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ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC ENTRY IN SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET

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Aberdeen Asset Management PLC Entry in South African Market

Strategy Development

A market entry strategy and strategic development is a method designed by a company to deliver or distribute goods or services into a new target market. In the case of exporting or importing goods and services, it refers to managing and establishing contracts in a foreign nation. Many organizations operate successfully in a niche market environment without the need to expand to new markets. Some organizations achieve increased brand awareness, sales, and business stability by making new entries into new markets. To develop an effective market entry strategy for Aberdeen Asset Management PLC into the market of South Africa, which is very competitive, an evaluation of possible customers and potential competitors is advised (Lymbersky, 2008, 90-1). Some of the major factors to put into consideration by the company when deciding on the viability of the entry strategy include the price localization, competition, localized knowledge, trade barriers, and export subsidies. According to Kusuoka and Maruyama (2010, 112-3), the decision of whether to enter or when to enter a South African market will majorly depend on the company’s financial resources and the nature of the product it produces. There are several strategies adopted by different companies depending on the favorable strategy and financial ability. However, the most common entry strategies adopted by most companies and also relevant for Aberdeen Asset Management PLC include: Directly exporting products, sales outsourcing, indirectly exporting products using middlemen, and producing goods in the target market. Other entry strategies include licensing, franchising, exporting, joint ventures, Greenfield project, alliances, and wholly owned subsidiaries (Lymbersky, 2008, 98).

Among the entry strategies listed above, the simplest and most relevant for the company is the aspect of exporting, which involves the use of either indirect method such as countertrade, or direct method such as the use of an agent. Other complex forms, which involve global operations may include: Export processing zones or joint ventures. Kusuoka and Maruyama (2010, 78-9) assert that when a company has settled on a decision to enter into a new market, there are so many options open to it. The options will in most cases vary in the risks involved, costs likely to be incurred, and to what level the company can exercise control over such options. After the company has decided on the entry strategy to adopt, there is a need to decide on specific channels to adopt. Most agricultural products of a commodity nature or raw materials normally make use of distributors, agents, or involve the government, while processed materials majorly rely on sophisticated forms of accessibility. Since the company is interested in entering the South African market, it will most likely be faced with three major issues. The first issue is marketing, which describes how the country and its segments can manage, co-ordinate, and implements marketing effort. The aspect of marketing also describes how to enter the market; directly or with intermediaries, and with what kind of information. The second issue is sourcing, which describes whether or not to obtain products, to buy, or make the goods. The last issue in this aspect is control and investment, which entails joint venture, acquisition, and global partner. It involves the company deciding on how far it wishes to control and direct its own fate. The degree of attitude, risk involved, and the capability to achieve goals and objectives in the targeted markets are some vital facts on deciding whether to offer a joint venture or to license.

The decisions made on the issue of marketing majorly focus on value chain. The entry alternatives or the strategies adopted by the company must make sure that the required value chain processes are integrated and performed. When making decisions or forming strategies to enter South African market environment, there is need for the company to pay detailed attention to the country’s domestic marketing. In addition, for the company to successfully penetrate the competitive market of South Africa and rise above other companies in the same industry, it should have the ability to adopt multiple and unique strategies in order to ensure a successful penetration (Keillor & Wilkinson, 2011). Other strategies include adopting a technical innovation, which involves the production of goods that are superior to other products in the target market. The next aspect is the product adaptation strategy, which involves modification of the existing products to fit into the requirements of South African market. This would ensure that the products of the company do not appear irrelevant to its target customers.

Implementation

Extended marketing operations involve a marketing mix or business tools used by marketers in marketing. The marketing mix is very significant in determining the brand or the product’s offer and associated with four P’s that include product, price, place, and promotion. This concept majorly focuses on placing the right good in the right location, at the correct price, and at the right time. It involves creating a product required by a particular group of individuals and placing the product at a place that is regularly visited by those same people (Grünig & Morschett, 2012, 97). The product should also display prices that match the value attached to the product by such individuals; this should be done at a time when the individuals are willing to buy the good. However, company needs to carry out a lot of research to find out what the target customers really want and locating the places they do their shopping within the South African market. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC needs to figure out the methods involved in producing its product at a price representing the market value of the product in the view of the target customer, and at a critical and relevant time. The elements go hand in hand in their operation and getting one element wrong can spell disaster and thus failure for the company (Grunig & Morschett, 2012, 102-3).

Looking at the first element (product), it should be noted that a company can only sell what is specifically required by the consumer. This implies that the company’s marketers should be able to study and understand the needs and wants of the customers and be able to attract them with a product that they are willing to purchase. The marketer needs to tell what the customer needs from the product or service and how the product satisfies the target customer. The marketer should also be able to determine the usage of the product and how the product should be differentiated to counter the products of its competitors within the South African market. The second element in this aspect is “price,” which reflects the product’s total cost of ownership. Issues that significantly influence price are consumer’s cost to change or the cost incurred in implementing the new product. It also involves the consumer’s cost of not choosing the product produced by a competitor. The marketer must be in a position to establish whether the customer is price sensitive and how the company’s price will compare with that of its competitor (Capass & Bakstein, 2012, 89).

The next element is “promotion,” which involves manipulatively talking to the target customers with the aim of making them purchase the company’s product. Promotion can take the form of advertising, viral advertising, personal selling, public relations, and any other forms of communication taking place between the consumer and the company. A marketer should be able to know how the company’s competitors carry out their promotions and how they are likely to influence the company’s promotional activities. The next element is “place,” which describes where the product can be gotten by the customer. With the rising use of internet, credit cards, catalogs, and mobile phones, people see no need of moving to any place in order to satisfy their needs or wants. This requires the company to study and know the level of technology in South Africa to be able to know how to approach the target customers. However, South Africa is a developed country and its citizens heavily use new forms of technology, thereby calling for the need of the company to adopt such forms of technology. A marketer should be able to determine how the target customers prefer to purchase and how to access them in order to provide a convenience to buy. With the rise of hybrid models of purchasing and the internet, “place” is slowly becoming irrelevant. According to Capasso and Bakstein (2012, 96-7), the concept of convenience and place strives to focus on the ease of finding a product, buying the product, and accessing relevant information concerning the product.

The marketing mix model adopted by the company while deciding how to take a new product into a new a market is fundamental. This model can equally be applied in testing the company’s existing marketing strategies and determine their relevance to the market environment in South Africa. According to Barnhart and Smith (2012, 112-3), regardless of whether the company is considering an existing offer or a new one, there are definite steps that should be followed purposely to define and promote the company’s marketing mix. Firstly, product or service under consideration should be identified. The second step is to analyze and answer the questions on the 4 P’s as discussed above, and the third step is to try to ask “what if” and “why” kind of questions to try to challenge the offer. For instance, seeking answers to questions as ‘what would happen if the price were dropped by 5%?’ The last step in this aspect is to try “testing” the whole offer once a well-defined marketing mix has been put in place. This can be based on asking consumer based questions, such as if the mix meets customer needs and whether the price charged for the product is favorable for them (Barnhart & Smith, 2012, 88-9).

The other “P”s strategies include process, people, and physical evidence, adding up to what is commonly referred to as the “7 P’s of marketing”. Looking at the first “P”, which is “people”, it refers to the right kind of people that the company should have in order to support its products and services. According to Barnhart and Smith (2012, 88-9), the company needs to have trained customer service personnel who are able to offer clearly defined expectations such as average response time and hours of operation. This is very important for the company to maintain its customer satisfaction and understand how people behave in the South African market environment. The next “P” is the aspect of “process”, which involves the solid policies and procedures put in place within the company. It relates to the company’s services and products that help in achieving the company’s marketing strategies. Customers normally want to understand more than just the company’s products but also need to know the form and the shape that the company would take it the process of operation. The last “P” in this aspect is “physical evidence or packaging”, which refers to the way the company’s service, product, or anything related to the company, appears on the outside. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC must make decisions concerning shape, size, material, color, packaging label, and UPC bar code. This should be updated or upgraded at any time upon carrying out a test with the customers. Packaging involves practical setup, visual layout, and precise and clear installation instructions (Barnhart & Smith, 2012, 88-9).

Critical Reflection

In order to achieve the objectives of designing new market strategies discussed above, there is a need for the company to employ superior marketing strategies. By positioning the brand or product correctly, the product will most likely become successful in the market better than the competitor’s products. Even with the best form of strategies, it is necessary for marketers to properly execute their programs in order to achieve extraordinary results. The marketing strategy adopted by Aberdeen Asset Management PLC should also be creative in order to improve the marketing results within the South African market. The marketing plan may not likely succeed if there is no marketing execution on the models adopted. Improving how the company enters into the new market can significantly enable it achieve great results without having to change their strategies altogether. At marketing mix level, the company can make improvements on their execution by making little changes. Such small changes can be made without having to make changes on the strategic position (Backman, 2004, 56-7). At program level, the company can improve its performance by executing and managing its marketing campaigns in a better way.

It is normally believed that adopting a consistent marketing creative strategy across different media (such as Radio, TV, Print and Online), can enhance and amplify the marketing campaign effort. The company can improve its effectiveness in the marketing programs by improving direct mail or editing the contents of the website in order to improve on organic search results. There is also an aspect of marketing infrastructure or the marketing management, which involves improving the marketing business. It should be noted that management of budgeting, motivation, agencies, and co-ordination of marketing practices can result in improved results and improved competitiveness. In the view of Backman (2004, 102), the business results and accountability for brand leadership is normally determined by the effectiveness of brand management. Some key factors that are fundamental and should be taken into account are the exogenous factors, which often determine how companies are able to improve their results. Taking advantage of interests, seasonality, or regulatory environment will enable Aberdeen Asset Management PLC design methods of improving their marketing effectiveness within the South African market, which is very competitive and dynamic.

References

Backman, M., 2004. The Asian Insider: Unconventional Wisdom for Asian Business. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Barnhart, C., & Smith, B., 2012. Quantitative problem solving methods in the airline industry: A modeling methodology handbook. New York: Springer.

Capasso, V., & Bakstein, D., 2012. An introduction to continuous-time stochastic processes: Theory, models, and applications to finance, biology, and medicine. Boston: Birkhauser.

Dony, A. G. C., 1999. Market entry strategies for the PR China: An empirical study on the beer and soft drink industry. Wiesbaden: Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag.

Frey, R. S., 2012. Successful proposal strategies for small businesses: Using knowledge management to win government, private-sector, and international contacts. Boston: Artech House.

Grünig, R., & Morschett, D., 2012. Developing international strategies: Going and being international for medium-sized companies. Dordrecht: Springer.

Haak, U. M., & Haak, R., 2008. Market entry in Japan: Theory and management in a turbulent era. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Jorgensen, D. B, 1997. Market entry strategies for Japan: A strategic analysis for an agri-food company.

Keillor, B. D., & Wilkinson, T. J, 2011. International business in the 21st century. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.

Kleinemaß, M., 2007. International Business: Foreign market entry principles. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH.

Klug, M., 2006. Market entry strategies in Eastern Europe in the context of the European Union: An empirical research into German firms entering the Polish market. Wiesbaden: Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag.

Kusuoka, S., & Maruyama, T., 2010. Advances in mathematical economics. Tokyo, Japan: Springer Japan.

Lymbersky, C., 2008. Market entry strategies: Text, cases and readings in market entry management. Hamburg: Management Laboratory Press.

Maiwald, S., 2010. The Entrance in Foreign Markets, in the Field of Biotechnology and the Consideration of Socio-Cultural Particularities: Using the example of SeaLife Pharma. München: GRIN Verlag.

Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H., & Zentes, J., 2009. Strategic international management: Text and cases. Wiesbaden: Gabler.

Root, F. R., 1998. Entry strategies for international markets. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Sahlman, W. A., & Microsoft Corporation. , 2002. Financial analysis of Microsoft. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.

Tielmann, V., 2010. Market Entry Strategies: International Marketing Management. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH.

Vetten, R., & Erasmus Universiteit. , 2007. Market entry strategies for automotive manufacturers in international markets: Illustrated through Mercedes-Benz Vans in India. Rotterdam: Erasmus Universiteit.

Yan, G.-X., & Kowey, P. R., 2002. Management of cardiac arrhythmias. New York, NY: Humana Press.

Zentes, J., Morschett, D., & Schramm-Klein, H., 2011. Strategic retail management: Text and international cases. Wiesbaden: Gabler.

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The Third Jihad Commentary

Produced by Raphael Shore, ‘The Third Jihad’ is a documentary about the threat of Islam to the national security of the United States. The documentary was funded by the Clarion Project, an organization widely identified as anti-Muslim. The country is all too aware of the danger of terrorism, the worst of which happened on September 11th, 2001. The events of the fateful day are etched on the memories of all Americans. The documentary takes advantage of the emotions of 9/11 to come up with a new theory of cultural jihadists over radical Islamists. It proposes that the primary threat to national security is a new form of deception by radical Muslims disguised as mainstream Muslim leaders preaching peace and unity. The producer explains that by screening the documentary, we will be keeping the memory of 9/11 alive while preventing similar tragedies in the future.

The documentary makes several shocking claims. One of these is a statement by a Muslim interviewee saying, “Islam will dominate; that’s what it will be.” This statement shows that this is a belief that is entrenched among many Muslims all over the West. Many Muslim leaders are also shown in the film echoing similar claims towards an Islamic republic by 2015. The film’s whole theory is that Muslims want to turn the United States into an Islamic Republic. Abu Yahya al-Libi, an Al-Queda leader, is shown in the film preaching that Islam must dominate the whole world.

The film contains interviews with some reputable people including former New York City mayor, Randy Giuliani. He gives his recollection of events after 9/11, terming it as a time when the American spirit showed high resilience. He explains that, “As we move further away from that day, there are going to be people who don’t want to see the threat as clearly…” this statement shows that he too believes that there is a group of people within the United States working to undermine the safety and peace of the country. According to him, the whole Islamist movement hates the way of life and culture of the American people, and they are working towards destroying it.

The documentary also cites a secret document unearthed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, outlining the plan of Jihadists to eliminate Western civilizations. The film contains many images of terror-related incidents, the most provoking of which is the aftermath of the 9/11 bombing of the World Trade Center. Such images are meant to stimulate the viewers by showing how much death and destruction have been caused by Muslims. The attack was masterminded by the Al-Qaeda, a radical terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.

The controversial documentary is designed to evoke feelings of fear and paranoia from its viewers and audiences. The people interviewed in the film feed into this narrative by giving their opinions and thoughts, most of which have no factual basis. The existence of cultural jihadists intending to take over the West using the tactic of deception in itself is highly radical.

Works Cited

Clarion Project. “The Third Jihad” YouTube. Uploaded on 18 Aug 2009. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-aVkiLIWSs

Break in the Staffroom

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The third-period break bell chimes and all the students bang their locker doors and rush out to the school fields. They seemed unbothered with the weak state of their twenty-year-old lockers and the likelihood of it falling apart just by a bang. Girls in their red shirts beneath their purple tunics grouped themselves around the school swings. On the other end, boys run towards the football field with their purple knee-length shorts and red t-shirts. Students on the unmowed playing field look so colourful from the headmistress office window. This is how Headmistress Winger monitored her students in the field. One could see how unimpressed she looked. According to her, the break was unnecessary since only one period would follow, then students break for lunch. Winger stood right beside the window, with a cup of hot chamomile tea in her hands freshly prepared by the school caterer. She peeped through the broken glass on one of her window panels, ad stared at the students as they played.

On the playing ground, girls ran around chasing each other, blindfolded with their navy-blue sweaters in an attempt to make as many contacts as possible. Some group of much older fifth-graders stood at the spectator side of the pitch, termed the 'cool corner.' They enjoyed watching the boys admire them. The school termed them the pretty girls, and they were untouchable. Not even the school could touch a strand of their hair. Word spread around the faded blue walls of the school that their parents made up the school committee and were donors to major school projects. Boys admired them and fantasized about them. All the girls in school wanted to be like them.

Meanwhile, Paco swung the brown, old wooden staffroom door and fled in with a one-metre ruler, a whiteboard pen, and a math textbook. He dropped them at his untidy disorganized table and sank into his seat. Me. MrPaco put on his old black-framed glasses and started browsing through his outdated dial phone. Hardly had he settled down when Mrs., Floddle walked in majestically in her red ankle-length dress and black three-inch heels. As she walked in, she seemed so proud of herself. It was as clear as day that she was fishing for compliments. All the male teachers in the staffroom stared at her, and she loved the attention. She had finished her English lesson with her fifth-grade students.

"I don't understand my students anymore. They hardly try to show commitment in their work! Look at this assignment I gave them yesterday" She leaned towards Mr. Paco as their desks were right next to each other. Paco burst into laughter as soon as he saw the student's composition Mrs. Floddle was holding in her hand. It's like he understood that laughter is the best medicine and is contagious for sure. His laughter drew the attention of other teachers in the staffroom. They all rushed to her white, quite organized table and tried to find the amusement behind the paper. "You need to use a different approach Mrs Floddle. Your students don't take you seriously, " Ogler, the science teacher, commented as he tapped the floor with his crocodile-looking sharp-shooters and walked towards his desk. His desk was next to the staff room door hence the nickname 'Usher' by his colleagues.

The staffroom looked as busy as a beehive. The tea flask, together with the bread tray, made rounds on the teacher's desks. Teachers were conversing, mocking students they termed as stubborn while laughing sarcastically and loudly. The wooden board was congested with all sorts of papers. The unevenly painted wall was full of writings and peeled brown wallpapers that looked like they had been installed long before civilization was invented. They didn't seem to care. On the higher walls, the names of best-performing students hang on a plank of brown wall-mounted wood. On it was the sign, ‘Best Behavior Students In school.’ Below the heading was ten vague names engraved with what looked like a screwdriver.

Felicity stepped into the staffroom with her as white as a snow lab coat and a pile of books in her left hand. She looked like she’d been hit by a bus. "I could use a cup of tea, my fellow teachers!" she claimed. Mrs Felicity sat at her almost falling desk and requested Paco to pass her a cup. The look on her face was priceless when she realized the teachers had drunk all the tea. Her sunken eyes got teary. Lucky enough, the staffroom window was very high such that students would not witness their teachers cry or scramble for food like uncivilized human beings. Teachers talked about sex and their love for marijuana based on the 'High Road Valley' show, aired on cable. They didn't care for the information they were exposing their students to.

At the end of break time the bell rang, the facial expression on their faces screamed disappointment. "They should give us ten more minutes! I barely touched my bread!" Felicity cursed. Each teacher drowned in their lesson plans as they prepared for the next period. On the other hand, students moved like a swarm of bees into their various classes to avoid punishment from the teacher on duty. In did time was a thief, and It was just another day at Stonecold Elementary school.



Quality Improvement

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ABIGAIL HOUSE FOR NURSING & REHABILITATION LLC

1105 -1115 LINDEN STREET

CAMDEN, NJ 08101

(856) 365-8500

The overall rating of the nursing home is much above average. The quality measures are also above average.

Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury.Lower percentages are better.

Abigail New Jersay National Ave

1.60% 2.50% 3.20%

Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection.Lower percentages are better.

.

Abigail New Jersay National Ave

3.40% 5.70% 6.60%

Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain.Lower percentages are better

Abigail New Jersay National Ave

1.50% 4.70% 8.70%

ABINGDON CARE & REHABILITATION CENTER

303 ROCK AVE

GREEN BROOK, NJ 08812

(732) 968-5500

Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury.Lower percentages are better.

Abingdon New Jersay National Ave

2.60% 2.50% 3.20%

Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection.Lower percentages are better.

Abingdon New Jersay National Ave

3.60% 5.70% 6.60%

Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain.Lower percentages are better

Abingdon New Jersay National Ave

7.80% 4.70% 8.70%

ABSECON MANOR NURS/REHAB CNTR

1020 PITNEY ROAD

ABSECON, NJ 08201

(609) 646-5400

Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury.Lower percentages are better.

Absecon New Jersay National Ave

2.40% 2.50% 3.20%

Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection.Lower percentages are better.

Absecon New Jersay National Ave

14.20% 5.70% 6.60%

Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain.Lower percentages are better

Absecon New Jersay National Ave

4.50% 4.70% 8.70%

ADVANCED CARE CENTER AT LAKEVIEW

130 TERHUNE DRIVE

WAYNE, NJ 0747

Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury.Lower percentages are better.

Adv. Care New Jersay National Ave

1.30% 2.50% 3.20%

Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection.Lower percentages are better.

Adv. Care New Jersay National Ave

1.30% 5.70% 6.60%

Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain.Lower percentages are better

Adv. Care New Jersay National Ave

0% 4.70% 8.70%

ACTORS FUND HOME, THE

175 WEST HUDSON AVE

ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631

(201) 871-8882

Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury.Lower percentages are better.

Actors New Jersay National Ave

1.30% 2.50% 3.20%

Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain.Lower percentages are better

Actors New Jersay National Ave

1.30% 5.70% 6.60%

Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection.Lower percentages are better.

Actors New Jersay National Ave

0% 4.70% 8.70%

Select one (1) measure regarding staffing, prepare a similar graphs

Abigail

Abingdon

Absecon

Adv. Care

Actors

Rank your selected facilities in order of the best quality to worst quality. Take into consideration those items reviewed above, in addition to the other 16 quality measures that are reported. Which selected Nursing Home would you send your relative to?

The Actors Home Fund ranks as the best in quality facilities given that it registers no percentages in some of the service deficiencies. This therefore means that the home observes informed consent refers to the legal rules which guide the relationship between physicians and patients as the former provides a service to the latter. The rules outline the course of action when a physician acts in a manner that is inconsistent with expected behavior. Informed consent principles exist to safeguard the patient’s fundamental right; freely and independently make a choice on the medical treatment they want. The physicians, on the other hand, have an obligation of fully informing the patient of all possible treatment options and the consequences of taking each of them.

Health care facilities that have physicians and medical practitioners who are competent and provide qualified services and advise to the customers are likely to attract more clients. Patients ought to be treated with dignity so as to ensure that they attain the highest level of medical attention and that they are well served to meet their varying needs. The fact that access to health care is a basic or fundamental human right; this has an implication that facilities will only be ranked as effective if they serve patients inclusively irrespective of their social and economic backgrounds.

Self determination is a term used to re-affirm the right to informed consent. It seeks to mainly to protect patient who at times are not aware of their rights and are often victims of choices made by others. Self-determination seeks to ensure that patients receive adequate information that will aid in sound judgment of the treatment choices available. Patients in hospitals ought to be encouraged to be self-determined as many psychologists have conducted studies and stated that the medical conditions that people suffer from take diverse periods to be completely healed depending on the mindset of the patient and the environment within which they receive the medication. This assertion has an implication that doctors, nurses and other healthcare practitioners ought to be on the forefront of promoting self-determination among patients by ensuring that they are informed on their progress to recover and encouraged to have a positive attitude in life so as to heal quickly; this will not only shorten their stay at the hospital but also reduce the medical expenses.

The right to informed consent and self determination can be waived depending on several circumstances. Emergency will automatically necessitate that the above rights to be disregarded. Emergency treatment could emanate from different circumstances. Stabilizing a patient in the intensive care unit is an emergency which do not require the patient’s consent. Physicians ought to observe professional ethics so as not to abuse this privilege. The right to informed consent will also not be upheld if a patient who is suffering from a life threatening condition rejects treatment. Patients who are suffering from terminal or severe chronic illness may also be denied the above rights. Such patients are exposed to painful and traumatizing treatments, which any human, would fear. The waiver exception also denies patients the right to informed consent and self determination. It arises where the patient freely consents the physician to act on what he/she deems to be the best course of action during treatment. This exception is perhaps the least controversial. Doctors have to defend their professional judgment and not their failure to involve the patient in their decisions.

The final exception to the discussed patient’s rights is the therapeutic privilege. It refers to instances whereby total disclosure of information by the physician might critically impair the decision making process of the patient. A patient who suffers from heart-attack may also be diagnosed with a terminal illness; the physician may withhold information from the patient since disclosure could lead to a heart attack which might even kill the patient. The exception, however, attracts controversy as doctors purely rely on their expertise to make the decision. Patients at times do not comprehend the amount of damage that revelation of their medical condition can cause. Physicians and medical practitioners have to observe ethics as they exercise the three privileges since aggrieved patients can sue.

Resuscitation refers to the emergency treatment that is administered to patients suffering from cardiac arrest. Physicians treating such a patient may issue instructions against the emergency treatment referred to as the DNR orders. Such decisions are at times based on the patient’s wishes; they can be communicated by a will or a relative of the patient mandated to make such a decision. DNR orders, when executed, end the patient’s life; hence, physicians must present satisfactory evidence that support their action. I would therefore send my relative to Actors Home Fund.

The worst home is Absecon. The place is characterized by high percentages of accidents which occur at the place. A place that has a negative reputation such as Absecon is likely to lose customers/clients since there is a likelihood of patients not receiving adequate and effective medical attention leading to higher mortality rates, longer stays in hospitals, and thus increased medical expenses on the part of the patients and their families. Based on the information presented in this paper, there are various issues that have emerged, among them quality of health care facilities and how medical practitioners play an integral role in ensuring the recovery of the patients. Governenments or health care regulatory agencies ought to set guidelines on how various treatment procedures ought to be undertaken as well as inform the public of their rights regarding health care provision and ensure that their needs are met.

References

Medicare.gov, Nursing Home Compare. 2013. Web. December 22 2013. http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/profile.html#profTab=0&ID=315267&state=NJ&lat=0&lng=0

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Introduction

Stories and novels have always been written to incorporate a certain message or to inspire certain feelings in people. They combine various elements such as setting, plot, as well as characterization to bring out meaning in them. It goes without saying that stories have different contexts and themes, which may revolve around love, romance, courage, strength or determination. One of the stories that espouse strength and determination is Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”. This is a story of dedication, perseverance and love, where Phoenix Jackson is used to show determination and strength even in the face of tribulations and hardships (Glen, 47). It is noteworthy that the use of the name Phoenix is appropriate as it borrows from the mythological bird said to live for more than half a millennium, die in flames, as well as rise from the ashes.

Phoenix Jackson, like the mythological bird, takes a treacherous journey through the woods and focuses on getting medication for her grandson. She departs from her home to a city known as Natchez in search of this medication. Phoenix’s perception of the landscape becomes the key focus of the narrative (Warren, 540). It is worth noting that nature is described as an obstacle to her progress, as well as beautiful. Phoenix struggles against poor eyesight and extreme fatigue, as well as impediments such as barbed wire and thorn bushes. The narrative’s symbolism and lyricism are heightened by the combined effects of Phoenix’s poor vision, old age, as well as her poetic perception of the world (Warren, 547). For example, Phoenix mistakes a scarecrow for a ghost until she comes near it and touches its empty sleeve. At one time, Phoenix has a tense episode when she comes across a white hunter who at first appears friendly. He, however, makes an arrogant suggestion that Phoenix is probably going to see Santa Claus. Once he accidentally drops a nickel, Phoenix manages to distract him and pick the nickel even though she feels that she is stealing. Suddenly, the white hunter turns and points his gun at Phoenix. It is unclear what his true motivations are as Phoenix appears unafraid. Eventually, Phoenix manages to go her way unharmed and with the nickel. Finally, she gets to the Shining City of Natchez where she enters what is presumably a hospital. A nurse asks her questions pertaining to her son. Initially, she remains quiet about her son but later apologizes stating that her memory was failing her (Welty, 461). She, however, manages to make a heartfelt description of the grandson who had his throat injured after swallowing lye. Phoenix states that he is still alive and gets medicine for him, as well as another nickel with which she chooses to purchase a little windmill as a Christmas present for the son (Welty, 462).

It is worth noting that the grandson does not appear anywhere in the narrative. In essence, this may be an indication that the grandson has already died. In this case, Phoenix could be making the journey only as a way of deluding herself that the grandson is still alive even when he is dead. This is cemented by the fact that she often sees things that are not there.

Phoenix Jackson, nevertheless, emerges as an enduring character, a symbol of stamina, determination, perseverance and life, even in the face of death or hardships. Scholars have noted that the woman’s sheer fortitude in taking a long journey alone and on foot is testament to these qualities (Schmidt, 59). This bears some mythological significance or resemblance with her bird namesake, the Phoenix bird that symbolizes resurrection. In addition, the narrative gives the picture of Christian symbolism. This is especially considering that the story is set around the Christian season, which has led scholars to opine that the journey that Phoenix took was a symbol of religious or Christian pilgrimage (Howard, 47). In essence, the selfless concern that Phoenix has for her son is symbolic of the true spirit of self-sacrifice and giving. Scholars have also argued for a conflation of Christian and mythological interpretation of this story (Hicks, 39). They argue that the cycles of natural imagery along with Christian motifs of a rebirth revolve around the central theme of Christian faith where life emerges from death (Warren, 47).

As much as a large part of the story is founded on the symbolic and imagistic use of language, it is evident from the action of the entire plot that Phoenix Jackson is in direct conflict or disagreement with the outside world (Black, 45). This is a society that rests on the hands of white people who are seen to have little or no understanding and respect for the situation through which she is going. This is especially evident when Phoenix comes across a white hunter carrying a gun (Welty, 460). This episode underlines the racial undertones that existed in the world and the disdain with which the white people held most of the colored people (Marrs, 34). The White hunter’s disdain and disrespect for her are evident, especially when he arrogantly remarks that Phoenix is heading to town merely to see Santa Claus. This is cemented by the nurse who dismisses Phoenix as a charity case, while offering little sympathy for the old woman or her ailing son (Barilleaux, 19).

In addition, scholars have also stated that the main reason behind the use of a Negro or colored woman is that only an uncivilized and relatively unsophisticated woman is worthy of representing the potent forces that inspire such love (Barilleaux, 20).

Works cited

Barilleaux, René Paul. “The Passionate Eye of Eudora Welty.” Women in the Arts. Fall 2003. Print

Black, Patti Carr. “Back Home in Jackson.” Passionate Observer: Eudora Welty Among Artists of the Thirties. Rene P. Barilleaux, ed. Jackson: Mississippi Museum of Art, 2002

Warren, Robert Penn. “The Love and the Separateness in Miss Welty.” Critical Essays on Miss Welty. Ed W. Craig Turner and Lee Emling Harding. Boston: G.K. Harr & Co. 1989. 42- 51.

Marrs, Suzanne. “Eudora Welty’s Enduring Images: Photography and Fiction.” Passionate Observer: Eudora Welty Among Artists of the Thirties. Rene P. Barilleaux, ed. Jackson: Mississippi Museum of Art, 2002.

Howard, Zelma Turner. The Rhetoric of Eudora Welty’s Short Stories. Jackson, Miss.: University and College Press of Mississippi, 1973.

Hicks, Granville. “Eudora Welty.” Critical Essays on Eudora Welty. Ed. W. Craig Turner and Lee Emling Harding. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1989. 259-67.

Welty, Eudora. One Writer’s Beginnings Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard U. P., 1984.

Welty, Eudora. The Eye of the Story: Selected Essays and Reviews, Vintage Books/Random House, 1979.

Schmidt, Peter The Heart of the Story: Eudora Welty’s Short Fiction, University Press of Mississippi, 1991.

Donlan, Dan ‘”A Worn Path’: Immortality of Stereotype,” in English Journal, Vol 62, No. 4, April, 1973

Warren, Robert Penn. “The Love and the Separateness of Miss Welty,” in Kenyon Review, Volume 6, 1944,

Glenn, Eunice. “Fantasy in the Fiction of Eudora Welty,” in Critiques and Essays on Modern Fiction:Representing the Achievement of Modern America and British Critics, 1920−1951. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1952

Summary of Anthropology and the Abnormal by Ruth Benedict

Student’s name

Institutional affiliation

The text opines that today modern social anthropology is becoming more about studying common elements and varieties of the cultural environment in relation to the consequences they have on human behavior. The main thesis coming from the text has to do with the fact that modern civilization is not a necessary pillar of achievement in human beings; instead, it is a single entry found among many possible adjustments. The argument presented in the text is that these adjustments, whether presented in major human drives such as sex or mannerisms of joy, anger, brief within a given society, always emerge far more variable than any one culture would imply. In situations of formal marriage arrangements or religion, they are widely known; hence, they can be fairly described while in others, giving a generalized account is not possible.

From the study of cultures, one of the most striking facts is how each of our abnormalities functions in other cultures. Worth noting, the kind of abnormality does not matter, whether it is those which indicate extreme instability or those with characters of persecution, delusions, or sadism, they are well-described cultures whereby the abnormals function at ease (Benedict, 2017). Notably, the abnormals function with a lot of ease and without any difficulty and danger towards society. In our cultures, even a very mild mystic is aberrant. However, most people have regarded extreme psychic manifestations as desirable and normal and characteristic of highly gifted or valued individuals. It is hard for people who have been brought up in a culture that makes no use of the experience to know the importance of its role and how many individuals are capable of it once it is granted an honorable place in society.

References

Benedict, R. (2017). An anthropologist at work. Routledge.

Literature

Students Name

Institution of Affiliation

Date

The text that contains the commonly held dark side, the Massachusetts Bay Colony Puritans: Witch-hunts, elitism, intolerance and narrow-minded zealotry is that of Cotton Mather: From the Wonders of the Invisible World. Cotton had various beliefs, and he saw the witches as tools of the devil. According to Cotton, the witches were not possessed by the spirits, but they were the agents of the devil and that they were sent as divine judgment to the sinful people to punish them for their sins. Cotton was of the belief also that sin and witches were to be destroyed before the Puritans could fulfill their destiny as the people of god and help clean the sins out of the people. It was also believed that once the Puritans had got rid of the witches and sins, god would bless them with eternal happiness.

Cotton describes the original Puritan settlers of the New England as pious that they were free of sins. He further states that the settlers were willing to give up civilization for them to live a pure land that was free from all sins. Mather in contrast also noted that the youth were morally corrupt and were prone to evil. Among the quotes by Mather is that of “The New Englanders are people of god settled in those, which were once the devil’s territories.” From the quote, we can see how the Puritans discriminated against the indigenous people.

The issue of ethnocentrism is much evident in that Cotton considered his culture and belief to be more superior and looked down on the indigenous cultures and religion terming it to be evil. In another quote, Mather discussed the plans by the devil to overturn the plantation and the churches with the aid of the witches,”…An army of devils is broke in upon the place which is the center, and after a sort, the first-born of our English settlements…” It is too unfortunate that the Puritan values and ways of lives have been carried over into our generation in that people still believe that witchcraft is associated with evil. Besides, ethnocentrism is more evident in today’s generation with most of the people looking down upon the cultures and religion of others while they consider theirs as superior.

Reference

Mather, C. (1862). The wonders of the invisible world: Being an account of the tryals of several witches lately executed in New-England. Smith.

Research Design

In this proposed study, a triangulation or ‘mixed’ research method will be used as a methodological framework for quantitatively studying prevalence and early detection of adolescent suicide and self-harm. Ideally, the study will be a quantitative research study that intends to use both primary and secondary research methods (triangulation) to accomplish its purpose. As noted by Hawton, Saunders and O’Connor (2012), self-harm and suicide are significant sources of public health problems in our nation’s adolescents with self-harm statistics being high among teenagers and suicide rates being noted as the third most prevalent cause of death among American teenagers (NIH, 2008). The triangulation research design will help us in exploring self-harm and suicide and evaluate how nurses and other professionals can recognize signs of self-harm and interrupt a cycle that might lead to suicide; which is the purpose of this study. Hussein (2009) noted that triangulation is a concept that is defined as the application of several qualitative and quantitative techniques in studying a common phenomenon for the sole purpose of increasing the credibility and validity of the study. The primary research will be conducted by means of an online self-administered survey.

The appropriateness of triangulation research approach for this study

Researchers have always argued that a good research practice often involves the utilization of multiple methods in order to enhance both the validity and reliability the research findings as indicated in the work of (Mathison, 1988).The choice of triangulation as the appropriate research design is inspired by the fact that helps in achieving improved clarity, research completeness and validity as noted by Fielding and Fielding (1986). According to Knafle and Gallo (1995), triangulation technique contributes to the overall quality of a research ‘only to the extent that it facilitates the achievement of some clearly articulated purpose’ (cited in Adami and Kiger, 2005). The convenience of triangulation in nursing research for confirmatory purposes is noted by Adami and Kiger (2005) to be heavily dependent on the principle that research should be a rigorous search for absolute and objective truth. Validity and completeness of findings on how nurses and other professionals can recognize signs of self-harm and interrupt a cycle that might lead to suicide are therefore our motivation for choosing triangulation technique for this study. The overarching objective of this study is to find ways of minimizing mortality and injury due to teenage self-harm and suicide among the American youths. This must be done with the highest level of clarity, validity and completeness that can only be achieved by means of triangulation.

Purpose of research proposal

Teenage mortality is an important public health issue because the majority of these deaths are preventable. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and it is believed that 14 to 24 percent of teenagers have engaged in self-harm (NIH, 2008). Every two hours in the United States someone under the age of twenty four successfully commits suicide leaving behind a family and a community that is left to wonder why this has happened and also if there were measures that might have been able to prevent the death from happening (ASS, 2013). The purpose of this study is to explore how nurses and other professionals can recognize signs of self-harm and interrupt a cycle that might lead to suicide. Research into how nurses and professionals are coping with this pandemic will be explored. An important question will be how assessment tools can identify at risk youths. Nurses from many fields work with adolescents; these include those who work in clinics, in hospitals, in schools and in psychiatric units. This proposal intends to provide an outlook on how this pandemic can be mitigated through the involvement of nurses and others who work with adolescents.

Design of the survey instrument

The survey in this study will involve the design and use of online questionnaires. The design of the survey will begin by the development of a collection or bank of question items that will be suitable for answering the required research questions. The design as well as development of the survey instrument will involve six distinct steps or stages. The initial step will involve the examination of any existing models for suicide and self-harm evaluation by physicians and nurses. The second stage will involve the extrapolation of the essential items from the existing models for suicide and self-harm evaluation by physicians and nurses. The third stage will involve the examination of extant literature that reported the application of questionnaires in the evaluation of mental conditions (suicide and self-harm in particular). The fourth stage will involve the development of the criteria that was derived from the existing models for suicide and self-harm evaluation by physicians and nurses. The fifth stage will involve the design and construction of the online questionnaires to be administered to the target audience (Registered Nurses) via the appropriate channels. The fifth step will involve the piloting and revision of the questionnaires.

Data sources

The primary research method to be used is random survey sampling through the use of questionnaires to the participants of the study. An online survey tool, Survey Monkey, will be used to conduct the primary research. Secondary sources will also be consulted in the research. These sources will be from reliable peer-reviewed journal articles, books, whitepapers, personal experiences, online and offline articles, newspapers and conference papers. The research will target or involve nurses who have dealt with this problem on a personal and professional level as well as research material that can be provided from the hundreds of online websites that are dedicated to helping adolescents who feel that suicide might be their only option.

Target Audience or Participants

The target audience will be nurses who work in all areas of nursing and are not limited to those who are working with youths. The benefit of working with all nurses, regardless of their chosen field is to determine if the adequate tools are in place to identify if a child is at risk or if better screening needs to be in place. The volunteers who are already working with adolescents appear to be ready and willing to co-operate to help identify how additional methods can be identified to assist with this crisis. Nurses are on the frontline of suicide prevention and identifying adolescents who are at risk. The participants’ gender will be both male and female and can include those who have worked with adolescents and nurses who are working in all fields. The sampling survey will involve a total of one hundred (130) RN’s.

Sampling technique

This research will employ a random stratified sampling strategy. The sample population will be stratified according to state and type or nature of nursing career that they engage in (agency, ambulatory care, case management, critical care, emergency, informatics, research, psychiatric, perioperative (OR) etc). The sample will be selected from willing respondents who must all be registered nurses (RNs) and have been on the job for more than five years. The respondents will selected from sample pool of willing online participants who will answer to our request form participation in our online survey. In other words, the sample pool will be derived from various nursing website via their social media portals (Facebook and Twitter accounts) of the following websites;

-www.nursezone.com

-www.nurse.com

-www.medicalnewstoday.com

-www.internurse.com

-www.medscape.com

-www.nursingtimes.net

-www.nurselinkup.com

-www.nurseweek.com

In order to reach an extended audience and to avoid too much time wasted, the surveys will be published on the social media pages of the above mentioned websites (such as HYPERLINK “https://www.facebook.com/NurseZone” https://www.facebook.com/NurseZone for Nurse Zone ( HYPERLINK “http://www.nursezone.com)” www.nursezone.com)).

Additionally, the research will involve professionals who have had experience with adolescents who might have suggested intent to self-harm or commit suicide. A routine Google search will bring up an abundance of websites that are dedicated to helping those who are feeling suicidal. These range from the US Governments Suicide prevention hotline to private groups dedicated to those with specific issues who have volunteers who have survived self-harm or suicidal intent and are now working with others, two such groups are To Write Love On Her Arms and Laura’s Playground. These websites are dedicated to helping youth who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. Through stratified sampling of professional nurses there will be greater precision as to how to interpret assessments and which set of youth are at greatest risk and how to follow through to help adolescents with self-harm history or who have attempted suicide.

Appropriateness of Sampling Technique

The choice for stratified random sampling for this research is inspired by its ability to reduce all forms of human bias in the process of selecting participants to be included in the sample. As a consequence stratified random sample can provide us with a study sample that is highly representative (Daniel, 2011, p.127). This technique also improves the degree of representation of certain groups within a given population (such as nurses who deal with stresses out teens). This means that it ensures that a given strata is not over-represented. This method reduces the sampling error since population statistics estimates are drawn from a known population. Our sampling will be of nurses and professionals working in the field to see if the appropriate tools are being used to identify those who are at the most risk. This would be a stratified sampling that will include professionals who have previous knowledge of adolescents through their own studies, personal lives and work experiences.

In the case of secondary data, the sources will be derived from peer-reviewed journal articles, books, whitepapers, personal experiences, online and offline articles, newspapers and conference papers. Only the most relevant and most credible sources will be included in this research. In order to choose the most relevant and credible secondary sources, an elaborate strategy aimed at authenticity, credibility, representativeness and meaning was used as described in the work of Scott (1990). All the sources will be evaluated for currency (must be up to date) (Stein, 2002).

Role and Bias of Researcher

The role of the researcher in this study will be to investigate by means of credible sources and latest information, the role of nurse-assisted early detection of adolescent suicide and self-harm in order to interrupt the deadly cycle that leads to suicide. This would be done by the formulation of objective research question and following a research methodology that is accurate, valid and free of any bias.

Bias is defined by Sica (2006) to be a type of systematic error that can ultimately influence scientific investigations and hence distort the overall measurement process. Panucci and Wilkins (2010) noted that the identification and avoidance of bias is the sole responsibility of the researcher. In order to avoid researcher bias, I will ensure that I formulate research questions that are not too leading. As a researcher, I recognize that I will be interviewing nurses who have already had experience with young people who might be prone to self-harm or suicide. It will be necessary to develop a suitable survey to allow for those with different experiences to ensure that the data is without bias. The survey needs to be refined to eliminate bias from those who might have considerable experience with adolescents who have followed through from self-harm, to completion of suicide. A potential bias or error in the survey can be recognized by realizing that individuals with more experience who are interviewed would be more inclined to take adolescents threats more seriously than those with only casual experience who might hear the adolescents concerns but might see them as maneuvers to get attention from parents or school authorities.

References

Adami M.F., Kiger A. (2005) The Use f Triangulation For Completeness Purposes. Nurse Researcher. 12(4): 19-29

American Association of Suicidology (2013). Youth Suicide Fact Sheet. Accessed on 13th August,2013 from HYPERLINK “http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-161.pdf” http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-161.pdf

Daniel,J (2011).Sampling Essentials: Practical Guidelines for Making Sampling Choices. SAGE

Fielding, N. G., & Fielding, J. L. (1986). Linking data: The articulation of qualitative and quantitative methods in social research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Hawton, K., Saunders, K. E. A. & O’Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in adolescents. Lancet, 379, 2373-2382

Hussein, A., 2009. The use of triangulation in social sciences research: Can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined? Journal of Comparative Social Research, (1): 1-12.

Mathison, S., (1988). Why triangulate? Educational Researcher, 17(2): 13-19.

National Institute of Mental health (2008). Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention. NIH Publication No. 06-4594. Accessed on 13th August, 2013 from HYPERLINK “http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml” http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml

Panucci,CJ ., Wilkins., EG (2010).Identifying and Avoiding Bias in Research. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 August; 126(2): 619–625.

Scott, John (1990) A Matter of Record: Documentary Sources in Social Research, Cambridge: Polity Press

Sica, G.T. (2006) Bias in research studies. Radiology, 238 (3) 780-9.

Stein. ,S (2002). Sociology on the web: a student guide

AAFM Manufacturing

Prior to 2005, did local AAFM management adopt a unitarist or pluralist approach to employment relations? Does the new management team espouse the same ideology?

AAFM case generally reflects on opportunities, which are unique to untangle both the pluralist and the unitarist roots on employment relations roots. This is in relation to the marked shifts that existed between the paradigms on the managerial periods. With reference to this concept, Gennard reveals the existing distinction between pluralist and the unitarist approaches on aspects to do with human resources. He emphasizes that this form will remain harmonious indicative, a one-team aspect and an integrated approach while it will always distinguish that different groups will always exist in organizations. Additionally, he emphasizes that conflict between employees and their employers will always remain inevitable. With this in mind, the AAFM adopted the pluralist agenda, which enabled the facilitation of the internal groups by supporting the AMWU union. Additionally, some of the communication channels that were used were generally circular hence allowing organizational employees to maintain their interests’ representation through AMWU consultations with the management.

However, after the 2005 managerial exchange, the unitarist agenda replaced the pluralist vision. This was done by adjusting the decision to make it fit an authoritarian framework. This aspect was rejected by the AMWU representation contract merits. In its bid to prescribe an effective corporate employee vision adherence, the leadership staff of AAFM decided to pursue the unitarist employee policy of relations. This was also established to prevent interests of the group in influencing group-oriented objectives and the performance based objectives. The pluralist leadership model gave the employees an opportunity to have a common voice under the protection of the AMWU.

Identify the ways industrial conflict is being expressed at AAFM and the factors contributing to this conflict

Generally, industrial conflicts roles in protecting organizational worker’s interests have changed over the past years. With reference to human resources conflicts and industrial relations in Europe, the aspect of organizational conflicts tends to affect both organizational works and their companies negatively. AAFM lacks reciprocity of mitigation and bargaining opportunities when it comes to organizational communication hence a direct influence on organizational conflict. In most cases, this aspect tends to result in different measures by the affected parties, which stemmed from the dissociated organizational goals and objectives.

With reference to industrial conflicts, there are aspects that play a key role in such breakdown especially on matters that relate to employment relations. Some of these factors include strike-based advantage, fractured identity and consciousness, determined regime of accumulation and union dynamics that are variable. In as much as these factors were obvious to some extent in the AAFM conflict, the aspect of consciousness and identity and accumulation regime were main determinants of outcomes that were negative. According to both Blyton and Bacon, modern partnerships addresses mutual gains principles in a situation where the aspect of integrative bargaining allows the organizational employees to share the performance-based rewards. Nevertheless, at AAFM, employee interest’s marginalization limited the organizational employees’ identification degree within the agenda of the organization and the elimination of profit sharing potentials in their organizational economic interests.

Generally, the AAFM management was not willing to recognize AAFM employee’s dissatisfaction at the organization; instead, the unitarist position generally affected the employee’s ability to reflect on the interests of the employees. In this case, instead of putting more focus on the larger scale agenda of the pay-based concerns, the organization put priorities on other aspects. The introduction of the conceptual collective model of bargaining was an important determinant on the organizational attritional behaviors. However, reputation perceptions in such organizations are inaccurate, hence the emergence of a bargaining conflict strategy. In this case, AMWU and AAFM management established an inflexible aspect of the winner takes it all situations in the organization against compromise. In such organizations, this aspect resulted into significant losses of performance and efficiency from the workers because of the confrontational work stoppages. It was quite evident that, the in ability to establish reputational biasness and the organizational managers in ability to establish some of the employees’ motivations aspect in conflicts pursue played a key role in conflicts in the organization thus leading to strike decisions and workforce lockout.

How would the conflict at AAFM be explained and resolved from (a) a unitarist perspective and (b) a pluralist perspective?

Conflicting with the AAFM management perspectives, most practitioners claim that organizational strike activities tend to be largely intrinsically and rational generally especially when there is the aspect of a faulty negotiation framework in the organization. The main breakage of indeterminacy that is unavoidable especially in establishing relationships tends to result in positions that might be rigid which might fail to establish rational opportunities that come with collective bargaining. Van Buren et al thoughts on unitarist describe two main strategic measures of the human resources management including both hard and soft employee perspectives on contributions. In the AAFM industry, various aspects play a key role in influencing productivity against resource based employee value perspectives. Some of these factors include high volume-low industrial cost nature and labor intensive. With reference to this aspect, strategic managerial agenda might fail to align the value of organizational employee perspectives thus resulting in organizational disconnection, which might then lead to healthy conflicts in organizational labor.

Generally, unitarist aspects put more emphasis on organizational performances and market opportunities in as much as organizational employees’ interests might be subjugated. Additionally, economic priorities and human assets values according to the unitarist agenda might sometimes be overwhelming. Most unitarist agendas emphasizes on managerial controls and informational management. These agendas mostly view the thoughts as important mechanisms, which play an important role in developing, attaining, enacting and achieving organizational explicit performance objectives. In as much as it is based on harmonious agenda, unitarist authoritarian nature plays a key role on the satisfaction of AAFM employees because of their negotiation strategies and past pluralist experiences values. Over the past years, AAFM managers have pursued unitarists agenda regarding their employee perceptions for the sake of the interests of the employees. However, the underlying priorities in the unitarists agenda are economic generally. This means that outsourcing threat in the organization would be of employee concern thus thrusting this aspect might discourse into pluralistic debate within the organization for the purposes of resolving the competing interests.

Generally, pluralist regime enables organizational employees to view information aspect as a managerial accountability source and an organizational responsibility hence providing the organization with an intra-organizational competition. In as much as the core conflicts in an organization are likely to be aggravated by this particular group-based orientation, a pluralist organization gives organizations an opportunity to offer support on the organizational objectives and interests. As many practitioners would argue, conflicting aspects in such relationships are mostly based depending on the genuinely of different interests that generally assume a bargaining quality. This aspect is unlikely to attain equality especially through operational frameworks that are holistic. Instead, pluralist agendas depend on specific achievements, conflict resolution strategies and achievement of specific strategies. Additionally, pluralist resolution of conflict schemes would generally adjust towards mutual negotiation forms where organizational managers and employees tend to amend their requests for the purposes of achieving outcomes, which were agreeable. Alternatively, managerial positions which have unitarist framework and ways of thinking, in most cases, the negotiating ability tends to be limited by the operational agendas and business-based strategies.

In AAFM situation, the pluralist and unitarist positions tends to be conflict of purpose indicative whereby both the organizational employees and managers tend to prioritize specific organizational objectives without proper discussions of such arrangements. In this case, the organization preferring to the pluralist based negotiation framework, the organizational strike that was influenced by the employees was enacted for the purposes of challenging the organizational management to look into their objectives and outcomes. Enacting a unitarist-oriented management type, the organizational management dealt with the issue by being dictatorial to the organizational employees and threatened them with the possibility of denying them benefits and wages. The pluralist framework would highly depend on compromise and mutual agreements towards organizational activities while the unitarist framework would largely depend upon communication-driven aspects and different shared ideologies that mostly focus on the long-term organizational stability and performances in the organization.

Bibliography

Bacon, N., P. Blyton. “Co-Operation and Conflict in Industrial Relations: What are the Implications for Employees and Trade Unions?” The International Journal of Human Resource Management 10, no. 4 (1999): 638-654.

Brown, J.A. “Competing Ideologies in the Accounting and Industrial Relations Environment.” British Accounting Review 32, (2000): 43-75.

Calabuig, V., G. Olcina. “Commitment and Strikes in Wage Bargaining.” Labour Economics 7, (2000): 349-372.

Gall, G. “Industrial Conflict in the Engineering Construction Industry in Britain.” Construction Management and Economics 30, no. 7 (2012): 535-544.

Gennard, J., G. Judge. Employee Relations, London: CIPD, 2005.

Geraghty, T.M., T. Wiseman. “Conflict and Compromise: Changes in US Strike Outcomes, 1880 to 1945.” Explorations in Economic History 48, (2011): 591-537.

Gill, C. “Union Impact on the Effective Adoption of High Performance Work Practices.” Human Resource Management Review 19, (2009): 39-50.

Makela, H. “On the Ideological Role of Employee Reporting.” Critical Perspectives on Accounting, (2012): 1-19.

Mauleon, A., V.J. Vannetelbosch. “Market Competition and Strike Activity.” International Journal of Industrial Organization 21, (2003): 737-758.

Scheuer, S. “A Novel Calculus? Institutional Change, Globalization and Industrial Conflict in Europe.” European Journal of Industrial Relations 12, no. 2 (2006): 143-164.

Van Buren, H.J., M. Greenwod, C. Sheehan. “Strategic Human Resource Management and the Decline of Employee Focus.” Human Resource Management Review 21, (2011): 209-219.

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A turning point in life

Although I now have a career and a better life, looking back at my childhood events makes me realize how much my life has changed. Each individual has massive potential to make a remarkable turning point in his/her life (Ward 34). It always depends on the opportunity that crops up and how one exploits it (Ward 34). My life reached a turning point when I applied for an essay writing competition while in high school.

I was born in a family where the economic situation was not very stable. The family was made up of my mother and father, as a well as my two siblings. My father was an alcoholic and barely supported the young family since he was unemployed. As a result, achieving formal education alongside other basic needs posed an incredible challenge for me and my siblings. However, my mother used to do some manual work in order to educate my siblings and myself through high school. I remember the presence of my father would send chills down our little bodies as everyone feared him. On the other hand, it was ironical of him to keep telling me the benefits of reading and that he would be happy if I finished my education up to the university level. As the firstborn in the family, an enormous part of household chores fell on my shoulders alongside other responsibilities at home. My siblings were literary under my care. Although most of my time I enjoyed reading books whenever I got the opportunity, I could not see myself proceeding with the university education due to poverty in the family. The possibility of attaining this dream sank even more after my parents separated while I was still a young girl, after which my mother, two siblings and I had to relocate to another state and settled with our relatives. Initially, dropping out of school was inevitable and my mother forced me to do some volunteer works. Depression almost killed my mother but with time life had to move on.

While in high school, I knew my dreams of joining the university were crushed due to lack of fees and kept hoping that one day I would at least get a sponsor or even be lucky enough to be accepted for a scholarship. My biggest dream was to join the university and continue with my education and finally, settle down with a good career.

One day while in the school library, I bumped into an advertisement about an essay writing competition which had promised an attractive reward in addition to a University scholarship to the participants. Immediately I saw this advertisement, my heart leapt with joy and knew that my life was due to change forever if I participated. I believed in myself as a good writer and above all writing was my hobby. As a natural story teller, I often enjoyed the responses I received after narrating stories to some of my friends and family. Therefore, after briefly reading the directions on how to go about the competition I felt very comfortable and prayed that the prize and scholarship will be awarded to me ultimately. The editors required the entrants of the competition to write about moving personal experiences that had changed one’s life forever. I immediately rushed home and started planning on how to structure the story. Telling the story came naturally for me, and every word was flowing easily. I could not help feeling as if I was pouring my soul onto that paper. The writing process was more enjoyable especially considering that writing had been my hobby for a long time. In essence, filling the required five pages did not pose a serious challenge for me. In any case, pouring some details about my life (of course, mixed with some fictional details) breathed a new life in my soul. On the same note, this was a competition, and God knows that I really needed the funds. Even if I got the third position and prize, I undoubtedly could not have been so badly off.

The waiting period was the hardest for me. This was especially after learning that some of the people who had entered the competition had been writing for varied newsletters. Definitely, the chances of winning the competition or even coming close to the winner seemed to be from zero to none. However, waiting for the winner to be announced was all that we could do (or maybe some praying could help, as well). After some weeks of waiting, the winner of the competition was due to be announced. I was accompanied by my mother and two siblings to the hall where the winner was to be announced. All the winners were hopeful of winning the competition, and, of course, some seemed so sure of winning. I remember the apprehension that I felt after the name of the person whose essay ranked the third place was called out. Seeing as I was not the one, I knew then that my dream had been crushed yet again. I did not even need to pay attention to the announcement of the second and the first winners. After the cheers for the essay in the third place died down, the essay that took second place was announced. Coincidentally, the writer of that essay had a surname similar to mine. It goes without saying that millions of butterflies coursed through my tummy. And finally, the winner of the ultimate prize was announced. I could not believe my ears when my name was called out. For 16 full seconds, I could not rise up. The crowd was cheering and my mother had to lift me up so I could stand and head to receive my prize. Adding to the surprise was the presence of my dad, not only cheering with the crowd but coming up to the arena and giving me a bear hug. Suddenly, we were a family all over again.

This win is still etched in my mind. I am yet to believe or even see how I could have emerged the winner in such a crowded competition. This marked the turning point of my life. Of course, the money went a long way in catering for the needs of my family. However, what makes this the turning point of my life is the fact that it launched my writing career. I now had the self esteem to enter into other writing competitions (and win). In addition, it opened an opportunity for me as a guest writer in a local magazine, after which I climbed the ladder to become the assistant editor. Graduating from high school was undoubtedly within my reach, and the dream of getting to college was not farfetched either. Even better, worrying about my siblings was behind me as my family was back together again. Am I always grateful for that opportunity? Your guess is as good as mine.

Works cited

Ward, Koral. Augenblick: The Concept of the “decisive Moment” in 19th and 20th Century Western Philosophy. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate Pub, 2007. Print.