Mock project (not real) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mock project (not real) - Assignment Example Understanding the aim of this procedure gives a rather proper platform for both doctors and patients as the former becomes informed on the topic of study consequently learning how to deal with smokers with problems. The latter on the other hand gets a feeling of satisfaction knowing that they have saved a person’s live in-directly as he may quit smoking. It has become an issue of importance to note that very many people in the contemporary world are succumbing to various diseases caused by smoking. It is after this that various medical organizations came up with the program aimed at having smokers reform and consequently live a long and healthy life. As stated in the brief, the analysis is of non-smoking patients, 10 of whom get into a program. These participants are rather important and should have no sign of ever having smoked not only in the near future but never having participated in such activities. The age of these non-smokers should be between 18 and 55 years. It is important to ensure that these participants do not take part in any regular physical exercises but instead live a rather normal lifestyle. This is in order to show the ones aimed at learning from the program that they too could go through such a lifestyle free of any drugs and not have it complicated by exercises. The manner through which this program should run is rather complicated but still understandable. The recruits should prepare to sacrifice six weeks and ultimately have determination and dedication towards having the program up and running effectively. Each of the recruits should prepare to begin having a rather simple physical exercise for only 30 minutes in a week and this is so to ensure that the patients do not find the lifestyle exaggerated. It is important to bear in mind that the physical exercise phase takes place in the laboratory where sports material related to the field of medicine. The

Nursing mentors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nursing mentors - Essay Example Therefore, sign off-mentors must undertake preparation program to meet the requirements to determine whether students the competencies required by NMC during sign-off. The nursing and midwifery professions involve handling patients in delicate situations. Thus, it is essential to have professionals with competence and efficiency in handling patients through the required abilities and skills. During the practice, students are expected to gain competencies through the NMC programs or standards. The program ensures they deliver the required services effectively and competently in their nursing profession without the necessity of direct supervision. Nonetheless, it is the role of the sign off mentors to ensure that students ascribe to these competencies. Mentors are provided with necessary support and framework to ensure that they efficiently assess students in order to ascertain their knowledge and skills. The students often undertake NMC approved programs to ensure that they are regist ered as qualified professionals. These processes determine that only qualified and competent nurses whoa are fit for practices are introduced into the professional field. The main aim of these competence testing and practices are to ensure that the public is protected from unnecessary damage orchestrated by incompetent nurses without sufficient competencies for practice (Burton and Ormrod, 2011, p.78). The NMC has also given the mandate to sign-off mentors to ensure that students being released for professional practice are competently assessed. For competent assessment, mentors are required to be part of the inter-professional learning and working. This enables them to undertake an effective confirmation of the students’ achievement of proficiency The students on their last placement require the sign-off mentors for their accountability towards supporting and determining the pre-registration of the nursing students. It is because of this that the sign-off mentors are require d to achieve certain criteria and must demonstrate the competence. The role of the sign-off mentors is also complimented by that of the student mentors in the NMC program. This body is responsible for not only confirming but also helping the students gain a breadth of experience in the process of demonstrating competence as either midwife or a nurse. According to the NMC, there are certain progression points where a student may not undertake but only the most qualified students. Therefore, they need to assess and confirmed if students have undoubtedly achieved the expected outcomes or met the competency level of the previous program is quite vital in the practice. Effective implementation can only be achieved if the mentors keep adequate and relevant records that appropriately help as supporting documents for them to identify whether or not a student has obtained adequate competence or proficiency. The some records should help towards promoting the students to the next program. Reco rds for guidance and regular feedback must be adhered to in order to support and justify the decisions in determination of proficiency or competence (Burton and Ormrod, 2011, p.105). Signing-off mentors often assist in investigating the health of the nurses or the midwives during the pre-registration process. This ensures that the health of these health providers do not interfere with the health of patients to be served by the same people. Nonetheless, the process sometimes also includes determining the

Paper for class MIS 2100 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper for class MIS 2100 - Essay Example Having qualified personnel who can utilize information systems is critical to the success and growth of an organization. As a student, I have realized how important it is for me to learn about these systems in order to guarantee success in the future business career. Secondly, prior to taking this class, I simply viewed business systems as tools used in businesses for daily operations. However, after taking this class, I have learnt that information systems are a major source of competitive advantage, especially in the current business environment. I have learnt that information systems help businesses reduce the cost of doing business, and this ensures that products and services are offered at a lower cost. Through information systems, businesses can be innovative and come up with new products and services that satisfy the needs of the market better and efficiently. Overall, by taking this class, I have learnt not only how to use information systems to carry out daily business activ ities but also use them to set the business ahead of the rest in the market. Finally, the MIS 2100 class has enabled me understand the ethical and social issues raised by information systems. By using technology to carry out business activities, organizations expose themselves to a great risk which may affect their operations and their relationship with the society. For instance, information systems pose major challenges on people’s privacy since personal information is exchanged through different computer systems before arriving at the final destination. Through this process, private information may be leaked to unauthorized parties, and this may lead to serious ethical problems. Through this class, I have learnt how to use such systems responsibly in order to avoid some of these ethical and social challenges. By taking this class, I have leant that although technology is beneficial to the business, it can cause serious problems if not well used. This might comprise the

Wal Mart s Competitive Advantage Essay Example for Free

Wal Mart s Competitive Advantage Essay Wal-Mart, likely the nation’s most popular discounter, entered the market at the right time, when the barriers to entry were low. Benefiting from first mover advantage, Wal-Mart moved into markets that were not already served by competitors and was able to set higher prices in these areas (6). Conversely, to compensate for low margins in areas heavily congested with competition, it cut costs (1). With an aim to offer low prices, the Company soon learned that it needed to trim its expenses and establish itself as a lean organization, eventually leading to profitability and strong competitive advantage. Refer to Exhibit 1 for Wal-Mart’s successful performance, compared to the rest of the industry, as well as the sections below for an explanation by expense item. Cost of Goods Sold Inventory logistics were positive. Turnover exceeded 4.5 in the mid-1980s, well above that of competitors and trucks were 60% full on backhauls (4). In addition, getting in the forefront of technology allowed for lower overhead costs. The use of UPC scanning increased: from 25 stores in 1983 to 91 stores in 1984 and 235 stores in 1985 (5). Even though the Company catered to a vast market, offering 36 merchandise departments across 70,000 SKUs, it was able to remain highly organized with a computerized system to track inventory, which set itself apart from its peers, as well as a central computer at headquarters, which was updated on a weekly basis (5), the accuracy of which led to efficiencies. The Company shopped around with its vendors, using around 3,000 of them, taking â€Å"no more than a fifth of its volume from any one vendor† (3). In 1984, the cost of inbound logistics was 50% that of the industry at 2.8% of sales (4). Still, Wal-Mart’s cost of goods sold was almost 2% higher than the industry average of 71.9%. Given the lack of distributors who would be able to offer competitive pricing, Wal-Mart built its own warehouse in 1970. By the mid-1980s, Wal-Mart’s five distribution centers served the rapidly expanding number of stores – over 850 stores, meanwhile racking on steep upfront expenditures. Operating Expenses Payroll Expense The Company was able to minimize employee costs by paying low wages (7), meanwhile keeping employees happy, in hopes of avoiding turnover costs. In 1984, Wal-Mart’s salary expense was approximately 1% lower than that of the industry. Unlike its competitors, the Company’s 12 regional VPs all lived in surrounding areas, enabling intimate visibility over a relatively smaller geographic network, which ultimately saved the Company about 2% of sales by not having to set up regional offices. However, contrary to intuition, this decrease in expenses did not adversely impact anyone at the Company. Instead, the offsetting increase in costs resulted in a company-wide benefit as Wal-Mart offered profit sharing, employee stock purchase plans, bonuses, and rewards for low shrinkage. With its â€Å"people-focused† initiatives, Wal-Mart was able to use intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to show employees how much they were appreciated. There was a huge emphasis on communication as management strived to be as transparent as possible with lower level staff. For example, executives came into the office for meetings on Saturdays, then disseminated the latest updates downward, starting with the regional managers, district managers, store managers, and so forth. With its personable CEO, who â€Å"kept a pledge to put on a grass skirt and dance hula on Wall Street to celebrate the achievement,† Wal-Mart was able to distinguish itself and was named one of the 100 best companies to work for in the United States (7-8). Advertising Expense Refer to Exhibit 1 for a high level summary, as well as Exhibit 2 for a more detailed breakdown, of the Company’s advertising expense compared to the higher industry average. Marketers placed a heavy emphasis on low prices with tag lines such as â€Å"we sell for less† (5) or â€Å"everyday low prices† (6). As expected, the cost of advertising was directly correlated with the launch of new stores (6), as well as the location of those stores (i.e. cosmopolitan areas would be more costly): after entering a new area and establishing itself, Wal-Mart would then scale back advertising in that area. Branded merchandise, which made up the bulk of the inventory, was mostly nationally advertised (5), thus quickly building brand awareness among consumers. Rental Expense Rental expense at Wal-Mart was 0.3% lower than that of the industry. A large part of this was attributable to the fact that Wal-Mart did not permanently lock itself down to a certain location; of the 859 stores in the mid-1980s, 812 were leased. With the flexibility to move during flourishing times, the size of an average Wal-Mart store went from 42,000 square feet in 1975 to 57,000+ square feet in 1985 (3). In addition, the Company made a smart decision to stay out of locations that could not be expanded, again showing the Company’s long-term, instead of short-term, mindset. Counter-Intuitive Comparisons After further analysis of Wal-Mart’s costs in 1984, we encountered findings in the data that was counter-intuitive to the costs that we would expect to see from the most successful discount retailer of its time. Naturally, the area in which we would expect Wal-Mart to exhibit higher than average cost savings compared to the industry average would be in Cost of Goods Sold. However in 1984, Wal-Mart’s COGS at 73.8% was almost 2% higher than the industry average. As mentioned above, Wal-Mart’s system contained over 70,000 SKUs, a number larger than most other discount retailers which would lead one to believe that a high volume discounter like Wal-Mart would achieve economies of scale to produce a COGS lower than the industry average. Next, due to Wal-Mart’s efficient distribution network, inventory did not back up in storage as quickly as other retailers. Wal-Mart boasted inventory turn 4.5 times in the mid-1980s, which was higher than the industry average. With reduced inventory levels due to the speed at which Wal-Mart was selling its inventory, this would lead one to believe that there would be a smaller amount of ending inventory to subtract from beginning and purchased inventory. Expansion â€Å"Being the first warehouse club to solicit and introduce the concept in a market can be a major competitive advantage† (9). As a result of the distinctive features mentioned above, Wal-Mart was able to set itself apart from its peers and rise to the top of the industry. In 1984, it started to diversify by starting three new ventures, the most notable of which was  Sam’s, a warehouse club. The Company expanded from three stores in 1983 to 11 stores in 1984 and 23 stores in 1985. It took what it learned from the Wal-Mart venture and applied it to Sam’s accordingly. Conclusion Over the years, Wal-Mart’s success grew and it distinguished itself from its competitors, thus enabling the Company to expand its operations and diversify into the warehouse club market with the now-renown Sam’s Club. David Glass (later Wal-Mart’s president and chief operating officer) summarized the Company’s history best when he said: â€Å" ‘We are always pushing from the inside out. We never jump and then backfill.’ † (3) Instead of becoming greedy and aggressively dominating the market, the Company did so steadily over time; by not taking on more than it could handle, the Company was able to strategically position itself. In the years to follow, Wal-Mart’s market value was twice that of its competitor, K mart, even though it was a third as large.

Depression :: essays research papers

Depression Everybody has "the blues" or "feels down" from time to time. It's normal to feel sad for short periods, especially if something bad had happened in our lives. But those of us who suffer from depression have much more than "the blues", and our feelings can last for a long time. There are many sufferers of this illness; at any one time, 5% of Canadians are depressed, and 10-20% will suffer from it at one point in their lives. But family and friends who've never experienced true depression can have trouble understanding what it's like. Many people find it difficult to think of depression as an illness because their are no obvious physical symptoms. But depression is an illness, which is caused by chemical changes in the brain. Few people think that a physical illness is the sufferer's fault-and no one should think depression is, either. Like any other illness, depression has certain symptoms. Once these have been recognized, you can take measures to treat them. Some are: feeling sad, worried or depressed; feeling as if your life is dreary and unlikely to improve; had crying spells; become irritated over little things that didn't used to bother you; find you no longer enjoy hobbies and activities that once made you happy; feel a lack of self-confidence or feeling like a failure; lost your appetite, or are eating more than usual; have had trouble sleeping, or been sleeping too much; had trouble concentrating and making decisions; and thought about death and/or suicide. Knowing the causes for depression can help depressed people, friends, family understand how painful it is and why it's not possible to "snap out of it". It's still not completely clear why depression happens to some of us and not to others, but their are some triggers: stressful events or a loss, physical illness, hormone levels, and use of certain medications, drugs, or alcohol. Most of us think sadness when we think of depression, but there are other physical, emotional, and mental effects, too. Many depressed people feel helpless, and as if this is the way that they are going to feel forever. They have a lack of energy and a lack of interest in life. It's hard for them to ever imagine feeling happy or excited again. Some may withdraw and be less sociable. They may also become short-tempered and difficult to please. No one can do anything right. The world of depression is a lonely place to be. Physical problems can also occur. Some may have trouble getting to sleep or wake up a lot during the night.

Erickson’s Psychosocial Development

Psychosocial Development Erik Erikson describes psychosocial development as occurring in stages. He describes the different stages according to personality traits shown at the various stages. I have Interviewed and made my observations of persons at the different stages as follows: Infancy (birth to 18 months) Trust vs†¦ Mistrust A one year old baby was observed during a session of breastfeeding. The baby is hungry and it is time for the mother to breastfeed him.She picks up her son and holds him gently on her lap telling him she is going to give him some milk and etches him on to her breast. The baby immediately calms down and sucks for a few minutes. While the baby Is drinking, the mother looks at her son lovingly and the child fluctuates his attention from the mother to what his happening around him. The above behaviors show the affection and loving relationship between the baby and the mother who Is very patient and gentle towards her son. This renders breastfeeding to be a wonderful experience to both mother and child. According to Erikson, the first stage of trust vs†¦Mistrust is shown in the above observations the baby fully trusts his mother who is caring for him with a lot of love, patience and predictability. This is shown in the fact that he calms down and is comfortable to look around him while he is feeding during the session. Early childhood (2 to areas) Autonomy vs†¦ Shame and Doubt A boy of two and a half years who Is still undergoing toilet training has been observed. The mother asks her son every two hours If he needs to go potty. The child is still inconsistent in his response but sometimes out of his own free will go to the potty and points to it.The mother pulls down the child's pants and gently asks him to it down on the potty. She tells him that he is now growing into a big boy and that she will be very happy if he uses the potty. The boy sits down for a minute on the potty whilst his mother brings his blocks to play with h im while he is sitting down on the potty. After a while the boy gets bored, stands up, runs into the kitchen and picks up a packet of biscuits. The mother explains to her son that as soon as he urinates in the potty she will give him a biscuit.The child insists on eating the biscuits immediately and does not cooperate. The mother looks frustrated since she has been ring to potty train her son for the past few months without success. According to this stage of Erikson, the toddler becomes more mobile and assertive on his Independence. I think that this has been shown In the above observation. The toddler seems to try to please his mother initially by sitting down on the potty. Which he likes at the moment. When his mother refuses to give him a biscuit he protests and wants to have his own way.On the other hand the mother seems to be at a loss on what to do next since she thinks that her son needs to be toilet trained in order to be accepted at his new school. The toddler does not see m certain of what he has to do yet. He still seems to be unprepared to be potty trained though he is showing first signs. He is showing he is bored and insecure when trying to use the potty. That is probably the reason why he went to fetch the biscuit so he will do something he likes instead of something which makes him feel less confident. The mother needs to be more patient and give more encouragement to her son regarding this issue.Introducing stories of other toddlers/cartoon characters being potty trained, and maybe singing some songs might help her son be more motivated, calm ND patient in his training. Preschool (3 to 5 years) Initiative vs†¦ Guilt A four year old girl was observed at play in a children's playground whilst her mother looked on. Initially the girl clutches her mother and does not want to go to play with the other children whom she doesn't know. The mother takes her daughter's hand and walks around the playground slowly with her daughter showing her the va rious activities and what fun it is to play with the other children.After sometime the little girl sees a little see-saw in the form of a bright colored snake. She moves towards it ND climbs onto it and starts playing. After sometime she climbs down and runs towards the slide. She climbed up the slide behind the other children and took turns for about ten minutes on the slide enjoying the activity and sometimes looking at her mother for approval. After some time she moves on towards the other activities and starts playing with the other children feeling happy and secure. The mother looks happy that her daughter is mixing with the other children and is enjoying herself.From time to time she encourages and praises her. When the child is told that it is mime to go back home, she does not want to obey and throws a tantrum. The mother starts shouting at the child, the child continues to cry and lies on the ground. The girl seems to be insecure and shy when we arrive at the playground but then seems to gain confidence and starts playing with the other children. She enjoys the activities but still looks at her mother for approval. According to Erikson during this stage children need to find a healthy balance between initiative and guilt.This girl seems to be going through this stage by not wanting to leave her mother on her own and by aging the initiative and going around the playground to have fun and play with the other kids. When it comes to leaving the playground the girl does not accept the fact that she has to go back home and tries to assert herself by throwing the tantrum in order to have her way. In my opinion, the mother should have prepared the girl better and warned her that they only have a few minutes left before going home. Industry vs†¦ Inferiority I interviewed a nine year old boy for this stage.The boy seems to be doing very well at school. He told me that he is one of the best boys in class especially in mathematics. He likes reading and doing his homework. In fact he asks his mother to buy him some workbooks to have work to do during the summer holidays. When asked if there is something he wants to improve on, he mentions that he would like to be better in football and art. He also mentions that he worries that he has not done his work perfectly as his teacher would like him to. He seems to like to please his teachers and be considered to be the ideal student.He also says that he enjoys going to school to play with his friends during break time. Although this boy seems to be doing very well academically, he still seems to feel mom insecurity when it comes to pleasing his superiors. The boy seems to be competent and satisfied with his achievements. He likes learning new things and skills. According to Erikson the child's peer group becomes more important and significant in the child's life at this stage in fact this boy emphasizes the importance of having friends at school and at the football he attends.Adolescence (12 t o 18 years) Identity vs†¦ Role confusion For this stage I have observed and interviewed a 17 year old girl. When asked who she feels she is, she says that she is happy about herself, feels that she is full of Lana and energy and she has a very promising future in front of her. She says she would like to become a teacher and later on have her own family. In my observations she seems to be confident and very sociable with different people. This adolescent seems to be secure and happy as she has the support of her family and friends.She is motivated to continue studying in order to reach her goal of becoming a teacher as well as to make her parents proud of her achievements. She feels self confident as a result of the support she receives from those around her. According to Erikson, urine this stage, children become more independent and begin to look at the future. In fact this is shown by this adolescent during the interview when she talked with enthusiasm about her future plans in terms of career, relationships and families. Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years) Intimacy vs†¦Isolation she is happily married and has two young children though she is kept very busy and hardly has time for herself, she feels very happy and satisfied with her life. She has also been qualified in a profession and she loves her work from which she has taken some time off for the moment to look after her young family. Besides her family, she has also kept contact with some friends and sometimes they call each other to meet. According to Erikson, this stage involves forming relationships and long term commitments with persons who are not family members.This woman seems to have acquired this stage in that she has established her professional career and settled down in her own family with her husband and children. Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years) Generatively vs†¦ Stagnation For this stage, I interviewed and observed a 46 year old woman. This woman has a family made up of a hus band and three children. She also has professional lubrications. In the past few years she has changed her career so she would be able to spend more time with her family.She said she feels useful and accomplished in both her family life as well as at work. According to Erikson during middle adulthood we establish our careers, settle down within a relationship, and have our own families we also give back to society through raising our children and being productive at work. It seems that this woman has moved on in this regard. Maturity (65 to death) Ego Integrity vs†¦ Despair For this stage I have observed and interviewed a 77 year old man. During the interview, this man seems to enjoy narrating his past experiences and how life was in the past.

Philips Vs Matsushita Case Study Essay

CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: Philips vs Matsushita Philips and Matsushita are two principal consumer electronics companies that adopted two different strategies that lead them to some success, and later losses. Philips, as a multinational company, was more into a global organizational portfolio; whereas, Matsushita was focusing its operations in Japan. Unfortunately, both companies face loss of profitability even if their top managers were putting a lot of effort into the success of their respective business. Philips employed seven CEOs, and each used different strategy to reach the company success. Matsushita strategy was to turn the company into a cost containment mode, but the losing trend appeared by then. While Philips pursued its path into innovation and entrepreneurship by using their local resources to create new products, Matsushita was more focusing on a strategy based on standard products. Philips began closing useless plants and identifying businesses as either core or non-core. Purchasing the North American Philips Corp was to regain control and spending on basic research was to make the R&D the direct reasonability of the business. However, the spending was wasted; NOs were unwilling to use the new technologies developed. Matsushita, on the other hand, was more focusing on its subsidiaries; for instance, it implemented the operations localization that gave more power to the subsidiaries and more choice to their managers. After collapsing, the latest CEO decided to consolidate manufacturing facilities. However, it did not focus on innovation and did not develop new products. Nevertheless, both companies had many disadvantages in their strategies. For instance, Philips lacked the ability to deal with a changing international environment, exceeded by the competition in terms of price since it was offering the most expensive products in the market, and also, faced many problems internally like disputes between its NOs and its product divisions. On the other hand, Matsushita has a centralized production which led to losses throughout the years. Also, their cultural values were not adaptive enough to let the firm cope with the changing environment. Even by adopting strong strategies, Philips and Matsushita continue to lose profitability and now for sure, they need to restructure their businesses and risk should be spread in order to mitigate unforeseeable disasters.

The Color Of Water Discussion Questions Essays

The Color Of Water Discussion Questions Essays The Color Of Water Discussion Questions Paper The Color Of Water Discussion Questions Paper Essay Topic: Discussion It was in her sense of education, more than any other, that Mommy convey yet her Swinishness to us. Do you agree with this statement? Is it possible that Ruth McBride Jordan s unshakable devotion to her faith, even though she converted to Christianity from Judaism, stems from her Orthodox Jewish upbringing? 3. Mommys contradictions crashed and slammed against one another like b umpire cars at Coney Island. White folks, she felt, were implicitly evil toward blacks, yet she forced u s to go to white schools to get the best education. Blacks could be trusted more, but anything involving blacks was probably substandard She was against welfare and never applied for it desk tie our need, but championed those who availed themselves of it Do you think these contradict actions served to confuse Ruts children further, or did they somehow contribute to the balance De view of humanity that James McBride possesses? 4. Ruth says that all her father wanted was money and to be American. Did he achieve those goals? 5. When James punches the Black Panthers son, what were his thoughts? Who at do his thought reveal about the potentially divided feelings of biracial children? 6. Why do you think Ruth placed such emphasis on hard work and education? . Why do you think Ruth is usually elusive about her past? 8. Ruth has a tremendous love of the Christian faith. Do you believe that her c holding experiences with Judaism sowed the seeds for her adult spiritual life? 9. Once Ruth separates from her family, she is dead to them. When she return runs to her sister or aunts, for example, they refuse to see her. Do you think this cutting of ties is j justifiable in any way? 10. During his adolescence, James spent three straight summers In Louisville, Kentucky with his older sister Jack. Explain how his experiences there affected his perspective o n his life. 1 . The McBride childrens struggle with their identities led each to his or her own revolution. Is it also possible that that same struggle led them to define themselves through professional achievement? 12. Several of the McBride children became involved in the civil rights move .NET. DO you think that this was a result of the times in which they lived, their need to belong to a gar pop that lent them a solid identity, or a combination of these factors? 13. While reading the book, were you curious about how Ruth McBride Jordan s remarkable faith had translated into the adult lives of her children? Do you think that faith is some wing that can be passed on from one generation to the next or do you think that faith that is in stilled too strongly in children eventually causes them to turn away from it? 14. Do you think it would be possible to achieve what Ruth McBride has cache Veda in todays society? 15. What out of this book stands out the most to you, and how does this relate e to the course content weve been reading/ discussing? Choose three course concepts and discuss where you see them at play in the book.

Article Review Neil Postmans Virtual Students, Digital Classroom

Article Review Neil Postmans Virtual Students, Digital Classroom Neil Postman begins his article by highlighting the god status that people have given new technology and in particular computers. The article shows how this new technology gives access to so much information. For this reason, some proponents of technology suggest that in a few decades, classrooms may be rendered redundant. A world where children are motivated to learn by virtue of technology making information accessible to them is envisioned. Postman goes on to decry this vision as being overly confident and unrealistic since it envisions model students who are inherently motivated to learn at all times and just need new technology to enable them satisfy this quest. The article also addresses the role that new technology plays and the changes that it will bring about. Postman notes that instead of focusing on how to use new technology, we should focus on how computers use us and the effects (adverse and positive) that it will bring to society. The question of technology being seen as the solution to every problem that exists in school is also addressed with Postman illustrating that problems that cannot be solved without computers can neither be solved with them. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Article Review: Neil Postmans Virtual Students, Digital Classroom specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The article shows that Problems such as inequality, poverty and alienation which some claim will be addressed through technology can only be responded to through traditional classrooms and not new technology which may in fact only lead to their prevalence. The article concludes by stating that educational institutes will only be rendered irrelevant when technology that can make civilized people is come up with. Until then, the traditional classroom with all its shortcomings remains the best place to teach students how to be civilized individuals who will be integrated into the society. Postman makes a strong case for the role of community-building and social reform that schools play in our community. According to him, this are attributes that computers which lay emphasis on the individuals role cannot fulfill since machines lead to the creation of people who lack a sense of civility or community since this two attributes can only be learnt in the traditional class setting. Postmans critique of technology is mainly directed at its implementation to younger children. According to him, these children attend school for more than just the information on algebra and science that schools provide. Children get to learn how to function in harmony with the society through the education process. This is something that cannot be learnt through any technological implementation as enthusiasts of technology seem to suggest. An interesting proposition by Postman is that the role of schools is to help students learn how to ignore and discard information. This is a concept that I find particula rly contentious since schools are essentially institutes for gaining knowledge and information. Postmans statement assumes that people go to school with an information overflow and the major role of the school is therefore to help them shape this information. Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I find this proposition by Postman at best contentious since most people go to school with limited information and it is only through the education process that they gain immense information and knowledge. While Postman does not negate the important role that technology will play in our education systems, he emphasizes that technology will not solve problems such as boredom in students or even psychological issues as some proponents of technology suggest.

Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare

Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare From their mighty city of Tollan (Tula), the Toltec civilization dominated Central Mexico from the fall of Teotihuacn to the rise of the Aztec Empire (approximately 900-1150 A.D.). The Toltecs were a warrior culture and fought frequent battles of conquest and subjugation against their neighbors. They warred in order to take victims for sacrifice, expand their empire and spread the cult of Quetzalcoatl, the greatest of their gods. Toltec Arms and Armor Although the site has been heavily looted over the centuries, there are enough surviving statues, friezes and stelae at Tula to indicate what sort of weapons and armor the Toltecs favored. Toltec warriors would wear decorative chest plates and elaborate feather headdresses into battle. They wrapped one arm from the shoulder down in padding and favored small shields which could be quickly used in close combat. A beautiful armored tunic made of seashells was found in an offering in the Burned Palace at Tula: this armor may have been used by a high-ranking soldier or king in battle. For ranged combat, they had long darts which could be launched with lethal force and accuracy by their atlatls, or javelin throwers. For close combat, they had swords, maces, knives and a special curved club-like weapon inlaid with blades which could be used to batter or slash. Warrior Cults For the Toltecs, wars and conquest were closely linked to their religion. The large and formidable army was likely composed of religious warrior orders, including but not limited to coyote and jaguar warriors. A small statue of a Tlaloc-warrior was unearthed at Ballcourt One, indicating the presence of a Tlaloc warrior cult at Tula, much like the one that was present at Teotihuacn, the predecessor of the Toltec culture. The columns on top of Pyramid B are four-sided: on them they show gods including Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl in full battle gear, providing further evidence for the presence of warrior-cults at Tula. The Toltecs aggressively spread the worship of Quetzalcoatl and military conquest was one way to do so. The Toltecs and Human Sacrifice There is ample evidence at Tula and in the historical record that the Toltecs were avid practitioners of human sacrifice. The most obvious indication of human sacrifice is the presence of a tzompantli, or skull rack. Archaeologists have unearthed no fewer than seven Chac Mool statues at Tula (some of which are complete and some of which are only pieces). Chac Mool statues depict a reclining man, belly-up, holding a recipient or bowl on his abdomen. The recipients were used for offerings, including human sacrifices. In ancient legends still told to this day by locals, Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl, the god-king who founded the city, had a dispute with the followers of Tezcatlipoca, mostly about how much human sacrifice was needed to appease the gods: the followers of Tezcatlipoca (who favored more sacrifices) won the conflict and were able to drive Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl out. Military Iconography at Tula It seems that nearly all of the surviving art at the ruined city of Tula has a military or warlike theme to it. The most iconic pieces at Tula are by far the four Atalantes or mighty statues which grace the top of Pyramid B. These statues, which tower over visitors at 17 ft. (4.6 m) high, are of warriors armed and dressed for battle. They bear typical armor, headdresses, and weapons including the curved, bladed club and dart launcher. Nearby, four pillars depict gods and high-ranking soldiers in battle dress. Reliefs carved into benches show processions of chieftains in battle gear. A six-foot stela of a governor dressed as a priest of Tlaloc bears a curved mace and dart launcher. Conquest and Subject States Although historical data is scarce, it is likely that the Toltecs of Tula conquered several nearby states and held them as vassals, demanding tribute such as food, goods, weapons and even soldiers. Historians are divided concerning the scope of the Toltec Empire. There is some evidence that it may have reached as far as the Gulf Coast, but there is no conclusive proof that it extended more than a hundred kilometers in any direction from Tula. The post-Maya city of Chichen Itza shows clear architectural and thematic influence from Tula, but historians generally agree that this influence came from trade or Tula nobles in exile, not from military conquest. Conclusions The Toltecs were mighty warriors who must have been greatly feared and respected in central Mesoamerica during their heyday from about 900-1150 A.D. They used advanced weapons and armor for the time, and were organized into fervent warrior clans serving different ruthless gods. Sources Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014.Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jimà ©nez Garcà ­a and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012.Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008.Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.Gamboa Cabezas, Luis Manuel. El Palacio Quemado, Tula: Seis Decadas de Investigaciones. Arqueologia Mexicana XV-85 (May-June 2007). 43-47Hassig, Ross. War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica. University of California Press, 1992.Jimenez Garcia, Esperanza Elizabeth. Iconografà ­a guerrera en la escultura de Tula, Hidalgo. Arqueologia Mexicana XIV-84 (March-April 2007). 54-59.

Beautyism in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Beautyism in the Workplace - Essay Example for their beauty and this knowledge comes to them by whatever means, they would have no reason to work as hard as they would have in the opposite circumstances. As is human nature, they focus more on being attractive and remaining in that state as that is what got them the position in the first place. Even though it is humanly impossible to overlook one’s attractiveness, it is important to try to analyze that in comparison to their skill set (Sartore, 2006). Hiring people based on their attractiveness does very little for the motivation of other employees. Employees should be made to direct their efforts towards increasing their productive ability. The observance that the management’s focus is in the opposite direction rubs off on them and sends them into confusion. The action of the one person in the management body affects the outlook of employees towards the entire body and not of that particular person. In the case facing the College of Business Administration, the chairperson’s action could be interpreted as the stand of the entire management body, inclusive of human resource. The staff body usually works in parallel direction with the management. Therefore, if they not that the management focus is on productivity in terms of skills, then they equally focus on that. However if they find that other aspects such as beauty are more important they shift focus to that rather than to improving and sustaining their skills. From the same management-employee relationship perspective, Beautyism damages the faith of employees in their management. In whatever circumstances, the management is meant to illustrate integrity in order to establish faith and goodwill (Commisso, 2012). In the event that beautyism becomes a management’s limitation, employees begin to question other aspects of that relationship. Employees begin to worry that they could be biased on other aspects as well leaving them on the losing side. For this reasons, it is important to avoid

Effects of the Differences of Technology and Leadership have on the Essay

Effects of the Differences of Technology and Leadership have on the Conflict in Mesoamerica after the Arrival of the Spanish - Essay Example An empire was destroyed. â€Å"The people of Mexico struggled to survive and adapt to the new Spanish colonial regime and to a new religion, Catholicism. In many ways the conquest represented both the death of a political state, or more exactly states, and much of their way of life and the birth of a new colonial regime in its place.†1 This essay will discuss the effects of the differences in technology and leadership to the different indigenous groups after the arrival and conquest of Mexico by the Spanish and how well they adapted. Prior to the conquest of Mexico, imperial states already existed, with its own culture, tradition and skills in agriculture, mathematics and astronomy, architecture and sculpture. The existing civilization even drew wonders among the Spaniards who came to conquer them. As narrated in â€Å"Victors and Vanquished†, Bernal Diaz, the young soldier who saw the city in 1519 gave voice to the awe that many of his companions felt: ‘Gazing on such wonderful sights, we did not know what to say, or whether what appeared before us was real, for or one side, on the land there were great cities, and in the lake there were so many more, and the lake was crowded with canoes, and in the causeway were many bridges at intervals, and in front of us stood the great city of Mexico.’ ... The book Victors and Vanquished Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico, featured both the conquerors’ and the conquered’s sides but one thing remains true. Even after the fall of Tenochtitlan, even though the peoples of Mexico did not form a single political entity which led to the success of the Spanish conquest, most of the other Mesoamerican cultures were intact. They never disappeared at the time of the decline of Classic period or the arrival of the Spanish. But after years of colonialism, the Mexicans were dispossessed of their lands, languages and heritage which resulted to human suffering and cultural destruction. The introduction of technology and change in leadership only intensified the conflicts between indigenous groups and the aim of breaking free from those in control. These, together with political conflicts between them helped weaken the empire as a whole. They were welcomed as guests; as gods even because of their skin color. Little did they know that it would be the start of the downfall of a great civilization. Heavy exploitation followed the initial shock of the conquest. The natives were suffering and adapting to the destructive effects of the colonization in their way of life. The existing system of a great civilization was swept aside for the conquerors’ traditional, cultural and political standards. They created a community in the Spanish style. A civil government was created to be run by a Spaniard. The establishment of a new political standard resulted in the people relatively becoming rural peasants. Change was inevitable. The greatest change perhaps is the introduction of iron and steel. Indigenous peoples were technologically primitive, with weapons such as bows and arrows and wooden sword set with obsidian blades and so

Companies Act 2006 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Companies Act 2006 - Essay Example The new law hopes to reduce regulation that will allow companies to run their companies better and even cheaper. The changes brought about by the new law will result to savings of 250 million per year for businesses, inclusive of 100 million for the small businesses (http://www.bytestart.co.uk/ content/ legal/35_2/companies-act-guide.shtml) The new law brought anxiety to company secretaries in private firms because of possible abolition of the position. As part of the deregulation measures of the United Kingdom government, the requirement to have a company secretary is removed such that private companies can abolish the company secretary position starting April 6, 2008. A private company, however, has the option to retain its company secretary. The registrar of companies must be informed of the appointment of a company secretary to a private company and recorded in the company's register of secretaries. The private company secretary will perform the same obligations as a public company secretary as stipulated in the Companies Act 2006. ... Small private companies, on the other hand, may likely abolish the company secretary since the position is just created to be able to comply with the legal and administrative requirements of the old company law (Thomas, 2007). The position is often occupied by the spouse or a friend of management or a director of the company. Abolition of the company position in a small private company will reduce their operating costs. The company secretary of a small private company has limited administrative work and is often combined with other roles such as "advising the directors on legal matters, overseeing board papers, and generally acting as the conscience of the company" (http://www.netlawman.co.uk/info/role-duties-company-secretary.php). For large private companies, the company secretary has enormous responsibilities and the company is largely dependent on the expertise of a company secretary. With the implementation of the Companies Act 2006, the company secretary has to study the new law carefully, implement the changes and make sure that the company complies with the requirements of the law. The Companies Act 2006 includes significant changes of the old company law that was in force in the past 20 years. Company secretaries are now busy preparing their companies internally to iron out the processes to facilitate smooth company compliance. Based on the calendar of implementation of the new law, significant portions of the New Act were implemented on October 1, 2007 and April 6, 2008, with the remaining provisions to be in force by October 1, 2008 up to October 1, 2009 (Goold, 2008). According to Bridget Salaman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, company secretaries anticipate increase i n minute-taking requirements since

The New Acropolis Museum and Ancient Greece's Architecture Research Paper

The New Acropolis Museum and Ancient Greece's Architecture - Research Paper Example The New Museum of the Acropolis is located in Makryianni district. The entrance of the museum is on Dionysios Areopagitou Pedestrian Street, which connects it to the Acropolis and the other historical sites in Athens. Many scholars have discussed the numerous similar characteristics between The New Acropolis museum and ancient Greece’s architecture varies widely. However, this paper will be discussing how the museum is similar to ancient Greece’s architecture, in not only its design, but also how it fits in the mathematical scheme of space, which is the most abstract similarity and the less noticed yet the strongest evidence. The mathematical scheme used in building the sites in Athens is based on the ancient Greeks’ believes, and the museum fits in it, which proves that The New Acropolis Museum was built to meet ancient Greece’s strategies, believes and myths and not randomly as it’s been claimed. There are three main types for concept of space, biological, symbolic, and mathematical. Ancient man has shown very clearly the biological and the symbolic scheme, in almost everything. His activities, religion, and culture played a huge role in the way towns were laid and landscape was designed. The biological and the symbolic concepts are shown clearly to the observer. It is well known that The New Acropolis Museum relates to Ancient Greece’s Architecture in many visually noticeable characteristics as it meets the clarity of Greece architecture. It has a simple exterior just like the structures in ancient Greece. The most obvious similarity is the way light was handled in the museum. Where ancient Greeks surrounded their temples with columns but left it open for direct light. The New Museum of The Acropolis was built to give the same lighting level but with using a high maintenance, heat resistant, many types of glass to light a big part of the museum naturally, and in the same way, the other historical

Religious Cultural artifacts of India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religious Cultural artifacts of India - Essay Example Amongst the most vivacious illustration of admired visual art found in Indian towns and cities are the religious posters and calendars showing saints, and places of reverence and worship, obtainable at many roadside stalls near temples, mosques, and ornamented at walls inside homes, shops, or in worship-corners. While such visual depiction may have existed in the past in popular forms of painting, the introduction of printing press and the mass construction industry in the 20th century transformed it into a matured mass culture, characterized by its own popular aesthetics, the interpretation of the myths, and the marketing strategy. While it is simple to find religious posters and charts for a Hindu follower in hefty numbers and variety, it is also not difficult to get posters depicting Muslim themes and legends. Although most Muslim posters available in India portray the shrines at Mecca and Medina or the Quranic verses in calligraphy, one can also discover the portraits of saints, their shrines, and the miracles, represented as brilliantly as in a typical Hindu mythological picture. The metaphors of the shrines at Mecca and Medina in Saudi-Arabia, the major religious center for the Muslims, are the most extensively used sanctified icons of popular culture amongst Muslim population all over the world. The cube-shaped shrine of Mecca, to which the Muslims turn for prayers, and the green dome of Medina, surrounded by the minarets, the names Allah and Muhammad in large Arabic calligraphy, and possibly, a crescent and star, are icons that can be seen in almost every Muslim family in some structure or the other - a photo realistic painting or a creative variation, by a performer who probably never gone to Arabia, or may not essentially be a Muslim! As the creation of portraits, other than that of Mecca and Medina, is generally not considered as a right act in Islam, the written words are of supreme importance, the calligraphy of Quranic verses and other blessed tex ts is the next preference of the Muslim artists. For years, the Perso-Arabic calligraphists have also been making art with the 'pictorialization' of the text, turning words into shapes of animals, birds, human postures, and other inanimate objects. This, even though has been treasured in the Muslim world as a innovation, has also met with some disapproval. Nevertheless, one can find a wide variety of calligraphic themes in the Indian trendy posters. The more appealing theme, the heart of this study, is the interpretation of Muslim saints, their miracles and other tradition. Many posters depict the images of the mausoleums or the tomb complexes of famous saints, often with the personage of the saint himself, complete with the icons of his strange mythology and miracles, such as the vicious animals he disciplined, the oceans he crossed on barefoot, and so on. Similar to the tradition of Hindu gods and goddesses, the Muslim saints are shown with extra charisma and glowing personalities , wearing imposing robes and turbans. CULTURAL ARTIFACT AND ITS IMPACT: The religious posters participate actively in what can be called the stereotyping of the representation of certain communities and of the genders. A young woman or a child, if

The New Acropolis Museum and Ancient Greece's Architecture Research Paper

The New Acropolis Museum and Ancient Greece's Architecture - Research Paper Example The New Museum of the Acropolis is located in Makryianni district. The entrance of the museum is on Dionysios Areopagitou Pedestrian Street, which connects it to the Acropolis and the other historical sites in Athens. Many scholars have discussed the numerous similar characteristics between The New Acropolis museum and ancient Greece’s architecture varies widely. However, this paper will be discussing how the museum is similar to ancient Greece’s architecture, in not only its design, but also how it fits in the mathematical scheme of space, which is the most abstract similarity and the less noticed yet the strongest evidence. The mathematical scheme used in building the sites in Athens is based on the ancient Greeks’ believes, and the museum fits in it, which proves that The New Acropolis Museum was built to meet ancient Greece’s strategies, believes and myths and not randomly as it’s been claimed. There are three main types for concept of space, biological, symbolic, and mathematical. Ancient man has shown very clearly the biological and the symbolic scheme, in almost everything. His activities, religion, and culture played a huge role in the way towns were laid and landscape was designed. The biological and the symbolic concepts are shown clearly to the observer. It is well known that The New Acropolis Museum relates to Ancient Greece’s Architecture in many visually noticeable characteristics as it meets the clarity of Greece architecture. It has a simple exterior just like the structures in ancient Greece. The most obvious similarity is the way light was handled in the museum. Where ancient Greeks surrounded their temples with columns but left it open for direct light. The New Museum of The Acropolis was built to give the same lighting level but with using a high maintenance, heat resistant, many types of glass to light a big part of the museum naturally, and in the same way, the other historical

Business & Economics of Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business & Economics of Strategy - Essay Example However, the government still holds an important role to play prior to the success of the industry. Porter believed that the government has an important role to play prior to the success of a company or an industry in general (Porter, 1990). The government has substantial control in the business sector because it is its task to provide a promising For instance, the government’s lack of focus attention towards the automotive sector and inconsistency when it comes to long-term strategic policy framework have considerable impacts on the UK’s auto industry (House of Commons, 2009; Holweg et al. 2009). This has become one of the specific weaknesses of the sector. In short, the UK’s auto industry is dependent on the government’s important policy and procedure. The Automotive Products Trade Agreement affected Canada because of the economic downturn. This in return brings forward positive association between politics and performance of the auto industry. The issue of global warming encourages the car manufacturing industry to go for alternative designs that will minimize fuel consumption and green house gas emission. This is in line with government policies especially in Europe to take considerably the issue of global warming. ... Sales for automobile have substantially decreased and car manufacturing companies have feared the eventual impact of this in their business. Social Analysis Distracted by the aftermath of economic downturn, customers are more willing to compromise the need for a car. In a society where economic activity is unstable plus oil crisis has substantial impact, having a car is considered a luxury. People are most likely to go for their basic needs first and set aside other secondary needs in life. In the midst of oil crisis and economic downturn, public transportation was in demand. This is also influenced by educating the people about the possible implications of too much green house gas emission that most of it comes from automobiles. This only shows that social considerations have important impacts on the auto industry. In short, social business environment is another important consideration for the automobile industry in order to create a substantial need for its offerings. Technologica l Analysis Grant (2009) pointed out that in order for a company to have long-term survival; there is a need to consider resource and capability base upgrades. In line with this, the auto industry is consistently observed to promote different car models suited to the ongoing trend and created needs through technological innovation. Toyota is known to produce cars that are known for their cutting-edge technology. Part II. Industry Analysis The automobile industry is good at stimulating demand or needs for their products. In fact, it is the latest trend of every company to stimulate needs for their product and service offerings (Kotler et al., 1999; Boone and Kurtz, 2006). Car companies from Asia, Europe, North America and

Hybrid or alternative-Fueled Vehicles Essay Example for Free

Hybrid or alternative-Fueled Vehicles Essay

Palliative Care Nursing Reflection

Palliative Care Nursing Reflection INTRODUCTION The Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (Scottish Government 2010) was a further development from ‘Better Health, Better Care’ (Scottish Government 2007). In this reflective account I wish to concentrate on the peoples priorities for the people of Scotland outlined within this document, the ultimate aim is to provide the highest quality of care. It has as their objectives that care given should be consistent, person centered, clinically effective and safe and equitable with patients receiving clear communication with regards to conditions and treatment (Scottish Government 2010). Hubley and Copeman, (2008) state communication skills are paramount in healthcare to ensure that tailored advice is delivered effectively. This reflective account is based on an experience from my 3rd year management placement. Using Gibbs’s Reflective Model (1988) I aim to outline what occurred throughout the incident which involved providing clear communication and patient centered care and how this can be linked to the Quality Strategy in relation to the people’s priorities. This reflective model has been selected as it enables reflection on practice in a structured way allowing one to identify critical learning and development from their experience to enhance future practice (Bullman and Schutz, 2008). This scenario will consider how this incident will aid in my transition from student nurse to staff nurse. To comply with patients’ rights to confidentiality and in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), (2010) I will use the pseudonym Mrs Wade. DESCRIPTION This reflection involves a 78 year old lady Mrs Wade who was an inpatient on the ward for 10 days after being diagnosed as having a cerebral haemorrhage. This had left Mrs Wade with a left sided weakness and aphasic. It was during this time it was established that Mrs Wade was also suffering from a perforated bowel and after discussion with her family from the medical staff it was decided that Mrs Wade was for no further active care and was to remain in the wards single room for palliative care. Feelings During my three years as a student nurse I had been involved with the care or palliative patients. However, I felt I still lacked confidence in this situation in communicating with patients and families. I had been involved in Mrs Wades care from admission as I had been her admitting nurse and I felt I had established a good patient / nurse relationship which in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) allows for patient centered care. This is a difficult time for the Wade family and as stated with in The Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (Scottish Government 2010, p6) I would strive to provide care that was both caring and compassionate. Evaluation The negative aspect of this situation was that I was dealing with a palliative care patient and that it was inevitable that my patient would die. The positive aspect that I could draw from this was I was being put in a situation as a 3rd year student on my final placement and this would give me an experience that I could learn from. Jones (2012) advocates that it is essential in nursing to have good communication skills. This is also advocated by Dougherty and Lister (2008) who states that communication is an integral part of maintaining a high quality of record keeping which is regarded as a vital standard of practice by the NMC (2008). Communication and written care records aid to establish a continuity of care. A holistic approach for continuity of care is exceptionally important when caring for palliative care patients as nurses have a crucial role in care provision (Hill, 2011). It is important to note that any information that is given to Mrs Wade and her family is given in an open and honest manner and to ensure that they understand and give opportunity to ask questions (NMC, 2008). As Mrs Wade was a palliative care patient it gave rise to effective teamwork within the multi-disciplinary team to ensure all Mrs Wades needs were met as well as her families to ensure continuity of care whilst showing clinica l excellence. Analysis The World Health Organisation (nd) describes palliative care as â€Å"an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.† A holistic approach was taken in planning Mrs Wade care incorporating physical, psychological, social, emotional and environmental needs. These needs are not only imperative to the patient but also had to include all Mrs Wades immediate family in who she had requested to be involved (Dougherty and Lister, 2008). Within the ward I worked active care plans and patient care plans are reviewed daily and updated accordingly to ensure the patient receives the best possible care (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 2014) Jones (2012) states that it is essential in nursing to have good communication skills. This is also reiterated by Dougherty and Lister (2008) who states that communication is an integral part of maintaining a high quality of record keeping which is regarded as a vital standard of practice by the NMC (2009). Communication and written care records aid to establish a continuity of care. Communication also incorporates the ability to listen and support and ensure understanding (NMC 2008). In addition to caring for Mrs Wade I was also given the opportunity to be involved in meeting with the multi-disciplinary team which in Mrs Wade’s case involved the palliative care team for the hospital. This again reiterated the importance of good communication skills and accurate record keeping to ensure that all participants in Mrs Wades care knew exactly what was happening (SIGN 20). In terms of communication I felt I was gaining confidence especially with the family members as I had built up a rapport which was both professional whilst being friendly and trusting (MacLeod et al 2010). Mrs Wade as well as any patient within our care should receive care outlined by the people’s priority. Patients receiving palliative care should be made comfortable and pain free and to be cared for in a safe and clean environment (Scottish Government, 2010 p6). Reflection from this incident has made me aware of the level of involvement each member of staff from health care assistants through to consultants play in the care of patients. This was shown through the numerous times I was involved in multi-disciplinary meets, re-assessment of care plans to ensure the highest standard of evidence based care was given to Mrs Wade (NMC 2009). CONCLUSION The outcome was positive in the aspect that a holistic approach to Mrs Wade’s care was taken in accordance with The Scottish Government’s Initiative (2010) on patient centered care. I felt empowered by incorporating the use of the SBAR framework in effective collaboration with the multidisciplinary team aided clear communicating in accordance with The Scottish Government (2010). This resulted in a consistent continuity of care for Mrs Wade. ACTION PLAN A result of this significant event was that it gave me the experience of dealing with a delicate situation. As stated by Scheffer and Rubenfeld (2000) â€Å"Critical thinking in nursing is an essential component of professional accountability and quality nursing care. Critical thinkers in nursing exhibit these habits of the mind: confidence, contextual perspective, creativity, flexibility, inquisitiveness, intellectual integrity, intuition, open-mindedness, perseverance, and reflection. Critical thinkers in nursing practice the cognitive skills of analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, information seeking, logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge†. I was also given the opportunity afterwards to reflect on my role and the role each member of the team took in the care of a palliative care patient. I feel for future development I will take responsibility for my own learning in areas where I felt I lacked knowledge. In this situation I had assumed that Mrs Wade was recovering from her CVA, however I was unaware that the effect a CVA has on the brain can result in continence issues and result in bowel perforation. I believe that in the future and with more experience I will be aware of complication resulting from a CVA and although I would not expect to be an expert I would be better equipped to deal with similar situations in the future (RCN 2013). OVERALL CONCLUSION On reflection of my own experience and in using this to aid in my transition from student nurse to staff nurse I feel I have enhanced my own knowledge on palliative care (Dougherty and Lister, 2011) whilst reiterating the importance of good communication skills. It also highlighted the importance of having the confidence to acknowledge one’s own lack of knowledge and be able to admit to this and where to seek guidance to ensure that the correct protocol is followed to ensure patient safety at all times and to provide continuity of care. I feel that the care given to this patient is in line with the initiative of The Scottish Government’s Healthcare Quality Strategy for Scotland (2010). In relation to how this incident reflects on my transition it shows that on graduating as a staff nurse I will immediately assume the role which includes leadership, delegation and supervision. Once NMC registered, a host of expectations are placed upon you. The RCN (2010) reported that newly qualified staff nurses feel unprepared and overwhelmed by their new responsibilities, making the period of transition very stressful rather than exciting and truly enjoyable. However, I hope to overcome these feelings by immersing myself in the knowledge that I will adhere to all policies and guideline by The Scottish Government (2010) to ensure the best possible care and service to all. References McLeod Deborah L, Dianne M. Tapp Moules, N., Campbell M E Knowing the family: Interpretations of family nursing in oncology and palliative care European Journal of Oncology Nursing Volume 14 issue 2 April 2010 Page 93-10 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462388909001124 NHS GGC http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1458

Influence of Newspaper Work on the Writing Style of Ernest Hemingway

Influence of Newspaper Work on the Writing Style of Ernest Hemingway Hemingway’s first introduction to newspaper work came right after he graduated high school in 1917. His parents expected him to go to college, but instead he accepted a job that his uncle arranged for him as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. It was at the Star that Hemingway learned many of the rules that would shape his writing style later in life. The Star advocated short sentences, active verbs and precision in Hemingway’s writing; Hemingway said: "Those were the best rules I ever learned for the business of writing. I've never forgotten them." (www.lostgeneration.com) His time at the Star was cut short, however, when he joined the Red Cross and was shipped to Italy for the war. Upon returning from the war in January 1919, Hemingway spent nearly a year living at home with his parents off of his insurance money. In early 1920, however, he moved to Toronto to accept a position writing for the Toronto Star Weekly. He continued to write for the Toronto Star Weekly even after he moved to Chicago in...

British Criminology

Knowledge is very important to a concept like criminology that is both empirically and theoretically based. However, it cannot be avoided that in certain aspect criminology may lack specific necessities especially in some countries where the criminal justice system is rather not yet fully developed. The development of the aspect of criminology is very important in addressing criminality and crimes. The effectiveness of the justice system, particularly of the criminal justice system is greatly dependent on the comprehensiveness and stability of criminology.In Britain, knowledge is equally acknowledged as an important aspect of criminology. Thus, knowledge has been constructed in the British criminology since the year 1960 (Soothill & Peelo, 2007). Criminologists recognized the importance of research Exercises and citations in their jobs in order to establish authority and legal basis (Soothill & Peelo, 2007). Criminology According to the British Society of Criminology (2005), criminol ogy is both a theoretical and an empirical discipline that draws on the range of human and social science disciplines.The British Society of Criminology (2005) likewise added that at the heart of criminology â€Å"are theoretical debates about a wide range of perspectives†. According to them, criminology should emphasize the relevance of a firm and strong knowledge base to serve as evidence and basis for its theories and for the evaluation of the crime control policies (British Society of criminology, 2005). Strong knowledge base on this aspect is very important because it ensures that there are reasonably reliable pieces of evidence that has been consulted during the judicial enquiry.However, it is believed that in pursuing these values, it is necessary that a lively debate should be nurtured that employs both qualitative and quantitative data in a dialogue between a range of methodological and theoretical perspectives (British Society of Criminology, 2005). Criminology shou ld ensure that a premature foreclosure of this dialogue be not resorted to favoring certain sub-discipline fields, either endorsed by state officials, the mass media, or by fashions of academic thought (British Society of Criminology, 2005).Criminology is also empirically concerned with the â€Å"processes of criminalization and victimization; and the causes and organization of crime and deviance† (British Society of Criminology, 2005). In criminology, it is important that criminologists have the necessary knowledge in relation to criminality so that they can identify crimes, treats the same and provide for punishments. This is very important because if criminologists do not have the proper knowledge, they may not readily recognize a crime once they encounter the same, hence failure to address it.Criminology is also concerned with the â€Å"process of managing crime, deviance, and victimization, including policing, criminal justice and penalty, community safety and less form al means of addressing criminality (British Society of Criminology, 2005). For criminologists, in order for them to effectively handle and address criminality and decrease crime rates, they should be able to crimes under the authority of police power and the corresponding function of a judicial authority.For example, as criminology includes policing, it is important that the criminologists know the rules and laws governing the proper execution of the power of a police officer. He should make sure that rights are not violated in the process. As a social discipline, criminology is constantly changing with its subject fast-moving both in theory and methodological development. The changes correspond with the equally fast changes in the social environment.Moreover, the change is due to the system’s intention to capture the changes and interaction of ideas into a more complex methodological dialogue about its relevance to the social life. In its modern form, criminology is characte rized by issues on how to: †¢ â€Å"Operationalize its theories in conducting research† (British Society of Criminology, 2005) – the changes may be necessary so that new ideas and criminological concepts may be formulated through research.The debates are important because they determine the endless possibilities in relation to the application of criminology in social life. Criminology is concerned on how research and knowledge can be used n order to make effective criminology itself. For example, criminology is important in order to conduct and study specific occurrences in relation to criminality and deviance; †¢ â€Å"Explain its subject matter† (British Society of Criminology, 2005) – Knowledge in relation to criminology is likewise important in order to understand its nature and applicability.Criminology endeavors to make its own extent comprehensive and understandable by the public so that they can be consulted in cases of incidents its app lication may be necessary; †¢ â€Å"inform the debates over crime control policy; the links between criminal and social justice, and the expanding knowledge bases of the crime and justice related professions† (British Society of Criminology, 2005) – Modern criminology is a way to provide the public with knowledge base on how social justice may be promoted and how rights may be protected even in cases of criminal infringements.It should be noted however that under criminology, by concept of social justice in relation to crimes should mean that criminology should comprehend all aspects of social justice even as it involves the criminal. Criminology, as a knowledge base is used by legal and justice related professionals in the pursuance of social justice and the treatment of crimes. According to the British Society of Criminology (2005), as a changing academic discipline, its knowledge base should necessarily change to address the corresponding changes in its environ ment.â€Å"As such, the importance attached to different classical and contemporary theories will continually change† (British Society of Criminology, 2005). The changes in the â€Å"classical and contemporary theories also requires changes in theories and application in the various areas of criminological enquiry (British Society of Criminology, 2005). Moreover, â€Å"such new areas may also be generated by changing political and social concerns, or by changes within another discipline, such as philosophy† (British Society of Criminology, 2005).For example, the constant change in criminology may be brought about by technological advancements. As new technologies and device are created, corresponding laws relating to specific acts may be enacted in order to identify criminality of specific acts in relation to these advancements, which in the past may not be covered by law or criminological precedents. Specifically, as has been experienced, many scrupulous machinations have been resorted to by some criminals in order to avoid prosecution because certain acts may not be covered by a law that penalizes crimes.In the case of crimes related to the Internet, many have escaped prosecution because past laws do not cover acts committed through and via the Internet. â€Å"Criminology, like all social sciences, is both theoretically and evidence based that requires the comprehension of specific issues† (British Society of Criminology, 2005). The importance of knowledge base in criminology has prompted the British Society of Criminology (2006) to create the Code of Ethics for researchers in the Field of Criminology.This is because of the fact that it is the researchers who gather and make use of the knowledge as a product of their research and used in the judicial inquiry. Among others, the Code serves as guidance to researchers in the field of criminology to aid them â€Å"in keeping with the aims of the society to value and promote the highest eth ical standards in criminological research† (British Society of Criminology, 2006).According to this Code, and as a guiding principle of the British Society of Criminology, â€Å"researchers should ensure that research is undertaken to the highest methodological standard and the highest quality in order that maximum possible knowledge and benefits accrue to the society† (British Society of Criminology, 2006). The Code ensures that researchers only gather the most credible and highest standard of knowledge in order to establish a sound criminal justice system. The aspect of criminology should be ensured to be given that taint of authority and credibility so that the people can develop trust and confidence to its concept.Specifically, according to the British Society of Criminology (2006), the researcher has the following responsibilities: General Responsibilities The researcher should endeavor to: 1. â€Å"Advance knowledge about criminological issues† (British Soc iety of Criminology, 2006) – as criminal researchers, it is their responsibility to ensure that they accumulate a sustained knowledge base with comprehensive application to cover the various criminological issues and its relationship to each other.For example, researchers, in tackling a criminal issue should consider it in relation to specific laws and its relationship to any other issues and laws that may somehow be directly or indirectly affect its applicability and outcomes. This can be explained in the various aspects of criminology as in the case of policing as it relates to the crime busting and crime punishment. In policing, researchers should not only provide knowledge that pertain to policing but on how to execute this authority in connection with the rights of the people and the rights of the public being protected.2. â€Å"Identify and seek to ameliorate factors which restricts the development of their professional competence and integrity† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – As researchers undergo research, criminological knowledge should also be accumulated that provides guidance on how restrictions may be avoided and the full application of this knowledge can be attained. Researchers should also identify how they can improve their competence and the reliability and credibility of criminology by giving knowledge and criminology with known integrity;3. â€Å"Seek appropriate experience or training to improve their professional competence, and identify and deal with any factors which threaten to restrict their professional integrity† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – In criminology, criminologists and researchers should endeavor to improve competence by undergoing trainings and continuous improvement and enhancement of knowledge and qualities that can help improve criminology through improved knowledge base derived from meaningful research; 4.â€Å"Refrain from laying claim, directly or indirectly, to expertise in areas of criminology which they do not have† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – as researchers tasks with the gathering of criminological knowledge, they should avoid assumptions and the incorporation of personal views and opinions that are not validated and unsupported by actual facts and information. For example, in the judicial inquiry, it is important that the research provide information so that the proper authorities can come up with a decision regarding a controversy through validated precedents and established facts;5. â€Å"Take all reasonable steps to ensure that their qualifications, capabilities or views are not misrepresented by others† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – sometimes the quality of the criminological knowledge is dependent on how it is presented and fed to the people and those intended to use the same. In this regard, researchers should endeavor to provide criminological knowledge that are well organized and understandable, avoiding vagueness and allow for not biased interpretations;6. â€Å"Correct any misrepresentations and adopt the highest standards in all their professional relationships with institutions and colleagues whatever their status† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – misrepresentations, should, at all times be avoided to maintain the highest standard of criminological knowledge formed only by information provided by proper authorities and backed up with supporting evidence and justification;7. â€Å"Respect their various responsibilities as outlined in the Code† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – in order for the researcher to be able to recognize and comprehend the various knowledge available, he should comply with all the rules and ethical standards being imposed by the Code; 8.â€Å"Keep up to date with ethical and methodological issues in the field, for example by reading research monographs and participating in training ev ents† (British Society of Criminology, 2006) – researchers should ensure the quality and integrity of the criminological knowledge by adhering to ethical principles that will attach credibility to the research process, the researchers and the outcomes; 9. â€Å"Check the reliability of their sources of information, in particular when using the internet† (British Society of Criminology, 2006).Responsibilities towards the Discipline of Criminology In addition to these general responsibilities, they also have responsibilities to others in the practice under the same field. He has the responsibility to promote advancement and effectiveness of information dissemination and to protect intellectual and professional freedom (British Society of Criminology, 2006). He can do this by acknowledging the various research processes and the authenticity and the integrity of knowledge.In addition, he also has the responsibility to promote conducive environment and relationship wi th other professionals and the environment because this will dictate the quality of knowledge and criminology as a whole. â€Å"More specifically, researchers should promote free and independent inquiry into criminological matters and unrestricted dissemination of criminological knowledge† (British Society of Criminology, 2006). Unrestricted dissemination of criminological knowledge is important in the determination of the quality and applicability of the knowledge in relation to various aspects of criminology.â€Å"Researchers should endeavor to ensure that the methodology employed and the research findings are open for discussion and peer review† (British Society of Criminology, 2006). This respects the functions of other professionals and allow for checks and balances and the review of the reliability of the information. In the process, it can improve the quality of the information because other minds can be consulted with their own views and research incorporated t o the knowledge base. Development of British CriminologyThe development of British criminology has been discussed in a number of instances by various authors and scholars expert to their respective fields of criminology. For example, in his book, Tierney discussed the development of criminology in relation to the various cultural and societal influences that had shaped it. For example, he discussed how American criminology has affected and shaped the British criminology by providing a well-organized discussion of the various influences in the various stages of the development of British criminology.In Maguire, Morgan & Reiner: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, it is said that the history of criminology is perhaps too complex to be captured in a single text; however, despite its comprehensive and compendious relevance, collections of books and writings did a good job in outlining its development and its areas of descent and growth as it is discussed in the books, The Origins and Gr owth of Criminology by Piers Beirne and The History of Criminology by Paul RockAfter which, a series of studies have been conducted headed by Michael Foucalt (1977) in his work Discipline and Punish wherein he analyzed and discussed the role of power knowledge in relation to the various disciplinary and governmental institutions. Meanwhile, in an other essay authored by Pasquale Pasquino entitled, The Invention of criminology: Birth of a Special Savior; and The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality by Burchell, Gordon and Miller, they discussed criminal delinquent as a new subject for scientific and administrative issue in the nineteenth-century Europe.They view the development of criminology as a necessary aspect of a society to address delinquencies. Criminology is important in the administration of justice and the treatment of delinquent behavior. In addition, in the work, Punishment and Welfare: A History of Penal Strategies (1985), it was discussed the developing criminol ogical aspect anchored and revolving around the penal-welfare institutions in Britain as the twentieth century culminates.Other than these works, there are other meaningful accounts on the development of criminology in Britain like Radsinowicz’ memoir, Adventures in Criminology (1999) as well as Clarke and Cornish’s (1983), â€Å"Crime Control in Britain: A Review of Policy Research, which among others discussed the development of Home Office. Cohen on the other hand offers a sociological analysis of the post-war developments in relation to British Criminology; while Fitzgerald, McLeenan and Pawson (1981) discussed the intellectual tensions that affected the British criminology especially during the period of the 1960s and 1970s.In Sumner’s (1994), The Sociology of Deviance: An Obituary, he laid down an extended history of the sociology of deviance in critical analysis with the issue of criminology. The contemporary aspect of the development of British criminol ogy are further discussed by Nelken (1994) and Holdaway and Rock (1998). According to Newburn and Vagg (1998), it was only ten years since the first British Criminology Conference and much has changed from that time. Initially, at about 1987, many criminological researches were carried out by a small number of researchers and their works are often the sole representative of criminological inquiry.This only means that with this system, criminological knowledge in solving crimes is limited. In addition, knowledge may not always be that comprehensive and reliable. It was then possible that mistakes may continue on to court decisions without verification. As a result, judicial inquiry may have outcomes that may be of poor legal basis. But now, criminology and criminologists proliferate (Newburn, & Vagg, 1998). The development of criminology in Britain underwent an elusive transformation through the combined efforts of numerous criminologists and judicial authorities.It helped in the imp rovement of the criminal justice system and the aspect of criminology in the country especially with the fact that many criminologists can readily ignore writing that are more than fifteen years old, â€Å"with evident consequences for the public presentation and validation of expert knowledge† (Soothill, & Peelo, 2007). However, it should be noted that as a discipline that constantly change, writings in support of judicial enquiry should also be updated. Writings that are more than fifteen years old may not be as credible as the contemporary views.In this regard, criminology and criminological research is very important so that this deficiency may be addressed. This is the reason why criminological knowledge is very important especially in the treatment of crimes. The quality of criminological knowledge determines the quality of criminologists and the quality of crime related policies in a society. â€Å"Criminology, like all social sciences, is both theoretically and evide nce based that requires the comprehension of specific issues† (British Society of Criminology, 2005).In this regard, criminological knowledge ensures that it is presented with reliable and verified evidence to support its applicability and its relevance to specific issues. References British Society of Criminology. (2005). Criminology Benchmarks. Retrieved January 9, 2008, from www. c-sap. bham. ac. uk/subject_areas/criminology/Criminology_Benchmarks. doc British Society of Criminology (2006). Code of Ethics for Researchers in the Field of Criminology. Retrieved January 9, 2008, from http://www. britsoccrim. org/ethical.htm Burchell, G. , Gordon, C. , & Miller, P (1991). The Foucalt Effect: Studies in Governmentality, London:Harvester Wheatsheaf. Clarke, R. V. G. , Cornish, D. (1983). Crime and Control in Britain: A Review of Policy Research. Albany: State University of New York. Cohen, S. (n. d. ). Footprints on the Sand: A Further report on Criminology and the Sociology of D eviance in Britain. Fitzgerald, M. , McLeenan, G. , Pawson, J. (1981). Crime and Society: Readings in History and Theory. London: Routledge. Foucault, M.(1977). Discipline and Punish. London: Allen Lane. Holdaway, S. , & Rock, P. (1998). Thinking About Criminology. London: UCL Press. Maguire, Morgan & Reiner: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (n. d. ). Retrieved January 9, 2008, from http://www. oup. com/uk/orc/bin/9780199249374/resources/reading/ch01/ Nelken, D. (1994). The Futures of Criminology. London: Sage. Newburn, T. , & Vagg, J. (1995). The British Criminology Conferences: Selected Proceedings. Retrieved January 9, 2008, from http://www. britsoccrim.org/volume1/001. pdf Pasquino, P. (n. d. ). The Invention of Criminology: Birth of a Special Savior. Punishment and Welfare: A History of penal Strategies (1985). Aldershot: Gower. Radzinowicz. (1999). Adventures in Criminology. London: Routledge. Soothill, K. , 7 Peelo, M. (2007). Constructing British Criminology. Howard Journa l of Criminal Justice, 46 (5), 476-492. Sumner, C. (1994). The Sociology of Deviance: An Obituary. Buckingham: Open University Press. Tierney, J. (n. d. ). Criminology: Theory and Context.

Investement

This case was prepared by Boris Morozov and Rebecca J. Morris both from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The views presented here are those ofthe case authors and do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe Society for Case Research. The authors' views are based on their own professional judgments. Copyright  © 2009 by the Society for Case Research and the authors. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission ofthe Society for Case ResearchOn June 1, 2006, the house lights dimmed at the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital conference. On the large screens fianking the stage, a film called the â€Å"Winds of Change† started. In the film, a dignified white-haired spokesman standing in front of sentimental images of puppies, babies, balloons and birthday parties began talking about the â€Å"golden days† at Kodak— the days of the â€Å"Kodak moment† in photography. Signaling a shift in the tone of the film, the spokesman looked straight into the camera and said, â€Å"Get's ya misty, doesn't it?Yep, they shoveled on the schmaltz pretty thick—but that kinda crap doesn't work anymore. † Now people wanted everything to be digital, the speaker stressed, becoming more frenzied as he spoke about digital photography and Kodak's role in it. The viewing audience chortled when the speaker intoned. You thought they (Kodak) were just hiding out waiting for this ‘digital thing' to blow over didn't you? Oh, sure. For a while they were like, ‘Ohhh, there's no way digital's going to catch on'.. .But now Kodak's back!With swelling enthusiasm, the spokesman extolled Kodak's research and development in digital photography, ending by pulling at his hair and exclaiming, â€Å"You were a Kodak moment once and by God, you'll be one again†¦ only this time its digital. Whooo-yeah! â€Å"^ The spokesman appeared somewhat startled by his own outburst and sheepis hly walked off stage as the film ended and the lights came up. Wall Street Journal columnist, Kara Swisher then welcomed Kodak CEO, Antonio Perez to the stage to the audience's vigorous applause and cheers. Paul Simon's song, â€Å"Kodachrome† played as Perez took the stage.Swisher began her interview saying, â€Å"That was a really funny movie. I liked that film! † Her first question, however, was not so approving. â€Å"What happened,† she asked as Perez settled into his chair, â€Å"What from your perspective happened at Kodak—because it was one ofthe greatest brands in history? â€Å"^ SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL Perez responded without hesitation, saying: First of all there was this notion that came out of incredible success. The notion was that maybe if Kodak doesn't move into digital—the imaging world will never move into digital. .. They (Kodak) were running a business with gross margins between 60-70% and those things are hard to let go, e specially when you are confronting a business model that is going to give you, if you are lucky, something around 30%. So that means that you have to change the whole company. From the way you design, to the way you manufacture, to the way you distribute, you know.. .the whole thing. It is very tough. So Kodak is very late to the digital space. But Kodak was not late in investing in digital. Kodak was very rich.Kodak hired very good people and those people were actually doing the right things. In the last fifteen years, Kodak developed one ofthe most impressive IP (intellectual property) portfblios-in digital capture, image processing, pixel technology and all sorts of things†¦ color management, you name it—actually a leader in all of those spaces. Now, why didn't they commercialize that? I don't know. ^ 22 Referencing Kodak's transition from traditional photography to digital, S wisher asked, â€Å"So, how did you get the film people out—because it's a film comp any? † Perez described his approach saying.Basically, the model that I used when I visited the factories was looking at the audience and say, â€Å"How many [of you] have a digital camera? At that time it was about 60%, and I would say, well, you are the problem we have. We either move to digital—we either do this transformation effectively—or this company basically will cease to exist. There is nothing else. There is no time to argue about it†¦. This is over. We are already very late but we do have the tools that we need to make this happen. â€Å"* Eight months after the All Things Digital Conference, Kodak held its annual strategy meeting in New York City.Antonio Perez announced that Kodak had successfully completed a four-year, $3. 4 billion transformation and was poised for growth over the next four years (20082011). Investors, however, did not share Perez's view ofthe firm. Kodak's share price fell to a 30-year low following the strategy meeting amid skepticism about Kodak's future strategy. ^ Pointing out that Canon had surpassed Kodak in sales of digital cameras and that Kodak's EasyShare Gallery faced tough competition from services like Shutterfiy and Snapfish, analysts wondered whether Kodak had turned the corner. Other investors argued that the Kodak brand still had appeal for consumers and that the company's transformation would take time. Speculation about a possible breakup of the company or mergers with other technology companies appeared in the financial press. ^ Had Kodak successfully adapted to the challenges ofthe digital space? Were there other strategies that Kodak should pursue? SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 23 Kodak's Digital Strategy in 2003 Any evaluation of Kodak's transformation needed to begin with a review of Kodak's history in digital photography.Despite employing the engineer who invented the first digital camera (patented in 1978) and holding more than 1,000 digital-imaging patents,^ Kodak did not introdu ce a digital camera to consumers until 2001. Kodak's moves paralleled those at many companies whose comfortable business models were threatened by rapid changes in information technology. When asked whether Kodak had moved into digital photography soon enough, then Kodak CEO Daniel Carp replied, â€Å"I saw my first digital camera inside Kodak in 1982. Today, we're arguably one ofthe top three providers of digital cameras in the U. S.So, we did the right thing. At the same time, we shouldn't have walked away from the historical film businesses before they turned down, because it would have destroyed value. â€Å"^ Under slumping economic and competitive market conditions, Kodak faced tough pressure from its existing competitors as well as from new rivals in the area of digital photography—a $385 billion industry composed of devices (digital cameras and personal data assistants [PDAs]), infrastructure (online networks and delivery systems for images), services and media (sof tware, film and paper) enabling people to access, analyze and print images.Even though Kodak had invested $4 billion'^ into digital research and related technologies since the early 1990's and spent many years perfecting its digital cameras, Kodak's status as an iconic brand was threatened by the technological shift away from its cash-cow business of traditional film and film processing. In July 2003, Kodak reported fiat sales and a 60 percent drop in second-quarter profits. Since January 1, 2000, when Carp took over as chief executive of Kodak, the company's revenues and net income had declined, its shares had dropped by 66%, and Standard & Poor's (S&P) had cut Kodak's credit rating by five grades. ^ Kodak had reduced its workforce by 49% since 1989, cutting 7,300 employees in 2002 alone. ^^ Plans were announced to eliminate up to 6,000 jobs in 2003 to stem future losses, cutting Kodak's traditional photography divisions in Rochester, New York to fewer workers than the firm had emp loyed during the Great Depression. ^^ Kodak's balance sheets for 2000 to 2007 are presented in Table 1. Income statements for the same period are presented in Table 2.When announcing the latest rounds of workforce reductions in July 2003, Carp expressed his perspective on Kodak's challenges saying, â€Å"I think we're at the point where we have to get on with reality. The consumer traditional business is going to begin a slow decline, though it's not going to fall off a cliff. † Kodak found itself saddled with assets and employees that were no longer relevant in the world of digital photography. Traditional photography involved factories where film, paper and other silver-halide chemical-based products were made by thousands of chemical technicians, film process technicians and color printer operators.In digital photography, images captured by electronic sensors could be displayed, printed, stored, manipulated, transmitted, and archived using digital and computer techniques, without chemical processing. Kodak recognized that digital photography would require different types of employees and began hiring top executives away from computer printer companies, such as Lexmark and Hewlett-Packard. These employees brou? it needed expertise in consvuner electronics and software development. ‘†* Kodak also began closing traditional fihn processing facilities and laying off workers. SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 24Table 1 Kodak's Annual Balance Sheet 2000-2006 (In Millions 2006 ASSETS Cash & Equivalents Net Receivables Inventories Other Current Assets Total Current Assets Gross Plant, Property & Equipment Accumulated Depreciation Net Plant, Property & Equipment Investments at Equity Other Investments Intangibles Deferred Charges Other Assets TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Long Term Debt Due In One Year Notes Payable Accounts Payable Taxes Payable Accrued Expenses Other Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities Long Term Debt Deferred Taxes Minority Interest Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABELmES EQUITY Preferred Stock Common Stock Capital Surplus Retained Earnings Less: Treasury Stock TOTAL EQUITY TOTAL LIABILTTIES & EQUITY 1,487 2,669 1,202 199 5,557 10,372 7,530 2,842 36 420 2,869 1,599 997 14,320 17 47 1,003 764 1,735 1,405 4,971 2,714 1 21 5,225 2005 1,680 2,760 1,140 201 5,781 11,379 7,601 3,778 40 363 2,941 1,144 874 14,921 706 113 996 467 1,958 1,249 5,489 2,764 33 20 4,648 2004 1,258 2,544 1,158 688 5,648 12,694 8,182 4,512 532 188 1,924 1,203 730 14,737 400 69 868 2003 1,261 2,389 1,075 730 5,455 13,277 8,183 5,094 426 310 1,678 1,147 708 14,818 457 489 834 654 1,696 1,177 5,307 2,302 81 45 3,819 2002 578 2,234 1,062 660 4,534 13,288 7,868 5,420 382 53 981 972 1,027 13,369 387 1,055 720 584 1,739 892 5,377 1,164 52 70 3,929 2001 451 2,337 1,137 758 4,683 12,982 7,323 5,659 360 85 948 482 1,145 13,362 156 1,378 674 544 1,635 967 5,354 1,666 81 84 3,283 2000 51 2,653 1,718 869 5,491 12,963 7,044 5,919 0 0 947 0 1,855 14,212 150 2,05 6 817 572 1,358 1,262 6,215 1,166 61 93 3,249 581 1,989 1,083 4,990 1,852 67 25 3,992 12,932 12,954 10,926 11,554 10,592 10,468 10,784 0 978 881 5,332 5,803 1,388 14,320 0 978 867 5,935 5,813 1,967 14,921 0 978 845 7,832 5,844 3,811 14,737 0 978 842 5,852 3,264 14,818 0 978 849 6,840 5,890 1,111 13,369 0 978 849 6,834 5,161 2,894 13,362 0 978 871 7,387 5,808 3,428 14,212 SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL Table 2 Kodak's Annual Income Statement 2000-2006 (In Millions ^'^ 2006 2005 14,268 8,783 2004 13,517 8,311 2003 13,317 8,102 2002 12,835 7,391 2001 13,234 7,749 25 2000 13,994 7,105Sales Cost of Goods Sold Gross Profit SeUing, General, & Administrative Expense Operating Income Before Deprec. Depreciation, Depletion, & Amortization Operating Profit Interest Expense Non-Operating Income/Expense Special Items Pretax Income Total Income Taxes Minority Interest Income Before Extraordinary Items & Discontinued Operations Preferred Dividends Adjusted Available for Common Extraordinary Items Disco ntinued Operations Adjusted Net Income 13,274 8,278 4,996 3,101 1,895 1,331 564 262 86 -727 -339 254 7 5,485 3,485 2,000 1,406 594 211 49 -1,194 -762 689 4 5,206 3,340 5,215 3,339 5,444 3,260 2,184 818 1,366 173 -66 -164 963 153 17 5,485 3,333 2,152 919 1,233 219 -26 -891 97 32 -11 6,889 3,747 3,142 889 2,253 178 96 -39 2,132 725 0 ,866 1,031 835 168 62 -821 -92 -175 2 1,876 858 1,018 148 -23 -651 196 -66 24 -600 0 -600 0 1 -601 -1,455 0 -1,455 -57 150 -1,362 81 0 81 0 475 556 238 0 238 0 27 265 793 0 793 0 -23 770 76 0 76 0 0 76 1,407 0 1,407 0 0 1,407 SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 26 The switch by consumers to digital photography was coming much faster than expected and Kodak's traditional film, papers and photofinishing businesses were declining. By the end of 2003, analysts expected that digital cameras would begin to outsell film cameras for the first time in the United States. The digital photography industry was fast-paced and more crowded, offering razor thin profit margins.In S eptember 2003, Kodak aimounced an aggressive four-year plan to transform the company into a digital photography firm, replacing decliniag revenues and profits in the traditional fihn segment with growing digital revenues and profits. Job cuts and plant closures were prominent aspects of the firm's restructuring plans. Kodak armounced digital and film imaging strategy focused on four components: â€Å"(1) Manage the traditional film business for cash and manufacturing share leadership; (2) Lead in distributed output; (3) Grow the digital capture business, and (4) Expand digital imaging services. â€Å"^^ The traditional film business would be â€Å"managed† through organizational consolidation, cost reduction and reductions in both advertising spending and the number of unique products.Kodak hoped to expand its leadership in emerging markets, such as China and Russia, anticipating strong growth in these two markets for traditional fihn products. Distributed output referred t o the market for printed photos. Kodak plarmed to dominate all channels for printed photos—retail (minilabs and kiosks), home (printer docks and photo papers) and online printing of photos (Kodak's Ofoto site). The digital capture component of the plan addressed digital cameras and Kodak's plans to become the industry standard for ease of use and to achieve top three worldwide market share by 2006. Last, Kodak planned to expand services both online (photo album sharing) and in mobile markets (sharing and printing of photos captured with mobile phones).By the end of trading on the day ofthe digital strategy announcement, Kodak's stock fell to an 18-year low. Institutional investors criticized Kodak's announced strategy, expressing annoyance at the company's intention to invest in inkjet printing, a business dominated by Hewlett Packard. ^ ^Investment analyst. Shannon Cross, expressed the concerns of many investors saying, â€Å"There are so many questions with regard to Kodak 's future strategy†¦ the track record we've seen out of management in terms of being able to hit targets and implement a strategy has been pretty spotty. â€Å"^' The Years 2003-2007 Although shareholders and numerous investment analysts openly criticized the strategy, Kodak began implementing the new digital vision for the company.Since 2003, Kodak had pared costs through layoffs and plant closings in the traditional film division, sold off underperforming business units and increased its research and development investment in ink-jet printers. More than one hundred buildings in Kodak Park in Rochester, New York that had formerly housed thousands of employees had been razed, imploded, or sold by 2007. ^ ° From the company's peak in 1988, Kodak had cut 115,000 employees through divestitures, plant closings, and layoffs. Kodak expected to end 2007 with only 30,000 employees. ^^ Although job cuts would eventually represent cost reductions and improvements to the firm's bottom line, restructuring costs since 2003 were estimated to total $3. 8 billion. ^ Investment analysts believed that the high costs of Kodak's shift to a digital strategy would be worth the price if the company was successful at growing profits from its digital products. ^^ Other analysts were unconvinced, saying â€Å"We are increasingly skeptical that EK (Kodak) can efficiently generate SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 27 digital revenue growth and we think additional plant closings, job cuts and development costs will continue depressing results. â€Å"^†* Some analysts worried that the continual charges against earnings and mounting debt might leave Kodak strapped for important funds for research and development. ^^ Competitive pressures in digital photography made innovation important but raised concems for some analysts. Kodak â€Å"lost their magic touch.There are way too many people producing similar technology better,† one analyst said. ^^ The important events in Kodak's history since 2003 are shown as Table 3. Leadership of Kodak also was in transition during this period. In May 2005, Antonio M. Perez replaced Daniel Carp as Chief Executive Officer of Kodak. Perez had come to Kodak in 2003 after working 25 years for Kodak's competitor, Hewlett-Packard. ^^ Perez brought his extensive expertise in digital imaging technologies to Kodak and quickly became the leader of Kodak's digital transformation. Perez had been instrumental in formulating Kodak's restructuring strategy as he was Kodak's President and Chief Operating Officer in 2003. ^ Despite the ongoing criticism of investment analysts, Perez remained optimistic about Kodak's prospects saying. We said in 2003 that it would take us four years to transform this company. The first two years were loaded with restructuring costs, and the analysts are reacting to that. My response is: Well, hello, we are following our plan. We said we'd grow digital revenue and profits, and generate a healthy amount of cash, and we are doing all ^^ SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL Table 3 Key Events for Kodak 2003-2007 28 Date January 26, 2005†²Ã¢â‚¬  February 2,2005†³ March 2005†³ May 11,2005†³ January 5,2006†³* January 12, 2006'^ January 30,2006†²Ã¢â‚¬  March 2006†³ August 1,2006'* January 10,2007'^ February 1,2007 April 26,2007^† May 2007†³*' May 14, 2007^'Event Kodak's digital revenue rose 40% in the fourth quarter of 2004, more than offsetting a 16% decline in revenue for traditional film products. Kodak announced that for the first time, Kodak held the leading market share for digital cameras in the United States with 21. 9% share. Kodak changed the name of Ofoto, the online photo-sharing and printing site they had acquired, to Kodak EasyShare Gallery. Antonio M. Perez was announced as the next CEO of Kodak. Perez took over on June 1, 2005. Former Kodak CEO, Daniel Carp retired at age 57. Kodak announced a 10-year partnership with Motorola to develop mobile camera phones with Kodak sensors. Nikon stopped making most of its traditional film cameras.Kodak's digital revenues for 2005 exceeded revenues from traditional film for the first time. Digital revenues were 54% of total sales. Konica Minolta announced that it was exiting the photography industry. Some ofthe firm's photography assets were sold to Sony. Kodak announced that it would outsource the production of all digital cameras to Flextronics, a leading electronics manufacturing services provider headquartered in Singapore. Kodak announced the sale of the health care imaging division to ONEX for $2. 35 billion. Half of the proceeds were to be used for debt reduction. The sale of the division resulted in a decrease of 8,100 employees for Kodak.Kodak announced the first quarterly profit in eight quarters. Revenues for digital photography products had declined by 13%. Kodak announced a partnership with BestBuy to create the BestBuy Photo Center. The center provided Kodak's Eas yShare Gallery to BestBuy online consumers. The partnership would also provide for display of Kodak Gallery's photo gifts (mugs, purses, etc. ) in BestBuy stores. BestBuy would also offer pre-paid cards for prints and gifts. Kodak's digital consumer group sales (cameras, printers and retail printing) fell 14% due to Kodak's decision to stop offering low-end digital cameras and an industry-wide decline in printing snapshots.Kodak announced a partnership with Target to produce a co-branded site that permitted consumers to order photo prints online and pick them up in Target stores. The partnership also provided for display of Kodak Gallery's photo gifts in Target stores and for pre-paid photo cards. SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 29 One ofthe important changes championed by Perez was Kodak's new business model in inkjet printers. Kodak was upending the traditional business model in inkjet printers. Instead of pricing the printer devices low and making profits on high-priced ink cartridges, Kodak planned to sell higher-priced printers that used significantly less expensive printer cartridges. For example, Kodak's new line of all-in-one printers was priced at $149-$299, at least $50 more than comparable models. *^ The cost ofthe Kodak printer cartridges was significantly less, however, running $10 for black ink and $15 for the color cartridge. â€Å"*^ The Kodak printers were expected to save consumers 50% over the lifetime ofthe printer due to the cheaper printer cartridges. â€Å"*^ Although some analysts reacted positively to the new pricing model, others were doubtfiil saying. They (Kodak) are not fools, they are going after the sweet spot ofthe market, the people who print a huge number of photos at home, but they are up against big companies that can give a haircut to their own prices if they * ^ There was also some skepticism that consumers would pay more initially in order to save money over the lifetime of the product.A market research analyst described the consumers' perspective saying, â€Å"When it comes to printers, consumers look for the features they want, and then find the least expensive device that offers them. It is only later that they get sticker shock, when they're spending $50 for ink. â€Å"^^ For its part, HP had adopted a â€Å"wait-and-see† posture regarding Kodak's new printer pricing model. If Kodak's printers gained share, HP was prepared to respond. Kodak â€Å"is going into a gunfight with a knife,† responded Nils Madsen, marketing director for HP inkjets. ‘* Kodak predicted that it would take at least three years for the new printers to be profitable. â€Å"*^ Despite reporting a narrower first-quarter net loss in 2007, Kodak's financial results were continuing to show signs of stress.Sales of Kodak's digital camera group (including digital cameras, printers and retail printing) fell 14% during the first quarter of 2007. Traditional film revenues declined 13% over the previous year. ^^ Kod ak was losing less money, however, investors were expecting more. â€Å"Kodak needs not only to restructure, but to change its business. That's a bigger project. They don't have an overnight fix,† said one investment fund manager. ^^ Sacrificing current earnings to focus on long term success was a gutsy decision and members of the investment community wondered whether Kodak's executives had the fortitude to continue to pursue it and whether tiie path Perez had outlined for the company was indeed the right path. One investment manager siunmarized his perspective saying.That company (Kodak) used to be my favorite example of an old-tech company behind the eight ball. Kodak has crossed the Rubicon and gotten past denial. It may be struggling to figure out which road to take, but finally the company understands that the one it was on was getting it nowhere. You know what happens if you sit back and let history happen to you, so you've got to take a shot, and that's what they're ^^ Kodak also had to consider its strategies in light of changes within the digital photography industry. Much had happened since the launch of Kodak's digital strategy in 2003. Important trends included rapidly improving technologies, increases in the quality and use of SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 30 amera-enabled mobile phones, maturing demand in the United States, rapid adoption of digital photography in foreign markets, and increasing competitive challenges. Improved Technologies and a Shorter Product Life Cycle Like most technologies, the market for digital photography continued to rapidly change. Technological innovations improved the resolution of digital cameras (increased the mega pixels captured and thus improved the quality ofthe photos when enlarged). Improvements in optical and electronic technologies and subsequent reductions in production costs resulted in the introduction of higher margin, digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras into the market.These cameras featured in terchangeable lenses and appealed to consumers buying their second digital camera and to photography enthusiasts who could utilize the traditional camera lenses they already owned on the new SLR digital camera bodies. Many digital SLR models offered significantly better image quality than point-and-shoot digital cameras due to their use of larger imaging chips. Industry insiders expected strong growth in the digital SLR segment of the market as consumers looked for more capabilities and flexibility in their digital cameras. Canon, Nikon, Sony and Panasonic dominated the market for low-cost digital SLRs in 2007. Camera makers found the product life cycle of the digital era to be markedly different than the rather stable product life cycle of traditional photography.For example, the Nikon topof-the-line F-series of fllm cameras had been redesigned only six times over ahnost 50 years of production. ^ By 2006, new features-laden digital camera models were introduced every few months rat her than years apart. Makoto Kimura, president of Nikon Imaging summed up the change saying, â€Å"In the past, as a camera maker we were able to take it easy, watch what was happening. Now, we've had to revitalize ourself â€Å"^^ Industry analysts believed that the faster product life cycle and the demands for technological innovations favored consumer electronics companies rather than traditional camera makers—in manufacturing and in distribution.Electronics companies such as Sony possessed the ability to design and manufacture many of the components integral to digital cameras whereas traditional photography companies such as Kodak lacked these capabilities and had to purchase components ftom other electronic companies. ^^ Distribution of cameras also shifted with the digital age in a way that favored consumer electronics companies. Consumers were increasingly purchasing even relatively expensive digital cameras at electronics chains such as Best Buy, Staples, and Circu it City rather than at smaller specialty photography shops. Consumer electronics companies already understood the inventory and logistics demands of the national chains, while traditional photography companies struggled to gain valuable shelf space. As one researcher put it, â€Å"A new wave of technology has given the newcomers the upper hand.For the consumer electronics companies, digital photography has been all upside, while the photo industry was stuck in a slow evolution stage. â€Å"^^ Gains in Mobile Phone Camera Quality and Usage Technological improvements in the resolution of photos captured on mobile phones had increased significantly. In 2006, Nokia offered a mobile phone model with Wi-Fi capabilities and an integrated three-mega pixel camera. ^^ Other mobile phone manufacturers offered phones with an integrated two-mega pixel camera. Consumers increasingly expected that their mobile SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 31 phones would contain an integrated camera. Approximately 30 million U. S. obile phone owners used their phones to capture images in 2005, an increase of 180% over the previous year. ^^ By 2009, nearlv 70% of mobile phones were expected to contain cameras with multimega pixel resolutions. Analysts further expected that the improved resolution ofthe integrated cameras in most mobile phones would decrease the demand for disposable traditional film cameras and could have a negative impact on low-end stand-alone digital cameras. ^' Because consumers carried their mobile phones with them constantly, the integrated cameras provided a convenient way to capture images during their daily activities as well as at special events, such as concerts and parties.Improvements in mobile phone cormections to wireless networks also made it easy for users to upload and share images with friends and family. Figure 1 depicts the increase in digital image captured using mobile phones. †¢ 62 Figure Digital Images Captured Worldwide, 2002-2009 50OT c 400 D Ca mera phone images captured 9 Digital camera images captured 2002 2003 2004 2005 2{K}6 2007 2008 2009 Source: Lyra Researcti, lrc. , Consumer Imaging Intelligence, Second-Half 2005 Forecast Maturing U. S. Demand In 2006, signs indicated that the digital camera market was maturing. After growing by almost 670% from 2000-2005, unit sales of digital cameras were slowing with an increase of only 26% forecasted for 2009. ^ Prices of digital cameras were also declining, making profitability more difficult for makers of low-end cameras.For example, digital cameras with less than 4 mega pixels of resolution dropped in price by 40% in 2006. In contrast, higher-end digital SLRs tended to maintain the same price points, adding value for consumers by packing each successive model with even more features. There was a glimmer of hope for some growth in the digital photography industry as some analysts believed that U. S. consumers were upgrading their digital cameras more frequently than had been previously expected. The replacement rate was estimated at every two SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 32 to three years rather than every four years as initially predicted. ^^ However, demand was expected to decline in 2007 and beyond as many consumers had completed their upgrade cycle and fewer new consumers were entering the market. An expected slowdown in the U. S. economy further contributed to a slowdown in demand for digital cameras.Higher interest rates were beginning to depress consumer spending in 2005 as the percentage of disposable income that U. S. households paid for their mortgages and consumer debt was increasing. ^^ Growth Possibilities Abroad Digital camera sales were expected to slow down in North America in 2007, but remained strong in Europe and Japan. Emerging markets were also expected to provide growing demand as camera prices fell. ^ In 2007, digital cameras were in strong demand in Central and Eastem Europe. Unit sales of digital cameras showed substantial increase s in Russia (up 30%), Ukraine (up 70%), Poland (up 15%), Hungary (up 18%), and the Czech Republic (up 7. 7%) over 2005 sales. ^^ Although more cameras were purchased, sales revenues actually declined as a result of declining prices due to technology advances and competitive pressures.The top three vendors in the region in 2006 were Canon, Sony and Olympus (in order of share). ^^ Analysts expected continued sales growth in the region but noted that demand for digital cameras had matured in the Czech Republic.  ° China was seen as a market with enormous potential for digital camera sales due to improving economic conditions and China's more open posture to the rest ofthe world as the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing approached. Sales were expected to grow from approximately 3 million units in 2004 to between 6. 5 and 10 million units in 2008. ^^ Growth in Chinese disposable income in the major industrialized cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou had created a market of 400 mil lion potential customers for products such as digital cameras. ^^ Interest in photography was keen among Chinese consumers as more Chinese began traveling abroad and wished to bring home photos from their trips. The World Tourism Organization predicted that approximately 100 million Chinese would travel abroad in the year 2020 (an increase of 500% over 2003 figures). ^Digital camera sales to consumers outside urban areas in China were expected to be slower. Lower disposable income and need for higher priority items like household appliances caused rural Chinese consumers to delay their purchase of digital cameras. ^^'*^ Furthermore, distribution channels in rural areas were not well developed. No major electronics chain equivalent to Best Buy or Circuit City existed outside the major ^^ Contrary to earlier industry predictions, Chinese consumers did not buy traditional film cameras as their purchasing power increased, but preferred to leapfrog the older technologies to buy the lates t digital camera models. ^ Sales of traditional film cameras and film canisters declined much more rapidly in China than had been anticipated; leaving companies that had depended on selling these products at risk of being jumped over by the newer technologies such as digital cameras and camera-phones. ^^ By 2006, more Chinese consumers owned cameraphones than digital cameras. ^*SCR Battling for Market Share BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 33 The disruptive technology of digital photography had proved challenging for many traditional camera makers. In 2006, Konica Minolta announced that it would withdraw completely from the photography industry—despite being the third-largest producer of traditional photo film. ^ Nikon announced plans to gradually halt production of five models of traditional film cameras, leaving only two film cameras in its product portfolio. *^ Other traditional camera companies, such as Canon, thrived in the new digital world. Canon had become the world leader in di gital cameras with an ahnost 19% share in ^^ Consumers were offered more choices in the digital camera marketplace as companies in the consumer electronics industry began offering digital cameras. Notable examples included Samsung, a consumer electronics company with a strong position in the camera-phones segment and Hewlett Packard with strongholds in printers and personal computers.Consumer electronics companies were formidable entrants into the digital photography industry due to their strong brand awareness with consumers, established distribution channels and experience with many of the technologies involved in creating digital cameras. The competitive position of the companies in the digital camera industry rose and fell as consumers demanded more features, improved technologies and lower prices. The U. S. market shares of the top ten digital camera makers are shown as Table 4. Analysts believed that the strong gains shown by Canon and Nikon from 2005-2006 were due to their in troduction of lowcost digital single lens reflex cameras (SLRs). ^^ Worldwide, Canon led in digital camera sales with a 18. % share in 2006. *^ Sony followed with a 15. 8 percent share while Kodak was third at 10%. ** Both Canon and Sony benefitted from consumer interest in single-lens reflex models as well as growing demand in emerging markets. Sony's share ofthe global market increased as a result of its purchase ofthe digital single-lens reflex division of Konica Minolta in 2006. ^^ In the digital SLR segment ofthe industry. Canon held 46. 7% share in 2006, followed by Nikon in second with 33% share and Sony at third with 6. 2% ^^ o H a m en Olympus Samsung Fujifilm Panasonic Casio (N 068, 500 940, 800 867, 000 045, 700 185, 856, 500 496, 400 444, 700 046, 300 955,000 inChange Change From Shipments Market From Previous Previous Share Year Year 21% 000 000 18% 39% 780 000 17% 10% -31% 050 000 25% 44% 31% 326 400 68% 130. 600 18% -5% 964, 800 -15% 120% 680,500 N/A -19% 1,780,600 19 9% 350,000 N/A 136% 405,000 N/A Shipments m ^ ^ 587 600 330 000 880 000 381 600 804 900 317 400 N/A 1,782,600 N/A N/A ^ ^ V/N es H a 2 ‘Ho 2006 2005 2004 Shipments Market Share Market Share cn 00 Canon Sony Kodak Nikon ^ 00 20% 17% 16% 10% cn o o cn ( N g E g o 19. 4% 21. 9% 6. 2% 8. 1% 10. 4% N/A 8. 0% N/A SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 35 In segmented market share, signincant differences were evident in the purchasing preferences of male versus female consumers.Men seemed to prefer Canon while women preferred Kodak. ^* Analysts attributed the gender difference to women's preference for simplicity and desire for high-quality prints that could be shared with family and friends. Kodak met these needs for women with their point-and-shoot camera models and the EasyShare docking station. Men preferred the SLR models offered by Canon while Kodak was their fourth most popular choice behind Sony and Olympus. ^^ Gender differences were also observed in what users did with their digital pho tos. Women believed digital prints were more important than men (63% versus 53%). ^ ° Women printed approximately 35% ofthe digital photos they took while men printed only 25%. ‘ Men â€Å"took the picture and put it in the computer. But then it was like a roach motel for pictures. They never got out,† one industry insider reported. ^^ Although digital camera makers recognized gender differences in purchasing and usage behaviors, care was taken to address the needs and preferences of both men and women when designing and marketing photography products. For example. Canon utilized Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova in television advertising because she appealed to both men and women. by Representative data on the number of camera models and suggested retail prices offered the top five digital camera companies is provided as Table 5. jaPM a a O -t P GO O PH o O O I U U O m 00 ^ â€Å"3 O) -^ II II ^1 O uj N 0;gt; (Zl H et ‘S a  § PH 11 I « C †S a ON n Os O ON ^ 5 . -i g A †¢a †¢(-. †¢ S †¢^ o 6^ 6O â€Å". agi 00 — 0U-3  « le ^ a† y^ ob ^ e C3 .a o CM s †¢a Pi †¢O 6^ II O O Os  »2 O S— o u 1 o 00 00 o si ‘5b'p -2 S–S fe PL, ao o O ^ g a es .^5 a ^-3S a o U SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL A New Kodak Emerges 37 In January 2008, Kodak announced that its turnaround was officially over. In advance of the company's annual strategy meeting in New York City on February 7, 2008, Perez announced: It is with great pride that I introduce the new Kodak, a company with a new spirit and winning attitude.While completing a difficult and unprecedented business transformation, we also created breakthrough products and services that feature Kodak's hallmark innovation, winning customer acceptance and critical praise for a brand renowned for its smart use of technology. In 2008 and beyond, we will leverage the innovative thinking of Kodak people to deliver on our commitments to sharehol ders and increase the value of this great company. ^^ Kodak executives pointed to multiple metrics to demonstrate the extent of the firm's transformation. Kodak's industrial park in Rochester, New York had been reduced from 1,600 acres to 700 acres since 1998. ^ °Ã‚ ° Eleven film plants had been shuttered, leaving the company with only three film plants worldwide. ^ °^ As shown in Figure 2, the number of Kodak workers had been reduced from 145,300 in 1988 to around 30,000 at the end of 2007.  °^ More than half ofthe remaining employees were considered â€Å"new,† joining Kodak since the launch ofthe firm's digital strategy in 2003. ^ °^ Revenues from the Consumer Digital Imaging Group (CDIG) had increased substantially since 2003. CDIG included digital cameras, inkjet printers, camera sensors, digital picture frames, online photo finishing, and digital photo kiosks. As shown in Table 6, CDIG revenues had almost doubled, growing from $2. 37 billion in 2004 to $4. 63 bi llion in 2007. Kodak did not report profitability data by product segment. SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 38 Figure 2 Kodak Sales, Gross Profit ; Net Income Per Employee*** 2002-2006 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 = o Q 100,000 50,000 0 50,000 2002 H Employees D Sales/Employee †¢ Gross Profit/Employee †¢ Net Income/Employee 70,000 $183,357 $77,771 $11,000 2003 63,900 $208,404 $81,612 $4,147 2004 54,800 $246,661 $95,000 $10,146 2005 51,100 $279,217 $107,339 $(26,654) 2006 40,900 $324,548 $122,152 $(14,694) o o o o m ( ^ . -H ON o 1-H s? ON ON rj !004 Perc ri †¢n 00 Tl Tl Tl 00 ^H m ON o ON VO O .-H' NO ON Tl .-H in †¢n VO o t^ a O n rj VO O 00 O 1-H 00 CN T-H o o T—H ri VO ri m O a Gro o tems ai a s a O a o (3 S U g u a ‘ S onsnmer Digi CJ r 1 Outside the U. Inside the U. S raphic Comm ilm ; Photofi Outside the U. Inside the U. S U U 11 other ealth Gronp . 5 ‘ 5 s ‘ S e t (3 / anna^ n u SCR BUSINESS CASE JOURNAL 40 Building implosions were another symbol ofthe firm's makeover.Kodak had shed more than 100 buildings since the 199O's, imploding three massive buildings during the summer of 2007 that had formerly housed manufacturing processes for the firm's film, paper and other chemical-based products. ^ °^ As the rubble of the old chemical plants was cleared, Kodak executives gave presentations for technology stock analysts praising Kodak's successful turnaround. The presentations were entitled â€Å"A New Kodak Emerges† and emphasized the end of Kodak's restructuring program; the creation of high margin businesses, such as consumer inkjet printers and camera sensors; and Kodak's expected return to sustainable profitability.According to company executives, Kodak had a clear advantage in the digital space due to its specialized knowledge of materials science (the result ofthe firm's 100-plus years of experience in traditional photography) and digital image science (through the firm's strong intellectual pro perty in digital technologies). However, stock analysts remained skeptical of the success of Kodak's transformation, continuing to question the competitive success ofthe inkjet strategy and Kodak's value proposition for camera sensors. Analysts further questioned the adequacy of Kodak's spending for research and development given the number of major initiatives it was pursuing. In 2007, Kodak spent 5. 19% of sales or $536 million on research and development, while Canon spent $3,351 billion or 8. 22% of sales on a more singular research agenda.  °^ Others continued to express concern about the commoditization of many of the business segments in which Kodak operated, persistently asking Frank Sklarsky, Kodak's chief fmancial officer, â€Å"So, where are you making your money? I just want to know. It isn't clear†¦ â€Å"‘ °^ The stock analysts' continued unease over Kodak's fixture was refiected in their stock recommendations with ten of eleven key analysts rating the shares as either neutral or as Despite the Kodak officers' assertion of successfiil transformation, there was open speculation in the press about the possibility of a breakup of Kodak or mergers with either Xerox or Hewlett Packard.Perez dismissed the notion of a merger with HP saying, â€Å"I don't have any comments about that. All those rumors—^there are many other rumors too. I wouldn't pay much attention. â€Å"^ ^^ Other rumors included mergers with Dell, a leveraged buyout by a private equity firm or billionaire investor. Warren Buffet's interest in Kodak as an investment. ‘^^ When questioned about the possibility of a breakup, Perez retorted, â€Å"They don't know anything about the company. Why would you do that? I don't see any good financial reason to do that. â€Å"^ Were the â€Å"winds of change† continuing to blow for Kodak? Was Kodak's transformation successful or were there other changes needed?Was it time for Kodak to merge or pursue a break up? Or was a leveraged buyout Kodak's best option for remaining independent?EndnotesDigital Camera Turns 30-Sort Of. The Associated Press, http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/9261340/. Online Extra: What it ‘Boils Down To' for Kodak. (November 23, 2003).