and worthless yet if I felt like that. â€Å"Why did I do it in the first place? † Because shoplifting is tempting, the shoplifter thinks they’re getting the product for free. But the truth is that someone has to pay for our mistake, thus price rises and the community has to pay. And some stores could even go bankrupt because of shoplifting. It is unfair to people who do not shoplift to pay for the mistakes that shoplifters make. People in the community who are not as wealthy as others have a harder time paying for their food and needs, and when they feel they can’t afford spending too much money at a certain retail store they will have to go to another destination to shop, causing a great inconvience to them and also the retail store will be losing money and might even close down in the future. We will write a custom essay sample on Shoplifting and Its Effect on Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We also suffer on a personal level, when an employee who realizes an item has been stolen from their store. They often feel violated, and when they feel violated it causes them to lose trust in others. So store employee follow potential merchants, watching their every move, making potential merchants uneasy and guilty when they are innocent. As there is no ‘look’ of a shoplifter, there is no way to identify whether a person is going to shoplift or not. And thus trust is lost between the merchant and the retailer. Resulting in an uncomfortable environment to shop in. Only about three percent of shoplifters are professionals. The rest of the shoplifters, shoplift as a response to experiencing stress in their personal lives. I myself am an immigrant from Singapore I just moved to Canada last year and a lot has happened since then. I survived being poor and unsatisfying for a year, so â€Å"why did I shoplift? † part of me believes that it is because I’m poor and I just wanted something, but part of me believes that it also because of what I’m going through a lot of stress and I feel depressed at times. Its like I need to fill up a hole in me. I thought shoplifting would make me feel better but the truth is you will lose all self-confidence in yourself. You become even more depressed and emotional you start to feel as if you don’t deserve a lot of things, or that others are better than you. Shoplifting has broken up many families and friends, the distrust and the disappointment they have when they look at you will consume you and soon you yourself will change. I was fortunate that my mother was very understanding and offered to help me out of my depression. She did admitted her disappointment in me but she told me I am still a good person. That made me realized that as a individual we belong to a community, and we make up what the community will become, each of us play a role to become someone bigger than themselves. When someone does well another will also want to do well. We could start by doing community work and volunteering at places that need our help. Helping others can without a doubt make you feel better about yourself, shoplifting will only make that empty feeling deeper as you start to feel guilty and worthless that others are better than you for not shoplifting. You’ll feel like the bad guy. Nowadays people not only shoplift, but steal and con others of their money this is because people who becomes thieves usually starts as shoplifters at a young age. Shoplifting when young can often lead to becoming thieves and robbers in the future. In fact ninety percent of convicts admitted that they have shoplifted before in their teenage years or younger. Statistics shows that there is an average of twenty-seven million shoplifters in the United States of America alone, which equates to one person in eleven, and only ten million have been caught within the past five years. Kids make up twenty-five percent of shoplifter; adults, seventy-five percent. People have been doing this for a long time because fifty-five percent of adults claim they began to shoplift as teenagers, and when asked, seventy-three percent of adults and seventy-two percent of juveniles do not plan to shoplift, it just an act of impulse. And also, an astonishing eighty-nine percent of kids say they know of other kids who shoplift and sixty-six percent say they associate with them. And only three percent of shoplifters are professionals, but they make up 10 percent of the item they sell. Some even after being caught in the act, fifty-seven percent of adults and thirty-three percent of juveniles say it is difficult to stop even after being caught. Habits are hard to break, shoplifting becomes an addiction and you try to stop but you just can’t. And when you reach that point statistics show that habitual shoplifters steal at least two times a week. So when I got caught on my first time I’m grateful for it, for without it I might have become addicted to shoplifting or worse wanted to make it my professional career. Shoplifting is illegal and is a punishable crime by law. It is not a small crime whether you stole fifty dollars worth of items or ten dollars worth of items. The crime is the same you have shoplifted from the store, and stolen something that doesn’t belong to you. For example, you can be arrested and paraded through a store in handcuffs, banned from stores or malls, and you may even end up with a criminal record. If you get a criminal record especially when you are young people will treat you like an ex-convict, it’ll be harder to get a job, get into college, or anything else that need a criminal background check. Which is mostly everything. Shoplifting can ruin your life but remember even without getting caught can shoplifting also ruin your life, as I have already stated that shoplifting affects you emotionally the same thing applies here you lose your self-respect and your respect for others. Small crime doesn’t mean no crime. Responsibilty for your family, friends and the people surrounding you, there are people that look up, like you’re their role model. I myself have siblings and I hope very much they don’t follow in my footsteps; I have never done anything that would cause people to lose their faith and respect in me. It is my responsibilty to set a good role model for my younger siblings. Also you as an individual have a responsibility as a civilent to be a good role model to the community. Never think that there is no one watching you, there is always someone watching and looking up to you in respect if you’ve done the right things. Respect is something you earn not given. By shoplifting you are openly disrespecting the community and although you may not notice now, but you are also disrespecting yourself. When you shoplift you are disrespecting the community by

Strategic Analysis A Case Study of Woolworths Ltd

Strategic Analysis A Case Study of Woolworths Ltd Executive Summary This report analyses in detail the overall environment in which Woolworth supermarket operates with a view of identifying particular areas where the management needs to put in measures that can enhance growth and performance. Woolworth is a retail chain established in both Australia and New Zealand and which mainly deals in foodstuffs.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Analysis: A Case Study of Woolworths Ltd specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The chain has further diversified its operations, venturing into other business areas like dealing in the petroleum industry and food restaurants within its premises. The chain has successfully established itself as a market leader in the retail industry, establishing stores in major cities in both Australia and the New Zealand. Woolworth’s market leadership was mainly achieved through provision of quality service to its clientele and listening t o customer pleas and demands and implementing them appropriately. This report evaluates the strong economic and political environments within which Woolworth operates. Other factors that contribute immensely to the growth and performance of the supermarket chains include its internal factors and capabilities such as its strong appeal to keep, attract and maintain customers, the market barriers controlled by the chains which keep new entrants at bay as well as the business diversification that ensures profit maximisation for the company. Introduction Woolworths Limited is a retail company based in Australia and whose operations spread across the borders to the neighbouring New Zealand. The retailer chain deals in a multiple of goods and services including food, liquor, hotel services, among many others. Since its formation in 1924, Woolworths has been a success story in the retail industry, expanding very fast to establish subsidiaries and acquiring other retail brands on its growth path. Today, the chain has a huge workforce of over 191,000 and boasts of A$2.14 billion in profits as per the latest figures recorded by close of business in 2011. (Chang, S Singh, H 2011,p.740). This paper analyses the company’s business strategy, investigating its macro environment as well as checking its competitive environment and analysing its competencies as far as resources are concerned.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Background information Woolworths Ltd is a public owned company with its shareholders base exceeding 420,000 people, 40,000 of whom are directly employed by the company (Woolworths Supermarkets 2011). The first Woolworths store was opened in downtown Sydney on December 5th, 1924 with a nominal capital of just  £25,000. The company’s initial 11,707 shares were held by 29 people, five of whom were the founders. Woolworths pio neered the conduction of transactions using cash registers; every purchase was accompanied by a receipted printed via the cash register. The stores opened up the first international branch in New Zealand in 1929 which dealt in general merchandise. As part of its expansion program, the chains acquired Foodland supermarkets and Progressive Enterprises, bringing the total number of Woolworths’ stores in Australia today to 750. Woolworths brand has today diversified its business into 5 major divisions which includes supermarkets that mainly stocks households and foodstuffs. The liquor division sells alcohol products through Safeway Liquor, BWS which stands for Beer Wine Spirits, Dan Murphy’s, Woolworth’s liquor and Cellarmasters. The hotel division is served by ALH Group while the supermarket chains also ventured into the petroleum industry through a partnership deal with Caltex. Other divisions include the consumer electronics, General merchandise and Home improvem ent (Woolworths Supermarkets 2011). Macro Environment Analysis for the Industry The macro environment analysis studies external forces whose influence in one way or the other affects the performance of the retail industry in general and Woolworth supermarkets in particular. Players in any business industry often lack the ability to control these external forces. Political environment The closer economic relations between Australia and New Zealand have benefited Woolworth business performance for a long time. The two countries have established Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement, ANZCERTA, which combines the two economies and thus provides Woolworth with the chance to operate in the enlarged economy (Woolworths Supermarkets 2011).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Analysis: A Case Study of Woolworths Ltd specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two countries also enjoy political stabi lity which is a perfect environment for doing business. This is a good assurance for shareholders, both domestic and foreign, that their investment is safe and it is an incentive to them to add even more. The 2011 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Australia and New Zealand in positions 3 and 5 respectively, which is a good indicator that both economies offer a perfect environment for business activity. With continued political stability, Woolworth is poised to grow and expand even more as many investors are assured of safety in the event that they decide to put their money into the venture. There are no fears of political wars and uprisings that can affect the company’s business performance Economic factors Australia and New Zealand offer economically sound environment that is good for business activity. The two countries, in comparison to other nations, have a high living standard. The World Bank acknowledged Australia as a rich country in 1995 while the country†™s GDP hit the $ 1 trillion mark in 2006. The economy’s growth has been rated at 3.3% per annum with one of the highest Purchasing Power Parity, PPP in the world. In 2004, Australia’s PPP was recorded at $30,700. The country has very low inflation and interest rates with one of the best infrastructures in the world. Its education facilities are of advanced quality while a majority of the population are rich. The World Health Organization certifies Australia’s crime rates to be among the lowest in the whole world. New Zealand has an estimated Purchasing Power Parity PPP of US$28,250 which is relatively high. The economy is made up of manufacturing industries as well as a vibrant service sector which together compliment the agricultural sector. The country’s nominal GDP is the 51st in the world at $157.877 with a per capita income of $35,374 (Wright, P.1987, p.93).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More New Zealand’s economy has been on the rise since 1984 following rapid restructuring that transformed the economy to a liberalised one. Unemployment has fallen to a record 3.4 percent in 2007 which was the fifth lowest in OECD nations. The global recession of 2009, however, affected the country’s economy negatively mainly because the country highly depends on international trend. The financial crunch pushed unemployment rates among the youth to very high figures of 17.4% in June 2011. Australia’s stable economy with the high living standards of her population portends a lucrative market for Woolworth’s business performance. More nationals have a high purchasing power due to the country’s high per capita income and very low unemployment levels. Foreign nationals who visit the country in large numbers also create a huge chunk of the market as they experiment with the unique goods and services offered in Australia. New Zealand is on the recovery path o f her economy following bad economic times between 2008 and 2011. With the recovery plans on course, the country has been experiencing a brain gain as more professionals who had opted to seek better employment in Europe and America troop back. This implies that the country’s living standards are set to improve in the short term period as the problem of unemployment is tackled. New Zealand’s Purchasing Power Parity is also comparatively high and an improved living standard for the entire population will prove substantial for the overall performance of Woolworth. Socio-cultural factors Woolworth has adopted a green lifestyle in its 2007-2015 sustainability strategy. This implies that the company is more aware of practices that harm the environment and has thus adopted environmental friendly practices for the good of its consumers and the society at large. More consumers are conscious of their environment and would love to purchase and patronize items and goods that are o rganic. Woolworth further addresses individual needs of its customers by providing efficient and fast services. The environmental awareness that is carried out by the supermarket chains continues to attract more clients as everyone today would love to be associated with clean environment. Technological factors Woolworth continues to invest heavily in information communication technology as it aims at improving service delivery and customer satisfaction. The self-checkout machine is as a result of the company’s initiative and has continued to be emulated by other players in the industry due to its convenience in business performance (Woolworths Supermarkets 2011). The machines were introduced in 2008 and enable customers to scan, weigh, as well as pay for their acquired goods through debit, credit or cash cards. The Service Oriented Architecture is yet another technological initiative by Woolworth which enables the supermarket management to monitor general trends in performanc e at a glance and spot out any existing bottlenecks that could be slowing down business. The speed with which this happens helps the management to put corrective measures into place that eventually averts losses or negative growth. The Visa payWave which is the latest innovation by the stores has helped in reducing average customer waiting time. The frequency at which the checkout queues are being cleared is much faster than was the case in advance. These technological advances have attracted more customers to the stores due to the improved efficiency with which clients are being attended to. No customer would love to spend longer times at the check out point than the actual time they spent doing their shopping (Tyre Hauptman, 1992). Legal factors Big W is a division of Woolworth and is a registered business entity that is licensed to operating Australia with more than 160 stores spread in Queensland, West Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, N orthern Territory, and Tasmania. The company remits taxes to both governments as a legal requirement and the funds go a long way to finance activities of the government such as building and improving infrastructure, financing public goods paying salaries and buying necessities such as medicines. As a legal requirement, the company is expected by the regulatory authorities to be tax compliant (Peng 2004). The taxes are remitted directly to the government. In the Australian laws on commerce, certificate of compliance to taxes is issued to business that remit their returns accurately form which taxes are deducted. The realisation by customers that Big W contributes immensely in the growth of their economy convinces as many consumers as possible to purchase from their local store and contribute towards building the economy (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). Industry Analysis using Porter’s 5 Forces Model Threat to market entry It is difficult for any aspiring supermarket chain to e nter into the industry in Australia and New Zealand markets and manage to break even easily. In Australia, Big W business magnitude together with that of its main competitors, Wesfarmers, Target, and Kmart stores are well established and would easily enjoy economies of scale to the disadvantage of a new entrant. The stores have spread across the nation, opening numerous branches in all major cities and centres and it would require massive capital for an aspiring investor to out perform their business prowess. Besides, it serves an estimated 6 million customers in a month (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). Given it huge stores, reliable customer base, and a stable market niche, Big W have the capacity to stock a lot of goods at a reduced cost. This eventually affords its stores the power to lower prices below what the market can offer and in the process win more customers than a new entrant could manage (Desarbo, Jedidi Sinha, 2001). Thus, the company is well position to survive in th e competitive market through gaining form economies of scale, competitive price tags, and strong customer base. Threat of substitutes Wesfarmers and Target chains pose the greatest threat to Big W’s existence and business performance. These stores have been in the industry for longer period and are well established than Big W which came into full operation in 2007 after rebranding (Roth 2011). They stock the same products and cloth lines and sometimes offer big discounts to customers. In this industry, loyalty to a brand plays an important role in customer behaviour. Besides, these companies also offer foodstuffs and electronics same as in Big W. Therefore, Target and Wesfarmers have the ability to offer an alternative perfect substitute to customers who may be unsatisfied with services offered at Big W. Unsatisfied customers therefore have other alternatives from where they can purchase products and services (Bodily Allen, 1999). However, in order to remain relevant, the co mpany has established a unique market for its customer tailored optometry services and are still the best in the self serve stores. Power of suppliers Suppliers in the supermarket industry have more power owing to the existence of many supermarket chains. As a matter of fact, suppliers may instigate market demand and supply variances. All the chains depend on the suppliers directly for the delivery of their stock and this leaves the suppliers with the power to dictate on proceedings in the industry. Through the action of the suppliers, commodity prices can be influenced to their own advantage while leaving the Big W together with its clientele base at a disadvantaged position (Cusumano Takeishi, 1991). However, the company has endeavoured to use both in house and outsourced supplier as a strategy for balancing the supply forces in the fragile market (Roth 2011). Power of buyers Reflectively, the amount of output in terms of turn over sales depends on the buyers’ purchasing p ower. The higher the purchasing power, the better the turnover in total sales realised over a definite period of time. Big W’s performance in the retail industry depends highly on the power of the buyers. On the other hand, unreliable and weak purchasing power translates into losses and underperformance. The management must therefore do everything within their means to ensure that service delivery and quality meets the expectations of customers. In fact, the purchasing power determines profitability and probability of survival of a business in short and long term. If buyers will feel dissatisfied because of poor service, they can easily opt to acquire the same goods and services from rival stores thus loosing out on business opportunities (Ehrenberg, 1964). Rivalry There are several retail stores operating in the same industry with virtually of them dealing in a variety of products and services. For instance Target stores provide the biggest competition to Big W due to its bi g market share and expanded network standing at 30% (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). Other chains that have substantial market share include Wesfarmers and Kmart Supermarkets, Jewel Food Stores. With many customers looking for good value for their money, quality in service delivery has remained the main basis upon which customers are making their final decision to buy. All the players in the industry are putting measures in place to ensure they attract more customers and therefore expand their market share. Therefore, the size, in terms of space occupied by business premises, defines the temperature of competition. In line with this, in 2009, Big W Company launched the largest store in Australia measuring 10,000m2 and a $300 million invested in stocks on the same (Roth, 2011, p. 200). As analysed above, Big W Company has embraced the significance of Porter’s approach to market forces in a business environment. As discussed, Big W Company has been in a position to swing these forces and manipulate them to their advantage through offering competitive prices, expansion, diversification, and cutting a market niche. However, any slow reaction to addressing these factors can cause business suffering leading to huge losses and reduced market share (Chang Singh, 2000). Big W’s Competitive Advantage Expanded business portfolio Although Big W has been a household name in the general retail stores industry, the chain has an expanded business portfolio which includes investments in photo processing, self serve check point introduction, parcel pick up, lay-by, and home delivery (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). The expanded portfolio provides the business with competitive advantage in the sense that it can still maintain profitable performance even in instances where the retail store business experiences poor performance. Through diversification and portfolio balance, the company is in a position to survive turbulence in the harsh economic environment charact erised by stiff competition and inflation (Michael, 2000). Big W’s Business Strategy Cost Leadership Strategy Cost leadership strategy is vital in business management especially in an industry with stiff competition. Reflectively, the concept, as proposed by Porter, is a mean of establishing a sustainable competitive advantage over other player in the industry. Big W Company has adopted the cost leadership strategy to improve its efficiency through streamlining operations. As a result, this venture has developed a cumulative experience, optimal performance, quality assurance, and is in full control of their operational chains. In order to cut down cost of production and marketing, the company has embraced the modern technology in its online sales, human resource management, purchasing, and dispatch departments (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). The company has entered into a partnership with outsourced but competent suppliers rather than engaging its resources in obtaining prod ucts. As a result, the general over head cost of operation has been reduced substantially. In addition, the company has opted for diversification and expansion of stores in order to gain from economies of scale as the overall turnover grows. Through adoption of scientific human resource management, the company has been in a position to track redundancy and monitor employee performance and evaluations done on the basis of contract. As a result, issues of underperformance has been minimised substantially. At present, this chain produces the best quality packaging of its product at the cheapest price possible since production is done in mass. In addition, the company has introduced a series of efficiency monitoring systems such as performance valuation, efficiency in production, target management, and electronic purchasing which has greatly reduced labour cost. These ventures aim at enabling the company to optimise profits through efficiency in production, sales, accountability, and us e of company resources while maintaining quality (Hambrick, 1983). Benefits and Suitability of the Cost Leadership Strategy Efficiency monitoring in distribution, sales, cash flow management, labour, and diversification as employed by Big W is particularly suitable for the firm as it is more of a precautionary measure that shields the firm from effects of redundancy and underutilization of production variables. Despite rivalry in the retail industry, Big W has been in a position to monitor all its operation chains and periodically evaluate the same as a means of reducing overhead cost due to underutilization, poor balancing, and unaccountability. As a result, Big W has managed to transform its portfolio and capital structure by 18% since most of operation lines is optimally utilized (BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007). Conclusion Conclusively, it is apparent that Big W is a force in the retail store industry in Australia. Reflectively, the company has successfully managed to establish o ver 160 stores across Australia. Besides, the chain has remodelled its cost leadership to embrace efficiency in operations through incorporation of technology, monitoring tools, and evaluation systems. As a result, despite stiff competition, the chain offers competitive prices and substantial discounts since they maximize gains from economies of scale due to large turnover per annum. In 2011, its operating income stabilized at $177 million. Incorporation of the Porters market forces in the management of this successful chain is directly linked to its consistency, profitability, and efficiency. List of References BIG W: Why shop at BIG W 2007. Web. Bodily, SE Allen, MS 1999, A dialogue process for choosing value-creating strategies, Interfaces, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 16-28. Chang, S Singh, H 2000, Corporate and industry effects on business unit competitive position, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 21, no. 7, pp. 739-752 Cusumano, MA Takeishi, A 1991, Supplier relations and managem ent: A survey of Japanese, Japanese-Transplant, and US Auto plants, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 12, no. 8, pp. 563-588. Desarbo, W S, Jedidi, K Sinha, I 2001, Customer value analysis in a heterogeneous market, Srategic management Journal, vol. 22, no. 9, pp. 845-857 Ehrenberg, ASC 1964, Estimating the proportion of loyal buyers, Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 56-59. Hambrick, DC 1983, High profit strategies in mature capital goods industries: A contingency approach, The Academy of Management Journal, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 687-707. Michael, SC 2000, Investments to create bargaining power: The case of franchising, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 497-514. Peng, MW 2004, Identifying the big question in international business research, Journal of International Business Studies, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 99-108. Roth, M 2011, Top Stocks 2012: A Share-buyer’s Guide to Leading Australian Companies, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Tyre, M J Hauptma n, O 1992, Effectiveness of organizational responses to technological change in the production process, Organization Science, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 301-320. Woolworths Supermarkets 2011, Woolworths. Web. Wright, P 1987, A refinement of Porter’s strategies, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 93-101

M1903 Springfield Rifle - World War I

M1903 Springfield Rifle - World War I The M1903 Springfield rifle was the primary rifle used by the United States Army and Marine Corps during the first several decades of the 20th century. Officially designated United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903, it was a bolt-action rifle that utilized a five-round magazine. The M1903 was used by the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and was retained after the conflict. It was not replaced as the standard American infantry rifle until the introduction of the M1 Garand in 1936. Despite this change, the M1903 was still in use during the early campaigns of World War II. In the years after the war, only the M1903A4 sniper rifle variant remained in the inventory. That last of these were retired during the early years of the Vietnam War. Background Following the Spanish-American War, the U.S. Army began seeking a replacement for its standard Krag-JÃ ¸rgensen rifles. Adopted in 1892, the Krag had shown several weaknesses during the conflict. Among these was a lower muzzle velocity than the Mausers employed by Spanish troops as well as a difficult to load magazine which required the insertion of one round at time. In 1899, attempts were made to improve the Krag with the introduction of a high-velocity cartridge. These proved unsuccessful as the rifles single locking lug on the bolt proved incapable of handling the increased chamber pressure. Development Design Over the next year, engineers at the Springfield Armory began developing designs for a new rifle. Though the U.S. Army had examined the Mauser in the early 1890s prior to selecting the Krag, they returned to the German weapon for inspiration. Later Mauser rifles, including the Mauser 93 used by the Spanish, possessed a magazine fed by a stripper clip and a greater muzzle velocity than its predecessors. Combining elements from the Krag and the Mauser, Springfield produced its first operational prototype in 1901. Soldier with M1903 Springfield. U.S. Army Center for Military History Believing they had achieved their goal, Springfield began tooling its assembly line for the new model. Much to their dismay, the prototype, designated M1901, was declined by the U.S. Army. Over the next two years, the U.S. Army laid out a variety of changes which were incorporated into the M1901s design. In 1903, Springfield presented the new M1903, which was accepted into service. Though the M1903 was a composite consisting of the best elements from several prior weapons, it remained similar enough to the Mauser that the U.S. Government was forced to pay royalties to Mauserwerke. M1903 Springfield Cartridge: .30-03 .30-06 SpringfieldCapacity: 5 round stripper clipMuzzle Velocity: 2,800 ft./sec.Effective Range: 2,500 yds.Weight: approx. 8.7 lbs.Length: 44.9 in.Barrel Length: 24 in.Sights: Leaf rear sight, barleycorn-type front sightAction: Bolt-action Introduction The M1903 was officially adopted on June 19, 1903 under the official designation of United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903. Moving into production, Springfield built 80,000 of the M1903 by 1905, and the new rifle slowly began to replace the Krag. Minor changes were made in the early years, with a new sight added in 1904, and a new knife-style bayonet in 1905. As these alterations were implemented, two major changes were introduced. The first was a shift to pointed, spitzer ammunition in 1906. This led to the introduction of the .30-06 cartridge that would become standard for American rifles. The second change was a shortening of the barrel to 24 inches. World War I During testing, Springfield found that the M1903s design was equally effective with a shorter, cavalry-style barrel. As this weapon was lighter and more easily wielded, it was ordered for the infantry as well. By the time the US entered World War I in April 1917, 843,239 M1903s had been produced at Springfield and the Rock Island Arsenal. Equipping the American Expeditionary Forces, the M1903 proved lethal and efficient against the Germans in France. During the war, the M1903 Mk. I was produced which allowed for the fitting of a Pedersen device. Developed in an effort to increase the M1903s volume of fire during assaults, the Pedersen device allowed the rifle to fire .30 caliber pistol ammunition semi-automatically. World War II After the war, the M1903 remained the standard American infantry rifle until the introduction of the M1 Garand in 1937. Much beloved by American soldiers, many were reluctant to switch to the new rifle. With the entry of the US into World War II in 1941, many units, both in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, had not completed their transition to the Garand. As a result, several formations deployed for action still carrying the M1903. The rifle saw action in North Africa and Italy, as well as in the early fighting in the Pacific. A GI with the 36th Infantry Division cleans his M1903 Springfield, equipped with sniper scope. Public Domain The weapon was famously used by the U.S. Marines during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Though the M1 replaced the M1903 in most units by 1943, the older rifle continued to be used in specialized roles. Variants of the M1903 saw extended service with the Rangers, Military Police, as well as with Free French forces. The M1903A4 saw extensive use as a sniper rifle during the conflict. M1903s produced during World War II were often made by Remington Arms and the Smith-Corona Typewriter Company. Later Use Though it was reduced to a secondary role, the M1903 continued to be produced during World War II by Remington Arms and Smith-Corona Typewriter. Many of these were designated M1903A3 as Remington requested several design changes to improve performance and simplify the manufacturing process. With the conclusion of World War II, most M1903s were retired from service, with only the M1903A4 sniper rifle being retained. Many of these were replaced during the Korean War, however the U.S. Marine Corps continued to use some until the early days of the Vietnam War.

Starting an Innovative Architectural Firm Essay

Starting an Innovative Architectural Firm - Essay Example On the hand, organizations with low or nil innovation orientation are normally associated with negative performance attributes, such as low quality of services, high wastages, constant complaints, grievances and conflicts with key stakeholders, low productivity, high redundancies, poor turnover, low flexibility and generally poor reactions from the key stakeholders (Koontz, 2009). In spite of the significance of innovation, founding an innovative architectural firm is not an easy process. It requires the understanding of a variety of environments, the application of best business practices and the adoption of current organizational development and management techniques, among other key issues. Adoption of current technological devices remains the key to the successful founding of an innovative firm. The computerized information technology with its related products in the forms of information systems, connectivity and telecommunications, the data base management syndrome, the artifici al intelligence domain and effective security to information and other related products have shown tremendous success in the management of innovation. The computer technology works to capture, process, store and disseminate information in a more accurate, economical and simple manner. Additionally the organization has the potential to meet both far away and immediate stakeholders through the various telecommunication systems. Closely associated with the telecommunications is the nature of information processing and dissemination. Since innovation requires quick and accurate information flows, the application of the online system of information processing, as opposed to the all batch processing, has clearly worked to increased innovation in the many other fields. This ensures effective and faster flow of ideas, communication and information that will increase an organization’s ability to innovate. In this respect through such products like electronic calendaring, artificial in telligence, electronic meetings and electronic mail, the application of computer based information systems has greatly assisted in the innovation. Thus, based on the aids of the current computers and related technologies the foundations of innovative architectural firms have been achieved with great success. Starting an innovative architectural firm also requires high levels of knowledge, abilities and capacities, as well as the right attitudes and skills. The acquisition of these variables is undertaken through sustainable training and development efforts. Training and development equips the participants with the above variables required to operate the venture. In this respect, an innovative architectural firm needs to establish training and development programs that are both comprehensive and flexible. This provides the participant with the needed innovation and related skills, attitude, knowledge and abilities. Senge advocates for the learning organization concept as a means of i nstituting innovative firms. His model of training and development denotes an organization that is constantly training and developing its resources while at the same time, being involved in serious analysis of its training and development programs. This analysis reflects the current and future needs of the firm with the ultimate objective of developing a strategic perspective. The learning organizations concept is synonymous with high levels of organizational flexibility,

Roles of a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Room Research Paper

Roles of a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Room - Research Paper Example This research paper focuses on describing the profession and everyday duties of registered nurses, also known as (RN), that are the majority of the employees in the industry of health. They are often responsible for assigning tasks to other nurses, nursing assistants and licensed practitioners. The phrase registered is used for a reason, the researcher explaines, and this is because they are specialized and have more knowledge on a certain area in the hospital environment. Normally, there is a registered nurse for each section of the healthcare like oncology, neonatal and in the emergency room. This research paper discusses their duties and roles while in the emergency room. In conclusion, the researcher states that most registered nurses work as staff nurses, who are members of a medical team that provide critical health care. Nevertheless, some of the registered nurses opt to advance to practice nurses, who work together with other physicians or independently. They may also focus o n the stipulation of primary care services. They provide direct care for patients, and expert consultation services in the various specialties of nursing like psychiatric, mental health. Those who specialized in anesthetists, offer anesthesia and correlated care either before or after surgical or obstetrical and diagnostic procedures. They also offer emergency and pain management services like airway management. Nonetheless, there is an assortment of other areas that nurse could choose to specialize and get registered.