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What is love
What is love?. Love can be said to be a strong emotion of affection towards somebody else. It brings about personal attachment between two or more people. Love is usually demonstrated through acts of compassion and personal kindness as demonstrated by Madame Rosa who adopts Momo who is an orphaned young boy. She gives him accommodation and takes care of his needs. Madame Rosa treats Momo as one of her own. Momo also comes to the aid of his foster mother especially when she grows old and is unable to attend to her daily routine.
He supports her even when she is unable to walk like when he supports her when climbing the stairs. This unselfish and benevolent concern for one another in times of need and happiness is the true manifestation of love. Love goes beyond the physical appearance of a person. It means being concerned with somebody’s welfare and well being. This is as demonstrated by Madame Rosa when he adopts Momo.
If she had not done so, the young boy could have been exposed to the many dangers that face street children of being prone to all manner of evils like drug addiction, diseases, theft and even death. The way Madame Rosa identifies with the boy and rescues him from the vulnerability of street life shows great compassion and affection. The assertion by Madame Rosa that “I’ve never really loved anybody else” (Gary 152) demonstrates how her heart and spirit had embraced this young boy to a point that they were inseparable.
What is love
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It shows that psychologically, Madame Rosa felt at home and at ease when living with this boy even though they had no blood relationship. The boy felt great affection towards this woman who shows him the motherly love that he had not experienced. This act of concern makes the boy treasure the woman so much that the bond between the two can be said to be inexplicably strong.
Madame Rosa depicts the care being accorded her by the boy in great stride. She knows that since she has grown old, nobody is really interested in her. She therefore knows that Momo, is her everything from providing her support to doing almost all the domestic chores in the house. This scenario reminds Madame Rosa of her glorious days and also reminds her of the current status where she is old and unable to attend to all her needs. She is not worried because she knows that there is somebody who will unwaveringly attend to all her needs.
The impeccable thing is that this boy is at peace to reciprocate what the woman did to him when he was also in need. This is also depicted in the poem ‘When you are old’ where it says “But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,” (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172055 ). Love is therefore demonstrated as the acts of kindness and compassion to somebody regardless of whether you know him or her.
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Such acts of kindness will are reciprocated when one may also be in need. God is known to reward all acts of kindness and passionate love for others in many ways and this underscores the notion that each one of us should treat others like their own. This will make us find solace and the grace in life since our ways will be atoned with God’s grace. This is as depicted by Shakespeare when he says our good acts in life will make us not “look at myself, cursing my fate” (http://shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/29detail.html )
Works cited
Gary, R. The life Before Us. New York. New Directions Publications Corp., 1986
Yeats, W. “When You Are Old” Web. Accessed on 14th August 2012
Shakespeare, W. “Sonnet-29” Web. Accessed on 14 August 2012
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Why people attend college
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students join colleges and institutions of higher learning to pursue college education, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (1) “in the year 2011, about 68.3 % of 2011 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities”. These figures point out to a high number of people seeking college education. It is worth noting that, there were other college admissions outside high school graduates.
The three major reasons why people attend college are; to attain success because a college degree is a requirement by most employers, secondly it is because attending college is what everyone else is doing and perhaps chances are that the student wants to just join his or her peers and finally the third reason is the desire to gain knowledge on a given skill and build on one’s talent. The three reasons are discussed in the next paragraphs.
Nothing is more important to an ambitious student than ending up in their dream job since this is considered by many as attaining success. Success for most students depends on what course they study and employers look for just that. Even the most independent-minded student acknowledges the relevance of a college degree in the current job environment.
For such a student, he or she will attend college so as to increase their chances of being successful in their future endeavors. There is a significant number of students whose main aim of going to college is to attain the right papers for securing their future jobs.
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Another reason why people attend college is because it is trendy, most people will think lowly of anyone who does not have college education. Therefore because it is what everyone does and perhaps the chance is there and the student has a guardian or another source of financing, so he or she just attends the college because the chance is available. Such people do not necessarily perform poorer than those in the category explained above; it is just that they join college with a different kind of motive.
Perhaps the third major reason why people attend college is the desire to gain knowledge on a given skill and build on ones talent; there are some skills which can only be trained adequately in colleges. This could be because of some training facilities required. In addition, such skills have to be passed on by qualified professionals who can only offer such services in colleges and this is possible in colleges.
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The above mentioned three reasons are the common reasons on why people attend college. Evidently after college a lot of the success or failure witnessed amongst people in life after college hardly depends on what caused the person attends college.
Often it is hard to pick out for example from an organizational or workplace set up, the different types of people based on the above categorization. In most cases, one may succeed or fail in life after college irrespective of their reason for joining college. It is worth noting that other factors besides reason for attending college can determine the outcome of one’s college life.
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Neonatal Resuscitation
Introduction
Is there a thing that is as defenseless and precious as a baby who is newly born? I agree with the fact that thousands of babies in the United States are premature before their small bodies can sustain life. The normal time needed for a fetus to be fully developed in to a normal baby is usually thirty six to forty weeks. Premature infants therefore, are those born before the thirty sixth week.
Infants born before the twenty sixth gestation week have anatomically underdeveloped lungs and, they cannot physiologically support ventilation. I appreciate that there has been giant leaps forward within the last decades which has enabled us all but the most premature and smallest infants.
Currently, analyzing the Millennium Development Goals on Neonatal resuscitation in the developing world indicates that there is an impressive progress in child health. However, there is barely any notable achievement as far as neonatal health is concerned. Neonatal deaths’ proportion (death within the initial twenty eight days) is anticipated to increase as a result of the reduction in postneonatal deaths burden.
The World Health Statistics shows that the health-related MDGs indicate that approximately thirty seven percent of the under-five mortality is usually within the neonatal period. Most deaths occur during the first week (early neonatal period). More than one million neonates lose their life within the first twenty four hours as a result of poor quality care, globally and annually.
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Continuum of Care
The key principle in developing strategies aimed at addressing (NHC) Neonatal Health Care revolves within the continuum of care. Throughout the lifecycle, including childhood, childbirth, pregnancy and adolescence, the care need to be offered as a seamless continuum spanning the health center, community and home, globally and locally (Atkins and Murphy, 1994, 50). Therefore, decreasing child mortality depends entirely on managing neonatal mortality or otherwise, tackling Neonatal Health Care.
Personal Experience
I am a RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) and have worked in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Additionally, I have visited many other units as part of the duties as a Respiratory Care nurse. I have experienced the procedures and tests, the angst and waiting as well as the sensitive roller coaster of emotions that both parents and child endure. In case the infant is developed adequately and is strong enough for survival, there is anxiety concerning the quality of life for the child and the family that has to cater for the child’s specific needs.
Is the cost measurable in terms of real dollars and emotionally? Mezirow (1990) argues the mortality and morbidity rates in particularly low birth weight children is remarkably high; it is in fact, so high that the sole ethical choice is to leave them die a painless and natural death. Infants that are born before the twenty fourth gestation week need not be resuscitated for financial, medical and ethical reasons.
Medical ethic principles are justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and respect for autonomy. These principles act as the guideline for health care professionals when dealing with all their patients. There is no exception. Respect for autonomy recognizes “the patient has the capacity to act intentionally, with understanding, and without controlling influences that would mitigate against a free and voluntary act” (Lim et al, 2000, 492).
In the case of neonates, the biological parents have the responsibility of making the child’s health care decisions, as far as ethics in medicine is concerned. The non-maleficence principle implies that healthcare professionals should not create needless injury or harm intentionally to the patient, either with omission or commission acts. All procedures ad tests should have their benefits weighed. Beneficence can be defined as “the duty of health care providers to be of a benefit to the patient, as well as to take positive steps to prevent and to remove harm from the patient”.
In respect to the justice principle, each patient should be given what is rightfully theirs. Equal persons should be given equal treatment (Speck, 1985, 93). Moreover, patients need to be treated with honesty and dignity, and together with their families, the healthcare community’s total disclosure is necessary so that they are able to make informed decisions. Even if, a health care professional does not agree with the decision made, it is necessary to treat the patient with dignity; the choice should be respected.
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My Critical Experience
From my many years of practice as a nurse, I choose this critical experience since it was tremendously emotional and had a profound impact on me until today. Douglas was delivered at twenty five weeks of gestation with a weight of five hundred and fifty grams. He was born spontaneously preterm in vertex presentation. His primigravida single mother, Annette, had pre-eclampsia which led to the preterm birth.
Annette was given a dose of steroids thereby delivering Douglas within the next hour. Using antenatal steroids is considered as critical intervention in anticipation of prematurity which improves preterm babies outcome (Teasdale, 2000, 581).
At birth, Douglas’ condition was critical and therefore, the need for resuscitation. As mentioned earlier, surfactant treatment is administered to preterm infants having respiratory distress since they lack a protein referred to as surfactant which prevents the lung’s small air sacs from collapsing. Douglas was therefore given surfactant treatment together with a breathing mechanical ventilator aid so that his lungs could remain expanded.
The boy’s condition improved, and he was successfully transferred to CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This was aimed at delivering pressurized air to his lings via small tubes in the nose to help in breathing. Douglas developed bleeding in the brain (intracranial bleed) of grade III on the second day. Intracranial bleed is prevalent during the first 3 days of life and an ultrasound examination diagnoses it. Mild intracranial bleeds resolve themselves and no of few lasting problems (Miles, 1989, 71).
More severe bleeds cause the brain ventricles to expand rapidly, causing brain pressure which brings about permanent brain damage. The results are neuro developmental delay or cerebral palsy. Douglas also had PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), a common heart problem in premature babies. This however did not need treatment as it was small.
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Irrespective of the boy’s critical condition during the first week in life, there was an improvement in his general condition. Naso-gastric tube feeds started being used, and intravenous fluids stopped (Shields-Poe and Pinelli, 1997, 32). While still an inpatient at the hospital, Annette visited Douglas for 2 days during which she was updated of his critical condition. Annette did not bond with her son comfortably, although the nurses encouraged her to.
She gave excuses so that she could not express milk and therefore Douglas was fed with donor breast milk. On the 3rd day, she was discharged, and she visited only once every week. However, she called nurses most of the times to enquire about his progress. Annette’s behavior was brought to the attention of a social worker, and it was reviewed. When I was delegated to look after Douglas, I met the mother once during which I spoke with her and encouraged her to hold and touch the baby which she did.
On the 22nd day after birth, the CPAP was working for Douglas; he could tolerate the feeds and was adding weight. For the six days I took care of him, his general condition was satisfactory. Annette called at nights to check on Douglas’ condition. I informed her he was stable with a 30 grams weight gain. She was enthralled and promised to come the following day.
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On my seventh night duty, on the twenty eight days after birth, I was surprised to meet Douglas re-intubated and on Nitric oxide high frequency mode ventilator. Douglas has developed PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension), stopped breathing and was cyanotic. According to Wood (2009), preterm PPHN is linked to high risk adverse neurodevelopmental and health outcomes. To date, it is among the most complicated conditions experienced in NICU.
His critical condition made him be supported using various intravenous infusions, among them morphine to manage pain. Annette had visited at day time and cuddled her baby. She also has a social talk with the in-charge nurse and she was to come during the evening and stay overnight with her son. Unfortunately, Douglas succumbed to cyanotic attack after she left. She was updated of this on her way back to the hospital. On arrival, Annette and the friend she had come with were confused to see the extreme technical situation surrounding the boy.
I offered a drink and a chair to Annette. The serving consultant counseled her and recommended the life support to be withdrawn since Douglas IVH was at grade IV. Annette was unable to decide on the care withdrawal. She begged to leave and come back with her mother the following morning to discuss the situation further and come up with a decision. She immediately left.
At NICU, 4 nurses are delegated with the responsibility of receiving admissions from the theatre and labor ward and taking care of sick babies. We were 3 three nurses that night as a result of staff shortage. An emergency came from the clinical nurse manager from the labor room. One of the nurses rushed to the labor room and brought back twenty eight weeks preterm Mark who was intubated. He required medications and infusions and since his condition was grave, attention was focused to him.
After Mark settled, I was beside Douglas when I realized that his heart rate had gone down to 120 per minute from the usual 160 per minute. The consultant agreed with me that nothing more could be done. The morphine infusion had to be increased to manage pain (Reid, 1993, 307). I called Annette as they were driving home with the friend to inform her of the development. She confirmed that she would come back the following with her mother as earlier agreed.
I touched Douglas’s hand soothingly and wished Annette was there to console and hold him. Suddenly, the nurse attending to Mark called out for drugs as Mark had developed cardiac arrest. We worked to resuscitate Mark but I could see that Douglas was also going in to an arrest since there was continuous drop in the heart rate. Mark was the priority at the moment but I wished I could go over to Douglas and console him.
His monitor stopped indicating vital signs. Mark died shortly after Douglas. We did all we could have done to save the two lives but as with hundreds of other babies, we were unsuccessful. The social worker had to follow Annette to provide further care.
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The Care of Premature Newborns
“Good ethics begin with compelling facts” is a guiding principle when dealing with ethical care for premature newborns. So as to make a profound decision, the first thing is the qualified obstetrician to assess and gather all the necessary information utilizing all the available resources. Consequently, the parents need to be informed in a way that they can understand (respect for autonomy).
“It should be emphasized that there is some uncertainty with any predictive process, because every infant is unique. The prognosis for the fetus may change after birth, when a more accurate assessment of the gestational age and actual condition can be made” (Daly et al, 2004, 2).After the fetal weight and gestational age are determined; the parents should be presented with the facts and counseled on the child’s possible outcomes.
It is imperative that the health care team and physician address the process of decision making as a team, together with the parents. Moreover, the parent’s belief system and desires as well as the child’s needs should be kept at the forefront. The Journal Pediatrics have categorized the treatment decisions and summarized them on prognosis basis as:
1. In case there is a high likelihood of early death and survival would encompass high risk of morbidity that is unacceptably severe: intensive care not indicated.
2. In case there is a likelihood of survival and the risk of inadmissibly severe morbidity is small: indicate intensive care.
3. In cases that fall within the mentioned categories and there is uncertain prognosis and likely extraordinarily poor, and survival encompasses diminished child’s quality of life, parental desires determine the approach for treatment. (Carkhuff, 1996, 211).
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During the last few decades, there has been an improvement in the prognosis for tremendously premature infants. However, many of the exceptionally small and extremely premature infants die or possess a morbidity rate that is unacceptably high. In this population, the medical complications are usually profound and complicated. Some complications result from the birth event and others are congenital defects. Majority of the morbidities are linked to immature lung development.
Fetuses produce surfactant, an essential proper lung function protein, at the age of thirty two weeks. Surfactant deficiency is treated by medical science by refining and producing porcine and bovine surfactant. However, this is usually not as effective compared to native surfactant. There is the instantaneous complication of reduced delivery of oxygen to the brain, organs and blood. Besides this, the long term complication is anoxia, brain injury as a result of inadequate oxygen supply to the brain. High morbidity rates attract the greatest categories of complications.
Majority of the morbidities bring about profound and severe disabilities, and cause early demise (Murphy et al, 2003, 227). The mortality rate of neonates in this group is relatively high, and the severe to moderate morbidity rate is more than fifty percent. It is worth noting that the statistics for very small and very premature neonates indicate a one hundred percent mortality rate. These children possess physical limitations and abnormalities that they have to bear with for their entire lives and which their families need to provide care. The outstanding care is extremely expensive and emotionally exhausting.
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Reflect on the cost of offering care to late preterm vs a term infant. Late preterm have far much less complications as well as complicated medical needs as opposed to Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) neonates, and yet the cost of caring for them during their 1st year of life is astoundingly vast. The cost for taking care of a premature infant who is late term is three times more the cost for term infants.
Extremely Low Birth Weight neonates’ cost is six times a term infant’s cost, if the infant survives. At a national level, the cost for ELBW’s care is staggering. United States spends 5.8 billion dollars annually (Raeside, 2000, 98). This represents forty seven percent of all infant hospitalization costs and twenty seven of all pediatric stays. 65, 600 dollars is the average cost, where the least viable consume most of the resources.
The figures refer to the initial hospital stay costs. This is the first care as far as caring for children with profound or severe disabilities are concerned. Is this burden fair to the society? These are some of the prevailing questions in the light of the discussion on medicine socialization and healthcare coverage. What is the belief of the society on the value of life? Can a baby’s existence be replaced with the dollar value?
Considering that resources are infinite, should they be used on the few neonates and leave the majority to share the smaller percentage? (Schmieding, 1999, 636). What if it is my child is among those that require disproportionate resources and care to survive? What if my child is among those being given a normal care level since there are few providers as majority of the providers are focused on ELBW who need the highest care level? The answer to these questions will vary depending on the role of a person; a parent, health care consumer or a provider.
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Figure 1: Grave Neonatal Morbidities in < 750 g Birth Weight Infants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Centers, 1995-1996
Condition
Frequency of Morbidities (%)
Range
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
78
54-97
Oxygen required at twenty eight days after birth
81
64-92
Chronic Lung Disease
52
8-86
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
14
9-38
Septicemia
48
30-64
Grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage
13
6-29
Grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage
13
3-26
Periventricular Leukomalacia
7
2-30
Growth failure
100
92-100
This data is for infants who are alive at twenty days (Cotton, 2001, 515).
Conclusion
Preterm neonates require extensive care to ensure their survival. Major challenges that make this goal ineffective include inadequate nurses and medication. More than often, care has to shift to neonates who require immediate attention. It is sue to these reasons that neonate mortality is still high although there has been an improvement in child care as per the MDGs. It takes a lot of courage to work as a nurse and especially when emphatic with the mother to the neonate infant.
Bibliography
Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) “Reflective Practice.” Journal of Nursing Standard, Vol. 8, iss. 39, 49-56.
Carkhuff, M. H. (1996) “Reflective learning: work groups as learning groups.” Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, Vol. 27, iss. 5, 209–214.
Cotton, A. H. (2001) “Private thoughts in public spheres: issues in reflection and reflective practices in nursing.” Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 364, iss. 4, 512-519.
Lim, J. J., Childs. J. and Gonsalves, K. (2000) “Critical incident stress management.” The Journal of American association of occupational health nursing, Vol. 48, iss. 10, 487–497.
Mezirow, J. (1990) Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: a guide to transformative and emancipatory learning. Jossey-Bass.
Miles, M. S. (1989) “Parents of chronically ill premature infants: sources of stress.”Journal of Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, Vol. 12, iss. 3, 69-74.
Raeside, L (2000) “Caring for dying babies: perceptions of neonatal nurses.” Journal of Neonatal Nursing,Vol. 6, iss. 93-99.
Reid, B. (1993) “But we’re doing it already”, Exploring a response to the concept of reflective practice in order to improve its facilitation.” Journal of Nurse Education Today, Vol. 13, iss. 4, 305-309.
Schmieding, N. J. (1999) “Reflective inquiry framework for nurse administrators.” Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 30, iss. 3, 631–639.
Shields-Poe, D. and Pinelli, J. (1997) “Variables associated with parental stress in neonatal intensive care units.”Journal of Neonatal Network, Vol. 16, iss. 1, 29-37.
Speck, P. (1985) “Counselling on death and dying.”British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, Vol. 13, iss. 1, 89-97.
Teasdale, K. (2000) “Practical approaches to clinical supervision.”The journal of Professional Nurse,Vol. 15, iss. 9, 579–582.
Wood, J. T. (2009) Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. Cengage learning.
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Transactions cost economics
Firm v market, transactions cost economics (TCE), make-or-buy dilemma, vertical boundaries of the firm, vertical chain.
Firms are important when contracts are incomplete, and firms make large specific investments. Firms are complex, a nexus of contracts where management take the view that vertical integration is useful for assuring input supply in an uncertain world. However coordination can be a problem in vertical chains yet management need to obtain economies of scale and size in production in order to be profitable. A critical task for management is to define the boundaries of the firm by determining what to make and what to buy.
Transaction Cost Economics and Vertical Boundaries of a Firm
Introduction
The conditions under which businesses are being done are dramatically changing, with the continuous infrastructure improvement marked by communications, transportation and technologies, as well as revolutionizing the environment of business operations and stakeholders of business institutions as well as the interactions with suppliers, competitors, customers and other stakeholders (Williamson, 2002).
Therefore, given the above changes in infrastructure, vertical integration turns out to be a logical option for firms due to the tremendous increase in market size and the demand of product thereby allowing high-volume production. Hence, with the continuous telecommunications technologies and production advancements, one of the most significant firm’s strategic decisions is defining their boundaries under the circumstances which they consider using market rather than using internal organization in coordinating exchange (Milgrom & Roberts, 1992).
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This essay provides a keen examination of the key characteristics of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), as well as analyzing the role that co-ordination plays in a vertical chain with the use of the issue tree. The essay has two parts where the first part starts by describing the TCE followed by the reviewing of the assumptions and the role of TCE. The second part provides a discussion of the role played by co-ordination in a vertical chain while the final part provides a conclusion of the essay.
The key characteristics of transaction cost
Milgrom & Roberts (1992) defines transaction cost economics as the search, bargain, monitoring, enforcing as well as other cost not in direct relation to production of both services and goods. The use of the principle of TCE has been extensive and managers utilize it to determine the goods and services’ which are needed in a production process for make-or-buy decisions. Williamson (1981) states the assumptions of TCE as bounder rationality which referring to the rate as well as storage limits on the individual’s capacities for retrieving, storing and processing information without errors.
However, the key characteristics of TCE would be discussed in terms of relationship specific assets, as well as the concept of fundamental transformation of rent, hold-up and quasi-rent (Milgrom & Roberts, 1992). Moreover, relationship specific assets are a set of investments or assets which are made towards supporting a given transaction particularly for improving efficiency of the given transaction whose redeployment to another transaction is not possible without incurring cost or affecting the asset productivity. Besanko, Dranove, Shanley & Schaefer (2010) described the key characteristics of CTE as well as the relationship specific asset which takes four forms discussed below:
1. Site specificity: These investments in assets can be referred to as the located side-by -side with the aim of taking advantage of efficiency in processing while making it economical to transport as well as minimizing inventory cost. Willamson (1981) provides an example of location of this as successive stations in check-by-jowl relation to each other in the attempts of economizing of the transportation and inventory expenses.
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2. Physical Asset Specificity: Assets that are particularly tailored to a specific transaction in both physical properties and engineering. Willamson (1981) gives an example of a situation whereby specialized or unique resources are needed in a component.
3. Dedicated Assets: this is a situation whereby an investment is not necessarily profitable, in equipment and plant induced by a contract or promise of a buyer.
4. Human Asset Specificity: a set of know-how, skills as well as information acquired by a group of workers or workers who have valuable significance inside a particular transaction relationship compared to when it is outside of it. Milgrom & Roberts (1992) states that, this is likely to occur through a process of learning or by doing. Moreover, Besanko, Dranove, Shanley & Schaefer (2010) brings the fundamental transformation associated concepts of assets specific relationship as rent, holdup and quasi-rent problems.
The vertical boundaries of a firm and the role of coordination
Generally, the flow of goods occurs along a vertical chain, that is, from the component parts and raw materials to manufacturing through distribution and finally retailing. Williamson (2002) observed that, in making decisions on firm boundaries, managers and entrepreneurs weigh the internal production benefits against the risks and costs of using markets.
For instance, in the oil and gas industry, the vertical chain of petroleum products is from crude oil which is the raw material being explored and produced, to storage and/or transportation through vessels and pipelines to a refineries for processing to various other petroleum products such as diesel, petrol, aviation fuel and other associated products. This also involves later storage and distribution of the finished petroleum products to various channels for retailing.
Irrespective of the position of a firm along the vertical chain, it has to define boundaries of the firm as well as the firm as a pool of experience, abilities and knowledge in addition to undertaking stages in which the application of the existing capabilities occur. In the attempts to resolve the associated make-or-buy decisions, there must be a comparison of the benefits as well as cost of using the market compared to performing the activities in house by the firm.
Besanko, Dranove, Shanley & Schaefer (2010) reiterates that a firm uses the market mainly due to the fact that the market firm are in most cases very efficient because of the exploitation of the learning curve and economics of scale as well as eliminating bureaucracy, and vertical integration of a firm makes links with products in adjacent stages that are within the value chain as well as internalizing exchanges taking place in open market.
Milgrom & Roberts (1992) states the cost incurred as a result of the use of the market as well as the reasons which makes the firm to embrace vertical integration such as the poor coordination cost between the vertical chain steps, asymmetric information and transaction cost.
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Coordination is the management of the business activities dependencies (Besanko, Dranove, Shanley & Schaefer, 2010), and thereby make it a core aspect of the market utilization within the vertical chain. This implies that in coordination a set of two or more actors are involved in performing economic activities or exchanges in order to ensure goals are achieved within the vertical chain (Williamson, 2002).
Using the issue tree in Figure 5.4 pp144 Besanko as guide for the critical role played by coordination in the vertical chain and how firms make or buy decision; the use of the market firm as well as vertically integration are very essential. Therefore, this implies that coordination arises in using the market, and the following of the issue tree would be achieved in using the market.
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Conclusion
In this essay there has been identification of the key characteristics of TCE in terms of its relation asset specific as well as evaluating the assumptions of bounder opportunism and rationality. The discussion of the vertical chain as well as the essential role that coordination plays, have also been discussed in the essay.
References
Besanko, D., Dranove, D., Shanley, M. & Schaefer, S. (2010). Economics of strategy, 5th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley& Sons.
Milgrom, P., & Roberts, J. (1992). Economics, Organization and Management. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
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Management and Managers
Managing large companies is a complicated task. It is extremely vital that effective managers possess many abilities, knowledge and skills. It is worth noting that management is a process that is unpredictable. The decision making process is usually hard; even the most effective managers make wrong decisions. However, extremely effective managers learn from previous mistakes and strive in the future to come up with methods of helping their companies increase competitive advantage, survive in a volatile business environment s and improve performance. Essay to reflect on management and managers.
Background of the key issues
Managers supervise how the social capital and other tangible resources are used in achieving the organizations’ goal. There is an extreme need for coordinating these resources over time. The resources in an organization included assets (people and the skills they possess), knowledge and know-how, financial capital, IT and computers, raw materials and machinery.
One of the most significant goals of an organization is to provide a unique service or product that is desired by customers (Anonymous, 2).The CEO has the key goal of ensuring a novel stream of services and products are created, and which customers desire to buy. High effectiveness/ low efficiency managers select the right goals to be pursued but manage resources poorly in the process of achieving the goals. The result is a product that is desired by the customer but is too expensive.
The customers cannot afford to buy the product. Low effectiveness/ low efficiency managers select the wrong goals and utilize resources poorly. The impact is a product of low-quality, and that is not desired by customers. High effectiveness/ low efficiency managers select right goals and use resources wisely to fulfill the goals. The impact is a product that is bought at a price and quality that the customer can afford. Low effectiveness/ high efficiency managers select inappropriate goals, but use resources wisely to achieve them. The result is a product of high quality and that customers do not want.
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Management and Managers
Managers can lessen the burden of management through the creation of management teams. In the teams, employees learn new things and come up with ways on how effectiveness and efficiency can be improved in the organization. The teams ensure spread of best practices, increased business awareness, vision driven decisions and ideas can be contributed which makes decision making easy. When teams meet regularly, there is improved communication which leads to other good practices (Heerkens, 39).
Management and Managers
Examples of companies
Werner von Siemens innovated generators and Siemens, medical devices. The hospital administrators, nurses and doctors, have the key role of increasing the hospital’s ability to treat the sick. Likewise McDonald’s restaurant manager has to ensure that the shakes, fries and burgers produced are what customers want to purchase and eat. These activities have to be undertaken following the set code of practice, regulations, rules and standards.
A manager has the role of ensuring that employees perform efficiently, with the use of minimum resources as possible, to produce services and products to customer. McDonald has been successful in developing an extremely efficient deep fryer that reduced the oil amount used in cooking by thirty percent and accelerated French fries cooking. Welner von Siemens developed the 1st dynamo that enabled cheaper electricity production.
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According to Lormax (14), organizations become effective if managers select suitable goals and achieve them. For instance, McDonald managers decided that breakfast service will be provided so as to attract additional customers. This goal’s choice has proven to be extremely smart since breakfast food sales currently account for over thirty percent of McDonald revenues. Organizations that are considered high performing such as ASDA, IKEA, Intel, Siemens, McDonald and Accenture are effective and efficient simultaneously. Effective managers select appropriate organizational goals and utilize skills and resources efficiently.
To illustrate planning in action, the situation that Dell Computer’s CEO, Michael Dell, is confronting is an apt example. Dell was nineteen years old in 1984, and he saw a chance to enter Personal Computers market through assembling PCs and consequently selling them to customers directly. He began thinking on how to actualize the idea. He decided that his aim was to sell inexpensive PCs, at a price lower than Compaq’s.
Consequently, he has to choose the course of action to achieve the goal. Dell decided to market directly to customers by the use of a telephone and bypass Apple’s and Compaq’s computer stores that are expensive (Nelson, 46). To date, managers at Dell have to plan continually so as to maintain their position as the highest- performing and largest PC maker.
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Future recommendations
It is extremely vital that managers take advantage of e-commerce and IT, and the ability they have in reducing operation costs. In addition, senior management teams and CEOs should focus to outsource specific activities and restructure the organization so as to ensure they do not have more employees than is necessary. Organizations should engage in workforce empowerment so as to expand the responsibilities, tasks and knowledge of their employees.
In addition, there is a need for self-managed teams, which ensures quality enhancement. It is advisable to the top management to get a picture of how customers respond to their products and services so as to be able to modify them as necessary.
Works Cited
Anonymous.Management: Managers could benefit to the tune of ‘millions.’Music Week (Jun 27, 2009): 2. Print.
Heerkens, Gary.03 – Fundamentals of Organizational Management.New York: The McGraw- Hill Companies, 2006. Print.
Lormax, Stan. When disaster strikes: A primer for managers. Business and Economic Review 48. 2 (Jan-Mar 2002): 11-15. Print.
Nelson, Jennifer. “Commercial Property Managers.” New Jersey Business53. 11 (Nov 2007): 46. Print.
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Individual rights and the public protection
Explain your philosophy and approach for balancing these two (2) issues: individual rights and the public’s protection.
Explain your philosophy and approach for balancing of these two (2) issues: use of reward and punishment in criminal justice.
Explain your philosophy and approach for balancing the use of immoral means (e.g., lying in interrogation) to accomplish desirable ends.
Recommend at least three (3) ways to use ethics in decision making about these issues in criminal justice.
Individual rights and the public protection
My Philosophy and Approach to Criminal Justice Issues
Introduction
Criminal justice constitutes a very crucial part of any country since it is a system of institutions and practices of governments aimed at upholding social control as well as mitigating and deterring crime. However, ethics in criminal justice provides us with ways of making moral choices during uncertainties concerning what to do in situations that involve moral issues (Garland, 2002). Hence, in everyday operations of the criminal justice systems, moral rules or ethics are highly necessary, not because of expressing absolute truth, but their role in helping to uphold ethical conduct in criminal justice issues.
My philosophy and approach for balancing individual rights and the public’s protection
Everyone has his/her individual rights which must be respected but striking a good balance must be attained when they conflict with public protection. This is because despite the priority and supremacy given to individual rights of someone, nobody should be allowed to endanger the public on basis of individual rights because public protection is also of eminent significance (Hinman, 1998).
Thus, my philosophy and approach towards the best ways of balancing between individual rights and public’s protection is that, at all time individual rights should be given priority but without unnecessarily threatening public protection (Garland, 2002).
For example, my philosophy and approach to freedom of interaction and expression as individual rights is that, they should be given a top priority but whenever it’s evident that someone is putting the public at risk, then public protection should prevail and these individual rights should be withdrawn. Fuller (2005) reiterates that an individual is part of the public and upholding individual rights eventually results to public protection.
For instance, in case of an outbreak of potentially deadly epidemics which are a threat to the public, individual rights such as freedom of movement may be suspended through quarantines in order to prevent the spread of the disease to the general public in other places. This should also apply in case some people are potentially dangerous to the public.
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My philosophy and approach for balancing use of reward and punishment in criminal justice
The society has developed criminal justice to allow people live with others without violating their liberty, and in case of violation of these laws punishment is almost the usual measure. Use of rewards in criminal justice is very rare, and the only well known reward is to refrain from committing crimes and avoiding punishment (Walker, 1980). Therefore, options to use rewards are severely diminished in our criminal justice system.
However, my philosophy and approach is that, both rewards and punishment should be used in promoting good behaviours. For example, persons who have not severely stumbled into the criminal justice system, the rewards should be used to rehabilitate them whereas in severe cases punishment should prevail.
My philosophy and approach for balancing the use of immoral means to accomplish desirable ends
My philosophy and approach is that, at all times the criminal justice should refrain from using an immoral mean to accomplish desirable ends. These immoral means such as torture, coercion, lying in interrogation and verbal trickery should be strongly shunned because they don’t align with ethics which should be governing criminal justice (Fuller, 2005). Hence honesty and transparency should be maintained at all times irrespective of whether desirable ends will be accomplished, after all criminal justice is about ensuring justice prevails but not convenience.
Ways to use ethics in decision making about issues in criminal justice
Holmes (1998) argues that when faced with criminal justice ethical dilemmas the first thing to use is our intuitive level of moral thinking because it provides us with principles which are relatively simple and derived from our past experiences of decision making. Moreover, the use of ethics in criminal justice issues also requires critical thinking which applies principles established by moral concepts and philosophy.
Thus, when making decisions on issues of criminal justice, we may require application of both intuitive and non-intuitive forms of thinking to identify the most effective and ethical courses of action in making decisions on issues of criminal justice ethical dilemmas (Hinman, 1998). Hence there are several ways on how ethics can be used in decisions about issues of criminal justice.
Firstly, the initial appropriate way to use ethics in making decisions on criminal justice issues is to make sure there is collection of all the relevant facts and knowledge to aid decision making (Wolfgang, 1990). This is crucial to enable making informed decisions. Secondly, the other way to use ethics in making decisions about criminal justice is to ensure that you apply the necessary ethical principles, theories and approaches to guide for the most appropriate course of action.
Thirdly, identification of available options should take place followed by selection of the most appropriate for the criminal justice issue under consideration (Fuller, 2005). Considering these factors will allow someone to choose the option that is most ethically appropriate.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that ethics is undoubtedly the most crucial component of criminal justice, and there is a need to uphold ethics in the practice and operations of our criminal justice systems. Hence the right philosophy and approaches should be embraced in the course of addressing all the issues of criminal justices in order to ensure that efficiency, honesty and transparency is maintained.
Garland, D. (2002). Of Crimes and Criminals. In Maguire, Mike, Rod Morgan, Robert Reiner. The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hinman, L. (1998). Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.
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Family conflict
According to thesaurus dictionary, family conflict can be defined as any struggles or disagreements occurring between members of a family. It entails conflicts between parents and their children or even conflicts between siblings as well as those between spouses. Since works of art emanate from burning issues in the society many plays have been written focusing on this theme. This paper examines family conflict in Shakespeare’s Othello, Sophocles’ King Oedipus and Fences by August Wilson
In Fences family conflict seems to be the main theme in the play. It is first displayed by Maxson Troy’s conflict with his son Cory. The fight for power and might with troy trying to control his son. When Cory gets a college scholarship to play football his father refuses to sign the permission papers arguing that he prefers his son to work and make money rather than play football.
This clearly strains the father son relationship. The conflict further grows when he fights his father with a baseball bat and later disowns his father after the fight. Another conflict is between Troy and his wife Rose when she discovers that Troy has had a child with another woman, Alberta. She agrees to raise young Raynell but does no longer identify herself as Troy’s wife.
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In Sophocles book King Oedipus, family conflict is seen at the introduction where King Oedipus two sons kill each other in a battle over the rule of Thebes. The young son Eteocles is in disagreement with the elder one Polynices as they both want to succeed their father as king. This opens us to the events that transpired historically before revealing the sad fate of King Oedipus who unknowingly kills his biological father King Laius and marries his mother Jocasta with whom he has had two sons and two daughters.
Another conflict is between King Oedipus and his brother in law Creon who he accuses of conspiring with the blind prophet Terasius when he sends them to consult the oracle. King Oedipus even threatens Creon with death and exile. According to Barrons (1984) Oedipus also got into conflict with his wife Jocasta because he did not follow her advice against searching for the true killer of Laius and the prophecy of the oracle about him.
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In Othello, the main type of family conflict is that between Brabantio and his daughter Desdemona who he feels has let him down by marrying the ‘wrong’ man. Brabantio high profiled man as a senator wants to select a husband for his daughter who will be of her class; she on the other hand believes that marriage should be build on the grounds of true love thus wants to marry the only man she truly loves.
This makes her to run off and marry Othello a moor without her fathers consent. Another conflict is that between Brabantio and Othello his son in law whom he accuses of tricking his daughter to marry him. The case he presents before the duke is dismissed on the grounds that the daughter agrees to having gotten married out of free will. At the end of the play Othello has a conflict with his wife who he suspects has been having an extra marital affair.
In an argument where Othello his asking his wife Desdemona where her handkerchief is, Desdemona denies having any affair with Cassio who has the handkerchief with him. Eventually Othello stabs his wife to death out of anger.
As seen in the three plays’ family conflict is evident in many families. Some lead to family break up since they are beyond reconciliation, others especially those emanating from jealousy can lead to suicide as well as killings while the many simple ones can be solved through forgiveness and reconciliation.
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Geox case study
Case analysis: Geox shoe company
GEOX: BREATHING INNOVATION INTO SHOES
The impact of innovation has been increasing in the recent few years. Innovation is taking place in all products including shoe manufacturing factories. Mr. Palegato’s story points to “necessity” as the driving force behind innovations.
However, we also learn that most innovation ideas are not put to use due to lack of ability to implement them. He approached different shoe manufacturing firms who did not buy his idea of ‘breathing shoe’ product.
Product diversification and development is seen as another driving force behind the success of many companies. Geox Company realized the importance of product diversification and extended their breathability technology into fabric products. Geox embraced innovation in its operation which gave the company a competitive advantage.
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Important points
Geox history
GEOX: BREATHING INNOVATION INTO SHOES
Continuous innovation is necessary for the survival of human race due to the ever changing natural demands. Product development is essential for company’s performance in the current competitive world markets. Though initially started by manufacturing shoes for the children, Geox extended breathing technology into jackets and other fabric items.
The company invested heavily in research and development by involving engineers and best universities. The company carried out continuous experiments in its state of the art laboratories, continuously generating new research ideas for the company.
Patents and copyright laws are important in driving innovation. Gaining patent rights has helped many companies to survive in the world market. Geox shoe producing company is known for innovation and company patent rights have been protected sufficiently and their innovations are not under threats of copying and imitation by its rivals.
Geox investments in research and development yielded a stream of patents; over 50 patents were obtained to its name by September 2009. There were patents related to equipment, machinery and even processes and materials.
Smart people with smart ideas have always found their way out just like Mr. Polecat. Although most people are creative, many lack the ability to translate their good ideas into business opportunities. Engaging in marketing research gives any given company an opportunity to be competitive.
Technological development is necessary to support innovations. Goex did not enter into main shoe market until they introduced a different technology in their breathing technology to help them expand into producing sports shoes. Technology is seen as a pre-condition for innovation. Innovation alone cannot guarantee good performance of company products especially in the fashion-mindful shoe industry.
Competition should not deter the implementation of business ideas. Fierce competition in the shoe manufacturing sector did not deter Polegato from pursuing his business idea. Instead it helped him come up with better ideas to win customers. Competition from other players in the industry helped the firm to grow in strength.
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Global footwear industry
The world market is growing and more so the demands for shoes just like other goods and services. The USA provides the biggest market for shoes although Asian market is growing rapidly. This market is highly segmented hence provides manufacturers the opportunity to specialize, for instance in casual wear, children and sports.
Market segmentation gives new entrants an opportunity to venture into big market by starting off with a particular market segment and later expand into the bigger market. Geox entered the shoe market by producing shoes for children before venturing into the larger market.
We should be flexible and avoid sticking to our areas of specialization all the time. Although specialization has been found to increase individual competence in a particular area, overspecialization may lead to loss of opportunities for many people. Having interest in things outside your area of expertise helped in establishment of Geox company which is quite different from Polegato’s areas of specialization.
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Geox profile
Setting clear company objectives is necessary for the performance of any company. Geox Footwear Company just like other firms in footwear industry has clear objectives that guide their operations. Their operations are lined towards achieving the set objectives.
Outsourcing is necessary for cutting costs and helps in saving costs associated with setting up new firms in a new area. The money saved can be utilized in other areas that are more demanding. For instance, Geox outsourced its production to Asian shoe factories which contributed over 95% of its total production. Outsourcing was the company’s easiest way of entering new markets of Asia without necessarily installing full operational plant.
Brand name is necessary marketing tool for company products. Geox name had been established as a popular brand name across the globe, this acted as a major marketing tool for its products. Company brand name differentiates its products from those of its competitors and is easily accepted in the market without even much advertisement and sales promotion.
However advertisement and sales promotion plays a crucial role in popularizing company products. However, communication strategy determines the effectiveness of advertising to the audience.
A well established distribution channel is equally necessary for company performance. Customers require goods when they need them and this depends on the efficiency of company’s distribution network. Geox had excellent distribution network spread across the globe of over 10,000 multi- brand stores and 997 single stores Geox stores located in major world cities.
Staff development through training and promotion cannot be underestimated. Staffs need to be motivated to give their best in terms of performance. For instance, Geox School was established in 2001 which was training school for both new recruits and company staff.
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Footwear key players
Footwear industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world today. The major players includes boss holdings, brown shoe company, coach inclusive company, Iconix Brand Group, Rocky Brands, skin Inc. among others.
However, challenges are inevitable and companies should be prepared for the challenges that arise. For instance, global economic downtown exhibited in 2009, adversely affected Geox just like many others.
However drastic measures are called for to overcome external challenges. For example, the company halted its expansion strategy until the period of economic recovery to consolidate its weakened financial status. In most cases, strategic change is necessary to minimize production and operational costs sometimes leading to the laying off some staff to cut down company costs.
Opinion
From the story of Mr. Mario Polegato and Geox Shoe Company, we realize that most innovative ideas are left unutilized due to lack of ability to implement them. It’s my view that had not Mr. Polegato had the ability and means to raise funds to implement his breathing shoe technology, the idea could have been wasted.
Innovation is key for survival of any company in the evolving world market hence patenting laws need to be enhanced to promote innovation. Governments should embrace the idea generation to encourage creativity among its citizens.
Companies should carry out industry and external market analysis to inform its strategic marking process. Analysis of industry will assist in establishing company strengths and weaknesses as well available opportunities to exploit, and threats posed by the industry players. External analysis will prepare the company for unforeseen challenges and benefits.
Investment in research and development should be accompanied with investments in new technology and infrastructure that provide conducive environment for the function of companies. Globalization and opening of borders have greatly contributed to the growth of many firms by offering markets for their goods and services.
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Conclusion
Innovation is taking its rightful place as the main weapon for company survival in the global market. Therefore, this noble concept should be supported by all governments and major players tasked with regulation of trade and patent rights. Technological development, political stability, favorable economic environment and ecological and social factors have both negative and positive influence on performance of manufacturing firms. Companies should always be prepared for the unforeseen circumstances that have led to downfall of many companies in the past.
Reference
Ali Farahoomand. (2011) Breathing innovation into shoes; Asia case research Centre, University of Hong Kong. POON Kam Kai series; 10/472c
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COMPARING AND CONTRASTING ARTISTS
Comparing two artists and one of their works. Comparing Italian Caravaggio to Dutch Rembrandt
Comparing and contrasting artists Velasquez and Bernini The 15th and 16th century saw the birth of some great artists across Europe. This paper compares and contrasts two regional variations and artists that is; Spanish (Velasquez) and the Italian (Bernini) by looking at what they stood for, their similarities and differences and it concludes by giving a personal opinion on who stood out between the two.
COMPARING AND CONTRASTING ARTISTS: Spanish (Velasquez)
In Spain, Velazquez an accomplished portrait artist was famous for his paintings on historical and cultural themes during the European baroque period of art. He was fondly associated with some great works such as the Las Meninas (1656) which was an all-time favorite amongst art lovers (Goldberg, 1992). He was a Christian, and he schooled in the special fields of languages as well as philosophy.
He was an adherent of long-bristled brushes for his works. Besides artwork he also taught at times. His realism-based paintings were inspired by his religious back ground of Christianity. His outstanding works contributed to the rise of the Velazquez style which was especially common because of his closeness to the royal family under Phillip IV who was at the reign in Spain at that time.
Actually he continued with religious paintings with his most famous being the Christ Crucified (1632). He was famous beyond borders and served as the chief artist for King Philip IV and for a long period acted as the King’s painter. His main differences from the Italy’s Bernini artist are that: He liked and painted on historical and cultural contexts as well as portraits. He unlike Bernini painted not for monetary gains. Unlike Bernini he really expressed and upheld realism in his works.
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COMPARING AND CONTRASTING ARTISTS:Italian (Bernini)
Unlike Velazquez who was a painter, Bernini was more involved in sculpture. However both were masters in their fields. For both Velazquez and Bernini, they were good in multitasking as Bernini was also an architect of high standing. While Velazquez used bristled brush and canvas to paint, Bernini used chisel and marble to come up with sculptures. Both Bernini and Velazquez were religious at least at one time in their lives.
Both were attached and close to royalties for Velazquez he was close to Philip IV and committed his later years to painting for the royal palace. As for Bernini he became close to Urban VIII who commissioned him to work for him. Bernini produced works related or attached to his faith as demonstrated by one of his works, ‘the remodeled Church of Santa Bibiana in Rome’ (Mormando, 2011).
Another striking similarity is how both were leading artists in their ages; for Bernini as a leading sculptor while for Velazquez he was a leading painter. Both artists traveled widely, while Velazquez made numerous trips to Italy, Bernini was a visitor to France at the invitation of the authorities. His visit to Paris projects his personality as that of a stubborn man especially because of assertions which offended the citizens when he alleged that Italy’s art was superior to that of France. We do not hear of such controversies from Velazquez.
Personal Preference
I prefer Velazquez over Bernini, because he employed naturalism and the way he could present situations as they are in reality especially the “Pope Innocent X painted in 1650 which he painted in such a real way it almost risked hurting his relations with the authorities.
