Case Study Apple Inc. - 979 Words

Apple Inc. is one of worldwide titans in the data innovation, data and amusement business. It has under its one rooftop, aside from a dynamic CEO, Steve Jobs, a assortment of tasks that are the consequence of extraordinary development and sharp dispatch methodologies (Curtis and Gobham, 2005, p.14). The organization is included in all round operations running from outlining, assembling and retailing its items, growing from its beginning aptitude of simply offering PCs the organization has effectively investigated markets of excellent compact PCs, music players and as of late dispatched PDAs. The leap forward dispatch of the iPod in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007 saw Apple going from a peaceful firm to a monster of the business looking for all media consideration. The dispatch of iTunes in 2004 was another top to its plume, which has prompted Apple getting a charge out of billions of dollars in incomes and millions in benefits (Laudon and Laudon, 2007, p.98). Despite the fact that Apple Inc. has had awesome methodologies set up for its item dispatches and subsequent meet-ups, there are some critical lessons that ought to be learnt from the encounters of Apple and different organizations in the business sector. The greatest achievement in any case, was with the appearance of the iPod and the opening up of the iTunes store that truly got Apple commencing the ground. This report dissects Apple s achievement in these territories, investigating the things that went right. ItShow MoreRelatedCase Study : Apple Inc.1349 Words   |  6 Pages Case Analysis: APPLE INC.: IPODS AND ITUNES Donna Martinelli TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY September 3, 2014 Table of Contents Executive Summary..................................................................................................3 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 Defining the Challenge...............................................................................................3 Analyzing the case data....................Read MoreCase Study : Apple Inc. Essay1422 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study: Apple Apple Inc. focuses on the design, manufacture, and marketing of personal computers, mobile phones, multimedia devices, and portable music players. Apple Inc. offers consumers manufactured goods under the brand names Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, and Apple TV. Enhancing the customer experience through their proprietary software applications iOS, X, OS, and watchOS brands; and services across their Apple Pay and iCloud products (Forbes.com, 2016). Explored in detail, Apple’sRead MoreApple Inc. Case Study1494 Words   |  6 PagesApple Inc. Case Study TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPANY OVERVIEW General Description Historical Outline Industry Current Challenges Ethics and Responsibility STRATEGIC INFORMATION Mission Statement Competition SWOT Analysis HISTORICAL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Historical Financial Information Competitive Financial Analysis Summary FUTURE PLANS Competitive Advantage Recent Performance Business Environment Recommendations Zackery Butler, Connor Daugherty, Stanashia Davis, Gabrielle Drohan, and Lauren SpearsRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1971 Words   |  8 PagesCritical Essay Introduction Apple Inc. is a globally recognised pioneer in the tech industry. It is a corporation that designs, develops and sells electronic products such as tablets, computers and phones. Founded by Ronald Wayne, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, it is a multinational corporation with headquarters in Cupertino, California. Tim Cook has been CEO since Jobs’ passing in 2011. Labour conditions Despite its global recognition and status, Apple Inc. has come under scrutiny in recentRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.2083 Words   |  9 PagesBackground This paper presents a case study of Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is a technology based corporation with emphasis on computer software and hardware (MAC and Apps), tablets (IPad), smart phones (IPhone), and mp3 plays, (ITouch). Apple Inc. has grown tremendously over the years and ever since 2001 has expanded its brand and retail stores to over 375 stores/outlets globally. The business has seventy two thousand eight hundred employees in thirty eight countries. Apple Inc. has truly become one of theRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc. Essay6014 Words   |  25 PagesIntroduction On a daily basis we all encounter all forms of technology. There are several technological corporations in the current industry but one stands out†¦.Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an international corporation, situated in Cupertino, California. The company designs, manufactures and markets consumer electronics and computer software products. Apple is well known for its hardware products such as Macintosh computers, the iPod, the iPhone and its innovative software such as the Mac OS X operating systemRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1943 Words   |  8 Pages Apple Inc was incorporated in 1977 by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. As a startup company Apple Inc went through several management changes and conflicts which caused the company to lose some of its competitive advantage against companies like Dell, Gateway and Microsoft. The company designs and manufactures various products in the computer and music industry. Apple being strictly a personal computer company decided to venture into marketing other products like the iPod, a digital music player, andRead MoreApple Inc Case Study851 Words   |  4 PagesApple inc. 1) Introduction Background and summary This article present the story of Steve Jobs and it’s Apple company through two aspects. From the company history perspective and the product industry perspective. On company history side: Apple was founded by two Steves. Apple board later fired Jobs and gradually went near bankruptcy. Till 1997, Apple brought back Jobs and became the most valuable company in the world in 2012. On the product industry side, Article dig into the fieldRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1417 Words   |  6 Pageschanged the world with Apple Inc Company. Both of them was out of college, they were making so much money in the computer company Apple was started with introduction of computer I computer on April 1, 1976. Apple was incorporated January 3, 1977. The Apple II was introduced on April 16, 1977 at the first West Coast computer Faire. The Apple II was chosen to be the desktop platform for the ground breaking use call spreadsheet program. He was created a business market for the Apple II and gave home usersRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1732 Words   |  7 PagesApple Inc. is a California based company that was incorporated in 1977. According to University of Oregon Investment Group, â€Å"Apple operates out of 8 different segments: Desktops, Portables, iPod, iPhone, iPad, other music related products and services, peripherals and other hardware, software, service and oth er sales† (2012). According to the company’s 2013 10-K, â€Å"Apple sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular

Lizzy or Emma - A Critique of Jane Austens Heroines Essay

Living for only 42 years Jane Austen’s (1775- 1817) view of the world was genial and kindly. She had a clear sighted vision of the world where she amused herself with other’s foibles and self - deception, gave love to those who deserve to be loved and most certainly gave a light hearted satirical view of the society. Marilyn Butler in her book Jane Austen writes that, â€Å"Jane had the happiness of temper that never required to be commanded. Cassandra, who knew her best, received letters in which Jane sounded dissatisfied with her lot, impatient, angry or unhappy†. In a letter Jane Austen comments, â€Å"I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them†.... in her Letters to Cassandra Austen on 24 December, 1798.†¦show more content†¦She has always been a favourite of not just women readers, men have admired Austen too. In this list of admirers Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Macaulay, C. S. Lewis and the most famous Jane Austenite E. M. Forster figure praising Austen for her sheer intellectual and a humoristic take on society’s follies. Ronald Blythe in his preface to Emma (ed. 1966, Penguin Classics) writes that â€Å"Jane Austen can get more drama out of morality than most writers can get from shipwrecks, battle, murder or mayhem - there is balance, there is a serenity which leaves contentment at the core of the heart similar to that perfect rightness†. He aptly describes that Jane Austen was simply a woman of intrigues. When G.H. Lewes fondly called Jane Austen as a â€Å"prose Shakespeare† in his review Recent Novels: French and English (1847) less did he realise that this reference would become a well known praise of Austen’s artistry. Like Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen was too a formidable critic, though her voice was soft (unlike Wollstonecraft who was enraged in her books) supplied the end with a happy marriage in a tint of irony and a sense of humour. In Persuasion (Volume 2, Chapter 11) Austen writes, Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story.... the pen has been in their hands†. AlthoughShow MoreRelatedEssay on Pride and Prejudice Adaptations in Modern Film2311 Words   |  10 PagesLove in Relationships vs. Love for Oneself   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a day where loving yourself first is not only accepted but often expected, it is a stretch for the 20th (or 21st) century mind to see marriage as a necessity, as it was for Jane Austen and some of the greatest of her heroines. Marriage for money and convenience, as well as familial preservation, formally dominated matchmaking choices. Love and romance were but luxuries in the business-like fashion of marriage. Austen contested this reality and criticizedRead MoreMr Benett and the Failures of Fatherhood8365 Words   |  34 PagesMr. Bennet and the Failures of Fatherhood in Jane Austens Novels Author(s): Mary A. Burgan Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct., 1975), pp. 536552 Published by: University of Illinois Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27707956 . Accessed: 29/08/2012 00:55 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is

The main idea that runs through Christianity is that everybody should be treated equally Free Essays

The main idea that runs through Christianity is that everybody should be treated equally. This is shown when Jesus said â€Å"Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another,† (John 13). This means that you should like everybody as Jesus did and so coloured people should not be hated. We will write a custom essay sample on The main idea that runs through Christianity is that everybody should be treated equally or any similar topic only for you Order Now To any Christian this shows that everyone should get on with one another as Jesus did, nobody is different in any physical form whether they are black or any other different race in the eyes of god they should still be loved. In Genesis 1:27 it says that â€Å"God created human beings, making them to be like himself.† So as we are like God we should treat one another as god would. Therefore again showing that we should treat everyone equally including different races etc as God would. A key point towards the Christian views to racism is written in James 2:8-9 where it states one should love people for what they are not what they look like. So a Coloured person may have a good personality, which you should like that person for, but you should not hate that person because of that persons appearance. Another point which comes across in Matthew 5:38-40 is one which would be very difficult to practise in a modern day society, as it is natural when somebody hits you for you to hit them back. Jesus in this passage is trying to say ignore those who harm you â€Å"if anyone slaps you on your left cheek let him slap you on your right cheek.† This is a statement for the oppressed i.e. like coloured people were. It is an ideal ethic and Christians believe we should aim for it, but in this modern day world it is extremely difficult to achieve. Gandhi used this greatly to his advantage in India, which was occupied by the British, and it worked. Throughout these passages in the bible it is proven what Christian views should be towards coloured people: Love them like you love yourself Judge them upon there character not what they look like And even if they are your enemy you should still treat them well. Where Martin Luther king was born was born slavery had been abolished in 1865 but segregation continued. Negroes were rated as inferior and insecure by the whites, they were discriminated against, intimidated, people were prejudice towards them, much of the white population were racist and the Blacks tried to fight for equal rights. Martin Luther king was Christian and when dealing with the problems the blacks faced this was a key factor. When King went to university a person of the name Gandhi impressed him. This was due to the fact of his un-violent protests, which turned out to be a very strong political weapon, and in its whole the use of un-violent protest led to the independence of India. This also related to King’s Christian beliefs, if someone hits you on the right cheek let him or her hit you on the left. In 1954 he became a Baptist minister. He first went to Montgomery, Alabama. On December 5, 1955, five days after Montgomery civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to obey the city’s rules mandating segregation on buses, black residents launched a bus boycott and elected King as president of the newly formed Montgomery Improvement Association. King was very much for this as it was a non-violent protest and the authorities could do nothing about it immediately as the coloured community were doing nothing aggressive and wrong, in essence they were following the way of the bible and Christian views. As the boycott continued during 1956, King gained national importance as a result of his exceptional â€Å"oratorical skills and personal courage.† His house was bombed and he was convicted along with other boycott leaders on charges of conspiring to interfere with the bus company’s operations. But because of his Christian believes he refrained form turning to violence and he followed the bible degrading people who were aggressive and he refrai ned from fighting back. The boycott ended in 1956 with a mandate from the Supreme Court outlawing all segregated public transport in the city. During the spring of 1963, he and his staff guided mass demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, where local white police officials were known from their â€Å"anti-black attitudes†. The protesters acted peacefully under Martin Luther kings guidance. Clashes between black demonstrators and police using police dogs and fire hoses generated newspaper headlines through the world. But whenever they came under attack they would kneel and prey. In June, President Kennedy reacted to the Birmingham protests and the â€Å"obstinacy of segregationist†. King and other civil rights leaders then organised a massive march in Washington, D.C. On Aug. 28, 1963, over 200,000 Americans, including many whites, gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in the capital. The high point of the rally was King’s stirring â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, which â€Å"eloquently defined the moral basis of the civil rights movement.† The moral basis of this was based greatly on Christian views. That of which states everyone is equal and also no black is inferior to a white person as so in the bible. As Luther said in his speech â€Å"all men are created equal†. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited racial discrimination in public places and called for equal opportunity in employment and education. King later received the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. During the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, King and his lieutenants were able to keep intra-movement conflicts sufficiently under control to bring about passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while seeking to assist a garbage workers’ strike in Memphis. After his death, King remained a controversial symbol of the African-American civil rights struggle. Throughout Kings life of protesting he always tried to use non-violent methods. In 1955 he said these following words â€Å"†¦we have no choice but to protest. There will be no threats from bullying. Love will be our ideal. Love your enemies, bless them, and pray for them. Let no man pull you so low as to make you hate him†. Again King always followed his Christian routes making sure he always carried out non-violent protests, loved his enemies and taking whatever the enemy through at him, making him a true Christian. First of all I would like to address the fact of why people may find it in their hearts to be racist. Around a hundred years ago Coloured people were treated like they were insignificant and less important than whites due to their skin colour in many areas of the world, for instance England. One of the factors in the hatred of coloured people was that everyone else was doing it so you would be the odd one out if you didn’t do it. This is better known as â€Å"peer pressure†, where the mass go the rest will follow. Just this fact was one of the key influences. Also some people felt that if the whites stopped mall treating the blacks the blacks would turn back on the whites and ruin them. So they just kept on treating the blacks like they had always done and how they had been brought up to do. But then you should also ask the question why people didn’t do it. It was generally because of their religions, which they followed strictly, stating that all men are equal and that you should treat your neighbour how you would wish to be treated. Also some people felt sorry for the Blacks and wanted to help. So after all those years of hatred for the blacks many people would ask what was gained. Somebody from the Ku Kluck Klan may say that it terrorised the blacks and put them in their rightful place. Where as the majority now a days would say it was a pointless waste of lives and terribly unjust, people should be treated by means of their character, not by their appearance whatever that may be. I think that nobody on earth has the right to be racist in any shape or form. But there is a certain place where I draw the line. Jokes for instance can often be directed at another person’s nationality or colour and the person who is the â€Å"victim† of the joke may often find it funny. But to be racist I think it can be a deeply offensive joke or much worse than a joke, hatred for one. Surely people shouldn’t be racist it says in the bible to love one another, to judge people on their characters and not on their appearance and to even love your enemies. On top of this racism is terrible, it can ruins peoples lives, lead to death and leave whole countries in uproar. What is the point in it? I find it totally pointless and also morally unacceptable in the modern world were we should treat everyone equally no matter of their appearance. How to cite The main idea that runs through Christianity is that everybody should be treated equally, Papers

Semco Group Industry and Corporate Engineering

Question: Discuss about theSemco Groupfor Industry and Corporate Engineering. Answer: Introduction In the year 1950 the Semco group was founded by Antonio Curt Semler it is a Brazilian company (Praszkier 2015). The companys headquarter is situated in Vista, CA. Ricardo semler, the son of Antonio Semler is the CEO of the company (Segal 2014). The company is well-known in the world for the democracy in the industry and corporate engineering. Semco has made a joint venture business model. In 2003 the annual revenue of the company was $212 million and the growth rate was 40percent per year. At that time 3000 workers were working in Semco. Ricardo has spread the business in various fields such as the real estate business, environmental consultant, supporting the inventory etc. Motivation of Workers The company was near a situation to be bankrupted so Ricardo decided to bring some changes in the organization to overcome the situation and to run the business spontaneously again. He has decided to increase the motivation of the workers to get better productivity. To motivate the workers an organization needs to satisfy all the needs of the works. According to Maslow the needs of an individual are divided into five parts, the physical need, safety need, need to belong with other or to love someone, need for having value and need to develop (Maslow 2013). Ricardo is trying to follow the theory of Maslow to satisfy the workers so the works can do their work spontaneously. The workload on the employees, promotions, salaries, discussion of ideas, the working location and the schedule of work all are taking into consideration. Tension in Semco The main tension in the organization is the different salaries of the workers which were decided by the elected groups of the workers. The groups of workers were elected by the democratic election process. The difference between salaries are creating several problems among the workers and the productivity is affected. Apart from this in the organization there are present several small groups which are influencing the decision making process of the organization. The consequences of it is affecting the organization for a long period of time. The management is trying to overcome the situation. So these are the main tow tensions of Semco. As a result the performance of the organization is being affected. The Risk Ricardo couldnt predict the reactions of the employees about the changes in the organization, he brought some changes in the strategies without thinking about the reactions of the employees. He diversified the business and he started the ship manufacturing business (Poulsen 2013). The employees did not have any experience and skills to work in this business. They were feeling annoying to work in this industry. So there were creating some conflict among the workers and the management. Apart from these there were not any records of previous works and decisions, due to this, the risk had increased more. So the decision to start a new business of ship manufacturing was full of risk. In the presence of employee grievance a business cant run successfully. Conclusion Semco is providing mainly the RF products to the Department of Defence (DOD) of the U.S government. It has supplied around 1500 telemetry system to the international flight test community. The U.S. intelligent agencies are using the video surveillance system of Semco. In the applications of robotics the services of Semco are using. The business of Semco has spread all over the world. References Maslow, A.H., 2013.A theory of human motivation. Simon and Schuster. Poulsen, R.T., 2013. Diverting developmentsthe Danish shipbuilding and marine equipment industries, 1970-2010.Erhvervshistorisk rbog,62(2), pp.57-77. Praszkier, R., 2015. Empowering leadership: embracing endogenous dynamics.Journal of Positive Management,6(2), p.34. Segal, S., 2014. Stress as the Basis for Leadership Philosophy. InBusiness Feel(pp. 119-135). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Liberty Shoes Franchise Cost Essay Example

Liberty Shoes Franchise Cost Essay This report discusses the detail of 1) Bata’s main line of business. 2) Its main competitors and their value chain comparison. 3) Strategy the company is following. 4) Current Costing System of the company. 5) Decision making on the basis of cost and information. 6) Decisions are being taken using management accounting information. To summarise the above points we know that Bata is the fastest growing footwear brand in the country with a presence across 400 cities.The brand offers a wide range of comfortable, stylish and trendy footwear at affordable prices, ensuring there is something in the collection for everyone. The USP of the brand lies in the fact that they have successfully made fashion and durability so affordable and accessible to all. This explains why Bata India sells over 45 million pairs of footwear every year and serves over 120,000 customers every day. Today, Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India.Bata’s main com petitors are Mirza Intl, Liberty Shoes, Crew B. O. S; Bhartiya Inter. In this report we have compared the Value chains of Bata India Ltd and liberty Shoes Ltd which says that Bata has a competitive advantage over Liberty shoes. Bata follows backward integration and are not dependent on some third party for procurement of raw materials which makes it cost effective. Apart from this Bata has a huge competitive advantage over Liberty in the area of sales and distribution channel. Bata follows Cost leadership strategy.The company enjoys the highest market share in India and this is evident from the fact that the total retail presence of the company currently is more than thrice that of its closest competitor (Liberty: 381 stores). Bata has over 15% market share in Organized Retail market and around 6. 5% share in unorganized retail. Bata is produces its own raw material to improve its profitability. Bata reduces its cost by demand based production, setting up manufacturing base in tax-f ree locations, using different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material.Also, they started cutting some cost through sales and distribution network, which is really huge distribution network. Bata earlier concentrated only on manufacturing footwear and selling them anyhow but in recent times it has changed its image of the production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand and hence the decision to reposition. The Company has been focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. Bata has also adopted cost cutting strategies without any compromise on style, quality and design.Management Accounting Project: Company selected – Bata India Ltd. a. What is the company’s main line of business and which sector? Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India and is a part of the Bata Shoe Organization. b. Who are the main competitors ? Bata India’s main competitors are Mirza Intl, Liberty Shoes, Crew B. O. S; Bhartiya Inter. Bata has the highest market share compared to all its competitors. c. Try to compare and contrast the value chains of the two companies.Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. The activities of a business could be grouped under two headings: (1) Primary Activities those that are directly concerned with creating and delivering a product (e. g. component assembly) (2) Support Activities not directly involved in production, may increase effectiveness or efficiency. The following come under support activities: Procurement Technology Development Human Resource management Firm infrastructureIt is rare for a business to undertake all primary and support activities. BATA INDIA LTD. : Operations (Backward integration)- Company’s own tanneries located in Batanagar and Mokame hghat insures uninterrupted supply of raw material. Now they are not dependant on some third party for procurement of raw material. Sales and distribution- Bata operated through exclusive chain of executive own and franchise stores located in prime location country wide. Bata owns network of 300 exclusive wholesalers who serviced 30,000 retail outlets throughout country.Overall it has over 1,600 showrooms, 27 wholesale depots and 8 distribution centers across the country. Technological resources- In 2004, Bata installed point of sale management information system (POS), for providing sales and inventory information across the company’s stores. This provides company to plan production and optimize inventory level. LIBERTY SHOES LTD. : Technology – It has introduced a new material called TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane), for high quality footwear, into the country. This material has better properties than PVC or TPR (conventional materials used for footwear).Liberty has als o been instrumental in introducing EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate), which is a direct injection moulding used for making sole for the first time in Asia. This technology uses very light material amp; the footwear is made with the direct injection system. Liberty also pioneered the PU (Poly Urethane) Technology in India for the footwear industry. Besides these Thermo Plastic Elastomer has been developed for the first time in India at Liberty. A CAD/CAM design centre is in place at Liberty. The Sympatex waterproof technology in footwear was pioneered by also Liberty.Liberty is also the first company to market PPE products for safety purpose. Operations- Gharaunda is the first plant of its kind in this part of Asia that is equipped with Desma machines for PU Direct Injection Moulding. Using PUF technology and Computer Aided Systems this vertically integrated plant produces Industrial Safety Shoes that are made to European standards. Sympatex TEX booties as well as ordinary booties are also m ade here. Beside these Gharaunda has a design centre where an ambitious team of young designers working in tandem with experienced technologists. . Which strategy do the companies follow? Cost Leadership, Differentiation or Focus? Bata India Ltd. follows Cost Leadership strategy. Cost optimization and margin improvement: The Company is focusing on margin improvement and cost effectiveness programs which have started yielding results. The Company has initiated strict control on costs in purchases and outsourcing and is looking at global sourcing for raw materials to improve the net realization. The Company has also been clearing old merchandize through discount sales, write offs, etc. hich will enable it to focus on improving sales. e. The reflections about the current costing systems of the company? Currently the company is mainly focusing mainly on cost reducing strategies which are as follows: 1. Cost optimization: Strict control on costs in purchases and outsourcing. It is produ cing its own raw materials to improve its profitability. 2. Demand based production: The Company is focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. 3.Tax-free zone manufacturing base: After Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal the company is looking at and negotiating with the third party manufacturing facilities in two other tax-free states of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. 4. Cost-cutting: Raw material used for used for 33% of total cost. Now Bata identified this problem and started using different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material. Also, they started cutting some cost through sales and distribution network, which is really huge distribution network. f. How do the companies manage cost and use the information for decision making and control?Cost management in BATA : 1. BATA tried to reduce the costs of raw material. For this it tries to use different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material. 2. I t also tried to reduce costs through sales and distribution network which is a very huge distribution network. So they continued to invest in expanding retail business. 3. They also tried to generate skilled manpower and cut costs through manpower reduction. 4. They reduced the inventory costs by clearing the existing merchandize by offering discounts. g. What decisions are being taken using management accounting information? 1. Decision to reposition:Bata earlier concentrated only on manufacturing footwear and selling them anyhow but in recent times it has changed its image of the production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand and hence the decision to reposition. 2. Decision to produce based on logistics and demand: To optimise the utilisation of production facilities the logistics team focuses on obtaining orders from the market for the best selling designs and sizes and ensures that all raw materials are available in the factories we ll in time so that the Company can produce and place in shops the products that consumers want.Thus the Company has been focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. 3. Training and restructuring the frontline sales force: The Company has reorganized its front line sales force. It has undertaken an intensive training programme for its shop assistants and managers to ensure excellence in service to customers. It has also undertaken a rural marketing thrust wherein its reach is rapidly growing. It is recruiting managers with fresh ideas to inspire and empower the workforce with the requisite skills. . Bata uses technology like installation of point of sale management information system to keep an update about the inventory level, sale figure etc. 5. Bata also adopted the cost cutting strategy through use of different mix of raw materials for footwear production and also through sales and distribution but without any comprom ise on the style, quality and design of the product as it endeavours to break the myth of price factor by producing economy range of good quality and stylish products.RECOMMENDATIONS: ) The main recommendation we can give Bata is to repositioning itself. In India we still believe that Bata is just a company which produces footwear for school goers, office goers and regular use footwear like slippers and snickers. Bata is still trying to change its image of production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand. Today they have a huge shoe line with a huge range of new designs on offer. To name a few they are Marie Claire, Weinbrenner, North Star, Power, Hush Puppies, Dr.Scholls, Ambassador, Bubblegummer etc but only a few segment of people know about this. So Bata must back their campaign through TVC’s, print media and word of mouth. 2) According to the survey conducted by Bata in African continent it was observed that people were not wea ring shoes at all. This means that there is a high scope of marketing shoes in African continent as no one has shoes. References: www. bata. in www. wikinvest. com www. moneycontrol. com www. inrnews. com www. scribd. com Liberty Shoes Franchise Cost Essay Example Liberty Shoes Franchise Cost Essay This report discusses the detail of 1) Bata’s main line of business. 2) Its main competitors and their value chain comparison. 3) Strategy the company is following. 4) Current Costing System of the company. 5) Decision making on the basis of cost and information. 6) Decisions are being taken using management accounting information. To summarise the above points we know that Bata is the fastest growing footwear brand in the country with a presence across 400 cities.The brand offers a wide range of comfortable, stylish and trendy footwear at affordable prices, ensuring there is something in the collection for everyone. The USP of the brand lies in the fact that they have successfully made fashion and durability so affordable and accessible to all. This explains why Bata India sells over 45 million pairs of footwear every year and serves over 120,000 customers every day. Today, Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India.Bata’s main com petitors are Mirza Intl, Liberty Shoes, Crew B. O. S; Bhartiya Inter. In this report we have compared the Value chains of Bata India Ltd and liberty Shoes Ltd which says that Bata has a competitive advantage over Liberty shoes. Bata follows backward integration and are not dependent on some third party for procurement of raw materials which makes it cost effective. Apart from this Bata has a huge competitive advantage over Liberty in the area of sales and distribution channel. Bata follows Cost leadership strategy.The company enjoys the highest market share in India and this is evident from the fact that the total retail presence of the company currently is more than thrice that of its closest competitor (Liberty: 381 stores). Bata has over 15% market share in Organized Retail market and around 6. 5% share in unorganized retail. Bata is produces its own raw material to improve its profitability. Bata reduces its cost by demand based production, setting up manufacturing base in tax-f ree locations, using different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material.Also, they started cutting some cost through sales and distribution network, which is really huge distribution network. Bata earlier concentrated only on manufacturing footwear and selling them anyhow but in recent times it has changed its image of the production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand and hence the decision to reposition. The Company has been focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. Bata has also adopted cost cutting strategies without any compromise on style, quality and design.Management Accounting Project: Company selected – Bata India Ltd. a. What is the company’s main line of business and which sector? Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India and is a part of the Bata Shoe Organization. b. Who are the main competitors ? Bata India’s main competitors are Mirza Intl, Liberty Shoes, Crew B. O. S; Bhartiya Inter. Bata has the highest market share compared to all its competitors. c. Try to compare and contrast the value chains of the two companies.Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. The activities of a business could be grouped under two headings: (1) Primary Activities those that are directly concerned with creating and delivering a product (e. g. component assembly) (2) Support Activities not directly involved in production, may increase effectiveness or efficiency. The following come under support activities: Procurement Technology Development Human Resource management Firm infrastructureIt is rare for a business to undertake all primary and support activities. BATA INDIA LTD. : Operations (Backward integration)- Company’s own tanneries located in Batanagar and Mokame hghat insures uninterrupted supply of raw material. Now they are not dependant on some third party for procurement of raw material. Sales and distribution- Bata operated through exclusive chain of executive own and franchise stores located in prime location country wide. Bata owns network of 300 exclusive wholesalers who serviced 30,000 retail outlets throughout country.Overall it has over 1,600 showrooms, 27 wholesale depots and 8 distribution centers across the country. Technological resources- In 2004, Bata installed point of sale management information system (POS), for providing sales and inventory information across the company’s stores. This provides company to plan production and optimize inventory level. LIBERTY SHOES LTD. : Technology – It has introduced a new material called TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane), for high quality footwear, into the country. This material has better properties than PVC or TPR (conventional materials used for footwear).Liberty has als o been instrumental in introducing EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate), which is a direct injection moulding used for making sole for the first time in Asia. This technology uses very light material amp; the footwear is made with the direct injection system. Liberty also pioneered the PU (Poly Urethane) Technology in India for the footwear industry. Besides these Thermo Plastic Elastomer has been developed for the first time in India at Liberty. A CAD/CAM design centre is in place at Liberty. The Sympatex waterproof technology in footwear was pioneered by also Liberty.Liberty is also the first company to market PPE products for safety purpose. Operations- Gharaunda is the first plant of its kind in this part of Asia that is equipped with Desma machines for PU Direct Injection Moulding. Using PUF technology and Computer Aided Systems this vertically integrated plant produces Industrial Safety Shoes that are made to European standards. Sympatex TEX booties as well as ordinary booties are also m ade here. Beside these Gharaunda has a design centre where an ambitious team of young designers working in tandem with experienced technologists. . Which strategy do the companies follow? Cost Leadership, Differentiation or Focus? Bata India Ltd. follows Cost Leadership strategy. Cost optimization and margin improvement: The Company is focusing on margin improvement and cost effectiveness programs which have started yielding results. The Company has initiated strict control on costs in purchases and outsourcing and is looking at global sourcing for raw materials to improve the net realization. The Company has also been clearing old merchandize through discount sales, write offs, etc. hich will enable it to focus on improving sales. e. The reflections about the current costing systems of the company? Currently the company is mainly focusing mainly on cost reducing strategies which are as follows: 1. Cost optimization: Strict control on costs in purchases and outsourcing. It is produ cing its own raw materials to improve its profitability. 2. Demand based production: The Company is focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. 3.Tax-free zone manufacturing base: After Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal the company is looking at and negotiating with the third party manufacturing facilities in two other tax-free states of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. 4. Cost-cutting: Raw material used for used for 33% of total cost. Now Bata identified this problem and started using different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material. Also, they started cutting some cost through sales and distribution network, which is really huge distribution network. f. How do the companies manage cost and use the information for decision making and control?Cost management in BATA : 1. BATA tried to reduce the costs of raw material. For this it tries to use different mix for footwear production with cheaper raw material. 2. I t also tried to reduce costs through sales and distribution network which is a very huge distribution network. So they continued to invest in expanding retail business. 3. They also tried to generate skilled manpower and cut costs through manpower reduction. 4. They reduced the inventory costs by clearing the existing merchandize by offering discounts. g. What decisions are being taken using management accounting information? 1. Decision to reposition:Bata earlier concentrated only on manufacturing footwear and selling them anyhow but in recent times it has changed its image of the production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand and hence the decision to reposition. 2. Decision to produce based on logistics and demand: To optimise the utilisation of production facilities the logistics team focuses on obtaining orders from the market for the best selling designs and sizes and ensures that all raw materials are available in the factories we ll in time so that the Company can produce and place in shops the products that consumers want.Thus the Company has been focusing on consumers and market demand which will reduce inventories and improve sales-to-stock turnover. 3. Training and restructuring the frontline sales force: The Company has reorganized its front line sales force. It has undertaken an intensive training programme for its shop assistants and managers to ensure excellence in service to customers. It has also undertaken a rural marketing thrust wherein its reach is rapidly growing. It is recruiting managers with fresh ideas to inspire and empower the workforce with the requisite skills. . Bata uses technology like installation of point of sale management information system to keep an update about the inventory level, sale figure etc. 5. Bata also adopted the cost cutting strategy through use of different mix of raw materials for footwear production and also through sales and distribution but without any comprom ise on the style, quality and design of the product as it endeavours to break the myth of price factor by producing economy range of good quality and stylish products.RECOMMENDATIONS: ) The main recommendation we can give Bata is to repositioning itself. In India we still believe that Bata is just a company which produces footwear for school goers, office goers and regular use footwear like slippers and snickers. Bata is still trying to change its image of production oriented company to affordable, market driven, fashion conscious, lifestyle brand. Today they have a huge shoe line with a huge range of new designs on offer. To name a few they are Marie Claire, Weinbrenner, North Star, Power, Hush Puppies, Dr.Scholls, Ambassador, Bubblegummer etc but only a few segment of people know about this. So Bata must back their campaign through TVC’s, print media and word of mouth. 2) According to the survey conducted by Bata in African continent it was observed that people were not wea ring shoes at all. This means that there is a high scope of marketing shoes in African continent as no one has shoes. References: www. bata. in www. wikinvest. com www. moneycontrol. com www. inrnews. com www. scribd. com

Databases Essays - Database Management Systems, Data Management

Databases Essays - Database Management Systems, Data Management Databases The Many Faces of Databases Large databases can contain hundreds of interrelated files. Fortunately a database management system can shield users from the complex inner workings of the system, providing them with only the information and commands they need to get their jobs done. In fact, a well-designed database puts on different faces for different classes of users. Downsizing and Decentralizing The earliest file management programs could only do batch processing, which required users to accumulate transactions and feed them into computers in large batches. These batch systems weren't able to provide the kind of immediate feedback we expect today. Today disk drives, inexpensive memory, and sophisticated software have allowed interactive processing to replace batch processing for most applications. Users can now interact with data through terminals, viewing and changing values in real time. Batch processing is still used for printing periodic bills, invoices, and reports and for making backup copies of data files. But for applications that demand immediacy, such as airline reservations, banking transactions, and the like, interactive, multiuser database systems have taken over. Until recently most databases were housed in mainframe computers. But for a growing number of organizations, the traditional centralized database on a mainframe system is no longer the norm. Some companies use a client/server approach: Database software in client desktop computers works with files stored in central server databases on mainframes, minicomputers, or desktop computers. Other companies use distributed databases that use data strewn out across networks on several different computers. From the user's point of view, the differences between these approaches may not be apparent. Tomorrow's Databases? Many computer scientists believe that the relational data model may be supplanted in the next decade by an object-oriented data model, and that most future databases will be object-oriented databases rather than relational databases. Instead of storing records in tables and hierarchies, object-oriented databases store software objects that contain procedures (or instructions) along with data. Object-oriented databases often are used in conjunction with object-oriented programming languages. Tomorrow's databases will be able to respond intelligently to commands and queries issued in natural human language. Rules of Thumb: Dealing with Databases A few common-sense rules when working with file managers or relational database management systems are: o Choose the right tool for the job. o Think about how you'll get the information out before you put it in. o Start with a plan, and be prepared to change it. o Make your data consistent. o Databases are only as good as their data. o Query with care. o If at first you don't succeed, try another approach. NO SECRETS: COMPUTERS AND PRIVACY The Privacy Problem Businesses and government agencies spend billions of dollars every year to collect and exchange information about you and me. For most of us this data is out of sight and out of mind. But every day lives are changed because of these databases. Big Brother and Big Business With modern networked computers it's easy to compile profiles by combining information from different database files. When files share a unique field, record matching is trivial and quick. Sometimes the results are clearly beneficial. But these benefits come with at least three problems: o Data errors are common. o Data can become nearly immortal. o Data isn't secure. Protection against invasion of privacy is not explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Legal scholars agree that the right to privacy-freedom from interference into the private sphere of a person's affairs-is implied by other constitutional guarantees, although debates rage about exactly what this means. Federal and state laws provide various forms of privacy protection, but most of those laws were written years ago. When it comes to privacy violation, technology is far ahead of the law. Rules of Thumb: Your Private Rights Here are a few tips for protecting your right to privacy: o Your Social Security number is yours; don't give it away. o Don't give away information about yourself. o Say no to direct mail and phone solicitations. o To maximize your privacy, minimize your profile. o If you think there's incorrect or damaging information about you in a file, find out. o Support organizations that fight for privacy rights.

Poetry Explication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Poetry Explication - Essay Example This means that the other half was inside the water. In the human world, the fish is an alien organism, while in the water, the fish is at home. To the fisherwoman, the fish is unpleasant organism, and it is weak (Bishop, 1983). It is therefore a victim of humanity, and it is vulnerable to the whims of the mankind. This paper analyzes the use of symbolism in the poem. This is because the entire poem is full of symbolism, which is used to explain the relationship that exists between man and the aquatic world. The poem by Elizabeth Bishop is not organized into stanza, but it is written in a prose form. It is kind of a narration that a fisherwoman gives on her experiences when she was out fishing. This poem is not rhythmic in nature, and the words used are easy to understand. This is even though there is a lot of symbolism and stylistic devices in it (Bishop, 1983). Furthermore, the poem is very descriptive in nature. The narrator of the poem manages to describe how the fish looked like, and the emotions that she felt towards the fish. She felt pity, and this is because the â€Å"Fish† was weak and vulnerable to human activities. There are numerous stylistic devices used in this poetry, and an important one is symbolism. The description that the speaker describes the â€Å"Fish† resembles as if it is dead, rather than alive (Bishop, 1983). Furthermore, the fact that the aquatic animal is caught means that death is imminent. For instance, the narrator denotes that the stripes of the Fish brown skin looked like an ancient wall paper, and the patterns of these wall papers were lost through the ages (Bishop, 1983). Furthermore, the narrator denotes that the Fish is bespeckled, and it is covered with white sea lice. This is a symbol of death. In symbolizing death, the narrator further denotes that the Fish is covered in rags of green weed. The narrator was

Staffing Handbook Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Staffing Handbook - Case Study Example R&W Barbers Human Resource Department regularly reviews job titles and job descriptions for the positions we have available. This gives a more accurate account of the expectations we have for our associates. Position Duties: Duties include but are not limited to, giving up to date haircuts, classic razor shaves, scheduling appointments, making business contacts, and other added duties required to maintain a proper work environment. When we can, R&W strives to hire from within. When hiring in house, people have prior knowledge of the expectations of the company and what our standards are. It also promotes a culture of team work and loyalty. Standard barber/hair stylist position open. Must perform haircuts and shaves, make appointments, and other duties needed to perform tasks. Must have required qualifications in cosmetology and one year prior experience. If the position is not filled within a sufficient amount of time, up to 7 days or no more than 14, the job will be posted on our website for the public to view. The public post is similar to the internal post. The exception would be education, training, and experience requirements will be specified in detail. Any and all applications will be posted for managers to review, through the company intranet. All applications have a disclaimer stating that the information provided is truthful. It also contains a signature and date line. While the applications are online, they will be printed and signed at the time of hire. Applications are a type of legal form, treat them as such. R&W Barbers utilizes our website to collect and store applications. Applications, through this online process, automatically verify that the forms are complete. Completed applications are then open for managers to review. Applications will be printed and signed when an applicant is hired. This form is to be stored in the employee’s file. Again, an application is a legal form.

An experiential Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

An experiential - Assignment Example Apparently, I perceive my community as an important ‘sum’ to look at or respond to and in return, it also collects to itself from our individual ideas that share similar attributes and become responsible for the identity of our common sphere and necessary law which everyone is drawn to follow in the course of nature despite diversity in lifestyles we possess. In this regard, I can thus envision a future role in contributing to enhance the aspect of communication for the community in order that one’s insights and feelings are conveyed properly in the light of truth from which to recognize the real value of a member according to stable measures. For me, communication is amply indispensable that it makes me consider being designated in a teaching profession whereby I attain to the capacity of educating the youth with knowledge that is not only rich in colorful literature and good vocabulary, but even with values and application of the literary lessons yielded in the process to create inspiration for the rest of humanity to act righteously and joyfully at the same time. I believe that, in this manner, every motivation and learning spread via effective communication of wisdom taught would, with much certainty, improve the status of our community in the hope of advancing to a higher level of economic and social

Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN)

Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) List and briefly describe three clinical signs for Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a rare disease that occurs when maternal alloantibodies cross the placenta during pregnancy and cause the destruction of fetal red blood cells (RBCs) (Delaney and Matthews, 2015; Haas et al., 2015). HDFN can result in fetal anaemia with progression to severe morbidities, such as ascites, hydrops fetalis, heart failure, kernicterus, and death (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). The clinical presentation of HDFN is variable, in which there are several manifestations that may occur (Murray and Roberts, 2007). Three of the most prevalent clinical signs that allows for neonatal paediatricians to suspect HDFN includes splenomegaly, oedema, and jaundice. HDFN is characterised by the accelerated destruction of RBCs, which results in differing rates of haemolysis and fetal anaemia (Urbaniak and Greiss, 2000). The continuous and rapid process of haemolysis causes extramedullary haematopoiesis, a result of erythropoiesis failing in the bone marrow, in the fetal liver and spleen (Dean, 2005). Organs, such as the liver and spleen, that are involved in the synthesis of RBCs increase the production to combat the rate of destruction and counteract the overall loss (Dean, 2005). The increased workload of the spleen results in its enlargement, termed splenomegaly (Bowman, 1997; Dunn, 1963).          Oedema is an important clinical sign of HDFN that is also associated with the degree of haemolysis and anaemia (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). Oedema can occur due to low levels of serum albumin through a decrease in osmotic pressure (Dean, 2005). Moreover, as the body compensates for fetal anaemia, the fetus can develop a hyperdynamic circulation (Haas et al., 2015). This can result in hydrops fetalis, a severe and life-threatening condition in which there is widespread oedema in the fetal and skin and serous cavities (Haas et al., 2015). A further clinical sign of HDFN is jaundice. Jaunice may occur as a result of haemolysis, in which there is an increase in the level of bilirubin within the body (Urbaniak and Greiss, 2000). Throughout pregnancy, bilirubin is removed via the maternal circulation by the placenta (Dean, 2005). Therefore, a high level of haemolysis may be present with a low level of bilirubin (Murray and Roberts, 2007). However, after birth the haemolytic process continues. At this stage of development, the liver of the neonate is immature and unable to conjugate the excess bilirubin (Urbaniak and Greiss, 2000). The unconjugated bilirubin begins to build and accumulate in the blood of the neonate, causing the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow (Dean, 2005). Within 24 to 48 hours after delivery, the level of bilirubin may increase substantially (Urbaniak and Greiss, 2000). Left untreated, this can lead to the development of kernicterus, a condition in which bilirubin deposits form in the basal ga nglia and brain stem nuclei (Haas et al., 2015). Describe the progression of HDFN, from sensitisation to fetal red cell destruction, in a D negative mother carrying a D positive fetus that has not received RhIg. Throughout pregnancy, antibodies from the maternal circulation play a vital role in providing protection for neonates; crossing the placenta from the maternal to the fetal circulation (Dean, 2005). This is essential for the fetus, as by delivery newborns have a relatively immature immune system (Murray and Roberts, 2007). Although the presence of maternal antibodies provides protection, the active transporting of antibodies across the placenta can result in HDFN (Dean, 2005). HDFN is triggered by a sensitisation event. This most often occurs during the first pregnancy; however, it can also arise from a blood transfusion or organ transplant (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). During the course of pregnancy, the maternal and fetal circulations gradually mix with each trimester (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). This results in maternal alloimmunisation, as the maternal circulation has been exposed to foreign RBCs (Haas et al., 2015). Despite the relatively small amount of fetal blood that passes into the maternal circulation, only a small amount is needed for sensitisation to occur (Dean, 2005). This is typical for an RhD negative mother carrying an RhD positive fetus. Sensitisation frequently transpires during the birth of the firstborn RhD positive child, where fetal maternal haemorrhage (FMH) is common (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). However, the risk of sensitisation increases in complicated and extensive labours (Dean, 2005). Sensitisation can also occur through earlier  events in pregnancy, such as a prenatal bleed, trauma, termination of pregnancy, chronic villus sampling, and miscarriage (Sebring and Polesky, 1990). The greatest risk of developing FMH is during the process of labour (Murray and Roberts, 2007). Subsequently, alloantibodies are most likely to form after delivery (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). After sensitisation of an RhD negative mother carrying an RhD positive fetus, the mothers serum will contain anti-D (Dean, 2005). Importantly, the maternal anti-D that is formed is of the IgM class and unable to effectively cross the placenta (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). As a result, HDFN is rare in first-born children and unlikely to have any clinical consequence or significance (Dean, 2005). However, once the maternal circulation has been exposed to the fetal circulation the maternal immune system has the potential to respond to foreign red cell antigens (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). Through extensive research and cohort studies, it has been established that HDFN is most likely to effect subsequent pregnancies (Dean, 2005). Maternal alloantibodies of the IgG1 and IgG class cause significant haemolysis, thus the most clinically significant forms of HDFN (Roberts, 2008). In the event that an RhD negative mother becomes pregnant for a second time, interaction with the RhD antigen stimulates the production of IgG type anti-D, which can be transported across the placenta into the fetal circulation (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). Once anti-D has entered the fetal circulation, it binds to the RhD antigens found on fetal RBCs and labels them to be destroyed (Delaney and Matthews, 2015). From here, the pathophysiology of the disease ensues, as illustrated in figure 4. Explain the action of RhIg in a D negative mother that has a D positive fetal bleed. Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) is routinely used in clinical practice to prevent HDFN. RhIg is prepared from human plasma that has been immunised to the D antigen and functions by targeting RBCs that are positive for the D antigen (Brinc and Lazarus, 2009). The use of prophylactic anti-D remains the gold standard approach of antibody-mediated immunosuppression, having been used for several decades (Giancarlo et al., 2010). However, the mechanism of action of RhIg is not fully understood and there are three key hypotheses that have been proposed to explain its method of action. Antigen Clearance Hypothesis The first hypothesis is the antigen clearance hypothesis and is considered the main mechanism of action. Here, IgG is understood to prevent an antibody response by increasing the rate of phagocytosis and the removal of RBCs from circulation via the mononuclear phagocytic system, prior to recognition by the immune system (Brinc and Lazarus, 2009). IgG opsonised RBCs are believed to engage in the activation of IgG receptors (FcÃŽÂ ³Rs) on effector cells, stimulating phagocytosis. IgG is also suspected to increase the clearance of RBCs through the stimulation of complement activation on the RBC surface. Anti-D does not activate complement and therefore it is believed that FcÃŽÂ ³R-mediated phagocytosis is the mechanism by which anti-D is cleared (Brinc and Lazarus, 2009). FcÃŽÂ ³RIIB mediated B-cell inhibition hypothesis This mechanism is the most recently proposed and came about through the discovery of increased levels of transforming growth factor-ÃŽÂ ² and prostaglandin E2 in a number of pregnant women who were given RhIG. This mechanism proposes that RBCs and IgG form a complex in which a negative signal is delivered to inactivate antigen-specific B cells. However, mice models deficient in FcÃŽÂ ³RIIBhave shown that the involvement of FcÃŽÂ ³RIIB is not needed to induce antibody-mediated immune suppression. Furthermore, FcR-like molecules have been discovered in both mice and humans. It is believed that the FCRLs mediate the B-cell inhibition, however, this has yet to be demonstrated (Brinc and Lazarus, 2009). Steric Hindrance Hypothesis The Steric hindrance hypothesis proposes IgG binds the antigen, preventing the B-cell receptor from recognising the corresponding epitopes. Most anti-D epitopes are not blocked by RhIg. This allows free D epitopes to be detected after administration of RhIg. Monoclonal anti-D has been shown to prevent antibody responses by binding 10-15% of epitopes. This pathway has not been studied in detail and therefore knowledge of the immunobiology is limited. However, it is believed that IgG binding of D epitopes allows a formation between RBCs and B cells, in which this prevents B-cell activation (Brinc and Lazarus, 2009). The established methodology in the UK for the Quantification of a D positive fetal bleed is via flow cytometry with FITC-anti-D (FITC-BRAD3). Name and describe 3 alternative methods used worldwide to detect fetal bleeds In addition to the use of flow cytometry, several alternative screening methods are available to determine and quantify FMH (Kim and Makar, 2011). Three screening methods that are used worldwide include the rosette screen, Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test, and flow cytometry using anti-fetal haemoglobin antibodies. The rosette test is a screening method that is used to qualitatively detect fetal bleeds equal to or greater than 10 mL and 0.2% of fetal cells present in the maternal circulation (Kim and Makar, 2011). The rosette test works by indirectly identifying the presence of D positive fetal RBCs in D negative mothers (Solomonia et al., 2012). To perform this test, a maternal blood sample is collected, incubated with exogenous anti-D, and washed. D positive RBCs are added and are key as they act as an indicator. The sample is examined using a light microscope. In the presence of fetal D positive cells, the indicator RBCs form aggregates or rosettes around the coated fetal RBCs (Solomonia et al., 2012). A positive result is indicative of an FMH greater than 10 mL and requires quantification by Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test or flow cytometry to determine the dose of RhIg to administer (Kim and Makar, 2011). This test can encounter and produce false-positive results. This largely occurs if the mother of fetus is weak D. Furthermore, in the presence of a direct antiglobulin test (DAT), the rosette test may produce a false-negative result. This can be attributed to crosslinking and agglutination of the mothers antibody coated cells (Kim and Makar, 2011). The Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test is a screening method that differentiates between fetal haemoglobin (HbF) RBCs and adult Hb (Bromilow and Duguid, 1997). The underlying notion of this test is fetal RBCs largely contain HbF and are resistant to acid elution, whereas in contrast, adult Hb is acid-sensitive (Kim and Makar, 2011). To perform this test, a maternal blood sample is taken to prepare a thin peripheral smear. The peripheral smear is dried, immersed in fixative, exposed to and incubated with an acid buffer, and stained with eosin. Under a microscope, the test reveals fetal cells to be stained a dark pink-red colour, whilst adult red cells appear pale or as uncoloured ghost outlines (Kim and Makar, 2011). Under a microscope, the fetal cells are counted and reported as a percentage of adult cells (Kim and Makar, 2011). Flow cytometry using anti-fetal haemoglobin antibodies is a variant of flow cytometry that detects RhD positive fetal cells (Kim and Makar, 2011). In this method, monoclonal antibodies are directed against HbF (Davis, 2007). A maternal blood sample is collected and an RBC count is performed (Davis, 2007). Cells are then fixed and permeabilised with detergent to enable antibodies to enter the cellular membrane and bind HbF (Davis, 2007). A flow cytometer is used to analysed the antibody stained cells (Davis, 2007). This method uses positive and negative controls simultaneously to differentiation between fluorescence from fetal RBCs and non-specific background staining (Kim and Makar, 2011). The positive control is also highly important in setting out the parameters for gating a sample (Kim and Makar, 2011). Rosette test Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test Flow cytometry using anti-fetal haemoglobin antibodies Advantages: Commercial kits Widley available Simple to use Fast Inexpensive Advantages: Not dependent on presence of RhD antigen Requires only basic laboratory equipment Inexpensive Can be used to assess fetal welfare in RhD positive patients Advantages: Quantitative Automated good precisions, sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility Cost-effective Less labour intense Disadvantages: Only applicable to RhD negative mothers carrying RhD positive fetus Qualitative only not quantitative Disadvantages: Laborious to perform Accuracy and precision limited due to variation in test characteristics Poor reproducibility Subjective Disadvantages: If mother and fetus have the same RhD type or mother is RhD positive cannot be used to determine FMH False positives due to hereditary persistence of fetal Hb, increased levels of Hb in pregnancy and certain disease states a) A >2mL bleed is detected via acid elution test in a sample taken from a D negative mother. Quantification via anti-D flow cytometry results in a zero bleed. Explain two possible reasons for the opposing results. The differing results of the acid elution test and anti-D flow cytometry may be explained by the RhD status of the mother and fetus. If the mother is not RhD negative and is carrying an RhD positive fetus, this test would not reproduce the results of the acid elution test. Additionally, if the fetus has an RhD negative status, this would also cause the test to fail and detect a zero bleed. Furthermore, flow cytometry cannot accurately detect weak and partial D variants, resulting in a false negative result. Therefore, if the mother or fetus has either of these D variants, FMH would not be detected via flow cytometry. An alternative reason for the differing results between the two tests could be attributed to haemoglobinopathies, in which the flow cytometer detects HbF. Lastly, there could be a mistake in the tube, such that the antibody was not detected, causing an incorrect result. b) Suggest a suitable test alternative to those already conducted to investigate the sample further and explain your reasoning for the alternative test. The use of flow cytometry using anti-fetal haemoglobin antibodies would be a beneficial test to implement in order to clarify the results and detect if a bleed is present. This is important to ensure the appropriate and correct dose of RhIg is administered. Testing the sample using HbF flow cytometry would be useful as flow cytometry using anti-D failed to reproduce the results of the acid elution test. There is a possibility that the acid-elution test produced a false positive result. The acid-elution test is limited in that is has poor accuracy and is prone to variations. The false positive may arise as a result of adult hereditary persistence of HbF, which is known in 1 to 2% of the population. Furthermore, during pregnancy the level of HbF rises by 25%. Therefore, the use of HbF flow cytometry would be able to detect if this is what caused the result. The following bleeds were detected via anti-D flow cytometry in a D negative woman. Using the Mollison calculation work out: The bleed volume in mL The total RhIg dose in each case to the nearest 500 IU The top up RhIg dose required in each case to the nearest 500 IU The Mollison calculation is used to calculate the volume of bleed. To do this, the background of the isotope matched control is subtracted from the number of events obtained in the D positive region, as recommended in the BCSH guidelines. The Mollison equation is as follows: D (+) events D (-) events1800FMH = X -ml X 1.22 Total number of events 1 The equation can be simplified to the following: FMH = % of D positive events x 18 x 1.22 0.81% x 18 x 1.22 = 17.79 mL 18 ml bleed* = 18 x 125 = 2250 IU Rounded to nearest 500 = 2500 IU 2500 IU 500 IU = 2000 IU 0.45 x 18 x 1.22 = 9.88 mL 10 mL bleed = 10 x 125 = 1250 IU Rounded to nearest 500 = 1500 IU 1500 IU 500 IU = 1000 IU 0.091 x 18 x 1.22 = 1.99 mL 2 mL bleed = 2 x 125 = 250 IU Rounded to nearest 500 = 500 IU 500 IU 500 IU = 0 IU This bleed is under 4 mL and therefore no top up is required as 500 IU is routinely administered for a bleed of up to 4 mL. 1.09 x 18 x 1.22 = 23.94 mL 24 mL bleed = 24 x 125 = 3000 IU Rounded to nearest 500 = 3500 IU 3500 IU 500 IU = 3000 IU 0.02 x 18 x 1.2 = 0.43 1 mL bleed = 1 x 125 = 125 IU Rounded to nearest 500 = 500 IU 500 IU 500 IU = 0 IU This bleed is under 4 mL and therefore no top up is required as 500 IU is routinely administered for a bleed of up to 4 mL. References Brinc, D. and Lazarus, A. (2009). Mechanisms of anti-D action in the prevention of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Hematology, [online] 2009(1), pp.185-191. Available at: http://asheducationbook.hematologylibrary.org/content/2009/1/185.long [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. de Haas, M., Thurik, F., Koelewijn, J. and van der Schoot, C. (2015). Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Vox Sanguinis, [online] 109(2), pp.99-113. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25899660 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. Dean, L. (2005). Blood groups and red cell antigens. 1st ed. [Bethesda, Md.]: NCBI. Delaney, M. and Matthews, D. (2015). Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: managing the mother, fetus, and newborn. Hematology, [online] 2015(1), pp.146-151. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26637714 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. Giancarlo Maria Liumbruno, Angelo DAlessandro, Federica Rea, Vanessa Piccinini, Liviana Catalano, Gabriele Calizzani, Simonetta Pupella, Giuliano Grazzini (2010). Blood Transfus. 2010 Jan; 8(1): 8-16. doi: 10.2450/2009.0108-09 Kim, Y. and Makar, R. (2012). Detection of fetomaternal hemorrhage. American Journal of Hematology, [online] 87(4), pp.417-423. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22231030 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. Murray, N. and Roberts, I. (2007). Haemolytic disease of the newborn. Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition, [online] 92(2), pp.F83-F88. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675453/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. Roberts, I. (2008). The changing face of haemolytic disease of the newborn. Early Human Development, [online] 84(8), pp.515-523. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18621490 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. Urbaniak, S. and Greiss, M. (2000). RhD haemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn. Blood Reviews, [online] 14(1), pp.44-61. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10805260 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017].      Ã‚  

Playing the Character John from Blue Remembered Hills :: Blue Hills Remembered Danile Potter Plays Essays

Playing the Character John from Blue Remembered Hills The group, consisting of John, Audrey, Angela, Willie and Raymond; have heard a bomb siren going off from the nearby prison camp. They know that this means danger and as they are in the woods, they cant go anywhere for cover and start to worry about one of the prisoners, or â€Å"Ities† and â€Å"Wops† as they call them, having escaped. They decide to keep an eye out for any dangers but all the talk of these â€Å"Ities† had got them just frightening each other even more. Raymond hears a sudden noise and the threat sends them running for cover in the long grass, huddling together as a group. After a while, they find out that the disturbing noise was in fact their friend, Peter, running through the woods towards them because of the sirens. Having left Angela’s pram behind, John and Peter decide to go looking for it; and this is where the scene ends. When we first see the group in this scene, they are all huddled together in the cover of the long grass. John reassures the rest of the group that this is a safe place to hide. (unsure) â€Å"Him wont find us down here† â€Å"This is nice and safe. Ennit?† John is slightly unsure of just how safe they are and in both quotes he is not only reassuring the group but also himself. I would say the first quote with confidence and while looking through the grass. The second line would be said in a lower pitch of voice as he is not as confident and say â€Å"Ennit?† as in an agreeable way and not in an asking way; even though John is adding this as if asking for support. â€Å"Did – did you see him?† I would say the first â€Å"did† in a nervous way but then adjust my voice to sound more confident in the rest of the sentence emphasizing the â€Å"see† as it is in italics. I think the reason the writer did this was because John wants to seem braver than he really is, but when he asks this question, he wants to know if there actually is a threat before he appears too nervous. â€Å"They’ll have the guards out after him. They’ll soon catch him.† Again, here John is reassuring himself by reassuring the group. When Audrey states, that shooting the escapee is a â€Å"Good job†, she shows just how confident she is and how little fear she has compared to the rest of the group. Angela soon starts to worry about the pram, which is obviously precious to her; John states that it will be fine where it is.