Video Conferencing

CompareBusinessProducts. com What to Look for in a Video Conferencing System What to Look for in a Video Conferencing System Video conferencing has become â€Å"the next best thing to being there† for many businesses. Facilitating face-to-face collaboration for people who are in different locations, it can help businesses increase productivity while saving money on business travel expenses. With video conferencing, you can still have dynamic â€Å"in-person meetings† and â€Å"live† presentations and events – even if you’re on opposite ends of the country, or even in different countries.Video conferencing is also considered a â€Å"green† technology as it eliminates the carbon dioxide emissions that result from driving and air travel. But how do you know what to buy for your organization? The first step in determining this is to understand your main objectives for the system, including your usage requirements today and what they might be over the next 3-5 years. You don’t want to buy more than you need, but you do want a system that is going to scale with your business.Video conferencing has become â€Å"the next best thing to being there† for many businesses. Facilitating face-to-face collaboration for people who are in different locations, it can help businesses increase productivity while saving money on business travel expenses. With video conferencing, you can still have dynamic â€Å"in-person meetings† and â€Å"live† presentations and events – even if you’re on opposite ends of the country, or even in different countries.Video conferencing is also considered a â€Å"green† technology as it eliminates the carbon dioxide emissions that result from driving and air travel. But how do you know what to buy for your organization? The first step in determining this is to understand your main objectives for the system, including your usage requirements today and what they might be over the next 3-5 years. You don’t want to buy more than you need, but you do want a system that is going to scale with your business. ContentsKey Questions o How Big Is My Audience? o Personal, Group Conferencing, or Both? Key Features to Look For o Easy Integration with Your Computer, Network, and Unified Communications Systems o Full Video and Audio Capabilities o Recording of Audio, Video, and Data o Flexible and Comprehensive Moderator and Presenter Controls o Customizable, Brand-able o Easy to Install, Easy to Use, and Easy to Maintain o Attentive, Accessible Customer Support o Competitively Priced and Great Value –  © CompareBusinessProducts. com (877) 852-5226 What to Look for in a Video Conferencing System Key Questions How Big Is My Audience? Consider the size of your audience – or the maximum number of attendees you will ever have for your video conferences, and who they are. If you plan on having international conferences, you’ll wa nt to discuss this with your vendor to ensure all networking and equipment standards are compatible. Consider the size of the rooms where attendees will take part in the video conference. Will you have 0-10 participants, up to 100, up to 500 or more?Will attendees mostly watch from their desktops, on a lap top while traveling, on a mobile device, in the board room, in a conference hall, or all of the above? Having a very clear picture of how the system will be used will enable you to make the right decision. Personal, Group Conferencing, or Both? When it comes to group or personal videoconferencing, there is a difference in what you’ll need. Essentially, all conferencing requires a camera, microphone, speaker, monitor, and a codec, which is a small â€Å"compression-decompression† program that helps large files travel across the Internet quickly.Personal videoconferencing systems are meant to work within an office or home environment and are designed for the personal c omputer, or now, increasingly, mobile devices. Speakers, microphones, and cameras are designed for close ups use and privacy. These systems now enable rich media collaboration, data sharing, and instant messaging. Group conferencing equipment is obviously more complicated, requiring cameras that â€Å"pan,† â€Å"tilt,† and â€Å"zoom,† as well as projectors, large flat panel monitors and other displays, microphone pods, and a variety of speakers.Key Features to Look for in a Video Conferencing System Easy Integration with Your Computer, Network, and Unified Communications Systems You’ll want to make sure that the system you buy easily integrates with your existing technologies, including your phone systems, the type of computers employees use, existing flat screen monitors, speakers, etc. You’ll want to check to see if the system complies with current standards or if they are proprietary technologies. You want a system that will communicate freely with all other standards-based systems vs. nly with products from the same manufacturer. You don’t want to invest in a system that will become obsolete within a short period of time  © CompareBusinessProducts. com (877) 852-5226 3 What to Look for in a Video Conferencing System Full Video and Audio Capabilities It may seem obvious, but make sure your system can play actual videos during the video conference, not just a PowerPoint presentation or other document. You’ll want high definition for best viewing quality.In addition, many systems provide a variety of screen layouts, so that attendees can simultaneously watch a video in one section of the screen, the presenter in another, and attendees in another. The system should have a video gateway that performs the translation between various technology protocols, including audio and video encoding formats used by the other components. When it comes to audio capabilities, make sure the system is going to be versatile an d loud enough for your audience to hear it, and that is complies with broad standards.Recording of Audio, Video, and Data Your system should enable you to record the audio, video, and even data portions of your conference. It can be very useful to record important, interactive presentations to share with others, such as hosting on your company’s website Intranet, or even YouTube for later viewing. Flexible and Comprehensive Moderator and Presenter Controls Easy to use and comprehensive controls are essential, especially when it comes to live presentations and meetings.Your conference moderator should be able to control who’s presenting, what attendees can view and hear, screen resolution, bandwidth, phone call admission, call routing, and more. You’ll also want a system that can pass control of the conference to other presenters to create a dynamic and interactive meeting. Controls should also include presentation mode, when the focus needs to be solely on the p resentation and not interactive dialogue and desktop sharing for flexibility, for example going back and forth between presentation decks to a website to a video.Customizable, Brand-able While you’re buying this system from a vendor whose brand will undoubtedly be showing up on the equipment, you’ll also want to make sure your organization’s branding appears for your conference – so you want a system that is customizable and flexible enough to display your company’s look and feel in the presentation and visuals.  © CompareBusinessProducts. com (877) 852-5226 4 What to Look for in a Video Conferencing System Easy to Install, Easy to Use, and Easy to Mainta in Check to make sure the system is not so complicated that it’s unusable, or even that some of the key features are not usable.It should have a clear, concise, and easy to use menu and an intuitive user interface. Many IT people have a knack for learning how to use new technologies. For this reason, have a few others in your organization try it out and use it before buying. Attentive, Accessible Customer Support When it comes to video conferencing, you cannot underestimate how important customer support is – including technical support – for your system. A video conference is a live event with a live, interactive audience.When something goes wrong, and all too often with new technologies it will – it’s like a dropped phone call during a critical business negotiation – but to the 1,000th degree. You want to make sure that you can access support and get solutions ASAP if you have any issues with your equipment or connection. Competitively Priced and Great Value Today, the popularity of video conferencing among businesses has skyrocketed, and hence there are many players who have entered the market.This is good news for buyers because these companies are competing for your business. You want a company that has a good track record of success and one that can prove it with existing customers testimonials, case studies, and references. And as with other parts of your business, be clear about your objectives first and what you aim to achieve with your video conferencing system, including your return on investment, before you open up your wallet.  © CompareBusinessProducts. com (877) 852-5226 5

Different Vocal Techniques

Vocal Technique is the method of using one’s voice in a specific manner in singing. IT can be rehearsed and adjusted in such a way that will attribute to better singing. By turning to vocal techniques, the voice can have a better sound and quality. These techniques require the singer to control the voice. The posture of the person while he is singing has an effect on the sound coming out. There are a lot of techniques in singing. These were developed over the years to help singers achieve the full potential of their voices.As time progressed, musical tastes have also changed so singers continue to learn the various techniques involved in different genres of music. As a number of genres emerge, so do the physical anatomy of the voice that is needed in order to strike the chord to suit the feeling of the genre of the song. There are ways to learn how to control the voice in order for the singer to produce the particular sound he is aiming for. Most vocal stysles are divided into classical and non-classical techniques. There are genres such as rock, pop, rnb and more. This paper will talk of the basic vocal techniques that apply in any category and genre.First and foremost, the singer must gain control of his voice. He must concentrate on the three distinct areas that are important in producing the voice. It depends on the style that the singer is attempting to achieve. These different areas respond on various ways but the principles are all the same. One, all singing starts with breathing. The vocal sounds are results of the vibrations in the individual’s larynx. This is created by the air that is formed in the lungs. Breathing is an activity in everyday life so this can be done subconsciously and naturally.For the singer, he must be able to control and regulate the intake as well as the exhalation of his breath in order for him to get the best results of his voice. Singers know the term â€Å"Sub-Glottic Pressure† and take this seriously. Th is is the regulation of the flow of the breathing in and out of the lungs. This allows the air to flow right throught he individual’s vocal tract. This is very simple in terms of theory but when put into effect, it is not as simple as it sounds. The singer realizes that the process is complicated and he must therefore consciously control his breathing.This means that the diaphragm, the muscles, the stomach, the waist and the back must be in proper positioning. Just like anything in life, practice makes perfect. The actual sound that is heard when a person sings is produced by the vocal tract or the throat. This is in conjunction of the cricoid and the thyroid cartilages. The proper anatomical term that singers are also aware of is the vocal folds. They do their best not to strain these cords or strings because once these have been stretched, their singing voice will be affected and the sound it produces will no longer have the same quality.The singer regulates the pitch and t he frequency of the voice by controlling the vocal folds. This is done by breathing and building up the vocal folds that creates the pressure amidst the sub-glottic pressure. The air coming from these folds create the sound. The wider the vocal folds, the more air coming through. The folds then fibrate slowly and creates a low and deep sound. In order to enhance their craft, singers continue to find our more vocal techniques that will allow them to expand their voice. As long as they want to increase the range of their vocal chords, they can soar the high notes.By practicing, they will be able to hit the â€Å"full† voice that they want to achieve with such power. It may seem impossible at first but as long as they know how to do so, then they will not have a hard time pulling this off. Some singers make the mistake of wishing to hit the soaring and the high notes in order to lift the audience up to their feet. Truth is, the proper singing is not really breaking into falsetto or yelling. It is keeping the notes into order and the tone in its place. By practicing the proper vocal techniques, singers will be able to hit the high notes.They can do this the minute they know that they are ready. The proper vocal techniques allow them to prepare for that moment when they have to register their voice in upper scales. There are vocal techniques to expand the individual’s voice. As long as he discovers the connection between the lower vocals and the higher vocals, the singer can practice the vocal techniques needed. In order to explain it properly in this paper, let us call these vocal registers as â€Å"mixed voice† and â€Å"head voice. † The mixed voice is similar to the chest voice because of its low tone. The difference is that it is more subtle.If the singer developed a strong mixed voice then he could hit the high notes with complete vindication. It would also appear to be powerful and in tune. Whereas the head voice is the classical tune. Those who perform in opera and symphonies often use their â€Å"head voice. † Notice that the pitch and tune they sing in is very different from what you hear on MTV and the concerts of your favorite singers. This is because the head voice appears to have a classical tune when it is registered. The most common vocal teachnique is the expansion of the diaphragm. The singer is taught to sing an octave higher than his usual pitch.This exercise forms the bridge between the lower ranges and the higher ranges. Once the singer practice these exercises, he will be able to effortlessly escalate the pitch from low to high. Once the singer is used to doing this vocal technique, he will not notice that he floats through the various registers because he does this naturally. A really good singer can bridge the gap between the lower register and the higher register and appear to be as stong as ever. When the singer does this with his vocal registers, he realizes that he is doing the p roper vocal technique of pacing his diaphragm as well as his posture.It also helps that he does not focus on just hitting the high notes. He must be aware of the vocal registry in order to get to that high pitch. He can do this by practicing his vocal folds over and over again. He can do this for ten minutes every day. (Russell) As soon as the singer figures out the basic vocal techniques, he can understand better the different vocal techniques in the various genres. You see, these various genres are like instruments and the singer is the player of the instrument. In order for the singer to play the instrument better, he must be an expert to begin with.Like in the various musical styles such as pop, country, rock, soul or classical, the singer must consistently serve a function in order to sing properly and hit the notes of the song better. There are more to singing than practicing the vocal chords. Like what have been mentioned in the earlier paragraphs, the singer must also be awa re of his posture and breathing. The most important vocal technique a singer must learn is breathing. The vocal chords need the proper airflow in order to make sound. By vibrating, the voice of the singer can participate in any style or genre of music.Note that the really good singers are those who know how to breathe. (Manning, 110) Take this for example. Whenever some acclaimed singers like Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Scherzinger sing in front of a live audience, there are times they lose their breath. That is because they are too energetic that they ignore their breathing vocal technique. This results to their need to catch their breath. Their voices shake and it falters. When they are going to reach for the high notes, their voices shrill. Now compare these with Broadway actors such as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, popularly known as the leads in â€Å"Wicked.†Different Vocal TechniquesLike Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Scherzinger, these two sta ge actresses also sing in front of the live audience but they rarely lose their breathe and miss a note. This is because theater actors are trained to breathe properly. The next vocal technique that must be really given attention to is the torso. This is the very focal point where the breathing procedure takes place. The torso has three chambers. The first chamber is the bottom. This is the area between the lowest rib and the pelvic bone. The second chamber is the middle area. The third chamber is the top, the one in the chest region. A good singer uses chambers 1 and 2.The air he reserves is located in chamber 3. This applies to any genre in singing. A secret technique some singers use is they leave the gateway open so that more air can enter the passage. By standing up straight, they are able to elongate the vibrations of the vocal chords that allow their voice to be executed better and with a finer sound and quality. Try this. Try singing with your shoulders slumped back and stan ding like a hunchback. Your voice will not be as powerful compared to the minute you straighten your back and belt out. Finally, another important vocal technique in singing is taking care of the resonance chambers.This is a very important component because this is where the sound of the voice is enhanced. It depends on the style of the music the singer wants to sing. If he wants to sing with the lowest note, then he can gather the air from chamber 1. These are mostly the rnb and jazz tunes. If he wants to sing pop and rock that shrieks at some parts, then it is best that he turns to chamber 2. Whichever chamber the singer chooses to use, he should feel his diaphragm. He will notice that his breathing repsonds to the pacing of his notes and the way he is singing. These factors are all interconnected.Some singers make the mistake of forcing the pitch to come out of their head. This is because the head is also a form of resonance chamber because of the nasal passages that are apparent . The sinus cavity, the hard palate and the soft palate contrinbue in the â€Å"head voice† that have been discussed before. But there are some music genres that are not appropriate for the head voice. This is when the overtone ring aims through the sound of the low and soft palate. (Mabry, 311) Classical singers resort to the resonance of their soft palate whenever they sing their songs.Examples are Sarah Brightman, who is popularly known for her role as Christine Dae in â€Å"The Phantom of the Opera. † If you want a better and more accessible example, buy Emmy Rossum’s new album â€Å"Inside and Out. † Rossum is Christine in the 2004 movie â€Å"The Phantom of the Opera. † She took a hiatus from making movies to concentrate on making an album. Her debut album â€Å"Inside and Out† features Classical-Pop-Techno songs. Rossum is an example of a singer who uses he soft palate. Now popular singers such as Britney Spears, Fall Out Boy, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Rihanna and Sean Kingston also use their resonance chambers.Country singers such as Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts use both their hard and soft palates. Yodelers such as Shakira can do this by keeping their soft palate at a low key then they aim for the tune by using their head voice. In a nutshell, the important thing to remember from all these pointers on vocal technique is that the larynx affects the tone quality. By lowering the larynx, the pitch of the voice also goes down. When it is at its lowest, the register of the key is low as well. Therefore, whenever the larynx reaches its highest peak, the singer is prepared to reach the high notes as well.

The Enduring Revolution of the Renaissance Essay

The Enduring Revolution of the Renaissance - Essay Example The Renaissance is generally described as the period of 1400 - 1600 when European thoughts and concepts went through a dramatic change. It drew its name, the Renaissance, from the reawakening to the ancient texts and knowledge of the Romans and the Greeks. The changes in social justice, art, science, and exploration impacted great change in Western thinking that continues to influence our society. A close examination of our American culture and institutions will uncover many roots that had their origin in the days of the European Renaissance. A major contribution of the Renaissance period was its placing knowledge in the hands of the ordinary person. Prior to this period, classical knowledge was left almost exclusively in the hands of scholars, professionals, and theologians. The invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg gave the general public the access to knowledge and philosophy. According to Thomas Carlyle in Sartor Resartus (1833), "He who first shortened the labor of copyists by device of movable types was disbanding hired armies [...] creating a whole new democratic world" (cited in Kreis 2004). The printing of the first bible in 1452 placed religion in the hands of the ordinary man and had a profound effect on religion. Spurred by classical philosophy, religion turned from the worship of the abstract towards the morality of man (Anesi 2004). This would sow the seeds of the Reformation and alter the Christian religion forever. This change in religion also brought about changes in the attitude towards the individual. Individualism took hold as people developed a respect for each human being and a willingness to work toward self-improvement. It led to changes in the legal and political systems resulting in a representative form of... A major contribution of the Renaissance period was its placing knowledge in the hands of the ordinary person. Prior to this period, classical knowledge was left almost exclusively in the hands of scholars, professionals, and theologians. The invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg gave the general public the access to knowledge and philosophy. According to Thomas Carlyle in Sartor Resartus (1833), "He who first shortened the labor of copyists by device of movable types was disbanding hired armies [...] creating a whole new democratic world" (cited in Kreis 2004). The printing of the first bible in 1452 placed religion in the hands of the ordinary man and had a profound effect on religion. Spurred by classical philosophy, religion turned from the worship of the abstract towards the morality of man (Anesi 2004). This would sow the seeds of the Reformation and alter the Christian religion forever. This change in religion also brought about changes in the attitude towards the individual. Individualism took hold as people developed a respect for each human being and a willingness to work toward self-improvement. It led to changes in the legal and political systems resulting in a representative form of government. The concept of sovereign nations was born out of these ideals. It valued the humanities as an educational endeavor and developed a sense of history and an awareness of our social structure.

Health in education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health in education - Assignment Example In order to ensure children’s good health, the role of teachers, parents, the community, and the environment cannot be underplayed. Their contribution in any way offers vital information regarding their mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Health education for all the stakeholders; students, parents, teachers, and health professional is essential. This helps equip everyone with necessary information concerning procedures, steps to be taken, and ideal safety measures that need to be observed so that good health for children is ensured. Whatever observations have been made concerning the health of a child by the teacher, parent, or community is vital and essential in identifying changes in the health status of a child. More often than not, teachers and parents refer these types of illnesses and many others to the appropriate health professionals such as counselors. Counseling is a vital component of the coordinated early childhood health since it helps address health issues such as trauma, stress disorders, etc. Counseling can also help families appreciate and understand the need for professional health care especially in circumstances that they do not seem to see the need. As noted earlier, the community, parents, and teachers are only observers and cannot in any way attempt to diagnose the health problems of a child. This is where health services come in handy since it is the responsibility for health practitioners to diagnose and recommend proper actions.

Some questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Some questions - Essay Example This includes the right to education, religion, and matrimony. The right to live and to have free speech in order to be heard and be heard truly with an understanding and open mind. And most importantly, the right to be respected at all times as humans, whether man or woman. The issue between genders have always been a controversy; as to who the â€Å"stronger laborer or the main economic contributor is†. (Byrne 132) Women have stood behind men for decades: a norm for them to serve under the towering image of their male counterparts. Not until recent years did women fight for their rights to be heard asking for society to uphold them. Through this, contemporary feminism has altered the debate on human rights in several different ways. They have risen to several different occasions to be the most powerful voice in the nation; rising to the challenge of political, environmental and at the same time economic agendas both in the entire nation and within their private spaces. If th e country’s leaders would support their objectives, not only will women be heard but every individual fighting for their human rights as well. Now, as the most powerful country in the world, to whom every nation look up to, the US should lead by example actively performing and promoting the rights of every individual no matter the status or gender. They should not limit themselves to laws and leave this responsibility to the UN. As an active member of this organization, it should empower the UN to ask everyone to actively participate in the promotion of human rights. It should not stop at being just a member but instead push forward to reach further in creating a greater impact in the entire world; thereby starting within the confines of its constitution leading by example and mandating respect towards every individual rights. Prejudice refers to attitudes of aversion and hostility toward the members of a group simply because they belong to it and hence are

Alcoholism with aging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Alcoholism with aging - Essay Example The increase in diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and stroke among the aged in the population raises attention interest among researchers. The aged in the society refers to the citizens of sixty-five years and above, and these are mostly the retired members of the society. Researchers gain interest in the health of the aged so that they can determine the causes of the diseases and methods of treatment. Research indicates that the diseases that adults suffer from mostly arise as a result of heavy consumption of alcohol (Rigler, 2000). This means that at least one out of every ten members of the retired group suffers a certain disease because of consuming alcohol (Mellinger, 2002). The findings of these researches continue to reveal facts, which need to be studied further to help in determining a solution that may reduce or prevent this predicament. The abuse of drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, and heroine was said to be common among the youths until the twentieth century when investigation was carried out in this field. The investigations indicated that the youths consume more alcohol than adults in terms of quantity, but the undesirable consequences of the behavior are more among the aged. This means that even the little quantities of alcohol may cause serious health damages among the elderly in the society. This phenomenon arises because the bodies of the elderly are more sensitive than those of the youths. The sensitivity arises from the wearing out of the adipose tissues, muscles, and cells. The adipose tissues also increase because of the reduction of water in the body; while muscles reduce as fat deposits enlarge in the body (Merrick, Horgan, & Hodkin, 2008). The health effects of alcohol consumption differ between men and women because of the biological differences in their bodies. The effects also differ because of the variation in drinking patterns with men being the more vulnerable than

Scaffolding as teaching technique Research Paper

Scaffolding as teaching technique - Research Paper Example Vygotsky suggests that learning at the social level precedes learning at an individual level, which highlights the importance of participation by the society in the learning process. The concept thrives to illustrate the role of that adults can engage in to assist their children in the learning process by participating jointly in problem-solving activities. As such, both parties are capable of establishing effective communication during the activities and the student gains understanding through a mutual perspective. Although there has been no consensus with regard to the definition of scaffolding, clear-cut characteristics exist among the numerous definitions. One such characteristic is contingency, which illustrates the adjusted and well-calibrated support accorded to the learner. The support accorded is usually oriented to accommodate the level of the student and his/her performance. As such, for offered support to be effective, the level of competence of the student must be define d and the support accorded is at the same or slightly higher level. Another common characteristic entails the gradual withdrawal of the afforded support, a concept referred to as fading. The amount of support given is reduced with time based on the response of the student in terms of development and level of competence. As the amount of time decreases responsibility for the indicated tasks is transferred to the student as he/she increases in cognitive capacity. Summary of Research Studies indicate that scaffolding strategies provide individualised instructions to students who would otherwise be lost in the learning process. This allows instructors to observe students and establish a tailored approach on the student, pushing him/her towards success. The differentiated instructions ensures that the student receives information and direction in accordance to his/her level of competence, which works to foster better understanding of concepts. Moreover, scaffolding techniques improve the acquisition of skill and knowledge owing to the support provided. This is facilitated by the opportunity to offer differentiated and individualised instructions through other students who have higher level of understanding. As such, guidance offered ensures that the learner is accommodated to build his confidence and joy in learning. This ensures that the learner does not feel left out or incompetent despite his/her learning challenges, which would increase the learner’s frustration levels. Similarly, studies illustrate the role of scaffold strategies in triggering independence among students through encouragement (Stone, 1998). It has been indicated that scaffolding engages and motivates the learner who in turn use their past knowledge to grasp new concepts. In this regard, scaffold strategies ensure that learners are not passive but active in the learning process, which goes a long way in boosting confidence levels. However, some critics argue that the scaffolding metaphor is based on task completion and cannot be effective in the learning process (Biemiller and Meichenbaum, 1998). The studies cite poor communication skills between the instructor and the learner and suggest that the learners cannot fully internalise concepts based on temporary support. In addition, measurement of scaffolding has been identified as a challenge since there are no

Individual report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Individual report - Assignment Example Review and Summary of Brand 10 3a. Brand Equity 10 3b. Brand Position 11 3c. Brand Identity 11 3d. Brand Personality 12 4. ‘Summary of Insight/Key Findings Derived From the Current Brand Status Analysis’ 12 Phase 2:   Decision   Making   And   Long   Term   Management   Of   The   Brand 14 1. Reinforcing and Maintaining Brand Consistency 14 2. Expanding Brand Awareness 16 3. Repositioning the Brand 17 4. Marketing Mix Communication Recommendation 19 5. Synopsis of Recommendation for the Future of Crabtree & Evelyn 21 References 22 Phase 1:   Current  Brand Status Analysis 1. Current Industry Condition in Which the Brand Operates Crabtree & Evelyn is operating in the personal care industry. The personal care products might be comprehended as the products that can be used for the personal hygiene as well as personal health. The products can be tongue cleaner, bathing salts, tooth brush, body scrub, body talc, skin creams, face wash, soaps, nails as we ll as cuticle care products. The chief four subsectors that manufacture wide range of products are face care products, hand and foot care products, hair care as well as cosmetics. 1a. Industry Size and Overall Sales Trends for Major Product/Service Segments The total revenue produced by the market for the UK bath and shower products had been $642.6 million in the year 2009. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the year 2005-2009 had been 0.5%. The deodorant market of the UK in the year 2009 was successful in generating total revenues of $904.3 million and the compounded annual growth rate had been 4.4% for the period 2005-2009. The hair care markets, hand and body care market, make-up market, fragrances market, facial care market and personal hygiene market were successful in generating the market revenues of $1.8 billion, $611 million, $1.8 billion, $1.7 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion respectively representing compounded annual growth rate of 11.%, 2.2%, 6.6%, 7.3%, 3.7% and 2.3% respectively (Aarkstore, 2011). According to the views of Irina Barbalova who is the head of the beauty and personal care research at euromonitor tried to throw light upon the current global consumers trends for the personal care and beauty. According to her opinion, rise in the beauty as well as personal care sales in the year 2010 has been evidenced. It was further noted that the consumers returned back to the premium cosmetics since the recession for the first time. The reason behind this phenomenon has been the product innovation that took place in the premium segment. It can be revealed that the regions that saw a decline in the premium cosmetics in the year 2009 observed a recovery in the year 2010. It has been the hi-tech innovation supporting the premium segment recovery which spread to the mass segment and private label thus providing the customers with a better value for money (Euromonitor International, 2011). 1b. Market Share and Market Share Trends for Ma jor Competitors There are many players in the personal care industry whose market share has been quite high. One of them has been Procter & Gamble which is the world’s biggest producer in the household and personnel care product (HPC) in terms of revenue. The products are accessed by 4 billion people all over the globe. The business of Procter and Gamble in the quarter of 2011 is quite strong. The sales volume has surmounted by 5%. The growth has been quite broad consisting of 6 business segments, 16 of its top 17 countries as

Strategic Management and Information Systems Coursework

Strategic Management and Information Systems - Coursework Example The strategic position of an organization must be clearly understood to ensure that strategic choices for future and strategy management issues are put into action. As a result, the internal and external environment of the organization are analysed to develop strategies necessary for resource allocation. Successful allocation of resources enables the organization attain a competitive advantage towards goal achievement (Paul, 2006). The Adizes PAEI Model of management is a four faced model with short-term orientation, long-term orientation, internal and external orientation. The key players in this model are; the Producer, Administrator, Entrepreneur, and Integrator (PAEI). Their roles in the four orientations produce results, procedure systems, creativity continuity, and motivation co-operation. The producer is concerned about the external and short-term orientation programs for the organization. The focus is result oriented in relation to the plans and management roles of the organization. The implementation of the strategic plan must comply with the market perspective of the organization. The entrepreneur element integrates external and long-term orientation with a focus on creativity and continuity in the market. Through this element, strategic management enables exploration of new market opportunities to enable the organization attain competitive edge advantages. The roles of strategic manager are not very different from those of other managers but are obliged to operate within the tight confined market. The thinking of strategic managers is abstract, affecting their roles within the organisation confined to three decision levels; strategic, tactical and operational roles. These roles affect and are influenced by external and internal environmental factors. This level offers an organization a competitive riding advantage over others. This could mean that an organization would

Use of scapegoating in Harry Potter Research Paper

Use of scapegoating in Harry Potter - Research Paper Example When someone talks about a character being human and fallible, one is talking about the type of character that the audience is going to be most likely to relate to, rather than a hero who is perfect and doesn’t make any mistakes they can learn from. And being used by others as a scapegoat is often a part of life, and growing up. This essay looks at how two characters from the Harry Potter series, Harry himself and the female foil Hermione, work as examples of this type of scapegoating, which makes the characters have more relation to the audience because they are not perfect, or because they have flaws that make people blame them, and turn them into martyrs. â€Å"The archetype of the scapegoat has, like all the others, has  different aspects. One can be a martyr in giving oneself to a cause, or one can be a martyr in that one forever feels one is being abused or used by others. There may be a sense of being asked too much by those around you or by the events of life† (Archetype, 2010). The two books that this report will concentrate on are Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, both of which contain the recurring characters, Harry and Hermione, who are both studying at Hogworts. It is the basic assumption of this essay that these characters demon strate the above assertions regarding scapegoating, but that in such, it is not totally negative. There are positive lessons that can be learned from their actions, and their tendency to be used and made martyrs by others (and in Harry’s case, by himself). The characters learn life lessons in their process of scapegoating, which mainly takes place externally to them, in the form of Hogwarts politics and factionalism. hero of the books and the series, he still has problems of being a scapegoat for various factions at Hogwarts, and these are problems that children

Iago Manipulates Essay Example for Free

Iago Manipulates Essay In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, the antagonist Iago manipulates other characters. He makes them act in ways that benefits his plan of destroying Othello by making him believe that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio. In the beginning of the play, Roderigo who is in love with Othello’s wife, Desdemona, comes to Iago for help. Iago manipulates Roderigo by promising him Desdemona’s attention and love if he â€Å"put money in thy purse,† as Iago says. Roderigo gives money to Iago in the mistaken belief that Iago is using his money to help him get to Desdemona, but Iago is using it to finance his own plan. Roderigo is a desperate character in the play and is easy tricked by Iago, because he doesn’t think he has anything to lose and because he would do anything to get Desdemona. His desperate feelings for Desdemona and Iago’s convincing manner make Roderigo easy to deceive. Iago has also a wife, Emilia. He doesn’t really manipulate her, because she is unaware of what’s going on between Othello and Desdemona during almost the whole play, but he makes her do thinks that benefits his plan. For example, he makes her steal Desdemona’s handkerchief, which ended being the â€Å"icing on the cake† for Othello’s suspiciousness on Desdemona’s and Cassio’s love affair. Everyone likes and trusts Iago, and so do Desdemona. Iago is seen as an honest man, which helps him manipulate people, because they always believe him. Iago manipulates Desdemona by acting on her side and by sympathizing with her. When Othello starts to get very suspicious, he gets very angry at Desdemona, but he refuses to tell her why. Iago convinces her that Othello is angry on a letter he got earlier and not on her. Desdemona believes this lie, which probably stops her from questioning Othello’s behavior. Iago’s plan is to make Othello think that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair together. His first move to manipulate Cassio is to get him in trouble. He gets Cassio in trouble by making him drunk and by developing a fight for him. When Othello hears what happened, he removes Cassio from his post. Othello asks Iago what Cassio did, but Iago refuses to tell him anything, he says, â€Å"I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael Cassio. By doing this statement in front of Othello and Cassio, he earns Cassio’s trust. Iago uses this trust to manipulate Cassio later in the play. He tells Cassio that the best way to get his position back is to talk to Desdemona and get her on his side. Cassio does what Iago told him, and Desdemona is happy to help him because she knows him and she thinks he is a noble friend to Othello. But when Iag o and Othello come near, Cassio leaves because he doesn’t want to face Othello personally. Iago uses this situation to plant his seed of doubt, and tells Othello that Cassio fled when Othello came near. This is what starts Othello’s suspiciousness. Iago is a smart man who knows how to act and what he should say to manipulate the people around him. The character that Iago manipulates the most is Othello. He makes Othello believe that Cassio talks about Desdemona, while he is actually talking about Bianca and his sexual relationship with her. Iago makes up a story that he heard Cassio talking about Desdemona in his sleep. He also tells Othello that he has seen Cassio wipe his brow with Desdemona’s handkerchief. As a result of this, Othello gets livid and really frustrated, and wants to kill both Desdemona and Cassio. This clearly shows how Iago manipulates Othello. Iago is an intelligent character that is strongly talented in improvising and he has a clear feeling for timing. His most important skill is his acting ability. He’s a perfect actor. Although Iago plants his suspicion step by step by lying and by supplying â€Å"evidence† when it is needed, he always pretends to be a moral and loyal friend who everyone can trust. One of his strategies is to let other people make their own conclusions. Iago is smart enough to use other people’s actual weaknesses and to let them draw wrong conclusions themselves. All these strategies and abilities help him manipulate other characters in the play.

Zara: Business Expansion Strategies

Zara: Business Expansion Strategies Executive summary This article examines the case of the Spanish clothing retailer Zara’s experience of and plans for further expansion into Southern and Northern American markets. It argues that given the unique distribution and production functions of the retailer that possible problems exist for continued expansion in the US market. The problems associated with this given the characteristics of local markets and pressures from rival operators’ means that a recommendation is made for an adjusted international strategy for the company despite its broad successes elsewhere globally. Introduction Globalisation has become an essential element of international marketing principles and it has been argued that one of the keys to success in global markets is the effective development and marketing of standardised products and brands (Douglas Wind, 1987). Jay (2000) suggests that the development of international enterprises is as a consequence of reduced barriers for trading due to developments in information technology. Jones (2002) argues that successful international operations are those which integrate and cooperate in business activities across national boundaries. It is clear that the clothing industry is a significant part of the internationalisation process in terms of the critical growth of the clothing retailing sector in global markets and attendant activities such as global sourcing. The international expansion of Zara is led by its parent company Grupo Inditex which is based in Spain and Zara has achieved an impressive annual growth of 26% over the last five years (D’Andrea Arnold, 2002). Based in Spain Zara has grown from 180 stores to 1.080 stores in 33 countries and in 2002 150 stores were added in 9 countries and further expansion has been planned and expected. As the biggest economy in the world the American market is an attractive one for Zara and stores located in New York were announced as being successful indicators towards future market penetration. The huge American market and especially the North American marketplace was highlighted as the next move for the company’s expansion plan yet the diversity in this market and high level of competition creates challenges for continued Zara’s success. Environmental Analysis A clear understanding of the business environment is essential for companies in competing in the global economy. This is particularly important in relation to international strategy. Environmental analysis can be made from both a macro and micro perspective and both the PESTEL and Porter’s industrial analysis are useful instruments of analyses (Johnson Scholes, 2002). PESTEL analyses the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal events that have impacts on a business. Of interest in this case is the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which helped regional economic growth among member countries through eliminating tariffs and government encouragement of foreign direct investment. This creates threats to Zara in terms of an entry model as well as marketing strategy. The American market is highly attractive for multinational companies such as Zara. The US is the number one economy in the world although since the terrorist attacks in 2001 the American economy slowed down accompanied with a reduction in consumer confidence. According to Jobber (2001) where national economic performance and customer confidence is poor consumers will reduce consumption of non essential products. This poses problems for Zara in competing in a highly competitive marketplace where demanding for clothing has decreased. Zara however provides luxury clothing products at a reasonable price which provides the company with competitive advantages in terms of price, quality and brand name. The success of Zara depends on an effective logistics system and it is one of the few companies with in-house design and production enabling them to provide new clothing lines within 15 days instead of the 9 months average lead-in time of the textile and clothing industry. It is fair to say that this logistics system based on information technology and computerized design and production programs enables Zara to maintain competitive advantages over other international competitors. However previous experiences in operating in South America where a complex and large distribution centre was established in order to supply the southern region saw challenges in the integrated supply chain being created. Language as one of the most important elements of culture plays a vital role in shaping international marketing strategy simply because people under different social and cultural environments share different value systems and display varied consumer behaviour (Bradley, 2005). Additionally it is useful to be aware of the new form of political economy which suggests that economic phenomena are highly linked with political issues in that governments seek to use political power to achieve economic benefits (Rugman Hodgetts, 2003). Examples of this can be seen in the increasing role of developing countries in the world economy. In the case of the textile and clothing industry more and more retailers and manufacturers source from lower labour cost developing countries res ulting in significant competitive pressures on Zara which insists on sourcing mainly from Europe and relying on its in-house design and production. Porter (1980) provides a useful framework in understanding the industrial environment in which companies are involved in. The competitive level in an industry shapes a firm’s strategy in competing in its marketplace and in turn this is shaped by the performance of operators within the industry. It is obvious that competition levels are high in both the North and South American marketplace. Zara entered the South American market where American brands such as GAP and the Swedish brand HM were major competitors within the middle clothing market. Similarly buyer power has increased in the modern business environment and Zara needs to effectively satisfy customers globally from different nations and cultural backgrounds. Improvement in US consumer confidence demonstrated in the research creates opportunities for Zara in expanding its market from south to the north (BBC News, 2005). Nevertheless the issue of different supply systems needs to be resolved utilising Zara’s integ rated global supply and logistics chain. The strategic plan to establish a specific supply and distribution centre for the North America market aims to control cost and maintain competitive capabilities in competing with companies from member countries of NAFTA such as Canada and Mexico as well as local players who source from cheaper overseas suppliers. Due to the nature of the clothing retailing industry the diversity of retailing forms in the US is complex including both large numbers as well as different formats for retailers including large retailers, department stores, merchandise shops, small specialty operators and discount stores. There are potential new entrants into this marketplace and hence it is critical for Zara to be aware of the high competition level in the US clothing retailing industry at all levels of the market. Market Segmentation Market segmentation aims to provide relevant information for a basis for the selection of target markets (Bradley, 2005). Zara’s targeted customers are people who seek for higher quality clothing products at reasonable prices. In this case targeted American customers were those who expressed interest in European branded clothes. First of all Zara’s women collection is divided into three categories: Zara Women, Zara Basic and the sporty Trafaluc representing market segments for women who look for a more formal style, younger women for a more informal style and younger women and teenagers while menswear included Men’s Line at Zara, Zara Basics, its club-wear brand 100Zara and Zara Sport (D’Andrea Arnold, 2002). In this sense the general public from all age groups can be seen as potential customers targeted by specific sub-brands of Zara. A second important variable in defining segmentation is based on psychographic characteristics such as lifestyle which wi ll be discussed in detail in the next section (Jobber, 2001). As one of the most famous and successful European brands Zara in its existing south American market targeted people who were especially interested in European styles at affordable price levels. This targeting strategy remained the same for Zara in expanding in the North American marketplace. One definition of consumers suggests that it can be seen as individuals as well as groups of people purchase products or services for personal use, household or gifts. In other words they can be classified as end users of particular products (Solomon et al, 2002). Retailers are situated in the final steps of the distribution chain and are closely linked with end users or customers. Therefore it is useful to look at the concept of consumer behaviour in relation to clothing buying in light of target segmentation strategies pursued by Zara. Blackwell, Miniard and Engel (2000) define the initial step of consumption processes as the recognition of needs which can be influenced by various factors such as reference group values, self esteem and external cultural and social value systems. Particularly modern customers have become more sophisticated and learn more from their purchasing experiences with price often deployed as a key indicator as to the quality of goods (Jobber, 2001). This is arguably the case for buying activity in the clothing sector with brand name, price, style as well as quality tending to have important effects on the decision making processes leading to purchasing. According to Entwistle (2000) clothing is not simply about physical garments but takes on a multi-faceted significance where people use fashion to define and negotiate their identity in wider social contexts. Increasing power for consumers enables them to bargain for lower priced clothing yet it remains the case that pure discount on price is not necessarily important for them in make purchasing decisions. This aspect of consumer behaviour offers a useful insight for Zara in establishing its competitive advantages based on an effective logistics and supply chain through ensuring quality with reduced costs matched to a strong brand name. Foxall, Goldsmith and Brown (1998) argue that there are several stages after need recognition leading to final buying activity and as such the co mmunication strategy used to build up effective customer relationships and brand image by clothing retailers is most useful at the early stage in order to have a lasting impact on purchasing decisions. In this retail context women are suggested to constitute a major proportion of consumers (Domosh, 1996). Particularly women are more involved in both social and economic life functions which results in increasing demands on fashion in terms of style and self identity. Additionally a determinant of the degree to which customers evaluate a brand is the level of involvement with high involvement meaning extensive evaluation of the product and/or alternatives (Hawkins, Best and Coney, 1989). For clothing products the degree of involvement is suggested as being typically medium to high (Breward, 2000). Bearing in mind the concept of involvement and the role of women in purchasing Zara used a suite of effective marketing tools in maintaining customer loyalty through providing value added clothing relevant to identified market preferences. This is because in terms of fashion a stylish and sophisticated brand image in terms of trends, styles and tastes is a key success factor in building a b rand name for a retailer such as Zara. Similarly effectively maintaining customer loyalty in terms of repeat buying is a major contributor to successfully expanding its market share in the US market. Marketing Strategy Analysis and Evaluation Based on its successful experience in operating in New York Zara pursued a strategic market expansion strategy in order to maintain organisational growth in terms of market share and the accruement of financial benefits. The establishment of a distribution centre in the outskirts of Buenos Aires enabled Zara supply the southern region as well as played a strategic role in supplying the new northern market (D’Andrea Arnold, 2002). With Zara being one of the few companies utilising in-house design and production meant sourcing locally was its main strategy rather than switching to overseas suppliers. This strategic choice did enhance the competitive capabilities of Zara in terms of short lead time and effective logistics control but added to pressure from competitors who sourced abroad resulting in competitive pricing in the middle market by rivals such as HM and GAP. In addition in considering an integrated supply chain the distribution centre to some extent caused inefficiencies in the overall system in that decisions on the choice of local manufacturers had been made difficult due to the closure of American textile and clothing manufacturers who moved production lines to Asia. As such the market expansions strategy remains unclear in terms of it achieving growth based on effective franchises rather than through adding new stores and entering new markets. This can be said to be especially the case for the North American market. Although the market size is large and entry barriers are low due to the cultural differences between south and north US regions means significant attention must be paid to the marketing mix in order to achieve synergy from integration. Life styles are different in North and South America hence the branding strategy used by Zara is essential in differentiating itself with both from existing rivals and attracting new custom ers within each of the respective markets. Evaluation of marketing mix In the context of international market and keeping in mind different macro and micro environmental conditions an international marketing mix needs to be varied from one context to another (Keegan Green, 2003). Based on the branding marketing mix strategies it is of importance to look at international marketing models in the North American market considering different operational environments and different consumer behaviour in southern and northern markets. Product and brand The term product not only refers to tangible goods but also entails intangible attributes such as customer service and brand name (Keegan Green, 2003). As a retailer Zara provides a similar range of products in both the southern and northern markets in the US as those provided in its domestic market. However the intangible resource which Zara as a strong brand in New York occupying the middle fashion market appears to be less visible more broadly in the North American markets in comparison with the national brand image of GAP. Traditionally the brand image of Zara as a retailer is one targeted on middle income consumers seeking high fashion styles at reasonable prices. As a result of successful operation in the EU market as well as Asian and South American markets Zara was able to create a strong brand image in the middle fashion market in order to compete with GAP and HM who are also two major operators in the wider global market. Price Price is argued as being an important indicator for customers in evaluating the quality of products and within the clothing sector this also holds true (Easey, 2002). The price mix deployed in the US market is double that found in its domestic region in Spain due to higher operational cost and higher labour costs. It has been suggested that the clothing industry is labour intensive and that effective human resource management strategy contributes in a key manner to effective cost control and in turn allow for competitive pricing in the market (Jones, 2002). As a result the operational strategy employed by Zara has been consistently challenged by competitive pricing from competitors who source from cheaper developing countries. As a result the efficacy of an integrated logistics and supply chain can be questioned along with the ability of maintaining this over the long term given the diversity and complexity of the clothing manufacturing industry in the US. In sum Zara’s operat ion in international markets appears to be experiencing rapid growth in terms of new branches and improving sales and profit but longer term challenges need to be addressed as a priority. Easey (2002) argues that pricing regimes for clothing products may need to change depending on different characteristics in each national market but that communication and management of these changes need to be directed from a strategic level. Communication An integrated communication strategy is an important part of the marketing mix within a branding strategy framework. This seems to be even more essential in the clothing retailing industrial context involving the use of celebrities as a critical communication tool in communicating with customers. For Blythe (2000) marketing communications objectives are created in order to develop a customer base and improve sales through increasing both new and existing customers’ expenditure on a brand’s products. However Zara has rarely exploited advertising campaigns except in the case of its launch of two main product ranges occurring seasonally each year. This can help explain its low brand awareness in the North American market which is a threat to successful entry into this marketplace. Additionally visual merchandising such as store design and layout has become widely regarded as important communication tools with consumers (Lea-Greenwood, 2002). In the case of Zara store design such as clear lighting, white walls and ceiling and style-related decorations such as photographs were deployed in order to create an elegant atmosphere emphasising a brand image reflecting European trends. Likewise employee uniforms helped Zara maintain a visual and physical presence of the brand image and helped in communicating with customers and needed only minor adjustments between southern and northern stores. It is believed that the format and experience of a trading environment particularly in clothing retailing interacts closely with merchandise, customer service and the success of communications strategies (Walters Hanrahan, 2000). It can be argued that the communication strategy used by Zara is effective in terms of communicative effects and of a lower cost than its competitors. On the other hand establishing a significant nationwide presence in North America may require either a large expenditure on a celebrity endorsed campaign or the ef fective use of novel techniques such as viral marketing. Distribution The distribution channel is the network which links producers with users yet international distribution strategies are difficult to manage since distribution structures differ from one country to the next (Keegan Green, 2003). For Zara the US market presents unique challenges. As mentioned earlier the closure of US local manufacturers and moves to Asian manufacturing operations poses major threats to Zara which traditionally exploits local sources in supporting its in house design and production. Due to the highly fragmented nature of fashion retailing it is vital for Zara to differentiate itself from other competitors during its entry stage into the North American market. In considering these difficulties in enter this market and the different cultural backgrounds involved Zara pursued an organic growth in terms of opening stores in its expansion. This is because a strong financial background based on its successful operation both in New York and support from its parent company Grupo Inditex allowed for a longer term fiscal view to be taken. However the use of English in the US market is likely to present challenges for the Spanish company but successful international human resource management should counter this and lead to successful implementation of its strategic expansion plans. Figure 1: Global Retailing Market Entry Strategy Framework Source: Horovitz, J. Kumar, N. (1998) Strategies for Retail Globalization, London UK, Financial Times. Conclusion In order to maintain organizational growth Zara employed an aggressive expansion strategy in responding to internationalisation and globalisation. Research demonstrates that a strong global brand name is one of the most vital elements contributing to the success of international operations (Wigley et al, 2005). However a key consideration is cultural influences which have shaped international marketing strategies for Zara in the US market. An international marketing strategy to some degree remains the same as strategies used in other markets satisfy targeted customer groups effectively. However because of local differences and consumer complexity in the American market adjustments were used such as the establishment of a dedicated distribution centre for the American market. Recommendations The marketing mix used by Zara in the US market has been more effective in New York than in other locations. Brand name is a significant part of product concept hence it is useful for Zara to cooperate with local fashion magazines in conducting magazine campaigns in order to improve brand awareness at the market entry stage. Lea-Greenwood’s (2002) suggestion that the communication process involves three key participants namely sender, message and receiver must be added to in the sense that practical contexts of business operations in the clothing retailing sector makes this model more complex due to changing forces in the external environment such as developments in media technology and changing characteristics/preferences of consumers. This is also of particular importance in international markets as different cultural and social backgrounds have substantial impacts on consumer behaviour as well as effective communication models. Secondly higher costs resulted in higher prices for Zara in these locations. This phenomenon is able to generate potential risks to its brand image of quality clothing products at reasonable prices. It is undoubted that in house design and local sourcing provides Zara with competitive advantages such as short lead times and high response rates to clothing trends but an awareness of local characteristics in the marketplace is essential. In the case of international expansion currency rates have a major impact on operational and labour costs. In turn competitiveness on price might be eliminated because of pressures from competitors who are able to provide even cheaper but goods which are of high quality. As Jones (2002) highlights global sourcing is a key trend and will continue to be so due to globalisation. Although sourcing abroad raises concerns on supply chain related risks which are often called the Iceberg theory it is imperative that Zara be aware of the significant advantages of sourcing from countries with lower labour costs especially given that quality levels have improved (Jackson Shaw, 2001). With the North American market there were difficulties for Zara in maintaining its famous on an in house production model simply because of a lack of local suppliers and manufacturers. Additionally labour costs in America are considerably higher compared to its operation in Europe. It is hard for Zara then to enjoy cost advantages offered by Eastern European countries as well as cheap domestic cost in Spain (Jones, 2002). The suggestion here is to consider expanding operations to Mexico which is comparably cheaper than the US yet offers a distribution channel to the North American market. The establishment of a distribution centre in Mexico is more likely to be cost effective rather th an building specific manufacturing factories in order to supply the North American market. References BBC News (2005) US Consumer Confidence on the Up, BBC News, December 28th, available from:Â  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4564766.stm> Blackwell, R.D., Miniard, P.W. Engel, J.F. (2000) Consumer Behaviour, USA, Dryden. Bradley, F. (2005) International Marketing Strategy 5th edition, Harlow UK, FT Prentice Hall. Breward, C. (2000) Cultures, Identities, Histories: Fashioning a Cultural Approach to Dress, in White, N. Griffiths, I. (eds) The Fashion Business: Theory, Practice, Image, Oxford New York, Berg. D’Andrea, G. Arnold, D. (2002) Zara, Harvard Business School, January 30. Domosh, M. (1996) The Feminized Retail Landscape: Gender, Ideology and Consumer Culture in 19th Century New York City, in Lowe, M. and Wrigley, N. (eds) Retailing, Consumption and Capital, UK, Longman Group Limited. Douglas, S.P. Wind, Y. (1987) The Myth of Globalisation, Columbia Journal of World Business, Vol. 22. Easey, M. (2002) Fashion Marketing 2nd edition, Oxford UK, Blackwell Publishing. Entwistle, J. (2000) The Fashioned Body, Cambridge UK, Polity Press. Foxall, G.R., Goldsmith, R.E. Brown, S. (1998) Consumer Psychology for marketing 2nd edition, London UK, Thomson Business Press. Hawkins, D.I., Best, R.J. Coney, K.A. (1989) Consumer Behaviour: Implications for Marketing Strategy, Boston USA, Mass. Hesmondhalgh, D. (2002) The Cultural Industries, London UK, Sage. Horovitz, J. Kumar, N. (1998) Strategies for Retail Globalization, London UK, Financial Times. Jay, P. (2000) The Road to Riches, London, Weidenfield and Nicholson. Jackson, T. Shaw, D. (2001) Mastering Fashion Buying Merchandising Management, Basingstoke, Palgrave Jobber, D. (2001) Principles Practice of Marketing 3rd edition, London UK, McGraw-Hill. Johnson, G. Scholes, K. (2002) Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases 6th edition, London UK, FT Prentice Hall. Jones, R.M. (2002) The Apparel Industry, Oxford UK, Blackwell Publishing. Keegan, W.J. Green M.C. (2003) Global Marketing 3rd edition, New Jersey, Prentice Hall. Lea-Greenwood, G. (2002) Fashion Marketing Communication, in Easey , M. (ed) Fashion Marketing 2nd edition, Oxford UK, Blackwell Publishing. Porter, M.E. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, New York USA, The Free Press. Rugman, A.M. Hodgetts, R.M. (2003) International Business 3rd edition, Harlow UK, FT Prentice Hall. Singleton, J. (1997) The World Textile Industry, London UK, Routledge. Solomon, M., Bamossy, G. Askegaard, S. (2002) Consumer Behaviour: A European Perspective, Harlow England, FT Prentice Hall. Walters, D. Hanrahan J. (2000) Retail Strategy: Planning and Control, London UK, MacMillan Business. Wigley, S.M., Moore, C.M. Birtwistle, G. (2005) Product and Brand: Critical Success Factors in the Internationalisation of a Fashion Retailer, Journal of Retail Distribution Management, Vol. 33 No. 7.

Tasks and Functions of Management

Tasks and Functions of Management Executive Summary As retrieved from Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary; manager is defined as the person who is responsible for managing an organization which is mainly associated with the management which is described as the control and organization of something. (Cambridge University Press, 2008).This assignment gives a good understanding on the roles played by a manager in a management. We are able to understand effectively the do’s and don’t’s briefly on a managerial roles and managements styles for future undertakings. Based from Task 1, the managerial roles and mangement styles is deifined and explained based from an organization im involved on achieving appropriate goals of the organization. Meanwhile, the Task 2 identifies the problems or limitations faced by manager in effective decision making and how it affects the organization and management. This manager’s role and managerial styles with the barriers to effective decision making faced by managers is being explained briefly in few parts which includes the introduction, management and organization, barriers to effective decision making, and also conclusion and recommendation on the task given. The findings consist of understanding about the management, managers and their functions with the roles played by them such as interpersonal roles, informational roles, and also decisional roles. Besides that, the history of the organization with the coordination of effort, common goals or purposes, division of labor and the hierarchy of authority is being discussed in here. Not only that, the barriers types such as personal confidence, confirmation bias, anchoring bias, and illusory correlations is also being discussed for better understanding. Lastly, it can be concluded that, by completing the given task, one can able to identify the important criteria that a manager must consider always in making a decision with suitable recommendations for developing alternative solutions to the occurring problem for the best decision making barriers. Introduction To perform a variety of roles in an organization we need to study the management in order to examine the role that managers expect .These roles were solely developed by a researcher who is;Henry Mintzberg in late 1960s after a careful and in-depth study of executives at work. (Burgaz, 1997) If a manager has to achieve the goal in a organization, he has to follow the ten managerial roles which are divided into three categories. The categories are interpersonal roles, informational roles and decisional roles. The efficiency and effectiveness to manage an organization is the priority progress. Thus manager’s neglect or these processes are executed. The problem might be wrongly defined, or goals misidentified. Insufficient solutions might be generated, or they may have be evaluated incompletely. A satisfying choice compared to maximizing choice may be made. Implementation poorly planned or executed, monitoring may be inadequate or nonexistent. Decision making are influenced by few categories which can be divided to such like; subjective psychological biases, time pressures, and also social realities. 2.0 Management and Organizations The 21st century has brought with it a new workplace, one in which everyone must  adapt to face the rapid challenges and opportunities. The economy has become global and organizations have to transform themselves to serve new customer expectations. Knowledge based and performance driven is the method of the new economy. The themes widely used in the present context area are such related to ‘respect’, participation, empowerment alongside with teamwork and also self management. In the dark light of the above challenges a new kind of leader is needed to guide business through turbulence. Managers in organizations do this task. 2.1 Functions of Management In any organization, the most important issue is management. So, we should plan out things done systematically in order to be efficient and effective. Make sure that the plans are followed and the goals are met. Good management is the fundamental of a business. Maintaining a business is to achieve some success. To be more and more efficient is what almost every organization as well as a corporation and government strives for. Organizations often carry out important decisions based on how different alternatives will be efficient. Despite that, many organizations and managers undergo hard time to understand the difference correlatively between efficiency and effectiveness and often get â€Å"wrapped around the axle† debating semantics rather than actually evaluating the alternatives at hand. (Ted Schneider, 2008) These concepts are often use little consistency and in some areas drastic change lead to be interdependent. This proves that managers are well dedicated and plan system atically. 2.2 Who are Managers Managers are defined as an organized group of people whose purpose is solely to achieve the objectives and desired goals of an organization for the organization’s benefit. To get a better review of the discussed ideas and views expressed by academicians and involved practitioners; that managers are simply known as at the lowest level of management. Then, followed by the middle managers who manage between the first line level and the top level of the organization. Therefore the top level managers who are responsible for making decision and establishing plans and goals that effect the entire organization. 2.3 Managers Task Table 1: 10 Management Roles. Category Roles Interpersonal Roles Figurehead Role Leader Role Liaison Role Informational Roles Monitor Role Disseminator Role Spokesperson Role Decisional Roles Entrepreneur Role Disturbance Handler Role Resource Allocator Role Negotiator Role A manager is someone who coordinates and supervises the work of other people so that goals can be achieved. Besides that, managers too have to carry out additional task such as Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling. These functions provide a useful structure for management knowledge. Firstly, Planning can be defined as striving for goals and immerge plan for coordination purpose. Secondly, Organizing meant by setting up the work formation to achieve goals. Thirdly, Leading is to lead or guide people with the integrity to achieve goals. Finally controlling focusing and supervising the quality of the work. Mintzberg described Managerial work relates to ten roles those are divided into three categories. Firstly interpersonal roles are the figurehead, leader and liaison. Secondly was an informational role which relates to monitor, disseminator and spokesman. Finally is the decisional roles which caters the entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator and negotiator. Thu s, clearly notify the interpersonal, informational and decisional roles. 2.3.1 Interpersonal Roles Figurehead role perform the ceremonial duties. Leader role motivate and support the workers and Liaison role involve duties with other unit bodies. 2.3.2 Informational Roles Monitor role for environmental issues. Disseminator role is that to exchange or interchange knowledge in their departments. Spokesperson role part their knowledge by sharing information outside their companies. 2.3.3 Decisional Roles Entrepreneur role is to adopt and adapt to change. Disturbance handler role set an alert supervision to clear out any serious problem. Resource allocator collects and handles resources. Lastly, negotiator role compromise with update schedules, current projects, available resources, goals achievements and injecting employees to the company without fail. 2.3.4 Company History Jack Cohen from a market stall in East London founded in 1919. Currently we operate in 12 countries around the world, 530000 employees and serve thousands of customers daily. We are efficient in our sales experience. Nowadays, we believe that we do the right things to satisfy all walks of life that prefers our service. In Malaysia, from 2001 till today, TESCO had been the best Hypermarket. The mangers at TESCO prefer the interpersonal roles to welcome customers warmly, introducing new benefits and support charitable organizations. Besides this, managers motivate and encourage staffs to achieve the objectives. At TESCO, managers regularly acknowledge employees with celebratory lunches and gifts certificates. Moreover the managers exchange ideas outside their units. Evidence shows managers spend most of their sharing ideas and information with other ‘VIP’ groups. 2.4 Management Style Management style is a managerial parlance often used to describe the how of management. It is a function of behavior associated with personality.(McGuire.R, 2005).A way which is used to manage an organization can be referred as management style. Management style is â€Å"the adhesive that binds diverse operations and functions together†. It is the philosophy or set of principles by which the manager capitalizes on the abilities of the workforce.(Nwadukwe Uche.C, 2012).Management style is often mistaken for a procedure on how to do the management framework for doing. A management style is essentially a way of life to operate throughout the organization and to be able to permit an executive to rely on the initiative of the personnel of an entity. The four often used managerial styles in an organization are leadership and management style, autocratic style, democratic style, laissez-faire. In this organization, Tesco; the management choose democratic style to achieve the goals of the organization. Inputs are gathered and decisions as well as the responsibilities are shared is a way of how the democratic style is being implemented. This can be done where the manager ignites a meeting among the team member from the same department to brain storm and to make appropriate decision involving the specified task and to have a faith and trust on the team members to have the capability to develop the appropriate direction to fulfill the decision made. 2.5 An Organization Basically, an organization as known and not necessarily a legal entity, corporation or low liability company(LLC) is a person or group of people intentionally to achieve a common goal. A business organization varies in size from one person to thousands. Therefore essential aspects have to consider about the organization’s goal. These features are explicit; therefore deliberate and recognized or implicit in an operating unrecognized with the term â€Å"behind the scenes. (Koontz.H, 1997) Usually during the strategic planning process, these features are carefully considered and established ideally. Upon completing, well consider deeply on dimensions and concepts that are very common to organizations. The prominent psychologist, all the organizations together share four characteristics which is coordination effort, common goal or purpose, division labor, and hierarchy of authority. 2.5.1 Coordination Effort The well known quotation agrees that two heads are sometimes better than one; Individuals who join force together and be able to coordinate their mental and or physical efforts can accomplish many great and exciting things. (David A.Nadier) Great inventions and sky scrapers were erected by the talent and desire of an individual. Hence, collaboration and coordination only implies with multiple thoughts. 2.5.2 Common Goals or Purposes Managerial force and the Labor force coordinate with mutual interest, it ensures to achieve the target goal of the organization. 2.5.3 Division Labor An organization can use its human resources efficiently by systematically dividing complex tasks into specialized jobs. Division of labor permits in each organization member has to become more and more proficient by repeatedly doing the same assigned specialized task. The advantage of division of labor is well known to all of us. It is better to divide human resources into diversification tasks. When experience and proficiency exceeds, an organization can utilize its human resource to carry out the complex tasks into specialized jobs. Thus, division of labor is a healthy decision that can be implemented. 2.5.4 Hierarchy Of Authority Figure 1: The Hierarchy of Authority in TESCO,Malaysia. Table 2: Acronim of Hierarchy of Aunthority in TESCO,Malaysia. Acronim: AGM Area General Manager SGM Store General Manager TM Trading Manager SM Section Manager If an organization is to achieve the targeted goal, then it should follow a strict and rigid system of management. Thus providing the necessary guidelines and resources which procedure a conductive working environment. A leader should take charge and his commands are followed. Thus, authority should be given to such leaders in order to follow orders effectively and efficiently. Coordination of effort is difficult to achieve without a clear hierarchy of authority. Accountability is mainly enhanced by having such leaders so called ‘managers’ in an organization. 3.0 Barriers to Effective Decision Making Effective decision-making is an interdisciplinary process that involves applying social psychology, group dynamics and management theory (K.Borchardt, 2010). A vital part in making a good decision is actually checking the problems which can be solved by one. However, neglected difficulties, such as cognitive biases, often cause the most challenges in making effective decisions, which ends up making poor decisions. These mental barriers are often subconscious. Cognitive biases present both in individuals and teams often choose options and making decisions. However, there are ways to identify and leap over problems. The most important fact is that to ignore and break off from these barriers such as the personal overconfidence, confirmation bias and anchoring bias. 3.1 Personal Overconfidence Psychologists diligently have shown that human beings are precisely systematically overconfident in making judgments†. (A.Roberto, 2009) Personal overconfidence leads to poor judgment and often faces high-risk decisions for not prepared for any factors. This is more common to high performers who are very self-confident and ready to bear the risk. 3.2 Confirmation Bias A contractor who possesses a lengthy history of good work performance and a good working relationship can also lead to confirmation bias. In an organization groups decision making encourages confirmation bias. 3.3 Anchoring Bias Anchoring bias is the term used for the notion that we sometimes allow an initial reference point so it could distort our estimate. (S.Nickerson, 1998) Anchoring bias can occur when negotiating renewal of a contract or negotiating a new contract. Anchoring bias can also occur when the cost of supplying goods or services specified in the contract changes. This misjudge can lead to losses for the organization which can affect the whole managerial management. 3.4 Illusory Correlation Illusory correlation can be best described as the fact that we sometimes jump into conclusions about the relationship which is between two variables with no relationship exists.(Borchard, 2010). As an example, a manager whom hires someone under him may place too much reliance on a job candidate’s verbal presentation skills, believing there is a strong correlation of these skills with the skills required for excellent job performance. Second rate candidates are more preferably to be selected or hired through this illusory correlation. 4.0 Recommendation This task helps the student to understand fully on how manager should make effective decision making and it is recommended that managers need to focus on the relevant and irrelevant considerations as well as understand fully the act and consequences arise from the decision made. Besides that, other effective decision making theories are also suggested to improve the quality of management and managerial styles. Those theories are such like: Rational Decision Making Tradeoff Behaviour Decision Making Psychology Resistance to Change 5.0 Conclusion Eventually there are many roles in an organization which involve ways to handle various situations according to their management. In an organization managers can describe the managerial roles used to familiarize with the management style so they can achieve the goals of the organization. At this moment the managers can handle or face any barriers by making decision very effectively. In this situation, we should learn how to make decision very carefully and dont be so overconfidence in order to improve ourselves in a more effective decision making. References A.Roberto Michael The Art Of Critical Decision Making [Book].- 2009.- p. 56. Borchard John K. Overcoming Barriers to Effective Decision Making [Book].- [s.l.]: Contract Management, 2010. Burgaz Assit.Prof.Dr.Berrin Managerial Roles Approach And The Prominent Study Of Henry Mintzberg 1960 [Journal].- 1997.- p. 2. Cambridge University Press Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary [Book].- [s.l.]: Cambridge, 2008.- Vol. third edition. David A.Nadier Michael L.Thusman,Nina G.Hatvany Managing Organization[Journal]// Little ,Brown And Company Boston Tronto.- p. 42. Koontz.H Heinz Weihrich Managerial Roles Approach And The Prominent Study OfHenry Mintzberg 1960 [Journal].- 1997.- p. 10. McGuire.R Which Management Styleto Use [Journal].- London: The Pharmaceutical Journal, 2005.- 275: Vol. 9. Nwadukwe Uche.C Court Oggele Timinepere Management Styles and Organizational Effectiveness : An Appraisal of Private Enterprises in Eastern Nigeria [Journal].- Nigeria: American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 2012.- no.9: Vol. 2. S.Nickerson Raymond Confirmation Bias : A Libiquitous Phenomenon Occurring InMany Guises [Journal]// Review of Clinical Psychology.- 1998.- p. 58. Ted Schneider Brian Leslie Efficienc Vs Effectiveness : Defining The Difference[Journal]// Switch Point LLC.- 2008.- p. 1. Weblite Tesco Homepage [Online]// http://www.tesco.com.my/.- 09 08, 2014. APPENDIX Principles and Practices in ManagementPage | 1

Al :: Essays Papers

Al â€Å"Alphonse Capone was born on January 17,1899 in Brooklyn New York to Gabriele, who was thirty years old, and his pregnant twenty-seven-year-old wife Teresina, his two-year-old son Vincenzo and his infant son Raffaele (Bergreen 1996 p.7).† Capone grew up in a rough neighborhood by the time he was eleven he was in two gangs one was the kids gang the brooklime rippers and the forty thieves juniors. Capone quit school in sixth grade at the age fourteen. Between scams, he was a clerk at a candy store, a pin boy at the bowling alley and a cutter in a bookbindery; later on he became part of the notorious five points gang in Manhattan. Capone was once a bouncer at the Harvard Inn for Frankie Yale. Capone got the nickname scar face from an incident he had at the Inn where he insulted a female patron and was attacked by her brother. The attack left a scar on Capone’s face. Capone met an Irish girl in 1918 named Mara (Capone nicknamed her Mae) at a dance. On December 4th Mae gave birth to their son Albert â€Å"Sonny† Francis Capone, and on December 30th they married (Kobler 1992 p.20). The first time Capone was arrested he was charged with disorderly conduct and the murder of two men, Capone was never tried for the murders. Yale sent Capone to work with his old mentor John Torris, who was working for his uncle, â€Å"Big Jim† Colisimo. Colisimo was a Chicago crime boss. When Colisimo forbade Torris from running a bootleg racket, Torris decided to eliminate his uncle. Torris saw Capone’s potential and soon Capone was helping Torris manage his bootlegging business. By 1922 Capone was Torris’s right hand man and became a full partner in his businesses, which included saloons, gambling houses and brothels. Torris was shot by a rival gang member and decided to leave Chicago. Capone became a major crime boss, the men trusted Capone and he proved to be a better business man and expanded his business holdings and now controlled night clubs, horse tracks, breweries, brothels and gambling houses there were reports that said his income was $100,000,000 a year. He also got a cleaning and drying plant chain in Chicago. The mayor also known as big bill Hale Thompson Jr said that Capone was bad for his political image so he ran him out of Chicago (Tully 1958 p. Al :: Essays Papers Al â€Å"Alphonse Capone was born on January 17,1899 in Brooklyn New York to Gabriele, who was thirty years old, and his pregnant twenty-seven-year-old wife Teresina, his two-year-old son Vincenzo and his infant son Raffaele (Bergreen 1996 p.7).† Capone grew up in a rough neighborhood by the time he was eleven he was in two gangs one was the kids gang the brooklime rippers and the forty thieves juniors. Capone quit school in sixth grade at the age fourteen. Between scams, he was a clerk at a candy store, a pin boy at the bowling alley and a cutter in a bookbindery; later on he became part of the notorious five points gang in Manhattan. Capone was once a bouncer at the Harvard Inn for Frankie Yale. Capone got the nickname scar face from an incident he had at the Inn where he insulted a female patron and was attacked by her brother. The attack left a scar on Capone’s face. Capone met an Irish girl in 1918 named Mara (Capone nicknamed her Mae) at a dance. On December 4th Mae gave birth to their son Albert â€Å"Sonny† Francis Capone, and on December 30th they married (Kobler 1992 p.20). The first time Capone was arrested he was charged with disorderly conduct and the murder of two men, Capone was never tried for the murders. Yale sent Capone to work with his old mentor John Torris, who was working for his uncle, â€Å"Big Jim† Colisimo. Colisimo was a Chicago crime boss. When Colisimo forbade Torris from running a bootleg racket, Torris decided to eliminate his uncle. Torris saw Capone’s potential and soon Capone was helping Torris manage his bootlegging business. By 1922 Capone was Torris’s right hand man and became a full partner in his businesses, which included saloons, gambling houses and brothels. Torris was shot by a rival gang member and decided to leave Chicago. Capone became a major crime boss, the men trusted Capone and he proved to be a better business man and expanded his business holdings and now controlled night clubs, horse tracks, breweries, brothels and gambling houses there were reports that said his income was $100,000,000 a year. He also got a cleaning and drying plant chain in Chicago. The mayor also known as big bill Hale Thompson Jr said that Capone was bad for his political image so he ran him out of Chicago (Tully 1958 p.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay -- Pregnancy Neurology Medicine Papers

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental, physical, and behavioral defects that may develop in the unborn child when its mother drinks during pregnancy. These defects occur primarily during the first trimester when the teratogenic effects of the alcohol have the greatest effect on the developing organs. The symptoms associated with FAS have been observed for many centuries, but it was not until 1968 that Lemoine and his associates formally described these symptoms in the scientific literature, and again in 1973 when Jones and associates designated a specific pattern of altered growth and dysmorphogenesis as the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Rostand, p. 302). The set of abnormalities characterized by Jones included; "intrauterine growth retardation, an unusual facies, psychomotor retardation, and a 25% incidence of congenital anomalies (especially cleft palate and cardiac malformations)" (Luke, p. 3330. The incidence of FAS world-wide, can be illustrated on the basis of the extre me to which the characteristics of mental, physical, and behavioral defects are exhibited in the newborn. Full characteristics are estimated to be present in 1.9 per 1,000 live births, and partial characteristics are evident in approximately 3-5 per 1,000 live births. The incidence of FAS increases dramatically when only alcoholic women are considered to 25 per 1,000 for full characteristics and as high as 90 per 1,000 for partial characteristics (Luke, p. 333). Currently, FAS is the most common cause of birth defects leading to mental retardation. Down’s Syndrome and spina bifida, the other two most common causes, can be identified and managed during pregnancy. Yet, FAS remains the only cause of retardation that is co... ... and Fetal Alcohol Effects". New York: Plenum Press (1984). p. 64. Feld, S. M. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Prevention Through Education". Medical Student, 19(2), pp. 15-17. Gottesfeld, Z. and E. L. Abel "Maternal and Paternal Alcohol Use: Effects On The Immune System of the Offspring". Life Sciences, 48,1991, pp. 1-8. Kotch, L. E. and K. K. Sulik "Experimental Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Proposed pathogenic Basis for a Variety of Associated Facial and Brain Anomalies". American Journal of Medical Genetics, 44, 1992, pp. 168-176. Luke, B. "The Metabolic Basis of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome". International Journal of Fertility, 35(6), 1990, pp. 333-337. Walpole, I. et.al. "Low to Moderate Maternal Alcohol Use Before and During Pregnancy, and Neurobehavioural Outcome in the Newborn Infant". Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 33, 1991, pp. 875-883.

coping with death :: essays research papers

Coping with Death People cope with the loss of a loved one in many ways. For some, the experience may lead to personal growth, even though it is a difficult and trying time. There is no right way of coping with death. The way a person grieves depends on the personality of that person and the relationship with the person who has died. How a person copes with grief is affected by the person's cultural and religious background, coping skills, mental history, support systems, and the person's social and financial status. The definition of coping is described in the text as the â€Å"constantly changing (dynamic) cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage internal and/or external demands exceeding the resources of the person. This emphasizes that coping behaviors go beyond routine, adaptive behaviors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1990, my aunt Ann started experiencing heart-problems. My family was very close to Ann because she lived only a block away. Aunt Ann would walk over to our house everyday for a visit. During this particular summer, Ann noticed that she was becoming increasingly out of breath from just the short walk. The entire family strongly urged that she see a doctor as soon as possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After her doctor’s visit that she reluctantly went to, she announced to the family that she was suffering from a damaged heart valve. We were all terrified about what would happen to her, but she assured us that the doctor said it could be fixed with a minimal risk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When she went into surgery in St. John’s Medical Center in St. Louis, we were all there and confidant that everything would go as planned. The doctors came out about one hour into the surgery to inform us that the damage was much worse than they initially thought. They told us that they would keep us updated on her progress. Two hours later they came out to tell us that her heart stopped beating and they tried everything they could to revive her, but she had died.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through the next couple of days our family went through some of the coping stages. We experienced anger because we did not know the severity of the damage, we were depressed and then we had to come to accept God’s will. Ann was a devout Christian and we found comfort of knowing where she was going to.