Wednesday, December 25, 2019

health insurance matrix HCS/235 Essay - 637 Words

University of Phoenix Material Health Insurance Matrix As you learn about health care delivery in the United States, it is important to understand the various models of health insurance to develop a working knowledge as you progress through the course. The following matrix is designed to help you develop that knowledge and assist you in understanding how health care is financed and how health insurance influences patients and providers as important foundational information for your role as a future health care worker. Fill in the following matrix. Each box must contain responses between 50 and 100 words using complete sentences. Include APA citations for the content you provide. Origin: When was the model first used? What†¦show more content†¦According to Austin and Wetle (2012), employers covered 83% of premium costs for single coverage and 73% for family coverage in 2009. The employee, or beneficiary, paid the difference. Then, the health insurance company pays the provider directly. Example: HMOs have the strictest access structure, called a gatekeeper model, where patients must have a primary care physician (PCP) through whom all care is routed. PCPs decide which diagnostic tests are needed and control access to specialists through referrals, deciding when it is necessary for a patient to seek more expensive specialty care (Barsukiewicz, Raffel, Raffel, 2010). Example: HMOs are usually the least expensive health plans, offer predictable costs for health care, the least administrative paperwork, and cover preventive care (Barsukiewicz, Raffel, Raffel, 2010). However, HMOs also restrict direct access to specialists by requiring referrals by a PCP, requiring patients to see a provider in the HMO network, and often not covering more costly procedures or care options, because care is managed to control excessive or unnecessary care. Providers gain if they provide less care (Austin Wetle, 2012). This incentive could affect patient-provider trust. Example: Advantages of HMOs are that a known amount of revenue is guaranteed and the patient population number is fixed (Austin Wetle, 2012). In addition, if providers use less in services than the capitated fee,Show MoreRelated HCS 235 Week 2 Completed Health insurance matrix1163 Words   |  5 PagesMaterial Health Insurance Matrix As you learn about health care delivery in the United States, it is important to understand the various models of health insurance to develop a working knowledge as you progress through the course. The following matrix is designed to help you develop that knowledge and assist you in understanding how health care is financed and how health insurance influences patients and providers as important foundational information for your role as a future health care workerRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesdistribution and marketing of prescription drugs and issues of corporate responsibility are discussed. The case also looks at the different types of strategies that are followed by pharmaceutical companies. ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  In late 2006, industry commentator IMS Health released its latest forecast, predicting pharmaceutical market growth at a 10-year low. IMS counselled that the industry was facing a new economic reality, one in which growth is shifting from mature markets to emerging ones; new product adoptionRead MoreAcca F5111177 Words   |  445 PagesPreparation question: Budgeting 28 Preparation question: Happy Hotels 29 Brunti 30 Quantitative analysis 31 Cushair Designs 32 Wargrin (12/08), amended) 33 Northland (6/09) 34 Velo Racers (PM, 6/03, amended) 35 Q Organisation 36 BFG (Pilot paper, amended) 37 HC (12/08, amended) n/a n/a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 n/a n/a 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 25 25 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 31 114 116 118 120 121 124 126 128 130 133 135 Part D: Standard costing and variances analysis 38 Mermus (FMC, 12/04, amended) 39Read MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 PagesBusiness. His most recent books are A Conceptual Framework for Financial Accounting and Reporting: Vision, Tool or Threat? (Garland, 1997) and UK Life Insurance: Accounting for Business Performance (with Joanne Horton) (FT Finance, 1997). He is currently working (with Dr Joanne Horton at the LSE) on a further research project on accounting for life insurance sponsored by the PD Leake Trust, and on various historical research projects including a book (with Professor Keith Hoskin of Warwick University)Read MoreInstructor’s Manual Fundamentals of Financial Management60779 Words   |  244 Pagesexpedite this flow from savers to users. 14. Financial intermediaries provide an indirect channel for the flow of funds from savers to ultimate users. These institutions include commercial banks, savings and loan associations, life insurance companies, pension and profit-sharing funds and savings banks. Their primary function is the transformation of funds into more attractive packages for savers. Services and economies of scale Van Horne and Wachowicz:Read MoreMerger and Acquisition: Current Issues115629 Words   |  463 Pagestakeover wave of the 1980s, however, leverage and hostility were uncommon in the MA wave of the 1990s. Instead, takeover activity was dominated by cross-border mergers, and mergers in the service sectors, most notably telecommunications, broadcasting, health care and banking. In fact, these three industries accounted for one-third of worldwide mergers by value in 1999. Andrade et al. (2001) refer to this wave as ‘the decade of deregulation’. In contrast to the conglomerate mergers of the 1960s, much

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Employee Motivation Essay - 2269 Words

The organizations in todays highly competitive market face a lot of problems related to retention and employee productivity. A large number of organizations including those having the large size, technological advances are also having these challenges even though they are considered to be the best in the industry. One of the major factors that has been identified as the root cause of this problem is the lack of employee motivation. This has resulted in the organization investing a lot into various motivational strategies. Researches have clearly established a link between employee productivity and motivation. This fact has been acknowledged by various multinational organizations. A motivated workforce helps to render competitive†¦show more content†¦It is essential that the business managers should understand and learn regarding the factors the influence positive motivation in the organization. The size of the organization is irrelevant considering the motivation perspectiv e as every member requires motivation in some or the other form. Different businesses take various approaches as far as the motivation is concerned. The responsibilities of integration of the motivational methods lie with the managers. Ultimately, the management has to integrate the motivation strategy with the organizations goals and objectives (Hofstede 1980). The integration of motivation strategy with the corporate aims and objective is very important as it helps in these methods taken up seriously by the management and supervisors that have responsibility of instilling them. The involvement of top management is very necessary for the successful implementation of these programs. The managers have the duty to realize the value and impact of motivation through identification of the main factors that are linked with the motivation among the employees in the organization. These factors bear a relation to the individual behavior needs and attitudes of the employees (Hofstede 1980). . Motivation is considered to be the force that makes the individual inclined to carry out a work. This arises when the individual needs are satisfied, and they are inspired to complete a task. The motivational needs present in the individuals differ from theShow MoreRelatedThe Motivation And Employee Motivation1584 Words   |  7 PagesThe central problem that always employers and employees face is the employee motivation. The workers who put no effort to do their best in their jobs which will lead to low quality of work and give no benefit to the organization are the one who are not motivated (Amabile 1993). On the other side, employees who are apparently to be very intelligent, action oriented, ambitious, autonomous and always put an effort and sacrifice their time to put the organization at the ease are the one who feel motivatedRead MoreEmployee Motivation886 Words   |  4 PagesThis is a dissertation abstract on Employee Motivation: Why study motivation? To state it simple you need to know motivation to be a better leader to accomplish your business goals. Employees are like sheep you need to lead them to accomplish the mission. It is much easier to lead a group of individuals when they have a vested interest to accomplish it. You create that interest through motivation. The key to a successful organization in many ways is motivation. It is one of the most difficult tasksRead MoreEmployee Motivation 1164 Words   |  5 Pages Bauer and Erdrogen (2009) define motivation as â€Å"the desire to achieve a goal or a certain performance level, leading to goal–directed behavior† (p.97). McConnell (2006) argues that true motivation is self motivation. Today, health care organizations place a lot of emphasis on production and performance. However, motivating employees is a common challenge faced by health care managers and Bauer and Erdrogen (2009) state it is also one of the factors that greatly affect performance. McConnell (2006)Read MoreMotivation of Employee2476 Words   |  10 PagesMotivation of Employee People join and work in organization to satisfy their needs. They are fascinated to organizations that have the funds of rewarding their wants. These wealth are called â€Å"incentives (compensation, benefits)† (M. Maccoby, 9) of rewards; organizations use them to initiate people to contribute their efforts on the way to achieve organizational goals. The continued existence of an organization depends on its capability to attract and stimulate people to accomplish these individualRead MoreEmployee Motivation2339 Words   |  10 PagesEmployee Motivation A question often asked by first-line supervisors and managers is â€Å"How do we motivate our employees?† Effectively motivating employees to achieve a desired outcome is one of the most important functions as a supervisor or manager. There is evidence to show organizations are facing challenges retaining employees due to limited opportunities for advancement and the current competitive labor market. It does not appear things will get any better in the future. The loss of employeesRead MoreEmployee Motivation9463 Words   |  38 PagesInsights Into Employee Motivation, Commitment and Retention Barbara J. Kreisman Ph.D. Research/White Paper Insights Denver February, 2002 The Leadership Journey is a supervisory, management, and leadership training system consisting of 24 courses delivered on DVD, CD-ROM, VHS, and Online. Call 1-800-541-7872 or visit www.btedemo.com to preview courses. Page 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 W hy Employee Retention and Motivation Is Important†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 Turbulence In The Work Environment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreMotivation Theories And Motivation Of Employee Motivation Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pagesour control and some that are not. Employee motivation is something that can directly affect an organizations production. It is no secret that un-motivated employees equates to un-productive workers, but how can we combat this? In order to better understand this concept we will look at the definition of employee motivation, some of the motivation theories and some motivation techniques that could be useful in our organizations. What is employee motivation? Motivation is a word used quite often in manyRead MoreMotivation And Efficiency Of Employee Motivation Essay2331 Words   |  10 PagesMotivation is defined as â€Å"the process that account for an individual’s intensity, direction and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Robbins Judge, 2016, p. 126). It is a flat out need to keep employees motivated in the workplace and boost them to perform beyond expectations. In addressing what elements of employment result in both motivation and efficiency, this paper briefly sketches some of the theories of motivation applied in workforce and analyses how these theories are appliedRead MoreEmployee Motivation And Motivation Theory1878 Words   |  8 Pagesvaluable resources for companies and them could be competitive advantages for modern companies. It is important for modern companies to improve employee satisfaction and performance so that they can improve their organisational performance and competitiveness (Armstrong, 2006). As a result, Employee’s motivation management is significantly for companies. Motivation is a cognitive process to guide, initiate, direct and maintain goal-oriented activities. It can also be defined as the driving forces directingRead MoreMotivation Strategy For Employee Motivation Essay2082 Words   |  9 Pagesthe strength and weaknesses of at least two theories of motivation. With the rapid changes of modern business environment, the competition between organizations becomes more and more fierce. In order to be competitive enough to stand out from the rest, businesses try to enhance their competitiveness by improving different area in the management aspect. In addition to, as service sector has become the most dominant industry nowadays, employee?s performance become more crucial as it can directly affect

Monday, December 9, 2019

Health & Safety in Health and Social Care

Question: Understand how health and safety legislation is implemented in the health and social care workplace. Answer: It is of foremost importance to a workplace to have policies concerning health and safety. In case of absence of such policy the organizations as well as the employees face adverse consequences. As far as health and social care workplaces are concerned this aspect is of immense importance. Individuals employed in health and social care workplaces are in most cases victims of low morale, financial psychological injury, poor productivity. It is the duty of the organizations to see that the employees lead a life which is devoid of stress and is at the same time healthy. In this paper I will deal with various aspects of health and safety at health and social care workplace. Communication of health and safety related information in health and social care workplace In this part of the paper I am going to review asses and analyze the procedures and policies for communication of information regarding health and safety at health and social care workplace. In order to properly adopt health and safety provisions at workplace it is very important to have effective communication throughout the organization. In order to communicate the information consideration of the structure and size of the organization and the level of competence of the employees is required (Sullivan, 2010). Various legislations deal with the issue and hence proper communication is necessary. The organization should promote health and safety procedures and policies for users of services at the health and social acre unit which includes the patients and also the employees. The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 makes it mandatory for the employers who have five or more employees to maintain a record of the safety policies and must also consult with the employees in this regard. Consultation with employees is necessary because their interest is at stake and also they are the ones who are facing the issues and thus they would be able to give the management proper suggestions in this regard Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999 provides that employers ought to communicate to the employees as well as their representatives information concerning health and safety. Effective communication ensures that the employees have sufficient information and thus informed decisions in connection with protective and preventive measures could be implemented. This regulation requires all employers to provide information to the employees regarding: the possible risks to health and safety; measures to prevent such risks; procedures during emergency; the identity of individuals who pay a role for management of safety at the health and social care unit (Scie.org.uk, 2013) The following ways may be adopted by the employers to ensure health and safety of employees, patients and the public at large. Creation of Health and Safety Committee Health and safety committees could be created so that feedbacks may be recorded through the representatives of health and safety. Training Programs Implementation of training program for the employees so that the employees have up-to-date information about legislations and the changes that are made to the existing laws. Health and Safety law posters Legislation requires the employers to put on display law posters. Such law posters must have been approved by the Health and safety Executive. Departmental Meetings The health and safety issues should be discussed elaborately during departmental meetings Information in this regard may also be made a part of the pay slips The suppliers who provide machineries which may in any way cause harm either to the employees or to the patients must provide hazardous information sheet and may also display Information may also be imparted through the internet. As far as new employees are concerned the health and safety information may be imparted during induction of the new employees. These procedures may be used to communicate with the employees Further in order to communicate with the public at large the following methods may be used, Health safety information may be displayed digitally. In cases of necessity, hazard warnings may be rendered. Signage for ensuring health and safety may also be used. The health and safety policies must be accessible to all employees. The information concerning health and safety must be delivered in language known to all employees. Such communication must be clear and unambiguous and must also be timely. The fact that information was rendered does not mean that it has been understood, received and would also be acted upon, there must be proper review of such measures. The organizations must always stress on face-to-face communication as it is the best method even in this internet era. Own Workplace Experience Now I would state the methods of communication of health and safety information which my workplace uses. These include, imparting heath safety information through notice and bulletin boards, internet, also in meetings of the organization where all are present. The suppliers of health care equipments provide hazardous information sheets also warning are displayed on the body of the equipments, proper training is imparted so that employees know how to use the equipments safely. Analysis of health and safety priorities in a health and social care workplace In this section I will analyze the health and safety priorities of health and social care unit. These priorities may be listed as follows: Health workers who are incompetent and unequipped Fire alarms which do not function Accident prone zones Loss of stuffs belonging to the clients Outbreak of disease within the hospital These are all priorities which must be must be dealt with according to prioritization. The outbreak of disease within the hospital is of foremost concern as it causes harm to not just the workers of the hospital but also the patients. Adequate attention has to be paid to this aspect and reform of policies has to be done accordingly. Sanitation, hygiene and infection control measures must be strengthened to give effect to this change. The unskilled workers must also be given priority. In order to do so requisite trainings and seminars must be conducted. If the health service providers are not skilled enough then whatever institutional reforms we may implement it would not be of much use as everything is dependent on the service providers. Accident prone zones are another important issue. Minor accidents which take place due to tips and falls can be easily prevented by promoting communication amongst the health workers in every department. Putting signage is also a way of preventing these accidents (Wears, 2004). Issues concerning security of the belongings of the clients are lined up next in priority. Reform must be brought about in the policies of the hospital which regulate the number of visitors per patient must be amended. Strict visiting hours must be implemented and a record has to be kept regarding the outsiders visiting the patients (Flin, 2006). Clients must also be warned to keep safe their belongings and that the hospital is not accountable in case of any loss. The fire extinguishers and fire alarms must be maintained regularly. The day-to-day required equipments for the hospital must also be maintained on a regular basis. The exit routes must be enhanced by reconstruction and generic signs may be displayed so as to guide the clients and the employees in cases of emergency. Now I would state the safety priorities at my own organization. Since I work at a hospital my organization ensures that health care service providers are well trained on issues concerning health and safety which they may encounter in the course of their employment. Cleanliness is maintained with high priority so as to prevent food poisoning and also to ensure that the patients get a good clean environment which is healthy for them. Waste disposal is also paid importance at our hospital as it is very essential to maintain safety. The bed rails must be proper as many accidents may occur in case of their absence as also if they are not maintained properly accidents may happen, like patients being trapped in between these rails (Bate, 2004). Risk Assessment Assessment of risk is an important instrument in drawing up care plans. It is on the basis of risk assessment the organizational decision making is carried out and policies and procedures are framed (Woodward and Tomlinson, 1985). Risk assessment template must contain; the hazards which might take place at the workplace, the individuals who are at risk of being harmed, what steps have been already taken in this regard, whether anything else needs to be done to eliminate the risk, who are supposed to take the necessary actions and within what time frame, finally there should be a column containing information as to whether the risk has been eliminated or not (Hse.gov.uk, 2014) . Without assessment of risk the health and social care unit will not be able to determine the areas which require change. There would not be any scope for improvement because without risk assessment there would not be a basis for such implementation (Health and Safety in Workplace, 2013). By virtue of the information gathered through risk assessment the hospitals would be able to reform their policies (Simons, Leroy and Savage, n.d.). Risk Assessment Template Hazards Individuals who are at risk and how? What steps are/ have been taken What else needs to be done to eliminate the risk Who are supposed to take action? Timeframe within which action is taken Whether done or not? Trips and slips Employees well as the clients. Risk may be caused due to ramps being unmarked, low lightings, slippery floors caused by fluids or talcum, any type of obstruction etc Slip resistant floors are used at present Floors must be kept free from obstructions, like, equipments must be stored at their proper places and should not be left on the walkways The management and the employees must take the actions Actions must be taken at the earliest Falls from height Both employees as well as the patients. Risks may be caused by falling from windows or balconies to the patients and to the employees by working at height. Window restrictors have been constructed Balconies must be suitably protected and access of vulnerable individuals must be restricted, while working at height employees should take reasonable protection, use of equipments to safeguard against falls. The management and the employees are supposed to take the measures At the earliest possible Care Plan The data accumulated with the risk assessment helps one to identify the problem areas. Care plan on the other hand is useful to determine the steps which are required to achieve the objectives. Care Plan must contain provisions like, assessment, objectives, execution and evaluation. One aspect of health and safety policy at own workplace Helping the patients is one of the significant part of working in a hospital or care home. The staffs have to face many injuries as a result of moving and handling the patients. For instance, some patients need assistance for walking whereas others need assistance for dressing, bathing etc. Since I work at a hospital in this section I would analyze the impact of health and safety policy in connection with moving and handling at my own workplace. My workplace uses various equipments to manage moving and handling. These include; Different types of hoists are used, for instance, mobile hoists, hosts for raising fallen residents from the floor, standing aids, bath hoists etc. Transfer boards and slide sheets are also used For immobile patients electric profiling beds are used Use of handling belts so as to assist healthy patients Lifting cushions Equipments for emergency evacuation Dilemmas Various types of dilemmas may arise while implementing the policies for health, safety and security. These dilemmas may include the stubbornness of the care providers regarding change, the financial support required to implement the changes, the resistance of old workers from undergoing training and also shortfalls in information delivery systems. These type of problems are faced by such social and health care unit which fail to address the concerns and needs of the employees (Health and Safety in Care Homes, 2014). In order to address these dilemmas prior to the implementation of new policies and procedures organizations must conduct meetings wherein information may be disseminated and at the same time ideas may also be gathered from the employees and workers (Powell, 2002). The management should give importance to the ideas of the employees and the workers because they are the ultimate stake holders. The organizations must educate the workers regarding the purpose of the change so that they do not resist. The service users in most cases fail to understand the requirements for a companys change as they happen to be the peripheral part of the stake holders. It is the duty of the organizations to make them aware about the changes. Since customers get used to a way of conducting business and would be faced with a lot of problems due to the sudden change. Thus assistance should be provided to the service users to get used to the changes. Another dilemma is the funds. Since institutional changes are very costly affairs the management has to make provision for huge funds. Funds may be collected by requesting support from the governmental funding organizations (Garcarz and Wilcock, 2005). Few other types of dilemmas faced by the care providers may be as follows: Health care workers at times face moral dilemmas also while trying to ensure health and safety of the service users. For instance, a service user might refuse to take medicines as he has the right to do so. But it is the duty of the care providers to make sure that the clients are getting proper treatment(Ali, Chalder and Madan, 2014). This is an instance of moral dilemma faced by the care providers because on one hand the patient is not willing to take the medicine whereas on the other hand the care provider is duty bound to make him have the medicine. In such a situation patient might die and the care provider might be blamed for such consequence. If the care provider forces the clients to take the medicine he/ she may be blamed of abusing the client. Thus we may conclude that the care providers at health and social care workplaces have to undergo complex dilemmas (Nolan, 2005). Consequences of non compliance with health and safety legislations in the health and social care workplace Non compliance with the health and safety legislative requirements would lead to serious consequences on the part of both the employers and the employees. When an employer does not comply with health and safety legislation then he may be subjected to prosecution. If employees are found to have breached the requirements of health and safety legislation could lead to; Disciplinary action being taken against such employees He may be transferred compulsorily. He may also be dismissed Other legal actions like imprisonment or fine may be taken against him. Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 provides that if an offence relating to health and safety at workplace is committed and such offence may be attributable to the neglect on the part of any director or office bearer of the health and social care unit then the concerned person as well as the organization would be subject to prosecution. The ones who are found guilty may have to pay fine and undergo imprisonment(Bradshaw, 1995). The prosecutions would be heard in the courts of law in England and in case the court finds the employers guilty of breach he may be either made to pay fine or imprisoned or he may also be disqualified from holding directorial position (Hughes and Ferrett, 2007). A case example may be presented. A certain care home located in Southern Lanark shire was made liable to bear fine for having breached the provisions of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. In this case the patient who was 88 years old had died owing to a fall and consequent breaking of neck. The care home failed to assess the risk appropriately and thus the employees did not have adequate knowledge as to the steps they must take in handling and moving the patients (Summerhayes, 2010). The Corporate Manslaughter and the Corporate Homicide Act, 2007 makes provision that when the management fails to take due care which it owes towards the employees as also the public at large and such failure results in death(Davies, 2010). The maximum penalty which the courts may impose in such cases is unlimited fine and may also require the organization to bring to public notice the details regarding the conviction and fine (Stuart, 2001). The Health and Social Care Act, 2008 makes various provisions which the providers of health care services must abide by and in case of non compliance of such provisions the Care Quality Commission is entitled to take steps against the one committing the breach. Monitoring and Review of policies and practices Policies concerning health and safety practices must be reviewed and monitored occasionally. The review and monitoring process helps to make the policies more effective. These are very essential for present health care practices which are changing rapidly. Review and monitoring helps in quality assurance of the services being provided at the health and social care units. In fact this is the final step of the risk assessment process. It includes inspection of the success of the policies which have been implemented, keeping a check on their developments and the drawbacks (HARRISON, 2012). This is the only way by which the system can be kept up to date and also to ensure that the changes implemented are serving their purpose and have not just proved to a waste (Williams, 2015). At my organization the information gathered through the risk assessment process are reviewed occasionally to find out if the problems have been mitigated or whether they still exist. Notes are to be taken of the positive and negative effects of the changes which have been implemented. These recordings are very important as they would become the basis of future change. After the data has been reviewed a report is circulated amongst the stake holder which in turn serves as an impetus for the entire team to keep up the good work. But in case the results are poor then it would encourage the team to strive for better performance. This practice of communication adopted at my workplace is a very ideal system since the workers are the ones who have contributed to such outcomes. Thus we may say that this process involves reviewing of the prevailing practices, conducting audit of the threats and risks involved, subjecting the policies and procedures to recent updates, finally gaining wisdom from prior experience. An organization in order to be effective must take a note of the past threats and should attempt to formulate strategies to prevent reoccurrence of such threats. Effectiveness of health and safety policies From my experience I would say that the policies concerning health and safety have an effect on the care providers and also the service users. This is owing to the fact that both have to comply with the policies implemented by the health and social acre unit. These policies render protection to the service users from the health and safety issues they might face as users of services of a certain care providing institution. Health and safety policies in hospitals include protective gears, signage etc which are all designed for the welfare of the service users. As far as the care providers i.e. the health care workers are concerned, policies concerning them include, issues regarding handling of patients and other professional issues like command chain etc. Policies are framed by the health and social care organizations so as to run the institution properly without causing any harm to anybody. The organizations arrange for seminars as a part of these policies so as to educate the workers so that they may make use of the skills properly. These policies are not just for the benefit of the organization and the employers and employees, they are equally beneficial to the service users as when the workers are properly skilled they are the ones who would be finally benefitted. Evaluation of my own contributions to ensure health and safety at workplace In my present job I make sure health and safety of the service users are of utmost importance and take necessary actions to upkeep the health and safety of the service users. In order to do so I try to abide by the below mentioned rules which I have set for myself to ensure health and safety at workplace. The foremost duty of a care provider or for that matter any individual is to be careful regarding his/ her own safety. I have made myself acquainted with the legislation of the workplace and have made it is a point that all clauses are clear to me. I have made myself familiar with the health and safety requirements which might affect my job. I try to work safely and at the same time encourage my colleagues to do the same. While operating the health care machines and equipments I make sure that I wear lose clothing and no jewellery. Whenever the hospital makes arrangement for trainings I participate invariably so that I can do my job with better skills and precision. I take proper precaution so that I do not end up causing harm to others in the course of my employment. I keep a proper check on the personal protective care equipments. In case they lack the proper standard I inform the same to the higher authorities. If I ever come to know of any prevailing unsafe condition in the hospital I take steps to do away with the unsafe conditions, if they are within my reach or inform the authorities about such condition. While carrying out jobs I never take shortcuts by avoiding totake proper care. These are some steps I take as a health care employee to ensure health and safety at my workplace. References Ali, S., Chalder, T. and Madan, I. (2014). Evaluating Interactive Fatigue Management Workshops forOccupational Health Professionals in the United Kingdom. Safety and Health at Work, 5(4), pp.191-197. Bate, P. (2004). The next phase of healthcare improvement: what can we learn from social movements?. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 13(1), pp.62-66. Bradshaw, P. (1995). The recent health reforms in the United Kingdom: some tentative observations on their impact on nurses and nursing in hospitals. J Adv Nurs, 21(5), pp.975-979. Davies, A. (2010). Workplace Law Group A1Books.co.in Rediff Books Flipkart Infibeam Find in a library All sellers New! Shop for Books on Google Play Browse the world's largest eBookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. Go to Google Play Now My library My History Books on Google Play Workplace Law Handbook 2011 - Health and Safety, Premises and Environment Handbook. Workplace LAW Group. Flin, R. (2006). Measuring safety climate in health care. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 15(2), pp.109-115. Garcarz, W. and Wilcock, E. (2005). Radcliffe Publishing A1Books.co.in Rediff Books Flipkart Infibeam Find in a library All sellers New! Shop for Books on Google Play Browse the world's largest eBookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. Go to Google Play Now My library My History Books on Google Play Statutory and Mandatory Training in Health and Social Care: A Toolkit for Good Practice. Radcliffe Publishing. HARRISON, J. (2012). Occupational Safety and Health in The United Kingdom: Securing Future Workplace Health and Wellbeing. Industrial Health, 50(4), pp.261-266. HARRISON, J. (2012). Occupational Safety and Health in The United Kingdom: Securing Future Workplace Health and Wellbeing. Industrial Health, 50(4), pp.261-266. Health and Safety in Care Homes. (2014). Health and Service Executive. Health and Safety in Workplace. (2013). ncfe. Hse.gov.uk, (2014). Healthand social care services. [online] Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2015]. Hughes, P. and Ferrett, E. (2007). Introduction to Health and Safety at Work. Routledge. Nolan, Y. (2005). Health and Social Care. Heinemann. Powell, M. (2002). Dilemmas in UK Health Care. Health and Social Care in the Community, 10(5), pp.412-413. Scie.org.uk, (2013). Dignity in care - Key legislation: Health and safety legislation. [online] Available at: https://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide15/legislation/otherlegislation/healthandsafetylegislation.asp [Accessed 17 Jun. 2015]. Simons, T., Leroy, H. and Savage, G. (n.d.). Leading in health care organizations. Stuart, R. (2001). Effective safety and health training. Chemical Health and Safety, 8(2), p.43. Sullivan, C. (2010). Managing Helath and Safety in Owrkplace. Summerhayes, S. (2010). Design risk management. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Blackwell. Wears, R. (2004). Organisations and safety in health care. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 13(suppl_2), pp.ii1-ii1. Williams, P. (2015). The growing importance of health and safety for care homes. Nursing and Residential Care, 17(6), pp.352-353. Woodward, K. and Tomlinson, N. (1985). The use of computers in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to store information on industrial chemicals. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 10(2), pp.123-127.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment

Introduction Marks and Spencer (MS) is a leading British Multinational Company with its headquarters in London. Thomas Spencer and Michael Marks established the company in 1884. Today, MS has over 700 shopping outlets in the United Kingdom. It also has its presence in over 40 nations globally. Currently, the MNC markets a wide range of products such as clothes, food products, and house furnishings.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the recent past, â€Å"the company has been a major competitor in the apparel and luxury food industries (Sadler, 2007, p. 21)†. The company has a strong equity. This explains why the consumers trust the company’s products and services based on their quality and value. MS has a proper organisational structure thus making it a leading competitor in the country and globally. T his discussion offers a detailed strategic analysis of this multinational company. Current Strategic Issues Facing the Company’s Industry Marks and Spencer operates in different business sectors. Some of these include the food and apparel industries. In the recent past, certain changes have taken place thus making it necessary for the company to re-organize its strategy (Bevan, 2008). There are current trends and issues affecting the food industry. These issues affect the business of various companies such Tesco, Wal-Mart, Aurora, and Pudding Lane, among others. The current strategic issues facing the company are as follows: Competition The outstanding observation is that MS is facing competition from various competitors. The competitors are operating different business segments. The company is also losing its market share and profitability (Tallman, 2010). It is notable that MS markets products such as food materials and clothes. That being the case, MS is facing competition from different companies (Grant, 2007). For instance, some apparel companies such as Top Shop, Guess Company, and Hugo Boss continue to dominate the European Union (EU) market. As well, different food chains and restaurants such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Sainsbury are providing affordable and quality food products to their consumers. This explains why MS should work hard in order to cope with these changing trends in the market.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Global Financial Crisis Many companies are recovering from the credit crunch of 2009. As well, companies should embrace the idea of â€Å"forward-thinking† in order to emerge successful. MS should therefore deal with issue in order to emerge successful (Tallman, 2010). Obesity and Health Issues In the recent past, consumers have become aware and conscious of their health needs and expectations. Governments are i mplementing new interventions and policies to promote healthy business practices. Food Safety The world is presently experiencing the problem of bioterrorism and food insecurity. The local food industry also faces similar challenges thus affecting the performance of different companies (Sekhar, 2009). This situation calls for Marks and Spencer to address the issues in order to be successful. Consumer Demands The needs of consumers are changing. Their spending and purchasing habits are also changing. The younger generation is purchasing more foods than ever before. Companies such as MS will be required to examine such changes in order to address the needs of the consumers (Williamson Jenkins, 2013). Fashion Changes It is agreeable that more customers are aware of their clothes and fashion needs. The current changes continue to affect the performance of different businesses. MS should consider such changes in order to realize its potentials. Technological Changes Many companies in th e industry are using modern technologies than ever before. Modern technology is needed to promote the best practices for service delivery, product development, and customer satisfaction (Burns, 2008). Companies in the industry are required to embrace new technologies in order to emerge successful.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marks and Spencer Strategic Position From the above issues facing the industry, it is agreeable that (MS) is currently doing business in a very competitive environment. MS Company continues to encounter numerous challenges than ever before. As well, the company is no longer benefiting from its â€Å"cores values†. These values include â€Å"quality, affordability, and efficient service† (Sekhar, 2009). Some apparel companies such as Top Shop, Guess Company, and Hugo Boss contin ue to dominate the European Union (EU) market. As well, different food chains and restaurants such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Sainsbury continue to provide affordable and quality food products to the consumers. This explains why MS should work hard in order to cope with these changing trends in the market. The company has continued to lose its market share and competitiveness (Verdin Heck, 2009). The level of competition makes it hard for the company to realize its goals. Since MS operates in many business segments, it has to deal with many competitors. For example, different retailers such as Debenhams, The Gap, Top Shop, and Next Company continue to dominate the apparel market. Certain food chains such as Sainsbury and Tesco are marketing frozen food products and fast foods thus making it hard for Marks and Spencer to emerge successful in its business. The outstanding observation is that MS is facing competition from different business segments. At the same time, the company has fai led to change its business strategy in order to remain competitive in the industry. The company is slowly by slowly losing its market share and profitability (Tallman, 2010). In the recent past, the company has been working hard to regain its market share and profitability. However, the company’s weaknesses continue to affect its business. The company has consistently focused on its clothes and foods as their main brands.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More That being the case, the expectations and demands of the customers has been changing thus making it impossible for Marks and Spencer to remain competitive in its business environment. According to a study by Seth and Randall (2011), MS has been getting most of its revenues and sales from the United Kingdom. This means that the company has mainly focused on the UK market. The increasing cost of living is making it harder to the consumer to purchase most of the company’s products. From the analysis, the biggest question is how MS can change its strategy in order to succeed in its business environment. Marks and Spencer Environmental Analysis SWOT Analysis Strengths MS markets high quality and competitive products. The company has good relationship with employees. The company’s stores and outlets are strategically located across London. Marks and Spencer is one of the most profitable companies in the United Kingdom and across the globe. This explains why the company has a growing market share (Williamson Jenkins, 2013). Marks and Spencer has established the best supply chain processes and strategies with its suppliers (Williamson Jenkins, 2013). The company has the best business practices and financial strengths. Weaknesses One thing about Marks and Spencer is that it relies mostly on local suppliers in the United Kingdom. At Marks and Spencer, the marketing strategy does not embrace new ideas and changes (Verdin Heck, 2009). The company does not consider the expectations of its customers. This explains why more customers are buying products from its competitors. The company does not market to the young generation. At Marks and Spencer, â€Å"the customer is no longer getting the best support and services (Seth Randall, 2011, p. 87)†. For instance, the company does not provide â€Å"loyalty cards† and â€Å"gifts† to its customers. Opportunities Marks and Spencer can use e-business in order to compete against the other leading companies (Seth Randall, 2011). Modern companies can use new technologies to improve their supply chain processes and provide the best customer support. It is agreeable that people are looking for new fashions and designs. The company stands a better chance to benefit from this new development (Tallman, 2010). The European Union (EU) continues to show signs of stability in the coming years. The company is currently expanding its business to different countries and cities. Threats The modern consumer is becoming very sensitive about fashion. As more companies continue to use the internet for marketing, Marks and Spencer continues to lose it customers. The level of competition is always increasing because the company operates in different segments. Porter’s Five Forces Model The Porter’s Fiver Model examines the business environment of a company. â€Å"It explores the unique challenges and issues for an organisation to address in order to become successful ( Verdin Heck, 2009, p. 86)†. This analysis explores the current position of Marks and Spencer. Fig 1: Porter’s Five Forces Competitive Rivalry The level of competition in the business is very high. In the clothing sector, MS is facing competition from Gap and Next Companies (Bevan, 2008). As well, the company is facing high completion from Sainsbury and Tesco Companies in the food sector. Bargaining Power of the Buyers It is agreeable that the company is facing numerous threats from its buyers. The buyers are demanding for quality and proper service. The company is required to worker harder in order to provide better products to its consumers (Bevan, 2008). Suppliers’ Bargaining Power Currently, the bargaining power of Marks and Spencer’s suppliers is low. This is the case because there are more suppliers in the existing market. Threat of New Entrants Most of the competing companies and retailers have already established their businesses in the country (T allman, 2010). This explains why there are minimum threats from new entrants into the market. Threat of Substitutes In the UK, there are more companies importing their products from other countries. Such products are usually cheaper and address the needs of the customers. This poses a threat to the company’s business practice (Sekhar, 2009). PESTEL Analysis For MS to succeed in its business, it needs to be aware of the changing trends in its environment. PESTEL Analysis makes it easier to measure the organization potential according to the major environmental factors (Verdin Heck, 2009). This part presents the company’s external environment. Political Factors The company operates in the UK. This means it operates in a stable political environment. However, the major threat is from terrorism. The region has the best political structure, tax system, and labour administration thus making the environment attractive. Economic Factors The United Kingdom has a good economy. With proper management, the company can succeed in this economy. The company can embrace the best short and long-term goals because the economic situation in the United Kingdom is favorable for business practices (Verdin Heck, 2009). The company should concentrate more on the younger generation because it has disposable income on tertiary goods such as clothes and fashion. Social Factors The changing socio-cultural aspects in different countries affect many businesses today. With the company operating in many countries today, there is need to address such factors and consumer expectations (Burns, 2008). As well, it should examine other aspects such as mortality rates, cultural changes, and consumer expectations. The approach will make it easier to market the best products to the consumers. Technological Factors The company is today operating in a competitive environment. The company should embrace modern technologies in order to widen its potentials and deliver quality to its custo mers (Verdin Heck, 2009). The competitors have embraced the use of modern technologies thus posing a major challenge to the company. Environmental Factors The world is today becoming sensitive about the environment. Marks and Spencer will be required to examine its practices and use environmentally friendly practices for marketing and production. This is the only way for the company to remain successful. Legal Factors The current legal provisions require that business organizations embrace the best practices. Various consumer legislations, labor laws, and business ethical practices determine the practices of modern businesses today (Worth, 2007). MS will have to reconsider its practices in order to be successful. The Company’s Strategic Direction: The Ansoff Matrix The Ansoff Matrix identifies the best direction for a company. The matrix helps the business managers make the best decisions based on the company’s products, market share, and consumer expectations. Fig 2 : Ansoff Matrix The above assessment indicates that Marks and Spencer has some strengths and weaknesses. The company has been moving away from its leading values. The level of competition is also increasing (Tallman, 2010). As well, the consumers are becoming aware and sensitive about quality and service delivery. The consumers have been moving to other competitors such as Tesco, Wal-Mart, Hugo Boss, and Sainsbury, among others. These companies continue to provide cheaper and quality products to the customers. That being the case, MS should design a new strategy and products in order to address the growing competition and rivalry in its business. Conclusion With the combination of the existing strengths, MS will be able to turn its threats and weaknesses into opportunities. Personally, I believe the company should diversity its products in order to tackle the issue of competition. Diversification will make it easier to provide quality products to the existing shareholders. Since the current strategy at the company is not effective, there is need to use new ideas and come up with new products. The approach will make it easier to address the changing needs of the modern customer. As well, the company should also provide quality products and services to its customers. Reference List Bevan, J 2008, The Rise and Fall of Marks and Spencer: And How It Rose Again, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Burns, P 2008, Corporate Entrepreneurship: Building an Entrepreneurial Organization, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. Grant, R 2007, Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Sage, London. Sadler, I 2007, Logistics and Supply Chain Integration, Longman, London. Sekhar, S 2009, Business Policy and Strategic Management, Wiley, New York. Seth, A Randall, G 2011, The Grocers: The Rise and Rise of the Supermarkets Chains, Longman, London. Tallman, S 2010, Global Strategy, Longman, London. Verdin, P Heck, N 2009, From Local Champions to Global Masters, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge . Williamson, D Jenkins, W 2013. Strategic Management and Business Analysis, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Worth, R 2007, Fashion for the People: A History of Clothing at Marks Spencer, Longman, London. This report on Strategic Analysis of a Company and its Competitive Environment was written and submitted by user Ada O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.