Nursing Advanced Practice Role Paper -. Florida's Certified registered Research

Nursing Advanced Practice Role -. Florida's Certified registered nurse anesthetists - Research Paper Example Currently there are more than 3,400 CRNAs in the state of Florida and they are the only nurses who are credentialed to provide anesthesia services (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). In most rural hospitals of Florida, the CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers. Nationally, the CRNAs are known to deliver 30 million anesthetics each year (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 2008). Significant Contributions of CRNAs: The CRNAs have made incredible contributions to nursing and nursing practice. The CRNA’s education and practice has evolved in recent years to fill the growing need surgeons had for anesthetists. Unlike the regular registered nurses, CRNAs function with a high degree of autonomy. The CRNAs provide anesthetic services in surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. As pioneers in the field of anesthesia, the CRNAs are committed to ensure high standards, based on evidence based practices (Northam, 2009). They provide high quality servic es, which are comparable to those provided by their physician counterparts (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). The CRNAs have made significant contributions in rural healthcare. ... Barriers Confronted: External Barriers: 1. HMOs, Medicaid and many insurance plans do not provide direct payment for the services of ARNPs as they do for their physician counterparts. In fact they do not even contract with the ARNPs directly (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). 2. ARNPs are denied medical staff privileges in many hospitals and other medical care facilities (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). 3. When compared to their physician counterparts, ARNPs are subject to strict malpractice insurance requirements (Phillips, 2005). 4. The ARNPs in Florida can prescribe a wide range of medications. However, unlike the ARNPs in other states, the ARNPs in Florida are not permitted to prescribe controlled substances (Phillips, 2005). Internal Barriers: 1. In the state of Florida, CRNAs are required to work under direct supervision of a medical physician, an osteopathic physician or a dentist (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). They are required to work within the framework of the protocols which identify the medical acts that can be performed and the conditions under which they can be performed. This greatly limits their ability to function independently. 2. APNs generally have inadequate administrative support and are pressed for time as they try to balance clinical and non-clinical activities (Irvine et al, 2000). This is frequently reported as a major barrier to participating in education, research and leadership activities (Sidani et al., 2000). Benefits to nursing and constituents: The increasing demand for APNs has boosted student enrollment into entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing by 5.7% (AACN, 2011). The scope

Time Management Essay Example for Free

Time Management Essay INTRODUCTION This chapter will begin with a de? nition of time management, and will then discuss common time management problems, and invite you to identify your own issues. It then moves on to examine possible solutions and the guiding principles of time management. To check your understanding there will be a number of scenarios and exercises to practise time management skills, followed by a personal contract aimed at improving your own approach to time management. WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT? Time management involves making the best use of time, and getting more done in the time available. It means not wasting time on irrelevant things, instead focusing on important parts of the job. Ultimately this means working calmly and effectively, avoiding the panic and anxiety of the last-minute rush. In the western world, time is treated as a valuable resource which people spend. Most managers claim that they do not have enough time. Often this is blamed on the organisation and colleagues for making too many demands. However, we all have at least some control over how we spend our time. We can and do make choices. Recognising this is the ? rst step on the path to effective time management. DEFINITION OF TIME MANAGEMENT. Time management means taking more control over how we spend our time and making sensible decisions about the way we use it. 29 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Personal Effectiveness If good time management is about taking control, it involves ? nding those areas where you do have control, and also ? nding those where you think you don’t, but really you do. For example you may have far too many things to do and this makes you feel helpless, but maybe you have the option of renegotiating some parts of your work, or even delegating some activities. There may still be some areas where you don’t have control – for example if a key part of the job is to be available at a certain time to provide advice to others, you cannot just decide to be absent. Or you may have a coursework assignment to submit – some deadlines are not renegotiable. In these areas it is more sensible not to waste time railing against these commitments; instead concentrate on ? nding those areas you do have the power to change, and make the changes that will help you to become more effective. Exercises 2. 1 and 2. 2 should start to help you identify those problem areas and areas where you would like to make changes. PREPARATION FOR CHANGE Before reading further in this chapter it is helpful for you to have an idea of how effective you are as a time manager. Re? ecting on your own time bandits and traps will make this chapter more useful and relevant to you. Begin by brainstorming three barriers that you think prevent you from being effective at work, or at study, as indicated in Exercise 2. 1. Now go on to Exercise 2. 2 and rate your effectiveness using the list provided. This list has been developed by distilling some of the common problems that have been identi?ed by several hundred staff and students in workshops held over the last ? ve years at Imperial College. Further exercises and selfevaluation checks are provided on the website. The accuracy of this tool depends on you being honest with yourself, so make sure you rate yourself according to how you actually behave, not how you would like to be. Once you have done Exercise 2. 2 you can return to Exercise 2. 1 and see if the barriers you ? rst identi? ed relate to those issues you have rated 3 in Exercise 2. 2, and if necessary add to, or amend, your answers to Exercise 2. 1. EXERCISE 2. 1 BARRIERS TO BEING EFFECTIVE What are the three main barriers you have that prevent you being effective? 30 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Time management EXERCISE 2. 2 PROBLEMS DIAGNOSING YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT Note: assess your behaviour as it is not as you would like it to be Go through the list of time management problems below and rate each one with relation to its frequency as a problem for you and also its severity using the following ratings: 0 this problem does not relate to me 1 this problem partly relates to me, relates some of the time 2 this is a regular problem for me 3 this is a major problem for me, it severely hampers my effectiveness A. Prioritisation and scheduling 1. I am not sure what tasks I have to do each day, I don’t make a to-do list. 2. When I have ? nished one job I just go on to the next without checking on my priorities. 3. I don’t work out which tasks have the biggest gain for me. 4. I have dif? culty in setting priorities. 5. I have dif? culty in keeping to priorities or a schedule I have set. 6. I am a perfectionist and even if I have several tasks to do I allow myself to spend ages on one task to get it right, which can cause problems in completing my work. 7. I often do trivial tasks at my high-energy time of day. 8. I don’t stop to think when my best time of day is for working. B. Persistence, procrastination and focus 9. I ? it from task to task, starting a lot of things but not always ? nishing them. 10. I feel very intimidated by large important tasks, and don’t break them down into smaller ones. 11. I put off dif? cult tasks until the last possible moment. 12. I procrastinate, prevaricate and can’t decide what to do, nor make decisions. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 31 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www.cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Personal Effectiveness 13. I put thing off until the last minute and then I have to work in a rush and panic. 14. I allow myself to be interrupted from my work, for example by the phone, talking to others, distractions, new e-mails coming in. 15. I spend ages on the telephone, sur? ng the net, or answering e-mails. 16. Once I get started, I cannot stop a task, even if it is taking far too much time and there are other pressing things to do. 17. I don’t have any protected time in the day when I can get on with my priorities. C. Role de? nition 18. I am not sure what my key objectives are. 19. I am unclear of my role de? nitions and lines of responsibility. 20. I’m not sure how long certain tasks take so ? nd it hard to allocate the appropriate time to them. 21. I try and do everything myself, and do not consider whether it would be better to delegate tasks, or ask for more help and support. D. Work environment and organisation 22. My workspace is a mess, I can never ? nd anything at work, and papers pile up around me without being ? led. 23. I don’t know what to do with paper – I just leave it hanging around. 24. I don’t have anywhere where I can work uninterrupted. 25. My work environment is noisy and distracting, and I don’t ? nd ways to deal with this. 26. If I ? nd myself with free time in the day, for example when commuting, waiting for an appointment, I don’t have things with me to do. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 32 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Time management E. Study skills 27. I take ages to read anything, and ? nd it hard to remember what I have read. 28. I’m not sure how to go about academic or work related reading. F. Assertiveness 29. I ? nd it very hard to say ‘no’ to other people. 30. I feel guilty if I am getting on with my own agenda and not focusing on helping others. 31. I spend most of my time doing things for other people, and hardly any time getting on with my own agenda. G. Anxiety, stress and emotion 32. I worry a lot and regularly suffer from work related anxiety and stress. 33. I don’t feel very con? dent so I often worry that I’m not doing well or going about my work in the right way. 34. I never have fun at work, I don’t enjoy my work. 35. I get very bored at work and this slows me down or allows me to get sidetracked. 36. I ? nd it hard to concentrate. H. Life balance 37. I don’t have time for exercise, health, leisure, family, I just work all the time. 38. I get very tired and exhausted at work. Scoring 0–38 Averaging 0s and 1s You are an excellent time manager 39–76 Averaging 1s and 2s You have some areas to work on but overall you are an effective time manager 77–114 Averaging 2s and 3s You have a big problem with time management and need to take action now to get yourself more in control of your time (but don’t worry – that is what this chapter aims to do) 33 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 Personal Effectiveness Below are some common examples of time management problems. EXAMPLE 2. 1 PROBLEMS EXAMPLES OF TIME MANAGEMENT Work -related ‘I work on a project to implement IT in my organisation, but I report to two bosses, the head of the IT Department, and the Project Leader – their demands of me are diverse and sometimes con? icting and very confusing, as a result I get in a mess. ’ ‘I work in an open-plan of? ce. I constantly get distracted by people talking on the phone, chatting across desks, stopping to talk to me. I just cannot concentrate on my work, and I end up frittering my time on super? cial tasks whilst at work, and then working well into the night at home to catch up with the tougher parts of my work. ’ ‘I am a design engineer and each part of the work I do seems to take at least three times longer than we estimate it will take, meaning that I spend a lot of time explaining why the work is late and reorganising schedules and activities. This impacts negatively on people further down the development process. ’ ‘I set myself priorities but because I also work as a support service for other people in the organisation, I get inundated by e-mails and requests from others. I spend all my time meeting other people’s demands and my priorities go out of the window! ’ ‘Last year I spent ages developing a balanced scorecard system for the organisation to performance manage the managerial team, then a new director was appointed and he pulled the plug on months of work and asked me to set up a totally different scheme. It seems like much of my work is a waste of time. Study -related ‘I am engaged in a part-time professional development programme ‘Into Leadership’ where I am attending day release modules, writing coursework assignments both individually and with a group, and am trying to juggle this in between a busy work schedule in my role in the Laboratories of a Government Department. I feel so panicked with all I have to do I end up feeling paralysed. ‘I don’t seem to be able to get going early enough on my distance learning course assignments and so I often end up staying up into the early hours to get it in the following morning. The work is rushed and mediocre as a result, and I am then tired for days after. ’ ‘I have young children and I ? nd it impossible to get on with my studying at home. As a result I feel incompetent when it comes to discussing case studies in course discussion because I haven’t the faintest idea what they are about as I haven’t read them in advance. WHERE DOES ALL MY TIME GO? – THE TIME BANDITS AND TRAPS A time bandit is a work practice, attitude or behaviour that leads to ineffective working practices or your time getting stolen or expropriated away from your core priorities and frittered on less important activities. 34 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co.uk/bookstore. Time management Epicurus and the pleasure principle Think about your own time management bandits and traps, do you see any patterns? One common pattern is to put the fun, exciting, interesting, easy things ? rst, and put off doing the boring, dull, dif? cult tasks until later. It is a kind of pleasure principle – going for the short-term gains, surrendering to wants and desires as they arise – immediately. Epicurus, the philosopher who is attributed with setting up the foundations for a pleasure principle, believed in following desires. However, he is often mistakenly thought to have been a slave to avarice and pleasure, indulging himself in whatever desire arose at a given moment. This is not actually true. Epicurus followed a simple life, one of healthy food, friendship and good company, freedom and thought, not an undisciplined response to every whim and fancy. In relation to your own work or study, following the Epicurian principle will lead you to doing things you enjoy instead of focusing on your priorities. It is a mistake to think that taking the easy route will improve things in the long run. In reality, giving in to the pleasure principle in the short term results in a mess later on, because over time what happens is the accumulation of a whole mountain of tasks that have been ignored. This can lead to misery, anxiety and depression. A lot of thought and planning went into Epicurus’s way of life, and creating time for a balanced, enjoyable life takes planning and selfdiscipline. The last-minute rush and adrenaline junky Some people like to live fast and furiously, and so working in a calm systematic way can seem very boring. Waiting for a burst of energy, or the adrenaline rush that comes with the fear of a deadline looming can become a way of life, but does usually mean that when the job actually gets done, it is done in a haphazard panicky way, leaving the person exhausted after late-night working and long hours in order to ? nish it on time. In the long run health can be affected, as the ? ght or ? ight impulse that triggers adrenaline is intended for moments of danger, not a lifetime of stress. Hamlet: the procrastinator ‘To be or not to be . . . ’ – ‘should I start this paper or go and deal with those statistics, I don’t know! ’ It isn’t noble to play Hamlet unless you are Lawrence Olivier! If it can’t be faced now, it might be worse later! What is more, as well as getting nothing done, the agony is repeated over and over again, and usually by tomorrow there is no change except the increased anxiety of another day gone by without completing the task. There are different reasons for procrastination and prevarication: not having the energy (which is represented by the adrenaline junky above), not having a starting point or the right information (but will you have the information tomorrow?), or being indecisive over what exactly to get on and do. All that happens is that work piles up. It’s all too much However, for some people, being busy is a way of life. They may ask themselves: – Where does all my time go? – Why are there not enough hours in the day? Typically these people then fool themselves with the thought ‘Well, this is just a busy period, once I’ve got this assignment or deadline over then life will be easier and I can relax’. This is ? ne if true, but often one deadline out of the way can just open someone up to a new 35 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Personal Effectiveness deadline, as they rush from one hectic task to the next. Sometimes this is self-generated: they can’t help but take on more and more and more. Another way they fool themselves is to say ‘I’m a no-limit person. I can keep on taking on more and more and more’. No one is superman or superwoman, there are only 1,440 minutes in a day, 1,000 when we deduct sleeping, washing, dressing, eating, etc, etc, etc. In our lives we probably spend six months waiting for red traf? c lights to change, two years looking for things, 24 years asleep . . .. There is only so much time left, and time is not in? nitely elastic, we do have limits. After all, no one ever said on their deathbed: I wish I’d spent more time at the of? ce! The headless chicken: action without thought There may be other reasons for taking on too much work, being too busy or feeling driven. Some people may be working hard but without having clear priorities, and without planning. Spending much too much time on things that are not at all important. Giving the illusion of working hard but not working productively. The butter? y: ? itting from task to task Helen arrives at work, puts her coat on the door peg, sits down and turns on the computer. She intends to spend the morning writing the proposal for the new performance appraisal system – a very important part of her job. But ? rst she listens to her telephone messages and realises Gerald wants her to produce some ? gures for a meeting the following week. She accesses her computer to pull out the ? gures, and notices she has 21 e-mails, and begins trawling through these. The ? rst few she just looks at and leaves open to come back to later, the sixth one asks her to give some dates for a meeting and she opens her diary to look at dates, and sees that for one of the dates she has a presentation to give on that day. Oh she must remember to take the ? les home for preparing the presentation so she can do it at the weekend. She gets up and opens her ? ling cabinet to retrieve them . . Oh dear, she is feeling rather giddy, .. . . she hasn’t got anything done and she has been at work an hour already . . .. Oh she feels so confused, she thinks . . . I’d better go and get a coffee .. .. One result of not planning or sticking to priorities can be the ‘butter? y’. This is someone who ? its from task to task in a downward spiral of panic and anxiety, getting in a mess, never getting the boost and closure of completion. Many managers have to be butter? ies, for example Mintzberg (1973) and Kotter (1982) showed that managers spend nine minutes or less on 50 per cent of their activities, are subject to constant interruptions and that management is a very fragmented activity. Good time management brings order to this fragmentation, rather than exacerbates it. Interruptions, interruptions There are two types of interruptions: interruptions from others that distract us from our work, and ‘self’ interruptions, ways in which we distract ourselves from our intended activities. What is your working environment like – quiet and easy to concentrate in, or noisy and busy? Some people work in open-plan of? ce environments where they cannot help but get drawn into conversations with others. Think how you manage your interruptions, what happens if you are concentrating on something really important and somebody starts casually chatting to you as they pass your desk or door? 36 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co.uk/bookstore. Time management The proliferation of communication technologies has meant there are a myriad of ways in which we can be interrupted at any time of day. The ding of a new e-mail arriving in the computer, the ringing telephone, the mobile phone, just ensure you are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Take the telephone – this is designed for people to contact you when it is convenient for them, not necessarily for you. Some people spend a long time on the phone, not getting to the point, getting sidetracked into idle talk. How long are your phone calls, could they be shorter? E-mail is also a tempter. In some roles people are receiving 50–100 e-mails a day and if every time one arrives on the computer they stopped what they were doing to look at it, it would never be possible to concentrate. The escapologist: IT and other escapes However, it isn’t just the requirements of others that interrupt us – we also interrupt ourselves. For example, maybe by not being able to resist sur? ng the Net for another couple of hours, just having a look at a couple more search paths for a holiday or outing. Some are self-interrupters, maybe ? nding it dif? cult to concentrate they just have to go off for another coffee or go and chat to someone else, because they can’t quite get down to it. This can be even worse at home – when you spot the washing or ironing or vacuuming out of the corner of your eye. It is amazing how you can suddenly feel the urge to do a bit of gardening or even jobs you normally hate like cleaning the cooker suddenly seem compelling when you are trying to get down to work on a challenging report. The doormat: yes, yes, yes. One problem can be unassertiveness, or unwillingness to say ‘no’: This may be because of low internal self-esteem, wanting to ‘please others’ in order to feel good, or even being too scared to say no. Ironically always saying ‘yes’ may just mean a person is taken for granted, not necessarily respected and liked. In the end, they can cause more problems for other people, because they become ill or are too busy to do everything to which they have committed, which can be very irritating for others. Presenteeism Sam was always ? rst into the of? ce every day and last to leave in the evening. Everyone commented on how committed he was, what a hardworking member of staff. One day Sarah wondered what Sam was actually working on all day at the computer screen, she wandered up to his desk and looked over his shoulder, and found he was playing solitaire! Being at a desk doesn’t mean the same as working – it is passing time instead of spending time. Sometimes the most effective people are those you don’t see, maybe they ? nd somewhere quiet to work where they don’t get interrupted. Effective people don’t necessarily need to impress on others how hard they work – their output is more important than the appearance of work. Some of? ce environments, however, encourage presenteeism – focusing performance evaluation on time spent at the desk, clockwatching, rather than on the quality of work. Wasted spaces It has been calculated that people lose up to 20 per cent of their time waiting. All that time spent sitting on the train into work, or waiting for the printer to ? nish, or a lecture or meeting to start are wasted periods that could have been used to complete a small task, or even begin a bigger one. Do you sit and stare realising you don’t have any work at hand for such 37 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Personal Effectiveness occasions, or does it even occur to you in the ? rst place to ? ll these spaces? Sometimes a commuter journey is the ideal space in which to plan the day, write out a schedule, or maybe even concentrate on reading an article or report. Finishing a small task, such as ? lling in a form, or even beginning a larger task can be slotted into these moments. Perfectionist The perfectionist pays attention to detail, agonises over every decision, every word in a report. They must get it right. But what is the point if it is too late, or they have ignored several other things – is it all really necessary? Not all tasks have to be done to the same high standard: writing a routine e-mail for example – does it really matter if the grammar is correct? Paper mountains Some people allow a mountain of paper to pile up on their desk, around their ? oor – a trail of paper that doesn’t allow them to be able to ? nd anything they need. They can waste lots of time trying to ?nd things, and the paper mountain doesn’t make for good of? ce sculpture, it festers and exudes stress and incompetence. I’m in a meeting! Consider the costs of 10 people in a one-hour meeting at ? 50 per hour each plus all the overheads and opportunity costs, the time spent travelling, preparation – is it worth it? Worse still are those meetings where people are unprepared, there is no agenda; the chair allows the discussion on trivial items to go on for ages without coming to any decisions. Heather was chairing a students union General Purposes Committee meeting. The meeting discussed for an hour the subject of what colour the new minibus should be – the Labour Society rep suggested red, the Conservative Group rep blue, the Liberal democrat member orange, and the chap from the Greens said they shouldn’t have a minibus at all! Eventually the meeting ran out of time and the main item on the agenda – what to do about the student debt situation never got discussed! Poorly run meetings are not only a waste of time, but also very demoralising. D-I-Y enthusiast. The D-I-Y enthusiast thinks they can do everything themselves, never giving a thought to delegation or sharing the work with others. Moreover, when they get into trouble, they don’t go and ask for help, they soldier on miserably, not getting anywhere except lost and desperate. If you have too much to do, or are stuck, do you look to see how the work can be allocated differently, do you call in for help or the support of others? Why oh why do D-I-Y? Refusing to ask for help may be due to lack of assertiveness, but it may also be arrogance – the belief that no one can do it as well, so it is better done singlehanded. Other people will never learn the skills if they are not given a chance to start. Delegation is not just a downward action, it can also move upwards, for example where something really isn’t a person’s job maybe they need to refer it back. THE CONSEQUENCES Poor time management is one of the greatest sources of managerial stress. It leads to feelings of incompetence and anxiety. The debilitating symptoms and consequences of stress 38 A free sample chapter from Personal Effectiveness by Diana Winstanley. Published by the CIPD. Copyright  © CIPD 2005 All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. If you would like to purchase this book please visit www. cipd. co. uk/bookstore. Time management are discussed more fully in Chapter 9. It also leads to crisis management – where someone responds to whoever is pushing hardest or shouting the loudest. The working environment is likely to be cluttered, with piles of papers on the desk which heaves with awful tasks represented by bits of paper and post-its that decompose or fall off onto the ? oor. It doesn’t just inconvenience the person creating this muddle – it inconveniences others who have to wait for work that is late, or shoddy work that has been done in a rushed way, or invitations that haven’t been responded to. Poor time managers may also feel indispensable; so they can’t take a holiday or a break, because no one can manage without them. Given the choice it is unlikely you would decide to work in this way. But you are always given the choice, and the trick is to take back control and make choices that will make you better time managers. But why don’t you do that already? It is because poor time management is a habit. ARISTOTLE AND THE HABIT OF THE GOOD LIFE It is quite likely that in identifying your own time bandits, you already had an idea what they were. You may even have a good idea of what you should be doing differently. This chapter is not about knowing what to do, it is about putting thought into action, and this requires behavioural change which is a bit trickier to effect. Aristotle talked about the habit of the good life. The good life is not an abstract idea, it is a habit that is nurtured and acted upon over a period of time. Time management is a habit. It is likely you are accustomed to your habits, may even be comfortable with the way you do things, and they won’t be easy to change, because that requires effort and persistence. Therefore it won’t be enough if this chapter merely identi? es for you what you should be doing differently. You have to break a habit, create a habit, and persevere to maintain it. Below are some good habits, but for them to work and guarantee you more time, you will need to put them into practice. When we start something new, it is easier to take one step at a time, building up competence and new habits gradually. The personal contract at the end of this chapter will enable you to plan your behaviour change. Glance at this contract now, and you will see it requires you to identify three changes you intend to make, and to put the ? rst step into practice in the following week. As you read through the good habits think which one would be most relevant for you to start with, which will give you the biggest gain, and which relates most closely to the problems you identi?

Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Surgical Closure

Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Surgical Closure Surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect in a patient with atrial situs solitus and interrupted inferior vena cava: report of 2 cases Key Words: Interrupted inferior vena cava, Situs solitus, Atrium septal defects, limited skin incision Abstract The occurrence of an interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) in setting of atrial situs solitus is relatively rare. Here, we reported two cases of the surgical closure of secundum atrium septal defects (ASDs) in patients with atrial situs solitus and an interrupted IVC. The first case was a 7-year-old boy with a secundum ASD without the posterior rim whose interrupted IVC and azygos continuation had been preoperatively diagnosed by the echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The operation was safely performed using a large-sized venous drainage cannula from the superior vena cava (SVC). The second case was a 2-year-old boy with a secundum ASD without the superior rim whose interrupted IVC was not diagnosed at the preoperative examination. The operation was performed through a median partial sternotomy via a 5.0cm limited skin incision, so direct inspection of the SVC was not clearly obtained. A cardiopulmonary bypass was established using the recommended size of venous drainage ca nnulae; however, the SVC could not be removed without elevating the SVC pressure. As a result, the ASD was closed directly under sucking the venous return from the SVC without snaring it. Post-operative computed tomography detected an interrupted IVC with azygos continuation and a persistence of both supracardinal veins, known as a double IVC. Introduction Whereas an interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) because of the absence of its hepatic segment is mainly noted in patients with heterotaxy syndrome, the occurrence of an interrupted IVC within the atrial situs solitus is reported as ranging from 0.08 to 0.1% [1,2,3]. In these patients, cardiac malformations are frequently associated, and the main types of abnormalities include atrial septal defects (ASDs, 10.5 %) and ventricular septal defects (7.5 %) [1]. Although this systemic venous anomaly provides no symptoms by itself, it seems to be relevant in cardiac surgery, especially in procedures that require approaches through the right atrium. Here, we reported two cases of the surgical closure of secundum ASD in patients with atrial situs solitus and interrupted IVC, focusing on perioperative findings and associated issues. Case Case 1 A clinically asymptomatic 7-year-old boy (body weight, 22 kg; height, 125 cm) with an ASD secundum, which was detected at the age of 10 months, was admitted for surgical closure of the lesion. Device ASD closure by catheter intervention was contraindicated because of the absence of the posterior rim. Preoperative echocardiography revealed an atrial sinus solitus with an 18 by 21-mm ASD secundum without the posterior rim and relative valvular pulmonary stenosis. Also, interrupted IVC was suspected because drainage of the IVC into the right atrium was not detected. Cardiac catheterization to assess the indication for surgical pulmonary valvotomy showed a systemic and pulmonary blood flow ratio of 3.14 and pull-buck pressure gradient of 10 mmHg from the right ventricle to the main pulmonary artery. Furthermore, no hepatic segment of the IVC was detected; thus, an interrupted IVC with azygos continuation was confirmed (Fig. 1). Through the median full sternotomy, a cardiopulmonary bypass was established using arterial cannulation through ascending aorta perfusion with a 16-Fr cannula and venous drainage from the superior vena cava (SVC) and the hepatic vein using 28 and 20 Fr cannulae, whereas recommended cannulae sizes were 20 and 24 Fr, respectively. The ASD secundum was closed directly through the right atriotomy under moderate hypothermia and cardioplegic arrest. The operation was completed without any issues. Case 2 A clinically asymptomatic 2-year-old boy (body weight, 10 kg; height, 81 cm) had recently been diagnosed with a large ASD secundum without the superior rim. Further examination revealed an atrial sinus solitus, an 18 by 18-mm ASD secundum without the superior rim, and a bicuspid aortic valve. However, an interrupted IVC was not diagnosed. Through a median partial sternotomy via a limited skin incision (50mm in length), a cardiopulmonary bypass was established using arterial cannulation through ascending aorta perfusion with a 12-Fr cannula and venous drainage from the SVC and hepatic vein, although it was thought to be an IVC at that time, using the recommended sizes of 16 and 18 Fr cannulae. During the surgery, the SVC was attempted to be snared, but it could not be because of the elevating SVC pressure. The depth of cannula and the location of snaring were repeatedly changed without resolving this issue; therefore, the SVC was left without being snared. The ASD secundum was closed directly under moderate hypothermia and cardioplegic arrest with sucking the venous return from the SVC. Weaning off from cardiopulmonary bypass was uneventful, and the operation was completed without any issues. Post-operative computed tomography showed an interrupted IVC with azygos continuation and a persistence of both supracardinal ve ins, known as double IVC (Fig. 2). On medical check-up at the outpatient clinic one year after discharge, advanced sick sinus syndrome was detected by electrocardiography. 24-Hour Holter electrocardiography monitoring showed that the total number of heartbeats was 142,036 per day, 8 beats of isolated premature atrial contractions, and had no evidence of premature ventricular contractions or more than 2.5 seconds of sinus pose. Discussion Like the first presented case, an interrupted IVC with azygos continuation can usually be diagnosed by preoperative echocardiography [1], which can be easily treated at the establishment of a cardiopulmonary bypass by selecting adequately-sized venous cannulae. If it is not preoperatively diagnosed, direct intra-operative inspection usually makes the diagnosis possible. However, the cosmetic outcome must be taken into consideration during surgical ASD repair as well as secure defect closure after the popularization of percutaneous device closure, like in the second case. Therefore, a limited skin incision with partial sternotomy was selected for this patient, which unfortunately interrupted clear observation of the SVC. Selection of large sized SVC drainage cannula should have been considered first during inadequate venous drainage, however, which was deferred because the total cardiopulmonary bypass was easily established as long as the SVC was not snared. As is our policy, the IVC is not snared during the closing of the ASD secundum in order to obtain a certain identification of the posterior rim. Therefore, the tip of the IVC drainage cannula was positioned at the IVC around the right atrial junction for sufficient drainage of both the IVC and hepatic venous blood flow. As a result, such a maneuver enabled the establishment of a total cardiopulmonary bypass with small-sized SVC drainage cannula and eventually large â€Å"hepatic vein† cannula. As shown in Case 2, an anomalous IVC is known to accompany various rhythm disorders, though only a few cases have been reported [4,5]. One of the causes of rhythm disorders is the degeneration of the atrial muscle around the sinus node, which might occur as a result of a local volume overload on the sinus node by the presence of azygos continuation. Although the total number of heart beats was well maintained and more than 2.5 seconds of a sinus pose was not observed until now, a scheduled follow-up was mandatory for early detection of further advancement of the sinus node dysfunction. In summary, two surgical experiences of secundum ASD associated with an interrupted IVC with azygos continuation were reported. Under partial sternotomy via limited skin incision, precautions should be taken to detect the presence of this venous anomaly if venous drainage from the SVC is not adequately obtained using cannula of the recommended size.

The 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Essay example -- Art History Essay

The 19th Century Aesthetic Movement The Arts and Crafts Movement is the main line of reform design in the 19th century that defines the period of its greatest development, roughly between 1875-1920. The Aesthetic Movement and Art Nouveau, whose roots were in the reaction to the Industrial Revolution in England in the middle of the 19th century, are the two major stylistic developments of this Movement’s philosophy (A Thing of Beauty 9). The term "Aesthetic Movement" refers to the introduction of principles that emphasized art in the production of furniture, metalwork, ceramics, stained glass, textiles, wallpapers, and books. The catalyst for its widespread popularity was the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. There, in numerous displays, many Americans, artists and craftsmen as well as the general public, were exposed to art objects from a great variety of nations and periods (Bolger Burke et al. 19). Most writers on the Aesthetic Movement agree that its roots lie in the reaction to Industrialization in mid-19th century England The movement incorporated both exotic and historical sources of design generally, the Japanese influence became the strongest and best known. However, not all Aesthetic Movement design is in a Japanese style and vice versa. Today relatively little remains of the highest expressions of Aesthetic Movement design. Never inexpensive and therefore never plentiful, few objects and very few intact interiors, particularly the domestic interior, survive to suggest their richness and beauty (A Thing of Beauty 11-12). The Aesthetic movement in Britain began as a reform impulse. It was a part of a larger critique of the Industrial Revolution, which had radically altered Britain following the Napoleon... ... oriented away from ritual and visual symbols and more towards social and community ideals, it reinforced the social nature of the movement (A Thing of Beauty 9). Thus, although the Movement definitely had its stylistic expressions, it was not simply an art movement but had a rather complex structure of social, political and moral ideas of the British life in during that period. Works Cited A Thing of Beauty (Catalog of an exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, February 1-April 6, 1980). Atlanta: The High Museum of Art. 1980. Bolger Burke, et al. In Pursuit of Beauty. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1986. Kaplan, Wendy. The Art That Is Life: The Arts & Crafts Movement in America, 1875- 1920. New York: Little, Brown and Company. 1987. Klein, Dan. Aspects of the Aesthetic Movement. London: Gordon House/Hillingdon Press. 1978.

Harry Potter and Traditional Spiritual Values

This becomes a somewhat silly argument because there is not evidence of the Harry Potter series undermining traditional values. That is to say, while the books have become incredibly popular and sold millions of copies (to say nothing of the millions of tickets sold to the cinematic adaptations of the novels), American society has not changed. In other words, the books and the films have not set in motion a radical change in American civilization nor have they led to any conversions to witchcraft.Furthermore, the Harry Potter series are very traditional in their approach to ‘good and evil. ’ Harry Potter is not an anti-hero. He is an adolescent trying to find his place in the world while struggling with the fact that he is a warlock and this sets him apart from much of society. However, underlying Harry Potter’s actions are a desire to do good deeds in the world and, in the primary theme of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, develop solid relationships with peers and avoid capitalizing on his warlock skills in an unfair way.Unfortunately, there will be those who will get ‘hung up’ on the magic and witchcraft angle of the series, but to do so is to take life just a little too serious. It is, after all, a harmless children’s book series that contains solid moral messages and not an attempt at undermining values and indoctrinating the youth. To a great extent, many of the negative feelings towards the series will be developed by individuals who have not actually read the series or have developed a pre-existing opinion that has already drawn a negative conclusion.

A class trip to remember Essay Example

A class trip to remember Essay Example A class trip to remember Essay A class trip to remember Essay Lending nice exposure from our category trip would be the great challenge to finish an album, which is the photomontage and portion of package of our portfolio assignment. We planned beforehand the journey to Damai Puri Resort and came out with a list of interesting activities and equipment that we will hold to convey along. Out of outlook, it was merely the start of the catastrophe that we could neer conceive of. The category trip was merriment, memorable, and gratifying. The twenty-four hours of the trip began as usual but it was fun plenty for us. The cardinal issue of the trip was the transit to the location. We have deficient budget and could merely lease a mini new wave. Then, some of us had no pick and were forced to carpool in Bryan’s auto. We had a merriment siting trip with some card games and singing some swerving vocals in the auto. Then, Yasmin brought up a hot treatment subject and all of us had a truly fun clip debating over each other’s statement. Not long after that, the entryway of Damai Puri Resort is merely right in forepart of us. Once we arrived at the finish, we instantly settle down in the hotel room. The coach siting brought us an unforgettable memories and we had enjoyed the greatest minute, chew the fating, singing dad vocals and express joying together. I noticed that we were already bonded and literally grouped. We so took our first group exposure on the beach. By so, we were divided into groups to play around. Damai is so a merriment topographic point for out-of-door activities and the position is superb, one that we could neer bury. Nevertheless, the conditions was highly hot and was unsuitable for activities on the beach. So some of us have decided to soak into the pool and merely chilling around. Some other misss who were non interested to swim decided to hold their misss talk under the coconut trees. The scenes were memorable. After that, it was about flushing. We have decided to watch the sundown on the beac h, it was so beautiful. Likewise, we enjoyed the strong air current blows, the coconut torso up, I closed my eyes and listened to the loosen uping sound of sea moving ridges. It was such an gratifying minute. By six o’clock, all of us were exhausted. We were already hungering but it is still long to our barbecue dinner. Some of us insisted to take the early dinner at the cardinal nutrient tribunal. Those who struggled famishment went at that place for their early dinner while the commission were busy fixing the barbeque dark for the others. During the readying of the dinner, Celine, one of the commission, shouted. Apparently, she forgot to convey the necessary equipment and we could non lodge to our program without it. The misss were kicking and struggle arose. The commissions were faulting each other excessively. Meanwhile, another category were besides holding the barbeque dinner nearby. At that minute, the smartest cats in our category, Julius came out with an thought, which was to borrow the equipment from them after their dining. Fortunately, the thought worked truly good. Although the barbeque became our supper but we still bask of it. To sum up the trip experiences, I would utilize the words: memorable, unforgettable and merriment! However, our group leader was reasonably upset about the struggles. There are ever ups and downs in our life and I hope she is no longer sorrowing, I besides hope that we will hold another trip together and I will decidedly volunteer to be the leader to convey up the joy to everyone.

Priestly and Yahwist Views of Creation Essays

Priestly and Yahwist Views of Creation Essays Priestly and Yahwist Views of Creation Essay Priestly and Yahwist Views of Creation Essay How many people have ever noticed that there are two stories of creation in the Bible? The sources of the Genesis story, which I will analyze below, is that of the Priestly (P) source and of the Yahwist (J) source. Upon hearing there are multiple accounts, various sources, etc. it is tempting to automatically assume there are contradictions and discrepancies. This does not have to be the case. As such, I will describe differences between the two sources below and how one can read these accounts through theological and pastoral eyes. The two creation stories give different kinds of information, without a doubt, but this can be quite complimentary to one another. The P source is concerned with reflecting the order and structure of Gods plan for the world – an almighty God full of power and authority. In the P source of Genesis 1, we read Gods name as Elohim, which is the generic name of God giving off a connotation of a powerful being. This source of the creation story, reveals God as majestic and transcendent, where all events occur according to His will. The differences between the P and the J source is that in the former, God creates the Heavens and earth and humanity by mere words where as in the former, God is like a potter molding and shaping humanity using the dust from the ground. Humanity is favored in that it has been created in the image, the likeness of Elohim. Furthermore, the P source only mentions humanity at the end as the final creation in the likeness of God. When we review the J source of the creation story, no longer is God called Elohim but now, the Lord is called Yahweh meaning â€Å"He is†. Between the P and J source, we can recognize the ladder as giving a more personal account related to human beings – a God seriously invested in the affair of mankind, His creation. How do we conclude such a thing? The J gives name much more personal detail in that we learn of the names of Adam and Eve, we are given a mor

Free Essays on Washington D.C. - A First Hand Experience

Washington D.C. – One Student’s First Hand Experience Nothing can compare with the experience I had in Washington D.C. Within the first week of my arrival I learned more than any number of years behind a school desk could teach me. There are invaluable lessons learned through experience that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom. For instance, speaking to people who have actually â€Å"been there†. Not only did I read about refugees in my texts, I spoke with one as well. Not only did I read about Corporate Social Responsibility, I spoke with an expert in USAID on the topic. Where learning in the classroom gives concepts, experience provides students with the opportunity to apply these concepts. My experience in Washington D.C. provided me with a concrete foundation for the knowledge I have learned at college. I will attempt to explain the value of my experience in D.C. by writing about a few of the first-hand experiences I had in our nation’s capital. The Protest As part of my experience in Washington D.C. with the Lutheran College Washington Consortium, I was required to attend a protest. Thousands of people showed up September 29th in Freedom Plaza across from where I worked at the Ronald Reagan building. The streets were filled with all sorts of people from all different kinds of backgrounds to join in together to protest racism and the war in Afghanistan. At this point after September 11th, popular sentiment in the nation was leaning toward bombing the country of Afghanistan off the face of the earth. President Bush spoke of the â€Å"evil† enemy. The press portrayed pictures of Arabic people burning the United States’ flag. When combined together with the emotional loss felt after September 11th, this created a need for vengeance amongst the collective conscience, and the need for a viable scapegoat. It seemed at the time that Arabic people were taking the role as the scapegoat for all the ... Free Essays on Washington D.C. - A First Hand Experience Free Essays on Washington D.C. - A First Hand Experience Washington D.C. – One Student’s First Hand Experience Nothing can compare with the experience I had in Washington D.C. Within the first week of my arrival I learned more than any number of years behind a school desk could teach me. There are invaluable lessons learned through experience that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom. For instance, speaking to people who have actually â€Å"been there†. Not only did I read about refugees in my texts, I spoke with one as well. Not only did I read about Corporate Social Responsibility, I spoke with an expert in USAID on the topic. Where learning in the classroom gives concepts, experience provides students with the opportunity to apply these concepts. My experience in Washington D.C. provided me with a concrete foundation for the knowledge I have learned at college. I will attempt to explain the value of my experience in D.C. by writing about a few of the first-hand experiences I had in our nation’s capital. The Protest As part of my experience in Washington D.C. with the Lutheran College Washington Consortium, I was required to attend a protest. Thousands of people showed up September 29th in Freedom Plaza across from where I worked at the Ronald Reagan building. The streets were filled with all sorts of people from all different kinds of backgrounds to join in together to protest racism and the war in Afghanistan. At this point after September 11th, popular sentiment in the nation was leaning toward bombing the country of Afghanistan off the face of the earth. President Bush spoke of the â€Å"evil† enemy. The press portrayed pictures of Arabic people burning the United States’ flag. When combined together with the emotional loss felt after September 11th, this created a need for vengeance amongst the collective conscience, and the need for a viable scapegoat. It seemed at the time that Arabic people were taking the role as the scapegoat for all the ...

Philosophy 3330 interpretive essay final Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Philosophy 3330 interpretive final - Essay Example rgument — often called the cogito argument in reference to Descartes’ most-quoted catchphrase the Latin cogito; ergo sum, or â€Å"I think; therefore I am† — to explain the rise of capitalism in Protestant society is perhaps one of the more interesting takes on Cartesian theory. Weber argues that instead of using Descartes’ notion of self simply as a philosophical proof of individual being, Protestants transformed the concept into â€Å"an ethical reinterpretation† (Weber 80), using it as the basis for a life of contemplation: In other words, Weber argues that Protestants seized on the idea of self-knowledge as a sort of manifesto, not a proof existence but a responsibility of existence. So far, so good, but where does the connection to capitalism come in? How does it relate to the notion of an inner life? What does it have to do with the notion of intellectual responsibility? â€Å"The name of Weber makes it clear that we cannot begin to sense the real ideological function of religious aestheticism unless we place it within that larger intellectual and ideological preoccupation which is the study and interrogation of value,† wrote Frederic Jameson (124). Or, more simply put, the religious contemplation of the Protestants was both a factor in and a result of their historio-economic status. For Weber, this status follows a predictable trajectory, journeying from the traditional to the rational with a brief, joyous moment of transformation Weber calls â€Å"charisma.† (Weber 96) The Protestant Reformation is an example of a charismatic period in the evolution of Western society, a time in which society was moving from traditional values and ethics toward restructured, rationalized ethics. And economic success was an important part of these metamorphosing ethics. Part of this emerges from what Weber sees as the Protestant notion of â€Å"craft ,† or pride in workmanship. The idea of a â€Å"calling† for a career path was no longer restricted to men and women of

External Financing Essay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

External Financing Essay - Assignment Example Several factors such as weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and agency costs should be considered in choosing an external funding source. The weighted average cost of capital is the minimum rate that a company is supposed to earn from the existing asset base in order to satisfy the owners, creditors and other capital providers. Agency costs restrict the leverage of a firm. Taking financial risks leads to higher leverage. This also increases the agency cost of debt and leads to lower debt capacity. Leverage helps to reduce the loss in terms of firm value. Therefore debt becomes advantageous especially in firms that have few opportunities of growth or high percentage of assets in place (Trigeorgis, 1995).This report explores the advantages and disadvantages of some of the major external financing options that Acme can employ. Equity The company can raise funds through issuing shares. They can either be common or preferred shares. Owners of common stock are partial owners of the com pany. They have the right to share company profits or dividends and vote at the company’s general meetings. Dividends paid to shareholders vary depending on the profits that the company is making. They also have preemptive rights to maintain the ownership of the company when gives another stock offering. However, common stock shareholders are the last to receive dividends after all the preferred stock shareholders. Owners of preferred stock also own the company partially but do not have any voting rights. Preferred stock pays fixed dividends. Preferred stock shareholders are the first to receive dividends and incase the company goes bankrupt, they will be paid before the common stock shareholders. Stock shares are advantageous because they are a permanent source of funding for the company and share capital cannot be redeemed. The disadvantage of this external financing method is that the ownership of the company is shared with the shareholders and they might make decisions th at might negatively affect the progress of the company (Davidson, 2002). Hire purchase Acme can also get external funding through hire purchase. The organization can acquire assets without investing the full amount in buying them. This agreement allows the company to use an asset for a certain period of time before it can fully purchase them. The firm is able to acquire an asset quickly without paying the full price and after the specified period of time, the company can either return it or purchase it a reduced price. This method is advantageous since the company can pay for the equipment through manageable installments from funds generated by the equipment. The disadvantage is that the total amount of installments exceeds the original cost of the equipment (Giovanelli, 1998). Bonds The company can also get external funding through issuing of bonds. The company offers loans in the form of debt securities. This method does not require companies to give up partial ownership of the co mpany. Bonds have either fixed interest rates or floating rates. More leveraged companies obtain more funding through bonds relative to stocks. This external funding method has several advantages. Issuing bonds is a cheaper method than bank overdrafts or equities since the interest from the debt is tax-deductable while equity dividends are paid out of taxed company’s profits. This strategy also helps companies to monitor their financial stability.

Hong Kong Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Hong Kong Market - Essay Example The paper tells that market research is understood to be a scientific process concerned with gathering and processing critical information, which can be used in marketing management decisions. Due to this, marketing research is considered a critical part of a marketing intelligence system that in most cases functions to improve management decisions using timely, relevant, and accurate information. Marketing research has become popular in many organizations due to perceived benefits the process is seen to generate. For instance, smart organizations have been able to achieve and sustain their competitive advantage by using market information in the most creative manner. Moreover, organizations that adequately satisfy the needs of their consumers have done so by intelligently and creatively using appropriate market research information. Therefore, at this point it can be stated that market research is critical in the modern world especially in the age of globalization and increased cons umerism. Consumers in Hong Kong, just like consumers in other societies are likely to exhibit varied behaviors with regard to consumption. Although consumption is an aspect that is synonymous with all societies, numerous evidences have shown that societies across cultures differ in terms of consumption behavior, consumption pattern, and the overall consumption culture. This is to say, consumption behaviors exhibited by consumers in Hong Kong are likely to differ to behaviors exhibited by consumers in other regions. ... erous evidences have shown that societies across cultures differ in terms of consumption behavior, consumption pattern, and the overall consumption culture (Hoyer and Macinnis, 2009). This is to say, consumption behaviors exhibited by consumers in Hong Kong are likely to differ to behaviors exhibited by consumers in other regions. Therefore, the discovery makes it virtually impossible to generalize consumer behavior across cultures. As a result, introducing a new flavor of soft drink in Hong Kong market will require the company to undertake a detailed market research that aims to identify specific consumer behaviors that are likely to influence or impact the marketing process. Accurate intelligence information about how consumers in Hong Kong consumer products in terms of beliefs, values, demographic factors, socio-economic aspects, cultural issues, lifestyles, and many more (Hoyer and Macinnis 2009). This is critically important since such information will help the management team o f the company to initiate appropriate strategies of marketing for the new product to succeed in the new market. Marketing Research Design In order to successfully carry out market research, the researchers have to develop and implement the most appropriate research design techniques. Consequently, the usefulness of research project is likely to be realized when there is evidence of quality of research design, coupled with appropriate data collection and analysis process based on the design. Research design in marketing research involves identifying the best research methods that are appropriate in obtaining the required data (Churchill and Lacobucci, 2009). As a result, validity and reliability of data to be collected, which is critical in research process depends a lot on the type of

UK Retail Banking Sector Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

UK Retail Banking Sector - Essay Example These form 90% of the total market share of the industry. HSBC takes the top position with assets worth $1,267,777 million. The major groups within which this sector can be divided are the big banks, also called High Street banks, the Building Societies, and the Direct Banks. The High Street banks are the normal banks which provide accounts and loans to customers and businesses. They also have branches which can be accessed by customers. â€Å"Building societies are mutual societies, which are owned by their members for the benefit of members i.e. of both savers and borrowers alike.† (Davidmann 2006). These societies were earlier catering to the mortgage market only but have now started providing deposit and accounts to the customers very much like the normal banks. Direct Banks do not have any branches but reach the customer through the internet and other electronic sources. Many High Street banks like HSBC and Barclays also provide direct banking solutions for the convenience of the consumers but unlike Direct Banks, they have their branches for other activities like product sale etc. Tesco Perso nal Finance, First Direct, and Egg are some examples of Direct Banks in the UK. As stated earlier, HSBC holds the top position by market value also at 122.29 pounds (2010). Building societies are not listed but Nationwide building society is one of the main financial institutes. These societies have now started working more or less like banks. The retail banking sector provides loans for various needs and attract deposits from customers to partly finance these loans. The transactions are mostly small in value but high in volume (Buckle and Thompson 2004). As this sector earns through volumes, it is very important to attract customers by providing product differentiation. This is provided by most of the banks by using highly complex Information Technology networks.  

Key elements in consumer behavior and why it is relevant to marketing Term Paper

Key elements in consumer behavior and why it is relevant to marketing - Term Paper Example Further, the article discusses some of examples wherein the companies had addressed individualism in consumer behavior Theory Consumer behavior can be described as â€Å"The study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society.† (Perner, 2010) Understanding of consumer behavior would help firms improve their marketing strategies, by addressing the issues like how consumer’s reasoning and selection between different alternatives, level of consumer knowledge, how to improve marketing campaigns to effectively reach out to consumers Consumer behavior and preferences has changed over the period of time and would continue to evolve in the future also. We can analyze some of the key elements of consumer behavior globally. For example, today’s consumers place considerable value on self -expression and their individual identity. This also includes exerting their power and control as consumers. This element of consumer behavior represents consumers’ desires to be themselves and to be recognized as having personal needs rather than being part of the mass market. Accordingly, consumers value products and services that complement their individuality—providing them with a sense of personal and social identity. This trend represents values such as â€Å"being me†, â€Å"trusting myself†, â€Å"finding my own answers† and â€Å"making my mark on the world† in a world of opportunity and freedom. The desire for individuality is not new. It has just become more attainable for more people due to rising prosperity in society and the fact that technological advances facilitate easier, more cost effective personalized products and services. With rising prosperity there has also been a growth of post-materialist societies where values emp hasizing self expressing and individuality have grown. Let us see some of the drivers, particularly from marketing perspective, which are driving individualism in consumer behavior: 1. There are several database methods of consumer research such as store loyalty programs which is strengthening more personal forms of marketing 2. Supply side: manufacturers are increasingly tapping into the desire for more personalized products as a point of differentiation (increasingly to help offset the escalating private label threat). Individualized value added services are increasingly becoming the norm 3. Brand hegemony, particularly in the context of private label growth and copycat innovations, has contributed to the demand for personalized goods that offer genuine points of differentiation Key take-outs and implications: the growth of individuality creates a more engaged, confident and vocal consumer 1. Self-expressive contemporary consumers will increasingly choose brands that offer compell ing platforms for expressing one’s individuality. 2. In emerging economies, the desire for self expression/individuality is more complex. Emerging economies are typically more collectivist consumer cultures that have been ‘muddied’ by the growth of more self expressive values that have typically accompanied economic prosperity. 3. Research has documented that people who exhibit more individualistic tendencies are more assertive, more

Business Function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Business Function - Essay Example A business entity chosen should also draw from how much personal liability is involved and the entrepreneur’s ability to raise the capital required to begin the business because each entity requires a certain amount of initial capital. The various types of business include, the sole trader or proprietorship and partnership, which fall under the unincorporated firms and the private limited company and the public limited company that are under the incorporated firms’ category. With this, this essay will delve into the different types of businesses and their definitions and will also describe the three different types of business ownership with examples where possible. Lastly, the essay will further focus on the factors that should be considered by an entrepreneur when starting a business. Ideally, determining the type of business structure that an entrepreneur should choose draws from the way in which the chosen organization will meet his/her needs. Additionally, the type of business structure that an entrepreneur chooses depends on whether they want to run the same on their own or with the help of partners and associates. The three main business types, namely sole proprietorship, corporations and partnerships are discussed below. In essence, the sole trader type of business is the simplest of the three as it is easy to start and does not require too much paperwork while in partnership business form, ownership is shared between partners that contribute towards the start of a business based on a common business idea that they might have had. Incorporation is the other business structure where a business becomes a legal entity in which the shareholders of the same do not become legally liable for the activities, debts, or responsibilities of the corporation. The sole trader type of business is the simplest of the three as it is

UK Retail Banking Sector Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

UK Retail Banking Sector - Essay Example These form 90% of the total market share of the industry. HSBC takes the top position with assets worth $1,267,777 million. The major groups within which this sector can be divided are the big banks, also called High Street banks, the Building Societies, and the Direct Banks. The High Street banks are the normal banks which provide accounts and loans to customers and businesses. They also have branches which can be accessed by customers. â€Å"Building societies are mutual societies, which are owned by their members for the benefit of members i.e. of both savers and borrowers alike.† (Davidmann 2006). These societies were earlier catering to the mortgage market only but have now started providing deposit and accounts to the customers very much like the normal banks. Direct Banks do not have any branches but reach the customer through the internet and other electronic sources. Many High Street banks like HSBC and Barclays also provide direct banking solutions for the convenience of the consumers but unlike Direct Banks, they have their branches for other activities like product sale etc. Tesco Perso nal Finance, First Direct, and Egg are some examples of Direct Banks in the UK. As stated earlier, HSBC holds the top position by market value also at 122.29 pounds (2010). Building societies are not listed but Nationwide building society is one of the main financial institutes. These societies have now started working more or less like banks. The retail banking sector provides loans for various needs and attract deposits from customers to partly finance these loans. The transactions are mostly small in value but high in volume (Buckle and Thompson 2004). As this sector earns through volumes, it is very important to attract customers by providing product differentiation. This is provided by most of the banks by using highly complex Information Technology networks.  

Business Function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Business Function - Essay Example A business entity chosen should also draw from how much personal liability is involved and the entrepreneur’s ability to raise the capital required to begin the business because each entity requires a certain amount of initial capital. The various types of business include, the sole trader or proprietorship and partnership, which fall under the unincorporated firms and the private limited company and the public limited company that are under the incorporated firms’ category. With this, this essay will delve into the different types of businesses and their definitions and will also describe the three different types of business ownership with examples where possible. Lastly, the essay will further focus on the factors that should be considered by an entrepreneur when starting a business. Ideally, determining the type of business structure that an entrepreneur should choose draws from the way in which the chosen organization will meet his/her needs. Additionally, the type of business structure that an entrepreneur chooses depends on whether they want to run the same on their own or with the help of partners and associates. The three main business types, namely sole proprietorship, corporations and partnerships are discussed below. In essence, the sole trader type of business is the simplest of the three as it is easy to start and does not require too much paperwork while in partnership business form, ownership is shared between partners that contribute towards the start of a business based on a common business idea that they might have had. Incorporation is the other business structure where a business becomes a legal entity in which the shareholders of the same do not become legally liable for the activities, debts, or responsibilities of the corporation. The sole trader type of business is the simplest of the three as it is

Resume Cover Letter samples Essay Example for Free

Resume Cover Letter samples Essay Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name: Your opening paragraph should briefly introduce you and your interest in the company. If you are aware of a specific position or opening, refer to it now. This paragraph should also be used to mention the names of individuals you have met from the company (e.g., at the EIS, company event or other networking event), or the individual who directed you to this person. Cite other research that prompted you to write, such as a recent article on the company or a positive networking interaction. The last line in this paragraph should give a summary statement of who you are and why you are a strong fit for the position. Your middle paragraph (or two) should consist of specific examples from your background that would be of greatest interest to the company and consequently create the â€Å"notion of fit.† Do not just make broad generalizations about your skill set – any assertions about your skills have to be backed up with specific examples of how/why you have developed those skills. Focus on your skills and accomplishments and how they could contribute to the company, but do not simply restate what is on your resume. Demonstrate that you know about the organization and the industry. If you are a career changer, it is essential to clearly state your transferable skills from previous experience that directly relates to the skills required in the position you are interested in. Your closing paragraph represents your summation and should outline the key next steps. For example, state  that you would like to discuss employment opportunities or other information with the person and that you plan on contacting them on a specific date. If the company has a specific position available, ask for an opportunity to interview. Thank the addressee for his or her time and consideration. Include your telephone and email address in case the cover letter gets separated from your resume. Sincerely, (signature) Your Name Enclosure(s) (If you send resume or other materials.) Student Name 123 Riverside Drive Philadelphia, PA 19103 [emailprotected] Date Ms. Recruit Mint Best Company 123 Recruiting Lane New York, NY 10027 Dear Ms. Mint: As a first year student at the Wharton School, I would like to be considered for your product development summer internship program. After attending your on campus presentation in October, I became very excited about the exciting career opportunities and dynamic culture at Best Company. I was particularly impressed with Best Company’s ability to maintain a small company culture while offering the resources and professional development opportunities of a large conglomerate. Additionally, my conversations with Joe Smith and Susie Queue served only to strengthen my belief that Best Company would be the ideal place for me to leverage my strong analytical and marketing abilities to make a substantial impact in the consumer goods industry. I believe my strong finance and marketing background, along with my prior consumer goods experience will enable me to be an effective part of Best Company’s team. Prior to Wharton, I worked in the consumer goods industry for 5 years,  handling export sales and marketing products for a leading beverage firm. As the leader of a 15 person cross functional team tasked with launching the company’s first new product in 5 years, I learned a great deal about the importance of creating buy in at all levels of the organization and understanding consumers’ needs and preferences. Despite aggressive deadlines and budget constraints, I led the team to successfully launch a $10 million new product which continues to be one of the top 3 selling beverages in its segment. In addition, during my MBA training, I have focused on developing my strategic analysis and financial planning competencies, two areas which I know are critical success factors for product managers in Best Company. These skills, along with my prior work experience and passion for new product development, will enable me to significantly contribute to your business. I would welcome the opportunity to interview with your company when you are on campus on February 4. Please find my resume attached. I look forward to meeting with you soon and want to thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Wharton Student Enclosure: Resume Student Name 123 Uris Street, Apt 3 New York, NY, 10025 Date Ms. Recruit Mint Recruiting Coordinator Unilever 123 Any Street Anytown, State, 12345 Dear Ms. Mint: I am a first-year student at the Wharton School of Business planning on  pursuing a career in brand management. While attending your company’s presentation on October 4, I was particularly impressed with the entrepreneurial mindset of Unilever brand managers and their emphasis on both the qualitative side of marketing, creativity, and the quantitative side, market research. I believe that my background in consulting and strategic planning, combined with my exposure to marketing and consumer insight would be a strong fit for Unilever. Therefore, I am writing to request an interview for the Brand Management Summer Intern position in the Home and Personal Care business. Prior to attending Wharton, I acquired a diverse set of marketing, analytical and project management skills. My experience working directly for the Vice President of Market Research and Consumer Insight at Seagram’s Spirits and Wine on an ethnic marketing strategy will enable me to immediately grasp consumer marketing and demographic issues facing your products. My role as Manager in Strategic Planning for Seagram’s gave me the opportunity to interact with senior management, to work with marketing directors in foreign affiliates and to gain marketing experience with a global perspective. Specifically, I led cross-functional teams in Costa Rica, Venezuela and Mexico to refine marketing strategies for presentation to senior management. In addition, I managed several external agencies in public relations, advertising and events planning for a Captain Morgan awareness campaign which resulted in a 20% increase in brand awareness. I believe that my exposure to senior management and to the tactical side of marketing, combined with the skills I gained as a management consultant – analytical thinking, team leadership and client relationship management- will allow me to make an immediate impact at Unilever. I believe I possess the essential marketing and management skills to be a successful brand manager at Unilever and would appreciate the opportunity to interview on your closed list on February 8. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to speaking with you soon. Regards, Student Name Enclosure: Resume Student Name 123 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA, 19111 Date Ms. Jane Doe Senior Recruiter Bank 123 456 Wall Street New York, NY 11111 Dear Ms. Doe: As a second year MBA student at The Wharton School of Business, I would like to be considered for your XXX position. Through discussions with current employees, including Victor Jones from your XYZ group, I am convinced that Goldman Sachs offers the best platform for a successful career. I have long been interested in the various financial innovations employing fixed income securities. This passion, combined with my strong banking experience this past summer and my very strong analytical and quantitative abilities, makes me a strong fit for your fixed income group. Over the past summer, I worked as a summer associate at Bank ABC in both equity research and corporate finance. I learned a tremendous amount about the operation of securities business and how to communicate and market one’s idea; however, it also made me realize fixed income securities and derivatives are a better fit with my quantitative and analytical approach than equities. Before business school I was trained and worked as a scientist in genetic research, during which I led teams in successful completion of two projects and further developed my communication and leadership skills. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to interview with your company when you are on campus on February 4th. I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any additional questions, I can be contacted at 215-XXX-XXXX or [emailprotected] Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John M. Carter 123 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA, 19111 XXX-XXX-XXXX [emailprotected] Date Ms. Jane Doe Senior Recruiter Bank 123 456 Wall Street New York, NY 11111 Dear Ms. Doe, I just graduated from The Wharton School of Business and am extremely interested in pursuing a full time position in Sales and Trading with your firm. I am a highly motivated and outgoing individual, as evidenced by my previous work experience in the investment banking industry, and I am convinced that an opportunity in Sales and Trading would allow me to combine these traits with my analytical, computer and quantitative problem solving skills. Spending the summer rotating through the trading floor at Bear Stearns allowed me to realize that a trading environment with excitement, challenges and learning opportunities is where I need to be. While an analyst for Electronic Data Systems, I worked with Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank traders and their systems. Prior to that, at Donaldson, Lufkin Jenrette I worked for the debt-trading desk, capital markets group and investment banking group. Through these positions, I gained substantial knowledge of the securities industry and experience in project management and business development. In addition, the demanding time constraints taught me to work well within a team. In addition, prior to starting at Wharton, I spent four months trading full time for my personal account. With these experiences, I feel that I have  substantial exposure to the markets and their trends and will continue to learn how to use them to my advantage. I have the educational background, academic achievement, practical experience, and passion to be an outstanding member of your team. I hope that you will find me well qualified for this position and I would like to reiterate my strong interest to discuss this opportunity and my qualifications with you further. I will contact you early next week to discuss a mutually convenient time for us to talk and look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration; I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Your Name goes here Student Name 1111 Ben Franklin Street Philadelphia, PA 19XXX XXX-XXX-XXXX [emailprotected] Date Ms. Tina Brown Assistant Vice President Bank XYZ 999 Wall Street 12th Floor New York, NY 11111 Dear Ms. Brown: As a second year MBA student at Wharton School of Business, I am writing to express my interest in the full-time associate position at Bank XYZ in the London office. I am impressed with the opportunities the firm gives its employees to work in diverse teams and to advise clients on cross-border strategic decisions. Over the summer I served as a Summer Associate in the Real Estate Industry Group of JP Morgan’s corporate finance division. On the third week of my internship I was assigned to work on a French acquisition for a major client and was thrust into a field in which I had no prior experience. My rapid  understanding of this new area and my solid transaction management, people management and strong analytical skills enabled me to make valuable contributions to the project. The subject matter was fascinating and convinced me to further develop my real estate expertise by attending relevant classes, such as Real Estate Finance and Real Estate Transactions. I am interested in building on my summer experience and building a career in investment banking, particularly in the real estate field. Should you require additional information, please contact me by phone or via e-mail. I look forward to meeting with you when you are interviewing on campus in October. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, XXXXXXXXX Enclosure Student Name 123 West 21st Street Philadelphia, PA 19XXX Date Ms. Jane Johnson Strategic Planning Company ABC 101 JFK Parkway 5th Floor Any city, PA 19XXX Dear Ms. Johnson: I would like to express my interest in the XXX internship position with the Company ABC’s Strategic Planning Group. I have followed closely the movement of your company, and I have been very impressed. I believe that Company ABC has done a fantastic job leveraging its unique brand and assets into a relationship with the consumer that generates multiple streams of revenue from a single customer, and that it has done extremely well in creating new and profitable business segments for the company. Much of that success I attribute to the Strategic Planning  Group, and I would be very excited to use my skills in the development of the next set of strategies that will further strengthen that bond with the customer and that will produce consistent and profitable growth over the coming years. Prior to Wharton, I honed my team leadership, strategy development, and analysis skills while working at XXX Bank. I managed a project to boost net profits by $70 million per year by identifying dissatisfied customers and designing solutions to address their concerns. To succeed my team conducted focus groups to understand the reasons for card member complaints, brainstormed on programs to address these issues, created detailed cost-benefit analyses of proposed solutions, and ultimately coordinated the various groups necessary to implement our recommendations. The project required a comprehensive strategic vision, tremendous attention to detail, strong analytical skills, the ability to clearly communicate ideas, and the ability to mobilize groups with different agendas towards a common objective. I believe these skills would allow me to contribute to Company ABC by developing, analyzing, and implementing the next generation of business strategies. With my penchant for producing tangible results and my enthusiasm for tackling tough issues, I am confident that I can make significant contributions to Company ABC. I hope that you find my background and experience a good fit for your company, and I ask that you include me in your upcoming full-time interview schedule. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, Student Name Steve Stevenson 222 Western Street, Apartment A Philadelphia, PA 19995 [emailprotected] 215-999-9999 mobile Date Mr. Jeff Jefferson Associate, Investment Banking ABC Bank 123 Wall Street. New York, NY 10004 Dear Mr. Jefferson: I am a first year MBA student at Wharton and am interested in interviewing with ABC Bank for a summer associate position in investment banking. After conducting informational interviews with Eric Erikson, Daniel Danielson, and David Davidson, I am very interested in becoming a part of the successful team at ABC Bank. Before attending business school, I worked for over four years in acquisitions at Company ABC, the nation’s largest health care REIT. My major accomplishments at Company ABC included: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Closing over 50 transactions totaling $425 million; Analyzing the acquisition of a $1.5 billion competing health care REIT; Preparing and presenting investment committee packages to the board of directors for transaction approvals; Leading multiple deal teams simultaneously on numerous transactions; and Ascending from analyst to assistant vice president through two promotions. I am confident that my skills and experience in the real estate industry will enable me to positively contribute to Company ABC. I appreciate your consideration for an on-campus interview with your firm in February. Should you require additional information please contact me at 215-999-9999. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Steve Stevenson Steve Stevenson 222 Western Street, Apartment A Philadelphia, PA 19995 [emailprotected] 215-999-9999 mobile Date Mr. Jeff Jefferson Recruiter ABC Company 123 Main Street. New York, NY 10004 Dear Mr. Jefferson: I am a first-year MBA student at Wharton with a concentration in marketing and prior experience in market development. I recently read about the joint venture ABC Company is doing with XYZ Communications to expand its broadcast presence in the young adult market. I would be very excited to speak with you about how I could contribute to the success of this exciting new partnership. I believe my background and prior experience will enable me to be an effective part of ABC Company’s team. Prior to Wharton, I worked in the European consumer good industry for four years, handling export sales and marketing for a leading Italian beverage firm. My experience working with the primary European and North American markets gave me a range of essential skills, including insight into consumer purchasing behavior, distribution channels, and advertising and media planning. I successfully managed new product launches and campaigns throughout Europe, helping the company expand into new markets. During my MBA training, I focused on developing my strategic analysis and financial/investment planning competencies. I believe that these skills coupled with my passion for media would enable me to significantly contribute to your business. I would like the opportunity to discuss how my talents could be utilized at Company ABC. I will contact you during the week of February 18 to set up a mutually convenient time for us to talk. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to speaking with you. Sincerely, Steve Stevenson David Green P.O. Box 5555 New York, NY 10010 215-XXX-XXXX Date Ms. Mary Davison Vice President Company XYZ 100 5th Avenue New York, NY 10101 Dear Ms. Davison: I am a first-year student at the Wharton School of Business pursuing a career in investment management and I am writing to express my interest in the XYZ position with Company XYZ. Your long-term investment perspective and multiple portfolio counselor system bring a richer perspective to your investments. In addition, your unique research portfolio allows your Research Analysts to directly contribute to your friends’ success. During four years in the management consulting industry, I concentrated on improving distribution and manufacturing activities in my clients’ supply chains. The projects I completed taught me the many factors that influence the performance of publicly traded companies and allowed me to hone my client relations skills. Both competencies would serve me well at Company XYZ. My current part-time equity research position at ABC Asset Management is also developing my equity analysis and valuation skill sets. The detailed  research I am performing is furthering my knowledge of how to best analyze a company’s future prospects. I am very interested in speaking with you about how I would contribute to the success of Company XYZ. I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you during you on campus interviews on February XX. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to speaking with you. Sincerely, David Green Enclosure John Talksalot 155 East 45th Street New York, NY 10001 [emailprotected] 917-201-6716 Date Ms. Natalie Andrews Human Resources Associate Consumer Products Company ABC 555 Amsterdam Avenue Tarrytown, NY 10591 Dear Ms. Andrews: I am a first-year student at the Wharton School concentrating in marketing. I am writing to request an interview on March 3, 2003, for the Summer Associate Global Brand Management position. After attending your MBA Open House on October 21, 2003, and speaking with your colleagues, John Harvey and Jay Fisher, I believe Consumer Products Company ABC would be an excellent match for my future career in global brand management. My passion for the food sector stems from the early exposure I had by working in my family’s food business. I am also excited about contributing my four years of strategic planning and consumer insight to your company. As Manager of Strategic Planning at MasterCard, I led cross-functional teams that developed and implemented integrated marketing plans and successfully communicated our platinum card’s benefits to consumers with maximum impact  and efficiency. This role also afforded me the opportunity to interact with senior management from other divisions, work with marketing directors in foreign affiliates and gain marketing experience with a global perspective. I believe that my tactical success in expanding MasterCard’s brand name by targeting new consumer segments as well as my success in refining its core market strategies would enable me to make a fine contribution to your team. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you soon. Best regards, Michael Talksalot Enclosure Jacob Jacobson 100 South 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19100 [emailprotected] Tel: (215) 999-9999 Date Ms. Karen Smith Campus Recruiting Manager ABC Consulting 150 Broadway New York, NY 10101 Dear Ms. Smith: I am a first year MBA student at the Wharton School writing to apply for a consulting position in your summer associate program. I am particularly interested in working in the Health Care practice of your New York office. After attending your company presentation and speaking with several consultants from your firm, including John Johnson of the Philadelphia office, I was excited by the opportunity to contribute to ABC Consulting’s innovative work in the health care field. Furthermore, I was impressed by the excellent structure of the summer program, and ABC Consulting’s strong reputation for focusing on both strategy and implementation. As a faculty  member at University of Pennsylvania Medical School, I led a number of basic science projects in diverse disease areas enjoying the opportunity to create and confirm hypothesis. (EXAMPLE) I also had the opportunity to gain managerial experience by collaborating closely with teams of biomedical researchers and ensuring the team thrived in environments of uncertainty. (EXAMPLE include sentence here about quant skills and an example of how you used them). My biomedical science training coupled with my strong leadership experiences and extensive quantitative skills will enable me to provide value to ABC Consulting and its clients. I look forward to speaking with you or your representative when you visit campus in February. In case you require additional information, please feel free to contact me at 215-XXX-XXXX. Thank you very much for your consideration Sincerely, Jacob Jacobson Ms. Susie Stephenson 1955 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA 19101 Mr. John Johnson Company ABC Corporate Finance Date Dear Mr. Johnson: I am writing to apply for a position as a Summer Financial Associate with Company ABC. As a first-year MBA at the Wharton School, where I am majoring in finance and health care management, I have come to appreciate the unique opportunities provided by Company ABC. After attending your on-campus presentation, I am excited about the finance opportunities at Company ABC. I have been particularly impressed by Company ABC’s ability to maintain a  small-company culture while building a large conglomerate of consumer products, medical device and pharmaceutical companies. With over four years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, I have not only developed sophisticated analytical skills, but also the leadership capabilities necessary to address the growing financial and strategic concerns facing companies today. Most recently as a Financial Analyst at XYZ Pharmaceuticals, where I provided financial support for two therapeutic areas as well as business development activities, I mobilized my colleagues to offer a struggling business unit better financial support. I implemented more insightful ways to look at value options through financial analyses as well as provided deal support on several out-licensing and codevelopment opportunities. In addition, my previous work advising biopharmaceutical clients at ABC Consulting enabled me to fine-tune my communication skills. With my drive, skills, and experience, I am confident that I can make an immediate contribution towards the growth of Company ABC. I look forward to the opportunity to interview with you or your representative when you are on campus in February. Attached please find a copy of my resume. If you have any questions, I can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Susie Stephenson Date Mx. XXX XXX Company X Address City, State, Zip Dear XXXX, I am writing to apply for an XXX position with Company X’s ABC Division. After gaining additional perspective on ABC through my attendance at Company X’s information session and conversations with Benjamin Lim and David Kasper, I am convinced that ABC Division would be an ideal environment to  further my marketing career pursuits. I am impressed with Company X’s marketing training, cutting-edge drug research and ethics-driven culture. The pharmaceutical sales and marketing strategy insights I gained from health care consulting will enable me to make immediate and lasting contributions to ABC Division’s brand management teams. During my tenure at Consulting Firm Y, I assisted executives at Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies in devising innovative, multi-channel sales and marketing strategies. By leveraging my creativity and analytical skills, I enabled my clients to differentiate themselves from their competition and enhance physician penetration and reach. My strong communication skills will also be valuable in crafting physician messaging and internally sharing information with my Company X teammates. This skill was recognized by upper management at Consulting Firm Y, as I was selected to lead firm-wide training on presentation crafting and storyboarding. Lastly, my initiative in developing a corporate knowledge sharing system at Consulting Firm Y reshaping ABC Pharmaceutical’s training and vendor qualification system, and serving on the Wharton MBA Curriculum Advisory Board demonstrate my leadership and involvement in continued enhancement of the environments where I have worked and studied. I look forward to the opportunity to interview and to continue to learn more about marketing career opportunities at Company X. Should you have any questions regarding my interests or qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail [emailprotected] or at XXX-XXX-XXXX. Sincerely, Student Name