BTEC National 90 Credits/ Diploma in Health and Social Care Essay

Overview of the unit This unit highlights the different psychological perspectives and encourages learners to apply these approaches to the study of health and social care. The value of psychological studies to the understanding of health and social care will also be examined. Learners will initially consider the meaning of the term ‘theories’ in the context of psychology, and will begin to appreciate the diversity of psychological theories as they progress through the unit. Learners will examine the principal psychological perspectives and then apply them to the health and social care sectors to gain understanding of the potential value of psychology in these sectors. On completion of this unit learners will have considered the psychological approach to studying health and social care. The unit encourages reflection, and will be valuable to those learners intending to work with people in a caring capacity. Look more:  sleep deprivation solution essay Learning outcomes On completion of this unit a learner should: 1 Understand psychological perspectives 2 Understand psychological approaches to health and social care. Grading criteria for the unit: To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: P1 explain the principal psychological perspectives P2 explain different psychological approaches to health practice P3 explain different psychological approaches to social care practice. M1 assess different psychological approaches to study M2 compare two psychological approaches to health and social care service provision D1 evaluate two psychological approaches to health and social care service provision. P1: Explain key points of the following principal psychological perspectives In this assignment there will be an explanation on the key pinots of the following principal psychological perspectives. Behaviourist perspective: Behaviorist psychologists explain all human behavior as resulting from experience. Two key thinkers associated with this perspective are Pavlov (classical conditioning) and skinner (operant conditioning). Although these two theories believed that different processes were involved, they both explained all types of behavior as being the result of learning-everything from shyness to aggression, from happiness to depression. This is quite different from, say the psychodynamic or biological approaches. The first theory of learning is called classical conditioning. This theory was developed by a Russian physiologist called Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936). He was working with dogs to investigate their digestive system. The dogs were attached to a harness, as shown opposite, and Pavlov attached monitors to their stomach and mouths so he could measure the rate of salivation  (production of saliva). One day he noticed that a dog began to salivate when the laboratory assistant entered the room with a bowl of food, but before it had actually tasted the food. Since salivation is a reflex response (which until then was thought to be produced only as a result of food touching the tongue), this seemed unusual. Pavlov speculated that the dog was salivating because it had learned to associate the laboratory assistant with food. He then developed his theory in the following way. This type of learning is associated with the theories of Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904-1990). Skinner was an American psychologist who worked mostly with rats and pigeons, to discover some of the key principles of learning new behaviors. He used a very famous device, called a Skinner box, illustrated below. The box contains a level which, when pressed, releases a food pellet into the box, thus reinforcing lever-pressing behavior. When the rat is first placed the box it will run around, sniff the various items and at some point it will press the lever, releasing a food pellet. After a while, when the rat has repeatedly performed this action, it will learn that this behavior (pressing the lever) is automatically followed by the release of a food pellet (the consequences). Because the pellet is experienced as reinforcing (something the rat would like to have more of), this consequence increases the probability of the behavior being repeated. There are two types of reinforcing: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Skinner investigated negative reinforcement by running a very low electrical current on the floor of the Skinner box. Psychodynamic Perspective: This approach is associated with the Austrian psychologists Sigmund Frued (1856-1939), who developed the theory of psychoanalysis. A key follower of Freud was Erik Erikson (1902-1994), who adapted aspects of Freud’s approach. Freud described the occasion when a Member of Parliament was referring to the MP for Hull, with whom he disagreed about some policy. Instead of saying  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe honourable member from Hull’ he stated to say, ‘the honourable member from Hell’. Freud was one of the earliest thinkers to bring to public attention the idea that we are not always aware of all aspects of ourselves. He suggested that what we are aware of is represented in our conscious mind but that many of our memories, feelings and past experiences are locked up in part of our mind he called the ‘unconscious’. We cannot access the content of our conscious, but they often ‘leak out’ in dreams and slips of the tongue. Freud believed that the conscious mind was like the tip of an iceberg- only a small part being available to awareness. Part of the unconscious that we can easily access he called the pre-conscious. This contains information not yet in consciousness but that can easily be retrieved (e.g. the name of Aunt Edie’s cat). The rest, well under the surface consisted of the unconscious. The importance of early experience in determining later behaviours is clearly illustrated by Freud’s development theory of psychosexual stages. He believed that we all go through several stages of psychosexual development. At each stage, the individual’s libido (energy) is focused on a part of the body that is particularly relevant at that stage. If the needs of the developing child are met at each stage, it moves on to the next development stage. If, however, there is struggle or conflict or some unsatisfactory experience, the individuals becomes ‘fixated’ (stuck) at this stage. This result in certain ways of being, or personality traits, which are carried through into adulthood and which can explain behaviour later in life. The earliest stage is the ‘oral stage’. This focus here is on the mouth and activities such as sucking, biting and licking. Freud believes that there could be two reasons for fixation. If the infant was weaned too early, it would feel forever under-gratified and unsatisfied and would develop into a pessimistic, sarcastic person. If, on the other hand, it was over-gratified (weaned too late) the individual would develop a gullible personality, naively trusting in others and with a tendency to ‘swallow anything’. This stage lasts from birth to approximately 18 months. If the infant successful passes through the oral stage without becoming  fixated, the next stage is the ‘anal stage’, which last fro, approximately one to three years. Here there libido is focussed on aspects to do with potty training, with child feeling forced to use the potty before they are ready, or feeling over-controlled in various area, they may rebel; by retaining their faces: the child refuses to ‘go’, thus holding on to control and withholding satisfaction from the parent. During the stage of four to five the child passes through the ‘phallic stage’. Fixation at this stage is associated with anxiety and guilty feeling about sex and fear of castration for males. If this stage is not resolved, the theory suggests that a boy may become homosexual and a girl may become lesbian. Freud thought these were abnormal fixation: however most people today would not view them this way. Between that age of five to seven and the onset of puberty, the child enters the ‘latency stage’, which is not strictly speaking a developmental phase but a time when the focus is on social pursuit such as sport, academic excellence and the development of friendships. The final psychosexual stage is the ‘genital stage’, which begins at puberty. Freud believed that the less fixated the individual has become during earlier stages, the more easily this stage will be negotiated, resulting in the ability to form strong heterosexual relationship with an ability to be warm and loving as well as to receive love in a new, mature fashion. A second important feature early experience is the development of ego defence mechanisms. The use of a defence mechanism allows us to block out events that threaten to overwhelm us. A final influence is that of the mind. Freud suggested that the in which he called the psych is divided into three dynamic parts. The lid is a part of the much which totally unconscious and which exist at birth. The superego is a formed as a result of socialisation and consists of all instructions, morals and values that are repeatedly enforced as we are growing up. The main role of superego is to try to subdue the activity of the lid. The ego tries to balance the demands of the lid and the superego This table will suggest examples: Name of defence mechanise Explanation Example Repression The person forgets the event Forgetting a traumatic event in childhood (e.g. a car crash) Regression Reverting to an earlier stage of development Wetting the bed when a sibling us born, having been dry before Denial Pushing an event or emotion out of consciousness Denying that a loved one has died Displacement Redirecting desires onto a safe object Kicking the cat at home because your boss gave you hard time at work Erik Erikson was psychologist who agrees with much of Freud’s theory in so far as he thought that we developed through a series of stages. However, the thought that these continued throughout our lifetime and were essentially social nature. He also believed that Freud put too much emphasis on our desire for individual’s gratification and not enough on our needs to be accepted by society and lead a meaningful life. Erikson suggested that we move through a series of psychosocial cries with different social factors at each stage. For example between birth and the age of one, the life crisis concern developing trust or mistrust in self and other. The social focus this stage is the mother. Psychosocial stages Stage Key focus of stage Positive outcome Negative outcome Stage one (0-1years) How the infant is parented Dependable, responsive caring parenting lead to a sense of trust Parenting that lacks warmth and affection or is inconsistent leads to mistrust Stage 2 (1-3years) Being enabled to do things by yourself Being supported in growing independent lead to a sense of autonomy Being criticised and over-controlled lead to a felling of doubt about your own competence Stage 3 (3-6 years) Interaction with the world Being encouraged to try out new skills and explore the world lead to sense of imitative Being hampered in the desire to find things out (e.g. criticised, told not to be silly) lead tp a sense of guilt and a lack of confidence Stage 4 (6-12 years) Understanding how things are made and how they work The ability to succeed at realistic tasks lead to a sense of industry Being pushed to take on tasks they are not ready for leads to a sense of inferiority Stage 5 12-18 years) Developing a consistent sense of identifying by experimentation Experimentation leads to a secure sense of identity The inability to experiment and develop a sense of indentify leads to role confusion and negative identity Social learning: Culture refers to the shared values, norms and language, customer and practise of a group. Although we tend to think of culture as being specific to different countries, it also refers to different sub-groups within society. For example, people from different socioeconomic groups within the UK will share different aspects of culture, such as the value placed on eating at a table rather than on your lap in front of the television: the way in which money is spent and how to talk to your elders. It is important to understand how culture affects our behaviour in order to gain full understanding of the people we encounter and those we work with. There are many influences in our behaviour- from peers, siblings, parents, television, sports personalities and other celebrities. According to the  social learning theory, role models are very important. While we may learn new behaviours fro, anyone the likelihood of imitating such behaviours is strongly influenced by the way we perceive the person performing the behaviour (the model). If we observe someone we admire behaving in particular way, we are more likely you imitate such behaviour. This diagram below illustrates factors associate with a model that influences whatever we will imitate him or her. Our behaviour is dramatically influenced by the presence of other, however much we may believe ourselves to be truly individual in out beliefs and behaviour. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in the experiments conducted in the 1950s by social psychologist Solomon Asch. He was interested in a concept called major influence. This is when the presence of other people causes us to change our public behaviour or opinions because we do not want to stand out from the crowd. This is an important concept in psychology that has a big impact in the way we behave toward others and expect them to behave toward us. If we believe ourselves to be worthwhile, pleasant, and likeable them we will almost certainly be polite and cheerful toward those we meet, thus creating a favourable impression. In response, those who come into contract with us perceive us favourable and behave in an s positive way towards us, with the result that out positive self-belief are confirmed. If on the other hand, we are angry full of resentment, believe the world is against us and so on, then we are likely to behave in s more aggressive, confrontational or argumentative way, in which will confirm our views of ourselves and the worlds. There is a similarity between role theory and the self-fulfilling prophecy, in that role theory suggests that because we live within particular culture, society and social group we are influenced by other people. This influence helps lead us to adopt certain roles and tries to live up to the expectations that go with this role. Social learning theory explains behaviour as the result of learning form  people we are exposed to in our environment. We can also learn new behaviours from people we observe, either in real life or in the media. This is knows as observational learning and this theory was developed by the American psychologist Albert Bandura. The person we learn from is known as the role model and the process of imitating is called modelling. However we do not imitate all behaviour we observe and remember. Whether or not it is our interest to imitate particular behaviour is influenced by characteristics of the model. If we see a model being punished for a certain behaviour we are likely you imitate it than if we see him or he being positively reinforced. Humanistic Humanistic psychology looks at human experience from the viewpoint of the individual. It focuses on the idea of free will and the belief that we are all capable of making choices. Two psychologist associated with this approach are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Mallow (1903-1970) was an American psychologist who believed that we are all seeking becomes the best that we can possibly be-spirally, physically, emotionally and intellectually. He called this self- actualisation. He constructed a theory known as the hierarchy of needs, in which he explained that every human being requires certain basic needs to be met before they can approach the next level. As the diagram shown, Maslow believed they until our basic physiological needs ate meet we will focus all our energies on getting them met and not begin or progress further. When we are well-housed well-fed and comfortable physically, we begin to focus on our emotional needs, such as the need to belong and be loved and to feel self-esteem. When our lived are such that these needs are also met, we strive to self-actualise. Rogers (1902-1987) was partially interested in the concept of sel. There are many aspects of the self but two are especially important here. Self-concept refers to the way we view ourselves. This includes physical and biological  attributes such as male or female, blond or brunette, tall or short, as well as personality traits such as being kind, humble, assertive, and hard-working. The self-concept is formed from nearly age and young children internalise other people’s judgments of them, which them become part of their self-concept. Roger believed that we also hold a concept of self called the idea self. This represents a view of us as we felt we should be and as we would like to be. Self-esteem: how valuable we fell, literally the amount of esteem we give to ourselves. Someone with high self-esteem will believe they are loved and lovable and that they are important and valued. An individual with low self-esteem, may feel unwanted and worthless, or no value to anyone else, unloved and unlovable. Self-concept: the way we see ourselves. In early life this comes from what we are told about ourselves. Cognitive/information processing This psychological perspective has gained enormous ground since the 2960s, when the influence of behaviourism began to wane. With the development of computer came the idea that brain activity was like the operation of a computer. A great deal of research has been devoted to understanding cognitive processes such as attention, memory, perception information processing, problem solving, through, language and other aspect of cognition. Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a Swiss psychologist who initially worked on measuring intelligence. During his research he noticed that children of the same age made the same mistake in logic, however bright they were. He came to the conclusion that cognition develops through a series of stages, each new stage building on the previous one. Stage Age Key features Stage 1: sensori-motor 0-2 years The world is experienced through motor activity and the senses Stage 2: pre-operational 2-7 years Language develops along with memory. The child is egocentric and unable to conserve Stage 3: concrete operational 7-11 years The child can now understand conservation but cannot yet solve problems mentally Stage 4:formal operational 11+ The child cannot use abstract thoughts and represent problems mentally George Kelly (1905-1966) developed a unique psychological theory known as the psychology of personal constructs. He saw the individual as a scientist, making predictions about the future, testing them and, if necessary, revising them according to new evidence. A construct is a way of constructing (interpreting and making sense of) reality and the environment. Kelly believed that we do not have to be constrained by our past history but can seek out new, alternative, more positive meanings. Biological perspective The theory of maturation holds that the effects of the environment are minimal. The child is born with a self of genetic instructions passed down from its parents, and it’s cognitive, physical and other developmental processes merely unfold over time, rather than being depended upon the environment to mature. It is in effect a theory which stated that development is due to nature not nurture. This is quite a contact to learning theory or humanistic theory, where the effects of nurture are paramount. Arnold Gesell (1880-1961) believed that development occurred according to a sequence of maturational processes. For example, development in the womb follows a fixed set of stages: the heart begins to form first, along with a rudimentary nervous system. Bones and muscles develop next and over time the organism develops into a fully functioning human being, ready  to be born. As the child develops from birth onwards, its genes allow it to flower gradually into the person he or she is meant to be. The environment should provide support for this unfolding of talents, skills personality and interests but the main thing driving this development is the maturational process. The autonomic nervous system produces its effects through activation of nerve fibre throughout the nervous system, brain and body or by stimulating the release of hormones from endocrine glands (such as the adrenal and pineal glands). Hormones are biochemical substances that are released into the bloodstream and have a profound effect on target organs and on behaviour. They are present in very small quantities and individual molecules have a very short life, so their effects quickly disappear if they are not secreted continuously. There are a large number of hormones including: Melatonin, which is released by the pineal gland and acts on the brainstem sleep mechanism to help synchronise the phases of sleep and activity Testosterone, which is released in the testicle and may influence aggressiveness Oxytocin, which is released by the pituitary gland and stimulates milk production and females orgasms Some hormones are released as response to external stimuli. Central nervous system Autonomic nervous system Consists of the brain and spinal cord Regulates organs of the body and processes such as heart rate and blood pressure: only one branch is activated at any time Sympathetic branch Parasympathetic branch Associated with arousal and the fight or flight response Associated with rest and relaxation Genes affect behaviour in many ways. Some discords, such as Huntington’s disease, are caused by a single dominate gene, which either parent can pass on to their children. Other, such as caustic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia, are caused when both parents pass on the gene for the disorder. Some of the changes in behaviour are listed below, through this list is not comprehensive: Hallucinations and delusions Severe confusion Progressive memory loss Inappropriate speech: use of jargon or wrongs words Personality changes including anxiety and depression, withdrawal from social interaction. Decreased ability to care for oneself and inability to maintain employment. P2: Explain different psychological approaches to health practice. In this task there will be an explanation on the different psychological approaches to health practice. Psychodynamic perspective: Understanding challenging behaviour The basic tenet of this perspective I that much of our behaviour is driven by unconscious forces. It is therefore important to recognise that we may not be able to understand behaviours using question and answer techniques, as the individual may not be aware of what is troubling them. It is necessary to delve a little deeper and try to interpret behaviour, on the assumption that the behaviour is in some way a symptom of what is going on in the unconscious. Understanding and managing anxiety When we are anxious we often have fears about even that have happened or might happen, about things we have done or might do, and about whether the world is safe or unsafe place. We often try to control anxiety using a variety of strategies. Sometime we use denial- the ostrich approach where we bury our heads in the sand and pretend the object of our anxiety doesn’t  exist. Sadly, for mot of us, the anxiety still seeps through, and may present itself in the form of physical symptom. Cognitive perspective: Supporting individuals with learning difficulties Individuals with earning difficulties can experience enormous frustration in their daily live as they seek to make sense of what can be bewildering experiences. The cognitive approach can be used to help people who misread situation. By identifying irrational thoughts, an individual can be guided to change them, with consequent benefits for their emotional and behaviour. Cognitive work of this type can improve self-esteem and reduce outburst, which may be triggered by lack of understanding of the requirements of a given situation (for example, having to wait in turn for a meal.) Supporting individuals with emotional problems: The cognitive perspective is widely used with individuals with a wide variety of emotional problems. This perspective begins by examining how distorted and irrational negative thoughts influence feelings, which hen lead to change in behaviour. Support individuals with depression: The psychologist Aaron Beck has formed a helpful approach to understanding depression, known as cognitive behaviour therapy. The pattern of behaviour common to these suffering from depression is described by Beck as a cognitive triad. To begin with, the individual thinks he is worthless and inadequate. This self-appraisal then lead to the beliefs that this lack of worth means that the future will be just as bad as the present. This then generalises to a conviction that the world contains problems and difficulties that he individual us powerless to overcome. The goal of cognitive therapy is to challenge these negative thoughts and to encourage the patient to develop alternative, more positive, ways of seeing the world. Identifying negative-irrational/distorted thinking This can be done by keeping a diary and recording every instance of negative thinking and the feelings that follow. Initially this can be difficult, as  these patterns are so automatic it can be difficult to notice them. However it will get easier over time. For example: asking yourself: What is the evidence for such negative thinking? Are there alternative explanations? It can be helpful to think how others would response or ask them How does it affect me to think so negatively What type if thinking errors am I making (for example, magnifying or catastrophizing) Supporting individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder This disorder consists of a set of symptoms as outlined below: Re-experiencing the traumatic event (intrusion) Nightmares Flashbacks Frequent recall of the event Intense emotional upset produced by stimuli that symbolise the event (e.g. fireworks may symbolise a battlefields) Avoiding of stimuli associated with the event (or numbering of responsiveness) The person tries to avoid thinking about the trauma or encountering stimuli that will bring it to mind The person may be unable to remember the event Decreased interest in other A sense of estrangement An inability to feel positive emotions Increased arousal Difficulties falling or staying asleep Difficulties contracting Hyper- Vigilance An exaggerate startle response The above are some, or all of the symptoms experienced by individuals with a diagnosis of pat-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Biological perspective: Arnold Gesell developed an assessment scale to enable judgement to be, made about whether a child’s behaviour and understanding matches that their chronological age (how old the child is). This scale enables the child’s scores to be compared against their scores at an earliest age to determine whether development is proceeding satisfactorily. It also enables a skilled and trained assessor to indentify developmental problems that may emerge for an individual, thus allowing for early and appropriate intervention. There are three overlapping stages at which development can be measured: Between two and a half years to age six Between four and six years old Between six and nine years old At each age there are various tests to assess different aspects of development. One test administered at around the age of four consists of comprehension questions. It measures the child’s ability to use perceptual; accuracy and skills involved in regulating its own behaviour and emotions by asking him to plan solutions to hypothetical social situations. This allows for a judgment to be made on the child’s ability to deal with actual social situations as it reaches the age of about five years old. The cubes test, which is used primarily with children aged two to six, assess the ability to follow directions and perform a structured task. Visual perception and fine motor co-ordination skills involves in colouring, cutting and handwriting are assed against developmental norms. The child’s attention span, together with the ability to perceive different shapes accurately, is also measured and together these give information about reading comprehension, spelling and mathematical skills. M1: Asses different psychological approached to study In this assignment their will be an assessment of different psychological approaches to study.

Memories of a Childhood’s Slavery Day Essay

In Memories of Childhood’s Slavery Days, Annie Burton was born into slavery in 1858 on a plantation outside of Clayton, Alabama and raised by her mistress after her mother ran away. She grew up during the Civil War and remembers her early days on the plantation. After being set free, Burton’s mother returned for her children. Annie was hired as a nanny by Mrs. E. M. Williams, who taught her how to read and write. After her mother died, Annie took responsibility for her three younger siblings and moved to Boston in 1879. She later moved to Georgia and then Jacksonville, Florida, where she worked in a restaurant before returning to Boston. In 1888, she married, and ran a boarding house with her husband. She began taking evening classes at the Franklin Evening School, and the headmaster, Frank Guild, suggested that each of the students write their life story. It was this suggestion that gave Burton the push to write her autobiography. Burton’s Memories of Childhood’s Slavery Days (1909) is divided into four parts. In the first section, called â€Å"Recollections of a Happy Life,† Burton talks about her childhood on the plantation in Alabama and her marriage to Samuel H. Burton. In the second section, â€Å"Reminiscences,† Burton reflects on being set free and the way it changed her life. The third section, â€Å"Vision† gives a detailed account of Burton’s religious change. Burton also includes an essays and poems she wrote. â€Å"The memory of my happy, care-free childhood days on the plantation, with my little white and black companions, is often with me. Neither master nor mistress nor neighbors had time to bestow a thought upon us, for the great Civil War was raging. That great event in American history was a matter wholly outside the realm of our childish interests. Of course we heard our elders discuss the various events of the great struggle, but it meant nothing to us. Burton talks about knowing that the Civil War was going on but not being old enough to know or care about it. She also calls it a â€Å"great† event in American history. Though it may not have been to white Southerners, it was day slaves were waiting for. She also states that : â€Å"There are hidden wrongs perpetrated by the whites against the negro race that will never be brought to light until the race owns and controls its own daily newspapers which alone have the power to discover and enthrone truth, thus becoming a safe guide to all honest seekers of facts respecting the race whether from a moral, educational, political or religious field. To carry out the plans suggested, whether viewed from an intellectual, industrial, commercial, or editorial standpoint, the world must acknowledge that to-day the negro race has the men and women, who are true to their race and all that stands for negro progress. †

Software implementation methods

Description of the AdministrationSanolabor is a big sized selling and distribution company in Slovenia. It chiefly deals with health care, pharmaceutical and laboratory equipments acquired from more than 500 makers and providers both internationally and locally ( Sanolabor. Corporate Profile [ Online ] ) . In 2000 the company was awarded an ISO 9001:2000 quality direction certification for its proviso of quality services. The company is divided into two chief parts ; the retail subdivision which was apparatus to cover with individualized demands ( Sanolabor. Retail. Offer [ Online ] ) and the sweeping section which supplies wellness establishments, scientific establishments and industry with merchandises like ; research lab plans, medical and hospital equipment and a scope of other commercial merchandises ( Sanolabor. Wholesale [ Online ] ) .Description of the Implementation MethodSanolabor decided to roll-out their new Customer Relationship Management ( CRM ) utilizing the rapid execution. Software execution methods ( Anon. , 2001, pg39 ) suggests This technique is used to deploy systems whose faculties have already been predefined taking to a fast and direct alteration over from the bequest system to the new one, as a consequence companies are sometimes forced to alter their concern processes to suit the system. In Software execution methods ( Anon. , 2001, pg39 ) Rapid execution is categorized into two parts there is: The preconfigured faculty where the user accepts the basic constellation of the system and the predefined concern procedures and the Vanilla Implementation where the user gets to analyse and take the map parametric quantities of the already preconfigured package. Some of the advantages that come with Rapid execution are:The undertaking costs less.There is speedy determination devising.There are minimum concern breaks while implementing the system.Some of the disadvantages of utilizing this method are:Companies may non hold clip custom-make the package to suit their concern procedures.Most of the clip the top direction is required to take part and do speedy determinations.It is normally inflexible and delivers a system with limited functionality.Summary of instance surveySanolabor decided to follow a Microsoft Excel-based system due to the addition of planetary competition and rapid alteration in the market. The system would assist the company supervise client in formation and bring forth analytical studies but because of its engineering it became unstable and could non work decently. Sing that a alteration was needed a undertaking squad was setup its undertaking was to present a to the full functional CRM system. The undertaking commenced on January 2006 and its timeline was set to one twelvemonth, the first aim of this squad was to look for a seller who would be able to supply a system whose characteristics replicated the old one together with some improved maps. The seller ‘s first undertaking was to capture user demands and within a short clip the first paradigm was delivered. By this clip the undertaking squad had grown to 42 people, they were divided into three groups and sanolabor ‘s computing machines were chosen as a testing environment. A preparation session was held in July and failed due deficiency of proper planning. Two months subsequently another preparation session was constituted and because of better be aftering the consequences were deemed successful. Data migration was initiated following and completed without any challenges ; one time this was done the CRM was quickly implemented and shortly after jobs at the operational and managerial degree began to harvest up. Another job which was encountered was that 60 workstations crashed due to incompatibility issues with an interface developed by the seller, the company besides changed its concern procedures to suit the package. The system was monitored for four months with errors being reported to the seller and after subsequent corrections were made it became stable and the undertaking was closed in March 2007. ( 286 words )Critical analysis of the success of the execution method usedBing that sanolabor did non see the concluding version of their CRM system during the proving session, it was an unadvised move to quickly implement the new system. In a systems development life-cycle all members of a squad set abouting a undertaking must be actively involved, the undertaking director sho uld understand his/her function and every activity must be planned and monitored. In sanolabor ‘s instance the undertaking squad left all the work from the analysis to the execution phase to the package seller. No enterprise was taken until jobs started to happen in the latter phases of the development life-cycle and as a consequence it ended up being dearly-won for the company in footings of resources and clip. Harmonizing to package execution methods ( Anon. , 2001, pg41 ) one should thoroughly measure to find where rapid execution is appropriate for your organisation, this rating was non done decently even though the implementing undertaking of the new CRM system into the company was successful. Below is a elaborate history of the challenges and the result that lead to a successful CRM execution. These experiences were both shared by the undertaking squad and the package seller. In order to successfully implement a system in a real-work environment one must understand the concern needs every bit good as user demands of that company and good preparation guidelines must besides be followed, sanolabor ‘s CRM undertaking lacked these properties and as a consequence the company faced a batch of jobs in the execution stage. After choosing a seller the undertaking squad decided to utilize the vanilla execution to deploy the system, hence a batch of loops to the parametric quantities were done in conformity to the users ‘ demands, the result was that the undertaking director did non see the concluding version of the system ( Franka & A ; Armand, 2007 ) . The first jobs began to demo up in the preparation stage ; the users were unhappy because of the manner the Sessionss were carried out. ( Sanolabor, 2006e cited in Franka & A ; Armand, 2007 ) gives an history of the issues that were faced during preparation:The user demands were inadequately fulfilled i. e. non all the maps performed as the user expected.The employees had a negative attitude towards the CRM because they feared that the work burden would increase and the company ‘s organisational construction would alter, therefore their motive was low.The undertaking squad had grown to 42 people by this clip which made it excessively big for proper preparation to take topographic point.A suited preparation environment was non carefully chosen. It was done with sanolabor ‘s old computing machines which were really slow and lacked the capacity to back up the package.Due to the big figure of users that were supposed to be trained and the handiness of clip, the Sessionss were excessively short and did n't supply sufficient information of the systems functionality.The user manuals were besides unequal because they did non reflect the proper guidelines of how to utilize the CRM.The preparation was conducted unprofessionally.Because the above result had to be rectified, the und ertaking squad took charge of the undertaking and started by make up one's minding to carry through the user demands foremost, one time this was complete they moved to prove it and it was done to a satisfactory degree. The following measure after successfully finishing the first two activities was developing. These Sessionss took topographic point two months subsequently after the initial attempted and in order to obtain successful consequences a different attack was taken. The undertaking director take to ( Franka & A ; Armand, 2007 ) :Motivate the user groups by giving them confidence of better things to come, this ensured cooperation.Reduce the undertaking squad significantly to 21 people: seven users per group this ensured manageableness,Add the Sessionss to three hours from the old 45 proceedingss this gave the users ‘ ample clip to prove the system.Improved the user manual, this lead to a better apprehension of the system.Upgraded the computing machines that were at sano labor to back up the CRM.The consequences of the 2nd preparation were positive as it could besides be seen from the users. The following measure was to migrate the information from the bequest systems to the new CRM solution ; this was done without any jobs. After the preparation and informations migration was completed successfully, the squad was now certain that the system was ready to ‘go unrecorded ‘ . It was quickly implemented and shortly after jobs began to happen: at the operational degree Franka & A ; Armand ( 2007 ) study that ‘reclamations grounds was uncomplete, print of demands was inconsistent with demands, communicating between merchandise directors was hindered ‘ and for the analytical degree ‘reports did non present contents sing certain filters, other studies were impossible to obtain ‘ . Sanolabor besides wanted to utilize Microsoft Outlook together with the CRM solution, this prompted the seller to come up with an interface tha t would incorporate both. Franka & A ; Armand ( 2007, pg.205 ) writes that the: ‘Purpose was to put in the interface on all of the 60 working Stationss automatically, but it happened that the basic Microsoft system crashed down. Companies or providers proficient sup ­port did non expect instability, which could ensue from such operation. It caused extra costs to the company ; purchasing new licenses and probationary support with installing of new programmes on all working Stationss ‘ . Due to the dictates of utilizing the rapid execution method sanolabor had to alter their concern processes to suit into their new system this did non do any jobs because they were already client oriented. The execution procedure was monitored for four months where the undertaking director consistently reported errors to the provider and checked on its public presentation ( Sanolabor, 2006b cited in Franka & A ; Armand, 2007 ) . Company decided to travel with an analytical CRM for the intent of leading, activity monitoring of employees, better inform ­ing, betterment of dealingss with clients and better strate ­gic determinations. It gave the replies to employees, why company decided to upgrade CRM. All this can act upon on the betterment of the general relationship with custom ­ers. After going stable in March 2007 the undertaking officially closed.BibliographySanolabor. Corporate Profile [ Online ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sanolabor.si/eng/prispevek.asp? IDPodPodrocja=442 [ Accessed 1 March 2010 ] )Sanolabor. Retail. Offer [ Online ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sanolabor.si/eng/prispevek.asp? IDPodPodrocja=445 [ Accessed 1 March 2010 ] )Sanolabor. Wholesale [ Online ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sanolabor.si/eng/prispevek.asp? IDPodPodrocja=440 [ Accessed 1 March 2010 ]Franka Piskar & A ; Armand Faganel, 2009. A Successful CRM Implemen tation Project in a Service Company: Case Study. [ pdf ] Slovenia: Organizacija volume 42 Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //organizacija.fov.uni-mb.si/index.php/organizacija-en/article/viewFile/1036/864 [ Accessed 30 February 2010 ]Anon, 2001. Software Implementation Method. [ pdf ] Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //vig.pearsoned.co.uk/samplechapter/078972670X.pdf [ Accessed 27 February 2010 ]

How we reduce cars on campus by 10% by 2015( Essay

How we reduce cars on campus by 10% by 2015( - Essay Example The available programs have a shortage of premium quality service options, poor road pricing, lack priority and preferred parking spaces and it is not flexible enough to even allow unscheduled use of the vans or even allow one to use it twice or more times. There are sporadic and confined bus services to the campus and this is a promoting factor to the use of personal vehicles to the campus. The public transport with the buses is limited to some restricted routes and thus it does not reach some areas. This forces the students or staffs in those routes to use private means to reach the campus. The other bus services have fixed schedule time that discourages the commuters since they are not assured of getting a vehicle back home if he/she cannot confine with the fixed time (Nozzi, 2003). The bus services are also inconvenienced in the routes where the boundaries are placed forcing one to walk and this is more time consuming thus it is better to use the private means. Biking services ha ve both physical and external challenges and it is unrealistic to most students. This has many challenges since most of the time the weather changes from time to time discouraging most people from using this cheap means. Majority of the campus students and staffs sees this mean as unworkable because it does not meet the standards of a campus staff or students and it is viewed as a way of killing self-prestige and respect. Bicycles increase the rate of theft in the campus simply because it is easy to pick on someone’s bicycle without raising any suspicions (International Police Mountain Bike Association, 2007). The use of buses around campus seems to have met many challenges ranging from route restriction, conflict in time scheduling and commuting hours. This makes this option in helping reduce car population to 10% by 2015 as being ineffective. This is an important issue because it addresses on how to provide means of improving the infrequent and inconvenient bus services thu s encouraging more people to shift to the ridesharing thus reducing the number of the personal cars in the campus. In the implementation of increased ridesharing facility within the campus, a number of steps must be considered which will improve the service as compared to how it currently exists. Ridesharing options within campus transport has been approved by a number of environmental watchdogs in the country due to the level of CO2 emission reduction that it creates. In the implementation of this program, funding sources will have to be created with viable targets being the BC Climate Action Charter and the Live Smart BC groups. The ride sharing processes within campus require the presence of a green staff team responsible for the coordination of the exercises each place must also have a cohort representative to evaluate the prevailing situation in each area before reporting to the green team. Reorganization of the royal shared ride services will also need a functional and user-fr iendly website that makes it easier for the users to interact and access the services. As a means of publishing these services, the green team shall produce brochures and booklets to highlight the advantages of this service and its benefit in eliminating cars in the campus. In addition, staff and students will be taught on the benefits of using RRU services shall be conducted by representatives from the different cohorts. They

The people's response to the typhoon tip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The people's response to the typhoon tip - Essay Example Supertyphoon caused a massive rainfall which resulted in enormous rainfall which caused over 700 mudslides and floods over the Japan Mountains (Emanuel 267). It broke rivers resulting in destruction of close to 30 bridges and demolition of over 100 dykes (Hurricanes 10). The floods reached over 20000 homesteads and displaced over 10000 people. Ships sunk to ground intensifying the number of deaths reported due to the cyclone (Allaby 15). The high pressure winds of the Tip knocked gasoline tank in a nearby US Marine Corps camp and caused fire which resulted in deaths and injuries (Emanuel 267). International organization brought humanitarian intervention to assisted Japan to restore its status after the tip. Economic impacts of a typhoon tip exemplified by that which hit Japan can be estimated as several million dollars agricultural damages and fishing industry losses. The high pressure winds from the Tip knocked down High-rise buildings in Tokyo (Emanuel 267). It also disrupts transportation either by mudflow which covers pathways, or destruction of bridges by broken rivers and general destruction of

Race in Ancient Egypt Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Race in Ancient Egypt - Research Paper Example There are various theories that seek to establish the origins and hence the race of the people of Egypt. This paper will seek to demonstrate that the ancient Egyptians did not originate from one specific race. It will seek to demonstrate that the ancient Egyptian population resembles a melting pot, where groups from different regions were integrated into the Egyptian population. Background In terms of geography, the ancient Egyptians regarded Egypt as being divided into two kinds of land. These included the ‘red land’ and the ‘black land’. The black land comprised the fertile lands along the banks of river Nile. The ancient Egyptians used this to grow crops (Shuter 1999). It was the only land that could be farmed. This is because the soil was comprised of a rich layer of black silt. This was deposited when the Nile flooded. The red land referred to the barren desert on the two sides of the black land. The deserts separated the ancient Egyptians from invading enemies and surrounding countries. There were also sources of semi-precious and precious metals. However, before the days of the pharaohs (before 5000 BC), Ancient Egypt is believed to have been fertile and full of vegetation (Shuter 1999). In these times, there was no need to settle along the Nile. Many hunters and gatherers tribes conglomerated around in a nomadic fashion. Most of these are believed to have been of different origins and ethnicities. ... Those from the south (Upper parts of Egypt) originated in Nubia. Therefore, they had curlier hair and darker skin. In 3100 BC, Narmer united the land and commenced the Pharaonic period. Henceforth, the geography of the country changed, and ancient Egypt became one country. Today, the distinction of tribes can be seen in Egypt. The people who inhabit Aswan and Luxor are predominantly of Nubian influence. Those from Cairo or Alexandria are predominantly of Arabian influence. As seen above, River Nile had an imperative role in unifying the various tribes and races. The Nile River would flood on roughly yearly basis. After flooding, it created a fertile strip of land by the provision of silt. In this fertile strip, the Ancient Egyptian races would grow fruits and vegetables. Farming brought different races together in Ancient Egypt. In the period of the Pharaohs, everyone was made to gather crops together in harvesting season (Shuter 1999). The economy of ancient Egypt was based on grain s and wheat. For over 5000 years, the farmers created a civilization that was based on the union of the Nile River and the land. Important crops harvested during this times included emmer, barley, wheat, flax, papyrus reeds and castor oil. Some of these were exported to outside lands such as the Roman Empire. Race is an ill defined concept which is used to describe a population. In the ancient times, race was first recognized, described and finally classified using arbitrary and non-scientific methods. Despite the methods used to classify humans, there is substantial evidence that the human race originates from a single species. Biologists describe race as the difference in gene frequency in a given population. The difference is attributed

Project Management Process at HLR Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Management Process at HLR Inc - Essay Example This paper discusses the main issues concerned with the implementation of Information Technology project at HLR Inc. The firm had never implemented such a big project that involves huge investment and association of many stakeholders. Stakeholder analysis is an important stage in the management of a project. A stakeholder may be defined as anybody or organization who is actively involved in the project process and they include people who are affected by the project (Sproull 1991). Actually, stakeholder identification is a continuous process. At any stage of the project, stakeholders can be identified. Hence, it is the best practice to workout the stakeholders' list and documents it in the initial stages of the project. During the course of the project, this stakeholder list can be updated. The project manager should be aware of the needs and wants of the stakeholders as different stakeholders will have different wants and needs. The key stakeholders of the present project include the following parties: The Customer/user (HLR Inc and its customers): HLR Inc is the immediate customer of the project. However, the customers who purchase goods and receive service from the organization also form part of the stakeholders of the project. The project sponsor has a specific role to play in the project process. ... Product Fulfillment (Denver, Ottawa CN): Processes, evaluates, and approves development and leasing contracts. Makes changes to customer information if notified. Customer Service (Denver): Resolves problems for customers and acts as the 24/7 call center for lease or customer related issues. Makes changes to customer information. Billing (Chicago HQ): Deals with rental payments, invoice issues, and follow-ups. Makes changes to customer information. Provides financial information to sales and executive management Marketing (Chicago HQ): Reviews sales and future development data and determines marketing opportunities. Sponsor (CIO of HLR Inc): The person who facilitates project process by timely arranging finance and other resources. Any other people who are influenced indirectly by the activities of the organization. The Project Sponsor The project sponsor has a specific role to play in the project process. He occupies the prominent position as the project is initiated and completed by him by arranging all resources necessary for the project. In the present case, CIO is the project sponsor, who is responsible to undertake the completion of the project to protect the organization interest along with the interest of other stakeholders. CIO at HLR Inc is primarily a high risk-taker as the project is being criticized by many in the organization. However, the project manager takes strong decisions as to the smooth flow of the operations and completion of the work. CIO, here acts as the mediator between the project manager and other stakeholders who are adversely affected by the new project. There is no doubt that the scope of the responsibility of CIO spans the whole of the project life cycle. The activities of CIO involve the

Suitable Fire Suppression System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Suitable Fire Suppression System - Case Study Example As a biotech company, Mutandum relies heavily on its information technology resources. Recently, it emerged that the fire safety mechanisms used to protect and ensure the resilience of the company’s information technology resources in Tucson are slightly ineffective. Technically, the Wet-Pipe System installed in the company’s Tucson facility may lead to business downtime, a situation which is not in harmony with objectives and directions of the company. Alternatively, a Water-Nitrogen Mist System feature as the best solution to the fire problem. Succeeding parts of this section contain detailed impact assessment and corporate goal coupling of the Water-Nitrogen Mist System in Mutandum. Â  Admittedly, Water-Nitrogen Mist System is superior compared to other fire suppression systems, especially Wet-Pipe Systems. Among the technical features, that enhances superiority of Water-Nitrogen Mist System include, use of the inert nitrogen gas, and minimum release of water which prevents flooding. With the use of Water-Nitrogen Mist System, Mutandum will not be forced to encounter downtime resulting from flooding of server rooms. Undeniably, water damages electronic devices, and may sometimes lead to loss of digital information. In this case, limited use of water in fire suppression will save Mutandum the ordeal of data loss and re-installation of electronic equipment damaged by Wet-Pipe System flooding (Smith 17). Environmentally, nitrogen is an inert gas with no toxicity. Therefore, use of the chemically inactive nitrogen gas in fire suppression presents no environmental harm to either electronic equipment or personnel.

Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Report - Coursework Example This process is called transmutation. An element keeps changing as the nucleus loses energy and mass. Coins are metallic. They also are elements that contain mass. They are fit because they have heads and tails. Radioactivity can be determined when the coins land on a different side to mean that they have lost energy and mass. It is a probabilistic method, but it works well to establish the hypothesis involved. Probability is used in these experiments determine half-life and the process of decay. It is a game. It uses random actions to prove certain trends. Probability is also used here to track progress of decay of the coins. It eliminates decayed coins against non-decayed. Two random experiments were conducted to determine radioactive decay of random coins. The purpose was to come up with a statistical explanation for their radioactivity and to establish the procedure. The coins were tossed and probability was used to determine the process of decay. The coins were tossed and each coin that landed on its head was decayed. Each coin that was on its tails was not decayed. This was the mode of separation for the decay process. The second hypothesis is also a little faulty. It is almost 3. An average of 2.97 is recorder in the table to mean that the throws after the first are mostly two or three to create two or less coins

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay Example for Free

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay What started as a store geared towards the rugged outdoorsmen has grown into one of leading retailers for the upscale college student as well as the adventurous young adult with a fashion to go along with their adventure. Abercrombie Fitch (AF) sells a variety of casual sportswear apparel, including shirts, graphic t-shirts, jeans, shorts, and sweaters, as well as perfumes/cologne and personal care products, and accessories for both sexes and children. As of February 1, 2014, the company operated 843 stores in the United States and 163 stores outside of the U. S. (SEC, 2014). With a footprint this large in the outdoor apparel it only made since to look into the e-commerce market to continue to expand and grow their business. Strategic management deals with decisions a company makes to stay afloat and have a competitive advantage. Over the past years, AF has encountered a few financial setbacks brought forth by turbulent economic times and a controversial advertising campaign that not only affected sales, it drew negative publicity and sometimes not all publicity is good publicity. If, however, the leaders of the organization can make good tactful and strategic moves, this company might be able to turn around and be profitable. Globalization and Technology AF understood that in order to be competitive, they must venture overseas and do it wisely as well as strategically. Companies that take the chance on foreign opportunities are often met with challenges set forth by governments, including local sourcing requirements, tariffs and restrictions on foreign direct investment. Not only must the area be able to support the new business, AF had to make sure any other requirements from local areas are met. This may be why competitors American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and J. Crew Group Inc. had not made the move. Despite the challenge, Abercrombie took their business overseas in 2007, starting in London (Eaton, 2013). At that time, Gap Inc. was the only major competitor overseas, with one hundred sixty eight stores internationally. Having the information available that Gap Inc. has been successful, allowed for AF to save on financial resources of placing stores in certain areas. Knowing that Gap Inc. stores were making profit then AF stores should make a profit in the same area. The  company capitalized on this opportunity, and it paid off. The company recorded revenues of $3,318.2 million during the fiscal year ended January 2007, an increase of 19.2% over 2006. The operating profit of the company was $658.1 million during fiscal year 2007, an increase of 21.3% over 2006. The net profit was $422.2 million in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 26.4% over 2006. The company has made over $7 million in the current year with direct to consumer sales (Abercrombie Fitch, 2007). Bringing the product to the consumers’ fingertips allows for them the opportunity to shop from their couches, beds, or even workplace and have their items delivered to their homes. The world of e-commerce has helped AF solidify itself as a leading outdoor clothier. Dramatic changes in technology have occurred rapidly over the last ten years. As noted in the textbook, â€Å"personal computers, cellular phones, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, massive databases, and multiple social networking sites are only a few examples of how information is used differently as a result of technological developments† (Hint, 2012). With such advances over the past decade, there has been an increased focus on online sales in order to remain competitive. Multichannel shopping has enabled companies to expand margins and tap into new and emerging markets including China, the leader in use of Internet sales channels (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2013). Abercrombie has a good online store, accessible to both domestic and international consumers which expand the number of customers dramatically compared to brick and mortar stores only. Abercrombie plans to improve their direct-to-consumer operations by upgrading their website and offering, an assortment of web exclusive styles, by making the items web exclusive it brings those consumers that would not normally use e-commerce to their website and allows them to gather information about their consumers to continue to target the correct demographics. Abercrombie also plans on improving mobile capabilities, expanding international language and payment options. This will enable Abercrombie to be more marketable to the online environment and easily available by any consumer worldwide. Industrial Organization Model and Resource-Based Model The industrial organization (I/O) model describes how above-average returns are earned when companies use the information gained from the external  environment to target a specific area within the industry and apply a winning strategy. Recognizing that 2013 was not a good year financially, AF created specific objectives to help improve investment capital. These objectives (recover productivity and profitably in US stores, improve international growth, increase direct to consumer sales and reduce expenses) will enable the organization to look within each area and focus on improving those areas and begin making a profit. AF has a plan and upon proper implementation the company should begin to see a positive as well as above average return. The textbook explains that the resource based model, â€Å"assumes that each organization is a collection of unique resources and capabilities. The uniqueness of its resources and capabilities is the basis of a firm’s strategy and its ability to earn above-average returns.† (Hint, 2012) At one point AF tried to use their elite and upscale brand as an enticement, making clothing for those wear a size â€Å"large† or lower. Chief Executive Michael S. Jeffries—according to Business Insider—had a core marketing strategy that exclusive sells and that including everyone would make his business â€Å"boring.† (Business Insider, 2013). The â€Å"no plus size† strategy proved not only unsuccessful, but disastrous. It is not uncommon for small boutique stores to attempt to cater only to a particular crowd, however for a major chain store like Abercrombie Fitch making that decision alienated a good portion of the profit potential because of Chief Executive Michael S. Jeffries’ decision. AF reported a quarterly drop in same-store sales for the seven quarters straight, and its stock price fell 10.4 percent (Business time, 2013). Vision Statement and Mission Statement of the Corporation Abercrombie and Fitch focuses upon high-quality merchandise that compliments the casual classic American lifestyle. The organization uses this statement to not only help define how Abercrombie and Fitch do business, but what the company is trying to sell to the consumer. Many consumers around the world understand and accept they will not live in America but if that consumer can somehow have a piece of America in his/her closet through the classic American lifestyle being offered by Abercrombie and Fitch then the person will purchase what they want. The Abercrombie and  Fitch brand is as much about the company and what is provided to the consumer as the actual shirt on the persons back. A person see the words Abercrombie and Fitch across a shirt it will make those around think about where the person made his/her purchase and does that person remind them of themselves and want that same brand. How Stakeholders Impact The Overall Success Of This Corporation. There are many types of stakeholders and each one adds value to and can affect the outcome of an organization. For this paper, three types are focused on – capital market, product market and organizational. Capital market stakeholders are the shareholders. Shareholders have an invested financial interest in the firm’s standing. Shareholders always want the company to make a profit and continue to grow so that their financial interest continues to grow. Product market stakeholders are the customers – those who are interest in the product being sold. Customers not only want the latest and trendiest fashions they also love the brand that is associated with Abercrombie and Fitch. That brand loyalty will keep the shareholders happy and continue investing their profits into the company, which can in turn produce more for the consumer. Organizational stakeholders are the internal workers – employees and management. Employees are the management, supervisors, and laborers who expect a positive work environment where they can grow and gain knowledge. With good working conditions, outstanding organization to work for, and strong benefits package. Abercrombie and Fitch is a strong organization headed in the right direction using advanced technology and expanding beyond the borders of the United States. By taking the brand international, allows for a stronger market share and more profit. Great strategy must always be used when expanding beyond an organization’s normal area of control. Government to include federal, state, local, and international will affect potential growth with possible tariffs or other unforeseen expenses. Having the ability to use the unique brand and capabilities of Abercrombie and Fitch will allow them to move into the future with a strong business plan that will bring positive profits. Abercrombie and Fitch mission/vision statement is more than a way to shape the business it is a brand that consumers want. That want allows for Abercrombie and Fitch to remain relevant going forward. Stakeholders are the driving force in any business and shareholders want profits, consumers want products, and employees want a comfortable lifestyle. References Abercrombie and Fitch. (2014). Form 10-K 2014. Retrieved from SEC EDGAR website http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml Abercrombie Fitch Begs the Fat Kids for Another Chance. (2013) Business time. Retrieved from http://business.time.com/2013/11/06/abercrombie-fitch-begs-the-fat-kids-for-another-chance/ Abercrombie Fitch Refuses To Make Clothes For Large Women. (2013) Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-wants-thin-customers-2013-5#ixzz2z3gtRZA4 Company Overview 2007. Abercrombie Fitch SWOT Analysis, p. 4, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost Hitt, Michael A.; Ireland, R. Duane; Hoskisson, Robert E. (2012-01-01). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization (Page 11). Cengage Textbook. Kindle Edition. SECTION D100 Simon Fraser University. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sfu.ca/~sheppard/478/syn/1137/G_E_1137.pdf United States Of America: Abercrombie Fitch announces (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fibre2fashion.com/ news/apparel-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=160117

This Mystery Shopping Activity Tourism Essay

This Mystery Shopping Activity Tourism Essay 1.1 Introduction In this assignment, mystery shopping will be shown with relation to three types of hospitality businesses. Mystery Shopping activities should be carried out at regular intervals. Clear performance objectives can be set by the definition of benchmarks which can serve both as possible motivators within the company and also as a parameter in a bonus or commission system. Mystery shopping or a mystery consumer is a tool used externally by market research companies or watchdog organizations or internally by companies themselves to measure quality of service or compliance to regulation, or to gather specific information about products and services. The mystery consumers specific identity is generally not known by the establishment being evaluated. In addition, temporarily implemented Mystery Shopping studies can be made use of to check and evaluate individual marketing activities. Beside that, secret shoppers is a tool used by businesses and market research companies to measure quality of retail service or gather specific information about products and services. Then, mystery shoppers posing as normal customers perform specific tasks-such as purchasing a product, asking questions and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences. Mystery shopping is increasingly used to provide feedback on customer services. Furthermore, some tasks that may be carried out by the mystery shopper include taking photographs, measurements, consumer count or inventory count and so on. Recording the time it takes to complete a specific task with a timer is also a possibility. In todays society, quality customer service depends on whether a business keeps their customers or loses them. However, good marketing brings customers in, but its great service that keeps them. Finding out whether a business is doing well or not can sometimes be difficult to figure out, but the imperative factor is to know what customers think is important, what they want, and what to improve if necessary and a lot of things. The best way to find out this information is create a customer survey. By creating a customer service survey, customers are able to write down their views and opinions about the service they have received. Whether it is good or bad, the comments can then be used to reflect on what may need to be done to the business to either improve it or maintain its standards. 1.2 Comprehensive survey for this mystery shopping activity http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPUAhK0xbQx-o6TZSV2xMSeGzoj3D3IVJQG822verXBfitYDuR http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiOIvP7O9E5Soe8MMpo6Gp39HebiKkXE55RlG8hTgY_fNEWYUFAw http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdbyWhLF7GMsZO2UcsKdldHa2l8IgJ2bt6fb8GqyxOwJnmYP6b This mystery shopping activity is done at three types of hospitality business that is in Pizza Hut, McDonalds and KFC. Interims of service that is competence, friendliness and waiting times , the quality of advice and product recommendation or food survey , living from service standards or perfect , cross selling. Beside this, presentation of goods or foods that want to serve to the customer , availability of goods in the range , indication of prices with a reasonable price for customer, cleanliness in surrounding area and implementation of marketing activities. Essentially, the types of questions that should be asked in the survey such as: (Please tick ) the answers below:- 1. Was the exterior to the restaurant clean? Clean ( ) Good ( ) Poor ( ) 2. Were they greeted in a friendly manner? Excellent ( ) Good ( ) Poor ( ) 3. How long the waiter or waitress take time to served the food ? Less than 15 minutes ( ) More than a minutes ( ) Above one hours ( ) 4. Was the temperature comfortable? Hot ( ) Cold ( ) Warm ( ) 5. Did the staff listen or pay attention carefully or not when the customer ask for something? Good ( ) Poor ( ) Very Poor ( ) 6. Was the restroom clean and fully stocked? Clean ( ) Poor ( ) Very Poor ( ) 7. Cleanliness of the staff ? Very Clean ( ) Good ( ) Poor ( ) 8. The place look like professional ? Yes ( ) No ( ) Balance ( ) 9. How knowledgeable were the customer service representatives at the organization? Very knowledgeable ( ) Good ( ) Poor Knowledgeable ( ) 10. How helpful were the customer service representatives at the organization? Very helpful ( ) Good ( ) Poor ( ) If there is any comments please write here:-________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1.3 Conclusion One on one appraisal of each consultants Mystery Shopping report would be recommended to highlight their efficiencies or deficiencies with a view to improving their overall performance in their future dealings with prospective buyers. This could be done at a meeting between your Sales Manager and your Consultant. The National Sales Manager can also perform one on one appraisals of the Mystery Shopping experience with their District Managers to discuss the overall performance of their area of responsibility. The mystery shopper will then give a feedback report to his/her employer. Some tasks that may be carried out by the mystery shopper include taking photographs, measurements, consumer count or inventory count. Recording the time it takes to complete a specific task with a timer is also a possibility. Good marketing brings customers in, but its great service that keeps them. Posing as a customer, a researcher then analyzes the experience, collecting data and rating the encounter based on those measures. Mystery shopping has become a popular market research tool for monitoring customer experience. This is very helpful to us to evaluate the mystery shopping activity. QUESTION 2 2.1 Introduction In this assignment, researched and factors in setting up a restaurant business are going to be explored , but also features such as demographics in attracting and identifying customers are going to be determined. There are many different aspects that need to be well thought of and considered when opening up any new restaurant. Before opening or starting a restaurant business, people are usually unaware of the high failure rate that can happen due to quickly knowing that there can sometimes be more work than they had originally anticipated, resulting in them believing that they are not suited to the restaurant business. Beside this, when open a new restaurant many things can be done with a proper planning, budgeting, having a procedure on how to do and other things. It is because will give a good result the end of a new restaurant and fell in a good appearance, environment, cleanliness, safe work, and a lot of things can be done here. 2.2 Need to consider when open the restaurant? Firstly, deciding on a restaurant concept which can brings of deciding what type of restaurant that want to open will depend of a variety of things. Often times people who want to open their own restaurant want to serve food of their like to cook, in an atmosphere they feel comfortable in. Moreover, other people are interested in Franchising. Restaurant franchises offer a number of benefits, including instant name recognition and built-in marketing. However, many restaurant franchises dont come cheap and owners must be willing to follow a stringent set of rules. Take a look of the examples are franchise vs. independent restaurants, how to become a franchisee and types of restaurants. Secondly, find a good restaurant Location on how the location is vital to the success of any restaurant. There are many factors to consider when searching or looking for that perfect restaurant location, including population base, local employment figures and accessibility. Beside this, once find that a perfect or best location, will need to make sure to negotiate the best lease possible for the new restaurant that are finding the perfect location, how to determine population base and on how to negotiate a lease information. Writing a business plan is a third step to prepare for one of the person to get interview with the bank, the person need to do their homework. Creating a business plan that outlines of the particular restaurant and how it will plan to make it profitable, will show the loan officer to mean business. Also make sure arrived at the bank with all the necessary paperwork, including personal income statements, tax returns and anything else the banker ask for like a the reason need a business plan, writing a restaurant business plan and be get ready for the bank interview. Fourthly, selecting the perfect restaurant name. However, the restaurant names may reflect a theme, a location, or simply be a play on words. The important thing to consider is the impression it will leave on customers. Select a name that will be easy to customers to remember and spell. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find a restaurant online or in the Yellow Pages because of the arent spelling it correctly of choosing a restaurant name and also restaurant names that inspire to the own restaurant and for the customer. Firth thing is writing the menu on what to be prepared for the customer on different types of theme and so on. The menu must is a huge part of your restaurant. After all, it is essentially why the customers keep coming back because the customer love the food. Not only this, the layout and design is just as important as whats listed on the menu. Avoid amateur looking menu designs, such as clip art or photocopied handwriting. Finally, knowing how to price the menu will help increase your profit margins, giving you more money to invest into a new restaurant and based on how the price of the menu, menu design and creativity and tips for the writing a restaurant menu and others. Lastly, the need to consider when it want to open a restaurant is equipping of the restaurant. Outfitting of the restaurant kitchen, dining room and bar is the largest part to start up budget. Moreover, shop around for bargain deals of used equipment and leased equipment. Also understanding needs and wants is important in avoiding the pitfalls of buying unnecessary furniture and equipment, which can set the way over budget. Begin with the basics, and once the have those you can pick up a few extras. For examples five tips for stocking of the restaurant, why need a POS System and benefits of leased equipment. 2.3 How can get the customer ? By forming strategic alliances event facilities. After a concert or sporting event, people are hungry and want to eat. Remember that people sometimes travel long distances for this event, do not want to go home with an empty stomach. Beside this, after the concert finished, the restaurant was packed with concert audiences. It can be do a part to promote upcoming events happening in the restaurant. Furthermore, participate in competitions one of the greatest ways to get media attention and therefore, to get the new business is to win the contest. Such as, enter the chef in a cooking contest. Read publication restaurant and browse the internet to find out about a contest that be may able to enter. If all else fails, create the own contest and invite local restaurants to participate. So even if you lose, the more still will generate great publicity and get new customers to the door. Demographics factors is the socioeconomic characteristics of a population articulated statistically, such as age, sex, occupation, religion, martial status, birth rate, death rate and income rate and others. Considering these factors when opening up a business like a restaurant not only helps the owner target specific customers, but can also be an advantage in the business environment itself. Moreover, determining whether or not an owner wants to have a family orientated restaurant over and above a fine dining restaurant usually targeted at adults only, is a prime example of how demographic factors can affect the choice of what type of establishment is going to be run. 2.4 Conclusion Overall of this assignment its a starting a restaurant business, owners and managers need to take into consideration the competitive industry that they are about to invest in. The performance of a given service may vary across service providers, service employees, consumers and service encounters. starting with a good concept will dictate the food menu, the location, the dà ©cor, and all other important facets of the business. Finally, in achieving a successful restaurant business and attracting and keeping clientele, strategies such as customer referrals, networking, merchandising and target marketing are inexpensive yet effective ways of doing so.

Analyse The Factors Contributing To Language Maintenance Education Essay

Analyse The Factors Contributing To Language Maintenance Education Essay In countries of significant migration, like Australia, newly arrived settlers from non-English speaking countries need to become bilingual, adding to fluency in their own language at least some fluency in English. With the passage of time, perhaps generations, families may find that their ethnic language becomes lost to them. Many consider that this loss is not only a loss for families and individuals, but that it is also a loss for the community at large. For the purposes of this essay, the term language maintenance is used to refer to the ability of ethnic communities, families and individuals to maintain their own language while adapting to the language of their new country. This essay will consider the factors which appear to influence the maintenance of a language, focusing on some of the more powerful social and psychological forces which propel individuals towards the continued learning and maintenance of a minority language. There seems to be little doubt among the researcher s that attitudes influence language maintenance. In fact, attitudes towards the minority language and culture appear to underlie the other relevant factors, which include sense of ethnic identity, motivation and family support. These factors will be dealt with in turn in this essay. There is a considerable body of evidence that attitudes to the ethnic language and culture influence language maintenance. In order to consider attitudes towards a language, one needs to consider what makes a language valuable. According to Edwards (1985), greater possibilities of employment and acceptance by the community that speaks the language are some valuable qualities. Factors that devalue a language would include the embarrassment some children feel about parents use of the minority language in public when the children want to conform. Gardner (1985) has produced and reviewed studies attempting to establish a relationship between attitudes towards a language and culture and motivation to practise the language and participate in that culture. He concludes on the basis of the research that attitudes are fairly consistently related to achievement in a language. Political issues obviously affect attitudes and Romaine (1989, p. 42), in dealing with the effect of ties with the home land on language maintenance, wrote that refugees often reject the language of the oppressive regime and try to assimilate to the new culture as quickly as possible. An individuals and communitys sense of ethnic identity appears to have a profound influence on language maintenance. Issues of identity are extremely personal and often emotional, interwoven as they are with personality. One expects the extent to which a person identifies with his/her ethnic background to influence the motivation behind maintenance of the ethnic language. Some studies (e.g. Bentahila and Davies, 1992) have disputed this expectation. It appears that it is possible for a speech community to value its ethnic background and language highly though not passing it on to their children, possibly for utilitarian reasons. Or language may not be considered a core value of ethnic identity, as with the Dutch community in Australia, which tends not to maintain the Dutch language over generations (Clyne, 1982). The Dutch community in Australia, according to Smolicz and Secombe (1979), is a group that does not consider it very important to retain its own culture as distinct to that of the dominant majority. Poles and Greeks, however, are language-centred cultures, in which language is considered an important and defining aspect of group membership. These communities, according to Clyne (1979), do maintain their languages well. It thus appears that a strong sense of ethnic identity is an important factor contributing to language maintenance as long as language is considered an important part of that identity. Research indicates that motivation is also strongly related to the successful learning and maintenance of a language. A great deal of work has centred around the distinction between integral and instrumental motivation. Integrative motivation (for example interest in and liking of the language and those who speak it) derives from positive attitudes towards the target language group and the desire and potential for integrating with that group. Instrumental motivation involves utilitarian feelings like knowing that the language may improve ones opportunities for employment. Most researchers suggest that integrative motivation is a more powerful factor in promoting language maintenance, but Clyne (1979) points out that acceptance of a language as an examination and/or school subject is a major factor in German and Dutch language maintenance, and one can assume that this has been an important factor in maintenance of the key languages indicated by the National Language Policy of 1987 for teaching in the Department of Education. It seems clear that motivation of both types play a role in language maintenance. Perhaps the most fundamental issue to be taken into account when considering language maintenance is family support for the continued use of the ethnic language. Dennison (1977 in Edwards 1985) noted that the most direct cause of language loss is lack of transmission to children. According to Fantini (1985, p. 197), Language is the childs passport for entry into a social group, or a cultural community. Two languages permit the child to enter into and acquire the world views of two communities.For these views to exist in harmony rather than in conflict, favourable attitudes on the part of those who surround the child are essential to permit him to grow up a well-adjusted individual, comfortable in either community. Gardner (1985) distinguished between the active and passive role played by parents. The active role includes parental encouragement to succeed, monitoring of performance and reinforcement of success (negative active roles would include agreement that a language is a waste of time or an intrusion on more important subject areas). The passive role involves parental attitudes toward the second language community, reinforcing or weakening the integrative motive. Gardner concludes that passive supports, these parental attitudinal reactions to the language community, are what are remembered most when children reflect on parental encouragement to maintain and learn a language. The support of parents should definitely be taken into account when considering language maintenance, since the fundamental cause of language loss or attrition is failure to pass it on to the next generation. In summary, it appears that the underlying factor determining language maintenance is attitude towards the language and ethnic community. These attitudes appear to be closely related to sense of ethnic identity, motivation and, in particular, parental support. There is considerable evidence and weight of opinion that they are all important factors which could determine whether or not individuals or groups are likely to keep a minority language alive in themselves and/or in the community.

Land Of Desire :: essays papers

Land Of Desire The transformations that America went through in order to become a capitalist country were very significant and are sometimes looked past. However, in the book Land of Desire, the author, William Leach extensively goes into many of those things. There were many things that went into this ranging from specific poeple and incidents to outside places and things. Leach shows each individual ordeal and explains the personal effect that it had on the industry, as well as how society accepted, or in some cases condemned such things. All of this comes from his own education and understanding of the situation. He shows the drift into a capitalistic country as being a gradual change in one thing that then led to another, and to another, and so on. Not to mention that many, many things took part in it. And that if such things had not occurred, we would not be the country that we are today. There isn't a whole lot of information on William Leach, but he does appear to be a very well-thought out man. This is not his only historical book and he's also done other things, including the book True Love and Perfect Union: The Feminist Reform of Sex and Society, and editing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. That specifically shows up a number of times in Land of Desire. He refers to L. Frank Baum (the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) throughout the book, as well as to the book itself. Other than that, though, there's not much else I know about him, too bad it's not exactly the most helpful information as far as why he thinks the way he does. Leach broke the book up into 5 major parts. The first being the preface and the introduction. These two parts laid out the main ideas of the book. After that, Leach went into the three main sections of the book, which end up being the three main steps in the transformation into capitalism. The first entitled Strategies of Enticement, went into a little bit of history, as well as the first recognition of capitalism and were it all began. The second section, Circuits of Power, retold stories of how the public reacted to the whole thing. It also dealt with the philosophical side of capitalism. The final major section of the book, Managing a Dream Culture, displayed the managerial aspects of capitalism and the poeple behind it. Then, the last pages illustrate how the

The Importance of Masks in William Goldings Lord of the Flies :: Lord Flies Essays William Golding Papers

In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, we find a group of British boys stranded on a tropical island while the rest of the world is at war. Their plane has been shot down and they find themselves without adults to tell them how to act. As they struggle to survive, they encounter conflicts that mirror the decayed society from which they have come. We see Golding's theme come about as we watch the boys begin to lose their innocence and let their natural evil overwhelm their otherwise civilized manner. While formulating the theme of the story, Golding utilizes much symbolism, one of these symbols being the masks, or painted faces, that the boys wear.   The masks, and painted faces, became a producer of evil circumstances, give a sense of anonymity, and represented the defiance of social structure.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Whenever someone is wearing a mask or has a painted face, evil is at large.  Ã‚   The very purpose of a mask is for hiding. The boys use the masks to hide their lust for blood, killing, and death from their consciences. When going to hunt for the first time, "Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness" (Golding page #) because he knew that his manner of hunting was evil and would only lead to lascivious killing. While describing that hunt to the boys, Jack was "twitching" and "shuddering" as he talked.   He knew it was wrong. Eventually all the savages hid behind their masks when their lust for killing climaxes on the manhunt for Ralph. Throughout the story, all hunting, killing, and shedding of blood was done while the boys faces were hidden by masks.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A mask makes one unknown, unrecognized, and mysterious.   When the first mask was put on, Jack "looked no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger" (Golding page #). At the formation of Jack's tribe, all who join wear a mask from that time on and become a part of the savages. As three savages return to steal fire, they are driven because they are "demoniac figures with faces of white and red" (Golding page #) not individual boys. The mask becomes such an anonymous symbol that, towards the end of the story, Ralph "gazed at the green and black mask before him trying to remember what Jack looked like" (Golding page #).   Whether stealing, fighting, or hunting, the savages found their courage because they "looked like something else" "hidden behind the mask of paint" (Golding page #).

Ap Biology Lab 1 Questions

AP Biology Lab 1 Ross Lordo Introduction Questions 1. The solute potential would be -2. 48. If the concentration inside the cell is . 15 M, then would diffusion out of the cell and into the solution of . 1 M. This is due to water potential and the tendency for water to move from areas of high water potential to low water potential. 2. The turgor pressure must be equal to the water potential if there is no net diffusion.The cell and environment have reached equilibrium and the movement of water is equal on both sides. Getting Started 1. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. The difference between kinetic energy and potential energy is the kinetic energy is the energy of an object that is already in motion and potential energy is the energy possessed by an object at rest. Potential energy is stored energy, while kinetic energy is energy being exerted. 2.Temperature can affect the rate of diffusion. If the temperature is colder, the rate of diffusion is muc h slower as a result of all particles becoming closer together. If the temperature is warmer, there is much more energy present and therefore allows for the diffusion to take place at a fast rate. The distance a molecule needs to travel across the membrane can also affect the rate of diffusion. If the distance across the membrane is large, then the rate of diffusion will be much slower and vise versa. 3.A high temperature can speed up the diffusion process by providing more energy for the molecules and also for eliminating in double bonds in the phospholipid membrane. A low temperature will decline the rate of diffusion, as the particles will have less energy. The distance travelled will also affect diffusion rates. The longer the distance, the slower the diffusion is going to take place. The shorter the distance, the quicker the rate of diffusion 4. Gradients offer a pathway for molecules to go in and out of the cell.Many molecules are to big to fit through the semipermeable phosph olipid membrane and these gradients allow these large molecules to be able to cross through the cell. 5. Most cells are small because diffusion can take place at a quicker rate. The convolutions allow for more space to be able to be used in order to get molecules across the membrane. These small cells allow for materials to quickly be able to reach the cell membrane and get in or out of the cell, without having to make a long journey from an inside part of the cell. . Water will move out of the cell. The high water potential means there is little solute in the cell and more in the outside environment. In order to balance these concentrations, water moves out of the cell and creates equilibrium with the environment. 7. If saltwater is applied to a plant, the plant would shrivel up and die. This is a result of the water moving out of the cells in order to try to balance the concentration of solute compared to inside the cell.The water movement out of the cell would cause the cell to s hrink and the lack of water would eventually cause the plant to die. 8. A plant can control its turgor pressure through its central vacuole and cell wall. If a great amount of water is inside the cell, the central vacuole will take in some of the water to take some of the pressure of the cell wall. The cell wall can also eliminate water from making its way into the cell. The would cause the cell to keep expanding, but slowly eliminate its excess water.

Carol Ann Duffy’s 1993 collection ‘Mean Time’ Essay

The day of the big match had arrived, the anticipation was rising and with only 5 hours to go the crowds were gathering in the pubs and on the streets. Cardiff was the venue, Millennium stadium to be exact. The FA Cup Final, Manchester United vs. Millwall. The grounds men were on the pitch setting up the sprinklers and cutting the grass at the last minute possible, before the teams arrived to warm up and get a feel of the pitch. The sprinklers started to spray like the ocean. The droplets of water were dropping gently like a leaf from the highest tree. As the droplets were falling onto the bouncy blades of grass, they were running down the blades slowly into the soil creating a nice playing surface. A bus pulled out side the entrance of the stadium, it was Manchester’s bus and the paparazzi skipped as fast as they could to try and get the best picture of the star striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy. The doors of the bus opened slowly just to add to the tension. It was so quite you could almost here a pin drop. Footsteps where heard, the press started hovering around the bus . The crowd on the other side of the road, were waiting for autographs. They started singing and chanting â€Å"Ruud, Ruud, Ruud†. Some of the younger players got off the bus and quickly walked straight into the corridor, down to the changing rooms while they were totally focused. Next off the bus steps the man of the moment, every one wanted to see. Ruud van Nistelrooy. He walked straight over to the fans signed the autographs. The press got the pictures they wanted and off down the long corridor he went, hair bouncing like a space hopper. The underdogs Millwall arrived in there bus minutes later, but the surrounding area was empty. Just one sky reporter there, waiting to interview their manager. The players were fired up ready to fight for The FA Cup. The Grounds men rushed onto the pitch dismantled and removed the sprinklers. The pitch was ready for the teams. The stadium started to fill up with the crowds sliding through the turnstiles, flashing their precious tickets on the way. Desperate people standing outside the stadium, offering to buy tickets for 200 pound, more than 5 times over there original value, but with a lots of sentimental value attached, were having no luck. Finally preparations were taken for the two teams as on the pitch 40 minutes before the game, they were jogging from one side to the other, passing the ball with their left, then their right, firing the ball like a cannon ball. You could sense the teams where ready and all hyped up. Back in the changing rooms for the teams, as the manager’s give there last team talk. Before the team’s are announced and minutes before kick off. The teamsheets are in and there’s a big shock as Manchester United’s Star striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy is only on the bench. Its been reported that he picked up a knock in the pre-match warm up by the sky reporter, Chris Kamara. This final is anyone’s game now. The teams are in the tunnel ready and waiting to come out. The stadium is a wash of red and blue. Every seat is taken. The anthem of The FA Cup is been blared out of the speakers in the stands. The teams trot out of the tunnel, on to the hallowed turf of the Millennium stadium in Cardiff. The crowd are on there feet cheering, it’s almost deafening, it’s that loud. The Ball is in the middle ready for kick off. You can almost feel the electricity in the air. Millwall kick off, from left to right all in blue, whilst United are in the famous red, white and black colours. There was an early serge by Millwall, but with no goal, while Ruud sits on the bench waiting for the nod, nothing came of any attacks in the first 35 minutes of the game. Just before half time, the ball broke free to the young United starlet of Cristiano Ronaldo who galloped down the wing, triple stepped-over into the centre and shot towards goal†¦ It hit the post and†¦ into the back of the net, one – nil to Manchester United. All eyes on the ref, waiting for the half time whistle, there it is. The teams go in at the break. Its Manchester United one, Millwall nil. The Speculation is rising now will Ruud make an appearance in this final. The teams are back out ready to start the second half, after a talking to from the managers. Manchester United kicks off. The crowd are chanting with all there hearts â€Å"United, United, United, United, United, United, United.† Not much happened until; Millwall’s top scorer Harris made a darting run into the penalty area†¦ He’s been brought down. The ref’s pointed at the spot. It’s a penalty. Harris will take it†¦ it’s a goal! Right in the top left hand corner. That’s now one – one there’s nothing separating these teams. Back to the middle for the re-start, oh wait a minute there will be a substitution for Manchester United with only 10 minutes to go, on comes Ruud van Nistelrooy for Alan Smith. It should be all over now! It’s so exciting only three minutes to go now. Ronaldo has the ball on the right wing he’s not letting go of that ball. Only a minute and a half now left on the clock Ronaldo whips a cross in from the touchline. The defender has missed it. It’s dropped at the feet of Ruud van Nistelrooy, surely a goal now. He’s put his foot right through that ball†¦ what a goal! It went straight through the keeper’s legs with seconds left on the clock. I don’t believe it. The whistle has blown. It’s all over Manchester United have won by two goals to one. They are The FA Cup Champions!! Well what an exciting finish to this game. Ruud van Nistelrooy saves the day again.