Confrontation American Policy Toward China -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Confrontation American Policy Toward China? Answer: Introduction China is one of the largest economy around the world that possess 11.2 trillion US$ as its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is racing towards 15 trillion at a rapid speed (Feng et al. 2018). This economy has transformed itself into a versatile private sector based economy that ranks second in the world arena with respect to its GDP. Owing to its high growth rate, Tian et al. (2018) argues that the country possess high scope to become the world leader in future. The country was nowhere in during the 1970s, however it faced a massive growth in its goods and services since 1980 and it has transformed itself into a great exchange with strong governmental expenditure to become where it is now (Vietor and Thomason 2015). From the figure 1 (Annual GDP growth of China) it can be seen the country has faced high growth rate during 2006 to 2007 and the rate of annual GDP growth has reached 14% mark. During last two decade, average growth rate of china was 8% and most of the credit goes to market ce ntric reforms and opening up of the economy. Depending upon its export capability and reduced amount of import, Chinese economy has become largest exporter in the world that has almost 3.3 trillion dollars of foreign reserve. Among all the developing nations, this economy accumulated largest amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during 2010 to 2014 and fiscal policies acted as the stimuli for the Chinese economy. Coming to the other macro economic factors, from figure 2 (China economic condition), it can be envisaged that presently the country is facing GDP growth rate of 1.60% annually with an unemployment rate of 3.90% (Long, Chen and Park 2018). During 2016, the economy had faced the lowest amount of unemployment and it shows that the economy is growing at a regular rate. However, during 2004, unemployment level was as high as 4.3% due to unbalanced and unsustainable growth of the economy. Considering the average unemployment rate of 4.11percentage, it can be envisaged that economy is steadily growing. Coming to the inflation and interest rate of china, they are 1.80% and 4.35% respectively that indicates inflation rate is comparatively low in the country (Chow 2015). Government debt to GDP is 46.20% that highlights government has high amount of public debt, besides this country has accumulated 547 USD HML that makes it one of the stable country (Vietor and Thomason 2015). However, economy of the country has facing a loss in its growth rate and the boom in the economy are over. Annual growth rate has dropped from 14% to 1.60% and the government debt has grown over time leading to instability in the economy. Besides this, the economy has 4.35% of interest rate that fails to attract required amount of FDI (Foster and Tseng 2017). During 1970s china was one of a poorly developed nation that had only $20 billion foreign reserve and it lies within the poor income group country with a large amount of population who were unemployed. Within next ten years, the nation turned itself into the economic centre of the south-east Asia. By the end of 2000, the paradigm shift of the countrys economy has aided it to have $475 billion of foreign exchange that made it the second largest country in terms of FDI inflow (Hopewell 2015). Showing its great amount importance in the world market, 24th may on 2000, china got its permanent candidacy in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which was the economic hub, which sets out the rules of international trade. Now, there are various perspectives regarding the conjugation of china into the WTO (Levy 2017). China was developing during 2000s at a rapid speed and the main factor for this high growth was electronic and audio parts industry. However, once China got into agreement with the WTO it was forced to reduce its tariff and import quotas. The country was facing disciplinary precautions in order to protect the interest of the foreign industries. Besides this, china had to withdraw restrictions on the sales of goods and services in order to facilitate the foreign nations. Superior quality of foreign products enhanced he imports of the country, reducing the foreign reserve (Blustein 2017). Moreover, opening up of china forced Chinese ailing industries to stop their business in front of strong world industry competition. Besides these drawbacks, there were various benefits too, that helped the Chinese economy to become the second largest economy of the world. During 2014, china has registered highest amount of international patent and it become the economic hub of the south-east Asia tha t has largest amount of trade surplus in the world (Cooper and Zhang 2018). Thus, it can be stated that integration of Chinese economy in WTO has helped the nation to become the second largest economy, on the other hand stagnation or inflation of the world economy also contribute to the slowing growth of china. Wen Jiabao was the premier of the Chinese republican government for the period of 2003 to 2013 and he is regarded as one of the leading participant that brought in the Beijings economic policy. According to him, country has grown rapidly depending upon the export based policies, which is not sustainable in nature. He argued in favour of internal consumption growth that will help the country to withstand against supply or demand side shock (Breslin 2016). Wen Jiabao mentioned various problems with regard to the Chinese economy, which are as follows (Lardy 2016): The economy is based on the export based system of growth, which makes the system unstable. Chinese economic growth is unsteady, uncoordinated, unsustainable and unbalanced in nature, which is not a long term economic formula for growth. Private consumption of Chinese GDP is falling gradually over time; from 45.3% of GDP during 2002 to 37.1% by 2012 and structural changes are much needed for the economy (Shambaugh 2016). Due to subprime mortgage crisis in the US economy, Chinese economy was struck hard back in 2008 and it was Wen Jiabao, who argued in favour of stimulus package from government that can put a hold on the reducing growth rate, with rising inflation and unemployment. According to the Wen Jiabao, this can happen with Chinese economy too, if it doesnt transform itself into a sustainable economy. Global recession caused the Chinese economy a fall in GDP growth and rise in inflation, unemployment leading to instability of the economy. New Normal confirmed by the Xi Jinping back in 2013 is a stimulus measurement for the deteriorating Chinese economy. Since 2002, there were rapid growth in the Chinese economy and it reached peak during 2006, when the GDP growth rate rose to the 14% level (Hu 2015). However, recession in the world market caused by the subprime mortgage lead the economy to face reduced economic growth. New Normal from the Chinese government is meant to enhance the economic performance of the country. According to the Xi Jinping, there is huge scope for the Chinese economy in order to bring in productivity and efficiency in the market. Rapid growth of china during 2006 was not sustainable in nature, thus Xi Jinping announced the New Normal reform, which is slower in nature, however it has the potential to make the Chinese economy sustainable with innovation and increase in private consumption (Powell and Smith 2016). This new reform proposed initiation of State-Owned Enterprise and increase the social security coverage along with liberalization of the Chinese financial markets. Besides this, New Normal is meant to bring in land reform, which will address the overcapacity and manage the control gap in the case f capital flows along with the exchange rate. New Normal is meant to provide china a sustainable growth that can withstand against any supply-side shock in long run. Implementation of this in the Chinese economy means, china will have much slower but balanced growth, where Chinese private consumption will grow besides other structural changes (Zhang and Chen 2017). However, one of the biggest issue in this regard is, whether New Normal the right policy for Chinese economy at this point and future growth of the country. After cannon balling the annual growth rate figures with 14% annual GDP growth rate, china is now growing at much slower rate of 6.9% annually (Wong 2016). During 2007, Wen Jiabao argued that, this rapid growth of china is leading the country towards an unsustainable economy. Thus, New Normal was introduced and it is meant to provide various reforms ranging from land to exchange rate reform, which will aid the country to have a better future prospect. Chinas main driving force for its rapid growth during 2006 was its investment and export based economic structure, however presently it is aimed to transform its structure to a more sustainable private consumption based structure with the New Normal (Luo 2017). It is aimed that the transition of the market will create more jobs and increases the monthly disposable income of the Chinese labours, proving the economy a boost to grow steadily in future. However, consolidation of power by the Xi Jinping is one of the issues that bother the smooth transition, because government intervention in the market has grown substantially since 2013 and if this continues, economists argue that it will lead the New Normal reform towards a failure. So, to conclude it can be said that, china at this moment certainly need New Normal to make it a sustainable economy. New Normal is one of the economic reforms of Chinese government, which is aimed to provide the Chinese economy a sustainable and stable growth. It was promised by the Xi jinping back in 2013 and since then there has been various changes in the Chinese economy to adapt the new system. Among many, Chinese government has brought in land reform and labour market reform program (Vietor and Thomason 2015). Besides this, XI Jinping has initiated programs to enforce law and order of the country and eliminated all those factors that come in the path of the new system. Along with this, Chinese president has named himself as the head of the foreign policy, overtook the secret police and police and brought in the internet oversight to control the proceeding of the New Normal in the country. Though this polarisation of power according to Kohar et al. (2017) is not good for the economy, however, from the Chinese perspective it is the ideal way to promote New Normal in the country. Relationship between china and US was never smooth and though these two nations are the permanent member of the UN Security Council, they often collide with each other if not in the battlefield but in the economic ground. Until 2015, these two countries traded goods and services of almost 650 billion dollars between them and with rising US China trade deficit, the relationship is now turning red (Gilboy 2016). Various issues have arise in front of the Trump government regarding china in recent days and US government need to check them if they want to remain the top exporter in the world. Three main economic challenges that Trump government is facing with china are as follows: Stock market and real estate bubble In order to address the chinas unstable growth back in 2006, Chinese government took reform programs that gave rise to the stock market and real estate prices. During 2008, bank lending got aggravated and price of the houses started to rise, whereas many project remained unfinished due to over capacity (Glaeser et al. 2017) It lead to fall in the price of the house by 2012 and real estate bubble started to rise once the government allowed foreigners to buy those properties. On the other hand, stock prices also got enhanced due to foreign investment in the Chinese housing projects, which were mainly originated from the US. It is leading the economy towards a Global Financial Crisis like situation and US government need to aware of that (Mera 2016). Currency manipulator China was the second largest exporter to the US and depending upon their large scale of operation in the US market, Chinese producers started to grow influence over the US labour and capital market. If, the trend continues, then it will bring in more Chinese workers to the US and make complete control over the US economy leading to instability in the countrys economy (Slaughter 2016). Aggressive export policy China has been living on the export based policy since 2003, and it becomes one of the largest exporters in the world that not only provides goods and services o the neighbouring nations, moreover shares a large amount of export to the western nations too. With aggressive export policy of the china, international trade of US gradually decreased during 2006 to 2013 (Stueck 2017). Situation becomes worse, when china US trade grown to 650 billion USD, where US imported 430 billion USD goods and services from the china. It hampered the balance of trade of US economy and leads the country towards a dampened export facility. If trump government wants to overcome this situation, then they need to strictly impose tariffs on the import of Chinese goods and services. Besides this, it would be better for the trump government to try export campaign ranging from western countries to the south-east Asian countries, where china enjoys monopoly as an exporter. China is a large exporter a famous for its cheap goods and services. Besides this, products from the Chinese companies are technologically upgraded and possess great value for money (Aksoy, Guriev and Treisman 2018). Thus for any brand, it is hard to compete with the Chinese goods and services. Keeping this in mind, being the CEO of a large American multinational company, performing market analysis would be the first step. Then, finding the weakness and strengths of the rival firms would be necessary and need to come up with those solutions, which can stand out among the others. China with their initiative, termed as Made in China 2025 is aimed to double up their biotechnology an aerospace industries that can give a crippling blow to the US companies (Butollo and Luthje 2017). Thus, in order to withstand against any kind of demand shock in future, being the CEO, it would be better to transform the firm in such a way that it can absorb those shocks. In order to do this, the firm need to invest more in their RD department and trace new strategies to compete with the Chinese firms. Reference: Aksoy, C.G., Guriev, S.M. and Treisman, D., 2018. Globalization, Government Popularity, and the Great Skill Divide. Blustein, P., 2017. China Inc. in the WTO Dock: Tales from a System under Fire. Breslin, S., 2016.China and the global political economy. Springer. Butollo, F. and Lthje, B., 2017. Made in China 2025: Intelligent Manufacturing and Work.The New Digital Workplace. How New Technologies Revolutionise Work, pp.42-61. Chow, G.C., 2015.China's economic transformation. John Wiley Sons. Cooper, A.F. and Zhang, Y., 2018. Chinese Leadership in the Evolution of Hub and Parallel Globally Oriented Institutions.Chinese Political Science Review,3(1), pp.28-47. Feng, J., Feng, L., Wang, J. and King, C.W., 2018. Modeling the point of use EROI and its implications for economic growth in China.Energy,144, pp.232-242. Foster, M.J. and Tseng, C.S., 2017. CHINA FDI BOOMS BUT PROBLEMS PERSIST.Journal of International Business and Economy,18(1), pp.70-100. Gilboy, G.J., 2016. The myth behind China's miracle. InSEEKING CHANGES: The Economic Development in Contemporary China(pp. 1-16). Glaeser, E., Huang, W., Ma, Y. and Shleifer, A., 2017. A real estate boom with Chinese Characteristics.Journal of Economic Perspectives,31(1), pp.93-116. Hopewell, K., 2015. Different paths to power: The rise of Brazil, India and China at the World Trade Organization.Review of International Political Economy,22(2), pp.311-338. Hu, A., 2015. Embracing Chinas new normalwhy the economy is still on track.Foreign Affairs,94(3), pp.8-12. Lardy, N.R., 2016. China: Toward a consumption-driven growth path. InSEEKING CHANGES: The Economic Development in Contemporary China(pp. 85-111). Levy, P.I., 2017. The Treatment of Chinese SOEs in China's WTO Protocol of Accession.World Trade Review,16(4), pp.635-653. Long, X., Chen, B. and Park, B., 2018. Effect of 2008's Beijing Olympic Games on environmental efficiency of 268 China's cities.Journal of Cleaner Production,172, pp.1423-1432. Luo, Y., 2017. Development of the foreign trade economy of china under the new normal context of global trade.AGRO FOOD INDUSTRY HI-TECH,28(1), pp.1651-1655. Mera, K., 2016.Asia's financial crisis and the role of real estate. Routledge. Powell, B. and Smith, T.L., 2016. The US Economy: The New Normal and an Unsustainable Future.The Independent Review,20(3), pp.369-375. Shambaugh, D., 2016. Contemplating China's future.The Washington Quarterly,39(3), pp.121-130. Slaughter, M.J., 2016. The Myths of Chinas Currency Manipulation.Wall Street Journal. Stueck Jr, W.W., 2017.The Road to Confrontation: American Policy toward China and Korea. UNC Press Books. Tian, X., Geng, Y., Sarkis, J. and Zhong, S., 2018. Trends and features of embodied flows associated with international trade based on bibliometric analysis.Resources, Conservation and Recycling,131, pp.148-157. V i e t o r, R. and th o m a s o n, H. (2015).China: The New Normal. 2nd ed. [ebook] Harvard Business School, pp.716-800. Available at: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=51296 [Accessed 30 Jan. 2018]. Wong, A., 2016. Japanese Enterprises in China: Where to Go under New Normal Economy?.China's Foreign Trade,1, p.019. Zhang, J. and Chen, J., 2017. Introduction to Chinas new normal economy.

Costco Wholesale free essay sample

While Cost is the leading wholesale provider in the world, it still has obstacles and barriers to navigate through as t continues to sustain its operations. To summarize some of these challenges and to determine which of the challenges is the strongest and why, the 5 competitive forces model will be used. The 5 competitive forces model holds that competitive pressures on companies within an industry come from 5 different sources. These include: 1. Competition from rival sellers 2. Competition from potential new entrants 3. Competition from producers of substitute products 4.Supplier bargaining power 5. Customer bargaining power Most often, the strongest of the 5 competitive forces is often the competitive erasures created by the rivalry among competing sellers. This remains true in this case with Cost Wholesale as well. The wholesale segment of retailing in North America as a whole produced over $1 55 billion in 2011 alone, and it was growing at a rate of 15-20 percent faster than retailing as a whole. It has no assurances of continued supply, pricing or access to new products, and any vendor could at any time change the terms upon which it sells to it or discontinue selling it. Because of its efforts to adhere to high quality standards for which available supply may be limited, particularly for certain food items, the large volume its demand may not be consistently available. Costco’s suppliers are also subject to risks, including labor disputes, union organizing activities, financial liquidity, inclement weather, natural disasters, supply constraints, and general economic and political conditions that could limit their ability to timely provide us with acceptable merchandise precluding delivery of merchandise and may not be identified before it sells the merchandise to its members (Costco Wholesale Corp. , 2012). Costco has the buyer power in the big box industry. When Costco is the primary obligor, is subject to inventory risk, has latitude in establishing prices and selecting suppliers, can influence product or service specifications, or has several but not all of these indicators, revenue and related shipping fees are recorded on a gross basis. Because of its high sales volume and rapid inventory turnover, it generally sells inventory before it is required to pay many of our merchandise vendors, even though we take advantage of early payment discounts when available. To the extent that a greater percentage of inventories are financed through payment terms provided by suppliers rather than by its working capital (Costco Wholesale Corp. , 2012). Costco buys the majority of its merchandise directly from manufacturers and route it to a cross-docking consolidation point (depot) or directly to our warehouses. Costco’s depots receive container-based shipments from manufacturers and reallocate these goods for shipment to our individual warehouses, generally in less than twenty-four hours. This process maximizes freight volume and handling efficiencies, eliminating many of the costs associated with traditional multiple-step distribution channels (Costco Wholesale Corp. , 2012). Making its operations more efficient and its members loyal to its rapid service. Facing competition from discounters that dont charge a membership fee, Costco has been busy expanding and retrofitting its warehouses to accommodate fresh food sections and other ancillary units, such as gas stations, optical departments, pharmacies, and food courts (Hoover’s, Inc. 2012). Along with the expansion of products, Costco has expanded its premium private-label, Kirkland Signature, to differentiate the companys offerings from intense competition. On the international front,

Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership

Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership Introduction Organizations have from time to time; carry out a thorough evaluation of their practices so as to be able to gain insight in ways of streamlining their organizational processes and improvement of revenue and high profit making potential. Both the internal and external aspects are analyzed and it must also be a wide-ranging and all inclusive activity so as to be able to gain proper strategic approach. The model of corporation management examination is derived from the unpredictable economic settings in which companies function.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Investors usually want assurance in a corporation’s wellbeing before they engage in investing in public owned companies, this shows that they want to be provided with reports showing the businesses strength, comprehend how a business bounced back fro m a plunge in returns or whether its cash flow is hampered by its clientele who dont meet their obligations. Reports and analysis done to investigate all this always give potential investors with specifics they require to make knowledgeable choices. With precise tabulations of inward bound returns and reliable evaluation of market tests, company analysis has turned out to be nearly requisite to many market-watchers. To a certain extent business owners and top management opt to use company analysis to assess procedures and boost their companies practices and revenue earnings, instead of refusing to go along with change and resolving for business as usual. Key Focuses Case study 1: Netflix Netflix being one of the world’s largest online providers of movie rentals serves over ten million clients/ subscribers who have access to more than 100,000 DVD titles plus a variety of over five thousand selections that its subscribers can view instantly in real time on their computers. Netf lix has transformed the way movies are rented by delivering them directly to their clients. With todays demanding way of life, and clients demanding extra value and control, its no doubt that Netflix has turned out to be the most favored online source of home entertainment. Netflix has since then developed to be the world’s leading online movie rental provider with it being named the top internet movie retail site for client contentment in 10 out of 11 reviews since 2005 carried out by ForeSee Results. In the same year Fast Company declared it the winner of its yearly Customers First Award. Among other achievements of Netflix include, Retail Innovator of the Year(2007), number one online retailer by Nielsen Online(December 2007), Netflix Player ranked top 10 device of the year by time magazine(December 2008), and 2010 number one e-commerce corporation by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. NetFlix.com, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. Netflix manages an online-based limitless movie rental service for digital video disc (DVD) formatted movies. The DVD has made available a new technology for storing and playing movies with image and sound quality exceeding that of traditional videocassettes.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A DVD is same in size to an audio compact disc and is capable of storing an entire film, as well as added material such as subtitles in different languages, additional shorter videos about the making of the film or other related subject matter, and information about the actors, director, and producers. With its high quality and additional features, the new DVD technology provided an attractive alternative to traditional videocassettes for the home video market. A key aspect of the Netflix business model is the â€Å"Marquee Queue† concept. The â€Å"Marquee Queue† allow subscribers to rent several movies at once for viewing. This is simply a subscriber’s queue where a list of all the movies that the subscriber had selected, but which had not yet been sent to the subscriber is presented. After logging on to the Netflix Web site, a new subscriber browses the virtual aisles and select movies that he or she desires to watch. These movies are then used to build the subscriber’s queue. The website makes it easy for subscribers to edit the queue, such that the list can be arranged in the desired order. The company then ships the DVDs at the top of the queue to subscribers. Netflix is plagued with technological concerns as far as its ability to move to offering online video from DVDs, this leads to a loss in subscribers. Netflix still has indications of a cash flow Achilles heel as compared to its competitors (Blockbuster, Comcast). They also experience high cost on product acquisition. It experiences competition from about every part of the entertainment industry from cable, digital, and satellite services, including the pay-per-view option and movie channels such as HBO, and Showtime. Due to this an extensive choice of substitutes is offered as a result from the diverse competition. (Marks, 2005). Case study 2: Blockbuster Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation is an adjustable company that notices prospects and is conscious of the challenges that come with every business venture. In so doing it has to be conscious of forthcoming corporations that provide same kind of services for example Hollywood Video. Blockbuster has seized the opening to spread out their services from providing just movies to offering new movies and video games. A main element of Blockbuster’s products is made up of video games. Blockbuster has expanded its operations to include products such as the console games which have further increased its market share by the acquisition of American Satellite and Video Inc. â€Å"American Sat ellite operates Rhino Video Games, which is a games retail chain. Rhino Video buys, sells, and trades video games. Rhino has 40 retail stores in the Southeast, including Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina† (Leon, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Expansion and Acquisition of Stores Locations Blockbuster seized the opportunity to expand to different countries and will continue to spread to other countries. Blockbuster has greatly expanded internationally and is currently in 27 countries across North America, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Blockbuster went from 1500 stores in 1990 to over 8000 stores worldwide in 2002; this expansion is the key to Blockbuster’s success. They have used this expansion to penetrate the market and capture market share. In 2001, Blockbuster’s worldwide revenues surpassed $5 billion, and 20 percent of that was generated outside the U.S. Blockbuster will continue to expand as it is doing in Central America to capture more and more market share (Lamb McDaniel 2005), Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation is an adaptive company that sees opportunity and is aware of the challenges. New ideas are important on topics such as how to compete with internet video rental companies and how to capture the video game rental market. Entering into new countries has been a main focus as well. Blockbuster has also used its three main revenue producers to compete in the vastly growing industry. Blockbuster has also had to keep up with many technological threats. Investments have been down so strategic alliances have been formed to strengthen the company. Online movie rentals and sales have proven to be a necessity considering all the recent technological advances. With all of these things in mind Blockbuster has m ade many adaptations since the case and should be able to remain competitive in the industry. (Haag Phillips, 2005). Key Findings A thorough examination of strategies, resources, and fund raising procedures for up-and-coming growth and middle-market corporations is mandatory for any intended growth to be achieved or realized. This paper has examined both Netflix and blockbuster and provides wide-ranging and convenient recommendations on appreciating and applying the basics of corporate finance to upcoming and middle-market corporations. Haag Phillips ( 2005) notes â€Å"by means of utilizing empirical data and real company case studies to demonstrate resource structures and investment approaches, the recommendations provide an in depth argument of the numerous grant mechanisms.† These can range from conventional bank credits and asset-based funding to diverse types of private equity and other innovative resolution which may include a variety of financial support sources, th eir projected rates of returns and the deal terms. (Haag Phillips, 2005)Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Geoff (2006) notes â€Å"a company analysis gives information about performance and prospects. business graph image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com thisth This investigations, or corporate analyses, refer to dealings undertaken for a comprehensive evaluation to gain a thoughtful realization of a companys precedent performance and potential prospects.† A systematic scrutiny will center on all facets of the corporate body, as well as the administration structure and know-how, assets and resources, growth forecasts, productivity and insubstantial aspects such as goodwill and the product image. Geoff (2006) notes â€Å"results of the analysis are used in reaching business decisions by external parties, such as whether or not to invest in or go into a partnership with the analyzed company.† By and large corporate excellence of a business can be assessed by examining the company’s core elements, purpose, objectives and procedures. For example, a company may prod uce products of flawless quality but have a scandalous customer service record. As such, a total company evaluation may be broken down into minor, related evaluations to look into the various parts of the company. When all the reports from the different analysis are implemented as one, a full size representation of the company’s well being is fashioned. (Geoff, 2006). Strategies for company growth recommended Company analyses often begin from top management or administration team and trickle down to subordinate ranks of the corporation. Together with every segment of the company in the scrutiny procedure make available a well-formed appraisal of the company. This examination possibly will necessitate use of departmental plans or strategies. In trade, administration analysis characteristically centers on procedures, business culture or economic performance. Operational evaluation comprises how a business carries out its responsibilities, business culture, relates to business p hilosophies and practices, and economic assessments are the returns obtained from business functions. (Gamble Arthur, 2004) Companies should find ways of expanding their geographical cover of potential market bases by setting up new stores in new areas, and also through promotion of diverse brand of products that create an appeal and attract potential clientele and retain clients they once upon a time were not able to get in touch with. Corporations intending to grow should carry out frequent analyses of the foremost industry they form a part of; this helps them get a comprehensive grasp on what is required, for example both Netflix should have a sense of the type of movies and services Blockbuster is offering to its clients so as to come up with better services and vice versa. Divide the strategies formulated after carrying out the analysis into specific groups; for example market strategies, people strategies, products and services, administration and organization and finally fi nance. These helps the company be able to implement the strategies and plans fully and realize their objectives. Hire and recruit with high energy levels and good health so as to have maximum employee output Examine the company’s potentiality in terms of resources and finances, before embarking on growth. Another important and strong strategy is to think of globalization. Relating particular products with global events like the world cup can give the world a product it can share in entirely. One should use one of the following techniques in sales. Sales staff – add the time they spend on sales, increase their human resource and their knowledge, skills; communicate with sales representatives, distributors; improve customers information of whats on hand. Evaluate peoples remuneration to ensure that all have equal packages and also that the people feel that the remuneration and compensation is awarded without bias. People should be educated in order to understand the bene fits of a company’s benefit package. Constant specialized training and skill enhancement for employees to upgrade their job output. Examine the companys association with existing and possible clients, its familiarity of varying needs and opportunities in the marketplace, the way it classifies and contacts its regulars, service quality and speed of products being offered, marketing, advertising, and the selling and management skills its possesses. Managers should monitor and utilize resources efficiently for the company’s growth by encompassing the highest quality of know-how and accounting and budgeting systems. In the process they should also be able to establish what can be done to develop precision and relevance of accounting so performance information is accessible in real time. (Andrà ©, 2007). Conclusion Businesses may opt for an outside company to carry out a company analysis for them. This option provides an objective opinion of the company and managers are p rovided with innovative ideas from an outside source without biasness, looking to make changes that will offer significant company returns and realization of objectives. The function of performance examination is to determine whether a company is carrying on well, this information is very vital in attracting investors and also identify areas that call for upgrading. Proper run companies carry out internal analysis on a frequent basis, to be able to keep in touch with changes influencing the company’s performance. Managers come with findings of the evaluation and table them before stakeholders at annual general meetings, with a purpose of catching the attention of potential business prospects. Companies that carry out regular analysis are more in touch with the diverse background issues touching the business and are more vibrant and receptive to market forces. Competition is good for business as the more quality varieties of a certain product in the market are available then, product demand is also high. Reference List Andrà ©, R. (2007). Organizational Behavior: An Introduction to Your Life in Organizations. New York, NY: Prentice Hall. Gamble, J. Arthur, T. (2004) Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Geoff, F. (2006). Marketing Fundermentals:CIM Coursebook. London: oxford publishers. Haag, S. Phillips, A. (2005), Business Driven Technology., New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Hitt, I. Hoskisson, P. (2009). Strategic management: competitiveness and globalization : concepts cases, edn 8, New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Lamb, C., McDaniel, C. (2005), Marketing. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Leon, C. (2009). Essentials of Marketing. New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 2009. Marks, K. (2005). The handbook of financing growth: strategies and capital structure. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

How to Perform the Instant Fire Chemistry Demonstration

How to Perform the Instant Fire Chemistry Demonstration Heres a simple fire chemistry demonstration that produces instant fire without using matches or any other type of flame. Potassium chlorate and ordinary table sugar are combined. When a drop of sulfuric acid is added, a reaction is catalyzed which produces heat, an amazing bright/tall purple flame, and a lot of smoke. Instant Fire Materials Potassium chloratePowdered (confectioners) sugar or table sugar (sucrose)Sulfuric acidSmall glass jar or  test tube Procedure Mix  equal parts potassium chlorate and table sugar (sucrose) in a small glass jar or test tube. Choose a container you dont value, as the demonstration will probably cause it to shatter.Place the mixture in a fume hood and equip lab safety gear (which you should be wearing anyway). To initiate the reaction, carefully add a drop or two of sulfuric acid to the powdered mixture. The mixture will burst into a tall purple flame, accompanied by heat and a lot of smoke.How it works: potassium chlorate (KClO3) is a powerful oxidizer, used in matches and fireworks. Sucrose is an easy-to-oxidize energy source. When sulfuric acid is introduced, potassium chlorate decomposes to produce oxygen:2KClO3(s) heat - 2KCl(s) 3O2(g)The sugar burns in the presence of oxygen. The flame is purple from the heating of the potassium (similar to a flame test). Tips Perform this demonstration in a fume hood, as a considerable quantity of smoke will be produced. Alternatively, perform this demonstration outdoors.Granulated table sugar is preferable to powdered sugar which is, in turn, preferable to reagent grade sucrose. The powdered sugar is capable of smothering the fire, while the granules of the reagent-grade sucrose may be too large to support a ​good reaction.Follow proper safety precautions. Do not store the potassium chlorate and sugar mixture, as it can react spontaneously. Use care when removing the potassium chlorate from its container, to avoid sparking, which can ignite the container. Wear the usual protective gear when performing this reaction (goggles, lab coat, etc.).The Dancing Gummi Bear is a variation on this demonstration. Here, a small quantity of potassium chlorate is carefully heated in a large test tube, clamped to a ring stand over a flame, until it has melted. A Gummi Bear candy is added to the container, resultin g in a vigorous reaction. The bear dances amidst bright purple flames.

Analyze a Retailer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analyze a Retailer - Research Paper Example After this acquisition the company grew gradually in size and operations and the refineries figure was increased to 16 by the end of 1997. Throughout the 80s and the 90s era, the company operated in diversified energy operations i.e. from the refining of petroleum products to the marketing of those products. Valero Energy Corporation produces and markets different products in the market. Their products range from gasoline to jet fuel. Besides these, the company also produces other specialty products such as Propane, Process oils, Asphalt, etc. The company operates in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean through its retail outlets. The company had been performing well in terms of profitability but in the year 2009, their profits had transformed into losses. The company had reported a loss of $58 million dollars which was a better profit figure of $761 million in 2008. This downfall would have been because of the global recession. The company aims to strengthen their position by transforming this loss figure into a profit figure and keeping in intact for further years to follow. (Annual Report,

An Analysis of six Infrastructure projects that take place in two Dissertation

An Analysis of six Infrastructure projects that take place in two countries - Dissertation Example Differences in organizational cultures between companies or disparities in professional cultures between consultants, contractors and clients may exist. This dissertation aims to address the impact of political and cultural differences in project management of cross national projects. Apart from identifying the political and cultural differences that affect project management, case studies of six infrastructure construction projects in two countries have been conducted. The research suggests that differences in professional cultures, politics and institutions affect the successful management of the projects. The results on how cultural disparities affect cross national projects can help project managers in the identification of potential areas of possible conflict in cross national projects apart from suggesting areas of future research. Keywords: culture, cultural differences, cross national, cross border, project management, politics, institutions Outline 1. INTRODUCTION†¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 2.1 Definitions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 2.2. ... RESEARCH OBJECTIVES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 Search Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 4. LITERATURE REVIEW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...17 4.1 . Institutional Theory........................................................................17 4.2 Relevance of the application of institutional theory to construction project management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 4.3 Impact of culture and politics in the management and organization of cross national projects: a review of literature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 4.4 Cultural Dimensions †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 4.4.1 Hofstede’s cultural variability†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...20 4.4.2 Schwartz’s Cultural Value Type†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 4.4.3 Trompenaars’ cultural diversity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦,,,,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦23 4.4.4 House and colleagues project GLOBE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.24 4.5 Cross-National Cultural Differences†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.26 4.6 Cross-national Conflicts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦ .27 4.7 Project Performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦...29 4.8 Cultural management of cross national projects†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.30 5. METHODOLOGY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.32 5.1 Approaches and methodologies in project management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦32 5.2 Influences and difficulties in cross cultural collaboration†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..34 5.2.1 Suitability of the Research Approach†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.34 5.2.2 Reliability and Relevance of Research finding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..35 5.3 Project Choice and

Task-Centred Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Social Work

Task-Centred Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Social Work Demonstrate your understanding of the main principles of TASK CENTRED PRACTICE. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the theory in its application to anti discriminatory practice. Introduction The International Federation of Social Work states that: â€Å"The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human  relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being.  Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the  points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and  social justice are fundamental to social work†[1]. The best kind of social work is that which places the client or service user at the centre of everything it does. This is a core principle of task based social work, rather than working with a set of preconceived ideas the social worker has to negotiate the legal framework within which she/he is obliged to operate in order to achieve the best results for the service user. Task based social work is therefore first and foremost ethical and anti-oppressive social work which takes as its foundation the Human Rights Act of 1998 that each person should be dealt with in terms of the concept of the inherent worth of the individual. This assignment will first give some definition of the role and responsibilities of the social worker. From within this framework it will then look at the main principles of task centred practice and will use imaginary scenarios to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the theory and its application to anti-discriminatory practice. Social Work People looking for a career as a social worker usually have more luck if they have had some experience of dealing with individuals in the community. This could involve work placements or being involved with voluntary work, both of which seen as good practice and background to engage in social work practice. Prior community involvement is seen as a valuable asset for anyone wishing to become a social worker. Social services is set against a background of voluntary charity work in the late nineteenth century and people who get involved in community work are seen to have the right kind of spirit, or an interest in social justice that is a valuable part of social work (Moore, 2002). Tasks and Roles Within the Legal Framework The social worker’s role is outlined by what was the personal social services. The overall aim of social workers is a concern with individuals and the care they may need. Under Government legislation and the Code of Practice, social workers have to act in accordance with the 1998 Human Rights Act, the 1990 NHS and Care in the Community Act (a result of the 1988 Griffiths Report), the Chronically Sick and Disabled Person’s Act of 1970 and the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. More recently social workers are legally required to be involved in partnership working with other agencies (ref) and this has been extended to include the service user/service provider relationship. There is, arguably, some truth in the fact that this takes what is at heart a charitable search for social justice and puts it on a par with businesses and at the mercy of market forces. The primary work behind task centred practice is the identification of social systems, what they might be and what they do. Thus the properly qualified social worker needs a good deal of sociological knowledge with regard to things like class, gender, race and religion. He/she would also need to be aware of Parson’s work on social systems and socialisation because this gives an insight into the boundaries from which a service user may be operating (Payne, 1991). Once social workers are aware of social systems and how they operate then it is possible to be able to define any imbalances within a working relationship (Payne ibid). This last is a necessary part of anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, however, we shall see that task centred practice can be a two edged sword for the social worker. Payne’s (1991) systems analysis is essential to task centred practice because it provides the social worker with a conceptual basis to start breaking a problem and its solution into manageable pieces.Task centred practice is based on the idea that people learn by doing and that when they have a success this then improves their performance (Hanvey, 1994). Task centred theory is further premised on the view that tasks are a series of steps that a professional would take in order to help a service user achieve a goal. This goal would need to take into account the rights and responsibilities of others as well as those of the service user. There are three key parts of task centred practice the first part of this process focuses on the problem or situation that the social worker is faced with, for example a young mother who has been hospitalised with mental health problems and now wishes to look after her child herself. In this situation the social worker would have to break the problem down for example what might the risks to the child be if it was left unsupervised with a mother from a difficult client group? The social worker would begin by looking at the whole picture and then focus on particular aspects of the situation that could be problematic. Added to this as the social worker investigates the problem further he/she may find the shape and scope of the problem changing (Hanvey, ibid). Thus the social worker has to establish certain parameters e.g. the urgency of the problem and the chances of failure or success as well as any support the service user may have. In the case of a young mother with mental health iss ues for example the following problem might occur: If the social worker needs to make a visit and the service user refuses to allow entry this could cause problems with regards to any future assessment, something which is required by the legal framework. According to the terms of the Community Care Act of 1990 (circular LAC (92) 12, any needs assessment would have to take into account that persons current living situation, any help or support from friends and relatives and what she herself hopes to gain from the assessment. Because of mental health needs this client would be entitled to a specific type of assessment.[2] A task centred approach involves looking at what the service user wants (in this case to have parental rights and control of her child), what the problems might be. If an earlier assessment has shown that family and friends would be able to offer little in the way of help and a young child is involved then the social worker has a duty to search for alternatives. If the mother’s care of the child is erratic and she is posing a problem for other people around then it would be the social worker’s duty to call in the medical officer of health who then has to obtain an order from the magistrates’ court. This would allow the social worker to gain entry and to assess the situation and the needs of the child, however, this could bring the social worker into a value conflict situation (this, I think is one of the problems with the task centred approach). Task centred social work means that once the social worker has defined the problem and the hoped for outcome, he/she then has to decide whether the outcome is really attainable and what the consequences might be if it were achieved. With the imagined scenario used here achieving what the client wants could involve the social worker in a variety of problematic situations. Ethically speaking the interests of the service user should take priority. However the social worker has a duty to bear in mind the BASW guidelines on ethical practice, Boulton (2003) has said of this: In exceptional circumstances where the priority of the service users interest is outweighed by the need to protect others or by legal requirements, make service users aware that their interests may be overridden (Boulton, 2003 p.10).[3] Where it has been estimated that a child may be at risk then a social worker has a duty of care under the 1989 Children’s Act. At the same time there is a requirement to act within a framework that is informed by the Human Rights Act of 1998 and the rights of the mother have to be taken into consideration. There is a dilemma here for the social worker because a wrong decision could result in harm occasioned either to the child or to the mother as a result of her own actions. In such circumstances a social worker is bound to make an assessment of risk, and also probable harm. If harm is occasioned then the social worker could be held to account. The (system we are in now is almost ready to treat every death as chargeable to someone’s account, every accident as caused by someone’s criminal negligence, every sickness a threatened prosecution. Whose fault? Is the first question (Douglas, 1992:15-16).[4] Clearly this situation needs a multi-agency approach including the social worker, his/her immediate superior, someone from the child protection scheme, the mother’s GP, the health visitor and the mother. Putting the child on the child protection register with regular reviews may help alleviate the situation and is in line with the requirements of the 1989 Children’s Act. This could therefore become a case where the service user’s rights will be overridden because the primary duty is to the child. This is where a social worker would be faced with a conflict of ethics and values which may lead to a practice situation where, as a practitioner, the social worker cannot be right. The final part of a task centred approach is to define just how long a social worker can give to a particular case and this is almost impossible to define, particularly in the imagined scenario above. A case like this could go on for years with different levels of professional involvement. Conclusion Task centred theory, I believe is a good starting point for social workers as it provides some sort of framework for dealing with some of the problems service users may present. While the theory is meant to support anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, this relies on a thorough understanding of social systems and how they operate. On the other hand there are some situations where a social worker has to weigh the needs of one person against another and this can result in apparent oppression and neglect of a service user’s human rights. The fact of the matter is that there will always be cases where someone is the loser and this is a sad fact of social work experience. Bibliography http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/30BC32F2-20B2-4D90-ABAB-3666D5BB44EB/0/Rolesandtasksconsultationpaper.pdf accessed 31st March 2007 Boulton, J 2003 Code of Ethics for Social Work available at http://www.basw.co.uk/articles.php?articleId=2page=14 Hanvey, C and Philpot, T. 1994 Practicing Social Work New York, Routledge Kemshall, 2002 Kemshall, H. 2002. Risk, Social Policy and Welfare Buckingham, Open University Press p.9 Payne, M. 1991 Modern Social Work Theory. A Critical Introduction, London: Macmillan. The Care Programme Approach Policy: towards integrated care programme approach and care management (2000) South London and Maudsley NHS Trust 1 [1] http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/30BC32F2-20B2-4D90-ABAB-3666D5BB44EB/0/Rolesandtasksconsultationpaper.pdf accessed 31st March 2007 [2] The Care Programme Approach Policy: towards integrated care programme approach and care management (2000) South London and Maudsley NHS Trust [3] Boulton, J 2003 Code of Ethics for Social Work available at http://www.basw.co.uk/articles.php?articleId=2page=14 [4] Quoted in Kemshall, 2002 Kemshall, H. 2002. Risk, Social Policy and Welfare Buckingham, Open University Press p.9