Room 101 Speech

â€Å"Don’t Get Me Started On†¦ † Adverts. There like marmite, you either love them or hate them and I personally hate them. Whether its adverts on the television or in a magazine, they are all irritating and pointless. Its TV adverts that are the worst though. You’re sitting at home watching Titanic on ITV, when Kate Winslet whispers her lasts words to Leonardo- ‘I will never let go’, and releases him into the depths of the Atlantic. You’re sniveling becomes sobbing, the tears begin to flow and then Stacey Solomon’s voice ruins the atmosphere, advertising the latest frozen mini cheesecakes on the infamous Iceland advert.Your grief soon turns to anger and you think it can’t get any worse, until your hear the nauseating line ‘that’s why mum’s go to Iceland! ’ The emotional moment has gone and you have to sit through two to three minutes of boring adverts. There are hundreds of these irritating adver ts. From the go compare advert to the auto glass- the list goes on! It’s not just the emotional or romantic atmosphere they ruin either, it’s the suspense, drama or great sporting moment that you miss. Like when you’re watching a great episode of Midsummer Murders and you just are about to find out who murdered the teacher and the adverts appear.They are beyond annoying. More than anything, it’s the catch phrases and little jingles that are most annoying. I don’t know how many days ‘Go compare’ has been ringing in my ears for after just the first word of the famous advert. A lot of the adverts are advertising pointless things that people see so many times that they don’t care for the latest insurance comparison website and when it comes to it a lot of people just to Google for help. We all rush out, purses and wallets in hand; handing over ridiculous amounts of money for something we don’t even need and doesn’t wor k but that the advert makes look easy.How much does it say about the products that they have to use sneaky methods to sell them? Its quite sickening when you see adverts that are aimed at people’s fears and worries. The Pensions and Life Insurance that won’t actually pay you out any more money than you’ve paid in and that you took out because of the tear-jerking advert full of puppies and sickly sweet children. They seem to guilt trip you into giving over money and it’s not that I don’t feel sorry for them, it’s just in the middle of a programmes isn’t the right time.To stand out from the rest, companies enlist famous people to appear in their adverts or do voice overs. But these celebrities already earn thousands of pounds and, for example, Gary Lineker on the Walkers adverts is an ex footballer who probably wasn’t even allowed to eat the crisps when he was working is advertising a fatty food that is already famous and the mon ey only goes to contributing towards his next sports car, surely the ridiculous amount of money spent on these adverts could go to better causes, after all its probably my money that pays for it and I don’t even watch it!I’m not the only one that hates adverts also, research shows that a massive 91% of people agree with us, saying adverts ruin television programmes and a huge 79% of people asked said they wished advertisements were banned! Some people find adverts useful and say it gives them time to go to the toilet or make a cup of tea, but in an hour long programme there are four breaks. Surely people don’t need to get up four times, (every 15 minutes) to do these ‘useful’ things. Furthermore, adverts are simply to advertise different products or services.But who actually watches them? Not me, and I’m not the only one. 94% of people don’t pay any attention to the adverts, and 86% of these people change the channel over whilst these adverts are on. So, adverts, they do nothing but annoy people, they ruin programmes and people don’t even watch them. Therefore they aren’t even fulfilling the purpose of them nor are the putting money to good use and they are socially irresponsible. All of this together means room 101 is the only place for them, clearly.

Macro Environmental Analysis

Melanie Verreault STMT-500 Strategic Management Analysis of Child and Family Services of Timmins and District Word Count: 2,494 November 8, 2009 Tracy Hillier Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 External Situation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 Internal Situation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 Five Forces Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Competitor Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Objectives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 11 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 12 3 Introduction In 2000, CFSTD became the second social servic es organization in Ontario to amalgamate Children’s Mental Health and Protection Services. An appreciation of CFSTD and its services can be obtained by visiting its website: http://www. timminschildfamily. org In order to gain a greater understanding of CFSTD, a strategic management analysis will be completed. This goal will be achieved by completing the following: 1. an analysis of CFSTD’s external and internal situation; 2. an evaluation of CFSTD by using Porter’s Five Forces model, and; 3. an analysis of CFSTD’s main competition. Based on this assessment, strategic objectives will be identified and recommended. External Situation As presented by Grant (2007), macroenvironmental factors are beyond a firm’s control. To adapt and remain competitive, a firm must understand how these external influences â€Å"affect the firm’s industry environment† (p. 66). The six factors impacting the endeavours of a firm are demographic, economic, political/legal, ecological, socio-cultural, and technology. Barney (2007) states an analysis of the external situation identifies a firm’s â€Å"critical threats and opportunities in its competitive environment† (p. 1) and â€Å"examines how competition in this environment is likely to evolve and what implications that evolution has for the threats and opportunities a firm is facing† (Ibid). The following outlines these factors and their level of influence on CFSTD. Demographic:High The population of the City of Timmins can best be described as aging with a decrease in birth rate. It is important to add that the population of Native People migrating to the Timmins area from the James Bay coast is increasing. Since CFSTD’s main reason for operating is to offer services exclusively to youth under the age of sixteen and their respective families, the demographic factor scores high. Without this, threats such as decrease in ministry funding and personnel layoffs can occur. To 4 adapt to the changing demographic environment, CFSTD can implement new and creative initiatives by collaborating with other service providers. Economic:High The current economic situation has impacted most if not all of the world. As a result, government funding to organisations has been affected. Due to current budget cuts, CFSTD is facing threats of potential downsizing in various services, capping travel and other expenditures and suspending relevant personnel training initiatives. To respond to the changing economic environment, CFSTD can explore amalgamating programs and services, developing new partnerships and increasing its capacity in the volunteer sector. Political:Medium Whenever a new government is elected, changes to the legislation can be anticipated. Amendments made to provincial legislation such as the Child and Family Services Act impact CFSTD’s operation. Threats CFSTD can face due to the changing political environment are mostly cost and time demanding: development of new operation and administrative procedures, staff training in these areas, to name a few. However, developing and implementing new initiatives can translate into opportunities for CFSTD with the influence of the political environment. Ecological:Low Although located in a city where extreme weather conditions are experienced such as harsh winters with abundant snowfalls, the ecological situation poses minimal impact on CFSTD’s service delivery. Fortunately, with the implementation of videoconferencing services, travel to various areas is reduced. Thus, programming continues to be offered to the client population. Social/Cultural:Medium CFSTD’s culture encompasses a unionized personnel, which is mostly female, with a diversity in educational backgrounds, expertise and work experience. In addition, some of the personnel are fast approaching retirement. This factor can pose threats such as a delay in services offered to clients due to union issues, potential work stoppage, and a wealth of knowledge and expertise lost when veteran personnel retire. Should this be the case, an opportunity that CFSTD could explore, as mentioned in an article by Dychtwald et al. (2004), is to â€Å"create a culture that honors experience† (p. 51), 5 that is, to offer flexible contracts to retiring staff who can â€Å"step in at a moment’s notice by filling gaps and help bringing the next generation of leaders up to speed† (p. 54). Technological:Low CFSTD ensures that new technological initiatives are implemented on a regular basis. Potential threats could be additional staff training and resistance to endorsing new technological initiatives. Technology creates many opportunities such as improving efficiency of work practices and reducing overall costs. In sum, the DEPEST analysis indicates that demographic and economic factors significantly impact CFSTD while technological and ecological factors are minor influences. The socio-cultural and political factors have a mid-level effect on the organization. The external analysis points out the possible threats and opportunities that CFSTD faces. To complement this external analysis, an internal assessment will follow. As noted by Barney (2007), â€Å"an internal analysis helps a firm identify its organizational strengths and weaknesses† (p. 11). Furthermore, it will illustrate â€Å"which of its resources and capabilities are likely to be sources of advantage and which of them are less likely to be sources of such advantages† (Ibid). CFSTD’s internal situation will be analyzed using the VRIO framework. Internal Situation Barney (2007) states the VRIO framework is a â€Å"structured in a series of four questions to be asked about the business activities in which a firm engages† (p. 138). In addition, the â€Å"answers to these questions determine whether a particular firm resource or capability is a strength or a weakness† (Ibid). The following table summarizes the VRIO questions as they apply to CFSTD. 6 TABLE 1: VRIO analysis of CFSTD RESOURCES| CAPABILITIES| VALUABLE| RARE| IMITABLE| ORGANIZATION| IMPORTANCE| Annual funding| Staff are remunerated for providing services; covers capital costs for overall agency functioning. Finances are ministry driven. | YES| NO| NO| YES| High| Technology| Records agency’s overall administrative tasks (i. e. reports). Communication vehicle for staff. Video-conferencing services are available. | YES| NO| YES| YES| Medium| Personnel| Certified employees providing expertise inservices to client population. | YES| YES| NO| YES| High| Quantitative and qualitative assurance measures| Data collected through client surveys and agency’s network enables the agency to identify the client needs, develop new programs and initiatives and ensures the client population is being adequately serviced. | YES| NO| YES| YES| Medium| Location| Where services are provided for clients. Programming occurs in these various locations. YES| NO| YES| YES| Medium| Services| Multi-disciplinary agency providing a wide range of services to meet client population needs. | YES| YES| NO| YES| High| The findings of the VRIO analysis indicate which resources and capabilities are of significant importance to CFSTD. Ministry funding, is extremely relevant. Although provided on a quarterly basis, funding can change based on data re garding client 7 volume. CFSTD is bound to a funding formula which is reviewed on an annual basis by the government. Despite its potential for fluctuation, funding is a strength for CFSTD. Technology is a pertinent vehicle of communication. Technology permits CFSTD to offer specialized services to clients that are not readily accessible in the North. CFSTD personnel present as a relevant resource. The diversity and expertise of the personnel is of great value, strength and rarity. Data is another noted strength. The gathered information, analyzed with evidenced-based qualitative and quantitative measures, enables CFSTD to assess the needs and pressure points and, in turn, develop proposals and implement new initiatives that will better serve the client population. Services are also a relevant resource. CFSTD is the largest social service organisation within the area offering more than twenty programs and services that are unique and valuable. Annually, service enhancements take place via the program review process. Furthermore, collaborative projects are occurring with other service providers to offer services that meet clientele needs. Currently, location resources are a weakness. CFSTD is facing a potential closure of one of its facilities due to the constant low number of young offenders coming into custody. CFSTD is communicating with the ministry at this time regarding next steps. Overall, the internal analysis of CFSTD clearly identifies areas of strength and weakness and those requiring improvement. It is important to analyze how and where CFSTD fits into the non-profit industry and determine the intensity of competition and profitability (in this industry, profit is viewed by client volume and ministry funding). In order to do so, an evaluation of CFSTD will be conducted using Porter’s Five Forces of Competition Framework. Five Forces Analysis Grant (2007) states â€Å"Porter’s five forces of competition framework views the profitability of an industry as determined by five sources of competitive pressure† (p. 71). The following table evaluates CFSTD with these five forces. 8 TABLE 2: Evaluation of CFSTD using Porter’s Five Forces FACTORS| INDUSTRY: Non-Profit Child and Family Social Services Organisations| Threat of New Entrants| New government policy and/or amendments to legislation directly impact licensing requirements and overall service operations in social services organisations. Thus, new procedures are developed and new criteria must be met to receive allocation of funds and subsidies for programs and initiatives. | Bargaining Power of Suppliers| Unionized organisations are threatened by disagreements on job descriptions, training and worker performance, thus creating significant delays in service delivery and having an impact on funding. There is a threat of the collective bargaining agreement review and negotiation turning into a strike thus halting service operations. | Bargaining Power of Buyers| Ministry allocated funds for program proposals regarding new initiatives that meet Ministry expectations. Other service providers looking to collaborate and develop new partnerships for Ministry driven initiatives in order to receive financial allocation. | Threat of Substitute Products or Services| Private firms offering similar services. New provincial initiative where psychiatric services in the north will be offered via video-conference instead of face-to-face thus, decreasing the wait-time and wait-list for clients. New legislation regarding young offenders indicates that youth involved with the law are kept out of custody and instead assisted in their local communities. Thus, the number of youth entering facilities has decreased to the point of facility closures. | Rivalry Among Existing Competitors| Similar firms within the industry are competing for Ministry funds. Some firms are collaborating and creating partnerships on some initiatives thus dividing Ministry funds among them. | The findings in this analysis reveal the most significant aspects of CFSTD’s competitive environment. In his article, Porter (2008) note the â€Å"strongest competitive force or forces determine the profitability of an industry and become the most important to strategy formulation† (p. 0). Threat of new entrants and bargaining power of buyers are significant forces for CFSTD. Interesting enough, these forces pertain to the same entity: government. More 9 specifically, government legislation and funding influence CFSTD’s course of action when it comes to service implementation and development. However, in the non-profit industry, there is dual influen ce occurring. Funding, for instance is service/client driven. Thus, if CFSTD’s client volume is high, funding forecasts are at a higher level. Another significant factor is the bargaining power of suppliers. In this case, it is the firm’s personnel. Similar to the government, staffing poses as a threat and/or opportunity. The vision of CFSTD is to offer services to clients in order to promote well-being and safety. This goal cannot be achieved without the expertise and efforts offered by CFSTD employees. Although Porter’s model is better served in the profit industry, it has validity in the non-profit sector. It identifies the fundamentals and constraints of CFSTD all the while permitting CFSTD to have a certain degree of flexibility and creativity in this prescribed environment. In sum, Porter’s model is good to predict changes of profitability. In the case of CFSTD, profitability is a combination of funding with client and service volume. How can CFSTD predict the competitive moves rivals are likely to initiate? One possibility is to conduct a competitor analysis. The following will examine how information regarding rivals can assist in predicting behaviour. Competitor Analysis Grant (2007) notes that competitor analysis is an intra-industry analysis involving a â€Å"systematic approach of information gathering that makes clear what information is required and for what purposes it will be used. The objective is to understand one’s rival† (p. 107). At present, there are social services firms offering similar services to CFSTD. This paper focuses on the competitor most similar to CFSTD: Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services (KCFS). More details about KCFS can be found at their website: http://www. kunuwanimano. com The tool selected to complete this analysis is Porter’s four-part framework for predicting competitive behaviour. The following table outlines these details. 10 TABLE 3: Analysis of KCFS Factor| Comments| Strategy| * KCFS focuses on delivering child welfare and mental health services to First Nations children within their catchment area and work collaboratively with the communities they service. * Children and families will be cared for by the community and inherit the skills, knowledge and cultural traditions that will be provided by community members (www. kunuwanimano. com) * Approaches to working with youth and families guided by the seven sacred teachings. | Objectives| * Develop a service model respecting the inherit authority for child protection matters. Develop policies and procedures and protocols with service providers and First Nations communities that will address decision-making regarding child protection matters. * Obtain Ministry designation to offer mandated services. | Assumptions| * All First Nations people want to obtain services from KCFS. * All First Nations people want to inherit and learn traditional, cultural skills, customs and knowledge. | Resources and Capa bilities| Strengths: * Culturally specific services offered by staff with Native ancestry. * Ability to service eleven Native communities. Weaknesses: * No child welfare designation. * Collaboration with service providers in order to develop protocols, policies and procedures. * Frequent changes in personnel. | Currently, KCFS is at a standstill in obtaining its designation due to their unwillingness to collaborate with similar community service providers. In order for a firm to obtain designation from the Ministry, supervision by a similar firm is required. KCFS refuses to have CFSTD as their supervisor. Based on the above-mentioned, CFSTD can predict the following: 11 KCFS will not obtain its designation for several years and thus will not take over CFSTD’s Native client population; * There is a probability that many of CFSTD’s Native clients will choose to remain as clients of CFSTD, and; * CFSTD will remain as the leading organisation in child welfare services for the Timmins area. It is important to note that CFSTD continues its efforts to work with KCFS, in most part, to no avail. This framework has enabled CFSTD to assess key components of KCFS in order to make future predictions. Objectives Based on the various analyses completed in this paper, recommended strategic objectives are for CFSTD to: * Develop and implement a performance appraisal tool that encompasses competency modelling and that is congruent with CFSTD’s strategic plan; * Develop a contingency plan with the Ministry in the possibility of the closure of one of CFSTD’s locations; * Research and identify a framework such as management innovation that can be applied agency wide and that is in alignment with CFSTD’s strategic plan, and; * Develop and implement a plan to recruit qualified Native professionals. Conclusion Overall, the analyses completed in this paper have allowed us to better understand CFSTD. Now, we can appreciate how CFSTD is doing, what is working well, what requires enhancing and what directions CFSTD plans on going into in the near future. 12 References Barney, J. B. (2007). Chapter 1: What is strategy? In Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage (3rd ed. , pp. 1-16). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Barney, J. B. (2007). Chapter 5: Evaluating firm strengths and weaknesses. In Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage (3rd ed. , pp. 127-169). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc. Dychtwald, K. , Erickson, T. , & Morison, B. (2004). It's time to retire retirement. Harvard Business Review, 82(3), 48-57. http://library. athabascau. ca/mbadrr/STMT-500/ Chapter 5-Evaluating firm strengths and weaknesses. pdf Grant, R. M. (2007). Contemporary strategy analysis (6th ed. ). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services (2009). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from http://www. kunuwanimano. com . Porter, M. (2008). The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, 86(1), 78-93. http://0-search. ebscohost. com. aupac. lib. athab ascau. ca/login. aspx? direct=true;AuthType=url, ip,uid;db=bth;AN=28000138;site=ehost-live

The North American and Western Larch

The North American and Western Larch The native range of the Tamarack, or Larix laricina, occupies the coldest regions of Canada and the northern-most forests of central and northeastern United States. This conifer was named tamarack  by native American Algonquians and means wood used for snowshoes but has also been called eastern tamarack, American tamarack, and hackmatack. It  has one of the widest ranges of all North American conifers. Although thought to be a cold-loving  species, tamarack  grows under extremely varied climatic conditions. It can be found in isolated pockets in West Virginia and Maryland and in disjunct areas of interior Alaska and the Yukon. It can easily survive average January cold temperatures from -65 degrees F to warm July temperatures that exceed 70 degrees F. This toleration of climate extremes explains its wide distribution. The extreme cold of northernmost strands will affect its size where it will remain a small tree, attaining a height of about 15 feet. Larix laricina,  in the pine family  Pinaceae,  is a small to medium-size  boreal  conifer that  is uniquely  deciduous where needles annually turn a beautiful yellow color and drop in autumn. The  tree  can grow to 60 feet in height on certain sites with  trunk  growth that can exceed 20 inches in diameter.  Tamarack can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but grows most commonly, and to its maximum potential, on wet to moist organic soils of  sphagnum and woody peat. Larix laricina is very intolerant of shade but is an early pioneer tree species that invades bare wet organic soils by seeding. The tree typically appears first in swamps, bogs, and muskeg where they start the long process of forest succession.   According to  one U.S Forest Service report, the principal commercial use of tamarack in the United States is for making pulp products, especially the transparent paper in window envelopes. Because of its rot resistance, tamarack is also used for posts, poles, mine timbers, and railroad ties. The key characteristics used for the identification of tamarack: This is the only eastern conifer with deciduous needles arranged in radiating clusters.Needles are growing from blunt spurs in groups of 10 to 20.Cones are small and egg-shaped with no visible  bracts between scales.Foliage turns yellow in autumn. The Western Larch or  Larix occidentalis Western larch or Larix occidentalis is in the pine family Pinaceae  and often called western tamarack. It  is the largest of the larches and most important timber species of the genus Larix. Other common names include  hackmatack, mountain larch, and Montana larch. This conifer, when compared to Larix laricina, has a range that is much reduced to just four U.S. states and one Canadian province- Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Like the tamarack, western larch is a deciduous conifer whose needles turn yellow and drop in autumn. Unlike tamarack, western larch is very tall, being the largest of all the larches and reaching heights of over 200 feet on preferred soils. The habitat for  Larix occidentalis  is on mountain slopes and in valleys and can grow  on swampy ground. It is often seen growing with Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. The tree does not do as well as tamarack when dealing with broad changes in climatic factors as a species. The tree  grows in a relatively moist-cool climatic zone, with low temperature limiting its upper elevational range and deficient moistures its lower extremes- it is basically limited to the Pacific northwest and to the states mentioned. Western larch forests are enjoyed for their multiple resource values including timber production and aesthetic beauty. The seasonal change in hue of larchs delicate foliage from light green in the spring and summer, to gold in the fall, enhances the beauty of these mountain forests. These forests provide the ecological niches needed for a wide variety of birds and animals. Hole-nesting birds comprise about one-fourth of the bird species in these forests. According to a U.S Forest Service report, western larch timber is used extensively for lumber, fine veneer, long-straight utility poles, railroad ties, mine timbers, and pulpwood. It is also valued for its  high water-yielding forest-areas where management can influence water yield through harvest cuttings and young stand culture. The key characteristics used for the identification of western larch: A larch trees color stands out in forests- pale grass green in summer, yellow in the fall.Needles grow from blunt spurs in groups like  L. laricina  but on hairless twigs.Cones are larger than L. laricina  with visible yellowish, pointed bracts between scales.

Tourist motivation Essay Example

Tourist motivation Essay Example Tourist motivation Essay Tourist motivation Essay Tourist motive is seen by many authors as one of the cardinal elements in understanding tourist decision-making behavior. A sound apprehension of travel motive plays a critical function in foretelling future travel form. The large reply to the basic inquiry, why do people go? has occupied the heads of tourer research workers for many old ages. Assorted methods have been employed to bring out travel motivations. The undermentioned literature will cast visible radiation on assorted theories that can be used to hold a cognition why people travel to urban finish. Tourist motive can be defined as the planetary integration web of biological and cultural forces which gives value and way to go picks, behavior and experience. ( Pearce, Morrison A ; Rutledge, 1998 ) . Put merely, motive is a province of rousing of a thrust or demand which impels people to activity in chase of ends. Once the ends have been achieved the demand subsides and the single returns to the equilibrium-but merely briefly because new motivations arise as the last 1 is satisfied. As cited in Seaton ( 1997 ) motive of the single individual to go, to look outside for what he can non happen inside have been mostly created by society and shaped by mundane life. Gray s ( 1979 ) travel-motivation theory, poses merely two chief motivations for travel. One is the desire to travel from a known to an unknown topographic point, called in Gray s theory wanderlust . The other motivation is what Grays called sunlust . This generates a trip to a topographic point which can supply the traveller with specific installations that do non be in his or her ain topographic point of abode. Some of the motivations which determine their travel picks are diversion, pleasance, new experiences, cultural involvement, shopping. Harmonizing to the push and pull construct, Crompton ( 1979 ) , push factors explains the desire for travel while the pull motivations have been used to explicate the existent finish choice.A Nine motives of leisure travellers were identified and classified seven as socio-psychological or push motivations and two as cultural or pull motivations. The seven push motivations were, flight from a perceived mundane environment, geographic expedition and rating of ego, relaxation, prestigiousness, arrested development, sweetening of kinship relationships, and facilitation of societal interaction. The pull motivations were freshness and instruction. Maslow ( 1943 ) identified two motivational types: tension-reducing motivations ; arousal-seeking motivations. Harmonizing to Maslow, there are five demands organizing a hierarchy, come oning from the lower to the higher demands. At the underside are the basic demands for nutrient, H2O and air. Then, above them is the demand for safety, security, and protection. Maslow argued that if the lower demands are fulfilled the person would be motivated by demands of the following degree of the hierarchy. Cooper et Al ( 2005 ) criticises Maslow s theory stating that why and how Maslow selected the basic five demands remain ill-defined, although Page ( 2003 ) feels that it has relevancy in understanding how human action is apprehensible and predictable compared to research which argues that human behavior is basically irrational and unpredictable. Though much unfavorable judgment about Maslow s theory, the touristry industry has borrowed a batch from Maslow because he provides a convenient set of containers that can be comparatively labelled and supply a utile model for understanding psychological motivational factors in touristry. Therefore, for illustration, although the evident intent of a trip may be for shopping, the underlying psychological motive may be to affect their neighbors and derive higher societal position. Iso-Ahola ( 1982 ) says that tourers will exchange functions while on vacation, and that over clip different demands will originate. Single motive may non ever move as the finding factor for travel. If within the vacation, the initial demands are satisfied, other motives might emerge. Indeed, it is congruous with Maslow s theories of demands to reason that if ab initio there is a primary demand for relaxation while on a vacation, the satisfaction of that demand will make consciousness of other demands such as geographic expedition of topographic point as a agency of geting a sense of belonging or to enable procedures of self-actualisation to take topogr aphic point. Dann ( 1981 ) has identified seven elements of tourer motives: travel as a response to what is missing yet desired ; finish pull in response to motivational push ; motive as phantasy ( prosecute in behavior and activities that are culturally unacceptable in their place environment like harlotry and gaming ) ; motive as classified intent ( VFRs ) ; motivational typologies ; motive and tourer experiences ; motive as auto-definition and significance ( the manner in which tourist define their state of affairss and respond to them ) . [ Page A ; Connell,2003 ] . P.Pearce ( 1988 ) as cited in Ryan ( 1997 ) lists five travel motives which he calls travel calling ladder where tourers develop changing motives of relaxation, stimulation, relationship, self-esteem and development, fulfilment. In Pearce s theoretical account, the motives listed can be divided into two classs. The demands may be egoistic or directed at others. Therefore, for illustration, relaxation may be a solo exercising where the holiday-maker seeks a quiet reposeful clip entirely or it can be relaxation in the company of others, jumping from the demand for external exhilaration and desire for freshness. Stimulation can be autonomous which springs from the concern for ain safety, or it can be directed toward others originating out of the concern for other s safety. Relationship can be autonomous which means giving love and fondness and keeping relationships, or it can be directed at others which means having fondness, to be with group rank. Self-esteem and development possibly autonomous like development of accomplishments, particular involvements, competency and command, or it may be directed at others like prestigiousness, glamor of going. Fulfilment is wholly autonomous as it fulfils single dreams, understands oneself more and experience interior peace and harmoniousness. There are some unfavorable judgments against Pearce s travel motives. For illustration, Pearce argues that stimulation may be understood along a dimension of hazard and safety of ego or others. However, it might be argued that there is a existent and typical difference between these two motives. Cohen ( 1972 ) as cited in Shaw A ; Williams ( 2002 ) , draws attending to the fact that all tourers are seeking some component of freshness and unfamiliarity while, at the same clip, most besides need to retain something familiar. How tourers combine the demands for freshness with acquaintance can in bend be used to deduce a typology. Cohen distinguished tourer utilizing sociological rules into organized mass tourer, single mass tourers, adventurer and vagrant. They feel that it is non based on any empirical informations. In add-on, these groups were besides differentiated along the lines of contact with the tourer industry, with mass tourers being termed institutionalized and the more individualistic tourer being regarded as non-institutionalised. Smith ( 1977 ) provided a more elaborate discrepancy of Cohen s tourer typologies. Smith ( 1977 ) identifies 7 classs of tourer who have been termed as interactive typologies : adventurer, elite, off-beat, unusual, inchoate mass, mass, and charter. Shaw A ; Williams ( 2002 ) opines that Plog s typology is based on inquiring tourers about their existent general life styles or value systems, frequently utilizing perceptual information derived from interviews. Plog s ( 1987 ) typology can be used to analyze tourer motives every bit good as attitudes to peculiar finishs and manners of travel. In footings of the latter, a tourer typology developed for the American Express ( 1989 ) has categorised travelers as: adventurers, fuss-budgets, dreamers, economizers and indulgers- all of whom viewed their travel experiences in different ways.

Using a Semicolon in Spanish

Using a Semicolon in Spanish The semicolon, or el punto y coma in Spanish,  is used and misused in Spanish much as it is in English. However, the rules for its application in Spanish can be more subjective than for the other punctuation symbols (signos de puntuacià ³n) and lead to a larger range of common mistakes. Still, there are two main utilities of the semicolon when writing in Spanish: joining independent clauses or detailing a list of items with multiple names in each section of the list - in both of these cases, the semicolon acts much as it does in standard English, separating thoughts into a neat, organized form. Be aware t;hat the punto y coma is invariable between singular and plural. In other words, the plural of el punto y coma is los punto y coma. You can also use los signos de punto y coma as a plural form. Using Semicolons Instead of Periods As its Spanish name suggests punto y coma means period  and  comma, which emphasizes its primary use as being to represent a break between independent clauses (a part of a sentence that could stand alone because it has a subject and verb) that is stronger than what a comma would stand for but weaker than what a period would stand for; the two clauses should be connected as part of a thought or relate to each other.   Note in these examples that separating the clauses with periods would not be wrong, but the use of a semicolon suggests a stronger relationship between the two clauses than making them into separate sentences would: Cuando estoy  en casa, me llamo Roberto; cuando trabajo, me llamo Sr. Smith. (When Im at home, Im Robert; when Im working, Im Mr. Smith.)Esta tarde vamos a la playa; los museos estn cerrados. (This afternoon we are going to the beach; the museums are closed.)En 1917, se inaugurà ³ la Estacià ³n de la Sabana; à ©sta funcionà ³ como punto central del sistema fà ©rreo nacional. (In 1917, the Sabana Station was put in service; it functioned as the center of the national railway system.) If the clauses are especially short, a comma is preferred in Spanish, such is the case with the sentence Te quiero, eres perfecto or (I love you, youre perfect), where it is grammatically acceptable to separate these two short ideas into one cohesive sentence. Using Semicolons in Lists Another use for the semicolon is in lists when at least one of the items in the list has a comma, as in English. In this way, the semicolon functions as kind of a supercomma. In the first example, the semicolons act as separators in the list of countries with deceased populations to provide clarity to the sentence structure. Encabezan la lista de los paà ­ses americanos con ms decesos Brasil y Colombia con seis cada uno; Mà ©xico con tres; y Cuba, El Salvador y Estados Unidos con dos. (Leading the list of American countries with the most deceased are Brazil and Colombia with six apiece; Mexico with three; and Cuba, El Salvador and the United States with two.)Los nominados son El ngel, Argentina; La noche de 12 aà ±os, Uruguay; Los perros, Chile; y Roma, Mà ©xico. (The nominees are The Angel, Argentina; 12-Year Night, Uruguay; The Dogs, Chile; and Roma, Mexico.)Mis parientes este verano viajan a todos lugares: mi madre, a Santiago; mi padre, a Sevilla; mi hermano, a Nueva York; y mi hija, a Bogot. (My relatives are traveling everywhere this summer: my mother, to Santiago; my father, to Seville; my brother, to New York; and my daughter, to Bogota. Semicolons can also be used in vertical lists at the end of each item other than the final one, such is the case with the following. Although the English example uses periods, commas (but not semicolons) can also be used in English: Tenemos tres metas:- aprender mucho;- amarnos;- vivir con autentididad. (We have three goals:- To learn a lot.- To love each other.- To live authentically.) Key Takeaways Semicolons in Spanish are used much as they are in English, as a punctuation mark that combines uses of the period and the comma.One common use of semicolons is show a connection in meaning between two clauses that would otherwise be made into separate sentences.Another common use of semicolons is to provide clarity in lists.

Intelligence Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Intelligence Testing - Essay Example Intelligence could be honed through concentration and discipline. Again, the degree of grasping power of an individual may give him supremacy, average or below average ratings as against those of his peers. (Measurement of Intelligence) It is possible to effectively measure intelligence by means of intelligence tests. Intelligence tests are invariably designed to evaluate traits, understanding and the candidate's grasp of any specific issue. Normally these tests are sets of objective questions to evaluate verbal, numerical and spatial abilities. They begin with simple, easy-to-answer type problems followed by more difficult ones progressively. They also vary in range and scope. For instance, there may be one set of fifty questions where the candidate is required to answer all questions within a specific time period. Then, there may be another set of fifty questions where the answers have to be correct but it is not necessary to answer all the questions. Yet another set of fifty questions may attract deduction in scores for every wrong answer. To pass the test the candidate needs to score minimum 80/100. The ultimate purpose of evaluation is served with the use of different sets of problems that help reveal the candidate's traits and capabilities for any specific reason or general assessment. (Human Intelligence) Spearman's two-factor theory of int... They begin with simple, easy-to-answer type problems followed by more difficult ones progressively. They also vary in range and scope. For instance, there may be one set of fifty questions where the candidate is required to answer all questions within a specific time period. Then, there may be another set of fifty questions where the answers have to be correct but it is not necessary to answer all the questions. Yet another set of fifty questions may attract deduction in scores for every wrong answer. To pass the test the candidate needs to score minimum 80/100. The ultimate purpose of evaluation is served with the use of different sets of problems that help reveal the candidate's traits and capabilities for any specific reason or general assessment. (Human Intelligence) 3. What are the similarities and differences between Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence and the information processing view of intelligence (Carroll's Three-Stratum Theory) 3.1 Similarities: Both Charles Edward Spearman and John B. Carroll dwell on cognitive factors analysis in their observations. Spearman was "pioneer in factor analysis, theories of intelligence, and mental test theory. He established that these three factors were not independent of each other." (Richard H. Williams et al) Carroll's "three-stratum theory of cognitive abilities specifies the kinds of individual differences in cognitive abilities and how these differences are related to each other." (John B. Carroll) 3.2 Differences: Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence concentrates on the reliability and validity of the intelligence tests. He used mathematical methods and psychological studies to pioneer research efforts. His work paved the way for the application of statistical methods to the study of

IMPERFECT COMPETITION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IMPERFECT COMPETITION - Essay Example Generally, an imperfect competition market can be described as a market setting where the products sold are highly differentiated. In essence, in order to survive in an imperfect market, a firm has to develop unique survival techniques to avoid suffering losses and losing customers loyalty. Apparently, the fast food industry has become quite competitive in the modern times (Schlosser, 2012). In response to the increased competition, firms operating in fast foods industry have come up with distinguished survival strategies to enhance continuity in business. Some of the survival techniques that have been adopted by firms in the fast food industry include product differentiation, brand building and diversity in product promotion. In this regard, it can be observed that the tropical Smoothie Cafà © operates in an imperfect competition market. The price of products offered in an imperfect competition has insignificant influence on demand. Basically, customers in an imperfective competition market are more sensitive on product brand than price. Tropical Smoothie Cafà © has established unique marketing strategies that are rarely known by its competitors. Some of the major competitors of the firm include McDonalds, Starbucks and Burger King. Since the firm operates in an imperfect competition market, the most appropriate means of achieving market power is through establishment of a strong brand name (Manning, 2013). In essence, a strong brand name aids in winning customers loyalty and maintaining them for long. Actually, the firm should emphasis on brand imaging through advertisements and product promotion. In addition, the company should consider offering discounts to its customers to promote sales as well as customer loyalty. The government efforts to regulate business operation can either result in positive or negative outcome to a business concern. The issues of patent