Women in Islam

Article Summary This article examines the issue of women’s rights in Islam by introducing Islam and women’s rights in several different Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia. -The women in Islam are often viewed as a poor one, having to do whatever her husband, brother or father commands her to do. -This view is usually based on things picked up from what westerners see in the papers or on TV. -Not all Islamic countries follow the Qur’an and Ahadith as they say they are. (ex.In some of Islamic countries, it is acceptable for women to not cover their faces, women can drive, etc. -While female circumcision is not condoned by the Qur’an, it is still practiced in some predominantly Muslim areas in Africa. Egypt -The Women’s Rights Union started to have an impact on the ruling class of Egypt. -The Egyptian government signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) bill in 1981. -Gave women equal access to education, employment and work opportunities, equal pay for equal work and social security. Egyptian civil law, in accordance with Islamic law, gives women the right to possess, control and inherit property. -Unfortunately, women’s rights are still not being fully implemented, due to the restrictions of tradition, the government’s lack of interest in enforcing the laws and women’s own lack of awareness of their rights. -This lack of education has led to women being refused ownership of property and the right to divorce, despite legally being allowed to own property and divorce their husbands.Saudi Arabia -Women in Saudi Arabia are the victims of discrimination and human rights violations because of the gender bias in law, social mores and traditions. -They have gained some ground in terms of economic rights, but their civil and political rights are systematically violated. -Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive, leave the co untry without authorization from their husband or father, leave the house in unsuitable attire, hold high-ranking jobs or be involved in the government. It was not until 2000 that Saudi Arabian women were allowed their own ID cards; they had previously been registered on their husbands’ or fathers’ cards. -When investigations against women are carried out they are often conducted improperly and make use of unreliable evidence. Pakistan -Pakistan is a vast country with many laws in place to protect women’s rights. -Unfortunately, outside of the big cities, Pakistanis are generally ruled by tribal law rather than governmental law. -Most laws prohibiting the mistreatment of women are ignored. Not all girls are punished with death; some have acid splashed into their faces instead, scarring them for life and sometimes causing blindness. -Pakistani legislation defines both adultery and rape as ‘sexual intercourse without being validly married’ and does no t draw the distinction that one is forced while the other is not. -If a woman is raped and reports the crime or becomes pregnant, she has to prove that she was raped by either having the man’s admittance of the crime or four witnesses who saw the man force her into having sex. If not proven, she is charged with having an illicit sexual relationship with someone and is punished. -Pakistan does not have the personnel or equipment to do a proper forensic examination, so it comes down to witnesses and confession. -After one village or tribe has committed a perceived offence against another, the second village or tribe will try to gain ‘compensation’. This involves rape and mutilation of women or the murder of entire families. -Girls from one of the tribes can be forced under threat to marry men from the other tribe. The most common method of abusing a girl is making her feel that she is displeasing God by refusing to marry the man her parents wish her to. -Women in P akistan are generally only educated to a reasonable standard it from a wealthy family. -About 5% to 7% of women work, with low-paid jobs. Men and women are kept segregated in the workplace. Indonesia -Women in Indonesia are not as poorly treated as in other countries. -They have the right to own and sell property and livestock, to work, to choose to whom and when they get married and to divorce. -It is the women who propose marriage to a man, while men cannot propose at all. Women in Islam Article Summary This article examines the issue of women’s rights in Islam by introducing Islam and women’s rights in several different Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia. -The women in Islam are often viewed as a poor one, having to do whatever her husband, brother or father commands her to do. -This view is usually based on things picked up from what westerners see in the papers or on TV. -Not all Islamic countries follow the Qur’an and Ahadith as they say they are. (ex.In some of Islamic countries, it is acceptable for women to not cover their faces, women can drive, etc. -While female circumcision is not condoned by the Qur’an, it is still practiced in some predominantly Muslim areas in Africa. Egypt -The Women’s Rights Union started to have an impact on the ruling class of Egypt. -The Egyptian government signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) bill in 1981. -Gave women equal access to education, employment and work opportunities, equal pay for equal work and social security. Egyptian civil law, in accordance with Islamic law, gives women the right to possess, control and inherit property. -Unfortunately, women’s rights are still not being fully implemented, due to the restrictions of tradition, the government’s lack of interest in enforcing the laws and women’s own lack of awareness of their rights. -This lack of education has led to women being refused ownership of property and the right to divorce, despite legally being allowed to own property and divorce their husbands.Saudi Arabia -Women in Saudi Arabia are the victims of discrimination and human rights violations because of the gender bias in law, social mores and traditions. -They have gained some ground in terms of economic rights, but their civil and political rights are systematically violated. -Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive, leave the co untry without authorization from their husband or father, leave the house in unsuitable attire, hold high-ranking jobs or be involved in the government. It was not until 2000 that Saudi Arabian women were allowed their own ID cards; they had previously been registered on their husbands’ or fathers’ cards. -When investigations against women are carried out they are often conducted improperly and make use of unreliable evidence. Pakistan -Pakistan is a vast country with many laws in place to protect women’s rights. -Unfortunately, outside of the big cities, Pakistanis are generally ruled by tribal law rather than governmental law. -Most laws prohibiting the mistreatment of women are ignored. Not all girls are punished with death; some have acid splashed into their faces instead, scarring them for life and sometimes causing blindness. -Pakistani legislation defines both adultery and rape as ‘sexual intercourse without being validly married’ and does no t draw the distinction that one is forced while the other is not. -If a woman is raped and reports the crime or becomes pregnant, she has to prove that she was raped by either having the man’s admittance of the crime or four witnesses who saw the man force her into having sex. If not proven, she is charged with having an illicit sexual relationship with someone and is punished. -Pakistan does not have the personnel or equipment to do a proper forensic examination, so it comes down to witnesses and confession. -After one village or tribe has committed a perceived offence against another, the second village or tribe will try to gain ‘compensation’. This involves rape and mutilation of women or the murder of entire families. -Girls from one of the tribes can be forced under threat to marry men from the other tribe. The most common method of abusing a girl is making her feel that she is displeasing God by refusing to marry the man her parents wish her to. -Women in P akistan are generally only educated to a reasonable standard it from a wealthy family. -About 5% to 7% of women work, with low-paid jobs. Men and women are kept segregated in the workplace. Indonesia -Women in Indonesia are not as poorly treated as in other countries. -They have the right to own and sell property and livestock, to work, to choose to whom and when they get married and to divorce. -It is the women who propose marriage to a man, while men cannot propose at all.

Bottled Water Industry

Running Head: Competition in the bottled water industry in 2006. The intent of this paper is to provide possible course of action according to analysis made for this case. Table of Contents Title Page Table of contents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 Executive summary†¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 Macro-Environmental Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 Industry and competitive analysis†¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Economic traits of the industry.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Five forces analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Strategic group mapping†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Key Competitor’s analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Key success factors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Is this industry attractive or unattractive?.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Company situation analysis.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 13 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The present Case Analysis is the result of the rapid growth of the bottled water Industry in the last decade. Many authors and analysts believe that this Industry has become a very important part of the economy, therefore the importance of the analysis of the sector, its competitors and its strategies. With global revenues exceeding $62 billion in 2005, bottled water was among the world? most attractive beverages categories (Gamble, John E. – Thompson Jr. , Arthur A. , 2007, p. 254) and an expected growth of 30 percent between 2005 and 2010; the companies in the sector have noticed the importance of good strategies to compete not only in local but in globa l markets. History and statistics show us that strategies and the products by themselves can make the difference between success and failure. This Case Analysis provides coverage of essential data that allow us to see the evolution of the Bottled Water Industry, its competitors, markets, forecasts, strategies and possible alternative courses of action. We also analyze the situation and performance of Coca-Cola as a key competitor in the Industry. And finally we present some recommendations that companies in the sector can use to have competitive advantages in front their competitors. MACRO ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Technology Almost 50% of bottled water consumed in US in 1990 was delivered in returnable five-gallon containers and dispensed through coolers, called HOD due to home and office delivery. At that time, only 186 million gallons of water were sold in one-liter or smaller single-serving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. In 2005 there were high-density polyethilene (HDPE) containers for 1-2. 4 gallons. (Gamble, John E. – Thompson Jr. , Arthur A. , 2007, p. 257) Technology needed in this industry is not cutting edge technology, so it is considered as medium technology since quality controls must be pretty high due to health problems might appear and sink a company. Legislation & Regulations Bottled water producers in the United States were required to meet the standards of both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Like some other food and beverage products sold in US, bottled water was subject to such food safety and labeling requirements as nutritional labeling provisions and general good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Bottled water GMPs were mandated under the 1962 Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and established specifications for plant construction and design, sanitation, equipment design and construction, production and process controls, and record keeping. Bottled water producers could also voluntarily become members of the International Water Association (IBWA) and agree to comply with its model code, which went beyond the standards of the EPA, FDA, or state agencies (Gamble, John E. – Thompson Jr. , Arthur A. , 2007, p. 258) Societal values & Lifestyles Convenience and portability were two of a variety reasons US consumers were increasingly attracted to bottled water. A heightened emphasis on healthy lifestyles and improved consumer awareness of the need for proper hydration led many consumers to shift traditional beverage preferences toward bottled water. A certain amount of industry growth was attributable to increased concerns over the quality of tap water provided by municipal water sources (Gamble, John E. – Thompson Jr. , Arthur A. , 2007, p. 257). Religion in most of the countries won’t be a big influence for this industry since it is a basic need. Similar situation with General economic conditions and population demographics, water is a basic need and tables below shows poor countries like Mexico are in the top places consuming bottled water, actually near 100% of the water consumed in Mexico is bottled. INDUSTRY AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS Market Size and growth rate: Global revenues exceeding $62 billion in 2005, bottled water was among the world’s most attractive beverage categories. Industry revenues were forecast to grow by an additional 30 percent between 2005 and 2010 to reach approximately $82 billion. Bottled water had long been a widely consumed product in Western Europe and Mexico, where annual per capita consumption approached or exceeded 40 gallons in 2005, but until the mid-1990s bottled water had been somewhat of a novelty or prestige product in the United States. In 1990, approximately 2. 2 billion gallons of bottled water were consumed in the United States and per capita consumption approximated 9 gallons. U. S. per capita consumption had grown to more than 25 gallons by 2005. The rising popularity of bottled water in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s had allowed the United States to become the world’s largest market for bottled water, with annual volume sales of nearly 7. 5 billion gallons in 2005. In 2006, emerging-country markets in Asia and South America seemed to be replicating the impressive growth of bottled water in the United States, with annual growth rates exceeding 20 percent. Even though it was the world’s largest market for bottled water, the United States remained among the faster-growing markets for bottle water according to per capita consumption rates. Whereas the bottled water market in the United States grew by 10. 7 percent between 2004 and 2005 to reach 7. 5 billion gallons, the U. S. carbonated soft drink market declined by 0. percent. Beginning in the late 1990s, consumers began to appreciate the convenience and portability of water bottled in single-serving PET containers that could be purchased chilled from a convenience store and drunk immediately. By 2005, bottled water sold in two-liter or smaller PET containers accounted for 60. 8 percent of industry volume. The unit sales of bottled water packaged in PET containers grew by 22. 5 percent betw een 2004 and 2005. Water sold in five-gallon containers used in the home and office delivery(HOD) market accounted for only 17. percent of industry volume in 2005 and grew by only 0. 2 percent between 2004 and 2005. Similarly, water sold in 1-or 2. 5-gallon high-density polyethylene containers accounted for just 16. 5 percent of industry volume in 2005 and grew by only 1. 0 percent between 2004 and 2005 (Gamble, John E. – Thompson Jr. , Arthur A. , 2007, p. 254-257). Number of rivals: Although there might a lot of local brands, this case is focused in 4 main giants: Nestle Waters, Groupe Danone, The Coca-Cola Company, and PepsiCo Inc. , a) Economic traits of the industry. The segment of bottled water is not only the one with the faster growth of the industry of soft drinks, but the most profitable. The best of all, from the point of view of the bottled water industry, is that people is paying for water, a product that used to be free. Now, the consumers accept the price not only as fair, but as preferable. Consumers all around the globe have shown their desire to spend money in bottled water. We can see a fast growth rate of bottled water sales in the United States, Mexico, China, Brazil, Indonesia, and some countries of Europe. From 2003 to 2008 we have seen compound annual growth rates of 15. 6 % in China, 9. 6% in Indonesia, 8. 3% in Mexico, and 6. 7% in United States (exhibit 4. 1). |GLOBAL BOTTLED WATER MARKET | |Leading Countries’ Consumption and Compound Annual Growth Rates | |2003 – 2008 | |2008 Millions Of Gallons CAGR* |Rank Countries 2003 2008 2003/08 | |1 United States 6,269. 8 8,665. 6 6. 7% | |2 Mexico 4,357. 6 6,501. 5 8. 3% | |3 China 2,523. 6 5,207. 7 15. % | |4 Brazil 2,842. 0 3,775. 7 5. 8% | |5 Italy 2,734. 2 3,140. 5 2. 8% | |6 Indonesia 1,834. 7 2,899. 5 9. 6% | |7 Germany 2,628. 2,863. 1 1. 7% | |8 France 2,352. 9 2,218. 4 -1. 2% | |9 Thailand 1,303. 4 1,705. 6 5. 5% | |10 Spain 1,346. 8 1,291. 3 -0. 8% | |Top 10 Subtotal 28,193. 5 38,268. 9 6. % | |All Others 9,917. 3 14,427. 9 7. 8% | |WORLD TOTAL 38,110. 8 52,696. 8 6. 7% | |* Compound annual growth rate | |Source: Beverage Marketing Corporation Exhibit 4. | The revenues exceeded $62 billion in 2005, and indust ry revenues were forecasted to grow by an additional 30 percent between 2005 and 2010, to reach approximately $82 billion. With averages prices of $5. 00 for a 24-pack of bottled water in 2005 and a consumption of gallons per capita shown in exhibit 4. 2, we can say that the economic reality of the Bottled Water Industry is really promising. | | |GLOBGLOBAL BOTTLED WATER MARKET |Per Capita Consumption by Leading Countries | |2003 – 2008 | | | |2008 Gallons Per Capita | |Rank Countries 2003 2008 | |1 Mexico 41. 5 59. | |2 Italy 47. 1 54. 0 | |3 United Arab Emirates 25. 4 39. 7 | |4 Belgium-Luxembourg 35. 1 39. 0 | |5 Germany 31. 9 34. 8 | |6 France 39. 1 34. 6 | |7 Spain 33. 5 31. 9 | |8 Lebanon 25. 30. 5 | |9 Hungary 16. 2 29. 2 | |10 United States 21. 6 28. 5 | |11 Switzerland 25. 4 26. 3 | |12 Austria 22. 7 26. 1 | |13 Thailand 20. 26. 0 | |14 Slovenia 20. 5 26. 0 | |15 Czech Republic 22. 2 25. 6 | |16 Qatar 19. 6 25. 6 | |17 Saudi Arabia 23. 3 25. 2 | |18 Croati a 16. 4 25. | |19 Cyprus 22. 8 24. 0 | |20 Bulgaria 11. 4 23. 1 | |GLOBAL AVERAGE 6. 0 7. 9 | | | |Source: Beverage Marketing Corporation Exhibit 4. 2 | b) Five Forces Analysis. 1. – The threat of substitute products or services. The buyer propensity to substitute products is a reality in the bottled water industry, people is looking for healthier and innovative products, such as flavored water, non calories water, and vitamin added water. Other substitute products are tea, coffee, milk, and beer, but bottled water has surpassed these beverage categories in term of consumption in the United States since 2003. And there is no way the relative price performance of substitutes is going to be better than the price of the bottled water. 2. – The threat of the entry of new competitors. Profitable markets that yield high returns will draw firms. This results in many new entrants, which eventually will decrease profitability. Unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbents, the profit rate will fall towards a competitive level. But in this case, the biggest competitors have the majority of the global market, only a few small competitor are capable of maintain their consumers. Just a competitor who is able to offer big quantities of bottled water at a low price is going to enter this industry. Such is the case of beer producers who have the technology and infrastructure, but that according to some experts, they are just waiting for the industry to reach its maturity. . – The intensity of competitive rivalry. For most industries, the intensity of competitive rivalry is the major determinant of the competitiveness of the industry. There are a few global competitors in the industry, such as Nestle Waters, Groupe Danone, The Coca-Cola Company, and PepsiCo Inc. , but almost in every country there are small competi tors who only have part in a specific segment of the industry, and the consumers are loyal to the brand because of its exclusiveness and quality of the water. 4. – The bargaining power of customers. The bargaining power of customers is also described as the market of outputs: the ability of customers to put the firm under pressure, which also affects the customer's sensitivity to price changes. The price sensitivity of buyers around the globe is big concern for the leading sellers of the industry, but consumers will not stop buying bottled water just because a high price, they may only change from one brand to another or in the best scenario form one flavor to another, because bottled water today is considered as a basic product. The uniqueness of the industry products lies in the interest of the consumers to have a healthier lifestyle; this is a benefit that no other soft drink can provide to the buyer. 5. – The bargaining power of suppliers. The bargaining power of suppliers is also described as the market of inputs. Suppliers of raw materials, components, labor, and services (such as expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm, when there are few substitutes. Suppliers may refuse to work with the firm, or, charge excessively high prices for unique resources. The suppliers to the bottled water industry include municipal water systems; spring operators; bottling equipment manufactures; deionization, reverse osmosis, and filtration equipment manufactures; manufactures of PET and HDPE bottles and plastic caps; label printer; and secondary packing suppliers. Sellers of purified water are able not only to pay less for a bottle of water, but also to avoid spring water? s inbound shipping costs since water arrives through the municipal water system. c) Strategic Group Mapping. d) Key competitor’s analysis. The leading sellers in the industry of bottled water in the world are just a few, beginning with Nestle waters, Groupe Danone, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, CG Roxanne, Fiji, Voss, Penta and Trinity Springs. Since bottled water gained wide spread acceptance in the United States, most sellers introduced in 2006 a variation of products that included flavoring, vitamins, carbohydrates, electrolytes, and other supplements. The competitors in the industry have not only bottled water but enhanced waters or functional waters available in every single market. The top four U. S. bottled water marketers for 2003-2004 are shown in exhibit 4. . SOURCES 1. Bolman, L. G. & Deal, T. E. (2008). Reframing organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership. San Francisco, CA :Jossey-Bass. 2. Gannon, Martin J. (2004). Understanding Global Cultures. London, UK: SAGE Publications. 3. Neulip, James W. (2009). Intercultural Communication. London, UK: Sage Publications. 4. Pugh, D. S. & Hickson, D. J. (1997) . Writers on organizations. London, UK: Penguin Books. 5. Jabil Circuit Co. (2009). Retrieved March 15, 2009 at http://www. jabil. com 6. Jabil Circuit de Mexico (2009). Retrieved March 15, 2009 at http://jabilweb intranet.

Asthma Essay With Conclusions

Asthma Essay With Conclusions Asthma is one of the major chronic respiratory conditions which alter the respiratory function of the body. The World Health Organisation or WHO (2012) defines asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by frequent episodes of breathlessness and wheezing. This difficulty in breathing is caused by the swelling and constricting of the airways. Exposure to allergens, pollutants, cold air, infection and exercise can increase the risk of asthmatics having an attack (Funnel, Koutoukidis and Lawrence 2009). This essay will discuss on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical management and clinical manifestations of asthma. It will also cover the client education needed to provide for those with asthma, asthma’s risk factors and its prognosis. According to the National Asthma Council of Australia or NACA (2006) more than 2.2 million Australians are suffering from asthma. This essay will therefore also describe how asthma impacts on its victims and their life style. Kaufman (2011) describes the pathophysiology of asthma as a pathologic condition which affects the lower respiratory tract by narrowing the airways as a result of epithelial damage, excessive mucus production, oedema, bronchoconstriction and muscle damage. In asthma the cells in the epithelium layer can be destroyed and peel away, making the respiratory tract more susceptible to allergens and infections, thereby contributing to airway hyper-responsiveness (Kaufman 2011). Asthma also triggers the development of mucus cells and mucus glands. This increases mucus production, thus forming mucous plugs which can obstruct the airways (Monahan et al. 2007). Airway oedema is another change that occurs in the respiratory tract due to asthma. It involves the dilation and leaking of capillaries in the airway walls which limits airflow (Kaufman 2011). Monahan et al. (2007) add that increased capillary permeability and leakage can obstruct the airways due to swelling. They also explain t hat the inflammatory agents such as histamine, tryptase, leukotriences and prostaglandins act on smooth muscles of airway walls and cause bronchoconstriction which restricts the airflow to alveoli. Brown and Edwards (2012) write that wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough are the most common clinical manifestations of asthma. They can occur especially at night and in the early morning and can vary from person to person. It is not necessary to have all the symptoms at once as different symptoms can occur at different times. According to NACA (2006) frequent cough, feeling weak, wheezing after exercise, shortness of breath and sleeping difficulties can be early signs of asthma while severe wheezing, continuous cough, rapid breathing, anxiety, chest pain, blue lips and fingernails are the symptoms of severe asthma attacks. Diagnosing asthma can be done by obtaining a detailed history, performing physical examinations, pulmonary function testing, and laboratory assessments (Ignatavicius and Workman 2010) According to Ignatavicius and Workman (2010) it is important to ask patients about any experiences of having shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, wheeze and increased mucus production as well as about their smoking habits and any family history of asthma. The same source write that physical examinations can be performed by listening to the patient’s chest for any wheezing sounds and observing respiratory effort by assessing the respiratory rate and examining whether the patient is using any accessory muscles to breathe. They add that the shape of the chest also needs to be examined, as a barrel-shaped chest can be a sign of prolonged asthma. In addition, the oral mucosa and nail beds need to be examined for any bluish tinge (Ignatavicius and Workman 2010).

Concept development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Concept development - Research Paper Example I work in the ICU, where I am responsible for critically ill patients. Specifically, I am in charge of those who need artificial ventilation. I am to ensure the patients get better, and not contracting more diseases in the course of their admission in the ICU. One of the most dangerous risks that ICU patients on artificial air are exposed to is the Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). Its prevention involves a 5-steps process, called the VAP bundle. Of the five steps, interruption of the sedation to introduce extubation to the patient is the most critical step, also called, â€Å"weaning from mechanical ventilation.† Previously, the physicians attending to patients in critical situations attempted to reduce the length of time of mechanical ventilation by manipulating ventilator modes and gradually decreasing the ventilator support. Nonetheless, research today has shown that sedation can have a bigger impact on the length of time of mechanical ventilation, and other patient o utcomes than can manipulating ventilator modes (Eber, Laximinarayan, Perencevich, Malani, 2010). Patients respond differently to sedation, depending on their ability to cope. One major incidence that comes to my mind when sedation is mentioned is one I experienced with a post renal transplant patient, who was admitted to the ICU for 12 hours’ observation. ... After successful surgery, the patient was put on mechanical ventilation and later sedated so that she does not fight the mechanical ventilation equipment. After she stabilized, the weaning process from mechanical ventilation took effect. This is in accordance with the VAP bundle protocol of preventing the occurrence of VAP. On receiving the physician’s order, I adhered by holding the sedation to assess if the patient was ready for extubation. However, after successful extubation, the patient grew violent. She felt this was a mean act as it dehumanized her. My attempts to explain the importance of the process were not welcome by the patient, as she could not understand. The Phenomenon of Interest The phenomenon of interest related to my story and her first action after weaning her from mechanical ventilator, is best described as â€Å"Waking up to breath.† This was termed during a discussion with my colleagues while doing our assignment for statistics course. We stopped for a while and discussed our concept development. Thus, each one of us presented her story and then we helped each other the come up with a concept. The phenomenon exhibits the high level of patient’s anxiety. Theoretical Lens for Viewing the Phenomenon The theoretical lens used to view this phenomenon shapes the meaning of this phenomenon. The phenomenon in this research is ‘waking up to breath,† which is accompanied with patient anxiety. This describes reactions of patient after she was weaned from the mechanical ventilator. She reacted rather violently. Various theories can be used to bring this phenomenon into perspective. However, I choose to choose one of the middle range theories. The theory of self-efficacy is one that will bring a deeper meaning and understanding to this phenomenon. In

The expert system of Knowledge Management Assignment - 1

The expert system of Knowledge Management - Assignment Example First, they are prone to human errors, the people who compile the information may not have been accurate in that field, and this means that application of that knowledge will tend to be misleading. For this case, human beings are designing expert based technologies in different fields. This technology is expected to provide intelligence to human beings in solving challenges in the different areas. As a consultant I would advocate for the use of experts systems over knowledge based systems. The process of solving a problem starts with application of facts which are known and proceeding to complex ones in the specific field (Maher, 1986). This path of search has to move from the real problem to the solution or objective in question. The expert system is however challenged by a few rules that govern it. First, it should be understood that the experts system has to rely on human knowledge. The system acquires this knowledge though practice over time. Each information is fed into the syst em to make it effective. Human beings have the mandate of collecting the small pieces of information and accumulating it in a knowledge base. Expert systems may not be resourceful in reasoning about the processes which are involved. This implies that for an expert system to be effective, a human expert must feed information into it (Szakwani, 2007). One of the main advantages with an expert system is that it is able to make solutions to problems that would rather have involved a specialized expert, who in this case is a human being.

Organizations' pursuit of continuing resources from their environment Research Paper

Organizations' pursuit of continuing resources from their environment - Research Paper Example However, successful organizations enjoy the growth and organizational effectiveness. With the increasing globalization, the competition among the organizations is increasing because in the previous years, only a few organizations used to compete for the resources in a specific geographical location whereas, today, the organizations across the geographical region can also enter to compete for resources. The aim of this study is to discuss the organizations’ pursuit of continuing resources from their environment. How organizations compete for resources? What are the consequences and costs of obtaining resources? How the attainment of resources varies based on the type of organization, environment and organizations’ stages of development? In this research study, the answers to all of these questions will be given. In order to investigate the research objectives in this research study, a qualitative research methodology has been used. The secondary information and the research work of the other researchers have been used. The academic publications, theoretical framework, real examples and empirical research have been used to determine the answers to the mentioned questions. Because of the nature of the study and the adopted methodology, the critical analysis approach has been used to quantitatively analyze the collected data and literature. The organizations are highly dependent on their environment to attain the resources for their survival and growth. The interdependence exists between the organizations and environment in the form of transactions, in which the limited resources are exchanged under a competitive environment. Since the organizations compete for these resources therefore, to what extent they have been able to access the resources over a period time, determine their success and organizational effectiveness (Yuchtman & Seashore, 1967).Various relationships exist among organizations

Final research report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Final research report - Essay Example Additionally, the study concludes by providing some recommendations that ought to be implemented in order to enhance the success of the product in the market. The aim of this study was to examine the essence of a new product by Google referred to as Google Glass. In the past few years, provision of medical care in health centers has been associated with some challenges due to the advancement of some diseases and complications related to health. The issue of security has also been one of the key subjects in almost all organizations in the world. Performance of activities in fixed places has also been a source of worry for many years. For instance, many accidents in the world are as a result of multitasking. Majority of the drivers cause accidents of operating their Smartphones while driving. It is as a result of this that I saw it well to research on Google Glasses as well as advocate their introduction and usage in everyday activities. Google Glass was launched in 2012 by Google Company. However, its usage was not rampant because of lack of awareness, only a few people knew about Google Glasses leave its advantages to this technological world alone. This is evidenced by the fact that the use of the Glass was opposed by many people who knew nothing about their applicability in the current life. In tandem with this, I saw it well to provide some of the best features of Google Glass in this report so as to back up my choice of the product. Google Glass has the potential to record videos, as well as take pictures without incorporation of the hands. With this feature, one can record criminal activities as well as take photos of the persons behaving in a unique way. In other words, the Glass can aid significantly in combating crimes such as terrorism and other types of violence in a given environment. Google Glass also serves as means of communication. This is evidenced by the fact that users of Google Glasses can send messages and emails to each other via