Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions in India Essay Example for Free

Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions in India Essay The corporate sector all over the world is restructuring its operations through different types of consolidation strategies like mergers and acquisitions in order to face challenges posed by the new pattern of globalisation. The intensity of such operations is increasing with the de-regulation of various government policies as a facilitator of the neo-liberal economic regime. The intensity of cross-border operations recorded an unprecedented surge since the mid-1990s and the same trend continues. Earlier, foreign firms were satisfying their market expansion strategy through the setting up of wholly owned subsidiaries in overseas markets which has now become a ‘second best option since it involves much time and effort that may not suit to the changed global scenario, cross-border mergers and acquisitions became the ‘first-best option’ to the leaders and others depended on the follow-the-leader’ strategy. The Indian corporate sector too experienced such a boom in mergers and acquisitions that led restructuring strategies especially after liberalization, Four types of growth strategies adopted by the firms. Firms started with domestic production and began to export to the foreign markets, establishment of subsidiaries in overseas market was the next stage and as a fourth phase, firms started to acquire firms in foreign markets instead of establishing subsidiaries. The increasing magnitude of investment through cross-border mergers and acquisitions and its emergence as a major component of FDI even in the case of developing countries such as India, why firms are engaging in cross-border consolidations instead of establishing subsidiaries or to engage in export-oriented growth.

Environmental Analysis Of Brazil Marketing Essay

Environmental Analysis Of Brazil Marketing Essay DAIM Co. is the company that has been operating successfully for the past 15 years providing and manufacturing computer and computer devices and considered as the market leader in the Malaysian market. Due to the high competition in the market, the manager of DAIM Co. intends to persuade companys BOD (Board of Directors) to penetrate Brazilian market. The main idea of the business is to sell computers and computer devices in Brazil. The main purpose of this assignment is to perform environmental analysis of Brazil, to identify possible opportunities and threats, and to analyze how the environmental factors in terms of political-legal, social, economic and technological environment can affect the international operation functions and decision-making of a business. Also, this research paper provides most appropriate market entry strategy. Selected Product: Computer and computer devices Executive Summary flag_of_brazil.png images.jpg Geography It is a country that situates in the South America, and continents largest nation. Borders almost all the countries on the continent except Chile and Ecuador and has exit to Atlantic Ocean that makes country easy to access by the sea. The surface area of the country is 8 547 000 square km. Brazil ranks as fifth largest country. The capital city is Brasilia, while the most important cities are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Brazils climate is tropical due to the location of the country, with the south being temperate. (Appendix 1, Political Map of Brazil) Demography It is the most populous nation in the South America, and worlds 6 country according to population after China, India, USA, Indonesia and Russian Federation. The population of brazil is equal to 190,732,694 people as of August 2010, which is 2.76% of Worlds Population. And the birth rate is 22.65 births per 1,000 populations. Different ethnic groups can be described as follows: 55% are whites of European descent, 22% are mulattous of mixed European and African Descent, 11% blacks and 0.1% Native Americans. (http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/presidencia/noticias/noticia_visualiza.php?id_noticia=1766id_pagina=1 ) Economic Profile Brazil has best economy among all countries in Latin America. Since its independence September 7, 1822 the economy is rapidly developing. And the result by 2010 is: GDP (nominal exchange rate): $ 2.1 trillion. GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.194 trillion. (Appendix 2, GDP of Brazil) Annual real growth (2010): 7.5%. Natural resources: Iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium, gemstones, oil, wood, and aluminum. Brazil has 14% of the worlds renewable fresh water. Agriculture (6% of GDP):  Productssoybeans, coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, rice, livestock, corn, oranges, cotton, wheat, and tobacco. Industry (28% of GDP):  Typessteel, commercial aircraft, chemicals, petrochemicals, footwear, machinery, motors, vehicles, auto parts, consumer durables, cement, and lumber. Exchange rate (March 3, 2011): U.S. $1 = 1.65 Brazilian reals. International Business Trade balance of Brazil as for 2011 is $20 billion surplus.  Exports: $202 billion.  Major markets of exports are: China 15%, USA 10%, Argentina 9%.  Imports: $182 billion.  Major suppliers are USA 15%, China 14%, and Argentina 8%. (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35640.htm) PESTLE Analysis PESTLE is a strategic management tool that provides useful framework to analyze the environmental pressures on Business (Goyal et al, 2009). Political: Brazil is a federal republic with 26 states and a federal district. The 1988 constitution grants broad powers to the federal government, made up of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Electing Lula da Silva in the 2002 as the president of Brazil has been described as a milestone, a starting point for secured democratic rule in the nation. This was an important in the establishment of economic norms and practices for the country; the more socialist models of state-run industry have been rejected, and significant international debt has been incurred to address the social ills facing the country. During the economic crisis in Latin America, the Brazilian economic situation becomes even more important; the growth of the Brazilian market has come to bear significantly on the worlds economy. After the election there have been significant improvements in the political environment, but political wrangling still exists, and a fragmented congress means economic risks still remain.  Issues surrounding policy implementation mean that expected future benefits from current policies are uncertain. Economic: Brazilian economy is the largest in the South America region; country has well developed agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service sector. From 2003, Brazil improved its macroeconomic situation, built foreign relations, reduced internal debt, kept inflation rate under control. Later during the financial crisis Brazilian economy had a solid performance and its strong and early recovery, including 2010 growth of 7.5%, have contributed to the countrys transition from a regional to a global power. Expected to continue to grow in the 4% to 5% range, the economy is the worlds eighth-largest and is expected to rise to fifth within the next several years. During the administration of former President Lula, surging exports, economic growth and social programs helped lift tens of millions of Brazilians out of poverty. Social: The large and growing consumer market provides a strong basis for considering market entry.      It is unlikely that overall workforce availability will be an issue, given the option of using international labor if requirements cannot be met locally.  Ã‚   Labor costs are attractive but there are significant costs on top of basic wages and requirements for additional training. Technological: Brazil is a leader in science and technology in South America and in some fields a global leader, such as bio fuels, agricultural research, deep-sea oil production, and remote sensing. U.S. Government, private sector, and academic researchers have extensive ties with Brazilian counterparts, and the extent of bilateral scientific and technological cooperation is expanding. The Brazilian Government seeks to develop an environment that is more supportive of innovation, taking scientific advances from the laboratory to the marketplace. Legal: The Legal rules governing business activities in Brazil are basically laid down in federal legislation, but constitution allows Federal Government to legislate on certain matters related to business activities, such as tax, financial and economic issues, liability for environmental and consumer damages. Federal Governments power is limited to enacting basic rules on such issues, whereas States and Federal District have authority to legislate on a supplementary basis, in line with the general rules laid down in the federal legislation. Brazil offers big business opportunities for foreign investors, in light of its economic potential, its diversified economy and its huge domestic market, now considerably expanded as a result of several international trade agreements entered into with economic blocks and countries the World over. Environmental: According to the geographical location of Brazil, it is very easy accessible by the sea, this means the country has an exit to the Atlantic Ocean. The raw materials, equipment, and products can easily be delivered by the sea which is not costly comparing to transportation by air. Also, according to the geographical location of the country there is no natural disaster like earthquakes and tsunami, which may cause stoppage of the business. Due to the large size, the climate of Brazil is different, even though the most part of the country is within tropical zone. The climate of Brazil experiments two seasons: the rainy which is summer and dry season which is winter. There is no cold at all, so the climate is partly same as in Malaysia, and it is very suitable for doing business in this country. Market and Segment Analysis STP (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning) is the essence of marketing. (Kotler, 1994, p. 93) Segmentation is the  process  of defining and subdividing a  market  into clearly identifiable  segments having similar  needs,  wants, or  demand  characteristics. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/market-segmentation.html) Demographic Segmentation refers to a wide study of the potential customers (Kotler, P., 2002). It consists of the variables such as: age, income, occupation and gender. The below diagram demonstrates the age segmentation: 13-25 years for Education and Entertainment 25-65 years for doing business. Segment.jpg The income level is an important part of segmentation, everyone can afford computers and computer devices, because nowadays there to many types of devices and they vary in pricing. It is available for all levels of users, occupation and gender. Geographic Segmentation is done by dividing people (markets) into different geographical locations. (Kotler Armstrong, 2002, p.252) Here, the main target will be main cities like capital Brasilia, and the most important cities in the country Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Targeting Strategy is the  selection  of  potential  customers  to whom a  business wishes to  sell  products  or  services. The targeting  strategy involves segmenting the market, choosing which  segments of the market are  appropriate, and determining the products that will be offered in each segment. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/targeting-strategy.html) Mostly computer devices will be selling to the big companies who need computers to operate their business and customers who uses computers that need devices to coordinate their busy schedules and communicate with colleagues, friends and family. Also, high schools, colleges and other educational institutions will be targeted in Brazil. Positioning Strategy   states  how the  firm  defines  its  business  or how a  brand  distinguishes itself, how the  customers  will benefit from its  features, and how these  benefits  or aspects will be communicated to the intended  audience. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/positioning-statement.html) We are positioning our computers and computer devices as the versatile, convenient, value-added devices for doing business, personal and professional use. The marketing strategy will focus on the convenience of doing business, entertainment with access to the internet. Mode of Entry to the Market The proposed way to enter Brazilian market is through Joint Venture strategy, which is defined as a contractual business undertaking between two or more parties. It is similar to a business partnership, with one key difference: a partnership generally involves an ongoing, long-term business relationship, whereas a joint venture is based on a single business transaction. Establishment of joint ventures is a common practice in Brazil. A major motivation for joint ventures is to pair foreign firms with Brazilian partners to compete in segments of the government procurement market or in other markets subject to government regulation, such as telecommunications, computers and capital goods. Formation of a joint venture can be accomplished through a variety of business entities. Entering a joint venture is a complex, and sometimes, time consuming process. As any type business structure, it holds a good opportunity for anyone to grow and make money fast; but just like any other business type; joint venture also holds threat to anyone who wants to enter. Porters 5 Forces Porters fives forces model  is a model which is using to analyze a particular environment of an industry in terms of Competitive rivalry, power of suppliers, power of buyers, threats of substitutes and threat of new entrants. Competitive rivalry: When entering to the market, the first thing you have to do is to analyze competitive rivalry in the country you going to set your business. If entry to an industry is easy then competitive rivalry will likely to be high. If it is easy for customers to move to substitute products for example from coke to water then again rivalry will be high. Generally competitive rivalry will be high if: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ There is little differentiation between the products sold between customers. Actually, there is not so much difference between computer devices sold in different companies. This means the customers will look for those products which have better quality or long life cycle of the product, in other words durability. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Competitors are approximately the same size of each other. Those companies who are operating as retailers only, will face a big trouble against big companies. The buyers prefer to work with best, well known companies who provide stability and confidence to them. Power of  suppliers Suppliers are also essential for the success of an  organization. Raw materials are needed to complete the finish product of the organization.  Suppliers  do have power. This power comes from:   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If they are the only  supplier  or one of few  suppliers  who  supply  that particular raw material. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If it costly for the  organization  to move from one  supplier  to another à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If there is no other substitute for their product. Power of buyers Buyers or customers can exert  influence  and control over an industry in certain circumstances. This happens when: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ There is little differentiation over the product and substitutes can be found easily. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Customers are sensitive to price. The pricing should not be high, it must suit their expectations. The overall life concerns in Brazil are low, this means we have to identify the prices in relation to the customers, are they able to buy our products. If the prices will be high, the customer will switch to another product or company which is not costly for them. Threat of Substitutes This is about the alternative products that customers can purchase over your product that offer the same benefit for the same or less price. Threat of substitute is high when the price of your PC is higher than your competitors price, or when competitors decide to cut the prices of their products. In this industry, we can say that there is high competition, so this can bring to losing customers because customers sometimes are willing to substitute and compare the products or companies itself. Threat of new entrant The threat of a new  organization  entering the industry is high when it is easy for an organization  to enter the industry. An  organization  will look at how loyal customers are to existing products, how quickly they can achieve economy of scales, would they have access to  suppliers, would  government legislation  prevent them or encourage them to enter the industry. Actually, there is high probability that other companies will enter the market and will compete with you in the market. Conclusion Doing business in Brazil may be very profitable to the international companies. All the factors that may affect the business are positively affecting the business. PC industry is developing on Brazil. And there are many drivers to start your own business in the Brazil. International companies have advantage over the local companies, as they are undervalued and in need of restructuring, capital and technology. There is creative and flexible labor force, which is not expensive comparing to other countries. Growth potential of consumer market is very high. Privatization in late stages, inflation is under control in the last 10 years. There is increasing globalization and international trade. Foreign investors are eligible for most available fiscal incentives. And established transportation networks such as railways, highways, ports make it easy to operate in Brazil.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Mount Everest, Nepal Mount Everest, Nepal All the famous mountain climbers mustve felt amazed when they went onto this mountain. Come to Nepal and see the amazing Mount Everest in person! It is just around the corner of Nepal, Tibet and China. All the mountain climbers that has came to this wonderful place has gone through an amazing experience. This colossal mountain is one of the largest wonders of the world, find out how you would react once you try to climb this mountain made by nature! You will go on an amazing trip and feel like youll never want to leave this structure of nature when you come to Nepal. Find out what people come here for and brag about once they come back from their trip. Youll do the same for sure because this place is a wondrous land of nature. Location : The things that you would find in Nepal would be Mt. Everest. It is part of the Himalaya mountain range, and on the border of Nepal and Tibet. The worlds highest peak above the sea level! It is the worlds highest most unreachable mountain. Mount Everest was formed about 60 million years ago to reach this high of a mountain. In Tibet they called Mount Everest â€Å"Chomolungma† which means mother goddess of the universe. In Nepal they call Mount Everest â€Å"Sagarmatha† which means goddess of the sky. In china they call Mount Everest â€Å"Zhumulangma† which means goddess of the sky. In 1865, Mt. Everest was named after Sir George Everest which used to be known as Peak 15. Mount Everest is right on the border of Nepal beside our friends Tibet and China. The summit of Mt. Everests ridge separates Nepal from Tibet. The height of Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) or 5 and a half miles above the sea level. The latitude and longitude of this stunning mountain is 27?9?6† North as latitude and 86?5?0† East as longitude. Climate: In the beginning of the year, the temperatures drop to as low as -76degrees Fahrenheit which is -60degrees Celsius. Glaciers cover the slopes of Everest to its base. Individual glaciers that consume the mountain are the Kangshung Glacier to the East, Central, and West Rongbuk glaciers to the north and northwest; the Pumori Glacier to the northwest; and the Khumbu Glacier to the west and south, which is filled by the glacier bed of the Western Cwm, an enclosed valley of ice between Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse Ridge to the south. Glacial action has been the primary force behind the heavy and continuous erosion of Everest and the other high Himalayan. Other Attractions and Accommodations: Nepal offers amazing and unique sights and experiences that many of the typical traveling destinations lack. Nepal has been open to tourism for just over fifty years and has seen a rise in visitors. One of the main tourist magnets in Nepal is the beast of a hill, called Mount Everest. Mount Everest is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Nepal. Mount Everest is truly magnificent. The summit of the mountain, which is the worlds tallest, is a goal that many climbers have looked to reach. While climbing to the top, it is an impressive goal accomplished by only those that are brave and bold enough to try. You can enjoy Everest at altitudes much lower than the highest peak. Mount Everest does not offer hiking trails to visitors. But there are many hiking routes in the surroundings of Himalayan Mountains that offer stunning views of the great mountain. You can embark on a day, week, or ten day trek up to view some of the impressive sights if you are the adventurous type. If you do go for the hike. The best time of the year to go are in the early spring and fall. While Mount Everest may be the most popular attraction in Nepal, there are many towns, cities, and countryside villages that are worth checking out too. Kathmandu is the countrys main city. It is the metropolitan capital of Nepal, and any visitor will know this when he or she steps into the bustling streets. In addition to a thriving economy, there is a place with amazingly constructed temples, shrines, and ancient palaces made in Durbar Square, located in the middle of the city. Here the tourist can engage in shopping, while viewing stunning architecture laced in Hindu charm. Most tourists will want to stay in the city for at least a night or longer because it is magnificent. There are many hotels to pick that offer a lot of accommodations. One of the more popular spots is the Hotel Yak Yeti. The Hotel Yak Yeti is on Durbar Marg, which is just east of the Royal Palace. Transportation: People would climb this mountain by riding on yaks. It is a large animal that resembles looks of a buffalo. They would bring oxygen tanks, warm clothing, food and other resources that can help them along the way. Landforms: There are sea carves on the mountain and along the way you will find valleys and seracs. Effects Of The Physical Environment On Tourism: People would ski on the mountain and have other expeditions. The people on the mountain range often pollute the air which makes the temperature warmer. It would be impossible for them to reach to peak of the mountain because they would run out of oxygen and there are many difficult obstacles along the way up. The elevation of Mount Everest increases about 2.4 inches a year which is 6.1 centimetres per year. There arent many things that got transport you when your on Mount Everest which brings the fun. You can do many snow activities there if you are planning to go. If you come to Mt. Everest, you would never want to leave or go to another place again! Carson

Post 1900 War Poetry :: Wilfred Owen Alfred Tennyson War Poems Essays

Post 1900 War Poetry By looking at several war poems written before and after 1900, I can see that many elements of the types of poetry change greatly in several ways. I will be looking at a selection of war poems written by three different poets, in chronological order, so as to see if the attitudes to war and writing styles change over time or during various stages of the war. Firstly I will be looking at a poem written by Alfred Tennyson about the charge against the Russian gunners in 1854. The poem is called "The Charge of the Light Brigade" as it is exactly what happened. The information that Tennyson used to write the poem came from a newspaper article from the Times. Tennyson has used the information very well to give an accurate and informative, yet poetic description of the charge. Although Tennyson is writing from secondary information, he has still incorporated poetic and rhythmic effects to make the poem follow a rhythm similar to that of a galloping horse. 'Half a league, Half a league, Half a league onward', the distance of the charge is stated at the beginning of the poem as it starts straight into the charge. Although in the article written in the newspaper it states 'At a distance of 1,200 yards', Tennyson has edited it within similar distance whilst making the information poetic to read. By starting the charge at the beginning of the poem, Tennyson has instantly caught the reader's attention whilst still providing the relevant information for the poem to tell the story of what happened. Tennyson glorifies the soldiers greatly by using strong dramatic language and graphic images that can be vividly formed in the reader's minds. "All in the valley of Death, rode the six hundred." The dramatic language here makes it seem like just the unusually small amount of horsemen used in such a charge would be charging at hell itself. Tennyson continues to glorify the bravery of the soldiers throughout the whole poem, 'Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of death', yet the emphasis that he uses on death makes the charge seem futile and that the men are charging towards their own deaths. Verses 3 and 5 seem very similar when reading the poem, however in contrast the charge is towards the gunners in Verse 3 whereas it is the retreat in Verse 5. Yet Tennyson always keeps the repetition of 600 throughout the poem, even when they are retreating and many of them have already been killed he continues to refer to them as one group of six hundred that make up the Light Brigade.

Humor in Assemblywomen by Aristophanes :: Assemblywomen Aristophanes Essays

Humor in Assemblywomen by Aristophanes Assemblywomen, by Aristophanes, posits a system in which the institution for the transfer of wealth within a patrimonial line is subverted by a system that closely resembles the ordering of a Greek household. In Assemblywomen, the women take power and redesign the social mechanisms. Although the Assemblywomen radically change some elements of the Greek social institution, such as private property and sexual limitation, the women remain, although in an expanded form, within the structure of a household. Male dominance is tempered but gender roles are reinforced. The institution of the household in Assemblywomen is expanded into the body politic but its fundamental nature does not change. In contrast, Oeconomicus offers a more conventional conception of the Athenian household. Ischomachos, for his own edification, presents to Socrates an idealized version of his household. Ischomachos, in his effort to impress Socrates with the skill and talents of his young wife, gives a clear account of the Athenian social norms surrounding the household. This text is useful in understanding Assemblywomen because it offers the social ideal that, to varying degrees, Aristophanes perverts. Indeed, Assemblywomen adheres to many of the ideals of the household put forth by Oeconomicus. Aristophanes does not depart completely from the conventional conception of a household but rather parodies the system by locating it in the larger context of the polis. There are a few fundamental similarities between Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen and the more conventional Oeconomicus. First, despite the female entrance into public society, there remains a strong division of labor. The men and women do not work together, but remain separate factions with gender specific tasks and duties. This separations of labor is also found in Oeconomicus when Ischomachos proclaims that, â€Å"it is a finer thing for a women to stay indoors than to spend time in the open, while it is more disgraceful for a man to stay indoors than to concern himself with outdoor things† (33,IV). Women are expected to do the tasks associated with the interior of the household. In Assemblywomen, after the women take control of the polis, they do not assume the civic duties once carried out by the men but rather try â€Å"remodeling it into one big household† (730). Humor in Assemblywomen by Aristophanes :: Assemblywomen Aristophanes Essays Humor in Assemblywomen by Aristophanes Assemblywomen, by Aristophanes, posits a system in which the institution for the transfer of wealth within a patrimonial line is subverted by a system that closely resembles the ordering of a Greek household. In Assemblywomen, the women take power and redesign the social mechanisms. Although the Assemblywomen radically change some elements of the Greek social institution, such as private property and sexual limitation, the women remain, although in an expanded form, within the structure of a household. Male dominance is tempered but gender roles are reinforced. The institution of the household in Assemblywomen is expanded into the body politic but its fundamental nature does not change. In contrast, Oeconomicus offers a more conventional conception of the Athenian household. Ischomachos, for his own edification, presents to Socrates an idealized version of his household. Ischomachos, in his effort to impress Socrates with the skill and talents of his young wife, gives a clear account of the Athenian social norms surrounding the household. This text is useful in understanding Assemblywomen because it offers the social ideal that, to varying degrees, Aristophanes perverts. Indeed, Assemblywomen adheres to many of the ideals of the household put forth by Oeconomicus. Aristophanes does not depart completely from the conventional conception of a household but rather parodies the system by locating it in the larger context of the polis. There are a few fundamental similarities between Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen and the more conventional Oeconomicus. First, despite the female entrance into public society, there remains a strong division of labor. The men and women do not work together, but remain separate factions with gender specific tasks and duties. This separations of labor is also found in Oeconomicus when Ischomachos proclaims that, â€Å"it is a finer thing for a women to stay indoors than to spend time in the open, while it is more disgraceful for a man to stay indoors than to concern himself with outdoor things† (33,IV). Women are expected to do the tasks associated with the interior of the household. In Assemblywomen, after the women take control of the polis, they do not assume the civic duties once carried out by the men but rather try â€Å"remodeling it into one big household† (730).

Disaster Preparedness Essay

A disaster is generally defined as an event in which illness or injuries surpass resource capabilities of a community or medical facility (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2010). Disaster preparedness is a process of ensuring that an organization has complied with the preventive measures and is in a state of readiness to contain the effects of a predicted disastrous event to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property. see more:essay on disaster management in english Disaster preparedness can also provide rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and other services in the aftermath of the disaster, as well as have the capability and resources to continue to sustain its essential functions without being overwhelmed by the demand placed on them. The American Nursing Association is helping to ensure that disaster preparedness and response is robust in this country to be personally and professionally prepared for a disaster. Being in a prepared profession can help cope and help the communities recover from disaster better, faster and stronger (Brewer, 2010). According to the Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) at Maricopa Medical Center, they have a specialized disaster preparedness plan to fit their current top three hazards. Maricopa Medical Center conducts a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) annually. The current top three hazards K. F. , Manager of Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness, at Maricopa Medical Center has identified include: Mass Causality Incidents (trauma, burns, pandemic, etc. ), Small Casualty Hazardous Materials Response (less than five patients), and Severe Weather Incidents (monsoonal action, thunderstorms, and haboobs). This organization has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that addresses the top three current hazards in the organization’s region. Maricopa Medical Center is also further developing their business continuity and recovery plans into stand-alone plans (K. F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012). In order to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of the disaster preparedness plan, Maricopa Medical Center annually conducts a minimum of two operational exercises, in addition to various discussion based exercises. The organization’s exercises follow the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP), which includes an after action report process with an improvement plan and corrective action plan sections. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, many studies have showed that disaster drills have been an effective way to improve staffs knowledge of hospital disaster procedures (Catlett, 2004). Additionally, exercise objectives are developed in such a way to exercise pieces of the plan that have been identified as opportunities for continual improvement and/or grant deliverables. Once opportunities for improvement of the disaster plan are identified, these improvements are remedied by being given corrective actions with specific time frames and the status is reported to senior management. Some recent corrective actions that have occurred within recent years include the development of position-specific training to further build comfort for those that are activated in the Hospital Command Center, plan changes regarding Casualty Care Areas during a response to a Mass Casualty Incident, and Standard Operating Procedure enhancement for the Hospital Emergency Response Team (K. F. personal interview, February 13, 2012). The representation that is present on the disaster preparedness committee for Maricopa Medical Center does not include nursing management. The emergency management committee includes a cross-sectional representation from the entire health system. This includes Acute Care, Behavioral Health, Ancillary Services, and Outpatient Services. K. F. , stated, â€Å"Bedside nursing has been extremely instrumental within the various task groups that focus on plan changes. In fact, the task groups associated with Casualty Care, Fatality Management, and HERT development are chaired by bedside nursing staff. There is also a Steering Committee for guidance that includes the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and the Vice President of Hospital Operations (K. F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012). † The established relationships that are within the community to help implement the organization’s disaster preparedness plan are that K. F. is currently the Chair-Elect for the Az Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER-Central), which brings hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing acilities, fire & Emergency Medical Services (EMS), public health, emergency management, and other community stakeholders together for planning. Maricopa Medical Center currently has three to four members on the general body of this group, including bedside nursing representatives. There are a number of governmental agencies that are involved in the organization’s disaster preparedness planning. K. F. is an active member with Coyote Crisis Collaborative, which includes some of those from AzCHER, but also universities and community colleges, utilities, private business, faith-based and other volunteer groups, etc. The Chief Information Officer is currently the Chairman of the Board for Coyote Crisis Collaborative. Additionally, they participate in the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Grant which is administered by Arizona Department of Health Services. All of these opportunities provide environments for collaboration, plan sharing, and developing solutions to issues that face all of those included (K. F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012). In order to implement this plan, staff has received adequate training. The National Incident Management System and Incident Command System training is required for all identified Hospital Command Center staff. They have a â€Å"3-Deep† list for all identified positions. Required training includes Incident System-100, Incident System-200, Incident System-700, and Incident System-800 as a minimum. Incident System-300 and Incident System-400 are required for section chiefs and incident commanders. An overview of the Hospital Incident Command System is shared with all employees at New Employee Orientation. The Hospital Emergency Response Team (HERT) members receive additional Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) training within the HERT course and must take Incident System-100, Incident System-200, and Incident System-800 as pre-requisites for HERT. At Maricopa Medical Center, HERT training is now the standard for the Emergency Department first-year residents during their orientation process. K. Fehr stated, â€Å"Additionally, position-specific training has been identified in a recent exercise as an opportunity for improvement. That training has been developed and is scheduled to be administered over the next 90 days (K. F. personal interview, February 13, 2012). † Maricopa Medical Center has an automated system for the Hospital Command Center that is based upon Hospital Incident Command System IV. This system allows for â€Å"virtual† command and has the ability to send status updates, as well as provide real-time status to the HCC Team. They have also just been given access to a Mass Notification program from Arizona Department of Health Services that can be used internally to ensure that communication during incidents is sent to every employee. HICS IV is the current model that is used, which is National Incident Management System compliant (K.  F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012). The standards that nurses are held to concerning their ethical obligations to their organization and community would be handled by the Incident Commander with guidance of wither a Legal Specialist or Medical Ethicist. Any issues that are specific to standards of care would be approved by the Incident Commander and forwarded to the staff during the event based upon available resources, etc. If the question is specific as to the nurses’ duty to respond to work during a disaster, they do not require them to respond. They hope that they would stay or be willing to come in. The planning includes the set-up of child/elder care areas and sleeping areas for the staff to remove barriers that would take them away from their station. Planning does include the idea that at least 40 % of the staff will not remain or come in during an incident. Maricopa Medical Center has a Memorandum of Understanding and a Memorandum of Agreement with other regional hospitals and formal request processes at the county and state levels for additional staff. When asked whether staff buy-in was a coveted aspect in Maricopa Medical Center’s disaster plan, K. F. tates, â€Å"Staff is absolutely buy-in coveted for this organization’s disaster preparedness plan. The best method that we have found for involvement includes the expansion of the HERT Program, covering the program during Health Fairs and Nursing Skills Fairs, and involving staff in exercises as mock patients (K. F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012). † After my interview with K. F. , I was really intrigued into what all goes on with a disaster preparedness plan. I knew that disaster plans were in effect for many organizations, but I did not realize the actual extent of what goes n with the planning of it. I learned a lot through the interview and was very pleased with the information that I received about Maricopa Medical Center and their disaster preparedness plan. I feel that what is involved in their plan is very relevant to the location of the organization, as well as how they every year they have two operational exercises, as well as discussion based exercises, to help test their plan and determine its effectiveness. I think this is a very important aspect to any organization because without testing the plan, it is unclear how effective it really it. After these annual exercises, I think it is great that the organization has an after report with ideas for improvement to help make their disaster plan stronger and more effective. All in all, I believe that Maricopa Medical Center has a very effective and sufficient disaster preparedness plan for their organization and that they are consistently looking for areas of where they can improve and better their plan to help the community recover from disaster as it occurs (K. F. , personal interview, February 13, 2012).

Are Males and Females Treated Differently in the Criminal Justice System?

Luz Santiago March 12, 2013 Professor Carty Sex and Gender Research Paper Are males and females treated differently in the criminal justice system? My intro Many people believe that the criminal justice system treats males and females differently. In my opinion I believe that this is false. Maybe it’s because the criminal justice system is strict on males because they are often the ones getting arrested. In this research paper I will determine if this is true.The definition of criminal justice system is the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses. Source #1 As I was doing my research I came upon this book titled â€Å"The Gender of Crime† by Dana M. Britton. In this book it describes all different crimes and how men and women are punish in the criminal justice system. It states that women convicts are usually more violent, have been gi ven several more chances, and that’s just the way we were raised as society was raised.We were raised to respect women; women shouldn’t be taken away from their children. It also states that men are usually arrested more because they commit more crimes. Source#2 Statistic Statistics states that in 2009 6. 8%of all federal/state prison was women the total was 105,197. It also states that in 2009 93. 2% of men in the federal/state prison totaling to 1,443,500. Many people believe this is because of the chivalry theory, this theory explains how must male officials are more lenient on women.It’s not that they are chivalry must of time it’s because of how the crimes are committed. For example the reason why women are less likely to receive the death penalty is that they commit different kinds of murder then men do. Source#3 statistic The America Crime Survey 2009/10 showed that men were at greater risk of personal crime and violence than women. Women were at h igher risk of theft from the person and intimate violence. In 2009, there were differences in the types of sanctions issued to men and women at court.A higher proportion of female defendants received fines than males (77% compared with 63%), but lower proportions of female defendants received community sentences (10% compared with 16%), suspended sentences (2% compared with 4%), and immediate custody (3% and 9% respectively). In 2009, newly received women in prison were serving proportionately shorter custodial sentences than men. Almost half (48%) of newly received men in prison were serving sentences lasting longer than six months compared to two-fifths (38%) of newly received women.Men and women’s behaviour in prison also differed. In 2009, the rate of punishment in prison establishments was higher for women (150 adjudications per 100 prisoners) than for men (124 adjudications per 100 prisoners). More than one in three female prisoners (37%) self-harmed compared with fewer than one in ten males (7%). As in previous years, men accounted for the majority of self-inflicted deaths in custody (57 of the total 60 recorded in 2009).