Ducati

Memorandum Subject: Ducati: In Pursuit of Magic (A) Date: Feb. 19th 2013 Ducati is one of the premium motorcycle producers specializing in sport segment superbike from Italy. The company experienced booming in sales and reputation in 1996-2001. This boost had attracted Texas Pacific Group to pursue controlling interest in the company for higher expected future return. The economic boom somehow masked the mistakes made by Ducati during the period. When sales started to decline during 2002-2005, three major problems started to become more obvious among the management team: * Product discontinuity. Cost disadvantage compared to Japanese producer. * Decline in sales in U. S. market. Ducati needed to addresses these problems to put the company back on track. Before offering solutions to any of the problems mentioned above, we would like to dig into details about the industrial background, company strategic positions, and competitive advantages and disadvantages about the company. These an alyses are especially beneficial to help identify potential opportunities and threats of the motorcycle industry and its sport segment. Five forces analysis are supplemented to our analysis. Threats: * Rivalry: rivalry among industry and the sports segment came from United States and Japanese motorcycle makers. There are intense competitions among brands for entire industry as well the sport segment. A major competitor for cruiser is Harley-Davidson, and Honda and other Japanese motorcycle producers constitute major competitors for the sport segment. * Currency fluctuation: exchange rate posted issues for international operations. Ducati and fellow motorcycle companies engaged in operations all over the world, exchange rate fluctuation generated uncertainty for the company.This is for both the industry and for the sport segment. * Substitutes: there is a high incentive for alternative transportations for the US market. This hurt the industry as well as sport segment. * Government re gulation: Chinese government posted regulations that prohibited motorcycle usage domestically for various reasons. This makes it hard the entire industry as well as the sport segment. * Entrant barriers for industry: low entry barrier due to three reasons. First, people with knowledge can build motorcycle easily. Second, low capital requirement for entrants. Last, there are low switching costs for customers. Opportunities: * Entrant barriers: high for the sport segment due to technology advancement, better design and engineer work, high capital requirement for entrants and distinctive incumbency advantages for established brand. * Buyer’s power: low. This is caused by the brand power and the brand loyalty. People want to pay premium for the bike to feel cool and different. There is a huge demand for motorcycle. * Higher buying power in BRIC. Consumers in those countries are more likely to spend on motorcycle. This is beneficial to the industry, especially the sport segment. M ore diversified riders lead to market growth. There are more women riders than ever before. This is beneficial to the industry and to the sport segment. The following part included company analysis and analysis of company’s strategic position. * Value drivers and competitive advantages: * Use a unique Desmodrimic valve control system to increase the engine performance * Use a engine that were built in a L-twin design to improve aerodynamics and weighted lighter * Special motorcycles had a low-hum sound. * Frame gave greater rigidity, handling power, and enhanced speed.It offered more compact design architecture. * Superb in-house design and external design team teams. * Related field that increase value: Ducati Corse racing, apparel, local Ducati clubs, Ducati museum, Ducati riding experience training course, Ducati. com and Ducati’s multi-franchise distribution points and mono-franchise Ducati retail stores. * Cost drivers: * The large research and development for con secutive years. * Marketing cost associated with selected motorcycle publications. * The production line used the lean manufacturing, which decreases the production costs. Competitive disadvantages: * Cost disadvantage. Japanese motorcycle makers can produce cheaper bike with advanced technology. * Product discontinuity. Evolution of products that consumers do not recognize. * Do not intend to stretch and extend business to cruiser motorcycles, i. e. limited customers. * Relatively low market share than major Japanese companies, which occupied about 78% of total market share. This lead to low brand recognition. Even though Ducati has its competitive advantages, it does not mean that these advantages are sustainable.In order to determine whether Ducati will remain competitive, Barney’s VRIO framework is going to be applied. Hence, four questions are going to be addressed in this part of the case study, which are the Question of Value, the Question of Rareness, the Question of Imitability, and the Question of Organization. * The Question of Value: * Ducati has a group of highly skilled engineers and an in-house design team which allow the firm’s products to have the attribute of speed, performance, and innovation. Such capability helps fulfill customers’ needs and perceptions. Ducati is positioned to be fast with good braking ability. The ability of producing sport bike with speed and safety makes its customers feel safe and reliable while using the product, which helps the firm to build up good company’s reputation. * The Question of Rareness * All the Ducati’s bikes use the Desmodromic valve control system which enhances the engine performance and only Ducati uses this system in the market. * All Ducati’s engines were built in the unique L-twin design which gives the benefit of improved aerodynamics and lighter weight.This design is rare since the two cylinders of the engine are mounted at a 90-degree angle, which it h as to work with the unique Desmodromic valve control system to reach its full ability. Moreover, it gives a unique low-hum engine sound which makes Ducati’s engine even more special. * The Ducati’s tubular trestle frame design was evolved from the Fornula One-inspired tubular trestle with Ducati engineers’ special design to enhance the performance features of the bikes. * The Question of Imitability * With Ducati’s investment in research and development, it would be hard for competitors to just imitate Ducati’s newest technology. Ducati’s in-house design team creates a barrier to imitation since its job is to design completely new model. Moreover, Ducati started to use online resources to gain insight into customers’ needs and perceptions. * Ducati’s Italian styling and origin lower the possibility of its design being imitated, yet it is worth to be noted that MV Agusta is owned by an Italian investment group and its designer M assimo Tamburini had worked in Ducati before, which make it easier for MV Agusta to imitate. * The Question of Organization * Ducati started to invest a lot of money in research and development, which boosted from â‚ ¬3. million in 1997 to approximately â‚ ¬26. 5 million in 2005. Such investment enables the Ducati to fully exploit the potential of its engineers and design team. * The internal culture of Ducati encouraging creativity and teamwork allows the engineers and design team to interact and be innovative. * The building of Ducati museum – the â€Å"World of Ducati† – allows Ducati to give museum and factory tour to enhance visitors’ experience, build up brand loyalty, and signify the company’s ability to be innovative or to create a dream. * Ducati’s purchase of Gio.Ca. Moto and joint venture with Dainese help to build the Ducati brand by selling a wide range of products including Ducati apparel and accessories. * The establishm ent of Ducati Corse Racing team helps to publicize the Ducati brand by participating in professional motorcycle racing. The team also demonstrates Ducati bikes’ high- performance features. * Ducati’s support in enthusiasts’ clubs and the establishment of the Desmo Owners Club (which promotes Ducati’s event to the clubs) help to build the Ducati brand and brand loyalty. The Ducati’s eight country-specific websites not only have information on bike models, but also provide a virtual tour of Ducati’s world headquarters in Bologna, which enhances the customers’ perception to the Ducati brand. Moreover, the websites allow buyers to customize their bikes and also give feedback, which again help Ducati to gain insight into its customers and fully exploit its ability in producing high quality sport bikes. * Ducati has been attempting to build a strong brand by encouraging its dealers to restructure the stores to be in the Ducati-store format. We proposed three alternatives to tackle the problems associated with our problems. 1. We propose to sell Ducati to produce synergy to premium car maker such as Lamborghini. This provided cost savings and promoted efficiency. 2. Improve and extend U. S. market to gain market share and profits by invest in human capital and better IT system. This corresponds to positive U. S. outlook after 2006. 3. Invest in Research and Development to carry out revolutionized products. In this way we are trying to replicate the revolutionized products that help the company out of trouble in 2003.Our recommendation is alternative #1. Before analyzing #1, we would like to point out the drawbacks of the other two options. For alternative #2, it would take two years before the U. S. market become the largest market in the world for the motorcycle business. This postponed schedule is unsatisfied to the investment group who foresee better and immediate solutions for our problems. Another challenge for the U. S. market currently is that in the short run, competition and the low demand makes it hard for individual company to capture large profits.For alternative #3, large amount of research and development input will somehow reduce return for the investment group in the short run. This might not be the primary interest for the investment group that takes controlling interest of the company. On top of that, there are uncertainties involved in the new product even with shortened new product issuance period. Lastly, new product development does not bring current return to the investment group, which is potentially not preferred. Alternative #1 is the best one of all.It can potentially offer the best price for the investment group in that it can eliminate the downside risk for the company to go under. On top of that, business combination with powerful company such as Lamborghini would provide synergy. This synergy will provide cost saving for Ducati. First, since a lot of parts are produc ed in those shops, it is way much easier to produce it for themselves than for outside partners for the company. It can also cut down non-necessary division or labor for the cost saving purposes.Additionally, acquirer with strong financial background can assist in expanding the U. S. market and engage in research and development process to produce a revolutionized product. I predict when the alternative# 1 get implement, the market share of Ducati will rapid increase. Because company such as Lamborghini has enough capitals to innovate different types of motorcycles. With the good fame of Lamborghini, their product will be wide noted and get into the market earlier than the competitors. Ducati will have a bright future and sustainable growth under that company.

Organic & Processed foods: What’s Better Essay

There are a lot of differences and similarities with organic and processed foods. I’m sure when everyone was a kid they could eat whatever they wanted and didn’t worry about what it did to their body. I remember when I was younger I would cook a whole Tostito’s Pizza and consume the whole thing myself in under five minutes. I wouldn’t gain a pound and that same night I would have two big macs (back when there was a big mac Monday) and sit on my butt playing video games. It’s not like I didn’t have the exercise. I played all sorts of little league sports including baseball and soccer. You may think I was writing an essay on the effects of metabolism but I’m more interested in finding out what the words â€Å"Organic† and â€Å"Processed† foods really mean. What kind of chemicals are in them and what the huge fuss is about. I think this is an important topic to write about because most people don’t know what the difference is. What makes a food organic? What happens to the ingredients when converting it into a processed food? I think if you understand more about this issue people would choose to live healthier and know how easy it is to alter their diet. Organic food has gone back in history ever since the first person decided to take and seed, plant it, and then eat what the plant produced. This is known as farming if you were confused. Over the years farming has evolved from types of fertilizer used, machinery, tools, equipment and even animals. Machines can harvest a field of crops in one hour where a hundred years ago it would have taken a full day. Processed foods are more close to our time. In the 1920s, women were growing weary of preparing foods from scratch, and ready-to-cook foods were becoming more available. World War I brought about new methods of food processing, including canned and frozen foods. When World War II hit by the 1940s people needed away to ration the food for the soldiers. After the war, many new â€Å"convenience foods† were introduced like dehydrated juice, instant coffee, and cake mix. Farmers used fertilization and irrigation to increase crop yields, decreasing the vitamins and minerals in those plants. Government subsidies for corn and soy led to a food industry with a financial incentive to use high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, modified corn starches to produce lots of highly processed (and unhealthy) foods. The U. S. issued guidelines for adding iron, vitamin B, thiamine and riboflavin to bread and other grain products to offset nutrient deficiencies. With all of the changes that were going on in the food industry there was always someone trying to tighten the noose by the power of democracy. Soon farmers were being replaced by machines and factories. Fast food corporations were growing more and more and farms were depleting less every day. As I researched into the major debating controversy I found that most people would agree that the organic foods are healthier to consume. The organic industry has sky rocketed in the last couple years because of the messages that was sent out saying organic farming is safer and healthier for the environment. But is it actually healthier for you in the long run? Other consumers argue that organic farming can be dangerous and unsafe to digest due to the invisible toxins and pesticide found in organic produce could even be as dangerous as synthetic chemicals. Most people would agree that switching from a processed food nation to an organic food country would be best. But it’s easier said than done. Organic foods and processed foods are different in a lot of ways. Processed foods contain more bad chemicals and bad fat per calorie than any other natural food. You can determine whether a food is processed by looking at the ingredient list. The longer the ingredient list, the more processed a food is likely to be. Processed foods are usually found in the center aisles of the grocery store and are more likely to contain ingredients that you are not able to recognize. Organic foods are foods that don’t have any harmful fertilizers, pesticides or sewage. Animals that produce meats, poultry, or eggs and don’t use any kind of steroids in the process are considered organic. There are a lot of different sides to both of these categories. Most critics who agree with organic foods are humanitarians who believe in renewable resources and not using exotic chemicals that may be harmful to the environment. Also in this case it helps with how the animals are being treated. For example, in a processed factory for animals the cows are caged in tight corners and forced to eat so they are worth more. When animals are raised by farmers, they have the freedom of a decent sized field and their manure will decompose and fertile the land. On the other hand processed food critics have done research that shows processed food saves on money and meets the demand of the growing population of consumers. The only way to meet this demand is by using steroids and food enhancers/substitutes. People buy processed foods because they have a longer expiration date and you can freeze them. It takes time to prepare a meal from organic foods. Processed foods can be made easily by adding water, boiling, frying or if you’re an American like me, microwaving. Plus processed foods are typically cheaper, you get more bang for your buck. What is organic food? The term â€Å"organic† refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as â€Å"organic†. Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Some organic foods contain more vitamins than processed foods, according to Organic Facts. For example, organic milk contains more vitamins than non-organic milk. Organic milk is believed to be of better quality because the cows that produce it eat a better diet, which includes grazing for large parts of the day. Organic fruits and vegetables also tend to contain more vitamins than processed ones, according to nutritionist Shane Heaton. Not only do many organic foods contain more vitamins than processed foods, they also contain more antioxidants, according to Organic Facts. A University of California Davis study found that organically-raised tomatoes had higher concentrations of the antioxidants quercetin and kaempferol, both of which may protect the body against certain diseases by helping promote cell health. The researchers at the University of California Davis believe that organic foods contain more antioxidants because plants create antioxidants in order to defend themselves from plant-eating insects. Conventionally raised plants do not need to produce as many antioxidants because any plant-eating insects that might prey on them are controlled with insecticide. Because organic foods must be raised and processed without insecticides, herbicides or similar chemicals, the finished product available in the store usually contains fewer of these chemicals than processed foods, according to Heaton. Although many pesticide residues may be harmless to humans, people who are sensitive to others may experience symptoms that can be alleviated by reducing the amount of conventionally processed food in the diet. Farmers also use a cycling method when farming so they can reduce the amount of bugs and pesticides. They will plant different crops in each cycle so that they do not get the same pesticides returning. Organic farming is designed to protect the environment. By removing chemicals and other artificial farming methods from the equation, you save soil and water and reduce pollution. Organic farmers also use more humane methods of producing their meat, eggs and other animal products. For those concerned with the environment or the treatment of the animals they eat, the peace of mind is worth the extra cost. With all of the good that comes from organic food what could possibly be some negative things about eating organic foods and why does everyone think that processed foods are so bad? Because organic farmers do not use artificial means to produce their products, they tend to produce less. Organic farming is also more expensive than conventional farming, as can be seen with the cost of using a chemical weed killer versus the manpower required to manually pull weeds and rotate crops, for example. The combination of lower production rates with higher overhead makes organic products more expensive. One can also argue on the fact that it may be more environmentally friendly if you drive the shorter distance such as 50 miles to your local farmer to purchase food rather purchasing the organic food that has traveled over 1500 miles to get to you. Organic food can sometimes be limited to people, especially if you live in more rural areas. The most important issue that seems to affect all of America is the simple fact that because organic food is harder to process and is more time consuming to grow there is a shortage of it. Organic food does not come in huge quantities like other food does. So because of organic food being in high demand from grocery stores and other consumers the prices are extremely high. That then means there are a high percentage of people in our society that cannot afford to eat organic food, to me that is just reminding someone that they are basically â€Å"poor†. So what if they want to eat healthy as well? We are just going to say sorry you are out of luck because you can’t afford it? Next let’s talk about processed food. What is processed food? Processed foods have been altered from their natural state, either for safety reasons or for convenience. The methods used include canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration and aseptic processing. Processed foods are very convenient for the society because they can usually be prepared very quickly and allow minimal time and energy. By processing food we can also preserve food so that it will have longer shelf life, allow us to lower prices, and get food to more rural areas. When we process food we are putting preservatives into them so that they will last longer which allows stores and consumers to sell them longer without them spoiling. By allowing the foods to not spoil as quickly as others the stores can lower the prices which allows everyone of all social classes to be able to buy the foods. Another huge reason that processed foods is very ideal for our society is the fact that we are able to get the food to more rural areas. When we transfer organic foods to rural areas it ends up costing more because to get it there before the food would spoil would cost an extreme amount of money which then makes the prices of food go up. By being able to preserve the food so that its expiration date is longer we can get the food to rural areas in more effective ways that allows the environment to be safer and cleaner, then also reducing the prices in which more people can afford the food. We tend to think of processed food as bad, like most high-fat, high-calorie snack foods or even those prepackaged meals you fix in a skillet, but it turns out that some of these foods are not bad for your health at all. For example, milk would be considered a processed food because it’s pasteurized to kill bacteria and homogenized to keep fats from separating. Some people prefer raw milk, but it can lead to lead to food-borne illness, so most of us are happy to consume the healthy processed milk we find in our grocery stores. Freezing vegetables preserves most vitamins and minerals and makes them convenient to store, cook and eat all year around. Fruit and vegetable juice is also an example of a healthy processed food — usually. In fact, some orange juice is fortified with calcium to make it even more nutritious. Oatmeal, unbreaded frozen fish fillets, canned salmon, frozen berries and 100-percent whole grain bread are also examples of processed foods that are good for you. Sure, there are a lot of processed foods that aren’t good for you. Many of these bad ones are made with trans-fats, saturated fats, and large amounts of sodium and sugar. These processed foods should be avoided, or at least eaten sparingly. Processed foods are also more appealing to the eye and because of food additives they can taste even better. Basically the biggest downside to processed foods is one will lose a few nutrients. After researching these two topics I understood what the communal agreement was and the controversy that surrounded it. But I needed to find out what else needed to be further questioned. There wasn’t a lot of information surrounding what affects it would have on the grocery stores. The prices that were listed on a trusted source showed that the organic food was often priced higher than any processed food items, usually forty to fifty percent more. This is because it takes a lot of steps to grow and distribute organic foods, here are some of the steps it takes to successfully distribute the produce. Prepare the field and properly fertile the land after the previous plants have been harvested, this process is what takes most of majority. They have to buy the seed themselves and base off what they want to sale the crop for to turn around for some profit. They also have to put in the man hours and distribution cost. As you can see it takes a lot of time to complete this process rather growing and distributing it all in one location like how the processed food organizations do it. As I was saying I would like to see what the total cost was on organic food verses processed food, maybe from a big corporation like Wal-Mart to compare the differences. One other thing that I think should be a little more covered is the shelf life on an organic and non-organic food item. Because non-organic food has preservatives in them they can last a lot longer. In this case you would have to make less trips to the store and save money on gas, it will also help with the environment. But would it be worth it in the end. Organic foods can go bad very quickly but it needs to be broken down to a science. How much longer will a processed mango last than organic mango. After the experiment has concluded customers will have more knowledge of what to buy accordingly. Between organic and processed foods organic foods may have more natural nutrients when eaten. But you can get just as good nutrients from processed foods. It really boils down to what one chooses to eat and what they prefer. There are alternative ways to getting all nutrients one needs for their body without having to pay a high price if you can’t afford it. Even if you eat organic foods that doesn’t mean someone will not indulge on the fatty foods such as ice cream, potato chips, etc. It comes down to what one will eat whether it is processed or organic.

Symbolism in the Road Not Taken, “A Worn Path”, and I Used to Live Here Once

2Symbolism in Literature Published by susansteppe, February 27, 2011 Symbolism in â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, â€Å"A Worn Path†, and â€Å"Used to Live Here Once†. When looking at the short story and poem it is impossible to see it all in a literal form. There is always some sort of symbolism that occurs within the body of the text, but what is symbolism. It can be defined differently by many people. Even when looking at a dictionary it does not typically give a thorough answer. It is because symbolism is created by the author. However, it can be contradicted or have a completely obscure meaning to the reader. This is the exact reason why symbolism cannot be defined. However, it can be interpreted. Understanding the journey that characters take and their symbolic nature is definitely worth decoding. In fact, the symbolism of the journey is usually the basis behind the literary work itself. One of the well-known literary works with a symbolic journey is Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken. † In the poem there is a man who has come to a crossroad in his life. One path is traveled on frequently while the other path is not. He has to make a decision as to what path he should take. No matter what, he knows that he cannot turn back once he has made the choice, but it is implied. He chooses the path less traveled and, in turn, it happens to be the best choice he had ever made. Many have analyzed this poem and many have come up with different ideas of what it actually means. Some say it is about suicide, some say it is about life changes, while others insist it is about life changes. When is the interpretation wrong? The reader gets what they must out of the poem as they read it. It depends on what life situation they are going through at that time. The author, Robert Frost, knew what he was writing about. Therefore, the interpretation of the poem actually merges itself with the reader. Regardless, there is a journey that occurs throughout this poem. To analyze the literary work there needs to be a beginning. Read more in Poetry  « Does a Sonnet Always Have 14 Lines? Poetry Comparison Essay – â€Å"The Evacuee† and â€Å"Death of a Naturalist†  »In the first two lines of Robert Frost’s poem he says: â€Å"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both† (Clugston, R. W. , 2010; section 2. 2). There is a certain symbolism in the yellow wood. It is not that the forest was filled with yellow trees. It was obviously at the beginning of fall. Fall is the season that everyone slows down from the summer. The anticipation of winter is coming and can cause a sort of depression in some people. It would explain why he wanted to travel both. The following line says: â€Å"And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth† (Clugston, R. W. , 2010; sec 2. 2). Here the reader comes to understand that the man took his time looking down the path. This could symbolize patience or a lack of movement, which would again go along with the idea that the man was depressed. Another aspect of the idea of depression, one path had leaves on it while the other was grassy. When someone is depressed they do not want to go down a dreary path. Instead, they would want to go down the grassy path that looked less traveled. Perhaps then something would change in their life. The actual symbolism of the paths themselves goes right along with that idea. However, the man was obviously optimistic because he did think about saving the one path for another day. He does contradict himself when he doubts that he will come back. The symbolism occurs with his doubts. He knows that once he goes down one path that he will not be able to come back at all. When the reader thinks about it there is an ordinary situation with this scenario because the entire poem is about a man who stops when he comes to a fork in the road. Nevertheless, the road actually is a symbol for life. That is where the imaginative language is used, and it is used in order to create emotion. Should the man go down the path with the leaves covering it? What are the leaves representing? The leaves were not scattered everywhere, so the road was less traveled upon. In fact, the leaves represent the difficult trials that were to follow. Basically, it is easier to walk a path that has nothing in the way then one that does not. Therefore, the images that are particularly effective are the two paths and the leaves. These symbols change the tone of the poem to confusion, but it actually provokes deep thought when the traveler states that he took the one less traveled by. In the short story â€Å"A Worn Path† symbolism of the journey also occurs. Yet, it is much different from Frost’s â€Å"A Path Not Taken. In Frost’s poem he has the choice of two different paths, but in â€Å"A Worn Path† the old woman, Phoenix Jackson, takes the same path over and over again. The path that Phoenix takes is a path that she has taken many times before in order to get medicine for her grandson. The symbol of the path is life’s long journey. After all, she is an old woman who has dealt with many things in her life. The symbolism of the pendulum in a grandfather clock also pertains to her age. She is an old woman, a poor one at that, who walks with a cane made from an old umbrella. She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grand-father clock† (Clugston, R. W. , 2010 sec 6. 3). When Phoenix hears the noises in the thicket she is determined to make sure they stay away. This represents her strength of mind. Her willpower is a large part of the symbolism within the story because of the long journey she has to take. She is not on a mission to help herself. Instead, she is on a mission to help a part of her family. Therefore, it is a purpose driven trip, so when the animals make noise in the distance she does everything possible to make sure she scares them off. It is a life-saving task in which she cannot fail. It is then that Phoenix has to climb a hill that is almost too difficult for her. The hill actually symbolizes the struggle of life. When everyone is a child it is easy to do anything. Hills are no big deal to climb, bicycles are easy to ride, and running everywhere is as simple as eating. However, as a person ages it is more difficult to do things. That is where the hill comes in to play. She needs to climb the hill in order to conquer aging. There was no way that she could give up easily because of the journey she was taking. Also on the hill is a bush that catches her dress. The bush signifies the obstacles in her life. She obviously lived a hard life. She had many wrinkles, her clothes spoke for themselves, and she had not been able to clean herself every day. The fact that she was poor epitomizes the fact that she had lived a hard life up until this point. Once she freed herself from the bush it characterized her willpower again. Nothing was going to stop her from completing her task. Another important factor about the bush was that she yelled at it. She called in a pretty green bush. That symbolizes the fact that she did not recognize the many of the obstacles in her life until they actually came to pass. After she struggles with the bush she sees the sun. The sun signifies the importance of dealing with the struggles in her life. Basically, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. She was freed from that turmoil that happened in her life and she could go on. There was a new beginning, or she could start things anew. Unfortunately, that was not the end of her struggle through life because there was the large log in the way. The log embodies the act of accomplishment. No one could stand in for her. She, Phoenix, had to overcome her own tussle. Once again, a fight for security is symbolized with the barbed wire fence. On her journey she sees a buzzard, which is a symbol of death. When thinking about a buzzard many imagine them circling around a carcass. It is their way of claiming their meal for the day. Nevertheless, this one was just sitting there. The fact that he was not moving could symbolize death waiting for her. Yet, Phoenix was not ready for death. She may be getting old, but there was no room for death in her excursion. Shortly after she sees the buzzard she comes upon a scarecrow. Buzzards, crows, and other birds usually sit on the arms of a scarecrow. That exemplifies death as well, but instead of avoiding the scarecrow she dances in front of it. She was mocking death, or telling death in her own way that she would have no part of it. After all, she was on a mission to help her grandson. He had a throat condition, probably asthma, which prevented him from doing many things. There was no way she was going to give up her exertion. When Phoenix finally reached her destination it was a symbol of accomplishment. When thinking about the entire path it indicates the journey throughout life. As a baby everything is taken care of. There are no worries within life because there is someone to lean on. That is the first part of the path. The second part of the path, the hill, is the beginning of hardships. Each tribulation got bigger and bigger the older Phoenix became until she came to a point in her life when her burdens were easier to overcome. Yet, when she does get the medicine for her grandson she has to go through the entire trip over again. Again, it symbolizes more difficulties in life and the many obstacles that she had to deal with in her life. â€Å"A Worn Path† is the perfect depiction of how many people’s lives turn out. No one gets a free ride in life, which means everyone has to deal with their own miseries, troubles, and sufferings in order to become better people. Phoenix is a strong-natured, strong-willed, and head-strong woman because she dealt with her ordeals in life. It may have been difficult at times, but she became an accomplished woman in her own right. Another short story that symbolizes life’s journey is â€Å"Used to Live Here Once. † The first trek of her journey was the rocks in the stream. Each rock represents a significant part of the trials everyone has to deal with in life. For instance, the round unsteady rock symbolizes the rocky road people must endure throughout life. No one truly gets the easy way out of life because there is always something that makes the journey unstable. The safe stone represents childhood. When someone is a child they do not need to be dependent on themselves in order to get through their distresses in life. A mother carries her newborn, feeds them, and cares for them. Basically, the newborn has no worries. Even as a child growing up there are really no burdens to deal with. There might be anxieties, but the child’s mother, or father, is there to catch them when they fall. They can look around as long as they want at their life and perhaps where they might be in the future. The rock, itself, is the parents. The next rock was no so safe because it was slippery and when the water rose it would be covered. This rock indicates the time of life when there are trials and tribulations to endure. The first is, of course, becoming a teenager. There are worries, distresses, pains, and hardships to deal with. The rising of the water actually designates the rush of life after becoming an adult. A person is on their own with no one to catch them, but themselves. They need to have a watchful eye whenever difficulties arise, and sometimes those ordeals can be overbearing. There are even times when that person falls, but they always get up again. Reaching the other side of the stream designates or symbolizes the triumph over the tribulations in life. It is safe, so there is nothing to fear. The ground is secure and it is easy sailing from there. The road that the woman travels on is much wider than it used to be. It says in the story, â€Å"The road was much wider than it used to be but the work had been done carelessly† (Clugston, R. W. , 2010, sec 7. 5). This can be interpreted a couple different ways. One way is that life is unpredictable. In other words, there is no telling what could happen next because no one knows their future. The second way of understanding the wider road is to signify change. When people become older and go through their struggles, or heir rocks, they become different people. Everything that a person endures allows them to grow into the person that they are. For instance, a child that has had a mellow life growing up suddenly decides to join the military when they become of age. They go to boot camp one person, but come back someone completely different. It is because they dealt with obstacles throughout boot camp and had to grow up int o an adult. That is a forced measure of growing up, but the concept is the same. Each trouble or ordeal they go through makes them into a better person. When the woman gets near the house she sees more changes. A house gone and one built a car, and items that were no longer there. Yet, she is so excited about coming back to place she grew up she does not really care. This, again, symbolizes the changes in life that occur. Once life has changed and the hardships are endured nothing is the same. Trials in life either become more difficult or easier to deal with. There is no telling but, nonetheless, the changes stay. Then the woman comes upon the two children playing in the yard. She attempts to say hello, but the children ignore her. She thinks it is because she is colored. The woman gets closer to the children and she attempts to say hello again. However, they do not answer still. When she gets very close to the children one of them say it is cold, so they leave. This is when she realizes that she is no longer among the living. Therefore, the entire trip she took symbolizes the entire cycle of being born to the moment of death. In conclusion, the symbolisms between â€Å"The Path Not Taken,† â€Å"A Worn Path,† and â€Å"Used to Live Here Once† are quite similar. All three are about life’s challenges and the struggles throughout life. There are always decisions that need to be made through life and there are always going to be obstacles that get in the way. It is getting through those tribulations that are the trick. Not only that, but it is crucial not to give up. The stories portray that indefinitely. In â€Å"The Path Not Taken† the man takes the road less traveled. Yes. He had to go through many troubles throughout his life, but in the end he chose the right path. In â€Å"A Worn Path† the old woman pretty much has to go through the same difficulties throughout her life, but her endurance presides over her. Therefore, she has made the right choice. Last, but not least, in â€Å"Used to Live Here Once† the woman path symbolizes the entire trek through life from birth to death. These three literary works are definitely worth reading, but they are also there to teach about life itself. References Clugston, R. W. (2010) Journey into Literature. San Diego, CA. Bridge point Education. (http://content. ashford. edu/books/AUENG125. 10. 1/sec2. 2) (http://content. ashford. edu/books/AUENG125. 10. 1/sec6. 3) (http://content. ashford. edu/books/AUENG125. 10. 1/sec7. 5) Phillips, R. T. (March 1986) Diverging and Converging Paths: Horizontal and Vertical Movement in Robert Frost’s Mountain Interval. Vol 58, Issue 1, pg. , 17 p. American Literature. Moberly, K. (Winter 2005/Spring 2006) Toward the North Star: Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† and the Slave Narrative Tradition. Vol. 59, Issue ? , p. 107-127, 21p. Mississippi Quarterly. Piwinski, D. J. (Winter 2008) Mistletoe in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path. ’ 16 (1): 40-42. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes, and Reviews Flag It Spam Adult Content Plagiarism Insufficient Quality Wrong Category Select the Right Category about Writing Autos Books Business Computers Creative WritingDomesticGamingGeneralHealthInternetMoviesMusicNewsOff eatPetsPoetryRecipesReligionScienceShort Stories Society Sports Television Travel Women Selected for you by a sponsor: 10 Signs You May Be in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship (HeathCentral. com) What Happened to Marie Osmond's Face? (Style Goes Strong) You might be interested in: A Summary and Review of The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox: A Gu ide for Thinking Executives – and Those Who Want to be One (Book stove) Childhood Phrases and Their Darker Meanings (Book stove) Tahrir Flame Flame (Trifter) The Stupid King (Trifter)

Visual Rock Music Stars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Visual Rock Music Stars - Essay Example Above I provided some background information on the topic of rock and roll that will help me get closer to the topic that will be dealt with lower. The aim of my study is to examine the relationship between dress and ideology of visual rock music stars. This group was chosen as the visual nature of the group allows for a thorough analysis of the ways in which the beliefs of the group may affect their decisions relating to dress. In the frameowkr of my project, an interview was conducted with members of a rock music group in order to collect primary data on the topic. The interview is used in this study to ascertain the history of the group and the beliefs of the group. The interview was also used to obtain information about how the group's beliefs have changed over time. The information from the interview is presented here alongside with the relevant current literature to ascertain how the two are interlinked. The interview revealed several things, some of which were expected, but others which were surprising. The interview found that the band did not claim to hold any strong beliefs which related to politics or religion. The band members claimed that their ideology, focused more on having fun, and this was the image that they tried to portray. The band did acknowledge that there are many rock bands which do have strong ideologies. One such example, which they quoted was the British group the Sex Pistols, who were famous in the Punk Rock era of the 1980s. They were as famous for their strong beliefs in anarchy and hatred of the British political regimes as they were for their music. The interview also revealed that the rock group was heavily influenced by other counterpart rock groups. Though, not only other... This "Visual Rock Music Stars" essay outlines the history of rock’n’roll music and how it affects the fashion. There was a rock band specifically mentioned in the interview that was the Sex Pistols. This band is considered to be an iconic rock band on many levels. Their music was highly controversial and being produced and released independently. That state of things allowed the band a large degree of freedom that many other bands which having signed to corporate brands did not possess. The entire stance which was adopted by the group was â€Å"anti-establishment†. It is for this reason that the Sex Pistols selected their dress. They aimed to take the clothes which were seen as socially acceptable at that time and transform them into a dress code, which would be highly controversial. It was not only the clothes which the Sex pistols altered in an attempt to shock, moreover, they also adopted hairstyles such as the Mohican, died their hair dramatic colors, and dec orated their bodies with tattoos and piercings. Other rock bands at the time did not possess the same levels of freedom, and as a result, their images were far more controlled by the record label and have not been so distinct. Goshert (2000) suggests that although the majority of modern bands would not consider themselves to be ‘punk’ bands, they are still heavily influenced by the ideology of bands such as the Sex Pistols. For example when the photos of the band interviewed were inspected it would be possible to see some elements of ‘punk’ dress in their early photos.

Mary Wilkins-Freeman Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mary Wilkins-Freeman - Research Paper Example Mary Wilkins Freeman is considered as one of the earliest feminist writers and placed at the same category with the writers like Harriet Beecher Stowe and  Sarah Orne Jewett. Critics find her work many a times quite provincial and they claim they are too oriented to New England. But new critics find an inherent feminist call in all her works. There is a story of struggle and women empowerment in all her stories that mark and initiate the trajectory of modern women and feminist discourse. Freeman’s story projects series of character and she is famous for her art of characterization. Critics view that the stories of Wilkins presents Randolph neighbourhood. This essay intends to study the characters from the stories, ‘New England Nun’, ‘A Church Mouse’, ‘Old Woman Magoun’ and his famous story, ‘The Revolt of Mother’ which was also broadcasted and dramatized in PBS in the recent past, and relates the lives of the protagonist of these stories with that of Wilkins and explores the reflection of the life of an individual writer made universal and relative through the immense and intense portrayal of life-like characters. Comparative Study of the Protagonists of Short Stories: New England Nun, A Church Mouse, The Revolt of Mother and Old Woman Magoun and Analysis of their Life with that of Wilkins’ Own Story To analyse the conflict of paradoxical voices within conscience of the protagonists of the stories like ‘New England Nun’, ‘A Church Mouse’, The Revolt of Mother’ and ‘Old Woman Magoun’ and to establish relative contexts with that of the Wilkins’ life, it is important to have a brief look at the writer’s life and these stories individually. A close look at the life of Wilkins enables the reader to understand the kind of struggle the woman has undergone and as a first generation working woman the kind of struggle she had to face in order to strike the balance between her profession and family. As a writer and a conscious citizen, she had a pertinent rebellious spirit captivated within her body and therefore had to fight a consistent and relentless battle between her inner voice that always had tried to stand against the orthodox social and religious constraints and the other voice did not permit out to be a staunch rebel and instead guided her to the path of calm domesticity. Torn asunder under the paradoxes of self and inner conscience, Mary Wilkins Freeman chosen the medium of literature to speak out her mind and aware the society of her thoughts. Under these circumstances of writer’s life it is quite pertinent that the reflections of these paradoxes are deciphered in the characters of her stories. â€Å"New England Nun† is a story of a woman named Lousia Ellis and the story was published in the year 1891. The protagonist of the story is Louisa Ellis, who has spend a major portion of her life alone wit h her pet dog Caesar whom she thinks better to be chained always as it had bitten a neighbour when it was a puppy. Lousia is shown eccentric by nature who is always obsessed with cleanliness of her home and is shown wearing double apron and busy in cleaning her house, books and she prefers to eat in her clean china every day. Lousia promised her beloved, Joe Dagget before leaving for fortune hunting to Australia that she will marry her. After 14 years when

Anthony Giddens Theory of Structuration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anthony Giddens Theory of Structuration - Essay Example It is through this theory that the field of sociology can connect human behavior and it's influence on the rules of daily living, thinking and our view of the outside world. His introduction of 'third way' between voluntarism and determinism, is important to the notion of what defines strategic choice. Anthony Giddens' contribution to social theory is widely debated. Some argue that his thinking has been too eclectic, eschewing grand theoretical constructs for a collection of ideas with little more than descriptive value. But this thinking is the result of not understanding Giddens' work. Indeed, his career over the years has contributed to sociology as he shifted from interpretations of classical social theory and the debunking of functionalism and positivism to the elaboration of a set of ideas that attempts to bridge the gap between agency and structure. Giddens' explains: "Structure enters into the explanation of action in a dual way: as the medium of its production and at the same time as its outcome in the reproduction of social forms. Thus the study of social reproduction cannot be conceived as the aggregation of numerous 'productive acts', which tends to be the conclusion that voluntaristic forms of social theory lead to; nor, on the other hand, can the production of action, as a rationalized accomplishment, be treated as merely 'structurally determined'" (Giddens 1977) Giddens' theory, instead of looking for reasons to excuse or belie agency mistake, actually promotes respect for competent human agency. His work is indeed prominent for methodology and is multi-level, recognising the embeddedness of human actors in wider society, all of which speaks to the very foundations of sociology. Moreover, he offers extensive and impressive coverage of theory to self-reflexivity, modernity and politics, placing them all within the illuminating framework of a historical context thus adding a new layer to the world of sociology. Giddens' writing has always embodied a political and ethical position, one that has changed considerably over the years and is best understood through the social context in which it was written. Giddens' work in the 1970s attempted to marry liberalism and socialism, but, following the collapse of Communism in the 1990 East-European revolutions, his worldview became liberal rather than socialist, and his later work on reflexivity and t he 'Third Way' embodies this. Much like the human condition embraced and ever changing in a sociological context, Gidden's works contribute by allowing us to note change, appreciate it and most importantly, adjust to it. Others, however, point to his very work of structuration as a major theoretical contribution to sociological thinking. In his book New Rules of Sociological Method (1976), Giddens argued that agency produces structure and that structure is constituted of rules and resources by which that self-same agency is recreated. That is to say, Giddens wrote that the epistemology of sociological research was a "double hermeneutic" in which theory offered an explanation for the phenomena of everyday life and everyday life provided a means by which theory could be understood. In other words, the two acted in a dialectical relationship to each other. Early on in his

308 1st assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

308 1st assignment - Essay Example balance of payments, for the purposes of business profit, royal revenue, and economic prosperity (p.30).† It argues it achieved these ends through, tariff protection against imports; selective subsidies of production and exports; the acquisition of colonies, which provided raw materials and a workforce of settlers and native peoples at low cost, a market for the mother countrys finished goods, a monopoly of colonial trade and shipping, and a direct contribution to the power and prestige of empire; the development of naval power; and measures to minimize the cost of maintaining the domestic population, such as low agricultural prices, low wages, fisheries for cheap food, and so on. Doctrinal emphases on the utility of poverty and on the importance of gold holdings served instrumental purposes for those seeking power and profit. In considering the implications of trade in a mercantilist economic structure Thomas Mun urged industrialists in specific means of exportation. He argued that they must not only heed attention to their own needs, but develop a keen awareness of the needs of neighboring states, as this would give them a decided advantage when attempting export goods. He also urged exporters to attempt to sell their goods as cheap as possible, as this would undercut competing nations and cause the nation purchasing the goods to become further dependent on the imports; referring to this idea he wrote, â€Å"we must in this case strive to sell as cheap as possible we can, rather than to lose the utterance of such wares. For we have found of late years by good experience, that being able to sell our Cloth cheap in Turkey, we have greatly encreased the vent thereo (p.32).† He argued that exporting nations should export their goods in their own ships, as this would further increase the nationâ€℠¢s financial capital as the funds would not have to be spent on foreign vessels, likely increasing the price of the export. He believed that trade in far away nations

American Government poli science 10 exam question Essay

American Government poli science 10 exam question - Essay Example Several generations of political philosophy, scientific empiricism, and intellectual theory culminated in the Revolutionary War that sought the transformation of these abstract ideas into reality for a new society (Fiske, 2012). Antiquity and England itself were the principal inspirations for the ideas about independence, liberty, and the form envisioned by the Founders for their new government. Republicanism derived from several inspirations, notably the ancient Greek and Rome societies where all citizens (except slaves, who were not accorded citizenship) subordinated their private interests voluntarily to the common good. The republics predicated their authority and stability based on citizenry and their resistance to tyranny and corruption. For republicans in the eighteenth century, a person with virtue had a high sense of morality, owned property, and was ready to subordinate his or her interests for the sake of the community (Fiske, 2012). Such are the kind of people Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers thought capable of freedom. The Constitution Framers were visionaries. They designed the Constitution to last. They sought both to address the challenges facing America during their lifetimes and to establish foundational principles that would guide and sustain the new nation into a future that was uncertain (Levy, 2000). Their vision is reflected in the wording of the Constitution. The document defines the fundamental freedoms of Americans in general terms: â€Å"due process of law,† â€Å"freedom of speech,† â€Å"equal protection of laws,† â€Å"free exercise of religion,† â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† among others. It also sets forth the powers of the government in general terms: the President will ensure that laws are faithfully executed, Congress may regulate commerce in several states, the courts have authority to decide on cases and

Realism And Its Role In The Novel Farewell To Arms Annotated Bibliography

Realism And Its Role In The Novel Farewell To Arms - Annotated Bibliography Example This novel applies a prose form that explains events as they occur, describing the characters with a simple and clear language that does not call for further analysis (Corkin, 86). The novel uses language in a form that is easier to understand, making its language use, a reality. While reading the novel, the story flows as if it was being narrated orally (Lewis, 55). This fully depicts the realistic application of language diction. Considering that simple and common language is the major aspect of realism, this novel qualifies the style by applying common language that is easily comprehensible (Furst, 105). The essence of realism is to eliminate all situations where the reader will be forced to think deeply, to come up with the meaning of a literary work (Lehan, 33). The novel is based on the actual happenings during the war, making it a realistic narration of events and occurrences (Monteiro,

Political Islam in Indonesia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Political Islam in Indonesia - Research Paper Example the confrontational way of establishing Majlis Mujahedeen Indonesia (MMI) in Jakarta in August 2000. The establishment of MMI was basically a move forward assistance between ideologically ?likeminded groups of Indonesia such as front Pembela Islam and Hizb Ut Tahrir. The basic ?reason to take a step toward MMI was to help the people faced earthquake and then it worked to ?save Afghanistan from American attacks (Hilmy 131).? Majlis e Mujahedeen worked to stop American attacks in Afghanistan. This organization ?in coordination with other groups working for Islamic front including PAS and FPI, carried out ?manifestations against America and its associates who attacked Afghanistan in 2001( Krastev & ?McPherson, 2007). For future attacks they started proceeding for more explosive materials. â€Å"In ?the Indonesian mujahedeen group there also exists a group of fundamentalist campaigners that ?basically uses to serve as brainwave for the activities of religious militias and also works for the ?party as a JI recruiting agency. Various Mujahedeen’s and their leaders started finding new ways ?of attacking, and started doing research to use biological weapons for better results (Haseman 43). ? 2.? Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) Jemmah Islamiyah or Al-Jamat ul Islamia was established by Southeast Asian militia. It was ?founded on 1st January, 1993 and mostly called as JI. The Jemaah followed the teachings of ?Islamic Jihad as a fundamental approach to attain its goals (Barton 32). This Jemmah was ?formed for the protection of Muslims in Indonesia from American attacks. Militant groups of ?Indonesia even carried and used arms to protect its right to institute an Islamic state split from ?the new nation. There have been many struggles between Muslims and other religions, the ethnic ?groups during the development of Indonesia; however, not until the rise of Qaeda network and ?its global Islam ideology in the 1990’s, the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998 and the United ?States’ War on terror which began in 2001 (Rashwan 77). Basically campaigners belonging from Al-Qaeda and terrorist groups joined this Jemmah, ?resultantly, JI was pulled on several world terrorists lists .JI, however, may not actually be ?International terrorists organization (Surrette, 2009) but later it started bomb attacks in Indonesia ?in which a huge number of general population was killed. Jemmah Islamiyah serves as vital ?manuscript for understanding Southeast Asia’s most lethal terrorist groups. JI mostly trained ?young people for suicide bombing and target killing of the important dignitaries’ ?as well as vital ?assets of the country?. Another point of contention among the ranks of JI was the increasing ?numbers of Muslim civilians killed as the terrorist campaign of the Hambali-Azhari-Noordin top ?splinter outfit unfolded more and more JI members became uncomfortable with this faction’s ?chosen methods and their unintended consequences (Surre tte 13). ?3.? Laskar Jihad Thalib, an Indonesian who fought with Mujahedeens in Afghanistan, set up a group in 2000, ?named Laskar jihad. He was trained in Pakistan when he went there in 1980 to pursue further ?studies in an Islamic Mawdudi Institute situated in Lahore (Hasan 18). In 1999 clashes broke ?out in Malaku and north Malaku between Christians and Muslims of Indonesia. Thalib created ?this Jamat to control these movements. During this muddled changeover number of Muslim ?paramilitary groups like

No need for a topic Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

No need for a topic - Case Study Example Chipotle has a strong advantage over Qdoba Mexican Grill and Moe’s Southwest Grill as these two scored lowly on the weighted competitive strength assessment. It compares even better to the Qdoba Mexican Grill that scored the lowest in the weighted strength assessment. However, it scored the same as the Taco Bell. There is a need for Chipotle to look at its financial stability in order that this financial stability does not affect the other strategic advantages that it has. Its access to financing is more restricted than that of Qdoba Mexican Grill and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Chipotle has a market reach that extends beyond national boarders and operates in USA, Canada and a number of European nations. However, there is a need to secure its place in these markets and address changing global issues in order to ensure that its competitors will not push it out of the market. In this case, the main issue for Chipotle is to make sure that it is able to access the other markets such as the USA in order to secure its future. It is also necessary to note that in the weighted strength assessment, market Economic environment is one of the factors with the highest weight. As a result, because Chipotle scored very lowly in this area, it may have a bigger risk that the other firms even Taco Bell with whom it scored the same for the total

Len Bias Essay Example for Free

Len Bias Essay In one day all of one man’s dreams came true, and in one night all those dreams came spiraling down with a silent crash. I think about his friends with whom he spent his last hours with, and the nightmares that must have followed after helplessly watching their friend die at their feet. I think about his family who lost so much good fortune and, more importantly, a nephew, a cousin, a brother, and a son. I also think about the game of basketball. It lost a great player that day. Some believe he was going to be it’s greatest yet. Len Bias was the greatest player to never play the game, it’s brightest star to never shine. Cocaine had, once again, robbed the world of a truly one of a kind treasure. There has been a bit of poetic justice to come from this story, however. Bias’ mother has told stories of people who have randomly come up to her at the market or in the street telling her of how her son’s death has helped them kick their cocaine addiction. Seeing as how the story was told all over the nation, it wasn’t just locals who responded to it in this way. I have been affected by this story in a similar way. Len Bias is the sole reason I have never tried cocaine. Of course it’s very rare for a young athlete like myself to have a heart attack from drugs. Bias was definitely an exception, but he was not the rule. It goes deeper than fatality statistics for me, though. The death on Len Bias showed me that everything a human being has worked for could be stripped away in an instant with the involvement of drugs. For example, there’s the similar story of Earl â€Å"The G. O. A. T. † Manigault, who was deemed one of the greatest basketball players New York has ever seen but never reached his full potential because of a heavy heroin addiction. Unlike Bias, Manigault is still alive today. However, he is nowhere near being in the position he could’ve been in had he not picked up his drug habit. We’re talking about a possible difference of 20 million dollars! There’s no drug on earth worth making that sacrifice for in my opinion.

CASE STUDY DAILY CARE OF A TERM INFANT

CASE STUDY DAILY CARE OF A TERM INFANT The purpose of this case study is to discuss an episode of Normal Midwifery, which in this instance, will relate to the Daily Care of a Term Infant. The case study will highlight the episode of care in detail, evaluate the management of the babys Physical care and the womans Educational, Psychosocial needs with relevant evidence based support. The anonymity of mother and baby will be maintained in accordance with NMC (2008) and ESC 1 (NMC, 2007) and will be referred to as the woman and the baby through out the Case Study. Consent was also requested from the woman for herself and baby to be included in the Case Study in line with ESC 1 (NMC, 2007). BACKGROUND The woman was a 28 year old who was parity 1+0, had a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a baby girl with only Entonox as pain relief and was now 2nd day postnatal. The baby girl weighed 3288 grams with no complications after delivery and had APGAR scores of 8 at 1 minutes and 9 at 5 minutes. The woman had 40 minutes uninterrupted skin-to-skin with the baby after birth and decided to artificially feed rather than breast feed, although benefits of breast feeding were explained to the woman. The Student Midwife first met the woman during her Labour the previous day and was present at the birth. As the Student Midwife was working a day shift with her Mentor, it was requested that the Student Midwife carry out the Daily Examination of the baby in line with KCND (NHSQIS, 2009), while the Mentor observed. The initial examination and assessment of the baby was done at birth by the Mentor as suggested by Demott, Bick, Norman (2006) and included assessing the newborns physiological adaptation to extra-uterine life, colour, tone, breathing and heart rate according to Resuscitation Council (2006). The purpose of the Daily Examination there after is to monitor the progress of the baby and for early detection of deviation from the normal established at Initial Examination. These findings were documented in SWMR Baby Post Natal notes in line with NMC (2008) and KCND (NHSQIS, 2009). The Student Midwife before entering the womans room to commence examination familiarised herself with the womans Medical case / SWMR notes and babys SWMR notes, to review the medical history including: family history, maternal, antenatal and perinatal history, fetal and neonatal history so as to be prepared to assist with any concerns the woman may have regarding Physical, Educational or Social needs as recommended by KCND (NHSQIS, 2009). PHYSICAL The Student Midwife greeted the woman on entering the room and enquired how the woman was feeling. It was established that the woman was pain free and feeling fairly rested after labour the previous day. The Student Midwife then asked how the woman had found the baby overnight, regarding specifically feeding, sleeping pattern, passing urine meconium. The woman confirmed that the baby had been feeding approximately every 3 4 hours taking 30 mls each time, between feeds the baby was reported to have been settled and sleeping. It was also reported that the baby had been having wet nappies and one episode of a large amount of meconium being passed. It was important to establish that meconium had been passed within the first 24 hours as failure to do so may have indicated a gastrointestinal problem including Hirshsprungs disease. The woman was reassured that the passing of urine and meconium was important as this ensures that the renal and gastrointestinal systems are functioning normal ly. The information given was recorded in the babys SWMR notes following NMC (2008). It was then explained to the woman that the Student Midwife was going to examine the baby from head to toe, this would involve the baby being completely undressed at some point during the examination and that it would be carried out in front of her. Any findings would be discussed with her at the time and any concerns that she may have would be answered. Consent was then sought from the woman in line with NMC (2008) for the examination to be carried out, as the baby could not give consent, which was duly given. As it is important that the baby does not become cold due to the inefficiency of regulating temperature due to immaturity of the hypothalamus as suggested by Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009), the Student Midwife ensured that all windows and doors were closed to exclude any draught before commencing the Daily Examination of the baby. Also the Student Midwife washed her hands and applied latex free gloves to protect herself from any of the babys bodily fluids and to protect the baby who is at risk of infection as suggested by Johnson and Taylor (2006). Whilst undressing the baby the Student Midwife was mindful to show respect to the baby by gentle handling and lack of excessive noise as suggested by Carbjal and Coudered (2003). Safety of the baby was also considered and the Student Midwife ensured that the cot was stable and in view of the mother prior to commencing the examination. The babys identity was confirmed by checking details on both identity bands on the baby with the mother and the mothers identity was also confirmed by checking her identity band in line with the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008). A methodical examination was commenced by the Student Midwife which follows. All findings were discussed with the woman and documented in the babys SWMR notes as recommended by NMC (2007) who state that midwives must adhere to the guidelines for records and record keeping as a legal requirement. DAILY EXAMINATION Temperature Before removing the babys clothes, the Student Midwife took the babys temperature from the axilla site using an electronic thermometer whilst the baby lay in the cot. The reading was 36.8ËÅ ¡C which was within the normal range for an axilla reading (36.5 37.3ËÅ ¡C) as described by Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). Reassurance was given to the mother when she asked if the baby was warm enough that the reading was normal. The Student Midwife also offered the information of how the woman could check to see if the baby was too warm or cold by feeling under the babys clothes just below the neck and at the top of the babys back. Also a good indication was if the woman had two layers on, then generally the baby would require the same amount of layers. It was also advised that the baby would not require to wear a hat indoors if the room is at a comfortable temperature of between 18 21ËÅ ¡C but would require it outdoors due to cool air. General Appearance The Student Midwife removed the babys clothes, leaving only the nappy on which would be removed later in the examination, to observe the general appearance of the baby. The babys skin was noted to be pink all over showing no signs of central cyanosis, although hands and feet still showed slight signs of peripheral cyanosis which is normal during the first 24 48 hours according to Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009). This was explained to the mother so no undue worry was caused due to the blue tinge of the hands and feet. Also there was no sign of jaundice which is common after 48 hours from birth as all newborns have a transient rise in serum bilirubin which usually settles after 10 12 days post natal. The woman was advised to watch for any colour change of the babys skin from pink to yellow tinge or for the white of the eye (sclera) to be tinged with yellow. It was explained that this is a normal occurrence as suggested by Johnston, Flood, Spinks (2003) and as long as the baby had a good urine output, was awake regularly and fed well then there would be no cause for concern. However if the baby develops jaundice which last longer than expected, has excessive sleeping patterns, continually passes pale stools and dark urine, then the woman should get immediate attention for the baby as this is abnormal for a formula fed baby. The babys breathing was observed whilst lying in the cot and was noted to be within the normal range of 40 60 breaths/minute with the chest and abdomen rising and falling, showing no signs of distress. Being awake, alert and active the baby was seen to be moving all limbs as expected with good tone. Head The babys head was gently examined by the Student Midwife. This was done by gently running the finger tips across the babys head to feel along the suture lines and fontanelles. The Student Midwife when doing this was determining if any moulding, caput succedaneum or cephal haematoma had occurred during passage down the birth canal or from pressure from the cervical os. Slight moulding was detected and this was explained to the woman that this was normal and was caused by the bones in the skull overlapping during delivery and will resolve itself within a couple of days. The anterior fontanelle was then gently felt and found to be level. This indicated that there was no intracranial pressure which would cause it to rise or dehydration which would cause it to be depressed. It was explained that it is common to notice pulsating at the anterior fontanelle which is no cause of concern and that this soft spot closes over by the time the baby was 18 months old as confirmed by Wylie (2005). Eyes Both eyes were checked and found to be clear of any discharge. The Student Midwife suggested to the woman that if the eyes were to become sticky, which is common due to blocked tear ducts and can be seen as a crust on the eyelid, the eyes should be cleaned. To do this the woman should use cooled boiled water and cotton wool balls. Each eye should be cleaned from the inner eye outwards only using the cotton wool ball once then discarding. Each eye should be cleaned separately to avoid cross infection. Mouth Mouth was inspected by opening the mouth by gently pressing a finger against the angle of the jaw at the chin. This enabled the Student Midwife to look inside to assess the tongue, gums and palate. The Student Midwife did not insert small finger into mouth to check for a cleft palate or suck reflex as this had been established at Initial Examination of the newborn and no abnormalities had been detected. The mouth was seen to be moist and clear of any white plaques which may have suggested oral thrush as stated by Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). Skin Closer inspection was then done by the Student Midwife of the babys skin, looking in particular for any rashes, spots, bruising or infection. The babys nappy was removed and buttocks examined to ensure skin was intact. All appeared normal with no excoriation identified. The Student Midwife advised the woman that information on minor disorders would be given to her at the end of the examination as the Student Midwife was conscious of the babys temperature being maintained. Umbilicus Cord The umbilicus cord and clamp were inspected for signs of infection and separation. Nothing unusual was detected. The baby was redressed as quickly as possible to maintain body temperature and given to the woman to settle. Information was given to the woman on daily cord care which included that the umbilicus should be cleaned with warm tap water and patted dry which has been shown to aid separation as stated by Trotter (2003). This should be done daily and at a nappy change if required. It was explained to the woman that hand washing is essential before and after cord care as suggested by Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009) as the cord is a potential site for infection and Straphylococcus aureus is commonly found here as confirmed by Newell, Miller, Mogan et al (1997). When the woman asked when the clamp would be removed, it was confirmed that this may be done on the third or fourth day when the cord has dried out as suggested by World Health Organisation (WHO) (1999). The Student Midwife confirmed that the Daily Examination of the baby was complete and that she would now give the woman further information on minor disorders, safe baby care practice in particular Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and address any other concerns that the woman may have. EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Through out the examination the Student Midwife gave the woman information on day-to-day care and signs of illness. As previously mentioned further discussion took place with the woman regarding Minor disorders and safety issues, which is in line with NHS QIS (2004) who suggest that ay assessment or examination at birth or later should be seen as an opportunity for parental education or health promotion. This included the following ailments and explanation given to the woman: Skin Rashes Erythema toxicum. A red blotchy rash with white pinhead papules which is common during the first 7 days post natal and will disappear on its own. Miliaria. A sweat rash which occurs in babies who become too warm. It appears as clear papules on face, scalp, chest and areas where clothes rub due to unopened sweat glands. The baby should have excess clothing removed and placed in a cooler environment. The papules will disappear on their own. Milia. White or yellow papules commonly seen on cheeks, nose and forehead. Will disappear on their own. Sore buttocks/Nappy rash. The skin beneath the nappy area becomes red and excoriated due to either infrequent nappy changing, frequent loose stools or hot weather. By exposing the cleaned skin to a warm dry atmosphere aids the excoriated skin to heal. Care in using commercial barrier creams must be noted as they can prevent the one-way design of disposable nappies, blocking the perforations in the linings resulting in the urine and stools being next to the babys skin longer. Breast Engorgement of the Baby This can occur in both female and male babies around the 3rd day post natal. The breasts appear to have a lump under the nipple which is caused by the drop in oestrogen levels in the baby after birth which stimulates the breast to produce milk. No treatment is required and will rectify itself. It is important that mothers do not squeeze the breast as this may result in infection. Pseudo-menstruation It is common to notice a clear discharge or blood-stained vaginal discharge from baby girls during the withdrawal of the mothers hormone oestrogen after the birth. The mother was reassured that this is a normal physiological process which does not require treatment, although can be alarming if not aware of it. Safe Baby Care Practices The importance of reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is done by ensuring the baby sleeps in a cot in the parents room for the first 6 months. The baby should always be put on their back to sleep, with their feet to the foot of the cot. They should be lightly covered with the room at a normal temperature, not too hot. Bed sharing is not recommended especially after consuming alcohol, drugs or after smoking. The baby should be in a smoke-free atmosphere. These recommendations are formed by the Department of Health (1996). Following the birth of the baby the role of the Midwife is to observe and monitor the health of the mother and he newborn, offering information and support in breastfeeding, which is not applicable in this instance, parenting skills and signs of morbidity according to Merchant (2006). This involved effective communication with the woman through out the examination to ensure that the woman conveyed her concerns, maintained control over her decision making with regards to the baby, assisted her in making informed choices and reduced her anxiety levels and emotional distress as suggested by Raynor (2006). In order that the womans physical and emotional status was commensurate with effective communication, the Student Midwife had to assess the womans emotional state when receiving information, which was done by asking how the woman was feeling before commencing the babys Daily Examination. The womans state could have been effected by pain, tiredness, hormonal changes or if the baby was c rying/distressed due to being hungry or requiring changing. Therefore the timing of conducting the Examination was essential to ensure that the woman retained the majority of the information given to her without being distracted due to other factors. In this instance the woman was receptive to the information given, which would assist her in the daily care of her baby, as according to McCourt in Page and McCandlish (2006) the transition to parenthood is a time when adults are responsive to information and will look for it actively. As the Midwife becomes familiar with the appearance and behaviour of a normal term newborn, the recognition of signs and signals caused by morbidity are easily communicated to the mother to assist her in recognising when there are any deviations from the normal with her baby. The importance of this is in preparing the mother for discharge home as the length of time spent in hospital is decreasing according to Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). As well as educating the woman with clinical skills (e.g. daily care of the baby, recognising signs of illness) the Midwifes role also encapsulates being able to provide relevant information / advice on general health promotion, social support and mental health. PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS As the woman was a first time mother it was important to establish that the woman had adequate support in caring for herself and the baby. This was established by the Student Midwife by familiarising herself with the woman and babys SWMR and Case notes which would highlight any social issues that may have needed addressing as the social circumstances in which a woman lives and a newborn brought into play a major part in their health and well being according to Raynor (2006). In this instance the woman was in a stable relationship with no reported Domestic Abuse, was not in temporary housing, had no social work involvement, no mental health issues and had good family support as routinely asked during Booking appointment and recorded in SWMR notes. It was important for the Student Midwife to spend time with the woman and baby in quiet surroundings, free from interruption which offered privacy and allowed the communication of sensitive and confidential information to be shared between the woman and the Student Midwife following NIPE Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008). This gave the Student Midwife the opportunity to assess the womans psychosocial well-being by asking how she was coping (defined as coming to terms with a situation according to Lazarus (1966)) so far with the baby / becoming a mother and also to ascertain the womans expectations of becoming a mother. It is known that in adjusting to motherhood, the woman can feel insecure and loses confidence in her own abilities in the early postnatal period, especially on the lead up to and after discharge as confirmed by Ward and Mitchell (2004). Factors which can influence this are the womans personality, previous learning, quality/quantity of support available and past ex periences of coping. The woman, in this instance stated that although she knew it would take some time to adjust to lack of sleep and was slightly anxious about going home, she had good support from her partner, mother and friends; she had no immediate concerns about caring for the baby. CONCLUSION In conclusion it is the Student Midwifes opinion that the Daily Examination of the Term Infant was carried out following KCND (NHS, 2009) guidelines and that the NIPE Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008) were adhered to. The baby was examined in a safe and comfortable environment, was shown respect and care from the Student Midwife whilst performing Daily Examination and full explanation was given to the woman as to what was being checked and looked for. The Student Midwife ensured that the woman had the opportunity to ask questions or offer sensitive information through out this encounter by providing privacy and confidentiality in line with NMC (2008) and ESC (NHS, 2009). All findings and discussion were documented in mother and baby SWMR notes accordingly in line with NMC (2007) The role of the Midwife in Educational and Psychosocial needs is to give the woman, relevant health advice for the baby and themselves, reassurance and permission to say how they feel. This follows a health orientated and woman centred model of care, which recommends that the role of the Midwife is to encourage the womans self confidence, ability to take control and self esteem as suggested by Bates in Stewart (2004). In a recent study it was concluded that healthy, low risk women wanted attentive, proactive, professional support from the Midwife during the transition to motherhood according to Seefat-van Teeffelen, Nieuwenhuijze, Korstjens (2009) which the Student Midwife believes was given during this Daily Examination of a Term Infant.

Brief Outline Of The Problem

Brief Outline Of The Problem 1. Introduction: 1.1 Background: In todays world of business, information is considered as wealth. The more an organization knows about a particular course of action, the better it is equipped to get on such a pursuit and almost certainly yield success. Information is an empowering advantage that enables an organization to optimize and maximize itself and at the same time move towards their goals and missions. It allows contact with other organizations whether in a competitive or alliance stance (Claudia Klausegger et all. 2007). Managing all the information is the critical function of any organization and needs to be efficiently managed, otherwise it will lead to information overload, which then will contribute to inefficiencies, rising costs, and hinders in business success (Varian, Hal R, 2000). Information is gathered around the key functions of management such as planning, organizing, staffing, controlling and communicating. Among these functions, MIS is closer to the controlling function as it provides feedback on organizational performance and helps in monitoring. Information management provides a practical insight into the techniques used in assessing the impact of information technology in a business. It uses technology for collecting, processing and considering information with a goal of efficient management (Gordon B. Davis, 2003). Information and communication systems address the absolute need for effective use of information and communication technologies in monitoring and acquiring data, computer-based modelling, and decision support and knowledge-based systems. 1.2 Brief outline of the problem: There so many new technologies out there in so many ways that one may now feel an overload of information, hence, achieving a diminishing marginal utility status in our brains. We have now therefore a need to organize and reorganize these pieces of information constantly as to be able to keep track of which of them are valuable to us and which ones are not. 1.3 Approach and Methodology: All the above will be achieved through desk research or secondary research, the use of recommended materials and lecture notes, internet and related industries. 2 Analyses: 2.1 The glut of information: Attention is undoubtedly one of the most scarce resources around the globe in both public and private sector organizations and increasingly so. There is load of information all around us, on our hard drives, our organizations databases, the Internet, printed documents, commercial publications, emails, subscription-based services yet were frustrated when trying to locate and use it (Kevin A. Miller, 2004). Organisations are being turned inflexible due to excessive growth or mismanagement of information this state of overloaded information is called the information glut. Constant introduction of the information and communication systems does not make the situation any better; in fact it is layered over existing systems thus significantly increasing the information load. Therefore, planning and co-ordination of information and communication become of supreme importance to business success (Guus Pijpers, 2010). 2.2 Dearth of attention: Attention involves understanding how to work within an overabundance information competition, whether interfacing with customer, co-workers, or our own priority list. Leaders of organization, for example, must manage attention on several levels. They must direct their own attention to particular project and information, they must focus the attention of their employee on the most profitable activities, and they must attend to the most important buyers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. If the organization is to achieve its goal effectively, the need of managing its information is of critical importance (Iselin, E. R. 1999). The over increasing amount of digital information should not be viewed as a simple data resource or storage burden. Rather, it is an asset which holds an organization together. With the right approach, information growth can stimulate growth in the business. Without it, information can be a burden that contributes inefficiencies and rising costs, hinders growth an d stiles innovation (Hanka, 2000). 2.3 The general causes of information glut include: The main reasons for information overload at organizational and interpersonal levels can be related to five constructs. Organizational design Information processing capacity Personal characteristics Nature of the task or process Information technology Usually information overload emerges not because of one of these factors but because of a mix of all five causes. 2.3.1 Organizational design Organizational design of a company is an important factor influencing the occurrence of information overload. Changes in the organizational design, for instance, due to centralization or because of a move to interdisciplinary teams, can lead to greater information processing requirements (IPRs) because they create the need for more intensive communication and coordination (Bawden, 2001). On the other hand, better coordination through standards, common procedures, rules, or dedicated coordination centres can reduce the IPR and positively influence the information processing capacity (IPC). 2.3.2 Information processing capacity The nature of information itself is the next important factor after organizational design. It is not only the amount of information that determines information overload, but also the specific characteristics of information, such as the level of uncertainty related to information and the level of ambiguity, innovation, complexity, and intensity (Schneider, 1987). The quality of information can have great effects on the likelihood of information overload. Improving the quality (e.g., conciseness, consistency, comprehensibility, etc.) of information can improve the information processing capacity (IPC) of the individual, as this enable individual to be able to use high quality information more quickly and better than unstructured and unclear information (Sorohan, E. G. 2000). 2.3.3 Personal characteristics The individual and his or her attitude, qualification, and experience are another important factor. Persons capacity to process information is limited, recent studies include specific limiting factors such as personal skills, the level of experience, and the motivation of a person. Personal traits thus directly affect IPC (Swain Hanka, 2000). 2.3.4 Nature of the task or process Another important factor is the tasks and processes that need to be accomplished with the help of information. Complex tasks or processes directly increase the IPR. The less a process is based on reoccurring routines and the more complex it is in terms of the configuration of its steps, the higher is the information load and the greater is the time pressure on the individual (Bawden, 2001; Grise Gallupe, 1999, 2000). The combination of these two factors that increase the IPR can lead to information overload. Information overload is inevitable if the process is frequently interrupted and the concentration of the individual suffers as a consequence (Speier et al., 1999). 2.3.5 Information technology IT and its use and misuse have become another main reason of information overload. The development and deployment of new information and communication technologies, such as the Internet, intranets, and extranets, but especially e-mail, are universally seen as one major cause of information overload (Bawden, 2001). Closely related to the problem of e-mail overload is the discussion of pull versus push technologies and whether they have a positive or negative impact on an individuals IPC and IPR. Pushing selected pieces of information to specific groups reduces on the one hand their information retrieval time, but increases on the other the amount of potentially useless information that a person has to deal with (Edmunds Morris, 2000). In addition, it causes more frequent interruptions. Information technology can thus potentially increase the individuals IPC while at the same time increasing the IPR. 2.4 Consequences of information glut: 2.4.1 Missing productivity increases: Network technologies were expected to bring significant improvement in worker productivity when they were first introduced. However, the continue introduction of communication systems has led to the information glut and thus has failed to establish a significant relationship between information technology and productivity growth (Van Zandt, 2001). People have even started to wonder whether the introduction of information technology has actually had a negative effect on productivity level. It has also been noticed that the time and resources consumed in generating, distributing, processing, and sorting out paperwork adds no value to business and deflects peoples attention away from productive work (Kock, 2001). 2.4.2 Increased Health Problems and Job Dissatisfaction There is a growing concern that information gluts may be contributing to employee health problems and increased job dissatisfaction. To determine the extent of the problem, Atlas Business Information conducted a survey of 1,300 managers. They published startling results in December 2006 report. One in four managers admitted to suffering ill health as a result of the amount of information they have to handle. Moreover, two-thirds of managers said, the stress from information overload increases tension with colleagues and lowers job satisfaction (Booth S et all., 2003). These figures show that information gluts have become a serious problem, impacting workers in unexpected ways. Companies and individuals would be well-advised to start making a conscious effort to find effective ways to deal with information overload (Wurman, R. S. 2001). 2.5 Overcoming the information glut: 2.5.1 Countermeasure against information overload: Study on information overload not only discusses major causes and effects, but also proposes possible effective countermeasures to address the issues related to information overload. These countermeasures range from general suggestions concerning attitude to very specific software tools (such as filtering agents, automatic summarizers or visualization algorithms) that help to process large amounts of information. A list of countermeasures are mentioned below, Personal factors Information characteristics Task and process parameters Organizational design Information technology application With regard to information itself, information overload can be reduced if efforts are made to assure that it is of high value, that it is delivered in the most convenient way and format (Simpson Prusak, 1995), that it is visualized, compressed, and aggregated (Meyer, 1998), and that signals and testimonials are used to minimize the risks associated with information. On the individual level, it is important to provide training programs to enhance the information literacy of information consumers and to give employees the right tools so that they can improve their time (Bawden, 2001) and information management (Edmunds Morris, 2000) skills. As far as improvements for the organizational design are concerned, various authors take on conflicting positions. While earlier contributions stress the importance of self-contained tasks and lateral relationships, more recent studies see this focus on collaborative and interdisciplinary work as a cause rather than as a countermeasure of information overload (Bawden, 2001). If the cause of information overload relates to process problems, several authors suggest standardization of operating procedures (Bawden, 2001; Schick et al.), collaboration with information specialists within the process teams (Edmunds Morris, 2000), and use of facilitators or collaborative tools (such as virtual team rooms) as process enablers for cognitive support (Grise Gallupe, 1999/2000). Finally, at the level of information technology, several authors advocate the use of intelligent information management systems for fostering an easier prioritization of information (Bawden, 2001; Meyer, 1998; Schick et al., 1990) and providing quality filters. Examples of such intelligent systems are decision support systems (DSS) that reduce a large set of options to a manageable size. However, a systematic methodology (comparable to other standardized problem solving approaches) to prevent or reduce information overload is still missing. Such a methodology should combine insights from various disciplines to provide effective countermeasures that can be adapted to various contexts. For example, insights from consumer research on the importance of branding for reducing information overload can be used for new MIS instruments 2.5.2 Economics of Attention: Information is not the scarce resource, but attention is. The success of some future business model will be based on the economics of attention. Perhaps the most novel approach is to adjust over expectations on how much information do we need. The most important requirements in making a good decision do not necessarily lie in gathering large quantities of information, but rather taking time to absorb and process information, reflect and analyze, and discuss the issue at hand with others. Which means businesses must compete on peoples time and focusing on bringing quality information to people in a meaningful way (Heylighen, J. (1999). 2.5.3 Spending on information technology innovation: Information itself is meaningless without some way to locate, filter, organize and summarize it (Bawden, 2001). Innovation economists argue that the long-term benefits of investments, particularly in innovation, outweigh the costs of temporary budget deficits. Most organisations continue to stress on the importance of innovation in information technology despite tighter economic circumstances. Organizations that have decreased the share of their IT budget are more likely to feel the impact of the information glut than those where the share of IT budget set aside for innovation has increased (M. Gordon Hunte, 2007). 2.6 How information technology improve decision making Solution to information glut lies within the problem itself. Though constant introduction of advance technology adds to information glut, yet it will continue to offer the exciting solutions to information overload (M. Gordon Hunte, 2007). Information has become one of the main assets in information era. The efficient use of information is significant in determining the success of a certain organization. Making awareness of information value and the ability to manage information organization-wide will have great impact on organization progress results. Since information is used in every feature of business and generated in every process, a centralised supervision function is needed to structure, combine and distribute it effectively and efficiently. Where the finance department monitors and manages the financial aspects of organization and the legal department handles all legal affairs, the Information Organization should manage this important business asset (Booth S et all., 2003). MIS for example, aids the organization in effective and efficient decision making. The organizational data, like information on the processes, standard operating procedures and audit preparation methodology, are all tabulated and presented in the forms of reports. Also the internal controls for each department that list the flow of work between employees, the authority-responsibility relationships; all are listed by the MIS (Jay Liebowitz, 1999). An organization that uses MIS is able to record, process, and tabulates all important business transactions. As and when need arises, the organization is able to incorporate necessary changes and improvements to its areas of concern. For example when an organization sees that the actual and projected sales figures are not in tune with each other, it can take steps to make changes and thus align the two figures (Bawden, 2001). MIS facilitates informed decision making. MIS usually represents a number of options from which the organization usually picks the best trade-off for sales, operations and other strategic areas. The top management also analyzes whether its resources are being utilized optimally (Horder, W. (2004). A two-way communication flow is greatly enhanced by MIS. The management freely tells its employees their jobs, and the ways and means in which they are to accomplish the tasks entrusted to them. The employees also in turn discuss their doubts, concerns and problems (Edmunds and Morris, 2000). 2.6.1 Real case scenario: The way an organization chooses to design its decision making rules are one of the most fundamental aspects of organizations internal design. PepsiCo for example, has several different business units running independently. Running all the business units under different entities makes it harder in making the decision effectively, so they come up with strategy of power of one, though they have been successful so far in some of the areas in bringing the activities together under the same head but still there hasnt been much success in bringing a unified IT infrastructure for all the business units, that no doubt is very crucial in making effective decisions for organization as a whole (pepsico.com). 2.6.2 IT supports decision making One of the ways IT is supposed to add value to the business is by supporting better decisions. Lets take the example of PepsiCos, Despite under the strategy of power of one PepsiCos business units are using different and separate database and IT infrastructure, working independently, and that resulted in lack of central decision making authority, work duplication and cost a lot to the organization. They really need to implement an integrated IT infrastructure and software package that can bring them all together and help them making unified decisions for all the business units. 2.6.3 Enterprise wide-system Choosing a right type of IT infrastructure by itself is an integral part of the organizations decision making that help organization in further decisions. An enterprise wide system can be really helpful to turnout major challenges in any organization. They allow companies to replace their existing information systems, which are often incompatible with one another; with a single, integrated system. They provide a single system that is central to the organization and ensure that information can be shared across all functional levels and management hierarchies for a better decision making (Horn Nord and G.Daryl nord 1995). In addition, it is increasingly the case that organizations are seeking to embed much of their organizational knowledge in complex information systems. Adapting this perspective, enterprise systems are presented as more effective and efficient ways of representing the knowledge necessary to manage the contemporary organizations. Also the enterprise Information Systems provides a technology platform that enable organizations to integrate and coordinate their business processes. (Charalambos Spathis and John Ananiandis 2005) 2.6.4 Enterprise information system EIS is an interrelated set of information system supporting the decision making in the organization, by providing the following performance features. Greater quantities of information: Improved quality of information: Tools to manage and analyze the large quantity of data. More efficient communication and data sharing: Mechanisms for feedback and learning: Facilitating planning, control, coordination and decision making: (Horn Nord and G.Daryl nord 1995) 2.6.5 Executive Support System: There should not be any inefficiency in decision making from the top level at PepsiCo, if they have and managing an effective executive support system. As PepsiCo is facing some problems while making decisions effectively across the units, that shows that they are not taking the full benefits from their ESS. By implementing and managing the ESS effectively will help companys top managers to attain easy access to their internal and external information which is relevant to strategic decision making and other executive responsibilities Executive support system can provides variety of advantages to an organization to ease up its operations. Such as; Easy for upper-level executives to use, extensive computer experience is not required in operations Provides timely delivery of company summary information Information that is provided is better understood Filters data for management Improves to tracking information Offers efficiency to decision makers (Jeretta Horn Nord and G.Daryl nord 1995. 3. Conclusion and recommendation Based on the discussions above, it is found out that information is a key resource of the organization, together with people, finances and material assets. Thus, it is concluded through effective information management of the organizations resources and systems, organization administrators can add value to the services delivered to customers, reduce risks in the organizations business, reduce the costs of business development and service delivery and encourage improvement in internal business processes and external service implementation. On the other hand, it is recommended that when developing an information system, just to make sure it produces important information and not data. It is better to build a report that is ideal for a specific need then to make a report based on a predefined concession between several users. The shaped information will have value and increases insight into information needs and the way the business is looked at. Adding more and more information to the system and solving the problems as they occur will eventually lead to a system as mentioned. In fact, that is the way any functional Information System is developed. Having an experienced team helping you take the first steps and educating your staff in the first period can make all the difference. We can probably all agree on a few important points. Timely valuable information can improve decisions and outcomes. Information is potentially valuable if it could improve outcomes, but to realize that potential the intended beneficiary has to receive it, attend to it, consider it and act upon it in time. In situations where human processing capacity is limited, where data glut is possible, and where communication bandwidth is limited, we must give priority to high-value bits. The only way to do this is to know which bits would materially affect the receiver. This requires understanding the operators