Research Korner

Case Study - the reluctant information sharers

Question1: Suggestions to Improve Knowledge-Sharing  “Change is the only permanent thing in this world.  Change is inevitable.”  These are the two facts about change that makes it every man’s puzzle everyday.  Since it is a two-edged blade that can harvest or destroy, rarely will it retain status quo, we can only hope that it can be determined before occurring on our faces to express our will.  We somehow can, if change is stimulated by ourselves.  But if we are the one who will respond to it, it might as well provide positive results for adverse effects or the fear of the unknown will close nowhere to surprise and excitement especially when we are used of seeing and doing things at present ways and within our estimates.   Accordingly, employees within a certain organization are confronted with a group of bosses, rules, responsibilities, accountabilities, problems and supports that are all confined with the possibility of change.  Being in the lower part of the organizational structure, they are the ones who are vulnerable to change because they should follow and work hard to obtain employment or gain promotion.  Different company resources like machineries, money or the top-level management, rank-in-file employees are sensitive, family-oriented and largely motivated by individual goals.  Such characteristics the companies consider approaching the word that can dictate the success of company-led swings and shifts--- employee resistance.    In  dictionary, resistance is defined as “a force that tends to oppose or retard motion.”  Employees resort to resist if the company introduces change that minimizes their scope of authority, possibility of promotion or monetary benefits.  In simple terms, employee resistance is likely to arise when change deprives them of a certain right or benefit they are enjoying or would likely to enjoy if change is not introduced.  Obviously, resistance hampers the success inserted in the change pre-determined by the company. Because of this fact, managers opted to dedicate ample planning before the introduction, if not formation, of intended change.               Change can be planned or unplanned.  Planned change is from the will of the organization to achieve positive results.  It can be downsizing to cut costs, mandatory training to employees for efficiency or acquisition of a smaller company for larger market share.  Unplanned change is likely to emerge from the outside.  Government orders and new laws, environmental advisories and standards, competitor movements, supplier’s logistics or customer feedback are the common factors that affect the internal operations of a company.                 Although there are many classification of change and it can take a separate discussion for it, suffice to know that most change happened because the company requires organizational development.  The intention is to continuously improve the way people work in teams and the integration of such works in company objectives ( 2004).  With technology being replaced by another within a short span of time, companies exploit these innovations to stay competitive, or at least, survive in the market.  Such move exposed a company to a series of mutation, might be endless, that makes it vulnerable to change.      Question 2: Comments to Reaction of Consultants             The risk of sharing the information to competitors or also termed as leakage is too broad and too confident.  The issue of leakage is not a big issue for the consulting firm because initially it has big clients who already have knowledge of basic, and for some, advanced investment strategies.  As a result, the investment problems that clients throw to the firm are more complicated and largely intended for specific solution.  When a consultant that previously involved in the project decided to leave the firm, it is his/ her right and privilege to use experiences and prior knowledge as benefit from servicing the firm.  Otherwise, without participation and vigilance in the projects, he/ she may not acquire the right tools and information in competitor’s operations.  The risk of leakage from a former insider should be treated as a natural situation where the firm has no control primarily due to complexity of acquiring knowledge and competency.                The problems in the current system such as it is time-consuming and should acquire a standard method for replacement is a creation of new methodology in solving client’s request/ order.  However, it is a mere opinion of a single consultant which can undermine the problem-solving capabilities of others.  Enabling a single methodology in solving the problem can minimize creative thinking and may impose bottlenecks of making proposals and decisions.  The proposed system can be too bookish without adaptation to real changes in the operating environment.  Instead of uplifting the knowledge of the firm, it may post threats to on slowing down the progress of projects and limit the options of consultants or groups.  It can also imply process-based address to problems and issues instead on evaluating the services as result-driven organization.  The latter is more appropriate if the firm expects to be a customer champion.                The issue of loosing individual identity is an appropriate reaction.  Knowledge sharing between consultants can disrupt the proprietary upper hand of one from another which is the basis of promotion and other performance-based benefits that each can get.  Another, one may not open him or herself to the ideas of others especially when accountability is pinpointed to specific employees.  Sharing knowledge can aggravate the quality of service especially when sharers have different skills and experience or the client’s problem is very unique.  The latter situation is not unusual because the firm is catering services to the high-end market which can be very demanding.  Creativity also flames up confidence of individual consultants which aid their self-esteem on their work and prevents them from being bored.  When job identity and individual knowledge are taken away, consultancy work may not be as exciting and rewarding.      Team members are open with each other primarily because of the same educational background and skill.  However, older employees are more silent but more honest regarding storytelling about operational history and incidents that happened in the firm.  Due to the small number of employees, each have their significant contribution in the organization that makes individuals sensitive to the feelings of others even to those under the rank-and-file and janitorial levels.  Due to this, employees create a bond and support each other to compromise their request to others when needed.  For example, the accountant can get the help of janitor when the designated employee is busy in the records room.   Ideas are not that accepted by the whole organization.  If any, the idea of an employee regarding the improvement of his own task is possible.  Managers are the once who initiate work issues like employee tardiness but there are times that inter-employee rumors tend to bypass managerial decision.  Team goals can be revisited every meeting that makes fair accomplishment of members feasible.  The working environment is simple that situate its strategy at easily manageable while the communication is fitted for easy recognition.  The members can be also willing to take part to decision-making of operational issues that makes them creative and effective to some extent.                                     Question 3: The Risk of Corporate Change             To establish the presence of two-edged blade in change, the term risk is used.  Although, at most instances, risk is held largely in a negative aspect, this is because there are only few people or company who are innovative and brave enough to take it.  No wonder there are also few people or company who gained their wealth in gambling or speculative investment.  But in context, it is taken with both positive and negative attributes.  There is the risk of gain and risk of loss when change occurs; however, the first is commonly attached with opportunity.  To avoid confusion, we shall refer to negative aspect when talking about risk.               In the case of a company, the inception of change activates the risk of resistance from employees.  Risk largely involves the business risk wherein the objectives of the company are being emphasized (1998).  The faster the workforce adopts to it, the faster the realization of success.  Thus, company is less pressured and just need to realize the potential gains.  But if resistance occurs, change will likely result to higher costs, unmotivated employees, reduced efficiency, and finally, the failure of the change to achieve its success-driven purpose.  It created another problem rather to solve one.  Thus, several companies are challenged to study the effects of change to employees before its implementation.  Those managers who are numb or chose to be are likely to overlook the resistance risk which hurt their respective companies in several aspects.   Question 3: Required Cultural Changes In a study, committed employees are likely to support the initiatives of the organization to change and will likely cooperate to types enumerated above ( 1986).  It will be attained when the company is providing the employee to access organization's success in relation to change, status of job security, and efforts to communicate the change.  Therefore, it is the task of the company to study the employee perceptions and attitudes towards it.  In this view, unionized employee groups can be a useful tool in surveying the general pulse of the workforce.  In Encyclopedia (2004 ), it is defined as the “association of workers for the purpose of improving their economic status and working conditions through collective bargaining with employers.”  When an organization has this, it can reduce complexities of individual opinion and expedite the process of introducing the change.               The Journal (2005) commented, “In the world market effective communication is the key.”  It is vital for companies to accurately and swiftly communicate its ideas to its employees.  Effective communication entails the achievement of intention of the sender from the receiver’s feedback.  As in the organization, effective communication is not obtained when change is resisted.  The key is lost and the probability of the company to exist in the market is likely to vanish.  Effective communication can be realized though provision of advance information prior to change, attached incentives, effective disclosure of adverse effects, clear and definite change goals, and systematic support to those affected.  Noticeably, effective communication is the nucleus to settle conflicts of change.             Third, the most crucial person in times of change should be a leader not a manager.  As exemplified in the case of Legert, the leader is wise enough, impliedly charismatic; to resolve disputes that may arise from merger and acquisition of other companies.  Every leader should always keep the employees in mind especially when they are directly affected by the change.  Issues like job security, responsibility and other employment conditions play a major part on employee’s reaction to change.  Leaders should be the one who perceived change as not new to a company.  They should also possess listening skills to be able to enumerate employee grievances and suggestions to attach more consensuses to management decisions.  Empowerment will help employee accept company decisions.  After listening, action must be taken.  Unresolved issues should be solved and any disputes should be addressed.  In doing so, the company can step to another process and implement change because past conflicts are remedied.  The decision-making and problem-solving abilities of the leader are deemed important in this stage (1998).               In an article entitled, “Sell Employees on Change, as If They're Customers,” emphasized that employees have individual motivations so a company are expected to sell the change according to its features and benefits ( 2005).  Further, the top-down approach is not effective in change implementation while too much control eradicates the individual creativity and self-esteem.  Like marketing products, information is necessary to introduce its 4Ps: product, price, place and promotion.  The product is the change, the price is the consequence of change, place is the people or department that is concerned and promotion is the supporting mechanism after the change.  Like customers, employees should not be blame because of error arising from unfamiliarity of the new process.  They need to be assisted and given time to study its features.  Force creates resistance and managers should foster humility when initiating change.

Case Study - the reluctant information sharers

Question1: Suggestions to Improve Knowledge-Sharing “Change is the only permanent thing in this world. Change is inevitable.” These ...

" STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS " SONA

Pangalan:                                                                     Petsa:   Hanay: Pamagat: Ulat Papel para sa Reaksyon ng Nakaraang “State of the Nation Address” o SONA sa Kasalukuyang Taon   I. Pangunahing Ideya             Ang reaksyon sa katatapos SONA ay mahalaga upang maisa-isa natin kung ano nga ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng Pangulo.  Bilang mag-aaral, ang reaksyon natin ay napaka-importante dahil tayo ang henerasyon na mas makakaramdan ng estado ng Pilipinas.  Kung wala tayong reaksyon, ang SONA ay mistulang palabas lamang sa telebisyon na kung saan may nagtatalumpati.  Hindi sasagi sa ating isip kung ano ba ang magiging epekto ng mga nagawa at gagawin ng kasalukuyang Gobyerno sa atin, ating mga magulang, pamilya, kamag-anak at lipunan sa kabuuan.  Halimbawa, hindi natin masagot kung ligtas ba tayo sa mga lansangan ating dinadaan o kahit dito sa labas ng ating paaralan.  Ito ay dahil hindi natin alam kung ano na nga ba ang nagawa ng Gobyerno upang ibsan ang kriminalidad.  Kapag nahayaan ang kamangmangan ng tulad kong estudyante sa mga isyung ganito, magiging pabaya tayo sa ating pag-uwi, pagpasok o paglakad sa mga kalye na hindi alintana ang posibleng krimen sa paligid tulad ng kidnaping.  Subalit kung may reaksyon tayo sa SONA, mapapatunayan natin na may alam tayo at pagkaintindi sa mga ganitong isyu.  Magkakaroon tayo ng mas malawak na pang-unawa sa ating paligid at hindi na lang parating nagtatanong sa ating mga magulang o guro upang tayo ay gabayan.  Samakatwid, ang reaksyong ito ay makakatulong pag-ibayuhin ang ating kaisipan na ikakatuwa ng mga tao sa ating paligid.            II. Argumento/ Pinagtatalunan             Isa sa mga napanood kong argumento na tumutuligsa sa SONA ay ang malaking parte na tumutukoy sa mga importanteng inprastraktura at “tourist spots” sa ating bansa na layuning pag-ibayuhin at protektahan.  Subalit sa kabila nito, may mga kuro-kuro na ang na ang Opisina ng Pangulo ay nagmumungkahi na maaaring magtayo ng mga bahay ang mga dating empleyado ng La Mesa Watershed sa loob ng Watershed.  Ang Watershed na ito ay isang pangunahing pinagkukunan ng naiinom na tubig ng labin-dalawang milyong tao at pinagkakabuyahan din ng mga taong may payak na buhay na nakatira sa paligid nito.  Ang argumento ng mga tutol sa pahayag ay malaki ang posibilidad na masira ang Watershed kapag itinuloy ang mga proyektong pabahay sa loob nito.  Ang tubig ay magiging madumi na kung saan hindi na pwedeng inumin at ikakamatay ng mga nabubuhay sa tubig tulad ng isda at halaman.  Suportado ng mga organisasyong pangkalikasan at mga naninirahan sa paligid ng Watershed ang argumentong, “Isan-libong empleyado lamang ang makikinabang sa pabahay subalit milyon-milyong buhay ng tao gayundin ang buhay ng mga hayop, halaman at kalikasan ang maitataya sa proyekto”.  Isa pang pinagtatalunan ay ang pagbanggit ng Pangulo na ang La Mesa Watershed ay isang “protective area” kamakailan lamang na tumataliwas sa mga kuro-kuro at kanyang diin sa pagbabaibayo ng imprastraktura.                       III. Kritisismo/ Reaksyon             Ang mga nakalipas na pahayag at hakbang ng Pangulo at Gobyerno sa kabuuan ay lubos na nakaapekto sa kalidad ng SONA.  Kung maaari nga ba itong paniwalaan ay lubos na pinagdudahan ng mga taong tutol sa proyektong pabahay.  Bagaman hindi direktang tinalakay at pinaliwanag ng Pangulo ang kalagayan ng La Mesa Watershed sa SONA, sapat na ang napansin ng mga pro-La Mesa ng pagbibigay ng malaking parte ng SONA sa mga ulat ukol sa imprastraktura at “tourist spots”.  Ang naganap na iyon ang nagpaintindi sa mga pro-La Mesa na napakalaki pala ng kontribusyon ng mga imprastraktura ng Pilipinas sa kaunlaran nito.  Gayundin, sumasalamin ang naganap sa importansiyang binibigay ng Pangulo sa mga parehong imprastrukrang pang-lupa, pang-tubig at pang-himpapawid.  Subalit ng isipin ng malalim ng mga pro-La Mesa ang SONA at mga nakaraang hakbang ng Pangulo ukol sa La Mesa Watershed, hindi nila makita ang pagkakaugnay-ugnay nito.  Dahil doon, nagkaroon ng kalituhan, argumento at pagtatalo upang malaman kung ano nga ba ang balak ng Pangulo, ang prioridad ng Gobyerno at kinabukasan ng Watershed.       IV. Mungkahi             Kung titingnan ang argumento, masyadong madaming tao na maapektuhan kung itutuloy ang pabahay.  Milyun-milyon laban sa isang libo ang agwat.  Bilang Pangulo na sumasalamin sa “national interest” na nabanggit sa dulo ng SONA, mas angkop na piliin ang solusyong sasagot sa problema ng nakararami.  Gayundin, dahil pinakita sa SONA ang pagpapahalaga sa “tourist spots”, may importansya ding binibigay ang Pangulo sa kapaligiran.  Ang mga ito ang magsasabing karapat-dapat na piliin ang solusyon para sa kapakanan ng pro-La Mesa.  Sa mismong laman ng SONA, pwedeng imungkahi na isaalang-alang at ibilang ng Pangulo ang mga ulat at pagbibigay-halaga sa mga isyu na napapanahon.  Ang isyu ukol sa La Mesa Watershed ay napapanahon at importante subalit hindi binagyang ng sapat na pansin sa SONA.

" STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS " SONA

Pangalan: Petsa: Hanay: Pamagat: Ulat Papel para sa Reaksyon ng N...

Strategic Management:United Airlines

Problem:  The Airline Industry is a very competitive business; the United Airlines should implement a new and innovative Strategic Management plan in order to stay on top of the competition.     Every business is subject to factors that affect the firm’s function as a whole.  These factors are the ones attributed for the success or even the failure of a business.  In the light of this, there are certain ways or techniques that can be considered in order to emerge and continue to be competitive within the market place. The marketing concept has been defined as ‘the key to achieving organizational goals’ and the marketing concept rests on ‘market focus, customer orientation, coordinated marketing and profitability’. In a profit making business the firm obviously has to try and achieve this level of customer satisfaction as a way of staying ahead of the competition and making a profit.               Analyzing the status, strategies and resources of businesses and their products or services is very essential as it allows operators to determine how they will progress in the years to come. This also enables them to identify their strengths and how they will optimize them. On the other hand, business analysis also makes operators realize their weak points, allowing them to address them immediately with effective strategic actions. Conducting a business analysis also helps organizations to prepare for their future development and growth. Considering that competition in the business field is continuously growing, implementing efficient strategies through business analysis is indeed significant for all operators in any industry. Traditionally, marketing has been utilized by the private sector in decisively increasing the capabilities of an organization. Marketing can be considered as one of the most important element underpinning successful business creation (1994). Perhaps because of its complex applications, marketing have been defined in a variety of ways (1988). The marketing concept was first promulgated in the late 1950’s (1990). The importance of marketing concept incorporates oft-repeated elements such as: customer orientation; integrated marketing efforts; and resultant profitability.   Today, more and more people and organization are trying to be recognized in the business arena.  With this objective, these organizations had been able to competently and effectively adapt to the situation in the market place by using different strategies that enhanced their competitiveness. In lieu with this, the main purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive discussion of marketing and management strategies of the United Airlines, The critical evaluation of the marketing strategy also includes significant aspect such as market condition, competitors, and customers’ expectations. Company Profile The United Airlines declared bankruptcy of almost $3billion dollars. The downfall of the United Airlines was caused by the 9/11 terrorist attack. If one focuses on airline sales alone the potential is enormous. United Airlines, one of the first and most successful of the major international airlines to sell online, expects to be selling about 20 per cent of its tickets through the Internet by 2003. If one were to assume a similar penetration of Internet sales for both passengers and cargo among all the airlines of the four major alliance groupings then revenues generated would be around US$34 billion in 2003. Perhaps not all the alliance members will be in a position to achieve such high Internet sales by 2003. However, any shortfall will be more than offset by Internet sales by several non-alliance airlines who will be achieving high Internet sales by 2003 or earlier. In the United States, forecasters predicted that 32 per cent of all US business travel will migrate online by 2003 and 10 per cent of leisure travel Strategic Management Primarily, the main reason for the need of the company to have a marketing strategy to the products/services is COMPETITION. Today’s market is characterized by highly competitive organizations which are all vying for consumer’s loyalty. Firms are faced with the challenge to maintain their own competitive edge to be able to survive and be successful. Strategies are carefully planned and executed to gain the ultimate goal of all: company growth. However, external factors are not the only elements which influence growth.   The possibility to bestow a competitive advantage is not intrinsic in all resources (1989). Nevertheless, to a certain extent, in simply those that satisfy a thorough collection of situations (1991;1993). The first condition is that the resource has to be important. That is, it has got to supply the chance to make use of a number of environmental opportunities or counterbalance a few hazards. Resources are believed to be important when they allow an organization to conjure up of or put into practice strategies that perk up the organization's competence or efficiency (1991). A number of authors interpret importance in the context of satisfying a key consumer requirement (1989;1985).   Additionally, resources have to have the features of exceptionality. If important resources are owned by a great number of competitors or possible competitors, they no longer correspond to a source of competitive advantage. This is the key subject of heterogeneity fundamental to the resource-based view. In this context, organizations owning exceptional and inimitable collections of capacities and resources can accomplish a sustainable competitive advantage. Third, there have got to be the condition of imperfect mobility of resources. Where resources are effortlessly traded among competitors, no competitive advantage can be preserved. Imperfectly mobile resources take account of those that are characteristic to the organization (1979), those for which property rights are not well characterized (1989), or those that are co-specialized assets (1990). The imperfect mobility of assets is a decisive feature in businesses as the consumers are the key assets in a lot of circumstances, and their high mobility recurrently results in the shortfall of accounts and the materialization of new competitive threats as in the condition and eventually shifting to other companies that directly compete for the similar market.   For an advantage to be maintained, resources have got to be imperfectly imitable (1991) or offer a few ex-post restrictions to competition. That is to say that following to an organization acquiring a superior position and receiving rents, forces have to be made that could limit competition for those rents (1993). It was taken into account above that innovation such as the improvement of a new kind of account by a retail bank or a new promotion approach by a creative department recurrently triggers a multitude of replications from competitors. For an organization to be in a situation to make use of an important and rare resource, there have got to be a resource position obstruction averting replication by other companies (1989). Preserving a competitive advantage over a period of time necessitates the attendance of separating instruments that thwarts replication. Quite a few such obstructions that have been taken down in the literature consist of causal ambiguity (1990) and uncertain imitability (1982), where the motivations of success are not easy to recognize. Replication may similarly be thwarted by the process of asset stock accumulation within the organization. Where these stocks have power over the features of time compression diseconomies, asset mass efficiencies, and interconnectedness, then replication is not easy (1989). Without a doubt, the implication of asset stock accumulation in the business sector has been established elsewhere, when the reservoir of organizational and managerial knowledge that has been developed over the years can make available branch offices with information at a price very much inferior than a de novo indigenous organization would have to bring upon itself (1986. ) that is to say, an ownership advantage in global competition.             Along with the changing business world, customers change as well, becoming more demanding and knowledgeable than before. In turn, company management had shifted their focus on their clients or customers so as to stay successful in business. This transition meant that organizations have to completely reformulate their conventional business aims and purposes from being process-focused to customer-centered. Moreover, employing proactive customer commitment involves the consideration on culture and infrastructure (1997).   Organizations that capitalize on customers' active participation in organizational activities can gain competitive advantage through greater sales volume, enhanced operating efficiencies, positive word-of-mouth publicity, reduced marketing expenses, and enhanced customer loyalty (1979;1990). Rather than going after every potential source of revenue, companies eliminate useless assets that do not add value for customers’ satisfaction. Business organizations implement bureaucratic policies and procedures for the benefit of the staff, customers and the company in general. According to  (1990), if consumers somehow become better customers – that is, more knowledgeable, participative, or productive – the quality of the service experience will likely be enhanced for the customer and the organization.               The researcher considers COMPETITION as the strongest force to be considered in making the product/service marketing strategy. However, there are also some management perspectives to be taken at hand but it is no longer covered by the purposes of this report. Because competition is prevalent in the chosen target market and line of enterprise, it is essential to study its coverage including its limits and potential opportunities for the benefit of the business.             To formulate such marketing strategy for the service of United Airlines, the management must take into consideration some significant aspects such as market condition, competitor analysis, and consumer expectations as foundational considerations.             Market Conditions The United Airlines operates under the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978, the industry began to change and transform competitively into the model implemented by most airlines today. Hence, the company is struggling for its competitive advantage by using its implemented marketing strategy. Competitors The top competitors of United Airlines are the multinational airlines companies that are venturing in the same market and offering similar line of services to the chosen clientele. These airlines companies are: American Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa and Japan Airlines. The effects of the global business economy, globalization, and the changing consumer behaviour and needs are perceived reasons on why MNCs are predominant in their situated venue.   Client’s Expectations             The United Airlines offers a personalized line of service, the clients possess the freedom to choose from the line of services they offered. Every consumer is expecting for continuous and excellent service. They also anticipate for new service innovation that will suit their varying taste whenever new threats are present in the market. In general, consumer always expect for better products and services that will satisfy their needs. Cost Structure Being the most powerful tool in marketing, price is identified following the company’s established goals and objectives. These goals range from enhancing the market share of the products, improving the demands in the target markets, to extending the sales at an even rate for one whole day, week, month, or year. Pricing is utilized in several ways namely (1) to increase unit sales so that resources of the firm; (2) to restrict sales, or limit the quantities demanded per unit time;(3) to make the market less attractive to actual or potential competitors; and (4) to attract buyers so that they will buy other items once the transaction has begun. Further, the existence of Internet and the continued revolution in the world of Information Technology are certainly positive signs for the blossoming of many new advertising opportunities. For instance, pop-up ads and email ads have started to invade the Internet. Most advertising firms have also started to exert efforts to make their advertisements appealing to the public ( 2001).

Strategic Management:United Airlines

Problem : The Airline Industry is a very competitive business; the United Airlines should implement a new and innovative Strategic Manag...

Discuss the political and economic implications of the trend toward concentration of media power among a few conglomerates. Give some useful examples..

Media Power Concentration: the Political and Economic Implications             Media play a pivotal role in our every day life. We depend primarily on it for the information and entertainment and for other purposes that has to do with our day-to-day operations.             Media is such a powerful entity. It can make and unmake a president. It can create and destroy an image, individual or organization. It can even tell and direct us what to do against what not to do and what to believe against what not to believe for. Truly, we can’t deny the power of media because it is so clear, transcending within boundaries of time and changes.             The concentration of media power among a few conglomerates is the trend prevalent in the media industry. In broadcasting, it is becoming the rule as merger mania hits the industry. One example is the CBS-Westinghouse merger in which the conglomerate owned 15 TV stations and 39 radio stations. (1999)             Another is the Time Warner and Turner broadcasting merger which produced the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, reaching more than 40 percent of cable households. And lastly, the merger of News Corp. Ltd. and MCI which made the products of Rupert Murdoch's global media empire available through a broadcast network (Fox), TV stations, newspapers, magazines and home and business computer. (1999)             Additionally, the combination of Twentieth Century Fox with News Corporation's television stations helped creates a fourth television network. An infrastructure of scores of programs and hundreds of channels has created through this because of the wiring of the cities with coaxial cable. (1999)             Michael Eisner, Walt Disney chairperson, described how the combined resources of the two companies would allow them to provide programming services for China and India when he announced his company’s merger with ABC. "Think of all the things we can do together. I am totally optimistic that one and one will add up to four here" he said. (1996)             Similarly, in the print media industry, the concentration has long been the trend. In the United States, four out of five newspapers were independently owned just after the World War II. However, only one in five was not the property of a chain in 1989. Moreover0 corporations controlled most of the nation's 11,000 magazines in 1981. But the number shrank to three corporations only seven years later. (1999             The market domination of media conglomerates falls into two categories such as the vertical ownership and the horizontal.  Vertical ownership bears a logical relationship to the communications industry. ABC/Disney which owns newspapers, television, magazines, radio and books is the example of this. Horizontal ownership, on one hand, has no relationship between the media component and the giant corporations other subsidiaries like the CBS and NBC which are both owned by Westinghouse and General Electric, companies in the nuclear defense family. ( 1999)             The question such as is the concentration of media power among few conglomerates represented by the mergers of some giant media establishments a problem now arises. This also gives birth to the query of the political and economic implications of this trend of the media power concentration.             The concentration is argued by some people as the responsible for the least part of the improvement. On the contrary, Jay Harris, chairperson and publisher of the San Jose Mercury News reports that “if you look at the two largest newspaper chains - Gannett and Knight-Ridder - one of the outcomes of more newspapers coming into those groups has been that a number of the small- and medium-sized papers have clearly gotten better because of the resources of the larger company, the higher standards of journalistic practice, the investment in training, the ability to attract higher quality editors”. (1996)             Accordingly, the journalistic integrity is protected by these large corporations because the conglomerate has its eye on the bottom line, not on the sensitivities of local constituencies. The reporters and editors are actually shield by this concentration from the pressures that plagued those who worked for a news medium owned by a family in the community. (1996)             Harris (1998) states that, “it is not the size of the owner; it’s not what the owner chooses to do. It’s not what the primary motives of the owner are? What are the values? I can see no inherent positive or negative outcome in terms of the way journalism is done from any particular form media power concentration" (1996).             Equally, the defenders of concentration say that at least a few large corporations are better able to serve a democracy's need for accurate, comprehensive information than many smaller competitors in the media and communication industry. (1996)             However, in the United States, the American public would have reason to fear for its democracy, if all the major media such as the daily newspaper, magazine, broadcasting station, book publishing house and motion picture studio were controlled by few corporations. Though this kind of extravagant power has a harsh history, the danger is not that this few controllers would necessarily be evil. ( 1983)             It is that the centralized control over information is incompatible with freedom whether it is evil or benevolent, governmental or private. Also, the need for choice of politics and ideas and access to truly diverse and competing sources of news, literature, entertainment and popular culture of modern democracies will be confine in vacuum because of such situation. ( 1983)             On one hand, the conglomerates that own the media run the United States because media power is equal to political power. Thus, the emergence of the corporate control of the media has altered how well-informed the American public is and as a result, these monopolies have also had an impact on the democratic process in this country. (1999)             In the same way, corporate ownership and media monopolies are essentially contrary to what democracy represents because these corporations control what the American people knows and does not know.  (1983) writes that "the power to control information is a major lever in the control of society". Thus, there is little pluralism in journalism because only a few companies dominate the media. (1999)             This allows the media giants to suppress whatever information they desire. Because there is no diversity of expression, the public is not well informed about what is occurring in this country. Likewise, the democratic consent of the governed, according to the ideals of democracy and individual freedom, is meaningless unless the consent is informed consent. (2006)             Moreover, the media giants have reduced the coverage of the government because of the industry's hunger for ratings aside from the fear that it is boring. So, the corporate chains of newspapers sell their soul for ratings even at a time when coverage of local and state government is fundamental. (1999)              Also, since the media giants have many politicians in their pockets there is an extreme pressure on politicians from lobbyists to extinguish bills harmful to the media monopoly and to promote bills that increase their domination. (1999)             But, even this case is like this where the media power is concentrated among a few companies; there is a march which should be praise toward this unhealthy end. The media they control take every opportunity to report the beauties of corporate bigness. This mergers and media acquisition seem to be as an exclusive financial game without social consequences. This will lead to the event where there where almost nothing of the dangers to be told to the general public. ( 1983)             On the other angle, it is not surprising if the executives of dominant media corporations are personally silent about the dangers of this trend because the process benefits them. And, the media they control is also silent. However, this silence is not convincing evidence that the media never reflect the corporate and political interests of their owners. ( 1983)             The practice of companies in this trend is already dominant. The newspapers as a one medium, for example, still invest in another competitive medium like the television. Each medium used to act like a watchdog over the behavior of its competing media in the past. ( 1983)             Additionally, each was vigilant against the other industries' lobbying for unfair government concessions or against questionable business practices. However, they have been cross-bred into an amiable hybrid at present because of this concentration. ( 1983)             Corporations insist that they improve the media they buy. But, concentrated media ownership would still damage democracy in the United States even if all corporate owners universally improved their acquisitions and even if they all made their properties totally open to conflicting news and views. This is because concentrated media power over public information is inherently anti-democratic. ( 1983)             The chief executive officers of the 29 corporations controlling most of what Americans read and see can fit into an ordinary living room today. To promote their own corporate values to the exclusion of others, they can use control of their newspapers, broadcast stations, magazines, books and movies, if they wish. Most say that they would never use that power. But surely, available power will always be used when central interests are at stake. ( 1983)             The answer to great power in a democracy is accountability to the public. On one side, in business life, accountability, in some cases requires government regulations to prevent monopoly or to make natural monopolies meet public service standards. Because there is enough diversity and competition so that consumers have real choices, accountability for most commerce is self-induced. ( 1983)             Furthermore, real choices in the media mean a rich variety of political and social content in news, entertainment and other public information. This also means enough competition in content and prices so that the average consumer has genuine alternatives. It means equitable distribution of economic power in the marketplace so that a few dominant leaders cannot prevent true competition or the reasonable entry of new enterprises. ( 1983)             But, the country is losing diversity and competition among its major media and with it today because of the monopoly and oligopoly. This happening losses not only the variety of political voices but also the economic accountability of the marketplace. Nevertheless, the public are not alerted and aware of such problem, though media is controlled by the dominant corporations. ( 1983)             Conversely, corporations claim that the process is improving the country's media outlets because they bring greater resources to improve their new acquisitions; they have more sophisticated business management skills; and their size makes it easier to fend off government incursions on freedom of expression and improper advertiser influence. Likewise, they believe that the public would not stand for it if they were tempted to use their power to the disadvantage of the public. ( 1983)             Some of these claims have been realized some of the time in thousands of media transactions of recent years. But, most of the time the record is unimpressive or worse; at best the record is mixed. (1983)             Corporations do not purchase local newspapers and broadcast stations for sentimental reasons because they buy them as investments that will yield a maximum return as quickly as possible. Few investors can resist the spectacular profits that can be made by cutting quality and raising prices when they buy a local monopoly which is typical of newspapers or an assured share of the market - typical of television. (1983)             According to Shaw (1986), “a daily monopoly newspaper with a 15 percent annual operating profit, can, within two years of purchase, be making a 40 percent profit by cutting costs and raising advertising and subscription prices”. (1983)             Correspondingly, to pursue the political promotion of the owner when the owner lusts after high office, media outlets can be purchased. One example is the 1920 presidency where Warren Gamaliel Harding, Ohio newspaper publisher, defeated James M. Cox, another publisher of a paper in Ohio who became Democratic candidate for president. (1983)             Nonetheless, the primary political advantage of concentrated media power today is no longer to gain high political office for the media executive.  The primary danger of excessive and concentrated media power is promoting the politics and economics of the corporate world, not the candidacies of the anonymous men and women who run corporations. Similarly, to influence the U.S. president is the desire now of most corporate leaders, instead of wanting to be president of the United States. (2006)             Moreover, the concentration of media power among a few entities leads to the demand for quite specific actions from government such as government contracts, relaxed application of antitrust laws, deregulation of business, elimination of limits on corporate profits and corporate tax loopholes. (1983)             For example, the General Electric combined its media power with its other industrial and financial interests when it bought RCA (and with it the NBC News) in 1986. It is now the major defense contractor and IT manufacturer selling sells electronic, electrical and nuclear systems worldwide. It also produces aircraft and spacecraft components and is in the insurance and banking business. With sales exceeding $28 billion a year, its multinational operations are sensitive to both domestic and foreign policy. (1983)             Media conglomerates have integrated into the higher levels of American banking and industrial life as subsidiaries and interlocks within their boards of directors. In agribusiness, airlines, coal and oil, banking, insurance, defense contracts, automobile sales, rocket engineering, nuclear power and nuclear weapons, they become the heavy investors. (1983)             Since American foreign policy affected their investments, they make serious efforts to influence the news, to avoid embarrassing publicity and to maximize sympathetic public opinion and government policies. Now they own most of the news media that they wish to influence. (1983)             Oligopolistic markets and media conglomeration barely reveal the extent to which the media system is fundamentally noncompetitive in any meaningful economic sense of the term because they share the major shareholders, own pieces of each other and have interlocking boards of directors. (1997)             Not to mention the tangled web of alliance among the few media companies that dominates the market, the media monopoly itself is disturbing enough. According to  (1997), “these companies often have board members in common and they participate in joint ventures where they share ownership of concerns with their 'competitors' so as to reduce competition and risk”. (1999)             Generally, the concentration of media power among a few firms has taken place in national markets throughout the world. These powerful media firms dominate the regional and national markets. They have found a lucrative niche teaming up with the global media giants in joint ventures, offering the 'local' aspect of the content and massaging the local politicians.             This concentration in many ways is detrimental because it vaguely defined the political and economic interest of the society. This also brings all modes of communications and media schemes into one grand system lead by few conglomerates.

Discuss the political and economic implications of the trend toward concentration of media power among a few conglomerates. Give some useful examples..

Media Power Concentration: the Political and Economic Implications Media play a pivotal role in our every day life. We depen...

Apple Computer Company Revolutionized the Personal Computer Industry and Epitomized the rise of clean industry in the new west

Introduction Apple was founded by Steven Jobs and in 1976; Apple Computer Company revolutionized the personal computer industry and epitomized the rise of clean industry in the New West. Located in the Santa Clara Valley, in California, the company's first product was the Apple I, a single-board computer with on-board read-only memory (ROM), which sold for about $650 without a monitor or keyboard. Orders instantly soared, and Jobs and Wozniak quickly brought out the Apple II, which included a keyboard, color monitor, and expansions for peripheral devices (2003). In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh, which was aimed at the business and education markets, by which time the company had already not only changed American industry but had reshaped entire areas of the West around silicon. In 1996, after a series of CEOs failed to keep Apple profitable, Steve Jobs returned under the rubric interim CEO and soon launched a new marketing and licensing relationship with Microsoft. In 2000 his direct sales concept, the Apple Store brought the company back to profitability (2003).   In 1994 Apple computers launched a new line of computers based on the PowerPC processor chip. The creation of the new chip was a joint venture between Apple Computers, IBM, and Motorola, and because the new chip was capable of being compatible with the market leading Intel chip, it was marketed as a major breakthrough in computer technology. If emulation software was purchased by a consumer, the consumer could run both software made for Apple computers and software made for Intel PCs on the same Apple machine. The machine was even being called a PC with a free Mac inside. Apple computers had controlled about 8-10 percent of the personal computer market since 1984, and recently it had been struggling financially (Gottinger 2003).  Those at Apple hoped that compatibility with the Intel-based PC and its 85 per cent market share would dramatically increase the market share of Apple computers. The results from the introduction of the new product were not everything Apple had predicted or had hoped for. The increased competition from the PowerPC chip forced Intel to slash the price of their Pentium chips by 40 per cent. Thus Apple did not live up to its promise of cheaper computers (Gottinger 2003).    Apple Computers Inc is considered to be one of the innovators in the computer industry. It brought about different changes to the industry; these changes are still visible in the present.  The company’s products were used as a basis by other computer company’s in designing the specifications and physical characteristics of their product. It also serves as a meter of how products are designed. The company offers various products for the different market it targets. The products made by the company offer something different. The paper will discuss about Apple Inc and its' products, and the markets it serves. The paper will analyze how forces in the marketing environment have resulted in changes in the last 5 to 10 years to the organization’s marketing mix.  The paper will also evaluate what further environmental changes might arise in the next 5 to 10 years and consider their effect.    The company’s market and market orientation Market orientation was evident in the idea to involve staff in making the kinds of internal changes to policies and procedures that could be linked to market place performance that external customers would value. This involves more than traditional marketing skills. The more orthodox marketing approach to try to change staff attitudes by formal communications alone was rejected as superficial and unidirectional. The shift to market orientation and customers first meant that the logic of existing organizational knowledge was reframed, seen from a different perspective. Thus, new knowledge was indeed ‘discovered’ in a new patterning of the verities ( 2000). An organization’s strategic values are the rationale for the viability of a business and link the organization to its environment. These values are reflected in, and are a reflection of, the prevailing culture within the organization (2000).    The market of Apple Inc is students and professionals who need computers and other digital technologies. This market is the one that needs devices that can keep their records and other personal or business information. This market is the one that needs devices that can give them entertainment even if they are not in their own homes. This market is the one that would want devices that would not cause them to waste their time.  The marketing orientation that the company tries to implement is deeper customer focus. This type of orientation provides assistance for the company to achieve their goals and provide effective service compared to competitors. Macro environmental forces that shape the marketing environment  When it comes to the law component of the macro environment Apple Computers Inc make sure they comply with what the law states in the country; they make sure that they comply with the regulated standards of the country. When it comes to the economy the company tries to adjust to the economic situation of their market. When it comes to the technology aspect of the macro environment, the company makes use of various technological innovations that help in increasing productivity and improving the quality of their products. The demography aspect of the macro environment is used as a method of determining their target market. The culture aspect of the macro environment provides Apple computers Inc the information it needs to create products that most people will like and purchase.  The society aspect of the macro environment dictates how long the company will stay in the industry. Nature as an aspect of the macro environment is used as a way for the company to improve its image to its clients.    Micro environmental forces The micro environmental forces of the company include potential entrants. The influence of potential entrants to the companies is weak. But to ensure that no other problem arise the company maintains low cost of unit production, this helps in making sure that the new entrant will not have advantage over them. Another micro environmental force is the competitive rivalry. Competitive rivalry affects the decisions made by the companies. Different things are done by both companies to ensure that they have advantage over their competitors. Moreover substitute which is a micro environmental force that gives high influence to the companies since substitutes can make a company lose the clients it has. Both companies make sure that the substitutes won’t give them much problem. Lastly the micro environmental force of bargaining power of buyers and sellers highly influences both companies.   SWOT analysis Apple’s strength is the international popularity it has. The company is known throughout the world. Another strength of the company is the strong brand name they have. The strong brand name is what makes the company and its products popular. Furthermore a strength of the company is the effective advertising the company uses. Lastly a strength of environment Apple Computers Inc is its website that is easy to use, attractive, and informative. The main weakness of the company is the health issues when their product is partaken. The products they have can cause health problems when the user focus too much on using the product and forgets to do other important things.  Lastly a weakness of the company is its inability to restrict certain age from using their product. Young children might use their product to see things they should really not see at their age. Opportunity for the company is to create products that can give not only satisfaction to clients but health benefits as well. The company can create a product that will not cause much harm to the user’s health.  An opportunity for the company is to find out more ways to give a distinctive look and features to their product. By doing this the company will have competitive advantage over other firms. Lastly an opportunity for the company is to reach newer territories where it can offer its products and services.  The company can reach more territories not yet reached by its competitors. The threat to the company includes the laws in the country they are operating in. Another threat to the company is the tariffs and taxes that the company has in different countries, each countries has its own rate of taxes and tariff. Lastly a threat to the company is complaints to the health problems that their product may cause. Its products may have some effect not liked by people.    Market Segment The market segment of the company is divided into 4 classes. Each class represents a certain economic standing of people in the society. The company makes sure that they cover all the segments in the society they are operating in. The company has specialized prices for the different market segment, this will ensure that the clients will have lesser doubts about taking a look at the company’s product and the products that they can afford.   Target market The target market of the company involves almost all sectors of the society. They want to provide Apple Computers Inc to young or old, boy or girl. The company has different marketing strategies that can cater to the taste and appeal of such markets.    Targeting strategy and -positioning strategy The targeting strategy of Apple Computers Inc is concentrated on undifferentiated strategy wherein the entire market is targeted and a simple marketing mix is used on such market.  The needs of the market are nearly similar thus this targeting strategy is used. The positioning strategy of Apple computers Inc. is concentrated on comparing what they can do to what their competitors can do. The information that they will acquire from the comparison of their capabilities assist them in determining the actions they will take in competing with their rivals and knowing their place in the market.   The environmental changes When there is increase in the changes in the environment there should be increase on learning for an organization. As changes happen new development and learning’s should be craved by a company so that it can be prepared for the possible effects of the change. The changes in the environment can give the company benefits but it may also give a company its problems. The changes in the environment include, introduction of newer technologies that has more     capabilities and unique features. Another change in the environment is the increase of the prices of materials used in creating the product.   The increase in prices of materials can be due to the changing world economy. The increase in prices of materials can mean increase in the market price of the product thus there would be drop of clients purchasing the product. The chosen product The MP3 player industry is one of the booming industries in the world. There were many records of success for the industry; each year the sales of organizations operating in this kind of industry go up. This can be attributed to the popularity of Mp3 players whatever brand they belong to and the intrinsic love of human beings for music. As years go by the capabilities and capacities of mp3 player improves in accordance with the needs of their clients. One company that has gained success in this market is Apple Inc.  Apple Computers Inc is considered to be one of the innovators in the MP3 industry.  The company’s products were used as a basis by other computer company’s in designing the specifications and physical characteristics of their product. It also serves as a meter of how products are designed. The company’s I-pod mp3 player is one of the most popular mp3 players available in the market.  It has evolved from a simple mp3 player into a portable device wherein the user can watch movies or videos through it. Apple Computers Inc and its product showed that with the use of proper strategy and use of its varied opportunities the company can achieve fast growth and development in a short period of time.   How the marketing mix changed Success in the market place depends not only on an ability to identify customer wants and needs but also upon an ability to be able to satisfy those wants and needs better than competitors are able to do. This implies that organizations need to look for ways of achieving a differential advantage in the eyes of the customer. The differential advantage is often achieved through the product or service itself but sometimes it may be achieved through other elements of the marketing mix. Marketers have to understand cultural values in all aspects of implementing the marketing concept and managing the marketing mix (Proctor 2000).  The whole of the marketing mix is important in developing effective positioning, as attributes of the offering must be closely in line with the targeted customers’ expectations and needs, as must the associated price points and channels of distribution. However, promotional activity is one of the fundamental elements of creating an effective positioning, as it is through promotion that the positioning is communicated to the target audience (Proctor 2000).   The organization has to communicate with the customer through the strategic window. This can be achieved in a variety of ways ranging from spoken and written communications to more symbolic forms of communication. This is the function of the marketing mix. The point is that the elements of the marketing mix should not be seen as individual entities, but as a set of interrelated entities which have to be set in conjunction with one another and in the context of the strategic window presented (Proctor 2000). Positioning products in people’s minds and making them attractive to market segments requires careful formulation of the marketing mix. Getting the right blend of the product, promotion price and distribution is essential to put the carefully carried out analysis into operation. The aim is to portray an image for the product or service that will match with how one wants the product to be visualized in people’s minds. Image is not only reflected in the promotional messages which are directed towards the market target but also in the pricing strategy, the mode of distribution and in the appearance of the product or service itself (Proctor 2000).    The marketing mix categorizes different aspects of the company and how the company can provide satisfaction of the needs of the customers. Through the marketing mix each aspect of the company can be checked and given consideration with regards to its ability to attract clients. The marketing mix has created many changes over the years.  Newer components of marketing mix have been added. Some sectors have considered packaging and personnel as components of the marketing mix. The marketing mix is also continuously being improved to meet the needs of industrial product marketing rather than the consumer marketing.   Changes in the next 5 to 10 years In the next 5 to 10 years the marketing mix will put its focus on providing more use other marketers. The focus of marketing mix will continue to increase and it will be able to reach more marketers.  In the next 5 to 10 years the marketing mix will be able to provide a deeper analysis of marketing problems and it can provide more direct solutions to the marketing problems.  The marketing mix can serve as an analytical tool that can sort out solutions for various marketing problems.

Apple Computer Company Revolutionized the Personal Computer Industry and Epitomized the rise of clean industry in the new west

Introduction Apple was founded by Steven Jobs and in 1976; Apple Computer Company revolutionized the personal computer industry and epit...

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT ESSAY INSTRUCTION

This case describes the three major strategy initiative pursued by       . To pursue the strategic objectives described in the case many continuing actions are necessary. In your case write-up (3 pages) discuss the signal-action combinations that are necessary to pursue these three strategic objectives. Many of these combinations are referred to directly or indirectly in the case. Others may be implied by the strategic objectives but not directly discussed in the case. In other words, the question is: At a high level, what signals (information systems and models) are needed to support the decision making implied by the strategic objectives? The write-up should specifically respond the questions above. It is very important to present a logical analysis that leads to clear insight and recommendation where appropriate. DONOT REPEAT THE FACTS PRESENT IN THE CASE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO RESPOND THE QUESTIONS ABOVE, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU MIGHT SEARCH FOR RELEVANT FACTS AND EVENTS IN THE PERIOD BEFORE OR AFTER WHAT IS DISCUSSED IN THE ARTICLE. NOTE: For your understanding "signal-action" is something like, when you see a red light on the road (it is a signal),

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT ESSAY INSTRUCTION

This case describes the three major strategy initiative pursued by . To pursue the strategic objectives described in the case many c...

Research Proposal on Asperger Syndrome: The Role of the Primary Caregiver in the Family

Asperger Syndrome: The Role of the Primary Caregiver in the Family   Research Aims: This proposed research attempts to achieve the following objectives: 1.                   To determine the different adaptive strategies employed by parents, family members and teachers in dealing with Asperger Syndrome patients. 2.                   To illustrate the connections between the roles and strategies of parents in dealing with high stress. 3.                   To analyze the different adaptive strategies by parents, siblings and teachers in treating Asperger Syndrome patients. 4.                   To evaluate the stress management strategies commonly used by family members with an Asperger Syndrome co-member 5.                   To evaluate the effect of the family members stress management strategies with the growth, temper and treatment of the patient   Research Questions: In accordance with the research aims of this proposed study, the following will be asked: 1.                    What are the adaptive strategies and measures used by family members specifically the parents in dealing with their Asperger Syndrome patient child? 2.                    What are the connections between the roles and strategies adopted through parenting a child with AS (advocacy, management, social skill training, home based OT and PT training etc.) and high stress? 3.                    What are the common adaptive strategies of parents, siblings, teachers and classmates in dealing with their children who have Asperger Syndrome? 4.                    What are the stress management approaches commonly used by parents and family members? How effective is it in terms of patient growth, temper and treatment?   Introduction Children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome may not be able to understand or express their emotions, understand what is expected of them or be able to apply the rules learned at other times and in other situations to the situation with which they are faced (Jackel, 1996). Behavior is often an indicator of frustration and stress and the following can assist in their management and reduction. Often, these ideas are beneficial to all the students (Jackel, 1996). Asperger syndrome is perhaps one of the most baffling and mysterious disorders of our times. Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder in the Autistic spectrum that is characterized by mild to severe difficulties in the areas of social interactions and communication, restricted and specialized patterns of intense interest and clumsiness deriving from coordination problems. Memory and executive functions are also affected , which in turn translates into problems with planning, organizing and integrating information during the learning process, information retrieval, efficient planning, the exercising good judgement based on previous knowledge .  Because of its intriguing peculiarities the disorder has earned among some (Gena Barnhill, 2002) the nick name  “Wrong Planet Syndrome”. The effects of the disorder on the family can range from puzzling to intriguing all the way to simply devastating as the disorder, due to its very nature, affects multiple areas of the child’s development and ability to function. In any case major parenting role adjustments, often deviating from and greatly adding to the traditional parenting role, will be required from the primary caregiver in particular. Generally speaking also the family lifestyle undergoes some changes in order to accommodate the special needs of the child with Asperger Syndrome. The causes of Asperger syndrome are still unknown. They are  however generally identified in 2 categories : Biological and Environmental (Simpson and Zionts, 2000). Therefore  possibilities include  medical, physical, bio-chemical and genetic factors.  Complications during pregnancy or birth are likewise considered. It is estimated  that  nearly half of those diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome have suffered lack of oxygen at birth (Boon, 2002). It has also been noted in clinical studies that the brain's right hemisphere is dominant for the nuances of social conduct and interaction, and that the right lobe may have a role in adherence to social rules and studies carried out in 1994 and 1995 appear to confirm that Asperger's may be a selective learning disability of the right hemisphere (Boon, 2002).along with  the possibilities of adverse reaction to vaccinations (MMR in particular), mercury exposure (still from some vaccines), enzyme deficiencies and various defects of the immune system (Winters, 2001)   Conceptual Framework The Parent Focused Framework conceptualized by Attwood (1993) will be used in this study to analyze the connection between stress management among family members specifically the parents in dealing with their Asperger Syndrome child. The framework provide the parents with a timetable to ensure that the child can be rehearsed for the following day and has the necessary equipment required for the days activities because they are not strong on organizational skills and need assistance in this area. Further, necessary in this framework is the existence of a Communication Book that will be used daily to inform parents of successes and failures, ask for parental advice and receive information from parents (It is difficult for parents to find out what is happening at school but it is vital that they know so they can inform the Doctors and therapists of issues and receive and transmit advice from medicos to teachers). Thus, when an issue begins to surface, do not ignore it or think it too minor to mention to parents (parents prefer more information than less and often something minor points to a serious issue which has bearing on behavior at home)   Hypothesis   This paper shall test the following hypothesis: 1.                   There is a significant correlation between connections between the roles and strategies adopted through parenting a child with AS (advocacy, management, social skill training, home based OT and PT training etc.) and high stress 2.                   Effective stress management in dealing with Asperger Syndrome patients will result in a better patient growth, treatment and temper                         Significance of the Study This study is an attempt to illustrate the significance of assuming a more hands-on role as a parent for AS patients. This assumption of role shall be critical in the stress management by parents and the development of the child in terms of their treatment and personal growth. This will also be an informative guide for parents who are having a hard time dealing with their AS-inflicted child and how they can utilize the coping mechanisms outlined in this study. Further, this analysis will be beneficial to the members of the academe and the research community on AS, AS therapists, students and the general public in dealing and understanding AS. Review of Related Literature Many of the weaknesses observed in AS can be remediated with specific types of interventions aimed at imparting social and pragmatic skills. The often co-morbid anxiety that leads to significant rigidity can be also addressed. Interdisciplinary interventions of a highly comprehensive, intensive and highly structured nature are usually necessary (Boon, 2002). Parents struggling to find answers about their children often have to wade through pedantic and confusing mazes (Bashe, Kirby, and Attwood, 2001). Bashe, Kirby, and Attwood (2001) delved into the shady, often misunderstood world of pervasive developmental disorders, of which perhaps the most well-known is autism, with clarity, warmth and amazing depth, focusing on Asperger Syndrome (AS). The authors (both mothers of AS children) effectively trace this disorder from the onset of symptoms through adulthood. Though few Americans have ever heard of Asperger Syndrome (AS), recent studies suggest its rate of occurrence may be as high as seven in 1000 (Bashe, Kirby, and Attwood, 2001).   After parents overcome the shock of AS diagnosis and realize that their child isn't bad, nor are they bad parents, they will have many questions, plans, ups, and downs. They stresses that flexibility, resilience, and factual information are major needs of all involved with an AS person; discusses methods for dealing with individuals and institutions; and strongly advises parents not to try going it alone. Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum and has long been regarded as the "high functioning end of the autism spectrum (Attwood and Wing, 1998)." Because this IS a spectrum, the behaviors and experiences and manifestations are as varied as there are individuals on the spectrum (Attwood and Wing, 1998). However, there are certain diagnostic criteria that have to be met in order to determine if someone has Asperger's Syndrome or a place on the a/A spectrum (Attwood and Wing, 1998). Attwood and Wing (1998) makes it plain that a diagnosis of Asperger's is not a death knell or a mental health condemnation; on the contrary, he describes a place on the a/A spectrum as a baseline for behaviors that had previously caused "undefined differences." Asperger's Syndrome is one of the constellation of conditions known as autism (Willey and Attwood, 1999; Klin and Volkmar, 1995). Myles, Southwick, and McBride (2001) emphasized tantrums and other behavioral outbursts among Asperger patients. They posited that solutions for parents include organization and support, the importance of daily routines, signs to watch for and more (Myles, Southwick, and McBride, 2001). Identifying stress cues that indicate impending emotional and sometimes aggressive outbursts is important in dealing with the patients (Myles, Southwick, and McBride, 2001), this will allow parents and professionals to develop effective intervention plans for responding the incident effectively as well as preventing these episodes altogether. Asperger syndrome (also called Asperger disorder), only came into more general use over the past fifteen (Bauer, (n.d.); Klin and Volkmar, 1995). Since AS itself shows a range or spectrum of symptom severity, many less impaired children who might meet criteria for that diagnosis receive no diagnosis at all and are viewed as "unusual" or "just different," or are misdiagnosed with conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder, emotional disturbance, etc. (Bauer, (n.d.)). The other major characteristic of AS is the socialization deficit, and this, too, tends to be somewhat different than that seen in typical autism (Bauer, (n.d.); Klin and Volkmar, 1995). Their problem is not a lack of interaction so much as lack of effectiveness in interactions. They seem to have difficulty knowing how to" make connections" socially (Bauer, (n.d.)). This syndrome was essentially unknown in the English literature for many years. An influential review and series of case reports by Lorna Wing (1981) increased interest in the condition, and since then both the usage of the term in clinical practice and number of case reports and research studies have been steadily increasing. In regard to the emotional aspects of social transactions, individuals with AS may react inappropriately to, or fail to interpret the valence of, the context of the affective interaction, often conveying a sense of insensitivity, formality, or disregard to the other person's emotional expressions (Klin and Volkmar, 1995). As in autism, treatment of AS is essentially supportive and symptomatic (Klin and Volkmar, 1995). Special educational services are sometimes helpful, although there is, as yet, very little reported experience on the effectiveness of specific interventions. Acquisition of basic skills in social interaction as well as in other areas of adaptive functioning should be encouraged (Klin and Volkmar, 1995). Supportive psychotherapy focused on problems of empathy, social difficulties, and depressive symptoms may be helpful, although it is usually very difficult for individuals with AS to engage in more intensive, insight-oriented psychotherapy. In this way, associated conditions, such as depression, may be effectively treated (Klin and Volkmar, 1995). This continuous need for adjustments and interventions, coupled with the stark reality of having a child with a lifelong disability and spurred on by the awareness of a serious lack of social resources and the lack of  acceptance of AS as a life long invisible disability from both the public, the social security and  health systems leads to high levels of stress. Moreover parents t worry about the future of the AS child, well aware that their cute, peculiar child will become a not so “cute” peculiar adult left to its own inefficient parameters and devices. In the last few years, thanks largely to parents supported and/or financed initiatives  (Barbara L. Kirby, 2001) study and awareness of Autism and of Asperger syndrome have made great steps forward.  Studies regarding the use of medication are under way.  Several leading academic institutions in the US, including The University of Pittsburg and are conducting Autism Research Programs. While the search for a cure for autism continues a number of therapies are used.   Scope and Delimitation This study will tackle the relationship between Asperger Syndrome (AS) and the change of roles by the parents of the patient brought about by the high level of stress that they have to undergo. Moreover, this paper shall provide the background on the understanding of AS; its origin, symptoms and its treatment. The number of respondents in the research-based questionnaire shall be limited to a given population and findings may vary with other surveys on the topic given to the difference in the demographic variables among the respondents.   REFERENCES: Jackel, S. 1996. Asperger's Syndrome. Educational Management Issues.  Bashe, P.R., Kirby, B. and Attwood, T. 2001. The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration. Crown Pub; 1st edition (November 13, 2001). Attwood, T. and Wing, L. 1998. Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. Jessica Kingsley Pub; (January 1998). Myles, B.S. and Southwick, J. and McBride, K. 2001. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns. Autism Asperger Publishing Co; (January 2001). Willey, L. H. and Attwood, T. 1999. Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1st edition (July 15, 1999) Bauer, S. (n.d.). ASPERGER SYNDROME, Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support. Online Asperger Syndrome Information. Klin, A. and Volkmar, F. 1995. Asperger's Syndrome: Guidelines for Assessment and Diagnosis. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut. Learning Disabilities Association of America, June.   Colton, Denise and Sheridan, Susan, Conjoint Behavioral Consultation and       Social Skills Training: Enhancing the Play Behaviors of Boys with      Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,           1998 Englander, Meryl, Strategies for Classroom Discipline, Praeger Publishers, 1986 Ford, Karen, Hinely, Reg and Leavell, Alexandra, Education in Edge City: Cases            for Reflection and Action, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000 Griffin, Robert, Underachievers in Secondary School: Education off the Mark,      Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1988 McMahon, Thomas, Pruett, Marsha Kline, On the Proverbial Horns of an Ethical Dilemma: School Consultation, Child Advocacy, and Adversarial            Intervention, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998 Miller, Dan, Effect of a Program of Therapeutic Discipline on the Attitude,  Attendance, and Insight of Truant Adolescents, Heldref Publications, 1986 Tauber, Robert, Classroom Management: Sound Theory and Effective Practice,  Bergin & Garvey, 1999

Research Proposal on Asperger Syndrome: The Role of the Primary Caregiver in the Family

Asperger Syndrome: The Role of the Primary Caregiver in the Family Research Aims: This proposed research attempts to achieve the f...