Sexual Healthcare on Campus :: Medicine Medical College Essays

Sexual Healthcare on Campus missing works refered to Forking over $40 for an interview in addition to another $20 for the Plan B pill at Planned Parenthood was a little cost to pay for the true serenity it managed her once the entire difficulty was behind her. â€Å"After a night of terrible dynamic, I realized the time had come to make some great ones,† Lisa said. â€Å"I realized I needed to get tried for STD’s and HIV, and I additionally needed to take crisis contraception, in the event of some unforeseen issue. I realized it would cause me to feel better and as it's been said ‘better safe than sorry.’† After the trek to the nearest Planned Parenthood office for the crisis contraception pill, Lisa, a student at Northeastern University, at that point advanced cross town to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for the stroll in hours of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Unit. This is the free irresistible infections center MGH offers to general society. There, she had the option to get tried for all STDs in addition to HIV for nothing. Had she decided to get tried at Planned Parenthood, she would need to pay about $20 for each test. What Lisa didn't know was that she could have gotten these administrations for nothing from the wellbeing community at her college. Most undergrads realize they are among the most noteworthy explicitly dynamic age bunch in the country. What they cannot deny is that this age go (18-24) additionally has the most elevated paces of explicitly transmitted maladies and undesirable pregnancies. They likewise, as Lisa, may not know precisely where to go for sexual medicinal services. Colleges, schools and centers around Boston have a wide, yet contrasting scope of sexual medicinal services choices accessible to understudies. â€Å"There is so much deception, it just boggles the mind,† said Pamela Harris, advertising representative for Northeastern University’s Lane Health Center. â€Å"It is imperative to the point that understudies comprehend what is accessible to them.† Arranged Parenthood, situated at 1055 Commonwealth Ave., close to the Boston University grounds, is maybe the greatest sexual social insurance supplier in the region. Be that as it may, their administrations don't come modest and for understudies on a careful spending plan, different choices should be investigated. Numerous understudies must depend on their college’s wellbeing community for sexual social insurance benefits, and relying upon which college you join in, wellbeing focus administrations fluctuate. â€Å"I would envision that my school, one of the most costly in the nation, would give all that I required, from explicitly transmitted malady testing to failed pills if there should be an occurrence of pregnancy,† said Alexis Eskenazi, interchanges major at Boston University.

Behavioral Patterns of Selected 4th Year Students in San Pedro High School Free Essays

string(36) after the test inquires as to why he did it. Bulacan State University College of Education City of Malolos, Bulacan. â€Å"Behavioral Patterns of Selected fourth year understudies in San Pedro High School† Submitted to: Violera Reyes, Ed. D. We will compose a custom paper test on Standards of conduct of Selected fourth Year Students in San Pedro High School or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now Put together by : Glendys Orolfo Kenneth Pabilonia Naomi Palao Maricris Palo Rogelio Ramos Mary Grace Regalado Micha Joy Rejano Cayneth Reyes Milca Joyce Roque Renz Ruzzel Santiago Andrea Marie Santos Mary Jane Villanueva Rich Ann Winfield ABSTRACT This examination paper recognizes the personal conduct standards of chose secondary school understudies in San Pedro High School, Hagonoy, Bulacan. The principal part presents a short presentation about pre-adulthood. In their age, secondary school understudies were presently entering the main phases of pre-adulthood. The subsequent section shows related hypotheses about this examination. The third part shows the strategy for examine done in this investigation. The fourth section presents the information assembled from the respondents. Diagrams were utilized to show the information in a sensible and methodical way. The fifth section endeavors to close the investigation by telling the personal conduct standards found in the chose secondary school understudies. List of chapters Chapter I †Introduction Chapter II †Theoretical Framework Chapter III †Methods of Research Chapter IV †Interpretation and Analysis of Data Section V †Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation Curriculum Vitae CHAPTER I Introduction I. Presentation The social conduct of human changes as they enter immaturity. In people teenagers commonly increment the measure of time went through with their friends. Almost eight hours are typically gone through speaking with others, however eight percent of this time is spent conversing with grown-ups. Youths report that they are far more joyful investing energy with comparatively matured friends when contrasted with grown-up. Thusly strife among youths and their folks increment as of now as young people endeavor to make a division and feeling of autonomy. These collaborations are not generally positive; peer pressure is pervasive during puberty, prompting increment cheating and wrongdoing or wrongdoing. As indicated by Judith Rich Harri’s hypothesis of gathering socialization, youngsters and youthful are shape more by their friends than their folks. Friends can support both star social conduct, which looks at 11-12 years of age or hostile to social conduct, which tops at K1 - 15 years. Young people are more averse to feel discouraged or restless if the friend bunch offers enthusiastic help (Buhrmester, 1992). Contentions among guardians and youngsters increment extensively during immaturity (Feeney 1999). Anyway youths with few or no shut companions are nearer to their folks and are more averse to be liable to peer pressure. Non human warm blooded creatures are likewise display changes in social disposition during immaturity. Immature rodents have additionally been seen during this season of period . despites this social holding among teenagers and grown-up will in general improve due to reconciliatory conduct. Allomaternal conduct increment among females in a few animal groups , including people , nonhumans primates and rodents . Anyway guys will in general show less enthusiasm for newborn child during pre-adulthood. Puberty can be explicitly tempestuous just as a unique time of one’s life. It has been distinguished as a period in which youngsters create theoretical reasoning capacities , become progressively mindful of their sexuality , and increment their freedom from parent. Stanley Hall indicated this period as one of â€Å"storm and stress† and as per him, strife at this formative stage is ordinary and not normal. Margaret Mead then again, ascribed the conduct of young people to their way of life and childhood , as most of issues related with puberty in western culture are absent in different societies. A few improvement stage models, have put in a time of human turns of events. Sigmeund Freud considered it to be the â€Å"genital phase† of psychosexual turns of events, where the kid recover the sexual consciousness of outset. Jean Piaget concentrated on psychological turn of events, considering youth to be the â€Å"formal employable stage† where the youngster builds up the capacity to think dynamically and reach determinations from the data accessible, your hypothesis of psychosocial improvement recognized the character emergency as integral to the idea of youthfulness. Pre-adult tends to the issues related with youthful, for example, regardless of whether the previously mentioned â€Å"storm and stress† is an ordinary piece of this period. The American mental Association has a different division devoted to youth, and the analyst spend significant time in the subject endeavor to respond to addresses managing the age gathering. One issue is pre-adult brain science examines whether youthfulness is in actuality a discrete formative period a point along the continuum of human turn of events, or a social development. II. Proclamation of the Problem This examination paper endeavors to respond to the accompanying inquiry: 1. What are the personal conduct standard showed by chosen understudies in San Pedro High School? III. Foundation of the Study San Pedro High School is a state funded school situated in Hagonoy, Bulacan. It is driven by Principal Rosario L. Tamayo. The school has around 3000 understudies and 58 instructors. The specialists picked it since some of them have graduated there. Just 56 understudies were picked as respondents. IV. Centrality of the Study For guardians: As a result of the developing number of youngsters that was not center around their investigation this exploration will assist the guardians with knowing on how they will treat their child/little girl and how they should bolster them. This will likewise educate the guardians on what practices regarding their kid have during the class. They will know on the mentalities of their child/little girl inside the homeroom, how they kid collaborate to their cohorts and simultaneously to their instructors. This will assist the guardians with knowing what the methods are and rehearses they ought to be done to their youngster for them become a productive member of society later on. For educators: Some instructors didn’t comprehend the circumstances of their understudies in certain cases. For instance, during the test one of the understudies is utilizing a kodigo. The instructor blew up and yells to the understudy during the test without knowing the motivation behind why he’s doing that thing. Possibly, before the instructor chides the understudy he ought to caution it first and after the test inquires as to why he did it. You read Personal conduct standards of Selected fourth Year Students in San Pedro High School in class Papers Then, he will realize that his understudy is a working understudy and he didn’t have sufficient opportunity to survey. Along these lines, this investigation helps the educators on how they should treat their understudies and how they respond on the practices of their understudies. As we as a whole realize the educators are the second guardians of the youngster. They should love and care to their understudies as though their own youngster. For understudies: Teenagers didn't know on their practices inside the homeroom. Youngsters likewise didn’t know their genuine character. A significant number of them asking what are they genuine mentalities and qualities, what perspectives they have and what are the temperaments they have. This examination is structure to the understudies for them to know on their perspectives inside the homeroom. This will assist the youngsters with being mindful and to open their eyes in the things they ought to be done to support our nation. This will likewise assist them with seeing the hardship of their folks just to make them finish their examination, the penances of their folks to help them and how their folks cause the night to become day just to guarantee their future and to give every one of their needs. Part II Theoretical Framework Social intellectual hypothesis, utilized in brain research, training, and correspondence, sets that segments of an individual’s information procurement can be straightforwardly related toâ observingâ others inside the setting of social associations, encounters, and outside media impacts. Social psychological hypothesis is aâ learning theoryâ based on the thoughts that individuals learn by watching what others do and won't do, these procedures are fundamental to getting character. While social cognitists concur that there is a decent measure of impact on advancement created by learned conduct showed in the earth wherein one grows up, they accept that the unique individual (and in this way insight) is similarly as significant in deciding good turn of events. Individuals learn by watching others, with nature, conduct, and comprehension all as the central factors in affecting turn of events. These three variables are not static or autonomous; rather, they are on the whole corresponding. For instance, every conduct saw can change a person’s perspective (discernment). Likewise, nature one is brought up in may impact later practices, similarly as a father’s attitude (additionally discernment) will decide the earth wherein his youngsters are raised. Albert Bandura likewise focused on that the most effortless approach to show moral advancement would be by means of the thought of different components, be they social, subjective, or natural. 2] The connection between the previously mentioned three elements gives considerably more knowledge into the perplexing idea that is profound quality. Further advancement in social intellectual hypothesis places that learning will probably happen if there is a nearby distinguishing proof between the spectator and the model and if the eyewitness likewise has a decent arrangement ofâ self-viability. Self-adequacy convictions work as a significant arrangement of proximal determinants of human inspiration, influence, and activity which work on activity through persuasive, intellectual, and full of feeling interceding forms. Recognizable proof al

2014 February Freshman Admits - UGA Undergraduate Admissions

2014 February Freshman Admits - UGA Undergraduate Admissions 2014 February Freshman Admits This afternoon, UGA offered admission to a group of freshman applicants. In the past, this group has been approximately 2,000 or so admits, and while I do not have an exact number, it is fairly close to this average. Our office is too busy reviewing files for me to run any mid-range academic averages at this time, but the academic information should be very similar to the Early Action admitted students (it will not be exactly the same, as we had a large number of EA admits who were applying for our to scholarships which slightly skews EA stats a little higher). These admitted freshman, made up of mostly Regular Decision applicants, met the stringent academic criteria of Early Action admission that we had used with our much larger wave of December admission offers. Do not panic if you were not admitted with this February group. We are still very much in the midst of carefully reviewing documents and data on a great many more files, and there are still lots of decisions to make. Admitted students will see their decision on myStatus, while applicants who do not yet have a decision will see the same myStatus message as before. The final wave of freshman application decisions will be made by the end of March, after we have completed our holistic file reading process. Thank you for your patience as we finish our reviews over the next month. Go Dawgs!

The Day Is Done Poem Analysis - 941 Words

In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s short poem, â€Å"The Day is Done,† the reader is given a glimpse of the Romantic era of American poetry. Structurally, it does contain many elements of this era, namely the playful usage of verse or rhyme schemes. However, this is where Longfellow’s work seems to end in relation to typical Romantic poetry. Upon further examination of this poem, the execution of subject matter does not seem to fit a typical Romantic era poems. Since Romantic poems overly gush with inner thoughts and sublimation, Longfellow seems to take a different route by, executing a sense of dreadfulness and depression. Upon reading this poem, The Day is Done†, I explore why a person of this era may have felt such disheartenment for the day’s†¦show more content†¦As Longfellow continues, he requests someone to come read to him any poem that is more â€Å"simple and heartfelt† which could help him wind down from the events of the day . Longfellow expresses that this poem need not be from grand old masters of the sublime and wishes for a reading from â€Å"some humbler poet, Whose songs gush from his heart† (Longfellow575). I feel a connection to this passage in that Longfellow longs for something more inspiring. As I mentioned above, being in such a strict household, it also lends itself to an over-abundance of seeking inspiration through the lens of Christianity. Going through these same motions, hearing the same passages and scriptures, it became somewhat of a challenge to find any inspiration at all. However, I can recall when my parents had visitors, who were not religious zealots, being quite refreshing. Instead of the typical bible thumping, scripture spouting sessions, I used to welcome the change of hearing about an exciting deer hunt or about a sporting event that someone attended. It was the liveliness of the conversations that compelled me to try to stay in the guests’ company as long a s my parents would allow, which wasn’t very long. However, I would embrace the entertaining discussions topics that, were beyond my ability experience but would gain enlightenment of how â€Å"normal people† lived their lives. . In contrast to these ideas IShow MoreRelatedThe Day Is Done Poem Analysis1005 Words   |  5 PagesExplication of â€Å"The Day is Done† by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The poem â€Å"The Day is Done,† by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, discusses an exhausted speaker’s wish to hear the work of a simple poet with the expectation that this will relieve his tired state. The steady, calming pace and slightly wistful tone provide the perfect background for the beautiful imagery of this poem, expressed through similes and figurative language. ‘The Day is Done† includes comments on reputation, life’s struggles, andRead MoreComparing Modern And Traditional Poems1359 Words   |  6 PagesModern and Traditional Poems Literature always reflects the reality in the contemporary world. There have been a number of poetic creations from remarkable writers who could skillfully fabricate works which echo the multidimensional aspects of the existing world. However, apart from considering a poem’s worth by linking to its social and cultural contexts, an independent analysis is quite possible. 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In Brontà « s poem, At Castle Wood, she establishes a sorrowful theme through the use of imagery, Brontà « s tone of somber throughout her poem and also her use of end rhyme, for the purpose of creating a simple yet powerfulRead MoreA Poison Tree Analysis Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: Analysis of William Blake’s A Poison Tree (1794) Analysis of William Blake’s A Poison Tree (1794) Jayne Courtney Kendall Brandman University Abstract This analysis is going to explore each segment to better understand the meaning the author was trying to express and the lessons that we in these words that transcends through all ages. The exploration and analysis will look further in to what we can take away from this writing and lesson we can learn in order for our soul’sRead MoreWilliam Blake Songs of Innocence Experience1256 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† Songs of Innocence amp; Experience analysis with, William Blake In 1794 William Blake’s work was known and published as a collection of poems that were put together as one book called Songs of innocence amp; Songs of Experience. In the collection Blake titles a poem, â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†, and this one is viewed in two ways: Innocence and experience. In the book of innocence Blake shows how poor innocent children are being abused and mistreated during this time era. In SongsRead MoreEssay about The Influence of the Common Scotish Life on Robert Burns1353 Words   |  6 Pageschildren† (The Calgary Burns Club) In order to make a living the Burns family had to become farmers in order to bring in a larger salary to keep afloat. Back in that day and time the whole family had to work together to bring in wages. Robert Burns was the oldest of the family and so he had to work by his father’s side. Most of his poems were about the natural world, and was influenced heavily by the outdoor work. Henry Mackenzie described Bur ns as a â€Å"Heaven-taught ploughman.† (BBC News) But we mustRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem I Was The Hardest Paper For Me 899 Words   |  4 Pagesif I was going to have another situation like in my literary analysis. I found that I often discouraged myself several times why writing. The paper I want to focus on in this reflection is my Analysis paper. The analysis paper was by far the hardest paper for me. Not because I did not know how to do it or even for the simple fact that I did not want to do it. I was hard because I could not figure out which way I wanted to portray the poem I decided to work with. During the writing I found myself startingRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Alfred s Ulysses 1043 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Analysis of Alfred Tennyson s Ulysses I soon researched the character ‘Ulysses’ after reading the poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. In my research on the character of Ulysses, I discovered there are different aspects that can be looked at from different viewpoints of which can affect whether you see him as Ulysses the hero, or as Ulysses the man. Lending to the reality that even though somebody may be your hero, he is still human underneath. In my analysis of the character UlyssesRead More Analysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Robert Frost tells a disturbing story in Out, Out, --, in which a little boy loses his life. The title of the poem leaves the reader to substitute the last word of the title, which some would assume would be out because of the repetition. The title is referring to the boy exiting the living world. Frost drags the readers mind into the poem with the imagistic description of the tools and atmosphere the little boy is surrounded by. Frost describesRead MoreAnalysis of I wondered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth1309 Words   |  6 PagesIn vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my hearth with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Analysis: Wordsworth had nature as his religion, and that was the main theme of his work and also a characteristic of romanticism. And it’s also very clear on this poem. As literary devices, we have Alliteration on the second line of the first stanza, alliteration and assonance on the fifth line of the first stanza and personification

Complete List of Transition Words

Once you have completed the first draft of your paper, you will need to rewrite some of the introductory sentences at the beginning and  the transition statements at the end of every paragraph. Transitions, which connect one idea to the next, may seem challenging at first, but they get easier once you consider the many possible methods for linking paragraphs together—even if they seem to be unrelated. Transition words and phrases  can help your paper move along, smoothly gliding from one topic to the next.  If you have trouble thinking of a way to connect your paragraphs, consider a few  of these 100 top transitions as inspiration. The type of transition words or phrases you use depends on the category of transition you need, as explained below. Additive Transitions Probably the most common type, additive transitions are those  you use when you want to show that the current point is an addition to the previous  one, notes  Edusson, a website that provides students with essay-writing tips and advice. Put another way, additive transitions signal to the reader that you are adding to an idea and/or your ideas are similar, says  Quizlet, an online teacher and student learning community. Some examples of additive transition words and phrases were compiled by Michigan State University  writing lab. Follow each transition word or phrase with a comma: IndeedIn the first placeAndOrTooNorFurtherMoreoverFurthermoreIn factLet aloneAlternativelyAs well (as this)What is moreIn addition (to this)ActuallyMuch lessOn the other handEither (neither)As a matter of factBesides (this)To say nothing ofAdditionallyNot to mention (this)Not only (this) but also (that) as wellIn all honestyTo tell the truth An example of  additive transitions used in a sentence would be: In the first place, no burning in the sense of combustion, as in the burning of wood, occurs in a volcano;  moreover, volcanoes are not necessarily mountains;  furthermore, the activity takes place not always at the summit but more commonly on the sides or flanks....– Fred Bullard,  Volcanoes in History, in Theory, in Eruption In this and the examples of transitions  in subsequent sections, the transition words or phrases are printed in italics to make them easier to find as you peruse the passages. Adversative Transitions Adversative transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction, concession, and dismissal says Michigan State University. Examples include: ButHoweverOn the other handIn contrastWhileWhereasConverselyEven moreAbove allBut even soNeverthelessNonethelessAlthoughThoughHowever(And) still(And) yetEither wayIn either case(Or) at leastWhichever happensWhatever happensIn ether event An example of an adversative transition phrase used in a sentence would be: On the other hand, professor Smith completely disagreed with the authors argument. Causal Transitions Causal transitions—also called cause-and-effect transitions—show how certain circumstances or events were caused by other factors, says Academic Help. The website that offers assistance with academic writing adds: They (causal transitions) make it easier for the reader to follow the logic of the arguments and clauses represented in paper. Examples include: AccordinglyAnd soAs a resultConsequentlyFor this reasonHenceSoThenThereforeThusGranting (that)On the condition (that)In the event thatAs a result (of this)Because (of this)As a consequenceConsequentlyIn consequenceSo  much (so) thatFor the purpose ofWith this intentionWith this in mindUnder those circumstancesThat being the caseThen An example of a causal transition used in a sentence would be: The study of human chromosomes is in its infancy,  and so  it has only recently become possible to study the effect of environmental factors upon them.–Rachel Carson, Silent Spring Sequential Transitions Sequential transitions express a numerical sequence, continuation, conclusion, digression, resumption, or summation, says Michigan State, which gives these examples: In the (first, second, third, etc.) placeTo begin withTo start withInitiallySecondlyNextSubsequentlyBeforeAfterwardAfter thisTo conclude withAs a final pointLast but not leastTo change the topicIncidentallyBy the wayTo get back to the pointTo resumeAnyhowAs was previously statedSoIn shortThusIn sumFinally An example of a sequential transition would be: We should teach that words are not the things to which they refer. We should teach that words are best understood as convenient tools for handling reality....Finally, we should teach widely that new words can and should be invented if the need arises.–Karol Janicki, Language Misconceived In sum, use transition words and phrases judiciously to keep your paper moving, hold your readers attention, and retain your audience until the final word.

English Doc Free Essays

Heda Margolius Kovaly who wrote â€Å"Under a Cruel Star† writes about her horrible, suffering and tragedy life she endured first in the Nazi communist rule in her citizen Czechoslovakia. She was born in Prague to a Jewish family. She was young at the time when the Germany attacked Czechoslovakia during the World War II. We will write a custom essay sample on English Doc or any similar topic only for you Order Now Heda was in concentration camps during the World War II she escaped from the Nazi, she hardly survived, but her family died. At the end of the war; she returned to Prague and took part in uprising against the Germany in May 1945, she got married to an old friend, named Rudolf Margolius who is Jewish too. I will be writing about how Heda Kovaly suffered under the Nazism and had high hope for communism, how she view freedom and how it changed after her life changed too. Moreover, how Rudolf trial changed her life. Heda suffered a lot to escape from the camps, but her insists and demand to be free were more powerful than her fear of dead. â€Å"People often ask me: How did you manage? To survive the camps! To escape! Everyone assumes it is easy to die but that the struggle to live requires a superhuman effort. Mostly it is the other way around. There is, perhaps, nothing harder than waiting passively for death. Staying alive is simple and natural and does not require any particular resolve. †(16). Towards the end of the war, Heda managed to escape from a death march to Bergen-Belsen and get to Prague. She fought for her personal freedom, but freedom perspective changed when she escaped from Nazi concentration then by joining the communist party thinking Friends were too scared of the punishments they would face if they helped her and she was wandered around the city for days trying to avoid arrest. After the end of World War II was ended the soviets had taken over Czechoslovakia Kovaly meaning of freedom change as her life changes. She united with her beloved Rudolph who got married and had son. They were struggling to find a house after they were sent to camps. At the end they were given a small apartment. Kovaly explains â€Å"although we continually hoped for freedom, our concept of freedom changed. † (60). Her concept of freedom before imprisonment was that it was â€Å"natural and self – evident. â€Å"By the end of their time in the camps, many prisoners came to accept the view that freedom is something that has to be earned and fought for, a privilege that is awarded, like a medal. (60-61). She clarified how it was impossible for the Czech people not to become â€Å"somewhat twisted†. Kovaly had fought for her personal freedom when she had escaped. From her experience and the problems she faced while she was escaping the camp, made her well aware of the politics around her. She was very intelligent and had her own opinion and she acknowledged the fact that â€Å"Our democracy had allowed the growth of the fascist and Nazi parties which in the end destroyed it† (57). She clarified that people were willing to work extremely hard to achieve their goal, that they want to rebuild the world. She always mentions how hard her husband worked to the party and many innocent people were thrown in jail. Heda’s life was different from all the other people in Czechoslovakia, because she was married to a man who was enrolled in the government administration. She had a unique point of view into the communist working government because her husband was a deputy minister in Czechoslovakian government. That helped Heda a lot to see the hypocrisies How to cite English Doc, Essay examples

Business Initiate Risk Management

Question: Discuss about the report for Business of Initiate Risk Management. Answer: Purpose and Support of the Risk Management standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 The risk management standard ISO 31000:2009 stands for providing principles and guidelines on risk management (Iso.org 2016). The standard can be applied in an organization throughout their operations, strategies, processes, functions, projects, assets, services and activities. The main purpose of the standard is to help an organization achieve resilience (Bostonconsulting.com.au. 2016). The guide shall help the organization recover quickly from the tough times. The guide shall help an organization attain proactive management that prepares them for risks or circumstances that would cause loss. The guide shall help the manager in thinking ahead and plan for the worse (Bsigroup.com. 2016). The guide assists decision-makers in understanding and implementing risk management strategies. The principles mentioned in the guide shall help in gaining the stakeholders trust and confidence. The managers can make rational decisions and plan accordingly. The standard also has greater certainty in the prevailing market conditions (Iso.org 2016). Key Elements Application of framework for risk management- One of the critical elements of risk management is to develop strategy. The top-level managers can develop a coherent strategy by utilizing the available resources through financial derivatives (uwa.edu.au. 2016). Principles for managing risk- The guide shall help in creating value by taking into consideration the overall decision making process. The strategy shall be structured and systematic (org.au. 2016). Enhanced risk management attributes- The organization shall fully be accountable for developing controls. The organization shall also lay emphasis on continuous improvement in the risk management process (gov.au. 2016). Guide to establishing and implementing effective risk management process- The guide shall be helpful in establishing efficient risk management process as it identifies risk and stakeholders. The other steps for risk management and reporting shall be based on the establishment of context and risk identification (Iso.org 2015). Risk management context- Risk management shall involve continuous identification of risks that emerge. Allowances shall be made for the risks that do not exist as soon as they shall be taken care of (org.au. 2016). Scope of Risk Management: Blue Horizons flagship caf in Hay Street has the opportunity to expand itself and manage new store in Red Hill. The scope of risk management for Blue Horizon business is to identify risks and reporting the same to the CEO providing recommendations. The risk management strategy shall be applied at all levels of the organization such as operations, strategies, processes, functions, projects, assets, services and activities. The different functions of the business such as human resources, occupational health and hazards (OHS), local governance and compliance issues shall be assessed. The strategy shall harmonize the processes in existing and future (Wiewiora et al. 2013). The risk management report shall identify the critical success factors so that the success or efficiency can be assessed based on the identified variables. The scope of the report also extends to the identification of relevant internal and external stakeholders with their role in the process. Risk identification is the first and foremost step in the risk management process. Based on the risk identification, the risks shall be analyzed, evaluated, treated, monitored and communicated (Agarwal et al. 2013). Critical Success Factors Communication- Good communication is extremely important. The board of directors must communicate the expectations to the senior management. The senior management must communicate with the caf employees. The caf employees must put their issues forward to the management (Chong 2014). Support and commitment from top level management- The top management plays a critical role in making decisions and managing risks. The top management influences the success level of the organization. The business process change shall be authorized by the top management (Young Conboy 2013). Organizational culture- The culture plays a critical role. The culture of existing Stirlings Caf might be different from Blue Horizon and it is necessary to adapt to the new organizational culture (Verbano Venturini 2013). Organizational structure- The current structure of Blue Horizon consists of Board of Directors, senior management team and the caf employees. The new structure may be different in pattern, authority and communication (Subramaniam et al. 2015). Information technology infrastructure- The organization shall consider IT as a basis of information and connector Stakeholders: Stakeholder Internal/external Role in process Issues or concerns Penny Binskin Internal Chief Executive Officer There could be loss of reputation of the organization. It could also affect the promotion aspects adversely. Ron Langley External Landlord and Counselor There is a potential loss of tenant. James Manson Internal Store supervisor He may lose his promotion if the processes are not managed efficiently. The Board of Directors Internal The directors determine of the risks are acceptable or not. They set standards or expectations from the lower levels of management. They effectively control the elements, procedures and processes. The board may undergo reputational damage if the strategic processes do not go on track. Senior Management Team Internal The senior management implements policies and control. They also evaluate the areas with significant risks. They are responsible for reviewing the risk management strategy. The board may undergo reputational damage if the strategic processes do not go on track. Caf Employees Internal The caf employees are responsible for communicating with the senior member regarding the risk management policies. They manage or control the risk as advised by the senior management. The employees in the caf may lose their employment at Blue Horizon Pty Ltd. if the management undertakes the management of new store at Red Hill at the existing Stirlings Caf. Federal Government External They are responsible for imposing laws on efficient water usage and penalizing the companies for excessive water breaches. The company may be liable for heavy taxes and penalties up to $50,000 if it uses excessive water. Risk Identification: Risk Explanation 1. Banking Risk The current financial risk at Horizon Pty Ltd does not protect the company against fraud and financial misappropriations. The organization does not have adequate control over making bank deposits, cash payments, cash withdrawals or keeping a sales record. The organization does not have proper rules that govern bank deposits that make it risky for robbery as $4000 was kept overnight. Additionally, there is no safe in the premises. This could be dangerous to the employees in the caf as there was 50% chance of break-ins and the consequence of the same could be moderate. 2. Travel Risk The store location was two-hours away from the central bakery plant that made it difficult to reach within time from Red Hill to Perth. As the pastries were freshly prepared, the delivery could be made after the morning rush making the business impractical. There is also a concern about getting the company-branded supplies through as quickly as a CBD Perth store could. Also, the meetings arranged for managers on a weekly basis did not finish until the evenings that made it risky to travel back. The manager runs a risk of accident as the roads were steep narrow up the range and a longer distance. 3. By-Law Compliance Risk Since the Stirlings Caf was a family-run store, some family members were employed as staff members. James, the store supervisor was responsible to run the operations of the store. Mr. Stirling would authorize wages but any staff member could authorize delivery. There is a fault in the compliance as there could be wrong deliveries if a specific person does not take care of it. Also, it was reported by Hames that the policy and procedures are handled verbally and are not written down. The staffs would be shown the manner in which work was supposed to be done. It is observed that the store currently uses 41,500 litres water a week. The water is wasted as the staffs run dishwashers only when it is half-full, the toilets are used in a single flush system, the fruits and vegetables are washed under fast-running tap. Also, the staffs were instructed to keep the non-native flowering plants in the courtyard fully watered. The organization wastes water thereby ending up paying huge amounts of taxes and costs due to the local law legislation. 4. Human Resources Risk There is no established process for taking care of the occupational hazards or injuries that may occur at work. The computer system that stores personal and confidential data of the employees is not protected with a password. Therefore, it can be accessed by anyone. The calculations and records of the wage and superannuation was incomplete as it was multiplied with in the hand amount. The fit-out of the caf looked old and broken. The chairs were unstable and the carpet was worn and taped over with gaffer tape. References Agarwal, R., Randhawa, K. Josserand, E.L., 2013. Strategically aligning a culture ofopen innovation'in organizations.ANZAM. Anand, G. Sameera, G. 2012. Importance of Risk Analysis and Management The Case of Australian Real Estate Market.Risk Management - Current Issues and Challenges. Bostonconsulting.com.au. 2016.BCG in Australia New Zealand Risk Management. [online] Available at: https://www.bostonconsulting.com.au/expertise_impact/capabilities/risk_management/default.aspx [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Bsigroup.com. 2016.ISO 31000 Risk Management. [online] Available at: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-AU/ISO-31000-Risk-Management/ [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Choi, Y., Ye, X., Zhao, L. Luo, A.C., 2016. Optimizing enterprise risk management: a literature review and critical analysis of the work of Wu and Olson.Annals of Operations Research,237(1-2), pp.281-300. Chong, S., 2014. Business process management for SMEs: an exploratory study of implementation factors for the Australian wine industry.Journal of Information Systems and Small Business,1(1-2), pp.41-58. Governance.uwa.edu.au. 2016.Policies and procedures : Governance : The University of Western Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.governance.uwa.edu.au/procedures/policies/policies-and-procedures?method=documentid=UP12%2F1 [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Hayne, C. Free, C., 2014. Hybridized professional groups and institutional work: COSO and the rise of enterprise risk management.Accounting, Organizations and Society,39(5), pp.309-330. Standards.org.au. 2016.Standards Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.standards.org.au/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Strong, B., Cater-Steel, A. Lane, M., 2014. Prudential risk management of IT sourcing strategies: a case study of an Australian bank. Subramaniam, N., Wahyuni, D., Cooper, B.J., Leung, P. Wines, G., 2015. Integration of carbon risks and opportunities in enterprise risk management systems: evidence from Australian firms.Journal of Cleaner Production,96, pp.407-417. Subramaniam, N., Wahyuni, D., Cooper, B.J., Leung, P. Wines, G., 2015. Integration of carbon risks and opportunities in enterprise risk management systems: evidence from Australian firms.Journal of Cleaner Production,96, pp.407-417. Verbano, C. Venturini, K., 2013. Managing risks in SMEs: A literature review and research agenda.Journal of technology management innovation,8(3), pp.186-197. Wiewiora, A., Trigunarsyah, B., Murphy, G. Coffey, V., 2013. Organizational culture and willingness to share knowledge: A competing values perspective in Australian context.International Journal of Project Management,31(8), pp.1163-1174. www.finance.gov.au. 2016.www.finance.gov.au. [online] Available at: https://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/COV_216905_Risk_Management_Fact_Sheet_FA3_23082010_0.pdf [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Young, M. Conboy, K., 2013. Contemporary project portfolio management: Reflections on the development of an Australian Competency Standard for Project Portfolio Management.International Journal of Project Management,31(8), pp.1089-1100.

How To Look After Your Mental And Physical Wellbeing At Uni

How To Look After Your Mental And Physical Wellbeing At Uni The mind and body are intrinsically connected; so if you feel off-balance in one, it will have an effect on the other. For example, if you are feeling stressed about a looming essay deadline you may also find that you experience a change in your appetite or feelings of fatigue. Looking after your mental wellbeing is just as important as looking after your physical wellbeing, and vice versa. Whether you are a fresher getting used to living away from home for the first time, or a third year student just about to take on the epic task of writing your dissertation, taking care of your personal wellbeing at university is vital. You may feel like self-care is a waste of precious time when there's reading to be done and lectures to attend; but if you neglect your wellbeing you will likely find that your attendance and the quality of your work will begin to suffer. What can affect your wellbeing? Everyone is different, and the things that affect your wellbeing might be different to the things that affect other people's wellbeing. However, some common causes of unbalanced mental and physical wellbeing include the following: Loneliness and social isolation Stress, anxiety, and depression Relationship problems Loss or bereavement Financial worries Issues at work or university Poor housing conditions When your mind is preoccupied with thoughts of your ever-increasing uni workload and how to spread your budget as far as possible, and you're unable to get any proper rest because your housemates are too noisy or you're feeling homesick, you'll start to feel pretty run down. Your mental wellbeing will begin to suffer, and you may find that you feel less happy than you used to. This can then cause you to feel less motivated to eat healthily or take regular exercise, and a lack of physical exercise coupled with a poor diet can leave you feeling tired and run down, but perhaps unable to sleep and rest properly, thus compounding the problem over time. What steps can you take to improve wellbeing? Start with self care Self care is the practice of an individual taking the necessary steps to look after their physical and mental wellbeing in a number of different ways, along a continuum of needs. The Self Care Forum use the below diagram to illustrate the idea of a continuum of self-care: At one end of the continuum we have pure self-care which is the responsibility of the individual; this includes things such as eating healthily, taking regular exercise, maintaining a good level of personal hygiene, and generally making the effort to look after themselves. At the other end of the spectrum are the major physical and mental health conditions that require purely professional medical care. Along the spectrum, between the two extremes, are minor ailments and acute or long-term conditions that may require a mixture of self-care and professional care in order to treat them effectively. Below we'll go into much more depth about the measures you can take to introduce more self care into your life in order to keep your mental and physical wellbeing on balance. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another, but here are plenty of ideas for you if you're unsure where to begin. Recommended methods of self care... Connect with people Spending time with friends and family, or making the effort to meet new people, can help to give you a greater sense of belonging and alleviate any feelings of loneliness. There are a number of ways in which you can connect with others, for example: Make time for people: It's important to prioritise spending time connecting with the people you love. Whether you hang out with friends in between lectures, spend the occasional weekend at home with your parents and siblings, or maintain regular contact via phone calls, text messages, or Skype, regularly seeing and speaking to loved ones strengthens those relationships. Strong relationships with friends and family means a better support network when you need it the most. Join a society: There are plenty of societies and clubs you can join at university which will allow you to spend time interacting with students who have similar interests to yourself. This is a great way to make friends at the same time as learning new skills, enriching your university experience, and boosting your CV. Volunteer in the community: Giving your time to help others can be very fulfilling and can offer you a different perspective on life. Many universities have schemes where students can sign up to volunteer at hospices, schools, care homes, or conservational projects, for example. Volunteering your time for free to help others can improve your wellbeing and enrich your sense of self-worth. Eat a balanced diet We all know that old adage â€Å"you are what you eat†, but it's true, to some extent. The food and drinks that you fuel your body with are important for your overall wellbeing. Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in order to function efficiently; some of these can be made by your body, but most of them need to be consumed regularly. You should aim to eat as broad a range of foods as possible; it can be difficult to achieve this on a student budget but here are some tips that might help you: Eat in season: Buy fresh produce that is in season as it will usually be much cheaper. Try local farmers' markets or cooperatives for fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Ditch the takeaways: Fast food, takeaways, and convenience foods are handy on rare occasions, but relying on them daily can be expensive. Instead, perfect a few key recipes and cook your favourite meals from scratch to save money. Buy in bulk: Team up with your housemates and buy things like pasta, rice, and potatoes in bulk as these form the basis for many meals and are cheaper in larger quantities. Cook in bulk: Cooking can be pretty time consuming, so you can either take it in turns to cook for your housemates, or cook a big batch of something like chilli or curry and freeze portions for quick and easy meals throughout the week. Swap out some ingredients: To save money try swapping out some ingredients for cheaper ones. For example, lentils or soya mince can be used in place of minced beef in bolognaise sauce, chilli, or shepherd's pie; and chickpeas, cauliflower, or potato can take the place of chicken in a curry. Opt for tinned or frozen fruit and veg: Fresh produce can be expensive, but tinned or frozen fruit and vegetables are just as good for you but are much cheaper. In fact, frozen veg is actually said to contain more nutrients because of how quickly it is frozen after picking! Eat more eggs: Provided you don't have an egg allergy or intolerance, eggs make the perfect student food choice. One medium sized egg contains around 70 calories, and a great deal of the nutrients your body needs. Try omelettes, scrambled or poached eggs on toast, or a Spanish tortilla filled with potato and veg. For more tips on cooking and eating healthily on a student budget see our article ‘The Healthy Student's Guide to University Recipes' Be active Physical activity is pretty much a miracle cure for a wide variety of physical and mental afflictions. Whether you are suffering with a bad back, a lack of energy, depression, or low self-esteem, there's some form of exercise you can do that will help you to feel better. Being more physically active, whether you run, play badminton, dance, or do yoga, will have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing in the following ways: Weight loss and maintenance: Being more physically active helps you to burn unwanted calories and fat, and can lead to a slimmer, more toned physique. Healthier bones: Weight-bearing exercise such as walking, running, and aerobics, helps to strengthen your bones and build muscle. Improved sleep: Those who are more active during the day typically find that they are better able to fall asleep, and wake feeling more rested. More energy: Exercise may make you feel fatigued at first, but over time your energy levels will increase and you'll feel much less lethargic. Better resistance to stress: The fitter you become, the better your body will become at regulating cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone released by your body in response to anxiety. High levels of cortisol over a prolonged period have been linked to health problems such as heart disease, lowered immunity, depression, and anxiety. Happier moods: Exercise changes your brain chemistry and releases endorphins, the ‘happy hormone' which can help to improve your mood and calm anxiety. Increased self-esteem: Exercising regularly means you'll feel fitter and healthier, you'll have more energy, and you'll feel less stressed, or better-able to cope with stress. All of this helps to improve your self-esteem and boost your confidence. Connecting with people: Going to an exercise class or playing a sport is a good way to meet new people to connect and interact with. Also, exercising with your existing friends is a good way to strengthen the relationship and keep each other motivated. Get outside Being outside during daylight hours can have a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Exposure to sunlight enables your body to produce vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth, and for the regulation of the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods. Being outside when it's light also helps with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a form of depression that typically appears in the autumn and winter, and often disappears in the spring and summer. Symptoms of SAD include feelings of worthlessness and despair, lethargy and fatigue, persistent low mood, irritability, sleeping more and having trouble waking, and craving carbohydrates and gaining weight. If you suffer with SAD you should aim to get outside in the sun for at least 10 to 15 minutes per day. You could achieve this by walking home from lectures instead of taking the bus, sitting outside to eat your lunch, going for a run in the park with a friend, or sitting in your back garden with a book. Even if you don't suffer from SAD, being outdoors is good for the soul, especially if you can spend time around greenery like a park or garden. Listening to the sounds of nature can help you to relax and feel grounded when life gets hectic and overwhelming. Rest and sleep Sleep is when your body repairs and restores itself, so if you're not sleeping properly, your body can't rest and heal adequately. Getting too little sleep can leave you with no energy, unable to concentrate, and experiencing mood swings. This can then have an impact on your social relationships as well as affecting your ability to attend lectures and carry out other daily tasks effectively. Common sleep problems that people experience include: Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night and being unable to fall asleep again, waking very early in the morning, or finding that sleep doesn't refresh you and you constantly feel tired. For more information see our article on ‘Dealing With Insomnia at University' Oversleeping: Sleeping more than your body needs doesn't have the same impact on your life as insomnia, but it can cause you to miss lectures or leave yourself with less time for studying and socialising. Nightmares and night terrors: A nightmare is more than a dream, it is intense and frightening, causing you to wake up and often leaving you feeling very scared. Night terrors occur during deep sleep and can cause people to sweat and scream and have difficulty waking from them. Sleep walking: Getting up in the night and carrying out activities whilst sleeping. It's not usually dangerous in itself, but there is a risk of tripping over, banging into things, or causing an accident depending on the activities attempted during the sleep walking. Sleep paralysis: Waking in the night but being unable to speak or move because the hormones have not yet reached the muscles. It can't harm you but it can be very scary and lead to anxiety about going back to sleep. There are a number of ways that you can try to improve your ability to fall asleep, and the quality of your sleep: Go to bed and wake at the same time: Try to go to bed at the same time and wake at the same time each day, even on weekends. At first you might struggle to fall asleep and may have difficulty waking with your alarm, but persevere and eventually your body's natural rhythm will reset and adjust. Establish a bedtime routine: Try to do the same things each evening before bed to relax your mind and body. It could be that you have a warm bath before bed, or maybe you would prefer to drink a warm cup of milk and read a book to relax. Gentle yoga stretches can also help you to wind down and get into sleep mode. Limit screen time before bed: The light from smartphone, tablet, and laptop screens can stimulate your brain, keeping it active and awake when you want the opposite to happen. Try to avoid using any of these devices for an hour before you go to bed; the same goes for the TV too. Cut down on alcohol, smoking, and drugs During times of stress, anxiety, or depression many people turn to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to cope. However, any substance that has the ability to alter your brain's chemistry and affect your feelings and behaviours can have a big impact on your physical and mental wellbeing either immediately, or over time. Alcohol is a depressant, and it alters your brain chemicals. You may be in a good mood when you have that first drink, and you'll immediately feel a surge of confidence and self-esteem; but the more you drink the more the alcohol affects your brain, and it can actually bring negative emotions to the surface. Abusing alcohol on a regular basis can exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety, and impede your overall wellbeing. Smoking and taking recreational drugs also affects your brain chemistry in a way that you can't control. Whether you become physically addicted to the substances you are ingesting, or it is more of a habitual addiction, relying on cigarettes or drugs can have a big impact on your wellbeing. How to cut down: Keep a diary: Make a note of when you get cravings for cigarettes, when you use drugs, or when you drink alcohol, and record how you're feeling and what you're doing at the time. This way you can notice any patterns and address them accordingly. Alternate drinks: On a night out, aim to alternate between alcoholic drinks and soft drinks. This will help to prevent you getting too drunk too quickly, and will also help to hydrate you and lessen the risk of a hangover. Hang out with different people: If your usual group of friends are all heavy drinkers, smokers, or recreational drug users, try to limit the amount of time you spend with them and hang out with a different group of friends instead to avoid temptation. Find alternative ways to relax: Rather than reaching for alcohol and drugs during times of stress or anxiety, try going for a walk or run, doing some yoga, reading a book, taking a bath, chatting with a friend on the phone, or meditating. Give something back Whether you volunteer and help out in the community, or do some random acts of kindness, giving something back to others can give you a greater sense of self-worth. Here are some great ways that you can give to others: Volunteer your time at a charity shop, community event, or soup kitchen. Visit an elderly neighbour and keep them company or do their shopping for them. Give a meaningful gift or send a thoughtful handwritten letter to a friend. Pay for the coffee of the person in front of you in the coffee shop queue. Stop and chat to a homeless person and offer to buy them breakfast. Whatever you choose to do, by giving back to others you are enriching their lives as well as your own. Knowing that you've done something nice for someone else without asking for anything in return will help you to feel fulfilled and calm. Depending on how you choose to give to others, you could also enrich your social networks too. Be mindful Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and paying attention to the little details of your day. Practising mindfulness can help with mental wellbeing and is particularly useful for those who suffer with anxiety and depression as it can help you to feel more grounded during low periods or panic attacks. If you're new to mindfulness and wondering where to start here are a few tips: Breathe: Oxygen is our life force, so sometimes it's beneficial for your mind and body if you just sit for five minutes and focus on doing some deep, controlled breathing. Breathe in slowly through the nose for a count of four, hold for two counts, and breathe out for a count of four through your nose. Repeat this a few times and you'll notice you can take deeper and deeper breaths and you'll feel much calmer and relaxed. Slow down: Stress occurs when you whizz through life and don't stop to savour it. Aim to have at least one meal per day where you eat slowly, enjoying each mouthful and focusing on nourishing your body, rather than quickly swallowing a sandwich on your way from one lecture to the next each day. Practise yoga: The ancient art of yoga has been practised for thousands of years, and is a great way to achieve mindfulness. It encourages you to align your breathing with your movement, focussing on moving from one posture to the next. For more tips on how to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life, see our article ‘Tips For Bringing Mindfulness Into Everyday Life' in which a number of leading yogis share their top tips for improving your wellbeing.

Racial Stereotypes and Food Product Marketing

Racial Stereotypes and Food Product Marketing The images of racial minorities have been used to hawk food for more than a century. Bananas, rice, and pancakes are just some of the food items that have historically been marketed with visages of people of color. Because such items have long been criticized for promoting racial stereotypes, however, the link between race and food marketing remains a touchy subject. When President Obama rose to prominence and Obama Waffles and Obama Fried Chicken made their debut soon after, controversy followed. Once again, an African American was being used to push food, critics said. Take a look around your kitchen. Do any of the items in your cupboards promote racial stereotypes? The list of items below may change your mind about what constitutes a racist food product. Frito Bandito In the age of Dora the Explorer, its difficult to imagine a time when a Latino cartoon character wasnt portrayed as caring, adventurous, and inquisitive, but as sinister. When Frito-Lay rolled out Frito Bandito in 1967, though, thats exactly what happened. The Bandito, the cartoonish mascot for Frito-Lay corn chips, had a gold tooth, a pistol and a penchant for stealing chips. To boot, the Bandito, clad in a huge sombrero and boots with spurs, spoke broken English with a thick Mexican accent. A group called The Mexican-American Anti-Defamation Committee objected to this stereotypical image, causing Frito-Lay to change the Banditos appearance so he did not appear as devious. He became kind of friendly and rascally, but still wanted to heist your corn chips, explained David Segal, who wrote about the character for Slate.com in 2007. The committee found these changes didnt go far enough and continued campaigning against Frito-Lay until the company removed him from promotional materials in 1971. Uncle Bens Rice The image of an elderly black man has appeared in ads for Uncle Bens Rice since 1946. So, just who exactly is Ben? According to the book Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Rastus: Blacks in Advertising Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Ben was a Houston rice farmer known for his superior crops. When Texas food broker Gordon L. Harwell launched a brand of commercial rice cooked to preserve nutrients, he decided to name it Uncle Bens Converted Rice, after the respected farmer, and use the image of an African-American maitre d he knew to be the face of the brand. On the packaging, Uncle Ben appeared to be a menial type, as suggested by his Pullman Porter-like attire. Moreover, the title Uncle likely derives from the practice of whites addressing elderly African Americans as uncle and aunt during segregation because the titles Mr. and Mrs. were deemed unsuitable for blacks, who were regarded as inferior. In 2007, however, Uncle Ben received a makeover of sorts. Mars, the owner of the rice brand, debuted a website in which Uncle Ben is portrayed as the chairman of the board in a posh office. This virtual facelift was a way for Mars to bring Ben, an outdated racial stereotype of the black man as sharecropper-servant, into the 21st century. Chiquita Bananas Generations of Americans have grown up eating Chiquita bananas. But its not just the bananas they remember fondly, its Miss Chiquita, the comely figure the banana company has used to brand the fruit since 1944. With a sensual swagger and flamboyant Latin American attire, the bilingual Miss Chiquita makes the men swoon, as vintage advertisements of the bombshell demonstrate. Miss Chiquita is widely thought to have been inspired by Brazilian beauty Carmen Miranda who appeared in ads for Chiquita bananas. The actress has been accused of promoting the exotic Latina stereotype because she achieved fame wearing pieces of fruit on her head and revealing tropical clothing. Some critics argue that it’s all the more insulting for a banana company to play into this stereotype because the women, men, and children who worked in banana farms toiled in grueling conditions, often falling gravely ill as a result of pesticide exposure. Land O Lakes Butter Make a trip to the dairy section of your grocery store, and youll find the Native American woman known as the Indian maiden on Land O Lakes butter. How did this woman come to be featured on Land OLakes products? In 1928, officials from the company received a photo of a Native woman with a butter carton in hand as cows grazed and lakes flowed in the background. Because Land O Lakes is based in Minnesota, the home of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, the company reps welcomed the idea of using the maidens image to sell its butter. In recent years, writers such as H. Mathew Barkhausen III, who is of Cherokee and Tuscarora descent, have called the image of the Land O Lakes maiden stereotypical. She wears two braids in her hair, a headdress, and an animal skin frock with beaded embroidery. Also, for some, the maidens serene countenance erases the suffering indigenous peoples have experienced in the United States. Eskimo Pie Eskimo Pie ice cream bars have been around since 1921 when a candy shop owner named Christian Kent Nelson noticed that a little boy couldn’t decide whether to buy a chocolate bar or ice cream. Why not have both available in one confection, Nelson figured. This line of thinking led him to create the frozen treat known then as the â€Å"I-Scream Bar.† When Nelson partnered up with chocolate maker Russell C. Stover, though, the name was changed to Eskimo Pie and the image of an Inuit boy in a parka was featured on the packaging. Today, some indigenous peoples from the arctic regions of North America and Europe object to the name â€Å"Eskimo† in the use of the frozen pies and other sweets, not to mention in society generally. In 2009, for example, Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons, a Canadian Inuit, made newspaper headlines after publicly objecting to references to the Eskimo in the names of popular desserts. She called them â€Å"an insult to her people.† â€Å"When I was a little girl white kids in the community used to tease me about it in a bad way. It’s just not the correct term,† she said of Eskimo. Instead, Inuit should be used, she explained. Cream of Wheat When Emery Mapes of the North Dakota Diamond Milling Company set out in 1893 to find an image to market his breakfast porridge, now called Cream of Wheat, he decided to use the face of a black chef. Still on promotional packaging for Cream of Wheat today, the chef- who was given the name Rastus, has become a cultural icon, according to sociologist David Pilgrim of Ferris State University. â€Å"Rastus is marketed as a symbol of wholeness and stability,† Pilgrim asserts. â€Å"The toothy, well-dressed black chef happily serves breakfast to a nation.† Not only was Rastus portrayed as subservient but also as uneducated, Pilgrim points out. In a 1921 advertisement, a grinning Rastus holds up a chalkboard with these words: â€Å"Maybe Cream of Wheat aint got no vitamins. I dont know what them things is. If they’s bugs they aint none in Cream of Wheat.† Rastus represented the black man as a child-like, unthreatening slave. Such images of blacks perpetuated the notion that African Americans were content with a separate but (un)equal existence while making Southerners of the time feel nostalgic about the Antebellum Era. Aunt Jemima Aunt Jemima is arguably the most well-known minority â€Å"mascot† of a food product, not to mention the longest lasting. Jemima came to be in 1889 when Charles Rutt and Charles G. Underwood created a self-rising flour that the former called Aunt Jemima’s recipe. Why Aunt Jemima? Rutt reportedly got the inspiration for the name after seeing a minstrel show that featured a skit with a Southern mammy named Jemima. In Southern lore, mammies were matronly black female domestics who doted on the white families they served and cherished their role as subordinates. Because the mammy caricature was popular with whites in the late 1800s, Rutt used the name and likeness of the mammy he’d seen in the minstrel show to market his pancake mix. She was smiling, obese, and wore a headscarf fit for a servant. When Rutt and Underwood sold the pancake recipe to the R.T. Davis Mill Co., the organization continued to use Aunt Jemima to help brand the product. Not only did the image of Jemima appear on product packaging, but the R.T. Davis Mill Co. also enlisted real African-American women to appear as Aunt Jemima at events such as the 1893 World’s Exposition in Chicago. At these events, black actresses told stories about the Old South which painted life there as idyllic for both blacks and whites, according to Pilgrim. America ate up the mythical existence of Aunt Jemima and the Old South. Jemima became so popular that the R.T. Davis Mill Co. changed its name to the Aunt Jemima Mill Co. Moreover, by 1910, more than 120 million Aunt Jemima breakfasts were being served annually, Pilgrim notes. Following the civil rights movement, however, black Americans began voicing their objection to the image of a black woman as a domestic who spoke grammatically incorrect English and never challenged her role as servant. Accordingly, in 1989, Quaker Oats, who’d purchased the Aunt Jemima Mill Co. 63 years earlier, updated Jemima’s image. Her head wrap had vanished, and she wore pearl earrings and a lace collar instead of a servant’s clothing. She also appeared younger and significantly thinner. The matronly domestic Aunt Jemima originally appeared as had been replaced by the image of a modern African-American woman. Wrapping Up Despite the progress that’s occurred in race relations, Aunt Jemima, Miss Chiquita, and similar spokes-characters remain fixtures in American food culture. All came to fruition during a time when it was unthinkable that a black man would become president or a Latina would sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Accordingly, they serve to remind us about the great strides people of color have made over the years. In fact, many consumers likely buy a pancake mix from Aunt Jemima with little idea that the woman on the box was originally a slave prototype. These same consumers likely find it difficult to understand why minority groups object to President Obama’s image on a box of waffles or a recent Duncan Hines cupcake ad that seemed to use blackface imagery. There’s a long tradition in the U.S. of using racial stereotypes in food marketing, but in the 21st century America patience for that kind of advertising has run out.

Understanding Concepts of Strategy in Business and War Essay

Understanding Concepts of Strategy in Business and War - Essay Example In war, the strategy calls for a careful study of the weakest areas within the enemy camp, and in business one of the first steps in the struggle to succeed is to target the weak spots in the structure of a rival company. It is equally important to establish a final goal. Is winning enough? The strategy is not successful if a country or a company cannot maintain its position, especially in a global society. There must be a plan for follow-up when the initial goal is met. One example of the failure to establish a final goal is the â€Å"war† in the Middle East. The concept in both war and business is to be a winner and not a loser, but U.S. presence in Iraq shows no signs of reaching its unrealistic goal. Setting a target and meeting goals could be regarded as two of the external environmental factors necessary for success in both war and business. However, in addition to understanding the opposition, it is important in both areas to train a contingent of individuals, whether troops or employees, to learn the rules and work together to resolve any weaknesses within the organization or blog. Thornton (2006) notes that by establishing organized troops and having a vision of what he wished to achieve, Alexander the Great from the small country of Mesopotamia was able to defeat armies ten times his size due to his strong leadership skills. These are the skills needed by CEOs in successful companies and can be considered another of the inner environmental factors needed in both war and business planning.

Anything that is commonly discussable or interesting Research Paper

Anything that is commonly discussable or interesting - Research Paper Example In Medieval Latin, it was considered to be a â€Å"crime against nature†. In today’s world, some believe that it is a natural desire, not an acquired behavior or lifestyle choice, therefore, it is moral. On the other hand, some believes that this behavior is an adaptation, not inherent nature of human being. It distorts the divine mandate (procreation), marriage, physical and psychological health of human being, therefore, it is immoral. This research paper posits that homosexuality is unnatural and it defies the sanctity of marriage, divine purpose of procreation, and therefore, it is immoral practice. One of the major reasons behind the opposition of homosexual relationship is that it is unnatural, therefore, immoral and must not be practiced. Corvino argues that most of the opposition for homosexuality stems from five basic interpretations of â€Å"naturalness†. He exclaims what unnatural really means for opponents. There are many things that people value and consider ethical are unnatural, for instance, clothing, housing, medicine, government or organizational systems. On the other hand, people detest many natural things, such as, death, misery, disease. Later events are entirely natural but people find it hard to accept them (309). In order to understand opponents’ idea of unnatural, Corvino borrows its five definitions from Burton Leiser. Firstly, Leiser believes that what is unusual or abnormal is unnatural. It implies that homosexual relationship deviates from the norm and what most people practice. It is obvious that most people get into heterosexual relationship; however, Corvino argues that it does not make homosexual relationship wrong. He asserts that most people don’t learn Sanskrit, play mandolin, pilot ships, breed goats, or write with both hands, yet none of these are considered immoral on the basis of their unusualness (310). He further quotes Ramsey

Yum! Brands Food

Yum! Brands Food Yum! Brands America is not what it once was. Gone are the times of spending hours sitting on the front porch while grandma snapped a pound of green beans for dinner. Instead, those times have been replaced with speeding through a drive-thru window to grab a quick bite to eat. Foods that were once referred to as slow-cooked, wholesome, and hearty, are now being described by words such as, fast, convenient, and fatty. We now live in an evolving world, where a single moment of free time is branded as wasted time for progress. The fast-food industry has emerged almost immediately. â€Å"Yum! Brands, Inc., was reported as the largest fast-food company in 2004† (Krug (2004) pg. 627). This company is made up of many household brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, and AW restaurants. In the fast-food industry, they are the market leader in the chicken, pizza, mexican, and seafood segments (Krug, 2004). Yum! Brands goal is to be the market leader in the United States, and also increase market share in high growth areas around the world. One strategy that Yum! Brands implemented to increase market share in the United States was to combine two of the companys franchises into one location to attract a broader customer base. This has brought tremendous success to the company. Yum! Brands has since shifted its focus to an international strategy to expand on their current market share. The rise of the fast-food industry is not confined to the United States alone. The world as we know it has evolved into a fast-paced no wait zone. Although based on a countrys culture, the dining practices of the worlds countries are quite different. Some countries remain steadfast to their culture and have been reluctant to embrace the fast-food concept. This presents the strategic issue. How can Yum! Brands continue to expand on their international strategy while sustaining their leadership and competitive advantage in the United States and other countries? We will now address this issue by applying an analysis that will help Yum! Brands decide which countries need to be evaluated and when to expand their company into new markets. In order for Yum! Brands to venture outside of the United States, they must first evaluate the markets in which they are planning to enter. This type of analysis requires a model that evaluates the economic conditions, political stability, cultural differences, resources, society conditions, and supporting industries associated within a given market. Michael Porter of Harvard University concluded that â€Å"there are four broad attributes of nations that individually, and as a system, constitute what is termed ‘the diamond of national advantage† (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner 2007 pg. 240). We will find this analysis to be the most beneficial to Yum! Brands. In this analysis, we will be analyzing what issues Yum! Brands should address before entering a market. These issues are factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and firm strategy, structure, and rivalry. We begin the analysis with factor conditions. These conditions reflect each nations factors of production and should be industry and firm specific. Yum! Brands should be looking at what each country possesses, as far as firm-specific knowledge and skills created within the country that are rare, valuable, difficult to imitate, and rapidly and efficiently deployed. If these factors do not exist in a country, then Yum! Brands will need to consider whether the firm can create these factors using their own intellectual assets. One factor advantage for expanding into the Latin American markets, for instance, is that the costs associated with labor and salaries will be significantly less than in the United States. This is due to inflation rates, economies of scale, and unemployment rates. Yum! Brands has been successful in other markets because almost all of their franchises outside of the United States are locally owned and operated. This reduces the language barriers and allows a cultura l perspective that might otherwise be a major concern. By allowing local business people to own the franchise, Yum! Brands gains intellectual knowledge on the countrys culture and consumer demands in a given market. Analyzing demand conditions is important because without knowing what the customers wants and needs are, we cannot efficiently serve the market. In the United States, we know that the demand for fast-food is high, based on our lifestyle and growing population trends. Although in Latin America, this may not be the case, due to consumer awareness and cultural differences. Yum! Brands will need to rely on economic and trend analysts to predict the cultural and societal trends of that market. Among the things analyzed should be the ethnic and immigration trends of that country. In the United States, we have seen a growth in ethnic food, due to the recent growth in immigration. Another thing to consider when analyzing demand conditions is the level of income individuals are receiving. A rise in income stimulates growth in the dine-in restaurant segment as consumers receive higher disposable incomes (Krug, 2004). Yum! Brands may need to expand and improve on existing products in order to s ustain competitive advantage. Related and Supporting Industries deal with countries managing inputs more efficiently. Close working relationships with suppliers is a key factor in gaining competitive advantage. In the United States, we have seen that distribution of products is highly correlated with production. Distribution between states within the country is non problematic, based on the free trade barriers that exist between them. This is also true of distribution to Canada and Mexico, due to the North American Free Trade Agreement that enabled free trade and tariffs between North American countries. Also, the geographic proximity of Latin America to the United States gives the firm an advantage towards supplier power. Yum! Brands will need to assess the supplier power, as well as other related relationships relevant to success, in each market before entering. Also, it is important for Yum! Brands to research trade laws and regulations between their home market and potential foreign markets. Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry is perhaps the most important segment in analyzing a foreign market. â€Å"Rivalry is particularly intense in nations with conditions of strong consumer demand, strong supplier bases, and high new entrant potential from related industries† (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner 2007 pg. 243). In the fast-food segment, we have seen that domestic rivalry is very high within the United States. Although, based on cultural differences in Latin America, the demand is low, because most Latin Americans have not yet acquired a taste for American food. Instead, Latin Americans continue to embrace dining at home. Economics are another factor reflecting domestic rivalry. As we have already discussed, the pay rate in Latin American countries is significantly lower than in the United States. This results in lower consumer demand which reduces the competitive environment in Latin America. How a country is run can also influence domestic rivalry and strategy. With popul ations on the rise around the world, as well as in Latin America, a trend may soon be emerging that will shift all dining practices to a more American style of eating. As long as Yum! Brands continues to innovate and make changes in its internal framework, they should be able to achieve their international strategic goals. It is imperative that Yum! Brands does not venture into foreign markets without first analyzing the market in which they are entering. Also, if they try to expand too rapidly, they may experience limited resources and cash flow. Yum! Brands will want to expand into areas with high economic growth potential, as well as, regions with rising population and political stability. â€Å"Firms that succeed in global markets had first succeeded in intense competition in their home markets. We can conclude that competitive advantage for global firms typically grows out of relentless, continuing improvement, innovation, and change† (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner 2007 pg. 243). Based on the history of Yum! Brands success in the United States, we can assume that the company is a prime candidate to venture into international markets. Works Cited Krug, Jeffrey A. (2004). Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut, and KFC. Appalachian State  University, 627-638. Dess, G. Gregory, Lumpkin, G.T, Eisner, B. Eisner (2007). Strategic Management 3e.  Mcgraw-Hill. Diamond of National Advantage Domestic Rivalry high in the U.S. based on cultural trends economics low in Latin America fast-food versus dining at home Factor Conditions Demand Conditions requires high population low in Latin America modern technology high in U.S. communication systems dining practices language barriers immigration trends tariffs and trade regulations consumer awareness legal system growth in suburban areas banking system unemployment rates labor costs Related and Supporting Industries close proximity to the supplier supplier bases must be prevalent in an industry can a supplier base be created trade barriers can similar suppliers be substituted

Ikea Management Analysis Essay

Abstract: This article is an analysis of the IKEA’s supply chain. IKEA’s supply chain is globally with sales in more than 250 own stores in 24 countries and 32 external franchisees in 16 countries. It has special supplier management, store design, and warehouse management. IKEA Supply Chain system includes IOS, TSO, material and suppliers, DC and IKEA store. IKEA global planning has seven processes. Sale planning and demand planning are in this article. IKEA’s supply chain was operated really successful, however, it still exist some problems, like lack of central coordination, inaccurate sale forecasts, and high inventory costs. In the end, this article will provide some recommendations to solve those problems. Introduction IKEA, founded in 1943, is one of the best home furniture company in the world whose, and its vision is â€Å"To provide better life for everyone†. IKEA provides modern and fashionable low cost furniture for over 38 countries with 301 stores. It is the largest furniture retail chain in the world and boasts a range of 12000 products, including home furniture, accessories and some other stuff. What’s more, it’s concern for people and environment lead to excellent use of raw material and energy, which result in their green targets and the overall environment. A supply chain is a network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities, and suppliers that participate in the production, delivery, and sale of a product to the consumer. The supply chain is typically made up of multiple companies who coordinate activities to set themselves apart from the competition. A supply chain has three key parts: Supply focuses on the raw materials supplied to manufacturing, including how, when, and from what location. Manufacturing focuses on converting these raw materials into finished products. Distribution focuses on ensuring these products reach the consumers through an organized network of distributors, warehouses, and retailers. Ikea is a worldwide company and its supply chain also deserves us to study. In this paper we are going to analyze the IKEA’s supply chain in the market and we will also analysis the strategy and plan of the company. In addition, we would give our proposed recommendation in the end. IKEA Supply Chain Strategy IKEA’s supply chain is global with sales in more than 250 own stores in 24 countries and 32 external franchisees in 16 countries. The stores are supplied through 31 distribution countries, or directly from the 1,350 suppliers in more than 50 countries. IKEA’s supply chain consequently has a global spread with both sales and purchasing in all major regions of the world. IKEA’s growth has been tremendous and sales are still growing. Currently IKEA plans to open 10-20 new stores every year with a goal to double sales within the coming five year. Considering the pace of growth in sales, the many stores and warehouses, and the fact that some business areas change up to 30% of its assortment every year, supply chain planning is a real challenge. The supply chain needs tight control and high levels of visibility to keep costs down and avoid obsolete inventory and/or stock outs. The IKEA supply chain is mainly make-to-stock (MTS) and only a few products are made to custo mer orders. Consequently, the entire supply chain is heavily dependent on forecasts. The regions and the stores have traditionally had a strong power and a high degree of local freedom in terms of planning and placing replenishment requests. This has led to a fragmented supply chain planning with local optimization and a lot of manual intervention with plans throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, due to frequent shortage situations some regions have purposely overestimated demand to ensure delivery, which in turn has led to imbalance in terms of demand coverage. Hence, some markets have suffered from stock outs during long periods, whereas other markets have ended up with obsolete inventories. Forecasting has been done on a regional level with approximately 120 users striving for different goals and using different methods. Part of the explanation to this is that IKEA has lacked a common and structured tactical planning of demand and replenishment. In terms of capacity planning, all different parts of the supply chain (stores, warehouses, regions, etc.) tried to optimize its own part of the supply chain, leading to a set of imbalanced supply plans with a low and unstable total throughput with long replenishment times for the supply chain as a whole. IKEA initiated a program (cluster of projects) aiming to taking better control of its supply chain, and enhance performance in terms of delivery service and costs. A new global planning concept was developed and is currently being implemented. Its cornerstones are mutually integrated planning processes, a centralized planning organization, focus on data quality and use of advanced software support. The purpose of this article is to outline IKEA’s global supply chain planning concept and describe the roles of the planning organization, data quality, software support and project and change management in the concept and its implementation. Supply Chain Management of IKEA Supplier Management IKEA has about 1400 suppliers from 33 countries, 64% of them are from European countries, with largest supplier markets in China and Poland. IKEA maintains lasting relationship with suppliers, and it has its own way to select suppliers from worldwide. After decide what product and material to be used, trading offices would find the suppliers in their respective regions and invite bids from them. IKEA has a principle, which is to choose suppliers of lowest cost at the same time, guarantee the quality. By placing orders directly on line, IKEA can always receive the deliveries within one to two weeks. On the other side, they ask suppliers to take inventory, so that suppliers can clearly know about the time, category, and amount of goods they have to fill up. IKEA also asks suppliers to deliver some of the goods straight to their stores, and this kind of managing would possibly save time, energy, and money considerably. They have formed a certain role to evaluate the performance of suppliers and point out standards and grades. Under such pressure, IKEA’s suppliers would be serious about their job and try their best to make sure the goods are of best quality and fastest delivery. By this kind of supplier management, IKEA would absolutely has high efficiency and quality. Store Design IKEA chose its store location on the city outskirts as the company’s stores were large and required huge parking spaces because IKEA realized that its customers were visiting stores in their cars. There is a typical feature of IKEA stores. [pic] The picture above is a map of some IKEA stores, in this, one can obviously see that customers entered into the stores, they would follow the arrow printed on the floor, and see through all products they exhibit. This kind of layout is called Racetrack layout, which has a main section that directs towards various section of the store, loops through the store and returns customers to the front of the store. It draws customers around the store and is commonly used in department stores. IKEA uses this to encourage customer to explore and move around IKEA at ease. The Racetrack Layout leads customers throughout the whole IKEA passing through different department. It makes sure that no section is missed out as the Racetrack Layout is design in a way that customer will have to follow the path in order to get to the end. The Loop allows customer to have different viewing angles and to catch a glance of every item in the store within a look. This encourages exploration and impulse buying. Thus this is strategic for IKEA as to capture customers. Warehouse Management IKEA has large warehouses like â€Å"DC008†, it has 19 input doors and 22 output doors. This separation makes the warehouse operation more effective. In the warehouses, there are many forklifts and they run fast and flexible. This also improves efficiency. Besides, IKEA seriously considered the safety of warehouses. It built a perfect security system. If some materials are not in right position, the red light will turn on and there will be an alarm ringing. Another significant warehouse management is space management. A system numbers every area, and all of them will be in the computers, so workers can clearly see wherever there is a vacancy. That ensures turn-around speed. The WMS (Warehouse Management System) in IKEA is so mature that it is used in every warehouse of IKEA’s. However, now IKEA need to figure out how to reduce inventory in order to save money. As for IKEA, there is a special kind of warehouse, which is self-serve warehouse. It is just in stores and keeps some inventory to give customers more choices. It can as well make customers enjoy pleasant about self-purchase. IKEA Supply Chain IKEA Supply Chain System (From the tree to the living room) IKEA is one of the leading home furnishing companies in the world and is expanding globally and fast gaining market share. Also IKEA’s supply chain has a global spread with both sales and purchasing in all major regions of the world. In IKEA Supply Chain system, firstï ¼Å'IOS is IKEA of Sweden, where decisions are made, such as the number of items, purchasing, suppliers, distribution, store coordination, and so on. Second, TSO (Trading), trading is responsible for the relationship with suppliers. Within trading there are 43 trading service offices in Europe, Asia and North America. Third is material and suppliers. They provide raw materials and manufacture the products. Co-workers in this area form a bridge between the factory floor and the products on the shelves at IKEA stores. They are responsible for ensuring reliable production methods that lead to high quality results, but which at the same time involve the min imum waste and maximum efficiency. Although not the most visible role within IKEA, this area is incredibly important for the company. The suppliers of IKEA and the good relations IKEA enjoy with them are among the company’s greatest assets. Fourth, in DC (Distribution centers), trucks, boats and trains are all needed to move products around. Coordinating these different means of transport to make the movement of goods as quick and efficient as possible is a real art. And DC are not enough just to make sure the goods arrive at the right stores and customers at the right time; they must also arrive in good shape, ready to be sold at the lowest possible price. Fifth is store. IKEA has more than 250 own stores in 24 countries and 32 external franchisees in 16 countries. To simplify, chart 1 shows the whole IKEA Supply Chain system described above. [pic] Chart1 IKEA Supply Chain system Moreover, in fifth part, In-store Logistics are also an important part in IKEA supply chain. In-store Logistics have seven steps (chart 2): Step1, create commitment with clear and qualified goods. Step2, develop an in-store logistics organization based on knowledge and competence. Step3, create balance between the space to range relation. Step4, place rational and correct orders. Step5, sales space management. Step6, establish routines for the most efficient goods flow. Step7, follow-up on performance. [pic] Chart 2 IKEA Supply Chain-In-store Logistics IKEA Supply Chain Planning Planning Concept Overview. According to IKEA’s characters, such as offer a wide range of home furnishings with good design and function and provide low prices, Ikea’s supply chain is in constant flux, with improvements being made whenever they are required or new technology appears. But generally, Ikea’s supply chain is mainly make-to-stock (MTS) and only a few products are made to customer orders. Consequently, the entire supply chain is heavily dependent on forecasts. IKEA focus on all forecasting activities and need calculations to control the entire supply chain inventory levels and replenishment. The global planning process (Chart1) is made by the central function of IKEA of Sweden. From the IKEA’s global supply chain planning (Chart1), we can figure out there are seven major processes (1) Sale planning; (2) Demand planning; (3) Need planning; (4) Supplier capacity planning; (5) The distribution supply chain planning (transport, warehouse, and store planning; 5a-c) and (7) Replenishment orders. In the following, we will talk about the processes separately into more details. But we will only focus on two parts Sales planning and Demand planning. [pic] Chart1 IKEA’s global supply chain planning concept and planning processes. Sales planning. The first step of sales planning is the corporate management of IKEA makes the overall sales forecast. The forecast is made on an aggregate level in terms of total sales volumes in monetary units for IKEA in total. It shows the expected sales increase in percentages. Ikea’s sales plan will be updated three times a year. The forecast is mainly determined by the strategic marketing plan and the remaining part of the current fiscal year plus five years into the future. So the current strategic business plan of Ikea is important for sales planning. At the end of the sales planning process, in order to achieve the business areas’ growth plans and expectation for the future, Demand Planners at IKEA of Sweden provide the data and information of forecasts for each of the business areas. Demand planning. In Ikea, there are 32 Demand Planners work in the tactical demand planning process, each one responsible for forecasting a certain part. The tactical forecast attach to IKEA of Sweden and is done on a rolling 84 weeks, with new historical sales data loaded once a week. In the end the forecasts on store levels are aggregated, reconciled, and compared with the sales frames on the retail forecast group level and on the distribution services region level. IKEA also has Retail Forecast Group, including one to several stores located geographically close to each other. In Europe, a retail Forecast Group normally corresponds to a country. IKEA in different countries own the right to have local event and activities. But, to let Demand Planners review the forecast on the regional level each week, the specific activity plans must be told at least six months in advance. In case that the forecast deviates considerably from actual sales, the Demand Planner looks for the reason and adjusts the sales figures or forecast model accordingly. Problems Lack of Central Coordination All we know IKEA is a hug international company. It provides modern and fashionable low cost furniture for over 38 countries with 301 stores. It emphasizes on local autonomy rather than a centralized coordinator. This method is easier for regions and store to plan and replenishes their own inventories. However, it also causes hundreds of subsystems inside the IKEA. Those subsystems include product design system from the headquarters; orders to suppliers system, orders to transport to the mall system, store management system and some accessory systems in each region or store. There are at least four hundreds complex subsystems inside the IKEA. These system’s databases is not well integrated, and do not have unified communications platform, that resulting in information separation, the low quality of information transmission, it is not conducive to the efficient operation of the supply chain. Lack of Accurate Sale Forecasts Due to changes in demand, sales forecasts data of the Swedish headquarters get deviation, if the forecasting data is bigger than the real, and this led to the warehouse overstock directly. If the mangers do not adjust the place orders plan that will cause serious problems by global warehouse overstock, retail shopping centers will immediately face to increase sales efforts to absorb the backlogged inventory. The other hand, in order to avoid some seasonal items out of stock, IKEA place large quantities of orders to suppliers, the mall immediately changed the stage from the under stock to overstock, However, the shopping center cannot sell them all, therefore, pass the season, there are still a lot of inventory backlog. Inventory Costs are too high IKEA purchases and sales too much, and often use the strategy of expand the inventory to cope with the uncertainty situation. IKEA worried about the inventory cannot be well satisfied the needs of the shopping centers, and if IKEA keep a low inventory level, it will increase the risk of lost sales opportunities, Therefore, IKEA maintain a high level of inventory to avoid the risk of under stock, That cause the shopping malls, the distribution center, and the central warehouse to maintain a considerable amount of inventory. Recommendations The urgent need for IKEA is to spend a large investment in the supply chain systems integration, make a great effort to integrate internal business systems, to achieve the company internal information sharing, built unified communications platform to make sure each subsystem can easy get the information from others, particular in transportation information and warehousing information. Ultimately achieve the comprehensive integration of manufacture, procurement, inventory, sales, financial and human resources management, logistics. That can make the ideal supply chain operations to become a reality. The supply chain systems integration can make each subsystems get the other subsystems information easily that really helpful for IKEA to forecast the sales in the future. In addition, IKEA also can get information from the date of the past sales, the public economic information, from customer and from suppliers. The supply chain systems integration also can help IKEA use those two strategies to reduce the cost of inventory. Firstly, IKEA requires the supplier to transport the production directly to the shopping malls, omitting the middle stage of the warehouse storage and handling. Use this strategy, IKEA do not have to establish the inventory and also do not have to maintain a safety stock to satisfy the demand of the shopping center. The delivery period becomes short, and easy to control. It also reduces the broken rate of the goods that ultimately improve the service level of the mall shopping centers. Secondly, IKEA also can use the strategy of vendor-managed inventory. It means suppliers according to IKEA’s the actual sales demand and safety inventory requirements to place the order to them. This strategy requires mutual trust between IKEA and supplier. IKEA can establish appropriate oversight mechanisms to make this strategy works well. This strategy can make both the IKEA and the suppliers’ benefit. References Laura Spinney (2011) The secret of IKEA’s success: we do the hard work, New scientist. Retrieved from: http://0-ehis.ebscohost.com.leopac.ulv.edu/eds/detail?vid=2&hid=23&sid=0dbc6e03-427b-4dec-9711-136b9cfedca8%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edselp&AN=S0262407911631783 Jonsson, P. and Gustavsson, M. (2008) â€Å"The impact of supply chain relationships and automatic data communication and registration on forecast information quality†, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 38 (4), 280-295. Steve Banker (2009 Nov) In-Store Logistics at IKEA. Retrieved from: http://logisticsviewpoints.com/2009/11/05/in-store-logistics-at-ikea/ IKEA’s Cost Efficient Supply Chain. Retrieved from http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Operations/OPER084.htm NYP IKEA: Merchandising Presentation and Store Design (Part 3), May 18 2012. Retrieved from http://ikea-escrapbook.blogspot.com/2011/07/merchandising-presentation-and-store_4586.html Patrik Jonsson, Martin Rudbergochï ¼Å'Stefan HolmbergGlobal, Supply chain planning at IKEA, Retrieved from http://www.plan.se/files/Jonsson_Rudberg _Holmberg_08.pdf Ikea supply chain-from the tree to the living room, Retrieved from http://www.slideserve.com/presentation/39927/IKEA-Supply-Chain–from-the-tree-to-the-living-room â€Å"IKEA | Purchasing.† IKEA | Purchasing. Web. 17 May 2012. Retrieved from http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/jobs/business_types/purchase/index.html Ikea, Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA â€Å"Ikea.mov.† YouTube. YouTube, 15 Feb. 2010. Web. 18 May 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYr6JlJ1wlE. SWOT Analysis and Sustainable Business Planning An IKEA Case Study.† Weaknesses and Threats. Web. 18 May 2012. http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/ikea/swot-analysis-and-sustainable-business-planning/weaknesses-and-threats.html. â€Å"IKEA Distribution Improves Supply Chain Management.† IKEA Distribution Improves Supply Chain Management. Web. 18 May 2012. http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240083923/IKEA-Distribution-improves-supply-chain-management.