The Impact of Internet on ways in which Citizens Participate on Political and Social Systems Essay Example for Free

The Impact of Internet on ways in which Citizens Participate on Political and Social Systems Essay In every single day, the internet expands by the social, political, and economic activities of people all over the world; consequently its impact on the participation of citizens grows exponentially. Internet has disregarded geographical distances and separations in this new world, as borders no longer have great impact on limiting people’s activities. People are encouraged to participate and contribute on different aspects which have drawn different experiences and pooled resources together. Actions and reactions have become instantaneous in cyberspace and this has made internet to be more gratifying and attractive. The resultant effect is that internet has impacted our society in almost all areas of human endeavour. The problem is that the impact has been both positive and negative and as such, caution has been advocated as a means in which citizens should approach the internet. An internet safety plan is thus required in which shall protect children and security in e-businesses has to be more guaranteed (Kedem 1999). Impact of internet on the political systems We will analyse this impact by first posing a query whether internet has any effect, whether positive or negative on the amount of political participation and the extent it contributes to the generation of a more participative society. Authors had initially suggested that a reduction in levels of political participation could be expected as a result of the use of the internet. They reasoned out that internet brings with it atomisation and a weakening of social cohesion, which can also take up a large part of people’s free time (Davis 1999). According to Meinardus (2003) the new technology back in 1990s created an internet-euphoria. It was assumed that the digital technology would lead mankind to a better world creating more chances for mass participation in the political and economic market place. These euphoric assessments have given way to more cautious appraisals, as more and more people become conscious of the potential dangers of the technological advancement. Internet has been used by politicians in order to win some scores on different activities and events. In South Korea, students of digital politics admire what one reporter termed as the most advanced online democracy on the planet. They called it â€Å"webocracy† which became apparent to a wider international audience during a presidential election. The election was won by a politician who no longer relied primarily on the traditional mass rallies, but exploited the possibilities of the internet and other modern communication devices, systematically. The politician succeeded in mobilizing millions of mainly young supporters, who logged onto his website to donate money and receive political updates. He received messages that contained policy recommendations which the candidate promised to consider seriously in his decision making (Meinardus 2003). Cyberspace campaigning has become very prevalent. It is with no doubt that new technology has opened the door to new forms of grass-roots participation. There is every indication that on-line politics are changing the traditional power structures. Internet has therefore made political process more transparent, more communicative, more participatory and hence more democratic. Internet use has increased democracy level, e-mails with political content have been sent in order to try to influence government decisions through comments posted on websites (Tab Working Report 2005). The ability to face the costs of political participation is a determining factor in the decision whether or not to participate. The impact of internet on political system depends on the availability of resources. The members of a nation with little time, money or other resources might not participate in the use of the internet in sharing their views and comments as the cost of participation is very high for them. The low cost of accessing internet has on the other hand fuelled the impact of the internet on political systems. Internet allows almost unlimited, fast, and cheap access to political information which can not be easily obtained by other means. People thus have resulted top use of the internet to obtain information which has enabled them participate even the more in political debates, and policies which are about to be implemented (Milner 2002). In deed a Tab Working Report (2005) argues that internet is currently being widely used for communication between political and the public, and routines have developed at various points. There has been an increase in activities for e-participation and online discussion at the international level. There is also a programmatic consensus that the internet can play an important role in strengthening representative democracy Limitations Internet enables access to political information that make people participate more in political systems. The access of information does not mean that one obtains the capacity to process and interpret that information which is required to make the information knowledge that can be beneficial to the individual and in which one can make rational decisions. Internet might contain a sea of information but that does not guarantee the quality of such information which might be interpreted wrongly. This may lead to consequences that would have negative impact on the individual if not on the whole society (Polat 2005). The use of internet has created international havoc as countries around the world struggle to develop laws that will permit geographical regulation of a borderless medium. The internet is thought to offer unlimited free speech which can be detrimental and in most cases when the free speech is abused by politicians, the effects are adverse. Censorship is nevertheless increasing as countries develop tools for limiting content that is available to its citizens Another limitation on the impact created by the internet on the citizen in participating to the political system is the struggle needed to obtain the information from the internet. It requires an initiative by the user to access it. Most information from the internet will mean that the user has to subscribe for it. There are other attractive websites which are social sites that would easily distract the user from obtaining the required political information (Davis 1999). Impact of internet on social system It is a matter of fact that easy access to the internet, which includes the availability of personal computers with rather cheap prices, introduction of rather reliable internet services and establishment of internet cafes has changed the nature of people’s connection to each other in their social field. Physical proximity is no longer an essential in communicating to one another face to face. This has made it easy for rapid connections across long distances and people are now in a position to write electronic mails that are transmitted virtually immediately throughout the globe (Eskicumali 2010). Eskicumali (2010, p. 1) argues that many aspects of the lives of people, especially the young people have been changed by the internet. The basic nature of their relationships with one another has been greatly influenced by the internet. This is due to the reason that there has been a global diffusion of information and communication technologies that has expanded the domain of â€Å"absent presence† which in turn has resulted to an erosion of face to face community centred relationships. The internet has created new type of social relations and virtual communities that has not been formed ever since. Theses virtual communities are social network of individuals who interact through specific media, and potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries, so as to pursue mutual goals and interests. The internet has also impacted the social system in form of communication. There is diversity in the internet-mediated communication which is displayed in different sectors such as politics, art, family, and mass media among others. It has become the bearer of different kinds of communication. This is due to several features of internet’s technical and textual structure which has promised to have a crucial impact on communication. According to Fushs (2008, p. 2) internet is here to stay, it has changed the life of many of us and transformed the lives of our society. It is ubiquitous in everyday life, and it is here that we search for information, plan trips, read newspapers and articles, communicate with each other by chatting, using emails, video conferencing, listen to music and radio, watch videos and other activities. It is in the internet that we have learnt to know other people, develop intimate relationships; maintain contact with one another, access government sites, share ideas and create knowledge together with others. Disadvantages of Internet Use on the Social System It is evident that from the roles that internet play, computerized network technologies change all areas of society. It poses challenges and opportunities in a networked globalizing world. One of the great disadvantage that internet has on the social is that no one can claim ownership of the internet. As such any body can post anything which has made it the home of political propaganda, racism, pornography and other controversial and illegal material. Internet has brought with it internet crime. These crimes include the interception of the details of customers’ credit cards and online transactions, hacking into personal, private files with criminal intent, fraudulent web sites taking credit card details from the customers, and the spreading of viruses through the internet. This has made it necessary for steps to be undertaken so as to reassure the general public that the internet is safe. The methods might reduce majority of the cyber crimes, but they do little to net down the risk, that people find themselves in when using internet (Fushs 2008). Conclusion With scores of people all over the world resulting to the use of internet to carry out various roles and responsibilities, the impact on the political and social system has been amplified. The social network service providers have increased their subscribers, which have provided information that has impacted the social system. Internet has thus enabled people to participate more, on global and national politics since they have been empowered by the easy availability of information. Networking has improved and this has initiated an embrace of diversity in race, religion, and culture.

Individual Nurse effect on Person-centered Care

Individual Nurse effect on Person-centered Care Provide a critical analysis of how the beliefs, values and attitudes of the nurse may impact upon the provision of person-centered care Introduction The person-centred care approach focuses holistically on the patient as an individual, rather than their diagnosis or symptoms, and ensures that their needs and choices are heard and respected. According to Draper Tetley (2013: n.p.), person-centred care is defined as an approach to nursing that focuses on the individuals personal needs, wants, desires and goals, so that they become central to their care and the nursing process. This can mean putting the persons needs, as they define them, above those identified as priorities by healthcare professionals. Theoretically, this is an achievable aim – nursesas a matter of principle should provide care that respects the diversity of the values, needs, choices and preferences of those in their care – but how can any incongruity between the values, beliefs and attitudes of the patient and those of the nurse be reconciled? Is it inevitable that this dissonance will have a negative impact on the quality of person-centred care be ing provided? This essay will examine the beliefs, values and attitudes of nurses planning and delivering person-centred care, and the impact these issues can have on the provision of that care. Nurses are expected to practice in a caring, knowledgeable, professional, courteous and non-judgemental manner, and the majority do this as a matter of principle, displaying unconditional positive regard for their patients at all times. However, values, beliefs and attitudes are, of course, subjective to each individual, and in the context of delivering person-centred nursing care, it is important to identify those that are holistic and therapeutic, rather than focussing only on those that are not. According to Brink Skott (2013), some diagnoses lead to preconceptions about the individuals receiving them, which subsequently negatively influence their care and treatment. This can be particularly evident in the case of mental illness, which is often mired in stigma, fear, ignorance and discrimination. Research undertaken by Chambers et al (2010: pp. 350) found that Stigma on the part of mental health professionals affects the quality of care provided for those with mental health problems, as well as their rates of recovery. Although nurses working within the field of mental health will obviously have more developed skills and knowledge in this subject than those in other specialities of nursing, it is not inconceivable that nurses may harbour some preconceptions about mental illnesses and those diagnosed with them, which may impact on how positively they deliver care to those patients. Those requiring treatment for alcohol abuse or substance misuse may also experience a less emp athetic experience in the care of nurses, who may feel that the condition is self-inflicted, or that resources may be better utilised elsewhere. This attitude may be even more prevalent in cases of liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, when there may be a misplaced belief that another recipient is more deserving of the organ. Other morbidities which can be perceived as having a self-inflicted element (e.g. obesity, smoking-related illnesses, type-II diabetes, addictions) also have the potential to be perceived negatively by nursing staff, who may lack an appropriate level of empathy and compassion, or make assumptions and pre-conceptions about these patients based on their diagnoses. In a similar manner, patients attempting suicide or deliberately self-harming, may experience stigma, a lack of sympathy and a lack of understanding from nursing staff, especially if the nurse managing their care is also involved in the care of patients suffering from serious illnesses or conditions. Caring for patients attending accident and emergency departments due to para-suicide or deliberate self-harm can evoke extremely negative emotions and attitudes amongst the nursing staff caring for them. Nurses working with such patients report experiencing high levels of ambivalence and frustration. Additionally, deliberately self-harming patients may evoke negative attitudes such as anxiety, anger, and lack of empathy (Ouzouni Nakakis 2013). A suicidal patient voicing their desire to end their life is expressing a wish. However, in the context of person-centred care, it would be difficult to agree that this wish should be considered as a person-centred need. This could be a source of conflict, difficulty and dissonance as balancing the needs and wishes of the patient in this situation, contradicts entirely the nurses duty of care. In such circumstances, it could be argued that the care provided cannot be person-centred, as it is not in line with the patients wishes. Obviously it would be neither legal nor ethical for the nurse to allow a suicidal patient to actively attempt to end their life whilst under their care, or to comply with the patients wishes not to receive treatment if suicide had been attempted. Similar ethical considerations may also influence the treatment of patients undergoing procedures to terminate pregnancy, and may negatively influence the extent to which the care received by the patient is truly person-centred. There have been well-documented cases of nurses refusing to assist with these procedures, or to treat patients who have undergone them post-operatively. Predominantly such cases arise due to a conflict with the religious beliefs, moral convictions and ethical stance of the nurses being asked to assist with these procedures. The Nursing Midwifery Council (2015) states that Nurses and midwives must at all times keep to the principles contained within The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour of nurses and midwives (2015: n.p.). This code states that nurses and midwives who have a conscientious objection must tell colleagues, their manager and the person receiving care that they have a conscientious objection to a particular procedure. They must arrange for a suitably qualified colleague to take over responsibility for that persons care. Nurses and midwives may lawfully have conscientious objections in two areas only. Firstly, Article 4(1) of the Abortion Act 1967 (Scotland, England and Wales). This provision allows nurses and midwives to refuse to participate in the process of treatment which results in the termination of a pregnancy because they have a conscientious objection, except where it is necessary to save the life or prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman. Secondly, Article 38 of the Human and Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990). This provision allows nurses and midwives the right to refuse to participate in technological procedures to achieve concep tion and pregnancy because they have a conscientious objection. This is a highly contentious and emotive issue, and one which attracts much ongoing debate and argument, and is significant as it can be asked at what point does a nurses own beliefs and values take precedence over their responsibility and duty to care for their patients needs, whatever they might be? Should nurses be permitted to refuse to participate in care procedures that contradict their values or beliefs, or to refuse to provide care to those they deem undeserving? Does this set a worrying precedent for other contentious procedures to be added to the list (gender reassignment surgery for example)? It could be argued that the nurses first responsibility should be their duty of care to their patient, and this surely requires them to take a holistic and person-centred view; a view that should not be clouded by the nurses own values system or moral standpoint. The aspects of person-centred care discussed so far in this essay have been those of a contentious and perhaps, more exceptional nature. However, the more routine, day-to-day aspects of nursing are also susceptible to the influence of nurses values, beliefs and attitudes negatively impacting on the quality of person-centred care provision. Giving patients a greater degree of autonomy over their care can lead to some discord as nurses may feel that their professional expertise is being disregarded, and may be concerned that patients informed opinions and decisions about their care may be detrimental to recovery or good health. This could lead to nurses adopting a didactic attitude in the belief that they know best, when the patient is equally certain that their decision is the right one for them. Nurses must always ensure that they are viewing the patient as a whole person, and not merely an illness or condition to be treated or managed, as this can lead to ambivalence as nurses attem pt to reconcile their desire to deliver effective, evidenced-based care, knowing that patients stated wishes or preferences are contrary to this aim. However, if the patient is deemed to have capacity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment, with all the facts at their disposal, nurses must accept this if good, person-centred care is to be delivered (NHS Choices 2014). In the event that the patient does not have the capacity to make informed decisions (e.g. patients suffering from more advanced forms of dementia), then any known pre-morbid preferences and choices should be documented and adhered to where this is practicable. There is always a danger that individuals with dementia receive care that is task-orientated rather than person-centred. Again, nurses may make assumptions regarding what is best for the patient, rather than respecting their choices and preferences. One of the easiest ways to ensure that care is person-centred is to gather collateral about each patient prior to care or treatment commencing, so a more rounded picture can be formed. This is particularly important when dealing with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, as lack of cultural understanding and tolerance can lead to damaging misconceptions, misunderstandings and unintentional offence, which will not engender good person-centred care. Having some knowledge of patients history and background prior to treatment can be a useful tool in terms of developing appropriate care. The flip-side to this however is that unhelpful stereotypes or prejudices may be formed by nursing staff, based on the current or historical background of the patient. Gender (including gender identify), race, age, religious affiliation, employment status, marital status, and educational and socio-economic background can lead to assumptions (both positive and negative) being formed by nursing staff. W hilst the majority of nurses will treat their patients with unconditional positive regard and courtesy, regardless of issues that may be at odds with their own beliefs, values and attitudes, there will always be a minority who will be affected by such issues, and who will allow it to influence the care they provide. The scale of this issue is difficult to quantify, due to a lack of available evidence-based research, but it could be said that one nurse whose attitude negatively impacts on person-centred care is one nurse too many. Conclusion We have explored some of the more contentious issues that can and do arise when nurses beliefs, values and attitudes do not correspond with those of their patients, and have examined the potential impact this can have on the quality of person-centred care provided. As little research has been carried out into this subject, it is not possible to quantify the scale of the problem, nor to accurately identify where it is most prevalent. However, it is safe to say that the dichotomy between delivering truly person-centred care, whilst reconciling challenges to the nurses own core beliefs and values is not one easily solved. Modern nurses are extensively trained and highly skilled professionals, with a wider remit and range of responsibilities than their predecessors. They are however fundamentally human, with the same character flaws and failings as anyone else. It is a completely human trait to be influenced by the information we perceive or receive about others, and everyone has innate beliefs and value systems and, whether we like it or not, innate prejudices. Although it would seem logical that professional nurses have a well-developed sense of understanding and equality, they also deal with a magnitude of very diverse people on a daily basis, generally having very limited time with each. Despite this, the majority of nurses deliver excellent, patient-focussed and person-centred care as a matter of course. Unfortunately there will always be a minority who do not. Nurse education programmes are constantly evolving to meet the shifting demands of health care, so it can only be hoped that recognising, challenging and improving unhelpful attitudes becomes an accepted part of nurse education, and becomes core to person-centred care provision. References/Bibliography: Baker J., Richards A. Campbell M. (2005). Nursing attitudes towards acute mental health care: development of a measurement tool. Journal of Advances Nursing. (49) (5) pp. 522-529. Brink E. Skott C. (2013). Caring about symptoms in person-centred care. Open Journal of Nursing (3) pp. 563-567. Chambers M., Guise V., Và ¤limà ¤ki M., Botelho M., Scott A., Staniulienà © V. Zanotti R. (2010). Nurses attitudes to mental illness: A comparison of a sample of nurses from five European countries. International Journal of Nursing Studies. (47) (3) pp. 350-362. Dorsen C. (2012). An integrative review of nurse attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. (44) (3) pp. 8-43. Draper J. Tetley J. (2013). The importance of person-centred approaches to nursing care. The Open University. (Online). Available:  http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/nursing/the-Importance-person-centred-approaches-nursing-care. Last accessed 4 April 2015. Flagg A. (2015). The Role of Patient-Centered Care in Nursing. Nursing Clinics of North America. (50) (1) pp. 75-86. Hunter P., Hadjistavropoulos T., Smythe W., Malloy D., Kaasalainen S. Williams J. (2013). The Personhood in Dementia Questionnaire (PDQ): Establishing an association between beliefs about personhood and health providers approaches to person-centred care. Journal of Aging Studies. (27) (3) pp. 276-287. N.H.S. U.K. (2014). Consent to Treatment. N.H.S. Choices (Online). Available:  http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/pages/introduction.aspx. Last accessed 5 Apr 2015 N.H.S. U.K. (2014). Assessing Capacity. N.H.S. Choices (Online). Available:  http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/pages/capacity.aspx. Last accessed 5 Apr 2015. N.M.C. (2015). Conscientious objection by nurses and midwives. Nursing Midwifery Council (Online). Available:  http://www.nmc-uk.org/The-Code/Conscientious-objection-by-nurses-and-midwives-/. Last accessed 5 Apr 2015. Ouzouni C. Nakakis K. (2013). Nurses attitudes towards attempted suicide. Health Science Journal. (7) (1) pp. 120. Roberts G., Morley C., Walters W., Malta S. Doyle C. (2015). Caring for people with dementia in residential aged care: Successes with a composite person-centered care model featuring Montessori-based activities. Geriatric Nursing. (36) (2) pp.106-110. UK Government. (1967). Abortion Act 1967 (Scotland, England and Wales). The National Archives. (Online). Available:  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/87. Last accessed 5 Apr 2015. UK Government. (1990). Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The National Archives. (Online). Available:  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/37/section/38. Last accessed 5 Apr 2015. Wood L., Birtel M., Alsawy S., Pyle M. Morrison A. (2014). Public perceptions of stigma towards people with schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Psychiatry Research. (220) (1-2), pp. 604-608. Yun-e L., Norman I. While A. (2012). Nurses attitudes towards older people: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. (50) (9) pp.1271–1282.

Case Study of Best Buy

Case Study of Best Buy In 1966 Richard Schultze and James Wheeler saw an opportunity in opening a specialized electronics store in St. Paul, Minnesota. Soon after opening, The Sound of Music became an immediate success in the industry. By the year 1969 the company grew so fast, Schultze decided to publically trade The Sound of Music. Over the next few years, The Sound of Music was able to raise their annual revenues to over $1 million. In 1981, a tornado hit the Roseville, Minnesota store. In order to salvage what they could from the storm wreckage they held a huge storewide sale which was advertised as The Best Buy. The sale was such a huge success that Schultze decided to hold it annually. Sound of Music became widely known for this annual best buy sale, therefore in 1983, the board of directors decided to officially change the name to Best Buy Co., Inc.  [1]   Best Buy went on to become the leading consumer electronics retail store in the Nation. By 2008 they had opened their 1000th store (Lawrence being #837). Due to their success, Best Buy was able to expand their business by building additional stores throughout the nation as well as expanding internationally in countries such as UK, Canada, Mexico and China. Best Buy was able to achieve such growth because of the rapidly growing consumer electronics market. Best Buy was joined in the Industry by competitors such as GameStop, Radio Shack, hhgregg and Conns Inc. (Yahoo financial).  [2]  Other competition includes Wal-Mart, Nebraska Furniture Mart and other big super stores. By being the Industry Pioneer, Best Buy has been able to maintain positive annual revenues as well as a large market share. Business Information Best Buy is one of the International leaders in the sale of electronics. They offer a wide variety of products that are needed as well as wanted in the entertainment industry. Best Buy carries movies, games, music, computer hardware as well as software, and television entertainment equipment. They also provide many home appliances which are sought after by people throughout their market. Best Buy is successful because it provides customers with entertainment as well as equipment and the newest technology as it becomes available in the market. Geographical Reach Best Buy offers its services and products to people not just throughout our country, but in many different countries as well. Their first international venture came in 2001 with the acquisition of Future Shop. Future Shop was the leading consumer electronics retailer in Canada. Since 2001, Best Buy has expanded by establishing stores in Canada as well as the UK, China, Mexico, and they are looking to establish a position in Turkey in the future. Market Performance The market for consumer electronics is a very saturated market. Most of the electronic needs in the industry are spoken for by current businesses, therefore it is very difficult for any new competition to enter into the market and successfully compete. Best Buy has been able to capture a substantial amount of the market for electronics. Between the five main competitors for electronics, Best Buy has a $17.5 billion market capitalization, which is number one out of all 5 electronic specialists. It is hard to quantitatively compare Best Buy to businesses such as Wal-Mart, Target and Nebraska Furniture Mart because these firms sell a variety of other products to different industries. After interviewing Supervisor, Jeremy Brown he discussed the service you will receive when you shop at Best Buy. Best Buy is the place you know you will receive the best service and help from employees in searching for the item you came in to buy.  [3]  Given the data found, Best Buy has been able to pe rform as the market leader in the electronics Industry. Best Buy has the greatest Brand awareness in the Industry. They have very loyal customers because of their Geek Squad business which was opened in 2004. The Geek Squad operates to assist customers in learning how to use the products that they previously purchased from Best Buy, as well as servicing any customers equipment which is in need of repair or replacement. Jeremy Brown said, It benefits Best Buy having a complimenting business like Geek Squad because it allows us to offer the whole solution to the customer. We can repair, protect, as well as install any product the customer would need us to.  [4]  By offering a variety of products and services in the electronic industry, Best Buy can tailor to any needs of the existing market. Financial Performance In the end of the February 2010 fiscal year, Best Buy reported revenues of $49,694 million. This was a 10.3% increase from the previous year. Net profit in 2010 was $1,317 million which was a 31.31% increase from 2009. Best Buy, which is publically traded on the New York stock exchange is currently up 42.59. Best Buys revenue per share is $121.49. According to Yahoo finance the company has a strong balance sheet, with $840 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of the most recent quarter in August 2010, meaning that Best Buy has created a successful trend of positive cash flows.  [5]   Internal Analysis Since Best Buys inception in 1966, the companys top executives have used numerous strategies to keep their earnings increasing at a steady pace. Changing the way that people shop in their stores was a key internal strategy for Best Buy. In 1984, they introduced the superstore format for the first time. This allowed for sales to rise and for them to secure a 42% market share. In 1989, Best Buy introduced its Concept II stores. The new stores had a large warehouse attached to the store so that more inventory could be kept on site and thus help with inventory management. The new stores also had self-help information guides and answer centers for customers seeking personal attention. This move had both positive and negative reactions. The customers liked it so sales rose, but some suppliers thought that the lack of sales representatives would lead to lesser sales. In 1994, the Concept III stores were introduced and they had even more self-help service. Then Hitachi and Kenwood pulled their products from Best Buy stores because they believed that salespeople were key to selling their product. Despite the minor setbacks, revamping the stores to tend to the customers wants was working as sales continued to rise. Concept IV stores launched in 1998 and they implemented digital displays as well as new departments such as home theatre and digital imaging. This new store design was a tremendous success as Best Buy recorded record sales of $224 million in 1998, a 137% increase from the previous year. Then in June, Best Buy changed the way its products were sold again by selling consumer electronics on its website. From expanding to a superstore to selling its products online, Best Buy has tweaked and changed its distribution medium to allow for its profits to keep going up. Probably the largest factor in Best Buys success is its expansion into new markets and offering of new products. The consumer electronic industry is constantly changing as technology improves and new markets are created. Best Buy stores are always stocked with the most up to date products. In 1982, they started selling VCRs and appliances. Then in 2000, Best Buy partnered with Whirlpool to start offering KitchenAid brand appliances. In 2008, they even bought a majority holding in Napster. They were also the first third party retailer to sell Apples iPhone. Now, theyve opened Apple stores inside the Best Buy megastores. In 2006, they tried the digital music market as they launched the Best Buy Digital Music Store and in 2010, they launch their web-based movie service. Best Buy is constantly looking for new markets that they could feasibly dive into and start selling new products.  [6]   Another way Best Buy tailors their stores for the customer is by purchasing another company. Magnolia Hi-Fi, one of Best Buys competitors, was bought by Best Buy in 2000 for $87 million. This allowed for Best Buy to later put Magnolia Home Theatre stores inside of hundreds of Best Buy superstores. As technology increased in the consumer electronics market, there was a growing need for technical support and assistance with different, more complicated electronics. So in 2003, Best Buy acquired Geek Squad in order to better accommodate to the customers needs. Geek Squad gives Best Buy full technical support right there in the store for all of the electronics that they sell. In 2006, Best Buy acquired Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath, a retailer of high-end home improvement products. So, Best Buy is also looking to move to new markets via an acquisition.  [7]   Best Buy also uses a rewards program to help boost sales. Their rewards program gives the customer a $5 Best Buy gift card for every $100 that he spends at Best Buy. This gives an incentive for customers to spend more money and to buy their electronics at Best Buy since theyre getting 5% of their money spent back. Plus, giving out a free gift card will help boost sales. If someone has a $5 gift card, they are more likely to go and buy something. But there arent many things that cost $5 or less, so usually, the customer will end up spending more than $5, all because he had the gift card in the first place. The rewards program has been very successful for Best Buy and has lead to increased sales.  [8]   Best Buy is a successful consumer electronics retailer that has been around for over 40 years. Whether its changing the layout of the store, selling new products in new markets, expanding through acquisition, or implementing a rewards program, Best Buy uses many strategies and tactics to not just survive in the consumer electronics market, but to thrive, and Best Buy has been thriving for over 40 years. Comparison To Competiton Best Buy has a sizeable piece of the consumer electronics industry, but they still face heavy competition from many other retailers and online stores, just a couple of them being Wal-Mart and Amazon. Best Buy is not the price leader when it comes to consumer electronics, but they do seem to be the leader when it comes to providing extensive knowledge about products, and selling services with them. Their competitive advantage  [9]  is being able to display products in an appealing setting while providing customers with insight to their product needs. This has proven a successful strategy and has attracted a lot of traffic in their stores. One metric Best Buy seems to lead the retail industry in is in-store sales per square foot. Best Buys current sales per sq. ft is around $830, compared to Wal-Marts $680, and HHGregs $380. This an important metric because it helps track how much of their store front space is being utilized, as leasing for space usually constitutes a large share o f a companys costs. Forbes Magazine1 says that 74% of Best Buys stock price is directly proportional to its sales per sq. ft metric. This is much of the reason Best Buy has been so successful and why theyve been able to keep growing so rapidly. Best Buy has also remained successful for its ability to get products out of the store. Latest figures show Best Buy having inventory turns  [10]  of 6.1, the same as Target, much better than Sears 2.9 or Radio Shacks 3.2. Close to Best Buy was HH Greg with 5.8. Amazon and Wal-Mart both have higher turns but Amazon is all online with no store front, and Wal-Mart is a much larger company with a better supply chain and a far broader array of products while also focusing on a cost-leadership strategy. Though Best Buys differentiated strategy has been successful, it can possibly encourage consumers to come into Best Buy to become educated about products, and then turn around go buy them at Wal-Mart or off of the internet. To better differentiate themselves, Best Buy has focused on services to add to their products, of which would not be available unless otherwise purchased from Best Buy. These services include extended services plans, installations, and repairs. These services usually have high profit margins and can constitute a significant amount of revenue, while giving customer professional installations and peace of mind. Wal-Mart is also on Best Buys trail, now adding expanded electronics department in many of its stores and has added personnel to provide customer assistance, similarly to Best Buy stores. Given Wal-Marts supply chain and price leading capabilities, they remain a constant threat to Best Buy. Amazon remains a threat as their prices are usually always lower, and consumers can shop from home and never have to go to the store. Although Best Buy provides this service, they cannot match the price, and with no other way to differentiate themselves through the limited online experience, price remains the deciding factor. For these reasons Best Buy continues to try to set its self apart and take advantage of its strengths. Its recently used it large distribution network to get into the used game market. It will buy used games, send them to a center to be refurbished, and sells them at relatively low prices. This is helping the huge retailer compete directly with small retailers such as Game Stop. With their size, Best Buy has an opportunity to steal market share in this industry. External Analysis The general environment involves several external factors that would have unpredictable and dramatic effects on firms strategy, such as demography, socio culture, politics, technology, economy and globalization. However, it is difficult to monitor all aspects of the general environment, so most managers only focus on their own industry structure. As the leading consumer electronics retailer in the United States, Best Buy primarily faces the economic segment and the global segment. First of all, the economy affects all industry. During the financial crisis period from 2008 to 2009, the stock price of Best Buy, Inc hit to $16.42 in the third quarter of 2009 fiscal year, dropping approximately 65.43% in four months and touched the lowest price in past 5 years; the net income of 2009 decreased to 1.003 million, comparing with previous annual net income of $1.407 million, thus distracting the investors.  [11]  The worst situation may be that total operating cash flow reduced by 148 mi llion from 2008 to 2009, which significantly limited the companys internal operating activities. However, with the recovery of the domestic and global economy, the companys net income climbed to $1.137 million by February 2010, which is 13.36% higher than previous annual performance. Also the stock price reached about $42.83 per share recently. Secondly, for global segment, Best Buy divided its operating portion into two parts, domestic and international. The company tends to expand its market to attract multinational customers, to use lower costs of resource, and to access more opportunities to grow up. Besides the domestic market, Best Buy established 2453 stores in Europe, Canada, China, Mexico and Turkey at the end of fiscal 2010. Although the general environment inevitably affects the firms strategy, the company is usually more directly influenced by forces in the competitive environment. Through the Porters five-force model of industry competition, the company would have a deep realization of developing trend and ability of restructuring and improvement. The Threat of New Entrants There are few new major entrants in Consumer Electronics Appliances Retail because this industry is already mature in United States and the entry barriers are relatively high. Obviously, Best Buy has the advantage of economies of scale with 1069 stores across the all states. Its major competitors, Wal-Mart, target, Amazon, apple Inc also share the rest of market through the physical stores and web-based sales channel. Moreover, the capital requirement for entering the consumer electronics industry is normally huge, including the investment in negotiation with distribution channels, inventory systems, purchasing of infrastructure, employee training and so forth. Another barrier exists in the product differentiation. Since the consumer electronic retail industry is not highly innovative, customers loyalty and brand identification are difficult to change. The Bargaining Power of Buyers The Power of buyers in consumer electronic retail industry is relatively high because that the switching costs are almost close to zero. In most circumstances, customers are price sensitive. According to the firms annual report, Best buys business is most profitable in the fourth quarter because of the discounts of products in holiday season. The Bargaining Power of Suppliers Partially, Best Buys business depends on offering a broad selection of name-brand products, so establishing a long and stable relationship with suppliers is important for the firm. Since the suppliers of Best Buy are not dominated by a few companies. In fact, In fiscal 2010, our 20 largest suppliers accounted for just under 60% of the merchandise we purchased, with five suppliers Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba -representing 35% of total merchandise purchased.  [12]  In other words, the concentration relative to buyer industry is low, thus leads to the low suppliers power. The Threat of Substitute Products and Services Best Buy offers almost the same electronic products as Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon. How can it differentiate from those competitors? The answer is Geek Squad. It is a subsidiary of the Best Buy and primary offers services in-store, on-site and also provides 24-hour telephone and emergency support, including repairing computers, adding cars navigation, transferring data, fixing personal digital products and so on. As their first pledge states: We are dedicated to giving you the best service possible and well prove it. If youre not completely satisfied, well do our best to correct the problem, Fast and Free.  [13]  This strategy is difficult to imitate and brings the firm high profits. The Intensity of Rivalry among Competitors in an Industry In order to compete with so many competitors in this industry, Best Buy needs to consider the settlement of price, to face the advertising battles, to continuously improve the customer services and warranties. In addition to low industry growth rate, low product differentiation, and low switching costs, the intensity of competitive rivalry is pretty high. After the analysis of the companys general and competitive environment, Best Buy has reached success through expanding, providing prior and high-quality service, well established relationships with customers and suppliers, and differentiation. Recommendations for the Future As the leading company in the Electronics Industry, Best Buy already has a competitive advantage over its competitors. In order to gain even more market share for their company there are steps Best Buy could take in becoming more specialized. If they kept their focus on the specific aspects of the electronics industry that the everyday consumer does not necessarily know, consumers would feel even more comfortable purchasing specific electronic products. This way they would be differentiating themselves from their main competitors and be considered as a superior business all together. An advantage that Best Buy has is the production of their own products, such as Rocketfish, Dynex, Init. This allows for Best Buy to gain higher margins on products that are sold. Therefore we feel that it is important for Best Buy to market their products strongly. By increased advertising and promotion on such products, consumers will begin purchasing Best Buys own products rather than other competing name brands such as Sony and LG. It is also important for Best Buy to continually enhance their employee relationship within the Company. A job at Best Buy is highly sought after, however it is important for them to keep their employees interests in the company high. By maintaining good employee relations they are also ensuring that their employees speak of them highly outside of work which ensures their customer relations in good order as well. It would be beneficial if Best Buy would keep enhancing their Reward and Benefit Systems for their employees. By doing so, moral and interest in the company will increase and the Company will see improvements in their performance. One example of such reward systems that Best Buy already has in place are what they call Blue Crew Bucks. This system is used to pay a bonus to stores who perform the highest and their employees. While Sarah Ballard, Vice President of Human Capital for Best Buy developed this system and thought it was a great idea employees thought differently. Thr ee months after it began, she realized that employees didnt agree. Store managers told her that some workers thought Best Buy wouldnt pay up; others just didnt understand the program. After realizing that employees were upset she was able to talk to managers of each store and clarify how the program worked. By continually receiving feedback from employees and the management team, Best Buy is able to make sure that everyone is satisfied with their work environment and with how things operate.  [14]   As new products are constantly entering the market along with rapidly developing technology it is important for Best Buy to keep up with the market and make sure they always provide the newest products for customers immediately. With the latest products such as the I-Pad and X-box Kinect consumers will only consider shopping for these at the stores they know will be the first to carry them. It is important for customers to know when they want to purchase that new item they can do so at Best Buy. Jeremy Brown stated, It is so important to have the newest items for customers when they come out. Upon the new items release we must make sure that we have enough of the product to cover the demand and place them at an appropriate location in the store to maximize the items appeal.  [15]  Making sure these new products are placed so that they can be easily identified by consumers when they enter the store is very important for the company. This will attract consumers into the store in th e first place, in hopes that upon purchasing the new item, they will also decide to purchase other items. After analyzing Best Buys competitive approach in their corporate strategies, it is apparent that they have established themselves as the leader in the consumer Electronics Industry. The resources that Best Buy has at their expense allow for them to have a remain competitive in the electronics industry as a leading electronics retailer. The process by which Best Buy utilizes their resources is a valuable asset, for the company strives to continually strengthen their competitive approach. They can continue to strengthen this by focusing on great employee relationships, keeping up with the newest technology and products in their stores and focusing on specific products where they have a competitive advantage above competition.

Sexuality Education in America Essay -- Education Sex Ed

Sexuality Education in America What do the American people as a whole want their youth to be taught about sex? That is the ongoing question that not only state and federal governments are asking, but also local school districts, churches, and parents of all aged children. In the early twentieth century, disputes focused on whether or not to teach sexuality education at all; while currently it has shifted to which method is more successful in the school curriculum. Sexuality education does not just solely include the education of the sexual act itself and the diseases associated with it, but also the way us as humans feel we are as people; how we dress, talk, move, and the way we feel towards others (Families). Sex education and sexuality education are two separate things. Sex education is a learning opportunity that helps individuals understand and prepare for intimacy in their adult lives (Baer). Whereas, sexuality education is the field of study that examines the relationship skills and knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and the values that promote healthy relationships with one another (Baer). Of course, conservative Americans like to believe that all teens are choosing the path of abstinence. Abstinence is the choice not to be sexual with anyone in any way. However, a recent study showed that is not the case at all; with seventy-five percent of the United States teens from the ages of fifteen to nineteen are sexually active with t heir peers (Baer). That is a number that is continuing to grow; in return it is resulting in unwanted teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education is taught in most tenth graders health class curriculum. There are two main methods used for sex educ... ... that can be examined or reviewed (Wiley). A national review helped outlined a range of effective ideas that could be helpful to teachers in the classroom, they should: (Collins) Adapt dialogue to the proper age and experience of the audience. Focus on dangerous sexual behavior. Provide a strong academic foundation. Provide basic facts about the high risks of diseases. Acknowledge the social pressures by their peers and the media to have sex. Provide practice in healthy communication, and refusal skills. A program is deemed successful if it brings about one or more of the following results: delaying initiation of sexual intercourse, decreasing the frequency of unprotected intercourse, and increasing condom use (Sanderson). It is up to the American public ultimately to decide what is the best way to educate the nation's teens on sex.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Class of 2012, tonight is the last time we will share together for many years. After tonight, we will begin a new chapter in our lives. This chapter will lead us away from each other, but the memories we've shared will continue to stay. The years behind us have been full of challenges and rewards; these experiences will be there to guide us as we branch out into the world. Let's take a moment to think back to the people and times that shaped us the last four years. Every teacher deserves a "thank you" for helping us to reach our goal of graduation. The love and support of our families has been greatly appreciated. But truly, the main ingredient of our high school experience has been our peers. We all faced hardships, but we were able to overcome them, together. And now, here we are once again, together. Homecoming, tolo, football games, pep assemblies and spirit weeks ignited us as young freshman. When we became sophomores, the blaring of the fire alarm became our wake-up call. Only after wiping the drool off our desks and hurrying out to the field did we realize that this wa...

Aristotle’s Contributions to Communication Theory

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), was the son of Nichomachus (the physician to the king of Macedonia). He was born in the city of Stagira in the northern Greece. He had initially been exposed to medical training after which in 367 BC enrolled to study philosophy with his teacher, Plato in Athens. He proved to be a very brilliant student but who constantly disagreed with almost everything his teachers taught. This was fundamentally because Plato always understood the world abstractly but Aristotle was more for a changing world. Aristotle believed in empirical knowledge which involved cataloguing of observable phenomena in explaining everything in nature.Due to this belief and attitude, he wrote literally about all aspects of nature and human societies including: metaphysics, physics, embryology, ethics, poetry, mathematics, meteorology, physiology, politics, dreams, anatomy, rhetoric and many others (Randall, 1960, p.23).Aristotle is a great icon when it comes to the aspect of diffi cult and rational philosophical thinking and especially one that is of abstruse nature. Even among the very well educated and read persons, he remains a legend who wrote with the precision of a superhuman and his thinking was superb with clarity that is quite incredible.His works however are easily read and the western culture or global modern culture cannot be talked about without an association with this inspiring historical philosopher though he himself never came into terms with almost everybody leave alone Plato, his famous teacher.More than 2,300 years down the line, Aristotle, who is considered the guru of rhetoric, laid the fundamental foundation of a good rhetoric (many people being addressed by one person) by saying that it should be ethical as well as persuasive.He defined rhetoric as the faculty that concerns itself with availability of persuasive means as may be observed in any particular case. Aristotle specifically divided public oratories into three categorical class es: the ceremonial, forensic and political oratory (Shields, 1999, p.15).Oratory in ceremonial situations is used particularly to censure or give some praise to an individual. Political oratory is mainly meant to urge or compel the audience to accept or not to accept something whereas forensic speaking usually defends or attacks a person in a given case and is the most relevant and widely applied in courtroom proceedings. It focuses at establishment of injustices or justice of a specific action.He believed that rhetoric must possess three proofs which are ethics (ethos), emotion (pathos) and logic (logos). He had observed the audiences being publicly manipulated by skillful speakers of his time who had no regard of the truth in their communication and this didn’t auger well to him and to Plato, his teacher. He therefore saw no apparent need or value of such rhetoric’s and this prompted him to study rhetoric in a deeper and on a different perspective.Logos is the logic contained in the actual communicated words by the speaker in a speech. The audience and their emotions or feelings in the process of rhetoric is the pathos whereas ethos is the character and disposition of the speaker as revealed by him/her, and perceived by the audience during the process of the communication.During Aristotle’s days, the pathos idea was a novel one though not many speakers today would communicate without putting their audiences’ auspice into consideration.Audiences and audience’s perception of a speaker is a very integral part of any communication as was first stipulated by Aristotle. As a matter of fact, the arousal of an audience’s emotions represents effectiveness of a speech. This has severally been employed in many great and historical speeches.For example, the famous Martin Luther King Junior’s speech in a letter he wrote while in a Birmingham jail incorporated the three necessary ingredients, the ethos, logos and pathos thu s making his audience convinced of the truth and importance of his speech (Shenk, 1995, p.56).According to Aristotle, persuasion is demonstrative in the sense that it is through the character of a speaker that it can be achieved. The audience will always consider the speaker’s credibility from his/her spoken word to be convinced, after apparently discerning some truth from the presented arguments.Aristotle went beyond the explanation of ethos as merely competence in morality of the speaker to include knowledge and expertise. Although the word ethics, derived from the Greek word ethos (meaning disposition or theory of living), it is the study of morality.Aristotle gave indubitable remarks that it is not what the audience thinks of the speaker’s character prior to the speech that matters but by the content of the speech.However, several writers today dispute this and argue that it is the speakers overall history and morality that matters in determining the validity or in validity of the argument. For example they argue that some ethos can be violated through a number of reasons which include the following (Broadie, 1991, p.68).Firstly, the speaker may have some motives that may be ulterior or some interests vested in the debates final outcome. The interests may be direct such as in a case where an individual who has been involved in a crime pleads ignorance and innocence of the same.Secondly, it may be that the speaker’s expertise is doubtable e.g. a doctor’s lecture on architectural designs has less impact than an architecture giving a speech on the same.Pathos, another mode of persuasion, implies â€Å"emotion† or to â€Å"suffer† as derived from the Greek word paschein. The audience’s emotions can be appealed to in a number of ways. Particularly, it can be very powerful when passion in general together with some items of emotional arousal is skillfully applied in the speech.Moreover, it can be through telling st ories using some metaphorical connotations as commonly used in non-fictional or fiction materials evoking paramount pity and/or sorrow. Pathos is more psychologically appealing to audiences especially when it results to rejection fear if the audience is in disagreement with the speaker’s arguments.When pathos is excessively applied, it leads to over-emotionalism. Appealing to the emotional aspect of the audience, one can easily inspire happy, sad or angry reactions as well as patriotism among many others (Whaley, Samter, 2006, p.47).Logos is defined as the application of logic in the process of making arguments or in other words the reason appealing technique. It is the factual and rational modality upon which the position of the speaker is based and supported. By the use of arguments that are persuasive in nature, persuasion itself can be affected by the very speech when an apparent truth or a truth has been proven in a particular case.The attorneys will always desire to app eal to the logical sense of the fact finder at one point or another during the process of trial in a case. By use of logos, individuals want to convince an adoption for no other conclusion but theirs alone (Shenk, 1995, p. 104).ReferenceBroadie Sarah (1991) Ethics with Aristotle. Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.68.Randall John (1960) Aristotle. Columbia, Columbia University Press, pp.23, 49.Shenk Robert (1995) Ethos at Sea. Business Communication Quarterly, Vol.58, pp. 56.

Strategic Operations Issues

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS ISSUES Elizabeth Kelly ABSTRACT This paper identifies an operational issue of a national food-chain. The problem is identified with the demonstration of the functional relationships and process flow analysis. With the use of concepts of operations and process management, the problem is analyzed and methods sought to provide recommendations and an implementation plan. TABLE OF CONTENTS Background of Hi-Lo Food Stores†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 Problem Identification†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 Background of the LINX Operating System†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Analysis using Concepts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7Recommendation and Implementation Plan†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 9 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 11 BACKGROUND OF HI-LO FOOD STORES Hi-Lo Food Stores is a supermarket chain operating in Trinidad since 1950. With 17 outlets spread throughout the length and breadth of the country, Hi-Lo Food Stores employs over 1800 employees. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION At Hi-Lo Food Stores, which is considered a mass service process type (Slack et al, pg. 114) customers are afforded the option of different payment methods. Payment methods include cash, credit cards and debit cards.In an effort to continue to provide better options for settling of payments to merchants and customers alike, the company Infolink was formed. Infolink is a joint venture company owned by the four commercial banks of Trinidad and Tobago whose focus is to provide state of the art financial transaction-switching technology by way of debit card payment. In recent times, it has been observed that on peak commercial periods, Hi-Lo Food Stores terminals have not been able to process debit card payments. The message ‘No Communication Field’ is generated when debit card transactions cannot be processed.The customer is either forced to use a credit card or use cash. The nature of the business of Hi-Lo Food Stores would in some instances cause for a large sum of money at the check-out terminal. Customers, who do not have a credit card facility available, are then forced to leave their merchandise at the store and locate an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) to withdraw cash and then return to the store to complete the transaction. Hi-Lo Food Stores is then faced with the issue of storing in a secure manner those items selected and already bagged for the prospective customer and can only be delivered until payment is tendered.This then causes a storage issue since these items are usually placed at the termina l the customer was accommodated at. Sub-issues of pilfering and bottlenecking of check-out counters have also been evident. The second issue arises when the customer does not return for reasons such as, no ABM facility within range of Hi-Lo, and then causes the customer to leave to a more convenient supermarket. This leaves Hi-Lo with spoilage and re-stocking of the items already held at the terminals. Customer dissatisfaction sets in and an erosion of brand loyalty occurs.The impact on Hi-Lo Food Stores can then be summarized to include increased check-out times at terminals, customer dissatisfaction and decreased sales. BACKGROUND OF THE LINX OPERATING SYSTEM In 1992 saw the advent of the LINX shopping experience to Trinidad and Tobago. Infolink Services Limited is the facilitator of the LINX Network where debit cards from any commercial bank in Trinidad and Tobago would be processed at all Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) regardless of the commercial bank the customer so belonge d.This system led the way for merchants to employ the LINX Network at their Point-of-Sale terminals thus allowing debit cards issued at any commercial bank in Infolink’s Accredited Partners to be accepted at these participating merchants. While the LINX system proved seamless during its pilot project phase of operations, in recent times as the service became more widely accepted by the general public, LINX seemed to be unable to manage the demand of merchants. Evidence has not been offered on the number of transactions over a structured period, in order to ascertain the workload capacity of the Infolink Services Limited’s system.As the writer has evidenced at Hi-Lo Food Stores, the debit card payment system seemed unable to handle the workload during peak periods of demand. ANALYSIS USING CONCEPTS The use of technology to supersede traditional methods of payment can be seen to deliver great advantages and benefits to Hi-Lo Food Stores. The process design of the debit c ard system in its conception can be seen to provide great advantages to the mass service process type. This payment method can be seen as an internally supportive method of increasing operations capabilities.For example, in times prior to the LINX operations, Hi-Lo Food Stores terminal processing time was generally a longer process. This could have been caused by the customer having to present a personal cheque for payment along with a cheque guarantee card, if applicable. The second step would be for the cashier to examine both card and cheque for validity. In instances where the cheque was written in excess of the card guarantee amount, a supervisor would then be referred to for authorization.A process that would guarantee a longer turnaround time than the now widely used LINX service, debit card payment option. In analysis of the process however, we must measure the impact of the unreliability of the service and how it causes delays and decreased outputs. These delays then impact on the cycle time at checkout counters. In carrying out a process analysis, it is obvious that the LINX operating system has a process capacity which has not yet been determined. In identifying the system’s capacity, resources may be input into the process for improved reliability and performance.As can be seen the debit card payment system when effective can have a positive strategic impact on operations performance objectives. By firstly, impacting on the speed by which customers is processed at check-out terminals. When you have a quick turnover time you reduce the traffic and congestion in the supermarket which can result in breakage and accidents. Secondly, the LINX system has impacted on flexibility by allowing the customer the option of choosing a more direct form of payment as opposed to credit cards.Dependability can be seen as a performance objective where the system can be relied upon. The above performance objectives, speed, flexibility and dependability have bee n negatively impacted on as the debit card system has become unreliable during peak operating times as such the issues Hi-Lo has experienced relates to its inefficiency of its customer experience, its quality of service is risked, thus losing the trust and loyalty of some customers. RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANIt is the writer’s recommendation that an immediate sourcing of an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) be allocated to all branches. This ABM facility will give the customer the ability to exact cash to the check-out terminal without leaving the premises. The ABM facility will have the effect of speeding up turnaround time at terminals for payment. The added advantage of the facility not only being available to check-out customers but the facility will encourage more traffic with customers who may need just the convenience of an ABM facility.The ABM facility will be strategically placed in an area just after the bank of check out tellers, but away from the main e ntrance point. This would force the person who came for the convenience of the ABM facility only to line up, surrounded by small convenient items that may encourage purchasing of candy, gum, magazines etc. In the hopes of a long term resolution, Hi-Lo Food Stores conduct a process design-analysis. This analysis will determine the throughput time and impact upon the flow rate of customers by measuring the number of successful or unsuccessful attempts using the debit card system.In conducting this analysis, list the customers alternate payment method used and whether immediate payment was affected. The system of process mapping can assess the processes for example, Hi-Lo Food stores must also account for those customers who are inconvenienced by having to visit an ABM to use cash as a payment method. List those persons who in fact will follow through and complete the transactions as against those persons who find it far too inconvenient to return to Hi-Lo.With the use of this data, Hi -Lo food stores will then be able to account for manpower used at the terminal for processing a void transaction, storage of items, spoilage of perishable items which may occur and hours of duty time spent re-stocking. Finally, Hi-Lo in conjunction with Infolink needs to formalize a structured plan of action to implement a larger capacity for processing of debit card transactions, and for Hi-Lo to ascertain its feasibility. ACTIVITY| TIME| OWNERSHIP/RESPONSIBILITY| 1. 1 Source a consultant | 2 weeks| IT Department| 2. 1 Identify number of transactions incomplete| 6 weeks| IT Department| 2. Identify time periods for ‘down’ time| 6 weeks| IT Department| 3. 1 Identify source of problem| 1 week| Consultant| 4. 1 Make recommendations| 2 weeks| Consultant| 5. 1 Implement changes and test| 6 weeks| IT Department| 6. 1 Gather feedback from customer| 2 weeks| Marketing Department| 7. 1 Make further recommendations| 1 week | Consultant| 8. 1 Implement and test| 3 weeks| IT Depart ment| | | | REFERENCES Slack, N & Chambers, S & Johnston, R & Betts, A 2009, Operations and Process Management, Principles and Practice for Strategic Impact, 2nd edn