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Sample Essay Each and Every Industries may it be small or large companies

WESFARMERS LIMITED: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS   Introduction Each and every industries may it be small or large companies are subject to different factors that affect the firm’s function as a whole.  In the light of this, there are certain ways or techniques that can be considered in order to emerge and continue to be competitive within the market place. The marketing concept has been defined as ‘the key to achieving organizational goals’ and the marketing concept rests on ‘market focus, customer orientation, coordinated marketing and profitability’. In a profit making business the firm obviously has to try and achieve this level of customer satisfaction as a way of staying ahead of the competition and making a profit. Conventionally, marketing has been utilized by the private sector in decisively increasing the capabilities of an organization. Marketing can be considered as one of the most important element underpinning successful business creation (Hills, 1994). Perhaps because of its complex applications, marketing have been defined in a variety of ways (Sheath et al, 1988). The marketing concept was first promulgated in the late 1950’s (Elliot, 1990). The importance of marketing concept incorporates oft-repeated elements such as: customer orientation; integrated marketing efforts; and resultant profitability (Elliot, 1990).The main goal of this report is to provide an in-depth analysis about the corporate strategy utilised by Wesfarmers Limited in Australia.   Company Overview             Wesfarmers Limited is a business organisation which is composed of six business divisions. The company was established on June 28, 1914 as a cooperative institution for the farmers in Western Australia. The cooperative is focusing on the provision of quality services and products to the rural community in the region. The six divisions of the organisation performs different function such as retailing of home and garden improvement products and other building materials, manufacturing and marketing of industrial equipments and gases, coal mining and production, distribution of industrial and safety products, manufacturing and marketing of wide acre of horticultural fertilises and other chemicals for industry, services and insurance, rail transport investing and others. These different organisational operations have been able to make the company be known in the market place.   INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION ANALYSIS             Industry and Competition analysis are just some of the most important marketing analysis that must be considered by a certain industry.  In this report, industry and competition analysis will be conducted in order to determine the competitive level of Wesfarmers Limited in the marketplace.  In addition, industry and competition analysis is also important to help the company identify significant information that will help them enhance their competitive advantage among its rivals.  This analysis is important not only to determine the current performance of the Wesfarmers in the business world but also to know who among their rival companies can be a bigger threat for them to achieve success. Porter’s Competitive Five Forces An industry is a group of firms that market its products closely substituted from each other.  According to Porter (1980), some industries tend to become more profitable and competitive than the others, hence, an existing industry such as the Wesfarmers Limited should always remember that their industry will only survive by utilizing a strategy that would enhance the competitiveness of the business.  Using Porter’s Five Forces Model, the analysis of the industry sector of the Wesfarmers Limited will be analysed (See Appendix 1).   New Market Entrants             Porter’s Five Forces Model includes threat of entrance of new industries.  Primarily the goal of the Wesfarmers Limited is to establish a position in the cooperative industry and to become a company that would always be competitive in the marketing arena.  Wesfarmers Limited is considered as the largest business organisation in Western Australia which competes in different segments such as energy, hardware, insurance, industrial and safety, chemicals and fertilises and other businesses. It can be said that establishing new organisation that will compete with Wesfarmers is not necessary unless the one who will handle such company will have the strategy to outgrow Wesfarmers.  Hence, it can be said that this type of business belongs to a higher entry obstruction due to the existence of competitive companies like Wesfarmers Limited.    Supplier Power             It is said that the conditions and the present arrangement in the supply market largely determines the extent in which effective competition can be achieved.  The bargaining power of a supplier could be a threat for the profit of the company, and Wesfarmers Limited is very much aware of it.  In this manner, Wesfarmers is trying to have a good contract with its supplier.  Herein, the management of Wesfarmers makes it sure that they are also benefited in the said contract while the suppliers enjoy the agreement with them.        In this kind of business, there is only a limited competition in the supply market.  Wesfarmers avails their resources from different companies that provides them their needs in energy, hardware, insurance, industrial and safety, chemicals and fertilises and other businesses. This limited competition in the supply market illustrates a major obstruction to competition in terms of the business functions of Wesfarmers in the market.     Competitive Rivalry             Wesfarmers Limited is considered to be the largest and most competitive industry in the region.  In this analysis, it shows that the company still dominates the Western Australia market.  This means that Wesfarmers is still on top of the competition among other electricity company. The company enjoys its competitive position in the region and still trying to sustain its competitive advantage among its rivals.    Buyer Power Porter’s also include in his model the concept of the bargaining power of Buyers. Hence, Wesfarmers Limited makes sure of it that their clients and customers in all aspects will be satisfied for the quality service they provide. Specifically, the company has focused their marketing approach on the demands and needs of the buyer for different business segments that satisfy the and heavily positioned their products in this segment.  The company also uses their environmental responsibility as a good public image to make the company more appealing to their customers.  The competitive aim of the company is to do significantly a better job of providing what buyers are looking for and, thereby enabling the firm to gain competitive advantage and out compete rivals within the marketplace (Thompson & Strickland, 2003).    Threats of substitutes             In terms of threats and substitutes, although the company is aware that there were threats for substitute products, specifically now that technologically advanced materials are used to find new sources of energy, coals and other products and services that they are offering, which is more environmental friendly, the company still have the assurance that their quality service and the satisfaction they give to their clients and customers will hinder any substitutes to have their way.   Competitive Strategy In line with this case study, the CSV analysis will be conducted in order to determine the competitive strategy of Wesfarmers that leads to the success of the company with its designed and implemented alternative solutions.  CSV that can be attached to the company includes its strategic management and the ability of the company provides quality services through the use of knowledge management and other enhancing approach.  One of the important things that the management of Wesfarmers Limited has used is its strategic approach to management. The principal benefit of strategic management has been to help the company formulate better strategies through the uses of a more systematic, logical and rational approach to strategic choice (Thompson & Strickland, 2003). One of the potential benefits of strategic management to Wesfarmers is it make sure that the organisation only follows one direction or path and that is towards the achievement of its business mission, objectives and success. In addition, strategic management is also beneficial in ensuring not only the success of Wesfarmers but also its survival by adapting the whole organisation to changes in its environment and making sure that the organisation remains competitive (Dreier, 2002).   Corporate Strategy Winning business strategies are grounded in sustainable competitive advantage or position in the marketplace (Oliver, 1997). One of the sustainable competitive advantages of Wesfarmers is the leaders of the company do their business.  Guided by the so-called Wesfarmers Limited Way, the leaders of the industry clearly illustrate integrity in all their actions.  The management has also strong commitment in promoting the company values and the value of diversity among the employees and staffs. In addition, the management of the company has been able to understand the priorities of the business and make every decision in line with the strategic direction by giving consideration to the effect on all aspects of the business and on other stakeholders.  Another sustainable corporate strategy of the company is its continuous focus on the importance of both internal and external customers to ensure that these customers remain loyal to them.  The company also makes it sure that they motivate, inspire, coach, guide and support their staffs to realise the mission of the Wesfarmers Limited. Furthermore, the company’s ability to identify and recognise contributors is another factor that sustains the company’s competitive advantages.   Conclusion It shows that Wesfarmers Limited is an industry which has been able to position itself in the Western Australia’s market scene. In order to sustain its competitive advantage it is important that the management of the company should be able to give emphasis ion factors that may affect the overall performance of the company. In addition, it is also important that the management should be willing to give all time and effort to understand everything that makes the business operational or functional.              In addition, changes in strategies must also be considered to adjust to the needs of the market.  All in all, it can be concluded that if the company would be able to sustain its competitive advantage, no other competitors shall outgrow Wesfarmers Limited. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Essay Each and Every Industries may it be small or large companies

WESFARMERS LIMITED: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS Introduction Each and every industries may it be small or large companies are subject to dif...

Sample Essay The Practice of Divination has been integral part of life for the citizens of china

Sample Essay The Practice of Divination has been integral part of life for the citizens of china

Sample Essay The Assignment will be Assessed According to the Following Criteria

Criteria for Assessment The assignment will be assessed according to the following criteria.     Weighting   Executive Summary This must be appropriate and effective in providing a summary of the report   10%   Introduction ( to the topic)   Discussion of the topic : l          Identification of the Key Issues l          Depth of Discussion l          Analysis l          Clear concise and balance discussion on the topic   Conclusion to the topic   10%   50%           10%     Readability and Presentation   l          Clarity of expression l          Grammar l          Presentation guidelines followed   10%   Research and use of literature and referencing      Evidence of appropriate research from a variety of      Sources.  Research reflects adequate currency,      Breadth and depth appropriate to the task.  All references are complete, accurate and consistent.   10%   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Essay The Assignment will be Assessed According to the Following Criteria

Criteria for Assessment The assignment will be assessed according to the following criteria. Weighting Executive Summary T...

Sample Essay the Introduction of Activity-based Costing

Question 1 Another change from the 1960s to the 1990s was the introduction of activity-based costing (ABC), especially in manufacturing. ABC drove costing very deeply into the organization by identifying the actual costs of labor, equipment, and premises associated with each activity performed by the firm rather than relying on arbitrary formulas to allocate overhead. Activity-based profitability analysis is grounded in activity-based costing, which is a granular form of costing it identifies the actual costs of labor, materials, equipment, and premises needed to deliver a product, serve the customer, and sustain the business. ABC practitioners believe that making costs known creates opportunities for savings even though ABC methodology alone does not identify savings targets. Two advantages are claimed for ABC compared to conventional costing methods. First, ABC makes all costs explicit, reducing distortions caused by arbitrary allocations of overhead to products and customers (Meyer, 2002).    Second, ABC traces costs back to the economic events that cause them, making it possible to judge the reasonableness of costs in light of these events. Activity-based costing is less useful when costing decisions are made without objective information about their consequences (Meyer, 2002). Activity based costing is good for Wall Decor because it makes cost specific and more understandable to the company. ABC is also good for the company because it can help in ascertaining whether the expenses and costs acquired by the company are acceptable or worth it. Question 2 A predetermined or estimated overhead rate is preferred over an actual overhead rate because timing the actual rate is not determinable in time to quote customer prices. Another reason is Inaccuracy wherein the wide fluctuations in the actual expenditures for overhead would cause commensurate fluctuations in the actual rate.  Even an annual period may have some shortcomings as a base for calculating overhead rates. Economic cycles have the effect of causing sales and production to be lower than normal for two or three years and then swing into a high cycle. Using one annual period may result in a predetermined rate that is either higher or lower than normal (Lewis, 1993).   A normalized predetermined overhead rate is based on several years’ activity rather than one. Manufacturing companies may have numerous production plants the sites of that are determined by the location of raw materials, by the market destination or by other economic factors. Each plant has production costs that include factory overhead. In some small plants that perform only a few major operations, it may be expedient to develop an overhead rate based on one activity base, such as direct labor cost. This plant wide overhead rate used to apply factory overhead to all units of output is a single overhead rate based on one activity base (Lewis, 1993).For the first activity the activity based overhead rate is ,000. For the second activity the overhead rate is ,000. For the third activity the overhead rate is 25,000. For the fourth activity the overhead rate is ,000. Question 3 The cost of a product influences channel structure directly. The unit cost of a forklift truck is high and may be considered investment spending. These types of products are used over and over again for many years. Financing the purchase may be a deciding factor in influencing when to buy and what brand to buy. Major equipment products, such as forklifts, are generally sold by exclusive retailers for specific brands or by company branch retailers. Because of the high purchase price, the direct incentives offered by the manufacturer to the user are of considerable importance (McCauley, 1992). In some instances, special options are offered and must be specified to the manufacturer in advance of product delivery. These market characteristics require a short line of communications, no storage or warehousing for wholesale distribution, and frequent involvement by the manufacturer with its retailers (McCauley, 1992).    There may also be periodic service or parts required to support the marketing channel structure. In this situation, the manufacturer is both the product source and the wholesaler. Products that cost only a few dollars, consumable supplies, and maintenance items may be purchased on impulse or with little thought concerning best-buy shopping, credit, or the service factor (McCauley, 1992). There are different costs for the various products pertaining to the company. The product cost of Lance Armstrong’s unframed print is 0.0000. The product cost for John Elwy’s print in steel frame is 0,000. The product cost for Lambda field print in wood frame is 0,000.  Question 4 The complexity of the overhead allocation problem can create difficulties for the analyst trying to decipher the mysteries of pricing structure from an arm’s-length relationship with the supplier. Trying to emulate, decipher, and otherwise comprehend on the basis of limited information leads only to frustration. The approach to be taken is one of indifference about how many overhead accounts the supplier has or what they are (Newman, 1992). That is the supplier’s business. The analyst concerns himself only with the amount of money or percentage of price accounted for by overhead. Other methods can be used in overhead allocation such as allocation on the basis of machine hours of operation, allocation on the basis of labor and material, and allocation on floor space. The method is not the key element. The key is the magnitude of the overhead (Newman, 1992).   ABC provided a clearer statement of what composes the product cost thus when it is computed the result was lower rates of overhead costs. The ABC system provided a better chance for the company to reanalyze its focus and financial goals. For the company this means that the use of ABC system can help it lessens the financial worries of the company thus the company can have more chance to try to analyze their goals and achieve the new perceived goal. Another implication for the company is it can make use of such information to create a better image for itself. This will help the company’s desire for a better standing in its competitive environment. Question 5 The cost of website allocation was divided into two categories so that easier analysis and anticipation can be done on what the website will compose. It also will make the task of determining what type of information from the two categories will prove vital for the company. By dividing the cost of the website into two categories the company can determine which category will create more cost and what category may prove inapplicable to the website. Allocating the website cost based from the number of prints will provide information on how the number of print information will be used in the website and what are the cost for putting this kind of information.   Question 6 By splitting the cost between two categories, it would be easier for the company to determine what aspects of the website would give them more cost. The company can know what will give them additional cost. By splitting the cost between two categories the company would easily determine what information is important and if such information is worth the cause. One the other hand splitting the cost between two categories would make the company have difficulty in determining what data would be appropriate for a certain category thus the company gains more cost. Another negative effect of having two categories instead of three is additional cost in segregating the different data into each category. The company can incur more costs on time constraints and other related information. Question 7 Cost drivers are the causal factors in cost. It is important to know what the cost drivers are because controlling the drivers allows a company to control cost. Traditional cost accounting systems, which evolved in the early part of the century, tended to assume that volume of production was the only cost driver. Volume of production in a one-product firm could be measured by units of production. If more than one product were produced, direct labor hours or direct labor dollars were used as proxies for the number of units (Cheatham, C & Cheatham, L, 1993). When firms were highly labor-intensive, this simple assumption about cost drivers did not significantly distort product costs. The major costs involved in production were materials and labor, both of which could be traced directly to the units. If overhead expenses were applied to production by number of units or by a labor base, there was little to cause distortion (Cheatham, C & Cheatham, L, 1993). The operating capacity used as a cost driver provides a better description of what will compose the cost category of the company. It can determine whether or not the company has achieved more cost or is having a negative operating capacity.    Question 8 The total amount of overhead allocated was 13.44. The total overhead of 5,200 was not included because the said amount did not support in providing information for sales estimate. For the company this means that it should double its allocation so that it can have better competitive chances. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Essay the Introduction of Activity-based Costing

Question 1 Another change from the 1960s to the 1990s was the introduction of activity-based costing (ABC), especially in manufacturing. ...

Sample Analysis of the Current Decision Essay

Analysis of the Current Decision In this case, relocation and expansion of the Agama Port is the main decision issue.  Redevelopment of the old port facility, however, is an overlapping concern.  It is apparent that goal of expansion of the operational capability of the Port influenced the occurrence of succeeding goals such as relocation to near Saudi Arabia and redevelopment of old Jordan facility.  Consistency is showed by the fact that the old facility had received an increasing level of investments and trades which are not in line with its core objective as urban tourism area.  To address environmental constraint such as lack of capacity and conflict of identity, expansion and relocation of the facility is proposed.  Based on experience, however, the decision group also redesigns the development plan to the Jordan facility by formally announcing its waterfront structure and mainly real state investment offerings.   Local rationality is required to determine the individual importance and relationship of three overlapping decision issues that the group addressed.  Although their effort may result to maximization of total value, those three areas can be characterized with inconsistency (i.e. outcome, quality, resources invested).  For example, accepting the concepts being proposed by political arguments about organizations, shared decision-making processes will link the issues into coherent topic to deal with.  For example, since Agama Special Economic Zone is originally aimed for the people in geographical boundaries of Jordan, priority of resource allocation would be reserved for its purpose.  Alternatively, bargaining can be executed wherein the substantial investment in Saudi Arabia relocation (i.e. Billion) will provide levy for the interest of Jordan port in the future or as soon as it results to profit.         Pops are also tapped because organizations can only attend to one goal at a time especially that these issues are crucial to the objectives of the group and the firm.  With private companies being involved in delivery of results, the risks are automatically minimized and expediting the finish date can be claimed.  However, it is apparent that private companies are not involved in the planning stage (i.e. figuring-out the budget and time-frame) and mainly included for implementation or financing means.  This behavior can be explained by the need of control by Agama that plans are concretized by insiders.  As they are already arranged, the project can be maximized by simply waiting for private companies to deviate from the planning convention (i.e. provide lower bids in case of build/ material contract).  In addition, private companies may likely come from international market where differences can create bottlenecks in planning.   Relocating in Saudi ports is rationalized by the fact that its seas have deeper seas to accommodate bigger ships.  With reference to the new site’s geographical superiority compared to the Jordan port, these combined natural resources can result to address Agama’s aim to exploit increasing trade volume and zone-based investments.  These analogies are based on adaptation in search rules such as Jordan ports may have shallower waters and limited land size.  Further, it is mentioned that the new port entices numerous investors as well as rivalries that can aid in efficiency goals of Agama.  In the contrary, since the firm is new to the operating environment of Saudi Arabia, adaptation to attention rules will necessitate updating of knowledge and impression about the new port over time.  Perhaps, the social environment does not allow significant number of investors as manufacturing firms due to negative externalities.   Although the transfer to new port is basically motivated by volume-related issues, increasing the aesthetic value of the Jordan port and lucrative opportunities in Saudi Arabia, these clear aspirations do not prevent the firm to adopt an assurance strategy using progressive expansion.  This can be explained by adaptation of goals in which it will be evaluated based on past period experiences.  For example, the out-of-control situation in old port showed that one-time investment without adapting to continuous changes in the environment can pose threats to stability and growth.  Organizational learning is in action where it considers specific adaptations (i.e. search rules, attention rules and goals).  Knowledge is power and the decision group is aware that operating in a new environment with substantial investment at stake requires prudence.   Decision-Making Best Practices Agama has two main choices on how to address the five basic stages of a decision as initiator of action; rational or irrational (i.e. based on reality).  The choice can be polished by considering various factors in the expansion, relocation and redevelopment decision issues.  In the current case, the search for alternative solution is largely based on garbage can model because of decision-making characteristics of the Agama group wherein solutions existed just before the problem and means-ends are uncoupled.  Expansion is an opportunity wherein lost identity is a weakness and also relocation is a means where the end is both in favor of increase in volume capacity and increase in aesthetic appeal.  To increase commitment, overlapping goals and main problem must be identified and known to project participants.                      In estimating consequences, irrational model is used by Agama wherein positive consequences of the relocation are disclosed (i.e. deep waters) with minimal regards to negative consequences (i.e. costly venture) or perhaps minimizing the impression of a negative consequence (i.e. saying intense rivalry will increase efficiency).  However, using this method, the firm is exposing the project to risk of ignorance or indifference to participants.  This can bring down their interest to symptoms that may lead to negative consequence that is earlier hindered and even transformed to positive one.  Aggravatingly, it is in accordance to the garbage can model of housing uncertainty to the operating environment.  Although commitment is assured, it is heavily trapped on the fence of ignorance of negative consequences.  As alternative, rational model should be used when negative and positive consequences are explained to participants.      Irrational model is also reflected in the appraising worthy alternatives.  The decision group does not identify the problem at hand and therefore no primary objective is formed.  For example, the objective to relocate is confusedly related to the root cause of such undertaking (i.e. whether to accommodate increasing volumes or minimize the identity crisis in Jordan port).  In effect, consequences (i.e. relocation) invented such objectives to expand Saudi Arabia, leave the old area and redevelop it.  This method made the expansion objective to support the supposedly alternative of leaving the old area or redeveloping it.  With reference to rational view, the decision group skipped the step-by-step process of evaluating alternatives due to inability to relate them to certain criteria (e.g. resources needed, time constraint, quality target).  To improve the scenario, coherent view should be observed while chaotic view (i.e. as in the current case should be avoided).    The spontaneous approach of Agama showed its consistency with irrational model in choosing an alternative.  The specific action is dedicated to mitigate the specific perhaps rare problem in the old port and having double-edged benefit for undertaking a solution.  This situation is partly explained in some parts of rational model particularly in processes involved in choosing.  Sporadic processes are complete reverse of fluid processes where there is low quality of information, there are good and bad points and complex sources of pertinent data.  However, it is to note that the project is under the control of an agency highly supported by the government.  Therefore, it the resources and needed back-up support and there is no need to unnecessarily short-cut processes to arrive a decision to choose.  As a result, due to substantial investment required to the project and its key role in the economy of Jordan and the region, choosing should be evaluated more extensively.             Lastly, on the aspect of making rational use of irrationality, the decision group is ultimately within the rule of applying irrationality such as in the cases of requiring commitment and motivation to participants.  This is the reason why all of the stages in decision for initiating action adopted irrational model of resolving issues.  This is because the project is a long-run engagement by the agency of Jordan (i.e. perhaps by its government) in cooperation of other domestic and foreign firms and regional governments.  The relocation environment in Saudi Arabia as well as impression of redeveloping the old port which in the past are designed in traditional manner (i.e. according to local culture and tastes) is a very complex issue where numerous stakeholder and substantial investment are involved.  As a result, the decision group initially settled the budget ceiling to control the ambiguous situation and unintended mixed the goals and consequences.      In this reason, irrational model is the most appropriate method to handle the complex problem.  Rational model may consume too much time in the planning stage that can only aggravate the problems of under-capacity and identity conflict.  As recommendation, the decision group should assure close coordination and partnership to the legal, business and political environments of Saudi Arabia and should not isolated consider that the only motivation of relocation is the deep waters, wide land space and efficiency.  These are rather positive side of the strategy and inability to instill negative aspects can affect the risk position of the project.  When the environment is understood, supporting strategies to make the project run smooth and expedite completion can be tapped.  For example, anxieties of the firm about expatriation of assets or terrorism can be minimized by identifying their probability of occurrence to the level of insurance scope to be obtained.           Potential Problem with Irrational Model             One problem is that it may not address issues containing complex prepositions.  For example, financial appraisal is required to weigh the financial benefit and cost of establishing modern port.  With lack of expertise and historical data at hand, the quality of analysis required to select financially-viable undertakings is undermined.  The second problem is about the long-term health of the project.  Since irrational models consider short-term issues, it does not have the futuristic/ visionary stake with regards to the project.  Commitment and motivation is identified as a necessity in the short-run operations primarily due to the workings needed in entering a whole new operating environment.  However, long-term transactions may also require commitment and motivation such as the ability of the project to sustain and perhaps exceed the conventions and policies demanded by societal and political actors in the operating environment. Evaluation of Characteristics of Private Companies             In the case of Pops, Agama needs the aid of private companies for ease and less risky investment and operations.  One private firm that is a partner is Icon that has the responsibility to aid the redevelopment of the old port.  Since the objective of this specific engagement is to increase the tourism opportunities in the area, Icon should demonstrate the compatible materials, processes and designs in relation to the cultural and political preferences of the local people.  The detachment of global similarity of the motif is crucial because of the historical affluence of Jordan especially in religious and evolutional matters.  Other aspiring companies must possess strength in one of key areas in value chain.  Logistics is important in efficient delivery of construction and renovation materials and people to the designated location.  Also, in the relocation project, logistic will play a crucial role in carefully transferring already-built plants and equipments with minimal damage or loss of value prior to reaching the new location.      SWOT Analysis             Some of the strengths in adopting the framework discussed above are increased in commitment and motivation across all stakeholders, efficient management/ transfer of resources and financial intervention to decision making (i.e. increased objectivity).  Weaknesses can include involvement of more people in future decisions, additional costs of communication/ personnel and need to cooperate even under cultural differences.  Opportunities can include more profitable venture while threats are the costly project implementation. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Analysis of the Current Decision Essay

Analysis of the Current Decision In this case, relocation and expansion of the Agama Port is the main decision issue. Redevelopment of t...

Research Paper The Perspective of an Aging Filipina Woman

Interview Analysis   Abstract             This paper is delves into life in the perspective of an aging Filipina woman. It explores the psychological, cultural, interpersonal, and biological aspects of aging from the viewpoint of a Filipina woman. This interview sheds light on the idea of aging which affects all people, save those who die young, and the difference in facing these changes depending on the culture and upbringing of a person.   Introduction             The person who was the focus of the interview for this paper is Filipe. She is an 88 year old Filipina. Filipe was born in Satang in Bicol, the Philippines. She spent her first twelve years with her mother and three brothers. At thirteen, she was married to Albino, who was 8 years her senior. After giving birth to 18 children, she finally had the chance to go to the United States. In 1973, she lived with her children in Brooklyn, New York where she still resides now. She was an acquaintance of my mother so when she came to sell some viand (a common business venture in the Philippines), I immediately took the chance to give her an interview. Summary of the Interview             Filipe was an 81 year old Filipina who migrated to the United States in 1973. In the interview conducted, it was very evident from her manner of speaking and her gestures that she was indeed a very strong woman. In her perspective, aging was not impairment. While most people retire or just simply succumb to aging, she readily stands up to do more work in order to earn more money to send to the children she left in the Philippines. Being born in a life where hard work was not something to be scared about, she finds her life in the United States boring and uneventful. “Becoming old has really weakened my body, but I cannot, in any way, rest until I am sure that my children and grandchildren in the Philippines are well taken cared of. “, says Filipe. Being a Filipina, Filipe took on the role of really taking care of her children from the time that they were born up to the time that they have all married and had children. It is dictated in the Filipino culture that the parents need to take care of their family even until they have grown well into adulthood, even if they do have children of their own. Filipe continues to hold on t the position of breadwinner, a role she’s taken since her husband died in 1961, even if all of her children have become accomplished adults and could well support themselves. She continually sends packages containing the basic needs of people, though some of the things she puts into the boxes are deemed useless by others. Being part of a large family, it is not unusual to have many generations present at one time, but it doesn’t also mean that there are lesser representatives for each generation. In Filipe’s case, she has numerous children and even more numerous grandchildren. She still possesses the old Filipino family characteristic of having many children. The rationale behind this characteristic is that in the olden times, one of the major livelihood existing in the Philippines was farming, so having numerous children would mean many hands to help in the farm, which in turn would mean easier, faster and more profitable harvest. In the context of Kluickholn dominant and variant value orientations, responses which are elicited from Filipe and her family are in answer to the social orientation. I sincerely believe that Filipe was a born-leader as she continues to lead her family to a better life. As the leader, she owns to the number of responsibility that comes with being the head of the family.              Interpersonal relationships between family members, especially in Asian countries take the tone of respect. Occasional bickering are common in siblings, whether Asian or not, as well as sibling rivalry. Filipe, being the head of the family tries to maintain neutrality between her treatments of all her children. According to her, as she ages, she finds it even more difficult to take hold of the matters between her children. But all in all, she says that she does maintain a healthy relationship with all her children. They still do cower when she gets angry, as they did when they were young. Here is a clear evidence of the difference in the family structure of Asian and most Western family structure. Even as people age, in the context of Asian countries, they still continue to recognize the authority held by the parents and elder siblings over them (Busts, 1996). All decisions, whether important or not, are never made without the consent of the most senior and most authoritative member of the family.             According to Hummer et al. (2001), successful and happy aging occurs when,” healthy aging—healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy relationships.” In Filipe’s case, she was not in a sound condition, but a great condition, nevertheless, considering her age and her contemporaries. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000, probably due to the fact that she gave birth to 18 children, and to her “overuse & abuse” of her body. Of course, she had no other choice but to push the limits of her physical capability since she had 18 mouths to feed at the same time excluding hers, and considering her meager earnings as a peanut vendor, there really was no other option. But still, she never allows herself to be put down by her illness; she continues to do her little business ventures- baby sitting, selling viands to Filipina nurses- to be able to earn enough money to send to her children in the Philippines without asking from her children in the US. According to Filipe, she had always been the own to be fast and sharp, but lately she’s been slow and had difficulty keeping up with the children she was taking care of. Also, she was starting to get bent with age. She said she didn’t look that crooked before. According to her, signs of aging have been catching up with her. Of course, never being daunted with anything, she dons a cane to help her walk faster and continues to take supplementary vitamins in order to at least keep fit for someone at 88. But all in all, she did age well, according to my observation.   Analysis             Various theorists have attempted to describe the complex biophysical and mental process of aging. Although many theories have been developed, there is no single universally accepted theory that predicts and explains the complexities of the aging process. In one approach to the explanation of the biological changes of the aging process, Sloane (1992), suggests a “rule of thirds” in which functional decline due to diseases , inactivity or disuse, and aging itself each contribute one third to the complex process that we call aging. In psychosocial theories of aging, theories attempt to explain changes in behavior, roles and relationships that come with aging. The three classic theories of aging in psychosocial aspects are disengagement theory, activity theory and continuity theory (Eversible and Hess, 1998). Disengagement theory, the oldest psychosocial theory states that aging individuals withdraw from customary roles and engage in more introspective, self-focused activities (Cummings and Henry, 1961). The activity theory, unlike the disengagement theory, considers the continuation of activities performed during middle age as necessary for successful aging (Lemon, Benson and Peterson, 1972). Continuity theory, states that personality remains the same and behavior becomes more predictable as people age (Negatron, 1964).             Though many people succumb to aging and are defeated by it, my subject successfully overcame all its obstacles and continues to successfully age.                       The Process of Aging   Introduction             The paper is about talks about the life and the aging of a certain Sino-Hispanic man we may refer through as “Coro”. He is a 78 year-old war-veteran living with a relative in Ohio. I came to know this person because of his close relationship with my grandfather who was also a war veteran. The interview conducted intends to closely examine all the aspects of aging its effects on the person in question. Also, it also examines the likeliness of feeling different things as a person reaches the age of 78.   Interview Proper             Coro was born in Cuba to a Hispanic mother and a Chinese immigrant father. Having lost his father at an early age due to bouts of pneumonia and tuberculosis, as the eldest, he was always depended on as the breadwinner of the family. His, mother, seeing that she had no future if she stayed in Cuba, left for the United States when Coro was only 11. When the war broke out in the early forties, Coro enlisted and was taken to Pearl Harbor. He was never able to set foot in Cube again. Now Coro is an aged man living with relatives from his mother’s side (his mother remarried).             With aging comes a different dilemma affects all people’s functioning ability. Aging brings with it the deterioration of the mind and body, probable effects of years of constant use. But many people can achieve “successful aging” (Khan and Rowe, 1998). According to them, components of successful aging are: “low risk of disease and disease-related disability; high mental and physical function; and active engagement with life” (p. 38). Also, the physical aspect of the human body is not the only area that is affected by aging. Mental, psychological and social aspects of a person are also affected by aging.             In the case of Coro, he is an example of a person that greatly lacks the care from people around him. As the interview went on, it was clearly evident that he was neglected, save from the fact that he was being given food and was regularly kept clean. Coro was immobile due to an accident that occurred during the war. He did not possess the bonds necessary from the family in order for him to achieve successful aging. As he was immobile and virtually made no contribution to the family income, he was viewed as a nuisance and a burden. This further contributed to his ill state and his fast aging. He is very often referred to as the “old garbage”, thinking that he wasn’t able to hear them.  This deeply affects and upsets him and gives no sense of respect or belonging at all. As he is always ignored, he learned to become indifferent towards many people, often acting dumb or playing deaf.             His physical condition continues to deteriorate as days pass. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the summer of 1997 but was not given the proper treatment. He constantly writhes in pain every time symptoms of the illness set in. His family chose to give him pain killers, rather than take him to the hospital since that would cost much more than a bottle of aspirin.   Being as he was, the ties that bound him to his “family” were severed. He is suffering what is called “unsuccessful aging”.  Though generally, Coro is still mentally fit, his physical being is in the process of deterioration. He has become almost blind due to a cataract and  his hearing has become quite unclear.   Analysis Age is one of the factors that affect the demand. Older people generally need more attention on their state of health. Older people are more prone to cancers, strokes, organ failures and other old-age related diseases. The body degenerates with age causing the organs do not perform well, making old people weak. Those that are much older require assistance in performing their daily tasks. A person’s demand for health care rises along with age             Perception of well-being can define the quality of life. Understanding the older adult’s perceptions about health status is essential for accurate assessment and development of clinically relevant interventions.             A common misconception of aging is that cognitive impairments are widespread among older adults. Because of this misconception, older adults feel that they are, or sooner will be, cognitively impaired. Younger adults often assume that older adults are confused and no longer able to handle their affairs. Structural and physiological changes in the brain, such as reduction in the number of cells are seen in older adults. Symptoms of cognitive impairment such as disorientation, loss of language skills, loss of the ability to calculate, and poor judgment are not normal aging changes.             In Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, the crisis that the elderly often go through is integrity vs. despair. In this crisis, the elderly are faced with challenges that characterize their age the crisis that the elderly often go through is integrity vs. despair. In this crisis, the elderly are faced with challenges that characterize their age the crisis that the elderly often go through is integrity vs. despair. In this crisis, the elderly are faced with challenges that characterize their age the crisis that the elderly often go through is integrity vs. despair. In this crisis, the elderly are faced with challenges that characterize their age. There are two types of challenges that develop during these years: Positive and negative.  The positive challenge includes the acceptance of one’s life, realization of the inevitability of death, and the feeling of dignity and the meaning of existence. The negative challenge is characterized by the disappointment with one’s life and the desperate fear of death. In this stage, a person comes to terms with the temporal limits of his life. It is the fulfillment and culmination of psychosocial development of the previous stages. In Erikson’s view, it is the achievement of a sense of integrity resulting from identification with mankind. If a person, however, develop an attitude of regret and fear of the end of life, then sense of despair emerges instead.             Coro is caught somewhere in the middle of those crises. Coro is very regretful of the life that he head as a human being. He was not able to establish a family of his own and wasn’t even able to be educated properly. He had never experienced the joy of a true and complete family, thus, he approaches the ebb of his life with misery and pain. But he really wishes to die. He wants to leave the world to be able to rest and mourn for his fate throughout eternity.  Being in a disintegrated state, Coro continues to wish that in the netherworld, he may be given back his former self. He wishes that a family could be given to him by God above.             In the light of the fore mentioned facts, younger people should try to gain better perspective and views of aging and should try to give better the utmost care for the elderly.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Research Paper The Perspective of an Aging Filipina Woman

Interview Analysis Abstract This paper is delves into life in the perspective of an aging Filipina woman. It explores the...

Sample Essay Tennessee School Finance System

Tennessee School Finance System   Introduction             One of the most important factors that make a school organisation to continue serving the people in quality manner is through its financial system. In the United States of America, the federal government spends a huge amount of money for running the educational system. Accordingly, the Department of Education revealed that the total public expenditures just for K-12 education alone were close to 3 billion in 2000. Over the past decades, the government of each state in the US have increased their expenditures for public schools, and generates major investments during the 70s and 80s. Part of these is the increases in education staff and development of the roles of schools. In the 1990s, authorities have seen a slight increase in school funding, principally because the shares of the states of total education expenditures increases while the federal spending stayed relatively stable proportionately and the funding for local education turned down slightly (Watts-Hull, 2004). In this regard, the federal Government of the United States of America are trying to provide policies which aims on enhancing the finance system of each school, most especially those public schools. Primarily, the main goal of this report is to provide insightful details about the Finance System implemented in Tennessee School. In addition, the paper will also discuss some legal problems and issues that has been encountered by Tennessee School Finance System as well as the programs and plans made to resolve the issues. Overview of Tennessee School Finance System             The Tennessee school finance system prior to the 1990s were financed or funded through the use of minimum foundation program scheme. This system was based on the weighted average or mean of the daily attendance. This system has been used throughout the years, until such time that the government have found that the level of equalization of this system was small. According to some authorities, the result of using the formula of the minimum foundation program was unequal and creates unbalanced distribution of learning resources to satisfy the needs of the students of Tennessee. With this, the authorities have recommended to reform Tennessee School Finance System. In line with this, the school authorities adopted the system of Basic Education program. This funding formula is a weighted regression formula which identifies the full amount of funds required by Tennessee’s K-12 Schools. The Basic Education program was a part of the state-wide Education Improvement Act in 1992. The aim of this program is to adhere to inequalities and inadequacies in the financial system of Tennessee. Legal Backdrop of Tennessee School Finance System             Prior to the implementation of the Basic Education Program, the government has found many legal backdrops. In 1988, the Tennessee Small School Systems which represents 77 out of 139 districts in the state have filed a case in chancery courts against the local government of the State. The case was filed because they have found that the school finance system (minimum foundation program) have violated the constitution and the education clause. Because of the frustrations of these groups from the slow pace of reforming the school finance system, they prompted the lawsuit. Upon investigation of the case of Tennessee Small School Systems v. Charter (1993), the result of the investigation of the Supreme Court discovered that the Tennessee school finance system is inadequate, unequal and unconstitutional. Herein, the court have noted that students have the right to access free public education in accordance with the plain meaning of education from the constitution and the facts that the finance system fail to meet the needs of the students as well as their failure of having legitimate report to justify that they provide granting to some Tennessee citizens. In addition, there are also substantial evidences that show the denial of educational opportunities to other citizens within the State. In Tennessee the spending per-student differs considerably among 139 districts, such variation ranges from ,823 to ,669.             The Supreme Court has discovered a direct correlation between the quality of education received by the students and the dollars expended. The record showed that students in poorer districts often attended unaccredited schools, had lower test scores, and had “a higher need for remedial courses at college, resulting in poorer chances for higher education.” Lack of funds prevented schools from offering advanced courses, more than one foreign language, state-mandated art and music classes, drama instruction, extracurricular activities, and athletic teams. The state’s high reliance on local governments to fund education and the varying ability of local governments to raise funds discriminated against poor children and districts “by denying them local control of education” and “equal access to quality educational resources.” The court addressed the issue of local control directly, stating, “There has been no showing that a discriminatory funding scheme is necessary to local control.” Moreover, the court pointed out, local control is a “cruel illusion” for counties with relatively low total assessed property values and very little business activity circumstances that erect a “brick wall beyond which they cannot go in attempting to fund the education system regardless of their needs.” As the Tennessee supreme court explained, in the interpretation of a state constitution, the state court is always free to expand the minimum level of protection mandated by the federal constitution that is, to provide an independent analysis from federal courts and past rulings.   Revenue Distribution Chart & Expenditure Distribution Chart for Tennessee             The following tables and charts show a devised distribution of revenue and expenditure in Tennessee. For this devised distributions, it has been assumed that this can be reached from FY2007 to FY 2017. FISCAL INFORMATION FY2007 FY2017 Federal aid to education under selected programs (in thousands of current dollars) 4,509 3,107 National school lunch ,885 ,647 National school breakfast 3,517 1,505 Title I ,030 3,852 Education for the handicapped ,034 ,234 Vocational and adult education ,183 ,001 School improvement ,579 ,660 School assistance (federally affected areas) 36 19 Bilingual education — Indian education   Figure 1 Revenues by source   Figure2 Current expenditures by function   FY2007 FY2017 Revenues and expenditures (in current dollars) ,433,442 ,611,971 Revenues (in thousands of dollars)     ,711 ,875 Revenue per pupil in membership     ,552,183 ,345,380 Current expenditures (in thousands of dollars)     ,855 ,580 Current expenditure per pupil in membership       Tennessee’s Equalization Program and Special Education Funding      Because of the urgency to shift the policy and formula used in Tennessee school finance system, the government has decided to change minimum foundation program system to Basic Education Program (BEEP). As discussed above, this new system is imposed to address the insufficiency and disparities in public education that has been the cause behind the remarkable 1988 lawsuit of Tennessee Small Schools. The 1992 Education Improvement Act (EIE) gave the following reforms; the creation of the BEEP, BEEP account and the Education Trust Fund. This equalization program is based on a student calculation of Average daily membership (ADM). Basic Education Program components includes unconditional expense like substitute teachers, superintendents, regular instruction, textbooks, capital outlay, school nurse and others factors which represent range of expenditures among school districts. To ensure equality, each element has either a ration per Average daily membership (ADM) connected with it. Like for instance, regular education provides 1 unit/20 students in Average daily membership in grades K-3 and 1 unit/20 students in Average daily membership in grades 7-9; for each student in Average daily membership, districts are given .00 for classroom supplies and materials and .00 for textbooks (unit cost). Some aspects of the BEEP apportion units by the determination of population that has been served including special education students and/or English language students. The summation of the dollar amount connected with each component reflects the BEEP cost of the district.      For each school system, the Basic Education Program Allocation is based on the number of each kind of position produced by the current average salary for licensed state based from the state salary and the cost components. In order to ensure equality, adjustments are being made on a country-by-country basis to check salaries up or down for disparity from the state-wide average by the discrepancy between the statewide average and local non-governmental wages. Furthermore, transportation is an element in Basic education program which is regarded as a non-classroom factor. In this regard, funds are given to districts in line with the formula that use the number of transported students, the distances of transportation and the density of the students per route mile. Furthermore, capital outlay is also given emphasis to ensure that each element are given equal funding. The cost is being calculated as a number of allocated square feet per student in elementary, middle and secondary schools by a determined-state cost per square foot. These budgets may be utilized to pay for the purchase or access of large capital items like buildings, equipment or to retire debt.      In line with special education, the funding level based on the Basic Education Program is 1 per 60 sped students in specific categories of service. For the total classroom expenditures, BEEP have provided special education with 75% and for non-classroom expenditures the program allocated 50%. To ensure Equality, all 138 school districts in Tennessee are given special education funds.     Political Trends in Tennessee: Role of Governor             The overall characteristic of the Tennessee politics has been regarded as a bellwether of previous trends in terms of governmental and political policies. Tennessee has been exposed to different reforms in economic development, health care and education, in particular its School finance system. Various political changes have happened in Tennessee. For example, part of these changes is about the emergence of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT 2001. The Public Law 107-110, more commonly known as the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT of 2001 (CLUB) is the America’s federal law which reauthorizes different federal programs with objectives of improving performance of USA’s primary and secondary school through increasing standards of accountability for states, school districts and schools. It also gives parent the opportunity to be more flexible in selecting which schools their children will enrol. Furthermore, the provision also allows an increased attention on reading and re-authorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (SEA) (Starcher, Hamilton & Gonzales, 2003).             CLUB can be considered as the latest of a number of federal provisions implementing educational reforms which affects different states specifically Tennessee. Tennessee adopts this policy with the purpose of improving the quality of education given to all children. CLUB requires Tennessee to establish an accountability system of assessments, graduation rates and other important indicators. Herein, the Schools have to build adequate yearly progress (YAP), as described by the state. This can be achieve by razing the achievement levels of subgroups of students which include minorities like Latinos, African Americans, low-income students and students with special education needs to a state-determined level of proficiency.  The vision is to make all students be more proficient by the 2013-2014 school years. Further, an increasing set of assistance will also be provided to those students who are in schools that repeatedly do not improve. The law does not prescribe how schools in Tennessee are supposed to attain YAP, but it gives local educators responsibility for finding ways to do it. Since the local government and legislature of Tennessee are aware of the purpose of this reform, the government has been able to adopt this policy in the School system of the state. Through this, Tennessee has been able to establish minimum standards for teacher quality (and for the qualifications of instructional aides) and mandates that schools use scientifically based practices to promote student achievement. Through CLUB, Tennessee local government and educational system has been able to provide a grant program which enables school districts provide high-quality language instruction programs for the students (Sloan-Flores & Trumbull, 2003). Such grant program expects the districts to provide professional development to instructors, teachers, principals, administrators, and community based staff so as to enhance the instruction and assessment of the school curriculum.    Tennessee State Budget Process             In Tennessee, the State budget process that is being used is the separate capital budget or capital improvement program. The budget given to each municipality depends on the size of the population and the capital expenditures of the region. The authorities of Tennessee see to it that they provide adequate budget for each municipality, specifically in educational budget allocation. In this regard, the role of the governor is to provide a balanced budget among his or her constituents. The governor must be able to identify the correct budget to make sure that all students are able to have free public quality education. In addition, the role of the governor is to find some other means and ways on sourcing the financial needs of Tennessee, especially for educational purposes. With regards to educational committee, the two legislating bodies that are functioning for Tennessee Education budget negotiates through a discussion and meeting with school districts members to determine how much will be given to each school. The budgetary planning are being done by these legislative bodies to ensure equal distribution of budgets among school districts.     Conclusion             Perhaps school improvement is hard work. However, if schools are not constantly improving and growing in their capacity to meet the needs of the students, then they are losing ground and failing in their mission of service to young people. School Financial system is considered to be complex and extremely difficult to handle. In order to make sure that the finance system adheres to the needs of equal distribution among states, the federal and local government must be able to shift the policies that would address these needs. In Tennessee, the problems regarding the unequal distribution and inefficient finance system has been solved by adopting the Basic Education program. This program is in line with the recommendations and suggestions o some legislative bodies through the help of the local government of Tennessee. Indeed, through the constant influence and support of the federal government, educational transformation toward school finance system improvement is achieved by various states. The federal, state, and local emphasis on accountability essentialisms the need for school finance system that adheres to quality education and equal distribution of finances. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Essay Tennessee School Finance System

Tennessee School Finance System Introduction One of the most important factors that make a school organisation to contin...