Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Networking - Essay Example Portfolio 2 Activity 1 - Addressing Scheme (The packet tracer) No Subnet First host Last host Broadcast Subnet mask 1 192.168.10.32 192.168.10.33 192.168.10.62 192.168.10.63 255.255.2555.224 2 192.168.10.64 192.168.10.65 192.168.10.94 192.168.10.95 /27 3 192.168.10.96 192.168.10.97 192.168.10.126 192.168.10.127 255.255.2555.224 4 192.168.10.128 192.168.10.129 192.168.10.158 192.168.10.159 255.255.2555.224 5 192.168.10.160 192.168.10.161 192.168.10.190 192.168.10.191 255.255.2555.224 6 192.168.10.192 192.168.10.193 192.168.10.253 192.168.10.254 255.255.2555.224 Activity 2 – Cabling The link between the two routers (Vetinary and Rincewind) is a serial cable – one side has to be the DCE, meaning that it will provide the clock rate. Connect the DCE side (should be labelled as such) to Rincewind. Routers are specialised computers and as such, a crossover cable must be used for a direct computer to router connection (such as the one between Host 2 and Rincewind). Activity 3 - Basic router commands Command Function 1 logout Exit from the EXEC 2 ping Send echo messages 3

Lord Raglan’s & Hercules Essay Example for Free

Lord Raglan’s Hercules Essay Lord Raglan’s gave Hercules an outstanding 17 points on his hero scale pattern. This scale classifies the parallel characteristics of most mythical heroes. Overall, the similarities of Hercules to other heroes is the fact that he is the son of a god, there was an intent of killing him during birth, he once wandered in a place away form his family, and won battles with abominable creatures (Raglan, 1998). William Burkert, in years of evaluating mythical heroes, found a pattern on the makings of a fictional icon. Particularly the idea of a hero being a master or mistress of animals has won over the side of hunters which is possibly of a Paleolithic origin. In the story of Hercules this is apparent in most of the Twelve Labors he battled. Hercules’ first task is to kill the Nemean Lion and to bring back its skin. He later found out that arrows are useless in fighting the mighty beast. With his pure strength, he grasped the lion with his own bare hands and choked him to death. His second labor is to slay the Lernaean Hydra, a monstrous snake with nine heads living in the murky waters of Lerna. Every time Hercules got the chance to cut off one head, another one will grow in its place. He them commissioned the help of Iolaus in holding a torch every time Hercules cut off one head. Then after, Hercules finally disposed of the monster for good. Other examples of Hercules as master of animals can be stressed in the third to eighth labor, as follows: †¢ Capture the Ceryneian Hind †¢ Capture the Erymanthian Boar †¢ Slay the Stymphalian Birds †¢ Capture the Cretan Bull †¢ Steal the Mares of Diomedes In Greeks official religion, this may be deemed as somehow similar to folklore. Burkert detected a recurrent pattern in some of the actions and behavior of Greek heroes. This particular pattern includes youth, defloration, threat by a close relative, finding a partner, giving birth and finally, retribution. Another pattern is a relevant scapegoat in most hero storylines. (Burkert, 1979) Hercules (also referred to as Herakles and Alcides) was a Roman-Greek hero popular because of his strength and bravery. He is the half-god, half-mortal son of the powerful Zeus (Jupiter) and the Alceme. This identity of Hercules is similar to Catholic patron God, Jesus, who is also both human and divine. When Hera, Zeus’ goddess wife, heard about the birth of Hercules she was madly jealous about him. She sent two serpents to kill the young Zeus in his crib. Exhibiting valor and incredible strength, even as a child, Hercules killed the serpents all by himself. This display of power can be compared to the Bible hero Samson. Unlike Samson, who gains his vigor with his long hair, Hercules has an inherent strength that is within him ever since his first breathe. During his youth, an important decision during his lifetime is choosing between the life of virtue and the life of pleasure. A hard question posed to him by the goddess Aphrodite and Athena. The young hero decided to lead a life of virtue. This is a unique path to lead. This is in contrast to revered Indian icon, Gautam Buddha, who lived the life royalty and pleasure in his father’s palace when he was a child. Hercules welcomes struggle and hardships of life, with a strong belief that glory and true happiness comes along with it. Hercules then married Megara and the fruit of their love gave them children. Hera, still enraged about the very existence of Hercules, used all her powers to drive Hercules mad. In his insanity, he unknowingly killed his children and wife. Once he regained his insanity, he asked Oracle and Delphi on how he can compensate for what he did. He was instructed to serve the Eurystheus, the King of Tiryns, for twelve years. He is then ordered to carry out Twelve Labors to attain a peaceful soul again. During his quest, he was endowed with the virtue of courage, strength, and wisdom. His journey was quite similar to the long and tedious adventure of Odysseus. Traveling different land and voyaging the waters. He completed his tasks and redeemed his integrity and good soul. With such an exemplar accomplishment, he was then crowned a seat in the place of gods in Olympus. In his ascend to Olympus, he left all his mortal characteristics on earth and was born again with all divinity. Hercules the reconciled with Hera and lived peacefully as a family with this divine father, Zeus (Loewen,1998). Works Cited Burkert, Walter. Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual. University of California Press, 1979 Loewen, Juvenile. Hercules. Capstone Press, 1998 Raglan, Fitzroy Richard. The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama. Somerset: Courier Dover Publications, 2003

The Great Gatsby: The Integrity of Nick Carraway :: essays research papers

The Great Gatsby: The Question of Nick Carraway's Integrity In pursuing relationships, we come to know people only step by step. Unfortunately, as our knowledge of others' deepens, we often move from enchantment to disenchantment. Initially we overlook flaws or wish them away; only later do we realize peril of this course. In the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the journey from delight to disappointment may be seen in the narrator, Nick Carraway. Moving from initial interest to romantic allure to moral repugnance, Nick's relationship with Jordan Baker traces a painfully familiar, all-to-human arc. Nick's initial interest in Jordan is mainly for her looks and charm. Upon first sight of her at the Buchanan's mansion, he is at once drawn to her appearance. He Notes her body "extended full length" on the divan, her fluttering lips, and her quaintly tipped chin. He observes the lamp light that "glinted along the paper as she turned a page with a flutter of slender muscles in her arms." He is willing to overlook her gossipy chatter about Tom's extra- marital affair, and is instead beguiled by her dry witticisms and her apparent simple sunniness: "Time for this good girl to go to bed," she says. When Daisy begins her matchmaking of Nick and Jordan, we sense that she is only leading where Nick's interest is already taking him. It is Jordan, then, who makes Nick feel comfortable at Gatsby's party, as we sense what Nick senses: they're becoming a romantic couple. As they drive home a summer house-party, Nick notes her dishonesty but forgives it, attributing it to her understandable need to get by in a man's world. She praises his lack of carelessness, tells him directly "I like you"--and he is smitten, After Jordan tells him the tale of Gatsby and Daisy's past, Nick feels a "heady excitement" because she has taken him into her confidence. Attracted by her "universal skepticism" and under the influence of his own loneliness, Nick-- overlooking this time her "wan, scornful mouth"--seals their romance by planted a kiss on Jordan's lips. But the attraction can't last and is, by summer's end, replaced by repugnance. The smallest of details, at first, heralds this falling-apart: "Jordan's fingers, powdered with white over their tan, rested for a moment in mine." Here Fitzgerald has dropped a subtle hint that their liaison is to be the matter of only a moment, and that Jordan's "integrity" may be a matter of mere cosmetics. But it is Jordan's failure to feel the gravity of the real falling- apart--among Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby--that most rankles Nick, and he reacts with

A Woman Made a Yemeni Future

A woman made a Yemeni future The Republic of Yemen is one of the poorest countries in Arab world. Recently, Yemeni politic was rule by plain dictatorship for a long term. The economy is poor and corruptions were rampant in Yemen. Hence the Yemeni people made a decision to stand up to establish a democratic government. The Yemen uprising was up on January 2011 in Sana'a University which is in Yemen's capital. The leader of the protests was Tawakel Karman from Yemen. This essay will explain who Tawakel Karman is and why her accomplishments were recognized to the Nobel Peace Prize committee.Tawakel Karman is one of the greatest political activists in the world. She was born in 1979 in the port town of Taiz, which face with the Red Sea. She has been active  in searching for  freedom of expression  and  women rights in the Arab words. At the same time, she is a journalist and  a member of the  Al-Islah, which is  the largest  opposition party in Yemen. Tawakel and the prot esters   shouted ‘Day for rage’ among the troops and armed government officers at the seaport of  Aden  in northern  Yemen.?She is one of the three persons who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 and became the first woman from Arabia to be awarded the prize. She has  continued to regularly partake in protest  activities to  insist on  freedom of expression  and women rights  over the past five years. The Nobel Peace Prize  Committee  in Norway admired  her achievements of â€Å"seeking  full  attribution  to the society,  claiming the  safety  and rights  of women  without violence†. In the social background of the affair, there was huge discontent towards the long term dictator government in the Arab worlds.?Thus, she decided to lead not only the victims of ‘The Arab Spring’ but also all the people who deserve better human rights. Thus, Tawakel Karman’s achievements have brought great changes not just in Yemen but in many other Arabian countries too. There are three reasons why Tawakel Karman's achievements were deserving for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. First, she made contributions to improve Yemeni human rights and freedom of expressions, which were in a nonviolent way.Despite of the Yemeni dictator Saleh resorted to arms, she pressed for the improvement in social affair, which were great things. For example, she led a huge number of the Yemeni people and chanted their slogan in chorus again and again. Those incidents were broadcasted all over the world and aroused sympathy from many people. She indicated the Yemeni people's strong intensions through an interview. ‘We Yemeni people do not yield the dictator-ruled government and we want freedom in a peaceful way. ‘ Second, she insisted that the Yemeni woman should be liberated from Yemeni traditional dress codes.For example, by taking off her headdress and showing her face, she insisted that the dress code is enfo rced not by Koran, but by male-dominated Yemeni society. Her smiles were different from what we Japanese are used to have seen, she looked very confident. However, if she did not insist the importance to break away from such a bad custom, Yemeni woman still could not share their real feelings. That is to say, they would be forced to un-sensitive communication. If I were a Yemeni woman, I could not stand such a small world and might have gone insane at least.Finally, she co-founded the human rights group ‘Woman Journalists Without Chains' to make the Yemeni woman belong to all of the Yemeni society with safety. For example, she made full use of social network like a mobile phone to share her opinions and activity to the world. The Yemeni dominated social network looked like the Japanese painted textbook; General Headquarter censored and painted out the Japanese publications to hide the information, which they did not want to be known after World War 2 was ended.If I could not e xpress what I want to say, nobody would understand myself. For the each reasons I stated above are about Tawakel Karman's achievements to break away from the Yemeni social pressure in an amicable way. There is no Yemeni happiness without her achievements. Consequently, Tawakel Karman is indispensable for the Yemeni people and that is why her accomplishments were recognized the Nobel Peace Prize committee. (721words)

Bad effect of modern technology Essay

Introduction: Metamorphosis is the only thing that is constant in this world. Everything is subjected to change, whether it’s small or huge. And these changes have its complementary effects, either good or bad. Technology is a concrete example of those things that are undergoing a huge change. It came from the Greek words: (1.) Techne, which means â€Å"Art, skill, cunning of hand†; and (2.) a prefix â€Å"-logia.† This only means that technology is a scientific progression and modification of tools, machines, techniques, systems, and methods of organization which helps in solving pre-existing problems of humans. Background of the Study In the era where in modern technologies still don’t exist, students rely mostly in educational materials such library, observations, notes, books just to review and study their lessons. They put a lot of extra efforts in order to gain information. Students are more focused and motivated in studying in order to attain good grades and better education. According to Daniels, 2002; Ganske et al., 2003; Harvey, 2002, technology motivates students to in having a choice in their assignments, see the relevancy, or can assess the teacher’s feedback intertwined, student motivation increases. Along with the rapid growth and change of modern technology, students become more dependent to electronic gadgets around them. Because the students believe in the power of gadgets, they all rely their works in them. As a result, they forget to be responsible in their own way and let themselves be controlled with by all the comforts that the gadgets give them. Unlike before, they allot less ti me in studying and putting more time in using the gadgets because they have this idea that doing researches and assignments can be easily done because of it. Modern technology causes great distraction in the study habits of students. Statement of the Problem 1.) What products of technology are affecting the students’ study habits the most? 2.) How often do students use the electronic gadgets? 3.) What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology to the studying habits of the students? 4.) How often do the aforementioned advantages and disadvantages occur to them while using these gadgets? 5.) In general, what is the effect of the advancement of technology to the studying habits of the students? Is it essential? Or detrimental? Hypotheses The following hypotheses will be tested for acceptance and approval: H0 : There is no significant effect of modern technology to the studying habits of the students of the selected students of Far Eastern University. H1 : There are significant effects brought by modern technology to the studying habits of the selected students of Far Eastern University. Scope and Limitation This research study gives emphasis to the possible effects modern technology to the studying habits, as well as the performance, of the selected students of FEU. The researchers conducted a survey through a questionnaire to the 100 students, randomly selected, who often use e-gadgets llike iPad, laptop, cellphone, etc. This is to verify their standpoint regarding the effects caused by technology to their performance in school and to obtain data that can be used in this study. This study will no longer altercate the new innovation. Although this can be a source of information which can be adapted to profound and maximize the use of e-gadgets. This study is focused on how modern technology affects students’ compliance to the requirements of their course description and relevant actions to determine how to efficiently use the e-gadgets. The effects that the researchers presented are either dreadful or valuable. Significance of the Study The Students a complete, balance, and proper usage of the gadgets they have. Through these, students can allocate their time more appropriately and they can prioritize the degree of importance of their tasks. The Teachers a  background on why the certain students are not able to accomplish their work. The Parents ideas on how are they going to minimize the bad effects brought about by these gadgets and through this, they can guide their sons and daughters on the limitations they should build to avoid addiction to these gadgets. Furthermore, this study will serve as a theoretical model for future studies of the same nature if ever the existing problem has penetrated in this case will exist in the future. Future researchers will benefit from this study, and it will provide them the facts needed to compare their study during their respective time and usability. Definition of Terms Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures Study Habits is a schedule in which you consistently use and perform for learning process. Gadgets are small specialized mechanical or electronic devices; a contrivance. Electronic Gadgets are the instruments which can perform many activities at a time with vast speedï  ¶ & makes the hard work efficient one Laptop is a portable personal computer with the same features with a desktop computer. It is lighter, smaller and cheaper compared to computers. iPad is a line of tablet computers designed and created by Apple Inc. it can shoot videos, take photos, play music, can install games, ebooks, etc. and it can perform internet functions like surfing the web and emailing. It is very handy, touch screen and has a light weight. iPod Touch is commonly known as iTouch stylized and created by Apple Inc. It is a handheld device that allows you to play music, take photos, shoot video, download apps, connects you to your email and is capable of wireless connection to the internet which enables the users to directly buy or download software. Smartphone is a mobile phone designed built on an operating system. It has a more advanced capability and connectivity. It is handy and convenient to use. Its functions are portable media player, high end cameras, GPS, high resolution touchscreens, and web browsers. Ex: Android, Apple, Blackberry,  Lenovo, Nokia etc. Ebook is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on computers or other electr Sonic devices. Social Networking site is a platform to build social networks or social relations among people who, for example, share interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections. A social network service consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of first president Nicanor Reyes, Sr. It has been noted as the leading proprietary (for profit) university in the Philippines. Wi-fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet wirelessly using radio waves GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Computer an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. Apps are software applications designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices.

How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions The WritePass Journal

How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions Introduction How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions Introduction1. Dinition of User Fee2. Aim of the Essay  3.  Ethiopia backgroundEthiopiaUser fee in Ethiopia  Positive ArgumentCounter ArgumentRecommendationsRelated Introduction 1. Dinition of User Fee User fee health care defined as the mandatory and voluntary levies imposed on   a person for consumption of goods or services in governmental or private health institution .In other words it is the amount of money levied on individuals for the use of goods and services from which they receive special benefits (Duff, 2004). 2. Aim of the Essay The aim of the essay is to show briefly the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions. The secondly, I will mention some points in the importance negative and positive effect of user for Ethiopian health care. Finally, I will mention some recommendation that the Ethiopian government should incorporate in the national health care plan of the country. Back ground Information   Global History The Private or voluntary health insurance first started in Europe in the early eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century, private insurance had expanded throughout Europe and spread to North and South America. The social or compulsory insurance was introduced in Germany for industrial workers in 1883, building on the existing voluntary procedures coverage was later extended to family members, their employees and pensioners. Payroll –based social insurance system developed steadily in Europe, and later in Latin America and Asia. The current health finance system in African countries highly related to the health care finance system of colonizing country in the past. Epidemiological health transition from communicable disease to non-communicable disease, 56% of all deaths in the world was from non-communicable disease. These are unevenly distributed among different social classes. None communicable disease was account for 34% of the deaths in the poorest 20% of the world population as compared to 85% among the richest. This indicates that inexpensive effective interventions against communicable diseases still have a high priority in improving the health of the poor. Recessions: the negative effect of structural adjustment program , rising international debts resulted in severe resource shortage for health care systems in many low-income countries in late 1989(Yates 2009), public budget cut , decline in quality and quantity of health   care ,   underpayment of staff and patient dissatisfaction. Prevalence of malnutrition increased in most developing countries and infant mortality rise despite steady improvement during the previous decade (Stewart 1989). In 1987 UNICEF and WHO launched the Bamako initiative , a strategy aimed to improve maternal health and reduce infant   mortality in low income countries through a re-organization of primary health care system and drug distribution (Kanji 1989). World Bank in 1987 financing health service in developing countries: Agenda for reform which is based on introduction of user fee to cover 20% of health expenditure. The revenue will be used to improve health service, as a means of additional revenue generation, to reduce unnecessary demand , to increase peoples responsibility for   their health and to increase rural health care for marginalized population by the revenue.   3.  Ethiopia background Ethiopia Ethiopia is one of the least developed countries in the world with low developmental indicators even the least from in sub-Saharan countries. Ethiopia is 171th out of 182 countries in the world with a value of 0.414 human development indexes which is a composite measure of three dimensions of human developmental indicators:   life expectancy, education and GDP per capita.   According to 2009 UNDP estimate, 44.2 percent of the population lives below the poverty line of under $1.25 per capita per day (UNDP 2009). The number of people living under poverty is expected to rise due the progressive global economic crisis and the country`s increasing population growth. Ethiopia has the worst health outcomes in the world with high under 5-mortality with a value of 166 per 1.000 and maternal mortality rates with a value of 850 per 100,000 (WHO 2009). User fee in Ethiopia Ethiopia health care has been predominantly public until recently with the change in the political policy of the country as democratic and free market. Currently almost half of the health care institutions are privately owned hospital and clinics. Until recently the cost of health care user fee in governmental institutions from out pocket was only 15% but now the cost is increased to 85% of total cost an individual health care consumption .The democratic government has under taken important steps to improve the population`s health status and to make health care more efficient and accessible for everybody. Some improvement in population health indicator such as immunization coverage and slight decline in malnutrition rates since 2006 the protection of basic services program. Nevertheless per capital public spending for health remain far below the average from sub-Saharan Africa. Insufficient equipment and a shortage of health a workers plus strong biases towards curative services and little involvement from the private sector and NGO. The condition further exacerbated by high population growth with an annual growth rate of 2.7 %( 2005-2010 , UNDP 2009). User fee at health care facility thus remain an important feature to generate resource from heavily underfunded health sector. The minister of health is currently considering   national health care scheme.   Positive Argument Ethiopia has been using user fee for health care service many decades to share the cost health care at least 15% of an individual total cost of health care. Since the last decade due to global economic inflation and lack of resources to cover the cost of public health care cost , the government increased the health care cost to 75%. This is very important to increase economic efficiency where by scarce resources are allocated to their most valuable uses both within the public sector and between the private and public sectors. The levied charge enhance the accountability of public sector , making it more responsive to differing preferences and changes in the demand for publicly provided goods and services as well as cost recovery and increased equity . The idea of benefit taxation is applied based on the principle of fairness as every payer pays only for the goods and services that they use. A case of efficiency can be made if the revenue from user fee are channelled into provision of good quality care, increased availability of drugs , and prompt services which should mitigate the negative effects created by lack of access to quality care . Implementation of user fee has a minimal undesirable effect but these could themselves reinforce the adverse effect of user fees which is suffered by the poor. In Africa specifically, the bulk of the problem is financing health care for the poor and predominately rural dwelling. The poor are more sensitive to price changes but not to say health care should be free. In competitive market every economic agent should face their marginal cost of their action. In case health care, health care is a right, a necessity and has externality. The use of community health insurance or prepayment schemes have been found to be viable even from experience in parts of Africa , further viable into the broader perspective of national health insurance schemes or microfinance institutions . The idea of universal coverage likely to increase access of the poor to health care most especially when cross subsidization is possible. Internal private bargain such that achievable the Coase theorem such that demand for heath care does not depend of the distribution of income. This is more related to social solidarity which is very likely to produce valuable results in the African setting. Non-monetary access costs such as travel time are important determinants of health care choices. The geographical distribution of services may make access more difficult for some groups. The revenue can be re-invested to reduce non-monetary access costs and consequently minimize consumer’s welfare loss. The elimination of user fee in some African countries was driven by political motivation for vote maximization (William Nordus submission). Counter Argument Experience in some African countries such as Uganda, user fee abruptly removed in 2001, South Africa in 1994 during the period of transition to democracy has led others similar countries such as Rwanda , Zambia , Brundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger to implement similar reforms though on selected facilities or services showed increased utilization of public services and women are also likely to benefit from reduction in user fees. The implementation of user fee may impose heavier burden on the poor who are most likely to face a higher burden of disease (Nyanator 2009 and Kutzin). It contradicts the very purpose for which public provision was intended and budgetary flexibility will be limited where revenues are ear marked to health expenditure on the publicly provided health services from which the revenue are derived . The presence of user fee can cause sustained decrease in health care service utilization by the poor and middle income family. The attitude individuals towards user fees can adversely impact on government revenue as well as their political viability. The economic theory based on efficiency, marginal value of user fee in public must exceed private(Duff,2009). In early 1980 studies showed that price may not important determinant of demand late studies showed prices may have a significant negative impact of demand for health care especially in developing counties and on the poor. The poor are very sensitive to small changes to price even for health care . Strong link between health and poverty which could lead to medical poverty trap phenomena. The poor who already cannot afford to use private health care services due to high cost can no longer afford to use public . This leads to untreated morbidity, reduced access to health care, longer-term impoverishment and irrational drug use. Evidence further showed increased inequalities associated with user fees. The actors of Ethiopian health care system are the World bank , WHO, UNICEF , the people, government , NGOs, , community leaders, politician and others. Ethiopian government health care has been using very low cost sharing 15% user fee for long period of time but recently due to the structural adjustment program most of the government health care units increased their user fee to 70% from the total cost. The government only covers 30% of the cost of health by covering only the salary of the health worker. All governmental health institutions charge 70% of the total individual health care cost which used as revenue to improve the quality of care and buying medical equipment and other running cost of the health institutions. The user fee in governmental health care units as expensive as the private health care cost which has maginillized the poor and rural dwelling people. The effect of user in poor society has been worse specially for mother and children as they are frequent user of t he health care. Recommendations Health care financing remain a challenge in most low and middle income countries where disease burdens are high due to HIV/AIDS and rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, scarce resources and constantly competing priority on the public budget (Gottret and Schieber 2006). Out of pocket payments for health care continue to be an important source for revenue for underfunded health system in many developing countries like Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a long history and tradition for user fee for health services and it is in this aspect very different from most of the developing countries that introduced fees in the 1980s.Most of Ethiopian have never experienced free health care in their adult life. . User fees are seen as a financial barrier to healthcare usage, especially by poor households. Delayed or no medical care-seeking behaviours or inability to undergo the recommended hospital care due to high cost in government or private hospitals. The government should try to encourage already existing social sickness fund system which traditional called â€Å"Eders†. In traditional Eder , the members will pay monthly fee which will used if someone lose his family by death for grief and financial stability. Sickness fund(Eder) is another type of social insurance system which is accepted and sustainable method if it is given special focus by the government in controlling how it works and expanding nationwide to protect household from impoverishment in case of major health events. Another alternative is Ethiopia should develop national health insurance system by means health tax from individual household.

buy custom The Cooperative Food Businesses Group essay

buy custom The Cooperative Food Businesses Group essay Introduction The Cooperative Food Businesses Group is a consumer owned company that presently dominates the convenience food market segment of the food retail industry in UK. As the economic conditions in the country seize to improve, the company is faced with immense challenges. The report analyses these challenges together with the companys ability to utilize its internal capabilities to counter them and move towards a profitable future. The tools such as PESTEL Analysis, Porters Five Forces Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Competitor Profile Matrix are made of use of in the strategic analysis. External Environment PESTEL Analysis Political The government has increased the Value Added Tax to VAT 20 per cent that has increased retail prices of food products tremendously. This has pushed away consumers from heavy spending in food shopping. The Increase in fuel costs by the government has forced producers to charge more for their products that cost more to produce now (BBC 2007). The economic turmoil in UK has produced a drastic fall in the consumers disposable incomes. The wage has increased by only 5 per cent. The Customers have become more price sensitive as a result and have shifted towards cheaper food brands and cheaper food retailers (Clark et al 1994). Customers have also shifted to less expensive restaurants. Retailers are trying to steal the restaurant spend by offering Dine in for two deals. The convenience segment of food retailing is comparatively flaring well. The sales value of the convenience market segment is expected to grow by 2 per cent per annum in the next 4 years. The market is expected to grow in size as the population continues to grow to 67 million by 2020. This will produce an increase in single occupancy rate, and thus, increases spend her head. On the other hand the trend of aging population which is reliant on a smaller number of employed workers will move the customers further towards price sensitivity. However, cultural diversity in UK is increasing which has allowed retailers to enter into specialist segments, such as ethnic food. The Internet has become a powerful selling channel in the West. It is predicted that by 2011 online retail sales in Europe will have reached Euro263bn, with British shoppers accounting for more than a third of all revenue (Myers 2004). The Internet accounts for 8 per cent of the amount spent in advertising globally. This percentage is growing rapidly. Around 70 per cent of the households have PCs and internet which has given rise to online shopping (Graiser Scott 2004). At present 4 per cent of the food sales are made online. Customers still choose to physically see products before they purchase. However, the trend towards online shopping for grocery is expected to increase, forcing the retailers to equip their supply chain to meet the changes in the industry. Where at present, consumers are concerned with price sensitivity, in future, their concerns for wealth, sustainability of food and well being will grow and retailers will have to address these. Waste management presents another dilemma for companies as well as criticism in adding to CO2 pollution. Environmental protection, child labour and consumer protection laws are the main legal forces acting on retailers. As consumers get more aware of their rights and litigious, the risk of being sued increases. Owing to the intense rivalry in the industry, and a large number of players continuously engaged in battling with each other for higher customer and market share, the industry has been the attention of competition commission which closely monitors their competitive strategies. Competition in the retailing sector is extremely fierce. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that companies are trying to diversify into non-core fields thus creating additional competition. In the mainstream food retailing segment that constitutes super markets and hypermarkets, there are four major retailers in the industry that have fortified market positions. These are Tesco, Sainsbursy, Asda and Morrisons. These retailers account for nearly 65 to 70 per cent of the total food sales in UK. Tesco is leading the market with 27 per cent market share, where the rest have 14 per cent, 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. The Cooperative Food Business is the fifth largest food retailer behind the big four. The level of rivalry is intense which has been further increased as companies have faced financial challenges during the economic slump. The four giant retailers battle for market share and customer share. They attract consumers through price comparisons and value offers. Cooperative Food Businesses dominate the convenience segment of the market. The four retailers upon sensed the market potential have recently entered in the convenience segment, where their positions are relatively weak at present. Marks and Spencer and Tesco have 13 and 11 per cent market shares in the convenience segment which are largely behind Co-op Groups 27 per cent market share. The bargaining power of the suppliers is low. The main suppliers of retailers are food manufacturer such as Nestle, Kraft, Unilever, Kellogg, Danone, Proctor and Gamble and General Mills. These food manufactures have to compete against each other to occupy shelf spaces of the four giant retailers. This has given retailers high negotiating power with the suppliers. There is a big threat of substitute food products, having numerous food suppliers in the industry. There is also a big room for innovations in the food product category. Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal Porters Five Forces Industry Rivalry Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Customers The bargaining power of customers is high. The concentration of buyers is high and they therefore can dictate their rules/tastes. Customers are less brand loyal, there are plenty of alternatives and switching costs are low. All of these factors place the bargaining power in the hands of the consumers. The slow recovery in the economic conditions in UK still continues to affect retail sales as consumers choose to buy less and buy cheaper in order to make ends meet (Graiser Scott 2004). Similarly, as peoples incomes become more uncertain, they will shop around more (Flavin et al 2002). Threat of Substitute Products Threat of New Entrants Threat of new entrants is low. This is because it takes enormous capital investments to set up a successful chain of stores. The market is mature and an entrant would need to offer something radically new, which is rather difficult to do in food retailing. All major retailers have strong established brand nams and so enjoy customer loyalty, which becomes increasingly important in homogenous markets (Flavin et al 2002). The incumbents are firmly holding their market shares and would utilise all means to counter any new entrants, including litigation (Graiser Scott 2004). Importantly, absence of experience and knowledge of operating in these markets - especially for foreign companies - would be a barrier to any new entrants (Doyle 2002). Competition Analysis The Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) identifies a firms major competitors and its particular strengths and weaknesses in relation to a sample firms decisions. Following is the competitive profile matrix of Cooperative Food Business Group compared with Marks and Spencer and Tesco (Dess et al 2004). Table 1: Competitive Profile Matrix of Cooperative Food Business Group Critical Success Factors Weight Marks and Spencer Cooperative Food Business Group Tesco Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Advertising 0.20 3 0.6 4 0.8 4 0.8 Product Quality 0.10 4 0.4 4 0.4 4 0.4 Price Competitiveness 0.10 2 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Management 0.10 3 0.3 4 0.4 3 0.3 Financial Position 0.15 3 0.45 4 0.6 2 0.3 Customer Loyalty 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 2 0.2 Market Expansion 0.2 3 0.6 4 0.8 3 0.6 Market Share 0.05 3 0.15 4 0.6 2 0.1 Total 1.00 3.1 3.6 2.2 The competition matrix clearly identifies the areas which give the company the competitive advantage. Each of these areas is linked with the three aspects of the business identified earlier: finance, human resources and production. Strategic Capabilities Resources The Cooperative Food Business Group is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts of 1965 and 2003. Its resources are entirely different from those of the competitors. Its human resource comprises of 110,000 employees. It operates close to 5000 retail outlets that allow it to serve 17 million customers per week across UK. 3000 new stores will be opened by 2013 which has created new job offers for potential competent employees. Value System The value system of the organisation is closely tied with social values and social benefit. This is due to the fact that the Group is owned by consumer members. The values that provide the foundation of the management and business philosophy of the Cooperative Food Business Group are: self help, self responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Core Competencies The core competencies of the Group stem from its financial position, its business model, strategy of partnerships and acquisitions and its workforce (Johnson Scholes 2003). Business Model Its business strategy and business model are closely tied with social responsibility and social values that provide it a completive edge in the market and allow it to run a business that is socially appreciated and well accepted across the UK by the consumers. The business model allows consumers to attain the power. Consumers having power to influence prices, management and marketing of retailers is a challenge for competitors, the Group sees this as its biggest strength. The consumers are more driven towards spending more on a retailer that they know will give back to the society and cares for them, rather than the exploiting giants that are now struggling to sustain customer share. Financial Position 13.7 billion profits were obtained in 2010 by the Group which is attributable to the financially sound condition of the company. However, the acquisitions posed a financial burden on the company but because of the annual profitability, it was able to curtail the short term turmoil effectively and continued to expannd. This financial position has allowed the company to invest heavily in stores, hire more employees and enter into new product categories. Cost Leadership Cost leadership is where companies compete on the basis of their production costs and profit gains in returns. Such production cost reduction is received from economics of scale and extensive marketing and operational efficiency. The large supermarket chains which have access to fewer threats from high prices of suppliers are enjoying this cost leadership. The Cooperative Food Business Group follows the competitive strategy of cost leadership. Because of the benefit of this, the group charges comparatively cheaper prices to the convenience food products which attracts and sustain customers. Human Resources People culture prevails in the company. Bureaucratic structure with centralised decision making allows the owners to curtail a complete customer-centred approach in management and performance. Employees are regularly trained in order to be infused with necessary skills to counter competition. The centralised management style allows infusing and practicing the value system effectively and in a controlled fashion. Partnerships and Acquisitions The Cooperative Food Business Group has taken the acquisition strategy to expand in the UKs retail industry. This strategy has produced fruitful results for the company in the form of improved profitability and enhanced its resource capability to enter into new markets and product categories. The expansion in resources through acquisition will allow the Group to move towards an effective and cost efficient value chain which is essential to enter into many new markets and countries, without any fear of losing out due to competition, because the company has to offer several value added services backed with competencies that are not found in other competitors. SWOT Analysis Strengths The Cooperative Food Business Group is the fifth largest food retailer behind the big four. IT dominates the convenience segment of the market. Acquiring Somerfies 778 stores has infused strength in to the groups ability to counter competition and expand its market share and profitability. There is lack of innovation in the services that the Group provides that gives it little differentiation against competitors, and weakens its otherwise fortified market share. The management system is potentially weak to cope with the challenges of integration and acquisitions. The structural integration needs to be improved. Geographic as well as product category expansion are two opportunities available to the Cooperative Food Business Group at present. Using the online selling channel and expanding in the online food retailing is another option. Economic downfall has hurt consumer spending and has reduced the sales of the Group. Its financial turmoil is partly attributable to the incompetency of the company to bear the financial burden of the recent acquisition initiative. The entry of the big four along with Marks and Spencer in the convenience market segment is a threat for the Group. At present the Group holds market dominance but in the near future, as the retailers continue to occupy market space and consume more customer share, the sustainability of the Group in the market can be seriously threatened. The giants have a bigger pool of resources to combat the Group. The Group will have to invest in introducing new innovations in services and expand into new product categories in order to sustain competitive advantage. Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Strategic Options and Evaluation Two strategic options that the Cooperative Food Business Group have are: (1) Expansion into the Financial Service Sector; (2) Entry into the online food selling market. The strategic options are evaluated based on the criteria of consistency, consonance, advantage, and feasibility. Expansion into the Financial Service Sector Following the lead of Tesco and Sainsburys and other big four retailers, who haves set their foot in the financial services sector, the Group is considering taking up the challenge to service this sector as well. Consistency the strategy corresponds to the expansion strategy of the business. It will need to use acquisitions strategy to enter into the financial services sector. Consonance because of the economic turmoil, the retailers that are in the financial services sector have suffered in terms of profitability. This is something that the Group needs to consider. The economic situation is expected to improve and the Group has optimistic performance and profitability forecasts. However, the industry poses a big risk. Advantage Expanding into a new market would allow the Group to further strengthen its market leadership and increase customer share and profitability. Feasibility The Groups existing resources will not be sufficient to back this expansion strategy. Considering its recent financially troubling situation resulting from the integration with Somerfields stores, it is only evident that in terms of resources, this option is less feasible (Arnold 2002). Entry into the Online Food Selling Market The online food selling market is in its introductory stage and is growing. Asda and Tesco are successfully running online food divisions (Doyle 2002), and it is only time that Cooperative Food Group enters the market before it hits maturity and barriers to entry increase. Consistency the strategy corresponds to the expansion strategy of the business. It will allow the company to increase its customer share and market share. Consonance this will be a proactive strategy on part of the Group allowing it to enter the market that is in its introductory stage and holds potential for massive growth in the future. Advantage The entry would allow the company to provide multi-channel buying opportunity to consumers, and thus, enable it to make use of a new competitive advantage. Feasibility The strategy is feasible as the company has use its existing resources to implement it. Recommendation and Conclusion Cooperative Food Business Groups recent acquisition strategy to expand in the industry has allowed it to create an effective and cost efficient value chain and has enabled to enter into many new markets and expand its resources without any fear of losing out due to competition. The company has to offer several value added services backed with competencies that are not found in other competitors. Online food retail industry is a viable strategic option open to the company that it can enter into without challenging its management to cope up with as well as benefit from in terms of increased profitability, market and customer share. The tools used in the strategic analysis, such as, PESTEL Analysis, Porters Five Forces Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Competitor Profile Matrix proved to be quite effective in aligning the challenges, strengths and capabilities that paved way for strategic routes for the future to be developed. 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