System Thinking In Healthcare Nursing Essay

System Thinking In Healthcare Nursing Essay The health care system can be defined as a set of interrelated parts or agents, which include caregivers and patients, bound by a common purpose and acting on their knowledge. This great number of interconnections within and among makes the healthcare organisation complex (IOM, 2009). Such complexity brings problems and opportunities and requires organisations to adjust to the changes. The ability to understand and respond to both the external and internal environments might require a holistic thinking approach of the system (Lebcir, 2006). Systems consist of interrelated, interacting and interdependent parts configured in a manner that produces a unified whole. System thinking studies these components parts, their interrelationship and the way they function as a whole. According to Senge (1993), system thinking is a conceptual framework, a body of knowledge and tools that has been developed to make the full patterns of systems clearer, and to help see how they can be changed effectively. There are various system thinking approaches and the essay will review some methodologies that were used in managing the case study of Ashford hospital. 1.1 Case Study- Ashford Hospital Earlier in the year, Ashford hospital which serves quite a large population experienced severe pressure on service. The hospital had 67 ward beds. Patients had to wait for long in chairs or trolleys at accident and emergency unit (A E) before they could be admitted into the wards. This led to overcrowding of AE unit. Patients were asked to stay away from the hospitals AE unless absolutely necessary. The healthcare providers were put under pressure and resulted in trading of blames amongst them. Patients were no longer satisfied with the quality of care. The management of the hospital was disturbed and wanted a way out of the messy situation. 2 Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) SSM is an action oriented approach for tackling perceived real world problematic (social) situations ( Checkland and Poulter, 2006). Appendix A shows the SSM process steps that were followed in the course of investigation. 2.1 Finding out An investigation team was invited by Chief Executive (CE) and introduced to some health workers. Using the SSM the first stage was to identify and provide a brief description of the situation. Due to the workload the clinicians were encountering, getting them round a discussion table wasnt easy. However, the investigation team moved around asking questions and observing proceedings. A rich picture was developed to help capture the main entities, structures and view points in the problem situation of Ashton hospital (Figure1, Appendix B). As part of the finding out, the team had to identify key roles that were affected in this situation (Analysis 1). The team already knew who the client was because it was the CE who requested for intervention. The nurses and doctors (some with specialisation) in A E provided treatment to patients with various illnesses and injuries.. Where necessary, patients were moved to the ward. The bed manger allocated beds to patient, while the ward manager supervised the ward. Table1 shows the outcome of Analysis 1 while table 2 shows the worldviews of the issue owners. Having known the key issue owners, the social texture (Analysis 2) of the issue owners in term of their role in the hospital, the norms (expected behaviour associated with such role) and the values (standard by which behaviours are judged) were identified. This is illustrated in table 1 of Appendix B. A political analysis (analysis 3) which enriched the cultural appreciation previously obtained through Analyses 1and II was done. The essence was to find out the disposition of power associated with the roles within the hospital thereby buttressing our cultural understanding of the situation. The CE, being the head of the hospital, had positioned power over other roles while the doctors enjoyed expert power across the hospital. The details of the analysis 3 are shown in figure 2 of Appendix B. The culture analysis provided a basic for identifying the relevant issues, actors and conflict in the hospital. The Client- person(s) who caused the intervention to happen The Chief Executive of Ashford hospital The Practitioner- people performing the investigation The Investigation team (Us) The issue owners-people who are concerned about or affected by the situation. Doctors, Bed managers, nurses, patients, ward managers, Chief Executive Table 1: Analysis 1 (the Intervention Itself) in Ashford hospital case study Issue owners World views Chief Executive Targets must be met with the available budget Doctors Patients need to be given effective treatment before they are discharged Bed manager Doctors do not discharge patients on time and are always bed blocking Patients We need better healthcare service; we Need to get well before we are discharged Ward managers High standards must be maintained in the ward Nurse To many patients to cope with Table 2: Worldviews of the issue owners in Ashford hospital case study. 2.2 Making Purposeful Activity Models. According to Checkland and Poulter (2006), every human situation reveals people trying to act purposefully. The models of purposeful activity system viewed through the world view of the doctors and the bed manager were considered very relevant. This was because the doctors made decisions on patients that needed admission while the bed manager was involved in allocation of beds. In order to model the purposeful activities, root definitions describing the primary activity processes and functions were developed using a mnemonic CATWOE analysis. Appropriate root definitions for the primary functions performed by doctors and bed manager were formulated as follows: A doctor system to provide quality and effective treatment care, through the use of appropriate acquired knowledge and hospital resources in, order to improve patients condition. A bed manager system that provides timely placement of patients in wards, by optimizing the use of available hospital beds, in order to contribute to quality and effective patient care. Tables 3 and 4 show the purposeful activity models for the Bed Manager and Doctor respectively. The conceptual purposeful activity models are illustrated in figure 2 and 3 of Appendix B. Purposeful Activity model 1 Root definition A bed manager system that provides timely placement of patients in wards, by optimizing the use of available hospital beds, in order to contribute to quality and effective of patient care. Activity name Admission of patients Task Primary task Customer Patients, doctors Actors Bed manager Transformation process Patients are admitted in hospital ward beds Worldview Doctors do not discharge patients on time and they contribute to bed blocking Owners Bed managers, doctors, ward managers, nurses Environment Number of beds, bed management and ward policies Efficacy Are beds available for patients? Are beds data correct? Efficiency How long do patient wait before being admitted? Do patients over stay on ward bed? Optimal bed usage, waiting time Effectiveness Have all patients been admitted on time? Table 3: Purposeful Activity model of Bed Manager. Purposeful Activity Model 2 Root definition A doctor system to provide quality and effective treatment care, through the use of appropriate acquired knowledge and hospital resources in order to improve patients condition. Activity name Treatment and admission of patients Task Primary task Customer Patients Actors Doctors Transformation process Patients are admitted and treated in the hospital Worldview Patients need to be given effective treatment before they are discharged Owners Nurses, doctors, bed managers, ward managers Environment Bed management and ward policies, availability of beds Efficacy Have patients been treated and admitted Efficiency Are patients getting better?, cost of drugs, time Effectiveness Have all patients been treated and admitted on time? Table 4: Purposeful Activity model of Doctors 2.3 Discussion and Outcomes. Activities in conceptual models developed were used for the discussion. The most significant finding that resulted from the investigation was in the area of discharge. The actual problem which was assumed to be limited to the AE was actually as a result of failure to adequately plan discharge in the wards. When the rate of patients needing admission increased, there was a need to change discharge plans. However, it was realised that the doctors did not change discharge behaviour and created waiting lists for patients that needed admission. Facilitated brainstorming sessions resulted in identifying number of contributing causes of delayed discharge. Discharge was done after ward round which took place in morning during week days alone. Insignificant numbers of discharge were done over the weekend because there was no major ward round. This meant that most patients needing admission in A E over weekend had to wait till following week before beds could be arranged for them. This also compounded the bed crises. A discharge project team was immediately set up. The main function of the discharge team was to carry out additional ward rounds in the evenings and on weekends so as to discharge patients and free up more beds. They were able to indentify other causes of delayed discharge and resolved them. This ensured timely discharge fashion which then freed up beds for patients in AE. 2.4 Strength and weakness of SSM The methodology provided guidelines that were flexible to apply. The use of models provoked debate and learning among the issue owners. Through discussion and debates, the hospital was able to realise that there was a need to amend patient discharge policy. However, this methodology could not satisfy everybody. Some of the discharge decisions were not favourable to the ward patients. Also members of the discharge team had extra work to do and ways of compensating them were not discussed. This could be seen from Jackson (2000) arguments that SSM tends to favour the more powerful people in the system while genuine participative debate could be severely constrained. 3.0 Thinking Differently Most of the inventions in our society today, such as electricity, telephone, automated teller machine and many more, are the results of some people who decided to think differently. Thinking differently involves using innovative and creative approaches to transform healthcare delivery service (NHS, 2007) The first stage was to stop and think of the whole situation and identify areas where creative thinking could improve matters. It was observed that there was poor co-ordination of patients and beds management while poor communication existed between the bed manager and other clinicians, in the wards and A E, about bed availability. A tool called Others Point of View (OPV) was then selected to describe the issue from others peoples perspective. The aim was to generate some alternative ways of framing the problem and to think about what other people might say about bed management of the hospital. Hotel manager Despite their poor hospitality, they still have more clients.poor service in hotel industry will make you to be out of business Service Consultant Poor customer service in the hospitalno regards for patientscustomers are kings ..so are the patients Journalist Taking the sick to a sick hospital. Patient -This is disgustingwhere else do they want us to go to? The second phase allowed clinicians to brainstorm and come up with ideas. At this stage no idea was good or bad. It allowed for people to speaking out their imaginations. The Fresh eyes tool was picked to see how similar issues were managed in other industries and the possibility of adopting the solutions into the hospital. Hotels- Hotels manage rooms, checks customers in and out using software systems designed to help administrator to track all rooms availability. University- students can book their accommodation online while a system assists in organising and allocating rooms to students Airline Airline Reservations Systems that manages airline schedules, fare tariffs, passenger reservations and ticket records. This gave us insight to how clients and resources were being managed in other industries. The stake holders then agreed to try out a bed management information system. The hospital implemented bed management information system on a small scale and some of the benefits were highlighted (Table 5). Real time online monitoring of bed position, bed manager did not have to go round wards again It improved communication between units for patient admissions Saved time searching for available beds in the hospital It provided an overview of bed occupancy rate in hospital It was user friendly and easy to use. Enabled more accurate allocation of beds for emergency patients Table 5: Realised benefits of Bed management information system after implementation. 3.1 Strength and weakness The thinking differently methodology was a powerful tool in stimulating thinking and lots of ideas were suggested. However, this took time and caused arguments as feasibility, advantages disadvantages and risk of each idea were all argued out. Also, traces of people trying to impose their ideas on others were noticed while others brought up ideas that would satisfy their own interest. 4 System dynamics System dynamics is an approach and simulation technique for studying and managing complex feedback systems, that are seen in business and other social systems (SDS, 2009). According to Jun el at (1999), there has been increased use of simulation in healthcare. This could be attributed to numerous success reports of using simulation to address health care system problems and availability of simulation software packages. The methodology was used to estimate and manage the aggregate flow of patient through the hospital and its environment. As the number of people visiting AE increased, it in turn increased the number of people who needed hospital admission. Also, as patients waiting for bed increased, it caused an increase in number of patients that were discharged home early. This is illustrated in Figure 1. There was the need to control the number of patients coming through A E. The availability and use of other healthcare facilities such as GP practice, community care and nearby hospitals would have a negative feedback on the inflow of patients into aE. This would directly affect the number of patients needing admission. Most of the patients that were discharged home might not have to return to AE as community care could assist carter. This methodology helped the hospital to forecast inflow of patients and ways that could be adopted to control it. Community care services around were informed about the situation of things in the hospital. In addition, ambulance bringing patients were informed ahead to make use of other hospitals or GP practices if condition of patient was not too severe. Figure 1: A model to show the flow of patients through the hospital 5. Conclusion The complex nature of healthcare system makes system thinking well-suited to tackle problems in this sector. The various methodology approaches used assisted in better understanding of the relationship between the various units in Ashford hospital and its environment. This showed that like any other system, no unit in the hospital is an island. The different methodologies applied in Ashford hospital situation yielded various positive outcomes that helped improved the problematic situation. While some of the methodologies used have their roots in action research, further participatory research will be carried out to investigate occupational work stress among the clinicians. This may help identify majors causes of stress associated with their workflow, how it affects their relationships with others and with the patients in particular. Word count -2034

King Corn

The Documentary ‘King Corn’ is an intersting and entertaining account that examines the impact of the corn industry on food production in America. The film follows Curtis Ellis and Ian Cheney, two recent university graduates who set out to study the overwhelming influence that industrial corn has on the varieties of foods that America consumes each year. The concept of the film is introduced when Curt and Ian have samples of their hair examined, and are surprised to find out that the large amounts of carbon found in the samples originates from ingesting corn products. Many people including myself, would likely be shocked upon hearing this fact, based on the traditional concept of corn; being the small yellow vegatable enjoyed on occasion at most. Sharing this viewpoint, the boys become interested in finding out for themselves why it appears that they are eating so much corn; and hence the topic of the documentary. They decide the best plan of action is to travel to Greene, Iowa, and grow 1 achre of corn to establish how this plant is transformed into so many of the foods that we each. This critique aims to examine some of their findings and discuss the influence and credibility of their arguments. In short, the issue the film addresses is the overwhelming reliance that the American food industry has on the growth and production of corn and its various bi-products. From first glance, many may inturpret this issue as not being a huge problem; after all, when I think of corn, I think of a vegetable. There are certainly other ingredients that would appear to be much more detremental to the health of consuming citizens. But as the film progresses, the viewer learns that the type of corn and it’s bi-products being considered, is far from the conventional concept. While in Iowa, Curt and Ian learn from local farmers, professors and other stakeholders within the industry that the corn they are producing will be used for a variety of purposes, two of the main ones being feed for cattle, and high-fructose corn syrup. As their tiny achre grows, they set out to research the implications of using the corn based products for these purposes. Generally, the documentary took the position that current usage of these products in the food industry promotes a variety of health issues, which will be discussed further in this paper. The corn industry has evolved significantly over the past several decades, not only due to technological advancement, but also the types of corn grown, and purposes that it will serve. The latter cause being fuelled exclusively by the changes in consumer demand, specifically referencing the food industry. This type of industry is largely driven by situations where there is high buyer power; that is, food companies produce the types of food that the consumer wants to eat, rather than what the company wants to produce. As commonly known, several businesses especially in the fast food industry, do not operate on the basis of providing healthy options for consumers to enjoy. Rather, they aim to offer cheap food that consumers want to have. In my opinion, this concept outlines a large point being made by the film; the fact that consumer demand has driven the corn industry (and thus the food industry) to evolve over the past several years into its current state. The bottom line of this argument is that corn is being used in the massive quantities we know of for the very simple reason that is it cheap. To illustrate this point, I will focus on the two main bi-prodcuts of corn that were examined during the film. First, high-fructose corn syrup is used as a sweetner for products ranging anywhere from soft drinks to pasta sauce. In reality, ingesting too much of this sweetner can be very hazourdous to someone’s health, and too much of the product can cause certains conditions such as obeisity and diabetes. This corn syrup has stolen a huge market share from conventional sugar over the last few decades, for no other reason aside from the fact that it is a cheaper alternative, and thus more appealing for businesses to use. As Curt and Ian prove in the film, almost anything processed food imaginable contains at least some quantity of this high fructose syrup, a direct bi-product of corn. The other main product analyzed is the use of corn as animal feed, which is a large source of food for specifically chicken and cattle. These corn-fed animals are themselves processed and used to make the all-American favorite meals. It was starting to become clear to the boys, and the viewer of the film where all this corn was coming from, and offered a justification for the massive size of this industry. During one the interviews, Curt and Ian spoke with a cattle rancher who owned a feed lot. He explained that the cows diet consisted of mainly corn because it was cheap to buy, and was successful in quickly supporting the cow into mature weight, available for slaughter. The farmer had one particularly interesting statement which captured a lot of the concept of the film, suggesting that if people wanted grass fed cows, he would raise grass fed cows. The reality is, grass fed cows are more expensive, a cost ulitmately borne by the consumer. Although much leaner and healthier meat, grass fed cows are not raised as often as corn fed cows because it wouldn’t allow consumers to purchase their favorite fast food burgers at the same price. Even the corn farmers interviewed during the film suggested that they knew their corn was used to create unhealthy foods, but that had become the reality of the food industry. Being producers of a raw material, their livelihood relies on growing corn that the American economy demands. Throughout the film, there are several points of interest made to support the argument that corn products were used to process several health threatening products. The filmakers chose to interview a variety of professionals, mostly university professors, which added to the credibility of of the argument being proposed. The opinion was fairly unanimous that the corn products in the United States are fuelling unhealthy diet choices, and resulting in some of the problems with obesity and other conditions that the country is dealing with. The film was successful in proving its point that the American food industry has evolved to become highly reliant on corn and it’s bi-products. Furthermore, it was able to reliably convey the idea that the exessive consumption of these products had potentially serious health effects. Given these facts, the film is not designed to attack the corn industry, as if they are the reason for these harmful additives in the food being eaten. The onus is really on the consumer; as mentioned, the reason these unhealthy bi-products are being made is in response to the demands from American consumers, who want cheap and tasty meals. The unfortunate reality is that a large number of people fail to devote the right attention to what they are putting in their bodies. The most surprising point in the film was definitely the scale at which the corn industry operates. It was interesting to use the boys â€Å"tiny† achre of corn as a reference point, whereas it was stated that it is not uncommon for one farmer in Iowa to manage one thousand achres of corn each harvest. The shere size of the industry reflects the huge amount of demand placed on the food industry in America every year. Personally, the lack of comparison to other countries was probably where the film lacked in reference. It is fairly well known that the American population consumes more fast food then any other nation in the world, so it really comes as no surprise that the corn industry is as large as it is. I felt as though it would be interesting to compare the American reliance to corn and it’s bi-prodcuts to a country in Europe for example, where typically people eat healthier and less cheaply made, processed foods. Comparing another nation with the United States would suggest that American reliance on corn is not a necessity, but rather a consumer driven evolution in food choices.

IKEA Brand Scorecard Final Essay

Introduction The brandscore card is an essential element used to evaluate the overall equity of a brand. The scorecard is an effective way to asses the unmet needs of the brands customers, it enables the brand to stay relevant and effective in the marketplace in a methodological manner. The scorecard should be able to fill any gaps that have developed within the brand’s approach to management and its strategic direction, as well as developing and maintaining a functional management system that can grow as the brand grows, while remaining comprehensive and completely brand relevant. (Kaplan and Norton, n.d.) In terms of evaluating the current situation of a brand, a brand scorecard enforces a successful management plan by directly addressing what is at the core of the brand. It allows for the brand managers to objectively rate their brand against their own set of standards, based on their strategy. Brand Planning 1 IKEA’s Mission & Vision In order to create a viable scorecard to measure against the IKEA Brand against, it is important to define exactly what the vision and the mission of the IKEA Brand is and if they honour their vision and mission. According to IKEA’s business concept , â€Å"At IKEA our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them†(Ikea.com, 2014). From their own definition of what their vision is it can be said that they aim to vastly improve the quality of the lives of people who are in a lower income bracket, whilst still maintaining a certain level of product superiority and status. The IKEA brands vision is to use the concepts of conservation and minimalism to their full potential, by focusing on the effectiveness of simplicity and the functionality of each product rather then purely the aesthetical components. The price of each IKEA product makes a large part of what their brand vision entails, â€Å"Low prices are the cornerstone of the IKEA vision†(Ikea.com, 2014). By using their low prices as the foundation of their brands vision, Ikea fulfils a widespread and need for product availability. 2 Potential Goals In line with the Ikea vision there will always be consumers in need of their products. By following their current goals such as: Keeping prices low – at design phase, there are strict product requirements which need to be met in terms of function, efficient distribution, quality and impact on the environment. A certain level of quality is always maintained – by using effective negotiation skills and carrying out rigorous quality control evaluations on their materials. Awareness and measurement of their brand environmental impact – Ikea are transparent in their approach to choosing suppliers and using sustainable materials that can be recycled and renewed as well as monitoring and controlling a high standard of their social and working conditions. Consumer friendly product – throughout the supply chain, Ikea is true to their environmentally friendly approach from raw materials all the way to the end user. Reduce carbon emissions – IKEA gave 9000 bycicles to their employees as well as subsidized their employees’ fairs to work. This increases healthy living for their employees and reduces carbon emissions. They also designed their water cans to stack on top of each other neatly, reducing the amount of trips it would take to transport them to the stores. Maintain existing stakeholder relationships – Ikeas ensures that the communication lines between suppliers, manufacturers and of their  stakeholders are clear and concise according to both their vision and mission. In order to access the potential goals of the Ikea Brand, it is necessary to consider the following statement â€Å"It’s not difficult to manufacture expensive fine furniture: just spend the money and let the customers pay. To manufacture beautiful, durable furniture at low prices is not so easy – it requires a different approach. It is all about finding simple solutions and saving on every method, process or approach adopted – but not on ideas.† (Ikea.com, 2014). We have identified two potential goals for Ikea: Simplistic Assembly Process – their assembling instructions are crafted so that consumer can easily interpret the instructions in a straightforward manor resulting in easy product assembly. Bettering current environmental impact – ensuring that they maintain their current best practice with specific reference to their means of distribution and manufacturing, by making sure that they are highly aware of the environmental impact of the resulting increased traffic that may occur from erecting stores. 3 Corporate Objectives To produce cheap and affordable product for the public and their customers To provide a better life for those who cannot afford expensive products To ensure that their customers find what they are looking for in their stores. To provide low prices without compromising on quality 4 Situational Analysis 4.1 Macro: Economical – High profits, high growth and good profit margins has contributed to the retail market. Social – IKEA have formed partnerships with WWF and UNICEF in order to educate others to be aware of child labor and destroying forests. Technological –IKEA have use excellent recycling methods and also encourage their stakeholders to use technology to their advantage in terms of efficiency. Environmental – IKEA have implemented regular measurement tools and inspection to monitor all noise, water, air pollution such as the â€Å"E-Wheel† (IKEA, the Times 100) Legal – IKEA has in store terms and conditions and abide by industry best practice in the suppliers that they choose to work with and the standards that they demand on manufacturers in terms of the law. 1.2. Market The market – 43 manufacturing units in 12 countries. The Chinese market has almost doubled due to large urbanization needs. (Li Fangfang, China Daily USA, 29 August 2013). IKEA has almost 300 stores in 36 countries and 42 distribution centres in 18 countries and over 1000 suppliers. (National Geographic, 2013, n.d) Competitors – IKEA’s main competitors are: Wal-Mart Stores, Ashley furniture industries, Howden joinery group. IKEA have the competitive advantage because they have researched where to find the best resources, they have developed the latest technologies in manufacturing, they have encouraged their suppliers to use the latest in research and development and the have built sustainable relationships with their stakeholders. Consumers – IKEA has a wide spread target market as they have such a vast variety of products that are trendy and extremely affordable. It appeals to those wanting the latest styles but also to the market that cannot afford costly furniture. Location – IKEAS stores are generally located just outside of the main town due to their stores being so large. 4.3 Micro – SWOT Analysis Strengths: Powerful Brand Image Wide range of products & Styles Funky up & up-to-date Swedish designs Cheap & Affordable Able to assemble your own furniture One stop shop Friendly atmosphere and layout of their stores They have restaurants and day care Strong global sourcing Weaknesses: Assembling furniture yourself may not appeal to certain clusters of consumers Not too many stores across the globe For those looking for a quick shopping experience, the store might be unappealing IKEA Swedish designs could limit their target market Quality of furniture is not built to be life long Opportunities Untapped Markets (Africa) Make consumers more aware of IKEA Open high end stores or smaller express stores Create more online store presence Threats Increasingly competitive pricing Social trends such as a slow down in first time home owner buyers Economic factors such as less spending power due to recession effects 5 Key Issues Quality of Products – some products may vary in quality from country to country. Things such as a countries standards for manufacturing may not be as high compared to another country and therefore the end product could be different. Size of organisation – if there are any changes implemented to IKEA’s strategy or operations, it is difficult to roll out to their entire organisation as they are so massive. Differentiation – with the current  economic climate, many furniture stores are producing low cost furniture but may not have the same sustainable values as IKEA. This makes it challenging for IKEA to keep their costs low as well as try and differentiate themselves from their competitors. Spending Power – The economic recession has hit consumers hard and therefore they have less spending power which has lowered expenditure on goods such as furniture. 6 Assumptions The Ikea brand assumptions are based upon their established and successful financial revenues: The Brand has remained current, both socially and culturally. The brand is empathetic and touches the consumers on an emotional level. There is a considered environmental plan that the brand is aware of in all of its practises. The brand focuses on upholding ethical business practises, it is transparent. 7 Segmentation, targeting and Positioning IKEA targets young and fashionable people as its main consumers; in particular those love modern furniture and accessories. Therefore, its products are more colourful and novel. In addition, IKE fixes the products’ prices at a lower level, which is quite attracting for the average consumers, such as white-collars. IKEA mainly target the younger market who like innovative products. 8 Brand objectives To increase market share in news segments such as Africa, Asia and South America. The benefits of this would be increased profits, brand awareness and increased market share. Reduce costs to appeal more to their intended target market in order to increase market share. One way in which IKEA are trying to cut costs is by 9 Strategies and plans IKEA plans â‚ ¬1.5bn investment in wind and solar energy through to 2015 as part of new sustainability strategy in order to be completely independent from using energy and resources. This will protect their consumer from price spikes and their own organization from fluctuating resource and energy prices. IKEA plan to become an energy exporter with their renewable energy.  IKEA has dedicated and committed themselves to making sure that delivery trucks are at least 60 to 70 per cent full. They will replace 1.2 million light sources in stores with low energy consumption LEDs, as well as only sell LED lights in their stores from 2016. (Will Nichols, BusinessGreen, part of the Guardian Environment Network theguardian.com, Tuesday 23 October 2012) 10 Communication Objectives To develop better communication and integration strategies so that IKEA has the same brand quality through their organisation internationally. 11 Task Budget The Ikea brand focuses on their project management, employee management and their resource management processes by directing all employees in a positive manner, â€Å"IKEA co-workers enjoy many advantages and opportunities from working in such a free and open environment – but all freedoms are counter-balanced with expectations. For example, the expectation that each co-worker is able to assume responsibility for his or her own actions. Although on the surface it is evident that we have a lot of fun together working at IKEA, at the same time all are expected to be very hardworking and conscientious. Here are some more examples to illustrate give and take, IKEA style.† (Ikea.com, 2014) By ensuring this positive management style they are able to entrust their business objectives to the right employees. Each task is managed and set according to specific and expected outcomes. The tasks and objectives can be achieved through their smart brand management and budgeting correctly. 1 – The IKEA brand makes a point of acknowledging its brand history and the various ways that it has left a brand footprint within its brand environment. There are however inconsistencies between what the employees think of the brand and what the consumers think of the brand. It can be recommended that the employee engagement efforts transcends into the appropriate marketing strategies targeted to the consumer. By doing so there will be a far more holistic brand perception. 2- The IKEA brand is targeted at a lower income bracket and it does this successfully by continuously seeking to source affordable and quality suppliers. The importance of continuously having their correct target market in mind is always a census thought in the mind of the brand managers. 3- The IKEA brand strictly sticks to their current corporate identity, all the brand collateral is consistent, they make a point of doing all marketing on an international level. However they must be couscous of their various contact points ( mainly at the smaller branches) as these are sometimes overlooked. 4 – IKEA is able to deliver a consistent product, there are various return policies in place that allows the consumer the ability to deal with any product issues in a simply and easy manner. 5 – IKEA is responsible towards all its stakeholders, it maintains the relationships by using proactive objectives to direct all of its future  interactions. The brand can improve its equity by reinforcing the current brand image internally, engaging with all the levels of employees. 6 – IKEA offers products that are appropriate to their brand visions, they better the lives of the consumers. 7 – IKEA offers various and innovation products. The brand should continue with their irreverent approach to innovation. 8 – IKEA has a pricing strategy that is unarguably inline with their brand identity. The pricing strategy has set a ideal brand expectation to the IKEA consumer, It is however of utmost importance that IKEA is alway consistent in terms of pricing. 9 – IKEA is aware of and involved with every product that they product, each is treated as potential development and there is no apparent product hierarchy. 10 – The IKEA brand is a green focused brand throughout its entire supply chain, it upholds a impeccable environmental process. However there is room for improvement within their distribution sector. References Businesscasestudies.co.uk, (2014). Introduction – Building a sustainable supply chain – IKEA | IKEA case studies and information | Business Case Studies. [online] Available at: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/ikea/building-a-sustainable-supply-chain/introduction.html#axzz3BWC79qBb [Accessed 24 Aug. 2014]. Ikea.com, (2014). Our business idea – IKEA. [online] Available at: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_SG/about_ikea/our_business_idea/index.html [Accessed 24 Aug. 2014]. Ikea.com, (2014). Our low prices – IKEA. [online] Available at: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_SG/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/our_business_idea/our_low_prices.html [Accessed 25 Aug. 2014]. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (n.d.). The balanced scorecard. 1st ed. http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/the-critical-issues-faced-by-ikea-marketing-essay.php Will Nichols for BusinessGreen, part of the Guardian Environment Network theguardian.com, Tuesday 23 October 2012 http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2013-08/29/content_16929111.htm http://money.howstuffworks.com/ikea4.htm (National Geographic, 2013, n.d, http://www.natgeotv.com/ca/megafactories/ikea-facts) Essays, UK. (November 2013). An Analysis Of Market Segmentation Of Ikea And Bandq Marketing Essay. Retrieved from http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/an-analysis-of-market-segmentation-of-ikea-and-bandq-marketing-essay.php?cref=1 Essays, UK. (November 2013). Competitive Advantage And Problems Faced By Ikea Marketing Essay. Retrieved from http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/competitive-advantage-and-problems-faced-by-ikea-marketing-essay.php?cref=1

India s An Environmental Hazard Essay - 1071 Words

In early November 2016, Delhi, India faced an environmental hazard that put citizens in a dangerous position. The air was filled with toxins that made it almost impossible for people within the city to go about their daily lives. Everywhere, people asked who was responsible for the problem and whose job it was to implement protections in order to avoid future difficulties. For one to fully understand this issue, they must analyze the monumental growth of cities in the 20th century, previous environmental issues, and India’s complex political past. These contexts can be used to develop a greater perspective on the impact of humans on the world and what actions might be taken to prevent further damage. The New York Times posted an article on November 7th titled, â€Å"Smog Chokes Delhi, Leaving Residents ‘Cowering by Our Air Purifiers’† that detailed the urgency of the issue. Deadly coarse and fine air particles reached concentrations that have been unheard of before, sixteen times the limit that India’s government considers safe. The personal damage sustained physically from daily exposure to these toxins is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, experts say. In an urban area as densely populated as Delhi, concern for the health of citizens is a top priority. Schools in Delhi cancelled classes for a period of three days to keep children, who are more vulnerable to long-term medical issues, inside. Citizens were worried, upset, and looking for a cause behind earlyShow MoreRelatedNatural Disaster1405 Words   |  6 PagesNatural Disasters With the tropical climate and unstable landforms, coupled with high population density, poverty, illiteracy and lack of adequate infrastructure, India is one of the most vulnerable developing countries to suffer very often from various Natural Disasters, viz. flood, cyclone, earthquake,forest fire, drought, etc. Asia tops the list of casualties due to natural disasters. Space technology plays a crucial role in efficient mitigation of disasters. Communication satellite providesRead MoreTourism : A Source Of Revenue Essay800 Words   |  4 Pagesmillion people travelling annually, it is the world s largest industry, with revenues of about half a trillion dollars a year, and averaging five percent annual growth. Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 5.68% of the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses more than 13.72 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 650 million domestic tourist visits. The tourism industry in India generated about US$ 100 billion in 2008 and is expectedRead MoreIdentification And Profiling Of North East Delhi District Essay1613 Words   |  7 PagesHazard identification and profiling of North East Delhi district, Delhi Abstract Introduction India is a multicultural and multi linguistic country with diverse and rich heritage culture and heritage which believes in unity with diversity. New Delhi is the capital of India located in heart of India. Delhi being a metropolitan city encompasses itself with rich infrastructure and community, the main purpose for me opting for this specific area is mostly due to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and I have chosen to focusRead MoreBhopal Disaster: Causes and Effects1075 Words   |  5 Pagesglobe literally competed among themselves with screaming headlines to depict the disaster. The Time Magazine described it as The Night of death. The site of the incident was the pesticide plant of the Union Carbide India Limited in Bhopal and the adjoining communities in India where a sudden leak of more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate from the plant had led to the staggering. According to news reports, workers got the warning signal of the leak about midnight when they felt buring sensationRead MoreWhat makes asian growth so phenomenal Essay888 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen tended to grow more quickly than Western cities, so what makes their growth so phenomenal? The accelerated rate may be attributed to population dynamics, economic markets and or/socio-political conditions, poor planning and disregarding environmental hazards like flood plains have held them back. Many primate cities in Asia have grown to become megacities, and some more are rapidly increasing in size to assume such a status by the end of the century. This is a remarkable phenomenon fraught withRead MoreThe Court Of India, While Administering Environm ental Justice Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe Court of India, while administering environmental justice, has evolved certain principles and doctrines within and at times outside the framework of the existing environmental law. Environmental principles, such as polluter pays principle, precautionary principle and public trust doctrine have been adopted by the Court in its concern to protect the environment from further degradation and improve the same. It is important to note that these principles have been developed in various internationalRead MoreReasons of Businesses Conducting Operations in Third World Countries1696 Words   |  7 Pagesworld is referred as the underdeveloped and poor countries of the world. These countries usually have awfully poor environmental situations. It is because, in most of the third world countries, pollution is unrestricted. Moreover, other issues regarding the environment are also not resolved by the government. However, it is difficult for these nations to create and enforce environmental regulations since they would have to suffer economically. These nations usually have to decide one between the twoRead MoreLegal Framework For Environmental Accounting Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagesleast, build up trust and confidence among the community. 1.3 Legal Framework for Environmental Accounting in India The Constitution of India (Article 51A) imposes as one of fundamental duties of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment; hence this statement imposes environmental responsibility of corporate citizen also. Apart from the article 51A, various laws have been enacted for environmental protection such as Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. 1974, ForestRead MoreCauses And Consequences Of Poverty Essay945 Words   |  4 PagesA) Diversity of the causes of poverty in three different countries. â€Å"The causes of poverty include changing trends in a country s economy, lack of education, high divorce rate which causes feminization of poverty, having a culture of poverty, overpopulation, epidemic diseases such as AIDS and malaria, and environmental problems such as lack of rainfall†. (White, Killick Kayizzi, 2001) Almost half of the world over 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day. It is said that â€Å"aRead MoreNatural Disasters in India with Special Reference to Tamil Nadu6855 Words   |  28 PagesVol. 1(2) July 2012 59 ISSN: 2278-5213 REVIEW Natural disasters in India with special reference to Tamil Nadu A. Stephen Dept. of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry, Puducherry-605001, India stephanos.crown@gmail.com; +91 9841890069 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Natural disasters in India, many of them related to the climate of India, cause massive losses of Indian life and property. Droughts, flash floods,

Is Stem Education A Stereotype Threat - 963 Words

Today our society is still viewed as gender stereotype. As women we are still fighting for equality. The problem is damaging our young girls that one day will be our future. They are getting taught at a very young age of what they are meant to do and what aren’t meant to do. This issue is affecting the majority of the Latin community and therefore we have little to no girls wanting to join any STEM programs after high school. STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an interdisciplinary and applied approach (What Is STEM Education?). The problems that this program will be forcing on are stereotype threat, poverty, English as a second language, and teen pregnancy. Our goal is to help minor these problems and achieve a higher rate of Latina girls join STEM programs after they finish high school. The first problem that we have focused on is the â€Å"stereotype threat†. The stereotype threat is defined as â€Å"A large body of experimental research has found the negative stereotype to affect women’s and girl’s performance and aspirations in math and science† (Why so Few? p.38). What this does to women and girls is that they believe to perform at a lower performance than boys. They consider that men and boys are superior in math and science and therefore they avoid pursuing in these fields. They rather avoid liking or expressing any interest in the STEM programs so that they are notShow MoreRelatedHispanic Gender And Gender Inequality801 Words   |  4 Pagesmentioned, minority groups, more specifically Hispanics, face disadvantages when pursuing STEM because of their ethnic background. However, hispanic girls pursuing a STEM education or career, experience sexism and racism simultaneously. Both forms of stereotypes significantly correlate to their low representation which sets them apart from other women and men. For that reason, the few hispanic women who identify with STEM are immediately at a greater disadvantage; they are discouraged for both their genderRead MoreDisparity Between Males And Women In The Education System1731 Words   |  7 PagesWomen in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) job industries are clearly a minority group as opposed to males. And each of these statistics above has been used to analyze and raise awareness about the discrepancy between genders within STEM occupations. However, there seems to be lesser research on the education system that feeds into these work opportunities. It is vital to note that the disadvantage for women in STEM starts well before they enter the workforce; it starts whenRead MoreWomen s Rights For Women1627 Words   |  7 Pagesundermined the rights for women to obtain a job and education. It was not until the 1920s that women had the right to vote, and it was not until later that women had the opportunity of employment and earn equal pay as men. The battle that women have faced and are still facing today has allowed them to obtain an education and acquire careers alongside men. Although granted these opportunities, women still face problems and are underrepresented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)Read MoreWomen s Role For A Job Worker Of The House, Children, And Husband1305 Words   |  6 Pagesscience, math, engineering, and technology (STEM) majors, seemed to alarm people when it started becoming more popular. Over the past couple decades though, more women have begun to spark an interest in these fields, making it more acceptable today than it was a few decades ago. STEM jobs have grown very extensively in the past 2 decades and plan to grow even more exponentially in the coming years. Contrarily, the need for more students who graduate with STEM degrees are not keeping up with those numbersRead MoreA Meritocratic Society Essay1405 Words   |  6 Pagesthan gender or background, especially in higher education, is often championed in Australia. (Wheelahan 2016). This freedom to follow a chosen career path allows the individual to achieve success in any field, yet the question has often been asked, why women choose to stay away from often lucrative, in-demand careers from STEM related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). This persistent gender disparity, particularly in higher education have sparked considerable debate and numerousRead MoreBehavioral And Contextual Factors That Affect The Females And Minority Students Career Choices Essay1557 Words   |  7 PagesBesides stereotype threats, there is also a group of behavior al and contextual factors which affect the females and minority students’ career choices. These individual differences affect the adolescent’s potential outcome in STEM. These differences are also supported by two theories which also can explain the results of career choice. First is the theory from Lent, Brown, Hacket (1994,2000) called the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) which emphasizes self-efficacy as well as its link to theRead Morehow stereotype threat may cause poor performance in women Essay1509 Words   |  7 Pagesacademic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with very few females finding their way in the mix (Steinberg, Okun, Aiken, 2012). Those females enrolling in the STEM majors soon find themselves questioning why they have, and many quickly change their majors to more female-accepting professions (Steele, James, Barnett, 2002). The view that women lack the intellect to succeeded in STEM disciplines has been a prevailing one for much of history (Cadinu, Maass, RosabiancaRead MoreStereotype Threat Was First Defined By Steele And Arson As The Social Psychological Threat1641 Words   |  7 PagesLiterature Review Stereotype threat was first defined by Steele and Arson as the â€Å"social-psychological threat that occurs when one is in a situation or doing something for which a negative stereotype about one’s group applies. This predicament threatens one with being negatively stereotyped, with being judged or threatened stereotypically, or with the prospect of conforming to the stereotype† (Steele, 1997, p.614). The biggest stereotype when we talk about STEM fields is â€Å"Why so Few [women]?† ThenRead MoreWhistling Vivaldi : How Stereotypes Affect People1309 Words   |  6 PagesStereotypes are unescapable. No matter what part of the world you are at or who you are talking to, everyone has some bias. Claude Steele say’s exactly this in his book â€Å"Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do† when he states â€Å" We could all take out a piece of paper, write down the major stereotypes of these identities, and show a high degree of a greement in what we wrote.† His piece addresses the effects of stereotypes, which result in what Steele calls â€Å"stereotype threat†Read MoreA Research Proposal For Non Asian Minority Groups2133 Words   |  9 PagesMini-Research Proposal: Stereotype Threat As demographic changes reshape the STEM talent pool in the US, the nation will need to draw more on racial and ethnic groups that have been traditionally marginalized in order to maintain its global competitiveness. By 2050, the US Census Bureau (2008) projects that minority racial and ethnic groups will account for approximately 54% of the nation’s population, an increase from the current 28%. Yet today they only make up only 9% of the nation’s STEM workforce (NSF

Individuality vs. Conformity in High School Essay - 670 Words

It was the first day of school. I was eager to see most of my friends who I went to middle school with. There was one big thing that struck me; I noticed my friends changed. They started dressed differently, acted differently, changed their hair style, and even started wearing makeup. Since the transition fresh out of middle school and into high school, my friends wanted to look older. The biggest factor that bothered me was how they would conform to look like the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. I felt that my good friends wanted to conform and be something they weren’t. In my personal view, Americans in general want to feel mature sophisticated but also want to have fun. Individuality is essential because it allows people to express who†¦show more content†¦In my mind, if I became a doctor I would have to go through many years of schooling and I wouldn’t finish my education till I’m at least in my mid thirties. Choosing my career path as a doctor mean t committing my whole focus on getting into the best medical school. Even though doctors make a lot of money, doctors don’t get to spend one on one their patients. I told my parents that I wanted to become a nurse because it’s what I want to do. I wouldn’t have to worry about attending medical school after I get my education at a four year university. Nurses spend less time in school and the experience on the job is more rewarding. They are able to enjoy the company of the people they are helping; I want to help people. In other words, not being able to pick a career by choice also relates to society views about fashion statement. Society tends to make fashion look very fancy. A lot of high fashion magazines show models that dress the same and even look the same. Keeping up the latest trends makes people want more clothing to make them outshine others making them look â€Å"legit†. People shouldn’t have to be competing to look the best but should be reinstating that they are different. My friend Michelle was always in style. She was friends with a group of girls that judged every girl in the school by the way they dressed. Michelle told me that one day she wore something she had already worn that week and her friends made her feel like she shouldn’t belong with them.Show MoreRelatedUniforms Should Not Wear School Uniforms1751 Words   |  8 PagesDuring every school year, the issue on if school officials should or should not entail students to wear uniforms in school is a constant debate among the parents and staff members in school districts. Just like any other controversial issues, there are two sides to the argument representing both the good and bad points that exist behind student being required to wear uniforms in school. Although it can take students time to adjust to transitioning into the policy of being required to wear uniformsRead MoreCurrently There Is A Growing Awareness Of The Prevalence1558 Words   |  7 Pagesregular bullying, whereas less than 10% of adolescents’ aged 17 report any bullying, including bullies and victimization of bullying, on a weekly basis. Baldry (2004) examined the effects of attitude toward bullying and victimization in Italian middle schools. Baldry (2004) aimed to establish young adolescents’ positive and negative judgments according to gender, toward a victim being bullied on the basis of if the victim was bullied in a group or alone; hypothesizing the gender of the bullies and victimsRead MoreSchool Dress Code Takes Away From Young Girls1657 Words   |  7 PagesSchool Dress Code Takes Away From Young Girls. The people who are in charge of creating the school dress code don’t think of girls feelings, or their need to be an individual. There are also some unnecessary rules in schools, and what schools deemed inappropriate or distracting. The schools are taking some of the girls rights away. I believe that the dress code for the younger generation is too focused on girls, and it’s way too strict. Students should not have to wear school uniforms, some schoolsRead MoreProgressive Education Essay1318 Words   |  6 Pagestrying to teach and internalize learning. Dewey felt that students needed to learn by doing (Wood). Progressive schools encourage children to be outspoken and allow their ideas to be heard (What is a Progressive School?). The philosophy of these schools is curriculum driven by questions and respect for the mind and imagination of the students while trying to challenge. Progressive schools do not wish for students to recite facts from memorization. A progressive school’s goal is for students to understandRead MoreProblem Solution Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesVIOLENCE IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS There are approximately 27,900 gangs, with 774,000 members, impacting towns, cities, and communities across the United States. According to a recent bulletin released by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 23 percent of students aged 12 through 18 years reported presence of street gangs in their schools. Almost half (46%) of students in public schools reported street gang presence. In addition, 21 percent of students in suburban schools and 15 percentRead MoreSchool Uniforms1707 Words   |  7 PagesSCHOOL UNIFORMS In his hopes to create an atmosphere in our school that promotes discipline and order and learning, President William Jefferson Clinton stated, I believe we should give strong support to school districts that decide to require young students to wear school uniforms. He cited several incidents where students desire for anothers fashionable attire has led to extreme forms of violence (Clinton 1996). This exemplifies one of the many implications of a necessity for school uniformsRead MoreTown Folk, Such As, For The First Time In Pleasantville,1805 Words   |  8 Pagesfurniture. Betty’s own friends along with some of the high school boys come after her because of her non conformity. All of this highly charged emotion which is so unpleasant in Pleasantville turns the whole town color until everyone, even the mayor turns color and society as Pleasantville is changed forever. The â€Å"bi-cultural binds† (Gunn Allen) that Betty was wearing fall off as her community- includi ng her husband- come to terms with adopting individuality as the new norm. Just as in Betty Parker’sRead MoreEssay about Salvador Dalis Work4988 Words   |  20 Pagesthere (Finkelstein, Haim). This quote from Dali portrays his personality well because although he was ambitious and hard-working Dali always had high standards for himself. When he was in school he refused to be examined during tests, saying that he was more qualified than anyone administering the tests. Dali was removed from school by his father, however encouraged to continue painting by his family, who built him a studio in their summer house. By 1927, Dali began to exhibitRead MoreAwareness of Parenting Style/Practices and the Effect on Adolescent Identity2220 Words   |  9 PagesBandura’s social learning theory. Psychosocial development as theorized by Erikson has eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood (Kail Cavanaugh, 2010). Adolescents fall into stage five, Identity vs. Role Confusion, in which the question of â€Å"Who am I† is trying to be answered. In trying to discover the answer to this question adolescents tend to gravitate to groups they feel they fit into. Social learning theory focuses on the learning that occursRead MoreDiana Baumrind2963 Words   |  12 Pagesdifferent parenting styles in the search of trying to do what is best for the children (Kemp, 1997). The historical factor that influenced Baumrind’s research is that when she started graduate school in 1948 there was huge turmoil of the loyalty oath controversy of 1948-1949 that led to the legal battle of Tolman vs. Underhill. This historical even may had some effect on the focus of Baumrind’s research because Tolman was a senior professor at the University of California and his refusal to sign the oath

Burned Out free essay sample

I settle down at a table with three different hats on it, ready to announce my college commitment. â€Å"This was a difficult decision, but I’d like to thank all the schools that have recruited me and believed in me enough to offer me a scholarship. After a lot of thinking and analyzing I will be continuing my education and football career at†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No. That will never happen, none of it. As a kid, I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to play football. Growing up with older brothers who played, and a dad who coached, I was always immersed in the sport. Even at age seven, I spent hours on the grass fields at Meadow Park bear crawling, tackling red dummies, and playing catch with my dad. I darted down the sideline as he hollered â€Å"Go long, Beetle!† I’m not sure I ever caught one of those passes, but observing those practices on the muddy grass fields sparked my interest in football. Once I started playing through the youth program, I enjoyed it even more. I loved hitting people while playing defense and shooting through gaps in the offensive line to thwart opposing running backs. On top of that, I gained the skills necessary to play receiver. The combination of snagging touchdowns and hitting kept me hungry for more. Basketball was the other sport that consumed my childhood. Being taller than most opponents I faced, basketball came easily to me. I had no perimeter skills; however, my dad taught me some basic moves, such as the drop step and baby hook, that improved my inside game. Aside from that, my repertoire was very limited. Turnovers haunted me. I caved in tight situations and turned the ball over due to my lackluster ball handling skills. Entering high school, I was terrified of dribbling the ball up the court or touching the ball outside the three-point line. I recognized I needed to change this to achieve my goal of playing in college, but I also realized it would be even more challenging if all my time was taken up by football. When I started playing in high school, I presumed I would continue for all four years. I hated freshman football, and seriously considered if I wanted to keep playing. I hated practicing. I hated conditioning. I hated having no time. I hated being tired all week. I hated being hurt. My body constantly ached. My joints felt like those of an 80-year-old man. After practice each night I encased my knees and ankles with ice. It was the only way to relieve the pain. Sprinting hundreds of yards caused my legs to become like Jell-o. I would wobble around rolling from class to class regularly massaging my joints. This pain and dislike apparently didn’t show to others around me, however, even my coach. Many students at my school are wary of the varsity head coach because he comes off as intimidating and demanding even though I know he cares about his team and players above all else. When he dragged me out of class to discuss my future as a player, I wasn’t scared; I was honored because it proved he believed I could be a valuable asset to his team.Do I even have a future on the football field? I was honest with him: â€Å"I don’t know if I’ll be playing next year. I love basketball, and I think football will get in the way.†Weeks flew by, and I was nowhere close to making up my mind. The Friday before a long weekend, coach ripped me aside during passing time and administered somewhat of an ultimatum, â€Å"I need to know your decision this weekend. Here is my number, text me what you decide.† When I went to bed that night, I tossed and turned. Football or basketball? Will I regret not playing? Is he just saying this stuff to get me to play? Where will I play basketball? These questions bounced back and forth in my head as I contemplated my decision. I woke up the next day and still had questions swirling around. What if I get hurt? What if I get a football scholarship? What if I’m eliminating basketball opportunities? What if this? What if that? My phone buzzed twice tearing me from my deep thinking. Dad: â€Å"If you like football, keep playing. If you don’t, stop.† It was such a simple text, yet it was so impactful in making my decision. It was later that evening, and I was pondering that text again. I didn’t like football anymore. I burned out.I yanked out my phone and typed one of the most formal texts I’ve ever sent:â€Å"After thinking it over, I’ve decided I will not be playing football.† Being the competitor he is, coach claimed my decision was â€Å"unwise† and that I should â€Å"strongly reconsider playing.† I wasn’t having any of it. I made up my mind and was ready to move on in life without football. With all this free time I trained tirelessly to eliminate my weaknesses. To polish my ball handling, I completed two ball drills and dribbled with a ball three times the weight of a regulation ball. These enabled me to control the ball better and become stronger with it. After school, I would shoot 400 shots from all over the court. With the development of my jump shot, I became a threat from anywhere on the floor. I started blowing past defenders, swishing jump shots over them, and occasionally dunking on them. It was the first time in my basketball career I didn’t feel limited. I still have a long way to go, but looking back on it, the choice I made proved to be the most beneficial. From an athletic and personal standpoint, the decision was the right one. I’ve seen improvement every year, statistically and in my confidence. I cut my turnovers per game in half, doubled my points per game and increased my shooting percentage by 15%. I’ve developed all aspects of my game and grown into an all-around player as opposed to the purely one-dimensional player I was when I entered the basketball program. In 2015, I was selected to 3rd Team All-Metro which was an affirmation of the work I’ve put in. As I head into my final season, I look forward to continuing my education and furthering my basketball career at a four-year university. After having lived with this decision for three years, I can say with certainty that basketball is and will continue to be a positive influence in my life.