Future of Nursing Essay Example for Free

Future of Nursing Essay The career of nursing (Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, and advanced practice nurse) has more than three million working affiliates. Nurses are the predominant portion of the healthcare personnel. There are multiple barriers that stand in the way of nurses’ being able to react quickly to the ever-evolving health care field and changing health care organizations. In 2008, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the IOM (Institute of Medicine) started a group process that took two years to look at these needs, looking to evaluate and modify the nursing occupation. The findings show that 1 ) nurses- need to perform to the all-inclusive expanse of their schooling and achievements. 2) nurses- need to commit to reach the most prestigious levels of education and training through a refined educational network that advocates consistent advancement through academia. 3 ) nurses- need to endeavor to be fully engaged with physicians and other health care experts, in modernizing/rejuvenating the health care organization in the United States. 4) Efficient labor pool planning and strategy making needs better collection of data and framework of information. Nursing students should have on their school curriculum that teaches them the capabilities that are compulsory for uninterrupted furtherance of the characteristics and safety of the systems that make up a health care organization, patient-oriented care, partnership and coordination with other agencies (Berwick, Cronenwett, Tanner 2011). The student nurses’ need expert skill to grasp and knowledge and understanding of human anatomy and physiology, psychology, and a working comprehension in clinical, social, and behavioral sciences (Berwick 2011). They need working  skills and methods in order to be competent in leadership and management roles. (Berwick 2011). Student nurses will need capabilities in the new patient care conveyance framework that is on the horizon. Need a working knowledge in community health/illness and community based patient care. (Tanner 2011). They will need to know how to distribute patient care with other patient care modalities for appropriate patient care (Tilden 2011). The future nurse will need to have skills based on unchanging science prerequisite courses (Dracup, Tanner 2011). Health care policy knowledge, skills, and beliefs will need to be taught (Tilden 2011). Abilities related to unfolding health care needs will need to be fostered. For example: the elderly population (Tanne r 2011). They will need to accept technology-immersed education, multifaceted approach to patient care. Universities and colleges will need to come up with a plan that will make sure that the number and the equal allocation of new Registered Nurses who have graduated from their institutions with a baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing should be greatly increased (Aiken, Cronenwett 2011). Society should embrace community colleges/ universities that have affiliations, they may increase AND graduates that would complete a BSN degree if given encouragement, and could get it completed within a certain timeframe. (Dracup, Tanner 2011). The post-graduate residency programs will need to develop and test clinical education models that would include post-graduate intern and residency programs in appropriate facilities. (Tanner 2011). What the faculty members of the future need to be on the look-out 1) look for a person that has the bedrock for a nomination and appointment to faculty and promotion, including recognition of practice-based accomplishments, including working toward bettering healthcare (Berwick, Dracup, Cronenwett 2011). This person, who can, during their working life, move easily between practice (patient care), and academia (Gilliss 2011). The person, who within a short time span, has obtained a BSN, then a Doctoral degree (Aiken, Dracup 2011). The person must maintain professional certification and/or clinical proficiency (Gilliss 2011). This person builds working relationships with teachers and staff in other occupations. (medicine, engineering, business, public health, and  law). (Gilliss 2011). The person must take time to advance his/her education using two or more professions and foster cooperative practice furnishing patient-centered care (Dracup, Tilden 2011). Society needs to make sure that the universities produce a commensurate number of nurse practitioners (NP’s) for primary care roles at a time when access to health care will most likely increase the general public’s need for primary care providers (Cronenwett, Gilliss 2011). Universities will need to change their course of study in nursing education that has come about secondary to the advances made in nursing science and practice. These changes are guided by breakthroughs made in science (Tanner 2011). Universities will need to continue to state specialist preparation is needed for Master’s program level, and advance Post-Masters DNP education. At this time, requirements for Nurse Scientists interested in translational research needs to be clarified- will a DNP and a PhD both be needed in order to be able to follow through and become a researcher? The older population age averages, those who have chronic illnesses, added to the fast-moving science and technology fields, plus the blurred lines between medicine and nursing, creates a level of unpredictability to the health care scene. It is reasonable to expect a more educated health care team to care for these patients. Research has shown that hospitals that have a larger proportion of BSN bedside nurses, have a lower patient mortality/death (JAMA 1999). There is some research evidence that has shown BSN nurses are more cost-effective. Evidence is encour aging in showing that a more highly balanced BSN labor pool might allow for a smaller staff without negatively affecting patient end results. In the ambulatory out-patient care clinic setting, there is strong research-based evidence that shows that nurses with advanced degrees, usually a masters, can provide patient care with patient conclusions that are comparable to that of a Medical Doctors in some areas, like that of pain control and patient satisfaction. The cost for care is lower, also. Griffiths 2010)(Horrocks 2002). The evidence shows that the increased number of advanced degree  nurses practicing has improved admittance to general patient care. (Aiken 2009). Advanced nurses staff ambulatory care clinics and see approximately three million patients a year. Nurse Practitioners also staff Community Health Centers. The Role of Nursing Organizations to Nurse Leaders: The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), states that the BSN is the minimal degree for nurses in leadership roles. Nurse leaders in a supervisory leadership role should seek education at a doctoral level. The IOM recommends lifelong learning for nurses. Nurse leaders need to help and assist as needed bed-side, clinic, and home-health care nurses in exploring and promoting new, more unprecedented, patient and family-centered care models. Nurses at all levels of the health care continuum, should be planning for leadership roles. The more experienced nurses must mentor the nurse with less proficiency, show them the way. Nurse leaders should also sit on boards of health care organizations and sit on policy-making committees. As for me, I am not sure what the future holds for me. I think maybe I would stay a bedside nurse in an acute care hospital. That is what I have done for over twenty years and that is what I love doing. I see nursing becoming more involved in the evidence-based prevention policies. Finding new ways to assist patients in reducing disease and/or promoting health, once they go home. The bedside nurse would do more of the inter-agency care coordination, for example discharge planning. Nurses must be able to function and collaborate with multiple agencies in order to get the supplies and care a patient might need once they go home. References AmericaInstitute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: Cronenwett, Linda R. (09/01/2012). Molding the future of advanced practice nursing 1.. Nursing outlook (0029-6554), 60 (_5), 241. WNA working to advance the recommendations in the RWJF/IOM report: the future of nursing: leading change, advancing health?. Stat: Bulletin Of The Wisconsin Nurses Association [serial online]. June 2011;80(6)Available from: CINAHL Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed October 11, 2014. Retrieved from ISNA Bulletin Aug/Sep/Oct 2011 pg10 Independent Study Visioning the Future of Nursing: Analysis of the IOM/RWJ Foundation Report Nurse Leader Vol9 Issue6 Dec2011 pg30-32

Determinants for Demand in Private Housing

Determinants for Demand in Private Housing Principle determinants of demand for private housing. The dominant factor is price. Providing all of the other factors remain equal, one would expect a fall in price to increase demand. This increase occurs for two reasons. Firstly, the product has become better value for money and therefore becomes a preferred area of expenditure for consumers. Secondly, it enables consumers to purchase the product in replacement of a previously purchased inferior product. Household Income. As incomes rise, so does the household purchasing power. Therefore, the consumer is better able to afford products. Comparables. In incidence where, apart from price, there is a direct comparison between two products, as prices fall on product b) so consumers may substitute it for product a) where there has been no fall in price. Taste and preference. Consumer tastes and preferences change. These may be affected by outside sources such as promotion or peer pressure. In this event, such changes will have an effect on demand. Expectations. The perception of future changes in price will affect demand. If prices are expected to rise in the future, present demand will increase, and visa-versa. Therefore, if it is expected that private house costs will rise, but the present cost of purchase falls (i.e. mortgage payments), because consumers generally view property rental as inferior to private ownership, the demand for private housing will increase. Difference between supply of new housing and manufactured goods New Housing The Supply of new housing has limitations. The principle limitation is it’s fixed core element, the land. Although there can be changes made in the use of land, for example from agricultural, it is a limited resource that cannot be easily expanded. As a result, it is considered a fixed cost. Every individual product (house) will require a significant element of land for manufacture. The relative scarcity of the supply of land, this has the affect of increasing the cost of supply. Manufactured goods The supply of manufactured goods can be more easily increased. Once the fixed costs are in place, i.e. property, plant and machinery, these are equally divided over the number of goods produced. An increase in the number of products manufactured will therefore reduce the fixed cost element per unit. For example, fixed costs of  £100 spread over 1,000 products will be one tenth of that cost if it is spread over 100 products. Comparison of affordability with effective demand for a product Concept of affordability The concept of affordability (Marshall et.al. 2000) in respect of property rental is threefold. 1) That such rental is set at a level, which does not force the tenant into a position of poverty. 2) That it does not consume more than 25% of the tenant’s affordable income and 3) that the lessee is left with sufficient funds to be able to afford other basic necessities. Concept of effective demand The concept of effective demand is based upon the premise that supply and price determines demand. Whilst taking into account the available budget of consumers, effective demand works on the basis that increase of supply reduces cost, which enables lower price and therefore fuels demand. The motives for these concepts vary in that the affordability concept is based upon social precepts, whilst effective demand is based upon profitability and price. Other Criteria The criterion for assessing affordability is centred on five key issues. There needs to be an effective analysis of the RSL’s[1] own rental levels. Such analysis should determine rent averages by authority area, levels as calculated in relation to the type of property and the area in which the property is located. Comparison of rental levels with other RSL’s. Comparison of rental levels with other rental organisations. For example, those in the private sector. By evaluation of the income levels and type of household, for example single parent, pensioners, families etc. Formal assessment. Within this issue, RSL’s need to determine that households have sufficient income level to be able to afford the rent and still be able to achieve a certain standard of living. It is also needs to assist in reducing the reliance of tenants on other benefits by providing them the opportunity to rejoin the employment market. Other criteria that could be used include locality of tenant to work concentration areas, which would reduce tenant expenditure and increase job opportunity. Expectation of affordable housing schemes An ideal affordable housing scheme should provide occupiers with reasonable living accommodation sufficient for the needs of the household unit, at the same time allowing a standard of living that provides for all their basic needs. For the provider who finances the scheme it should allow for a reasonable return on their investment, plus sufficient capital replacement to enable them to continue the provision of such housing. Learning Activity 10 Supply differential between houses and other household product requirements Supply of houses differs from other products such as cars, white goods and luxury goods in that it is not as easily adaptable to meet demand. A car can be readily supplied and that supply rapidly replaced. This is not the position with a house. Here the supply source takes longer to react to any movement in price, because of the motivation of the house seller. A number of factors that affect supply, such as the motivation of the occupier to sell. If they are satisfied with their accommodation and the location, they are less likely to sell, limiting supply. Similarly, if they perceive prices will continue to rise, they will delay selling, a reverse effect will happen when house prices are depressed. Houses completed The chart above generally shows that the increase in house prices has not been met by a significant rise in the level of new builds, in fact, House builds supply has remained at a similar level throughout the ten years from 1995. If one wanted to construct a genuine graph for new house other data would be required, including variety of construct, for example flats, houses etc, and take into account the population demographics. Learning Activity 12 Scarcity Scarcity occurs within the social housing market where there is a lack of availability of the core element of house building, namely the land, and where house occupiers do not put their houses up for sale. Opportunity cost Many landlords have seized the opportunity of increasing their housing stock during the periods of deflation or housing slumps. In such cases, there is a need to weigh this cost against future gains. The conditions of demand In the housing market if the price is right and compares favourably with other housing options, such as renting, and that price is within the budget of the householder, then they will purchase a property. This is generally the preferred route of households. The conditions of supply To conditions that determine supply is the availability of products, in this case houses, at the right price. Supply will also be affected by the future expectations of the market in terms of price. Perverse demand behaviour In the housing market the major action that perversely affects demand is the substitution behaviour. Consumers generally perceive house ownership being preferable to renting and will therefore seek to move to this status as soon as is possible. External effects Several external situations affect the housing market. These include the inability of young people to get onto the property market; changes in employment conditions and types of households. Similarly, issues such as planning and taxes will affect the market supply and demand. Sources of inefficiency Inefficiencies within the housing market, particularly with social housing, where results of data analysis do not take into account all of the relevant factors and the resources are not being used to create the maximum economic welfare.. Sources of inequity issues Inequity can arise in the housing market because of the house-building programme failing to keep pace with the rate of demand. Monopoly power Monopoly power exists where there is no alternative to the product cost or the method of acquisition. It gives a monopoly the ability to affect the price of their product without reference to market trends. Nostradamus Housing Association Nostradamus is a social housing organisation. They are faced with a situation of reduced occupancy as a result of mortgage rates being reduced to a level where repayment are at a significantly lower level than the association charges. The occupancy issue is exacerbated by the fact that the council has transferred its housing stock to another association. Current research shows that the trend in the move to ownership is likely to continue for the near future. Therefore Nostradamus have decided to sell off their surplus stock, under a right to buy scheme, in order to rectify it’s worsening financial position. HA Rented Housing Owner-occupied Housing Low cost housing Reduction of mortgage rates Selling of houses Ownership Right to buy Within the case study presented, we see that the association is operating a system of allocative efficiency, in that the sale of their houses benefits them by reducing their financial difficulties, thereby making the business more efficient. It is equitable to both parties, as the association benefits by reducing its financial difficulties and the occupier benefits by acquiring a property at a cost, which is less than they were previously paying. It is found that owner-occupied housing is also provides equity, as it assists with the distribution of wealth between individuals who were previously disadvantaged. Thus, the association is also fulfilling its role in economic welfare. Determinants On Demand Owner-Occupied Housing Market price of product Rent exceeds mortgage payments, therefore exceeds market price Levels of household income Incomes have improved as the region is recovering economically Comparable prices The cost of ownership is below that of the rent being charged making rents no longer comparable Taste and preference Generally consumers prefer ownership, seeing renting as of lower social standing. Expectations Those who are moving to ownership expect to benefit from better neighbours. The sale of redundant houses by the association does give rise to a number of criticisms in addition to the fact that these were transferred from the local council. One of the most important criticisms is that it leaves the association with a much lower stock of houses, thereby it would be ill prepared to be able to provide housing for those who need social housing, should the local economy suffer a future reverse of fortunes in the future. A further criticism is that such houses could have been utilised to reduce the difficulties being experienced in other areas of the country. With areas such as the South East suffering shortage of low-cost housing for rent or sale, there could have been some relocation effected to have reduced this difficulty. This would have also have had the effect of assisting those in need in those areas by providing them with the opportunity of possible work as well. Furthermore, by selling the houses below the original cost, the association can be said to ha ve misused council funds. These funds essentially would have been provided by the members of the local community, through the payment of local taxes. As a result of all of these issues, a criticism could be levelled at the association that it failed in its duty of social care and welfare by not undertaking a study of other possible ways in which it could have utilised the excess housing stock and, at the same time, addressed its financial issues. The social imbalance could have been addressed in other ways. Primarily, it could have been offered to the government at an equitable rate, for use in helping them to address local and national homeless problems. This would have satisfied the issue of welfare. Secondly, the association should have looked at the possibility of reducing the rate of its rent to that which would be comparable with current mortgage payments. This would have led to higher levels of occupancy and increased the income of the association, thus reducing over time the level of its cash flow difficulties. The third way of reducing the social imbalance would have been by helping to address the issues that first time buyers suffer, namely not being able to gain entry into the property market. In line with other organisations, the association should have looked at the possibility of a â€Å"Rent and Buy† scheme. Under this scheme, the buyer purchases part of the property equity and the association purchases the balance, for example, the buyer may buy forty percent and the association sixty. Over the years, and as the buyer’s income levels rise, under this scheme the buyer would be able to then purchase the remainder of the property equity, on an instalment basis, from the association. These future equity purchases would have been at current market rates. This would have had the additional benefit of enabling such people to be able to remain within the location of their choice, close to families and their work environment. Accounting Issues Indicators Loss of Income Increasing turnover of tenants. Rentals too high Reduction in ownership mortgage rates Improvement in local incomes Housing turnover exceeding budget Tenants attracted by ownership Rentals too high. References Marshall, D., Grant, F.L., Freeman, A. and Whitehead, C (2000). Cambridge Housing and Planning Research. Retrieved 12 October 2006 from http://www.dataspring.org.uk/Downloads/Discussion Paper 2.pdf Live Tables on Housebuilding (2006). Department for Communities and Local Government, Retrieved 11 October 2006 from http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1156032 Demand and Supply for housing (2006). Tutors2u. Retrieved 12 October from http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/housing/housing_demand_supply.htm Research Project. The UK Housing Market. biz/ed. Retrieved 12 October 2006 from http://www.bized.ac.uk/current/research/2004_05/090505.htm Footnotes [1] Registered Social Landlords

Academic Discourse: An Overview

Academic Discourse: An Overview Academic Discourse In order to understand the concept of academic discourse one, must know what the meaning academic discourse is. Discourse is a common word. The word of discourse can be interchanged with discussion or conversation in everyday speech or writing (Washington State Libraries). Discourse is a formal discussion of a subject with using speech or writing using the communication of words. Discourse is a written or spoken method of a subject which is handled or discussed at length (Washington State Libraries). The discourse between individuals needs to have some of the same characteristics. For example they need to speak the same language (Elbow). However more goes into the discourse between these individuals than just the same language. The discourse has shared assumptions and the same cultural values, even shared slang. Groups of people that share these qualities are called discourse communities (Washington State Libraries). Doctors, scientists, law officials and mechanics make up their own different discourse community. Usually to be accepted in the discourse community one will have to be able to communicate in the certain professions lingo (Elbow, 137). Discourse communities have certain lingo, norms and common understanding when communicating with in the community. This especially goes for writing. If two articles are compared, one from the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation and an article from the International Journal of Police Science and Management, the differences can be easily depicted. The discourse of a journal also means how it is set up. In the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation the articles are set up in a certain way. In the top left hand corner of the article is where the type of article is shown. In the case of the Article â€Å"Scaling from field to region for wind erosion prediction using Wind Erosion Prediction System and geographical information systems† the type of article is called â€Å"Applied Research†. Right under that is the Title of the article in bold black print that is a larger font than the rest of the article. Under the title is the list of the authors, which is usually double, spaced from the title of the article. Another two spaces is the â€Å"abstract†. The â€Å"abstract† is a short summary paragraph of the article; after the â€Å"abstract† are the â€Å"key terms† of the article. Double spaced from the â€Å"key terms† is the â€Å"introduction†. The introduction’s fir st sentence of the article is bolded in black. The rest of the article is then broke up into â€Å"materials and method†, â€Å"results and discussions† and â€Å"summary and conclusions†. In the â€Å"methods and materials† part of the article is just the tests and materials used in the experiments. There are usually graphs and tables in the â€Å"methods and materials† too. Each of the graphs and maps are labeled, figure 1 or figure 2, it matters the orders in which they appear. Each one also has a short description of what the figure represents. The â€Å"result and discussion† part of the article just explains the results from the experiments done and discusses how the results came about. The â€Å"results and discussions† also has figures that show the results of the experiments and test. The â€Å"summary and conclusions† is the how and why bit of the paper. In this part of the article they explain why some of the results came out the way they did and then it makes conclusions from all the information of the â€Å"results† part of the article. The article always has figures that show and back up the conclusion presented. Once the â€Å"summary and conclusions† is finished the article has â€Å"acknowledgements†. The â€Å"acknowledgements† give praise to the companies and people who funded the research presented in the article. After the â€Å"acknowledgements† is the â€Å"references† in which the authors give other authors and people recognition for the ideas and information they used for the article. In the Journal of Police Science and management set their article up a little different than that of the natural resources journal. In the top left corner of the first page the article gives the journals name and the volume of it. They center the â€Å"title† which is bolded in black and the font is larger too. Right under the â€Å"title† is the author’s names addresses and email addresses. Also there is the date in which the article was received, edited and accepted in the journal. Under this information are the â€Å"key words† of the article. After the â€Å"key words† is information on each of the authors. This information includes the author’s education, career, position and achievements. They have this information for each author. After all the information about the authors is the â€Å"abstract† which is a one paragraph quick summary of the article. In this journal the â€Å"abstract is italicized. After the â€Å"abstract is the â€Å"introduction† to the article. The rest of the paper is broken up into subtopics that is bolded in black and is in larger font so it is easy to follow. The article does have information that is presented in graphs and tables and each one is labeled in figures. Under the labels is the description of what each graph is presenting. At the end of the article is the â€Å"conclusion† in which the authors make conclusions from the information they presented in the article. The â€Å"references† is after the â€Å"conclusion†. The â€Å"references† part of the article is where the authors give recognition to the people in whom they took ideas and information from. The information given about the two different journal articles shows that each of these discourse communities have different ways in which they convey information to their community. Each of these discourses even cite their references different. Not everyone can read an article out of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation and understand all that is said. This is because the journal in the natural resource uses vocabulary and lingo that is not commonly used or seen. Some one that would understand these articles of the natural resources will either be in this field or have some knowledge of this discourse. Even if one knows definition to certain words in the article, the words could have a different meaning in which they are commonly defined by. The article in the Journal of Police science and Management is much easier to read and follow. The article flows well, kind of like a story or explanation. This article does not split up into parts that have tests and materials. These arti cles in this journal usually use common vocabulary that anyone can read and won’t have to have much knowledge of the profession. This journal uses APA style to cite sources while the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation uses the style of CBE. In conclusion discourse in the two professions use different lingo and jargon in their discussions of a subject. This is the same for any two different discourse communities. Discourse is a style of writing and conversation of a formal subject (Washington State Libraries). References: Washington State University Libraries. (2006). What is Discourse? Retrieved March 8, 2008, from http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/electric/trainingmods/gened300/Academic_Disciplines/discourse.htm Feng G. Sharratt B. (2007). Scaling from field to region for wind erosion prediction using the Wind Erosion Prediction System and geographical information systems. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 62, 321-328. Elbow P. (1991). Reflection on Academic Discourse: How It Relates to Freshman and Colleagues. ProQuest Education Journals, 53, 135-155. Holgersson S. Gottschalk P. Dean G. (2007). Knowledge management in law enforcement: knowledge views for patrolling police officers. International Journal of Police Science Management, 10, 1, 76-88.

Is Canada a Post-Industrial Country? Essay -- Economics, History

The term post-industrialism refers to a transition from one form of society to another; the original society being an industrial society, mainly dominated by forms of specialized physical labour, and the latter being a service and knowledge dominated format. An industrial society has many unique and definitive characteristics that separate it from a post-industrial one. Some of these characteristics include the heavy use of machinery in large factories; the use of fossil fuels to power the machinery; the specialization of jobs allowing for increased productivity, which led to urban expansion. In regards to class dynamics, there are/were few people at the† top†, who own the factors of production, and many front-line, blue-collar workers at the â€Å"bottom.† The huge gaps in income, status, and control between these two groups produced an imbalance of power; considered a negative aspect of industrialism. With Industrialism, work is specialized, and it has been said that these workers were alienated from the goods they helped produce as a result. In contrast, a post-industrial society marks a shift from a society based on the mass production of goods to one that hinges on the provision of services. In this type of society, capital switches from bodies and heavy machinery to knowledge, as with knowledge comes creativity, a force seemingly responsible for economic growth in a post-industrial society. As far as creativity is concerned, it can flow from the skills of an engineer, a scientist, an artist, etc. Much emphasis is placed on the upgrading of human capital and of attaining some form of specialized education. This type of knowledge-based economy logically offers more opportunity to those with a high-level education, creat... ...s Canada created in this post-industrial era. Are the jobs a small amount of high-end and high-paid service jobs that require large investments in human capital or are they low-end service jobs that require minimal education and training? Works Cited Krahn, H., Lowe, G. Hughes, K. (2008). Work, Industry & Canadian Society. (5th ed.) Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd. HRSDC Labour statistics Division. (2009). The Canadian Labour Market at a Glance 2007. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada. HRSDC Labour Statistics Division. (2007). Looking Ahead: A Ten-Year Outlook for the Canadian Labour Market (2006 – 2015). Ottawa, ON: Retrieved from http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/publications_resources/research/categories/labour_market_e/sp_615_10_06/supply Critoph, Ursule. Et al. (2010). Sociology of Work and Industry. Alberta, CA: Athabasca University.

Essay --

Question 1: Opening a new restaurant required many decisions. Pricing strategy is one of the vital ones that could make or break the restaurant. I would recommend the combination of value pricing and competitive pricing for the new restaurant. Value pricing strategy is to use the price to communicate the restaurant’s position, reflect the bundle benefits offered while competitive pricing gives the restaurant a competitive edge among the existing restaurants in the neighborhood. Ideally, the restaurant’s pricing should be high enough to place itself into the fine dinning categories in customers’ minds, but also competitive enough to attract customers from competitors. The decision for choosing these strategies is based on the following reasons. First of all, Center City Philadelphia is an up rising neighborhood that is home of many young professionals. This location offers the ideal market segment for the restaurant – the customers who are willing to spend extra bulks for better experience. Value pricing, in this situation, can be seen as prestige pricing. Prestige pricing plays on customer’s psychology principles of attaching quality with high price. Pricing the menu high, along with the innovative and modern look will easily put the restaurant into a good position. The key point of having value pricing is the actual value going along with the product. The restaurant has to make sure the food and service live up to the customer expectation. They should make sure the ingredients are fresh and the foods are flavorful. Having their supply delivered from local farms is a good strategy for quality ingredients with reasonable price. That is also a socially conscious effort by supporting local businesses and farms and building a long... ...arefully allocate our money and make sure we make a sustainable plan to expand but not affecting our current services. Other factor to consider is competition from other providers in the market. We need to be up to date, sensitive competitors’ move and flexible to adjust and deal with any changes. It’s better to be proactive than be reactive after the fact. Company customer base and loyalty is also a factor to be considered. Customers in cable industry are not too attached to the service provider but they tend to avoid the inconvenience of switching carrier. We need to put customer satisfaction our priority and make it effortless for them to switch over our company. Government rules and regulations are things we also need to be mindful of. Change in regulation can have either positive or negative impact on the company, and we stay alert to make any move accordingly.

Genre Analysis: Musical The Wizard of Oz Essay

The Wizard of Oz is one of the biggest American Musicals in film. It has become known world wide, it is apart of our American popular culture, and is best known of all films. It was based on the novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum in the 1900s. It was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayar in the year of 1939. This film just hit the end of the â€Å"Golden Age of the Musical† that started in the early 1930s. MGM benefited greatly from the hit of the rebirth of musicals. It’s known for the use of technicolor which is a system of making color motion pictures by means of superimposing the three primary colors to produce a final colored print (Websters Dictionary), fantasy storytelling, interesting and creative characters, and the musicality imbedded into it. There was also a complex use of special effects for film in that specific time era which helped the film receive special notice. MGM’s film had many awards but one of the most famous one was the award of Best Original Song for â€Å"Over the Rainbow.† It was sung by Judy Garland as Dorothy just five minutes into the movie after she was trying to get her Aunt and Uncle to come to a realization of what happened to her poor little dog Toto. In the beginning of the film â€Å"Over the Rainbow† is played by MGM orchestra over the starting credits. There is a big taste of fantasy in this particular film which kind of in a way departs away from the musical genre. There is many scenes of flying monkeys, and the wicked witch of the West and Glinda, the good witch of the South, and the munchkins, and talking lions, and a tin man, and a talking scarecrow. There are many musical scenes that I am fond of in The Wizard of Oz like the scarecrow’s song â€Å"If I only had a Brain†, the tin man’s song â€Å"If I only had a Heart† and the lion’s song â€Å"If I only had the Nerve†. The Wizard of Oz was the famous directors, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayar’s, most popular musical in his time. Starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale was one of the best professional choices MGM had in his career. She was the stand out in the whole film. Also starring Frank Morgan as the wizard, Ray Bolger as the scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the cowardly lion, Billie Burke as Glinda the good witch of the south, and Margaret Hamilton as the wicked witch of the west. â€Å"Somewhere over the Rainbow† became Judy Garland’s signature song. She has been in 32 of MGM’s films and she won a Golden Globe Award, Grammy Awards and the Special Tony Award. She was then nominated the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in â€Å"A Star is Born†. Everyone of the lead rolls in The Wizard of Oz has been in many of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayar’s other films.

Cal by Bernard Mac Laverty †Critical Evaluation Essay

â€Å"Cal† is a romantic-tragedy novel written by the Irish author, Bernard Mac Laverty. It is a fiction story about a young man living in Northern Ireland during the troubles of the 1970s. The writer conveys a number of significant themes through skilful writing and the novel’s plot, such as guilt, hypocrisy and bigotry. In this essay, I will be focusing on the themes of the story, the purpose of why the novel was written and the author’s use of imagery to enhance his writing. The events of this story take place in Northern Ireland in the 1970’s. During the period of time in which this story is set in, Northern Ireland was going through what we would now refer to as being â€Å"The Troubles†. This was a period of conflict involving republican and loyalist paramilitary organisations and included conflicts and violence. â€Å"Cal† is about a young adult named Cal who is living in Northeren Ireland at this time. He is a Catholic living in a Protestant area with his father, Shamie. This leads to him being the victom of many bigotry driven attacks, such as his house being burnt down and to him being insulted on his own street. He starts to fall in love with a woman named Marcella, which, from the very beginning, is a doomed relationship. This is because a year earlier Cal was reluctantly involved in the murder of a Protestant policeman, who was, in fact, Marcella’s husband. Cal becomes closer and closer to Marcella as the novel goes on, and you find out more about the murder as the plot develops. He then lands himself a job at Mrs. Mortons farm, the mother of Marcella’s husband, Robert. This brings him even closer to Marcella and they start to have a relationship with each other. This relationship becomes even more intense when Cal is offered to stay in Mrs. Morton’s outhouse (as his house had been burnt down). He is then arrested at the end of the novel, for the murder of Robert. The ending of the story was very skilfully done. Near the end of the story, Mac Laverty builds up massive tension through certain events in the plot. It is then all concluded in a small, yet effective, paragraph. It tells us enough information to feel satifsfied, yet wanting to know more. It leaves key questions in the reader’s mind such as whether he deserved it or not and what will be his fate. I believe that the plot is a very important aspect of the story as it develops the mood and atmosphere and it is the events which take place which allow the themes to be conveyed. All the characters in â€Å"Cal† have complicated lifes. Most of them have good and bad sides and are all affected in different ways by the troubles. Cal is nineteen years old. He lives with his father and he is a Catholic. He is caught up with the IRA (Irish Republican Party) and takes part in a number of crimes which he does not want to be part of. After he joined, he had to do what they asked, such as when Cal thinks of the things the IRA do: â€Å"They shoot deserters – even deserters who protested that they had never joined in the first place.† This quotation shows that Cal is scared of Crilly and Skeffington (members of the IRA) and that he is in danger. It also shows that Cal never wanted to take part in the violence – making it sound stupid that they would shoot him. This whole section shows that Cal is vunerable. The writer makes out that Robert is a hard working loving man throughout the story. For example, when Marcella is telling Cal about her husband: â€Å"He was so plausible – one of those people that everybody likes in company.† This quote shows that Robert was popular and was a worthy man, and there is also evidence showing that â€Å"he was witty and intelligent†. However, we later find out that he was not all what he was meant to have been, as Marcella confesses to Cal: â€Å"He told lies, Cal. All the time. About his affairs I know he had two or three at least – about his drinking and the money he spent† This is an example of how the characters have both good and bad characteristics. Despite this, Marcella still loved him and was distraught when he was murdered. This also makes the characters more realistic, which lets the reader relate to the different characters in â€Å"Cal†. It also creates the question of ‘who was too blame for The Troubles’ which relates to the theme and purpose of the novel, which I will be discussing later in this essay. All of the characters are affected by the troubles as well, as most of their problems are due to that situation. For example, if it was not for the troubles, then Cal would not have been involved with the IRA and Robert wouldn’t have been murdered, taking problems out of all of the characters lives. All of the characters’ features reflect the themes, such as Cal’s characteristic of being vunerable, leading to his self loathing and guilt. There are many themes in the novel ‘Cal’. One of these themes that I will be focusing on is the theme of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy means the pretence of possessing virtues, beliefs or qualities that one does not really have, especially in matters of religion or morality. One way in which the author displays this theme is via specific characters, such as Crilly. Crilly is part of a gang who are fighting for independence from Great Britain. For example, when Skeffington is talking about Crilly: â€Å"There are not many aspects of our culture which interests Mr Crilly. But he’s a useful man.† This quote shows that Crilly does not care about Irish independence and culture but is only in the gang as he likes the thrill of violence. It also shows that the IRA are not offended about his beliefs – but just want him to help with their struggle. This shows them being hypocritical as they kill people who do not believe or reject their views, but someone who does not care about Irish independence can help with the violence. Another way in which hypocrisy is showing is through thoughts of characters and their dialogue. This is taking from a part where Dunlop (Cal’s Protestant employer) is talking to Cal about the situation in Northern Ireland: â€Å"Would you do the same to the Loyalist prisoners every time a Catholic was murdered?† Dunlop thinks that for any Protestant policeman who is murdered by a Catholic, two Catholics should be shot. This quotes shows that Dunlop is a hypocrite as he would shoot two Catholics every time a Protestant policeman was murdered but not if it was the other way around. This also shows that Dunlop is a bigot, which ties in with my next theme, bigotry. A bigot is a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to their own religion, or opinion. Bigotry is the main cause of fear and violence in the story. One night, Cal and his father receive a note stating: â€Å"GET OUT YOU FENYAN SCUM OR WE’LL BURN YOU OUT. THIS IS YOUR 2ND WARNING, THERE WILL BE NO OTHER UVF† This clearly diplays pure bigotry. Cal and his father are being threatened to leave their home of many years, just because of their religion. This quote also shows how ignorant the UVF are, as they have spelt â€Å"fenyan† wrongly. This leads to Cal and his father being fearful, for example: â€Å"†¦Shamie was putting the gun beneath his pillow and climbing into bed† This shows that Cal’s father has to keep a weapon underneath his pillow as there is a constant threat of violence. Another theme which has been cleverly developed is the theme of guilt. Cal feels guilty about his involvement in the killing of Robert, which leads to his self-loathing. At the start of the novel, the writer makes this very obvious: â€Å"Merde. Crotte de chein. Merderer.† Cal hates himself so much, that he makes up words to describe himself. The word â€Å"merderer† has a possible two meanings; it shows that he is guilty and secondly it shows his self loathing. As he becomes more and more involved with Marcella, his guilt increases: â€Å"Now that he felt safe from the world outside he was being attacked from within his own head† This quote is taken from the section where he is living and working with Marcella. It shows that guilt is eating him up and is destroying him and his life. The author also uses writing techniques to convey the theme of guilt: â€Å"It was as if idleness had allowed dirt to accumulate on his [Cal] soul, to clog his mind, and work moved him through it untouched† Mac Laverty uses this metaphor to show how Cal was brooding over Morton’s death and his involvement. It also shows that he thinks that he deserves to go to hell for what he has done. When Marcella tells Cal about what Robert was really like, it complicates his guilt as he now knows that Robert sometimes brought misery to Marcella, and maybe it was good that Robert was murdered. All of these themes show the writer’s purpose in writing. He shows bad and good sides to both Protestant and Catholic organisations, leading to us to wonder which is the good side in the novel. The story also shows us how difficult and violent Northern Ireland was at that time in history, and how deeply everybody was affected. To an extent, the way the author writes also shows aspects of him being a bit ashamed of his country, due to the negative details and feelings he writes about. Mac Laverty uses a range of techniques to create the mood and atmosphere in the novel. One of these techniques, is his use of imagery. The story starts with this mood with the author describing the scenes taking place in an abattoir: â€Å"It was immediately winched up by one of the hind shanks and its throat cut† The author uses a lot of violence and blood imagery at the start of the novel to set the tone of the book. Other evidence which shows this use of evidence is that there are a lot of deaths and murders mentioned in the novel. An example of this is when Cal and his father are watching the news and the author describes the events that had happened, which were mainly murders and violence, in a way which seemed to be normal. Death permeates the novel as does religion. There are often references to the Bible and to religious symbols throughout the novel. Symbolism is another technique that Mac Laverty uses. There is also symbolism to certain fairytales, such as when Marcella is talking to Cal about her daughter, Lucy: â€Å"Lucy’s favourite story at the minute is Repunzel† This is significant as Marcella feels like she is trapped because she tries to do the right thing. The plot has been structured in a sophisticated way. The story has two climaxes: one in the middle and the other at the end. The first one occurs when the writer tells you about the death of Robert. This is significant as there is a huge tension built up before you find out. The author does this via short clues which are spread out throughout the novel and short sentences. The second climax is done in a similar way, but the paragraph in which it concludes, is quick and snappy and tells of only the most significant point, which is Cal being arrested. The dialogue of the novel is very realistic. The author does this by using Irish forms of slang, such as ‘da’ instead of dad, and explicit language. The writer also uses great techniques to enhance his writing: â€Å"His sin clawed at him, demanding attention† The writer personifies the idea of the sin, describing the feeling of it clawing, to give the idea of Cal’s guilt and how is is destroying him and is eating him up. The verb ‘clawing’ is associated with violence and adds to the imagery that the author uses to enhance his novel and to create the atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Cal’. It made me realise how lives can be ruined due to situations which do not even involve them. The themes of the novel also made me more aware about some people’s views and how they can sometimes be full of violence and hatred. It showed me what life was like in Ireland in those days and how we have to try to avoid anything so destructive from happening again.