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Monday, August 24, 2020
Son Of Sam Essays - David Berkowitz, , Term Papers
Child Of Sam Child of Sam David Berkowitz The day of Berkowitz's capture, Sergeant Joseph Coffey was brought in to talk with him. Tranquilly and openly, David educated him concerning every one of the shootings. At the point when the meeting was over yonder was no uncertainty that Berkowitz was the Son of Sam. The subtleties that he provided about each ambush were bits of data that lone the executioner would know. Toward the finish of the meeting, Berkowitz pleasantly wished him goodbye. Coffey was astounded by Berkowitz. At the point when I originally strolled into that room I was brimming with rage. Be that as it may, in the wake of conversing with him....I feel frustrated about him. That man is a *censored*ing vegetable! Who was David Berkowitz at any rate and how could he become the Son of Sam? While David didn't begin his life under the most promising conditions, he experienced childhood in a white collar class family with hovering new parents who gave him endowments and consideration. His genuine mother, Betty Broder, experienced childhood in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. Her family was poor and she needed to battle to make due during the Depression. Her Jewish family contradicted her union with Tony Falco, who was Italian and a gentile.The two of them figured some cash out to begin a fish showcase in 1939. At that point, Betty had a little girl Roslyn. From that point onward, things turned out poorly with the Falco's marriage and Tony left her for another lady. The fish showcase became penniless and Betty needed to raise Roslyn without anyone else. The dejection of being a solitary parent was assuaged when she started an issue with a wedded man named Joseph Kleinman. Be that as it may, things went astray when she got pregnant. Kleinman wouldn't pay any kid backing and pledged to leave her except if she surrender the child. Indeed, even before David was conceived on June 1, 1953, she had orchestrated his adoption.Her pity at surrendering her kid was relieved to some degree by the information that a decent Jewish couple was prepared to embrace her child. With her infant gone, Betty continued her undertaking with Kleinman until he passed on of malignancy in 1965. David was fortunate to be embraced by Nat and Pearl Berkowitz, a childless couple who were committed to their new child. He had an ordinary youth in the Bronx with no away from indications of what was at this point to come. Maybe the most huge factor in his life was that he was a recluse. His folks weren't especially socially arranged nor was David. He was in every case huge for his age and consistently felt extraordinary and less alluring than his friends. Every through hello there youth he was awkward with others. He had one game - baseball - which he played well.His neighbors recollect him as a decent looking kid however with a brutal streak, a domineering jerk who ambushed neighborhood kids for no clear explanation. He was hyperactive and hard for Pearl and Nat to control. David didn't understand that Pearl had experienced bosom malignant growth before he was conceived. At the point when it repeated in 1965 and again in 1967, David was stunned. Nat hadnt kept his embraced child all around educated about the anticipation and David was in this manner stunned to perceive how severely Pearl dispersed from the chemotherapy and the disease itself. He was crushed when Pearl kicked the bucket in the fall of 1967. At the point when David was in his initial teenagers, his folks attempted to escape their changing neighborhood to the working class security of the colossal rambling skyscraper improvement of Co-Op City. When their loft was prepared, Pearl had passed on. David and his dad lived in the new loft alone.David started to break down after Pearl's demise. His evaluation normal nose-plunged. His confidence in God was shaken. He started to envision that her demise was a piece of some intend to annihilate him. He turned out to be increasingly thoughtful. In 1971, Nat remarried a lady that didn't coexist with David. The couple moved to a Florida retirement network without him, leaving him to float, missing of a reason or an objective. He just existed until his dream life had gotten more grounded than his genuine life.He had one relationship with a young lady named Iris Gerhardt. The relationship was more dream on Berkowitz's part. Iris thought of him as it were
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Obesity and personal responsability Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Heftiness and individual responsability - Thesis Example In any case, in the course of recent years, this move has not been a lot of effective and consequently the choice to energize people towards assuming individual liability for decreasing weight was taken up by the administration. In view of this move of the administration, this examination paper is started and is pointed towards settling answer to the exploration question which is as per the following: Is corpulence can be truly named as a moral duty of the people? The exploration paper will be approved if the governmentââ¬â¢s move towards rethinking weight as a moral obligation can be assessed to be fruitful. Discovering Solution to the Research Question During the year 2004, the ââ¬Å"Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Actâ⬠was passed by the House of Representatives pointing towards denying the claims which are held by the eateries and this would make the cafés answerable for the heftiness of their clients. After this demonstration was passed, an agent from the Department of Health and Human Services demanded the administration to incorporate the factor of moral obligation instead of carrying changes to the arrangements. The consideration of the moral obligation factor was then begun to be started by the legislature through different imagination like that of propelling different commercial crusades for urging individuals to be increasingly portable and experience the ill effects of less weakness with lesser greasy nourishments. The governmentââ¬â¢s move towards the production of solid condition inside the nation was bolstered by different individuals as they were of the sentiment that the thought process was to support sound choices for hunger and not disheartening the opportunity of choosing food. After the move of the legislature, different analysts even entertained themselves with causing the individuals to become familiar with the best methods of changing their conduct towards utilization of solid nourishments. Be that as it may, the accomplishment of these viewpoints is far fetched as clear from the lower level of individuals doing standard wellness exercise and they are only associated with any organized action. Since the legislature started the move towards instigating moral obligation in weight, is has been contended that the move can't get effective. One significant purpose for this is the peopleââ¬â¢s inclinations for food dependent on the natural angle inside their body. The organically dif fering design among the people impacts them to lean toward certain food, for example, desserts to different nourishments, for example, hot and the other way around with heaps of other best decisions (Sallis, ââ¬Å"Obesity: Is moral obligation the answer?â⬠). There has been nearness of different articles characterizing the peopleââ¬â¢s recklessness as the most fundamental explanation of stoutness since the governmentââ¬â¢s move towards either destroying or diminishing the equivalent. With respect to these articlesââ¬â¢ contentions, one may anticipate confirmations of untrustworthy nature of the individuals towards corpulence. Yet, the genuine information uncovers something inverse to the desire. The accompanying two figures clarify the viability of the governmentââ¬â¢s social move towards the point of decreasing corpulence inside the nation. Figure 1: Trends if there should arise an occurrence of pre-adult Figure 2: Trends in the event of grown-ups The above figures indicating the patterns in the development of capable nature
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
The Main Causes of Stress
The Main Causes of Stress Stress Management Print The Main Causes of Stress What impacts you most may not be the same as for someone else By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on January 19, 2020 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Tetra Images / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Financial Problems Work Personal Relationships Parenting Daily Life and Busyness Personality and Resources View All Stress is normal and, to some extent, a necessary part of life. Despite it being something everyone experiences, what causes stress can differ from person to person. For instance, one person may become angry and overwhelmed by a serious traffic jam, while another might turn up their music and consider it a mild inconvenience. A fight with a friend might follow one person around for the rest of the day, while another might easily shrug it off. Whats causing you stress may already be something youre abundantly aware of. But given the importance of keeping stress in check when it comes to mitigating the effects it can have on your physical and mental health, its worth opening yourself up to the possibility that other factors may be at play, too. Craft your stress-reduction plan with all of them in mind. Financial Problems According to the American Psychological Association (APA), money is the top cause of stress in the United States. In a 2015 survey, the APA reported that 72% of Americans stressed about money at least some of the time during the previous month.?? The majority of the study participants reported money being a significant source of stress, with 77% feeling considerable anxiety about finances. Signs of financial stress may include: Worrying and feeling anxious about moneyArguing with loved ones about moneyFeeling guilty about spending money on non-essentialsBeing afraid to open mail or answer the phone Financial stress can take months or years to dig out from. In the long-term, stress related to finances results in distress, which may bring up blood pressure and cause headaches, upset stomach, chest pain, insomnia, and a general feeling of sickness. Financial stress has also been linked to a number of health problems, including depression, anxiety, skin problems, diabetes, and arthritis. How to Cope With Financial Stress Work According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans now spend 8% more time at work compared to 20 years ago, and about 13% of people work a second job. At least 40% report their jobs are stressful, and 26% report they often feel burned out by their work.?? Any number of things can contribute to job stress including too much work, job insecurity, dissatisfaction with a job or career, and conflicts with a boss and/or coworkers. Whether you are worried about a specific project or feeling unfairly treated, putting your job ahead of everything else can affect many aspects of your life, including personal relationships and mental and physical health. Factors outside of the job itself also have a role in work stress, including a personâs psychological make-up, general health, personal life. and the amount of emotional support they have outside of work. The signs of work-related stress can be physical and psychological, including: FatigueHeadacheMuscle tension and painStomach problemsHeart palpitationsAnxietyDepressionMood swingsDifficulty concentrating or making decisions?? Some people may feel overwhelmed and struggle to cope, which can impact their behavior as well. Job stress may prompt individuals to have: Increased sick daysDrops in work performanceProblems with personal relationshipsDiminished creativity and initiativeLower levels of patience and increased levels of frustrationDisinterestIsolation?? Stop Taking Your Work Home With You Personal Relationships There are people in all of our lives that cause us stress. It could be a family member, an intimate partner, friend, or coworker. Toxic people lurk in all parts of our lives and the stress we experience from these relationships can affect physical and mental health. There are numerous causes of stress in romantic relationships and when couples are constantly under pressure, the relationship could be on the risk of failure. Common relationship stressors include:?? Being too busy to spend time with each other and share responsibilitiesIntimacy and sex are become rare due to busyness, health problems, and any number of other reasonsYou and your partner are not communicatingYou and/or partner are consuming too much alcohol and/or using drugsYou or your partner are thinking about divorceThere is abuse or control in the relationship The signs of stress related to personal relationships are similar to normal symptoms of general stress and may include physical health and sleep problems, depression, and anxiety. You may also find yourself avoiding or having conflict with the individual, or becoming easily irritated by their presence. Sometimes, personal relationship stress can also be related to our relationships with people on social media platforms, such as Facebook.?? For example, social media tends to naturally encourage comparing yourself to others, which can lead to the stress of feeling inadequate. It also makes bullying easier. How Bad Relationships Affect Your Health Parenting Parents are often faced with managing busy schedules that include a job, household duties, and raising children. These demands result in parenting stress. High levels of parenting stress can cause a parent to be harsh, negative, and authoritarian in the interactions with children. Parenting stress can also decrease the quality of parent-child relationships. For example, you may not have open communication so your child doesnât come to you for advice or your child and you may argue often. Sources of parenting stress may include lower-income, working long hours, single parenting, marital or relationship tensions, or raising a child who has been diagnosed with a behavioral disorder or developmental disability. Parents of children with behavior disorders and developmental delays have the highest risk for parenting stress. In fact, numerous studies show parents of children with autism are reporting higher levels of parenting stress than people whose children do not have the condition.?? Daily Life and Busyness Day-to-day stressors are our daily inconveniences. They include things like misplacing keys, running late, and forgetting to bring an important item with you when leaving the house. Usually, these are just minor setbacks, but if they become frequent, they become a source of anxiety affecting physical and/or psychological health. The stress of being too busy is getting more and more common. These days, people are busier than ever and that adds a lot of stress to their lives. In some cases, busyness is due to necessity, such as having to work a second job. Other times, it is due to guilt and not wanting to disappoint others. People may not say no and end up having little time for themselves, or they overlook their own basic needs, such as eating right and exercising due to lack of time. How to Say No Personality and Resources Your personality traits and the resources you have available to you tie into all of the above and can be independent sources of stress as well. Extroverts, for example, tend to experience less stress in daily life and have greater social resources, which buffer against stress. Perfectionists may bring stress onto themselves unnecessarily because of their exacting standards, experiencing more negative mental and physical health consequences than those who merely focus on high achievement. Those who are type A can stress everyone around them, including themselves.?? Those with enough money to hire help can delegate stressful tasks, so this resource can provide an edge over those who struggle to make ends meet and must work harder to save cash. When Stress Can Be Good for You
Friday, May 22, 2020
Essay on Frankenstein Versus Frankenscience - 1610 Words
Frankenstein Versus Frankenscience The story of Frankenstein. A story that I, myself, have been familiar with for a good part of my life. It is most popular among horror film fanatics and becomes one of the most desired stories to be told around Halloween. Some see it as a well-told story of a man and his monstrous creation. But is there something deeper? Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, gives light to many truths about the era of modern science. She is using Victor Frankenstein and the monster to play out the roles in a drama that can become all too real. In this paper I would like to focus specifically on the story of Frankenstein and the three integral parts; knowledge, power and the notion of a god-complex; that canâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦It is at this point that Victor realizes what he has done. The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust overcame him (Shelley 234). It is all Victor can do to escape from this being that he has created and contemplate the years he has sacrificed to make his dream come true. In the beginning of the story, Victor states ...how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. It is obvious that Victor curses that knowledge he gained through his endeavors and maybe even the knowledge he had in order to create the monster (Shelley 231). There is no doubt that knowledge has undeniable value in todayworld. As society tends to say, education is the key to success. And since education gives birth to knowledge, knowledge must be a priority. True in many regards. But lets take a closer look at how knowledge relates to advances in science. Lack of knowledge will keep our world at a standstill. We need to know, even the basics, of how to do something before anything can be accomplished. However, when the knowledge is acquired, it is the human factor that comes into play. It is taking that knowledge and putting it to a functional use. In the very beginning of the story, Victor struggles with the notion of whether to undertake such a task as creating a being in the likeness of himself. He
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Overview of Terrorism - 946 Words
Terrorism Terrorism is like a virus in the global world. Everyone has a responsibility to eradicate terrorism. Terrorists has no social responsibility, they can create violence in the world and brings war between countries in the world. Social consciousness, Global rules, Regulations and Economy could make change in stopping terrorism and it should be eradicated by people who see future would be without virus and healthy. First and foremost, the anger is hardly surprising. the terrorist event in our recent history is a reminder of high drama and often tragedy that have seized the attention and fanned the fears of public. Terrorism is a central feature of contemporary history and contemporary awareness. The need for common sense is basedâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦They could stop violence by sharing information each other and could protect nations in the world.it could be possible when all of the nations in the world should cooperate. Finally, Terrorism is to create the terror and to decrease the countryââ¬â¢s growth economically and financially.Economy plays a major role in stopping terrorism. For instance: Grant funding to prevent terrorist attacks, it could help full in finding terrorist, protect against and respond in specific way or recover from threats. State and local emergency improve. Every country must cut their source of funding like terrorist finance their activities from illegal drug trade, smuggling, and counter feit currency. A globally coordinated action must be taken to control it and our oard and customs point should be modernized. Globally should also cut their source of recruitment. Majority of them are unemployed youth though there are exceptions so the best strategies would be by ensuring their skills development and providing them jobs. These regulation and keeping a policy, rules and plans and guidelines could be help full to stop terrorism. For example; following one rule for terrorist that could make much difference in stopping terrorism by people. to increase the security forces as per the population ratio. reassessment of foreign strategies. So maintaining transparency is important to delete terrorism. In the conclusion, terrorism has noShow MoreRelatedEssay about Overview and Comparison of Three Types of Terrorism1969 Words à |à 8 Pages Introduction This paper will talk about three different types of terrorism. A background of each type will be provided to understand the motivations and goals. The first type that will be discussed is religious terrorism. The second type that will be discussed is suicide terrorism. The third and last type that will be discussed is nationalist terrorism. 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Civil liberties have been affected immensely by the Patriot Act.à A brief definition of the Patriot Act is; uniting and strengthening AmericaRead MoreTerrorism And International Business Research1130 Words à |à 5 PagesSadly, terrorism permeates everyday society, and the intensifying impact of terrorism on international business is a global phenomenon with heightening implications for both theory and practice. This research paper is a novel exploratory study of how international businesses apply past terrorism exposure and experience from operating in risky locations to create organizational preparedness and performance resilience to endure future terrorist attacks. The unique firm level research provides a theoreticalRead MorePublic Health And National Security1421 Words à |à 6 Pages An Overview of Potential National Security Threats Public Health and National Security: Assessing Potential Threats Identifying the primary threat to U.S. national security interests is a difficult task given the pervasiveness of multiple threats of these kinds. Indeed, a number of unique threats have emerged in recent years. A variety of non-traditional concerns regarding U.S. national security should become important issues in the years ahead, and issues of these
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Support for carerââ¬â¢s of people with schizophrenia Free Essays
Introduction: This literature review will be based on finding evidence for the support received by carers of people with schizophrenia, the focus of this document will be specific to 24 year old male diagnosed with schizophrenia and living at home with parents. For confidentiality purposes, patient will tae on assumed name of Alex. Alex is 24 years of age and was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 19 whilst in university. We will write a custom essay sample on Support for carerââ¬â¢s of people with schizophrenia or any similar topic only for you Order Now He had admitted to use of illicit drugs (crack cocaine and cannabis) he ha also stated that he at times was able to consume a bottle of voda in one night. On admission, Alex was presenting with delusional thoughts of persecution, paranoia and thought disorders. Alex is being discharged from hospital and is going back home to stay with parents who will be his main carers. Corcerns raised were, what support they will receive in the community from health practitioners with regards to coping psychologically, physically, socially and economically Definition of carers: Carers can be defined as family members, partners or friends who provide unpaid support to people who experience illness, disability or frailty(Hancock and Jarvis 1994).Although Stalker (2003) makes a distinction between informal helpers and those who take on major responsibilities, Rethink (2006) proposes that all people providing substantive care should be defined as carers. In the UK, half a million people care for people with severe mental illnesses (Princess Royal Trust for Carers 2002) with 40 per cent living with those for whom they care (Rethink 2006). Carers UK (2008) estimates that carers save the economy ?87 billion a year. Of people with schizophrenia, 60 per cent live with significant others (Hughes et al 1996) and the same proportion return home to their families after their first admissions (MacMillan et al 1986).Many carers describe their role as a burden. Caring can disrupt their lives, restrict the activities in which they can take part, bring financial hardship, and reduce their time and energy to take part in paid work (Ferriter and Huband 2003, Oyebode 2003).Meanwhile, by focusing on the mental illnesses of the people they care for, carers can neglect their own social support networks, leaving them isolated (Rose et al 2002). Brief understanding of schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects about one in a hundred people at some point in life. The first acute episode where symptoms of schizophrenia are experienced can be a devastating experience, particularly as both the person experiencing the illness and their family and friends will be unprepared. The highest incidence of first experience of an episode is in the late teens and early 20ââ¬â¢s, which is a time of change anyway, making it difficult to understand what is happening to a relative or friend who is developing schizophrenia.(Rethink 2011) Research The search for research articles were focused on carers, schizophrenia, carers support and nurses support for carers and patients. National and international research surrounding this topic were sought, the search was narrowed down to between 1999 and 2011. Electronic databases and interenet sources such as google academia were searched as well as websites of ey organnisations such as Mind, Rethink, NHS choices, Sainsburys Centre for Mental Health. Other searches were carried out at the university library and its digital library such as CINHAL, psychINFO and British nursing index. Researh article on this topic were a total of 1435 hits, this was narrowd down to specific search and this generated 213 hits. 10 researh article were chosen read, evaluated and out of that six research article were determined and selected to be relevant and signnficant contribution for this literature review. Research articles used in this essay are qualitative and quantitative. 4 are qualitative and 2 quantitative. In all six article nurses were chosen at random to help in the support of carers. In all research articles, in depth interviews were conducted to collect data, these were recorded on audio tapes and in field notes. Interviews were focussed on the views of carers concerning nurses, and nurses concerning carers. Summary The research article reviews the findings of a study of the views of 13 carers of people self-identified as having schizophrenia on the nature and extent of their role, and its effect on their lives and identities. According to these findings,carers experience stress and illness, and thinkthat the support they receive from professionals is inadequate. As a result, they think that help and psychotherapeutic interventions, such as family therapy, should be more accessible. The purpose of the research articles were to identify the support needed by carers of people with schizophrenia. On reading the research articles, it was noted that Mental Health nurses and carers were used as samples in the reseach work. RESEARCH 1 Registered Mental Health Nurses aged between22 years and 51 years with clinical experience ranging from1 to 14 years. The sample consists 10 nurses, nine being female and one male. Three were charge nurses and six staff nurses. One nurse moved on to a managerial post leaving nine nurses in the research. They were assigned a client each with the carer of that particular client. Nine carers received support. Community based psychiatric nurse in Taiwan gathered data on the coping experiences of carers living with and taking care of someone who has a family member with schizophrenia were compiled. The carers selected needed to be the major caregivers and the patient must have had clinically diagnosed schizophrenia for at least one year and carers had to have been living with the patient for at least one year since the onset of the illness. The sample size comprised 10 carers (five men and five women). All of the carers were contacted by their community home care nurses first to gain consent to participate in this study. The other four remaining research articles used a sample of nurses and carers which comprised in the range of 10- 30. Findings; In the research articles two types of burdens were broadly discussed, these being objective and subjective burdens. Many carers describe their role as a burden.Of people with schizophrenia, 60 percent live with their significant others (hughes et al 1996) and the same proportion return hometo their families after their first admissions(MacMillan et al 1986). Van Wijngaarden et al (2000) state that ,these burdens are described as ââ¬Ëobjectiveââ¬â¢ burdens because their effects can be measured by others. However, many carers experience ââ¬Ësubjectiveââ¬â¢ burdens, which can be measured only by the carers themselves. These subjective burdens can include depression, feelings of anxiety, and a sense of loss, particularly in those for whom family life has become chaotic and disorderly (Karp and Tanarugsachock 2000). Those who have become isolated often feel vulnerable (Rose et al 2002) and, in 625,000 carers in the UK, the stress of caring has even led to mental or physical illnesses (Carers UK 2008). â⬠¢ Carersââ¬â¢ main objective burden concerns lack of employment and finance (Magliano et al 2005, Sreeja et al 2009) and the main form of practical help carers need is more responsive and user-friendly support services. Carersââ¬â¢ subjective burdens include feelings of chronic stress, isolation, despair, fear and exhaustion(Ward-Griffin and McKeever 2000), and healthcare professionals can respond to these by offering carers more psychotherapeutic interventions, including family therapy, to help them cope and to reduce disruption in the home. Carers have an enormous amount of responsibilitââ¬â¢ for the welfare and managementof people with a mental illnessin Britain (Cuijpers, 1999). This is recognized in recent Government policies that stipulate the support required to enable carers to continue caring (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), 1998; Department of Health (DOH,2000). Further findings were the perception of health professional about carers and vice versa were varied in the research artilcle . These are in bullet points below. Their view of carers and health and social care professional were at odds with each. Below in bullet points were some of the thoughts expressed: Carers are of the view that Health care professionals must engage with carers rather than criticise them for notconforming to professional assumptions. The study also shows that the burden of care is rarely taken up fairly. Most major responsibilitiesare usually taken on by one person, and the chancesthat this person is male or female are fairly even. However, the burden of care can be greater forwomen, who are often assumed to be the maincarers for all of their family members, not only for the people with schizophrenia. Healthcare professionals, more specifically mental health nurses, need to understand that their views and perceptions of mental illness, the appropriate care for people with mental health problems, and those of the carers, differ. They should also understand that, to support carers appropriately, they must provide practical help: for example, more support for carers of mental health patients. In the literature, moreover, health and socialcare professionals characterise the role ofcarers as ââ¬Ëoverprotectiveââ¬â¢ (Croydon-Smith 1982,Haddock et al 2003). With half a million people in the UK caring for peoplewith severe mental illnesses, (Princess Royal Trustfor Carers 2002) this article research article also identified the findings of a study of the views of 13 carers of peple clinically diagnosed as having schizophrenia on the nature and extent of their role, and its effect on their lives and identities. These views are in bullet points below According to these findings,carers experience stress and illness, and thinkthat the support they receive from professionals isinadequate. As a result, they think that help and psychotherapeutic interventions, such as family therapy, should be more accessible. Participants also thought that their perceptionsof schizophrenia and of those who have thecondition differ from those of health and social care professionals, and that this difference addedto their burdens. For instance, one participant said of what he and the healthcare professionals he encountered thought was best for his son: ââ¬ËAs far as I was concerned, he needed to be in hospital, but they would not agree.ââ¬â¢ Another participant made a related point about the care given to her daughter: ââ¬ËSometimes,the hospital staff would give advice. They said,ââ¬Å"involve her in your decisionsâ⬠, but we thought thiswas a terrible idea. She could not think properly.She was unable to.ââ¬â¢ One carer was angry at healthcare professionalsbecause they appeared to override his concernsabout his wife, saying: ââ¬ËThe psychiatrist said to mywife, ââ¬Å"Do you want to come in to the hospital?â⬠and she said ââ¬Å"Noâ⬠. I was amazed because the doctor agreed with her. I told them about her behaviourin the house but it was not my decision. It was her decision.ââ¬â¢ Some participantsââ¬â¢ relationships with healthcareprofessionals were unsatisfactory for practical reasons. For example, one said of his wife: ââ¬ËIt was unfair to leave her to me. These nurses start their shifts, do eight hours and then go home. I had it 24 hours a day.ââ¬â¢ Another said, also of his wife: ââ¬ËI tried so hard to care for her, but the community psychiatric nurse did nothing to help.ââ¬â¢ Other staff also came in for criticism, with oneparticipant commenting on healthcare professionalsââ¬â¢ lack of understanding and availability in caring for her son: ââ¬ËHe would go berserk and, I called the doctor and the social worker. But they came and said he did not need sectioning.ââ¬â¢ Those who have become isolated often feelvulnerable (Rose et al 2002) and, in 625,000 carersin the UK, the stress of caring has even led to mental or physical illnesses (Carers UK 2008). Findings:Who becomes the carerTypically, one person in each family had become the main carer,which means that the burdens of caring were not shared equally. Nearly half of the participants inthe study were male carers, although some of thesereported that extra burdens of caring had been placed on their daughters.One male carer said of his daughter, who had taken on some of the routine caring role: ââ¬ËI felt bad enough that my oldest girl was doing all the work around the house. There was time for all this when she was a married woman.ââ¬â¢ Another male carer said of his eldest daughter:ââ¬ËShe looked after the youngest when her motherwas sick. She seemed to know her mother was mentally ill. She had to grow up quick to do thingsround the house.ââ¬â¢ The objective burden Generally, carers tended toidentify the burden of caring in practical terms,citing the need to undertake tasks such as cooking,cleaning, housework and shopping, and of ensuring that the people they cared for were not left alone. gets one a day. For some participants, providing practical carewas a major challenge. ââ¬ËHe has become extremely difficult to control. More than difficult. It is worse now.Over a period of time, he has got worse. He actuallyattacked his dad. There was a widely held belief among participantsthat the people they care for are unable to cope withtheir illnesses, and have become irrational. One said,for example: ââ¬ËI was worried about leaving her alone in case she got it all wrong and did something stupid.Some days she cannot take care of herself.ââ¬â¢ Another reported: ââ¬ËI had to take care of her andprotect her. She could not cope. I could not leave heralone, she was too sick.ââ¬â¢There was a perception among participants thatthe people they care for are in a position analogousto that of children. my wife and I could not leave her. It was like she wasa child again.ââ¬â¢ A participant whose family had become carerssaid: ââ¬ËWe could not leave her alone because she mightdo something. She is ill. We cared about her.ââ¬â¢ And a carer said of her son: ââ¬ËI think I must takecare of him. It is like the umbilical cord is still there.ââ¬â¢ The subjective burden Participants also mentionedthe subjective burden of caring. All of them saidthat they had experienced anxiety, some saidthey felt depressed and others that they feltconstantly sad. Most of them also felt angry,although a few had become resignedtotheir situations. Most paticipants also reported physicalproblems such as headaches, stomach pains orconstant tiredness, often caused by insomnia. One participantââ¬â¢s comment that she felt ââ¬Ëtired,drained and worn outââ¬â¢ was typical. Some participants said that the people they caredfor had changed so much because of their illnessthat they had become unrecognisable, and that thesechanges added to the burden of caring.One participant said of her son: ââ¬ËHe is not my sonany more. He is just some creature, some monster. I told the social worker, ââ¬Å"I am tired, I cannot have my son living with me much longerâ⬠. I have forgottenwhat it means to have a normal life. I have taken tolocking my bedroom door when my husband is away. I am afraid of my son.ââ¬â¢The realisation among participants that the hopes they had once invested in the people they care forwould not now be fulfilled was a further cause ofdistress. Views of health and social care professionals. Over the last 20 years, a number of initiativesaimed at supporting carers of people with mental illness have been developed,many of them involving nurses (Leff andVaughn, 1985; Hatfield, 1990; Falloon et al, 1993; Atkinson and Coia, 1995). The number of sessions delivered by the nurses ranged between 1 and 12 and the duration varied between 45 minutesand 2 hours. Eight carers requested homevisits, and one nurse met the carer in a private room withinthe hospital. The number of sessions varied in response to carersââ¬â¢ needs. Some had few support needs but still found it helpful to talk about carer related issues. Carers reportingmore complex needs required more intensive support. CONCLUSION Training nurses to support carers of peoplediagnosed with schizophrenia appears to have been overlooked in some psychosocial intervention programmes. The research articles outline how a training programmefor nurses, based on the work of Nolan et al (1999), and building on training developed by Atkinson and Coia (1995), was developed. This has helped formulate a needs-led support service for carers whose relatives arc diagnosed with schizophrenia.The key components of the support arc thoroughneeds assessment and meetingneeds through agreement and careful planningwith carers.Nurses should work in partnership withcarers in order to achieve these aims, and this is dependent on mutual respect of eachotherââ¬â¢s status and expertise. The present study will allow evaluation onhow far the training programme enables nursesto meet carersââ¬â¢ needs, and how confident the nurses are in offering support to carers.Carersââ¬â¢ views are important concerning theappropriateness of the support programmein meeting their needs. Following this study,training and intervention will be refined. As such, it represents the first phase of aresearch programme investigating rhe trainingneeds of nurses and the usefulness of support for carers. Current United Kingdom (UK) health and social care policiesplace the needs of carers to the fore on the service provision agenda (Hancock Jarvis 1994, Department of Health[DoH] 1999a, 1999b). Commitment towards care in thecommunity explicitly relies and builds on the family system toprovide unpaid support to clients (James 1992, Nolan et al. 1999, Hirst Arksey 2000, Nolan 2001). Evidence,however, consistently indicates that carersââ¬â¢ needs for support remain largely ignored by health professionals (James 1992,Twigg Atkin 1994, Atkinson Coia 1995, Henwood1998, Rose 1998, Warner Wexler 1998, Hatfield 2000, Nolan 2001). Further, the most effective ways of meetingcarersââ¬â¢ needs remain unclear (Nolan et al. 1995, Rose 1998,Clinical Standards Board for Scotland [CSBS] 2001). If professional support offered to carers is to improve then health service professionals, including nurses, need to develop their understanding of carersââ¬â¢ needs and develop interventions to meet these needs (Atkinson Coia 1995, Casey1995, Nolan et al. 1995, Kellett Mannion 1999, Hatfield 2000, Magorrian 2001). Background The research studies focus on the primary carer: i.e. a family ornonfamily member who provides care or support to someonediagnosed with schizophrenia and is living in the community. Evidence indicates that caring for a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia can be stressful and may result in increasedburden (Cuijpers 1999). The UK National Strategy for Carersrecognizes this and introduced measures to support carers(DoH 1999b). The National Framework for Mental HealthEngland (DoH 1999a) places high priority on carers. Arisingfrom this, clinical standards were set for the professionalsupport of carers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia within Scotland (CSBS 2001).There is a lack of robust evidence on the most effectivemeans of providing support to these carers (DoH 1999a, CSBS 2001, CSBS 2002). As a result, the clinical standardsfail to indicate how carer support should be achieved. Keyfindings from a national review of clinical standards forschizophrenia (Scotland) (CSBS 2002), found that while someinnovative practices existed a comprehensive range of serviceswas lacking. A review of support interventions for carers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia indicates that mostprofessional support has an educational focus (Mari Streiner 1994). However, carers also want emotional andpractical support (CSBS 2002). Not surprisingly, many carersreport that their needs are ignored or given low priority(Nolan et al. 1994, Twigg Atkin 1994, Wray 1994, Atkinson Coia 1995, Chambers et al. 2001). Spaniol(1987) and Milleken (2001) suggest that professionals are often unaware of carer needs and level of service dissatisfaction.Nolan and Grant (1989) highlight that this may lead toirrelevant support and Walker and Dewer (2001) indicatethat this may result in misunderstandings that can increase carer stress and dissatisfaction and inhibit them from seeking further help Complex needs arose from the carers mental health or family problems, social isolation, the clientââ¬â¢s mental health problems or admission to hospital. Carers experienced no difficulties arranging sessions with a nurse. Nurses accounts of practice working collaboratively with carers Prior to training, nurses described their contact with carers as largely occurring during crisis or when carers required specificinformation about the client. Nurses described the nature of this contact as informal, ad hoc and unstructured, with no guarantee that carers received the input that they needed. None of the nurses had prior training in carer support and reported that their basic training had not preparedthem to work with carers. A key practice outcome was that nurses work collaboratively with carers. To achieve this nurses had to: listen to andacknowledge the carersââ¬â¢ perspective; remove barriers preventing carers from openly communicating with them; acknowledge the expertise of the carer and adopt an expert to expert approach in their interactions with the carer. Following training, most nurses found working collaboratively with carers to be one of the easiest aspects of their practice. Before I used to think I was the expert. I was there to give information. Now I am more prepared to listen to what carers have to say. I learned a lot from (carer). I really did, about the illness. It is not that I didnââ¬â¢t know about it but I learned what it is like, I suppose, for somebody caring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The purpose of the study was to understand the coping experiences of carers living with a family member with schizophrenia by describing their experiences through a qualitative phenomenological approach. Our research may be a valuable reference for mental health professionals seeking to improve the quality of care for people with schizophrenia and their carers. How to cite Support for carerââ¬â¢s of people with schizophrenia, Essay examples
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Office Depot Potter Analysis free essay sample
We strive to ensure that our customersââ¬â¢ needs are satisfied through various channel offerings. Our direct business is tailored to serve small- to medium-sized customers. * sales representatives contribute to customer loyalty by building relationships with customers and providing information, business tools and problem-solving solutions to them. * offering a broad selection of nationally branded office products, as well as private brand products and services. Our selection of private brand products has increased in breadth and level of sophistication over time. We currently offer general office supplies, computer supplies, business machines and related supplies, and office furniture under various labels, including Office Depotà ®, Viking Office Productsà ®, Forayà ®, Ativaà ®, Break Escapesâ⠢, Nicedayâ⠢ and Worklifeâ⠢ * office supplies specialty stores faced heightened competition from discount department stores, warehouse clubs, supercenters and e-commerce websites, which have undercut demand and eroded the industrys sales. Threat of new entrants: Most office supplies are commoditized products, which have little brand loyalty. We will write a custom essay sample on Office Depot Potter Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This, along with low end user switching costs, little government regulation, and easy access to suppliers and distribution channels, is conducive to the entry of new players into the market. Larger players benefit from scale economies that allow them to compete with high-volume office supply providers that lead the market. Larger players with greater financial muscle would be able to negotiate better contracts with suppliers and therefore achieve better profit margins. Entry can be achieved on a smaller scale by focusing on a specific product range (e. g. n ink cartridge specialty store) or by developing an online retail shop. Poor growth in recent years, with stagnant growth forecast for the 2010-2015 period, decreases the threat of new entrants into the market somewhat. Overall, the threat of new entrants is strong. * Staples, Office Depot and Office Max make up nearly $41 Billion of that total and Staples claiming one third of the market share. Thus, barriers to entry are high as these few firms dominate market share. * along with low brand loyalty and easy access to suppliers and distribution, also contribute to the high likelihood of new entrants Power of Buyer: The office supply sector has customers including corporate, government, small business, and individual households. While individual households hold relatively little buying power, corporate and government business partners can have significant impact on the market environment. * abundance and diversity of buyers weakens buyer power. However, it is strengths due to low-cost switching, low product differentiation, and high price sensitivity strengthen it. Suppliers: * Suppliers to this industry hold less power. Since retailers offer similar costing products and services, few manufacturers can differentiate themselves. There are at least ten major competitors in the paper industry alone, for example, and on top of this the individual office suppliers themselves often carry their own line of generic product. * there are a number of substitutes available to consumers. Discount furniture outlets such as Ikea offer desks and chairs for the home office. For businesses, companies like Steelcase can furnish entire buildings all under one contract, whereas an office supply outlet cannot. Major corporations often enter into purchasing agreements with the computer manufacturers themselves to order in bulk. Retail outlets such as Best Buy offer the same technology as the office suppliers, often at a very competitive price. Finally, Wal-Mart is a major * Suppliers range from multinational high-office providers to local stationeries. * Suppliers are numerous, and low differentiation, along with some backwards integration by players who sell their own branded goods, weakens supplier power. Rivarly among firms: * Players range in size and product diversity; they include high-volume office supply providers (e. g. Staples), warehouse clubs (e. g. Costco), copy and print businesses (e. g. FedEx Office), online retailers (e. g. Amazon. com), ink cartridge specialty stores, discount retailers, as well as several local and regional contract stationers. The large number of players, along with low-cost switching for buyers, low product differentiation, easy expansion by utilizing the internet, and poor market growth in recent years, intensifies rivalry amongst incumbents. This is ameliorated somewhat by the diversity displayed in the product portfolio of some players, such as online retailers and discount retailers, who operate in other markets and are therefore not solely reliant on the revenues generated from the office services and supplies market. Relatively low storage costs and the non-specificity of playersââ¬â¢ assets lowers barriers to exit and eases rivalry. Overall, rivalry is strong. * * The large number of players, along with low-cost switching for buyers, low product differentiation, easy expansion by utilizing the internet, and poor market growth in recent years, intensifies rivalry amongst incumbents. http://360. datamonitor. com. ezproxy. fau. edu/Product? pid=4CA55D31-18F9-44E1-BB86-D1E5E5306887 http://www. wikinvest. com/stock/Office_Depot_%28ODP%29/Filing/10-K/2010/F46736398#toc38397_1 COMPETITION: We operate in a highly competitive environment in all three of our segments. We believe that we compete favorably on the basis of price, service, relationships and selection. We compete with office supply stores, wholesale clubs, discount stores, mass merchandisers, food and drug stores, computer and electronics superstores, internet-based companies and direct marketing companies. These companies, in varying degrees, compete with us in substantially all of our current markets. Other office supply retail companies market similarly to us in terms of store format, pricing strategy, product selection and product availability in the markets where we operate, primarily those in the U. S. and Canada. We anticipate that in the future we will face increased competition from these chains. Internationally, we compete on a similar basis to North America. Outside of the U. S. and Canada, we sell through contract and catalog channels in 17 countries and operate retail stores in four countries through wholly-owned or majority-owned entities. Additionally, our International Division provides office products and services in 34 countries through joint ventures, licensing and franchise agreements, cross-border transactions, alliances and other arrangements. Competition ââ¬â We compete with a variety of retailers, dealers, distributors, contract stationers, direct marketers and internet operators throughout our worldwide operations. This is a highly competitive marketplace that includes such retail competitors as office supply stores, warehouse clubs, computer and electronics stores, mass merchant retailers, local merchants, grocery and drug-store chains as well as other competitors including direct mail and internet merchants, contract stationers, and direct manufacturers. Our competitors may be local, regional, national or international. Further, competition may come from highly-specialized low-cost merchants, including ink refill stores and kiosks, original equipment manufacturers, concentrated direct marketing channels including well-funded and broad-based enterprises. There is a possibility that any or all of these competitors could become more aggressive in the future, thereby increasing the number and breadth of our competitors. In recent years, new and well-funded competitors have begun competing in certain aspects of our business. For example, two major common carriers of goods have retail outlets that allow them to compete directly for copy, printing, packaging and shipping business, and offer products and services similar to those we offer. While they do not yet have the breadth of products that we offer, they are extremely competitive in the areas of package shipping and copy and print centers. Recently, the so-called warehouse clubs have expanded upon their ââ¬Å"in-storeâ⬠offerings by adding catalog and internet sales channels, offering a broad assortment of office products for sale on a direct delivery basis. In order to achieve and maintain expected profitability levels in our three operating divisions, we must continue to grow by adding new customers and taking market share from competitors and using pricing necessary to retain existing customers. If we fail to adequately address and respond to these pressures in both North America and internationally, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. HIGH EXIT COSTS: The company has been adversely affected by the downturn in the global economy in recent years and has taken actions to adapt to the changing and increasingly competitive conditions including closing stores and distribution centers (ââ¬Å"DCsâ⬠), consolidating functional activities and disposing of businesses and assets. Exit costs related to these activities recognized during the year-to-date 2011 totaled approximately $25 million. Of this amount, approximately $17 million is included in Store and warehouse operating and selling expenses and approximately $8 million is included in General and administrative expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. http://www. sec. gov/Archives/edgar/data/800240/000119312511279497/d241553d10q. htm BUYERS: Government Contracts ââ¬â One of our largest U. S. ustomer groups consists of various state and local governments, government agencies and non-profit organizations. Our relationship with this customer group is subject to uncertain future funding levels and federal and state procurement laws and requires restrictive contract terms; any of these factors could curtail current or future business. Contracting with state and local governments is highly competitive and can be expensive and time-consuming, often requiring that we incur significant upfront time and expense without any assurance that we will win a contract. Our ability to compete successfully for and retain business with the federal and various state and local governments is highly dependent on cost-effective performance. Our government business is also sensitive to changes in national and international priorities and U. S. , state and local government budgets. SUPPLIERS: Product Availability; Potential Cost Increases ââ¬â In addition to selling our private brand merchandise, we are a reseller of manufacturersââ¬â¢ branded items and are thereby dependent on the availability and pricing of key products, including ink, toner, paper and technology products, to name a few. As a reseller, we cannot control the supply, design, function or cost of many of the products we offer for sale. Disruptions in the availability of raw materials used in production of these products may adversely affect our sales and result in customer dissatisfaction. Further, we cannot control the cost of manufacturersââ¬â¢ products and cost increases must either be passed along to our customers or result in an erosion of our earnings. Failure to identify desirable products and make them available to our customers when desired and at attractive prices could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. PRODUCT IDENTITY: THREat of NEW ENTRANTS Global Sourcing of Products/Private Brand ââ¬â In recent years, we have substantially increased the number and types of products that we sell under our private brands including Office Depotà ® and other proprietary brands. Sources of supply may prove to be unreliable, or the quality of the globally sourced products may vary from our expectations. Economic and civil unrest in areas of the world where we source such products, as well as shipping and dockage issues could adversely impact the availability or cost of such products, or both. Moreover, as we seek indemnities from the manufacturers of these products, the uncertainty of realization of any such indemnity and the lack of understanding of U. S. roduct liability laws in certain parts of Asia make it more likely that we may have to respond to claims or complaints from our customers. Most of our imported goods to the United States arrive from Asia, and the ports through which these goods are imported are located primarily on the U. S. West Coast. Therefore, we are subject to potential disruption of our supplies of goods for resale due to labor unrest, security issues or natural disasters affecting any or all of these ports. Finally, as a significant importer of manufactured goods from foreign countries, we are vulnerable to security concerns, labor unrest and other factors that may affect the availability and reliability of ports of entry for the products that we source. Any of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. STAKEHOLDERS: Unionization ââ¬â While our management believes that our employee relations are good, we cannot be assured that we will not experience pressure from labor unions or become the target of campaigns similar to those faced by our competitors. The potential for unionization could increase if the United States Congress passes federal legislation that would facilitate labor organization. The unionization of a significant portion of our workforce could increase our overall costs at the affected locations and adversely affect our flexibility to run our business in the most efficient manner to remain competitive or acquire new business. In addition, significant union representation would require us to negotiate wages, salaries, benefits and ther terms with many of our employees collectively and could adversely affect our results of operations by increasing our labor costs or otherwise restricting our ability to maximize the efficiency of our operations. Regulatory Environment ââ¬â While businesses are subject to regulatory matters relating to the conduct of their businesses, including consumer protection laws, advertising regulations, wage and hour regulations and the like, certain jurisdictions have taken a particularly ag gressive stance with respect to such matters and have stepped up enforcement, including fines and other sanctions. We transact substantial amounts of business in certain such jurisdictions, and to the extent that our business locations are exposed to what might be termed a challenging enforcement environment or legal or regulatory systems that authorize or encourage private parties to pursue relief under so-called private attorney general laws and similar authorizations for private parties to pursue enforcement of governmental laws and regulations, the resulting fines and exposure to third party liability (such as monetary recoveries and recoveries of attorneys fees) could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, including the added cost of increased preventative measures that we may determine to be necessary to conduct business in such locales. Product differentiation: Office Depot has made efforts to increase its profitability by offering copy and print services, company has integrated copy and print services into retail and commercial businesses. Staples provid es those services as well= intense competition among rivals. Threats: Low confidence among the small and medium scale businesses and high office vacancy rates indicates sluggish spending The economic trends in the US indicate sluggish spending on office products and supplies. The optimism index (the index determining the spending inclination of the businesses) of a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, representing small and independent businesses in the US, dropped to 89. 9 in July 2011 from 97. 6 in July 2007. The drop in July 2011 was the fifth monthly decrease in a row. With low levels of optimism, the small businesses are expected to cut costs. Additionally, in the Office Depot Small Business Index released in August 2011, 66% of the small and medium scale businesses (SMBs) said that the economic downturn has affected their business. Nearly 79% of businesses surveyed indicated no plans to hire or add to their staff in the near future. Another negative trend is witnessed in the office vacancy rates in the US. According to industry estimates, the office vacancy rate was 17. 6% in the last quarter of 2010, and decreased slightly to 17. 5% in the first quarter of 2011. Office Depot has high correlation to macro economic trends which was reflected in the sales decline of its business segments, North American retail, and North American business solutions during FY2008ââ¬â10. During this period, the revenues from North American retail segment decreased by 18. 8%, and revenues from the North American business solutions segment decreased by 20. 6%. With the declining optimism and spending by the SMBs, the demand for Office Depotââ¬â¢s merchandise Opportunities: Portfolio of environment friendly products In the recent times, sustainability and energy efficiency have gained in popularity owing to the increase in energy costs. More and more organizations have been adopting sustainable ways of doing business to reduce costs and remain competitive. In order to cater to the growing demand for sustainable and energy efficient products, Office Depot offers a range of environment friendly products. The company offers a Green catalog, which features products that are recyclable, energy efficient, or have a reduced impact on the environment. The company also operates a separate section on its website, officedepot. com, to sell its green products online. In 2010, Office Depot, in partnership with EarthEra, introduced Greener Shipping solution. The solution allows business customers to earn rewards and product discounts for reducing the carbon footprint associated with their office supply orders. In February 2011, Office Depot launched new assortment of energy efficient lamps under the Realspace brand. Furthermore, in August 2011, Office Depot started offering its customers the option to receive their supplies in a paper bag instead of a cardboard box. Office Depotââ¬â¢s increased focus on providing environment friendly products amidst growing demand for eco-friendly and energy efficient products would increase the companyââ¬â¢s revenues from the product line. Broadening computer assortment by offering tablets Tablets are similar to PCââ¬â¢s and were previously used in only niche professional areas as they were bulky and had poor processing power and suffered from battery life problems. However, with technological advancements, tablets have increasingly become more sophisticated and are finding applications in many industries. According to the industry estimates, the global market of tablet computers such as Apple iPad, Galaxy Tab Samsung and BlackBerry Playbook is expected to increase from $16 billion in 2010 to $46 billion in 2014, registering a CAGR of 30%. In 2010, North America was the leading market for tablet computers. To tap the growing market for tablets, Office Depot too has been taking various initiatives to increase the assortment of tablets offered at its stores. In April 2011, the company started offering BlackBerry PlayBook tablets at its stores. In the following month, Office Depot started offering the Acer Iconia Office Depot, Inc. Page 25 à © Datamonitor Office Depot, Inc. SWOT Analysis Tab A500 at its stores. Further in June 2011, Office Depot announced the pre-sale availability of the Toshiba Thrive tablets on its website. The latest tablet to be added to the companyââ¬â¢s assortment of tablets was the Lenovo IdeaPad in August 2011. Besides these, the company also offers tablets from various brands such as HP TouchPad, ASUS Transformer, ViewSonic G-Tablet, and Velocity Micro Cruz. Office Depot also offers various accessories needed for these tablets. By increasing its assortment in the tablets category, Office Depot can drive incremental comparative store sales and facilitate top line growth. Improving store efficiency The company has taken up several initiatives to improve its store efficiency in the recent times. Office Depot plans to remodel nearly 50 of its traditional stores with the M2 format in 2011. There are two versions of this format, M2M and M2S. A typical M2M store is spread across an area of approximately 20,000 square feet, and a M2S store across an area of 15,000 square feet. These two formats will help the company to improve product display with updated signage and lighting. It will also lower overall operating costs for the company. Additionally, Office Depot has been testing a new smaller concept store. These stores are spread across an area of 5,000 square feet. These smaller stores would offer only half the items found at a regular Office Depot store, but that would encompass more than 90% of the product categories regularly sold. Smaller stores would not only reduce Office Depotââ¬â¢s operating costs but also facilitate its quick penetration in urban areas where it is difficult to find appropriate space. http://360. datamonitor. com. ezproxy. fau. edu/Product? pid=DBCM6748amp;view=d0e340 http://www. sec. gov/Archives/edgar/data/800240/000119312511041599/d10k. htm
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