Cypop 7 Essay

CYPOP 7 – Promote creativity and creative learning in young children 1.1 – Analyse the differences between creative learning and creativity Creative learning is about how children are actively involved in their own learning and their ability to make choices and decisions. This can be achieved by providing a creative environment, allowing exploration through play and praising the child’s creative efforts. Creative learning is about helping children develop imaginative thinking through exploration of materials, objects and problem solving skills like ICT. It is also about giving children opportunities to make connections between different areas and to relate to them. Some creative learning activities may be goal orientated like the goal is to make any painting they like, but the child will also be exploring the different colours given to them; to paint like colours can be mixed to make another colour. This activity will also help the child in other areas of learning too. Creative learning is about children using their mind to solve problems. Creativity is about risk taking and making connections, allowing children to explore and express themselves through a variety of media and materials. Like through dance, music, making things and drawing. A child being creative is linked to play and can develop through a child being engaged in their own actions and ideas. Creativity consists of traditional arts and the development of imagination and imaginative play, like role play and small world play. Creativity is about exploring emotions and expressions; also is about enjoying creativity and learning from the process. Creativity links to creative development areas of the learning from the EYFS. 1.2 – Explain current theoretical approaches to creativity and creative learning in early childhood There are many theoretical approaches to creativity and creative learning these are nature verses nurture this could mean that people are born with it or they learn it from life or other people. Some people believe that children will learn from watching other people this is called role modelling. Many may believe that creativity is a progress, this means that creativity will follow a pattern to make it happen, this will also help to build upon skills that will occur. Nature versus nurture is a debate in the area of psychology. In terms of children’s  creativity, some think children are born naturally creative, for example having a gift for music or having a creative personality. This is known as the â€Å"nature† theory. Others believe creativity is something that can be taught. This is known as the â€Å"nurture† theory. The cultural approach means that every child will be creative so many things will affect this. As practitioners you have to give the child the right environment that will help children to explore and be creative with how they want to be. Cognitive theories is when children make relations between different things, this theory look at how the brain puts things together, lots of opportunities need to be provided for the child to develop knowledge in lots of different areas, and so that they can draw on their own views and experiences. Some theorists such as Robert Sternberg and Howard Gardener argue that being able to make new connections and to create a drawing from them is a type of intelligence. The ‘Creative Partnerships’ programme was set up in 2002 by the government in response to the influential report ‘all our futures’. They use the term ‘creative learning’ to try and sum up their education programme. They believe creative partnerships can help free the creativity of everyone involved by engaging them in fresh approaches to learning through partnership. They feel collaborative working has these key characteristics; †¢ Motivation for learning †¢ Bringing the curriculum to life †¢ Greater involvement in decision making †¢ New ways for learners to engage in a subject The Qualifications Curriculum Assessment (QCA: Creativity, Find It and Promote It 2005), promotes creativity as an vital part of all national curriculum subjects and identifies characteristics of creative learning as; †¢ Questioning and challenging conventions and assumptions †¢ Making imaginative connections and associating things that aren’t usually related †¢ Visualizing what might be: imagining seeing things in mind’s eye †¢ Trying alternative and fresh approaches, keeping options open †¢ Reflecting critically on ideas, action and outcomes These characteristics and abilities have shown to lead to a sense of purpose, achievement of strengths, talents and interests, self-respect and a sense of belonging. 1.3 – Critically analyse how creativity and creative learning can support young children’s emotional, social, intellectual, communication and physical development Creativity and creative learning can support children’s development in a number of ways. Emotionally they learn how to manage frustration if something is not going to plan and they feel happy and proud and a sense of achievement when something is completed by them. Socially children can build up self-confidence by working with others or alongside them; to make something to share with everyone and the child also makes new friends. Intellectually children learn about problem solving, numeracy and developing their reading and writing skills. Children’s capability to communicate with peers and adults develops through creative play as well as their overall speech and listening skills. Physically, creativity can help develop fine motor skills by children using materials such as crayons, paints and sticking. Participating in movement activities such as dance or drama (role play) also improves the child’s overall physical development. Like during a cooking activity children are learning many skills through this creative process, they may feel happy and excited about making their own food. They are sociable by working with adults to support them and cooking for their friends or family members. By following instructions either written or verbal and measuring quantities they are developing intellectually. Knowing when to ask for help and starting a conversation around what they are doing and using can help develop their communication skills especially listening and taking direction. Finally all the mixing, chopping, kneading and picking up small cut up pieces, help the child develop physically developing the fine motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and building hand and arm muscles. The EYFS ensures that creativity and critical thinking are developed through play- based learning across the curriculum, and that children learn in an environment encouraging exploration and active and playful learning. It reflects the viewpoint that play offers significant benefits for children’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical development and is central to creativity.

Exam case financial accounting Essay

Solutions to Exercises and Problems Tutorial 1 IFM Case 2-2 Case 2-2 SKD Limited 1.Goodwill There is no goodwill amortization expense in Country A, so the goodwill amortization expense recognized by SKD must be added back to determine income under Country A GAAP. SKD amortizes goodwill over a longer period (20 years) than is allowed in Country B (5 years), so an additional amount of goodwill amortization expense must be recognized to determine income under Country B GAAP, which reduces Country B GAAP income. b.The goodwill adjustment affects the retained earnings in stockholders’ equity. The increase in Country A GAAP income results in an increase in retained earnings and the decrease in Country B GAAP income results in a decrease in retained earnings. c.The adjustment to income is for the current year only. The adjustment to stockholders’ equity is cumulative. The fact that the stockholders’ equity adjustment is three times as larger as the income adjustment implies that the goodwill was purchased three year ago. 2.Capitalized Interest a.The adjustment labeled â€Å"Capitalized interest† relates to the interest that is not expensed but instead is capitalized under Country A GAAP. The adjustment labeled â€Å"Depreciation related to capitalized interest† relates to the depreciation of the interest that was capitalized as part of the cost of the asset. b.The first adjustment increases income because interest is not being expensed immediately but instead is capitalized as part of the cost of the asset to which it relates. The second adjustment decreases income because under Country A GAAP, the asset to which interest is capitalized has a larger cost and therefore a larger depreciation expense. c.Both income adjustments are closed out to retained earnings and partially offset one another. The increase to income of $50 and the decrease of $20 result in a net increase in retained earnings of $30. 3.Fixed Assets a.When fixed assets are revalued to a higher amount, there is an increase in their carrying value with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity to keep the balance sheet in balance. The amount by which the assets are revalued is subject to depreciation, which results in a larger depreciation expense. The adjustment to recognize this additional depreciation expense decreases income under Country B GAAP. It also decreases stockholders’ equity (retained earnings). The decrease in retained earnings from additional depreciation is smaller than the increase in stockholders’ equity from revaluation of assets, which results in a net increase in stockholders’ equity. Note: if we knew when the fixed assets were revalued, we could determine the amount by which they were revalued. For example, if revaluation occurred at the end of the previous year, then the revaluation amount must have been $64 ($64 – 8 = $56) because only one year of additional deprecat ion would be included in the stockholders’ equity adjustment. 27. Holzer Company – Property, Plant, and Equipment (capitalization of borrowing costs and measurement of asset subsequent to acquisition using two alternative models) IAS 16 Cost Model Carry asset on the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Capitalize borrowing costs borrowing costs attributable to the construction of qualifying assets. Annual interest ($900,000 x 10%)$90,000 Interest to be capitalized in Year 1 ($500,000* x 10%)50,000 Interest expense in Year 1$40,000 * Expenditures of $1,000,000 were made evenly throughout the year, so the average accumulated expenditures during the year are $500,000 ($1,000,000 / 2). Cost of building: Construction costs$1,000,000 Capitalized interest50,000 Total initial cost of building$1,050,000 Annual depreciation (beginning in Year 2) ($1,050,000 / 40 years) $26,250 Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 Income Statement Depreciation expense$0$26,250$26,250$26,250$26,250 Balance Sheet Building (at 1/1)$0$1,050,000$1,023,750$997,500$971,250 Depreciation(26,250)(26,250)(26,250)(26,250) Building (at 12/31)$1,050,000$1,023,750$997,500$971,250$945,000 IAS 16 Revaluation Model Carry asset on the balance sheet at revalued amount equal to fair value less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Capitalize borrowing costs attributable to the construction of qualifying assets. Annual interest ($900,000 x 10%)$90,000 Interest to be capitalized in Year 1 ($500,000 x 10%)50,000 Interest expense in Year 1$40,000 Cost of building: Construction costs$1,000,000 Capitalized interest50,000 Total initial cost of building$1,050,000 Annual depreciation (beginning in Year 2) ($1,050,000 / 40 years) $26,250 Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 Income Statement Depreciation expense$0$26,250$26,250$25,5262$25,526 Subtotal $0$26,250$26,250$25,526$25,526 Loss on revaluation27,500 Reversal of revaluation loss(27,500) Total expense (income)$0$26,250$43,750$25,526$(1,974) Balance Sheet Building (at 1/1)$0$1,050,000$1,023,750$970,000$944,474 Depreciation(26,250)(26,250)(25,526)(25,526) Building (at 12/31)$1,050,000$1,023,750$997,500$944,474$918,948 Loss on revaluation(27,500)1 Reversal of revaluation loss27,5003 Revaluation surplus 3,5523 Building (at 12/31)$1,050,000$1,023,750$970,000 $944,474$950,000 1At December 31,Year 3, the fair value of the building is determined to be $970,000. The carrying value of the building is decreased by $27,500, with a loss on revaluation recognized in Year 3 net income. 2 Depreciation in Year 4 is $25,526 ($970,000 / 38 remaining years). 3At December 31,Year 5, the fair value of the building is determined to be $950,000. The carrying value of the building is increased by $31,052. A reversal of revaluation loss of $27,500 is recognized in income and $3,552 ($31,052 – 27,500) is recorded as revaluation surplus in shareholders’ equity.

Proposal Argument Essay

Licensing for personal trainers: legitimizing the profession. â€Å"In its present form, personal training only dates back a few decades, yet it is among the fastest growing professions in the U. S. † (Holt). In the 80’s and 90’s personal trainers were predominantly heavy lifters who looked like they could soon compete in a bodybuilding contest. The muscular physique automatically qualified each of them as â€Å"guru† in the fitness world and helped quickly build a clientele.Towards the late-90's, the situation started to change: gyms became less and less of an intimidating environment for a wide category of people with no desire to become â€Å"huge. † Personal trainers of a new generation expanded their specialization to weight loss, cardio vascular health, toning and general fitness which made training itself more accessible for all age groups, people with different skill levels and special requirements. As a result. , the trainer’s job to day has become very complex and goes much farther instructions during a workout session.It can’t be successfully performed without a strong knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, program development and even psychology You will assume that someone who guides and assists you in developing health and fitness must be a specialist in this area of knowledge. Of course! But do you know that one can become â€Å"a certified personal trainer† by taking an online test for less than 100 dollars? It’s true! Competence and skill level of many trainers you see at health clubs and gyms is low and they are surely not worth the money spent.Moreover, your health is under potential risk! The solution to this problem can be achieved through a required licensing of personal trainers just like other health/medical professionals. This would benefit both the public and the personal training profession. As a fitness trainer for over seven years, I truly believe that our industry desperatel y needs more regulations. My background in gymnastics in addition to two certifications from Wellness Academy (Russia) and International Sports Science Association (USA) surely give me a big advantage over someone who spent $69.95 and a couple weeks learning â€Å"all the nitty-gritty of personal training† to obtain so called ExpertRating Online Certification (Personal Training Certification).So you may think: the less my competitors know the better my services look in comparison with their. No, it’s not that easy! I would rather have a strong competition than constantly disprove common opinion about personal trainers as people with weak knowledge base who flirt with clients, bark orders and very often behave unprofessionally.A few times I trained people who had bad experience with a trainer in the past and it felt like I had to break the wall of apprehension and distrust before they took me seriously. Not only I had to defend myself in some ways but there were also fi nancial consequences when clients refused to pay me upfront (usually a client prepays for a package of sessions) and that’s why I got paid on session-by-session basis with no commitment from client’s side. I personally know a few trainers who collected money for the training and disappeared while their clients have been left with nothing!Therefore, such a practice like licensing could be a very effective control instrument for the industry and could keep trainers accountable for their actions. From clients’ perspective, mandatory licensing can become a guarantee of receiving a high quality service – safe and efficient workout. Nancy Howard, a health professional and a Certified Running Coach, states in her article â€Å"Poll: Should Personal Trainers Be Licensed†: â€Å"When we place our trust in those who will direct us on the proper path to reclaiming our health and fitness, it is important that we have full disclosure of their qualifications.â € Her words means a lot in today’s situation, when many people seeking for personal trainers’ help have some kind of health issue that limit their ability to perform certain movements or type of physical activity. I had the opportunity to work with clients who had knee replacements, severe stage of scoliosis, arthritis, diabetes, past injuries and so on. You can easily hurt a client or worsen an existing condition by using inappropriate exercising techniques and approaches. Once I’ve seen a trainer who made his new client with swayback (lordosis) do multiple low back exercises with significant weight.With such a spine condition you have to be extremely careful when perform any activity involving low back and must primarily focus on strengthening your abdominal muscles and back of the thighs in order to balance the inward curvature of spine. As a result of that unconsidered workout the client had extreme back pains and decided to stop training. Not only this c ould be prevented if a trainer had more knowledge about lordosis (which is pretty easy to determine), but the client would be able to improve his back condition with appropriate exercise routine.This example shows that some certification organizations fail to provide the market with well-qualified and knowledgeable professionals. They are not regulated by state and often offer take-home or on-online tests which objectivity is questionable. Licensing, on the other side, means a nationally standardized test and leaves no place for cheating. It is interesting to note that Howard makes a comparison between personal trainers and other health professionals like â€Å"Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Physical Therapists and Registered Dietitians† who required to be licensed by the state which they practice.According to her, there is no reason why personal trainers should be treated any different as their services belongs to the same field (Howard). In my opinion, this analogy is more than appropriate considering that clients are paying almost as much for a private training session as for the one-hour massage or a visit to dietician. Moreover, Howard mentions two interesting points in favor of the licensing. First, it â€Å"will facilitate referrals from traditional health care providers,† and, secondly, the insurance companies â€Å"will be more likely to reimburse for services if personal trainers are licensed† (Howard).This means more people would be able to afford training that is safe and effective. Clearly, the transformation of personal training industry won’t be easy. Joe Cannon (personal trainer, author and health educator) states that â€Å"a government mandated fitness license might also mean an end to fitness organizations all together. † At the present moment, there are dozens of certifying fitness organizations within US and, for obvious reasons, they are resisting to proposed legislation changes.â€Å"If personal trainers needed a license† – Cannon says – â€Å"then all fitness organizations would come under the jurisdiction of the government and the ‘licensing’ would be standardized. † I understand how much multimillion dollar certification business would be affected but new market conditions will automatically eliminate companies like ExpertRating Online Certification and increase the entrance barrier into the profession. I’m sure strong certification organizations like NASM, ACE, IFTA, ACMS and a few others would find their place in the restructured industry although they will fight against licensing to the last breath.As a negative factor of licensing Cannon mentions that â€Å"each trainer would be paying the government every year or so to maintain their license; that’s in addition to what they pay for fitness continuing education classes. † Of course, no one would be happy about it but the level of discontent will d epend on the amount of a fee. I’m already paying about 500-600 dollars every two years to keep my certification valid and another 400 dollars for insurance so if the new expense would stay within the same range there shouldn’t be a problem. Another concern regarding potential licensing of personal trainers is difficulties in its obtaining.Senate Bill 2164 (â€Å"Fitness Professional Licensing Act†) proposed in New Jersey in 2008 requires a licensure: To complete an approved course of study of not less than 300 in-person classroom hour†¦. which shall include not less than 50 hours of an unpaid internship in the presence of and under the direct supervision of, a licensed fitness professional, which internship shall be provided by the school providing the approved course of study; and (b) have passed an examination administered or approved by the board; or (2) possess an associate's or bachelor’s degree in physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology or adult fitness.(S2164) The majority of fitness professionals’ community finds this bill inappropriate for experienced and qualified trainers who are in the business for years. It basically means they would have to go back to school and put their clients aside for a while. I personally know a few trainers without a degree but with years of work in the field and several certifications of all kinds. There are no doubts about their qualification! Nevertheless according to the â€Å"Fitness Professional Licensing Act† these people would need 50 hours of unpaid internship which is absolutely ridiculous!Joe Stein, president of Renaissance Fitness & Wellness Inc. , also expresses his negative opinion about the bill by saying that â€Å"the New Jersey state senate is trying to balance the bloated state budget on the backs of personal trainers and their clients† (Halvorson). On the other side, proposed legislation requirements establish a comprehensive educat ional program for people entering the field.Therefore beginner trainers would not only have a strong theoretical skills  but a real life work experience in the gym. There is no such certification at the present moment that can offer internship or any kind of workshop unless you are ready to pay another 600 dollars on top of the certification cost. Despite all advantages that licensing can potentially bring into the personal training industry, proposed legislation in New Jersey, Maryland and Georgia in 2008 achieved no success (State Licensing of Personal Trainers Update – December 2008).The bill doesn’t consider existing circumstances of the profession and is unrealistic at its present format. However, National Board of Fitness Examiners started to work on â€Å"one nationally standardized examination process in lieu of 50 different state board exams† (State Licensing of Personal Trainers Update – December 2008). So when the time is right it can be used by states and will avoid a possibility â€Å"when the exams could be developed by people outside the profession† (State Licensing of Personal Trainers Update – December 2008).After all, I strongly believe that licensing is necessary in personal training business as it legitimizes the profession. I want to be recognized as a â€Å"specialist† in the eyes of potential clients and people in a health/medical field. From the business owner’s perspective, licensing would be extremely helpful in finding properly educated and experienced trainers whose work can correspond to the high standards that I set for my clients.

Jealous Husband Returns in the Form of a Parrot Essay - 1

Jealous Husband Returns in the Form of a Parrot - Essay Example His inner frustration is vented out when he says, ‘I flap my wings and I squawk and I fluff up and I slick down and I throw seed and I attack that dangly toy as if it was the guy's balls’ (Butler). However, it merely increases his frustration for the result is merely a deeper realization of his tragic reality: ‘†¦ it does no good. It never did any good in the other life either, the thrashing around I did by myself’ (Butler). The writer, therefore, revolves the story and the narration around this inner conflict felt by the parrot, who has no choice now but to see other men visiting his wife in what used to be his home. Robert Olen Butler, in fact, adds to the agony of the parrot/jealous husband through the constructed set of the play. The narrator returns to his home when he is bought by his wife and is incarcerated in a cage. The entire setting of the story then takes place within the house, that once used to be the home of this jealous husband. However, the irony of the situation is that the position of his cage is such that he is only able to see part of the bedroom. He can see every man enter and exit his house but can not see any activity that takes place in the bedroom, which adds to his frustration and his curiosity. The narrator expresses his frustration, explaining: ‘When she keeps the bedroom door open I can see the space at the foot of the bed but not the bed itself. That I can sense to the left, just out of sight. I watch the men go in and I hear the sounds but I can't quite see. And they drive me crazy’ (Butler). These frustrations and the inner conflict of the narrator are cleverly portrayed by the writer, for he not only uses the point of view of the parrot but also gives a humanistic element to the narration. While the parrot has all the qualities and limitations of a bird, the narration of the parrot is altogether human.  Ã‚  

The intersection of S Stoughton Rd & E Buckeye Rd in Madison, Coursework

The intersection of S Stoughton Rd & E Buckeye Rd in Madison, Wisconsin - Coursework Example Stoughton Road features heavy traffic all through the daylight hours considering that a total of 23 out of the 33 reported crashes took place between 11 am and 5 pm (Madison Police Department 15). This intensive traffic volume, coupled with the speed limit tuning to 55 MPH, has made the traffic signals associated with this road section to be hazardous. A report by the Madison Police Station posited that a speed limit that tunes to 55 MPH is excessive for this road stretch and their research findings supported this opinion. In Addition, as per the authorities, the South Stoughton Road never featured in the top list because of any design flaw as per se. Instead, the intersection problem is attributed to the large number of cars that pass through it (Campbell and Chris 139). In another sphere some residents have attributed the crashes to the idea of some drivers just ignoring the need to pay attention. In certain occasions, the drivers have been sighted using their phones or engaging in some sort of distractive exercise thus fueling the number of crashes. Generally, there is an increasing number of crashes at the intersection already raises an alarm and increases risks of loss of more lives in Madison. As such, there is need to improve the current road design in order to end up with structures that can aid in guaranteeing a higher level of safety to individuals. One of the potential design alternatives would be to develop a modern circular roundabout at the intersection where traffic is flowing in a counter-clockwise direction around a central island. Unlike the current design, the proposed modern roundabout design would not only allow the traffic to flow freely without the need for stop controlled or signalized systems. Additionally, the drivers would have sufficient time to judge the traffic and adjust their speeds accordingly while approaching the roundabout. It is also worth noting that roundabout intersection designs are also

A New Campaign for the Grape Growers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

A New Campaign for the Grape Growers - Assignment Example Moreover, it is the case that there is an increasing obesity epidemic and fresh fruits (Especially grapes) are an important element of a healthy diet. The purpose of this campaign is to reinforce these principles to consumers. Without question, billboard advertisements need to be short and to the point as it is the case that most observers will be in passing vehicles. From this perspective, we need to utilize an eye-catching image and a short piece of text to reinforce the healthy qualities that grapes possess. For the purpose of the advertisement, the theme will be on a kind of eye-catching image. A cartoon image of a bundle of grapes, wearing a pair of glasses, a lab coat and a stethoscope (Effectively portraying an image of a doctor grape), with a large line of text that says â€Å"Ask me about how I can save your life.† Followed by a website link. The idea is for people to read the message and become intrigued with what health properties that grapes may possess. By observers seeing the website linked, they can find out all the relative information about the health properties.  As far as other advertisement mediums this campaign lends well to print, television and radio because of its simple properties.

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Obesity - Essay Example Children spend little or no time outside playing and running around because of video games. The pharmaceutical companies provide the population with pills to lose weight and this increases passive lifestyle because psychologically people will always choose swallowing pill over exercises because it’s easy (Flegal et al., 2010). I strongly believe that lifestyle and environmental factors are the major causes and it can be seen that from 1980 the breakthrough in modern technologies in all spheres of life. The dietary habit of people changed as fast foods replaced home foods; people adopted the consumption of fast foods which contain a lot of calories and sugars. This saves time and sometimes money but in reality it comes with serious health consequences. The spread of fast food like wildfire led to increase consumption of high calories and increase in machinery reduced physical activities, in the big picture children spend more time indoors with video games and eating high fatty foods which leads to obesity and the same is seen in adults who spend so much time working. The consumption of fast food relieves them of the â€Å"stress† of cooking and putting into account decrease in physical activities due to machinery. In the developing countries where western lifestyle is being adopted it’s seen that obesity is also increasing. To turn the trend of obesity certain measures need be taken, such as 1) encouraging physical exercises 2) control of appetite by educating the people on the dangers of unhealthy eating, 3) regulating the activities of fast food companies and 4) building of parks and providing free outdoor exercise facilities (Flegal et al., 2010). I will advise him to firstly decrease the consumption of high calorie intake especially in fast food and increase intake of vegetables and fruits, control of appetite and try to exercise at least 3 times in a week with the intensity of the exercise increasing

Issue Paper (Global warming) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Issue Paper (Global warming) - Essay Example might be increases in the concentrations of unhealthy drinking water and air pollutions, changes in the rainfall patterns and other extreme events could lead to the spreading of some diseases. The effects of global warming may be summarized as follows, Heat waves always lead to cases of stroke and dehydration in our bodies and they form most of weather-related deaths. The menace of heat wave mostly affects the young, old adults and the poor more than it does to the able in the society (Leal 30). The rate and the magnitude of excessive events of precipitation are anticipated to increase in some specific locations as it happens in the harshness of tropical storms. The extreme events may lead to injuries and some extend deaths of the loved ones in the community (Scherer 45). The most vulnerable aspect to this type of climate condition is also the young, the old and those people with some medical conditions together with the poor in the society. There are also indirect effects of the condition to human life that may include the reduction in the availability of fresh water, interruptions of communication and transport networks. There might also be an increase in stomach and intestinal illnesses among the people affected and cases of mental health impacts like depression and post-traumatic disorders (Svensson 50). Changes that happen to the climate may accelerate the spread of some diseases. The disease-causing agents that are known as pathogens are transmittable through water, food, animals and insects too. Climate change affects these transmitters in one way or the other thus affecting an individuals life directly or indirectly (Scherer 78). An increase in temperature leads to increased cases of bacteria that are related to food poisoning because temperature accelerates the growth of bacteria. The resulting diseases may bring about gastrointestinal distress and in extreme cases death. Heavy downfalls and flooding may lead to overflows from sewage lines and

Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development Essay - 1

Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development - Essay Example Reflective practice involves the ability to reflect on an action in order to take part in a continuous learning process that defines the traits of a professional practice. Reflective practice can also represent a criterion of paying attention to the practical theories and values that inform the everyday action through looking through the reflexively and reflectively practice. This leads to insight development. Reflective practice is a vital tool in professional practice-based learning settings where people learn out of their own experiences, instead of learning from a knowledge transfer, and a formal teaching. This means that reflective practice is the most crucial individual source of professional improvement and development. In this respect, the idea of reflective practice has obtained a huge take-up especially in the development of a practitioner’s profession in areas of health care and education. This means that reflective practice surrounds the issue of lifelong learning where one practitioner analyses different experiences so as to learn out of them. In this case, reflective practice promotes the professionals that are independent and continuously take part in situations of reflection that they come across in their world of profession. However, critics hold that reflection is time consuming and an annoying interruption to learners. It is noted that learners can end up becoming somewhat more anxious and introspective concerning their actions. Moreover, the lack of experience by learners can adversely affect the quality of reflective practice they adopt. This explains why there is need for continued evaluation of assumptions, beliefs, as well as hypothesis against the existing data on reflective practice. Needless to say, there is need to ensure that there is justification of the reflective learning design, and measurement of process, which need to focus upon the reflective

Speed control of DC and AC machines Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Speed control of DC and AC machines - Lab Report Example Steady-state conditions are to be used in the case where the DC motor needs to be excited separately. Loading conditions should be varied and tested. The rectifiers available include the single-phase half controlled bridge rectifier containing a flywheel diode. Cases of firing angle in the setup that is used above ought to be set to a fixed value. Voltage and resistance variation affect characteristics of the armature while flux regarding the pole affects magnetic properties of the motor. It sets the base for the speed control methods as armature control method and the field control methods. Resistance variation is achieved via connecting an external resistance with the voltage supply to the motor armature. Losses being negligible are ignored. Alternatively speed control can be achieved by a rheostat resistance in series with the armature of the motor. Magnetic properties of the motor can be varied using a field diverter method. Armature control method has superiority compared to the other methods because it has the abilities to offer fine control of the motor speed, a unified acceleration, and the regulation properties accompanying speed control are superior. On the contrary, the method requires standardized patterns that increases the cost and delivers low efficiency when carrying lighter loads. The circuit, as stated above, is made up of controlled and the uncontrolled rectifiers. Diode as components of the design and the freewheeling operations occurs regardless of allowing a negative voltage output. Clamping at zero does not guarantee the rectification of negative voltage hence a half controlled. The positive voltage levels are made use via the rectifier while the negative voltages are cut-off hence unnecessary. The setup is composed of diodes and the SCRs. With Vin being positive, triggering of SCR S1 occurs at the firing angle determined and denoted as a. current flow will begin from SCR S1 and then flow through

Study skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Study skills - Essay Example Excessive swaying occurred as the number of people crossing the bridge grew. It was then decided to limit the number of people crossing it at a time. The problem of swaying, however, persisted. The swaying was severe enough for people on it to stop walking and hold on to the rails for support (Newland, David E). While the number of people on the bridge swelled, the bridge began to sway and twist in regular oscillations and the worst movement occurred on the central span where the deck was moving by up to 70mm. The engineers insisted the bridge would not fall down but people were left unnerved. Finally, the engineers closed the bridge completely when limiting the number of people failed to make any difference (Millennium Bridge (c), 2000). It was closed to public on 12 June 2000 for re-examination and remedial work. It was later re-opened on 27 February 2002 and now forms part of London’s many architectural marvels (Millennium Bridge (a)). The solution to this problem â€Å"involved installing dampers under the deck and between the deck and the river piers. This has provided an excellent solution as it does not detract from the aesthetic impact of the bridge as originally designed† (Millennium Bridge (e), London, 2007). The bridge is now used by thousands of people and cyclists every day. It is a key pedestrian link and is a simple concept that has achieved a simple form via a complex and innovative design. The bridge is accessible throughout the day. The nearest underground stations are Blackfriars or Mansion House on the Circle line as well as the District line. The bridge affords breathtaking view of panoramic London. The view of St. Paul’s Cathedral majestically towering over other structures is the major attraction. There is also the fresh, cool breeze that wafts onto all those walking across. One cannot help feeling a bit of elation at the crossover without any fear of bumping into some

Ethics, values, and social responsibility Essay Example for Free

Ethics, values, and social responsibility Essay In the finance field there are a number of ethical issues although many issues in this field are governed by law. Ethical issues in finance include individual conduct, financial institution operations and financial markets operations. In this field people are trained to perform different duties and thus finance ethics is diversified. However, the top five issues in this field include honesty and fairness, fraud, conflicts of interest, discrimination and information technology. Honesty and fairness in this field has raised much dispute. Because of the intense competition in the world, many people view the conditions in a business to be similar to those in a game of sport or war and thus anything is considered to be fair. On the other hand there are those who argue that not everything is considered to be honest and fair. This has therefore led to ethical issues in this field regarding what is honest and fair and what is not. Conflicts of interest is mainly observed in situations where an individual is placed in a position of making a decision on whether to pursue personal interests or the interests of other individuals or business. Similar, it can involve an organization making a choice on whether to pursue own interests or the interest of the society. The issue concerning fraud primarily entails the disclosure of valuable information which is vitally important for security. It also involves misrepresentation of material evidence intentionally. There are several types of fraud and this may include; accounting, marketing and consumer fraud. Discrimination is an ethical issue which can involve an individual or a business. Some individuals or businesses abuse others by enticing them and exploiting them. In addition to that it may include issues regarding race, gender among others. To add to that there are some cases which involve price discrimination. In information technology, the issue entails the privacy and confidentiality of information on matters concerning the employees and consumers. Privacy and confidentiality is essential in this field however there may be some cases where it is not ensured. This has therefore led to ethical issues concerning what is privacy. In addition to that there are ethical issues which involve protection of intellectual property. Ranking The top five issues can be arranged in descending order as honest and fairness, conflict of interest, fraud, discrimination and information technology (College of Micronesia, n. d. ). Honesty and fairness are major issues since they affect all levels of an organization, and are much experienced by society. Furthermore, controlling this issue other issues will be taken care of. For instance, an organization which is honest and fair, issues concerning fraud, discrimination, conflict of interest and information technology are minimal. Analysis Honesty and fairness In the financial market fairness is taken to mean a level playing field for everyone. However, in most cases the playing field is unleveled and this can be attributed to issues concerning inequalities in the bargaining power, possession of information, resources available, among others. Inequalities in the bargaining power and resources are considered to be ethical only when used coercively and violate rights and obligations (Frederick, 2002). This implies that individuals or organization are only allowed to use their advantages in ways that are considered fair to others. Additionally, individuals can use their resources to acquire information which they are entitled to exploit to their advantage. This has made access to information an issue of investment thereby leading to inaccessibility to critical information by some individuals. To acquire information individual must invest adequate resources. Ethical issues arise over accessibility of information, how the information should be distributed to ensure equality. Fraud In sales concerning financial products like insurance policies, loans, mutual funds among others, application of ethical standards is a requirement. Hence businesses are given the mandate to ensure adequate material information is available. There are regulatory agencies which monitor prospectus for mutual funds, however, personal sales and advertisements can contain false or misleading information (Frederick, 2002). Additionally, this is an issue which has been observed in the stock market and in many businesses. Some individuals conceal valuable information to lure more customers to their businesses. For instance, in the stock market assets of a particular organization may be inflated or some of its liabilities may be concealed. This issue has led to large losses in many investment companies and to individuals (Frederick, 2002). Since assessing the risk and suitability for an investment has been made difficult with inadequate material information. Conflict of interest This is issue which is primarily observed in agents, fiduciaries and financial managers, in which the personal interest interferes with the interests of the organization or society. Agents and fiduciaries are given the mandate to act on behalf of others in exercising judgment, however, in cases where they stand to gain personally their judgments may be compromised. Additionally, financial managers are given the mandate to manage assets prudently and thus avoid using them for personal gains however, in some cases conflict of interest might occur. For instance, management buyouts whereby a group of managers take a public organization to be private are an ethical issue. This issue occurs mainly since the actions to be performed by an individual are not fully specified before the transaction and thus an individual is given a wide range of options. In addition to that they are not closely monitored and evaluated. This has led to huge losses being incurred by individuals and companies. For instance, some banks have collapse and this was attributed to rogue traders (Frederick, 2002). Discrimination This issue observed mainly in financial products and it involves abusive practices of selling such as flipping and twisting. In flipping one loan is replaced by another for generation of additional fees. While in twisting, insurance agents persuade their clients to replace the existing policy in order to get commission (Frederick, 2002). Some financial institution abuse poor individuals by offering them loans of high interest and by adding little values to lure them. Furthermore, in some institutions there are cases of discrimination in employment on matters concerning race and gender. Information technology Maintaining privacy and confidentiality of information in many business has been difficult because of the cost of technology. As technology advances it becomes more expensive to ensure privacy of employees and clients information. Furthermore, with the increase in number of people of accessing the internet maintaining privacy and confidentiality has become difficult. This has therefore led to loss of confident by the public since they cannot trust some organizations to protect their personal information. Solutions and recommendations The issue of conflict of interests can be addressed by closely monitoring individuals and by changing the structure of the relationship. For instance, the commissions can be focused mainly on performance of the clients portfolios and not on the volumes of sales. Additionally, professionalism, trust and codes of ethics should be strongly emphasized in relationships in order to guarantee the confidence from the society. Fraud and discrimination issues can be solved in courts. There are laws which were put in place in place to protect people against abuse or discrimination. For instance, the Employment Act protects employees against discrimination and harassment. Furthermore, the pre-dispute arbitration agreement should be amended or individuals should avoid it. This agreement may have several advantages but denies adequate protection to investors. Maintaining privacy and confidentiality of clients and employees information require much funding. It is essential for organizations to invest more funds in acquiring knowledge and skills concerning privacy and confidentiality in the information technology. By ensuring privacy and confidentiality, public confidence will be build. Social responsibility is essential for ensuring ethical standards are maintained in the society. When making decisions, people should consider their effects to the society and to themselves. This will ensure that ethical issues are maintained. Additionally, since businesses cannot be trusted to maintain ethical standards, some laws have been passed to ensure social responsibility. For instance there are laws concerning consumer safety and environment protection. This is a step forward in ensuring ethical standards. Furthermore, there are some financial institutions which have developed and implemented strict policies that ensure ethical standards are adhered. For instance there are policies concerning privacy and confidentiality of employees’ and customers’ information. In conclusion, maintenance of ethical standards should not be the responsibility of an individual or an organization but should involve the whole society. By maintaining ethical standards the society and organizations will be protected from any harm and at the same time eliminate conflict. Even though ethical standards vary from one society to another, they should be understood and maintained adequately. Reference list College of Micronesia, (n. d. ). Code of Ethics. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from http://www. comfsm. fm/~dleeling/alo/personnel/code_of_ethics. html Frederick R. (2002). A companion to business ethics. Edition: 1. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 154-59.

Anahorish And Digging | Comparative Essay

Anahorish And Digging | Comparative Essay Anahorish and Digging are two poems written by acclaimed Irish poet, Seamus Heaney, from the 1972 anthology Wintering Out and the 1966 anthology Death of a Naturalist. Anahorish was the name of the school Heaney attended (the Anglicized version of the Irish word anachgeeor uisce meaning place of cold water), and focuses on Heaney going back to visit his old school, going back in time to make sense of the present, whereas Digging is about Heaney expressing his admiration of his forefathers, and how they dug for survival, whereas he uses his pen as opposed to their spades to dig into the past of his fellow Irish people. I have chosen to compare Anahorish with Digging as I feel that Digging shares many common traits with Anahorish such as the references to land, the reminiscing of the poet, the slow, reflective language, and yet they differ, particularly context-wise. Both poems share the key theme of reminiscing/looking back in time, and the earth, and can be analysed in terms of shari ng this key theme, as well as context and language. Both Digging and Anahorish employ the two themes of looking back in time, and the earth. This is immediately evident in both poems, where in Digging Heaney instantly describes how his fathers spade sinks into gravelly ground, whilst in Anahorish, land references are instantaneously made the first hill in the world where springs washed into the shiny grass and darkened cobbles in the bed of the lane. Cobbles in particular has a strong Irish cultural reference attached to it. We can now see that a direct comparison can be made between the two poems, as they both have a focus on the land, just in different contexts. In Digging, Heaney needs to vividly describe the land so he can transport the reader to what it was like for the potato diggers of Northern Ireland, and how harsh their conditions were; the intense description of how Heaney saw his fathers straining rump among the flowerbeds also conveys to the reader how clear this memory is to the poet, and how it must be imprinted in his mind. Excerpts from the poem such as how he rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep indicates to the reader how painful and laborious this work must have been; the adjective rooted, as well as being a typical Heaney-esque device in which the poet uses nouns as verbs, also has very negative connotations to it, being quite an emotive word as it expresses feelings of suffering and very hard work. In Anahorish, Heaney uses the land as a representation of what he remembers, using the landmarks he sees to inspire his memories of his old primary school, helping him to delve deep into his past so he can make sense of future. Andrew Green notes that the land, in Heaneys early poetry, represents many things, but always encapsulates a continuity of experience. Whether he is searching for personal meaning or attempting to locate a source and possible context for the troubles that plague his native Ireland, he finds his language and inspiration firmly rooted in the land. So integral is the part it plays in the verse of the early collection that we can see in the earth no mere means to end but an end in itself. To summarise Greens points, Heaney often uses the land as a source of inspiration, a method of evoking some of his past memories, helping him explore his past and assist in determining his present. Clearly, the land is of great importance to Heaney, which is expressed through to the reader. Both poems also explore Heaneys reminiscing. In Digging Heaney clearly goes back in time to remember his grandfather digging the land My grandfather cut more turf in a day than any other man on Toners bog. Once I carried him milk in a bottle corked sloppily with paper; in this context, Heaney recalls this moment to stress to the reader the strong ethics instilled in his grandfather (the excerpt goes on to say how his grandfather would have one drink of milk, then get straight back to digging). However, in Anahorish, Heaneys going back in time is of a much greater importance. He describes how the springs used to wash into the shiny grass; clearly, Heaney is trying to remember aspects of his school, in the hopes he can remember who he once was, and thus remember who he is again Heaney is using his history to find himself. It could be stated therefore, that a third theme in both poems is a loss of identity for Heaney in Digging he feels almost uncomfortable with himself for not diggin g like his forefathers, whereas in Anahorish the poet is unsure of who he is, taking measures such as visiting his old school when he was a childhood, and using the land to evoke early memories and rediscover himself; as stated in The Times Magazine article entitled The Poet, those links to whats gone before physical, psychological are the power behind much of his work. Clearly, the land has a direct link to his physical and psychological memories/psyche, and Heaney therefore uses the land to inspire his poetry and memories. So, even though both poems share the same themes, reminiscing and the earth are used in different contexts. Clearly, both Anahorish and Digging take place in different circumstances. For one, in Digging Heaney is using the poem as a way to almost hail the workmen of Northern Ireland, praising them for their patience and strong work ethic. Clearly, the living roots of the poem both become, for the reader, symbols of the poets memory (Andrew Green); indeed, the poem is essentially one long recollection of his forefathers living, and Heaney is using it to bring attention to the plight of the Irish workers. At the time of the poem, it can be assumed that there was a potato famine in Ireland, resulting in mass death by starvation, due to the fact that the potato was the food that the majority of the impoverished Irish survived on; its loss was devastating. In Anahorish, Heaney is presumably in a fragile state of mind, perhaps unsure of who he is, so he goes to Anahorish to see if he can stir up any memories, and hope that the site will help him find himself again. In both poems, the language is relatively slow and reflective. The vocabulary in Digging is descriptive, the poet clearly able to vividly recount his experiences watching his father dig the coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft against the inside knee was levered firmly; therefore we can clearly see that Heaney watching his father dig left a lasting impression on him. Therefore, the language shows how vivid Heaneys memories are. This is also evident in Anahorish where Heaney can remember the after-image of lamps swung through the yards on winter evenings. In Digging, Heaney notes how he once carried him milk in a bottle corked sloppily with paper. He straightened up to drink it, then fell to right away nicking and slicing neatly. The juxtaposing terms of sloppily and neatly in Digging reinforce how at this time in the poem, Heaney is a young boy, with his clumsy manner, whilst his grandfather is an experienced, concise man, who has been digging for many years. So in Digging, cont rast is used to emphasise Heaneys childlike immaturity when he was a boy, again, a clear allusion to the poems theme of reminiscing. In Anahorish, there is a clear contrast to break the light ice at wells and dunghills. It can be assumed that this conflict of ice and dunghill is meant to act as a break, a reminder to the reader that Heaney was looking back into time, and now has to return back to the present. Both poems also use onomatopoeia, Digging describing the squelch and slap of soggy peat and Anahorish noting how the springs washed into the shiny grass. These onomatopoeias are particularly important in helping create atmosphere, and involve the reader in Heaneys train of thought; onomatopoeic words partially close the gap between language and reality as said by Bernard Richards, who further notes that Seamus Heaney is a master of sound effects. An extended metaphor is also present in each poem. In Digging, the entire text is an extended metaphor for Heaney digging into the pa st using his poetry; the phrase Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests. Ill dig with it perfectly encapsulates this sentiment. Meanwhile, in Anahorish, the excerpt springs washed into the shiny grass is a metaphor for the passing of time, continuing on in the poem, as the whole point of visiting Anahorish was to arouse any memories which are too deep to stir though thought alone. Both poems are very similar, in which they both express the themes of reminiscing, the earth, and use a lot of the same linguistic techniques. However, in terms of context, the two poems differ substantially; Heaney clearly feels the same sentiments in both, a desire to use the Irish landscape to evoke deep memories, which he communicates to the reader so he can find himself. Development of Global Expansion Strategy: India to Britain Development of Global Expansion Strategy: India to Britain What started as an export house has today become a successful retail business presenting Indian textiles in a variety of natural fibers, and home products including furniture, lights and lamps, stationery, home accessories, pottery and cutlery. In 2004, food products range was launched and in 2006, FabIndia Sana, their authentic body care products range, was launched. Recently, it has also ventured into the jewellery segment. However, the major chunk of FabIndias product range is textile-based. The company has continued its focus mainly on the artisans and sources its products from over 40,000 craftsmen across India. With a strong foundation, the company has been successful in increasing its presence all over India. The concept, now a Harvard Business School case study, is simple. A fully-owned subsidiary of FabIndia, Artisans Micro Finance, a venture fund, facilitates the setting up of these companies, which are owned 49 per cent by the fund, 26 per cent by the artisans, 15 per cent by private investors and 10 per cent by the employees of the community-owned company. After a successful 50 years in India and after creating a niche market and millions of loyal customer base, company is going global. It is already present in 3 cities around the world. In this report we are going to look at the option of taking the company to one of the biggest economies of the work the Great Britain. We will study the market using the concepts of global marketing and try to analyze how successful venture it will be for FabIndia. The Porters five forces are used to study framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development. This reports also talks about what are the reasons for entering into UK. The study of Birmingham and Liverpool, as potential cities for initial setup of the FabIndia store and later expanding to other places as the demand rises. This report will give us the in depth of setting up the FabIndia operations in the UK. Introduction: The history of Indias freedom struggle is interwoven with the Charkha the unusual weapon, employed by Mahatma Gandhi to spread the message of Swadeshi. Gandhi gave the art of Khadi, a special status through this movement. Khadi simply means cotton, usually hand-spun. Khadi is Indian hand spun and hand-woven cloth. The raw materials may be cotton, silk, Polyester or wool, which are spun into threads on a spinning wheel called a Charkha. Khadis earliest avatar was fashioned some 5,000 years ago in India, the original home of cotton, hand spun and hand woven by crafts persons who in all likelihood followed the precise instructions on weaving, spinning and dyeing laid out in the Vedas. Khadi is part of Indian dressing from thousands of years and now is becoming one of the most sought out fabric in fashion industry. John Bissell worked as a buyer for the American departmental store, Macys. In 1958, under a program run by the Ford Foundation, he came to India to advise the Central Cottage Industries Corporation created by the Indian government, on showcasing Indian handlooms and handicrafts. His role was to advise on issues relating to marketing Indian handicrafts. Determined to showcase Indian handloom textiles, and providing equitable employment to traditional artisans, and sensing an entrepreneurial venture, Bissell established FabIndia in 1960. It was also to fuse the best aspects of East West collaboration. Initially, FabIndia started as a wholesale export company, concentrating on the export of upholstery fabrics. In 1999, on John Bissells death, his son William aged 32, formally took over as the Managing Director of FabIndia. The Companys domestic expansion had been spectacular after William took over. By 2001, FabIndia had six stores concentrated in the metro cities. By the end of 2004, these had increased to 20, and the company was seriously considering expanding its stores into the tier-II and tier-III, cities as well as overseas. By the end of 2010 FabIndia had 121 retail stores across India and in addition, stores in Dubai, Rome and Qatar. Company Philosophy: FabIndia is Indias largest private platform for products that are made from traditional techniques, skills and hand-based processes. FabIndia links over 40,000 craft based rural producers to modern urban markets, thereby creating a base for skilled, sustainable rural employment, and preserving Indias traditional handicrafts in the process. FabIndia promotes inclusive capitalism, through its unique COC (community owned companies) model. The COC model consists of companies, which act as value adding intermediaries, between rural producers and FabIndia. These are owned, as the name suggests, by the communities they operate from; a minimum 26% shareholding of these companies is that of craft persons. FabIndias products are natural, craft based, contemporary, and affordable. The essentials of FabIndias new business model are simple. Bissell first created Artisans Microfinance (AMFL), an investment company, which identified and helped fund 17 community-owned firms that FabIndia calls supplier-region companies, or SRCs. Many of these firms had at their core non-profits and cooperatives that had been FabIndia suppliers for two generations. But when they were restructured, their artisan-workers bought shares in the future and a guaranteed piece of FabIndias pie. By tapping the locals and angel investors, FabIndia got a 50-percent boost in investment. More importantly, the SRC shares have already appreciated 50 percent and more. Returns like those and the jobs they generate could spell an end to rural poverty and the ills of urban migrants. The steps taken by FabIndia for the development of the weaker sections of the societies are well appreciated by the customers and also by the Industry, the rewards and recognition with the loyalty of the customers to support the causes for which FabIndia works are also the USP of the brand. Why FabIndia Should Go Global? Going Global for any organization promises tantalizing possibilities. It helps a company in increasing the international brand recognition, grasp greater market share, and achieve top line revenue growth. FabIndia is well established in India with almost 100 plus stores in all major cities of India. The option of going global is very much a strategic decision of the company as the brand FabIndia has got its footprints in the minds of international customers of ethnic Indian products. The domestic markets is well captured and catered to, so the it the time when FabIndia should look for expanding in global market. Some of the reasons specific to FabIndia expansion are: Demand of Khadi (hand-woven fabric) and handicraft products in international market as it is one of the most sought out product in fashion industry and by designers. Demand of Indian handicraft is also increasing in the global market. The world market for handicraft products and ethnic products is approximately  £152 billion. This is increasing at 15% per decade, out of which Indian share is only 2% as there is no major established retail store like FabIndia internationally. Most of the product which reaches to international market is through unorganized sector. So company has got a first mover advantage. Thirdly, FabIndia works as a co-operative so the percentage profit is shared by the shareholders (weavers and artisan). So when a company like FabIndia goes global the cause for which they work also gets promoted which help them to make a loyal customer base. FabIndias Presence in UAE and Rome has given them the ground to know and research about the products which are widely accepted by people of not only Indian origin but also Western Expatriates working in that region. The store in Rome is the reflection of Thinking Global Acting Local, as the products are designed keeping in mind the taste of Italian culture and aesthetic. Selection of Country: After doing the research, on various countries, like, USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, France etc. we have decided to launched new stores in United Kingdom. The main reason of selecting UK as our target market can be many, but we have mention some of those here which are as follows, Geographic-Economic Environment: The United Kingdom is a country and sovereign state located off the North-Western coast of continental Europe. It is an inland nation spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northern part of the island of Ireland and many more small islands. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state consisting of four countries, England, Northern Island, Scotland and Wales. The UK is a developed nation with the worlds sixth largest economy by nominal GDP ( £1.3billion) and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity ( £23,188). It provides healthy environment for foreign direct investment and has low corporate and income tax rate that is 28% and 40% respectively in the Europe. It is also a member of European Union which has round about 28 member countries in the Europe. UK is considered as higher income country with peoples power of purchasing rising day by day. Besides this, some more reasons as follows, The easiest place to establish and run a business is Europe: According to a World Bank study, it takes only 13 days to establish a business in the UK. The World Bank has ranked the UK first in Europe and sixth in the world to operate business. Stable Political Environments: Transparency International rates the UK high on the transparency list. The UK is the country with the least corruption in the world. It achieves a higher rating in comparison to the US, Japan, Germany and France. Stable Regulatory Environment: the UK follows a consultative approach for formulation of regulation which is beneficial for a business environment. Gateway to the EU market: The UK acts as an excellent gateway to the European market which has 27 member states and an approximate population of 500 million. Social-Cultural Environment: Britain is often described as a secular society but also, confusingly, as a multi-faith society. The first term refers to the claim that the influence of religion has dwindled in modern societies. Although the 2001 census showed that 77% of people in Great Britain have a religious faith, the secular description is based on the claim that for most this faith is very shallow, with only a tiny minority being actively religious. The multi-faith label refers to the co-existence within British society of many faith communities, largely as a result of immigration. For every company it is dream location as British people are getting very open and accepting the other culture. Due to it peaceful atmosphere and the ethnic, modern and stylish lifestyle, it is a dream business destination for the companies. Now the culture is like Conglomerate that means a traditional company like is still having the opportunity to do the business and the same chances would likely available for international marketing companies. Due to global fashion trend this open consumer behavior would widen the opportunity in fashion and company like FabIndia must have the opportunity in the casual and formal dressings. Handicraft, Furniture and Organic Food Industry in UK: The handicraft industry is contributing  £ 100 millions to the UK economy. In terms of growth, this sector is growing on an average rate of 7%. Gifts and furniture industry contributes  £ 9.2 billion to the economy and organic food industry contributes  £280 to national economy. However, gifts and furniture are increasing at very slower rate because of financial downturn in October 2008. But, now after recovery of financial crisis, these two industries slowly covering and the growth of it expected to rise very soon. The apparel industry in UK is both vertically and horizontally integrated for maximizing returns. Strong laws protecting patents, designs and brands play a vital role in attracting foreign direct investment in the apparel industry. Joint ventures and investments in apparel have also been greatly enhanced by the wide network of European Union which UK signed with 28 countries in 2007. Handicraft Trade: After entering in the European Union, the handcrafts sale in the UK has been raised and it is continuously increasing by 7% annually which is very higher than last decade. Mostly UK imports handcrafts from various countries around the world, like, India, China, Japan, Vietnam etc. however, Indian and Chinese handcrafts and crafts carry the most of the weight of the import because of its popularity, attractive and uniqueness. Target Cities: After deciding on the country the next stage of our operations was to look for cities where we can step-up a business and get great response from the customers. Therefore, at the end we landed on two main cities in UK which are Birmingham and Liverpool. Why Birmingham? Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midland county of UK. It is the second largest city in the country after London with population of 1 million. Out of which 21% population is Asian British which will the prime target for FabIndia at the initial stage of opening stores. The population age between16-59 is 57.7% which is the main target customer for the company. As well as, it is industrial hub and second commercial centre of the UK. Its location is in the middle of the country therefore; it is much closer to cities like Leicester, Nottingham and Northampton where more Asian or Indian ethnic population stays. The city has highest number of foreign visitors after London therefore; there are high chances of getting business from this tourist who come from all over the world. It is shopping hub in the West Midland regions. The purchasing power of the city population is high as compared to other cities in the UK. The store will be open on the New Street which is shop ping centre of the city and very popular place. Therefore, we think Birmingham is the best city for us to introduce a store of handicraft goods. Why Liverpool? The city of museum, Liverpool is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside of UK. It is a fourth largest city in the country with population of almost 0.5 million. Liverpool status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population which historically was drawn from a wide range of people, cultures and religions. The economy of the Liverpool is one of the largest in the UK and per capita income of the local people is  £ 17489. Another important component of the Liverpool economy is tourism and leisure sector. It is a shopping hub in the region and people of the city are very fashionable and like to wear handicrafts products. Liverpool One is the most famous place and main shopping centre in the city; therefore, we are opening a store at that place, where we can easily attract customers to the store. Entry Strategy: To entering the UK market, we have gone through the various factors of investment, but at the end we have decided to enter in the market with the Foreign Direct Investment. We will use Greenfield Investment and start our operation from the scratch. The reasons for taking a FDI may be many; some of those are as follows, As we will get the total control of operation and do not need to depend on anyone in the business. The government provides a good support for FDI and gives concession in the corporate and income tax rates. It will helps us understand the UK market and in future our network and distribution channel which will be develop at the first phase of operation can be usable for future expansion in UK and in Europe. The soft loans from government and local banks will be easier to get when it required for future expansion. Global Marketing Strategy: For marketing of our products at the first stage Focus Strategy will be applied. A strategy in which, an organization aims to achieve market share, by focusing its efforts on serving a narrow range of market segments well. At the beginning of the business Asian and Asian British will be the first target customers in both cities and in the later stage British consumers will be targeted. The reason for this, FabIndia is follow word of mouth publicity and people who are already aware of the brand and its product will be targeted easily. Competitors Analysis: Porters Forces Analysis: This is used to analyze the competitive environment in each country market. The model identifies five sources of competitive pressures on the firm in a given country industry. It deals with global competition across several country markets. New Entrants: From the political analysis we could find that the country has an attractive business environment. Research also shows that entry barriers are low, so it is quite easy to set up a business in the country. Indian handcrafts and ethnic wear are popular among Indians and Europeans in UK. So, stores exclusively for Indian clothes are favorable in the country. This shows there is a high threat of new entrants who might want to set up a business in similar segments as well. Substitutes: The company has certain substitutes products which are served by brands like Wonderworld and Marks Spencer. But, the good thing is there are only a moderate number of substitutes. This would be an advantage to the company. But still the company must have an eye on these substitutes which might face a threat to them. Thus, the company must provide service and improvise in their products, such that these substitutes do not become a threat. Untitled11.jpg Buyer: The bargaining power of the buyer is high. FabIndia is exclusively into the Indian ethnic and contemporary segment. There are moderate substitutes in the country and research shows that there are more Asians in the region. FabIndia is also a brand well known in India and there is quite some brand awareness amongst the people. Thus, the bargaining power of the buyer is high. Supplier: Most of the raw materials which the companies mainly require are readily available in the country. But, the main point of importing from India is because of its workmanship and the purpose of the company. Opening a new branch overseas involves risks too. All these indicate that the suppliers have a low bargaining power. Rivalry: There are only are a few local competitors that offer the similar products and the company positions itself away from the international competitors and regards them as substitutes. Thus, the rivalry among the competitors is low. FabIndias purpose is quite different unlike other companies whose motto is only to make money. Thus from this analysis, we could draw a conclusion the country has a good market potential and the company could do good business in the United Kingdom. Segmentation and Targeting: Every company should embrace target marketing. Here, sellers distinguish the major market segments, target one or more of these segments and develop products and marketing programs tailored to each. Target marketing requires taking three major steps: Identify and profile distinct group of buyers who differ in their needs and preferences. Select one or more market segments to enter. For each target segment, establish and communicate the key distinctive benefits of the companys market offering.(Kotler, 2003) We did analysis on our target market and split into the following parts for Fabindia: Geographic: Region: United Kingdom Density: Urban (Birmingham and Liverpool) Climate: Both winters and summers Demographic: Age: 5-15, 15-30, 30-65+ Gender: Male and Female Nationality: Asian Expatriates, Asian of British Origin, British, Institutions (Designers, Hotels and Restaurants) Race: Asian and Asian British, White British Social Class: Lower, Middle and Upper Psychographic: Lifestyle: Culture oriented, Ethnic Indian, Contemporary Behavioral: Occasions: Regular and Special Benefits: Quality, Service, Economy , Speed Loyalty Status: None, Medium, Strong, Absolute Attitude Towards Product: Enthusiastic, Positive, Cultured, Indifferent, Hostile Positioning: Todays economies are afflicted with surpluses, not shortages. No company can win if its product and offerings resembles every other product and offering. Positioning is the act of designing the companys offering and image to occupy a distinctive place in the mind of the target market. (Kotler,2003). All products need to be distinctive and differentiated. FabIndias brand can be differentiated as, Niche yet affordable. Handcrafted yet high quality This perceptual map helps the organization to identify where it stands in the market and also identifies its positioning strategy. When plotting a perceptual map two dimensions are commonly used. Below is a very basic perceptual map. If we plot the UK Indian handcrafts and clothing market we can identify those brands which are high price and high quality. Both FabIndia and Wonderworld are plotted as high quality and high price. But, the former leads its way in the perceptual map. C:UsersacerDownloadsPerception Map.jpg In our basic map, we can see there is competition within that particular area. Though we have stiff competition and substitutes from the likes of Marks Spence and websites like lehengahouse.com, we provide the real worth for the peoples money with no compromise on quality and design and that is why FabIndia attains its high quality and high price position in the perceptual map. Marketing Mix: Product: FabIndia has a variety of products in different ranged and caters from clothing to organic products. Men, Women Apparel and Home Linen: The textile-based product range includes ready-to-wear garments and accessories for men, women, teenagers and children; bed, bath, table and kitchen linen; floor coverings, upholstery fabric and curtains. Cotton, silk, wool, grass, linen and jute are the basic fibers used. We also have considered the weather conditions in United Kingdom and have altered our products to support this. We have used more woolen products, as it is the best material for cold weather. Our home Linen line will give our customers a traditional Indian decor in their home. Home Dà ©cor: Our home products range carries furniture, lighting, stationery, tableware, cane baskets and a selection of handcrafted utility items. Indian handicrafts have been accepted worldwide and since there is heavy demand we will offer wide variety of furnitures which will give our customers an opportunity to have and Indian theme and ambience in their very own homes. Organic Food: We carry several types of cereals, grains, pulses, spices, sugar, tea, coffee, honey, fruit preserves and herbs in our organic food range. The Organic food industry is one of the biggest industries today as it considered highly healthy and nutritional. Jewellery and Gift Accessories: In 2002, FabIndia launched a new jewellery line which was made with wood, copper silver and gold. The jewellery line was well accepted. They also have products product line as gifts like clutches, purses and wall hanging. All handcrafted and made in rural India. Ayurvedic Skin Care: Our range of Authentic Personal Care Products includes soaps, shampoos, hair oils, pure oils, moisturizers, body scrubs, face packs, hair conditioners and special skin care products. Ayurvedic treatment using Indian herbs is very popular in the western world today and is a big industry. Price: Our Pricing strategy will be made with the main objective on current profit maximization. In our entry strategy we will follow price-skimming strategy, as this is a new market and it would help establish ourselves and gain market position. Cotton Wool Silk.jpg Our price range will range from  £15 to  £150 as there are different materials that are used. After our second quarter we will follow the market based pricing strategy. Pricing will differ from Product to Product and will be at least 50% more than what it is in Indian market. Place We are looking at opening up our first 2 FabIndia stores at two prime locations Birmingham and Liverpool. 1.jpg * Traditional shopping area at Birmingham New Street 2.jpg *Liverpool One Shopping Center These are the two locations where our store will be located, as all the local people know them as a shopping hub. Our stores will have an ethnic yet contemporary design. Our stores will be big as we need to display a wide range of products and this would also give our customers a wide variety to choose from. Promotion: We have various Promotion plans to attract customers and earn their loyalty. Given below are a few of the Promotional activities that we intend to organize and implement. Customer Loyalty Program: In this scheme we will give our customers membership cards and allow them to collect points and allow them to redeem these points in forms of discounts and offering them gifts. We will have different Tiers, which will give our esteemed customers various privileges. Sponsoring Indian Events: India has various festivals that are celebrated worldwide, so we will approach the Local Indian Communities and sponsor events as this would help our brand to reach various customers and at the same time build a wide network and help in Brand Recognition. Organizing Fashion Shows: We will organize fashion shows to show-off our clothing line and this would help attract customers and make them aware on the actual appearance of our clothing line. 3.jpg We will also Invite children and organize a fashion show for them to show our clothing line for kids. Organizing an Indian Food Festival: 4.jpg As we already know that Indian Food is very popular all over the world we are planning to organize an Indian food festival offering various delicacies from all regions of India. Inviting Artists and Authors: We will Invite Popular artists and Authors to our store and support their new launch of books or paintings as this will give our customers to talk to them and understand how they work. Discount Sale in Festive Seasons: 6.jpg We are planning to offer discount sales on festive seasons to encourage consumers to choose our clothing line for their entire ethnic requirement. Promotion of Cause: It is one of the USP of Fabindia in International market like UK. The cause for which they work i.e. for the benefit of weaker section of society. This cause has to be promoted in a way that more people contribute and they realize that when they are buying fabindia product they are giving back to the society. Implementation Plan: Phase 1: This is one of the most important phases in our set up as we would start by setting up our corporate office to handle all operational and official responsibilities. We would also have to take the step of importing all the products and arranging all the logistics activities. At any initial its very important to set up a system as this would help in us to carry out a smooth operation. Corp office.jpg Phase 2: Now we will have to look out for stores in the locations suggested earlier and we will have to make sure the place is big enough to accommodate all our products as we want our customers to see our variety of products and choose. Once this step is complete we will have to recruit staff and train them on certain Indian festivals and also as to what clothing is to be worn on particular festive season as this would give our customers a comfortable atmosphere and an excellent FabIndia Experience as, A loyal Customer is a Permanent Customer. GoldCard.pngSilver Card-send.png Phase 3: Once our store is set and we are ready to kick off we will have to introduce the promotions that were suggested earlier in this plan, as this would encourage more customers to come and have a FabIndia Experience and also help enhance the brand value and recognition. FabIndia has never done too much marketing as they heavily depend on word of mouth and this has really worked for us because they already have a commendable marketing position in India. Phase 4: This is a final Phase where we successfully established ourselves in the United Kingdom and have to keep updating on our clothing line by introducing new designs and also keep modifying our other products. Once we have a commanding market position we can look at expanding into new areas and opening up more stores as the risk will be much lower. Risk Management: Retailing is one of the worlds largest industries. As retailing and wholesaling have become more global, competition has intensified. In addition to the global economic downturn, todays retailers face a wide range of challenges, including industry consolidation, employee attraction and retention, and business continuity. And as always, consumers are demanding ever-higher quality at ever-lower prices for the products they buy. For a retail business, these trends create a host of risks: strategic, financial, operational, and hazard   that can prove costly. Claims Consulting for company like Fabindia, employee and customer claims constitute the largest share of total cost of risk. Many claim consultants have partnered with these types of companies to manage these claims more cost-effectively. Merger, Acquisition, and Divestiture Mergers and acquisitions are common in the retail industry. They need to be efficient enough to minimize the risks associated with these complex transactions. Property Prices-Ever increasing price can affect the revenues of the company. So Fabindia will opt for long term leasing of store space. Competitors- Though highly unorganized there is threat of new entrance. So changes in strategies are important to keep competitive edge. Forex rate and Economy: after the 2008 economic downturn European Economy is still recovering so a close watch is required by management team about the future plans and expansions. Conclusion:

Strategies to Develop Patient Centred Care

Strategies to Develop Patient Centred Care Sneha Praveen MIS Practicum Final Report Analysis of online patient reviews and its effect on healthcare providers Introduction With the advent of social media, online forums have become a major platform where users share their views and these platforms affect all the involved stakeholders sometimes positively and sometimes adversely. Word of mouth has become an important tool for publicity and sometimes a bad review posted without ulterior motives can do much damage. Most of such reviews and posts that we read on platforms like twitter, Facebook and online forums affect our decision making as we tend to trust judgment of others. But healthcare as an industry is still not very patient centric and not enough importance is given to patient’s opinion. This case is even more valid in the context of USA as there is no official channel for patients to leave their reviews and experience about a healthcare provider. This is very surprising as all other industries food, retail, and consumer industries revolve around what customers have to say and millions of dollars are spend on â€Å"customer satisfaction†, whereas, healthcare industry still relies on their processes without bothering to collect feedback from patients they serve. The main reason accredited to this could be that as payers, insurance companies and as service providers, physicians play the most important role. Patients in this context are mere subjects of treatment who are assumed to be not very vigilant of their own health condition. But is this situation same all around the world? And if not, then US healthcare needs to adapt and learn from such countries to improve its care and service quality. One such online forum implemented in the United Kingdom is â€Å"Patient Opinion†. This forum acts as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers to help improve the healthcare quality provided by National Health Service (NHS) to its citizens. In this paper, I will analyze data collected from patient opinion forum and present by findings answering how USA can benefit from a review outlet like Patient Opinion and how this forum has helped NHS to improve their quality and service. Why Patient-Centric Care: It is well proven that any industry benefits from customer reviews and helps in reducing cost and improve service. Slowly, healthcare needs to move towards Patient-centered care which supports active involvement of patients and care givers. It means being responsive to patient’s preferences, needs and feedback to ensure that service quality improves and slowly there is more involvement of patient in healthcare delivery and design. [1] A patient centered care has below attributes [2]: Whole-person care. Coordination and communication Patient support and empowerment Ready access Autonomy A patient centered care focus on guiding patients by giving them information about options and risks. It means considering patient’s preferences and background and valuing their feedback. According to 2001 Institute of Medicine a focus on patient centered care is one of the factors constituting high quality health care. Source: http://hcca-act.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html The current system is physician centered which means that effective care is defined by physician’s standards and skills instead of centering on patient’s satisfaction from the service rendered. For example- orthopedic surgeons use the Harris Hip score to judge the success of a hip replacement. This was designed solely by physicians and does not include any feedback from patients to include their satisfaction from the procedure [3]. Thus, it is impossible to correctly define the output of any model in healthcare until the patient experience has been taken into account for. What Patients Want Most tools that we use to judge patient satisfaction or outcome of a medical service cannot be accurately quantified. Also, the success metric for a medical care varies from physician and patient’s point of view. An example of such tools was administered by Steward.et al in 2000 where many physician-patient interactions were audio taped and patients rated these conversations. After analysis, it was deduced that patients recovered faster, had better emotional health and perceived the care as satisfactory if the care was patient-centered. The faith of patients on their healthcare providers increased when there emotional needs were taken care of by the physicians leading to less number of diagnostic tests and fewer referrals. A similar methodology can also be used to study physician empathy. Researchers at Jefferson University developed the Jefferson scale to test physician’s empathy where physicians rated their own empathy but this scale could not be used to judge patient satisfaction. Thus, a new scale called Jefferson Scale of Patient’s perception of Physician Empathy was used which judges patient’s rating of physician’s empathy which correlated to patient’s satisfaction. Mostly what patients want is a relationship of empathy with physicians, who can help them communicate with the problem and develop a personal relationship with them. The perception of care is different from physicians and patient’s point of view and we need to move our focus from â€Å"what’s the matter† with our patients to â€Å"what matters† to our patients. [1] Hindrance in achieving true patient centric care One of the most crucial factors stopping US in achieving true patient centric care is the current reimbursement system and focus on physician practice model. There is no measure in US to gauge the quality of care, empathy and relationship of a physician with patients. Reimbursement is not correlated to these factors, instead it is based on per patient encounter. Due to this, primary care physicians focus on increasing the volume of patients and reduce the time spent with each patient. Most physicians are in a hurry and under stress which leads to misdiagnosis, useless tests and referrals, decrease in quality of care and a very formal relationship between physician and patients. [6] Next important factor is that physicians employed by hospitals are incentivized or prized depending on number of patients that they bring but there is no measure to the quality of care they impart. The volume of patients precede quality because the financial benefits are huge e.g.- Each lab tests physicians’ order, each referrals they make, benefits hospitals in terms of huge monetary benefits which in turn becomes a basis of primary care physician’s salaries. Thus, understandably what drives physicians is to employ methods to increase volume of patients, decrease time spent with each patient and other ways to monetize each patient-physician interaction. [3] The third hindrance is hospitals hiring generalists called hospitalists to provide care to patients with the goal of reducing patient days per admission. This might lead to improve in care for a certain amount of time but the reason behind hiring such individuals is not to improve patient care but instead to benefit hospitals financially. The Patient Centric Approach model Patient Centered Medical Home Patient Centric medical home helps address the patient centric approach by emphasizing on high quality patient care and lower the healthcare cost. They reorganize primary care practice by recognizing the importance of patient’s experience and works on system based approach to transform health services being offered. PCMH centers their service on elderly with acute care needs, patients with physical disabilities and with specific preferences in terms of culture and values. The care offered is comprehensive and designed to meet patients’ needs including physical and mental attention, chronic care and long term assistance like help in performing daily ablutions for patients with functional limitations. [8] Accountable Care Organizations ACOs have been set up with the goal of ensuring high quality of care is given to patients at the right time to prevent medical errors and reduce medical costs. Mostly ACOs are formed by group of doctors and hospitals who voluntarily come together to serve Medicare patients. [9] The basic promise that ACOs hold is to have patient centered care and treat patients with empathy, care and work towards avoiding unnecessary costs and develop a personal relationship with patients. Thus, government should incentivize formation of more ACOs to ensure more patient- centric approach. Strategic IT investment IT is the obvious answer to increase efficiency, reduce medical errors and improve quality of care in US. Though there are many facets of IT that can be used, use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical records (EMR) are the most important tools to use. EMRs are digitized version of patient record keeping for a physicians. EMR has been instrumental in reducing medical costs overtime by enabling better interactions between departments and monitoring patient’s visiting time and medical information. Patients can also log on and know about their health records and be better prepared. EHRs stores patient’s records so that if needed emergency departments can access it before giving them any medicines. This saves the cost of duplicate tests because all the data needed to prescribe medicines are present in EHRs. Feedback and review model: Patient Opinion Patient opinion was founded in 2005 and is the leading feedback platform for healthcare in UK. They allow patients to write their reviews/ stories about their experience and tag the particular provider. Other users can then favorite the post if they have experience the same thing. Patient Opinion also has an analytical engine which does sentiment analysis for each hospital and show what areas need improvement and which departments received positive reviews. The hospitals can read these reviews posted about them and respond to the complaints and praises. This helps them to improve their quality of care and address the issues raised by patients. Patient Opinion is a social enterprise and a NGO which is independent of NHS but share the same values. It is funded through user subscriptions, healthcare providers and healthcare Commission. Providers subscribing to Patient Opinion get the access to all patient feeds and can respond to the reviews. Though, use of patient opinion by patients is free. Patient Opinion is available across England but not (yet) the rest of the UK. It covers all acute trusts. As of today, 600 hospitals are registered with patient opinion and working together to improve the healthcare quality in UK. [5] How Patient Opinion fits the review model: It allows patients to give feedback on their health services and to see what others are talking about. It also acts as a platform to hear and respond to reviews and complaints posted by patients. They can compare their ratings with other hospitals and find out which of their departments are doing good and bad. All the opinions are reviewed before publication and editorial policies are public. The critical reviews are marked and directed to the healthcare providers while maintaining patient identity. Below are some feedback posted by patients for â€Å"King’s Mill Hospital† over a period of 2 weeks: Taking â€Å"King’s Mill Hospital† as our example for this study, let us look at some figures which help us better understand the Patient Opinion model: *Data collected is for the month of April: Analysis: Analysis: As of now, for the entire Patient Opinion database, feedback opinion so far is around 50% positive, 30% mixed and around 20% critical. Below is data of number of posts till date: In the last month, of all the posts, 53% had a response from hospital staff and 6% of responses actually lead to change. The numbers do look small but in the larger picture, it is an incremental change which slowly is changing the face of UK healthcare. Conclusion: Patient centric healthcare is the answer to the problems of rising cost and low quality of healthcare in USA. A patient centered communication gives more satisfaction to patients and increase their faith on the physician and treatment. Emotional health is better when patients feel that they have a personal equation with their physicians and their preferences, culture and values are being considered while treatment. It is very important to increase emphasis on physician’s empathy towards patients and introduce feedback model to increase efficiency of hospitals. Patient Opinion is bringing change into the healthcare scenario of UK by making patient reviews an important tool of decision making. Hospitals are responding to these reviews, trying to make amends and improve the quality of care. Currently, healthcare of USA is financially driven and patients are not treated as a valued customer. In future, if we want the healthcare cost to go down and expect better service, it is very important to bring the focus on patients and build the system around them. References: [1] Jo Anne L. Earp, Elizabeth A. French, Melissa B. Gilkey: Patient Advocacy for Health Care Quality [2] Bechtel, Christine.If You Build it, Will They Come? Designing Truly Patient-Centered Health Care.Health Affairs [3] http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/01/24/patient-centered-care-what-it-means-and-how-to-get-there/ [4] Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown, Allan Donner, Ian R. McWhinney, Julian Oates, Wayne W. Weston, John Jordan, The Impact of Patient-Centered Care on Outcomes [5] https://www.patientopinion.org.uk/info/about [6] Improving Patient Opinion Mining through Multi-step Classification, Lei Xia, Anna Lisa Gentile, James Munro, Josà © Iria [7] http://www.ncqa.org/Programs/Recognition/PatientCenteredMedicalHomePCMH.aspx [8] Ensuring That Patient-Centered Medical Homes Effectively Serve Patients With Complex Health Needs, AHRQ [9] http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ACO/ [10] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC64755/