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The writer is talking about her name, its origin, and meaning

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The writer is talking about her name, its origin, and meaning. Every name has a background and a meaning behind it. Often, names are passed down family trees over generations. It is, however, a surprise that most people named after their ancestors take up some of the characteristics that their ancestors had, often unknowingly. The writer narrates of the origin of her name, what she likes about her name and its origin but stresses what she dislikes/hates about the name. The hyperbolic and sarcastic tone the story is delivered in works to emphasize how much the writer dislikes their name regardless of its origin and the positive side of the name.

In the story, the writer establishes a conflict between her Mexican identity and the English-speaking country she lives. The conflict is first created by identifying the very different meanings of her name in the two languages. While one is graceful and pleasant, like a compliment, the other is confusing and diminishing. Although the English meaning of her name is pleasing, the pronunciation makes it seem like a terrible name. On the other hand, the Spanish meaning is confusing, but the pronunciation is graceful and attractive. Although with two contrasting meanings and two differing pronunciations, the name gives the writer a sense of belonging to her Spanish origins, owing to the graceful and soft pronunciation of the name. The funny and hoarse pronunciation of her name in English is a constant reminder that she is an outsider.

The writer, like her great-grandmother, was born in the Chinese year of the horse- meant to be bad luck for them. Such women are considered to be stubborn and independent; they do not take advice, are social and smart. In the story, the narrator shows such characteristics severally. Firstly, the hyperbolic and sarcastic tone in the entirety of the story point to an independent and “care-free” woman. Secondly, the sharp criticism of her name, and even more, her sister’s name depicts her stubbornness. Also, her unwillingness to live a life like her great-grandmother lived as well as her desire to change her name shows she is an independent woman who wants to remain in control of her life and her decisions.

The narrator says that her name originated from her great-grandmother. Although they never met, the narrator has an undeniable admiration for her great-grandmother, revealed by her desire to have met her. She describes her great-grandmother as a “wild horse of a woman.” Given the care-free nature of the narrator, this definition shows her admiration for her great-grandmother. However, the narrator also expresses the desire to avoid her great-grandmother’s lack of control over her own life, more so after marriage. She notes that her great-grandmother’s place was by the window. This shows that a woman’s worth is reduced to subordinating to her husband’s needs upon marriage. She loses control of her own life and is expected to support her husband in every way possible. Earlier in the story, the narrator mentions that the Mexicans do not think their women are strong. This line of thought diminishes the value of a woman in society. Although the narrator wants to be a “wild horse of a woman” like her great-grandmother, she does not want to lose her value and aspirations or be under the tight grip of a husband like her great-grandmother was.

Although the narrator does not directly describe herself, one can describe her from the story. She is a fiery woman, one who has a passionate nature about life and everything she does in her life. Like her great-grandmother, she is feisty; she is excitable and spirited but also courageous and quick to take offense. Also, she is discerning; she can compare her name to emotions, color, sound, and other objects in human life. Her free-spirited nature and knowing what she wants and what she does not want in life makes her the “wild horse of a woman” her great-grandmother was.

Introduction to Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis

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Introduction to Multiple Sclerosis

Notably, diseases are the primary cause of disabilities and mortality among humans since their civilizations. Conditions and disorders present in various forms targeting various organ systems hence interfering with the normal physiology. Multiple sclerosis is one of the significant chronic inflammatory diseases. Ideally, the main characteristic of the disease is the presence of lesions on the central nervous system (CNS) and, in turn, results in cognitive as well as physical disabilities. The main cause and condition’s progress remain unclear. However, different studies have tried to map the disease’s pathogenesis, diagnosis, factors, and treatment plans.

Studies by Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad. (2017) have demonstrated the multiple factors in MS’s etiology and pathogenesis. Importantly, their studies highlighted the role of environmental factors and the genetic predisposition in the disease onset. There is a need to understand the etiology, pathogenesis, prevalence, and the various diagnostic approaches for the disease. The understanding would be relevant in enriching the existing body of knowledge and preventing and managing the disease.

Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis and Impacts it has on the Society

In line with its names, a multiple sclerosis is primarily a form of a demyelinating condition. The condition gained interest in the last two decades, where scientists focused on understanding the primary cause of disabilities in human beings’ lives. This has also been an approach to developing various pharmacological agents to targets certain conditions and alleviate suffering in the individual’s lives (Boru et al., 2018). Most cases present MS as an autoimmune disease and the most prevalent illness in neurological disabilities. People suffering from the condition have the low cognitive ability, physical incapacitation. The most devastating aspect is the emerge of the during the early adulthood phase; the disease lowers the quality of life and results in dependency to perform necessary daily activities.

MS appears as chronic inflammation and damage to the white matter in the CNS myelin. It is still unclear as to why the disease does no cause inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. In the united states, there are about 400,000 people affected by the condition (Boru et al., 2018). Gender, in most cases, influence the pathogenesis of a disease. The presence of defective chromosomes in males does not spare them from inheritable conditions.

On the other hand, the two XX chromosomes’ presence may exacerbate the genes’ translation resulting in the disease. For MS, more women than men suffer from the condition. Notably, some highlights indicate that the typical onset of the illness is between ages 30 and 40 (Boru et al., 2018). Studies by Boru et al. 2018 have highlighted the significant aspect of its prevalence in the world. Boru et al. (2018) noted that there had been a considerable increase in the number of cases globally, with about 2 million people living with the condition. Boru et al. 2018 points out that the disease is quite prevalent in the Mediterranean region in a country like Turkey. Boru et al. carried studies in turkey to understand the prevalence of the disease in the community. The result presented important information about the disease, with most cities having a prevalence of 41-101/100,000 (Boru et al., 2018). This helps us understand the distribution of the disease in these countries. Also, the condition is prevalent among people of northern European ancestry and less common among Asiatic groups (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). Prevalence in these regions appears to align with the immigration of people with some defective genes.

Impacts on the Society

Multiple sclerosis is a long-life condition that interferes with the normal functions of the patient’s body. The disease increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, coordination challenges, mental and emotional, sexual dysfunction. The condition improves the years of living with disability and predominantly increase dependency for daily life activities (DLA) (Eades et al., 2014). Patients living with mental and physical needs must have people take care of their well-being, such as feeding—the disease condition increases suffering in society; the disease causes economic struggle in families. Sometimes the disease affects a family’s breadwinners, resulting in some extents of poverty in the families.

Significantly, it interferes with the community’s overall wellness as people have to focus on understanding how to handle the condition in challenging times. The disease affects the well-being of the patients; most of the patients feel demoralized due to disabilities (Eades et al., 2014). The disease affects an individual’s sex life; therefore, getting a supportive partner is crucial in helping patients go through challenging conditions (Eades et al., 2014). Due to multiple sclerosis’s overall health implications, there is a shift in roles for partners, which sometimes calls for some understanding levels. If the relationship previously suffered from commotions, the disease presence can result in some people deserting their lovers.

Discussing the impacts of multiple sclerosis with parents and partners is crucial. This helps prepare them psychologically for the challenges that occur with the disease (Eades et al., 2014). These discussions are relevant as they help prepare parents and other family members for the presenting difficulties. Families are crucial in providing support in chronic disease conditions. Preparing the family for the ailment ensures that one has full support if they develop some forms of physical disabilities (Eades et al., 2014). This is crucial in improving patients’ well-being and boosting their morale to living with the condition. Multiple sclerosis impacts patients’ social life; for instance, some of the disease manifestations prevent them from engaging in specific activities such as running. The main challenge that would appear is maintaining an active life despite the disabilities that present. Patients may feel uncomfortable in various places if they have unique treatments. Such feelings increase anxiety and distress among patients; the family must stand with their ailing relative in the disease course.

Pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis

Etiology

The chronic demyelinating condition occurs due to the damage and degradation of the myelin sheath. Multiple factors contribute to the deterioration of the myelin sheath, which increases the oligodendrocyte damage, particularly in the presence of type 1 steroid receptors. Studies highlight the role of steroid receptors in the development of the condition. The rising number of unbound Vitamin D receptors in the brain predispose people to develop multiple sclerosis (Lundsgaard, 2017). Regarding the receptor’s role, excess receptors lead to aggregates and which sometimes results in a massive release of zinc.

Zinc, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in the hyperphosphorylation proteins found in the neurons (Tau proteins). The presence of steroid receptors in the cytoplasm plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of the condition. These receptors are predominant in people with sex hormone problems attributed to multiple sclerosis. Such understanding provides a detailed picture of pharmacological agents’ role to disintegrate the steroid receptors in the brain (Lundsgaard, 2017). Some theories counteract MS is an autoimmune condition. However, there is a belief that oligodendrocytes’ internal changes and damage to myelin elicit immunological reaction within the central nervous system. Family history plays an essential role in predicting if one will get trapped by the condition. Notably, family history increases the chances of an individual developing MS by about 10 to 20 percent. Another factor that promotes an increase in the condition’ risk is the halotype for human leukocyte antigen HLA-DR2.

Pathogenesis

Multifocal inflammation in the CNS due to various immunological cells’ infiltration plays an essential role in the disease progression. Immunological cells affect the function of the oligodendrocytes (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). These cells increase the inflammation in the CNS’ gray matter, causing nerve fibers’ demyelination. The inflammatory process results in the formation of plaques in the brain that interferes with impulses conduction, which increases neuronal dysfunction. The effects of the inflammatory process interfere with the conduction of impulses in the sensorimotor and the autonomic nervous system (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). Development of neuropathies in these branches of the CNS results in manifestations such as sexual dysfunction, fatigue, irritability and instability of emotions, physical disabilities, and visual disturbances.

The role of immune cells and various cytokines is elaborate in the disease progression. The most predominant is the release of triggers of immune reactions, including interleukins and cytokine following the CD4+ cells’ infiltration and the T-helper cells (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). Constant reactions induce the building of an adaptive immune response. Cells in the gray matter present various receptors, such as type I steroid receptors (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). Immunological cells such as the T lymphocytes bind to these cells and release cytokines and interleukin, which attract other cell types into the target region.

Binding of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by CD4 and the T lymphocyte promotes interleukin production (IL)-12, IL-4, and IL-23 (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). These interleukins promote the proliferation and the differentiation of the CD4+; this leads to Th1 and 2, respectively. T help cells formed can produce cytokines (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). On the other hand, these cells release interferon-gamma and other pro-inflammatory chemicals, promoting the inflammatory process. CD8+ is crucial in the roles in the formation of the MS lesion in the CNS.

The proposed model of action of these cells includes the formation of cytolytic cells upon binding APCs. The oligodendrocytes in patients with MS present various antigens, binding of the CD8+ increases apoptosis of these cells, implicated in the disease progress (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). Fas ligand secreted by the lymphocytes binds on the tumor necrotic factor receptors (TNF) appearing on the oligodendrocytes, thus initiating apoptosis (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). The high rates of apoptosis of the oligodendrocytes decrease the number of cells synthesizing myelin sheath and increase demyelination.

Environmental Factors

Exposure to various diseases and condition exacerbates the development of multiple sclerosis. People with a direction to viral agents such as the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), the mycoplasma, herpes simplex virus 6, smoking, and deficiency of specific vitamins have elevated chances of developing MS (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). The intruding elements, in some cases, have proteins with structures homologous to the myelin sheath. The proteins elicit an immune response and latter increase the risk of an individual’s immune cells attacking the myelin cells, forming lesions. Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide from smoking are toxic to the oligodendrocytes, which interferes with myelin sheath synthesis (Ghasemi, Razavi & Nikzad, 2017). Genetic factors also play a crucial role in the etiology and progress of the disease.

Clinical Manifestation

MS results in the demyelination of essential nerve fibers in the gray matter and the CNS. Fiber demyelination decreases the impulse’s transmittance from various receptors or organs in the body with the brain (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). Besides, demyelinated fibers reduced the velocity of impulse from different locations to the brain; this, in turn, results in various abnormalities. The manifestation of the disease depends on the nerve fibers affected (Koriem, 2016). If the lesion occurs in the region involved in controlling the limb’s movement, physical disabilities develop. Sometimes the damage of optical nerves by the inflammatory activities results in vision problems.

Lesions on the corticospinal tract interfere with the muscle activities while on the cerebellar lot increases gastrointestinal tract dysfunction. In the extremities, peripheral neuropathies develop with a burning sensation, tingling, numbness, among others—the symptom of MS range from asymptomatic to severe cases (Koriem, 2016). The interference of impulse’s conduction affects different regions and may present sexual and bladder dysfunction, corrupted gain (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). There are occasional relapse of the disease symptoms and the deterioration of the sign as the disease progress. Continuous damage to the nervous fibers increases individuals’ vulnerability, affecting the different presentations of the condition.

Diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis

The diagnosis of MS is crucial in enabling people to develop the best management program. Ideally, there is no single ideal diagnosis approach for the condition. A multitude of the test must be available to validate the presence of the disease in individuals (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). The advanced cerebrospinal fluid analysis is a significant example of tests used to unmask the presence of MS. An MRI scan had made it possible for a pathologist to diagnose the condition. The evidence of specific symptoms such as those recorded in a clinical history with symptoms persisting for more than six months. MRI scans are crucial in identifying lesions on the brain, which may appear familiar with the use of computed tomography. Computed-MRI helps in the identification and establishment of the sizes of the lesions (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). This is crucial in understanding the disease’s progress.

The documentation and analysis of the lesion is possible through the use of CT and electrophysiological evaluation (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). These approaches should be supported by the laboratory analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid. Laboratory analysis should present and elevation of the immunoglobulin G (Koriem, 2016). Further evaluation should establish specific proteins in the CSF, markers of the inflammatory process within the cranium region.

Advancements in laboratory technologies have enhanced diagnosis of MS. The main role of using differential diagnosis is focus on the disease by ruling out other conditions that cause lesion in the brain. Relapse is crucial in establishing if a condition is MS (Ömerhoca, Akkaş & İçen, 2018). CT and MRI scan can be crucial in establishing these patterns. MRI that can capture inflammatory demyelinating data could be crucial for patients without relapse. MRI scan can help in analysis of lesions could be crucial in differentiating them from Schilder’s disease lesions (Ömerhoca, Akkaş & İçen, 2018). A combination of MRI and various laboratory analysis are crucial in differentiating MS from other conditions such as paraneoplastic neurological syndrome and Sjogren syndrome.

Collaborative Treatment/ Management of MS

The prominent approach in this disease condition involves managing the symptoms. Treatment of the state becomes difficult with the lack of a single diagnostic method and the tricky aspect of the disease. There is no need for promoting therapy in asymptomatic patients. These patients, however, should avoid factors that exacerbate the disease condition (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). They should ensure that they lead a healthy lifestyle, such as observing the nutritional requirement. For instance, these patients should ensure that they have adequate vitamin D levels as it has a vital role in modulating the immune system.

Patients should adopt a relaxed mode to maintain a healthy lifestyle; however, they should engage in non-straining activities. Patients with muscle problems should engage in some physical exercises to enhance muscle relaxation and tone (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). On the other hand, patients should seek family members and counselors support if they have psychological problems such as emotional stress. Moreover, they should make an effort to lead a stress-free life and avoiding extreme environmental factors.

Pharmacological agents also play an essential role in the management of MS. The physician should focus on agents that restore the myelin sheath and also decrease incidences of pain. Most of the treatment plans use corticosteroids as the first-line agent in the treatment of MS. The use of these agents should be short-term to avoid the harmful effects of the disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin may also decrease symptoms of the condition (Norris & Lalchandani, 2018). A physician may also promote the use of disease course modifying agents, including glatiramer acetate and beta interferons. Products with immunomodulatory effects may also be relevant in patients; these include products such as Mitoxantrone. Caregivers may also recommend using an agent that reduces constipation, such a diet rich in fibers.

References

Börü, Ü. T., Bilgiç, A. B., Köseoğlu Toksoy, C., Yılmaz, A. Y., Tasdemir, M., Sensöz, N. P., … & Bölük, C. (2018). Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in a Turkish city bordering an iron and steel factory. Journal of Clinical Neurology, 14(2), 234-241.

Ghasemi, N., Razavi, S., & Nikzad, E. (2017). Multiple sclerosis: pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnoses and cell-based therapy. Cell Journal (Yakhteh), 19(1), 1.

Koriem, K. M. M. (2016). Multiple sclerosis: New insights and trends. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 6(5), 429-440.

Lundsgaard, E. (2017). Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis. Mul Scler, 4(214), 2376-0389.

Norris, T. L., & Lalchandani, R. (2018). Porth’s Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Ömerhoca, S., Akkaş, S. Y., & İçen, N. K. (2018). Multiple sclerosis: diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Archives of Neuropsychiatry, 55(Suppl 1), S1.

Eades, J., Graham, A., Gray, T., Hayworth, P., Hoenen, S., Katona, J., … & McRae, W. H. (2014). Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 1979, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, revised 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2014. Printed in Canada© 2014 Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Original text by Deanna Groetzinger.

This essay outlines the social and cultural factors that may have influenced the increasing rate of asthma morbidity within N

Morbidity (Asthma In NZ)

This essay outlines the social and cultural factors that may have influenced the increasing rate of asthma morbidity within New Zealand. The issues that will be discussed at length include the latest facts and statistics of asthmatics provided by the New Zealand Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, the characteristics and symptoms of asthma and the socio economic problems that are often associated with the disease.

Asthma, disorder of the respiratory system in which the passages that enable air to pass into and out of the lungs periodically narrow, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This narrowing is typically temporary and reversible, but in severe attacks, asthma may result in death. Asthma most commonly refers to bronchial asthma, an inflammation of the airways (Marieb, 2001).

To understand asthma, it is important to have a basic understanding of how we breathe and the anatomy of the lungs. We breathe in air through the nose and mouth and the mucosal lining of these areas are warm and moist. This means the air we breathe in is warmed and moistened before it reaches the lungs. Additionally, mucous traps all foreign particles so as to prevent them from entering the lungs, which could cause infection. (Marieb, 2001).

In New Zealand, The Asthma & Respiratory Foundation (1999) has stated that the morbidity of asthma has increased predominately amongst children and young adult sectors of the population, although the reasons for this still remain unexplained. An international study spanning 56 countries revealed that New Zealand has the second highest rate of asthma in the world, particularly among fourteen year olds at a rate of 30.2 percent, second only to the United Kingdom at a rate of 32.2 percent. Australia follows having the third highest rate of 29.4 percent (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999).

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children showed a tendency for a higher incidence of asthma in more economically developed western countries as opposed to poorer, under developed countries. Studies are currently being conducted to understand and identify reasons for this. Economic conditions, our diets, immunisation programmes, climate conditions, community health care standards and rates of Tuberculosis and other respiratory infections are being investigated and compared to other countries with lower morbidity statistics (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation).

The burden of asthma in New Zealand outlines the extent and impact of asthma, and presents compelling evidence that the condition needs to be taken more seriously. Asthma affects approximately one in six New Zealanders usually beginning in childhood (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999). It is a concern that although it is part of a world wide trend, the prevalence of childhood asthma in New Zealand has increased over the past 20 to 30 years. An estimated 44 percent of New Zealand children experience asthma symptoms at sometime before they reach the age of fifteen. Reasons for this still remain unclear. Fortunately however, few New Zealand children die from asthma, statistically every year one to four children die from asthma. It is said that improved medication and clinical management has played a major role in the prevention of deaths (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999).

Statistics supplied by the New Zealand Asthma & Respiratory Foundation (1999) state that in our country around 450,000 people in 1993 were diagnosed with asthma. Of these, 170,000 were children aged 0 to fourteen. The rate of increase is estimated to be 50 percent every ten to fifteen years.

Asthma costs New Zealand an estimated $825 million per year in total. This accounts for the 450,000 New Zealanders who have been diagnosed with asthma, the direct costs of health services, and the indirect costs due to lost productivity within the work force. It’s estimated that an enormous 990,000 days are lost due to asthma each year. In 1997, 10,539 people in total were hospitalised due to asthma. Statistics show that children have over three times the hospitalisation rate of adults. (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999).

The average cost of an asthma admission in 1991 was $1,594. Every year, there are around 6000 hospital admissions for asthma among children alone. Using these figures the cost to New Zealand of hospitalisation for childhood asthma is at least $9.5 million each year. Up to 75 percent of children with asthma continue to suffer from the disorder through puberty and adulthood (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999).

Although asthma is very common in New Zealand and a wide range of New Zealanders are affected by it, Fergusson (1997) comments that patients admitted to hospital with acute asthma are often severely economically disadvantaged. Thirty three percent of patients receive a social welfare benefit as their only means of support, forty percent postpone going to the doctor because of the expense. A further twenty six percent have difficulty managing an asthma attack due to concerns they have about taking time off work (Fergusson,1997).

Those economically disadvantaged are more likely to seek a health professional at the beginning of a week. There is no clinical reason for the day of the week itself being responsible for triggering an asthma attack however, it is argued that patients tend to wait the duration of the weekend simply because the cost of after hours healthcare is too costly (Fergusson, 1997), With a community services card, visiting a healthcare professional equates to forty dollars during the weekend, on the other hand, with out a community services card, the total cost amounts to fifty-five dollars taking into account that these figures do not include prescriptions (Primecare, 2002).Therefore its suggested that they tend to seek help during normal consulting hours where the expense is less. It is also assumed that the delay in seeking medical attention during weekends could be due to the patient preferring to wait till his or her own general practitioner is available (Kljakovic & Salmond, 1996).

The latest findings from a survey done on lower socio-economic people by Crampton, Salmond, Blakely & Chapman (2000) found that this portion of society had poorer health than their wealthier counterparts. Their findings also point out that it is not just the level of poverty that affects a person’s health, but also the available resources in society. No matter how rich or prosperous a population or country may be, a social gradient of health will always be obvious, as those economically lower down the scale are more likely to have health of inferior quality than those above them.

A health survey conducted in 1996/1997 showed that the rate of asthma in New Zealanders was only slightly higher in Maori than non-Maori, particularly for Maori men (16.4 percent compared to non-Maori men 13.3 percent). Of Maori women surveyed, 20 percent has asthma compared to 18.7 percent of non-Maori women. This was an improvement for statistics gathered in 1994 that showed Maori were almost 50 percent more likely to develop asthma than non-Maori. In 1997, the rate of hospitalisation for Maori was twice as high as the rate of non-maori. Those of pacific decent however, had relatively low rates of asthma in the 1996/1997 health survey (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999).

Despite worldwide research, The New Zealand Asthma & Respiratory Foundation (1999) say there is as yet no definitive answer why some people suffer from asthma and others don’t, though links have been made to diet and overexposure to dust mites and other allergens. Approximately 70-80% of asthma in New Zealand is associated with allergy. Sometimes more than one part of the body can be affected, which is why people with asthma often also suffer from hay-fever and eczema (Allergy Centre, 2002).

The most common causes of asthma attacks are extremely small and lightweight particles transported through the air and inhaled into the lungs. When they enter the airways, these particles, known as environmental triggers, cause an inflammatory response in the airway walls, resulting in an asthma attack (DuBuske, 1999).

In many people, an asthma attack may be brought on by exposure to allergens, substances that can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible people. Pollen grains, cigarette smoking, house dust, and dust mites are some of the most common and pervasive allergens (DuBuske, 1999). The dust mite is a microscopic insect that lives in human homes, where it feeds on the dust produced by human and animal skin. Dust mites are not harmful in themselves, but their droppings, which contain left-over digestive enzymes, are a significant cause of asthma and other allergic diseases (Lowhagen, 1999).

According to the Asthma & Respiratory Foundation (1999) statistics, one third of ten to fourteen year olds report some form of exposure to tobacco smoke at home. They also state that children exposed to tobacco smoke are 50 percent more likely to suffer from asthma than children not exposed and have estimated, that if no adult smoked when near children, 15,000 fewer New Zealand children would suffer from asthma. Laugesen (1996) makes the point that this cycle is likely to continue as children whose parents smoke are also more likely to take up cigarette smoking.

Asthma also occurs in people who do not have allergies. In these people, chemical irritants trigger an inflammatory response that is initiated in a different way than in allergen triggered asthma. For example, some people are sensitive to certain common chemical irritants, such as perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, and household cleaners. Other chemical irritants include industrial chemicals and plastics, as well as many forms of air pollution, such as exposure to high levels of ozone, car exhaust, wood smoke, and sulphur dioxide. Current research seeks to determine whether indoor pollutants also contribute to the development of asthma (Lowhagen, 1999).

Research also suggests that genetic factors may increase the risk of developing the disorder. Children with a family history of asthma are more likely to develop asthma than other children. Despite this apparent genetic link, many people without a family history of asthma are still eligible to develop the disorder, scientists continue to investigate additional causes (Valacer, 2000).

A recent paper presented by the Wellington Asthma Research Group showed that antibiotic use, especially in the first year of life, is associated with a fourfold increase in the likelihood of asthma (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999). Many Parents become concerned when they learn their child needs asthma medicines, particularly when they are required several times each day. They worry that the medicine will harm their child and that they may become addicted to them or that the medicines loose the effectiveness through repeated use (Sears, 1989).

Fergusson (1997) states that asthma educators need to acknowledge the influence of social, economic and psychological factors on education initiatives. Its argued that these factors need to be recognised and incorporated into educational programmes for a reduction in morbidity to occur. This approach would enable a patient to understand their specific patterns and early warning signs and implement improved self-management actions to reduce the severity of future attacks. It is vital that treatment programmes are targeted to meet the specific needs of the patient, allowing them to have a role in decision making about such treatment (Stodart, 1995). It is also vital that treatment programmes are targeted to meet specific needs of the patient, which could mean allowing them to have a role in decision making concerning treatments.

Dickson (1992) concurs that to establish good asthma control, it is important that a child receives regular check-ups by a health professional. It is also important that the family is taught how to monitor symptoms and know at which point to take action. The aim of asthma management is to enable normal participation in activities such as exercise, minimising school absences as 550,000 school days are lost per year due to asthma (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999), eliminating symptoms such as a night cough, and by encouraging normal healthy growth and development (Dickinson, 1992).

Educating a person with asthma means assessing them and finding out what they need at the present time, rather than just passing on a lot of information, which the patient may or may not be ready to hear. Working with the person with asthma could, among other things, involve counselling or helping them to gain access to other services (Stodart, 1995).

Stodart (1995) reflects that asthma education is not just physical care. One of the problems an educator can have working with people with asthma, is seeing the difficult social situations some are in and the problems they have in getting the help they need, such as prescriptions and doctors visits. A person may have numerous problems of which asthma is just one. An educator’s main role is to teach preventative strategies. However where appropriate, other social service agencies should be suggested for assistance with any other problems the client might have that may be impacting on their illness.

In conclusion, many psychosocial factors influence increased morbidity in New Zealand. There is a need for an integrated approach to asthma management, and for increased co-ordination between secondary care and primary care services. We know that good medical advice, appropriate medication and education used within the framework of a written asthma self-management plan can significantly reduce morbidity from asthma among adults and children within New Zealand. Adequate funding needs to be available to ensure that people with asthma can access this regardless of their financial situation. Educators must also ensure that both social and cultural issues are taken into account when assessing the needs of children and adults with asthma. Only then, can we hope to achieve the positive results of an improvement within New Zealand amongst asthma sufferers.

Bibliography:

Allergy Centre, worldwide web retrieved September 28 2002 www.asthmanz.co.nz

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand. (1999) Latest facts and statistics, June 1.

Blakely, T, Chapman, HP, Crampton, P, & Salmond, C.

(2000). Social Inequalities in health. New Ethicals Journal,(3),11.

DuBuske, LM. (1999). The link between allergy and asthma. Allergy & Asthma Proceedings, 20:341-5.

Fergusson, W. (1997). Promoting effective asthma education. KaiTaiki: Nursing New Zealand,3,(10)13-15.

Kljakovic, M. & Salmond, C. (1996). The pattern of consultations for asthma in general practice over 5 years. New Zealand medical journal,1016,(109),48-50.

Laugesen, M. (1996). Asthma in New Zealand facts and statistics. Health New Zealand, August, 3-5.

Lowhagen, O. (1999). Asthma and asthma-like disorders. Respiratory Medicine,93:851-5.

Marieb, E.N, (2001) Fifth edition Human Anatomy & Physiology,23:876.

Primcare, Information retrieved October 2nd 2002.

Sears, M. (1989). Asthma in infancy and childhood No 3. Wellington: Madison.

Stodart, K. (1995). Building a foundation – asthma a special supplement. Kaitaiki: Nursing New Zealand,1,(1), 16-17.

Stodart, K. (1995). Teaching what’s needed – asthma a special supplement. Kaitaiki: Nursing New Zealand,1, 16-17

Valacer, D.J, (2000). Causes, epidemiological factors and complication Childhood Asthma, 59: 43-45.

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TOC o “1-3” h z u 1. P:D Ratio of McDonalds PAGEREF _Toc93917646 h 11.1 Evaluation of the Current Production Strategy PAGEREF _Toc93917647 h 11.2 Impact of the JIT on Forecasting, Capacity and Inventory Management PAGEREF _Toc93917648 h 12. Fluctuating Demand Pattern PAGEREF _Toc93917649 h 22.1 Options The Company Has To Improve Its Ability To Meet This Demand PAGEREF _Toc93917650 h 32.2 Recommended Option PAGEREF _Toc93917651 h 43.0 Logistics & Operations Management PAGEREF _Toc93917652 h 43.1 Definition of Logistics PAGEREF _Toc93917653 h 53.1.1 Product Lifecycle PAGEREF _Toc93917654 h 53.1.2 Logistics Process PAGEREF _Toc93917655 h 53.2 Right Product PAGEREF _Toc93917656 h 64. Cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) PAGEREF _Toc93917657 h 64.1 Advantages of Cloud ERP PAGEREF _Toc93917658 h 74.2 Significant Actions to take to Ensure Success in Implementing the Cloud System PAGEREF _Toc93917659 h 8

1. P:D Ratio of McDonaldsThe P:D ration of any operation with respect to the organization is the demand time ratio obtained through considering the customer wait time between request and receiving the same. It also looks at the complete time production of the said activity. Therefore, it also considers the length of operation in terms of processing information and materials from customer to the organization and back. McDonald’s P-D ratio is relatively low, meaning that the company takes less time to produce compared to what the consumer demands. McDonald’s has a 1:1 P:D ratio classifying the organization as a just-in-time company.

1.1 Evaluation of the Current Production StrategyIn inventory management, the term “just-in-time” refers to a technique in which products are ordered and delivered at the precise moment they are required in the manufacturing process. Ultimately, the purpose of this strategy is to lower the amount of money spent on overhead inventory charges in order to reduce costs as much as possible. The ability of a company to accurately estimate demand for its products and services is critical to the success of the just-in-time strategy. If we’re talking about the manufacturing industry, the “pull” style of inventory management is what is referred to in the expression just-in-time inventory system (Rivera-Gómez et al., 2019). The inventory is “drawn” and fresh manufacturing supplies are purchased to match the demand when sales activity necessitates an increase in production output. In turn, manufacturing works more smoothly, resulting in an overall reduction in inventory expenses. This method is based on signals that are sent out at various stages throughout the manufacturing process to inform the manufacturer when to begin production on the next part, and it is used to determine when to begin production on the following part. As inventory levels begin to deplete, it becomes important to place orders for new parts. When a just-in-time inventory management system is implemented, cash that would have been spent on inventory expenditures may now be employed elsewhere, resulting in significant savings. To give an example, facilities that were formerly used only for inventory storage are now available for use in manufacturing or for a variety of other purposes within the organization. Increasing revenues for the company is achieved through the reduction of waste and the lowering of inventory expenses.

1.2 Impact of the JIT on Forecasting, Capacity and Inventory ManagementJust-in-time (JIT) inventory systems are a technology that allows suppliers to integrate raw-material orders directly with production schedules when it comes to inventory management, in particular. They are employed by businesses in an effort to boost efficiency and reduce waste by procuring products only as they are required for the manufacturing process, therefore decreasing inventories and the related expenses associated with storage. In order to reduce inventory while also improving overall efficiency, JIT inventory solutions are used. Inventory costs are reduced in JIT manufacturing systems because companies only purchase materials and parts when they are necessary for production and do not have to pay storage fees (Rivera-Gómez et al., 2019). This reduces the amount of money spent on inventory. Furthermore, if an order is canceled or a project does not end on time as anticipated, manufacturers are not left with unsold inventory.

In addition to providing manufacturers with the ability to keep production runs short and migrate quickly and easily to new commodities if the need arises, just-in-time (JIT) offers a number of other benefits. Because of the advent of just-in-time delivery, organizations no longer need to retain a large amount of warehouse space to hold excess goods. In addition to saving money on raw materials for manufacturing, a corporation can use its cash flow for other reasons rather than spending significant quantities of money on raw materials. Notably, just-in-time inventory management ensures that inventory arrives only when it is required for manufacturing or to fulfill consumer demand, and that it does not arrive any earlier than that. Finally, but certainly not least, you want to eliminate waste while also boosting the efficiency of your operational processes. In order to achieve just-in-time delivery, long-term agreements with trustworthy suppliers are sometimes required. This is because quality, rather than the lowest price, is often the primary goal. A lean management method is what is referred to as just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing in the manufacturing industry. Everyone involved in the production or service system that is just in time (JIT), including humans, are interconnected during the course of a JIT manufacturing or service system (Rivera-Gómez et al., 2019). They work together and rely on one another in order to achieve effective results.

Supply chain disruptions can occur as a result of just-in-time inventory levels, which are maintained at optimal levels. According to industry experts, a single supplier of raw materials experiencing a breakdown and being unable to produce the items on time is sufficient to bring a manufacturer’s entire manufacturing process to a grinding halt. A sudden and unexpected surge in client demand for items that surpasses the company’s expectations may result in a scarcity of parts, which can result in severe delays in the delivery of finished products to all customers.

2. Fluctuating Demand PatternDemand in any sector is described as fluctuating significantly where changes in the economy and changes in consumer spending habits emerge. When it comes to customer demand, the only thing that is constant is its unpredictability. The ability to effectively estimate customer demand is a difficult problem for many firms. There have been moments of extreme overcapacity and difficulties finding adequate employment for owners of all types of service-based firms (Brunner et al., 2020). Both of these circumstances might be extremely damaging for a company’s bottom line. The capacity of a company may force it to turn away additional business since it will be unable to satisfy the deadlines. It’s possible that this will result in a loss of revenue for you. When there is not enough work, resources that are compensated but do not generate money for the organization can readily be identified as the cost of inefficiency, which can be calculated. It is for this reason that when the popularity of a product fluctuates over time, it is referred to as “demand fluctuation.” Changes in demand, whether direct or indirect, have an effect on purchasing behavior in a variety of ways. The demand for goods and services is influenced by a variety of factors such as seasonality, taxation, availability of products, and pricing. This is in direct conflict with the fact that demand remains stable.

2.1 Options The Company Has To Improve Its Ability To Meet This DemandInventory management is made much easier with a little amount of trial and error on the part of the manager. This is especially true when it comes to businesses that deal with strong demand during peak seasons or throughout the year. Businesses, both online and offline, are affected by seasonal fluctuations in the same way. When a product is in season, the supply of that commodity may run out quickly. In contrast, when the season or holiday season draws to a close, demand may begin to decline quickly.

Determine and categorize seasonal inventory as the first step in boosting a company’s capacity to meet this demand in order to increase profitability. Inventory may be separated into two categories: seasonal products and perennial products. Seasonal products are sold all year long, however seasonal demand spikes occur during certain seasons, making it easier to distinguish between the two types of products (Kantari et al., 2021). Fresh cream sales are particularly brisk during the holidays and Thanksgiving, owing to the fact that it pairs well with sweets such as pavlova, trifle, and pumpkin pie. However, if every other business in the industry followed similar, it is possible that customer rivalry would expand. To begin, you must determine how long your busiest periods will last in order to manage your schedule accordingly. Throughout the season, you will be able to assess your ability to respond to product sales and make adjustments as needed. The shorter the seasons, the more probable it is that you’ll have all of the goods you need on hand at the same time. When it comes to Valentine’s Day, the demand for roses in the color red increases significantly. It is possible to replenish products such as sun hats, sunscreen, and ice cream more regularly during the course of the year if the season is not too short. To effectively manage your inventory, you must ensure that your online sales correspond to the amount of physical product you have on hand. Websites should not list an item as “out of stock” if it is not actually unavailable. Provide customers with information in the case that an item is temporarily out of stock, such as whether or not another shipment is on its way. When customers discover that things they’ve added to their shopping basket are no longer available, they’re more inclined to switch to a competitor’s website.

Another way for improving demand forecasting accuracy is to employ demand forecasting and delay tactics in conjunction with one another. Predicting demand for seasonal inventory control is the most difficult aspect of the process. Despite the great range of seasonal forecasting techniques that are available, the best a company can hope for is an educated guess as to how many sales it should expect over a specific period of time It is particularly effective for recognizing possible problems with year-round perennial product replenishment and then using that knowledge to define minimum stock levels because historical data and seasonal swings may be evaluated. By switching to ATO production, it is possible to postpone the start of Make-to-Order (Assemble-to-Order) manufacturing (Kantari et al., 2021). Smaller firms that retain inventory at the sub-assembly level and only create products in response to specific customer requests have greater flexibility than larger businesses. An acceptable use for this would be the construction of numerous finished things from a single sub-assembly (or a group of sub-assemblies). Firms that go through this transition will be better able to adapt to and respond to changes in the marketplace. A number of sectors have already begun to include this into their overall supply chain strategy as a result. It is possible that switching from MTS to ATO is not the best option for many businesses. Before deciding to implement a delay plan, it is critical to conduct a thorough analysis of the company’s supply chain characteristics, including the degree to which sub-assembled goods can be interchanged, the length of manufacturing cycle durations, and the expectations of customers regarding delivery times. The ability of a supply chain to respond swiftly to changes in demand may be improved as a result of such a strategy shift, but the cost of implementing it may be prohibitively expensive. Making the move to assemble products on demand may need a firm to invest a large amount of money in making modifications to its supply chain activities (such as manufacturing, shipping, and so on), as well as its supporting systems and processes, in order to be successful.

Other options include keeping a supply of the substance on hand in case of an emergency. According to some experts, unpredictability in demand can be managed by storing a substantial number of commodities. When you have a sufficient amount of inventory on hand, demand swings are absorbed by the inventory. When it came to ensuring that there was adequate merchandise on hand in advance, this had traditionally been the standard corporate practice. Overstocking, on the other hand, depletes supply chain resources and increases operating expenses to levels that are no longer economically sustainable in today’s market (Brunner et al., 2020). Products with short life cycles and high obsolescence costs, such as those found in the high-tech industry, make it more difficult to deal with this problem. It is possible that an organization’s bottom line will suffer significantly if it retains an excessive amount of goods on hand during these circumstances.

2.2 Recommended OptionCompanies should utilize strategies to shorten cycle times as a final step. It is vital to lower the entire supply chain cycle times in order to accelerate the flow of information throughout the supply chain. Companies with shorter supply chains can share information and respond to changes more quickly than those with longer supply networks, owing to the shorter cycle times. When a corporation has this skill, it can better accommodate the desires of its customers more quickly. The entire supply-chain cycle time is computed by adding together the manufacturing and transit time components. When seeking to reduce cycle time throughout the supply chain, both of these considerations should be taken into consideration. Lean manufacturing strategies have been found to assist organizations cut cycle times by decreasing the amount of non-value-added tasks in the manufacturing supply chain. Advanced systems, which incorporate automation and analytical skills, can assist planners in making timely decisions by shortening the planning period and making it easier for them to develop many plans at the same time. Modern planning systems incorporate constraint-based planning methodologies, which enable firms to predict and alleviate supply chain bottlenecks before they become a major problem. As a result, the overall cycle time is lowered.

3.0 Logistics & Operations ManagementLogistics is a term that used while discussing the management of commodities during their journey from their point of origin to their site of consumption in order to suit the needs of customers or enterprises (Cambridge Dictionary, 2018). Material resources such as food, raw materials, animals, and machinery, as well as more abstract concepts such as time, data, and energy, are all managed under the aegis of resource management. It also includes the administration of information technology resources. Because of the use of logistical tactics, it is possible to accomplish this. Logistics encompasses a wide range of operations that are involved in the movement of tangible commodities (Alkhatib, Darlington, & Nguyen, 2015). Information flow, material handling, manufacturing, packing, inventory management and shipping are just a few of the activities that fall under the category of logistics. Specialized simulation technologies can be used to simulate and assess logistic operations, as well as to visualize and optimize them, in order to increase overall efficiency and reduce costs. When it comes to import and export logistics, the goal of preserving as many resources as possible is always at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Supply chain managers are responsible for developing sourcing and supply management plans for their products throughout the product lifecycle, from launch to end of life, and for ensuring that these plans are followed. Furthermore, they have the responsibility of ensuring that their items are delivered on time, if not early. Employees gain important insight into the marketing, operational, and financial performance of their company as a result of the planning and decision-making processes involved with lifecycle management, as well as into their own personal growth and development prospects. Managing and minimising risks connected with the supply chain can be more easily accomplished when providers adhere to the same set of selection and management requirements throughout the supply chain.

3.1 Definition of LogisticsWhen the term logistics is used in a professional setting, it refers to the control of product flow from the point of origin to the point of consumption in order to suit the needs of customers or enterprises (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), 2018). The name logistics is derived from the Latin word for “flow.” According to its original meaning, the term logistics derives from a Greek word that literally translates as flow (Cambridge Dictionary, 2018). On top of that, logistics is responsible for the transportation of intangible things such as time and knowledge, in addition to the transportation of actual commodities. In many cases, the components of physical item logistics are the same across all of them. These include information flow, material handling and handling of products throughout production and packaging, as well as inventories and shipping and storage, to name a few instances of common components.

3.1.1 Product LifecycleAccording to the product, product lifespans can range anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on the product. In general, the life expectancy of an industrial metering valve, variable-speed motor, or vacuum pump is two to three years, which is considered to be the industry norm. Consumer goods that are driven by technological breakthroughs, such as computer monitors, e-readers, and snowplows, are examples of commodities that are only available during specific seasons or that are driven by technological advancements. Over the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the importance of supply chain management and customer demand has expanded in parallel with the expansion of the global economy. As the global economy continues to grow, both customer needs and supply chain management are becoming increasingly important components.

3.1.2 Logistics ProcessIn recent years, the introduction of logistics management, which has only been around for a little more than two decades, has raised the possibility of things reaching or exceeding client demand to a greater extent than in the past. In order to reduce costs while simultaneously increasing production and efficiency, corporations concluded that handling logistics on a system-wide basis was the most effective strategy, which they implemented. It is possible to optimize the logistics of delivering items to customers through coordination with suppliers, shipping providers, and warehousers (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, 2013). These services can then be merged via automated methods, which will help to lower overall expenses. As a result, prices are decreased, and delivery times are shortened. When determining the quantity of resources that will be necessary, effective strategic planning is vital. If this is not done, the estimate will be incorrect. When it comes to meeting the needs of its clients on time, it is vital for the company to acquire supplies as soon as possible and adhere to strict manufacturing deadlines. A thorough understanding of the logistics process from start to finish is required. For the purpose of developing a workflow plan that reduces expenses while simultaneously increasing visibility and improving general understanding of business requirements, it is critical to streamline communication and services across multiple departments. This is especially true when it comes to large organizations. When designing a workflow plan for a large organization, this is very critical. Businesses can save money by improving inventory management, reducing storage costs, expediting delivery to the end user, and purchasing based on supply forecasts, to name a few of the cost-saving strategies available today.

3.2 Right ProductA significant increase in customer expectations for faster product delivery has arisen as a result of the power of the Internet and social media to connect the global economy, which has resulted in a significant increase in customer expectations. When developing logistics strategies, it is critical to consider the location of facilities as well as the use of contemporary software systems that allow firms to receive purchase orders in seconds rather than minutes or hours. A vital component of achieving the best possible balance between reducing shipping costs and assuring on-time delivery of products or services is selecting the most appropriate mode(s) of transportation, and this is especially true for international shipping (Alkhatib, Darlington, & Nguyen, 2015). In order to supply end-user products and provide exceptional customer service, a comprehensive logistics management system must emphasize the importance of warehousing and transportation in the supply chain. These procedures and methodologies, on the other hand, are essential to the operation of a successful logistics management system.

The logistics role of supply chain management is always evolving in order to meet the expectations of consumers. Consumers often place orders for goods using their iPods, iPhones, cellphones, and tablets, and they expect to get their purchases within 24 to 48 hours of placing the order. Customers anticipate fast order fulfillment and speedy delivery of their purchases, and supply chain logistics must be enhanced in order to match these expectations. The most dependable, cost-effective, and timely delivery methods must be utilized. By establishing a successful supply chain logistics strategy, you can ensure that each component of the design is focused, that expenses are reduced to a bare minimum, and that the supply chain runs swiftly and efficiently, eventually increasing consumer satisfaction with the product or service (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, 2013). In terms of understanding the core indications and operations of their supply chains, as well as determining how to deliver the suitable product to the appropriate location at the appropriate time, it is probable that supply chain logistics will prove highly advantageous for enterprises.

4. Cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)Cloud ERP (enterprise resource planning), which relies on a vendor’s cloud platform rather than on-premises networks, allows organizations to access data from any location at any time. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can be used to produce a single source of truth for all areas of a company’s financial and operational operations, such as inventory management and order and supply chain management, procurement, manufacturing, distribution, and fulfilment (Bhatt et al., 2021). It is also possible to automate and streamline financial and operational procedures using enterprise resource planning software. A web browser and an internet connection are required in order to use the software, which is due to the fact that it is a web-based application. The same or superior capabilities than traditional on-premises systems are provided by ERP software supplied as a service, which is hosted by the ERP provider. Specifically, when it comes to enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and solutions, the phrase cloud ERP refers to software and solutions that are hosted and managed in the cloud rather than on premise (Bibi, Katsaros, & Bozanis, 2010). It is true that all businesses face the same difficulty when it comes to competing effectively in today’s market: they must be able to innovate, scale, and develop quickly in order to remain relevant. They are looking for software tools and systems that will allow them to dedicate their time and resources to growth targets rather than to the day-to-day management of information technology infrastructure and infrastructure management.

4.1 Advantages of Cloud ERPWhen it comes to cloud ERP, one of the most significant advantages is its ability to be updated and upgraded in a relatively short amount of time. Because of the availability of cloud ERP, ERP software and tools may be updated and upgraded in real time, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity. This offers the advantage of removing any uncertainty regarding whether or not the business is implementing cutting-edge technology to achieve its objectives in a timely manner. An on-demand ERP system eliminates the need to spend significant time and money updating systems, or to contract a third party to perform these tasks for you.

Because of the lower initial and ongoing investment in cloud ERP, businesses can realize long-term savings, which is another advantage of the technology (Costan and Pascu, 2019). For cloud ERP solutions, the total cost of ownership is less expensive than the total cost of ownership for on-premise ERP systems. Aside from server acquisition and maintenance, other costs associated with software installation on a company’s premises include database creation and management, initial deployment costs (including IT staff), energy costs (including electricity), security and backup costs, and any other costs associated with the software installation process (including tapes). Therefore, implementing cloud ERP is less expensive than implementing traditional ERP because the service provider handles upgrades, maintenance, and data protection for the customer (Razzaq and Mohammed, 2020). In order to implement an in-house ERP solution in your firm, you must first purchase software, licenses, and hardware. These are all important steps in the process. A professional will also be required for the purposes of installation and maintenance, as will be explained further below. A large number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may be unable to maintain their current levels of information technology spending as a result of the increasing expenses. Cloud-based ERPs, on the other hand, are typically less expensive to implement than traditional ERP systems because they only require a monthly subscription fee. If the situation cannot be solved by one service provider, there may be a variety of other options. It is possible to reduce your total cost of ownership after aligning your operating expenses and revenue streams, but this is not always the case.

Furthermore, it has the ability to be implemented in a short period of time. A cloud-based enterprise resource planning system can be up and running in a fraction of the time it takes to implement a traditional on-premises system. Businesses that use on-premises ERP must take a number of factors into consideration, including equipment selection and acquisition, IT employee training, potential staff expansion, the implementation of new data-security policies, as well as ensuring that everyone on the team has consistent access to tools that will aid the company in its growth (Berić et al., 2018). The usage of ERP on-premises ERP Cloud ERP makes it feasible to set up and implement software in a shorter amount of time than is otherwise possible. Access to real-time data from anywhere is a big advantage in terms of cloud-based software dependability when it comes to the reliability of cloud-based software deployment. Because of this, everyone in the team is more equipped to collaborate and perform better in their individual tasks as a group.

Furthermore, companies reap the benefits of improved access, mobility, and usability for their consumers and employees. Cloud ERP offers a number of advantages over its traditional ERP competitors, including the ability to scale. The fact that your ERP system is cloud-based and international-ready allows your employees to access the resources they demand from any area they have access to a mobile phone and an Internet connection. It is possible to make critical business decisions in real time because information is readily available in real time. This eliminates the need to wait for everyone in the same room or to access your ERP system from the same location before taking action (AlBar and Hoque, 2019). When this is spoken instead of being said, it leads to the formation of a more adaptable group of people. Increased internal and external productivity have resulted as a result of the increased emphasis placed on quick accessibility and stronger collaboration.

Another advantage of cloud ERP is that it enhances system availability and disaster recovery in the case of a disaster, which is particularly important in the financial sector. Data security is now a must-have concern for any corporation that conducts business online in today’s world. In exchange for your decision to use their service, cloud ERP providers are responsible for protecting your system from potential threats or vulnerabilities that may arise (Costan and Pascu, 2019). Vendors invest in world-class infrastructure and security to protect your system and free up your time so that you can devote your attention to other aspects of your company’s business operations.

Finally, because cloud ERP is hosted on the internet, it is both secure and compliant with regulatory standards. The disadvantage of in-house ERP solutions is that they must be configured and maintained on a continuous basis in order to function properly. If even one of these steps is skipped, it is probable that performance will suffer as a result of this. If you opt for a cloud-based solution, the service provider is responsible for hosting the service on their servers, which you are not accountable for. The result is that your ERP will work at its best since you will be confident that it is being maintained by qualified personnel. The fact that cloud-based ERP businesses provide their customers with greater security support and protection has already been mentioned (Razzaq and Mohammed, 2020). The importance of end-to-end and all-encompassing security has been emphasized throughout Epicor’s development. Every tier of our enterprise resource planning software includes physical network interface cards, user passwords, and round-the-clock system monitoring as standard features. Because our comprehensive approach to security assists us in detecting and mitigating interruptions, customers benefit from better uptime and more peace of mind.

4.2 Significant Actions to take to Ensure Success in Implementing the Cloud SystemIdentifying the total cost of ownership, evaluating cloud options, developing a migration/transition plan, planning the data migration, and developing change management approaches are the most important actions that the company must take in order to successfully implement the cloud system. These actions are in addition to improving their current systems. Among the first phases in the process mapping process is a comparison of what is required and what is already available in the marketplace (Zaslavskaya et al., 2018). Almost every company has a set of policies and procedures, some of which have been defined in advance and written, and others which have formed organically over time. You should identify the most important business processes and map out the relevant configurations in accordance with industry best practices before shifting to the cloud, rather than replicating your on-premises methods. An Oracle partner can often assist you in completing this investment more quickly and efficiently, while also protecting your firm from being accused of “paving cow paths” and aligning your operations with industry standards and best practices, among other benefits.

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US-Iran Relationship An Issue of Ideological Differences

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US-Iran Relationship: An Issue of Ideological Differences

Introduction

Global politics have changed so much since the World War era. Heywood (2014) notes that the global political landscape is volatile, informed by ideology and historical events. Since the take-over of the US-funded Persian dynasty in 1979, the ideologies and political choices of the Islamic ruling party that took over have led to strained relationships between the US and Iran. From the conflict at the mentioned time, Donelly (2013) notes that the political grandstanding, ideology, and rhetoric have all played a key role in the US-Iran conflict. In a few interactions, the two nations have cooperated and agreed on a few issues, yet, their ideological perspectives as well as actions have remained to be a hindrance to long-term positive agreement. The ideological differences are noted by Soltaninejad (2015) to be the key constraint to progress and cooperation between the two nations, in spite of the several attempts made to bring an end to the conflict. Objective plans (including what President Obama’s administration attempted) have been futile in bringing the rift and bringing an end to the conflict (Mattair 2010). In this report, the view that the US-Iran relationship is largely shaped by differences in ideology is taken. The main argument is that ideology has solely led to the differences in perspectives and agenda, evidenced by instances of cooperation and objective attempts to resolve the conflict without success. While the relationship has largely been inconsistent, moving from hostile disagreement to complete cooperation, the only constant factor in the US-Iran relationship has been the differences in ideology, therefore, leading to the conclusion that it is the root of the conflict.

What is Ideology?

The current world can be interpreted as one that is politically charged. Therefore, this drives a need to understand why nations behave the way they do towards each other. The usage and meaning of ideology bears a significant relationship on this understanding. Originally, ideology only meant a science of different ideas that emphasized the significance of human sensation in knowledge formation (Hussain 2015). Therefore, in this definition, ideology was simply a consequence of the environment and its influence on how people thought. Today, ideology has shifted from the previous perspective to focus on the ideas that creates the environment. These ideas are political. As such, Sauer (2019) defines ideology as a phenomenon that exists in order to confirm a given political standpoint, serve a certain group’s interests, and perform functional roles in relation to the political, legal, social, and economic institutions. Ideological differences are defined by Gause (2017) as a body of ideas reflective of interests and beliefs relating to a political system or nation. Further, Sauer (2019) observes that ideological differences are responsible for underlying the political actions of a given group. In simple terms, ideological differences can be used to mean the system of beliefs that informs the decision making process or one that orders reality in a society in order to render decisions and actions intelligible. In this sense, Iran’s ideology is defined by Golkar (2014) as a complex amalgamation of political populism, Islamic religious radicalism, and pan-Islamism. The Iranian society uses this ideology to create a view of a constant battle against oppression, paganism, and empire rule. Contrariwise, the US sees its ideology to be made of freedom and self-rule, masked in concepts such as democracy, liberalism (Burchill 2013), conservatism, populism, and a combination of any of these concepts ranging from mild, moderate, to extremism. These differences are separated by a conformity to what each society defines as political necessary to ensure existence and safety of its stakeholders.

Role of Ideology in the US-Iran Relationship

America’s relationship with Iran has not always been hostile. However, it has been inconsistent. At some point, Iran’s government was a powerful US ally (Bill 2001). At present, the two nations are involved in a conflict regarding their political movements, actions, and decisions. Regardless of the interaction, Pickering et al. (2009) provide an opinion that the relationship is fundamentally driven by an action-focused intersubjective and ideological belief systems rather than one focused on logic and objectivity. Following the Second World War, America and Iran were regular allies working on different agendas including buffering each other against the spread of communism and the rise of pan-Arabism within the Middle East (Posch 2017). Recently, the two nations have worked towards an agreement on protocols on creating a nuclear program that would be meant to increase peaceful coexistence between the two nations. Evidently, the cooperative spirit where necessary, and the stubbornness that has led to conflict is as a result of difference sin ideology.

Having defined ideology and seen the difference between the system of beliefs that inform decision making and political actions for both Iran and the US, it is now prudent to assert that the ideological differences between these two entities have largely been inflexible. For both US and Iran, the system of actions have been fuelled by a subjective pattern involving public interaction and the progression of the conflict. Soltaninejad (2015) and Golkar (2014) observe that the subjective ideologies and the preferred political actions of the two nations have prevented any significant progress aimed at cooperation. Although leaders from both countries have made repeated attempts towards easing the tension and conflict, any progress is eventually stifled by ideological statements, reactions, or actions by a country towards the other. It is also clear that abandoning ideological positions for both America and Iran is near impossible (Sauer 2019). Pathways towards ending the conflict will only be made possible by an actual intention to abandon ideological standpoints and political positions.

The paradox for the US policy direction in Iran is noted through the enduring conflict between Iran and the United States. As the world continues to change since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the changes that have since occurred have shifted political direction for both US and Iran, including their relations (Mirilovic & Kim 2017). However, as things continue to change, the more they remain the same for the US and Iran in their relationship. The impasse between the US and Iran is still unresolved and quite raw, despite tentative transformation on both sides. For example, Washington’s initiatives in Iran have not meant a decline of concerns regarding the foreign policy actions taken by Iran. Similarly, previous cooperation between the two nations have not resolved the mistrust that Iran has on the US and its agenda in the Persian Gulf.

Is the US-Iran Relationship Largely Shaped by Ideological Differences?

It is evident that the US-Iran relationship is largely shaped by differences in ideology. The ideological conflict between America and Iran, according to Hussain (2015), is based on a choice made by each nation regarding objectivity and ideology on each other’s interpretation of the importance of individual interests relating to the perceived dangers from each other. Presently, the US interprets its ideological interpretation and objectivity on Iran that the latter will use its nuclear capabilities to perform violent actions against the US West. On the other hand, Iran uses its ideological position to craft a belief that the US is constantly attempting to stop nuclear ambitions so as to prevent it from benefiting from what such technology offers. On such differing views, and the deteriorating relations between the US and Iran, different economic, military, or geopolitical interests cannot be blamed for the circumstances leading up to the tensions ad conflict (Cordesman 2008). Instead, the narratives and ideas that emerge due to ideological standpoints have led to the positions taken by each nation. While some of them are rooted deep in historical actions and events, there is little evidence pointing to anything more than just pure need to be right from one’s ideological standpoint.

Even where other factors such as political regime, economic interests, and political interests are involved, the US-Iran relationship seems to go back to relying on ideas that are part of each society to make a decision. President Obama’s efforts to ease the conflict between the US and Iran were largely interpreted as weak and dangerous to the wellbeing of the US. Similarly, President Trump’s actions in North Korea (although not within the scope of this report) were also seen as a danger to the nation. These examples point to a simple fact that every nation would rather support its own ideologies than accept to look at an issue with objectivity and rationality. The US would never see Iran’s nuclear capability as a progress to the nation but rather another looming danger to its welfare. Similarly, The US will always be a threat to the welfare of Iran as long as the two nations use ideology to inform decisions. Wherever the two nations stand to gain, they gladly cooperate, forgetting the said ideological positions to meet a certain agenda. Issues regarding protection against other nations have, for example, been a common source of cooperation in the past. Yet, in every other circumstance or event, the different political grandstanding, ideology, and rhetoric emerge in a way that clouds the entire decision making process, regardless of consequences for both the United States or Iran. Arguably, the US-Iran relationship, and its deteriorating nature, goes back to ideological differences that inform political decisions and similar points of view.

Conclusion

The aim of this report was to present evidence that the US-Iran relationship is largely shaped by differences in ideology. The main argument is that ideology has solely led to the differences in perspectives and agenda, evidenced by instances of cooperation and objective attempts to resolve the conflict without success. The report shows that while the relationship has largely been inconsistent, moving from hostile disagreement to complete cooperation, the only constant factor in the US-Iran relationship has been the differences in ideology, therefore leading to the conclusion that it is the root of the conflict. In the discussion, ideology is defined as a phenomenon that exists in order to confirm a given political standpoint, serve a certain group’s interests, and perform functional roles in relation to the political, legal, social, and economic institutions. Iran’s ideology is presented as a complex amalgamation of political populism, Islamic religious radicalism, and pan-Islamism while the US sees its ideology to be made of freedom and self-rule, masked in concepts such as democracy, liberalism, conservatism, populism, and a combination of any of these concepts ranging from mild, moderate, to extremism. The said differences are separated by a conformity to what each society defines as political necessary to ensure existence and safety of its stakeholders. Regardless of the interaction, the relationship between Iran and America is fundamentally driven by an action-focused intersubjective and ideological belief systems rather than one focused on logic and objectivity. In the end, it becomes clear that the US-Iran relationship is largely shaped by differences in ideology.

Reference List

Bill, J A 2001, ‘The Politics of Hegemony: The United States and Iran’, Middle East Policy, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 89-100.

Burchill, S 2013, ‘Liberalism’, in S. Burchill, et al., (eds.), Theories of International Relations (5th ed.), Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 57—87.

Cordesman, A H 2008, ‘Iran and the United States: The Nuclear Issue’, Middle East Policy, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 19-29.

Donelly, J 2013, ‘Realism’, in S. Burchill, et al. (eds.), Theories of International Relations (5th ed.), Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 32—56.

Gause, F G 2017, ‘Ideologies, alignments, and underbalancing in the new Middle East Cold War’, PS: Political Science & Politics, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 672-675.

Golkar, S 2014, ‘Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: Its View of the United States’, Middle East Policy, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 53-63.

Heywood, A 2014. Global Politics (2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, chapter 3, pp. 53-67.

Hussain, N 2015, ‘US-Iran Relations: Issues, Challenges and Prospects’, Policy Perspectives, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 29-47.

Mattair, T R 2010, ‘The United States and Iran: Diplomacy, Sanctions and War’, Middle East Policy, vol. 17, no. 20, pp. 52-61.

Mirilovic, N and Kim, M 2017, ‘Ideology and threat perceptions: American public opinion toward China and Iran’, Political Studies, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 179-198.

Pickering, T R, Parsi, T, Katzman, K, and Mattair, T R 2009, ‘The United States and Iran: What are the prospects for engagement?’, Middle East Policy, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 1.

Posch, W 2017, ‘Ideology and strategy in the Middle East: The case of Iran’, Survival, vol. 59, no. 5, pp. 69-98.

Sauer, T 2019, ‘The Role of Informal International Organizations in Resolving the Iranian Nuclear Crisis (2003–15)’, Journal of Common Market Studies, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 939-955.

Soltaninejad, M 2015, ‘Iran and the United States: A Conflict Resolution Perspective’, Asian Politics and Policy, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 455-475.

Unethical Communication

Module 5-Critical Thinking

Unethical Communication

Name

Institution

Unethical Communication

Unethical communication is a behavior that entails breaking confidentiality and the manipulation of information. In general, this type of unethical behavior undermines relationships or encourages social immorality (Valde & Henningsen, 2015).

The unethical communication encountered was one where I went to the local store and found that they were running promotional messages or the so-called specials. One of the messages had two items for the price of one. I went ahead and put the items on my basket despite the fact that they did not feature on my shopping list but the deal was too good. I was doing my weekly shopping and so my shopping list was along and I had a lot of items in my basket which meant I could easily be charged for the free item without noticing. After the cashier recorded all the items and gave me the till slip. I checked it and found out that the items had been charged as two. I went back and complained and they told me that the specials had been running for the past month put had just concluded the day before and that they were now selling one item at its traditionally. I complained about the sign and they claimed to have just not been able to pull it down. The other excuse was that usually when they are selling two items for the price of one both items are tied together and these ones were not meaning they were independent. They also had this item they had knocked down its price by $2. However, this amount was included in the till slip and when I raised that concern also, they gave me the same answer. I came to understand later that unethical communication on specials is a considerably common problem and one needs to be careful.

This from the view of a customer border deceptive advertising, which is a crime under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act under the Federal Trade Commission (McGaan, 2016). This deed is also prohibited in states as well and there is no excuse for any business owners especially those with small businesses. A case such as this one can be beyond the reach of the law and just depended on the intuitive nature of what is right and what is not. There was no clear way to reinforce the consequences of this very unethical behavior. I am very sure that many unsuspecting customers have fallen into this trap and only an awareness by consumers on this issue would generate consequences for the business. So in my confrontation with the store manager, I threaten to launch a campaign with people from my neighborhood who rely so much on the store. I was very sure that this was a mere threat and I was just trying my luck on whether the store would welcome the knowledge of the ethical requirements of advertising. Physical campaigns are not easy and so I decided to mobilize people around me using social media especially the Whatsapp group shared by people from down the block.

The campaign did not succeed and the next step would be to check where the team at the store had made any action after I raised my concern. It will still be hard to know because the specials are done, after lengthy periods and by then people are already prepared and made ripe for the idea of something that is cheaper than its traditional price. The store continued to operate as usual and there was no sign of change. It would be safe to say that the little to no outcome ended with store manager promising to ensure that the language they used was ethical but avoided to confess that they had removed the misleading placard. Instead, the store people promised to be more careful with the overdue promotional massages. This means that they were still reluctant with the kind of advertising and that they were going to announce it anyway.

The next time the store operates in violation of the law and the trust of its customers, I would launch a more aggressive approach to this issue that includes the lobby for the support of individuals in boycotting the place. If I encounter this situation again I will first begin with refusing to purchase the item. This should be easy because usually specials do not feature in the shopping list and it is never ideal to wander off a shopping list. The other thing I would do is to inform everybody at the store about the misleading information and thus stop these veil transaction. Other people will come in later in my absence to the store and fall victim to this veil act but will unfortunately not notice it. Informing other customers creates the beginning of the flow of that information. One person will talk about the issue with a friend who will, in turn, inform a friend and so on.

The other thing I would differently after encountering this problem will be to withdraw from the store completely and refuse to do business with them again. This will, of course, be accompanied by an earful for those in charge at the store. I will make sure the store manager understands that they have lost a family of aggressive shoppers and others will follow over time.

References

McGaan, L. (2016). Persuasion ethics. Monmouth College. Retrieved from https://department.monm.edu/cata/mcgaan/classes/cata339/Ethics-Persuasion.htmValde, K., & Henningsen, M. (2015). Facework in responding to unethical communication. International Journal of Business Communication,52(4), 369-403.

UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS

MODERN, SYMBOLIC-INTERPRETIVE, AND POSTMODERN ANALYSIS OF THE COCA COLA COMPANY

(Author’s name)

(Institutional Affiliation)

Abstract

Organization theory is considered to be the most essential aspects in the science of economics. Organization theory encompasses theorizing, theories, abstraction, the study of organizations from different points of view, levels and methods of analysis. Organizational theory helps managers to effectively more possibilities and ideas for managing and designing their organizations, as managers usually have numerous options and approaches of solving and addressing issues in their organizations (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006b). In the following essay, I will show how the three most common perspective approaches of organizational theory assist managers and organizations, in general, in achieving and understanding that is more comprehensive of the complex phenomenon usually associated with organizations. These three perspectives include the symbolic interpretive, modernistic and post- modernistic. I will do this by analyzing one particular organization, Coca- Cola.

Key words: post- modernistic, modernistic, symbolic interpretive, organizational theory

Introduction

What is an organization? The term organization can be used to refer to a social system that is specifically established for the purposes of achieving certain goals and objectives. The term social system, on the other hand, reflects the fact that a group of persons, who correlate with everyone in some way, are involved. The role of the management in this case is to organize and coordinate the groups or the social systems so that they can corporate and work together towards attaining certain, specific goals set by the organization. As it follows, an organization can also be defined as a group of individuals who have individual or personal objectives, but work together in coordination for the purposes of attaining certain, common goals that have been set and determined by the organization within the set or the frame of their environment and that of their personal goals.

There are a number of elements that define an organization. Some of these factors include goals, people, relationships made by those people, and the structure of the organization (Alchian & Demsetz, 1972).

Goals and objectives

The goals and objectives of an organization are what define what the management and their employees are supposed to attain in an organization. Goals are most useful when they are unified in terms of their content. Everyone in the organization must work towards the same goals. Moreover, the goals of the management and the workers must also be similar to those of the company.

People

These are the organization’s members. It is the duty and the responsibility of the management to ensure that the people’s focus is towards the achievement of the company’s goals.

Relationships between people

This has been defined as the ‘glue’ that sticks organizations together. These relationships are furthered by the culture of the organization, which are in turn defined by the community within which the organization is located. On the other hand, the community is defined by the opinions, values, dependencies, disagreements, and conflicts that are commonly found within an organization. It is possible for the relationships found within the organization to be ruined, especially by power struggles of differing intensities and strengths commonly associated with organizations.

Structure of the organization

This term is used to define how an organization is organized or structured. It also indicates which units of the organization are essential, and what functions are associated with each unit.

Short Summary of the Organization

The Coca Cola Corporation will be the main focus of this paper. The head office of the company is in Delaware, and its holding company is the Corporation Trust Company. The company produces and distributes over 500 brands in more the 200 hundred countries. The company’s most known product is the Coca- cola beverage. The company offers and distributes other products as well like Fanta, Sprite, and Tab, which was the company’s first diet soda.

The holding company of Coca-Cola has several functions. For example, it is the one involved in general business for all of its subsidiaries; it is also the one that gets in other lawful businesses on the behalf of its holdings. For example, the company buys and acquires all or some of the good- will business, trade- names and marks, rights, property names, and other essential assets (Company fact sheet).

MODERNISTIC ANALYSIS

One of the most basic characteristic of modernists is that they are objectivists, in that they focus more on knowledge reality, which is mostly developed through theorization and conceptualization. In the modernistic view, things that occur usually have definite explanations, and usually through the help of data that is carefully collected and analyzed. For example, a company earns profit because of the ability of its CEO to make the right decisions as they invest the money of the company. It has been argued that the modernists only recognize data and information that they can touch, hear, smell, see, and taste. Organizations based on modernistic theories works depending on the systems implemented and defined by the general system theory. The system, on the other hand, can be established through deductive modes which can be used to measure or test the theories through practice. This system is usually focused on building a set of values that an organization can use so that everyone can follow and adhere to the rues, and as a result, function, and perform in a manner that ensures that the organization’s functions run smoothly.

Environment

According to the modernist theory, the environment is the space that can be found outside the organization’s boundaries. The modernists argue that the environment is the one that provides an organization with resources and they also argue that it absorbs its services, as well as, its products. The environment is seen in this theory to foster several constraints or challenges upon the organization. The environment also demands that the organization adapt to its environment. The management of the organization involves the company protecting its internal environment from shocks that might originate from the external environment. Such shocks might include labor, capital shortage, and labor. This environment management strategy is known as buffering. The other environmental strategy is known as boundary spanning, which monitors the activities in the external environment, and represents the interests of the organization through sales, advertisements, public relations, and efforts in recruiting (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c). The Coca-Cola Company has managed to stay afloat and successful for numerous years because of its ability to manage the environment. The company, for example, has advanced machines and production machines that utilize high technology. These machines lessen the want for man labor and consequently the company cushions itself perfectly in times of shortages in labor.

The modernists analyze an organization based on three main resources namely the environmental contingency assumption, the population ecology premise and the theory on resource dependence. Coca-Cola will be analyzed using the environmental contingency theory. The analysis of the inter-organizational relationships and associations can be helpful for an organization in that it can help the managers comprehend and analyze the king of relationships the organization has with its network actors; the relation can take the form of power or dependence. For example, the resources that the organization utilizes are controlled by the outer environment. The organization, therefore, depends on the environment to provide it with resources, and the environment, hence, influences some of the decisions that the company makes (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c).

The Coca-Cola Company, for instance, depends on the outside environment for its raw material, labor, products, equipment and knowledge, and capital. The organization should, hence prioritize each dependence according to its importance and scarcity. For example, the Coca-Cola Company utilizes a lot of water for its beverages. There were complains in the past that the company in some areas has been overusing the water resources to the extent that some plants had to shut down. The company also depends on the customers and clients to move its products. There were complains that the company uses a lot of sugar in its products that can be harmful. It was also said that some of the products of the company had harmful chemicals. As a result, the sales of the company dropped significantly.

Social Structure

The social structure of an organization is formed by the relationships that exist between people working in an organization, and between the organizational units and groups formed by these people. Structure can be defined by three main dimensions which have been added on and elaborated by the modernists. These dimensions include; labor division, formalization, and authority hierarchy. There are two main theories that define social structure of an organization. These are the structural contingency theories and the current contingency theories. The structural contingency theories are three; size, centralization and specialization; integration and differentiation; and organic and mechanistic management systems. Today’s contingency theories include; lifecycles, taxonomies, and open system models of development (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006d).

The contingency theory indicates that the dimensions of a social structure are determined by the associations between the organization’s strategy, environment, size and technology. The Coca-Cola Company is largely centralized, in that the organization is divided into three sections; the holding company, its subsidiaries, and the distributors. The main company distributes concentrates of beverages to its subsidiaries for packaging; the subsidiaries package and distribute the products to the customer. This high centralization has numerous challenges. For example, these three systems have different goals and different ways of doing things. This is despite the verity that the aims of an association must be made uniform for better achievements (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006d). As a result, the company has received numerous complains, in addition to being involved in numerous law suits. For example, the quality of raw materials has been said to be low, resulting to products that are of low quality. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in sales and profitability.

Technology

Technology of an organization is based on three perspectives; that it is a means of turning raw material to final products, which it shapes social relations and the social interactions shape it; and that technology is a type of discipline, control and power that can also liberate. Coca-Cola is going to be analyzed by the modernistic definition that technology determines the tools and equipments an organization utilizes. Coca-Cola has advanced tools and equipments that ensure that the company retains high productivity. This has seen the company adapt machines that surpass human capabilities in manufacturing, packaging, and storing. As a result, the increased technology has displaced numerous workers leading to shortages of jobs (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006a).

Culture

Organizational culture can be defined as the way organizations do things or operate. It reflects an organization’s shared expectations and understanding (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006d). Organizational culture can be defined by the values, norms, assumptions, and believes that determine the way that organization runs, feels, think, and act. Coca-Cola has represented its organizational culture through images and symbols commonly used in the promotions, and campaigns of its products. The symbols and images used by Coca-Cola carry numerous meanings. Coca-Cola uses these symbols to express their ‘fun’ culture and to, in turn, influence customers to be part of the fun by purchasing their products.

Statement of Problems

From the above analysis, it was found that Coca-Cola has numerous problems that can affect its productivity. Most of the problems result from the external environment and the failure of the company to prioritize the most essential resources. For example, Coca-Cola was accused of putting too much sugar in its beverages something that led to a drop in sales. The company was also accused of producing beverages with harmful chemicals. This also led to a decrease in sales. The company has also significantly reduced jobs through the utilization of advanced machines. The company is also losing its reputation because of wastage of water, a raw material. In addition to this, Coca-Cola has also largely decentralized its organizational structure, something that has led to a decrease in quality of products produced.

Solution and Recommendations

To solve the problems brought about by the environment, the company has to critically analyze and determine the most essential sources or environments by their scarcity and importance. The company, through this will determine which sources are worth taking care of and which ones are priorities. The company can improve their situation by developing personal relationships with their environment, by lobbying, and marketing their goods. This way they will improve their reputation and, hence, their profitability (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c).

SYMBOLIC- INTERPRETIVE CRITIQUE

In the context of environments, the symbolic- interpretive theories is composed of three theories; institutional theory, ambiguity theory, and the enacted environment. These theories argue that organizations must adapt to both the external and the internal environments. An alternative measure to the solutions provided for the environmental problems above, the institutional theory can be used, and specifically the institutional pressures can offer the environment and company an alternative set of solutions to the problems caused by the company and the environment respectively. These pressures are coercive, normative, and mimetic. The company can for example, want to be similar in success in creating relationships with the environment to another company. Through the mimetic pressure, the company can eliminate some of its issues like wastage of water, and minimizing of sugar so as to be successful as another company. The company can also use the normative pressure to change. These are the expectations of the culture to conform to the practices of the society (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c).

Coca-Cola can also transform and solve the problems it is causing the community by use of the coercive pressures which are the pressures provided by the government. The government for example can regulate the amount of water a company uses. It can also regulate the nutritional values of the company’s beverages (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c). In the technology context, the social construction of technology offered by the symbolic interpretive perspectives can help the company solve its technology problems. The company was indicated to be causing numerous job losses as a result of technology. The symbolic interpretive perspective implies that technology should be co- developed by an interaction of society, environment, economic, culture, and technical factors (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006a). Based on this argument, the company can balance the use of machines with offering and providing the community with job opportunities, because of the above, mentioned factors.

When it comes to the problems caused by the organizational structure, and in particular decentralization, the company can use the symbolic- interpretive approaches to solve the problems caused by decentralization. For example the company can devise and implement key routines and improvisations that must be followed by all subsidiaries to ensure quality of products. The established routine can make sure that actions are reproduced in all of the subsidiaries of the company to ensure that the quality is good and similar. Routine can ensure stability, as well as, transfer and preserve knowledge and skills (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006d).

POSTMODERN CRITIQQUE

In the environment context, the postmodern theories can similarly be used to offer the company alternative solutions to their problems. The company, for example, can utilize the approach based on the different phases of industrialization, and especially the second phase of industrialization. In this phase, the company has a wider range of products, has more complicated processes of production, and it is at this stage the company grows in bureaucracy (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c). The Coca-Cola Company is in this phase and, it can control some of the adversities that result from this phase of industrialization by specialization, developing a routine, and by controlling the production. The company can also minimize the number of negative effects resulting from this phase by developing a suitable structure of management.

The approach of the third phase indicates that an organization should be more sensitive to the customers. It also suggests that companies should initiate stimulated consumption, and internationalization, as well as, improve its technologies. This way the customers can start viewing the company in a better light and as a result increase their purchasing power (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006c).

When it comes to the organizational structure of the company, an organization should adapt the de- differentiation approach which promotes self- organization, self- coordination, and self- management. The company should practice all this to ensure that the quality of the resulting products is high. The postmodern theory argues that technology can imprison organizations if they let it govern their needs (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006a). As a result, the organization should not let this happen; rather it should strike a balance between technology and providing work (Hatch & Cunliffe, 2006d).

Conclusion

For one to completely understand the theory of organizations, they have to study and analyze organizational phenomena in different ways. This is because different ways or approaches of analysis provide one with different kinds of perspectives which lead to different theories and concepts. In the above essay, different kinds perspectives of organizational theories have been used to analyze Coca-Cola as an organization, and as a result, the perspectives have helped in a big way in coming up with different issues that affect the company, in addition to the solutions of the problems. The perspectives that have been looked at are the modern perspective, the symbolic- interpretive perspective, and the postmodern approach.

References

Alchian, A. & Demsetz, H. (1972). Production, Information Costs, and EconomicOrganization. The American Economic Review 62(5): 777-795.

Company fact sheet. The Coca-Cola Company. Retrieved from http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/contactus/students.html

Hatch, M. J. & Cunliffe, A. L. (2006a). Technology. Chapter 5. Oxford University Press.

Hatch, M. J. & Cunliffe, A. L. (2006b). A brief history of organization theory. Chapter 2. Oxford University Press.

Hatch, M. J. & Cunliffe, A. L. (2006c). Organization and environment. Chapter 3. Oxford University Press.

Hatch, M. J. & Cunliffe, A. L. (2006d). Organizational social structure. Chapter 4. Oxford University Press.

Usage of Management Information System in Supply Chain Management

MIS usage in Supply Chain Management

Name

Institution

Course

Date

Usage of Management Information System in Supply Chain Management

A project management information system is of critical importance to Supply Chain because it is one of the key delivery systems for effective project management and Supply Chain. It thus presents a means for building solid relationships and trust that can eventually lead to effectiveness and efficiency in suppling products and hence in productivity. In the process of building this important communication link, the management information system integrates project data into a management description that is in line with the project’s performance (Brown & Vessey, 2003).

Any project has the potential to produce multiple varieties and large volumes of data. This data is very essential in supply chain management because it is not very useful in supporting management decisions in its raw form. Management Information System plays a critical role through addition of value by selective moulding of the project data into information products that are used in the management of the project, reporting as well as in decision making (Shield et al, 2001). Automation of management systems usually supports important portions of the task that are associated with operating a Project management Information System. Normally, tasks that are performed manually can be found at various stages along the Management Information System information path.

Management Milestones

There a few occasions during the project’s life cycle when all the different activities and processes that are related to the particular project converge at the same time during the project’s life cycle. Normally, these moments occur during the management’s decisions to initiate, plan for, execute or terminate the project. At all these important decisions, there is need to focus attention on providing a solid synthesis of information relevant to the project’s progress and a comprehensive snapshot of the project’s development profile (King, 2005).

If a management Information System designed to support milestone decisions is aligned, it has to be aligned in accordance with the decision maker’s directives and usually through their leadership perspectives. Further, it has to take into consideration the provision of information necessary to manage all intermediate tasks that lead to the realization of the milestone targets and objectives.

MIS is responsible for defining Requirements before Planning the Project

A management Information System cannot be relied upon to effectively provide what is not designed into its product coverage. Before planning for a project, all the management Information System projects status reporting and decision makes have to be determined both at the project level and also with the stakeholders of the project. There can arise very heavy penalties if a project’s Project management Information System products are not established at the beginning of tat project’s lifecycle (Monk, Ellen; Wagner & Bret, 2006).

One of the most important risks here is the potential to make decisions based on inappropriate or insufficient information. One other risk is the possibility of friction between stakeholders and the project’s team members due to mismatches in expectations for information. The third risk is the unexpected cost of planning again or having to manually extract data from the plans to use on correcting the deficiencies arising from stakeholder’s information needs. There can be no logic in expecting the project-planning data to match the management and stakeholders informational needs.

What to Include in Management Information Systems relevant to supply chain

The specifications for effective management Information System products are derived from answering the following fundamental questions:

What is the status of the particular project’s accomplishments in relation to the project’s scheduled commitments? This is important in determining the type and kind of supply to make.

What is the status of the actual cost of the project as compared with its initial budgeted cost?

What is the actual effort consumed by the project as compared with the effort provided for in the original budget?

What is the level of the current deficiencies as compared to target standards and previous work levels?

How many changes have been made in respect of the project’s requirements and processes used in developing the projects products and services?

Information requirements for any project vary with the five questions as identified above and these are relevant to supply chain management. The resulting management profile thus describes the current status of the project and tends to point towards the future. All the information products derived from these five key areas provide the necessary intelligence required for efficient and effective management of the project (Sheilds & Mureell, 2001).

Tailoring the project management information system to a specific Project

Tailoring of a management Information System product to meet the specific needs of a specified project is very important to the project’s organization. Before the actual beginning of the planning process there are three basic tailoring tasks that have to be taken into consideration. These are:

Definition of data elements to ensure integrity of meaning

Establishing the level of detail needed for each data element

Defining the time duration of the respective work packages

Tailoring of management Information System products in all these three areas as highlighted above promotes harmony which enables data input to the management Information System to follow a natural sequence for performing project tasks. This is normally provided for from data exists in the organizational information systems for instance the financial tracking system (Lowery & Gwen, 1994).

It is important to define data items so as to ensure integrity in data items and what they mean to both the management and the stakeholders. Defining of data items is also important in ensuring the integrity of the resulting project profile. For instance, if an organization’s financial system provides cost tracking system for projects, then it would be imperative for the project and its financial system to use similar definition of data elements.

Normally, the definition of costs associated with people’s efforts includes more categories than the usual salaries and benefits. In addition, people’s overtime efforts may not include additional provisions for vacation, retirement, or ill-health benefit costs. The only practical test for data consistency is the ability to produce Project management Information System management products by way of comparing similar products that have consistency in their definition (Wylie, 2009).

How MIS is important to Project integration and thus supply chain

Introduction

Project management is an integrative process in which the addition or failure to take an action in can as well affect all other areas of the project. Thus project integration is an essential process in project management. There have been relatively few efforts made in the literature of project management with regard to the development of the theory of project integration management. The development of the concept of project integration has been assisted largely through the application of system theory. It has been widely claimed that one of the most pervasive intellectual tradition to intellectual.

Project integration is derived from treating the project as a system. The integration of a system is usually applicable to almost all projects because all projects are inevitably a system in one way or the other. Major system thinking gives a highlight on the interdependencies inherent between project elements and as such provides a way of thinking appropriate for effective project integration. This is further enhanced by identifying all the systemic relationships. System integration is normally facilitated especially when all project participants including the project manager adopt a holistic stand on the project. This helps set clear coordination in the performance of the project as well as in information flow between the various stakeholders and project management.

Project integration is important especially when one is dealing with different parts of the process and wishes to combine them to form an integral whole. Thus project integration is essential because normally there are diverse projects or subsystems needed to be accomplished separately. This integration is important in the realization of the overall project success. The various project phases have to be interdependent otherwise no meaningful integration will work. The existence of interlinked but diverse project elements and subsystems can also be defined as project complexity. Hence such a system can best be expressed in terms of project differentiation and interdependency (Wylie, 2009).

Project complexity

Projects are normally characterized by the level of complexity that they exhibit. Complexity derives from the fact that different projects contain different sets of interdependent elements. It is a well established fact that interdependency and differentiation are two distinct elements that are managed by integration. When the level of complexity is higher, the difficulties and importance of integration increases so that the actual level of differentiation is matched by corresponding levels of integration. In order to effectively integrate complex project systems, a variety of integrative devices are available for use. A key device is the project manager. Integration can be effected by engaging someone to provide an integrating role. Consequently, integration is facilitated as a key role that is a responsibility of the project manager.

System analysis

The primary goal of system analysis is to determine the nature of the problem and perhaps help fix the system. This important step involves the breakdown of the entire system into different components so as to analyze the situation and engage system users in defining what needs to be created. Analysis of system requirements may at times require individuals or teams from client and also service provider sides to provide detailed and accurate system requirements. Often requirement analysis and definition is the most crucial aspect which is normally coupled with several communication gaps which if addressed well can lead to validation of errors and bugs in the software program.

Conclusion

All the system development life cycle phases serve as programmatic guides to the development of project activity and thus provide a flexible and yet consistent way of conducting projects to the depth that matches the scope and requirements of the project. Each of the system development life cycle phase objectives is clearly described with the corresponding deliverables. In any project management system, it is essential that project managers establish and monitor the control of all objectives in any phase.

Controlling of objectives is very crucial as it helps to provide a well phrased statement of the desired results and purpose. To effectively manage and control any system development life cycle initiative, each project system will be required to implement some degree of Work Breakdown Structure. This helps capture and schedule the work necessary to complete all the work associated with the project (Yusuf, 2004).

Bibliography

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York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994

Frame, J. Davidson.(1994) The New Project Management: Toolsfor an Age ofRapid Change.

Corporate Reengineering, and Other Business Realities, San Francisco: JosseyBass,

1994

Lewis. James P. (1994) Project Planning, Scheduling & Control. Chicago: Irwin, 1995

Lowery, Gwen (1994). Managing Projects with Microsoft Project 4.0. New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold, 1994

Bidgoli, Hossein, (2004). The Internet Encyclopedia, Volume 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Khosrow-Puor, Mehdi. (2006). Emerging Trends and Challenges in Information Technology Management. Idea Group, Inc.

Sheilds, Mureell G., E (2001)-Business and ERP: Rapid Implementation and Project Planning. (2001) John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

L. Wylie, “A Vision of Next Generation MRP II”, Scenario S-300-339, Gartner Group, April 12, 1990

Sheilds, Mureell G., E-Business and ERP: Rapid Implementation and Project Planning. (2001) John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Monk, Ellen; Wagner, Bret (2006). Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning (Second ed.). Boston: Thomson Course Technology.

Monk, Ellen and Wagner, Brett.(2009)”Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning” 3rd.ed.Course Technology Cengage Learning.Boston, Massachusetts.2009

Brown, C., and I. Vessey, (2003) “Managing the Next Wave of Enterprise Systems: Leveraging Lessons from ERP,” MIS Quarterly Executive, 2(1), 2003.

King. W (2005)., “Ensuring ERP implementation success,” Information Systems Management, Summer 2005.

Yusuf, Y., A. Gunasekaran, and M. Abthorpe, (2004) “Enterprise Information Systems Project Implementation: A Case Study of ERP in Rolls-Royce,” International Journal of Production Economics, 87(3), February 2004.

Introduction

Mireya Ibanez

March 29, 2021

BME 295C

Ms. Barton

Introduction:

Health Challenges: Significance, Incidence, Symptoms or Consequences

A Traumatic Brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death amongst children and young adults. In the US it is estimated that 1.5 millions of Americans obtain a TBI each year with the number still increasing. TBI’s also contributed to the deaths of 56,8000 people including children. A Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. Symptoms for a Traumatic brain injury are typically placed into 4 categories including, thinking/remembering, physical, emotional, and somnolence. Obtaining a TBI cause the person to potentially have physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes. People who obtain a Traumatic Brain injury tend to have effects that last several days, months, or even years and typically disrupt a person’s ability to function in their everyday lives. These effects aren’t limited to impairments related to memory, movement, thought process, sensation, hearing, emotional dysfunction. Traumatic Brain injuries are major causes to long term disability with a limit on the treatments available to people.

Current diagnosis/Treatment/Management

There are a number of tests and assessments conducted before an injury to the brain can be classified as a Traumatic Brain injury. Typically, assessment requires a neurological examination evaluate thinking, motor function sensory function, coordination and reflexes by using a CT scan and MRI. There is currently a lack of effective treatments for Traumatic Brain injuries. There are both medical and surgical interventions that can be performed to help with the management of the obtained TBI. Today there are many efforts in creating therapeutic approaches and strategies in dealing with Traumatic Brain injuries.

New biomedical engineering solution and benefits

A therapeutic approach for a Traumatic Brain Injury involves Mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy, meaning using stem cells from the own individual is a believed therapy to enhance the repair of the injured brain. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has been showing promising results in ongoing clinical studies. The clinical trials have at least entered the beginning stages (safety phases) for multiple diseases and injuries including TBI’s. Researchers have been able to get a better understanding of what occurs to the body after sustaining a TBI and how Mesenchymal stem cells repairs the brain and improves functional outcomes with rats. One specific method involves transplantation Mesenchymal stem cells which release trophic and pro-repair cytokine, specifically interleukin10. The study tests the therapeutic effects when transplanted into rats that endured a Traumatic brain injury in the frontal cortex. There were significant improvements to reduce inflammation and promote functional outcomes, although further testing and research needs to be conducted. Another study was designed to promote the behavior of the stem cells by incorporating R-GSIK in rats. There was significant recovery of motor function observed in the rats that received Mesenchymal stem cells and R-GSIK. Another study combined Mesenchymal stem cells with Sox2 to improve the recovery in rat with a TBI. 26 rats were used in a study, with 2 rats being bone marrow stem cell donors. 2 days after a Traumatic Brain injury, the rats were induced with SOX-2 and the study examined the effects of SOX-2 with the differentiation of bsMSCs. The motor function was tested using NSS. (Neurological severity score) These treatments are steps to creating effective and efficient therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Introduction (2)

Mireya Ibanez

March 29, 2021

BME 295C

Ms. Barton

Introduction:

Health Challenges: Significance, Incidence, Symptoms or Consequences

A Traumatic Brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death amongst children and young adults. In the US it is estimated that 1.5 millions of Americans obtain a TBI each year with the number still increasing. TBI’s also contributed to the deaths of 56,8000 people including children. A Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. Symptoms for a Traumatic brain injury are typically placed into 4 categories including, thinking/remembering, physical, emotional, and somnolence. Obtaining a TBI cause the person to potentially have physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes. People who obtain a Traumatic Brain injury tend to have effects that last several days, months, or even years and typically disrupt a person’s ability to function in their everyday lives. These effects aren’t limited to impairments related to memory, movement, thought process, sensation, hearing, emotional dysfunction. Traumatic Brain injuries are major causes to long term disability with a limit on the treatments available to people.

Current diagnosis/Treatment/Management

There are a number of tests and assessments conducted before an injury to the brain can be classified as a Traumatic Brain injury. Typically, assessment requires a neurological examination evaluate thinking, motor function sensory function, coordination and reflexes by using a CT scan and MRI. There is currently a lack of effective treatments for Traumatic Brain injuries. There are both medical and surgical interventions that can be performed to help with the management of the obtained TBI. Today there are many efforts in creating therapeutic approaches and strategies in dealing with Traumatic Brain injuries.

New biomedical engineering solution and benefits

A therapeutic approach for a Traumatic Brain Injury involves Mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy, meaning using stem cells from the own individual is a believed therapy to enhance the repair of the injured brain. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has been showing promising results in ongoing clinical studies. The clinical trials have at least entered the beginning stages (safety phases) for multiple diseases and injuries including TBI’s. Researchers have been able to get a better understanding of what occurs to the body after sustaining a TBI and how Mesenchymal stem cells repairs the brain and improves functional outcomes with rats. One specific method involves transplantation Mesenchymal stem cells which release trophic and pro-repair cytokine, specifically interleukin10. The study tests the therapeutic effects when transplanted into rats that endured a Traumatic brain injury in the frontal cortex. There were significant improvements to reduce inflammation and promote functional outcomes, although further testing and research needs to be conducted. Another study was designed to promote the behavior of the stem cells by incorporating R-GSIK in rats. There was significant recovery of motor function observed in the rats that received Mesenchymal stem cells and R-GSIK. Another study combined Mesenchymal stem cells with Sox2 to improve the recovery in rat with a TBI. 26 rats were used in a study, with 2 rats being bone marrow stem cell donors. 2 days after a Traumatic Brain injury, the rats were induced with SOX-2 and the study examined the effects of SOX-2 with the differentiation of bsMSCs. The motor function was tested using NSS. (Neurological severity score) These treatments are steps to creating effective and efficient therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries.