Category: Uncategorized

Academic Research Portfolio

Name

Professor

Course

Date

Academic Research Portfolio

There are a number of differences between Carleton University and Dammam College of Technology. The difference to be looked at in this report is the teaching and education differences of these two institutions. Both of them are institutions of higher learning and they offer degree programs in different fields. Carleton University has programs in diverse fields such as public affairs, engineering, journalism, social sciences, film studies, science and technology, business, government studies, public policy and art based courses. Dammam College of Technology has most of its courses being in the field of technology, such as Electronic technology, Mechanical technology, Computer technology, Electrical technology and Administrative technology.

Both institutions have academic support services, which differ in their education delivery, and in the way they offer services to students. Carleton University has academic support services that have a wide range of areas. There is the student academic success centre that facilitates services that foster student personal direction and academic competence. They also develop effective study skills, assist students in choosing or changing degree programs, and also identifying strategies to enhance their academic portfolios. This center as well fosters independence by providing students with the decision making and academic skills they need to be successful. Another academic support service is in the learning support area that is in the library which has open spaces in which students can study with friends, classmates or study groups, drop-in sessions, supportive peer helpers and networked computers to further assist in comprehensive studying.

Another student service in Carleton University is the CUOL, which is Carleton University Online that offers students a range of unique ways to pursue their studies. This educational service is an area with a department which offers a range of ways for students to view course lectures. The CUOL currently offers over sixty credited courses to over 4000 students across Canada and the United States. There is a career center that provides students and alumni with the resources and services needed for career exploration. This includes workshops that can cover a wide range of topics such as resume writing, interview skills, accessing the hidden job markets and proposal writing. This center also offers career counseling, employment advising and information sessions from industry representatives.

Carleton University in its education system also has co-operative education opportunities in more than 80 academic programs, streams, and concentrations at the undergraduate level and four programs at the master’s level. There is the Paul Menton Centre for students with disabilities, which promotes equal access to the educational experience of all students regardless of disability. This is consistent with academic standards and all aspects of services, programs, and degrees that are provided by Carleton University to all the students.In addition, a student experience office orients students as soon as they join the university. It creates an environment that enables students to transit successfully into the institution by preparing them to achieve their personal and academic goals and a have a way that enables students to engage well with each other and with their lecturers. The last academic support service is the office of the Associate Vice-President that deals with students and their enrolment issues. This section works with students, the administration, different student faculties, and the student government to ensure the smooth running of students’ life in the University (Dammam College of Technology, 2013).

On the other hand, Dammam College of Technology has a different support center that has five categories. The first is the Community Service Center, which aims at upgrading the relationship between the community and the institution through research, studies, consultancy services, and continuous training in accordance with the needs of the community. It empowers the citizen to cope with the development of technology through the provision of programs, lectures, forums, and training (Carleton University, 2013). In addition, a computer center deals with the College’s computer network, database and supervises all services that link the computer with the training process. A director who is directly linked to the Dean of the college heads it. The other category in the support center is the follow up unit, which is the department that follows up internal and external decisions as well as issues regarding the attendance of staff in the college.

The college has a Public Relations Section that deals with developing the relationship between the College and all its external and internal public in order to fasten relations within the work environment as well as to improve relations with the external public. This area also has the responsibility of providing all possible services and information to agents through the best possible media and it is connected administratively with the Dean of the college. The final category in this area is the quality unit that usually trains high quality cadre. This category is capable of developing and integrating in the labor market efficiently and effectively and to improve the quality of administrative procedures in the College under the directives of the management to improve management and quality in the corporation. This is also administratively linked to the dean of the college. From the comparison above, for both Carleton University and Dammam College of Technology, there are differences in the way education systems and their structural arrangement are for both of the institutions.

In the two institutions, education systems and teaching modes are different in that, in Carleton University, there is more involvement of students with their lecturers and professors. The various service centers are seen to be more in touch with the students. Their priority is the students and benefits, which the students get through their course work at the university. It has a large base on which students can express their views, opinions, and interact in a conducive learning environment. The education support service center is also well divided in terms of the services it provides for the students. This education system is very much effective as it gives students priority and freedom with responsibility therefore molding the students to be all round as they interact with other members of society and as they study with their fellow students. An interactive environment for students gives them confidence even as they graduate from their course work and join the job market.

Dammam College of Technology mainly concentrates on the use of technology to empower and teach students who enroll for courses in the institution. The education system and training is so much based on technology whereby even the support centers are connected very much administratively with the dean. In addition, most courses offered are technology based while Carleton University has a wider variety of courses. Even the Community Service Center is linked administratively to the institution because the provision of services to the community through training is done through the dean’s office. The administrative system runs most of the student affairs and therefore there is not much interactive environment for the students. This is further because of the technology courses which are more practical and requires a lot of working with machinery and other devices. Therefore concentration is more on how technology works and students and their lecturers interact when being given instructions about the ways to deal with technological devices.

Carleton University also uses research-based methodologies in training and teaching of their students. Having a number of faculties and departments, the institution aims at ensuring student needs are met. Lecturers and students interact at academic and personal levels and the learning is very interactive even among the students themselves as they are expected to present course work in class sometimes so as to engage more with each other. On the other hand, Dammam College of Technology involves more of dealing with technology, and research in this case is based on finding out how technology works as well as the innovations that are coming up in the area of technology. It being a middle level college for post high school students, Dammam College of Technology’s training is more focused on helping students to acquire some technical skills in different areas of technology.

This comparative study of the modes of teaching and the education system in the two institutions is aimed at showing how different education systems impact on students and their life in college or university. Moreover, it is meant to bring out the common grounds with which the teaching process in both institutions is carried out. How students learn and interact in higher institutions of learning is important because it helps in shaping them for the future one they get into the job market. Students with a more interactive learning environment are more confident and become more productive in the work place because they acquire skills that enable them to work independently or in groups with confidence (Ram, 2007).

Overall, education and teaching methods generally are meant to enable students to have different skills and enhance their talent. Use of technology is as equally important as the use of interactive learning method because the result is what matters and if a student is able to excel in his/her specialty, then the objective of the education methodology used is achieved.

Name

Professor

Course

Date

Meditation

The seventh passage is the one chosen to meditate upon. The meditation is for people, who are troubled, by many worldly things. The person needs to ensure that they find a place, which is quiet, so that they can meditate. This is extremely beneficial, as the person obtains a lot of knowledge from the process. In turn, the person will be able to rest, as well as acquire goodness, which helps improve their lives in many ways. Meditation helps prevent people from being affected by bad luck. Foolish people spend most of their time in matters, which do not help them, but instead, suffer from the consequences.

There is a need for people to show courage in everything that they do. They should also find ways, which they can obtain will power, as this is needed by every human being. Those who are successful should be praised, so that they continue with the work, which they seek to do. Also, it should be known that those who fail should be encouraged. Meditation is a form of encouragement, which is needed, when a person is facing difficult times in their lives, it is needed.

The chosen passage relates in many ways to the work of the author. One is able to know that the main themes deal with human nature and how they try to overcome the challenges, which they face. During the time, which the author wrote the reading, most people were dealing in matters related to meditation. This is why the reading is beneficial to those who have problems in their lives. Meditation is the best cure for their problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Event Case Study 

Your Name  

MKT500 Marketing Management 

Strayer University 

Your Instructor’s Name 

Date Submitted 

How Have Changes in the External Environment Affected Past Marketing Strategies

Start the first paragraph here. Describe the current situation with a specific business that is in the news. Tell us the name of the business, the industry they are in, and why they are in the news for a general marketing issue. For example, have they lost a significant number of customers, are there safety concerns with their product, are they introducing a “new and improved” product, have they created a new distribution channel to deliver their products to their consumers, have they taken an environmentally friendly approach to their business?  There is a reason they are in the news, and this is your opportunity to analyze what happened. 

In this second paragraph, provide information on changes in one of these six specific aspects of the environmental analysis over time.  This is where you will provide the results of your research on the competition, the economy, technology, legal changes, political changes, and sociocultural changes that have affected this business. You are required to cite specific examples. 

For example, if you are looking at the competition, another brand might have entered the market with a superior product.  When Amazon originally entered the market and sold books online, this drove many brick-and-mortar bookstores out of business. 

If you are looking at the economy, inflation could be responsible for an increase in the price of new cars.  As a result, consumers may begin to purchase used cars or start taking public transportation. 

Continuing these examples, technological changes (such as the ability to shop from a phone) have been a challenge for many brick-and-mortar retailers. 

Legal trends would include rules and regulations that a business needs to follow.  If, for example, a city outlaws Styrofoam cups for environmental reasons, how does this impact you if your business is in Styrofoam cups? 

Looking at political trends. Certain products may no longer be imported if there is a war in the country where these products are made.  How does this impact a business of you sell these products in the United States? 

Finally, if you are looking at consumer trends, you might find that consumers are eating healthier and the number of people eating red meat has declined. 

This section is meant to encourage you to conduct quality, academic research to understand the external environment, or the world around us, and how that has impacted past marketing strategies for this current event case study.  You are practicing gathering and reporting information. 

This information must also be properly cited and sourced.  This will give you practice with Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) formatting and providing information that is not plagiarized. 

Future Marketing Strategy 

Start the second section here. In this paragraph describe the specific marketing strategies that the business you analyzed should take in the future.  This should be based on the information that you gathered and provided in the first paragraph.  You are now using this information that you have gathered to make strategic marketing decisions. 

The goal here is to better understand the connection between gathering quality information about the external environment and how to use it to make decisions moving forward.   

This should also show you the value in gathering quality academic information.  If you gather poor or inaccurate information, it may lead to incorrect marketing strategies which may harm a business. 

 

Sources 

Enter the first source entry here; only one source is required. Remember that you are to provide a quality, credible, academic source to support this analysis.  Make sure to look at the author and where this information was published to help determine if this is reliable content. The Strayer library is the perfect place to find quality academic sources. You also need to use both an in-text citation and a source that is properly formatted using the SWS format.  The Strayer library has a citation generator and a source generator to help you.  

Enter the second source entry here, if needed. 

 

SWS Guidelines: (delete this from your paper) 

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course and the Strayer Writing Center.  

MLA Documentation

In MLA format, if a writer includes a direct quotation or a paraphrase from another writer’s work, it must be documented. Documentation in MLA format contains two elements: In-text Citation and Work(s) Cited page.

In-text Citation – Examples:

Stephen King begins his essay with the controversial claim that “we’re all mentally ill”.

“Why We Crave Horror Movies” begins with the controversial claim that “we’re all mentally ill” (King).

Staples begins his essay by recounting that his “first victim was a woman”.

“Black Men and Public Space” begins with the attention-grabbing announcement that “my first victim was a woman” (Staples).

The writer’s name must be included either in the sentence or in the parentheses.

If the quotation comes from a print source (book, magazine, etc.) then a page number must be included in the parentheses.

Work(s) Cited Page

Examples:

King, Stephen. “Why We Crave Horror Movies”.

Staples, Brent. “Black Men and Public Space”.

Note: The “MLA” tab in A Writer’s Reference is a great resource for preparing both in-text citation and a work(s) cited reference.

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE TO PRECLUDE EVIDENCE OF POSSESSION OF UNREGISTERED ANTIQUE GUN (Author’s name)

(Institutional Affiliation)

It is a debatable assumption that the accused actually owned the five firearms found in his possession, one of which was found in his father’s apartment, which is on the first floor of the building. The defendant lives in a row- home that was converted into two separate living units. There is one common front door, which leads into a small foyer that opens to the two apartments. The defendant lives in the first- floor apartment and his father lives in the upstairs apartment. The defendant does not live with his father as everyone has their own apartment and they only see each other occasionally for diner. Though the defendant has access to his father’s apartment, he does not access the other rooms except the kitchen where he frequents to feed his father’s cat when its owner is not around.

On the fateful day, the defendant was arrested and upon searching his premises and that of his father, five firearms were found which were allegedly not registered and in violation of the national firearms act. The defendant explained that the guns were not his as they belonged to a friend who was between homes for the moment. In the case of the firearm found in his father’s apartment, the defendant explained that it was an antique weapon, which his father had collected a while back as he had an interest in ancient weapons. The defense moves to file a memorandum to back up the proposal by the defendant to preclude evidence of possession of illegal firearms.

Rule

Upon the defendant’s arrest and interrogation, Frederick Malloy was found to actually or constructively to be in possession of firearms that were found to be unregistered according to the rules and regulations of the national firearms registration and transfer record. In his possession included a Smith & Wesson 1000 series, a Smith & Wesson model 500 revolver, model 1020 shotgun, a featherweight deluxe rifle, and a Winchester super X3 classic field shotgun. In addition to this, the court also found him answerable to the constructive possession of a firearm that was unregistered with the NFRTR, which was identified as a Springfield forager shotgun an act that wars also in violation of the United State’s code, title 26, section 5861d, and in addition subjective to penalties as described by section 5871 of the United State’s code of title 26.

Defendant’s Motion

In response to these charges, the defendant denies the constructive or actual possession of the following firearms a Smith & Wesson 1000 series, a Smith & Wesson model 500 revolver, model 1020 shotgun, a featherweight deluxe rifle, and a Winchester super X3 classic field shotgun and a Springfield forager shotgun. In addition to this, the defendant denies that he had any constructive possessions of a Springfield forager shotgun. The affirmative defense assumed by the defendant was that the Springfield forager shotgun is not a regular gun but an antique according to the definitions of an antique firearm by the national firearms act, therefore, the mentioned gun is exempted from the requirements of registration of the national firearm act.

As it follows, the defendant, Frederick Malloy, through and by his lawyer wishes to file a memorandum to seek for the court to prevent the attorney of the state from presenting the antique firearm as part of evidence during trial. In support of his motion in Limine, the defendant stresses that:

He was involved in a violation of protection from abuse act which allowed for the state to be in possession of his weapons,

It was during the arrest when the police officer seized the antique shotgun.

The antique gun was found not to be registered under the national firearms registration and transfer record according to the stipulations and requirements of the national firearms act.

The defended was then charged with alleged constructive possession of an unregistered antique gun.

The antique gun, which in this case is the Springfield forager shotgun should be exempt from evidence the state presents at trial the accused did not have any constructive possession of the firearm and because the gun is an antique firearm that the NFA excludes from the registration requirements.

The defendant was in constructive possession the shotgun because it was taken from his father’s apartment. The defendant does not live with his father, but in a different apartment in the same building.

The state, therefore, does not have any evidence that the defendant has constructive possession of the antique gun.

The shotgun is an antique because it was made before 1898.

According to the expert report delivered by the government’s professional, the ammunition of the antique gun that was specifically made for the gun is no longer available in the market.

As it follows, the Springfield gun falls under the category of antique firearms and is exempted from registration requirements.

Because of the circumstances described above, the defendant Frederick Malloy moves to plead with the court to rule against the state from introducing the Springfield shotgun as evidence during trial for whatever reason.

Explanation

Antique Firearm according to the NFA

The firearms the national firearms act defines as antique firearms are not subjected to any regulations under the act. The national firearms act defines these kinds of firearms depending on their manufacture date and the kind of ignition system that use to fire projectiles. Any firearm manufactured before or in the year 1898 that is not redesigned and designed for using conventional center fire ignition or rim fire is an antique firearm. In addition to this, any firearm that uses a flintlock, matchlock, percussion cap or same kind of ignition system regardless of the actual manufacture date of the firearm is also referred to as an antique firearm.

The national firearm act approved firearms that make use of fixed ammunition are antique firearms only when the weapon was actually manufactured before or in 1898 and the ammunition the firearm uses is no longer manufacture in the US or readily available in common commercial trade channels. A fixed cartridge- firing weapon approved by the national firearm act must qualify in both the ammunition availability and age standards of definition so as to qualify as an antique firearm. In the case of the availability of ammunition availability, it is essential to note that a certain kind of fixed ammunition has been out of manufacture or production for a number of years may once more become available, as a result, of increasing interest in ancient firearms. Therefore, the classification of a certain national firearm act firearm as one of an antique firearm can change of ammunition for the weapon once more becomes readily available in the market or the common commercial trade channels.

According to the professional who investigated the Springfield shotgun found in possession of the defendant, it is clear that the weapon is an antique firearm according to the regulations and guidelines of the national firearm act. The agent is an experienced agent with the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms. The examiner of the shotgun was positive that the shotgun had been manufactured sometime between 1881 and 1873.He confirmed that the barrel of the gun appeared to be in its original condition, and that it had not been sawed off. The expert explained that only a maximum of 1,374 Springfield shotguns were manufactured, and that these firearms seized to be manufactured by the early 1900. The guns, according to the expert, are scarce and rare. He even indicated that the ammunition designed for use with the gun also seized to be manufactures in the late 1800s, and as a result, the gun is no longer manufactured. The firearms are exceedingly collectable. According to the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms engineer, the Springfield firearm found in the defendant’s father’s bedroom is an antique and, therefore, exempt from the registration rules and requirements of the national firearms act. As it follows, the state’s attorney has no case in claiming that the defendant was in possession of an unregistered firearm when it comes to the Springfield shotgun, because it is an antique and a collectable that is excluded from the registration rules and regulations of the NFA.

Constructive Possession

The defendant did not have constructive possession of the Springfield shotgun. Constructive possession is a legal term or theory that is commonly used to extend possession to situations where an individual has no hands- on custody of something. A lot of courts argue that constructive possession, also in other cases referred to as possession in law, occurs in cases where an individual has knowledge of an object, and in addition to this, also has the ability to control the thing in question, even if the individual has no physical contact with the questionable thing. In case of the defendant, the state’s attorney accused him of being in constructive possession of the Springfield shotgun, which was found in his father’s room. Possession of a firearm may be defined either as constructive or actual.

The former has been explained as the kind of possession that takes place when an individual knowingly has the intention and power at a certain time to exercise control and dominion over the thing or over the region in which the thing is placed or kept. If one has the knowledge that a firearm is present in their place of residence, and if there, is enough evidence that that person have the ability exercise control and access that firearm through one individual or personally, then there is a possibility that they can be considered to have constructive possession of the firearm. As it follows, the person would then be subject to criminal charges.

However, the case scenario of the defendant is different, as he did not have the firearm. According to the arresting officer, the defendant was not inside the upstairs apartment were the weapon was found. He was in the downstairs apartment were the rest of the other firearms were found. The police officer who made the arrest noted that the two were separate apartments with bedrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms. The two, therefore, live independently and the defendant even pays rent to his father. The two do not live together, and, therefore, one cannot argue that the defendant was in possession of the Springfield firearm found in his father’s room. Though the defendant once knew about his father’s interest in antique firearms, and the fact that his father had acquired some firearm a long time ago, he was not aware of the where about of the firearm, and he was not even aware whether his father still had the gun or not. The government, therefore, cannot accuse the defendant of having constructive possession of the Springfield firearm, as it was not in his home when it was confiscated.

Conclusion

According to the evidence presented above, it is obvious that the court should move to deter the state from including as evidence during trial the Springfield shotgun found in the possession of the defendant’s father based on two considerations. The first consideration is the fact that the Springfield shotgun is an antique firearm according to the guidelines of the NFA, and that it s exempt from registration requirements of the national firearm act unlike the other firearms. The second consideration is that the accused was not in constructive possession of the Springfield shotgun. The firearm was found in his father’s apartment, which was on a separate floor from the defendants’. The two do not live together and interact occasionally. As it follows, the defense moves to request the court to preclude evidence of possession of an antique firearm.

Notes

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (1-9)

26 U.S.C. 5845(a), (g)

26 U.S.C. 5845(a)

Added Pub. L. 107-273, div. C, title I, Sec. 11009(e) (2) (A), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1821.)

U.S. v Booth, et.al. 111 F.3d 2 [1st Cir. September 1997

United States v. Derose, 74 F.3d 1177 [11th Cir. 1996]

Business Plan for a Startup BusinessThe business plan consists of a narrative and several financial worksheets. The narrative template is the body of the business plan. It contains more than 150 questions divided into several sections. Work through the sections in any order that you want, except for the Executive Summary, which should be done last. Skip any questions that do not apply to your type of business. When you are finished writing your first draft, you’ll have a collection of small essays on the various topics of the business plan. Then you’ll want to edit them into a smooth-flowing narrative.

The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, study and research if you are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It takes time now, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.

This business plan is a generic model suitable for all types of businesses. However, you should modify it to suit your particular circumstances. Before you begin, review the section titled Refining the Plan, found at the end. It suggests emphasizing certain areas depending upon your type of business (manufacturing, retail, service, etc.). It also has tips for fine-tuning your plan to make an effective presentation to investors or bankers. If this is why you’re creating your plan, pay particular attention to your writing style. You will be judged by the quality and appearance of your work as well as by your ideas.

It typically takes several weeks to complete a good plan. Most of that time is spent in research and re-thinking your ideas and assumptions. But then, that’s the value of the process. So make time to do the job properly.Thosewho do never regret the effort.And finally, be sure to keep detailed notes on your sources of information and on the assumptions underlying your financial data.

Business PlanLaMeka Wright-Potter, Julius Potter, & Audrey WrightCate’s TLB LLC

Street Address

1515 Overton Crossing

Memphis, Tennessee 38120

800-210-1200

800-210-0200

catesbeveragesllc@gmail.com

Table of Contents TOC h z t “Heading 3,1” I.Table of Contents PAGEREF _Toc52620470 h 3II.Executive Summary PAGEREF _Toc52620471 h 4III.General Company Description PAGEREF _Toc52620472 h 5IV.Products and Services PAGEREF _Toc52620473 h 6V.Marketing Plan PAGEREF _Toc52620474 h 7VI.Operational Plan PAGEREF _Toc52620475 h 15VII.Management and Organization PAGEREF _Toc52620476 h 19VIII.Personal Financial Statement PAGEREF _Toc52620477 h 20IX.Startup Expenses and Capitalization PAGEREF _Toc52620478 h 21X.Financial Plan PAGEREF _Toc52620479 h 22XI.Appendices PAGEREF _Toc52620480 h 25XII.Refining he Plan PAGEREF _Toc52620481 h 26Executive SummaryWrite this section last.

We suggest that you make it two pages or fewer.

Include everything that you would cover in a five-minute interview.

Explain the fundamentals of the proposed business: What will your product be? Who will your customers be? Who are the owners? What do you think the future holds for your business and your industry?

Make it enthusiastic, professional, complete, and concise.

If applying for a loan, state clearly how much you want, precisely how you are going to use it, and how the money will make your business more profitable, thereby ensuring repayment.

General Company DescriptionCompany Name: Cate’s Tea Lemonade Beverage (TLB) LLC

Significance: The significance of Cate’s Tea and Lemonade Beverage is to be able to be consumed as a nutritious andenergy replacement. It will contain a required daily consumption amount of proteins, calcium, vitamins and other essential elements including B-12. The drink will be sold in retail stores, fairs, and restaurants. It does not have to be refrigerated and tastes great hot or cold. This is a good source of energy for people on the go who do not drink coffee or use energy drinks.

Mission Statement

Cate’s TLB provides our customers with high quality beverages, made with simple ingredients, at competitive prices. We produce our beverages with a professional quality team environment built on accountability, compassion, and respect.

Cates organization goal is linked to the company’s mission statement. Cate’s goal is to sell the highest quality of natural and organic tea and lemonade products. Cates objective is to offer a satisfying and delighting taste to customers. Consumers are high on the list of importance at Cates.

Cate’s target audience will be middle-class citizens and live in the Suburban areas.

There are various trends in the non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) surrounding the tea and lemonade industry. The diversity amongst tea and lemonade is one of the key trends regarding the industry. In the past manufacturers offered concentrate and power formula that the consumer had to add water and sweetener to make. Today the process is much simpler; you can purchase tea and lemonade ready for consumption. The tea and lemonade industry offer a variety of flavors. The industry offers some organic while other is concentrated or artificially flavored. The NAB industry is constantly growing since customers are demanding more natural and healthy on the go drinks. This demand has been heavily influenced by the raise in obesity and diseases.

Cate’s TLB LLC SWOT Analysis

Cate’s TLB faces various risks. These risks fall into two broad categories. These include labor risks and unforeseen risks. Regarding labor costs, the company faces loss of employees to competitor firms because competitor firms offer employee benefits. To mitigate this risk, the company wishes to implement better employee benefit packages that will attract top talent in the industry. There are also management issues facing the company. Recently, there was embezzlement of funds by the firm’s marketing department. To mitigate this risk, it has implemented electronic payment mode such that employees can also get their payments through the banks as well as various departments to carry out their transaction through the use of non-cash money transfers. Semiannual auditing has also been implemented to trace any instances of fraud. The unforeseen risks that the company faces include destruction of products by natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes as well as a change of customers’ taste and preferences.

Unforeseen risksLabor

-Loss of owner -Can’t find employees

-Demand low/ high -Management Issues

-Competition

-Natural Disasters

Strengths Weaknesses

– High-quality product-Market Share/Sz (100m.)

– Capital-Needs Investors

– Culture- Growing Pains

– Legal/Regulatory/Ins

Opportunities Threats

– 35 Billion in Market share available – Competition

– Geographic expansion- Legal/Regulatory

– Workface expansion – No investors

– Product portfolio expansion – Cash flow shortages

Strengths

•High-quality product

Cate’s TLB is known leader in the manufacturing of high-quality lemonade beverage. As a result, most consumers prefer to buy their lemonade from this company. The well-established brand name has also helped it in retaining its customers hence making high volumes of sales that translate to high-profit margins.

•Culture

The company has a very efficient company culture that enables it to carry out its functions efficiently and smoothly. The high levels of understanding among the different levels of management keep the stakeholders united a factor that promotes productivity. The management holds and treats each and every employee with respect. They feel appreciated as part of the company hence boosting their work morale.

•Capital

The company has a sound financial background that enables it to carry out all its activities efficiently. For instance, Cate’s TLB is can carry out all its marketing activities since it can finance hence increasing its visibility in the market and industry.

Weaknesses

•Small market share

Due to its few years of operation in the market, Cate’s TLB has not acquired a significant market share. Its current market share is only 100 miles. This has limited its ability of growth compared to closest competitors who have large market share.

•Growing pains

The company has experienced various issues that have in one way or another affected its rate of growth. For instance, embezzlement of funds by part of the management team has led to lagging behind of the company in fast growth in newly established regions.

Opportunities

•Expansion

Cate’s has the opportunity to expand into other geographical areas. Currently, it only operates with a 100 miles radius of the home area. The expansion will increase its consumer and revenue based on more sales. Granting the opportunity to hire more employeesand will allow Cates to meet production function more efficiently.

•Growth of market share

Cates currently have limited market share being it is just a starting up. Cates tend to improve its finances by encouraging investors to finance operations.

Threats

•Stiff competition

Cate’s TLB faces stiff competition from its closest competitors. Price competition is one of the aspects. The competitor firms offer their products at relatively lower prices. Some of the competitors include PepsiCo, Tyson Foods Inc. among others.

•Lack of investors

The company does not have investors since it is a start-up. This is a significant threat because the competitors can expand their operations globally with ease because they have capital.

Products and ServicesI believe quality positioning is the best strategic position for Cates TLB. Quality positioning may be defined a method of product positioning in which a company chooses to manufacture high-quality products compared to its closest competitors. The customers, therefore, choose the company’s drinks because they are of better quality compared to those produced by rival firms. Cate’s TLB wishes to be the world best leader in natural non-alcoholic beverages. Distribution channels are the paths of which goods and services follow from vendors to consumers through payments by customers to suppliers. The product can have a small distribution as from vendors to consumers while others may include several intermediaries such as agents, distributors, wholesalers, etc. Where intermediaries are involved, one broker receives the product at a particular pricing point and then moves it to the next higher pricing point till the product reaches its final consumer. Our distribution channel involves retailer, agents, wholesalers, and direct sales through catalogs, mail orders and web services. Our sales force contributes most towards our sales within this region including our online marketing team who markets our products within the region and outside world as a whole(Food & Drink – October 2003 : Bacon, Flavored Alcoholic Beverages, non sweet biscuits, pre packed and dressed salads, sweet biscuits., 2012). Contract bids also take part where we make contracts to supply our products to big firms and organizations including institutions of learning. All people from young to old including children consume our products, and many people come to our products daily leading to the high returns currently experienced by the business (Reve, 2015).

The non-alcoholic beverage industry is a rapidly competitive and a dynamic segment. Several innovations as well as the increasing focus on consumers on their health and wellness have driven this growth with an evolving competitive landscape. This business encompasses a broad range of liquid refreshment beverage categories such as energy drinks, carbonated soft drinks, juices, enhanced and bottled water, RTD coffee, and tea, sports drinks as well as probiotics. Several of these subcategories have experienced growth driven by both the companies’ abilities to deliver products that are compelling as well as the customers rising demand for healthier and functional beverages. Although there is no stiff competition currently, with time, there may be considerable competition from these similar firms offering the same product or relatively similar goods and services (Food & Drink – October 2003: Bacon, Flavored Alcoholic Beverages, non-sweet biscuits, prepacked and dressed salads, sweet biscuits., 2012).

Three classes of marketing vehicles will be used to market the product. The social vehicles will include population density which enables sharing with less friction, mindset sustainability as well as trends in lifestyle among the youths. The economic drivers will involve increased world population, economic disparities including sustainable resources. Technological drivers will include mobile technologies, social networking technologies as well as payment systems. Our competitors have been using mobile technologies of late and mindset sustainability and hence possible competition in recent years to come (Gregoriou & Ali, 2016).Describe in depth your products or services (technical specifications, drawings, photos, sales brochures, and other bulky items belong in Appendices).

Marketing PlanMarket research – Why?

No matter how good your product and your service, the venture cannot succeed without effective marketing. And this begins with careful, systematic research. It is very dangerous to assume that you already know about your intended market. You need to do market research to make sure you’re on track. Use the business planning process as your opportunity to uncover data and to question your marketing efforts. Your time will be well spent.

Market research – How?

There are two kinds of market research: primary and secondary.

Secondary research means using published information such as industry profiles, trade journals, newspapers, magazines, census data, and demographic profiles. This type of information is available in public libraries, industry associations, chambers of commerce, from vendors who sell to your industry, and from government agencies.

Start with your local library. Most librarians are pleased to guide you through their business data collection. You will be amazed at what is there. There are more online sources than you could possibly use. Your chamber of commerce has good information on the local area. Trade associations and trade publications often have excellent industry-specific data.

Primary research means gathering your own data. For example, you could do your own traffic count at a proposed location, use the yellow pages to identify competitors, and do surveys or focus-group interviews to learn about consumer preferences. Professional market research can be very costly, but there are many books that show small business owners how to do effective research themselves.

In your marketing plan, be as specific as possible; give statistics, numbers, and sources. The marketing plan will be the basis, later on, of the all-important sales projection.

Economics

Facts about your industry:

What is the total size of your market?

What percent share of the market will you have? (This is important only if you think you will be a major factor in the market.)

Current demand in target market.

Trends in target market—growth trends, trends in consumer preferences, and trends in product development.

Growth potential and opportunity for a business of your size.

What barriers to entry do you face in entering this market with your new company? Some typical barriers are:

High capital costs

High production costs

High marketing costs

Consumer acceptance and brand recognition

Training and skills

Unique technology and patents

Unions

Shipping costs

Tariff barriers and quotas

And of course, how will you overcome the barriers?

How could the following affect your company?

Change in technology

Change in government regulations

Change in the economy

Change in your industry

Product

In the Products and Services section, you described your products and services as you see them. Now describe them from your customers’ point of view.

Features and Benefits

List all of your major products or services.

For each product or service:

Describe the most important features. What is special about it?

Describe thebenefits. That is, what will the product do for the customer?

Note the difference between features and benefits, and think about them. For example, a house that gives shelter and lasts a long time is made with certain materials and to a certain design; those are its features. Its benefits include pride of ownership, financial security, providing for the family, and inclusion in a neighborhood. You build features into your product so that you can sell the benefits.

What after-sale services will you give? Some examples are delivery, warranty, service contracts, support, follow-up, and refund policy.

Customers

Identify your targeted customers, their characteristics, and their geographic locations, otherwise known as their demographics.

The description will be completely different depending on whether you plan to sell to other businesses or directly to consumers. If you sell a consumer product, but sell it through a channel of distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, you must carefully analyze both the end consumer and the middleman businesses to which you sell.

You may have more than one customer group. Identify the most important groups. Then, for each customer group, construct what is called a demographic profile:

Age

Gender

Location

Income level

Social class and occupation

Education

Other (specific to your industry)

Other (specific to your industry)

For business customers, the demographic factors might be:

Industry (or portion of an industry)

Location

Size of firm

Quality, technology, and price preferences

Other (specific to your industry)

Other (specific to your industry)

Competition

What products and companies will compete with you?

List your major competitors:

(Names and addresses)

Will they compete with you across the board, or just for certain products, certain customers, or in certain locations?

Will you have important indirect competitors? (For example, video rental stores compete with theaters, although they are different types of businesses.)

How will your products or services compare with the competition?

Use the Competitive Analysistable below to compare your company with your two most important competitors. In the first column are key competitive factors. Since these vary from one industry to another, you may want to customize the list of factors.

In the column labeled Me, state how you honestly think you will stack up in customers’ minds. Then check whether you think this factor will be a strength or a weakness for you. Sometimes it is hard to analyze our own weaknesses. Try to be very honest here. Better yet, get some disinterested strangers to assess you. This can be a real eye-opener. And remember that you cannot be all things to all people. In fact, trying to be causes many business failures because efforts become scattered and diluted. You want an honest assessment of your firm’s strong and weak points.

Now analyze each major competitor. In a few words, state how you think they compare.

In the final column, estimate the importance of each competitive factor to the customer. 1 = critical; 5 = not very important.

Table SEQ Table * ARABIC 1: Competitive Analysis

FACTOR Me Strength Weakness Competitor A Competitor B Importance to Customer

Products Price Quality Selection Service Reliability Stability Expertise Company Reputation Location Appearance Sales Method Credit Policies Advertising Image Now, write a short paragraph stating your competitive advantages and disadvantages.

Niche

Now that you have systematically analyzed your industry, your product, your customers, and the competition, you should have a clear picture of where your company fits into the world.

In one short paragraph, define your niche, your unique corner of the market.

Strategy

Now outline a marketing strategy that is consistent with your niche.

Promotion

How will you get the word out to customers?

Advertising: What media, why, and how often? Why this mix and not some other?

Have you identified low-cost methods to get the most out of your promotional budget?

Will you use methods other than paid advertising, such as trade shows, catalogs, dealer incentives, word of mouth (how will you stimulate it?), and network of friends or professionals?

What image do you want to project? How do you want customers to see you?

In addition to advertising, what plans do you have for graphic image support? This includes things like logo design, cards and letterhead, brochures, signage, and interior design (if customers come to your place of business).

Should you have a system to identify repeat customers and then systematically contact them?

Promotional Budget

How much will you spend on the items listed above?

Before startup? (These numbers will go into your startup budget.)

Ongoing?(These numbers will go into your operating plan budget.)

Pricing

Explain your method or methods of setting prices. For most small businesses, having the lowest price is not a good policy. It robs you of needed profit margin; customers may not care as much about price as you think; and large competitors can underprice you anyway. Usually you will do better to have average prices and compete on quality and service.

Does your pricing strategy fit with what was revealed in your competitive analysis?

Compare your prices with those of the competition. Are they higher, lower, the same? Why?

How important is price as a competitive factor? Do your intended customers really make their purchase decisions mostly on price?

What will be your customer service and credit policies?

Proposed Location

Probably you do not have a precise location picked out yet. This is the time to think about what you want and need in a location. Many startups run successfully from home for a while.

You will describe your physical needs later, in the OperationalPlansection. Here, analyze your location criteria as they will affect your customers.

Is your location important to your customers? If yes, how?

If customers come to your place of business:

Is it convenient? Parking? Interior spaces?Not out of the way?

Is it consistent with your image?

Is it what customers want and expect?

Where is the competition located? Is it better for you to be near them (like car dealers or fast-food restaurants) or distant (like convenience-food stores)?

Distribution Channels

How do you sell your products or services?

Retail

Direct (mail order, Web, catalog)

Wholesale

Your own sales force

Agents

Independent representatives

Bid on contracts

Sales Forecast

Now that you have described your products, services, customers, markets, and marketing plans in detail, it’s time to attach some numbers to your plan. Use a sales forecast spreadsheet to prepare a month-by-month projection. The forecast should be based on your historical sales, the marketing strategies that you have just described, your market research, and industry data, if available.

You may want to do two forecasts: 1) a “best guess”, which is what you really expect, and 2) a “worst case” low estimate that you are confident you can reach no matter what happens.

Remember to keep notes on your research and your assumptions as you build this sales forecast and all subsequent spreadsheets in the plan. This is critical if you are going to present it to funding sources.

Operational PlanExplain the daily operation of the business, its location, equipment, people, processes, and surrounding environment.

Production

How and where are your products or services produced?

Explain your methods of:

Production techniques and costs

Quality control

Customer service

Inventory control

Product development

Location

What qualities do you need in a location? Describe the type of location you’ll have.

Physical requirements:

Amount of space

Type of building

Zoning

Power and other utilities

Access:

Is it important that your location be convenient to transportation or to suppliers?

Do you need easy walk-in access?

What are your requirements for parking and proximity to freeway, airports, railroads, and shipping centers?

Include a drawing or layout of your proposed facility if it is important, as it might be for a manufacturer.

Construction? Most new companies should not sink capital into construction, but if you are planning to build, costs and specifications will be a big part of your plan.

Cost: Estimate your occupation expenses, including rent, but also including maintenance, utilities, insurance, and initial remodeling costs to make the space suit your needs. These numbers will become part of your financial plan.

What will be your business hours?

Legal Environment

Describe the following:

Licensing and bonding requirements

Permits

Health, workplace, or environmental regulations

Special regulations covering your industry or profession

Zoning or building code requirements

Insurance coverage

Trademarks, copyrights, or patents (pending, existing, or purchased)

Personnel

Number of employees

Type of labor (skilled, unskilled, and professional)

Where and how will you find the right employees?

Quality of existing staff

Pay structure

Training methods and requirements

Who does which tasks?

Do you have schedules and written procedures prepared?

Have you drafted job descriptions for employees? If not, take time to write some. They really help internal communications with employees.

For certain functions, will you use contract workers in addition to employees?

Inventory

What kind of inventory will you keep: raw materials, supplies, finished goods?

Average value in stock (i.e., what is your inventory investment)?

Rate of turnover and how this compares to the industry averages?

Seasonal buildups?

Lead-time for ordering?

Suppliers

Identify key suppliers:

Names and addresses

Type and amount of inventory furnished

Credit and delivery policies

History and reliability

Should you have more than one supplier for critical items (as a backup)?

Do you expect shortages or short-term delivery problems?

Are supply costs steady or fluctuating? If fluctuating, how would you deal with changing costs?

Credit Policies

Do you plan to sell on credit?

Do you really need to sell on credit? Is it customary in your industry and expected by your clientele?

If yes, what policies will you have about who gets credit and how much?

How will you check the creditworthiness of new applicants?

What terms will you offer your customers; that is, how much credit and when is payment due?

Will you offer prompt payment discounts? (Hint: Do this only if it is usual and customary in your industry.)

Do you know what it will cost you to extend credit? Have you built the costs into your prices?

Managing Your Accounts Receivable

If you do extend credit, you should do an aging at least monthly to track how much of your money is tied up in credit given to customers and to alert you to slow payment problems. A receivables aging looks like the following table:

Total Current 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days Over 90 Days

Accounts Receivable Aging You will need a policy for dealing with slow-paying customers:

When do you make a phone call?

When do you send a letter?

When do you get your attorney to threaten?

Managing Your Accounts Payable

You should also age your accounts payable, what you owe to your suppliers. This helps you plan whom to pay and when. Paying too early depletes your cash, but paying late can cost you valuable discounts and can damage your credit. (Hint: If you know you will be late making a payment, call the creditor before the due date.)

Do your proposed vendors offer prompt payment discounts?

A payables aging looks like the following table.

Total Current 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days Over 90 Days

Accounts Payable Aging Management and OrganizationWho will manage the business on a day-to-day basis? What experience does that person bring to the business? What special or distinctive competencies? Is there a plan for continuation of the business if this person is lost or incapacitated?

If you’ll have more than 10 employees, create an organizational chart showing the management hierarchy and who is responsible for key functions.

Include position descriptions for key employees. If you are seeking loans or investors, include resumes of owners and key employees.

Professional and Advisory Support

List the following:

Board of directors

Management advisory board

Attorney

Accountant

Insurance agent

Banker

Consultant or consultants

Mentors and key advisors

Personal Financial StatementInclude personal financial statements for each owne

Academic Structure in a Seismic Zone

Name:

Institution:

Academic Structure in a Seismic Zone

Summary

For many years, the environment has been a thorny issue, especially when it comes to construction of large institutional structure in a seismic environment (Lundberg, 2011). For quite a long time, there have been problems when it comes to the development of robust measures to mitigate against the potential impact the environment rules (Akgun et al, 2012). This article covers the ways of minimizing the consumption of natural resources in the environment as well as energy during the construction phase and throughout the life of the project in a seismic environment. It covers the systems in place in minimizing and protecting the immediate and surrounding man-made and natural environment, ways of control wastes emitted during the construction process and site waste management plan.

It is prudent to put in place the environmentally friendly design for the water drainage system, consider the cultural heritage of the environment where construction is to be established (Oliveira et al, 2013). In addition, the current environmental strategies are vital to the project in accordance with the civil engineer’s contribution and obligations to society (Akgun et al, 2012). Therefore, before the commencement of the project, the above issues are worth putting into consideration as far as the seismic environment is concerned (Rosowsky, 2011).

Impact of environmental assessment

An engineering project should involve environmental impact assessment, this because it is a vital aspect in establishment of any large scale planning applications (Butler & McGovern, 2012). This process helps the planners in understanding the potential environmental effect of major development proposals to be undertaken in a seismic zone (Oliveira et al, 2013). Even though, the environmental process may sometimes be complex and confusing, leaving local communities uncertain of how a large construction might affect them in the long-run. It is prudent for the constructors to obtain material regulations circulars and guidance that are specifically formulated to assist individuals in understanding , what environmental impact assessment is and under which situations should it be applied in construction (Garrett & Saur, 2012).

The construction layout should give guidance on how to explain and to prepare a land survey and landscape assessment. The main aim of this is to encourage local communities where the project is constructed, to engage in the process (Garrett & Saur, 2012). This is because ignoring local knowledge may have a disastrous consequence, particularly those people living near development sites (Lundberg, 2011). The construction engineer’s concern environmental assessment with gathering the project carried out and other department involve in the entire project in a particular area. For example, the seismic environment should enable the local authority to understand the environmental impact of the project before they give an authorization for its commencement (Oliveira et al., 2013).

The project developers are to consider that there is the effective and efficient use of the local available resources (Alexopoulos et al., 2012). In addition, the local people should know the impact of the development to be done in a particular environment. There are laws that govern the environmental impact assessment like, the European law basis is directive 85/337, the UK legislation through the town and country planning regulations1999 among others (Lion et al, 2013). The environmental assessment is procedurally done, including identifying the alternatives of the project, scoping and investigation, the baseline on the construction, consultation and publicity (Butler & McGovern, 2012). It also entails the physical appearance of the construction, the site layout, the materials to be used, which should be environmentally friendly, and the means of accessing the materials (Lundberg, 2011).

Another important issue in environmental impact assessment is what the construction will influence the environment in terms of potential impacts like, noise and disturbance, disruption to other users (Akgun et al., 2012). E.g. sea fishing, emissions to air, the management of waste offshore, the aspect of contamination of soil and ground water and marine pollution as a result of discharges to sea.

Minimizing the consumption of natural resources and energy

The focus of the construction project is sustainability, which is one of the key drivers in the overall process of decision making (Lion et al., 2013). For this to be met, the natural resources were to be used economically for their sustainability. For instance, the selective use of materials for construction i.e. the use of recycled materials and reusability of items for construction (Puettmann & Lippke, 2013). These materials should have energy conservation feature, low emitting features and reduce the construction waste. On the side of energy, the engineers are to ensure the use of energy conserving techniques through orientation and position on site where there is solar supply (Lundberg, 2011). In addition, optimizing of structure, envelope, by utilizing natural climate features in cooling, and the integration of daylight and artificial lighting systems (Alexopoulos et al., 2012). This reduces carbon (IV) oxide emissions.

The aim should always be to follow the hierarchy of providing ventilation and cooling to structure by natural or passive means before considering active management (Franky et al., 2012). The construction of the project in the seismic zone requires the consideration of energy efficient appliances, for example, high efficiency condensing boilers and application of energy efficient lighting, which allow low energy lamps, timed, movement, or light detecting shut-off devices in its operation (Butler & McGovern, 2012).

The engineers should consider use of energy sources that emit zero carbon energy to the environment, or using cooling, bio fuel systems (Rosowsky, 2011). In addition, considering renewable and integrated energy sources is not only economical to the project development, but also environmentally friendly. Observation of all techniques that minimises overdependence on the natural resources is important thus design, quantity, production, transport, product life are of great essence during the project process (Lion et al., 2013). Further more lean construction and prefabrication of materials during the construction is worth including in design and manufacturing, this is by ensuring utilization of local materials and suppliers and avoidance of carbon (iv) oxide intensive components(Garrett & Saur, 2012).

Waste management plan and control

Waste management is an important aspect of the construction of a structure in a seismic environment, considering the marine life and the prevention of soil pollution (Oliveira et al, 2013). The use of environmental friendly materials during the construction for instance, the focus should be on the reduction in the amount of wastes that are produced through the design and development of a project waste management plan (Rosowsky, 2011). This is possible through the reuse and recycling methods and promoting the procurement of non-toxic, energy efficient products containing recycled materials and identifying a sustainable waste management strategy and management guidance (Chiarini, 2013). The engineers should consider and identify different waste streams, including general, catering, hazardous, radioactive, that will be emitted when the structure is operational.

Suitability of sufficient safe storage capacity should be put in place to deal with wastes (Alexopoulos et al, 2012). This should include safe and easy access for staff taking the waste out of the building and the project team (Lion et al., 2013) should install equipment that will be used in collecting the waste the equipment that reduces the amount of waste produced. The use of steel materials in construction is essential as steel materials can easily be recycled without degradation of the environment and is therefore environmentally friendly. The waste control should be geared towards enhancing and protecting existing ecological features in the environment like wildlife, trees, hedges, and water courses (Akgun et al., 2012).

Water and drainage system

The drainage system is a crucial aspect as far as construction in seismic environment is concerned. The designers and engineers should consider and ensure that water conservation measures are incorporated in the project to minimize the wastage and the pollution water through emission of production effluence (Obonyo, 2011). Water should be reserved using water saving devices, such as spray taps and rainwater harvesting and water recycling (Lion et al, 2013). The installation of water conserving equipment, to minimize the use of water cooling, and provision of chilled water and installing recirculation systems.

During construction, the major drainage system should be designed to effectively take care of overland flows because of heavy rainfall (Rosowsky, 2011). There should be reserve for roadways and drainage channels, establishment of a pipeline to be added to serve as a drainage line. The level of the surface of the allotments adjacent to the overland flow path along the construction is recommended to be at least 300mm above the flood level (Chiarini, 2013). Moreover, the project should include major systems of drainage design for heavy flows (Lion et al., 2013). A roadway, a waste divert in a save, a pipeline or a consolidation of the above may go about as a seepage line. The design of the project should be extended across any road passing near the construction or proposed road widening that is adjacent to the development. It ensures that any proposed services within the road reserves are known and that the proposed drainage works can cross these services (Oliveira et al., 2013).

Generally, natural watercourse alignment, drains should be designed to follow reserves that are intended for drainage purposes. Great consideration should be given to the construction of drainage system as it should run parallel to a sewer system to avoid contamination. The project should incorporate this aspect at the early of stage design to enable the most economical solution to be adopted (Govender, 2013).

. The drainage system should be constructed in accordance with regulations in the particular area of construction, for instance, a diameter of 825 millimeter or more with less than a clearance of 500 millimeter (Franky et al., 2012). In addition, there should be a special base for the sewer built into a concrete make-up section.

Carbon accounting

The project developers should put into consideration, the proper way of controlling carbon emissions from the materials and the equipment used during the construction process. (Oliveira et al., 2013). A procedure for carbon assessment of civil infrastructure construction should not only be restricted to the requirements for quantifying carbon emissions for project option appraisals but also should identify a framework for use in managing these carbon emissions (Franky et al., 2012). This will enable validation of early life assumptions and post-implementation to inform future project appraisals.

The priority should be given to the use of materials that do not emit a lot of carbon dioxide to the environment because this cause air pollution and environmental degradation (Govender, 2013). Any modification that is to be made during the asset life, perhaps resulting from technological advancement and adaptation patterns should be well established (Alexopoulos et al., 2012). Reason for this is to help in facilitating the actions to control and reduce emissions of carbon, as waste products. It is, therefore, important for the It follows that the protocol used should be capable of being used in an audit mode in ensuring that carbon emissions outcomes match planned project expectations.

Consideration of cultural heritage

It is imperative to consider the cultural heritage if the zone before commencing the construction project (Chiarini, 2013). Place of heritage may be a specific site or a vast area such as a whole region or landscape which the local people consider valuable for its natural and cultural heritage significance in the region. The poor survey may lead to disagreement between the contractors and the community because of high value on the significance that the site holds. Furthermore, the community expects it to be protected by the government and any person that utilizes its utility in terms of natural and cultural heritage (Govender, 2013).

Therefore, it is prudent for the construction company to ensure that all elements of significance are protected (Butler & McGovern, 2012). In addition, the design, drainage to be constructed should always consider the impact of cultural and heritage assets. In general, the company to ascertain the presence of any assets and ensure the design of the water drainage preserves and promotes cultural and heritage assets (Chiarini, 2013) should undertake necessary investigations.

Compliance with current environmental strategies

Before the beginning of the construction, it is important for the project developers to adhere to the current environmental guidelines in laying their strategies (Malalgoda et al., 2013). This will ensure that all the risks associated with the environment is fully assessed, controlled and properly managed to minimize the effect of a new structure in a seismic environment (Scandizzo & Knudsen, 2012). It also ensures that best practices for sustainable designs are adopted to reduce the cost of new refurbishment projects and maintain the construction strategy (Kozich & Halvorsen, 2012). The main concern for the compliance with the environment is to ensure that environmental laws at construction sites are observed in terms of the methodology used. The developers must liaise with the government and proper negotiations be conducted before the project commences (Wright et al., 2013).

They should ensure that environmental constraints and the standards are maintained, for instance the cost of the project incurred should be relative to the returns expected (Lundberg, 2011). Furthermore, the environmental risks should not be under or overstated in the design process and the laws are designed to tackle only the specific cost associated (Kozich & Halvorsen, 2012). The environmental laws regarding property development is to be followed, for example, the town planning ordinance, the building ordinance, and the environmental assessment ordinance among others (Wright et al., 2013). However, the environmental compliance varies from one country to another, depending on the prevailing environmental constraints.

Civil Engineer’s contribution and obligations to society

The civil engineers play an important role in the society, safety, workforce, and public (Chang et al, 2012). In most cases, they are the main reason behind the construction of structures that are not only presentable but also long lasting. In the institutions, students are taught civil engineering and ways of creating new methods of making make the lifestyles of people in the society more comfortable (Wernham, 2011). This is achieved by constructing of comfortable houses and renovation according to the specification of the people in the society. This enhances the development of the society and the world at large (Lundberg, 2011). In addition, the civil engineers creating job opportunities in the public as they come up with different construction projects and employing the people in various departments within their companies (Lodhia, 2012).

On the part of the environment, the civil engineering has contributed to the environmental preservation by the ensuring the use of Energy conservation technology such as utilization of solar energy and use of water conservation features that ensures that the marine life is not destroyed (Lenton & Ciscar, 2013). Moreover, the adoption of biodegradable materials that ensures soil nutrients are improved as opposed to soil erosion. The application of low energy emitting material during the construction helps in minimizing air pollution and global warming.

Mitigation measures

After a critical environmental assessment different way of cubing the impact of construction of large academic structure in a seismic environment were identified. One of the ways is by avoiding the use of design techniques that brings a negative impact on the environment (Akgun et al, 2012). The other solution is by reducing the characteristics that impact on the environment. This is achieved through lowering alignment of the project to reduce the visual impact of the structure on the environment.

Furthermore, the process of abating the project on site before completion is important. This entails noise impediments and screening of the projects (Lodhia, 2012). In addition, there should be an attempt of restoring the resources that were once destroyed during the construction process. This helps in addressing the impacts that were temporarily caused by construction. Finally, there should be measures in place to compensate for the damages caused during the construction (Oliveira et al, 2013). In case the vegetation was destroyed, more plants should be planted if not, monetary compensation to ensure that there is restoration.

Appendices

Appendix A. The illustration showing how the developers should utilize the techniques and matrials in relation to environmental safety.

Passive Solar strategies Glazing size and location Siting and orientation Strategies contribute to a passive and solar responsive academic structure

Efficient energy for materials

Building of high effient windows with adequate ventilations using bricks and interior finish products.

fficient a for energy

ficient a for energy

Advance technology

Advance energy control and thermostats, energy saving appliance and efficient heating and cooling systems. Photovoltaic and solar water heating systems.

Appendix B. An illustration of construction strategy that ensures the project conforms to the environmental issues

Environmental consideration Sustainable design

features Waste management plan Water and drainage systems Ways of reducing impact and issues

1. Energy use

global warming and clinical change  

2.Resources waste and recycling 3.Pollution and hazardous substances

4. Internal environment and   Planning, land use and conservation.

1.Energy conservation

2.Solar energy utilization

3.Water conservation

4.Incorporation of recycled materials

5.Low emitting material

6.Reduced construction waste

7.Less environmentally destructive site development

1.Reduce design out waste

2.Re-use of materials on site

landfill reduces transport movements.

3.Recycle i.e. look for opportunities

4.Energy recovery

5.Disposal mechanisms

1.Use of water saving devices

2.Sub-metering

3.Leak detection

4.Opportunities for grey water recycling and use

5.Rainwater collection

6.Use of sustainable drainage systems. 1.Lean construction

2.Refubrication

3.Avoidance of CO2 intensive items

4.Biodiversity

5.Minimize energy use

6.Avoiding pollution

7.Minimizing design

References

Akgun, A., Kincal, C., & Pradhan, B. (2012). Application of remote sensing data and GIS for landslide risk assessment as an environmental threat to Izmir city (west turkey). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184(9), 5453-70. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2352-8

Alexopoulos, I., Kounetas, K., & Tzelepis, D. (2012). Environmental performance and technical efficiency, is there a link? International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 61(1), 6-23. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17410401211187480

Butler, T., & McGovern, D. (2012). A conceptual model and IS framework for the design and adoption of environmental compliance management systems. Information Systems Frontiers, 14(2), 221-235. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10796-009-9197-5

Chang, Y., Wilkinson, S., Potangaroa, R., & Seville, E. (2012). Resourcing for post-disaster reconstruction: A comparative study of Indonesia and China. Disaster Prevention and Management, 21(1), 7-21. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09653561211202674

Chiarini, A. (2013). Designing an environmental sustainable supply chain through ISO 14001 standard. Management of Environmental Quality, 24(1), 16-33. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777831311291113.

Franky W.H. Wong, Edwin H.W. Chan, & Patrick T.I. Lam. (2012). Compliance concerns of environmental laws at building design stage. Property Management, 30(2), 157-175. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02637471211213406

Garrett, P. R. D., & Saur-Amaral, I. (2012).CRM system as a support tool for international sales team management: case of industrial firm linked to civil construction. Revista Portuguesa De Marketing, 15(28), 48-77. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1285254763?accountid=45049

Govender, R. (2013). Assessing continual improvement of South African meat safety systems. TQM Journal, 25(3), 259-275. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17542731311307447

Heywood, D. (2013). NEPA and indirect effects of foreign activity: Limiting principles from the presumption against extraterritoriality and transnational lawmaking. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2013(3), 691-725. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1506883633?accountid=45049

Kozich, A. T., & Halvorsen, K. E. (2012). Compliance with wetland mitigation standards in the upper peninsula of michigan, USA. Environmental Management, 50(1), 97-105. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-012-9861-2

Lenton, T. M., & Ciscar, J. (2013). Integrating tipping points into climate impact assessments. Climatic Change, 117(3), 585-597. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0572-8

Lion, H., Donovan, J. D., & Bedggood, R. E. (2013). Environmental impact assessments from a business perspective: Extending knowledge and guiding business practice. Journal of Business Ethics, 117(4), 789-805. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1721-3

Lodhia, S. V. (2012). Risk and management of climate induced disasters in coastal gujarat in india. Management of Environmental Quality, 23(1), 82-100. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777831211191610

Lundberg, K. (2011). A systems thinking approach to environmental follow-up in a swedish central public authority: Hindrances and possibilities for learning from experience. Environmental Management, 48(1), 123-33. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9600-5

Malalgoda, C., Amaratunga, D., & Haigh, R. (2013). Creating a disaster resilient built environment in urban cities. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 4(1), 72-94. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17595901311299017

Obonyo, E. A. (2011). An agent-based intelligent virtual learning environment for construction management. Construction Innovation, 11(2), 142-160. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14714171111124130

Oliveira, I.,Silva Dutra, Montaño, M., & de Souza, M. P. (2013). Strategic environmental assessment to improve infrastructure impact assessments in brazil. Journal of Environmental Protection, 4(10), 1189-1196. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1460572304?accountid=45049

Puettmann, M. E., & Lippke, B. (2013). Using life-cycle assessments to demonstrate the impact of using wood waste as a renewable fuel in urban settings for district heating. Forest Products Journal, 63(1), 24-27. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1464748206?accountid=45049

Rosowsky, D. V. (2011). Recovery: Rebuilding a resilient housing stock. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 2(2), 139-147. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17595901111149132

Scandizzo, P. L., & Knudsen, O. K. (2012). Risk management and regulation compliance with tradable permits under dynamic uncertainty. European Journal of Law and Economics, 33(1), 127-157. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10657-010-9140-8

Wernham, A. (2011). Health impact assessments are needed in decision making about environmental and land-use policy. Health Affairs, 30(5), 947-56. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/868915479?accountid=45049

Wright, A. J., Dolman, S. J., Jasny, M., Parsons, E. C. M., Schiedek, D., & Young, S. B. (2013). Myth and momentum: A critique of environmental impact assessments. Journal of Environmental Protection, 4(8), 72-77. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1445185730?accountid=45049.

Business Plan “Enjoyable Travel Agency” based in Dubai, UAE

Business plan

Table of Contents

Tables:

Figures:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“Enjoyable Travel Agency” will be a full service travel agency located in Dubai suburbs in UAE. In order to launch the operations of this business successfully, the founders estimates that they will require a total of $119,250. The pioneers will invest $19,250 in the project and seek additional funding amounting to $100,000 from (insert the name of a suitable bank or other funding agency).

1.1 The company

“Enjoyable Travel Agency” is going to be a private, limited liability company organized in Dubai by its founders. The founders do not have prior experience in travel agency business but they have (state your qualifications that suite the posts you are going to take, example, in management) and general knowledge on tour business that will support him in operating the business. They also plan to enrol in tour and travel training course in order to obtain formal qualifications that will be vital in operating the business.

1.2 Services

Enjoyable Travel Agency is going to sell inbound and outbound retail travel services and is going to specialize in adventure travel, targeting both recreational and business travellers. A variety of services will be offered including destination packages, custom packages, car rentals, rail passage, airfares, reservations for lodgings, pre-arranged tours and consultations among others.

1.3 Business/Market strategy

Our market analysis confirms that the strategy of the proposed business will be successful. The elements of the organization’s strategy include advertisement of our products and services through various types of media, offering sales discounts and giving promotions to our clients.

1.4 Financial projections

The business projects $500,000 and $144,000 revenue and gross margin during the first year respectively, which are expected to achieve a positive growth during the next three years of operation. These figures are expected to give an annual gross profit of $57,485 and a positive cash flow of $57,485.

BUSINESS INFORMATION

2.1 Name of the BusinessThe name of the business plays an important role for marketing purposes (Brown 2010, p. 12). Enjoyable Travel Agency will offer our customers superior customer service, travel selection and value for their travel dollar. In order to build and maintain strong relationships with our suppliers, we can secure the best rates on destination packages, car rentals, airfares and more. Thus, after careful consideration of this, the retail travel agency is will be known as “Enjoyable Travel Agency”.

2.2 Ownership of the BusinessThe business will be established as a private, limited liability Company fully owned by the founders. This structure may later be replaced with alternative legal corporate structures once the investment funding is secured. The stocks of the company will be apportioned as follows:

60% owned by Enjoyable travel agency founders

(name of Founder 1) 60%

(name of Founder 2) 40%

2.3 Vision Statement

Enjoyable Travel Agency is dedicated to become one of the leading travel agencies in providing travel related products and services in UAE.

Mission Statement

The mission of Enjoyable Travel Agency is to provide quality travel related products and services to its clients. The main aim of the company is to provide all basic needs of leisure/recreational as well as corporate travel markets.

2.5 Products and Services

Enjoyable Travel Agency is going to sell both inbound and outbound retail travel services and is going to specialize in adventure travel, targeting both recreational and business travellers. The company is going to exploit the opportunity of continued demand by UAE to purchase travel services and will offer professional service and consultation to adventure travellers. The company will offer a variety of products and services including destination packages, custom packages, car rentals, rail passage, airfares, reservations for lodgings, pre-arranged tours and consultations among others.

2.6 Business location and facilities

Enjoyable Travel Agency has identified two locations for office space in the heart of Dubai’s wealthiest suburbs.

The location of the main office will be Collins Street at in Dubai (can add address details that will suite you)

The other office will be located at king street, still in Dubai.

The two offices are fully equipped and staffed.

2.9 Start up summary

The total start-up capital requirement for Enjoyable Travel Agency is approximately $119,250. This will be financed through founders’ personal investment and a long-term note secured from (state specific bank).

Start-up requirements

Start-up expenses Registration and Legal expenses $1000

Stationeries $500

Consultants $1,500

Equipment 17,000

Brochures $1,100

rent $2,500

Insurance $400

Other $550

Total start-up expenses $24,550

Start up assets Cash required $40,000

Other current assets $18,500

Long-term assets $36,200

Total assets $94,700

Total requirements $119,250

Start-up funding

Start-up expenses to be funded $24,550

Start up assets to fund $94,700

Total funding required $119,250

Assets Non-cash assets from start-up $54,700

cash requirements from start-up $40,000

Additional cash raised $0

Cash balance on start-up $40,000

Total assets $94,700

Liabilities and capital liabilities Current borrowing $0

Long-term loan $100,000

Accounts payable $0

Other current liabilities $0

Total liabilities $100,000

Capital Planned investment Founders $19,250

Investor $0

Additional investment required $0

Total planned investment $19,250

Loss at start up (start up expenses ($24,550)

Total capital $ (5,300)

Total capital and liabilities $94,700

Total funding $119,250

2.10 Business loan requirements

The pioneers of Enjoyable Travel Agency will invest $19,250 out of the required capital of $119,250. The founders are therefore seeking additional funding amounting to 100,000 from (state a suitable bank).

MARKET ANALYSIS

3.1 Market opportunity

There has persistent demand for travel products and services by UAE. According to Tourism in UAE, (2010), the tour and travel industry is one of the largest sectors of the economy in UAE. Though the industry has in the recent past been hit by economic downturn, it has recently improved and it now operates well in the global market. There is a huge number of UAE travelling to overseas in the recent past. Currently, approximately 30.2% of UAE population is taking a trip to overseas every year and the trend is expected to remain the same. In this regard, there is need for UAE Tourism industry to recognize this trend and counter it.

As well, there have been conscious and significant efforts by UAE government to support the tourism industry recently. The federal government has established a comprehensive plan aimed at providing support for the industry and to facilitate investment opportunities (UAE government, 2011). This has been done through ensuring that the business environment is conducive to attract capital investment. As well, there have been efforts to provide business development assistance throughout the industry and to facilitate the development of emerging investors in the industry (UAE, 2011). Also, there have been efforts to improve booking information and booking facilities as well as the provision of destination for customers in the tour industry.

3.2 Market segmentation

The target customers of enjoyable travel club are UAE citizens on holiday/recreation travel, attending events for sporting contests, music festivals, arts and cultural performances, or they could be people on business travel or people visiting friends and relatives above the age of 15. The target groups are as follows

UAE residents aged above 15 years

Travel agents and professionals with an already established client base especially in the tourism market

Civic groups, corporations and non-profit making organizations interested in our products and services.

Internet users seeking our products and services.

3.6 Competitive advantages

Enjoyable Travel Agency will have a competitive edge brought about by its focus and passion of founders and employees and in superior products and services that it will offer. The company will offer differentiated services, provide high quality services and offer slightly lower prices than competitors.

Business Plan for The Medical Group of South Florida

Student’s name

Institution

Course

Tutor

Date

The legal name of the business

The Medical Group of South Florida

It was started in 2001 by Dr Steven H. Spangler, and the first location opened on Nebraska Avenue in Miami Beach. In 2011, they relocated to a new location directly across the street, at 6701 North Kendall Drive, Suite 1000, on the corner of Sunset Drive (The Medical Group of South Florida, 2022). The second location promises more convenience for patients who can now be treated in Fort Lauderdale than in Miami Beach.

Its ownership

Dr Joshua Smith is the owner of The Medical Group of South Florida. The Medical Group of South Florida has provided quality care to families for 50 years. It is the most extensive family practice, combining comprehensive primary care and specialty services. The main office is located on West Cypress Creek Road, with additional offices in Pembroke Pines.

Dr Joshua Smith graduated from Dartmouth College in 2000 and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 2004. Dr Smith completed his internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital and his residency in Family Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency, he moved to Key West, Florida, where he practiced as a family and internal medicine physician until 2006.

The Medical Group of South Florida is the largest physician organization in Boca Raton, employed by over 7,000 patients and the second largest in Palm Beach County. The Medical Group of South Florida employs over 200 physicians with a wide range of specialties, including family practice, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics/gynaecology and allergy testing (The Medical Group of South Florida, 2022).

Legal Structure

The Legal structure of The Medical Group of South Florida involves a membership club with two divisions; one is the Medical Group itself, and the other is the American Society of Consulting Ophthalmologists. The Medical Group of South Florida offers ophthalmology consultations. There are no requirements for its members in terms of age or qualifications. There is no fee for them to join. However, some prices are required to be paid by every member that joins once a year in return for their services and additional costs as required by different treatment clinics and hospitals within the company’s network, which falls under the American Society of Consulting Ophthalmologists division.

Board-certified physicians run this organization to ensure the highest standard of treatment in South Florida. The Medical Group of South Florida has set itself apart from others with this primary core value in mind. It has been recognized for it many times with awards like Most Trusted Provider in Miami-Dade County and Best Internal Medicine Practice for Surgeons in Miami-Dade County (Carrasquillo et al., 2018).

The company is a private medical company specializing in ophthalmology consulting and has offices all over the country. It is an independent service affiliate of the American Society of Consulting Ophthalmologists, a for-profit entity in Sarasota, Florida. The Medical Group sells its services to hospitals, clinics, doctors and other health care facilities.

They specialize in providing the best treatment options available from some of the best eye surgeons throughout their network to improve their patients’ quality of life through enhanced vision.

The Medical Group of South Florida members are not employees of the American Society of Consulting Ophthalmologists and, as such, can choose to work independently from the company after being accepted into its membership by paying an annual membership fee.

The American Society of Consulting Ophthalmologists was created in 1987 by Dr Robert M. Foreman, founder of the Medical Group and president emeritus of The Mayo Clinic, who recognized a need for a world-class second opinion facility for physicians seeking specialized medical care. Due to this lack, he founded a network system that connects eye surgeons throughout the United States and Canada with hospitals that perform complex eye surgeries.

Product or Service Being Offered

The main products or services being offered by The Medical Group of South Florida include a primary care team that can handle all of your basic general needs. Additionally, there’s an emergency and urgent care service and a variety of testing options. They also offer support for cancer services, weight loss assistance, and other offerings to promote positive health overall. It is possible that The Medical Group of South Florida will be able to provide other products and services in the near future. When it comes to referrals, The Medical Group of South Florida is able to offer patients with a variety of options. One of the most common and preferred methods is through medical networks (South Florida Business Journal, 2022). They can also provide referrals for other medical professionals who can help treat the patient in question. The Medical Group of South Florida does not recommend that every patient would need referral services from them, but they do encourage people to explore all avenues possible for treatment or help.

The Medical Group of South Florida does have a staff that has been trained and certified through the National Commission on Certification of Allied Health Professionals (NCCAHP). This means that doctors and other medical professionals are able to meet all state requirements for certification, including having continuing education regularly completed. Additionally, they do not provide services to minors and only treat adults. The Medical Group of South Florida also does not accept any form of insurance or payment plan.

The Proposed Market (Marketing Plan)

The primary proposed market for The Medical Group of South Florida is, as of now, the South Florida region. This proposed market will consist of the entire South Florida region and include all towns and cities situated in that region.

The Medical Group of South Florida has proposed a marketing plan to promote their organization in media outlets and by utilizing social media. The primary marketing strategy for their proposal is to reach out to current customers and target new ones who are interested or invested in similar organizations. The Medical Group of South Florida sees this as a strategy since they are competing with various other medical organizations within the same area, such as Kaiser Permanente, Novant Health System and Miami Children’s Health System (Mohl, 2021). The Medical Group of South Florida has found that this strategy provides the best results for their unique needs. The content on their website focuses on the following: what they do and why people should invest their time in them; patient satisfaction and reviews; and customer references.

Many people within the South Florida region see this proposed market as a great opportunity due to the rapid population growth. Many people are attracted to living in such a region with so many medical centres that are readily available, thus forming a greater chance of being able to obtain health care. Also, the South Florida region has a large elderly population that is continuously growing, thus increasing the need for medical care. South Florida is also known for being a leader in world health care, diagnostics, and genomic medicine.

The Medical Group of South Florida has already begun its marketing campaign by looking at demographics, competitors, and existing products. Currently, there is an overwhelming number of uninsured people within the South Florida region, resulting in adverse outcomes for patients. The Medical Group of South Florida has looked at this statistic and seen this as an opportunity to obtain potential customers by offering a free health screening to those who are uninsured or under-insured as part of their initial marketing strategy.

The marketing plan for The Medical Group of South Florida is not just a marketing plan. And it is a business plan. It is different from any other marketing plan because it has been designed to consider the board of directors and stakeholders of the company before creating any promotional materials. Therefore, the marketing plan for the Medical Group of South Florida serves as an integral part of its business strategy rather than just an essential piece of its sales strategy.

A well-thought-out and well-written marketing plan will save time (and money) for both you and your company by helping you meet your objectives faster to reallocate resources accordingly.

A SWOT analysis includes five sections. Each section is broken down into four sub-sections, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the organization on that specific point. The SWOT Analysis process also emphasizes opportunities and threats from external sources, specifically competitors in its market. The analysis can identify if any gaps in the company’s competitiveness must be addressed to succeed (Benzaghta et al., 2021).

To further help them get a picture of how profitable their business would be, the Medical Group of South Florida can do a Calculation Impact Analysis which provides them with an idea of how revenue increases or decreases by altering various pricing factors. By assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, your company is forced to take an honest look at the present state of its business (and, therefore, its goals). The assessment of strengths and weaknesses provides insight into what your company already has going for it and what it lacks; this creates a realistic starting point for creating a successful marketing plan (Benzaghta et al., 2021). The assessment of opportunities and threats will give your company a glimpse into what your competitors are doing in the marketplace and how your company can use that information.

After evaluating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, it is time to develop strategies. Each strategy should target one specific business area, such as marketing strategy or operations strategy. These strategies aim to identify ways to capitalize on your strengths while minimizing any potential pitfalls that stand in achieving your objectives.

In conjunction with the development of each strategy, you will need to create action plans associated with each system you have made. Action plans are concise and straightforward steps that will allow you to monitor and measure your progress in the short term. At this point, the marketing plan for The Medical Group of South Florida is complete. Once completed, it can be used to keep its strategy on track.

The marketing plan works hand in hand with strategic planning, where it will give an executive committee a vision of what the company should be doing and how they will measure success. The actions described thus far will provide a starting point for strategic planning. Still, it is not until you have created goals that strategy has any bearing on whether or not you are achieving those goals that the creation of the marketing plan becomes relevant (Nick Hernandez, 2018).

A Financial Plan

The financial plan for The Medical Group of South Florida includes projections that illustrate how the organization will grow over time, set goals for increased profitability, and determine appropriate investment levels. The plan also includes a forecast of projected future cash flows (Myers, 2021).

The Medical Group of South Florida is preparing for potential changes in the health care marketplace that could affect their growth. This plan provides a way to expand their current business model by increasing market share and managing risk factors associated with hurricane season. By assessing new market opportunities, this financial plan can provide more excellent value to both the Medical Group of South Florida employees and investors as they look forward to continued success in the evolving health care marketplace.

The Medical Group of South Florida is a corporation with over 700 licensed medical providers. Founded in 1973, the company has committed to providing high-quality medical care across South Florida and the Caribbean. Currently, their facilities include ten hospitals, one rehabilitation center, and all have emergency rooms open 24/7. They employ more than 8300 employees at their hospitals in the US and overseas. All facilities located in Florida are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), while the appropriate local agencies accredit those located outside of Florida.

References

(2022). Retrieved 1 April 2022, from https://partners.bizjournals.com/providing-the-edge/south-florida-leads-the-pack-in-transforming-health-care-an-executive-discussion/

Benzaghta, M. A., Elwalda, A., Mousa, M. M., Erkan, I., & Rahman, M. (2021). SWOT analysis applications: An integrative literature review. Journal of Global Business Insights, 6(1), 55-73.

Carrasquillo, O., Seay, J., Amofah, A., Pierre, L., Alonzo, Y., McCann, S., … & Kobetz, E. (2018). HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening among ethnic minority women in South Florida: a randomized trial. Journal of general internal medicine, 33(7), 1077-1083.

Home | The Medical Group of South Florida. (2022). Retrieved 1 April 2022, from https://mgsfl.com/

Lab and Diagnostics | The Medical Group of South Florida. (2022). Retrieved 1 April 2022, from https://mgsfl.com/lab-and-diagnostics/

Mohl, R. A. (2021). 3 MIAMI: THE ETHNIC CAULDRON. In Sunbelt cities (pp. 58-99). University of Texas Press.

Myers, K. (2021). Healthcare Risk Lessons for Financial Managers. The Journal of Government Financial Management, 70(3), 34-39.

Nick Hernandez, M. B. A. (2018). Strategic Planning for the Medical Group. The Journal of Medical Practice Management: MPM, 34(1), 6-9.

Compared to a typical school year, teachers reported that more of their students started the 2020-21 school year behind and made less academic progress, according to GAO’s generalizable survey of K-12 public school teachers. Teachers also reported that many students ended the year behind grade level expectations (see figure). Educators and parents also shared their insights and experiences about student struggles and learning loss during the year.

Academic Progress during School Year 2020-21

Note: The margin of error for all percentages was less than or equal to +/- 8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey asked teachers how many of their students were behind grade level or made less academic progress. We did not define “behind” or “academic progress” as we wanted to obtain teachers’ overall observations of their students.

GAO estimated that about half of teachers (52 percent) had more of their students start the 2020-21 school year behind compared to a typical school year, and that this affected younger students more than older students. Further, nearly two-thirds of teachers (64 percent) had more students make less academic progress than in a typical school year. These issues occurred across all grades and instructional models, and were more pronounced in some than others. For example, between 68 and 72 percent of teachers of older students or in virtual or hybrid environments had students who made less progress than is typical, compared to other grades and learning models. Finally, 45 percent of teachers had at least half of their students end the year behind grade level.

Educators and parents did note, however, that some students excelled despite the strain of the pandemic. Factors associated with such success included flexibility to work at their own pace, and strong familial support.

The pandemic continues to take a toll on students’ and teachers’ well-being. The trauma of the last 2 years has profoundly affected many students and teachers, some of whom lost parents or family members. As our teacher survey, educator and parent discussion groups, and other research has shown, this trauma and pandemic-associated schooling disruptions disproportionately harmed vulnerable students and contributed to growing disparities between student populations. Further, after 2 years of challenging working conditions, teachers are confronting burnout and recent surveys indicate that many are thinking of leaving their jobs.

To help address these ongoing challenges as well as inform thinking about managing future learning disruptions, educators and parents identified strategies such as reducing class sizes or student-teacher ratios to provide more individualized attention to students.