The disadvantages of Tourism free essay sample

Successfully operating a business in an ever changing world requires vision on the part of the entrepreneur; this means being able to predict future trends and prepare the company for forecasted changes in the economic system. In truth, commanding a country is no different than that of a business as it too should be able to adapt to global changes in the economy. Machiavelli, the esteemed Italian writer once said, â€Å"The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not. † It is fact that the survival and success of anything, whether it is a species, company, business or country, in a constantly evolving world is contingent on the ability to adapt to universal changes. However, in that respect, The Bahamas has failed to adjust to change in economic conditions on a global scale due to its great reliance on an antiquated tourism model. We will write a custom essay sample on The disadvantages of Tourism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Over five decades ago The Bahamas adopted a model of tourism proposed by Sir Stafford Sands, the former finance minister of The Bahamas, and has religiously subscribed to it with minimum modifications to date. As a result of its reliance on an outdated model, the Bahamas’ economy has become more and more unstable. Moreover, chatter in the global market has pointed to diversification as the solution to the nation’s problem. As this may be the case, many Bahamians are fearful of change because tourism has been The Bahamas’ bread and butter since time immemorial. But should the blame be placed on the Bahamian people’s dread, the vulnerability of the Tourism industry or the get-money-quick schemes of the Ministry of Tourism? While the blame can be shared equally amongst the three, the problem lies with over-dependence on one industry that is susceptible to a variety of factors. According to the Barcelona Field Studies Centre (2014), a diversified economy displays health. Moreover, sole economic dependence on one industry can lead to social consequences if the industry fails (Barcelona Field Studies Centre, 2014). The Barcelona Field Studies Centre (2014) continued to assert that, â€Å"Overdependence on one or two industries is also often accompanied by underdevelopment within other sectors of the economy such as education, health, and the manufacturing and agricultural industries. † Although it may be true that tourism is still beneficial to The Bahamas, a closer examination of this industry will reveal that it is also crippling The Bahamas’ progression as an archipelago. In likeness of these views, The Bahamas should diversify its economy for it is unwise to solely depend on the Tourism industry, which is vulnerable to external forces and unreliable because of its dependency on foreign investment. It is time that Bahamians take charge of the nation and explore alternative industries that promote self-sufficiency, as it will lessen the risk of exposure to the ill effects of a decline in tourism. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (2014), the Tourism industry, coupled with the construction of hotels, resorts, residences, and roads as well as manufacturing aimed at the continued development of tourism, accounts for an estimated 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) and in one way or another employs approximately 50% of the Bahamian labor force. This depicts how heavily reliant The Bahamas is on tourism in terms of jobs and revenue, and also conveys the fact that tourism can essentially be seen as the only productive industry in The Bahamas. The money, jobs and prestige tourism generates has given Bahamians a false sense of security, but growth of the industry has slowed down considerably in spite of tourism’s significant contributions to the Bahamian economy. Chiefly, The Sir Stafford Sands model, often referred to as a two sector economy, places the Bahamian economy in the high risk category because it relies on two sectors, tourism and banking, where tourism is the primary source of income (Agenor Montiel, 1999). The problem lies with the vulnerability of the Tourism industry, which is susceptible to a variety of global external forces. The Bahamas, like many other Caribbean nations, has characteristics which classify it as a developing nation. J. Kevin Higgins (1994) reveals one such characteristic is the economy’s ability to be either negatively or positively impacted by forces in the global market (as cited in Saunders, 2007). This trait is undeniably detrimental when combined with The Bahamas’ dependency on the Tourism industry because tourism is primarily concerned with attracting international guests interested in the â€Å"Bahamas experience†. Furthermore, whenever there is a catastrophe or unforeseen event in the global market, tourism is usually the first industry declining with the most impact, because traveling abroad is considered a leisure activity and not a necessity. Hence, the less people travel, the greater the impact is on The Bahamas’ economy. On that same token, in accordance with Shigetomi et al. (2007), â€Å"Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of more than 80 percent of the visitors. † Considering the September 11th attacks on the United States of America, which caused a slowdown in the US economy, the Bahamian economy suffered a great deal as a result of the tourist-resource freeze (Shigetomi et al. , 2007). The Bahamas lost an estimated $200 million in tourism revenue because of the attacks on September 11th coupled with the effects that stemmed from hurricanes (Strachan, 2002). In essence, if there is not an influx of tourists entering the country, no revenue would be made from the industry of tourism. This example alone shows just how unstable the Tourism industry is, and it illustrates that the Bahamas would face grave danger economically if it continues to rely heavily on tourism. Another depiction of this would be the American recession of 2007, which single handedly crippled the tourism industry leaving in its wake over 1,000 jobless Bahamians and numerous hotels suffering from low occupancy rates (Nicolls, 2010). Additionally, a more recent external force that has negatively impacted tourism in The Bahamas is the United States’ warning against traveling to the Bahamas in the midst of a dengue fever pandemic as well as the increase in the crime rate. As recently as 2012, hurricane Sandy disrupted the peak of the Tourism industry, cutting tourism activity by â€Å"some 45-50 percent† (McKenzie, 2012). The uncertainty of the weather, especially in The Bahamas in which hurricanes occur during the summer and fall months, plays a major role in whether or not the Tourism industry generates the necessary income required for that economic year. Fraser (2001) asserted that the impact of these external forces would lead to fewer stopover visitors, reduced hotel occupancy and power room revenues. There is also the risk of 75% reduction in employment and deterioration of business profits and incomes in hotel and related sectors (Fraser, 2001). To boot, there would be a significant decline in government revenue, which will induce a need to spend more money in the promotion of tourism in order to counteract these negative effects (Fraser, 2001). Nevertheless, there will be arguments which will claim that when the country needed revenue, tourism was the only legal and legitimate source in which The Bahamas could rely on, but that argument will never negate the fact tourism is indeed vulnerable. However, the â€Å"skittish-ness† of the Tourism industry is absolutely unacceptable in the 21st century Bahamian economy. The Bahamas cannot continue to foolishly allocate resources such as money, manpower and time to an industry that deeply relies on global interactions for survival and could collapse because of murmurs in the market. Therefore, Bahamians must dispense with the archaic notion that tourism is protected from externalities, and move to minimize the emphasis placed on the industry by actively diversifying the Bahamian economy. Another economic issue that stems from tourism is the fact that most seasonal jobs are created in the industry, which offers little room for advancement. This can lead to a cycle in poverty, where skilled workers can be found in short supply compared to the number of unskilled workers. Even though over the years The Bahamas has benefited considerably from tourism, which has given way to large-scale real property investments and to a great extent provided most the country’s high-end salaried jobs, if the industry starts to decline, by direct proportion, the unemployment rate will increase (Fraser, 2001). As tourism is the major employer in The Bahamas, indirectly and directly employing persons in the hotel sector and other divisions that are tourism-driven (such as construction, retail and restaurants), one can only imagine the number of persons who will be without jobs if the industry collapses. Moreover, a high percentage of the unemployed will more than likely consist of unskilled workers, and this would perpetuate a weak economic system if these unskilled workers cannot find jobs. Due to the fact that the Tourism industry is seasonal, one can assume that persons who work in tourism sectors do not have a stable income all year long. As stated by the General Secretariat for Development Planning in Qatar (GSDP 2011: 10), â€Å"A more diversified economy is inherently more stable, more capable of creating jobs and opportunities for the next generation and less vulnerable to the boom and bust cycles of oil and natural gas prices. † Zappino (2005) asserted that the majority of the developing countries in the early 1970s supported the idea of tourism as it was an immediate source of income and development. There was also the premise that tourism would provide jobs for unskilled workers, and also become a resource for possible investors who would assist in developing their economies (Zappino, 2005). (Fraser, 2001) proclaimed that, â€Å"A general consensus among residents was the â€Å"economic† and â€Å"financial† gains hotels and tourism have brought to the nation. † Bahamians would be persuaded into believing this wonderful fairytale that describes how the Tourism industry, as fairy god-mother, has employed a large number of disadvantaged Bahamians, but what is to be said of the seasonal workers or those who were laid off due to a slow period in the industry? According to Ms. Arthurita Butler, General Manager of Comfort Suites, the hotel â€Å"waited until the last possible moment to [lay off workers], hoping for an upturn in business, which unfortunately has not occurred† (P. I. Layoffs, 2009). In the words of Todd (2013), â€Å"What is 60 seconds worth? For the Ministry of Tourism, the price is almost $200,000. † In the 2013 Super Bowl commercial lineup, the advertisement that was created to lure tourists to the Bahamas’ sandy shores and clear blue waters included superstars Rick Fox, Shakara Ledard and David Copperfield. The Minister of Tourism reported that the Government would â€Å"spend $15 million on its 2013 advertising,† he also went on to say that, â€Å"It will be one of the most expensive campaign efforts in the country’s history; The Bahamas is trying to attract around 400,000 additional airlift arrivals by the time the $3. 5 billion Baha Mar mega resort opens in December 2014† (Todd, 2013). In the article, Student Union ‘Not Satisfied’ After Meeting with Minister, it was stated that the College of The Bahamas had been asked to cut around $2. 5 million from its budget in 2013, while other ministries were expected to cut 10 percent from their 2013 budget and 25 percent in their 2014 budget (Brown, 2013). It is evident that the present Government believes that the Tourism industry will be the â€Å"saving grace† of the Bahamian economy, and is willing to invest millions of dollars in â€Å"tithes† to ensure that the god of tourism sheweth favor on the industry. While investing millions of dollars into tourism, the other ministries, such as education, are at risk of becoming underdeveloped as hypothesized by The Barcelona Field Studies Centre (2014). In The Bahamas, agriculture has not made a significant contribution to the gross national product in decades, and it is apparent that the need for food security is at the forefront for government officials in the Agriculture industry. Yet, the Government has not made extreme efforts to promote the development of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries as it has done for the Ministry of Tourism. The country’s policies are all reliant on tourism, and if an external negative force impacts the industry, all of the money, time and man power that was pumped into tourism would be a waste and the economy would have much to fall back on. The Bahamas has already established itself as a tourist destination, but without a diversification policy, The Bahamas is placing too heavy reliance on one industry. The continued reliance already has The Bahamas faced with the realities of dependent independence, which, according to Cabinet Minister Darrell Rolle (2013), â€Å"is where you are politically independent, but not economically sustainable on your own as a people or as a nation. † It is abundantly clear that change is needed as tourism can no longer sustain The Bahamas; consequently, Bahamians must begin exploring alternative industries. For example, the exporting of aragonite (sand) can generate billions of dollars for the Bahamian economy, provide job stimulus and satisfy the country’s need for diversification. Similarly, agriculture also encourages self-sufficiency and supports The Bahamas’ need for diversification. If Bahamians begin production of essential foods like ground provisions and fruits, it will reduce reliance on imported American goods and foster more food security (BAIC Builds, 2010). This can’t be achieved if Bahamians continue to ignore change and labor under an outdated tourism model. Bahamians must strive for independence and self-sufficiency; for they are once again on the brink of a new era within the economy. The time has come for The Bahamas to break the mold of the stereotypical Caribbean nation that relies on one industry for survival, and diversify its economy!

Definition and Examples of Bad News Messages

Definition and Examples of Bad News Messages In business writing, a bad-news message is a letter, memo, or email that conveys negative or unpleasant information- information that is likely to disappoint, upset, or even anger a reader. It is also called an  indirect message or a negative message. Bad-news messages include rejections (in response to job applications, promotion requests, and the like), negative evaluations, and announcements of policy changes that dont benefit the reader. A bad-news message conventionally begins with a neutral or positive buffer statement before introducing the negative or unpleasant information. This approach is called the indirect plan. Examples and Observations It is much, much worse to receive bad news through the written word than by somebody simply telling you, and I’m sure you understand why. When somebody simply tells you bad news, you hear it once, and that’s the end of it. But when bad news is written down, whether in a letter or a newspaper or on your arm in felt tip pen, each time you read it, you feel as if you are receiving the bad news again and again. (Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Cant Avoid. HarperCollins, 2007) Sample: Rejection of a Grant Application On behalf of the members of the Research Scholarship Committee, thank you for submitting an application for this years Research Scholarship grants competition. I’m sorry to report that your grant proposal was among those that were not approved for funding in the spring. With the reduction in grant funds caused by budget cuts and the record number of applications, I’m afraid that many worthwhile proposals could not be supported. Although you did not receive a grant this year, I trust that you will continue to pursue both internal and external funding opportunities. Introductory Paragraph The introductory paragraph in the bad-news message should accomplish the following objectives: (1) provide a buffer to cushion the bad news that will follow, (2) let the receiver know what the message is about without stating the obvious, and (3) serve as a transition into the discussion of reasons without revealing the bad news or leading the receiver to expect good news. If these objectives can be accomplished in one sentence, that sentence can be the first paragraph. (Carol M. Lehman and Debbie D Dufrene, Business Communication, 15th ed. Thomson, 2008) Body Paragraph(s) Deliver the bad news in the body of the message. State it clearly and concisely, and explain the reasons briefly and unemotionally. Avoid apologies; they weaken your explanation or position. Try to embed the bad news in a supporting, not the topical, sentence of a paragraph. Furthermore, try to embed it in a subordinate clause of a sentence. The purpose is not to conceal the bad news, but to soften its impact. (Stuart Carl Smith and Philip K. Piele, School Leadership: Handbook for Excellence in Student Learning. Corwin Press, 2006) Closing The closing of a message containing negative news should be courteous and helpful. The purpose of the closing is to maintain or rebuild goodwill. ... The closing should have a sincere tone. Avoid overused closings such as If you have any questions, please dont hesitate to call. ... Offer the receiver another option. ... Presenting another option shifts the emphasis from the negative news to a positive solution. (Thomas L. Means, Business Communications, 2nd ed. South-Western Educational, 2009)

Calculate Energy Required to Turn Ice Into Steam

Calculate Energy Required to Turn Ice Into Steam This worked example problem demonstrates how to calculate the energy required to raise the temperature of a sample that includes changes in phase. This problem finds the energy required to turn cold ice into hot steam. Ice to Steam Energy Problem What is the heat in Joules required to convert 25 grams of -10  °C ice into 150  °C steam?Useful information:heat of fusion of water 334 J/gheat of vaporization of water 2257 J/gspecific heat of ice 2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °Cspecific heat of water 4.18 J/g ·Ã‚ °Cspecific heat of steam 2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °CSolution:The total energy required is the sum of the energy to heat the -10  °C ice to 0  °C ice, melting the 0  °C ice into 0  °C water, heating the water to 100  °C, converting 100  °C water to 100  °C steam and heating the steam to 150  °C. To get the final value, first calculate the individual energy values and then add them up.Step 1: Heat required to raise the temperature of ice from -10  °C to 0  °C Use the formulaq mcΔTwhereq heat energym massc specific heatΔT change in temperatureq (25 g)x(2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)[(0  °C - -10  °C)]q (25 g)x(2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)x(10  °C)q 522.5 JHeat required to raise the temperature of ice from -10  °C to 0  °C 522.5 JStep 2: Heat required to convert 0  °C ice to 0  °C waterUse the formula for heat:q m ·ÃŽâ€Hfwhereq heat energym massΔHf heat of fusionq (25 g)x(334 J/g)q 8350 JHeat required to convert 0  °C ice to 0  °C water 8350 JStep 3: Heat required to raise the temperature of 0  °C water to 100  °C waterq mcΔTq (25 g)x(4.18 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)[(100  °C - 0  °C)]q (25 g)x(4.18 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)x(100  °C)q 10450 JHeat required to raise the temperature of 0  °C water to 100  °C water 10450 JStep 4: Heat required to convert 100  °C water to 100  °C steamq m ·ÃŽâ€Hvwhereq heat energym massΔHv heat of vaporizationq (25 g)x(2257 J/g)q 56425 JHeat required to convert 100  °C water to 100  °C steam 56425Step 5: Heat required to convert 100  °C steam to 150  °C steamq mcΔTq (25 g)x(2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)[(150  °C - 100  °C)]q (25 g)x(2.09 J/g ·Ã‚ °C)x(50  °C)q 2612.5 JHeat required to convert 100  °C steam to 150  °C steam 2612.5Step 6: Find total heat energyHeatTotal HeatStep 1 HeatStep 2 HeatStep 3 HeatStep 4 HeatStep 5HeatTotal 522.5 J 8350 J 10450 J 56425 J 2612.5 JHeatTotal 78360 JAnswer:The heat required to convert 25 grams of -10  °C ice into 150  °C steam is 78360 J or 78.36 kJ.

COMPARATIVE TEXUAL ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

COMPARATIVE TEXUAL ANALYSIS - Essay Example This paper compares and contrasts Mother Tongue by Amy Tan and The Misery of Silence by Maxine Kingston in terms of techniques and the use of stylistic devices that include repetition, humor, personification, irony, back shadowing, storytelling, description, metaphors, setting and objectification. Amy Tan has used many rhetorical devices to emphasize the main theme of her story, which are cultural differences. First she uses repetition and this can be seen where she says, â€Å"And I use them all- all the Englishes I grew up with†¦Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use" (Tan 78). This emphasizes the point that the English used by her mother and the English used by the locals are different ones. This shows the cultural differences between immigrants and the locals. Direct speech, sincere tone, The other rhetorical device is personification. This is clearly seen in the phrase, â€Å"the intersection of memory upon imagination† (Tan 79). This again emphasizes the different English she speaks, one that is native and the other broken, as used by her mother. Amy Tan also uses anecdotes, such as â€Å"At this point in the story† (from paragraph five and on) (Tan 77). This is used to pull the attention of the reader and maintain it as she explains the difference of the effects of the languages she is exposed to. Both Mother Tongue by Amy Tan and The Misery of Silence by Maxine Kingston have used humor that comes through language. In Mother Tongue, Amy Tan’s mother speaks in broken English because she does not understand the whole English language because she is an immigrant. Tan’s mother speaks freely because she thinks that her English is good. However, when she realizes that her English is not good she lets her daughter do the talking on the phone instead of her. This is humorous. The Misery of Silence presents Maxine’s difficulty in speaking English when she moved to America. In the first three years in America, she did not speak at all. The humor is clearly brought out when Maxine and her sister recited the lesson in front of the class. They recited as if they wanted to cry but went on until they finished the recitation (Kingston 209). Maxine Kingston also uses several rhetorical devices. First, Kingston has used back shadowing. For example, this is seen where she starts the narration and she says, â€Å"When I went to kindergarten and had to speak English for the first time, I became silent† (Kingston 208). This helps her to narrate her story and help the reader understand the experiences she encountered when she was a child. The back-shadowing helps the audience identify with the experiences that she passed through. Maxine also uses objectification where she says, â€Å"My silence was thickest - total - during the three years that I covered my school paintings with black paint† (Kingston 209). She objectifies the silence to make the audience feel the stren gth that the silence had and its extent. Maxine also uses direct speech in the story. This is seen where she includes her father’s response to the pictures, by saying, â€Å"The parents and teachers of criminals were executed†, said my father. This shows the extent to which she was problematic both to teachers and to parents. Maxine has also used a simile where she says, â€Å"was a tie-tac-toe mark, like barbed wire, on the map† (Kingston 209). This is meant to emphasize the fact that the Japanese kids were arrogant. In mother tongue, Amy Tan

Wells Fargo (Undecided Topic) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Wells Fargo (Undecided Topic) - Essay Example The impact of diversity on the company’s productivity and performance would be a key area of discussion which would enable to ascertain the significance of diversity for Well Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo has adopted the principle of diversity as well as inclusion, so that employees are facilitated with the opportunity of fair treatment and equal employment opportunity. The bank with the assistance of diversity as well as inclusion has been able to enhance business performances. Additionally, diversity and inclusion has assisted the bank in performing business operations with better competitiveness and competencies. Diversity practices have also aided the bank in building a better competitive position domestically and internationally. It can be understood why diversity and inclusion is directly associated with organizational performances. Wells Fargo is a United States based bank that also provides financial services and operates on a global context. The bank is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The bank is identified as one of the largest banks in the US with regard to market capitalization as well as assets. The bank operates in 36 countries with over 265,000 employees. The main objective of the bank is to meet the financial requirements of customers, so that they are able to succeed financially. The bank provides various services which include insurance, mortgage, commercial finance, banking, consumer finance and investments. The customers are offered with different services that include online banking, ATMs and mobile banking. The bank is renowned for its outstanding customer service, innovation, as well as quality and diversity. The bank supports homeowners, small businesses and real estate industry among others (1Wells Fargo, 2014). Wells Fargo performs operations with the intention of accomplishing its vision of meeting the financial needs of customers in an effective manner. The bank has

Strategic analysis of Marks and Spencer

Strategic analysis of Marks and Spencer Marks Spencer is one the UKs leading retailers, having 600 stores in home country and more than 200 stores across the globe. Michael Marks started the penny bazaar stall at Leeds in 1884. After Michael Marks Simon Marks became a chairman of MS in 1926 to 1964. MS is well known for its quality and styles (Hawkesby, 2008). MS Analysis Value for money:- In 1884 when Michael Mark started a business, he did not have a good command on English language so he had a sign on his stall: Dont ask the price- Its just a penny. In 2009 MS chairman Sir Stuart Rose launched three days return of penny bazaar. During these three days 20 selected items were sold at 1p at 300 MS branches (Sibbles Carter, 2009). The main point is can that slogan work in todays competitive market? It cannot work in todays market. MS is one of the UKs largest retailers. It sells various items in its stores. The cost of production of these goods is not same so they cannot sell their goods on same price like Michael Marks was selling in 1884. Even if they diversify the profit earn from the other good to the other goods, which will not help them to achieve break even sales. For example profit on milk cannot set up the loss on selling of bread. Now a day all rivals of MS are trying to achieve lowest production cost. All are trying to put more value for money for their prod uct by obtaining maximum benefit with the less use of resources. Value for money does not mean reduce spending but it can be achieved in diverse ways with: Reduce cost Reduce inputs Get more improvement in product quality Increase output with less input of raw material Marks Spencer is to position itself as a value for money brand, and admits it has too expensive. Prices will come down as it encourages suppliers to source more products abroad. In todays tough competition MS is trying to put more and more value of money in their products. To reduce cost of goods, they suggest their supplier to import goods form the other countries. They have improved their inventories and logistics. Resources and core competences: Physical resources: Each organisation has same resources as its competitors have but the way it manages use their resources differentiate from others. For example MS is having the same store sites in UK as Tesco, Sainsburys and ASDA have. MS is having following physical resources: Value for money product: By the use of appropriate resources MS has got the good value for its products. Today they have their own brands which are very popular in todays competitive market. They are continuous trying to develop their products that will help them to survive in the retail industry. However most of their suppliers are UK based so they are still facing product cost problems. Own brands products: MS is using their own brand name for each and every product. They have achieved good quality standards. They are the first retail chain which sells their own brands. They do not world famous brands in their stores like Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Cadbury etc. Despite of selling own brands they have maintain their quality standards. However it is quite difficult for some loyal customers of MS to buy other popular brands in MS stores. They have to go to other retailers for purchase other than MS brands. This is quite unrealistic in todays cut throat competition; it results many of MS loyal customers switch over to its rivals such as Tesco and Sainsburys. Store sites and store displays: As we know Marks Spencer has established long time ago, they have found that many of their stores are too small. They have planned to expand their store area by converting their stock rooms into floor area. That brings new logistic problem. They have found new solution as a satellite stores. They have started to distribute stocks to small braches from the main branch. However they have long range of food products it is very difficult to manage these perishable food items without stockrooms. Core competences: Core competences mean some factors which differentiate a product or a brand from others. As we know Marks Spencer has long range of products produced under its brand name. The quality of product is better than the other brands. They always try to provide more value of money to its customer. Strategic vision and organisation culture:- Increases the markets share in UK with own product and with own unbeatable quality standards is the main vision of Marks Spencer. It had much more autocratic organisation structure. However it has been changed with the time change. Now the organisation structure has been transfer to flatter organisation structure. The member of staff can take quick decisions when its required and it provides more accountability (The times). SWOT of Marks Spencer:- Strengths: MS is using its own brand name with the wide product range. St Michel brand is very popular, used for cloths and food product. It has competitive prices advantages, it has increase overseas important. It has expanded its business not only in UK but all over the world. With their own brand name they booked pre tax profit of  £1bn in 1988 (Hawkesby, 2008). It has very favourable location on high street which attracts more and more customers. It has some particular group of loyal customers. MS has strong work force and skilled staff. New changes by new chief executive Roger Holmes brings new opportunities in retail business. Tighter staffing level increase operational funds. Weakness:- In todays cut throat competition, MS is struggling with the high cost of production. Its focusing on particular class of society which narrows the scope of number of customers. Weak logistic reduce the availability of goods and products. Reduce the number of staff results poor customer service. Depends on local supplier results high cost of production. Tough competition in food market such as Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda enter in fast and frozen food market. In 2008 its over all sales were 6.2% down and even though inflation in grocery products its food sales were down by 4.5% (Finch, 2008). Opportunity:- MS can diversify their business like other retailers have done e.g. Tesco mobile, Tesco finance, Sainsbury finance etc. With diversification Marks Spencer can expand their area of business and they can transfer the profit earn by different sectors. MS can increase the number of products with its famous brand name St. Michel. MS can go for the franchisee to increase their number of customers and it will help them to increase the share of in market. Threats:- MS has started to sell other brands in their stores which may reduce the popularity of their own brands. If MS will try to diversify their business it may creates shortage of funds. MS has closed down many of their stores due to raise the funds which may cause the negative effect on their share prices. Due to closing down some stores, it will lose market share. PESTEL of Marks Spencer :- Political:- Marks Spencer has been operated in more than 40 countries. It is highly influenced by the political changes in these countries, e.g. if the government of UK changes immigration law than it may be affect MS migrant staff. Now a day the governments inspires retailers to offer mix job of flexible, lower paid and locally based jobs to highly skilled, higher paid and centrally located jobs (Balchin, 1994). Economical:- UK economy is developed economy, per capita income is more than the other developing countries. It is favourable factor for MS. however the cost of production is also high in UK that is unfavourable factor. It reduces the margin of profit of the company. Social:- The population of UK is growing slow and the number of working women is increasing it boost sales of MS food products. UK is the fashion hub that means there is a great opportunity of branded and stylist clothes. Technological:- Online shopping is taking place of store chopping which can reduce the investment cost in new stores. Self-checkout tills are available to reduce queue time. Environmental:- Now a day more and more retail stores are using recycled bags and packing materials which cost is very less and they are getting cost benefit from. The environmental laws are also very strict in UK. Legal: UKs labour law is very strict rather than other countries. It strictly follows human right laws in which employees can be protected from the employer. Question 2- MS before 1990 Success of MS strategy:- Simon Marks put MS on the new level of growth. During his leadership many strategic changes has been made such as diversification. They have product rages not only in food products but also in clothing, groceries etc. He introduced todays popular St. Michael brand name. It differed the MS from its competitors. The expansion program had been taken placed which expand store area. However with this expansion several problems occurred like logistic problem. They were expanding their business at international level. Porter 5 forces:- Threat of new entrants:- The UK food market is dominated by very less competitors like Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Marks Spencer. Out of these companies Tesco is having monopoly in UK retail industry. The entry barriers in food industry are very tough in UK because of health and safety law. However in clothing industry, there are so many competitors in UK like NEXT, River Island etc. MS are the only one who does food and branded clothing together. Bargaining power of suppliers:- It should be noted that MS is relying on very few UK based suppliers which increases suppliers bargaining power which results high cost of products for MS. therefore MS is planning to source products from abroad at cheaper rate. Asda is having huge bargaining power with its supplier because it imports goods form overseas. Bargaining power of customers:- In UK food and clothing industry the customers are having nice bargaining power. In UK customers believes in bulk shopping. If they find some products very cheaper in one store they will but other products from same store. MS is having monopoly in its food quality and its clothes are very fashionable and trendy clothes which are customers favourite. Other super markets are expanding their business in banking, pharmacies etc. e.g. Tesco finance and Tesco mobile. That will increase customers bargaining power. Threat of substitutes:- Today competition is very tough in both food and cloth markets. MS is having its own St. Michael brand for cloths, in fashion industry fashion cannot sustain it changes when time changes. MS is having threat from its competitors in cloth industry. MS have to change their designs according to current fashion demand. Rivalry:- Rivalry increases if the number of firms increases. In UK there are very few super market chains existing. They all compete for the market share, the rapid food industry growth increases rivalry. On the other side food is a perishable good which increases the rivalry. MS, Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys all are trying their best to sell food products. On the other side in cloth marker MS have to face both super market competition and individual brands competition. Question 3- MS After 1990 Weak Strategy:- Despite of serving good quality of product, MS is losing its market share in retail industry. They have taken its eye off from the customers, it means they believe that if your image and reputation is good that means you satisfied your customers. On the other side its rivals Tesco and Asda increase the relationship with the customers. MS was much more relying in its suppliers to maintain good quality standards which results high cost of goods sold. MS is suffering from high cost of goods so it is very difficult to sustain its market share and it also increases the competition. MS was suffering from old fashioned clothes. It was popular for trendy cloths but now the time has been changed and customers needs highly fashionable clothes. Two new strategic approaches:- Stuart Rose the new chief executive of Marks Spencer has implied many changes after he joined MS. The former CEO Holmes has put 400 other brand products in MS to increase both sells and customers interest. However Stuart Rose is planning to cut the number of outside product to 100 which is not a wise decision (BBC, 2010). He is planning to refocus on MS brands but it should be noted that today there so many different brands are used by different customers. If he plans to imply this idea, MS may be lost his more market share in retail industry. His changes for cloth products are appreciable and it will raise the sales of cloths of MS. He should also think about unrelated diversification e.g. he can start MS mobile or in related diversification he can increase the number of food products. Conclusion:- As part of huge retail industry MS has to make some thorough changes in its strategy. It should have to sell other brand. This will help it to gain sustainability in this competitive market. It is very popular for its clothes and its food quality standards. These will help it to increase number of loyal customers. More and more products sourced from overseas will help it to compete in the price. Word Count: 2251

Health Promotion Essay

According to the World health organization (WHO), health promotion is defined as the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behavior towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions. (World Health Organization, 2014) Nurses play a pivotal role in health promotion that include disease prevention, follow-up treatment, patient education and behavioral changes in respect to their health. Health promotion by nurses have led to positive outcomes including patient awareness, knowledge of diseases process, self-management, and improved quality of life. (Kemppainen, Tossavainen, & Turunen, 2013) This paper will focus on health promotion in the nursing practice through literature review, the evolution of nursing roles and responsibilities in health promotion, the implementation methods for health promotion that encompasses all areas of nursing, and the three levels of health promotion prevention. Pr imary Prevention Primary prevention is the first level of health promotion. The goal is to protect healthy individuals from acquiring a disease or experiencing injury before it occurs. Primary interventions used by nurses include but are not limited to education about nutrition, the importance of daily exercise, seat belt and helmet use, dangers of tobacco and other related drugs, routine exams, screenings, immunizations, and identifying potential hazards in the work place. (Institute for work and health, 2009) The concept of primary prevention is traditionally used in reference to physical health but in the article, â€Å"Education in primary prevention in psychiatric-mental health nursing for the baccalaureate student†, it focuses on the concept of primary prevention in reference to mental health. This can be difficult for nurses because mental and emotional problems are related to complex emotional and behavioral factors. For primary prevention the focus for nurses is on providing interventions to groups before a crisis situation could occur. The focus from this article was on implementation of preventative programs for target groups. Alcoholism prevention, prevention of child abuse, and child care for the populations of elementary and junior high school children. Rape prevention, loss or bereavement, drug or alcoholism prevention, and teen-age  pregnancy prevention for adolescents. Parenting, child-birth classes, child abuse prevention, stress management for young adults. Reproductive and sexual concerns for middle aged adults. Sensory loss, rape prevention, loss of loved ones for elderly patients. (Welch, Boyd, & Bell, 2009) Secondary prevention The next level of health promotion is secondary prevention. These interventions used by nurses are used after the patient has an illness or is at serious risk. The goal is to recognize the disease process at its earliest stage and slow or stop its progression. Interventions include medication compliance for example: reminding patients to continue their low-dose aspirin to prevent further heart attacks, TIA’s, or strokes. Regular exams and screenings are recommended for those patients at risk. (Institute for work and health, 2009) In the article,† Primary and secondary tobacco prevention†, primary prevention focused on education and prevention of experimentation and use. Secondary prevention is used for individuals who are currently using tobacco products. Interventions used are successful cessation courses, evidence-based treatment of tobacco dependence, pharmacotherapy, individual and group counseling. This is utilized at the earliest stages of tobacco addiction to help patients quit and remain smoke free. (Tingen, Andrews, & Stevenson, 2009) Tertiary prevention The last level in health promotion is tertiary prevention. These interventions focus on the management and care of patients with disease and the prevention of further deterioration while maximizing the quality of life. (Institute for work and health, 2009) Tertiary prevention is used when managing long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Some examples of tertiary prevention include programs for cardiac or stroke patients, support groups, and pain management programs. In the article, â€Å"Tertiary prevention for individuals: Healing the wounds†, prevention is focused on healing. Primary and secondary preventions were used in the treatment of stress but with all the interventions stress continues to occur in most individuals. Tertiary treatment was designed to return those individuals suffering from high levels of stress back into  their home or work environment and minimize the recurrence of stress. Tertiary prevention relies on both help from the individual and help from other medical professionals. It reaches out for additional assistance from employers and outside resources to ensure appropriate programs are available. (Quick, Wright, Adkins, Nelson, & Quick, 2013) Evolution of nursing roles and responsibilities Health promotion used by nurses is commonly associated with the general principles of basic nursing. Patient education is a regularly used intervention used by nurses in an everyday setting. Health educators are taught health promotion, interventions, state regulations, specific policies, and they must have the ability to apply this education to their patients. Because of the growing diverse population, nurses must become more patient-focused health promoters. While general education is still used, the different patient groups require different health promotional needs. (Kemppainen, Tossavainen, & Turunen, 2013) Implementing health promotion skills is a must for all nurses. The most important skill is effective communication. They must be able to encourage their patients and their families to have an active participation in their treatment planning. The patients must feel comfortable expressing their feelings about their plan of care. Nurses can help their patients by leading by example. This can be achieved by being healthy role models, living healthy lifestyles, and through positive and caring attitudes that promote health and well-being. Nurses must also possess skill-related competencies including teamwork, time management, data collection, critical thinking, and interpretation of information given from a variety of sources. (Kemppainen, Tossavainen, & Turunen, 2013) Conclusion In conclusion, health promotion is more important than ever. Health promotion includes primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. These include education, practice, research, and reinforcement that teaches patients how to prevent and manage diseases. The future of nursing focus on keeping individuals healthy. Nurses must have a strong understanding of health promotion in order to communicate to a variety of groups. As the population grows and becomes more educated through primary prevention overall health of  the population will improve. References Institute for work and health. (2009). What researchers mean about primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Retrieved from Institute for Work & Health: http://www.iwh.on.ca Kemppainen, V., Tossavainen, K., & Turunen, H. (2013). Nurses’ roles in health promtion practice: an integrative review. Oxford journals. Quick, J., Wright, T., Adkins, J., Nelson, D., & Quick, J. (2013). Preventive stress management in organizations. American Psychological Association, 183-198. Tingen, M., Andrews, J., & Stevenson, A. (2009). Primary and secondary tobacco prevention in youth. Annual review of nursing research, 171-193. Welch, M., Boyd, M., & Bell, D. (2009). Education in primary prevention in psychiatric-mental health nursing for the baccalaureate student. International nursing review, 126-130. World Health Organization. (2014). Health Promotion. Retrieved from World health organization: http://www.who.int/topics/health_promotion