Strategic Management and Possesses Good Customer Essay Example for Free

Strategic Management and Possesses Good Customer Essay 1.What are the key issues presented in the study? Barclay’s is one of the four most dominant retail and commercial banks in U.K. but the company has faced many challenges between the time periods of 1980-2000. Key Issues: †¢Underperformance: The bank had lost confidence in its abilities due to years of underperformance. It had failed to reach global market place with negligible growth in divestitures and acquisitions. †¢Leadership issues: The bank failed to find a good leader between 1995 and 19999. It had five different CEOs in five years failing to contribute. †¢Cost reduction: The bank was struggling to make significant changes which could reduce its cost base. Its cost to income ratio was higher than that of competitors. †¢Lack of Planning: The bank lacked strategic planning and also had a inadequate management performance system. †¢Media and investors: The bank had become the easy target for media because of its performance and changing CEOs. This resulted into unhappy investors and demoralized employees. 2.Is Barclay’s performing well? Justify your answer. Considering the size and resources the bank has, I would say the bank is not performing according to its standards. Justification: Barclay’s possesses good customer relationship skills. They have built personal relationships with one out of five personal customers, and have direct relationships with 25% of the businesses in U.K. This is a great resource to have; unfortunately it is not able to use the resources effectively. The infrastructure of the company is not capable of using the resources properly. One of the most important things needed for success of any organization is to have a good leader which the bank lacks. The bank has little indication on where they are losing money and where to cut costs. This is due to absence of a strategic plan and poor management system. The cost to income ratio was higher than its competitors which greatly affected the company’s balance sheets. The bank had been unable to grow globally due to unmotivated and demoralized executives. The employees were not able to work in a team due to lack of communication and other corporate difficulties. In all, Barclay’s was a brand and had a reputation which it failed to fulfill because of poor management decisions and lack of proper planning and execution. 3.What are the processes that Barrett used to formulate decide and implement new strategy? Matt Barrett had a difficult task ahead to imp

Nursing Home Evaluation Essay -- Nursing Home Healthcare Elderly Essay

Nursing Home Evaluation I am seeking to find a home for my 76 year old Grandfather Leroy. It is becoming increasingly difficult for him to take care of himself and no family members are available to take care of him as it is becoming a full time job. He was diagnosed with colon cancer a few years back and his disease, in conjunction with chemotherapy, has taken away his capacity to care for himself. He was also recently diagnosed with Parkinson ¡Ã‚ ¯s disease. The name of the Nursing home that I chose to evaluate is the Lakeview Nursing Center.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This facility on the outside appears to be well maintained. It is composed of brick and is set in a good neighborhood. Upon entering the facility, the first thing I noticed was the pleasant odor that it had. I had been to nursing homes in the past and could recall how they stank mostly of urine and waste. This facility smelled fresh and clean. Cleanliness is a great attribute for a home that features 180 beds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This home offers care to those with Parkinson ¡Ã‚ ¯s disease, recent stroke victims, as well as Respiratory, Hospice and Respite care. Not all of the residents of this home suffer from any of these diseases, or require special care, but care is available to these particular patients should it be applicable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first question that I asked Nurse Egan was what she thought was the best part about working for Lakeview. She told me that one of the better things about working here is that many of the residents of this home are from or have family living in the Lincoln Park Area. Living in such close proximity to loved ones in a nursing home promotes more frequent visitation from family members. She tells me that typically the happiest residents are the ones that have the most friends and family visiting them. Frequent interaction with loved ones as well as living in a positive environment like the one at Lakeview leads to satisfied residents. When she finished giving me her answer, I decided to put what she had to say to the test. So I decided to simply walk through the corridor and see if the residents seemed happy or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first room that I passed by had two older gentlemen playing chess. I knocked on the door and identified myself as a curious college student that wanted to ask them a few questions. Kenneth and John eagerly invited me in and immediately offered me something to dri... ... taken with his family and displayed for all too see.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have been to other nursing homes in the past and found them to be unsanitary and downright boring to be in. This nursing home is extremely clean and welcoming as far as nursing homes. While I don ¡Ã‚ ¯t think that someone would choose to live in a nursing home, if they had to, this home would prove sufficient. The impact of this assignment was greater that expected. I expected to walk into a stench-laden home with old people gathered around a television. Rather I found a clean home with older residents engaged in social situations with both the help and each other. While nobody wants to send my grandfather to a home, it is something that needs to be done. This home could adequately provide for his health care needs as well as expose him to a socially productive and enriching environment. I feel that most importantly the family must uphold their end of the bargain if they are to put a loved one in a home. They must frequently visit their resident and show them that they are missed and loved every bit as much as they were when they weren ¡Ã‚ ¯t in a home. My family will visit Grandpa as often as when he lived in his apartment.

Light and Dark Shading in 17th Century Art

The use of light and dark shading during the Baroque artistic movement during the seventeenth century was how the artist caught the eye of the observer and brought emphasis to certain areas of the painting.   The technique was used by many of the artists of the day and their influence can even be seen in modern times.   Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer are two examples of artist that used the elements of light and dark shading. Rembrandt’s famous Self Portrait is a perfect example of how he used the technique.   In the portrait, the aged Rembrandt seriously looks out with a far away look.   Most of the picture is dark and the clothing and upper torso of the body is so dark that only a muted outline can be seen of his clothing.   There is a burst of light on his hands.   The eye is drawn upward to the dark red behind the artist’s head.   Even though it is dark, the red brings color to the portrait.   The only true light is centered on Rembrandt’s face.   That is where the emphasis of the whole painting lies.   He does this so that only the actual parts of the real man draw the attention. Vermeer, on the other hand, uses shading differently.   There is a dark tapestry on the wall behind the subject in Woman Holding Balance.   The area to the bottom left is also dark.   An extremely dark blue cloth is draped on the table in front of her and hangs off the side.   The underneath portion of the table is too dark to discern anything.   There is a beam of light that flows from a high window and it illuminates the woman’s face and upper torso so that it is obvious that she is holding a balance. Her skirt and cape are dark, but the edging of her cape and headdress is white, thus outlining her face and hands as she stares intently at her balance.   The light in the portrait bring the focus the woman’s expression, and brings her to the center of the painting. Both Rembrandt and Vermeer did an excellent job of creating emphasis by using light and dark shading.   They were examples of an artistic period that is still admired today. References History of Art: A Brief Survey.   Baroque and Rocco Art. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from http://www.ou.edu/class/ahi1113/html/ch-13-2.htm http://www.ou.edu/class/ahi1113/slides/13-24.jpg http://www.ou.edu/class/ahi1113/slides/13-26-2.jpg Portrait History. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from http://www.family-portrait.net/portraithistory.php      

Feed Your Brain The Best Foods to Eat Before a Test

We all know that good nutrition, or brain food, can give us energy and help us live longer, more satisfying lifestyles. That doesnt mean you can eat a banana and score 1600 on the Redesigned  SAT.  But did you know that brain food can actually get you a better test score? Green tea Key Ingredient: PolyphenolsTest Help: Brain protection and mood enhancement According to Psychology Today, polyphenols, the bitter-tasting substance in green tea, can actually protect the brain from your standard wear and tear. Its restorative, which helps growth on the cellular level. Plus, green tea has been known to encourage dopamine production, which is key to a positive mental state. And really, when you are going to take a test, you absolutely must have a positive attitude about it, or youll doom yourself to second-guessing, worry, and fear, which do not good scores make. Eggs Key Ingredient: CholineTest Help: Memory improvement Choline, the B-vitamin-like substance our bodies need, can help your brain do something its good at; remember stuff. Some studies have found that increasing choline intake can improve memory, and egg yolks are among the richest and easiest natural sources of choline. So scramble them up a few months before testing day to see if it helps you remember how to fill in an oval. Wild Salmon Key Ingredient: Omega-3-fatty acidsTest Help: Brain function improvement The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the brain. Eating food rich in omega-3s, like wild-caught salmon, can improve brain function and mood. And improved brain function (reasoning, listening, responding, etc.) can lead to a higher test score. Allergic to fish? Try walnuts. Squirrels cant have all the fun. Dark Chocolate Key Ingredient: Flavonoids and CaffeineTest Help: Focus and Concentration We have all heard for a while now that in small quantities, 75 percent cacao content or higher dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and cholesterol because of its powerful antioxidant properties from the flavonoids. You cant watch the news without hearing some report about it, especially around Valentines Day. But one of the best uses of dark chocolate comes from its natural stimulant: caffeine. Why? It can help you focus your energy. Beware, though. Too much caffeine will send you through the roof and can actually work against you when you sit down to test. So eat the dark chocolate in isolation - dont mix it with coffee or tea before you test. Acai Berries Key Ingredients: Antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acidsTest Help: Brain Function and Mood Acai has become so popular, that it seems clichà © to want to consume it. For test-takers, though, the incredibly high antioxidant levels can help blood flow to the brain, which means, in short, itll work better. And, since the acai berry has a ton of omega-3s, it works on your mood, too, so youll be more confident of your abilities as youre working your way through complex math problems. So, on test day, why not try a cup of green tea, some scrambled eggs mixed with smoked wild-caught salmon, and an Acai smoothie followed by a piece of dark chocolate? Worst case scenario? Youve had a healthy breakfast. Best case scenario? You improve your testing score.