The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay

The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay Imagine a situation where you have just been diagnosed with an illness requiring surgery. You have only two options: either to conduct a traditional surgery with large incisions, or laparoscopy which uses small incisions but is only available for simple procedures. However, you now have a viable option to conduct a minimally invasive surgery, many thanks to the advancement of surgical technology. Minimally invasive surgery is a concept existed prior to the inception of robots, referring to surgical procedures that are conducted by avoiding long cuts as surgeons introduce long-handled medical instruments to operate on body tissues via small incisions. The Da Vinci surgical system, also known as a telesurgical system, is currently the pioneer device in the robotic field made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. A telesurgical system requires the surgeon to maneuver the robot during the procedure instead of allowing it to function from an encoded software. This surgical system is named such as a tribute to Leonardo Da Vinci, whom broke new ground in anatomical accuracy and the epitome of the era of Renaissance. He was highly regarded for his ability to bring life to his architectural drawings of futuristic automations. This particular device is meticulously designed to aid in complex surgery such as cardiac valve repair, prostatectomies and gynecologic surgical procedures by a minimal approach of 1-2cm incisions. Such ultimate breakthrough opens a new platform, beneficiating patients, surgeons, hospitals and the medicine field as a whole. Imagine major surgery performed with minimal incisions on the patients body. Imagine a faster treatment, better recovery rate and minimal duration spent in the hospital as well as better clinical outcomes. This is all made possible with the inception of Da Vinci surgical system. Da Vinci reforms surgery. It gives a whole new concept to surgery, omitting the painstaking experiences that patients had to face before its invention. In this proposal, we will be introduced to this bizarre medical equipment that is capable of improving the surgical field, in terms of its history, features, unprecedented benefits, criticisms, the future as well as recommendation of the latest Da Vinci surgical system. History Robot assisted surgical procedure first hit its limelight in 1985 when the PUMA 560 robotic surgical arm was used in a neurosurgical biopsy which is non-laparoscopic. The successful surgery posed greater precision which ultimately lead to the first laparoscopic procedure involving a robotic system, a cholescystecotomy, in 1987. It is then in the following year, the same PUMA system performed a transurethral resection. Consequently in 1990, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its first robotic surgical system, AESOP system, the brainchild of Computer Motion for its endoscopic surgical procedure. The Da Vinci surgery system became known in 2000 for being the first system approved by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. This approval became groundbreaking as the Da Vinci system is all-encompassing of surgical instruments and necessary equipments for surgery. It has been approved in urological surgeries, general laparoscopic surgeries, general non-cardiovascular thoracosopic surgeries and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures, applicable to both adults and pediatric procedures. Da Vinci surgical system is a proud creation of Intuitive Surgery, Inc. This company is the global pioneer in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Initially, the US Army funded Intuitive Surgical to develop a system to perform battlefield surgery. However, they realized the potential of such technology to accelerate the application of a minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical was then established in 1995 to further develop this technology to a wider range of procedures. The Da Vinci surgical system was launched in January 1999 and it became the first robotic surgical system to gain approval by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. Subsequently, the FDA cleared this device for chest surgery, cardiac procedures, urologic and gynecologic procedures. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Intuitive Surgical expanded its force by acquiring its principal competitor, Computer Motion, reinforcing its world monopoly in robotic-assisted surgical systems. It sustains growth excessively by 25% and has successfully expanded to more than 900 academic and community hospital sites. As of today, more than a thousand Da Vinci Systems are installed in hospitals worldwide. Problem Statement In tandem with the advent in science and technology, the field of robotic surgery is mushrooming. Robotic surgery is defined as the use of robot to assist in surgery procedures. The need for robotic surgery is subsequently demanded in the medicine field to overcome problems arise from surgery with traditional approach. Two decades ago, surgeons began developing a concept known as Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in which microscopic cameras called endoscopes or laparoscopes were slotted into the patients body through small ports. However, MIS stumbled upon major roadblocks to advancement as surgeons were operating through standard two-dimensional monitor that lacked visualization while fixed-wrist instruments and poor ergonomic design limited the surgeons dexterity. Consequently, MIS was deemed suitable for narrow range of surgical procedures. To counter this problem while maintaining the concept of MIS, robot-assisted surgery was then make-believe. With the inception of Da Vinci sur gical system, the medical and surgical fields have revolutionized wherein surgeons and patients both benefit from it. Da Vinci Surgical System Mechanism Surgeons Console This is where the surgeon is seated in a comfortable manner while scrutinizing the bodys interior at a magnified 3D image through highly powered objective lenses. The systems three-dimensional and high resolution view screen enables the surgeon to observe the incision area in clarity. By manipulating the master controls located beneath the display screen, the surgeons hands and wrists are positioned perpendicularly to his or her eyes. The master controls consist of a pair of foot pedals and hand controllers each. The surgery can then be performed as Da Vinci translates the surgeons open-surgery hand movements from the master control, which acts like forceps, into a much precise movements of miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart. The following illustrates a surgeons console from the Da Vinci surgical system. Patient-side Cart The patient-side cart includes three or four interactive robotic arms that function to execute the surgeons commands from the surgeons console. Two or three of the arms are designated to hold medical instruments such as scalpel, scissors and other dissecting materials; while the remaining arm is an endoscopic camera, equipped with a pair of lens, also known as the EndoWrist, provides a stereoscopic vision on the display screen. The laparoscopic arms shaft at the 1-2cm operating ports, omitting the need for using tissue of the incision walls in the patient for leverage, thereby minimizing tissue damage. Such miniaturized operating arms proven a significant advancement from earlier inventions such as the PUMA 560. Apart from that, assisting medical officers will facilitate in incorporating the right instruments for surgery, provide the 1-2cm port in the patients body and supervise the situation to eradicate errors as the tools are being utilized. EndoWrist Instruments Patented by Intuitive Surgical, the EndoWrist Instruments are another exclusive feature of the Da Vinci System that allows surgeons to operate with dexterity over a maximum range of motion. Designed after the structure of a human wrist, this device can expand beyond the capabilities of a human hand by providing a plethora of surgical techniques. Internal cables of the EndoWrist Instruments mimic the human tendons, providing specific surgical mission such as clamping, accurate suturing, dissection and tissue manipulation. This state-of-the-art device has extraordinary features, such as 7 degrees of freedom motion, 90 degrees of articulation, intuitive motion, fingertip control, motion scaling and tremor reduction. All these contribute to a smooth running surgery as surgeons operate with ambidexterity and unparalleled precision. This device is also available in a broad range of selection according to the requirement of a particular surgery. The product line includes various forceps, ne edle drivers, scissors, monopolar and bipolar electrocautery instruments, scalpels; all available in 5 mm and 8 mm diameters to heed a surgeons need. This instrument is also user-friendly in terms of recognizing different types and functions of instruments incorporated to the Da Vinci system. It detects the instruments via a unique interface; therefore it is easier to identify instruments that require replacements. Vision System EndoWrist Instruments are first introduced into the patients target anatomy through a series of dime-sized incisions to allow viewing of the bodys interior at a highly magnified three-dimensional image. These images are displayed via the vision system, designated with high-resolution three-dimensional endoscope and image processing equipments, previewing the exact condition of the body. By having image synchronizers, illuminators with adjustable intensities and camera control units, the operating images are well-enhanced, offering superior visualization of over a thousand frames of the instrument position per second. The vision system also has a built-in video processor that filters background noise. Meanwhile, the endoscope is designated prevent fogging by regulating the temperature of the endoscope tip. Surgeons are allowed to rapidly switch views on the display screen through a simple use of the foot pedal. How The Mechanism Function As A Whole In short, the Da Vinci system consists of four main mechanismssurgeons console, patient-side cart, EndoWrist instruments and the vision system. These features function as a whole in the same room under the conduct of a surgeon and few supporting medical officers. The relationship between the four mechanisms is illustrated as shown in the adjacent figure. Advantages Enhanced Visualization Target anatomy in the body interior is previewed in true-to-life three-dimensional vision, forming crisp images in immense clarity. The endoscopic camera also offers immersive view of the surgical field with superior contrast and magnification for an accurate identification of tissue layers. Such improvement enables surgeons to perform dissection or reconstruction of delicate tissues with much precision, regardless of the space allotted. Steady Movements; Take Control. The limitation of human hands is overcome by Da Vincis ability to reduce tremors and control movements via proprietary EndoWrist instruments, enhancing control and intuitive motion. This enables pervasive use of avant-garde techniques, further reducing the learning curve since complex procedures can now be handled in an open surgery approach. Solo Surgery and two-handed intracoporeal suturing can become standard practice for interns with the addition of a fourth arm from the Da Vinci surgical system. First-Class Ergonomics Surgeon need not worry about the fatigue occurring from long hour surgery as the Da Vinci surgical system is designed to allow them to operate while seated in a comfortable posture. Such clinical advantage also implies that less surgeon assistance is required because medical instruments are mounted to the robotic arms. Moreover, with the robotic arms offering extra mechanical strength that is beyond human capabilities, higher-BMI patients can be treated in a minimally invasive approach. Supreme Hospitality Inception of Da Vinci marks a historical breakthrough to hospitals worldwide by increasing productivity and operational efficiencies. Patients can enjoy diminished post-operative pain, decreased risk of infections and surgery complications, less complicated nursing care and faster rate of recovery. Hospital stays are largely reduced by half, thus decreasing hospital costs by approximately 33%. Criticism Like many things good, Da Vinci surgical system also has its drawbacks. While this evolving technology has become almost like a necessity to medical services, critics are questioning the lacking of long-term results studies to prove Da Vinci superior to laparoscopic surgery. Besides, this technology costs an average of $1.3 million, excluding the several hundred thousand dollars of annual maintenance fees. There is also no existing data to justify the increased costs and hospitals are having a hard time recovering the high cost. According to The American Journal of Surgery, 75% of surgeons claimed that they felt financially limited by any system that cost more than $500,000 Furthermore, a large portion of surgeons performed the surgery via Da Vinci surgical system on approximately 12 to 18 patients before they feel comfortable utilizing the device. Though training programs are offered by Intuitive Surgical, most surgeons find themselves intimidated by this device as they felt obstructed from grasping the texture of body tissues and ultimately, the loss of tactile or haptic sensation. The patient-side cart also occupies a large space that hinders the movement of assistant surgeons access to the patient. The safety aspects of Da Vinci surgical system remain doubtful to most people as they still do not trust the ability of a robot wholly. Though this system operates in a Master-Slave relationship, some still find it unacceptable to risk lives of patients as robots have the potential to be fatal should they malfunction. Hence, a huge amount of cost is forked out to reduce these risks by adding safety features, making them financially inaccessible to some physicians. Apart from that, surgery utilizing this device takes forty to fifty minutes longer compared to traditional open surgery. Recommendation Conclusion The Future The Da Vinci surgical system offers a surgery experience like never before to practicing physicians. Its brilliance in translating the surgeons hand movements from the console into corresponding micro-movements of EndoWrist instruments incorporated in the patients body interior has transformed the surgical fields in many aspects. A major outlook for this invention is its potential to perform remote operations, as what it was initially designed for. This long distance operation can be made possible by linking the patient and doctor through a series of ports from the Da Vinci surgical system. Say, a doctor from United States will be able to operate on a patient from across the globe, such as Africa. However this is still at its theoretical stage and will be developed in near future to globalize the surgical field. Albeit the criticisms, the Da Vinci surgical system is deemed as a mere preview of what to expect from future technology. From the high cost to the lack of touch sensation from surgeons feedback, the current Da Vinci surgical system has many hurdles to overcome before it can be wholly integrated into the healthcare system to satisfy everyones needs. To name a few, questions such as misconduct liability, credentialing, training prerequisites and licensing requirements for telesurgeons are still puzzling. However, Intuitive Surgical promises an improvement of Da Vinci surgical system in terms of size, haptic sensation and cost as their present focus before dealing with other relevant problems that are causing ambiguity to users. Although robotic surgery is still at its infancy, many of its known advantages are sustaining its progress and it has verified itself to be worth the value, particularly in areas unattainable to traditional laparoscopic procedures. For instance, the complexity of movement controls and manifold degrees of freedom by the Da Vinci surgical system offers minimal tremor and increased mobility which made it possible to go ahead of the human capacity. Robotic technology is aimed to bring surgery into the digital era and whether its advantageous usage can overcome the cost to execute it remains to be worked out. Despite being feasible to demands, further forthcoming research investigating efficacy and safety must partake for robotic surgery to take full root over conventional therapy. Appendix On the Market Two robotic surgical systems have received FDA clearance to be marketed in the United States: The da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., is cleared to perform surgery under the direction of a surgeon. The ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, made by Computer Motion, Inc. of Goleta, Calif., has been cleared by the FDA to assist surgeons. [The] da Vinci is cleared to assist in advanced surgical techniques such as cutting and suturing [sewing], says Neil Ogden, chief of the FDAs General Surgery Devices Branch in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. ZEUS is cleared to assist in grasping, holding, and moving things out of the way, but isnt cleared for cutting or suturing. Clinical trials on ZEUS are underway with the goal of obtaining FDA clearance to assist in the performance of advanced surgical tasks in the United States, according to Paul Nolan, senior director of customer training and education at Computer Motion. Heres a profile of each system: The da Vinci Surgical System In July 2000, the FDA cleared da Vinci as an endoscopic instrument control system for use in laparo-scopic (abdominal) surgical procedures such as removal of the gallbladder and surgery for severe heartburn. In March 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use in general non-cardiac thoracoscopic (inside the chest) surgical procedures surgeries involving the lungs, esophagus, and the internal thoracic artery. This is also known as the internal mammary artery, a blood vessel inside the chest cavity. In coronary bypass surgery, surgeons detach the internal mammary artery and reroute it to a coronary artery. In June 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use during laparascopic removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy). The da Vinci is intended to assist in the control of several endoscopic instruments, including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp dissectors, scissors, scalpels, and forceps. The system is cleared by the FDA to manipulate tissue by grasping, cutting, dissecting and suturing. In use, a surgeon sits at a console several feet away from the operating table and manipulates the robots surgical instruments. The robot has three hands attached to a free-standing cart. One arm holds a camera (endoscope) that has been passed into the patient through small openings. The surgeon operates the other two hands by inserting fingers into rings. The arms use a technology called EndoWrist flexible wrists that surgeons can bend and twist like human wrists. The surgeon uses hand movements and foot pedals to control the camera, adjust focus, and reposition the robotic arms. The da Vinci has a three-dimensional lens system, which magnifies the surgical field up to15 times. Another surgeon stays beside the patient, adjusting the camera and instruments if needed. There are 50 da Vinci systems placed in U.S. medical centers, 34 placed in Europe and five placed in Asia. ZEUS Robotic Surgical System The FDA cleared ZEUS in October 2001 to assist in the control of blunt dissectors, retractors, graspers, and stabilizers during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgeries. ZEUS has three robotic arms that are mounted on the operating table. One robotic arm is called the Automated Endoscopic System for Optimal Positioning Robotic System (AESOP). AESOP is a voice-activated robot used to hold the endoscope. The FDA cleared AESOP to hold and position endoscopes in 1994, and voice activation was added later. ZEUS differs from the da Vinci system in that the AESOP part of ZEUS responds to voice commands. For example, a surgeon might say: AESOP move right. The positioning arm then would move right until the stop command was given. Like the da Vinci system, the other two arms of ZEUS are the extension of the left and right arms of the surgeon. Surgeons sit at a console and wear special glasses that create a three-dimensional image. Computer Motion has added a flexible wrist technology called Micro-Wrist, which is now included in FDA-approved clinical trials, Nolan says. There are currently more than 30 ZEUS units installed in North America, 15 units installed in Europe and the Middle East, and five units installed in Asia.

Fashion Channel

How would you interpret the consumer and market data if you were Dana Wheeler? I would first try to see if I could classify the data into various segments. The fashion channel is very popular among women. Hence, I would differentiate between the women viewers based on age, spending capacity, fashion nerdiness, etc. These will become subsets of the superset â€Å"women viewers†. Once, I determine the segments I would look for any noticeable trends in the segments that will prove profitable for the business.For example, some of the trends in the provided market data were: 1. Approximately, 15% of the women viewers were Fashionistas who give lot of importance to fashion and follow the trends closely. These consumers will spend a lot of money on fashion because they care for it (about 50% have an income more than $100k). 2. About 35% of the women viewers were Fashionistas and Planners/Shoppers. This segment consists of a more diverse consumer base. Serving this segment will defini tely increase the ratings. Q 2) What is the expected outcome of each of the targeting scenarios? SCENARIO 1: Financial and Viewership: Since scenario 1 deals with a broader segment (Fashionistas, Planners & Shoppers, and Situationalists), the viewership is expected to increase. This increase in viewership will attract more advertisement deals. Hence, the overall ad revenue might increase as compared to 2006 (will depend on the rate of CPM). -SCENARIO 2: Financial and Viewership: Scenario 2 deals with a â€Å"laser† specific single segment. The risk associated with this segment is that there will fewer people comprising it.If this number is less than the last year’s viewership, the viewership rating will drop. However, this scenario will attract ad deals which are willing to pay more CPM rates, hence, the net revenue will increase depending on the rating (0. 8% as compared to 1% in 2006). -SCENARIO 3: Financial and Viewership: Scenario 3 is much more balanced than scena rio 1 and 2. Scenario 3 can be considered as the middle of the spectrum in which scenario 1 and 2 occupy the ends. Scenario 3 is neither â€Å"laser† specific nor includes a very wide consumer base.Hence, there are ample chances of increase in viewership (increased to 1. 2% from 1% in 2006). Together with the increase in viewership, it will attract more CPM for ad deals as compared to scenario 1 and hence the net revenue will be more than scenario 1. At the same time, this increase in net revenue might match the net revenue of scenario 3 if the increase in viewers match the deficit caused by the reduced CPM in case of scenario 3. Q 3) Develop a factual analysis of the segmentation options, and evaluate the pros and cons of each. SCENARIO 1: Ad revenue/year saw a marginal increase as compared 2007 base. Cost of programming is the lowest. Pros: Increase in the number of viewers since the channel is catering to a wider audience. Cons: Since, there is no real change in the TYPE o f viewers the ad deals will not have high CPM (thus reducing the net revenue). Also, this scenario will be most prone to the loss in market share when competitors can come up with better programs. -SCENARIO 2: Huge increase in ad revenue couple with increase in cost of programming, which brought down the profit margin.Pros: Segment consists of viewers who show high interest in fashion and hence will attract more CPM. Investing $15 million in improving the programs and related content will increase ratings. Cons: Smallest of the four segments. It is risky to target just this group since viewership depends heavily on novel and interesting programs. Money has to be invested consistently to improve program content. SCENARIO 3: Huge increase in ad revenue couple with increase in cost of programming, which brought down the profit margin.Pros: More wider audience and dual-targeting will ensure more viewership. The CPM is expected to increase from $1. 2 to $2. 5. Cons: Additional $20 millio n investment on program specialization. Q 4) If you were Dana Wheeler, what would you recommend and why? I would recommend scenario 3 for the following reasons: 1) Fashionistas have high interest in fashion and planners and Shoppers will ensure improve viewership. By incorporating both the segments the fashion channel can target both fashion-oriented and regular programming. ) Fashionistas will ensure CPM boost and planners and shoppers will ensure higher rating both of which will have positive influence on net income. 3) Although, additional $20 million was invested in creating new programs, the net income and profit margin was close to that of scenario 2. 4) Focusing on two segments will remove some possible risks associated with focusing on just one concentrate segment such as low ratings, etc. 5) By choosing scenario 3 it is easy convince the present leadership to make changes in the marketing strategy as compared to scenario 2.Q 5) Dana is filling the role of change agent in th is organization. How should she manage the discussion and meeting to be most effective in leading the group to make the right decision? I think Dana should choose scenario 3 over scenario 2. Although, the margins are almost the same for both the segments, it will be hard to convince the leadership to adopt scenario 2. This is because it will be a sudden change from the BROAD marketing strategy they got used to. Once, scenario 3 starts producing better results, it will be easier to convince the leadership to adopt scenario 2.

Divorce Research Paper

Divorce Crystal Perez Divorce is a big scary word for many. To some, it is a word that represents failure and a reason for them to raise the white flag in defeat. Trials and tribulations seemed to take their toll and cause reason for a significant change in lifestyle, routines, and marital status. To others, divorce is a reason to escape from a difficult and harmful relationship. Divorce is the final straw and the symbol of courage to leave when they had had enough. For whatever the reason, divorce has become extremely prevalent not just in the United States, but across the Earth. It is also a large reason for debate.Many feel as though divorce is looked at as a â€Å"get out of jail free card† and that people use it when they have decided that they want to move on. Many also see divorce as a harmful tool to tear a family to pieces. Regardless of how divorce is perceived, the fact is that it creates a very powerful change in families. The exact cause of a divorce is interchang eable from case to case. The cause and effect dynamic may display a pattern as to why many marriages fail. Factors and warning signs that may contribute to a failed marriage include factors before the marriage, and during a marriage.Such factors before a marriage include; his or her parents divorcing, either partner is under the age of 21, family is opposed to the marriage, cohabitation before marriage, a previous divorce of either partner, or a large discrepancy in age, background, interests, and values. (Berger 2009) While one may say that catching these warning signs early could prevent a couple from immaturely embarking on the trip down the aisle, many signs are simply ignored by pre-marital bliss. The warning signs for divorce while in the marriage may be more detectable.Such signs include; divergent plans and practices regarding childbearing and child rearing, financial stress/unemployment, substance abuse, communication difficulties, lack of time together, emotional or physic al abuse, and relatives who do not support the relationship. (Berger 2009) It has been said â€Å"many distressed marriages are happier after divorce, while those in merely distant marriages are less happy than they though they would be. † (Berger 2009) Many go into a relationship ignoring the faults of others; completely blind to potential risk factors or warning signs of a failing relationship. Why would they?To constantly look for fault in others and to always search for the problem could lead to a potentially lonely life. The saying that no one is perfect, while completely true, can ring in the ears of a man or woman looking for love. This statement can cause one to experience the common â€Å"overlooking the flaws† syndrome, and therefore send such star-crossed lovers down the aisle; never stopping to take a breath and consider the impossible†¦what if they are not truly compatible? The good news is that more so now than ever, individuals are deciding to exami ne their partners and themselves a little bit more carefully before tying the knot.The United States was the first nation to see the divorce rate rise significantly years ago. However, the divorce rate has remained steady for the past 15 years. (Berger 2009) To more closely examine the reasoning behind the steady rate, you have to consider where society was fifteen years ago. Fifteen years ago it was 1997; the year where the average income was $37,006. 00. (PeopleHistory. com 2004) Whether you consider it low or high today, the fact is that that $37,000 dollars was now being shared more frequently between powerful men and women. These women were executives, lawyers, professors, and collegiate professionals.One may say that these women had an unwavering sense of feminism and the mentality of being a strong, career-driven individual. It is at the age where women are not defined by their husband’s careers, but by their own accomplishments. With women taking their place in the wo rkplace, it may be safe to say that many found that a career was her top priority. Being a businesswoman and climbing the corporate ladder may have been reason enough for women to shy away from marriage until later in life; or quite possibly altogether. Whatever the case, women were allowed to be choosier in who they married, causing a lull in the divorce rate.Maybe women were realizing that they did not need marriage to feel fulfilled. Or maybe for the lucky ones, they really could have it all; maintain corporate executive status†¦and find and keep love. Although the divorce rate in the United States has kept steady for the past 15 years, the rates are still considerably high. Current divorce rates state that almost one out of two marriages end in divorce. This number is without considering that half of all adults do not get divorced. In fact, a large number of people never marry or many marry multiple times. Berger 2009) This brings up a great point as to why divorce rates ar e so high. We all know the tragic stories of those who have married multiple times on their desperate hunt to find happiness and true love. It evokes the question; while women and men can be wildly successful, why are they always looking for the fairytale? Why do we insist that somewhere, out there, our knight in shining armor will canter down the beaten path into our front yard and ask to be ours? Why do men proclaim that they will only settle down for the right woman; who coincidentally mirrors the only perfect woman in their life†¦ their mom?We have been told since we were young that we should never settle. We prepare ourselves for our futures, demand our friends to tell us the truth about â€Å"what’s wrong with us†, and have our hearts broken a million times because in the end, we are destined to find the one†¦right As a little girl, I remember my mom telling me to never settle for just anyone. â€Å"You have a lot to give and a big heart. Make sure the one who gets it really deserves it. † I have spent my life carrying around a heart that is locked up tight until I find that one perfect person who holds the key to it.It sounds like a fairy tale doesn’t it? For someone preaching about the idea that many marriages end because women expect a fairy tale, I still hold that fantasy in my own heart. We are told to not let just anyone in, but how do we know if they are that right person. In our favorite fairy tales, there is always a sign. For Snow White, it was true love’s kiss. If it were the wrong prince and not her true love, his kiss would not have woken her up. In which case, Snow White would experience her own trial and error process without ever having to go through the heartache of a breakup.For Sleeping Beauty, her Prince Charming would have never walked into her life without an arranged marriage. Luckily for her, true love’s kiss also woke her from her slumber. Apparently her betrothed just happened to be the right man for her. Watching these fairy tales growing up reinforces the idea that everyone has a true love. Everyone, no matter how difficult the situation, will eventually find the person that they belong to. Unfortunately for us, there is no sleeping spell that can wake us up with true love’s kiss. We have to continue searching for the perfect man; kissing any frog that comes our direction.So the question is, do we believe the fairytales too much? Do many marriages end in divorce because the man we marry just doesn’t turn out to be Prince Charming? Many go into a relationship giving the benefit of the doubt and hoping that just this one time; he or she will be perfect. Could it be possible that many marriages end because of disappointment? Another theory as to why divorces do occur so frequently is the fact that we watch men and women in the media divorcing their spouse like it is a right of passage; like after the 3rd one, you get a discount on your next w edding. Take Elizabeth Taylor for example.The glamorously successful film star earned her star status by acting in films since the age of ten. She was considered to be one of the last great movie stars of her time. While she is known for her films, she is better known for her precocious love life. With all of her star success, one would think that she would be content; but like any other human being, she longed for love. When she didn’t find it the first time, she continued to search for and marry anyone who made her happy for the time being. Taylor married eight times. This leaves one to question whether her marriages were a matter of love, or acts which filled a void in her heart.A more recent star that has followed the same path is Jennifer Lopez. Wildly successful and envied by many, one may say that she has it all. Lopez has also been on the search for love. She has married and divorced three times. This draws a fine line between when it is morally right for a divorce to take place. One may say that a couple must divorce when one or both parties are unhappy. This being said, how unhappy is unhappy enough? Couples fight, argue over petty things, and question their compatibility, but when is it right to call it quits? Fighting for a marriage may be as important as preparing for one in the first place.Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez who get out of a relationship do not set the best example for those fighting for their relationship. The divorce factors that make divorces likely during a divorce; such as emotional and physical abuse, financial stress/unemployment, etc. are rarely present in celebrity divorces. If celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and Russell Brand can divorce for â€Å"irreconcilable differences,† why shouldn’t the general public? Divorce may be something that many tend to do on a whim when they have simply had enough, but in many to most cases, it is not just themselves that hey have to worry about. Most traditional families that experience a divorce have children who are involved as much as their parents. In certain cases, a divorce may be helpful for those in an abusive environment or those who experience more arguments than dinner conversations. Divorces from harmful relationships can teach children that when you are hurting, sometimes you need to get out. However, divorces that are granted because of â€Å"irreconcilable differences† may teach children that when the going gets tough, it’s best to just get going. Divorce can also hurt bonds between a specific parent if that parent and the child were close.The child could experience a feeling of loss and be subject to the grieving process, which will help them to move on through the loss. If both parents do not assist with this grieving process, problems within the process may be created. Many think that the grieving process is only experienced after a death. It in fact can and should be followe d after any situation that creates great trauma to one’s usual state. The process can be quite helpful in maintaining a stable state of being after a loss. There are times that the process may be complicated.For example, absent grief is a situation in which overly private people cut themselves off from the community and customs that allow and expect grief. (Berger 2009) Another situation of complicated grief is disenfranchised grief. This is â€Å"a situation in which certain people, although they are bereaved, are prevented from mourning publicly by cultural customs or social restrictions. † (Berger 2009) This would be a situation where a child is told not to cry about a situation or to â€Å"suck it up† and not be bothered by the current situation. These aspects of complicated grief may affect the child later on in his or her adult life.If both adults in the marriage decide that divorce is the best option for all members of the family, it is important for the child to be informed and to be allowed to grieve in his or her own way. Open communication can be very helpful in getting through a complicated time. With this open communication, the couple must understand that each child, at each age level, will respond differently. An example given by The University of New Hampshire: Cooperative Extension was that a child of preschool age may think that if he/she had done his/her chores or eaten dinner when they were told, their father or mother would not have gone away.Elementary-aged children may have the most difficult time accepting divorce. (UNH) The children are old enough to recognize that they are hurting, but have no idea how or if they can fix the pain. (UNH) Adolescents generally take a different approach to fixing the problem at hand. He/she may assume the responsibilities of a parent in order to take less stress off of a specific parent. They are old enough to understand that his/her parents are not only adults, but they are also act ual people dealing with a crisis. He/she may take stress on themselves because they feel responsible for fixing a problem that they have no control of.According to the University of New Hampshire, â€Å"studies have shown that boys raised by fathers and girls raised by mothers may do better than children raised by the parent of the opposite sex. † This is also a very important aspect to consider when divorcing, who lives with whom. The divorce is not just the dividing of the assets; it is also the dividing of the children. Schedules dictating which holidays are with a given parent, or who has them on the weekends can be stressful for not only the parents, but the children as well.This relates to the idea that â€Å"the children’s adjustment following a divorce has more to do with the quality of the parent-child relationship than with the gender and age of the child. † (UNH) If the child has working relationships with his/her parent on each of their visits, the c hild should not struggle to find a way to adjust. Regardless of the quantity of time between parent and child, the quality of the time should be enough for the child to feel as though he/she is not missing a source of comfort. The relationship between child and parent is quite possibly one of the most difficult aspects of divorce.As an individual, it is easy to put yourself first. For many, it’s what they have done for his or her entire life. In the beginning, you have an entire world of opportunity in front of you. The stresses of a part-time job and school seem like the most intense and terrifying aspect of your entire life; because it’s not just school, it’s everything else. Love lives, career choices, moves to different places near and far away; our minds are constantly churning out new ideas for our futures. Then once you decide on a place to live and a career, you focus on how to move to the top of the ladder and become all that you can be; after ll, that is what your college experience has prepped you for, right? Then you meet someone that you decide to settle down with. So now you’re balancing a career, marriage, and of course the idea that you still have a long life to live. Then as the song goes, first comes love, then comes marriage†¦then of course comes children. I’ve been told that children may quite possibly be the biggest blessing in one’s life; but then your days of dreaming for one are over. Your dreams and life changes have now become the life source for someone else who means more than your desire to cross items off of your bucket list.A divorce is one of those changes that affect many relationships. These other relationships may be more important than the relationship that you have with yourself. In my opinion, this should be the question everyone contemplating a divorce must ask themselves†¦does this decision affect anyone else? If so, will this decision improve the lives of everyone invo lved? It is hard to say if a divorce helps or hurts family. Each case is different and each case is full of reasons for a couple to stay or to leave. It is easy to listen to a best friend tell you how much you deserve better, or a mother saying that she wants more for you.However, in the end the choice is yours. It is human nature to gravitate towards people who make you happy. You would never befriend someone who gave you the cold shoulder and told you how much they disliked you. Just as someone going into a relationship never sets out to find someone who makes him or her unhappy. Even in the case of celebrities looking for love of their own, they never go out searching for disaster. Whether it is the fairy tale image, the feeling of needing someone in your life, or the initial feeling that you are perfect for each other, no one goes into a relationship hoping for failure.We are given one shot at life and are constantly told to go out and live passionately; live the life we’ ve always wanted! Why else would our role models tell us that we could have anything we want if we just pursue it? It is my honest belief that we go through life trying to find and hold onto the things that make us ridiculously happy. You could tell the divorcing couple who were once madly in love that you told them so, but it would not change the fact that at one time they were in love. They took a chance and believed that their love could withstand anything.The reality is that while this couple’s marriage failed does not mean that all will. Despite current statistics, the truth is that while one out of two marriages ends in divorce, one half of them work. One can be a cinicist, look at a statistic and look for failure. Or one can look at the statistic and hold onto the belief that they are the fortunate half. Divorce is tragic no matter how one looks at it, however no one can predict the future. If a couple is aware of themselves and their chances for success, their happine ss has no expiration date.Despite the statistics, the prior judgments, and the expectations of others, a marriage has every chance to defy odds and last forever. Stories like that are those that give this girl every reason to believe that I really can have my own fairy tale. Resources Berger, Kathleen Stassen. Invitation to the Life Span. New York: Worth, 2010. Print. Temke, Mary. â€Å"The Effects of Divorce on Children. † University of New Hampshire: Cooperative Extension. University of New Hampshire, May 2006. Web. 13 May 2012. . â€Å"The Year 1997 From The People History. † What Happened in 1997 Inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Events. Web. 14 May 2012. .

Using Sounds in Communication Essay - 841 Words

The process of using sounds, signs, words, or behaviors to exchange information or to convey your thoughts and feelings with another person or group is communication (Quintanilla Wahl, 2014). Demonstrative communication can send messages in a nonverbal and unwritten form of communication such as body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions that can have a positive or a negative result that effects an individual’s listening or response with the exchange of information. Society uses verbal communication as a main part of their lives, and demonstrative communication accentuates on the verbal communication. Facial expressions, body language and tone of voice are a few nonverbal cues that characterize about 55% of nonverbal†¦show more content†¦The third strategy, your communication interaction occurs, contains taking a direct automatic list of nonverbal communication between you and the person. One way to make this happen is to look at how talking to friends and family is comfortable, by the way your reaction is toward their nonverbal cues and how they react to your cues, and use this to speak to employees or customers. This will help an individual to open the communication barrier for others to be more apt to reveal information more sincerely and securely. Step back and reflect is the last approach that entails that an individual assess the information after an exchange has finished (Quintanilla Wahl, 2014). The communication would be measured for what would be the most effective nonverbal signals and then the ones that appeared to generate a negative assessment. Individuals use demonstrative communication every day unintentionally conducting themselves with their attire, hair styles, tattoos, design and images. Some of these styles of communication could be positive, but individuals need to be careful how they make use of demonstrative communication while it could be unclear and could be misinterpreted. Gestures, facial expressions, appearances, or body language may indicate another meaning to other people with their background of growing up, religion, or culture. One example would be whenShow MoreRelatedThe Components Of Language Learners846 Words   |  4 PagesThe possibly greatest challenge facing individuals with disability is learning to communicate, but what is communication? Communication is the exchange of information and ideas, thoughts and feelings between two or more people interactive in sending and receiving message.It is very important in our job to get through and make the students to have great communication. The 5 interrelated components of language are 1- We have to aware of classroom discourse strategies and routine,and use them consciouslyRead MoreEssay on Childhood Apraxia of Speech1600 Words   |  7 Pagespediatric population. Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is one of the most common of these disorders. Dr. Libby Kumin defines CAS as â€Å"a motor speech disorder where children have difficulty planning, coordinating, producing and sequencing speech sounds† (Kumin, n.d.). Apraxia does not occur because of weakness or paralysis of facial and oral muscles. It occurs when a child’s brain cannot properly plan the movement of body parts necessary for normal speech production (â€Å"Childhood Apraxia,† 2011)Read MoreEcholocation in Marine Biology Essay958 Words   |  4 PagesDue to the sound differences, organisms are able to distinguish between organisms of different species and individuals in their pods, or neighboring pods. If individuals of a species ar e capable of individualising their â€Å"signature whistles† are they able to then use those signature whistles to develop ways of hunting fish using each of the individuals in the pod? Scientists have been studying this behavior since the 1960’s, and have just recently discovered a whale who’s whistle sounds like a duckRead MoreTop Of The Line Hearing Protection941 Words   |  4 Pages3M Peltor WS 100 Communications Headset Review | Top of the Line Hearing Protection In this review I will be taking at a top of the line Bluetooth enabled set of ear protection from 3M called teh Peltor WS 100 Communications Headset. This particular set of headphones is great for sound protection, especially if you re looking for high-quality sound and the ability to engage in person-to-person and phone conversations without having to remove your earmuffs. Quick Review INSERT CHART In-DepthRead MoreThe Importance Of Verbal And Nonverbal Communication1265 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscuss the processes of verbal and  nonverbal communication, including associated components of each, the differences between listening and hearing regarding communications. Also covered will be the formal and informal channels of communication that may be used within criminal justice organizations and implemented strategies used to overcome communication barriers therein. Verbal and nonverbal communication are the two main divisions of communication, and each specific realm deals with its own uniqueRead MoreChildren Of A Lesser God By Randa Haines And Starring William Hurt And Marlee Matlin852 Words   |  4 PagesChildren of a Lesser God was directed by Randa Haines and starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin. This love story follows most stereotypes found in Romantic cinema, but instead of other people or names keeping these two apart it’s their own communication. This was no t my first time watching this movie, so before I put it on I wanted to reflect on some of the ideas and questions I had the first time I watched the film. I wanted to see if my view changed now that I know a little bit more about DeafRead MoreSpeech and Hearing Science1723 Words   |  7 Pages The Speech and Hearing Science class taught me many things about child communication and language development. Before taking this class, I thought they language development is just a simple and natural thing to happen to people; however, I realized there can so much steps and facts involved with the language development and communication. I learned that even though every child develops their communication and language differently through different sources, every child is mainly influenced by theRead MoreComparing the Learnedness and Flexibility Found in Human Language to Horse Communication1510 Words   |  6 Pagesin their communication. Vocalizations and body language can convey caller’s sex, body size, identity, motivation, and physiological states (Yeon, 2012, p.180). Horses are social creatures making the information encoded and decoded in verbal and nonverbal communication extremely important within their social structures. Vocal communication transmits information about horses’ state of mind; this can be done using a combination of vocal and laryngeal sounds. Horses use 10 distinctive sounds when communicatingRead MoreExamples Of Pre-Planning Information1374 Words   |  6 PagesKnowledge: Children will know what sound is and that we hear sound through our ears, but they will not understand the science behind how sound travels or what allows us to hear sound. Academic Language: Students will be introduced to words such as sound waves, ruler, measure, communication, vibrate, and inches. Pre-Planning Information: Goals and Objectives Central Focus: Through this discovery box activity, students will actively engage in experimenting with sound which will allow them to come toRead MoreThe Origin of Language in Human Evolution Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagessystem not from animal communication, suggesting that only humans with complex brain system were capable of developing (Ulbaek, 1998). Whereas other animal species communicate through vocalised sounds, songs, or gestures specially primates such as apes. Similarly gestures and hand gestures were the form of communication used by early hominids, but Homo habilis and Homo erectus started to use vocalisations and decreasing the frequent use of simple hand gestures for communication. Humans developed a spoken

Essay About Catcher In The Rye - 705 Words

â€Å"Where the hell is everybody? It’s like a goddam morgue around here.† I shouted, there was no one here except Holden who is the last person that I want to be seeing right now. Why him? Out of all the guys she could have known, why did it have to be him? Now I have to be in the same room as the person who practically ruined my date. I’m just going to try forgetting about the whole thing cause it’s going to piss me off even more. â€Å"Did you write my composition?† I asked to Holden who then pointed over to the bed. As I walk over to my bed, I start to think about Jane, then Holden, and then my goddamn composition that’s due tomorrow. Holden and Jane’s relationship was making me furious again, I tightly clench on to the side of the paper. I†¦show more content†¦Now he’s trying to provoke me? Who does he think he is? I should put him in his place right now but then I would just end up feeling bad. â€Å"Holden, God damn it, I’m warning you, now. For the last time. If you don’t keep your yap shut, I’m gonna—†. He interrupts me and spurts some nonsense and out of nowhere I find my arm swinging at him knocking him to the ground. He’s hurt, what did I do? I didn’t want for this to happen and now his nose is bleeding and it really looks like he’s in pain. â€Å"Why the hell don’tcha shut up when I tellya to?† I say to him feeling very guilty but trying to levitate the fault off of me and onto him. †Å"You asked for it, God damn it,† I said, still trying to make myself feel better, but it wasn’t working. Holden really had nothing to do with how my date had went, it was the first time I had actually liked a girl, so the fact that she was taking so much about another guy just got me really pissed, and now because of me Holden is bleeding and hurt. Not to mention if the teachers find out I’d be getting into much more trouble. Maybe I’m just not cut out for stuff like this. I look down at Holden who was bawling his eyes out and calling me things like â€Å"moron† and â€Å"sonuvabitch†. â€Å"Listen. Go wash your face,† I said to Holden, but Holden ignored what I had said and kept calling me names and such. I should probably leave Holden alone. I left the room and closed the door, I’ll talk to him tomorrow and make things right withShow MoreRelatedEssay about Censorship and Catcher in the Rye751 Words   |  4 PagesChristi Jo hnson English 11 Pd. 5 Censorship Essay The Catcher in the Rye has been an instant classic since it was first published. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller list along with being among the most banned books in the U.S. It has been banned for its harsh language and bad behavior. But truly these are not good reasons to ban a book; a book that is so enjoyed by many readers and the reality of the protagonist. It is never good to hear profound language but the book is justRead MoreEssay About Catcher In The Rye700 Words   |  3 Pagescares about nothing. He tried to say that he does not hate everything. So I asked him to name one thing he likes. He quickly changed the subject and started to talk about these nuns that he met at breakfast. He told me that they were asking for donations so he gave them money. He said that he felt bad for them so he ended up giving them a lot more money than he really should have. I was kind of happy to hear that he actually gave them money because to me, that made it seem like he c ared about somethingRead MoreEssay about The Catcher in the Rye2410 Words   |  10 PagesCatcher in the Rye Chapters 1-3 Discussion Questions 1. Who is telling the story? What are your impressions of the narrator? Would he be a friend of yours? Holden Caufield maybe because he seems rebellious and open 2. How much time has passed since the events in the story? What do you think is Holden’s purpose in telling the story? 7 months has passed and to make sense of everything that has happened 3. What is Pency Prep like? Why is Holden leaving? How does he feel about leaving?Read MoreEssay about The Catcher in the Rye996 Words   |  4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a controversial book from many aspects. There was a public uproar when it was primarily released in 1951, mainly due to the profanity and sexual exploitation within. Salinger was able to construct the text in a unique manner, writing from the perspective of a highly critical, lonely and depressed 17 year old boy, Holden Caulfield, who recounts an incident which occurred one year ago. Holden was expelled from Pencey Prep, a rich and well known prep schoolRead MoreEssay about The Catcher in the Rye by Holden Caulfied1000 Words   |  4 PagesComing of age is the transition of a person from childhood to adulthood. The Catcher in the Rye is portrayed through the mind of Holden Caulfield. This book portrays Holden as a maniac because he is recalling his three day story to a psychoanalyst from a mental hospital. Holden is fighting that fine line between being an adult and a child. However, he does not want to grow up and become an adult because of the growing responsibilities that come with being an adult, the loss of innocence associatedRead MoreEssay about The Catcher In the Rye, Banned For a Reason894 Words   |  4 Pagesnovel, The Catcher In the Rye. The novel follows only a few days of Holden’s life, but exploits Holden’s reckless behavior and poor decision making skills; therefore encouraging bad behavior on young readers. The story also follows a constant repetition of inappropriate words and swears; that one might consider profane. Lastly the story contains inappropriate scenes and dialogue that is sexually explicit. The adult content found in this novel makes it unsuitable for eighth graders. The Catcher In theRead MoreEssay about The Catcher in the Rye Should be Included in the Curriculum1083 Words   |  5 Pagespeople have argued about the inclusion of The Cather in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger in the high school english curriculum. This is such due to the inappropriate and adult oriented themes within If considered, many times within the novel the main character will face situations in which that the negative and vulgar themes will blossom into something meaningful that the reader can benefit from as a person and as a student. While the vulgarity and adult themes in The Catcher in the Rye are indeed inappropriateRead MoreEssay about From Innocence to Adulthood in The Catcher in the Rye2367 Words   |  10 PagesFrom Innocence to Adulthood in The Catcher in the Rye      Ã‚   Adolescence is a time of existence in two worlds. One world having the desire to be in the adult world, which is filled with all the unknown wonders of the world. The other world is the world of childhood which is comfortable and protected from all the impurities in the world.   This sort of tug of war between the two worlds is not only mentally imposed on a being, but physically, socially, and morally as wellRead MoreA Book About Life, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay984 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Catcher in the Rye† by J.D. Salinger is, in simplest terms, a book about life. A novel about what it means to exist, to be human, and to live – and a sixteen-year-old boy mercilessly critical of the world of 1950’s New York he lives in. The movies, the music, the people are all meaningless to him, even despicable. He hates the way life works – the divisions between the rich and the poor, the endless walking in circles and the inability to understand one’s purpose. Holden feels that life is sad andRead MoreA Short Biography of J.D. Salinger1316 Words   |  6 Pagesgraduated there in 1936. (â€Å"J. D. Salinger Essay – Salinger, J. D. – eNotes.com†) Jerome David Salinger enrolled at New York University shortly in 1937. He achieved unsatisfactory mid-term grades there through his second semester. He never really had decent grades though. He dropped out of the school and traveled to Europe. He went to Europe to study his fathers import business. (â€Å"Jerome David Salinger†) Salinger came back to the United States after about a year. In 1939, he went to writing classes

Essay about financial analysis - 1439 Words

SPARTECH Corporation 2009 2010 Industry Average Current Ratio 1.6 times 1.5 times 2.26 Quick Ratio 0.88 times 0.85 times 0.87 Average collection period 51 days 48 days 13 days Days inventory held 28 days 31 days 134 days Days payable outstanding 47 days 52 days 37 days Cash Conversion Cycle 32 days 27 days 133 days Cash flow from operating activities 65,264 39,330 Current Ratio Trend: In both years, the company has the ability to use its resources†¦show more content†¦This is an indication that the company is becoming weaker and far from self sufficiency. The company could do so debt-equity swap, an additional stock issue or selling assets to pay down some of the debt. Therefore the company use strategies depending on the conditions and how much the company want to improve its debt/asset ratio number. Long term debt to total capitalization: Long term debt to total capitalization ratio of the years 2009 and 2010 of Spartech corporation is two times higher than the industry average. This means that the finance of the company mainly comes from the debt which can be quite risky and is sometimes a reason for bankruptcy. The high ratio percentage shows how weak the company is financially. The company should make sure that their long term debt to capitalization ratio is controlled so that their debt is under control. An out of hand debt would create problems to the company as a whole. Debt to Equity: The debt to equity ratio of Spartechs Corporation is higher than the industry average. Higher debt-to-equity ratio is unfavorable because it means that the business relies more on external lenders thus it is at higher risk, especially at higher interest rates. Moreover, the debt to equity of the company is higher than 1 which means more assets are financed by debt than that those financed by money of shareholders. Profitability: Overall Proficiency and Performance SPARTECHShow MoreRelatedFinancial Statement Analysis : Financial Analysis1558 Words   |  7 Pagesyou hear the phase financial statement analysis, one wonders what is stands for. financial statement analysis is one of the most important part of any company to be successful. The reason companies rely on financial statements is for the company to come profitable even if the company is small or large. When companies use financial statement, it helps them to see if they are being profitable, by being used in different areas and reviewed by different departments. Chief Financial Officer and other executivesRead MoreFinancial Statement Analysis : Financial Analysis759 Words   |  4 PagesWoolworth Financial Analysis Financial statement analysis assists a business entity, business shareholders and other people interested, to analyze the figures in financial statements to present them with superior information about such most important factors for decision making and ultimate business survival. As exemplified by Gibson (2001), income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements project the financial performance a company at the present and probably the future. According to theRead MoreFinancial Analysis1076 Words   |  5 PagesCango Financial CanGo Financial Analysis Report The success of a business depends on its ability to remain profitable over the long term, while being able to pay all its financial obligations and earning above average returns for its shareholders. This is made possible if the business is able to maximize on available opportunities and very efficiently and effectively use the resources it has to create maximum value for all involved stakeholders. One way the performance of a company can be measuredRead MoreFinancial Trend Analysis Of Tata Steel Ltd Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pages TERM PAPER ON â€Å"Financial Trend Analysis Of TATA STEEL Ltd.† BY SAMIKSH SHARMA {A3146915005} B.Com (H) – Evening Class of 2015-18 Under the Supervision of: Dr . ATUL KUMAR In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) At AMITY COLLEGE OF COMMERCE AND FINANCE AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH, 2015-18 INDEX S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO 1. TITLE PAGE 01 2. INDEX 02 3. DECLARATION FORM 03 4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 04 5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 05 - 06 6. INTRODUCTIONRead MoreFinancial Analysis of Lee College1527 Words   |  7 PagesFinancial Analysis of Lee College Not-for-profit organizations are required to produce financial statements that provide information about their financial position and performance. Lee College is a private, not-for-profit college that prepares its financial statements in accordance to the accounting standards of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). I will prepare a Statement of Activities, a Statement of Unrestricted Revenues, Expenses, and Other ChangesRead MoreFinancial Analysis2455 Words   |  10 PagesContents Executive Summary 3 Issues: 4 Recommendations: 4 Value of synergies and intrinsic value per share of Antarctica 5 Form of payment; Cash or common stock? 5 Share-for-share transaction 7 Term sheet and its components 8 Economic Analysis 8 Recommendation 9 Executive Summary In 1999, the CEO of Companhia Cervejaria Brahama (largest brewer in Brazil) was considering the bit for Antarctica (second largest brewer in Brazil). The purpose for this merger was to exploit the potentialRead MoreFinancial Analysis : Financial Information970 Words   |  4 PagesFinancial ratios make it easier for quantitative analysis, where financial information is analysed by investors, as the numerous numbers contained in a company financial statement can leave them confounded. There are five to six main types of financial ratios including liquidity measurement ratios, profitability indicator ratios, debt ratios, operating performance ratios and cash flow indicator ratios (Richard Loth, n.b and Jim Riley,n.b)1 and 2. However, these can be grouped into two principal categoryRead MoreFinancial Analysis2238 Words   |  9 Pagestimes | Apendix: Ratios of the Grand Hotel Financial analysis | | | Financial ratios are useful tool to analyze the firm performance and financial situation or to compare the firm’s financial situation with other. It will help managers or the board of director to make good decisions in their performance and future prospects. Financial ratios could be classified into five types: profitability, liquidity, financial leverage, asset turnover, and dividend policy ratios (PaulineRead MoreFinancial Analysis4661 Words   |  19 PagesFinal Project – Financial Analysis Beatrice Valdez, MBA Student Capella University MBA 6016 Finance and Value Creation [ May 16, 2012 ] Michael Blagg, Professor Table of Contents Executive Summary | | 3 | Historical Financial Statement Analysis: Financial Ratios | | 3-4 | Balance Sheet | | 4-6 | Income Statement | | 6 | Statement of Cash Flows | | 6 | Pro-Forma Financial Statements | | 7 | Balance Sheet Pro-Forma | | 7-8 | Income Statement Pro-Forma | | 9 | CashRead MoreFinancial Ratio Analysis : Financial Ratios Analysis1634 Words   |  7 Pages UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEAR-LAKE HADM 5233: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT II ASSIGNMENT: FINANCIAL RATIO ANALYSIS UHCL Honesty Code â€Å"I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.† Uday Sekhar Reddy Mareddy

Master of Commerce for Business Consulting - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theMaster of Commerce for Business Consulting and Technology. Answer: Introduction The report is designed to outline he various ways and approaches followed for implementing the strategic management aspects considering the business organization IBM as the case study. The various methods of implementing strategies to enhance organizational capabilities, improve the structure, maintain good leadership and culture along with bringing necessary changes and improvements. The topic will discuss the major aspects of how IBM has implemented its strategies to adopt changes and make improvements through consideration of leadership skills and improvements of structure for becoming successful within the business environment. At first, brief background information of the organization will be presented and the various strategies that are needed to be implemented will also be included in this report. The ways of implementing the most effective strategies for business success will be depicted here too, furthermore identify the issues faced during the strategic management and imple mentation (Barrick et al., 2015). Lastly, few recommendations will be provided about how these issues can be overcome with ease and effectiveness. Background information of the organization IBM, Australia is one of the most popular and established multinational technology organisation which manages its operations in more than 170 countries and has generated a revenue of 79.92billion USD. The founder of the organization is Charles Ranlett Flint and it is also one of the largest private employer in the whole world (Ibm.com, 2017). International Business Machines or IBM consists of employees of over 414,400 and it is known for its manufacturing and marketing of computer hardware products, middleware and software along with other services such as hosting, consulting services that are found in areas of mainframe computers and nanotechnology. It has an astonishing record of holding the record for most number of patents that has been generated by a business organization (Bhasin, 2012). The company has offered business analytics and technology services to the banking industry as well as to the Government bodies and telecommunication industries. Cloud solutions are also provided along with management of human resources and IT systems management, furthermore offering commercial solutions too. IT infrastructure solutions are also provided by IBM, Australia to create a digital platform that can enable users to integrate and manage mobile based applications, provide effective solution services and financing solutions too (Chen et al., 2014). There are also other areas where IBM has provided its services including the retail sector, education, electronics, healthcare, life insurance, media and entertainment, travel and transportation industries. IBM Australia has been operating as a subsidiary of the International Business Machines Corporation. The Managing Director of the company is Mr. Kerry Purcell and Vice President of operations is Mr. Tony Best. Identification and evaluation of suitability of the current strategy of IBM The most effective strategies of IBM are made by the top executives for enabling global expansion and increased level of outsourcing activities. His could help the company to penetrate new and developing markets and even outsource the materials to gain benefits like low cost of labor. The strategies are developed by combining the global expansion and increased outsourcing to optimize the profit margin by lowering the cost of manufacturing and production with ease and effectiveness. Global expansion further allowed the company to spread its business operations outside Australia and gain better stability, which could contribute to the higher profit level and competitive advantage in business as well (Banker, Mashruwala Tripathy, 2014). The major components of strategic management are analysis of strategy formulation, implementation of the strategy and managing interrelationship between the various components of strategic management. The corporate level strategy, also known as the growth strategy could help in developing various platforms and undertake approaches to increase the revenue margin and ensure better growth and business prosperity. This is a long-term strategy and has enabled the company to develop new products and services, manage the distribution channels, carry out the business operations through horizontal and vertical integration and target the new market segments to fulfill their needs and preferences (Furrer, 2016). The organization has followed the acquisition strategy to gain Vivant Digital and the current alliance is the connection between IBM and SAP. The diversification strategy has allowed the organization to acquire the small and medium sized organizations for ensuring better revenue generat ion and growth in terms of profit and customer satisfaction. The diversification strategy facilitates the generic competitive strategy of the company, which has further helped in gaining potential benefits through acquisition of the new businesses and underpinning its skills and capabilities (Goetsch Davis, 2014). The business level strategy is also an essential part of the strategic management at IBM, Australia. The differentiation of strategy is considered as one of the best and most suitable business level strategies because of its ability to develop unique products and services and differentiate those by utilizing the various resources and attributes of the organization. The business level strategy would allow IBM to gain competitive advantage in business through improvement of experiences, skills, expertise level and knowledge, manage re-allocation of internal resources, maintain budgeting and reorganize the human resources or manpower to enhance organizational productivity (Grinblatt Titman, 2016). The business level strategic management would create a highly experienced and skilled research and development department as well as enable the organization to provide training sessions for improving the skills and abilities of workers, ensure better production and enhanced relationship with the customers as well. The management of strategies helped in differentiation of the products and services of IBM, Australia for the purpose of focusing on the mission and vision of the organization to achieve the goals and objectives in business with ease. It is done for focusing less on the hardware manufacturing techniques but more on management of e-commerce technologies and designing of services for meeting the demand and preferences of the customers. This is done by transforming the old database into an entirely new online business process through introduction of new web based technologies (Hayes, 2014). The web based technologies and applications have been integrated into the internal business operations for enhancing the operational efficiency and furthermore enable the company to target the small-scale business organizations. The focus has been still on the software packages and services on certain areas of baking and healthcare. The cost leadership strategy is also managed to ensure that the cost of manufacturing and production of products and services is reduced. This has even allowed IBM, located in Australia, to reduce the price of selling for the unique products and services of the company and make products effective to fulfill the expectations of customers with convenience (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2012). The lower production cost and keeping the prices of products lower have also resulted in attracting more customers, thereby resulting in keeping the profit margin stable for a consistent time period efficiently. The transactional strategy helps in managing high foreign investments by managing coordination between subsidiaries while the multi-domestic strategy allows for enabling the domestic organizations to operate within a single country (Ibm.com, 2017). Success of strategic management according to the SWOT analysis Based on the SWOT analysis, the company, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are identified at first. It could be understood that IBM had capitalized on the strengths of the company by management of global supply chain. This has not only helped in ensuring successful global expansion but can also lead to better outsourcing activities to improve the skills and capabilities of the organisation largely. The weakness included the high cost of products and services of IBM, which could be overcome by making a good strategic choice of outsourcing and maintain a proper and competitive pricing strategy. This would not only differentiate the unique products of IBM in terms of the process that are set but could also make the company stay ahead of the competitors by influencing the buying behaviors of customers through offering of products at a lower price range (Iyamu, 2017). The global expansion and outsourcing activities are important aspects of the strategic management of IBM and this has helped in utilizing the organizational scopes and opportunities by developing new markets. IBM has considered the benefits of the developing markets and grabbed opportunities through utilization of cheap labor costs in Australia. Competition is always a major threat faced by multinational companies in Australia and outsourcing activities of the company have helped in offering products available at competitive prices. This has enabled to keep the larger market shares secure and even stay ahead of the other competitors in business with ease and effectiveness (Kapferer, 2012). Gaining better market share would result in maintaining good relationship between people, processes, functions and organizational structure and furthermore respond to changes and generate more profit in business. Evaluating the implementation of the strategy The implementation of strategies is done with the maintenance of a network organizational structure. The structural strategy that is implemented by the organization in Australia is network organizational structure and it includes the three major divisions including the product division, functional division and geographical division. All these divisions are interrelated with each other and can help in streamlining the process of product development and optimize the Information technology solutions for ensuring better market delivery. By implementing the current strategy, IBM in Australia has aligned the business related aspects with the corporate vision and mission for the achievement of business goals and objectives effectively (Mendenhall et al., 2012). The corporate network structure has defined the business forms, processes of interaction and even managed the strategies properly to influence the business processes and become successful within the business environment. From the various resources gathered, it could be understood that corporate level strategy had been implemented by connecting it with the structure of the organization for ensuring proper alliance and acquisition and gain competitive advantage in business. The geographical divisions corporate structure could help in overcoming the issues within the regional markets such as Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and America. The product type divisions include the major business functions and services delivered like the cognitive solutions, Global business services, cloud based applications and network management and management of global finance. The major functions managed by IBM to facilitate the global IT business cover the areas of research and development, sales and distribution, Intellectual property and management of supply chains too (Miankov Ko?iov, 2014). The strategic alliances and acquisitions has helped IBM to bring out improvements in the existing products and diversif y into the new business while fir the existing market, it is important to strengthen the existing business and introduce new range of products and services for the local markets and keep the customers satisfied. There are alternate international business structures too that can help in implementing an effective strategy in business with ease and effectiveness. The decentralized federation manages decentralized strategy for controlling the financial aspects while the coordinated federation allows for strong centralized control, i.e., implementation of strategies, policies, planning and administrative controls too. Centralized hub enables to gain proper control of the business operations and helps in adopting the local market conditions while the integrated network helps in managing control of strategies, policies and coordination of people along with improvement of technical expertise within the whole system (Ojokuku et al., 2012). IBM also implements change management by unfreezing the crisis situations, changing the structure, systems and value and through consolidation of various references by organizing the structures, systems and values effectively. The transformation strategy and management is essential for IBM to identify the components that are required for responding to changes and gain knowledge to align the vision with the organizational goals and objectives. To enable changes, change leadership strategy is also implemented by providing the workers of the organization with various tools to maintain the framework of governance and engage the various stakeholders too (Paroutis, Bennett Heracleous, 2014). There are various stakeholders like the customers, employees, managers, suppliers and the shareholders who must be informed about the change management process and this should be possible by implementing the change management strategy. The job structure, roles and responsibilities of workers and manag ement of organizational resources are essential to ensure that the implementation of change management strategies bring good results. The skills and knowledge of the organization are managed properly to ensure that a healthy and positive culture is established where people can work together as an unit and bring positive results to achieve business success (Peppard Ward, 2016). Major issues faced during strategic implementation Several issues have been faced during the implementation of strategies within the business organization IBM in Australia. It is not possible to bring 100 percent success through implementation of strategies at IBM, Australia. Few issues that were experienced during the strategic implementation process had been issues while using multiple change management strategies at the same time, limitations of budget, lack of sufficient resources and inappropriate time of implementing strategies like in the midway of a project. The other implementation issues related to the systems and its capabilities include delivery of products and services by other companies at a much lower price due to the maturity of the service market consistently. The revenue and sales of IBMs subsidiaries were reduced largely by 10 % and 13 % respectively (Purce, 2014). IBM had also faced complexities to differentiate its hardware components with other companys hardware components, as a result of which, there were lesse r sales both for the hardware and software components of IBM. Not only have these issues hindered the successful management of business operations but there are other risks as well that have been associated with the implementation of business level strategies. The risks of substitute products at lower prices and lack of experiences could reduce the positive perception of customers regarding the value of products and its differentiable features. This might also decrease the brand loyalty among the consumers and result in deteriorating the brand image from time to time (Rothaermel, 2015). From the various reports and evidences, it was found that IBM had acquired many other organizations to ensure continuous development and market expansion. There were several challenges and risks associated with it such as the lack of ability to adapt a new culture, poor skills among the workers, decreased morale of staffs and synergies that had deteriorated the flow of cash at IBM, Australia. While acquiring another company, the staffs might even face difficulties to get accustomed with the new culture, products and services and even difficulty in managing the human resource. Lakc of leadership skills could even employees move in the wrong direction and face immense issues to accomplish the organizational objectives (Waddell et al., 2013). Recommendations There are various cultures within the organization and among all these, IBM has considered the task and person cultures as the most effective. Task culture enabled to improve the leadership aspects and even raised the morale of employees by allowing them to perform more efficiently through promoting innovation, creativity and higher production. The person culture is recommended when most of the authority shall be provided to the team members, which can keep them motivated to perform to their potential. To develop a good culture, it is recommended to manage diversity training and employee engagement programs too including network blogging, peer coaching, community postings, etc (Wheelen Hunger, 2017). It is also recommended to enable the major components linked and compatible with each other including the people, processes, culture, structure and operations. Leadership is always an important concept on which the success of a business depends. The charismatic and democratic leadership aspects are recommended for managing implementation of strategies properly. These kinds of leadership aspects are essential because it has enhanced the level of motivation of workers and even considered their opinions and responses to make good strategic decisions. The balance scorecard utilization is recommended as well for ensuring that the strategies and financial controls are established properly to monitor the performance of the workers and organization (Willcocks, 2013). The financial metric would help in obtaining the financial condition of IBM, Australia and even improve the areas of weaknesses by turning those into strengths. Thus, use of balanced scorecard is recommended for analyzing organizational performance and develops new partnerships for improving the ability to implement strategies and gain enhanced levels of profit in business (Wood, 2012) . Conclusion The report was developed to focus on the management of strategies and how these could be implemented within the organization IBM in Australia. It was found that IBM implemented various strategies at different operational levels and these were made by the top level management executives for ensuring international expansion as well as manage better outsourcing activities. To optimize the profit margin and reduce the cost of manufacturing and production, it was essential for proper strategic implementation and this had been possible by implementing business level strategy, differentiation strategy and cost leadership strategy. The success and suitability of strategies were based on the analysis of SWOT. The major issues faced during the implementation of strategies were poor revenue generation, reduced capabilities of embracing a new culture and outsourcing activities and improper flow of cash at IBM. The recommendations provided to overcome these issues had been improvement of culture, leadership and management of diversity training and employee engagement programs. This had made the organizational operations and strategic implementation process stable, generated more profit and gained competitive advantage in business as well. References Barrick, M. R., Thurgood, G. R., Smith, T. A., Courtright, S. H. (2015). Collective organizational engagement: Linking motivational antecedents, strategic implementation, and firm performance.Academy of Management Journal,58(1), 111-135. Bhasin, S. (2012). An appropriate change strategy for lean success.Management Decision,50(3), 439-458. Chen, Q., Abedini, M., Garnavi, R., Liang, X. (2014). IBM Research Australia at LifeCLEF2014: Plant Identification Task. InCLEF (Working Notes)(pp. 693-704). Banker, R., Mashruwala, R., Tripathy, A. (2014). Does a differentiation strategy lead to more sustainable financial performance than a cost leadership strategy?.Management Decision,52(5), 872-896. Furrer, O. (2016).Corporate level strategy: Theory and applications. Routledge. Goetsch, D. L., Davis, S. B. (2014).Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Grinblatt, M., Titman, S. (2016).Financial markets corporate strategy. Hayes, J. (2014).The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., Hoskisson, R. E. (2012).Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning Ibm.com. (2017). Ibm.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017, from https://www.ibm.com/au-en/ Iyamu, T. (2012). Theoretical analysis of Strategic implementation of Enterprise Architecture. InSocial Influences on Information and Communication Technology Innovations(pp. 132-148). IGI Global. Kapferer, J. N. (2012).The new strategic brand management: Advanced insights and strategic thinking. Kogan page publishers. Mendenhall, M. E., Reiche, B. S., Bird, A., Osland, J. S. (2012). Defining the global in global leadership.Journal of World Business,47(4), 493-503. Miankov, M., Ko?iov, K. (2014). Strategic implementation as a part of strategic management.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,110, 861-870. Ojokuku, R. M., Odetayo, T. A., Sajuyigbe, A. S. (2012). Impact of leadership style on organizational performance: a case study of Nigerian banks.American Journal of Business and Management,1(4), 202-207. Paroutis, S., Bennett, M., Heracleous, L. (2014). A strategic view on smart city technology: The case of IBM Smarter Cities during a recession.Technological Forecasting and Social Change,89, 262-272. Peppard, J., Ward, J. (2016).The strategic management of information systems: Building a digital strategy. John Wiley Sons. Purce, J. (2014). The impact of corporate strategy on human resource management.New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals),67. Rothaermel, F. T. (2015).Strategic management. McGraw-Hill Education. Waddell, D., Creed, A., Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. (2013).Organisational change: Development and transformation. Cengage Learning. Wheelen, T. L., Hunger, J. D. (2017).Strategic management and business policy. pearson. Willcocks, L. (2013).Information management: the evaluation of information systems investments. Springer. Wood, D. C. (Ed.). (2012).Principles of quality costs: financial measures for strategic implementation of quality management. ASQ Quality Press.