The Value Proposition in Barclays PLC

The Value Proposition in Barclays PLC The organization that is used for this assignment is Barclays PLC; this project is divided into three parts. The first parts aim is to identify and to explain what is the perceived value for the customers, to do this, suitable models of consumer values are going to be used and then the model will be applied to the organization. The second part will critically evaluate the value proposition of the business and then a comparison will be made with that of the leading competitors value proposition. The third part would produce a new value proposition, which will match the value criteria of the existing customers; this will be done by identifying the weaknesses in the existing value proposition. It will also provide us with a plan to implement the value proposition internally and externally. Using suitable models identify the customer perceived value for the customers for a product/division/company of your choice. Customer perceived value, what does this really mean? Customer perceived value, can be regarded as the opinion that a customer has or has formed of a particular product and how it is of value to him. Simply put, the customer perceived value of any product is the consumers overall assessment of the utility or use of a product based on perceptions of what the customer receives and what he is giving to get the desired service or product. This concept can also be explained with the help of the following diagram: Customer perceived value= Perceived Benefits _______________ Perceived Sacrifice Where, Perceived benefits are the attributes of the service being received and the customer perceived quality and price of the product. Perceived sacrifice are the customer costs involved in purchasing, such as time, travel etc. Introduction to the organisation: For the purpose of this assignment, the company that has been selected is BARCLAYS PLC; the following text would give a brief company profile followed by the identification of the customer perceived value for the organisation by the use of the Customer Value Hierarchy Model. Company profile: Barclays is one of the worlds leading financial institutions headquartered at 1 Churchill Place, London. It is a 300 year old corporation that became a major financial services provider that engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, wealth management, investment banking and management services provider for big global equity firms. It has an extensive international presence in Europe, Africa, Asia and off lately has started to expand in the United States market as well. It moves, lends, protects and invests money for than 38 million customers and clients worldwide. Barclays has two business clusters: Global Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking and Wealth Management- both compromising world-class business and brands. Before we take a look at the customer perceived value of the Barclays brand, the project would like to discuss the Customer Value Hierarchy Model, and then try to apply them to the customers of Barclays. Customer Value Hierarchy Model: OBJECTIVE LAYER Customers goal and purpose CONSEQUENCE LAYER Desired consequences in use situation ATTRIBUTE LAYER Desired products/services attribute and performances The Customer Value Model consists of three layers, namely the Attribute layer, the Consequence Layer and the Objectives layer. The objective layer includes the ultimate motivations of customers, the consequence layer represents the customer experience desired by the person and finally the attribute layer specifies what actually the needs of the customer are. From the bottom of the customer value hierarchy, customers would always firstly consider the attributes and availability of products. At the second layer, customers begin to make expectations according to the attributes. At the top layer, customers form expectations about the realization of their aim. How do Barclays customers perceive their bank? Thats the question that this assignment would like to answer by giving the objectives, consequences and attributes desired by the customers, followed by a customer review. OBJECTIVES Easy personal banking Safety of the account at all times Saving account options Availability of loans at a good interest rate Online banking to keep a record of their account details at all time Ability to invest Good mortgage options Insurance options Credit card facilities Assistance while travelling CONSEQUENCES Easy accessibility to the account Peace of mind as the customer is aware that the account details are secure and safe More control over their own finances The customer does not require to keep much cash with them at all times because of the debit cards Saving for the rainy day A secure and safe environment Future is taken care off Can start a business with the help of financial banking More purchasing power ATTRIBUTES Pin- sentry device Debit card Online banking facilities which enable the customers to check account balances, make transfers, setup standing orders and direct debits. Chequebooks Barclaycard ISAs Bonds Home insurance Different types of savings accounts Different types of current accounts Overdraft facility E-savings Car insurance Travel services Looking at the above attributes, consequences and objectives list one can identify the value of the brand as perceived by the customer. The brand Barclays is a very widely recognized name and almost every person in the UK is a big fan, of course with some exceptions which are bound to be there, the customers on a general note feel very happy with the huge array of services and products made available by the bank for its customers and are satisfied with the huge network of customer service centres spread all across the world providing 24/7 customer service, also the safe and secure online banking facility provided by Barclays is very user friendly and easy to use, letting the customers always keep a track of their money. So its safe to say that Barclays as a bank not only just for people but also for small businesses and big equity firms is a financial institution of repute and is trusted and respected by the people. PART 2 Critically evaluate the existing value proposition of the product/division/ company you have chosen. Compare and contrast the value proposition with that of the leading competitor in your sector. This part of the project would evaluate the value proposition or the customer value proposition of Barclays and contrast it with the customer value proposition of HSBC. But before we proceed to comparing and contrasting the value propositions of both the brands we first need to understand, what a customer value proposition really is? This is the question this project would answer first and then proceed on to discuss the variations in the value propositions of both the brands. Customer Value Proposition: In the subject of marketing, the customer value proposition is a measure of the sum total of the benefits which a provider offers or promises a potential consumer which he/she will receive in return for the customers payment (or any other value transfer). A customer value proposition is a business or marketing statement that would describe why a customer should make use of the services and products being offered by the organisation. It is targeted towards potential consumers, rather than at other groups such as employees, suppliers or partners. It is a defined statement, which is designed to convince the customers that this particular product will add more value or better solve a problem than the other competitors in the same industry. Why are customer value propositions so important? This question is of utmost importance to any business, because it is only these statements that give the customer an expectation of a desired service, it provides the consumers with a convincing reason to buy the desired good and also helps differentiate the product from the other services provided by the other competitors in the same industry. They help in gaining customers attention and if the customer value proposition is strong, and is able to gain the approval of the customer that helps in building of faster and more profitable sales and in increasing the market share of the organisation. Understanding of the customer needs is very vital as this would ensure the promotion and creation of a successful brand. Types of Customer Value Propositions: All benefits: This is a list compilation of all the benefits of the products and services offered to the customers by the organisation. This approach requires the least market knowledge about customers and competitors and thus does not provide a good base when seen from a marketing perspective. Favourable Points of Difference: This type of value proposition explicitly recognizes the fact that the customer has different alternatives and it then it lays it focus on how to differentiate one product or service from another. A product or service can have several differences, confusing the customer and thus complicating the customers understanding of the product which would offer him more value. Resonating Focus: This approach is used by managers who directly deal with a supplier who fully grasps the critical issue in the product- consumer cycle and who delivers a customer value proposition thats simple yet powerfully captivating. The value proposition offered is superior in the few attributes that are of the most importance to the customers which convey a message to the targeted audience, that here is an organisation which is communicating a sophisticated understanding of the customers business priorities. When talking about the value proposition of a financial institution we have to take into account the current market conditions and then arrive at the capital and funding strategy of the bank which in itself is a sort of value proposition available for the customers to have a look at and, then these consumers can decide for themselves whether they do need to associate themselves with the financial institution. Analysis of value proposition of Barclays: Capital Strategy: Barclays capital management activities will attempt to maximise shareholders value by optimising the level and mix of its capital resources. Barclays ability to operate as a bank is directly dependent upon the maintenance of adequate capital resources. Barclays works according to a centralised capital management model considering regulatory and economic capital. The Groups capital management objectives are to: Maintaining the sufficient capital required to meet minimum regulatory capital requirements set by the UK FSA. Maintaining sufficient capital resources which can support the Barclays risk appetite and fulfil the economic capital requirements. Support the banks credit rating Ensure that the locally regulated subsidiaries can meet the minimum capital requirements without having to borrow from other financial firms. Allocation of capital to support the strategic objectives set by Barclays, including optimum returns on economic and regulatory capital. Funding strategy: Barclays will manage the funding position so as to comply with the regulatory requirements decided by the UK FSA .Barclays operates on the model of centralised governance and control processes that covers all of its liquidity risk and management activities. Funding Structure Global Retail, Commercial Banking, Barclays Wealth and the Head Office Functions are to be self-funded through customer deposits and Barclays equity and other long-term capital. The Barclays Capital and Absa businesses will be funded through the wholesale secured and unsecured funding markets. The major currency payment inflows and the payment system collateral are going to be monitored and managed, so it can be ensured that at all the times there is going to be availability of sufficient collateral to make payments. Day to day funding will be managed through putting limits on wholesale and the secured borrowings. This is going to ensure that on any day and over any specified period of time there is only going to be a limited amount of refinancing requirement. In addition to cash flow management, Barclays would monitor the term mismatches between the assets and the liabilities and also the levels and the types of undrawn lending commitments.Additional value propositions specific to a personal customer and not the global market: Personal banking made easy by the debit card that is an internationally valid card which has many advantages like international assistance anytime anywhere, guaranteed transactions etc. Wide range of current accounts available to suit different customer needs.(mobile phone insurance, car breakdown cover etc.) Availability of loans at competitive rates Online facilities giving easy accessibility to customer funds. 24/7 customer service Wide array of savings and investment options Credit card facilities Insurance facilities(home, motor and life insurance) Mortgage facilities(buying, building and renovating of property) To understand the customer value proposition of Barclays and then to contrast it with the value proposition of HSBC, this project is going to use the SWOT analysis which is preceded by the mission statements and the vision statements of both Barclays and HSBC, thus giving us a better idea of what the customer expects from the brand and what are the promises being made by these institutions to potential and existing consumers. Mission Statement: This is a short, formal, written statement of the purpose of the company. It guides the actions of the company, benchmarks its goals, provides a sense of direction and guides in decision making. It provides a framework within which the strategies of the company are formulated. Vision Statement: This can be defined as statement that captures the long term picture of what the organisation wants to become. It gives a broad and an aspirational image of the future that an organisation wants to achieve. It is often inspirational and memorable. Mission Statement of Barclays: To develop deliver the most innovative products, manage customer experience, deliver quality services that contributes to brand strength, establishes a competitive advantage and enhances profitability, thus providing value to the stakeholders of the bank. Vision Statement of Barclays: We have a clear view of where growth will come from over the coming years. While there will be significant growth opportunities in the UK, we see many more internationally. Barclays will become a leading global universal bank. Mission Statement of HSBC: We aspire to be one of the worlds great specialist banking groups, driven by commitment to our core philosophies and values. Vision Statement of HSBC: We envision enabling HSBC to achieve its strategic objectives, driving excellence in our delivery through partnership with our customers and associates. SWOT Analysis of Barclays: Strengths: Extensive network in Europe providing business sustenance. Focus on cost efficiencies which ensure relatively higher profitability. Ability to lend amidst reduced size of the balance sheet. Associated with innovation, Barclays in 1966, brought out the first credit card, most recently the OnePulse card combining Oyster, credit cashless functions for its customers. Opening of several new branches, along with a massive refurbishment programme. Weaknesses: Strained trading income impacting the revenue diversity. Barclays Capital credit market exposures are impacting the financial position and performance. Large bonuses for the Directors have attracted unwanted attention. Expansion plans in the Asian market thwarted, when Barclays lost the deal for ABN Amro in 2006. Opportunities: Barclays wanted to acquire Lehmans assets prior to the collapse but however, after the collapse, they negotiated a better deal with the liquidators which allowed them to be selective in what parts of the business they actually wanted to acquire. The banks strategy was to offer a full plethora of services worldwide, which provided a wide range of cross-selling opportunities. Asia is still an opportunity for business expansion, and thus operations are going to be set up at various locations. Welfare provision has been decreased in many countries because of the subsequent cost to governments, and  Barclays  considers self-provision as an increasing fad that it can use. Positive outlook for buy to let market may bring business volumes. Buoyant secured personal loans market in the UK could help the business. Threats: Bleak outlook for the UK economy. Regulatory fines can compress margins and financial position. Increase in online fraud. Barclays  is accused of loss-making investments which are associated with the sub-prime market from the accounts to those of other investors, and there could be legal risk. Though it offers a wide range of services, there is a threat that customers may go to suppliers who can present a more specialised approach. Barclays has been closing branches left right and centre, and the competitors have positioned themselves as more consumer-friendly by adopting a strategy of keeping the branches open. The Asia expansion is risky given that  Barclays group  are not in a strong position than the banking industry leaders when it comes to capitalisation, and this can detract investors. SWOT Analysis of HSBC: Strengths: The bank is well capitalised which enables it to perform well in comparison with other banks in the recent economic conditions. Going forward, the bank is unlikely to borrow from the UK government because of the huge market capitalization; this enables it to retain more autonomy. HSBC has a strong presence in emerging markets, which places it in a good position allowing it to take advantage of future growth in those economies. HSBCs global presence in Asia, South America and Europe spreads the risk and offers significant economies of scale. Rebranding relatively recently (1999), the HSBC bank has become well-established and is considered of great value within the industry circles. Weaknesses: HSBC strongly believes in investing in the small business sector, but the current economic downturn has led to increase in risk, which could potentially compromise the activity levels in the area of its operation. HSBCs involvement with sub-prime markets in the US has forced it to write off large sum of figures lent to high-risk borrowers. Despite cuts in the UK interest rate, HSBC has been increasing its mortgage rates. This can be perceived negatively by the borrowers and potential borrowers, which may add pressure to a depressed housing market and can ultimately lead to more defaulting as borrowers would struggle with higher repayments. A redundancy programme which was announced recently can affect morale among staff, leading to decreased productivity and loyalty. HSBCs branding emphasises the global presence of the bank, and this may be seen as negative thing by some consumers due to the implication of homogenisation and the lack of personalisation. Opportunities: HSBCs high levels of market capitalisation place the bank, in a strong position which helps it to acquire assets. Banks which find the trading conditions particularly difficult at present could be available at low costs. HSBC has adequate capital which it uses to purchase strong local banks such as Bank Ekonomi in Indonesia, in which it has purchased a stake to continue the Asian expansion despite challenging economic times. HSBCs strong position presents the opportunity to outperform other banking competitors during the economic downturn which allows it to build a reputation of being one of the safe banks for depositors which further helps to increase resources for lending. Negative press coverage of competitors such as HBOS may encourage customers to choose HSBC instead. Threats: Decreased trust in the financial system overall, including HSBC due to financial losses suffered by investors may be a reason for them to invest elsewhere. Financial losses which have affected the banking industry and the sole investors on the global scale has resulted in less amount of credit being available for customers. In the UK this coupled with increases in living cost has resulted in less money being saved. The slump property market is leading to a rise in the numbers of homeowners with negative equity. If a propertys worth is less than what it was borrowed to finance its purchase, then there is going to be less likelihood that the bank will recoup all the losses if owners default. Claims have been made against HSBC, about the bank understating its losses resulting from the US sub-prime markets, and this has led to undermining confidence in the bank by the customers. CONCLUSION: Barclays is currently taking a  conservative approach due to the recession. However, the downturn has provided the bank with many opportunities for consolidation. Also, with the BRIC and East Asian markets rebounding fast this region looks to be a source of potential revenues and provides opportunities for increasing operations. With the United Kingdom and the Americas looking at a slow and prolonged phase of recovery, Barclays will need to adopt a policy of looking east when it comes to operations. The threats and problems being faced by Barclays will be because of the sustained economic situation being experienced in the United Kingdom, America and Europe which leads to uncertainty within the retail consumer market and could result in shortage of availability of credit. This in turn makes it even more important for Barclays to drive the overall corporate profitability margin by seeking to offset the shortfalls in the UK domestic market by making advances in the emerging markets. All the companies, like Barclays, are forced to re-examine the retail aspects of their operations which are seeking to remain competitive on the high street and also to make cuts wherever necessary. In the current financial climate, banks are not ready to finance each other and with the UK market on the verge of a projected severe recession, all of the retailing factors will influence Barclays competitiveness and it would depend largely on how the Bank of England and the Treasury would regenerate and r einforce the weak confidence in the stock markets. HSBC will concentrate on the strategic and prioritized areas of its worldwide operation with the further emphasis on HR management strategies and technologically-advanced applications within the group to keep a firm lead in the financial markets. HSBCs conservative approach to banking, staying focused on keeping its capital base strong and liquid balance sheet have prevented its failure. Executing the HSBCs strategy emphasizes on improving the intra-group linkages by joining up the businesses and functions so as to effectively create additional value. The HSBC brand is going to be leveraged to reach new customers and add more services to the existing ones. Efficiency will also be enhanced by taking the full advantage of the local, the regional and global economies. Appropriate objectives and new incentives will be adopted so as to encourage employees to be fully engaged in delivering the strategy. PART 3 In light of your analysis of your existing value proposition and what you have learnt in this module produce, a new value proposition that will match the value criteria of your customers, and a plan to implement the value proposition externally and internally http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/pix/spacer.gif To create a new value proposition that would be acceptable to the customers of Barclays, all the weaknesses that the current business structure has would have to be removed and a new and better business plan would have to be drafted by identifying the opportunities and removing the weaknesses. A New Value Proposition: The trading income should be relaxed so that it does not impact the revenue diversity. Capital bonuses should be distributed in accordance with the FSA and the bad practice of the directors receiving huge bonuses should be curtailed. Barclays should provide the consumers with a full portfolio of services worldwide, rather than just concentrating in the UK, this move could enable cross-selling opportunities. Barclays should look towards expanding in the worlds booming economies like India, China, Indonesia etc. so that these economies could provide Barclays with the market opportunities it is looking for, thus increasing the market capitalization. This project would propose that Barclays should have an aggressive expansion policy in the Asian market. Barclays needs to invest in buy to let market, which would in turn bring business volumes. Due to the economic crisis in the markets, Barclays needs to cut down its interest rates and mortgage rates, so as to become a peoples bank and thus raising the brand image. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: To implement the new value proposition described above the project, will identify the key relationship-marketing issue, followed by refocusing of marketing effort: moving activities away from a marketing mix that creates a series of one-off transactions, to manage a complex network of relationships involved with the production of the whole consumer offering. T Marketing audit will be carried out so as to map out a plan that will be of most advantage to the customers and will be conducted in stages, namely at the beginning, the middle and at the end. Marketing analysis in terms of the strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities. A review must be undertaken to understand the new value propositions outlined above in the light of internal marketing. A new strategy development process concentrating on differentiation, cost leadership and adequate response systems would have to be created. Action programmes would have to be designed by managers so as to determine the most appropriate course to take in tackling the weakness of the organisation, with a determination of the likely costs which would be incurred. The implementation plan would have to be monitored and controlled by keeping a track of staff performance, evaluation and appraisal schemes. To ensure effective, appropriate and accurate results, basis for market segmentation would have to be identified, based on extensive market research. Marketing orientation is going to be very important, the new value propositions must be made clear to all the employees and clearly defined individual goals should be set down to enable the employees to see their own contribution in achieving the organisations objectives. Externally implementing the plan is going to be very important, and can be done by the use of media, electronic, print and sponsorships. The new value propositions can be made available in the form of television advertisements, available for all the people to see. The Barclays website can act as a powerful medium on which the new value propositions can be put up and made available. It should be designed in an effective and detailed manner so that the customers are aware about all the new services available to them. Print media is another powerful form by which the new policies can be made available for the masses. Barclays is a big sponsor for many big international events and meets and can use that as an active platform to educate the consumers about the new change in the policy structure.

Determining The Longetivity Of E.Coli’s Gaining Resistance Ability: A Comparison Between The Bacteriophage T-4 And Antibiotic

The surfacing of a variety of drugs for resisting antibiotic for disease-inflicting bacteria has already been a big issue and at the same a vital dilemma in treating all types of human diseases. This immediately requires another option, a substitute way of providing therapy to the human diseases. It has been found in previous researches and experiments the wonders of having bacteriophages highly considered to be â€Å"healing viruses. † John MacGregor (2003) has brought up an intriguing issue regarding bacteriophages when he wrote his research article entitled â€Å"Set A Bug To Catch A Bug†.Apart from the title, his words were â€Å"As the power of antibiotic wanes, viruses that hijack bacteria and smash them into pieces could be the answer to our prayers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . He explained in his article the possibilities of replacing antibiotics as the solution to a lot of virus-causing diseases including virus infections. Bacteriophages were first discovered by a British c hemist named E. H. Hankin. It was considered to be a virus in 1915 by Frederick Twort, a British bateriologisy. The occurrence of that first intrigue found by Dr.Hankin paved its way for more discoveries performed by a Canadian microbiologist named Felix d’Herelle. He agreed with Twort when he also considered it to be a virus and then later he named it as a â€Å"bacteriophage†. Upon his successful experimentations, he was confident that these bacteriophages will be very helpful and at the same time when he used them with the children who were almost dying dysentery at a hospital in Paris. The test solutions were distributed to every patient hoping that it will be effective, and fortunately, these cured the children for just one night.With D’Herelle’s primary success, the use of phage therapy was further studied. From then on, the advantages it provides were widely spread globally. These page therapies are utilized in a variety of ways. It can be taken or given topically, orally, can be injected, using enemas and aerosols. Diseases that were treated by this phage therapy included urinary tract infections, typhoid and cholera. The use of phage therapy slowly faded when AMA or the American Medical Association reported contradictory results of using phages. Antibiotic age came in when penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1982.Fleming’s discovery flourished for 20 years making the phage therapy out of sight. But still a lot of microbiologists became very attractive to what bacteriophages could provide medically, improving different aspects of health and curing more diseases. There was a time after the Communist era when phages were considered to be the â€Å"last resort† antibiotics when the decline for antibiotics took place. This was indeed an alarming situation worldwide. But this did not become hindrance in reviving the hidden attributes of bacteriophages.Bacteriophages are defined by Toronto, Funke and Ca se (2001) as viruses that host in bacteria and in bacterial cultures, they can be grown easily. This has been significant since bacteriophages are the main sources of multiplying viruses. How do bacteriophages multiply? The basic procedure in which multiplication of viruses happens is just the same as the other viruses and it is not affected by any means by which the entering and the exiting of a virus into a host cell differs. Most life cycles of a virus are difficult to understand but a bacteriophage is an exception.They are the easiest to be learned and be understood. Bacteriophages, also called â€Å"phages†, can be multiplied using two substitute processes. The first one is called the lytic cycle which leaves the host cell to a lysis or death. The second one is called the lysogenic cycle where the host cell lives. T-even bacteriophages such as T2, T4 and T6 are the phage types that are most studied. Using the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a host, with the use o f lytic cycle, multiplication of the T-even bacteriophages can be demonstrated easily from one process to another.There are 5 stages involved starting from attachment, penetration, biosynthesis, maturation and release. During the first stage, attachment, the particles of the bactriophage and the bacteria collide. A chemical connection occurs between the attachment site from the virus and the bacterial cells’ complementary receptor site. A chemically produced interaction from the connection enables bonds that are weak to be formed from the two sites by using their fibered tail ends. During the stage of penetration, DNA is being injected by the T-even bacteriophages into the bacterium after connecting occurs.This is done when an enzyme called the phage lysozyme is released by the tail of the bacteriophage which in turn destroys the walls of the bacterial cell. In the penetration process, the phage’s sheath tail contracts and the core of the tail enters the cell wall. If the core’s tip has already reached the plasma membrane, the DNA from the head of the bacteriophage will pass through the tail core, it will eventually enter the bacterial cell. During the stage of biosynthesis, the DNA of the bacteriophage will initiate synthesis direction of the components of the virus by the host cell.Once the components of the virus are being put in place and are brought together into virions, the maturation stage occurs. When the lyses of the host cell and the new virions have already been released, it is referred to as the release stage (Toronto, Funke and Case; 2001). Bacteriophages have been found to exhibit a lot of features. They are tested to be of big use with local infections in relation to poor supply of blood like diabetic ulcers and infections of the bone. Unlike antiobiotics, these phages were keenly observed to multiply inside their host cell which enables them to penetrate more deeply to the area being infected.Another distinguishing feature of phage therapies is its ability to inflict no allergies, resulting to a fewer side effects. Phage therapies in addition are easier and are cheaper to produce than antibiotics. On the other hand, bacteriophages have their limitations concerning their fatality once they have already killed the harmful bacteria. But these issues should not lower the hopes of the society depending on the future developments of phages. In an interview (Society for Gen. Micro. , 2008), they have shared that modern scientists and researchers have already found ways of prolonging the lifespan of viruses.This new and possible idea is by combining them chemically with polymers but still this is limiting since it will likely cause poisoning of the blood and is surely a big threat to one’s life. The main objective of this project is to determine the longetivity of the bacterium Escherichia coli’s gaining resistance ability in two different viral invaders: the bacteriophage T-4 and an antibiotic . At the end of this project, results should report a comparison between these two, answering which has the longest and the most effective invading mechanism. B. METHODS AND PROCEDURES (EXPERIMENT PROTOCOL)Throughout the following procedures of this project, a strict Aseptic Technique will be used. During the whole duration of the experiment, a strict technique called the Aseptic Technique will be applied. According to a web article research, written by Hauswirth and Sherk (2007), they defined the aseptic technique as an accumulation of unique practices acquired and a set of processes undergone whose conditions are carefully controlled with an objective of minimizing pathogen contamination. In any type of clinical setting, the technique is used to maximize and stabilize pathogenic organisms’ absence.Its main goal is to simply protect a patient from infection and cease any possible spreading to other body parts. Prevention of infections are not achieved simply by sanitizing or disinfecting. In about more than 27 million surgical operations, surgical sites are the third most prone to more hospital infections prolonging, in effect, the hospital stay of the patient and at the same time, hospital bills become so expensive. The estimate was according to CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hauswirth and Sherk, 2007).The main objective of performing this experiment is to identify the required length of time for a common bacterium called Escherichia coli (E. coli) to achieve its maximum log phase growth. When these cells have already arrived in its expression of maximum amount of bacteriophage receptors, it will eventually lead to an immediate vulnerability to infection. The bacterium E. coli must always be utilized at this stage of growth all through out the procedures to be able to achieve desirable results upon comparing of two different experiments.In beginning the procedures of the experiment, first, an overnight growth of culture will be prep ared to be able to supply the growth curve with inoculum. The growth of the culture will be done in a shaking incubator with a temperature of 37 degrees Centigrade. The culture preparation will also be dependent on what culture is available, its slope, its colony or plate, and inoculate broth of the culture. Second, a 1 ml of culture that will be prepared overnight and a 99 ml of inoculate nutrient broth (NB) will be taken and will be placed in a flask that is sterilized and flat-bottomed type.Through a process called resuspension, a sterilized tube containing a sample of 5 ml will be gently swirled, will be collected and will be marked Time Zero. The sterilized flat-bottomed flask will be placed inside the shaking incubator. Third, samples containing 5 ml each will be collected at a per hour interval. This will be done for 8 consecutive 8 hours and will be marked Time 1, Time 2, Time 3, Time 4 . . . Time 8. All samples will be stored at +4 degrees Centigrade. Fourth, the remains of the culture that has been prepared overnight will be left for one more night.At exactly 9 am the next day, a last sample of the culture remains will be collected. Fifth, from a sample of 400 nm and another sample of 450 nm, the OD of each sample will be measured. The LB or NB will be used but will be left blank if necessary. If in case, the OD will exceed 1. 0, both sample 1 and sample 2 that were used in LB and NB will be diluted and will be read for the second time. Sixth, the strict aseptic technique will be used in preparing for colony counts in each sample. The amount of workable cells (per ml) will be identified.Seventh, plotting will be done. A growth curve will be plotted and both the cell number and time will be involved in doing this. Eighth, another growth curve will be plotted. This time cell number and OD will be involved in the plotting. Ninth, the required time to reach the midway of the log phase growth will be identified. In doing this, cells within the time length , identified prior to the succeeding experiment, will be grown. Tenth and last step of these experiment procedures, the connection between the cells and the OD will be analyzed.All results acquired all through out the process of this experiment will be recorded and will be evaluated accordingly. References: Hauswirth, K. & Sherk, S. D. (2007) Aseptic Technique [Internet]. Available from < http://www. surgeryencyclopedia. com/A-Ce/Aseptic-Technique. html> [Accessed 8 May 2008] Tortora, Funke & Case (2001) Microbiology: An Introduction. 7th ed. Addison-Wesley Longman, Inc. Craigie, J. (2002) The Significance and Applications of Bacteriophage in Bacteriological and Virus Research [Internet]. Available from [Accessed 8 May 2008]

Organizational Culture Shapes And Controls Behavior Within...

Write-up 3 Every organization operates and functions in a different way. Rather it be the employees, the structure, or the products and services they provide, each organization will have their own unique way of performing tasks and reaching their goals. All organizations have a set of values and norms by which they go by, which sets them apart from other organizations. These values and norms are part of an organization’s culture. According to the textbook, organizational culture is â€Å"the set of shared values and norms that control organizational members’ interactions with each other and with suppliers, customers, and other people outside the organization† (pg. 179). Culture is one of the key ways an organization can increase its effectiveness. Organizational culture shapes and controls behavior within the organization. It influences how people respond to a situation and how they interpret the environment surrounding the organization. Therefore, an organization’s culture directly affects its performance and position within the competitive environment. With that being said, an organization with a well-established culture will tend to be more successful than an organization with a poor culture. Employees often spend 40 hours or more per week at their work place, which means organizational culture not only affects their work lives, but their personal lives as well. In attempt to better understand organizational culture, I will take a look at Chick-fil-A, a fast food restaurantShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Culture And Its Functions863 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION Organizational culture involves systems of beliefs and values that guide the behavior of individuals within the organization and how they shape behavior (Kummerow, 2013). Organizational structures, on the other hand, dictate the assignment, coordination and control of roles and responsibilities to achieve organizational goals (Pathak 2011). For a company to perform effectively it needs to grow, organizational development is one element of growth that focuses on practice an research focusedRead MoreImpact of Structure on Organizations891 Words   |  4 Pagesof Structure on Organizations Impact of organizational structure There are several factors that influence organizations activity, presence within the business environment, and success on the market. Such a factor is represented by their organizational structure. This organizational structure refers to the hierarchy within the organization, to the lines of authority and communication, to the rights, but also to the limits of competence within the organization. The organizational structure influencesRead MoreWhat is an organizational culture? 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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay - 1672 Words

This memo recommends that the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MI) use its resources to support Michigan House Bill 4843. This bill attempts to address the need for the increasing number of Michigan Veterans affected by psychological diagnoses and the benefits that come from utilizing service dogs to decrease effects associated with these diagnoses for Veterans to function in society. It would allow a five-year pilot program to be established to record the significance service dogs have on decreasing psychological symptoms of Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. It would also record the number of Veterans who are able to return to normal functionality within society due to utilizing a service†¦show more content†¦A diagnosis of PTSD is often associated with2: ï‚ § significant increase in the risk of depression ï‚ § detachment from loved ones and society ï‚ § homelessness ï‚ § reckless behaviors ï‚ § suicide, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders ï‚ § deaths. Compared to the average citizen, combat Veterans are diagnosed with PTSD at an elevated rate. Combat Veterans are four times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD compared to the general population. With most Veterans being subjected to multiple deployments and increased traumatic events the number of combat Veterans has increased compared to past historical eras of war. More Veterans are returning from deployments and are trying to re-acclimate themselves within society but are drastically overwhelmed with the process and ill prepared to identify PTSD symptoms for what they are. In 2017, there are currently 19,998,799 veterans in the United States and Michigan’s population accounts for 589,326 of those Veterans . The war era Veterans most likely to be affected by PTSD are Vietnam and Post 9/11 Veterans. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs the following percentage of Veterans are affected by PTSD4: ï‚ § Vietnam Era Veterans: 31% ï‚ § Gulf War Era Veterans: 12% ï‚ § Post 9/11 Era Veterans: 20% Unlike prior eras, Post 9/11 Veterans are more likely to be uninsured, unemployed and receiving welfare compared to prior groups of veterans in history which has a negative impact on the economy. TheShow MoreRelatedPost Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Essay4334 Words   |  18 PagesPost Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been the focus of considerable attention, and some controversy, since it was formally recognised in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association. This essay will discuss the history of this relatively new diagnosis and its place within the DSM-IV-TR, whilst three perspectives of pathological reaction to trauma, namely, socio-cultural, psychological and biological factors will also be compared. In conclusion this essay will discuss how the three perspectivesRead More Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pages There are hundreds of different kinds of psychiatric disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV). One of them is called Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on the research, post-traumatic disorder usually occurs following the experience or witnessing of life-threate ning events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape (Harvard Women’s Health Watch, 2005)Read MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1069 Words   |  5 Pagesgreat impact on him and his future. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that results from experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic or tragic event that extends beyond one’s coping capacity. People with PTSD usually have frightening thoughts or vivid memories or dreams of that event. How a child reacts to a tragic event emotionally and mentally completely depends on the child’s mentality. Some people can look past a traumatic event and live life; others can lead to moreRead MoreSymptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay821 Words   |  4 Pagesresponse to a harmful event or threat of survival. However, this reaction to danger can be damaged or altered due to Post-traumatic stress disord er (PTSD). PTSD usually occurs after a terrifying event that involves physical harm, or the threat of it. Instead of the body having a natural response to danger, this â€Å"flight-or-fight† reaction could occur at any given, uncontrollable moment. Traumatic events including rape, child abuse, natural disasters, and car accidents are one of the many things that can triggerRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder is on the Raise Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayo Clinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers (NIMH). While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, andRead More Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Veterans Essay2315 Words   |  10 PagesEveryday Battles with PTSD† 1). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the reason why these courageous military service members cannot live a normal life when they are discharged. One out of every five military service members on combat tours—about 300,000 so far—return home with symptoms of PTSD or major depression. According to the Rand Study, almost half of these cases go untreated because of the disgrace that the military and civil society attach to mental disorders (McGirk 1). The general populationRead MoreMethods of Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay924 Words   |  4 PagesWhen humans undergo traumatic events that threaten their safety and wellbeing, they may become vulnerable to nightmares, fear, excessive anxiety, depression, and trembling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological illness that results from the occurrence of a â€Å"terribly frightening, life-th reatening, or otherwise unsafe experience† (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 2012). This condition often leads to unbearable stress and anxiety. PTSD is significantly prevalent as indicatedRead MorePost-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Causes Symptoms and Effects Essay1382 Words   |  6 Pagesor suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. What this number does not include are the 39,365 cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (more commonly known as PTSD). (Department 2009) Although we usually think of war injuries as being physical, one of the most common war injuries is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the effects can be devastating to a redeploying soldier who has come in contact with severely traumatic experiences. PTSDRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder: Will Help Finally Come? Essay example1206 Words   |  5 PagesPTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) has always been an issue especially with those that have experienced sexual assault, a traumatic accident or injury, being a prisoner of war, or participated in combat. Sadly, ever since the Iraq war, PTSD has been becoming even more widespread. Soldiers have been diagnosed with chronic PTSD and the medication has not been helping. PTSD causes a variety types of symptoms including: flashbacks, nightmares, recurring visual images of the traumatic experience, negativeRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1052 Words   |  5 PagesBehavioral changes in veterans caused by PTSD Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a form of mental and emotional stress that has been brought on by traumatic events that have taken place in a person’s life. PTSD comes with many kinds of effects some including high-risk behaviors, aggression and shame, sleep disturbances, and attachment(Barr, Kintzle, Sullivan, Castro, 2017; Martindale, Morissette, Rowland, Dolan, 2017; Haller, Norman, Angkaw, 2016; Renaud, 2008). These all are causes of behavioral